EU Chief Calls on Apple CEO Tim Cook to Open Hardware and Software Ecosystem

[NEPOBABY]

Ah!!!

EU and UK!!

Great regulators!!!

Amazing stuff.

For over a decade they took dirty money from the Russians, Emirates and China.

They sold millions of residential properties to the criminal dirty money launderers in China and Singapore.

EU and UK citizens are paying rent to these criminals.

All the money flowing out of the pockets of poor EU and UK renters into offshore bank accounts owned by anonymous criminals.

Shell companies run by criminals own so much of EU and UK.

And now these same politicians want your devices and digital data to become victim to the same "OPENNESS".

 

[hans1972]

Who will determine which is the better evil? An entity set up by a group of governments elected by multiple people for the express purpose of making such determinations and will be held accountable for their decisions or Apple fanbois? I think it is a no brainer.

Customers should decide, not the government.

 

[Beautyspin]

It’s not Apple’s fault that German and French companies have been largely unable to create competitive personal tech or digital services.

In Germany they are still using cash, sending faxes and queuing at government / state offices to get things done. I doubt France is much different when it comes to digitalisation.

There is actually very little one can’t do using public APIs on an iPhone. Using NFC for payments is the only major “locked down” HW element in an iPhone these days.

Apple Pay launched in 2015 and came to Europe soon after. It’s really a bit late now. Banks won’t start implementing their own wallets anymore. Effectively nobody did that on Android either.

It gets quite ridiculous if companies aren’t allowed to have any “proprietary” features anymore. Even AirPod’s easy pairing would probably be considered illegal under DMA.

Oh and allowing Chrome to use Google’s own rendering engine will seal Google’s total victory in web technology space. It won’t foster innovation - even MS dumped their own tech in favor of Google’s.

Sideloading will cause a flood of fake banking apps etc. to hit iPhone too, just like on Android.

Really. So, you believe there are no scam apps in the store now? You think Apple is doing a good job now? Maybe this can help you.

84 dangerous scam apps found on iPhone App Store stealing your money; check full list of apps

Nearly 7 million iPhone users are in danger from these 84 scam apps on Apple App Store. Known as fleecewear, they are stealing money and must be deleted from phones.

tech.hindustantimes.com

Online Security Coverage | Tom's Guide

The latest Online Security news, comment, reviews and features from the experts at Tom's Guide

www.tomsguide.com

Pig-butchering scam apps sneak into Apple’s App Store and Google Play

In online confidence scams, appearance is everything—and app stores can help with that.

arstechnica.com

PSA: Watch Out for Fake ChatGPT Apps and Other Scams in the Mac App Store

There have long been complaints from developers and App Store users about apps that offer limited functionality and charge high prices in an effort...

www.macrumors.com

Apple’s tightly controlled App Store is teeming with scams

Apple claims its App Store is carefully curated so that only the best apps get through. The truth is, the App Store is littered with scams and "fleeceware," which uses fake user ratings to trick customers into paying for something they don't want.

www.washingtonpost.com

The list goes on

 

[t76turbo]

There is a reason why US is not considered the best country in the world to live in, because of all the “FREEDOM” you guys get.

Let customer choose. Choose what? They have next to no input on what next iPhone should be. Or any phone for that matter.

What do you mean “higher quality laws”? You can’t reduce the complexity of the real world, period. Eventually more laws will be introduced to combat the emerging trend. That’s just how it works.

Way to type a LOT without saying anything.

We Americans can vote with our purchasing power. Cash if you will. If we don’t like it as the person you quoted said, we can look elsewhere. And there are a LOT of phones to chose from where we are. Its called free will. Its also called personal responsibility. For your actions and your choices.

 

[playtech1]

Overall I think the DMA will cause only a fairly small dent to Apple's profitability in the short and medium term because of the extra competition in an area (iOS software) it previously had exclusive gatekeeper control over.

From a consumer perspective I think it will be a mixed bag. Some definite benefits in terms of accessing software that Apple has previously forbidden or made impractical (e.g. Xbox Gamepass) and potentially a renewed interest in iOS apps from devs (which IMHO badly need a shot in the arm). On the other hand if Netflix et al all steer people to competing App stores then it will fragment things - similar to Steam/uPlay/Epic/Xbox on the desktop.

