I expected to see Apple/Google conflated in the reaction to this point of the list, but for me it's a different thing.
(Disclaimer: I'm an Android/webos guy)
Apple adds
- A serious review of all submitted apps (Like it not..)
- A support procedure for problems with the app store (which I cannot judge, being on the other side)
- Market penetration in lots of/most countries.
What's the equivalent of the android market place? If there's none, why pay the same and compare those things as equals? It seems on the one side there's an army of people working on quality and support (with varying results), while on the other side there's a large void and the "See, this is the marketplace, submit stuff. I'm off" attitude.
The former seems to be far more expensive to me. If that's sustainable with ~30% of the sales, why - again - does the approach that seems less involved need the same?
They offer similar services: a centralised place that people come to in order to buy a variety of products. It's good for your software to be on it. The differences are minor, it's the merchant solution that is significantly the same.
At least with the Android marketplace, if you don't like that 30% cut, you're free to separately market and take payment for your application. The principal part of both is this 'centralised store' approach, combined with dealing with the payment system.
The other thing is good old capitalism. Apple and Google aren't social services, so why should they operate on razor-thin margins? They have desirable products, and are charging normal retail overheads for what is, essentially, a royalty-based industry. 30% is fine, and 'what do you get for it'? The ability to hawk your wares and not have to worry about bad debts or if it's worth taking a 99c sale.
(Disclaimer: I'm an Android/webos guy)
Apple adds
- A serious review of all submitted apps (Like it not..)
- A support procedure for problems with the app store (which I cannot judge, being on the other side)
- Market penetration in lots of/most countries.
What's the equivalent of the android market place? If there's none, why pay the same and compare those things as equals? It seems on the one side there's an army of people working on quality and support (with varying results), while on the other side there's a large void and the "See, this is the marketplace, submit stuff. I'm off" attitude.
The former seems to be far more expensive to me. If that's sustainable with ~30% of the sales, why - again - does the approach that seems less involved need the same?