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Apple announces ability to download apps directly from websites in EU

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

#411
post #257
post #227

I wonder why the EU is pushing Apple this hard, and not the other gatekeepers. For example, Xbox, Playstation, and Nintendo consoles should now support an external store.

Access to gaming is not critical to participation in a modern economy. Whereas a phone gives you access to banking, government services, medical services, emergency services, education, information, news, wayfinding(GPS), shopping (especially if you live somewhere remote) are just some examples of things people do with their phones. And that's not just some people, like 80-90% of all people. It's not the same.

Are any of those things impossible without sideloading or the DMA? Those things will only be riskier on your phone with all the malware that will undoubtedly spread throughout fully open marketplaces. I really do not want my mom accidentally installing her "Chase Bank" app from www.chazebank.cc.

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

#412

Apple isn’t considering that they are the baddies? I suggest strong regulation of the complete BigIT and two chairs for public observers at minimum. In addition they are not allowed to enter any new market. Why? Because it worked well with AT&T . Results: * UNIX * C * Open-Source * Public Documentation Sounds good? Until the Reagan administration appeared, allowed them to split up (Baby Bells), the UNIX-Wars followed…

Splitting up needs to happen for big and monopolistic US companies, no ifs, no buts. That is if they still want to keep a technological edge in the next 10-15 years. I personally don’t think that the forced split-up will happen, the direct interests involved are too big for that to have any chance of success, but it’s the only way forward for the US as a whole (when it comes to IT).

Any particular reason you are picking on US companies? or big companies?

Most, if not all, monopolies are sustained by government via laws, regulations, and so on. So let's get specific, which monopolies do you think should be forced to split up and we can test that theory and see if we can identify what government actions sustain the monopoly.

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

#413
post #318

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> 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.

The EU won’t even seize Russia’s assets. You think they’ll start a shitstorm with the united states?

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

#414
post #221

Why isn't making the iPhone unavailable for sale in Europe not an option?

As much as I like to joke about Apple starting a nuclear weapons division and tattooing "POOR IMPULSE CONTROL" on Tim Cook's forehead, the reality is that corporations are not actually sovereign nations, they just cosplay as such. Apple's investors will not tolerate Apple abandoning a huge chunk of their iPhone revenue over what is effectively a religious precept.

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

#415

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Or, and hear me out on this, maybe I want to make useful apps that don't data mine their users and I also would like not to take donations. This is a valid want to have (and I honestly can't believe you would suggest to 'just' sell out your users) and it would take a single app getting popular (or apple just straight up lying, I would have no way of verifying their count) to wipe out all of my capital. It's 'nice' th…

Lucky for you, you are still able to distribute your free app for free on the Apple App Store. No surprise costs if your app becomes incredibly popular, and better still- that's where the vast majority of people will continue to go for getting new apps (regardless of this legislation) so it's free exposure for you as well.

Aren't you still going to be paying that Core Technology fee once your FOSS non-profit app gets popular? I guess you would have to get that waiver but that's far from trivial[1], especially for an individual that just likes to publish an FOSS/free-as-in-beer app out of kindness.

[1] https://developer.apple.com/support/fee-waiver/

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

#416

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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. ;)

Unfortunately fines are a net zero from the EU's perspective, as fines are simply deducted from the EU contributions paid by its members.

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

#417

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…

At this point, I want to see a responsible person at Apple getting a literal fucking slap in the face for all that shit this company pulls off.

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

#418

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…

Genuinely curious: people throw around the term „malicious compliance“ a lot. It seems the platform fee is explicitly allowed by the DMA, so Apple demands it. Again, I am not trying to troll but what would „benevolent compliance“ look like and what would Apple‘s incentive be to give up the fee?

Not sure where you're getting the info on platform fees (copilot didn't know either) but I'd assume you need to offer at least one way to install your apps without this fee.

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

#419

This is likely my last iPhone. Apple’s behavior in opposing their own customers is unacceptable. I’ll switch to a Pixel running GrapheneOS, where I can run “real Firefox” and any other software I choose.

„Real“ Firefox is now possible in EU.

Well, since Mozilla will have to pay 50ct per year per install to Apple to actually bring Firefox to iOS, I doubt it will happen unfortunately.

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

#420
post #318

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

Can't they take all the money out a month before they are planning to refuse to pay fine? I am pretty sure EU could never block Apple's fund unless they want to totally remove all the business from EU.

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