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RadDevon ( RadDevon@lemmy.ml )  to Reddit@lemmy.mlEnglish · 3 years ago

Reddit now says it will allow free API access for developers of accessibility apps

www.neowin.net

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Reddit now says it will allow free API access for developers of accessibility apps

www.neowin.net

RadDevon ( RadDevon@lemmy.ml )  to Reddit@lemmy.mlEnglish · 3 years ago
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Reddit says that developers who make non-commercial accessibility apps that make use of the online forum's API services will now get "exemptions from our large-scale pricing terms."
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  • jonah ( jonah@lemmy.one ) 
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    3 years ago

    I would describe Apollo as an accessibility app in the sense that the regular Reddit app is unusable.

    • eggnog ( eggnog@sopuli.xyz ) 
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      3 years ago

      I would say the same about Relay

    • doofer_name ( doofer_name@feddit.de ) 
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      3 years ago

      I think this only applies to non-commercial apps. Since Apollo has a subscription I doubt it.

  • Shhalahr ( Shhalahr@beehaw.org ) 
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    3 years ago

    How do they define “accessibility app”. It sounds like almost every third party app is more accessible than the official app. So they’re all addressing accessibility needs.

    • 7heo ( 7heo@lemmy.ml ) 
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      3 years ago

      expired

  • smstnitc ( smstnitc@lemmy2.addictmud.org ) 
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    3 years ago

    Smells like damage control.

    They seem to be pretty bad at damage control.

  • Ulu-Mulu-no-die ( ulu_mulu@lemmy.world ) 
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    I believe it’s a bait.

    Over at r/ModCoord they say they held a private call with some developers, none of the 3rd party apps devs were invited apparently.

    There’s a sticky post containing full notes of the call (I don’t know if it’s ok to link reddit here so I won’t), their promises are really vague, “promising” to let some apps use the API for free is only one of them, they’re offering to postpone the API changes if mods don’t close the subs, and they’re making a lot of excuses for their very lacking tools, “promising” they’ll do better this time.

    If we consider they’re going public later this year, it makes sense they’re trying to damage control as much as possible so the protest doesn’t ruin their IPO, while actually having no intention to follow up on their words.

    If magazines start picking up on their empty words, like the article you linked, it could appear redditors are protesting for nothing, that would be really sad.

    • CheshireSnake ( CheshireSnake@lemmy.one ) 
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      3 years ago

      r/askhistorians has a good post about Reddit promises as well as other information about the API change here.

      • 𝒍𝒆𝒎𝒂𝒏𝒏 ( lemann@lemmy.one ) 
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        3 years ago

        That’s a really good explanation (if not one of the best IMO) focusing on the effects from a mod perspective. Not surprising that they’ve got a handy record of Reddit’s many past failed promises too

    • tetris11 ( tetris11@lemmy.ml ) 
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      You’re allowed to link AFAIK. Here’s the comment with all the details:

      https://www.reddit.com/r/ModCoord/comments/143rk5p/reddit_held_a_call_today_with_some_developers/jnbjtsc/

    • CannaVet ( CannaVet@lemmy.world ) 
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      3 years ago

      so the protest doesn’t ruin their IPO

      OOOOHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH that’s why they’re nuking everything. It’s only going to get worse once shareholders are involved. Guess I’ll stay on Lemmy then. shrug

  • Shhalahr ( Shhalahr@beehaw.org ) 
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    3 years ago

    Stickied comment here is what /r/Blind, one of the most prominent fighters for the accessibility features, has to say about it.

    https://www.reddit.com/r/Blind/comments/13zr8h2/reddits_recently_announced_api_changes_and_the/jnbkjed/

    They weren’t even invited.

    • 7heo ( 7heo@lemmy.ml ) 
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      3 years ago

      expired

    • seesaw ( seesaw@lemmy.ml ) 
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      3 years ago

      When you think of it it’s easy for /r/blind to go blackout

  • Mortuum ( mortuum@lemmy.world ) 
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    3 years ago

    “Non-commercial,” AKA give us all your hard work for free. No subscriptions, you won’t be compensated for your work. How are you supposed to make enough to support your app as a dev in this scenario? You’re not. It’s all PR damage control and it’s pathetic. Once again trying to profit off free labour.

  • henry ( henry@kbin.social ) 
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    3 years ago

    all the data are mine all the money is mine. mine. mine. mine.

    a totalitarian content vacuum, they created nothing : everything is written by you, linked by you and curated by you and now they want to charge you for looking at it.

    what the fuck happened to the internet.

