EU Antitrust Chief Warns Apple About App Store Fees and Safety Warnings

[nt5672]

And there are significantly more security risks in macOS, despite iOS being a much more attractive target. Funny how that works.

Simply false. Especially if you only use Apple approved software.

 

[SanderEvers]

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.

I own my iPhone. I should be able to use my iPhone the way I want without having to need to install anti-virus/anti-malware software on it to keep it, and my data on it, safe.

I chose a closed OS for a reason! Otherwise I would've bought an Android! I DO NOT WANT ANDROID ON MY IPHONE!

 

[scoony]

There is nothing stopping you from continuing to solicit apps solely from the App Store if iOS and iPadOS were to be opened up. Many developers on Android have found that their sales suffered when they pulled out of the Play Store and went solo so they just wound up back on the Play Store anyway. You can vote with your wallet and your usage by not using apps that aren't part of the closed system.

My concern are for those of us who help family install and managing their digital life. Few seem to be mentioning what protections are in place for malware, privacy issues and parental controls etc. It seems the majority of all this is for businesses and little benefit to users.

 

[PortoMavericks]

One App Store makes the most sense. Go Android if you don't like it.

Open vs closed system. Customers win. Customer lose when they no longer have the option of choosing a closed system.

You can still use it closed if you choose to.

Just saying.

 

[nt5672]

Challenge accepted.

While macOS is not a bad platform for app distribution, iOS has proven to be very profitable for smaller developers. Furthermore, the App Store provides end users with a convenient and reliable way to find, install, pay for, and update all apps. As a result there is more consumer commerce that happens on iOS than any other OS platform.

As a small developer, I appreciate the App Store for reducing payment churn. This is because all developers benefit when end users manage their payment method to continue using Apple services. When we distribute apps independently, there is always a certain percentage of lost subscription sales when users are required to manually update payment methods on multiple platforms.

If major app developers decide to distribute their apps via "side loading" outside the App Store, it could lead to fewer users visiting the App Store. This could put smaller developers who rely on the current iOS model and its 70-85% revenue split at a disadvantage.

None of this changes with side-loading. You stick with the app store and all is fine.

The reason we need side-loading is directly because of Apple's anti-competitive, inconsistent, and draconian rules for app store approval. If Apple rules were fair, none of this would be needed.

 

[contacos]

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.

The DMA is not directly against mobile phone operators though. Apple just happened to be one of the big players in the digital market. P0rnhub is also deemed a Gatekeeper by the way

 

[contacos]

I own my iPhone. I should be able to use my iPhone the way I want without having to need to install anti-virus/anti-malware software on it to keep it, and my data on it, safe.

I chose a closed OS for a reason! Otherwise I would've bought an Android! I DO NOT WANT ANDROID ON MY IPHONE!

But that is why you have the choice not to install any 3rd party apps from other sources?

 

[vipergts2207]

I own my iPhone. I should be able to use my iPhone the way I want without having to need to install anti-virus/anti-malware software on it to keep it, and my data on it, safe.

I chose a closed OS for a reason! Otherwise I would've bought an Android! I DO NOT WANT ANDROID ON MY IPHONE!

You would have chosen Android if iOS had been an open system as well? What factors would lead you to choose Android over iOS?

 

[webkit]

You have options. You can use Samsung, Google, Hawaii phones.

This is about mobile operating systems, not hardware. There are only two major mobile operating systems (Android and iOS). Besides, people had options in the 1990s with desktop operating systems (Mac OS, OS/2, Linux, BeOS, etc.) and many more options in hardware but that didn't give Microsoft the right to engage in anticompetitive behavior. Just because there may be options doesn’t negate antitrust laws.

 

[truthsteve]

People can strongly prefer iOS and still not like having a single app store. Why does it always have to be so black and white (if you don't like this particular thing Apple does, go to Android)? Apple is a company, so therefore they are fallible. People choose iOS or macOS for a weighted mixture of preferences.

