Australia Eyes Consumer Impact of Google's Default Search Engine Deal With Apple

[69Mustang]

I don't know the solution they're after. Someone has to be the default, what an annoying customer experience it would be to have one more thing to set during phone setup. It's not like Apple's defaulted it to their own search engine, like Google does on Android.

Apple probably didn't default to it's own search engine because it doesn't exist. Which is why they use Google's. Besides, I'm just guessing but cashing 10 or 11 figure checks probably don't hurt all that much.
Seems like the Australian gov't is trying to dig into Apple's pockets under the guise of competition. Wrong headed in my opinion.

 

[Sinequanon83]

I think the issue is that it's broadly "known" that this deal has netted Apple and Google quite a lot of money. That said, as much as I really dislike Google, this is a bit like suing RCA because their TV defaults to channels 2. It's not a tenable situation if a user has to go through and set every variable that could theoretically cause liability. It's especially annoying for a nuisance lawsuit like this to be threatened by a literal government. As if there's not other **** going on.

 

[DeepIn2U]

So what’s the solution? Insert a choose your search engine screen in setup and list them in ABC order with none of them checked as a default?

The funniest thing is this governing body ... after 12yrs + is only NOW looking at this partnership deal?

Fruitless investigation for now real sound reason. If Apple cannot have a deal to place a default browser engine and gain prominence in the industry of smartphones, then MAYBE this governing body should FIRST look into Google and Android having their OWN browsers (Android browser & Chrome) being the default using their OWN search engine as default.

SMH - nonsense this hole action.

 

[v3rlon]

I don’t like Google, and I have changed my default search engine for several years now. Still, SOME engine should be the default and even I can acknowledge most people prefer Google.

Don’t make the phone setup longer with
“Please select default search engine.
Please select default browser
Please select default email client
Please select default maps service
Please select default App Store “
And so on

people who want to change those things should learn how and do so.

 

[robertcoogan]

Ordinarily I would be on the side of Apple on this - I mean, you have the option to choose your search engine from those available. But the ACCC makes a good point - people are more likely to not change it, and stick with whatever is the default.

 

[robertcoogan]

I don't know the solution they're after. Someone has to be the default, what an annoying customer experience it would be to have one more thing to set during phone setup. It's not like Apple's defaulted it to their own search engine, like Google does on Android.

No one "has to be" the default. Apple could offer a setup option on first run that lets users choose.

And Apple doesn't have its own search engine....!

 

[Googlyhead]

I fully agree that we need the ability to add a search engine of our choosing (rather than defined list). And no; there doesn’t need to be a default; just a prompt in nine selected when needed (and the ability to add)

Try StartPage

Google-like results but without the tracking and privacy worries.

It’s no longer a case of ‘Google-like’ while avoiding the spam and trackers.
Google simply doesn’t show what you actually look for any more; they long ago gave up their ‘don’t be evil’ motto, and now actively attempts to manipulate and influence search results.
I can’t blame Google for everything, as the internet is pretty much just broken these days, but it’s certainly telling when the better options include Chinese search engines like Yandex, while Google seems to deal in opposites / avoidance / (unrelated) influence-of-the-day

 

[macsareveryinteresting]

What else are you going to expect with Google? They don’t care about your privacy. There you go.

 

[3xBoom]

Retarded. Go to settings and choose another one...

 

[shapesinaframe]

That's like saying, "The police wouldn't be pressing the investigation of that robbery if there hadn't been a political angle to it." Except that, whether the statement were true or not, there had still *been* a robbery. Judge a thing on its merits. This case does actually have merit. If there were not an enormous advantage for Google to be default, they wouldn't be paying that mind-bubbling sum of money. What advantages Google to the tune of $8b disadvantages its competitors to the tune of $8b. If it didn't, then Google would much rather have kept that money. Why is that hard to understand? And maybe, just maybe, the reason Australia is attacking Google on two fronts is *NOT* because one of them is a sham lever to get action on the other, but because Australia is just getting frustrated with Google's tactics. Even if it's not, though, the current issue under discussion absolutely does stand on its own.

What tactics of Googles is the government frustrated with?

 

[ryanmp]

Yes. That's a good solution (or maybe randomize the presentation of providers so it's not biased to ABC sorting). It's a minor inconvenience. Most people will select Google (myself included) but at least people know there are options. Although, there would be a small subset of people who would have new issues with phone setup if this was added.

