Apple Privacy Chief: North Dakota Bill 'Threatens to Destroy the iPhone as You Know It'

[IG88]

Take a look at PC gaming and how that got handled with Epic exclusivity and Steam. Also, with your argument nobody is FORCING you to use ANY apps, so it shouldn't matter to you anyway.

Huh? I want the ability to sideload apps without jailbreaking the phone. Like I can do in Mac OS, Windows, Android, Linux......every major OS except for iOS.

Not sure what that has to do with anything else really. Me sideloading apps doesn't make your phone less secure.

Zero ****s given about Steam, Epic, etc.

 

[Aoligei]

Do I really want to run anti malware software on my iPhone? Do I want to give free rains on social media companies and the way they use the user data? Apps side loading some crap once you let them in... In all honesty, in what alternative universe is that benefiting the consumer? Sure I might get apps 10%-15% cheaper from the third party store but I can also get an app with a “Trojan skimming my ApplePay from that same place”.

The fact remains, my iPhone and iPad are my most secure digital devices because all of the software has been verified by Apple and by huge number of users. If something bad happens I can always point my finger to Apple. With third parties providing the store services and the infrastructure the whole security scene will change.

Why do people automatically assume alternative App Store automatically means malware infestation? In all honesty, if you don't trust alternative App Store, you don't have to use it. If you are only download from App Store, then what does existence of alternative App Store matters to you?

Why do people accept side load software from their computer but not on their phone? Just because Apple told you iOS is different?

 

[Snownoob]

How much are Epic & Spotify paying ND legislators?

 

[grjj]

Apple already complies with these requirements:
Anyone can sell and use a web based app. This was the original play for iPhone until there was outrage about no native 3rd party apps.
Any app developer can use an outside payment or subscription method without paying Apple a penny. They just can't link to or mention it in the App store apps.

So use a web app with browser based sign-up. Simple.
For all but the most high performance apps, this should be acceptable. Then there can be hundreds of "app stores" that do their own DRM, license management and security.

nothing needs to change except the developer's view of how the world works.

 

[grjj]

Do I really want to run anti malware software on my iPhone? Do I want to give free rains on social media companies and the way they use the user data? Apps side loading some crap once you let them in... In all honesty, in what alternative universe is that benefiting the consumer? Sure I might get apps 10%-15% cheaper from the third party store but I can also get an app with a “Trojan skimming my ApplePay from that same place”.

The fact remains, my iPhone and iPad are my most secure digital devices because all of the software has been verified by Apple and by huge number of users. If something bad happens I can always point my finger to Apple. With third parties providing the store services and the infrastructure the whole security scene will change.

You can't. Due to sandboxing is it effectively impossible for App 'a' to even know App 'b' exists, never mind scan the app or its associated data.

 

[jonathan1683]

I really hope this passes, but I doubt anyone could win against apple in this one. People should be able to do what they want with their phone. I would do this even if it voided support/warranty.

 

[Naraxus]

Wish people would stop trying to turn my iPhone into an insecure Android phone.

Except that nobody is doing that

 

[t76turbo]

I'm ok with that, as long as people who install alternative stores promise not to complain if anything goes wrong with these unverified apps.

Agree completely. Problem is they will complain. And blame apple for letting it happen. Apple does a lot o things I dont like. But the one thing they do well is try to protect users from themselves and from a bad experience.

 

[Naraxus]

"Those who don't know history are destined to repeat it"

Take a look at PC gaming and Epic vs Steam. Exclusivity deals impacted consumers by requiring another Store on their PC. Epic can certainly do this on iOS if this passes.

That's called the free market at work. Again, if you won't be going to those stores then this decision/law won't affect you in any way.

 

[omihek]

Simple solution for Apple: Don't do business in North Dakota. They need you a lot more than you need them.

 

[t76turbo]

I really hope this passes, but I doubt anyone could win against apple in this one. People should be able to do what they want with their phone. I would do this even if it voided support/warranty.

Uh, you already can....... Its called jailbreak. And although I am not sure if you can jailbreak the current version of ios, the jailbreakers have eventually caught up to the current ios versions in the past.

And you knew going in when you bought your iphone that it was limited to the app store. If you didnt know, you didnt research your purchase well enough. Your alternative there is an android phone.

