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New EU Law Could Force Apple to Allow Other App Stores, Sideloading, and iMessage Interoperability
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I don't read it as a 'we're jealous that a US company has so much power', I more read it that the EU is concerned that two companies essentially have a duopoly over mobile platforms and much of the commerce that goes on in them and they find that concerning.
It's an interesting thought experiment though that if Nokia - a Finnish company - had realised where things were going and had made a proper smartphone platform in time that dominated instead of Android, would it be subject to these laws? I would like to think 'yes'.
Yes, phantom of choice. Duopoly.
Oh do you? So many stuff hiding behind ToS and fancy marketing words. If no one bother checking vpn leaking we might never know iOS vpn system was compromised from the start, just an example.
The problem, as always, is the lack of competing operating systems and ecosystems.
This EU regulation does nothing to address that core problem.
Yes, that is EXCATLY what they are talking about right now. Cant wait for when they disable people from sending email to any email other than the ones ending with icloud.com
Oh boy, are you in for a surprise when you get to read the reason behind apple putting USB-C connector to their phone
People complain about the EU regulations, but the US even tried to force Apple to circumvent their encryption and give law enforcement access to the devices of potential criminals. Of course EU authorities would also love to have that access, but the EU does not have secret courts that could even put you in jail if you talk about getting sued at those secret courts. So I am much more concerned about the control that the US has over their companies. They can threaten even high level managers like the bosses of Google with jail time if they do not cooperate. If you believe Edward Snowden, Yahoo was heavily cooperating with law enforcement and even gave them secret rooms in their data centers. That's what people should be worried about: Your own government spying on you, because every citizen is a potential terrorist.
Trouble is allowing someone to side load an app can cause trouble to other OS users... you opened the door and let in any code. This code then gets to connect to others in while not necessarily infecting them as well, can cause whatever behaviour it wants such as hogging resources, impacting battery life, accessing photos and possibly other files.
If Apple are forced to allow other App Stores or sideloading, I hope they mark these phones as non Apple devices and not trust them with original OS devices.
The only way back into the walled garden would be a complete factory reset.
The EU are pandering to a few who hope to exploit the security changes required.
I have seen first hand what an Android device with dodgy code did at a previous workplace.
Every time that phone connected, it killed the network and inconvenienced other users of phones and laptops on the network. Eventually the IT guys worked out who it was, booted them, and raised the firewalling. This in turn affected a genuine workplace app I supported. All because someone ignorantly installed a fun app without thinking... many many hours lost.
Those whinging about 30% to Apple must never have wondered how much physical store mark up items... a friend once worked in a clothing store and staff were forced to wear the brand. Her "at cost" wardrobe was outrageously cheap compared to the original ticket price. Does anyone really think a $4000 handbag costs that much to make?
Funny how governments who create no value feel entitled to reach into others' success and try to plunder and control what they do.
If everyone were like these people, there'd be nothing of value to mess with in the first place.
If everyone were like these people, there'd be nothing of value to mess with in the first place.
The problem on Android of course is that Google itself is not a very trustable company. Google showed several times in the past that it does not care about the privacy requests of users. If users did not allow cookies, Google just used other tricks to identify them. Browser fingerprinting for example or even the typing pattern, which is individual for every person on the planet. They even mapped millions of WIFI networks to get the location of a user even if GPS is disabled and he uses a VPN. So sideloading on Android means giving Google less control of what you install. Google's own apps are usually the worst privacy offenders. Even their Chrome browser collects much more private data than all other browsers like Opera or Edge that also use the Chromium engine.
I am not sure how trustworthy Apple is. It goes more and more into the as business and that might affect many of its decisions. Will it still prioritise privacy, if a single switch of a setting can cost Apple a billion dollars or more per year?
I am not sure how trustworthy Apple is. It goes more and more into the as business and that might affect many of its decisions. Will it still prioritise privacy, if a single switch of a setting can cost Apple a billion dollars or more per year?
No, you’re free to download your apps vetted from Apple’s App Store only and not trust third-party developers or stores.
That’s true for some (especially in thread like this) but not most people. Most people buy their devices and OS for design, ease of use, value, familiarity - not because they think “ hell yeah, finally a device that prevents me from installing what I want”.
Nothing more than a ludicrous conspiracy theory. They want a more competitive and level-playing-field market for apps and services. We’ll see if the regulation achieves its objective.
How (much) is Apple creating value value in charging 30% for a user’s Netflix subscription?
Let them try, I am sure I will never sideload anything, even if I have to limit myself to stock apps only.
Wondering when similar legislation is passed for XBox, Nintendo and PlayStation?
In europe, sending transfers requires 2FA with app/sms codes. U can login to bank account with user-pass, and check everything, but nothing more....
That is true for any and every internet-accessing device.
Whether you run a sideloading or jailbroken device or not, other devices can (try to) connect to it. And hog resources. So can apps - whether they’re downloaded from the App Store or not.
If an app on my phone accesses your files or photos on your phone(without you sharing them to me), you need not worry about sideloading.
You should rather worry about having an insecure phone OS in the first place.
That's in the USA.
It's not relevant for EU. when we talk about EU, you should keep US laws away as they have zero relevance or impact
i recomend you actualy check what companies owns what. A government represents you. a company does not.
Well that sucks. So you have to own a phone to transfer money. What a bunch of BS.
Why the hell do messaging apps needs to be interoperable? It makes no sense.
Totally agree.
If I want messages from people on Telegram, then I will install Telegram.
The fact that I have NOT installed it is a big gd indicator that I do not want messages from those people.
You don't necessarily have to use Toyota (brand) parts for your Toyota or Ford (brand) parts for your Ford as there are often third party options, as well as third party retailers to buy from.
Yes, we usually do let the market decide but the problem here is that Apple has a dominant position in mobile OS and by restricting alternative app stores in that market, they are basically preventing the market from deciding.
Microsoft behaved similarly in the 1990s with things like browsers. They had a dominant position in desktop OS and by including IE with Windows they sold as well as making deals with computer companies regarding including IE and/or not including Netscape Navigator with Windows, they were basically preventing the market from deciding. This led to government lawsuits and Microsoft wasn't even being as restrictive with Windows as Apple is with iOS. At least with Windows, the end user could still easily install Navigator or other browsers if they chose.
Apple not only restricts alternative app stores, browser engines, etc. on iPhones/iOS they sell and those sold by retailers like AT&T, Best Buy, etc., but they go even further by restricting what end users can do. In that sense, Apple is trying to block competition even more than Microsoft was trying to block competition.
Netflix does not pay commission to apple as they do not offer membership creation or subscription though iOS app.
Competitiveness is their objective, but they are disregarding safety, complexity for the users, not to mention security.