Biden Administration Report Recommends Sweeping Changes to Apple's Ecosystem

[CarAnalogy]

This makes no sense. If you start a company, build it into a huge company, do you lose your rights to operate your product (app store) how you see fit? The competition cries and cries.. ok, so make your own phones into a trillion dollar company then? It's like if you created a bakery and grew it into a huge chain - then Krispy Kreme complained to the government that your bakery wont let them come in and sell their donuts in your stores. Like wtf kind of logic is this?

If competitive app stores are allowed on the iphone, be prepared for WAY more spyware/malware to slip through the cracks. Do you think Samsung polices their app store as well as Apple does? Sometimes bad apps slip through even WITH Apple's much higher focus on security and privacy.

I don’t really disagree, except that there was a time when the bullet points in the article were just the way computers worked. More and more control has been taken away from the end user over the years. I don’t like the idea of government intervention either, but Apple will never address these issues for themselves.

Imagine if in the 90s Windows was as restrictive as iOS is today. If every Windows application had to be approved not just for functionality but content by Microsoft. And then charged 30% on top of a developer license. If Microsoft enforced only Internet Explorer and blocked all third party browsers. Where would the internet be today?

I agree that there can be greater security with devices locked down to first party app stores etc, but both approaches have their issues. The Mac approach today I think is close to ideal, in that an administrator can lock down app support to only the Mac App Store, but also has the option to not do that. Windows already takes this approach on some consumer PCs by making the store the only option by default, but it can still be changed.

 

[siddavis]

Report will end up moot considering the Biden administration lost control of the House.

You think this administration cares about the proper division of powers?

 

[Realityck]

The Mac approach today I think is close to ideal, in that an administrator can lock down app support to only the Mac App Store, but also has the option to not do that.

I keep wondering when Apple will advance iOS/iPadOS to offer similar build in security as MacOS does? We heard rumors that Apple had to rework iOS 17 for EU issues in order to achieve that. If they do it’s the right time to update iOS/iPadOS built in security then put up with all this government criticism.

 

[Wildkraut]

Report will end up moot considering the Biden administration lost control of the House.

You forgot that both parties are supporting it, it's bipartisan.

 

[imnotthewalrus]

There's about a million other things this guy could be focusing on instead of this.

Do you really think "this guy" is focused on this? LOL! This issue took about 3 minutes of his attention, then on to the next (completely unrelated) thing.

 

[jeffg819]

That's OK.

As long as people are aware that THEY are responsible (and not Apple) for any adverse consequences of side-loading apps (or attempting to side-load apps).

Such as bricked phones, privacy violations, security issues, and monetary theft.

But they won't be. They'll blame Apple.

 

[webkit]

Pretty much. Things are fine just the way they are. To your point, there are always alternatives, and not just these two.

In the U.S., iOS has about 58% share of the mobile OS market and Android has about 42% share. Allowing these two dominate players to "do whatever they want" would not be fair to existing or potential competitors, the marketplace, etc. This is a reason why we have various antitrust laws and regulations.

Bottom line is that Apple has become an extremely large company with a lot of talent and resources. They should be able to continue to make iOS a desirable platform while still following laws and regulations.

 

[siddavis]

This is the text book example of the road to hell is paved with good intentions. It all sounds good until you start to think about it and what it will actually implement.

Yes.
Only there aren't actually good intentions here. It's just a way to get their foot in the door for control and kickbacks.

 

[CarAnalogy]

But they won't be. They'll blame Apple.

If EULAs are legal, then surely all the warnings one would inevitably have to acknowledge in order to enable sideloading would absolve Apple of any responsibility.

 

[phenste]

really thought this was one giant “eh” but the commentariat is far from agreeing here

I cannot tell, do the people on this forum support third-party stores/sideloading or not? I’ve seen threads full of support; I’ve seen threads full of hate. seems like the common factor is government overreach (which yeah, I’m not a fan of, but like…if Apple is able to keep Macs secure with all of these features, surely they can do the same on iOS—and I don’t see any third-party store genuinely flourishing. I don’t think anyone has the budget to keep that afloat. sideloading, however, has been a standard on the majority of computing platforms for decades. it’s called “installing an app that isn’t from a store.” everyone here has done it on their Mac.)

so confused

edit: also, anyone who doesn’t support browsers being able to *not* use WebKit…please explain.

 

[webkit]

Well, sure.

However, it's a chicken and egg proposition. What killed off the competitors? It wasn't because Apple gave their phones away, nor did Apple give away apps or whatnot. And Apple didn't conspire with Google to create a market where there were only two major players.

It doesn’t necessarily matter how the market got to this point. Perhaps they (the government) could've/should've done more to crack down on some of this earlier but the regulatory agencies are assessing the situation as it is now and moving forward accordingly.

 

[webkit]

As long as Android exists and has a higher market share than Apple, these arguments are pointless.

This regulation is coming from the U.S. government and therefore relates to the U.S. market. In the U.S., iOS has around 58% share of the mobile OS market while Android has 42%. It is Apple/iOS that has the higher share here, not Android. I guess these arguments are no longer pointless, then?

If you don't like Apple's approach, you have an alternative. I don't understand what the problem is.

Just because there may be an alternative does not mean a company with a major share of a market should be allowed to engage in (potentially) anticompetitive behavior.

 

[siddavis]

YOU ARE THE PRESIDENT! DO SOMETHING! You want legislation, put out an executive order for one just like you did with Right to Repair. It's not hard. This is why the EU is laughing at us.

Someone needs to go back to civics class. I suggest starting with Articles I, II, and III of the US Constitution. This is why we laugh at the EU.

