Tech Brew Ride Home Wed. 06/17 – HEY! The Whole Brouhaha Between Apple And Basecamp
Jun 17, 2020
A heated clash unfolds as Basecamp's email service, HEY, faces off against Apple's strict App Store policies, raising questions about fairness in the tech landscape. Uber eyes the software market, promising a novel public transit solution. TikTok's parent company, ByteDance, reports impressive revenue growth, showcasing its strong business model. Meanwhile, Facebook launches initiatives to boost voter registration with innovative ad tools, underscoring big tech's role in democracy. It's a dynamic mix of tech innovation and regulatory challenges!
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Hey vs. Apple
- Basecamp's new email service, Hey, faced rejection from the App Store for not using Apple's payment system.
- Apple demanded a 15-30% cut of Hey's subscription revenue, despite users subscribing externally.
Apple's Monopoly
- Apple's control over the iPhone creates a unique monopoly, not over smartphones generally, but over its own platform.
- This power allows Apple to enforce rules, but the question remains whether it's fair to demand a cut of all digital commerce.
Facebook's Voting Initiative
- Facebook launched a Voting Information Center to provide accurate election information and voter registration tools.
- Mark Zuckerberg aims to register 4 million voters through Facebook's apps, emphasizing the importance of voting in holding politicians accountable.