I like Apple, but like any big company, not everything they do is good. I hope the reaction to this gets them to realize it.
Apple now rejecting apps with Pebble Smartwatch support
171–180 of 414 posts
Re: Apple now rejecting apps with Pebble Smartwatch support
#172Earlier quoted context omitted.
Do you have the same stance on Twitter? Twitter has a monopoly on the Twitter platform and may choose not to provide API keys for apps that it doesn't want to exist. Is this abusing a monopoly? If not, why not?
If Twitter was killing an App or Device made by a 3rd party simply because Twitter was entering that market and wished to monopolize the user-share, then yes I'd consider that anti-competitive. (yes, Twitter does just that, and yes, it's anti-competitive in my book). Simply not being able to mention "Android" or "Android Wear" or now "Pebble Watch" is ridiculous. If I chose to buy an Android Wear or Pebble Watch, it'…
>If Twitter was killing an App or Device made by a 3rd party simply because Twitter was entering that market and wished to monopolize the user-share, then yes I'd consider that anti-competitive.
Don't they have long history of doing exactly that?
Re: Apple now rejecting apps with Pebble Smartwatch support
#173That's just great. Capitalism without a free market.
Re: Apple now rejecting apps with Pebble Smartwatch support
#174Earlier quoted context omitted.
And as I mentioned in another comment, Twitter has a 100% monopoly on the Twitter platform. This is a silly argument because an ecosystem that Apple created and maintains all the infrastructure for is not comparable to the "free market".
Would it be okay for Twitter to censor tweets about rival products?
Legally, yes. And they would rightly get pilloried for it by users & the press.
I'm not saying what Apple is doing is right, I'm saying it's not illegal.
Re: Apple now rejecting apps with Pebble Smartwatch support
#175Earlier quoted context omitted.
"It seems like Apple is doing that as a way to kill competition and promote their own watch, which is fair from a business standpoint." It's nowhere near fair. It's extremely anticompetitive. This is the kind of behavior that gets a company in trouble with the FTC.
This is the kind of behavior that gets a company in trouble with the FTC. Indeed but Apple is aware that the FTC isn't likely to punish them enough that the behavior will be a net negative. If only the Federal Government would be as serious about "Sending a message" on antitrust as they are about low-mid level drug dealers, this kind of thing would be a lot more rare.
I feel that Google/Apple should have been hit with an antitrust policy already some time ago.
Re: Apple now rejecting apps with Pebble Smartwatch support
#176Earlier quoted context omitted.
Apple has 100% monopoly on iOS platform.
And Ford has a monopoly on F-150s. Apple hate is quite blinding.
> Apple hate is quite blinding.
So is Apple fanboyism. There are laws that prevent Ford from requiring you to only service your vehicle at Ford dealerships. There are also laws that prevent Ford from restricting sales of third-party after market parts in franchised dealerships. Not a good comparison.
Re: Apple now rejecting apps with Pebble Smartwatch support
#177Earlier quoted context omitted.
Under US law, it would be anti-competitive to use market control to stifle competition. I agree on your point about android, but you should be able to see what the software supports. Of course a court would need to decide, IANAL etc
Apple doesn't have control of the smart phone (or phone) market. Having control of the iPhone market is not considered monopolistic.
Apple does have their own smart watch, though, and seems to be using their influence over the iPhone market to pressure the auxiliary device market.
I'm not a lawyer, but isn't that roughly compatible to the Microsoft/Netscape situation?
Re: Apple now rejecting apps with Pebble Smartwatch support
#178Re: Apple now rejecting apps with Pebble Smartwatch support
#179Earlier quoted context omitted.
"It seems like Apple is doing that as a way to kill competition and promote their own watch, which is fair from a business standpoint." It's nowhere near fair. It's extremely anticompetitive. This is the kind of behavior that gets a company in trouble with the FTC.
Exactly. Business isn't a no-holds-barred anything goes anarchy. It's not because we have some free trade that there are no rules what so ever. Abusing a stranglehold or monopoly will eventually draw the ire of regulators. Just ask Microsoft or the EU. What is and isn't OK is something that will probably be decided in court. I hope this kind of anti-competitive measures do get some kind of regulation in the app-store…
Apple doesn't need to ask Microsoft. Apple being convicted monopolists, they are no stranger to litigation.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_Inc._litigation#Antitrus...
Re: Apple now rejecting apps with Pebble Smartwatch support
#180Surely no one's actually surprised by this?
I still cannot fathom why outrage is consistently confused for shock or surprise. Prior expectations are 100% irrelevant.