EDIT: I posted an update to this post regarding NSFW content. It seems it will only apply to sexually explicit content, and they will have more details soon.

That was one of the more confusing aspects, especially when everything else sounded pretty (in theory) reasonable, so I'm hoping they'll follow up with a correction there. Much of (all?) the NSFW content isn't even hosted on Reddit itself, but sites like Imgur and RedGIFs.

Actions speak louder than words/promises so I'm also holding out judgment until prices are actually revealed, but they sounded reasonable on the call, and logically I would like to think they wouldn't roll out this entire system with claims of making it reasonable if they ultimately just priced everyone out of it.

That's an excellent question and one that is completely contingent on how reasonable they are with pricing. I would very much like to keep it. I've disabled new purchases of it in the meantime however.

From what they said, it sounds like their stated plans are the opposite at least (paid, but better API support, no ads, etc.)

Ah yeah. I’m really confused about the NSFW thing because it sounds at odds with everything else they were saying. And regarding ads, they said those won’t be integrated into the paid API feed regardless, so nothing to block there.

Don't give him any ideas.

I think an ad-supported version of Apollo to enable free use could be cool, but I admittedly have no idea how to do that and have never really worked with ads. Makes me wish iAd still existed.

Already have.

At this stage there is no contract as the details of everything on Reddit's end are still being finalized, but I'll be certainly thorough in reviewing them once they're presented. I'll save this comment and potentially reach out to you as well, that offer is super kind of you

They weren't completely clear in answering that, but they did make it sound like that would be a reasonable thing to expect with a paid API.

My PayPal tip jar is [email protected] but I don't want to give the impression that I'm about to lose the roof over my head or anything, I'll be fine one way or another!

For what it's worth, I totally agree. I have no issue with Reddit requesting to be paid, an API being free indefinitely is not tenable. However what they land on in regards to the pricing is the key factor with how tenable it is for both parties.

The issue with caching requests is that so much information is encoded into each individual user’s request. For instance if I show you a “generic” cached API response for a comments thread, and you upvoted one of the posts 4 hours ago, the returned items wouldn’t show any info about how you interacted with the items

To be clear that's not my argument that's theirs.

That's a good thing to know, thank you for the support

Oh wow you're not at Reddit anymore?

I honestly don't know the answer to those questions until they release the pricing for the API.

How would you suggest I pay for a backend if people like yourself are unwilling to pay?

That's really awesome of you to offer, thank you, I'll probably take you up on that. I guess it's a function of A) how bizarre/annoying are the ads, and B) would they provide enough income to offset the costs of the API.

No all good just wanted to make sure!

I would agree, hopefully we'll be able to firm up an agreement there.

I think that would be a totally reasonable ask and I was thinking the same thing.

I noted that in the post above as well, very interesting timing

I'm open to anything dependent on the pricing they announce.

Could you link to some examples? Happy to bring it up with them.

Thanks for that information that's all very good to know.

Any plans I make are completely contingent on the pricing they release.

I would have to read the API contract once released but I haven't heard anything prohibiting that, especially given you can already do that with the existing API (many apps other than Apollo do)

Neither of those is a given at this point, it's contingent on API pricing. If pricing is very reasonable, a free tier could potentially exist wherein I could partially just eat the cost, or even an ad-supported tier.

Nowhere did I say I believed that, their actions will be the determining factor in whether I believe that. That post is simply some bullet points outlining what they said to me.

You can always unsubscribe from Reddit Premium.

Yes Apollo is profitable as is, and hopefully that would remain if the API pricing is reasonable, just less profitable. And thanks my friend will save the comment!

Ads are not shown through the API no, and there's no way to show them. I don't believe there's anything preventing an individual developer from integrating their own ads, however, such as Google Admob, to help pay for the fee for free users. But that's dependent on the pricing Reddit announces.

Appreciate the support my friend :)

Of course, but at this point they haven't even finalized the API plans, so I'd have nothing to show to a lawyer.

If it's worth using with third party apps, third party apps have an ongoing worth to you and I would consider the option of paying.

I honestly have no clue until they reveal the pricing of the API.

I honestly have no clue about pricing on my end, it's all dependent on what Reddit charges.

Are you buying? :)

That was discussed yeah and something I would like.

Unsure but happy to ask.

I'm guessing their argument would be when you do it through the official Reddit app or website they are able to show you ads and profit more from your use than with third party apps, hence the new pricing.

Seems that way, but you're welcome to no longer pay for Reddit Premium if you primarily use Apollo.

I would definitely consider that.

Even accountless viewing of Reddit still uses the API and would have an associated cost.

Appreciate the thorough comment

Ohh, yeah I was aware of that, thought they meant something to do with Reddit

The 60 refresh limit will no longer be free for apps like Apollo. That's a good question about individual API keys.

