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Apple blocks Google from running its internal iOS apps

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Re: Apple blocks Google from running its internal iOS apps

#111

Post by yuchi »

ancorevard wrote: post #77

Got to give Apple credit for staying consistent. One thing is to break the rules Apple put down to keep iOS users safe and secure which is what Apple is targeting here, but another thing is just being stupid and unethical. Regardless of their (FB+G) cries of "they consented to it", who really thinks a 13 year old understand the technical implications of installing a root certificate on their iPhone?

No root cert was involved. Apps built with an enterprise distribution profile, once correctly signed, can be installed on any device. The limit is that it must be an employee’s device. This last rule, broken by GOOG and FB, is exclusively enforced through legal actions.

Re: Apple blocks Google from running its internal iOS apps

#112

Post by rootusrootus »

benologist wrote: post #69
dombili wrote: post #4

I don't want to pass judgment on whether Google (or in the previous case, Facebook) was in the wrong, but it doesn't sit well with me that Apple wields so much power on what software their phones can run after it sells them. You may very well think that they're using their power sparingly and benevolently, but who is to say that will be the case next time around?

This will hopefully push Google, Facebook and others to favor web technologies over iOS, a win for open platforms.

Neither Google nor Facebook have the least amount of interest in open platforms, so I would not hold your breath.

Re: Apple blocks Google from running its internal iOS apps

#113

Post by jechamt »

askafriend wrote: post #43

Let’s say you’re using a Google API like Maps, and you violate terms by snapshotting sections of their maps and storing them on your severs so you can serve static maps without making API calls. They’d shut down your API access immediately Google and Facebook both knew the terms. They both knew that the Enterprise Distribution Program was for internal use only. They still put ads out in the wild to recruit regular co…

This is the key sentiment I feel is missing from much of the discussions (and in some cases, reporting) taking place surrounding these events this week. Thank you for posting it.

It's useful to discuss the philosophical implications of any tech company having too much power. To add the most to that discussion, it's helpful to understand that these actions are not directly affecting customers (aside from those who were using these enterprise apps outside their intended scope).

Re: Apple blocks Google from running its internal iOS apps

#114

Post by grumpopotamus »

stevenjohns wrote: post #47

Extremely happy with my decision to get an iPhone. Events like these are what is going to keep me as a customer moving forward, too. I unplugged[0] from Google Last year - went DDG for search, went to iOS, dropped gmail for fastmail, etc. As time goes on I’m continually reaffirmed that I made the right decisions. [0] I still use some Google services, like YouTube, frequently, some of my mail still goes through Gmail,…

Is getting an iPhone the only reasonable path? I tried this briefly on Android, but various other apps started complaining that Play was not installed.

Re: Apple blocks Google from running its internal iOS apps

#115

Post by gwbas1c »

askafriend wrote: post #43

Let’s say you’re using a Google API like Maps, and you violate terms by snapshotting sections of their maps and storing them on your severs so you can serve static maps without making API calls. They’d shut down your API access immediately Google and Facebook both knew the terms. They both knew that the Enterprise Distribution Program was for internal use only. They still put ads out in the wild to recruit regular co…

Is it really clear? Are the people they were paying technically Google and Facebook employees / contractors?

Re: Apple blocks Google from running its internal iOS apps

#116

Post by ken »

gojomo wrote: post #81
_bxg1 wrote: post #51

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yeah, I read that article. It was a pretty bad take. Apple isn't "Thanos-snapping", it's enforcing its own terms of use which are very clearly laid out. Both Facebook and Google knowingly breached those terms, and they got caught. That's all there is to it.

If you think they're "very clearly laid out", can you quote the relevant sections, and definitions, from the terms that make it so? I've been searching, and asking, and not seen them yet.

On the Apple Developer Enterprise Program webpage [1], the first big feature (of four) is "Deploy In-house Apps" -- "within your organization", "to your employees' devices".

I'm not sure how it could be much clearer that this is not intended to be used to distribute apps to customers.

[1]: https://developer.apple.com/programs/enterprise/

Re: Apple blocks Google from running its internal iOS apps

#117

Post by [deleted] »

askafriend wrote: post #43

Let’s say you’re using a Google API like Maps, and you violate terms by snapshotting sections of their maps and storing them on your severs so you can serve static maps without making API calls. They’d shut down your API access immediately Google and Facebook both knew the terms. They both knew that the Enterprise Distribution Program was for internal use only. They still put ads out in the wild to recruit regular co…

[deleted]

Re: Apple blocks Google from running its internal iOS apps

#118

Post by javagram »

gojomo wrote: post #79

Still, no story or commenter is quoting the exact terms that Facebook/Google are alleged to have violated. (There's an attempt here – https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=19044643 – but without necessary definitions of key terms which would make all the difference.) Of course, Apple has immense discretion here. Even if FB/Google lawyers can make a good case that their usage was technically compliant, Apple can still…

They weren’t. See the terms at https://apple.stackexchange.com/a/193060 “solely for internal use by Your Employees or Permitted Users, or as otherwise expressly permitted in Section 2.1(f).”

https://github.com/nicwise/apple-agreements/blob/master/appl...

2.1(f) Allow Your Customers to use Your Internal Use Applications on Deployment Devices, but only (i) on Your physical premises and/or on Your Permitted Entity’s physical premises, or (ii) in other locations, provided all such use is under the direct supervision and physical control of Your Employees or Permitted Users (e.g., a sales presentation to a Customer); and

Re: Apple blocks Google from running its internal iOS apps

#119

Post by zapzupnz »

nostrademons wrote: post #110
jdietrich wrote: post #90

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's worth bearing in mind that Google pay Apple billions of dollars a year to be the default search engine on iOS. To my eyes, Apple clearly have the upper hand in this relationship. https://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/news/3063669/google-is-...

Android has 85% of the worldwide smartphone market. Apple doesn't exactly have the upper hand in the relationship, but they have enough leverage to make it sting if they decide not to cooperate and to force a reasonable settlement. In my mind, a reasonable settlement includes not installing spyware on users' iPhones through the enterprise development program, so it looks like they're doing precisely that.

> Android has 85% of the worldwide smartphone market

I think a mistake to make here is thinking that Apple gives a toss.

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