There’s no way that Nintendo’s Switch should be the only way to play downloadable Nintendo games for the Nintendo Switch from Nintendo’s eShop! How does these things keep happening?? /s
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Apple Could Soon Face 'Sweeping' U.S. Antitrust Lawsuit
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How about the way they lock you regarding passwords. My iphone broke and I purchased an android phone. I wanted my passwords from keychain (it was called icloud keychain at the time)
I was told to buy an apple device or kiss my passwords goodbye.
This was during covid and i was stuck in Vietnam and was locked out of all , doctor, hospital, healthcare, bank apps etc.
Even worse i got hold a mac and the process of getting my passwords out was following:
Open keychain
- enter password
- copy site name
- paste site name to notes
- enter password again to keychain
- copy username
- paste username to notes
- enter password
- copy password
- paste password to notes.
I had at that time 420 passwords so process was doing this 420 times
Most people in this world one 1 device .. a phone and they change it when it breaks.
That means you can not get your passwords if you want to go android.. you are trapped.
I was told to buy an apple device or kiss my passwords goodbye.
This was during covid and i was stuck in Vietnam and was locked out of all , doctor, hospital, healthcare, bank apps etc.
Even worse i got hold a mac and the process of getting my passwords out was following:
Open keychain
- enter password
- copy site name
- paste site name to notes
- enter password again to keychain
- copy username
- paste username to notes
- enter password
- copy password
- paste password to notes.
I had at that time 420 passwords so process was doing this 420 times
Most people in this world one 1 device .. a phone and they change it when it breaks.
That means you can not get your passwords if you want to go android.. you are trapped.
And what is being claimed is that it is an *unfair* competitive advantage, or in other terms Apple is using anticompetitive measures. Of course this is by design, but it doesn’t make it right.
I’d add that this is mainly due to its locked down nature. It’s JUST annoying enough for your average person to pirate, that they’d rather just buy what they want. And, their credit card details are right there anyway, so it’s VERY easy. Some developers raking in big bucks on iOS may get a rude awakening if sideloading is available and they’re saving on transaction fees, but their sales drop to almost nothing.
Dude. You can choose. Something else. Apple has long said others don’t have to loose for them to win. We like Apple like it is and come to them for exactly that reason. What some want to push on us devalues the thousands of dollars we have invested in the devices we chose and would likely continue if not disrupted by outsiders.
This is just marketing. Deliver something you know will get rejected and all of a sudden, people they don’t even know are letting other complete strangers know “Hey has a Calendar app now! oh and something something Apple unfair” I would imagine this is going to be their standard release process going forward.
Not good. I use an iPhone and a Mac as primary devices and do you use keychain but I have got all my passwords in Bitwarden so I can leave whenever I like.
Most of the third party password managers allow you to export your passwords as a CSV file and take them elsewhere.
This is Apple's doing. Apple chose to include an app store, creating a market they control. Setting the rules for the market and simultaneously competing in that market opens themselves up to scrutiny into anticompetitive practices.
Scrutiny into interoperability of iMessage is also a result of Apple's choices. Apple chose to give their messaging platform a degree of interoperability by coupling iMessage with SMS, which is now substandard. If they had chosen to keep iMessage separate from SMS (so that the app used for iMessage was incapable of cross platform messaging) there would be no expectation of interoperability of iMessage and no significant calls for Apple to open up iMessage.
Looking at The NY Times article text:
======
The Justice Department is in the late stages of an investigation into Apple and could file a sweeping antitrust case taking aim at the company’s strategies to protect the dominance of the iPhone as soon as the first half of this year, said three people with knowledge of the matter.
The agency is focused on how Apple has used its control over its hardware and software to make it more difficult for consumers to ditch the company’s devices, as well as for rivals to compete, said the people, who spoke anonymously because the investigation was active.
Specifically, investigators have examined how the Apple Watch works better with the iPhone than with other brands, as well as how Apple locks competitors out of its iMessage service. They have also scrutinized Apple’s payments system for the iPhone, which blocks other financial firms from offering similar services, these people said.
======
How has Apple used its control over hardware and software to make it more difficult for consumers to ditch their iPhones? This has to be a joke, you can go to any cell provider and get a new phone from another vendor at regular intervals if have a contract or not. There are a great deal of smartphone rivals out there, Samsung, Google, and so on.
