Apple highlights the 2023 top App Store apps and games

How many years in a row is that for Minecraft as top paid game? Incredible achievement. 

Looking at the top free iPhone apps from 4 to 10, do the people in this forum still believe that "Privacy" is a feature that is being actively used by the majority of the iPhone users? For those users who do value and use the Privacy feature, iPhone is the only option and there is simply no alterative option available to them.

Those who don't value their privacy (and looking at the top app usage, it seems to be a huge percentage of iPhone users fall into this category) - Wouldn't those users be better off financially by buying an Android phone at a much lower cost if they are NOT going to use the most-important differentiating feature from the other OS (except probably the niche users playing high-end games in their iphones)?

muthuk_vanalingam said:

Looking at the top free iPhone apps from 4 to 10, do the people in this forum still believe that "Privacy" is a feature that is being actively used by the majority of the iPhone users? For those users who do value and use the Privacy feature, iPhone is the only option and there is simply no alterative option available to them.

Those who don't value their privacy (and looking at the top app usage, it seems to be a huge percentage of iPhone users fall into this category) - Wouldn't those users be better off financially by buying an Android phone at a much lower cost if they are NOT going to use the most-important differentiating feature from the other OS (except probably the niche users playing high-end games in their iphones)?

You're applying rationality to an irrational decision. "Privacy" is both a set of functions, and a marketing conceit. The functions, like any, exists for the (tiny) audience that needs or wants a specific capability and has fully identified that want. The bucket of functions exists for people to pick and choose from as their decisions and commitments dictate (sort of like the maxim of Microsoft Word: Everyone might agree that it's too complicated, but everyone's list of what to cut to make it more simple is different). 

Marketing, however, is a manipulation designed to sell products. Once the money has changed hands, the role of marketing is done. People are attracted by the idea of privacy (or the idea of better photographs, or the idea of advanced gaming, or any one of a number of ideas that Apple crafts and presents as if the only pathway to achieve that is through an Apple product), but the reality is any of these ideas requires an investment from the individual—in time, follow through, research, and so on.

And so here we are. Apple talks a lot about privacy, Apple offers the tools to privacy, but by and large people don't really care about privacy. Or at least, not to the extent that they're willing to give up the things that otherwise define how they use their device. It's marketing, to sell iPhones. As many as possible. Whatever it takes. 

muthuk_vanalingam said:

Looking at the top free iPhone apps from 4 to 10, do the people in this forum still believe that "Privacy" is a feature that is being actively used by the majority of the iPhone users? For those users who do value and use the Privacy feature, iPhone is the only option and there is simply no alterative option available to them.

Those who don't value their privacy (and looking at the top app usage, it seems to be a huge percentage of iPhone users fall into this category) - Wouldn't those users be better off financially by buying an Android phone at a much lower cost if they are NOT going to use the most-important differentiating feature from the other OS (except probably the niche users playing high-end games in their iphones)?

Dunno. I also find the Apple supported trend "free with lofty iAP" absolutely horrendous. Not only do I want to know the real price in advance but it makes those Apps also hard to distinguish from the usual "hybrid" Apps which have iAP and pay with private information in combination and of course those that require a friggin subscription. I'll stay with my motto: If it's free -- it ain't for me.