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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

#521

Post by scarface74 »

avianlyric wrote: post #518
scarface74 wrote: post #332

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How is Spotify and especially Netflix being harmed? If I search for a movie on either my iPhone, iPad, or AppleTV and the movie is available on Netflix, I’m told that I can watch it for free instead of being guided toward Apple’s movie store. Spotify whined for years that they couldn’t stream music to the Apple Watch or download music to the Watch. Apple allowed third party integration over a year ago. Pandora added…

> Spotify also doesn’t allow in app purchases so Apple doesn’t get a cut. This is how Spotify and Netflix are harmed. They have to pick between funding their competitor, or not providing simple signups and subscriptions on one of the worlds largest computing platforms. This directly harms either their revenue stream or cost-of-acquisition. Both to the advantage of one of one of their largest competitors who has artif…

So can we also regulate Spotify for taking a much larger cut from artists? Spotify has a much larger share in streaming music than Apple has in phones.

Also. I can’t sign up for a Netflix subscription on my Roku either.

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

#522

Post by scarface74 »

29083011397778 wrote: post #486
scarface74 wrote: post #362

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They definitely don’t have to buy Netflix through Comcast.

I'm legitimately curious what your solution is to sign up for Netflix if you can't use your ISP (Comcast, likely a monopoly with no alternatives). I can't imagine calling up Netflix and attempting to sign up via telephone is feasible, nor is explaining to the average consumer the price is different because they're on wifi instead of data (and only their wifi, or select locations that use Comcast).

Someone said that Comcast charges more if you buy Netflix through them. Comcast does offer Netflix as an add on. You don’t have to buy Netflix as an add on through Comcast.

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

#523

Post by scarface74 »

d0gbread wrote: post #505
xvector wrote: post #477

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It is honestly frightening that HN wants to give the government more power over tech after what we've seen from Australia and forced backdoors.

It's not "more power over tech," it's the job of government. Distribution of power, promoting competition, tweaking the rules as little as is deemed necessary. Is it really so outrageous to consider there might be a consolidation of power in a way we haven't dealt with before, seeing Amazon crush partners overnight, or Facebook impacting elections? The very same HN that longs for the early internet, with web rings an…

Facebook impacted elections for conservatives - the same people that are complaining about an anti conservative bias.

What would you propose the government do? Force people not to use FB who willingly go to their site? Have the government say what is and is not allowed on their platform.

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

#524

Post by scarface74 »

ac29 wrote: post #510
scarface74 wrote: post #346

Earlier quoted context omitted.

So now we define monopoly as only one company can sell its own products? Doesn’t that make every company a monopoly?

The problem (if you agree there is one) is that Apple is the only company that can sell many other companies products, because they use technical restrictions to prevent those companies from selling their own products independently. They then use that advantage to charge an unreasonably high fee to consumers.

You mean the same fee that literally everyone else charges digitally?

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

#525

Post by scarface74 »

Apocryphon wrote: post #480
scarface74 wrote: post #472

Earlier quoted context omitted.

So because Apple once allowed spyware they should always allow spyware?

Well, they should have cracked down on that spyware earlier, and their failing to do so until they had a competing app to push both casts their motivation behind banning those apps as suspicious, and calls into question the supposed "quality" of the review process. At worst, they did it to Sherlock competitors. At best, they were negligent, their review process is overrated and does not do enough to protect consumers…

So you propose that Apple never crack down on them? Apple loss money by giving away a free alternative instead of taking a 30% cut.

What next? Are you going to complain that Apple made it harder for advertisers to track you?

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

#526

Post by scarface74 »

Apocryphon wrote: post #482
scarface74 wrote: post #473

Earlier quoted context omitted.

So there should be a large amount of successful web apps on Android?

Sounds like it's more likely to happen on Android https://9to5google.com/2020/07/13/google-and-microsoft-pwa/ ...than on iOS https://www.cnet.com/news/google-web-app-plans-collide-with-...

So this is going to be the year of the dominance of the web app after close to 15 years?

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

#527

Post by scarface74 »

Silhouette wrote: post #490
scarface74 wrote: post #473

Earlier quoted context omitted.

So there should be a large amount of successful web apps on Android?

There are many successful web apps, period. Just not on iOS, if they need the "wrong" functionality.

Where are these financial successful web apps?

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

#528

Post by scarface74 »

Silhouette wrote: post #437
chrisseaton wrote: post #422

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I absolutely do want the government to intervene Well I don't know what to say apart from this is incredibly selfish. You can't find a product suited to your particular esoteric requirements so you want the government to force someone else to perform labour to build the product you want. Can you see how wacky that sounds when you write it out like that?

By that argument, all consumer protection laws should be abolished. Clearly I don't agree with that position. I don't think it's selfish to argue that government should protect the little guy from being exploited by the big guy who has much greater power, for each of the numerous little guys affected by a situation. Indeed, that is arguably one of the most important functions of any government. I would have less of a…

By definition the iPhone where the lowest cost one is $100 more than the average selling cost of all Androids is a luxury item....

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

#529

Post by scarface74 »

ac29 wrote: post #497
scarface74 wrote: post #367

Earlier quoted context omitted.

And Tesla? Will they also have to allow third parties to “upgrade” their cars since many of the additional features are software controlled? Why stop there? Kindles? Roku sticks? WebOS TVs? TiVo’s? Cable boxes?

I think if any of those had paid app stores with extortionate rates charged to developers, then yes - there is a pro-consumer argument to be made in favor of allowing third party applications from other sources.

Roku in fact does extort streaming services providers and they have to make rev share deals just to be on their platform - except for Netflix.

Streaming services can be on iOS platforms without giving Apple a dime.

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

#530

Post by scarface74 »

echelon wrote: post #360
scarface74 wrote: post #326

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If you support Apple and Google in their claims to 30% of the profit, then you support Comcast charging an additional fee for Netflix. And guess what? I don’t have to use Comcast.

> I don’t have to use Comcast. You're one of the lucky ones.

Actually, one of the criteria for buying a house was buying in an area that was served by AT&T Fiber.
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