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Apple announces ability to download apps directly from websites in EU

macrumors.com

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

#311

Post by fngjdflmdflg »

ethbr1 wrote: post #266
fngjdflmdflg wrote: post #252

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What regulations are you referring to wrt AT&T? Are you saying that UNIX and C were a result of regulations? If so do you have a source?

1913 Kingsbury Commitment https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingsbury_Commitment 1956 Consent Decree https://economics.yale.edu/sites/default/files/how_antitrust... In both, ATT essentially traded government blessing of monopoly in core markets (long distance telecommunications) for agreeing not to expand into other markets (e.g. Western Union money transfers and telecom equipment). And side point, ATT R&D (~1910 to 19…

Thanks for that. It should be noted that these two cases you provided and the third case that split up AT&T are all not true regulations but were either consent agreements which is a court facilitated settlement or fully out of court settlements. I was only aware of the last case that split up AT&T so I thought GGP was referring to a real regulation that was later removed which I had never heard of.

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

#312

Post by BlueTemplar »

CaptainMarvel wrote: post #102
shinryuu wrote: post #75

> Web Distribution, available with a software update later this spring, will let authorized developers distribute their iOS apps to EU users directly from a website owned by the developer. iPhone users don't really own their own device, do they...

I don't. This is a stark realisation that I have had over the past few years. I would once staunchly recommend iPhones for their strong security, in particular app isolation, on-device AI, and physical device security. However, over the years there have been more and more instances where Apple decides what I can do with my phone. From restricting APIs to give their first-party apps advantage, to, most recently, not h…

A few years ago I was still considering de-Googled Android, but IMHO that's still being too tied to Google's ecosystem, constantly trying to catch up.

IMHO hackers should focus their efforts on the likes of Pinephone / Librem 5 instead...

(See also : avoiding Chromium.)

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

#313

Post by rchaud »

endisneigh wrote: post #22

Seems like it would’ve been easier for apple to just enable installing android on iPhones and iPads and just walking away. I do wonder if that would’ve been enough to have compliance. I also wonder if apple could argue that web apps are enough.

Google pays Apple $19b to keep it as the default search engine on iOS Safari, so there will never be an iOS VM running Android.

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

#314

Post by cm2012 »

Etheryte wrote: post #84

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…

Edit: Removed, I used too harsh language for Apple

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

#315

Post by valicord »

nucleardog wrote: post #199
afavour wrote: post #164

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> so much of this is focused on the developers, and that is the problem here. How many users actually want this? How many users actually understand the issues at stake, though? I don't say that to be patronizing but it's a nuanced, thorny problem. I bet if you simply asked "do you think it should be allowed to download porn apps?" a good number of users (if asked anonymously!) would say yes. How many users understand…

> To my mind all of this comes back to the free market: you're free to ignore all this stuff and keep getting everything through the App Store. If you and many others do the same thing then the market will prove the idea to be a dud. This only really creates no impact to users if Apple were to force all apps to also be listed in their App Store. If, e.g., Facebook were to decide they don’t like existing App Store pol…

> What happens when the app for some piece of hardware you bought is on a 3rd party store? You don’t have a choice there either. (Besides returning the hardware if you have the option.)

Surely that's more choice than if the app for some piece of hardware you bought is not on iOS at all because Apple refuses to approve it?

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

#317

Post by carlosjobim »

concinds wrote: post #128
andersa wrote: 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?

Don't overcomplicate it. They want to preserve their Services revenue, because Tim Cook is a bean-counter and wants to maintain the profit margin. "After Steve" by Tripp Mickle provides some background. Many Apple indie devs and fanboys are literally screaming. I bet many people @Apple are too. There are so many things the company could do to regain geek-cred. Package manager and windowing on macOS. Align Mac App Sto…

> There are so many things the company could do to regain geek-cred.

But why do geeks have to destroy everything for everyone else, just for the benefit of their hobbies? Isn't Linux and Android enough and everything else hardware wise and software wise that isn't Apple? Apple devices work great for people who want to get stuff done in the real world and are willing to pay developers for great software. Why does that annoy geeks? Not everybody is interested in tech, they want something that works and get on with their day.

Just because geeks understand computers doesn't give them the right to dictate how other people should use their devices. Just like car modders shouldn't have a say on how normal people use their cars.

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

#318

Post by EraYaN »

YetAnotherNick wrote: post #295
Etheryte wrote: post #84

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.

Apple has so much stuff and money in the EU, that there will be plenty to take. Only recently have the started to take back some of the funds from Ireland. Apple would be in a pretty bad place if those accounts were all seized, not in the last place because it would block all transactions including customer ones, ones to may for servers, rent etc. Apple might look stupid but they aren't that stupid.

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

#319

Post by justinclift »

rsynnott wrote: post #123
nottorp wrote: post #72

As an Apple customer in the EU, I'm staying on iOS 17.3 until they rewrite 17.4 4-5 times based on how many times they get fined again for malicious compliance.

Realistically, if Apple is determined to fight this, it may drag on for years.

Apple could end up funding the EU's Russia defence from just the fines alone. ;)

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

#320

Post by concinds »

fngjdflmdflg wrote: post #276
concinds wrote: post #128

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Don't overcomplicate it. They want to preserve their Services revenue, because Tim Cook is a bean-counter and wants to maintain the profit margin. "After Steve" by Tripp Mickle provides some background. Many Apple indie devs and fanboys are literally screaming. I bet many people @Apple are too. There are so many things the company could do to regain geek-cred. Package manager and windowing on macOS. Align Mac App Sto…

I think you are right that doing these things would improve Apple's standing with developers but it is important to note that none of the things you listed are in line with Steve Jobs' philosophy which you seem to imply here. Recall for example that the iPhone (aka iPhone 1) did not ship with an App Store. Apple doesn't even let you make iOS apps unless you own a sufficiently up to date MacOS device. So when you say…

True, but the world has changed and so have Apple's biggest fans (the ones that drive purchasing decisions for their social circles) and indie devs. They didn't mind back then, now they do. See the Accidental Tech Podcast guys for example, but there are many others (the infamous DHH and geohot just recently). People's attitudes towards huge corporations have changed. Things formerly rationalized as "for the user experience" are now seen as cash-grabs. Even many pro-Apple people are worried that rent-seeking is leading to product neglect.
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