I think that would be fine, that's not pornographic which is more what this is targeting.

I'm not trying to lift anything for Reddit, simply telling you what they said.

That means the world, I'd pretty much be feeling around in the dark otherwise haha.

They have not mentioned it to me at least :p

Thanks my friend

There's definitely negativity overall, what I meant was that it could be positive if it cements a clear path forward for Reddit supporting third party apps.

That's definitely an option worth exploring as well.

Thanks my friend.

That depends on a lot of things.

A contract with the API ideally.

For NSFW content, that depends on Reddit, hoping to get an updated answer on that.

For pricing of Apollo, that also depends on the pricing Reddit announces, I can't make any decisions until I know that.

That was one of the features discussed yeah and they said they will follow up.

You can already do that, if you add your SO to your Apple ID family you can share the Apollo purchase automatically, even if you have different Apple IDs.

It indeed sounds like Reddit Premium is a completely separate thing. On the positive side, that means you no longer need to subscribe to it if you wish to use third party apps solely

Could you elaborate on why you think I should lawyer up?

No, depending on how Reddit prices their API and how the developers of Reddit is Fun respond to it

Yes they will.

That's not clear at this point.

Curious, when you say that are you referring to sexually explicit content? I received clarification that they're just looking at affecting sexually explicit content at the moment.

To be clear it's only sexually explicit content they're potentially censoring, not "regular" NSFW.

That means a lot :)

What D&D change are you referring to?

Sorry, that would help wouldn't it. It's basically a system that allows developers to access Reddit information. If it's blocked, those apps no longer have a system to communicate with Reddit.

Ideally!

Apple doesn't allow apps with the sole purpose of consuming NSFW content, if a platform happens to have NSFW content in addition to SFW content, and is properly moderated with the means for users to opt out of any NSFW content, it is acceptable.

Right, right, I understand what you mean

Gotcha, thought you meant it was something Reddit themselves did.

Could you elaborate on this? Is there a requirement or something for LGBTQ communities to mark their content as NSFW?

I'm not sure that's possible but something I can look into and ask about.

Of course, consider this a canary where if I suddenly stop updating you on things they likely asked me not to share.

Ohh, I see what you mean, gotcha gotcha

They're only discussing removing NSFW content of the sexual nature.

I got clarification today that the NSFW impact as it stands is to do with sexually explicit content only and normal NSFW content is fine, but they'll clarify further about sexually explicit content.

Agreed.

You can already purchase/give awards in Apollo, you just have to acquire the tokens ahead of time on the website.

At this point where not very much information has been given to us: both unfortunately

Thanks for the kind words :)

That is not clear at this point.

Appreciate it. They clarified that it's only sexually explicit content, so that would be fine, as you would have to be a real sicko to find any of that sexually explicit when it's purely medical.

Of course!

It certainly wouldn't be a good thing in all aspects, but one good aspect would be that it would give Apollo and other third party apps a clear path forward in terms of how they benefit Reddit and where they stand.

It doesn't look like you'll have flexibility, no, subscribing to Reddit through Reddit Premium has nothing to do with the paid API, which means you don't have to pay for Reddit Premium if you don't want to.

Thank you :)

That depends completely on what they reveal the pricing to be.

Dang Apollo Omega low key sounds pretty dope though

Yep plan to bring that up as well and feel that would be very reasonable.

I imagine they would do it on a subreddit level, where some subreddits are indeed tagged by the associated content.

I cannot disable Reddit's as API requests go through them by the nature of how APIs work, but you can always (free or otherwise) disable the few used in Apollo to make the app better (some crash reporting and basic analytics, in Settings tab > About > Crash Reports & Analytics).

That depends on a lot of things.

I could also just integrate the ads myself

Do you have a source for that being their largest account percentage? If so many accounts are based on NSFW content, why do they have so few subscribers in those subreddits compared to SFW ones?

Don't get me wrong, NSFW content is significant, but I think Reddit has an even more massive side of just regular subreddits.

The sentence after the one you copied contains my explanation for why I think it has the potential to have positive aspects.

The API from what they said will be usage based, so every request you make to Reddit (loading a subreddit, viewing a thread, commenting, etc.) will have an associated cost. Hopefully each one will ultimately be very low. If you only use it sparingly you could subscribe for that period then unsubscribe.

Apple does allow apps to require a subscription to use, yes, see apps like Netflix. They just need to make this requirement clear.

As I said I'm not passing any judgment until prices and details are actually revealed.

Why would there be ads and subscriptions? Reddit explicitly said they would not force ads on the paid API.

It would only be sexually explicit content, if that.

I understand your concern but I don't see that happening to LGBT subreddits currently unless I'm mistaken in which case please point out examples.

Yes that's mentioned at the top, Reddit Premium is a separate thing and would not affect third party apps in any capacity. You could always cancel Premium and use the third party apps directly.