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Apple blocks Google from running its internal iOS apps

theverge.com

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Re: Apple blocks Google from running its internal iOS apps

#311

Post by burlesona »

8bitsrule wrote: post #279

Thinking back on history, interesting that Apple's old nemesis MS is not one of the names involved here. Not a 'friend' of any of them, but on my intuitive ethic-ometer Apple (barely) retains the top position.

Apple and Microsoft are practically buddies in this stuff, they both make money primarily by selling products and services to customers, and have relatively less overlap in their target markets than they ever have. Meanwhile FB and Google make money by mining users for data and selling ads. It’s a pretty different business.

Re: Apple blocks Google from running its internal iOS apps

#312

Post by _bxg1 »

kccqzy wrote: post #67
_bxg1 wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I used to feel that way, and I used Android for years for that reason. But since switching to an iPhone, I've found that what I really want from my phone is not a totally open platform, but a tool that's simple, secure, and effective. Something I don't have to mess with, something I can trust to do its job and respect my privacy and be pleasant to interact with. They tried going that direction a bit with macOS when t…

Honestly that's my feeling as well, but even for workstations, it has begun to dawn on me that spending time configuring the minutiae of various settings and flags and plists etc just isn't worth my time. I just want a workstation that's simple, secure, and effective in getting things done.

To a point. I use a Mac for work because it has many of the desirable qualities of Linux, without the hassle. But at the same time I know that if I ever need to just get in there and change something, which does happen occasionally, I can still do that.

Re: Apple blocks Google from running its internal iOS apps

#313

Post by mcmoose75 »

hk__2 wrote: post #308
mcmoose75 wrote: post #290

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I agree that Google & FB violated the terms of the agreement they had with Apple. I think an interesting question is: What is Apple's best move from here? I would suggest that Apple should leave Google/ FB blocked for ~1-2 weeks, to remind them who's boss on the iOS platform. However, I would argue it'd be smart for them to switch them back on after that- there's a chance that this looks anticompetitive to regulators…

Why would Apple enforce its rules for only 1-2 weeks? The rules are the rules; they aren’t doing anything bad here.

Anything that smells anticompetitive is kind of a dangerous dance- by preventing two of their largest competitors from developing on their platform I think they'd be inviting some regulatory scrutiny (even though FB/ Goog DID violate the agreement).

Re: Apple blocks Google from running its internal iOS apps

#315

Post by q3k »

curt15 wrote: post #278
mjw1007 wrote: post #266

Earlier quoted context omitted.

According to the story, Apple have stopped Google employees running Google's "Gbus app for transportation". So yes, it's about what Apple allows people to run on their own devices.

Since Gbus is presumably developed internally, what prevents the employees from installing the program via Xcode?

Not everyone at Google has a Mac? Nobody wants to reinstall GBus every 3 days?

Re: Apple blocks Google from running its internal iOS apps

#316

Post by torstenvl »

gojomo wrote: post #247
torstenvl wrote: post #226

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"Internal Use Applications or Passes shall not be . . . distributed or made available to . . . contractors (except for contractors who are developing the Internal Use Application or Pass for You on a custom basis and therefore need to use or have access to such Internal Use Application or Pass)"

But that "shall not" is prefixed by "Except as expressly set forth herein", and other sections clearly mark many "contractors" as "Permitted Users" who are expressly allowed to use such Apps/Passes.

Okay. Then cite one.

The only provision I see that's close to what you're talking about is the definitions section, which provides that Permitted Users include "contractors . . . who have written and binding agreements with You . . . to protect Your Internal Use Application from unauthorized use"

It's quite the stretch to say that this language, which by its text limits contractors to authorized uses, somehow expands the scope of authorized use. Even if you could get to that conclusion, it would not be "expressly set forth."

Re: Apple blocks Google from running its internal iOS apps

#317

Post by [deleted] »

nahzgah wrote: post #140
askafriend wrote: post #43

Let’s say you’re using a Google API like Maps, and you violate terms by snapshotting sections of their maps and storing them on your severs so you can serve static maps without making API calls. They’d shut down your API access immediately Google and Facebook both knew the terms. They both knew that the Enterprise Distribution Program was for internal use only. They still put ads out in the wild to recruit regular co…

>I don’t understand people who are acting offended that Apple is enforcing the clear terms of service it laid out. I don't understand why they were so happy when this happened to Facebook but now they are offended because it happened to Google. Oh wait, yes I do understand why. o:-)

[deleted]

Re: Apple blocks Google from running its internal iOS apps

#318

Post by NotWhatsIt »

beerlord wrote: post #151
_bxg1 wrote: post #3

I feel less vengeful satisfaction from this one, but I respect that they're applying their rules consistently. I just hope it doesn't backfire. On a totally personal level, I'd rather Facebook feel the hurt for its audacity than Apple be forced to backtrack because they made too many enemies.

Can someone explain how Facebook or Google hiring testers willing to expose 100% of their personal usage via an opt-in, paid program impacts consumers? Why should we 'applaud' Apple for this? Isn't it perfectly reasonable for companies like Google and Facebook to run deep user testing?

These aren't testers. They are end users. Plus as mentioned above the terms of the contract forbid giving enterprise certified apps to contractors anyway.

Re: Apple blocks Google from running its internal iOS apps

#319

Post by saagarjha »

mcmoose75 wrote: post #290
askafriend wrote: post #43

Let’s say you’re using a Google API like Maps, and you violate terms by snapshotting sections of their maps and storing them on your severs so you can serve static maps without making API calls. They’d shut down your API access immediately Google and Facebook both knew the terms. They both knew that the Enterprise Distribution Program was for internal use only. They still put ads out in the wild to recruit regular co…

I agree that Google & FB violated the terms of the agreement they had with Apple. I think an interesting question is: What is Apple's best move from here? I would suggest that Apple should leave Google/ FB blocked for ~1-2 weeks, to remind them who's boss on the iOS platform. However, I would argue it'd be smart for them to switch them back on after that- there's a chance that this looks anticompetitive to regulators…

> remind them who's boss on the iOS platform

This sounds counterproductive, as opposed to enforcing rules consistently.

Re: Apple blocks Google from running its internal iOS apps

#320

Post by hk__2 »

the_duke wrote: post #287
zepto wrote: post #164

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It does change the point. As a user, you can run any code on your phone. If someone won’t give you the code, but instead will only supply it via Apple’s store, that’s between you and the supplier.

As a developer with a Mac and the knowledge how to do this. That is a very limited subset of iPhone users.

People who want to run their own code on their smartphone are probably already a very limited subset of all users.
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