Of course a AppleWatch will likely work better with a iPhone then other brands because the OS recognizes the device pairing but that is still not flagging competitors that they can't provide similar feature sets or just buy other smartwatches that can provide some of that functionality. Would like to hear about other examples besides the current lawsuit concerning Apple vs Masimo.
Apple payment system blocks other financial firms cards? Give details. On the iPhone 14 Pro I was able to substitute a bank credit card without needing an Apple Card.
This all looks like DOJ trying to scratch their heads to determine if anything is wrong with this investigation. Also sensationalizing the headline topic for the NY Times.
======
The Justice Department is in the late stages of an investigation into Apple and could file a sweeping antitrust case taking aim at the company’s strategies to protect the dominance of the iPhone as soon as the first half of this year, said three people with knowledge of the matter.
The agency is focused on how Apple has used its control over its hardware and software to make it more difficult for consumers to ditch the company’s devices, as well as for rivals to compete, said the people, who spoke anonymously because the investigation was active.
Specifically, investigators have examined how the Apple Watch works better with the iPhone than with other brands, as well as how Apple locks competitors out of its iMessage service. They have also scrutinized Apple’s payments system for the iPhone, which blocks other financial firms from offering similar services, these people said.
======
How has Apple used its control over hardware and software to make it more difficult for consumers to ditch their iPhones? This has to be a joke, you can go to any cell provider and get a new phone from another vendor at regular intervals if have a contract or not. There are a great deal of smartphone rivals out there, Samsung, Google, and so on.
Of course a AppleWatch will likely work better with a iPhone then other brands because the OS recognizes the device pairing but that is still not flagging competitors that they can't provide similar feature sets or just buy other smartwatches that can provide some of that functionality. Would like to hear about other examples besides the current lawsuit concerning Apple vs Masimo.
Apple payment system blocks other financial firms cards? Give details. On the iPhone 14 Pro I was able to substitute a bank credit card without needing an Apple Card.
This all looks like DOJ trying to scratch their heads to determine if anything is wrong with this investigation. Also sensationalizing the headline topic for the NY Times.
Either way he's going to shout about it from the rooftops for weeks.
Apple Card got investigated for discriminatory practices because his wife got a smaller credit limit than he did and he complained about it on Twitter
Apple’s credit card is being investigated for discriminating against women
‘The @AppleCard is such a ****ing sexist program’
www.theverge.com
The list shows only „some of the topics“. I am hoping the full list includes:
Apple officials have met with the DoJ several times during the investigation, which has covered everything from iMessage to the Apple Watch. Some of the topics looked at:
• How Apple makes it impossible for customers to replace the internal SSD drive in all M-processor Macs
It’s not consumer unfriendly for me, the consumer, to have the choice between a tightly coupled platform operated with well defined, but more limited in some areas, interoperability done by a single company and a loosely coupled platform where multiple companies operate together that allows more choice of devices.
It is consumer unfriendly of you and others (along with the EU and the DOJ) to remove that choice from the market by forcing Apple to turn iOS in to Android.
Saying Apple should be forced to open up its device/OS platform is like saying Tesla should be forced to make gas powered cars.
If iPhone had a monopoly, ie Android didn’t exist or was a completely niche player, the story would be different. But it’s not. You have choice. LOTS of choice.
What's the point of capitalism and the free market then? A company makes (in my opinion) the best product in the world, while other companies make second-rate products (in my opinion). 58% of US consumers who use iPhone would agree. 80%+ of teenagers would agree. If the free market and capitalism "just works" then why try to stop it?
One commenter wrote “The competition ought to be between ecosystems/platforms (in Apple‘s case: Mac vs. Windows/Linux, iOS vs. Android etc.).” Several comments with more than 30 likes expressed the same sentiment. Would we accept it if, for example, GM made their own tires, batteries, lights, etc. and designed their cars such that third party tires, batteries … cannot be installed?
The United States Justice Department is in the "late stages" of an antitrust investigation into Apple that could soon lead to an antitrust lawsuit, reports The New York Times. The DoJ could be ready to file a "sweeping" antitrust case in the first half of 2024, with the agency considering how Apple's control over hardware and software locks consumers into the Apple ecosystem and makes it difficult for rivals to compete.
