You have an option, buy an Android phone. They do literally everything that the EU is trying to force Apple to do. Consumers have two choices today, the EU and it’s supporters want to reduce that choice to one
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EU to Accuse Apple of Unfairly Blocking Third-Party Access to NFC Payment Technology on iPhone
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Not seeing the point, just like console makers, Apple is allowed to limit their hardware as well. If they don't want NFC, then they should not build it into devices. If they want a floppy disc drive for iPhone they could do that as well. And if Apple just like anyone else is selling a device as a multi purpose device, then developers need access to it up to a specific level.
But the EU isn't doing that. Apple already has all of that, they're just refusing letting people use it because they're not getting their cut then. It would be like Sony refusing giving access for GNM for developers, only providing GNMX for developers which would result in worse game quality, at least visually for the end user. No-one is asking Apple to implement completely new functionality that isn't already there.
Yes it is. There's still a "hidden Apple layer" that wouldn't be open. Here's a simple example, I'm easily able to run things on a M1 GPU and yet I do not have access, nor do I know how Apples microarchitecture (and the translation for it) works. I'm using Apples compiler to do it as an "open API" in combination with their language (Swift + Metal Shaders). Again, you can see this in the work George Hotz did for his ML framework.
No one is saying a 3rd party wants to implement a functionality better than Apple on this lower, but not lowest level (which would still only be accessible by Apple). Simplified, 3rd parties want to use a Read/Write API for NFCs, they don't want to do anything lower level, that's still on Apple. With that they want to provide their own payment app using the high level API and then provide a functionally better payment experience. So instead of going Apple Pay on device -> Apple + Visa/Mastercard/AMEX/whatever -> your bank, they're going directly to App on device -> your bank. When anything goes wrong, you deal with your bank only vs. dealing with Apple, Visa and your bank which usually all play the blame game. That is the "better functionality" or rather payment experience.
We’ve got tech giants but they don’t operate in the consumer space - ironically Google is your friend in eliminating your ignorance.
PS - look at what your great American Microsoft did to Nokia.
It’s the presence of Fed-backed vulture capital that stops EU consumer tech giants rising up - any that emerge get swallowed up and incorporated or as with Nokia, simply destroyed.
Not a single week without great news, love it.?
Cheerleading government intervention at every turn is a better example of Stockholm Syndrome.
I think Apple should open up NFC to third parties, but I'm wary to have regulators dictating left and right. This is probably the most obvious anti competitive practice of those targeted so far. That said, at least they are enforcing existing laws instead of just randomly coming up with rules because something isn't the way they would like it. If Apple is breaking those laws, then yes they should be forced to make the change.
Works for me if Apple forks a version of Android and puts it on iPhone and sells it. That would be the irony.
You realize the fact Android already offers this proves customers ALREADY have a choice right?
Open/less secure = buy an Android
Closed/more secure = buy an iPhone
Engineering is all about tradeoffs. The EU and it’s supporters want to take away that choice and force Apple to make iOS into Android. Many of us don’t want that. We specifically chose the iPhone because of what it is. We made a choice. No one is stopping people who want alternate app stores and NFC access for 3rd party apps from buying an Android phone. They can make that choice NOW. Why don’t they?
The interesting thing here is that the U.S. Congress concluded that the current Android system has too many obstacles for 3rd party stores right now and that side loading didn't provide any constraint on Google's dominance. So if Congress does pass something that forces side loading, it would seem like it would have to include some major changes for how Android does it as well. That said, I'm not a proponent of forced side loading as I have no confidence that it would provide much in the way of benefits for consumers.
Yes - but that wouldn’t convince many people who believe they should only trust Apple - or apps/services vetted by them - and no one and nothing else.
You aren’t forced to use their apps.
And there’s plenty of apps available on Apple’s store on macOS.
Sorry to disappoint, but I'd say it regardless. Forcing someone to open up their successes to everyone else...just because they became successful...isn't going to foster innovation. It'll slow it down because NO ONE wants to do all the work and then just have it taken away and given to everyone who couldn't be bothered to try.
If you can't understand that, it's not my problem.
I think there is a solid argument to be made that the EU is very close to it already. 3rd party stores are basically a wish list item for iOS that is coming from billion/trillion dollar developers like Epic and Microsoft and the EU wants to grant them the wish and force Apple to add that functionality to the OS.
But again, Android isn't any less secure than iOS; this is Apple's propaganda. Apple might not harvest the data Google do but this doesn't make Android less secure. You can buy Android devices devoid of Google if you so wish. Heck, the Huawei P50 Pro does this and has the best camera on a smartphone you can buy.
