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The App Store is a monopoly: Here's why the EU is correct to investigate Apple

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Re: The App Store is a monopoly: Here's why the EU is correct to investigate Apple

#51
post #40

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The problem isn't how they run their store -- the problem is that they are the only store.

For many of us that is a feature, not a problem.

You're no entitled to a "feature" of my phone blocking functionality that doesn't affect you.

Re: The App Store is a monopoly: Here's why the EU is correct to investigate Apple

#52
post #41
post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The only store on their product. Not the only store, period. There is Android store which has 4 times as many users, and at some point Microsoft had a store but people didn't like it either...

He means the only store on the iOS platform, not the only app store between all platforms

iOS is an option among several, not the only game in town. Nobody forces anybody to buy iOS, and if they don't they don't need to use the iOS App Store either, problem solved...

Re: The App Store is a monopoly: Here's why the EU is correct to investigate Apple

#53
post #5
post #2

Yes, it's a monopoly, but that doesn't mean it's bad per-se. People are freely choosing to buy iPhones and there are alternatives. If the situation on the App Store was so bad, there wouldn't be enough good apps and perhaps people would choose other devices. No one is forcing any company to publish into the App Store.

"No one is forcing any company to publish into the App Store." Yes Apple is, there is no alternative to the App Store on an iPhone.

No one is forcing anyone to write software for Apple.

Re: The App Store is a monopoly: Here's why the EU is correct to investigate Apple

#54
You should not share articles like these on HN. Sacred things are not to be critized, and everything Apple is sacred :) Just check the comments in this thread. As long as I get my "flawless user experience" it doesn't matter what happens and how Apple treats the backbone of its platform (independent developers) and forcing them in a feudal relationship, one might even call it a road to serfdom.

And I can see already that there will be people jumping out of the woods with the classic argument: "The devs are free to leave the App store" You try to make a business and the first decision you make is that you abandon half of your potential marketshare (iOS is over 50% in the U.S.)

Re: The App Store is a monopoly: Here's why the EU is correct to investigate Apple

#55
post #12

The only monopoly here is Apple’s monopoly on designing its own products. The iPhone, iOS, it’s development tools and the App Store are all Apple products, so Apple gets to decide what features they have. It’s also not unusual for companies to make deals with third parties to include their technology and software in their products, often as optional chargeable extras. That’s all the App Store is, it’s a way to add op…

> What’s the alternative. Are you going to mandate what features Apple, or any manufacturer of devices with embedded software, can or cannot implement? Are you going to mandate by law specific features for side loading that all manufacturers have to implement in all devices containing software? What features, who gets to specify them, how will this be enforced?

Well, it has been done for Microsoft, it could be done for Apple: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BrowserChoice.eu

(I'm just stating a fact, not judging whether that is a good or a bad idea.)

Re: The App Store is a monopoly: Here's why the EU is correct to investigate Apple

#56

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The problem isn't how they run their store -- the problem is that they are the only store.

It's their product and they can do whatever they want with it. If anyone doesn't like that, they can easily not purchase iDevices. Apple doesn't force people to buy their products.

i purchased one of their product ( an iphone), which now belongs to me. That doesn't mean i should be compelled to use all of their product.

What if tomorrow they decide bing is the only search engine available on iOS, or iCloud the only storage solution. Would you still be holding the same argument ?

Re: The App Store is a monopoly: Here's why the EU is correct to investigate Apple

#57

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The problem isn't how they run their store -- the problem is that they are the only store.

It's their product and they can do whatever they want with it. If anyone doesn't like that, they can easily not purchase iDevices. Apple doesn't force people to buy their products.

I think you mistook your nation for a libertarian utopiam

Re: The App Store is a monopoly: Here's why the EU is correct to investigate Apple

#58
post #9

As a consumer, I am 100% in favor of the way run the app store. I don't want to give random apps my credit card. I don't want to have 18 accounts to keep track of. I don't want to have to call telephone support to cancel my account. I don't want malware in my apps. I don't want apps to have my email if they don't need it. I don't need another middleman for content companies license and distribute. Everything Apple is…

Yeah, I completely agree. I do feel conflicted because just a few companies control everything. It's that tough balance to be sure and I don't know what the right solution is

Android has the freedom of other app stores, but in practice very few even bother

Re: The App Store is a monopoly: Here's why the EU is correct to investigate Apple

#59
post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If the government forces a platform open and hands it over to a consortium of industry leaders, as well as associations of independent developers and open source foundations... sure why not?

> If the government forces a platform open and hands it over to a consortium of industry leaders, as well as associations of independent developers and open source foundations... sure why not? Because the platform only exists because somebody created it, somebody specific not some consortium. I don't want my iPhone OS to be created by a consortium, I want it to be run by Apple...

And because if that happens I would promptly go find a phone with a curated locked down store again. If I wanted otherwise I would have bought an Android phone, with my _choice_.

Re: The App Store is a monopoly: Here's why the EU is correct to investigate Apple

#60
post #9

As a consumer, I am 100% in favor of the way run the app store. I don't want to give random apps my credit card. I don't want to have 18 accounts to keep track of. I don't want to have to call telephone support to cancel my account. I don't want malware in my apps. I don't want apps to have my email if they don't need it. I don't need another middleman for content companies license and distribute. Everything Apple is…

I see it the same way, even as developer. Every store is another task which takes resources to handle. Stores change and hence it never stops. Further, Icwsnt customers to know tuey can trust the ecosystem to some degree.

As a fahter, the Apple App Store too is the only place I give my children access too. They started with Android phones but after I noticed the apps which are present in the Google Play Store we went on to switch to iOS. Passing on our used devices to our kids.

Google could have done amazing things, abd so could Microsoft. But both took a different parh. I am not a Apple fanboy, I fact I am very critical about them. Yet its simply the best ecosystem for normal consumers.

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