    • rationalistfaith ( rationalistfaith@lemmy.ml ) 
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      3 years ago

      As all things, excessive greed is destroying everything.

    • Alkalyon ( Alkalyon@lemmy.ml ) 
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      3 years ago

      what the fuck happened to the internet.

      Capitalism got to it. Pretty simple I would say.

    • smstnitc ( smstnitc@lemmy2.addictmud.org ) 
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      3 years ago

      It’s a cycle. Everyone wants their piece of the pie, and a lot of companies shoot themselves in the foot trying to get it. I hope more people move to lemmy. It has real long term potential.

    • Jaximus ( Jaximus@lemmy.ml ) 
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      3 years ago

      It is the only natural conclusion of the market economy and societies that use it. Just check what is happening to democratic institutions globally. :)

    • krolden ( krolden@lemmy.ml ) 
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      3 years ago

      By submitting Your Content to Reddit, you grant us a royalty-free, perpetual, irrevocable, non-exclusive, unrestricted, worldwide license to reproduce, prepare derivative works, distribute copies, perform, or publicly display Your Content in any medium and for any purpose, including commercial purposes, and to authorize others to do so.

      This has been their policy for a long time

      • CmdrShepard ( CmdrShepard@lemmy.one ) 
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        3 years ago

        So if I post a link to a full length Star Wars movie, reddit now own the rights and distribution to said movie?

        That aside, their policy doesn’t mean anything if nobody is posting content for them to claim as their own and make money off of it.

  • SomethingOfAGirl ( SomethingOfAGirl@lemmy.ml ) 
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    3 years ago

    So include accessibility features in your already existing third party app and problem solved? Or does it need to be an app exclusively for people with disabilities?

    • OOFshoot ( OofShoot@beehaw.org ) 
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      3 years ago

      “Non-commercial” is still going to kill all development for all the third party apps regardless. This is surprisingly worse than their original decision, because now they can try and pretend like it’s other people’s problems to make their website accessable.

      • duringoverflow ( duringoverflow@kbin.social ) 
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        that’s not true. There are open source 3rd-parties like Infinity that are non-commercial.

        • Wenchette ( Wenchette@lemmy.ml ) 
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          3 years ago

          Infinity is awesome, I’m really going to miss it

          • 𝒍𝒆𝒎𝒂𝒏𝒏 ( lemann@lemmy.one ) 
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            The developer hasn’t said Infinity’s being killed afaik, he appears to be considering having users enter their own Reddit API keys, although really that’s going to be a barrier for some

            https://www.reddit.com/r/Infinity_For_Reddit/comments/13xb61g/how_will_infinity_react_to_new_api_cost_will_this/jmqnwzp/

            This isn’t a viable solution in my opinion though, depending on whatever restrictions Reddit chooses. Atm we know the new API won’t allow access to NSFW labelled content, but there could be other limitations coming when users start plugging their own keys into apps

            • Wenchette ( Wenchette@lemmy.ml ) 
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              Thanks, I have no idea what “entering your own API key” even means, so yeah, definitely a barrier for me

  • itchy_lizard ( itchy_lizard@lemmy.ml ) 
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    3 years ago

    breadcrumbs for the plebs

  • StarkillerX42 ( StarkillerX42@lemmy.ml ) 
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    3 years ago

    I can’t wait for Reddit to “meet us halfway” between their absurd API policy and what we currently have, and somehow expect us to be greatful.

  • WhoRoger ( WhoRoger@lemmy.world ) 
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    3 years ago

    Well like, of course. But that’s still 0.1% of the bare minimum that’s needed.

  • Disgusted_Tadpole ( Disgusted_Tadpole@lemmy.ml ) 
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    3 years ago

    It’s a trap

  • Padraig Fahy 🌈 ( padraig@mastodon.ie ) 
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    @RadDevon Nothing more than a thinly veiled acknowledgement of the current protest.

    Doesn’t matter if they extend it from July to September, it’s _still_ going to be implemented. What a joke of a website.

  • Jongaros ( Jongaros@lemmy.ml ) 
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    3 years ago

    They also send 7 million dollar estimate to community app with no monetization or ads so you can’t take what they say to face value.

  • Gabtraf ( Gabtraf@lemmy.ml ) 
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    What’s to stop all 3rd party app users migrating to accessibility focused 3rd party apps rather than the 1st party one?

    • rothaine ( rothaine@beehaw.org ) 
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      “non-commercial”. Resumable that means the app devs can’t make money from it. Which excludes many of the most popular apps

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