Apple Warns That Some Screen Time and Sharing Features Won't Work With Alternative App Distribution in the EU

[hans1972]

Why hasn't this happened on Android?

Because Google has (historically) allowed a lot of the big companies to do what they want.

• Not taking a cut for buying apps
• Not taking a cut for in-app purchases
• Allowed streaming of games services
• Very liberal content policies and how apps works
• Paying developers not develop their own stores or go to competing stores
• Android users spend much less money on apps and subscriptions than iPhone users

 

[icanhazmac]

A hard disagree from me.

Stores are just apps, essentially: apps containing a showcase of other apps. When Netflix, Amazon and many others remove their App Store apps and force you to download their own stores, then we will have a glut of these stores to deal with.

Why hasn't this happened on Android?

I've said this a hundred times.

Why would the likes of Steam, Epic, Amazon, Microsoft, Meta, etc. open a "mobile" store for just the Android side? It's a lot of work for "half" the market. They also do not want to appear to be different between Apple and Android, ex offering their app only on their web site for Android but in the Apple store, this would create confusion.

If Apple is forced to globally allow alt-stores then, and only then, will we see all of the above open their own stores so they can hoover up user data, not have privacy scorecards, etc.

Fairly simple concept and it absolutely will happen. Epic and Spotify will probably be the first, Epic will open their own store and pay other devs for exclusive distribution rights. Spotify will pull their app and offer it only on their site.

 

[Sciomar]

Once this takes off and the big companies create their own market place and then remove their app from Apple’s, we can just petition the EU to force them to bring back/keep apps in the official Apple app store. That’s the precedent they’re setting with this.

I am also looking forward to the cries of bricked phones.

 

[h.gilbert]

Because having one App Store for every possible app for the platform is such a great thing.

Macs, PCs and Android is worse in this regard.

Had an few iPhones and Androids. The ability to install any app on android has been so useful. A few times with the iPhone I'd go abroad, try to download an app I needed for something over there and been restricted due to location or whatever. On Android whenever something is unavailable I find it on APKmirror or F droid.

It works well because the play store on Android is still by far the dominant app store. That's where everyone releases apps on. It's not like I have to go to multiple app stores to get my essentials. But then on occasion when I do need something unavailable, or very specific, there's alway a way with Android. Same with macOS. Android essentially feels like one app store, but with flexibility.

 

[Reason077]

Why should Apple even host a competitor's App Store. The 3rd arty can create and distribut eit on their own, and have it sideload. Expecting Apple to host competitor's app stores is akin to requiring Aldi to post Lidl ads in store.

It’s a compromise that still allows Apple to be an ultimate gatekeeper, since they can block the third-party marketplace itself if it goes rogue and starts distributing malware or whatever.

 

[Reason077]

And I don't see why Apple's checks on the app store apps will make a difference to whether or not Amazon, Google, Netflix etc decide to launch their own stores. Which they will.

I can certainly imagine Amazon doing so, since they already have an app store on Android.

But that wouldn’t mean they don’t publish the Amazon app itself on the Apple App Store! In fact, the Amazon app would presumably be Amazon’s app store app.

 

[ipaqrat]

I've said this a hundred times.

Why would the likes of Steam, Epic, Ama...

Sorry, I was out catching my horses in the woods. Can you say that again?

I think you got it right. Furthermore, perhaps maneuvers to pry open Apple's walled app garden are less about equity, more about damaging Apple to slow their roll. They have been living in Fat City, harvesting much coin on the backs of developers. But that's the price of doing bidez, and bidnez is good... or was.

Given the chance, every company with the chops will try to claw back that percentage Apple was taking. And they might engage in battle against one another once they get a toehold on the platform, unconstrained by Apples rules of behavior. If it works even passably well, The US will align with Europe, and those salad days are over.

Could be argued that some 'droids have next level features that Apple hasn't been smart enough, or brave enough, to release. Could be argued that, relieved of the Apple tax, smaller developers can make good at lower price points. Couple beneficial goals of anti-trust in principle. Could also be argued that 'droid is a cess pit of dodgy code, PII hoovering, exploitation and malware. Could be argued that folks will blame the platform regardless of how crappy the developer or the ISP actually is... Well, these are more like facts, now, aren't they, really?

Hey Apple...

 

[jlc1978]

It’s a compromise that still allows Apple to be an ultimate gatekeeper, since they can block the third-party marketplace itself if it goes rogue and starts distributing malware or whatever.

But the point is “why should Apple be forced to host competitors App Stores?” Especially since side loading allows them to host and distribute it themselves.

 

[macjoshua]

But the point is “why should Apple be forced to host competitors App Stores?” Especially since side loading allows them to host and distribute it themselves.

This is what I hate: the fact that Apple is being forced to allow other developers to take advantage of a system they created. iOS isn’t a public utility - it’s proprietary software. Why would any company waste their time innovating if it’s forced to give away the benefits of doing so?

 

[CEmajr]

This is what I hate: the fact that Apple is being forced to allow other developers to take advantage of a system they created. iOS isn’t a public utility - it’s proprietary software. Why would any company waste their time innovating if it’s forced to give away the benefits of doing so?

