Stratechery Platform Power Is Underrated
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May 5, 2025 Dive into a thought-provoking discussion on the balance of power and responsibility in tech. Explore the controversial evolution of the App Store, highlighting Apple's restrictive practices and their impact on competition. Recent legal rulings are changing app purchase dynamics, offering new opportunities for developers. Discover how user demand drives platform innovation and the future of AI interfaces, particularly in smart glasses. The conversation critiques monopoly situations, advocating for reforms to foster fair competition in the tech landscape.
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Early App Store Obsession
- Ben Thompson was obsessively analyzing Apple's App Store since Stratechery's early days.
- His 2015 coverage highlighted the App Store's opaque rules and Apple's strict control over apps.
Apple's Anti-Competitive Start
- Apple's early App Store policies excluded apps competing with its own, which seemed anti-competitive.
- Despite this, the platform remained strong and did not suffer a developer exodus.
Apple's Priority Stack
- Apple's exclusive control creates advantages like security and ease for users at developers' expense.
- The company prioritizes itself first, then users, and developers last in App Store matters.