I just get so sick and tired of people in a lot of different segments of life going into a situation knowing what the situation was and then complaining about that situation and trying to change it. Just like the morons who buy a house in a neighborhood with an HOA and then complain when they try to do something against the rules and get told no. (not saying you are a moron. Im talking about the home buyers)

 

[t76turbo]

I was talking to my wife about this and our neighbors kid who is damn smart and only 8 years old pipes up with this.....

”The App Store is like any other store right?” I said basically. His reply was genius. “He said Wal Mart chooses what they sell and I can‘t just go in and put my lego houses I build on the shelf. So why is someone telling Apple what they can sell?” 😳

That kid is wise beyond his years......

 

[Karma*Police]

I’m sick of these grandstanding political clueless people messing with something they just don’t understand....as a customer leave our iPhone alone. I buy Apple because of the privacy and security. Stop messing with a product that 1.5b people are extremely happy with!

I agree. Governments need to stop interfering and messing everything up. They create so many unintended consequences. The market knows better than the idiot politicians.

 

[I7guy]

That's called the free market at work. Again, if you won't be going to those stores then this decision/law won't affect you in any way.

The free market says you don't have to buy the iphone, mac, etc. if you don't like the way Apple manages their ecosystem. That is the free market. Not government interference telling Apple the way to manage their business. Apple has hundreds of millions of customers and they all have varied opinions. This thread represents a teeeny, tiny sliver of opinions, with not everybody presumably using an Apple product or service.

 

[tallscot]

The consumers aren't asking for this but someone is driving it hard.
I found myself, only yesterday after cleaning a trojan from a Mac, explaining to its owner why the App Store is essential.
You need a gateway to the software you install on your device that gives you confidence that what you are installing doesn't come with more than what you expect. Either malware or spyware that wants to profile you and sell your data.
I, as an iPhone user, don't want my iPhone cracked open to all.
If Apple is forced to do this I hope they implement it as an option to the user when they setup their new device.
Just how many will say "no thanks" I predict to be the same as how many have also choosen "no" to "track me".
That's democracy.

Simply choose to get your apps from Apple. I may choose to get my apps from Apple and someone else, exactly what I do on my Mac.

 

[tallscot]

The free market says you don't have to buy the iphone, mac, etc. if you don't like the way Apple manages their ecosystem. That is the free market. Not government interference telling Apple the way to manage their business. Apple has hundreds of millions of customers and they all have varied opinions. This thread represents a teeeny, tiny sliver of opinions, with not everybody presumably using an Apple product or service.

Sounds like what Windows users where telling me when Microsoft used their monopoly to crush Netscape.

 

[Abazigal]

Why do people automatically assume alternative App Store automatically means malware infestation? In all honesty, if you don't trust alternative App Store, you don't have to use it. If you are only download from App Store, then what does existence of alternative App Store matters to you?

Why do people accept side load software from their computer but not on their phone? Just because Apple told you iOS is different?

Saying that this won’t have any impact on me is like having a peeing section in a swimming pool or a smoking corner in a coffee shop. There will be ramifications that spill over to the iOS App Store whether I want it or not.

I accept side loading on my computer because that genie has been out so long that it’s not possible to put it back into the lamp.

To me, iOS was the perfect excuse for a much-needed restart that does away with many of the issues facing a legacy desktop paradigm. Having to visit numerous different websites and creating multiple different accounts just to buy something vs having it all centralised in one place? Not having to contend with malware or virus scanners.

And what happens if say, Facebook removes WhatsApp from the App Store one day and mandates that you install their App Store in order to access said app?

Second, the phone is practically the nexus of one’s digital life. People are performing more tasks on their smartphones relative to a PC than ever before. As such, I would argue that a smartphone ought to be made as secure and as uncomplicated as possible. Ie: less like a PC and more like an appliance.

Ultimately, l maintain that the current App Store model is what results in the greatest good for the greatest number of users, and to the people who want iOS to be more like android, well, that’s what android is for, isn’t it?

 

[MacRumorUser78]

Maybe ND and @hhh will write a law so I run my car on water instead of that overtaxed gasoline and diesel.

 

[tallscot]

Yeeeeeah, the Interstate Commerce Clause would like a word . . .

