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The Almighty Buck Apple

Apple Blocks Coinbase Wallet App From Sending NFTs Because of In-App Purchase Dispute (macrumors.com) 32

Posted by BeauHD from the cut-of-the-pie dept.
Popular NFT and cryptocurrency app Coinbase Wallet today said that Apple required an NFT-sending feature to be removed from the app due to an in-app purchase dispute. MacRumors reports: Apple's App Store review team apparently told Coinbase that the "gas fees required to send NFTs need to be paid through in-app purchase." Apple wanted a cut of transactions, which Coinbase Wallet said is similar to Apple attempting to take a cut of fees for every email that's sent over the internet. Apple is asking for something that is not possible, because the in-app purchase system does not support cryptocurrency to begin with.

Coinbase Wallet says that Apple would not approve an app update until the NFT-sending feature was disabled, and the removal of the functionality will make it more difficult for iPhone users who have an NFT to transfer the NFT to other wallets or gift an NFT to friends or family. The developers behind the app say that Apple has introduced profit-protecting policies that come at the expense of "developer innovation across the crypto ecosystem." Coinbase Wallet is hoping that this is a mistake and has tweeted an invitation to Apple to discuss the matter.
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Apple Blocks Coinbase Wallet App From Sending NFTs Because of In-App Purchase Dispute More

Apple Blocks Coinbase Wallet App From Sending NFTs Because of In-App Purchase Dispute

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  • I don't know who to root for (Score:5, Insightful)

    by Rosco P. Coltrane ( 209368 ) on Thursday December 01, 2022 @05:31PM (#63095250)

    Once again, Apple is abusing its position as owner of their walled garden. Once again, why their racketeeting scheme is allowed to continue is the question that should come to everybody's mind.

    So fuck Apple. Once again.

    On the other hand, the company raising a stink is a crypto-NFT-currency scammer. So ya know, fuck Coinbase too.

    The lesson here is: don't be a fool. Don't buy an Apple product and don't invest in crypto bullshit.

  • it's too far (Score:4, Insightful)

    by sloth jr ( 88200 ) on Thursday December 01, 2022 @05:34PM (#63095254)
    I don't actually have a problem Apple taking a cut for deployment and hosting services for the app - I do quibble about the cut, 5% seems a lot more reasonable - but the in-app purchases that don't actually HAVE a deployment and hosting service cost to it, that's too much.

    • Re: (Score:2, Interesting)

      by KlomDark ( 6370 )

      The last few weeks seem to be the beginning of the end for Apple's extortionate behavior. Some big players like Musk (love him or hate him) are starting to sound the alarm and preparing for battle. This will not end well for Apple, but it's going to be a long stupid battle.

    • I don't actually have a problem Apple taking a cut for deployment and hosting services for the app - I do quibble about the cut, 5% seems a lot more reasonable - but the in-app purchases that don't actually HAVE a deployment and hosting service cost to it, that's too much.

      Apple: We deserve a cut because we're hosting and processing payments
      Vendors: We don't want you to do either thing
      Apple: Pay us, bitches

  • This whole mess could be avoided if... (Score:4, Insightful)

    by mark-t ( 151149 ) <markt AT nerdflat DOT com> on Thursday December 01, 2022 @05:40PM (#63095276) Journal

    Apple just allowed sideloading... I've ranted extensively on that subject before in other comments on stories, and won't repeat such dissertation here.

    However, the more interesting thing here is that Apple is evidently asking for a commission on physical merchandise, in this case gasoline, which from what I recall is an explicit exemption to the rule with regards to in app purchases.

    From a href="https://developer.apple.com/app-store/review/guidelines/">">here:

    3.1.3(e) Goods and Services Outside of the App: If your app enables people to purchase physical goods or services that will be consumed outside of the app, you must use purchase methods other than in-app purchase to collect those payments, such as Apple Pay or traditional credit card entry.

    In other words, by Apple's own policy, one is explicitly *NOT* supposed to use in-app purchases for such things.

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by tlhIngan ( 30335 )

      However, the more interesting thing here is that Apple is evidently asking for a commission on physical merchandise, in this case gasoline, which from what I recall is an explicit exemption to the rule with regards to in app purchases.

      Incorrect. "gas fees" are what the Ethereum network calls "transaction fees". Everytime you do anything on the ETH blockchain, the cost is called "gas fee". It's not actual physical gas.

      All Apple is doing here is demanding the cut if you want to change your NFT ownership. So

  • I 'member when the web came about, and we were all like "sweet, look we can have these decentralized apps running on the Interwebz!" But the interface sucked, and then we got smartphones and were all like "Nice! Now we get these cool looking apps let's use those!". Then Web 2.0 came and we wuz all "Yo, now the web actually looks pretty cool now, let's use that". Then we go'ed "nah, nvm fam fuck that we'll use apps on our phones".

    I dabbled with crypto a bit, I'll admit, but it's mostly a concept that draws i

    • When the iPhone first came out, Apples stance was "use progressive web apps - look, heres how you can use manifests to 'install' them so they have their own icon, work offline and everything."

      But no, people weren't happy with that, they wanted native apps, and they shouted long and hard until Apple gave them native apps, along with mechanisms for payment, SDKs and all the other supporting stuff. And the world rejoiced at that point.

      Progressive web apps still exist, still work just fine, and are not limited

      • When the iPhone first came out, Apples stance was "use progressive web apps - look, heres how you can use manifests to 'install' them so they have their own icon, work offline and everything."

        Yes, and it was both a really stupid idea, and obviously anticompetitive because Apple's own apps on iDevices were native.

        But no, people weren't happy with that, they wanted native apps, and they shouted long and hard until Apple gave them native apps, along with mechanisms for payment, SDKs and all the other supporting stuff. And the world rejoiced at that point.

        Only the noobs making fart apps want Apple to handle payments. Everyone else wants to use the same payment processor they use for everything else.

  • I know this has been asked before, but can anybody explain why they need an app in the first place? Does the web browser on Apple devices really not run JavaScript, or run it so poorly that it can't be used? Do they block JavaScript from performing web sockets and other things that are used to build the equivalent of "apps" on my PC?

    I don't use crApple products, so I honestly don't know. I have a hard time believing the web browser is that crippled, so it seems like Coinbase has only itself to blame. I

  • The only things of value in this entire story are (Score:3)

    by Petersko ( 564140 ) on Thursday December 01, 2022 @05:48PM (#63095302)

    ... the gas fees.

  • Waiting on Coinbase to fail..... (Score:3)

    by bsdetector101 ( 6345122 ) on Friday December 02, 2022 @06:14AM (#63096104)
    Let a lot of Coinbase customers try to cash out at the same time. Then Coinbase locks down all accounts, because they don't have the $$$/assets to do it ! I bet $100,000 of vaporware coins that would happen !! Hmmm. maybe I should start a new crypto coin called Vapor, someone WOULD buy it !

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