Juno for YouTube has been removed from the App Store

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

Overall reaction

  • Many commenters say they used the app heavily and are disappointed; they praise its design and the developer’s track record.
  • Some see a repeating pattern: high‑quality third‑party clients (for Reddit, YouTube, etc.) earn user love, then get shut down once they threaten platform control or monetization.

Who’s to blame: YouTube vs. Apple

  • Several posters point to YouTube as the initiator: it complained the app modified the site’s UI and used its branding; Apple removed the app after YouTube and the developer couldn’t agree.
  • Others argue Apple still shares responsibility because there is no practical sideloading on iOS/visionOS, making the App Store a single choke point that’s easy for large companies and governments to pressure.
  • By contrast, Android’s ability to sideload and use alternative stores is cited as allowing similar clients (e.g., NewPipe, SmartTube) to exist despite Google’s preferences.

Closed platforms, app stores, and user rights

  • Multiple comments call this a prime example of why alternative app stores and sideloading should be a user right.
  • Some explicitly contrast macOS (where users can run arbitrary programs) with iOS, iPadOS, and visionOS, describing the latter as “walled gardens.”
  • App Store guideline 5.2.2 about third‑party services is discussed; there’s debate over whether a public web/embed API is sufficient authorization or whether explicit permission is needed when modifying UI.

Business risk of building on others’ APIs

  • Commenters highlight the fragility of “derivative” businesses built on third‑party content and APIs; they can be cut off abruptly.
  • This case is tied to earlier Reddit client shutdowns. There’s extensive debate about whether that developer could have survived by raising prices vs. whether the new API terms were essentially designed to kill third‑party apps.
  • A long subthread disputes who “owns” user‑generated content on platforms like Reddit (legal license vs. moral ownership).

Alternatives and future directions

  • Suggestions include releasing the code (possibly open source), re‑implementing the UI as a browser userscript, or building clients for more open ecosystems (Fediverse, Hacker News).
  • Other YouTube frontends (Yattee, Invidious, Piped, FreeTube, NewPipe) are mentioned, but some are already facing technical and legal pressure, suggesting their long‑term viability is unclear.