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EU Digital Markets Act, aimed at Google, Apple, Amazon, approved

consilium.europa.eu

621–630 of 1001 posts

Re: EU Digital Markets Act, aimed at Google, Apple, Amazon, approved

#621

This is easily one of the most expansive Acts regarding computing devices passed in my lifetime. The summary is in the link. As an iPhone user, this will enable me to: * Install any software * Install any App Store and choose to make it default * Use third party payment providers and choose to make them default * Use any voice assistant and choose to make it default * User any browser and browser engine and choose to…

I think six months is a pretty unreasonable time frame for Apple. While the security concerns around this sort of thing are often overblown, Apple will need to rework their security model for the iPhone. If there is an API surface between the OS and the App Store, they may need to rework it since it's not been designed with third party stores in mind.

What timeline do you think the Gatekeepeers would prefer? Is it a reasonable goal to let BigTech drag it's feet making these changes they didn't want to do on their own accord in the first place?

Amazing things are possible when the incentive is right. Given their VAST resources, it's only a matter of focus.

Re: EU Digital Markets Act, aimed at Google, Apple, Amazon, approved

#622

This is easily one of the most expansive Acts regarding computing devices passed in my lifetime. The summary is in the link. As an iPhone user, this will enable me to: * Install any software * Install any App Store and choose to make it default * Use third party payment providers and choose to make them default * Use any voice assistant and choose to make it default * User any browser and browser engine and choose to…

I think six months is a pretty unreasonable time frame for Apple. While the security concerns around this sort of thing are often overblown, Apple will need to rework their security model for the iPhone. If there is an API surface between the OS and the App Store, they may need to rework it since it's not been designed with third party stores in mind.

to be fair they have been warned for years

Re: EU Digital Markets Act, aimed at Google, Apple, Amazon, approved

#623

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think six months is a pretty unreasonable time frame for Apple. While the security concerns around this sort of thing are often overblown, Apple will need to rework their security model for the iPhone. If there is an API surface between the OS and the App Store, they may need to rework it since it's not been designed with third party stores in mind.

The writing has been on the wall for years. Sounds like a problem of their own creation.

I think they assumed, like the rest of us to a degree, that "it will never happen". If this kind of "ffs, just effing solve it with a law already" kind of law comes through, I'm seriously considering moving to an EU country.

Re: EU Digital Markets Act, aimed at Google, Apple, Amazon, approved

#624
post #613

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yeah, and that unsecured Linux is destroying the world! It’s not about making products less secure. That’s what apple makes you wanna think. It’s about giving customers choice. They can stay in Apple ecosystem (I will for example). Or they can not. Companies like Apple will have to work much harder now, to give both users and developers enough value to justify being locked in.

> They can stay in Apple ecosystem Nope, Adobe will make sure all its apps require Adobe App Store. Same for Facebook with Whatsapp. No more stupid Apple store restrictions, yay!!

There's already a counterexample to this: Android. All Adobe apps are on the Play Store

Re: EU Digital Markets Act, aimed at Google, Apple, Amazon, approved

#625
post #192

What HackerNews thinks will happen: "zomg, I will finally be able to run Arch on my iPhone!" What will actually happen: "honey, something is wrong with my phone, whenever I unlock it, a popup jumps up that says 'Please update the Adobe™ Updater™ to get up to date Adobe™ Software Updates', could you take a look at it?"

So true. On my Pixel phone, which allows alternate app stores, I had to update the Adobe Updater to update Adobe Reader, Epic EpicStore to update Fortnite Update Store to update Fortnite, TenCent Store to update Grindr, and finally F-Droid Pro Max Store to update Signal. Why do I have to download so many app stores on Android!!

Did Google removed IDFA yet? No. So FB is OK with Android so far.

Re: EU Digital Markets Act, aimed at Google, Apple, Amazon, approved

#626
post #623

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The writing has been on the wall for years. Sounds like a problem of their own creation.

I think they assumed, like the rest of us to a degree, that "it will never happen". If this kind of "ffs, just effing solve it with a law already" kind of law comes through, I'm seriously considering moving to an EU country.

