Again, case law supports applying the Sherman Antitrust Act to companies that are not absolute monopolies. In fact, there is such a case against Google that is ongoing.
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DOJ's iPhone Monopoly Case Against Apple Moves Forward
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Mac has ~100m users. Apple has over ~1 billion. Different scales entirely.
There’s a reason Android users who sideload are 200% more likely to have malware on their phones.
Consumers are "locked" into Apple's ecosystem by their own choice. I have a friend who used to be an iphone user and now he uses Android. No one stopped him from switching.
A phone and an iPad are more personal, private and sensitive devices than a computer, because they go everywhere you go. Malware could cause a disaster, eavesdropping, capturing your voice, using your phone to send spam and fraudulent messages, etc.
You need to look at the big picture. As a user, I only buy my apps from trusted sources. As a developer, I love the App Store because it gives me exposure, and they take care of all the hosting, eCommerce transactions, etc. Those things I can't afford to waste time managing.
For a long time cheap Android phones didn't have NFC, that's true. But that was as much Android manufacturers doing market segmentation as anything else. And it sucks for them that they helped artificially create categories in which they were not prepared to compete.
But NFC definitely shouldn't be used as a demarcation between categories any more; my Motorola 5G 2024 phone was around $200 list but has NFC. I actually got it for $80 after tax from my MVNO as a customer benefit, no trade-in required. This is absolutely not a high end phone.
Just like China’s government has huawei, etc to collect all the populations data, the US government has Google for that. Of course it’s going to prop up and aid Google while going after Apple any chance it gets. Apple isn’t known for openly helping the government and giving complete access to everything. Let’s be real here. There’s no ministry of information in the US, but it still has all the public sector corporations doing its bidding for them. Google maps, Google email, Google Android operating system for communications, Google chromebooks, etc….there’s a reason Google has their finger in the entire pie.
It looks like that judge has received higher motivation to be so passionate about it.
Real question, not trying to be coy or anything. Isn't Apple's choices being a monopoly just within their ecosystem? If Apple raised price and Google didn't, wouldn't that mean that people could just purchase the Google equivalent and avoid paying the higher cost? How is Mercedes controlling their market of people then not the same? It seems silly since people can buy a BMW or Audi if they don't like the features/pricing structure of Mercedes. People can buy Google, Samsung, etc... if they don't like the practices of Apple or vice versa. I don't see how with MANY smartphone options and two distinct platforms that any one of them controls the overall market.
Am I missing a perspective?
I will say I think there is a very valid argument that ALL of the big players combined are using tactics to control the overall market. But that would be more market collusion or something, right? I mean they all seem to be setting pricing on flagship smartphones, etc...
It's my phone. It's the same as limiting what apps you can have on your computer, which has never happened, and if it did, there would be anarchy. Apple's spin doctors doing their finest work.
It's crazy that multiple government bodies around the world are picking up the same fight with Apple. Wonder what's up with that? Starting to think they're actually doing something wrong or shady!
It’s a global conspiracy!
The cabal of worldwide leaders have it out for poor Apple.
Because truly you should have like/dislike or agree/disagree. I strongly suspect the new choices are one of those subliminal things to reduce forum conflict so we have a like/disagree and less perceived negativity.
Anyone who supports apple in this has the mind of a shareholder or a die-hard republican.
No one should tell companies how to rule their business... within the law. However, there are legitimate concerns Apple is breaking the law, and the security and privacy concerns seem like "think of the children?!" arguments. Just sanction them if you find them guilty and let's go forward.
No one should tell companies how to rule their business... within the law. However, there are legitimate concerns Apple is breaking the law, and the security and privacy concerns seem like "think of the children?!" arguments. Just sanction them if you find them guilty and let's go forward.
This already happened though didn’t it? Wasn’t the result they couldn’t package office for free and everyone now has to pay for it.
Microsoft isn't stopping you from installing any OS you want on the hardware, nor are they restricting you from installing whatever software you want.
Of course just an opinion. Legally we’ll see where it goes in the US.
Ferrari uses the same steel, aluminum, and other metals that’s taken from same ground that Honda builds their cars from. And yet….
Neither is Apple. But when you want to do something not supported by the manufacturer the manufacturer is not obliged to support you. Try installing windows x64 on a Samsung galaxy.
True, but as an iOS user I find that Apple has a 100% market share on app distribution. Admittedly it's not an identical situation, but in the 90's I could have purchased a mac and Word Perfect, and avoided Microsoft too.
Apple, on iOS, is absolutely stopping people from installing alternative OS and certainly software from anywhere but them.
What are you talking about?
I’m sorry. What are you talking about. They are not stopping anybody from installing alternatives. Because one doesn’t have enough technical knowledge doesn’t mean they are stopping anybody from using their phone the way they want. Same as installing windows x64 on a galaxy. Is Samsung stopping anyone from doing it?
Apple doesn't let me, a developer, write an app and put it on my phone to use.
I can, at best, install it temporarily to test, but I will need to re-install it every few weeks I believe. IIRC, it was limited to just 3 days at one point. If I pay Apple $99, I can install my app for up to a year. In no world, with no amount of technical knowledge, can I permanently install an app I wrote on my phone.