You're acting as if an open platform can effectively still be a closed platform. that's not the case.

Also, I guess following your reasoning, Apple should close up macOS as well to offer more 'choice' in the laptop market?

No because Mac started open. People who wrote Mac software depends their business on an open platform. People who used Macs depend on their software to work on this open platform.

 

[truthsteve]

If you don’t like the third party options, stick with the App Store. Done.

except when apps leave the App Store voluntarily for a different store.

 

[truthsteve]

There is nothing stopping you from continuing to solicit apps solely from the App Store if iOS and iPadOS were to be opened up.

except when apps leave the App Store.

Many developers on Android have found that their sales suffered when they pulled out of the Play Store and went solo so they just wound up back on the Play Store anyway.

Epic already effectively shutdown Fortnite on the App Store.

 

[hans1972]

People can strongly prefer iOS and still not like having a single app store. Why does it always have to be so black and white (if you don't like this particular thing Apple does, go to Android)? Apple is a company, so therefore they are fallible. People choose iOS or macOS for a weighted mixture of preferences.

So can you mention 5 things were iOS is so much better than Android, that you bought an expensive iPhone instead?

Also, I guess following your reasoning, Apple should close up macOS as well to offer more 'choice' in the laptop market?

If Apple had the same power as in the mobile world, then yes.

Apple has already locked down macOS a lot in the last 10 years and it's still continuing.

 

[gnipgnop]

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.

Billion/trillion dollar companies don't lobby the government to lower prices.

 

[truthsteve]

By that logic if you don’t like something about where you live move.

This is literally what people did during the pandemic.

So if you live in the EU and using this argument you need to move. I hear Russia and China are great this time of year.

Luckily I live in USA. Doesn't mean I don't get to voice my opinion on this subject. What's your point?

 

[truthsteve]

Just go Apples App Store only?!?

until the apps leave the App Store

 

[truthsteve]

Allowing apps to be installed freely from any source makes the most sense.

nope. choosing android would make the most sense for you

 

[truthsteve]

You forget that nobody forces you to use extra freedom of installing from a third party.

except when apps leave the App Store.

 

[unobtainium]

Vestager warned Apple and other companies against discouraging users from switching to other app marketplaces by disparaging them

So Apple is not allowed to warn customers of the very real risks of downloading random software to their phone? Seems draconian…Apple has no way of knowing what kind of software will be permitted in alternative stores, so their warning is simply factual.

 

[Rogifan]

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

The reason I ask is because of comments that users won’t be able to stick with the App Store because the apps will no longer be there.

 

[truthsteve]

No, because Apple's devices are in so many hands that its impact is on a societal level.

The monetary infrastructure and revenue generated through digital platforms like Apple's iOS App Store or Google's Play Store is on a global and international level and cannot be understated.

If the tech giants aren't regulated and opened up adequately they'll swallow up most of the players below them and take most of the cake, stagnating all but their own growth.

No society can thrive if the biggest markets are disproportionately dominated by a handful giant corporations.

America in 2024 provides a number of great examples of how indirect monopolies hurt all of society but the bottom-lines of the very few people who own said monopolies.

When business get too big they need to be regulated or broken up.

Apple is a business that has gotten too big.

forgetting the fact that this literally reduces consumer choice. open platform already has tons of competition among different android manufacturers. now you're shutting down the one closed system option consumers had and no one is allowed to compete in that space, stifling innovation.

 

[Rogifan]

except when apps leave the App Store.



Epic already effectively shutdown Fortnite on the App Store.

Epic was kicked out of the App Store for breaking rules.

 

[vipergts2207]

except when apps leave the App Store voluntarily for a different store.

Maybe you should ask yourself why such an app may leave.

 

[strongy]

You forget that nobody forces you to use extra freedom of installing from a third party. You can stay with the current setup without any sacrifices to your closed system.

stop spouting this crap you know its completely and fundamentally wrong

 

[truthsteve]

Does the Cold War ring any bells?

did someone force you to buy iPhone?