Hacker News Reader

Hacker News

Comment by blibble | Hacker News Reader

Full thread

blibble

they've started adding warnings to any apps daring to use external payments too

https://www.gsmarena.com/apple_now_showing_warnings_on_eu_ap...

View on HN

really hope they add to the fine for this, seems like Apple never learns.

Those have been there for over a year.

So pathetic, especially the red triangle. It's like they thought "well it's a warning, so we use the warning icon but we need to make it scary so it's red!!".

Though I am very pro Epic in this, I feel this is the least harmful way Apple can warn users who are apprehensive of alternative payment systems while those who want to go ahead can. Like Fortnite's user base would not be deterred by this.

> This app does not support the App Store’s private and secure payment system. It uses external purchases

It's poorly worded for maximum FUD.

Apple proposed reducing the scare factor months ago. The EU told them to hold off.

https://daringfireball.net/2025/05/that_eu_app_store_warning...

At the end of that link, where it describes how the EC gave conflicting instructions, demanded action without saying what needed to be done, and then gave a sudden negative judgment... I know some iOS developers who'd say that sounds eerily familiar. :D

Apple’s malicious compliance then pretending to ask for permission. Apple was trying to get the EU to rubber stamp the scare tactics. Instead the EU said let’s see that works out for you.

And fwiw we have hard evidence of Apple acting in bad faith. Gruber keeps giving Apple PR the benefit of the doubt but they absolutely do not deserve it.

this showed up in the recent court case too:

> In Slack communications dated November 16, 2021, the Apple employees crafting the warning screen for Project Michigan discussed how best to frame its language. Mr. Onak suggested the warning screen should include the language: “By continuing on the web, you will leave the app and be taken to an external website” because “‘external website’ sounds scary, so execs will love it.” [...] One employee further wrote, “to make your version even worse you could add the developer name rather than the app name.” To that, another responded “ooh - keep going.”

from https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.cand.36... (page 36)

these people should be jailed for contempt

Would you be okay for Google to warn anyone when entering a website on chrome that they are taking a risk because they offer payment options other than Google pay?

Its about freedom and openness of platforms.

‘It’s fine because people will ignore it’ doesn’t make something okay.

I see plenty of sites that link to outside websites that issue a warning first. The app is not a browser.

>Would you be okay for Google to warn anyone when entering a website on chrome that they are taking a risk because they offer payment options other than Google pay? Its about freedom and openness of platforms.

>‘It’s fine because people will ignore it’ doesn’t make something okay.

I can give an anecdotal example of my father who is bit old, knows some basic tech, but had been at the receiving end of some financial fraud (some clowns pretended to be stock trading experts, thankfully nothing happened as he figured it out before any money was sent).

You and I might be technologically sophisticated enough to know what's what. That being said I feel the likelihood of scammy apps like those on App store for iOS a lot less likely but not zero. That being said, on Chrome, one does have many many options for reliable payment gateways and not using them can be an easy way to figure out if it is risky or not.

If Google were to force Google Pay on Chrome, that would be clearly wrong. Options should exist.

And I feel Apple should allow Fortnite for that very reason. You cannot ban someone for not wanting to use Apple Pay, the same way Chrome cannot and should not ban a website if they are using a non Google related payment gateway.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com