However, as it has grown in importance, it has become a source of controversy and Apple is in the midst of legal and PR battles in a bid to defend a prized asset and the revenue it brings in. In 2020, the App Store had a gross income of around $64 billion, with most of that coming from games.
Apple ‘App Tax’
Two of the highest-profile critics of the App Store are Spotify, the music streaming service, and Epic Games, the maker of the wildly popular Fortnite game. And the two companies are not shy in sharing what they think.
In May this year, Spotify’s chief legal officer Horacio Gutiérrez described Apple as being “a “ruthless bully” that “uses its dominance to hobble competitors” in an article for the Wall Street Journal.
Epic and Spotify are among many big names who have joined the Coalition for App Fairness, which was created back in September 2020. Other members include audio streaming service Deezer, encrypted email provider ProtonMail, and Bluetooth tracker firm Tile. Together, these companies are arguing against various aspects of the Apple App Store rules, but in particular there is dissent over Apple taking a cut of up to 30% of every app-related transaction.
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
One more thing The Calculator app
With iPadOS 18, the iPad is finally getting its own Calculator app. But why the wait? Graham Barlow thinks something doesn't add up
ESET Home Security Ultimate
Security and anti-malware in an all-in-one package
AnkerWork S600 Speakerphone
Al-powered voice isolation for video conferencing
Philips VoiceTracer Audio Recorder Pen
Capture discreet recordings and convert speech-to-text
Mixx StreamBuds Solo 2 Wireless Earbuds
Budget-conscious wireless earbuds
Customise and use Control Centre on Apple Watch
Access your favourite features faster with Control Centre
Power up the Notes app
Make the most of Notes ahead of the macOS Sequoia updates
Logitech Signature AI Edition M750
Integrate ChatGPT into your workflow
THE APPLE PRODUCTS TIME FORGOT THAT
Discover the weird, the wonderful and the 'what were they thinking?\"
Shortcuts Cookbook
With the Shortcuts app, doing things on your devices becomes easier and faster – so discover where to find them, make changes and create your own shortcuts from scratch