I don't mind having a default search engine but I also know the alternatives and know how to change the default.

That is a terrible solution. Once this happens for search engine is going to happen for EVERYTHING! We are going to have to spend ages setting up the phone... default search, default browser, default music, default podcast, it will never end. Apple should not open this door.

People already have the choice to change this. A better option would just to have a single screen during setup that tells the user they can change defaults in Settings after setup .

 

[I7guy]

[...]The lawsuit claims that the lucrative deal makes it significantly harder for competing search engines such as DuckDuckGo to grow and compete, given the massive advantage Google has.[...]


Article Link: Australia Eyes Consumer Impact of Google's Default Search Engine Deal With Apple

The lawsuit is ignoring the fact that google is the best search engine out there, and probably the most popular. And I'm guessing if people had to pick a search engine default it would be google anyway.

Waste of time and taxpayer money.

 

[rjohnstone]

What else are you going to expect with Google? They don’t care about your privacy. There you go.

The issue at hand really has nothing to do with what Google does. It's about Apple's business practice when it comes to setting system defaults.

 

[ani4ani]

What else are you going to expect with Google? They don’t care about your privacy. There you go.

which of course is the paradox, in that supposedly Apple does care, but in return for about $10B a year from Google, it delivers Google as the default on all it's devices. I guess $10B is worth more to Apple than your privacy in reality, despite what they claim.

 

[ani4ani]

The lawsuit is ignoring the fact that google is the best search engine out there, and probably the most popular. And I'm guessing if people had to pick a search engine default it would be google anyway.

Waste of time and taxpayer money.

but has it simply become the most used and the "best" because they pay huge fees to Apple and others to basically eliminate others from being popular or being improved? What was the cause and what was the effect?

 

[Sinequanon83]

but has it simply become the most used and the "best" because they pay huge fees to Apple and others to basically eliminate others from being popular or being improved? What was the cause and what was the effect?

Google was the most popular search engine before the iPhone came around.

 

[I7guy]

but has it simply become the most used and the "best" because they pay huge fees to Apple and others to basically eliminate others from being popular or being improved? What was the cause and what was the effect?

This comment ignores the fact that ios is minority operating system in the smartphone market and that access to google is through multiple platforms. Google could be the most popular due to access from Microsoft Windows and that popularity translates into popularity on the iphone. Cause and effect.

 

[ani4ani]

Google was the most popular search engine before the iPhone came around.

Apple was using it before the iPhone came around

 

[ani4ani]

This comment ignores the fact that ios is minority operating system in the smartphone market and that access to google is through multiple platforms. Google could be the most popular due to access from Microsoft Windows and that popularity translates into popularity on the iphone. Cause and effect.

It goes beyond iOS?

 

[sw1tcher]

Retarded. Go to settings and choose another one...

That's what Microsoft said about Internet Explorer. Download and install another browser. But the U.S. govt wouldn't have it.

And if I remember correctly, many Apple users cheered the U.S. govt on.

Why is it that when it's Apple who may face anti-trust investigations/charges, people want govts to leave Apple alone?

 

[ElectricPotato]

So what’s the solution? Insert a choose your search engine screen in setup and list them in ABC order with none of them checked as a default?

Nail on the head. Consumers will give this as much thought as they do any end user license agreement button. Clicky, clicky, give me my google. More setup friction to little purpose.

 

[sw1tcher]

That is a terrible solution. Once this happens for search engine is going to happen for EVERYTHING! We are going to have to spend ages setting up the phone... default search, default browser, default music, default podcast, it will never end. Apple should not open this door.

People already have the choice to change this. A better option would just to have a single screen during setup that tells the user they can change defaults in Settings after setup .

This type of thinking is why companies think it's okay for them to automatically opt-in their customers to share personal information with advertisers, affiliates, and other companies. Just provide the customer with a notice that informs them they can change the default and opt-out if they want to.

 

[Xenious]

I'm flippant but the consumer impact is, a great search engine!

 

[bpeeps]

The lawsuit is ignoring the fact that google is the best search engine out there, and probably the most popular. And I'm guessing if people had to pick a search engine default it would be google anyway.

Waste of time and taxpayer money.

Australians love spending money on government nannyism though. That's the entire model of the country.

 

[kiensoy]

Apple could add a screen like this the first time you open Safari, but with search engines instead of email services. But if Apple did that they would not get their billions.