Apple officials have met with the DoJ several times during the investigation, which has covered everything from iMessage to the Apple Watch. Some of the topics looked at:
Apple competitors like Tile, Beeper, Basecamp, Meta, and Spotify have talked with antitrust investigators, as have banks that have wanted access to the iPhone's NFC capabilities.
- How the Apple Watch works better with iPhone than other smart watches do.
- How Apple locks competitors out of iMessage.
- How Apple blocks other financial firms from offering tap-to-pay services similar to Apple Pay on the iPhone.
- Whether Apple favors its own apps and services over those provided by third-party developers.
- How Apple has blocked cloud gaming apps from the App Store.
- How Apple restricts the iPhone's location services from devices that compete with AirTag.
- How App Tracking Transparency impacted the collection of advertising data.
- In-app purchase fees collected by Apple.
The Department of Justice has not yet made a final decision about whether a lawsuit should be filed, and Apple has not yet had a chance to have a final meeting to plead its case before a lawsuit is filed.
Apple and Microsoft are the only "big five" companies not currently facing U.S. lawsuits over their business practices. Google, Amazon, and Meta are all facing off against the DoJ or the FTC.
Over the last several years, Apple has defended itself against antitrust accusations in the U.S. In 2020, the U.S. House Judiciary Antitrust Subcommittee said that Apple, Meta, Google, and Amazon have the "kinds of monopolies" last seen in "the era of oil barons and railroad tycoons."
Apple has argued that it does not have a dominant market share in any category where it does business, and the company also often cites the opportunities and jobs provided by the App Store. If the DoJ does opt to file an antitrust lawsuit, it will likely lead to a multi-year legal battle.
Though Apple has so far avoided regulatory action in the United States, it has been struggling against antitrust rules put in place in the European Union. The Digital Markets Act (DMA) could soon force Apple to make significant chances to the App Store, Siri, Messages, FaceTime, and other services. Apple is, for example, already working to add support for sideloading apps to iPhones in Europe, functionality that we are expecting to see sometime later this year.
Article Link: Apple Could Soon Face 'Sweeping' U.S. Antitrust Lawsuit
This was very surprising to se North Korea in the list.Just in case anyone asks see this chart
iPhone Market Share by Country 2025
Discover population, economy, health, and more with the most comprehensive global statistics at your fingertips.worldpopulationreview.com
Still one can't argue this strictly about iOS usage percentages, there is obviously a preference for the way a iPhone works, affordability, and its security.
Literally I seen used iPhones as the preferred smartphone here in the states even for people begging for money by the road. They have much more lasting value it seems. Built to last years, not throwaways.
Go to Android if you don't like what Apple's rules are. Crying about what they are not doing just because you want to hack expensive devices and then make them unusable and cry that Apple devices are bad. I heard this past 25 years with other companies' products after people hack expensive products. I stopped hacking or modifying devices because it became too costly. I don't blame Apple for standing stands against sideloading etc. like or not that’s what people think of those hackers
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Wow! I bet Tile is fuming at Pebblebee daily. “THAT COULDA BEEN US!” We’ll see if UWB comes to other devices. I’d imagine right now they’re trying to save money as they feel out how the market is for them.
If Apple Music is as terrible as you say it is... and Spotify has twice as many paying customers... then why is Spotify always complaining about Apple?
Seems like Spotify already won! Congrats!
I mean, if they’re able to agree to a deal and they don’t think they’d lose customers, that’s just how business works, they try to make deals that are in their best interest. Remember, there was a time NOT too long ago where only one carrier would even allow the iPhone on their network. Many likely had a sour opinion of that situation, especially when the same carriers were carrying many other phones. But, it’s business, and that’s what businesses do… do what’s best for their bottom line.
And, if getting 30% of Apple’s iPhone revenue gets them there (both parties willingly sign the agreement)? I can’t say I’d care.
That’s just a small matter of getting several hundred companies all on the same page about it. Unfortunately, that’s already happened and the closest they could get was Bluetooth.
You can't even select DPRK as a region in iOS. Already tells you that stat is bull.