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The App Store is a monopoly: Here's why the EU is correct to investigate Apple

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Re: The App Store is a monopoly: Here's why the EU is correct to investigate Apple

#191

Post by xvector »

Apocryphon wrote: post #139
xvector wrote: post #114

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> if Apple's control of the App Store platform constitutes a monopoly, But it's not a monopoly. The vast majority of the "app store" ecosystem is the Play Store. Apple's "App Store" is a minority player. Otherwise you could arbitrarily divide any platform recursively until something is a monopoly in need of getting regulated.

The OP article argues that it is a monopoly. You are free to agree or disagree with its thesis. However, my statement was that " if Apple's control of the App Store platform constitutes a monopoly", then the government should have free rein to do so, as it has repeatedly done so in the past.

Indeed. I would agree with you if Apple was a monopoly in this space.

Re: The App Store is a monopoly: Here's why the EU is correct to investigate Apple

#192

Post by echelon »

LeifCarrotson wrote: post #73

The ability to communicate by smartphone is so ubiquitous in our society that it has effectively become a basic need on the level of electricity, water, natural gas, and internet access. The utility service that was land-line telephones is becoming obsolete, and it's becoming increasingly harder to participate in society without a smartphone and the ability to install apps on that smartphone. In light of that reality…

If you support Apple and Google in their claims to 30% of the profit, then you support Comcast charging an additional fee for Netflix.

If you support Apple and Google having locked down authoritative control over the code run on their devices, then you support the Great Firewall.

The only choice of a free and open society, and one mindful of the great benefit of open source and open platforms, is to remove these companies from executive control of mobile platforms. They must become free and open, just like the web.

They're sucking all of the air out of the room. It kills freedom, diversity, and progress. It's rent-seeking.

Re: The App Store is a monopoly: Here's why the EU is correct to investigate Apple

#193

Post by fjdjsmsm »

reactorofr wrote: post #89
fjdjsmsm wrote: post #78

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Does Walmart have a monopoly on cash registers inside a Walmart?

Do you live inside a walmart? Are you locked into walmart for 2-3 years after going there once?

In many small towns Walmart is the only, or nearly the only store.

Re: The App Store is a monopoly: Here's why the EU is correct to investigate Apple

#194

Post by etrabroline »

xenadu02 wrote: post #122
Andrew_nenakhov wrote: post #38

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's not like someone will force you paying without your consent. If you don't want to give random apps your credit card, don't give it to them. Why do you oppose other people's right to do that, if they need it?

Many apps, if not a large majority, would start doing this. That destroys the convenience and user experience. If every app does this there isn't any consumer choice about it.

Exactly. Apple's market power derives from the consumers that trust it to represent them in negotiations with publishers. The decision to "not give every app your credit card" is made by consumers when they purchase an iPhone.

Purchasing an iPhone is an act of collective bargaining by consumers against publishers that otherwise would hoover up their private data. "If you don't like it, you can always live like it's 2004, before smart phones" is not an answer iPhone customers accept.

Re: The App Store is a monopoly: Here's why the EU is correct to investigate Apple

#195

Post by pjc50 »

osrec wrote: post #154
threeseed wrote: post #144

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Because if you consider TikTok to be spyware then you would need to also block Google, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn etc. Instead Apple had implemented the most stringent, pro-privacy features and polices on any platform bar none.

Sorry, what?! Tiktok grabs your IMEI number, amongst numerous other things and sends them back to the mother ship. Not saying that other platforms don't collect data, but Tiktok is known for being a whole other level spyware. If Apple was truly trying to protect consumers, there's no way it would allow it.

Lots of apps do that. Which permission set does getting the IMEI require on iOS?

Re: The App Store is a monopoly: Here's why the EU is correct to investigate Apple

#196

Post by [deleted] »

anilshanbhag wrote: post #15
spullara wrote: post #9

As a consumer, I am 100% in favor of the way run the app store. I don't want to give random apps my credit card. I don't want to have 18 accounts to keep track of. I don't want to have to call telephone support to cancel my account. I don't want malware in my apps. I don't want apps to have my email if they don't need it. I don't need another middleman for content companies license and distribute. Everything Apple is…

Well they can do all that with a 10% fee too. The author is contending that by adding those restrictions and a high 30% fee, Apple is acting like a monopoly - it's their way or the highway.

[deleted]

Re: The App Store is a monopoly: Here's why the EU is correct to investigate Apple

#197

Post by mathnovice »

chrisseaton wrote: post #175
wvenable wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The problem isn't how they run their store -- the problem is that they are the only store.

This is like complaining that it's unfair that only McDonald's are allowed to sell inside a McDonald's.

How is a Mcdonalds restaurant (which McDonalds owns) in any way equivalent to my iPhone (which I supposedly own).

Re: The App Store is a monopoly: Here's why the EU is correct to investigate Apple

#198

Post by jasode »

osrec wrote: post #154
threeseed wrote: post #144

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Because if you consider TikTok to be spyware then you would need to also block Google, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn etc. Instead Apple had implemented the most stringent, pro-privacy features and polices on any platform bar none.

Sorry, what?! Tiktok grabs your IMEI number, amongst numerous other things and sends them back to the mother ship. Not saying that other platforms don't collect data, but Tiktok is known for being a whole other level spyware. If Apple was truly trying to protect consumers, there's no way it would allow it.

>Tiktok grabs your IMEI number, amongst numerous other things and sends them back to the mother ship.

Maybe I misunderstand you but the quick search[0] I did on Google says Apple iOS API doesn't allow programmer to fetch IMEI number. Did TikTok find a way to circumvent this and get the IMEI?

[0] https://stackoverflow.com/questions/41278494/how-to-get-imei...

[1] https://stackoverflow.com/questions/19927160/finding-imei-nu...

[2] https://developer.apple.com/forums/thread/31122

Re: The App Store is a monopoly: Here's why the EU is correct to investigate Apple

#199

Post by threeseed »

bostonvaulter2 wrote: post #119

As an app developer, what bothers me is not so much the fact that you have to pay the 30% when going through the app store it's the fact that you cannot even mention the Android Play store AT ALL. Also I don't like that they completely force app developers to use IAP instead of supporting other purchasing flows (without Apple's cut)

You actually want Apple to allow you to advertise a competitor's phone on their phone.

What company would ever allow that ?

Re: The App Store is a monopoly: Here's why the EU is correct to investigate Apple

#200

Post by mathnovice »

chrisseaton wrote: post #178
MereInterest wrote: post #67

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's my phone, and I can do whatever I want with it. If Apple doesn't like that, they can easily maintain ownership by not selling the device. I don't force Apple to sell iPhones instead of leaving them in a warehouse. Once I've bought it, it is mine. The entire idea that Apple can do whatever they want on a device that they have already sold is ludicrous.

You can already do whatever you want with your device. Use it as a hammer for all Apple care. It's just that Apple aren't going to spend their time and money developing software to let you do things they aren't interested in. Why should they?

They don't let you modify the software on the device.
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