I am an Apple user and pay for my subscriptions threw them (ApplePay) monthly and yearly. I am not comfortable with how Channels is asking me to pay (browser and credit card). I would like to sign up threw Apple on an annual basis… is this posable?
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This is not possible, sorry. Our service works on Linux, PC and other platforms and we are not interested in paying 30% fees to Apple.
FWIW, we use Stripe as our payment processor and your credit card info is handled completely by then. Your card number is never even sent to our server.
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Thank you so much for your reply. Your reply made the hair on the back of my neck stand up (no disrespect intended). To respond to your “This is not possible, sorry. Our service (just) works on Linux, PC and other platforms” is not true… you are already on Mac and iOS… the HD home run runs on AppleTV and iOS (Channels)… As far as paying 30% to Apple… most of the large media Apps, including Plex… are on Apple… and we Apple users are more than happy to pay the “Apple Tax” as part of the cost because of the security built into the system. Now as to “we use Stripe as our payment processor and your credit card info is handled completely by them. Your card number is never even sent to our server”. This is the part that makes my hair stand up… why in HELL would I be stupid enough to give my financial credentials to a "third party, no track record about security, gets hacked daily and a company (Channels) that passes the responsibility to third parties. I will be removing the HD HomeRun Box and will be installing a purpose built box (using VLC) to stream my “live channels” and a “spare” 20 Tb. drive to go mobile. I was using TiVo (lifetime paid menu) but they “upgraded” their interactive system… and it is now just nasty. I got off of Plex because it became a full time job to manage (4K media files). So like I said, no disrespect to your reply… I bet good money that this "thread’ will never see the light of day to your users… right???
Good luck, it is a shame that you have made the decision ahead of time for future users that would have gladly paid the Apple Tax to use your (otherwise) good product.
Thank You,
Alex Taylor
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I don’t think you understand the devs here, they’re very open, approachable, and reply quickly to issues. 
As for your security questions, Stripe is extremely secure and there’s no more security risk using Stripe for payments than using Apple Pay or PayPal.
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Alex,
As a regular Channels user, I am flummoxed by your vitriol response. Although I don’t represent this company I would like to give response anyway.
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Reguarding Stripe: they are actually a well respected processor, and I’m glad that they are being used. The have the backing of Sequoia Capital, Andreessen Horowitz, and PayPal co-founders Peter Thiel, Max Levchin, and Elon Musk.
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The Apple tax for the DVR makes no sense, since most people don’t run it on a Mac, and it can’t run on an iOS device, what are you buying in the Apple store when you are a linux server with Android clients?
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I want as many ways as possible for software developers to make money and not forced into poor arrangements. Apple is near a trillion dollars and they take 30% from some poor schmuck trying to sell a dollar app?
FYI, we have many different products under the Channels brand. The only one that requires payment via our website is the Channels DVR subscription.
If you’re just looking to use the Channels app for Apple TV or iPhone/iPad you can purchase those through the Apple App Store.
As for Channels DVR, Stripe offers Apple Pay integration as well which we plan to add to our website but haven’t gotten around to yet.
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See… I simply wanted to get a subscription. I stated that I am an Apple person, living under the protection that Apple gives, as you use it’s services. The response I got was hell no we don’t care about Mac users (who choose to pay the Apple Tax) indicating stupidity. Other responses explain the safety of third party financial services (fallacy). Please, let us choose to disagree. Being 75 years old (last Tuesday) being on the internet as it began, using computers that date back before the Mac (and PC) Ohio C-4 P… I think I know what I am talking about. ANY information that goes outside your “protected network” is fair game these days, even using the best security. I choose to stay as protected as I can, using Apple products. Thank you all for your responses and the best of luck in your endeavors.
Alex Taylor
Bye Felicia…
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As for Channels DVR, Stripe offers Apple Pay integration as well which we plan to add to our website but haven’t gotten around to yet.
Please do! That would be an excellent addition to your service.
I would like to chime in here. This is quite a hostile discussion I believe based on some (maybe?) misinformation?
I would love to see Apple Pay integration too but understand that Stripe is a reputable payment processing company as well. I dont know if the OP misunderstood thinking that FancyBits stores CC info on their servers but I would imagine that is not the case?
Also, tmm1 I dont believe that by implementing Apple Pay as a payment method that you have to pay Apple 30% of anything. They charge standard processing payment fees. I think the OP is just requesting for you guys to implement Apple Pay Payment method into the website for payment as it is very secure for us and is just an ‘additional’ payment method aside from the others. I may be wrong in my assumption based on his post. Not sure. My understanding is that it is quite easy to implement if you know the payment processing fundamentals.
All this being said. I understand that you are a 2-man team and that you are working tirelessly so I am personally not looking for any rush to do anything, but it would be a great feature!
Thanks as always for your hard work!!!
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Also the user doesn't actually ever provide their CC # to the vendor or the vendor's 3rd party handler. It's both secure and a one time transaction identifier, the reason Apple users love it so much. Our CC
companies don't have customer buying habits to peddle that way!