Saying that this won’t have any impact on me is like having a peeing section in a swimming pool or a smoking corner in a coffee shop. There will be ramifications that spill over to the iOS App Store whether I want it or not.

I accept side loading on my computer because that genie has been out so long that it’s not possible to put it back into the lamp.

To me, iOS was the perfect excuse for a much-needed restart that does away with many of the issues facing a legacy desktop paradigm. Having to visit numerous different websites and creating multiple different accounts just to buy something vs having it all centralised in one place? Not having to contend with malware or virus scanners.

And what happens if say, Facebook removes WhatsApp from the App Store one day and mandates that you install their App Store in order to access said app?

Second, the phone is practically the nexus of one’s digital life. People are performing more tasks on their smartphones relative to a PC than ever before. As such, I would argue that a smartphone ought to be made as secure and as uncomplicated as possible. Ie: less like a PC and more like an appliance.

Ultimately, l maintain that the current App Store model is what results in the greatest good for the greatest number of users, and to the people who want iOS to be more like android, well, that’s what android is for, isn’t it?

You have multiple accounts. Of course you do. I have an account for each app I have, pretty much.

Is OS X Android? I download Adobe Creative Cloud and I get my Adobe apps through them, not through Apple. So my Mac is like Android?

 

[tallscot]

Maybe ND and @hhh will write a law so I run my car on water instead of that overtaxed gasoline and diesel.

Or have a special blend of gas...California. Or require cars get a certain mileage...California. Or require cars have an exhaust converter...California. Lol.

 

[MacRumorUser78]

Saying that this won’t have any impact on me is like having a peeing section in a swimming pool or a smoking corner in a coffee shop. There will be ramifications that spill over to the iOS App Store whether I want it or not.

I accept side loading on my computer because that genie has been out so long that it’s not possible to put it back into the lamp.

To me, iOS was the perfect excuse for a much-needed restart that does away with many of the issues facing a legacy desktop paradigm. Having to visit numerous different websites and creating multiple different accounts just to buy something vs having it all centralised in one place? Not having to contend with malware or virus scanners.

And what happens if say, Facebook removes WhatsApp from the App Store one day and mandates that you install their App Store in order to access said app?

Second, the phone is practically the nexus of one’s digital life. People are performing more tasks on their smartphones relative to a PC than ever before. As such, I would argue that a smartphone ought to be made as secure and as uncomplicated as possible. Ie: less like a PC and more like an appliance.

Ultimately, l maintain that the current App Store model is what results in the greatest good for the greatest number of users, and to the people who want iOS to be more like android, well, that’s what android is for, isn’t it?

Agree. I never jail broke my phone because I want my phone to just work. I accept some hassles with my Mac because I want it to lots of different things. And we have 5 Macs in the house (but on the same internet, although hot spotting is possible), but I don't want to carry two or three phones.

 

[falainber]

“ Devastating fees “ ? Lol... the App Store has paved the path for millions of the developers to make more money than they would have ever dreamed of .... millions and in some cases billions of dollars!!!
On top it provides the piece of mind for those who choose to be on Apple’s secure walled garden platform! A distinguishing factor most of us are willing to pay a premium for!

The ability to earn money has to do with development of technology and popularity of smartphones. It has nothing to do with locked down app stores.

 

[Rafterman]

Competition is good. But it also could mean going back to the days of Pocket PC and WinCE stores, with passwords and and license codes for every app you install from these third party stores.

 

[Abazigal]

And while we are at it, can we petition to open up the Xbox, switch and PlayStation consoles to third party app stores as well? IIRC, they are also charging the same 30% cut that Apple is. Should this be reviewed as well?

If we are going to burn one App Store model to the ground, we may as well burn all of them to the ground while we are at it.

 

[tallscot]

That kid is wise beyond his years......

Not a good analogy. The Lays Chips I buy at Walmart are the Lays Chips I buy anywhere.

Better analogy is you can only buy gas for Mercedes cars at Mercedes gas stations. They use a blend that their cars require and they are the only ones allowed to sell it. Nobody else can sell you gas. Oh, and Mercedes is 61% of the cars on the road and the other car sold is the 1979 Ford Pinto.