Personally I think it's a good thing for Apple - it will have to try harder in areas which it has left alone in part because it could.

 

[webkit]

Customers should decide, not the government.

And what about those customers who decided they wanted an iPhone because it has iMessage, Safari, Pages, Keynote, Numbers, etc. but want to get their other apps from someplace besides Apple's App Store?

The reality is that government antitrust regulations aren't going to be able to satisfy everybody whether on the consumer side or business side. I'm sure many consumers in the 1990s were quite happy being able to get a browser for free (IE) instead of potentially having to pay for one (Netscape Navigator) but that didn't make Microsoft's actions in that market fair.

 

[Kierkegaarden]

Spoken like a true socialist — give up your innovations for all to profit off. This clown is oblivious to the fact that most major tech innovations came from US companies because they weren’t stifled by EU regulations from the beginning.

The EU wants to regulate, because they can’t innovate.

 

[Fred Zed]

Soon Samsung will be making iOS devices under license HAHAHA
Joking aside, EU laws can go to ...

 

[Gudi]

Hardware?

For example the NFC chip in every iPhone, which iOS restricts only for use with its own Pay service.

 

[Beautyspin]

Why doesn’t the EU just tap into the huge font of technical expertise in the EU and build the companies with the vision they want? Likely, because it’s hard to do so with the regulations they have in place.

That is not the EU's business. THeir business is to make laws. Apple can take it or leve the EU. Of course, they will have to leave UK, Japan, South Korea, and probably USA also once they make similar laws after seeing the benefits. What will they do then? Crawl back to the EU with their tail between their legs? Lol!

Also, as someone pointed out earlier, any CEO who takes the decision to quit the EU will become unemployed immediately.

 

[bcortens]

Not sure abut the EU specifically, but according to Statcounter Chrome has about 59% share of the mobile browser market in Europe while Safari has around 31%. In the U.S., Safari has around 52% while Chrome has 42%.

Desktop marketshare is closer to 70% which approaches control territory since no other browser cracks 15%.

Since mobile has no competition right now on iOS I would argue that the Chrome vs Safari share on mobile is closer to measuring platform share than browser share.

 

[bousozoku]

can’t wait to see everyone mentally contort themselves to defend billion dollar tech companies and think that’s normal in the comments 🍿

I can't imagine having governments in control of everything being a good thing and that seems to be where they're going.

 

[AF_APPLETALK]

There is a reason why US is not considered the best country in the world to live in, because of all the “FREEDOM” you guys get.

Let customer choose. Choose what? They have next to no input on what next iPhone should be. Or any phone for that matter.

What do you mean “higher quality laws”? You can’t reduce the complexity of the real world, period. Eventually more laws will be introduced to combat the emerging trend. That’s just how it works.

I'm sure life in the EU must be just great - if you're filthy rich and connected.

As bad as our elite class is, those little freedoms we do have make a huge difference in quality of life and give us far more latitude over our own lives than EU citizens have. Our federated system delegates power to states which in turn limits totalitarian actions by Washington DC.

Based on the tone of your messages here I'm not sure you'll get it, but the EU, much like AU, looks like an open-air prison to us. Can't question authority else you'll get taken off the to gulags.

 

[Gudi]

It was ridiculous when Microsoft had to suffer this kind of nonsense, and it's equally ridiculous now for Apple.
I don't even use iOS but the EU really doesn't have a clue about its priorities.

Ridiculous was Microsofts attempt to integrate the file explorer and internet explorer, so that users won't see no difference between Windows 98 and the internet. Just one of many shady MS tactics to harm the competition and build a monopoly.

 

[tranceme]

I don't see how opening up software and hardware will impact the 'ecosystem'. If you want stuff to work together just carry on using Apple apps.

