The App Store

App Store revolutionized how apps are distributed. Apps are controlled to protect the user. User may find desired apps all in one place, instead of searching through the web. Features like App Privacy and App Clips further make app evaluation more informative. Although the fee Apple collected from developers is much criticized, App Store is still a overall success.

App Store's success attracts attacks. Some believe the App Store acts as a monopoly, and enabling sideloading is necessary to provide more choices. Apple countered with claims that sideloading would destroy iOS security. As Craig Federighi admitted, the level of Mac malware is not acceptable. Many similar attacks boil down to the fact that many people have ideals different from Apple design, like pro-choice versus pro-security. Such conflicts of ideals are hard to resolve.

However, there are problems arising from App Store's success that might be even more pressing and could be resolved. For example, App Store review process that protects users from malware may also reject useful utilities because the authority considers otherwise. It's clear that Apple should adopt a more accommodating approach and let users decide a app's appeal and usefulness. Focus on malware prevention, not limiting user's preferences.

App industry greatly expanded since the launch of the App Store. Because there are too many apps for all kinds of purposes, app discoverability becomes a problem. Many apps die because users can not discover them in search results dominated by a slew of established apps. Browsing the App Store is also prohibitively difficult. It seems that Apple should develop better methods for App Store mining to promote innovation, not just the establishment.

All in all, it's ironic that talks of dubious antitrust regulation against big tech surpass real improvements.