Epic versus Apple? I'm rooting for the users

What are the outcomes that would most benefit regular users?

- JASON SNELL

You’ve probably seen the stories: it’s an epic (eye-rolling pun intended) war between two technology giants (go. macworld.com/epap). In this corner is Apple, accused of being a greedy colossus using its tight-fisted control over its platforms to stifle innovation and ruin consumer choice. In the other corner, Epic Games, accused of posing as the victim of a controversy it manufactured in the name of keeping more cash for itself. Who do you back? Choose your side!

The thing is, I don’t really back all the actions of either party in this kerfuffle. Instead, I’m squarely on the side of the people who use technology. Let’s leave aside the tech giants. What are the outcomes that would most benefit regular users?

EASIER TO BUY STUFF

There’s no doubt about it. Apple’s restrictions on in-app purchases for digital goods—developers must use Apple’s payment system and Apple takes 30 percent of that—have degraded the customer experience on iOS. On Android, you can buy books in the Kindle app and comics in the Comixology app. But on iOS, you can’t. That’s because Amazon (owner of both apps) has decided that it can’t afford to hand Apple most of its profit margin in selling those products. Amazon is already the middleman here—there’s no room for another one. But Apple insists.

Amazon is hardly a fly-by night company. I’ve got a longstanding financial relationship with Amazon, and they have my credit card information. What’s the harm in letting me buy my Comixology comics without exiting to Safari and buying via the web? The funny thing is, Apple already allows me to pay Amazon directly via the Prime Video app, and the world hasn’t ended. But Apple says that only video apps are eligible for this loophole.