∞ Distributing apps in the U.S. that provide an external purchase link
After Supreme Court refused to consider Apple's (and Epic's) appeals today, Apple published its guideline for apps in the U.S. that provide external purchase links:
In addition to using Apple’s convenient, safe, and secure in-app purchase system, apps on the App Store in the United States that offer in-app purchases can also use the StoreKit External Purchase Link Entitlement (US) to include a link to the developer’s website that informs users of other ways to purchase digital goods or services. To use the entitlement, you’ll need to submit a request, enable the entitlement in Xcode, and use required StoreKit APIs. Apple will review your app to ensure it complies with the terms and conditions of the entitlement, as well as the App Store Review Guidelines and the Apple Developer Program License Agreement.
Among other things, the following screen will be shown to the user each time the app calls the StoreKit External Purchase Link API:
Apple is so good at following the text of the ruling.
What's more,
Apple is charging a commission on digital purchases initiated within seven days from link out, as described below. This will not capture all transactions that Apple has facilitated through the App Store, but is a reasonable means to account for the substantial value Apple provides developers, including in facilitating linked transactions.
Apple’s commission will be 27% on proceeds you earn from sales (“transactions“) to the user for digital goods or services on your website after a link out (i.e., they tap “Continue” on the system disclosure sheet), provided that the sale was initiated within seven days and the digital goods or services can be used in an app. This includes (a) any applicable taxes and (b) any adjustments for refunds, reversals and chargebacks. For auto-renewing subscriptions, (i) a sale initiated, including with a free trial or offer, within seven days after a link out is a transaction; and (ii) each subsequent auto-renewal after the subscription is initiated is also a transaction.]
L.O.L. How would any developer actually adopt this?
This is not surprising though. This is so modern-day Apple.
∞ Migrating from Substack to self-hosted Ghost: the details
Molly White wrote in great detail on how she migrated her [Citation Needed] newsletter from Substack to Ghost, including a number of hiccups along the way.
After a brief moment of panic, my soul returned to my body and I remembered how widely Substack had advertised that all writers retain control over their subscriber lists and can take them with them if they leave.
I responded:
No, I intend to migrate my paid subscribers from Substack (as is a selling point of the platform: "A Substack is the writer’s property: the email list, content, and payment relationships (should you choose to monetize) is the writer’s and the writer can take all of it with them if they ever decided to leave the platform.") I don't wish to cancel their paid subscriptions, I just wish to remove the Substack fee as I will no longer be using the platform. See: https://ghost.org/docs/migration/substack/#removing-substack-fees I then proceeded to spend five days in terrifying limbo as I awaited a reply (which was, in fairness, over the holidays).
I then proceeded to spend five days in terrifying limbo as I awaited a reply (which was, in fairness, over the holidays).
Ouch. That's actually a terrifying experience. Glad it worked out in the end.
TSA Finds Recording Breaking-Firearms, Every Single Year Since 2010
From a TSA press release on January 10, 2024:
During 2023, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) intercepted a total of 6,737 firearms at airport security checkpoints, preventing them from getting into the secure areas of the airport and onboard aircraft. Approximately 93% of these firearms were loaded. This total surpasses the previous year’s record of 6,542 firearms stopped at checkpoints and represents the highest one-year total in TSA’s history.
In my mind, 6,737 is mind-boggling. I mean, we are talking about airport security checkpoints here. Whenever I saw the signs of firearms at security checkpoints, I've always thought, who would be so dumb to carry firearms?
This got me interested in the historical numbers. Luckily, last year's press release is very handy and includes a chart for number of found firearms since 2010:
Except for 2020, due to the pandemic, it's been record-breaking every fucking year. Last year was six times that of 2010.
It's just mind-boggling. I hate this part of America.
∞ Chino Yang - San Francisco Our Home [ OFFICIAL MV ]
Beautiful music.
∞ How California’s New Pedestrian Signal Law Makes Biking Safer
Alvin Holbrook writes at VELO,
Implementing an LPI at an intersection is an easy way to make streets safer for people walking. There’s no major infrastructure building that needs to happen, just a comparatively inexpensive adjustment to signal timing to prioritize the safety of people walking. And now in California, an LPI also prioritizes people biking.
