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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

#201

Post by Apocryphon »

simonh wrote: post #186
Apocryphon wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If the government forces a platform open and hands it over to a consortium of industry leaders, as well as associations of independent developers and open source foundations... sure why not?

So the reward for developing a successful valuable product that hundreds of millions of people like and trust, is to take it away and give it to somebody else? Wow. If that consortium is so great, why don’t they just make their own product. Let the public decide what they want.

Their reward is being the most valuable company in both the world, and perhaps much of human history. Their reward for restrictive anti-competitive behaviors is antitrust investigations.

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

#202

Post by zepto »

acituan wrote: post #83
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…

Do you think you would lose any of those benefits if Google had an iOS app store too? What if you also had the option of Microsoft iOS app store? Would the competition likely to increase pro-consumer benefits or decrease them? Pro-consumer vs anti-publisher is a false equivalence. This is not a zero-sum game, not at all.

Or if Facebook had one, and Amazon had one?

And when developers are forced to support all 5 big ones?

And when any benefit of a reduction in fees is completely lost because of the requirement to support all 5 stores?

If the remedy for Apple picking winners is more stores, then it just means all of the big players will get to pick winners.

There is absolutely nothing whatsoever that is pro consumer about having Google, Amazon, and Facebook be able to run iOS app stores.

It will just raise costs for developers and harm consumers that way.

It will lead to exclusives just as we have in the online streaming world, so consumers are forced to deal with all of them.

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

#203

Post by scarface74 »

gramakri wrote: post #168
scarface74 wrote: post #149

Earlier quoted context omitted.

And Apple didn’t force you to buy the phone....

Isn't this an argument against any company/monopoly? No company forced anyone to buy anything.

How is Apple a “monopoly” with less than 15%?

Most people are “forced” to get internet through their cable company because there often isn’t a choice. How many people have to buy a phone that on average is twice as expensive as the alternative and then complain about it?

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

#204

Post by mathnovice »

chrisseaton wrote: post #187
skuthus wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You can still have what you want and give people other options. It's called choice. We deserve to be able to choose

> We deserve to be able to choose People at Apple choose not to spend their time, money, and energy on supporting third-party app stores. You can choose to do whatever you want. But you can't force people at Apple to choose to do something.

>Apple choose not to spend their time, money, and energy on supporting third-party app stores.

Apple doesn't need to support third party app stores. Apple actively hinders them.

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

#205

Post by threeseed »

inopinatus wrote: post #173
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.

I actually do avoid installing all of those, and it is due to profound mistrust, so there's no reductio ad absurdum on that basis.

Those were high-profile examples. But most apps implement some sort of telemetry even just basic product analytics e.g. MixPanel or Google Analytics. Both of which collect a wealth of user data.

So if I were you I would not use any app or search engine. Just to be on the safe side.

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

#206

Post by chrisseaton »

mathnovice wrote: post #200
chrisseaton wrote: post #178

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

Yes they don't want to build and support the functionality for third-party stores.

I said you can do whatever you want.

I didn't say you can require other people to do what you want, like build software features for you.

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

#207

Post by zepto »

diego_moita wrote: post #125
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…

Sorry, but I don't understand the point. No one is talking about taking away your choice of keep using the Apple appstore. It is ok to keep using Apple, if you prefer so. We wan't choices, we don't want to remove your choice.

What if I choose not to be forced to deal with a multitude of different stores?

It seems like you want to remove that choice.

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

#208

Post by scarface74 »

Apocryphon wrote: post #155
scarface74 wrote: post #149

Earlier quoted context omitted.

And Apple didn’t force you to buy the phone....

Neither did AT&T.

If you wanted phone service, you had to buy it from AT&T - because of a government granted monopoly.

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

#209

Post by threeseed »

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.

Provide evidence.

There is no ability to get the IMEI on iOS.

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

#210

Post by albertop »

mathnovice wrote: post #197
chrisseaton wrote: post #175

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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).

Nothing prevents you buying Android phone if you do not like Apple policies. The policies were in effect when you bought your iPhone.
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