The noises out of government have been that this will happen for a few years now, at least from the perspective of an EU citizen. They should have been preparing.

Re: EU Digital Markets Act, aimed at Google, Apple, Amazon, approved

#627

This is easily one of the most expansive Acts regarding computing devices passed in my lifetime. The summary is in the link. As an iPhone user, this will enable me to: * Install any software * Install any App Store and choose to make it default * Use third party payment providers and choose to make them default * Use any voice assistant and choose to make it default * User any browser and browser engine and choose to…

The title says it all: the EU Act aimed against literally half the top USA companies.

But that's just realpolitik for you. This is the same reason that in the USA it is legal to have California Champaign and New York Bordeaux (style in small font) wine.

Re: EU Digital Markets Act, aimed at Google, Apple, Amazon, approved

#628

Earlier quoted context omitted.

“I oppose this legislation that will bring massive good because I can imagine a few edge cases that have almost certainly been addressed but weren’t explicitly stated in the summary I glanced at.” This type of comment is everywhere on the Internet and completely predictable.

Frankly I don’t see how this legislation could possibly bring massive good. For one I like my iPhone how it is and don’t see how I could possibly benefit from this passing. As an American I think regulation should only be enacted when absolutely necessary, and these laws seem anything but necessary. I’ve rarely seen convincing cases of innovation being stifled or people being harmed by Apple’s walled garden approach.…

It cost me ~$600 in app purchases to switch from Android to Apple. So “just buy a different OS if you don’t like it” is not a reasonable solution unless you only have free software and it is also free on your target OS. The fact that these licenses can’t be transferred is part of the problem (though I’m not sure that is even addressed in this legislation).

You don’t personally have to benefit from this legislation, you can stay in an “official” configuration until the day you die. For some of us, this opens the door to have a FOSS App Store, or custom apps without having to rebuild them once a week.

Re: EU Digital Markets Act, aimed at Google, Apple, Amazon, approved

#629
post #614

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Not to mention use plenty of dark patterns to steer them away from it. Not to mention the vast majority of users will not bother to deal with alternative app stores when the vast overwhelming majority of existing apps will remain on the official App Store.

> when the vast overwhelming majority of existing apps will remain on the official App Store. Oh my sweet summer child! Lol

Nice condescending snark. Is it based on anything?

My own position, in comparison, actually is. Contrary to your insinuation, it is based on jadedness and cynicism. I’ll give you the Cliff’s Notes of this:

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=32163704

1. Facebook and Google, to put it bluntly, are not exactly product powerhouses these days and any attempts to present yet another platform will be met with skepticism and they simply will not have enough new apps to lure over users.

2. Without customer interest, third party developers will keep their apps on the official App Store, just as they do on Android on the Play Store, because that’s where the users are. They want the most eyeballs.

2.5. Sure, Facebook and co. can try to cut exclusive deals with third party devs to get apps on their store, but that is tricky, just see Microsoft’s or BlackBerry’s failure to woo devs to their platforms.

3. Consumers are tired of all of the accounts and services they have to deal with at this point, and dealing with more app stores will be a source of friction. Users are tired of this shit.

4. Facebook or Google trying to spur artificial growth of third party iOS stores by making their apps exclusive will likely run into regulator pushback, especially if those stores permit greater user tracking.

Okay, now justify your insult.

Re: EU Digital Markets Act, aimed at Google, Apple, Amazon, approved

#630
post #320

This is easily one of the most expansive Acts regarding computing devices passed in my lifetime. The summary is in the link. As an iPhone user, this will enable me to: * Install any software * Install any App Store and choose to make it default * Use third party payment providers and choose to make them default * Use any voice assistant and choose to make it default * User any browser and browser engine and choose to…

While I am in the camp of apple allowing side-loading, i am not a fan of monopolistic regulations like this. It opens all kind of questions, like 1. What devices have to comply? 2. Who decides what device has to comply? Should playstation open their system too. What about a niche bank transaction signing device that internally uses an android capable hardware. Is this illegal now? 3. What about a car infotainment sys…

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