Congratulations EU people for having
more flexibility to choose apps you want and optionally get them directly from those who make them. More freedom to run software on devices you own is a desirable
option we should all envy.
The rest of us outside the EU have this
same ability with our Macs- and always have- and it has not resulted in our destruction... but some of us have been snowed into believing the bulk of the EU will soon be destroyed by iDevice owners gaining an ability to download and use apps from anywhere other than the Apple App Store.
If I'm not mistaken, we're about a month into this multi-country (but not global) "experiment." Presumably, some number of EU people have
already taken advantage of getting some apps from sources other than Apple App Store, making payments through means other than Apple, etc. How many tales of woe have hit about the evil crime syndicates wiping out EU iDevice users because they did this? How many tales of rampant iDevice viruses unleashed because of this so far? More simply: where's the destruction so many promised... and are
still promising?
Security spin is a very easy card to play. People can be easily fooled into believing anything when the implication is that personal security risk is increased. But the catch in playing that card but then being "forced" to comply is that all get to see the terribly destructive or non-event outcome. The law is in play. Apple has already complied and is taking that further as the EU pressed for compliance with
intent of the law vs. only letter of it.
My guess is that a month from now there will still be this international chorus of disdain against these EU market freedoms... but still no sweeping tales of woe & destruction we sling about how terrible this will prove to be for EU people.
My guess is that a
YEAR from now, it will still be the same... much as some of us also passionatelly slung the "lint magnet", "broken tongues", "endless repairs" of iPhone going USB-C, which has since resulted in how much actual devastation as spun? I still find lint in my pockets. I haven't even spotted one "broken tongue" USB-C repair kiosk pop up anywhere. I haven't seen one story highlighting how countless latest iPhones are being sent in for USB-C port repairs because of its great inferiority as a port. I assumed there would a mountains of broken tongues by now, tripping all of us as we try to walk, ride or drive anywhere. What happened?
We can only play this negative spin game so long. If we keep crying Wolf when there is no wolf, the villagers will eventually wise up and stop coming. Very much as we should have leaned with the USB-C port nonsense, the clock is ticking for the EU armageddon we sling to either manifest... or for us to learn once again that it was much ado about nothing.
Everyone with a Mac who has ever purchased/downloaded a Mac app directly from developers, in bundle packs, etc (sources other than the Apple Mac App Store) should know how this will play out for EU people. But even if you can find some way to see it as dramatically different, stand by and just watch the doomsday spun by many play out... or not. This train has a already left the station. Either the EU will prove such confident passion about security-driven destruction correct... or maybe those who so easily run with whatever they think Apple wants will learn a lesson...
again.
All that shared: everyone be careful out there. Tripping over a pile of iPhone USB-C tongues could be hazardous. Just ask those who so confidently assured us all of
that total disaster for many months ahead of
that round of Apple compliance with EU law.
