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Lawsuit filed alleging Google is paying Apple to stay out of the search business

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Re: Lawsuit filed alleging Google is paying Apple to stay out of the search business

#101

Post by Doctor_Fegg »

Closi wrote: post #94
Doctor_Fegg wrote: post #81

Earlier quoted context omitted.

No it isn't: https://support.apple.com/en-gb/HT204683

Instant answers are provided by Apple, but when search answers are provided these are Google. Apple needs to still crawl to provide instant answers. Statement from Apple in 2017 when they switched to Google from Bing: > Switching to Google as the web search provider for Siri, Search within iOS and Spotlight on Mac will allow these services to have a consistent web search experience with the default in Safari. ( https…

Right, so when I type something into the Safari search bar on iOS, it gives me Apple-sourced suggestions from the web, even though I have "Search Engine Suggestions" turned off (because I don't want my URL typing history leaking to a search engine).

That qualifies as "already in the search business" IMO.

Re: Lawsuit filed alleging Google is paying Apple to stay out of the search business

#102

Post by encryptluks2 »

aero-glide2 wrote: post #20
encryptluks2 wrote: post #2

Just a reminder here folks that anyone can sue for anything. That doesn't mean that evidence will show any of the claims are true, but it will be interesting to follow and see what evidence they claim to have. Note Google is now incorporated in Delaware so it does seem that venue may be an issue.

Even if the lawsuit fails we may get to see internal emails https://twitter.com/techemails

A lawsuit would need to progress to discovery in order to get emails. It is more likely it would be dismissed before then, and then my guess is some right-wing group will claim a conspiracy because of it.

Re: Lawsuit filed alleging Google is paying Apple to stay out of the search business

#103

Post by encryptluks2 »

andyjohnson0 wrote: post #69
encryptluks2 wrote: post #2

Just a reminder here folks that anyone can sue for anything. That doesn't mean that evidence will show any of the claims are true, but it will be interesting to follow and see what evidence they claim to have. Note Google is now incorporated in Delaware so it does seem that venue may be an issue.

> Just a reminder here folks that anyone can sue for anything. California Crane School Inc seem to be a provider of training for crane operators, so I'm curious why they're suing Google over this particular allegation. I wonder: is there any possibility that they're a proxy for some other party or parties?

My guess is this is a right-wing effort and will be dismissed relatively quickly, and they'll use that to push some conspiracy.

Re: Lawsuit filed alleging Google is paying Apple to stay out of the search business

#104

Post by amelius »

onion2k wrote: post #100
amelius wrote: post #92

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It still makes me wonder: if Apple had their own search engine, would they be allowed to not have the option to change it?

That would be a very clear anti-trust violation where they would be abusing position in the OS market to influence their position in the search market.

Ok, wouldn't there be the same problem with app stores then?

Re: Lawsuit filed alleging Google is paying Apple to stay out of the search business

#105

Post by ahtihn »

onion2k wrote: post #100
amelius wrote: post #92

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It still makes me wonder: if Apple had their own search engine, would they be allowed to not have the option to change it?

That would be a very clear anti-trust violation where they would be abusing position in the OS market to influence their position in the search market.

How is that different to what they're doing with browsers? Last time I checked, you can't ship your own browser/js engine on iOS

Re: Lawsuit filed alleging Google is paying Apple to stay out of the search business

#107

Post by onion2k »

ahtihn wrote: post #105
onion2k wrote: post #100

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That would be a very clear anti-trust violation where they would be abusing position in the OS market to influence their position in the search market.

How is that different to what they're doing with browsers? Last time I checked, you can't ship your own browser/js engine on iOS

It's exactly the same. I have no idea how they're able to get away with it.

Re: Lawsuit filed alleging Google is paying Apple to stay out of the search business

#108

Post by fsflover »

mrtksn wrote: post #82
fsflover wrote: post #79

Earlier quoted context omitted.

But do you honestly believe that a duopoly in which the two companies tightly collaborate provides a reasonable choice to the consumers?

No, I'm very annoyed by Google as their product quality keeps declining year after year and I do not have a real choice. In fact, I have no practical ability to change my e-mail address as I'm using it since 1st of April 2004 and Google does not offer me to keep the address if I want to switch to another provider. My arguments are in defence of Apple, not Google. I can move away from Apple at any time but I can't do…

> I can move away from Apple at any time

For you it might be true but not for many Apple users who are deep into the Apple ecosystem.

Re: Lawsuit filed alleging Google is paying Apple to stay out of the search business

#109

Post by izacus »

onion2k wrote: post #100
amelius wrote: post #92

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It still makes me wonder: if Apple had their own search engine, would they be allowed to not have the option to change it?

That would be a very clear anti-trust violation where they would be abusing position in the OS market to influence their position in the search market.

Except, as we keep being told by Apple fans here, that's not enough because Apple's OS isn't the most popular one.

So excluding and removing healthy market competition is completely OK in that respect. Or so we're told.

Re: Lawsuit filed alleging Google is paying Apple to stay out of the search business

#110

Post by quitit »

Lio wrote: post #24
dpark wrote: post #17

”The complaint claims that the means used to effectuate the non-compete agreement included; (1) Google would share it's search profits with Apple; (2) Apple would give preferential treatment to Google for all Apple devices; (3) regular secret meetings between the executives of both companies; (4) annual multi-billion-dollar payments by Google to Apple not to compete in the search business; (5) suppression of the comp…

#5 is the key point to my mind. For example, you can’t just add new search engines to iOS Safari with just a URL. There are a few alternatives to Google but there’s no easy way for a new entrant to get in there. EDIT: Interesting. I’m picking up downvotes for this, is there some way to achieve this (other than jailbreaking) I’ve missed?

I’m guessing the issue is because there isn’t a lot of merit in saying Apple and Google are totally stitched up when the options change by region and for the plaintiff there are at least 4 additional options other than Google.

EG Ecosia is a recent entry, so it does seem that Apple does look into this and introduce new options that can serve their audience size with sufficient quality results. Getting included seems more about making a unique and useful product.

Other than downloading another web browser which features more fine tuning options for web browsing, one can also download safari extensions that increase the search capability in both mobile/desktop safari. One such extension is called xSearch, which presents the familiar idea of using shortcut terms to direct search queries to any number of custom configurable search providers. The share sheet extension also extends this into other apps, and similarly because it uses the standard URL scheme, it can push queries into entirely different apps other than Safari for the search to take place. (eg search this text in the Twitter app.)

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