But as a consumer I want the choice of sideloading, Paypal as my NFC pay service but also access to the 15 years worth of iOS apps I have in my purchased list. Give it to me.
Dictionary.com: relating to a system of government that is centralized and dictatorial and requires complete subservience to the state.
How does this not describe Appleland and its citizens?
No, it isn't Apple's "propaganda". Example: the info below comes from Nokia, not Apple.
Apple’s IPhone Security Is at Risk From Congress
Potential remedies tied to antitrust legislation could weaken key safeguards, harming consumers.
www.bloomberg.com
According to a 2020 Nokia Threat Intelligence Report, Apple’s iOS was afflicted with the smallest percentage of overall malware infections at 1.7%, compared to 27% for Android and 39% for Windows PCs. The researchers credited the divergence to the fact that Alphabet Inc.’s Google Android system allows the installation of apps from external sources, while Apple’s does not.
Of course they could, but... the macOS market is next to nothing for them compared to iOS/iPadOS. They make a massive amount of money from taking a cut in the App Store for iOS/iPadOS, they also take a cut from every transaction with Apple Pay. So if they'd allow 3rd party app stores or NFC access to banks, they won't be able to take their cut. In return it might be cheaper for the end user, less/no transaction fees or in the case of apps, if app A costs $9.99 in the Apple App Store, but it's $8.99 in another App Store, because that store has a lower cut, then its cheaper for the end user, because there's a choice where to buy the same app. Just like when you buy a car, a TV or really anything else for that matter. Ironically you can easily buy an iPhone, Macbook and many other Apple products cheaper in "3rd party stores" vs Apples own stores.
The end is nigh.
I'd rather see Apple pull out altogether and watch EU citizens scream that the EU is suddenly not representing them anymore.
This is really getting ridiculous now.
What's next? Accuse them for limiting AirDrop to iPhone only?
What's next? Accuse them for limiting AirDrop to iPhone only?
Because of the built-in consumer base and the fact that there's a lot less complexity for a dev than distributing the app on their own.
People aren't asking for the choice between Android and iOS, which as you note, already exists. They're asking for developers to be allowed to develop for iOS without Apple being allowed to say no. They're asking to be allowed the choice to be allowed to install whatever software they want on the device they own without Apple being allowed to say no.
It goes both ways thoughNo, it isn't Apple's "propaganda". Example: the info below comes from Nokia, not Apple.
Apple’s IPhone Security Is at Risk From Congress
Potential remedies tied to antitrust legislation could weaken key safeguards, harming consumers.
According to a 2020 Nokia Threat Intelligence Report, Apple’s iOS was afflicted with the smallest percentage of overall malware infections at 1.7%, compared to 27% for Android and 39% for Windows PCs. The researchers credited the divergence to the fact that Alphabet Inc.’s Google Android system allows the installation of apps from external sources, while Apple’s does not.
What do you mean "everything that is OK in other parts of the world bothers EU." That is not true. India, several US states, EU, Japan, South Korea, Netherlands, and many others are investigating Apple for various anti-competitive practices.
Big Tech Antitrust Investigations: Amazon, Apple, Google, Meta/Facebook and Microsoft Updates -
List: Big Tech antitrust investigations targeting Amazon ($AMZN), Alphabet's Google ($GOOG), Apple ($AAPL), Microsoft ($MSFT) & Meta Platforms/Facebook ($META/$FB).
Sure, but unlike on iOS, on Android you also see non-nation state attacks against your everyday user. This is mainly because it's much easier to distribute malware due to sideloading. It only takes a little bit of social engineering to convince someone to tap the sideloading toggle and install a malware "package delivery" app that steals their credentials or empties their bank account.
Think of security as an onion, by allowing sideloading you're removing a layer. The same goes for privacy. Apple has been doubling down on privacy regulations in the App Store by requiring developers to follow strict standards. Apps in other stores with other business models won't be held to the same standards.
It will as soon as apps that you need start to move away from the App Store. You have no choice but to install other stores or sideload if you want to get those apps. Not only is that potentially bad from a security and privacy point of view. Now you can need to go across stores to discover, install and update your apps. It also hurts user experience.
I can't speak to this. Maybe you're right, maybe not.
Of course Apple is spreading propaganda, but so are the likes of Epic and Spotify with their coalition of the greedy. Everyone is in this for their own financial gain.
Not sure what your point is but it doesn't make sense for Apple to reinvent every standard out there. Apple does however choose standards that are known to be safe. That's the same as Apple reviewing apps and publishing them because they are safe.
Unfortunately you're probably right. I guess we can't have good things.
This suggestion is dumb indeed.