Well, you are being force to basically make everything you do an API for others. Which is an already a ton of work. Part of reason iOS and MacOS sucks at time is because they need to be able to support old crap for others to code against. Reason why Windows blows for many years. It's not like Apple is the only company with smart people. Microsoft has them too. But, most of the time they are limited because of all the support for all those variances of software and hardware. Apple's close system has allowed to them change things to their liking.

By the way, your argument goes the other way too. If you don't want the Apple eco system, buy something else. Why do people need the square peg to go into the round hole.

 

[NMBob]

Oh cool! I guess Airbus will be forced to start buying Boeing parts. There's probably a bunch of spares for the 737 Max.

 

[tranceme]

Is Apple the only company making phones or computers? Seems like it in the EU.

 

[triptolemus]

Anyone using the term "monopoly" in their post should be required to define it alongside their content.

Seems to be a very fluid term moving with the waves of bias used in a way that suits a narrative.

That and a lot of folks just don't seem to know what it means at all nor do they seem to care.

 

[djphat2000]

People are being too blinkered in their view on this. The mobile phone has become more than just a mobile phone, it has now become a device that in most part is an essential part of how society functions which means the iphone goes way beyond just being a mobile phone. Companies of all nature are now requiring people to install company app's on their phone. Medical services, utility companies, banks, retailers, local authorities, it is becoming increasing difficult to live and work in today's society without the use of a mobile phone.

Apple is only 1 company that makes the hardware and software. Google makes one with the Pixel and Android.
Android OS is available to other handset manufactures (of which there are many). They can use the vanilla version or modify it. So, you have plenty of choices. Of which many are "open".

Therefore as a result, due to it's importance in today's society, it cannot be a closed system controlled only by one company who can do as it pleases.

That should not have any bearing on Apple being closed. As you have a choice to use another product. I can prove that by hoping (stating) that Apple stops selling iPhones in the EU. Right after that happens. All EU citizens will HAVE to buy an Android phone if they want/need a mobile phone. Or blackmarket an iPhone.

This attitude/behavior might be ok in the US, it certainly is not in the EU, hence why the EU is asking for Apple to be more open.

The EU policy on this is flawed (They are also not asking). I can also prove that by what the EU has as a rule for noncompliance. What was it.. 10% or so of world wide turn over? Like really? You want to base your fine on what a company makes all over the world? The EU is not the world, so "it" should have no rights to anyones world wide turn over. At best, whatever is made within your borders.

Pull out Apple. Let them eat cake.

 

[Gudi]

I think it's more of politicians acting like gods and putting narrow fitting rules on specific companies. It doesn't matter how much a company makes. Why don't they start by regulating one, single type of an electric plug in Europe!

You mean the EU plug? Which works in all the green areas of the world.

 

[Ctrlos]

I predict the usual tide of comments defending a capitalist company that doesn't care about them and ignoring historic monopolies like AT&T and US Oil.

More choice for consumers is a good thing and Apple's desktop software is a good example of how well it works. Rival app platforms won't make any dent in the App Store because they don't on Android but having a choice of apps for NFC payments can be useful.

 

[Sophisticatednut]

I like this except for "Safari". If users can install Chrome on iPhones, then there will be no other browser engines used and Chrome will get total monopoly!
Note: Current Chrome App is running on top of Safari, i.e. using the the WebKit development engine from Safari. Originally Chrome was built on top of this same engine, but that changed a few years ago

Well… perhaps better browsers should be developed to compete. Having artificial protection for safari doesn’t make it competitive

 

[Gudi]

So let me see if I have this right... the EU basically wants Apple to make it so that anyone can install any OS on any device that Apple makes? And, that Apple should sell every single hardware part to every single device they make to anyone anytime? Do I have this right?

No, you don't. You got everything wrong.

 

[Gudi]

what's the point of building and investing in a platform if you can't reap the rewards of doing so?

You can sell useful products to your customers, who will reap the benefits they payed for.

 

[gpat]

Ridiculous was Microsofts attempt to integrate the file explorer and internet explorer, so that users won't see no difference between Windows 98 and the internet. Just one of many shady MS tactics to harm the competition and build a monopoly.

Yeah, that's when the EU didn't even lift a finger.
Imposing a ballot screen for browser choice 10 years later was very useful though.