Live data from Hacker News

Apple announces ability to download apps directly from websites in EU

macrumors.com

291–300 of 1001 posts

Re: Apple announces ability to download apps directly from websites in EU

#292
post #93

What the hell is going on at Apple? It's starting to become really funny to see one obviously non-compliant malicious compliance attempt being made after another. Do they really not understand that they're no longer involved in the relationships between users and developers?

They are deeply involved. If it’s that bad for developers, drop the iPhone and develop solely for Android. Developers need the iPhone and Apple needs developers.

Android is too much tied to Google too. At this point, the best that could happen is for the EU to grow a pair, and ban the US (/Russia/China...) tech companies, especially since there's already a 2015 court decision about that :

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Max_Schrems#Schrems_II

Re: Apple announces ability to download apps directly from websites in EU

#293
post #171

It really bothers me that so much of this is focused on the developers, and that is the problem here. How many users actually want this? I am sure some, but I doubt it is a significant number. I have said this before here, but I am not looking forward to when this likely eventually comes to the US and as a user I have less control over my phone, not more. The walled garden is why I chose an iPhone and continue to sta…

I find it interesting that some pro-Wallet garden folks argument is: "Don't like Apple? Don't buy it then." Well I can use the same argument for apps. "Don't like this third party app store or their dark patterns? Don't buy it then." Vote with your wallet, goes both ways. Or, hear me out, let's regulate so neither Apple nor other vendors can abuse their customers. And it's not like Apple's protection is effective. Ap…

The problem is that the less-tech-literate people don't recognize the dark patterns. I like iPhones because it means I don't have to worry about my parents' phones. I am not looking forward to the day when all their contacts and pictures are siphoned off because they downloaded the required "ebook reader" via the big download button on a random website.

Re: Apple announces ability to download apps directly from websites in EU

#294

Ok folks, how can we get copy of this DMA thing in the USA? P.S. Apple stockholders downvoting me, lol

Step 1 would be to identify those in government who accept lobbying from Apple.

https://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/apple-inc/summary?id=D00002...

Re: Apple announces ability to download apps directly from websites in EU

#295

The terms and conditions for web distribution [0] are concerning to say the least. In short, you have to have at least one million first installs annually on iOS to even qualify, in addition to other terms such as "good standing in the Apple Developer Program for two continuous years or more". I doubt Epic and the like would be considered in good standing as far as Apple is concerned. Also, quote unquote, developers…

> The gears of EU turn slowly, but grind finely.

What would happen if big companies simply refuse to pay? Will EU put the European employees in jail? Would they put Americans in their jail? Will they do DNS block? Credit card block? Remove apple products from physical store? Many of the EU countries like Germany are export driven and certainly they don't want to close the market.

Re: Apple announces ability to download apps directly from websites in EU

#296

The terms and conditions for web distribution [0] are concerning to say the least. In short, you have to have at least one million first installs annually on iOS to even qualify, in addition to other terms such as "good standing in the Apple Developer Program for two continuous years or more". I doubt Epic and the like would be considered in good standing as far as Apple is concerned. Also, quote unquote, developers…

"The gears of EU turn slowly, but grind finely." QFT.

Re: Apple announces ability to download apps directly from websites in EU

#297
post #94
post #88

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The iPhone revolution was that your phone used to be owned by the carrier, but now was owned by Apple, and Jobs got away with it.

Hence why most European countries just mostly stayed with pre-paid, and operators have been trying to bride us with contracts for iDevices, or if that doesn't get us, contracts in disguise for pre-paid users as post pay. I will keep using Android devices with physical SIM until it isn't no longer viable.

This really seems like a post from 15 years ago. In my experience prepaid is almost dead. It's the most expensive way to use a mobile phone and you can get a decent sim only subscription for 5 euro per month.

Re: Apple announces ability to download apps directly from websites in EU

#299

The terms and conditions for web distribution [0] are concerning to say the least. In short, you have to have at least one million first installs annually on iOS to even qualify, in addition to other terms such as "good standing in the Apple Developer Program for two continuous years or more". I doubt Epic and the like would be considered in good standing as far as Apple is concerned. Also, quote unquote, developers…

It's sad to see Apple adopting kind of an Oracle way of business. "Kind of"... They were screwed by Microsoft in the past. And now they're the ones screwing every single small and mid-sized software shop everywhere. When will we stop buying their products?

I never bought an Apple product.

Before the iPhone, because I never liked the Mac UI with the bar at the top and the apps menu over there and I didn't need an iPod.

After the iPhone, a personal boycott because of the walled garden. It was not immediately clear what the endgame would be but it was pretty clear that this level of control by a single corporation on a large part of the world is a bad thing.

Re: Apple announces ability to download apps directly from websites in EU

#300

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The DMA says this about it: > The gatekeeper shall not be prevented from taking strictly necessary and proportionate measures to ensure that interoperability does not compromise the integrity of the operating system, virtual assistant, hardware or software features provided by the gatekeeper, provided that such measures are duly justified by the gatekeeper. > The gatekeeper shall not be prevented from taking, to the…

That is to say, they are allowed to provide certain mandatory security services where justified for free .

Read recital 62 on page 16 of the DMA. Then read Article 6(4) on page 35.

Gatekeepers are allowed to gatekeep as long as it is fairly applied. That includes charging money for access to the platform and to install software.

Article 6(7) on page 36, says that once software is installed, access to the system services, APIs and ABIs must be free of charge. BUT THAT IS ONLY AFTER THE SOFTWARE IS INSTALLED. You are conflating two different things.

Post reply on HN