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Apple will cut off 3rd-party appstore updates if iPhone is not in EU for a month

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Re: Apple will cut off 3rd-party appstore updates if iPhone is not in EU for a month

#61

Post by syrrim »

gjsman-1000 wrote: post #16

This has a super simple solution that would break even Apple. Change the law so that any device sold must comply with the DMA for all EU citizens, regardless of domicile. Thus, any company that denies a EU citizen under the DMA, even if they live in the US, shall be considered noncomplaint. Also, to make sure no tricks are used, make sure to specify that it is illegal to require citizenship verification for DMA right…

Or require it of all devices sold in the EU, regardless of where those devices are later brought. This would be entirely defensible - "we're just regulating products sold within our market" - but inevitably they would make their way outside the EU to be resold.

Re: Apple will cut off 3rd-party appstore updates if iPhone is not in EU for a month

#62

Post by staplers »

mikeocool wrote: post #40
kbf wrote: post #19

This is very interesting because there’s really no reason for this limitation to exist with regards to EU users. The only reason I can see for this is that Apple knows their rules are so unpopular that users from the rest of the world might go as far as travel abroad or start trafficking devices to get around them.

> Apple knows their rules are so unpopular Are they? I know developers don’t like the rules, but I don’t know a lot of iPhone owners who feel particularly stifled by them. If they did, presumably they’d just buy an Android phone?

  I don’t know a lot of iPhone owners who feel particularly stifled by them
Thank you for your deeply anecdotal brush off. Surely it makes those millions nearly imprisoned (try living without a phone) in the modern world by the corporate duopoly feel at ease. Just switch to the other side and solve all the problems.

Re: Apple will cut off 3rd-party appstore updates if iPhone is not in EU for a month

#63

Post by FuturisticGoo »

pests wrote: post #41
walterbell wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Even if on-device location is disabled?

This is how the online casinos do it in my state. They require location access on mobile or a dedicated download for desktop. I recently spent a bit of time trying to bypass the location check (out of curiosity) and they have it pretty locked down. The key is they require WiFi to be on so they can get around GPS spoofing. I had even attempted re-creating all the SSIDs and other networks nearby my spoofed location but…

I don't think Wifi triangulation uses SSID, instead it uses the BSSID, which afaik can't be changed.

Re: Apple will cut off 3rd-party appstore updates if iPhone is not in EU for a month

#64

Post by warkdarrior »

kweingar wrote: post #15
OsrsNeedsf2P wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> is the point in making it this complicated? What do they lose by fighting it tooth and nail? They don't want consumers using 3rd party app stores. Apple users have been plenty happy without them for years, too.

> Apple users have been plenty happy without them for years, too. As an iPhone owner I have been annoyed at the walled garden for years.

But clearly not annoyed enough to move off their platform. Apple is counting on your continued support.

Re: Apple will cut off 3rd-party appstore updates if iPhone is not in EU for a month

#66

Post by ipaddr »

staplers wrote: post #62
mikeocool wrote: post #40

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Apple knows their rules are so unpopular Are they? I know developers don’t like the rules, but I don’t know a lot of iPhone owners who feel particularly stifled by them. If they did, presumably they’d just buy an Android phone?

I don’t know a lot of iPhone owners who feel particularly stifled by them Thank you for your deeply anecdotal brush off. Surely it makes those millions nearly imprisoned (try living without a phone) in the modern world by the corporate duopoly feel at ease. Just switch to the other side and solve all the problems.

The other side gives you the possibility of getting a phone with different variations and people also root their phone and sideload apps. I support going the PinePhone route but not sure that's right for the average person.

Re: Apple will cut off 3rd-party appstore updates if iPhone is not in EU for a month

#67

Post by kbf »

mikeocool wrote: post #40
kbf wrote: post #19

This is very interesting because there’s really no reason for this limitation to exist with regards to EU users. The only reason I can see for this is that Apple knows their rules are so unpopular that users from the rest of the world might go as far as travel abroad or start trafficking devices to get around them.

> Apple knows their rules are so unpopular Are they? I know developers don’t like the rules, but I don’t know a lot of iPhone owners who feel particularly stifled by them. If they did, presumably they’d just buy an Android phone?

Apple fearing or assuming their rules are unpopular would be even worse. My point is I don’t see why this limitation exists beyond Apple desperately trying to keep non EU users from using EU app stores.

Re: Apple will cut off 3rd-party appstore updates if iPhone is not in EU for a month

#69

Post by Aloisius »

endisneigh wrote: post #22

Though I’m happy to see the 3rd party apps - I really don’t get why people even buy apple devices if they want to side load or do other such things. In terms of camera quality, battery life, or any single criterion it’s not like apple devices are the best anyway. As a side note - I really don’t understand the logic that leaves gaming consoles exempt. As a second side note - how is apple even determining if you are an…

> how is apple even determining if you are an EU citizen or in an EU country

Both cell towers and wifi base stations advertise the country code they're in. Every phone needs to know what jurisdiction it is in order to do things like route emergency services calls or what radio frequency bands to enable.

Re: Apple will cut off 3rd-party appstore updates if iPhone is not in EU for a month

#70

Post by safety1st »

mastazi wrote: post #21

As someone who used to be in the field of public relations before starting a career in software - I don't understand why they are doing this. Surely they realise that this stuff is going to end up on mainstream media and damage their image? EDIT: I get what people are saying about the App Store fees but reputational damage does cost money, possibly quite a lot.

I think you have the right take, because right now exactly zero people are smuggling iPhones out of the EU to use 3rd party app stores. These non-existent smugglings are costing Apple $0

So this is just a PR fiasco and a way for Apple to look like a comic book villain that spites both customers and governments, at no gain to itself. If this thing Apple execs apparently fear more than the Devil himself were to actually happen then OK do the calculus and ban what you think you need to ban. But doing it now is just silly.

Apple used to be a company that was famously good at managing its image, no more it seems. A slow decline into incompetency accompanied by a relentless focus on profit maximization is a classic sign that a company has obtained illegal monopoly rents in one form or another and needs to be brought to justice

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