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Apple cuts off Beeper Mini's access

techcrunch.com

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Re: Apple cuts off Beeper Mini's access

#101

Post by School-Cotton »

goodluckchuck wrote: post #86
dmillar wrote: post #65

As usual, Gruber was right on the money. Via Threads yesterday: "My prediction is that Apple will make changes—fixing bugs and/or closing loopholes—that break Beeper Mini. It’s untenable that there’s unsanctioned client software for a messaging platform for which privacy and security are a primary feature. It’s a very nice app, remarkably clever, and for now works like a charm, but if Apple wanted an iMessage client…

It looks to me like there is an advantageous business relationship between Beeper and their customers. As a general rule, Apple is free to change their programs and how they work. However, I think there’s a plausible argument for tortious interference here if the sole purpose was to prevent interoperability.

Are you a lawyer because Apple stopping third parties from using their service being in any way illegal sounds extremely hard to believe

Re: Apple cuts off Beeper Mini's access

#102

Post by freedomben »

goodluckchuck wrote: post #86
dmillar wrote: post #65

As usual, Gruber was right on the money. Via Threads yesterday: "My prediction is that Apple will make changes—fixing bugs and/or closing loopholes—that break Beeper Mini. It’s untenable that there’s unsanctioned client software for a messaging platform for which privacy and security are a primary feature. It’s a very nice app, remarkably clever, and for now works like a charm, but if Apple wanted an iMessage client…

It looks to me like there is an advantageous business relationship between Beeper and their customers. As a general rule, Apple is free to change their programs and how they work. However, I think there’s a plausible argument for tortious interference here if the sole purpose was to prevent interoperability.

Maybe (or maybe not) plausible, but I think it's irrelevant, because there's no way a small company like Beeper could beat Apple's lawyers at this game. It will end up bankrupting Beeper long before it would even matter.

Re: Apple cuts off Beeper Mini's access

#103

Post by neilv »

Of course, open standards are part of the answer.

Even if Apple would permit something like Beeper Mini for now, that would not only relieve demand for actual open standards efforts, but also put more people at the mercy of Apple.

(This is not a new idea. For example, every time I see another open source project push people to Discord for support/discussion/community, I make a big sad and disappointed face.)

Re: Apple cuts off Beeper Mini's access

#105

Post by DanAtC »

pdntspa wrote: post #82
madeofpalk wrote: post #62

Earlier quoted context omitted.

'Nobody' in the EU uses iMessage, even on iPhones. Everyone here already uses Whatsapp. This demonstrates a lack of a monopoly and how competition can flourish. Honestly - and EU-regulation that Apple faces over iMessage would just be collateral damage from EU targeting Whatsapp.

God I really wish we Americans would get on whatsapp

So I can give my data to Meta? No thanks.

Re: Apple cuts off Beeper Mini's access

#107

Post by ggm »

madeofpalk wrote: post #62
trynumber9 wrote: post #47

The EU should, like they did years ago with PC operating systems, mandate a default browser selection screen. And a default messenger selection screen. And a default app store selection screen. Not that we'd get it in the US but it would help reduce Apple/Google market capture efforts.

'Nobody' in the EU uses iMessage, even on iPhones. Everyone here already uses Whatsapp. This demonstrates a lack of a monopoly and how competition can flourish. Honestly - and EU-regulation that Apple faces over iMessage would just be collateral damage from EU targeting Whatsapp.

These assertions need those quotes around 'nobody' because I work with a bunch of apple device owners across Europe and they certainly do use Apple messages.

At scale yes, signal, telegram and whatsapp are perhaps more significant than the apple ecology and the ratio of android to apple outside the USA and canada probably shows why.

Re: Apple cuts off Beeper Mini's access

#109

Post by mardef »

pdntspa wrote: post #82
madeofpalk wrote: post #62

Earlier quoted context omitted.

'Nobody' in the EU uses iMessage, even on iPhones. Everyone here already uses Whatsapp. This demonstrates a lack of a monopoly and how competition can flourish. Honestly - and EU-regulation that Apple faces over iMessage would just be collateral damage from EU targeting Whatsapp.

God I really wish we Americans would get on whatsapp

I really don't want to give meta any of my business.

Re: Apple cuts off Beeper Mini's access

#110

Post by School-Cotton »

pdntspa wrote: post #82
madeofpalk wrote: post #62

Earlier quoted context omitted.

'Nobody' in the EU uses iMessage, even on iPhones. Everyone here already uses Whatsapp. This demonstrates a lack of a monopoly and how competition can flourish. Honestly - and EU-regulation that Apple faces over iMessage would just be collateral damage from EU targeting Whatsapp.

God I really wish we Americans would get on whatsapp

Why? What is so great about it? It seems practically identical to signal and, if everyone is already on iOS, strictly worse than iMessage.
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