I am going to play “apple lawyer” here. That language says apple has to provide the core platform services for the third party stores and distribution it is not for the developers. It does not state that the gatekeeper will allow platform access without charge. Just that all the tools and options are available to all and they are free of charge. no one is even considering that the new 3rd party App Store like Cydid may have millions of downloads and it is an app…. That core tech fee will make it impossible for new storefronts to Be large scale and free.
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EU Antitrust Chief Warns Apple About App Store Fees and Safety Warnings
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You have options. You can use Samsung, Google, Hawaii phones.
They aren't.
Not technically, but actually.
Yes.
People did for a very very long time. Remember the 90's? 3 products got them attention in a big way. The iMac. The iPod, and then the iPhone. Even then, people ignored them..
Not within the EU. The honor goes to Android.
You say this as if the customers in the EU have no other alternatives.
How can it be defamatory when Vestager is specifically saying that security standards are entirely up to the developer?
Exactly!
How is the E.U. more strict and overbearing when it is the one demanding you legally must have the option to and be informed that you can use either Apple's App Store or any other third-party store/platform freely, while Apple, if it had its way with no regulations, would completely block you from using anything but its own App Store and gladly never have any users question exactly why its only the apps that Apple gets to tax that are safe to run on iPhones?
All while there'd would most likely never be any more issues running third-party apps on iPhones than there has been when running third-party apps on MacOS or any other computer from competing brands?
How is having only one option, the Apple App Store, more freedom and less nannying than having both the option to stay in Apple's App Store and the option to go outside it?
How is getting an additional choice on top of the one you already have and still will have in the future "nannying"?
You own your iPhone, you should be allowed to freely install what you want on it without having to "jailbreak" it and thereby void your warranty.
This was never about consumers
Imagine an alternate present day where iPhones run full macOS because Apple was forced to make the iPhone more attractive to Mac App developers instead of freemium shovel-ware
The Board of Directors needs to ask who was involved/signed off on this entire mess and have them all fired.
If Cook didn't sign off on it himself (which should definitely get him fired), then it needs to be investigated how this happened without him noticing (which should probably also lead to him getting fired, if he's just asleep at the wheel and Schiller is driving.)
Freedom = I paid for my device and I should be able to load whatever software I want.
Freedom = I want a closed system so I only load my feudal overlord's approved software.
Serfdom = I can by this device, but cannot do anything not approved by my feudal overlord.
Are you under the impression that Apple could charge more without loosing sales but just isn't out of their own kindness? The ONLY thing Apple cares about is profit. That's why they won't pull out of the EU and it's definitely why they won't charge an amount that people won't or can't pay.
Well, they cannot say things like "If you install apps from Alt Store, you face a security risk." The Alt Store will take care of the safety of its apps. If there is any laxity on their part, the EU will address it. Apple's job is to enable the alt store to let its apps install on iOS without a hitch. Period.
The EU is demanding that mobile phones operate like desktop/laptop computers. In other words, they want to go backwards in time to a platform that is known for higher prices and lower security.
This is something that can’t be said about any system at all, so what exactly if your point?
Poor leadership. Cook flopping around on the floor screening, "I wan't it my way!!!"
“Disparagement” ≠ defamation. The latter requires a (proven) false statement of fact.
Flawed logic. In the end, this gives consumers only one choice: Google.
Why not? That's a true statement. Plus, the EU has already said that customers need communications about prices that might be different on the internet. Why not security?
One reason that Apple and many other companies have large legal departments. They make sure that they follow the law to the bare minimum that they need to and push back where they can. I can see eventually that iOS having the same option that is in MacOS which is to turn off or on the ability to download apps from outside
I would love to hear an explanation on how letting a dev keep the 30% Apple had been taking will cause them to raise the price of their product.
I am just waiting for the first security breach from one of the alt app stores where consumer data is released
Installing apps from the iOS App Store is a security risk as well.
I think Apple will still make a HUGE profit in the EU.
1. All the other services offered (Apple Music, storage, Apple TV+,Apple One etc.)
2. Most users actually prefer the ease of the AppStore and will continue to use it for most of their needs. Even those that will get Apps from alternate stores will still likely still use the AppStore for most everything else.
3. Sales of all the hardware (most of Apple's profit source)
4. Once developers find out they don't make as much in alternate stores due to less foot traffic there will be less defectors.
Also many apps that will go alternate weren't profit for Apple anyway. Spotify (didn't allow in app signups), emulators, porn apps, vaping control, gambling etc.
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Maybe not a list of apps but Google has started to do some the things with the Play Store that people are tearing down Apple for