How low cost is it? The U.S. Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) says that reprogramming traffic signals to accommodate an LPI can cost between $200 and $1200 per intersection, a drop in the bucket compared to how much pedestrian or bicyclist injuries cost a city.
When I'm driving, I actually also appreciate LPI as that makes me more confident that I would drive safer. So this seems like a no brainer to me.
∞ Drink Free Beer in Silence at This New San Francisco Barbershop
David Sjostedt writes,
Catering to the overworked, the introverted and the way-too-baked, a new barbershop in San Francisco offers silent haircuts so that you no longer have to talk to your barber as they line you up.
At Beyond the Pale barbershop in the Mission District, there’s no need to say a word with the shop’s “silent mode” service, which was designed especially for shy techies and stoners, according to shop owner Anthony Larrasquitu.
“Ultimately, it’s about the freedom here. You get to pick the experience you want,” Larrasquitu said.
I love this. Ever since I can remember, I have always hated going to barbershops. I don't like the idea of having to talk to people while they are cutting something off my head. Then 7 years ago, I found the perfect solution: long hair.
This San Francisco Barbershop can be another great alternative!
∞ Devon Dundee’s Apps of 2023
Devon has a great list of apps:
But one of Devon's Apps of 2023 is not like the other:
Mango Baby
The app that’s had the most impact on my life over the past year has to be Mango Baby, a newborn tracker by Yilei Yang. It’s not a new release, but since my son Noah was born, Mango Baby has been an indispensable tool for keeping track of his care.
The app is so well-designed and makes it simple for me to log feedings, diapers, and more. The information I need most is always right at hand, often not even requiring that I open the app thanks to Mango Baby’s extensive set of widgets. Shortcuts actions allow me to log diaper changes hands-free, and the iCloud-based collaboration is rock-solid, keeping everything in sync between my devices and my wife’s.
I’m a fan of anything that helps my kid and makes my life a bit easier. Mango Baby does both of those things every day.
I'm always inspired to hear how Mango Baby is helping parents. It has motivated me to keep improving the app for years.
Leaving Substack
After reading the note, I decided to leave Substack. This is an easy decision.
However, I'm also pausing Mango Newsletter for now. Even though I could move it somewhere else, I couldn't make it a priority. I need to spend more time on the actual development of Mango Baby and my next app.
If you are still interested in a relatively low volume of the updates on my indie dev work, you can find Mango Umbrella at @MangoUmbrella@indieapps.space or @mango.umbrella@threads.net.
Default Apps 2023
I saw this from Jay Wilson and took it as a template.
This is what I’m using at the point and time of publishing.
📨 Mail Client: Gmail app on iOS and gmail.com on macOS
📮 Mail Server: Google
📝 Notes: Apple Notes
✅ To-Do: Apple Notes
📷 Photo Shooting: iPhone 14 Pro, Sony A7R III, Sony FE 70-200 F4 G
🎨 Photo Editing: Lightroom on macOS, Photomator on iOS
📆 Calendar: Google Calendar
📁 Cloud File Storage: Google Drive, iCloud Drive
🙍🏻♂️ Contacts: Apple Contacts
🌐 Browser: Safari on iOS, Chrome on macOS
💬 Chat: WeChat, iMessages, Discord, Google Talk or whatever it is called today
🔖 Bookmarks: Chrome
📑 Read It Later: Apple Notes
📜 Word Processing: Google Docs
📈 Spreadsheets: Google Sheets
📊 Presentations: Google Slides
🛒 Shopping Lists: Apple Notes
🍴 Meal Planning: Google Docs, physical paper on the fridge
💰 Budgeting and Personal Finance: Google Sheets
📰 News: Mastodon
🎵 Music: YouTube Music
🎤 Podcasts: Overcast
🔐 Password Management: Chrome, Apple Keychain, KeePassXC
🧑💻 Code Editor: VS Code, Xcode
🌲 Git Client: git, GitHub Desktop
🖥️ Terminal: iTerm2
📐 Design: Figma
📝 Blog: In-house Engine and Client
✈️ VPN: Google Fi
∞ BREAKING NEWS: Myke Hurley Posted a Thread Again
Myke Hurley, the British professional podcaster, co-founder of the podcast network Relay FM, Chief Product Designer and co-founder at Cortex Brand, logged in to Threads today and is asking how to get his threads on news:
Post by @imykeView on Threads
Does this count?