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Apple blocks Google from running its internal iOS apps

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Re: Apple blocks Google from running its internal iOS apps

#541

Post by ozmbie »

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?

Apple have different distribution methods for different use cases. Enterprise distribution is meant for internal company apps. Testflight is meant for test customers. Use any of these in a way that Apple doesn't approve of and you'll deal with the consequences.

Apple's platform, their rules.

Re: Apple blocks Google from running its internal iOS apps

#542

Post by taurath »

abtinf wrote: post #468
taurath wrote: post #252

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There's plenty of recourse - politics-like fights in the court of public opinion. Nice vulnerability you've got there, it'd be a shame if it started to go to the press instead of being disclosed to you first.

Such an action would result extraordinary liability for a company. Public discovery would likely lead to consumer lawsuits, shareholders suits, replacement of the CEO, and shuffling of the board of directors. Not to mention possible criminal/civil penalties that pierce the corporate veil.

This would never be a direct action. But they don't have to go out of their way to inform either.

Do you think Facebook's right wing oppo research firm would balk about leaking a story that a competitor's phone is vulnerable? Absolutely not.

Re: Apple blocks Google from running its internal iOS apps

#543

Post by eanzenberg »

why_only_15 wrote: post #450
eanzenberg wrote: post #415

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In safari, when you enter terms into the search bar, the "google suggestions" is separate from "siri knowledge" or "siri suggested website" which they surface at the top. It looks like Apple generates that independent of google

Siri suggested website is based on what your device knows about you (that is never uploaded from your device).

and if you select a link through siri, google doesn't get your query (data).

Re: Apple blocks Google from running its internal iOS apps

#544

Post by taurath »

fingerlocks wrote: post #246
zapzupnz wrote: post #167

Yeah, this is pretty clear cut. Apple has rule. Facebook and Google agree to rule. Facebook and Google violate rule. Apple enforces rule. This isn't some grey area where the details are difficult to ascertain. Everything is pretty clear; the enterprise app distribution service is most assuredly not for distributing apps that break the App Store rules to customers . This isn't difficult to understand, so I'm strugglin…

I worked for a small startup that abused the enterprise program in the same way. Originally it was to get around the tiny (at the time) number of beta testers allowed which then was only 100 unique devices. They did this at my suggestion- we needed a lot of testers but we were capped. Over time the CEO started sending out enterprise builds to all sorts of randoms such as potential investors, journalists, family and f…

Insider demos are still demos, so its less of a big deal, and they're not doing something with the intention to circumvent app store rules.

Re: Apple blocks Google from running its internal iOS apps

#545

Post by tokyodude »

Apple is likely going to be sued by FB and Google and eventually they will lose the control over their platform. Yes the terms are in the TOS. Those terms should be illegal. Same as say non-competes are illegal in some places. No company should have that kind of power.

And, before you say it's the same as some company turning off your net based account, no it is not. For example if you upload porn to flickr and they delete your account in that case you're using flickr's servers. In this case Google is using phones owned by Googlers and other customers to run software by Google. Apple is not involved at all here unlike the example flickr case above. Apple should not be allowed to reach into another company and kill it.

AFAICT Google and FB did nothing wrong here. Those apps were test apps. How else are you supposed to beta test something? Tons of software does this. You build an app, you offer beta program. You had out codes for the beta users. Beta testing with direct employees is not useful because employees are no representative of actual users.

Re: Apple blocks Google from running its internal iOS apps

#546

Post by jedieaston »

shhehebehdh wrote: post #326
hk__2 wrote: post #308

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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

From a practical standpoint, it’s hard to picture apple permanently preventing google from e.g. dogfooding Google Maps for iOS. I suppose it’s within the realm of possibility, but I don’t see it as likely. I wouldn’t even look at it from an anticompetitive angle or anything like that. This is a matter of what’s best for apple and its users. They should absolutely do what’s needed to ensure that their terms are obeyed…

Dogfooding is possible via TestFlight, and Apple moderates it to ensure they aren't breaking the rules before the builds go out, I believe. Enterprise certificates are for pushing applications written for internal use only, like the Facebook lunch app or Google's bus schedule.

Re: Apple blocks Google from running its internal iOS apps

#547

Post by twtw »

saagarjha wrote: post #490
twtw wrote: post #352

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Does sideload still work? I recall they enabled the ability for anybody to load apps via Xcode around iOS 7, but haven't kept up to date with latest versions. Did this stop working on newer iOS versions? I sideload stuff on my phone quite frequently.

> I recall they enabled the ability for anybody to load apps via Xcode around iOS 7 Xcode 7 and iOS 9, and yes, you can still do this.

I do it on iOS 8. Can't recall the Xcode version.

Re: Apple blocks Google from running its internal iOS apps

#548

Post by aasasd »

burtonator wrote: post #511
ChuckMcM wrote: post #131

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Well put. It is an interesting salvo in what I've started thinking of as the "data war." All three companies have a huge asset in data collection capability, and preventing the others from exploiting it is only the first skirmish among them. It will be interesting to see if Google offers to pay additional monies to Apple in order to "restore" this pipeline, and whether or not Apple will agree. In one sense, Apple alr…

Data wars is an understatement. Facebook is AMAZINGLY litigious on its data. Do this. Create a fake company and say you wrote a spider to index Facebook public profile data and that you have like say 100GB .... Watch how fast you get sued by Facebook. Mind you this is public data that EVERYONE can see...

> public data that EVERYONE can see

The entire concept of law is based on the premise that not everything that is physically possible should be permitted.

Re: Apple blocks Google from running its internal iOS apps

#549

Post by morpheuskafka »

dangerbird2 wrote: post #293
hart_russell wrote: post #275

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You are still able to sideload apps, just not at an enterprise level.

You need a mac with Xcode to sideload apps for iOS (unless you want to deal with jailbreaking)

If the IPA is already built you just need the cross-platform Cydia Impactor. Jailbreak not required, but standard Developer Account for full features applies.

Re: Apple blocks Google from running its internal iOS apps

#550

Post by nihonde »

jlokier wrote: post #430
51lver wrote: post #343

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You're not wrong, you're just in the wrong place. Apple is the sysadmin and the phone holders are the users. They WANT apple looking out for them. Anyone who says otherwise stupidly wasted $1000 when they could have bought any number of unlockable devices for that money. I say this with an unlocked and de-googled android phone next to me, and several hacked arm devices at home. I OWN THEM, with no doubt, so I agree w…

I mostly agree - except people want Apple products for other reasons too. There are quite a few Apple users who like the hardware, the operating system, apps which are iOS-only, and the integration with other Apple devices - some of whom also want to run their own choice of software as well. There's no alternative which has equivalent benefits, if that's what you're looking for. (NB, I don't use an Apple phone person…

No one is entitled to Apple’s operating system. If you want freedom, the price is Android or whatever. In fact, the restrictions that Apple imposes on iOS and MacOS are arguably what makes them desirable in terms of consistent user experience, robust default security, and lack of crapware. For some people, that’s a good trade off. For others, the allure of Apple’s walled garden is too tempting.
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