Apple(US:AAPL) Lex Fridmanยท2025-07-20 14:47App Store Policies & Business Model - Apple's App Store functions as an intermediary, where developers sell apps to Apple's inventory, and Apple then sells to customers, impacting control over discounts, refunds, and multi-platform support [6] - Apple requires apps to use its in-app payment system, taking a 30% commission on signups through the iOS app [5] - Apple was willing to remove the "Hay" app from the App Store if they did not agree to give them 30% of all the signups [5] Conflict & Resolution - "Hay" refused to comply with Apple's 30% revenue share requirement, leading to a public dispute [7] - Public pressure and media attention forced Apple to allow "Hay" in the App Store without the 30% commission, but required a dummy account for the app to function [8][9] Mobile App Ecosystem - The iPhone is described as a mobile computer, becoming the most important computer for many, making the App Store a critical platform for software distribution [1][2] - Developers need Apple's permission to launch apps on iOS, which raised concerns [2]