I agree. It seems that the EU is saying that Apple has become SO successful that its App Store that it created and built up must be opened to competition. That in essence a company can be so innovative and creative with its IP that it is now a public utility. Moral of the story, don’t become TOO successful in Europe.

 

[scorpio vega]

I’m honestly looking forward to reading the complaints of people upset their iPhone and iPad is messed up and apple refuses to support it because they wanted everything open.

Much like beeper, this will be hilarious.

 

[svish]

These issues are expected. Some may continue to pay via App store due to ease of billing.

 

[jlc1978]

I’m honestly looking forward to reading the complaints of people upset their iPhone and iPad is messed up and apple refuses to support it because they wanted everything open.

Having worked with tech support staff, it's pretty common for people to think because you sold them some hardware that you will provides support for any program they install that causes a problem; and get upset when you point out the software isn't theirs and you need to contact the developer to fix the problem.

Much like beeper, this will be hilarious.

And frustrating for users.

 

[p4ttythep3rf3ct]

Your optimism about what the corps will do when they can put their very own stores on to the world's most lucrative mobile platform is sweetly naive.

And I don't see why Apple's checks on the app store apps will make a difference to whether or not Amazon, Google, Netflix etc decide to launch their own stores. Which they will.

For me, I won’t be downloading an Amazon Store app plus an Amazon app to replace my current Amazon App. That’s lost revenue for Amazon, impulse buys on a phone vs going to a computer. I’m sure I’m not alone in that thought process. Netflix…while I have it installed, I never use it on my phone. Google apps are also rare use cases for me. I’m just me, I know, but what you are saying isn’t a slam-dunk for those companies and will most assuredly cost them business, even if slight. They probably know this and will keep the status quo. Maybe not tho. We’ll see 😅

 

[buddhistMonkey]

Lots of trouble tickets into Apple will get 'stuck" because users won't be able to answer the simple question "Where did you purchase the app from?"

Apple will know if they purchased the app through the Apple App Store, though. If they didn't, they're on their own.

 

[jlc1978]

Apple will know if they purchased the app through the Apple App Store, though. If they didn't, they're on their own.

Assuming Apple TS has access to that. I’m not sure that is the case.

 

[amartinez1660]

Screen Time shouldn’t be an issue though. They’re just playing hardball.

Well, a lot of the complaints expressed here is about “ecosystem” and “walled garden”, that it is illegal and has to be brought down… some of this functionality might be automatically injected code that links to the screen time app itself, which is only trustworthy due to said walled garden that Apple controls.

Can’t bring down “the ecosystem” but still expect ecosystem functionality to stay intact.

What I think could happen though:

• someone makes a third party screen time app
• then users can either give it 100% background refresh support (that way said screen time app can poll and monitor what’s open when and for how long)
• or other apps add support to notify useful metrics to said third party screen time app
• Supporting apps could even ask (or require) to install it if it isn't already, just like windows installers propose to install other stuff while installing what you needed.

 

[31 Flavas]

Not a real issue. Less technical users are unlikely to seek/find/encounter alternative app stores.

This will benefit technically-literate enthusiasts, and those seeking out categories of apps that are unavailable on Apple’s App Store.

Why is a technically-literate enthusiast using a locked down, walled garden, non-customizable mobile phone that limits the categories of apps that are available to them?

Not only that, but in general lags behind on hardware such as: USB-C, OLED screens, cellular technology, camera quality, megapixels, and zoom, continually ships with less RAM, offers no SD card storage expansion, provides much slower wired and wireless charging, no in-box wall charger, smaller physical battery, no 3.5mm headphone socket, prioritizes form over function(ality), etc, etc, etc. I mean, need we bring up all of Louis Rossman's why Apple sucks and screws over consumers by designing unrepairable devices?

 

[jlc1978]

Why is a technically-literate enthusiast using a locked down, walled garden, non-customizable mobile phone that limits the categories of apps that are available to them?

Beacasu ethey like the phone better than other options?

Not only that, but in general lags behind on hardware such as: USB-C, OLED screens, cellular technology, camera quality, megapixels, and zoom, continually ships with less RAM, offers no SD card storage expansion, provides much slower wired and wireless charging, no in-box wall charger, smaller physical battery, no 3.5mm headphone socket, prioritizes form over function(ality), etc, etc, etc.

If those things are critical then they can chose a different phone. It's not like the iPhone is the only choice in the market. I ave friends ho use Android phones because they like some features not available on the iPhone; or, like many iPhone users, simply have been Android for so long they don't want to switch.

 

[31 Flavas]

Beacasu ethey like the phone better than other options?

Well, right ... but given that you've got a very technologically astute individual that knows the tech differences, limitations, etc, knows that they won't be able to sideload, won't have right to repair, etc ... and yet still buys it (and not because it has an app that doesn't exist on android) --- What's overriding the rhetoric - Why is the iPhone a compelling buy to this "technologically-literate enthusiast" that should otherwise just be finding a suitable Android?