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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

#361

Post by yjftsjthsd-h »

CharlesW wrote: post #118
robmccoll wrote: post #37

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's the thing that would prevent me from buying a Vision Pro down the line. It's going to be an iOS-like walled garden experience. If it could run arbitrary macOS apps on device, it would be infinitely more useful (but probably cannibalize the MacBook market and why would Apple ever roll out a new product line that doesn't force developers to pay them 30%?)

> It's going to be an iOS-like walled garden experience. You say "it's going to be" as if this hasn't been the Apple device business model from the start.

I mean... it hasn't been their model from the start; the Apple II was wildly successful in part because it was so open, and Macs never had a walled garden (though the situation there does seem to have gotten somewhat worse over time).

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

#362

Post by isodev »

overstay8930 wrote: post #61
asdp9iujaspid wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> worried if they ever allowed unsigned apps to run I see this stance often - Do you mean worried for the wellbeing of the easily manipulable (e.g. children) on the platform, Or worried for the quality floor more generally? The former has an argument, the latter does not in my opinion. Even then while I welcome a requirement for apple to notarise apps for regular install (particularly as a means to verify the source)…

I worry about my family both young and old who all had adware and malware ridden Android phones before I got them iPhones. The vast majority of people use smartphones against their will and have no desire to learn anything about the magical Facebook machine in their hands. They press buttons and things happen, who cares what the dialog box says, they press the button that will get them doing what they want to do the…

All of your concerns are actually solvable through software … if Apple were willing to work on it. But doing that doesn’t bring a lot of revenue so they keep pushing the narrative how the entire category of applications is malicious or risky.

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

#363

Post by stale2002 »

ggreer wrote: post #302
makeitdouble wrote: post #256

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They're not general purpose computers, even if architecturally they could be. Apple amply touted the iPhone's capacities ("there's an app for that") and smartphones are defacto a core component of our lives. The Switch isn't.

What applications are necessary to call it a general purpose computer? A web browser? A self-hosted development environment? I don't think there's a bright line between what applications a Playstation or Xbox has versus what a phone has. And it's not like the iPhone is the only phone you can get. If Apple is restricting such a core component of our lives, you can simply buy non-Apple products.

That is a great question which is answered by the Digital Markets Act.

> I don't think there's a bright line

Well there is one. The bright line would be the services that the DMA applies to or doesn't. That is a bright line.

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

#364

Post by weberer »

darknavi wrote: post #354
weberer wrote: post #280

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That would be cool if they did. And lets extend it to all devices. Once I pay for a device, I should be able to do whatever I want with it.

Just be ready for Xbox and Sony to stop subsidizing their console prices then. That may be the future anyways as Xbox (and Sony really recently) push towards cross-plat gaming.

Well Nintendo has been able to outsell both of them combined without subsidization, so it shouldn't be too big of a problem.

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

#366

Post by jcfrei »

josephcsible wrote: post #192
jcfrei wrote: post #129

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yup, this is the choice: Either a walled garden run by Apple that has a price premium. Or a discounted device by Android that allows Google to snoop on all your data if you want to use a single one of their services (App Store, Gmail, Google Maps) - and correct me if I'm wrong but without play services enabled an Android is not really usable. I rather pay the premium.

If you go with Android, you could flash GrapheneOS, which supports sandboxing Play Services.

very interesting, thanks! haven't heard of this feature before.

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

#367

Post by charcircuit »

ApolloFortyNine wrote: post #278

50 cents an install over 1 million downloads? Every year? Is Apple trying to get fined? They're not even hiding the fact they're maliciously complying. For one, this makes deploying a free app on an alternative store (that becomes popular) simply impossible? I highly doubt that was the EU's intent. Usually with malicious compliance you can at least see the logic for a future legal case. Here, if they were trying to l…

>For one, this makes deploying a free app on an alternative store (that becomes popular) simply impossible?

You can monetize it with in app payments or ads such that wealthy people subsidize other users.

If the app is from a nonprofit they can get the fee waived.

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

#368

Post by Spivak »

wolf89618 wrote: post #56
Spivak wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Which part? I don't think the EU can rule that Apple can't charge publishers to be on iOS. This isn't malicious compliance, sans the size requirement it's exactly what they asked for. This keeps happening where people keep hitching "I don't want to pay Apple" to every wagon except a law that requires Apple to make access to iOS free. "Allow other payment processors": Okay you still pay 27% "Allow other stores": Okay…

> 4. The gatekeeper shall allow and technically enable the installation and effective use of third-party software applications or software application stores using, or interoperating with, its operating system and allow those software applications or software application stores to be accessed by means other than the relevant core platform services of that gatekeeper. > 7. The gatekeeper shall allow providers of servi…

Yes, people keep quoting these sections but it doesn't say what folks want it to say.

4. Gatekeeper must allow people to install applications from outside the App Store. That has no relationship at all to whether Apple is allowed to require a contractual relationship with iOS developers that stipulate payment under certain conditions -- installs, IAPs, number of developers, number of users, etc..

7. Gatekeeper can't give themselves special APIs that allow them to do things other apps can't or charge extra for those special privileged APIs. Apple can nonetheless still charge developers to access iOS. But from there Apple can't give themselves an advantage by saying that only Apple apps can access Bluetooth.

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

#369

Post by tuukkah »

vel0city wrote: post #351
genpfault wrote: post #322

Earlier quoted context omitted.

But not about:config :(

Just opened Firefox on my Pixel, typed in "about:config", and got a long list of configuration options.

Works for me on Firefox Beta and Firefox Nightly, but not on normal Firefox.

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

#370

Post by nerdjon »

simion314 wrote: post #283
nerdjon wrote: post #157

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…

You could open your eyes and look at reality and not imagined universe. Facebook apps are still on Android store, Facebook users do not install the application from some shady store. The issue is that Apple is a greedy bitch, they do not allow the developers to put a text on theier app that would inform the USER that they have a CHOICE to purchase a book/DLC/music from a website. See above I bolded for you that Apple…

I wouldn't call it imagined when Fortnite is not available on the Android App Store...

There is at least one company that is very much pushing for this exact scenario, and has announced plans for releasing a store on iOS.

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