Worrying Effect

The WordPress app for iOS is a free and open source app that doesn’t sell anything — but Apple, reportedly, made the publisher change it so that it sells custom domain names via IAP, with the standard 30% cut going to Apple.

So now (or soon) the app will sell things.

Here’s where the worry turns personal for me…

NetNewsWire for iOS is a free and open source app that doesn’t sell anything, but it does let you use your Feedbin or Feedly account for syncing.

Will I be asked to add IAP to NetNewsWire for purchasing Feedbin and Feedly accounts? It doesn’t sound like that much of a stretch right now.

That’s not exactly what’s happening with the WordPress app, but it’s pretty close, and barriers just seem to get crossed these days.

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Somebody on Twitter will tell me that I should add that IAP right now so I can pay Apple for the privilege of being on the App Store. Fuck you in advance.

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Related question: how is the PR hit to Apple worth it for the money they’ll make through these WordPress IAP sales? And: how is developer fear a good thing for the platform?