[bigdubs]

People assuming this is a competitive posture exclusively are missing the point.

The app store isn't just about making more money, it's about enforcing privacy and security guidelines for apps through the review process and through checks for unauthorized api usage.

Apple's product is privacy; they view privacy as a premium feature worth paying for, and 3rd party app stores that are the wild west for privacy are antithetical to this.

[luyu_wu]

Said customers who care about privacy would therefore continue to use the App Store.

[slashdave]

Except important products will be pulled from the App Store because they will become exclusives in 3rd party stores.

[detourdog]

Why should Apple divert resources creating a secondary environment?

[jiveturkey]

which is about brand marketing, which is about making more money. without the differentiation of the app store, they are that much closer to being android.

> Apple's product is privacy

that's a large component of their brand, not their product.

for contrast, signal's product is privacy. (note: i'm no fan of signal)

consider that the facebook app is allowed, on the first party app store. i'm failing to see how the app store gates privacy.

[hot_gril]

The App Store rules are mostly about making more money. So what, it's not a charity.

[yxhuvud]

3rd party app stores will still be subject to GDPR, which apply to all European customers, so calling it a wild west is a weird claim.