 

[jdawgnoonan]

Open the browsers to 3rd party engines. I have nothing but support for that.

 

[freediverx00]

This makes no sense. If you start a company, build it into a huge company, do you lose your rights to operate your product (app store) how you see fit? The competition cries and cries.. ok, so make your own phones into a trillion dollar company then? It's like if you created a bakery and grew it into a huge chain - then Krispy Kreme complained to the government that your bakery wont let them come in and sell their donuts in your stores. Like wtf kind of logic is this?

If competitive app stores are allowed on the iphone, be prepared for WAY more spyware/malware to slip through the cracks. Do you think Samsung polices their app store as well as Apple does? Sometimes bad apps slip through even WITH Apple's much higher focus on security and privacy.

Monopolies and monopoly-like situations are anti-competitive. They’re bad for consumers, workers, economic opportunity, and innovation. Your “right” to operate your business as you see fit ends at the point where you begin to exploit workers and customers and eliminate the ability of others to compete with you.

Today, Google dominates online search and advertising, Facebook dominates social networking, Amazon dominates e-commerce, etc. As these companies’ power and control have grown, they have abused that power to exploit employees, consumers, and the free market. This is unsustainable.

Apple’s App Store is a cesspool. Search sucks and the store is infested with scam and copycat apps. Children’s apps use casino-like tactics. All this is only possible because Apple has no competition with the App Store. Make them compete, and they will be properly incentivized to improve the quality of their services.

 

[9594864]

If you don't like it go to android...

If you don’t like it…..cry…..cause it’s coming

 

[Kierkegaarden]

This administration thinks that innovation comes from regulation. They don’t understand the technology or the market, and yet they want to control it in some way. Do not think for a second that this has to do with the consumer.

 

[9594864]

Pretty much. Things are fine just the way they are. To your point, there are always alternatives, and not just these two.

Fine just the way they are is what people say about capitalism. Lmao.

There can and will be far better in the future

 

[9594864]

Pretty much. Things are fine just the way they are. To your point, there are always alternatives, and not just these two.

Fine just the way they are is what people say about capitalism.

This administration thinks that innovation comes from regulation. They don’t understand the technology or the market, and yet they want to control it in some way. Do not think for a second that this has to do with the consumer.

Regulation gets innovation. Yes.


See what you don’t understand is that if you allow businesses to practice antitrust and anti-consumer things then you get a company that is more and more powerful and has to innovate less and less to stay strong.

We as a civilization want more and more innovation for a better existence tomorrow. That’s the point.

 

[Lounge vibes 05]

regulatory measures should prohibit restrictions on sideloading, alternative app stores, and web apps.

Anyone wondering why push notifications coming to Safari on iOS is a thing, that’s why.

 

[9594864]

Monopolies and monopoly-like situations are anti-competitive. They’re bad for consumers, workers, economic opportunity, and innovation. Your “right” to operate your business as you see fit ends at the point where you begin to exploit workers and customers and eliminate the ability of others to compete with you.

Today, Google dominates online search and advertising, Facebook dominates social networking, Amazon dominates e-commerce, etc. As these companies’ power and control have grown, they have abused that power to exploit employees, consumers, and the free market. This is unsustainable.

Apple’s App Store is a cesspool. Search sucks and the store is infested with scam and copycat apps. Children’s apps use casino-like tactics. All this is only possible because Apple has no competition with the App Store. Make them compete, and they will be properly incentivize to improve the quality of their services.

I found the intelligent guy and no this isn’t sarcasm.

 

[BrownyQ]

I've said it before and I'll say it again. There is a good reason why Apple made the iPhone and iOS the way it is. And if you don't like it, you can pick Google. No good reason for these laws in my view, when you have a choice in which vendor/manufacture/OS you can pick from. Especially when one of them already allows alt-app-stores, and side loading. One manufacture can restrict access while one of many can allow it. Heck you can even build your own phone with one of them.

I wholeheartedly agree with the sentiment. Sadly, all it takes is one bad faith actor with the right voice and platform to muddle the waters and get enough misinformed politicians to start thinking of ways to dismantle a product that exists perfectly fine alongside an alternative that allows for everything that is being asked for.

As tired as the analogy is, it's waltzing up to a McDonald's and asking for a Whopper, and then throwing a fit when you're turned down, only to turn around and force them to make you a Whopper.

 

[siddavis]

So you think there is a person out there, just waiting to become the perfect next president?
Sorry for destroying your illusion, but nobody will ever be able to satisfy a whole nation, and any president/party will make good and wrong decisions.

Regarding the poverty in the USA, that's not a party or president issue, that's a core issue that exist since many centuries.

Nor Biden, nor Trump, nor [insert name here] will be able to fix that in the USA anytime soon, this requires a core nationwide mindset flip. People cheering Apple (just another unimportant company in the timeline of humanity) shows that America is not ready for fixing this yet.

Actually the whole humanity is not ready to fix this yet and probably never will be.

Capitalism has done more to raise more people out of poverty than any other economic system. It's not a debate. Yet somehow we think we need some centralized power to put their finger on everything to eliminate poverty. No, we DO NOT need a nationwide mindset flip. If that were true, the "War on Poverty" would have been a success. Just stop.

 

[Lounge vibes 05]

This administration thinks that innovation comes from regulation. They don’t understand the technology or the market, and yet they want to control it in some way. Do not think for a second that this has to do with the consumer.

This administration?
Try EVERY ADMINISTRATION IN THE LAST CENTURY!
They’ve all overstepped in some way or another in all sorts of wrong ways

 

[M5RahuL]

Just what we need.. more Gov't involvement..