Leaked EU Document Could Spell Major Changes for App Store, Messages, FaceTime, Browsers, and Siri

[jakey rolling]

Help me out here, why don’t you have the exact same choices any other person does?

Because I've already spent over a grand on a device that I would expect to own, and I don't just have another grand lying around to buy a new device in another ecosystem?

I mean, sure, a lot of Apple's most loyal customers are just used to shelling out more and more money to fix a problem that their vendor created for them. But there are some of us who would rather actually be treated like valuable customers, not just ATMs.

 

[ignatius345]

Bring it on. The old iChat app in MacOS used to let you add AIM and other kinds of accounts. I don't see how this would be different. I would almost certainly stick with iMessage, but if someone wants to use some other platform and I can plug it into the Messages app, no skin off my back. Same with FaceTime -- if I could plug Zoom or Google Meet or whatever into that one app, that would just streamline things for me. Again, I'd probably use FaceTime myself.

 

[ignatius345]

Except for those who have already made the mistake of buying into Apple's ecosystem.

So buy yourself back out and go use an Android or Windows or literally anything else you want. Problem solved.

 

[Realityck]

Apple has no business being necessarily in the middle of the developer and customer relationship.

Why is smartphone ecosystems so valuable when you can use computers instead? One is very restrictive the other very open. You do have a choice on what you can use to do things. Not everything has to be so smartphone centric.

 

[GMShadow]

Because I've already spent over a grand on a device that I would expect to own, and I don't just have another grand lying around to buy a new device in another ecosystem?

I mean, sure, a lot of Apple's most loyal customers are just used to shelling out more and more money to fix a problem that their vendor created for them. But there are some of us who would rather actually be treated like valuable customers, not just ATMs.

No, you want everything for free. You're not a valuable customer at all.

 

[Wildkraut]

ell-oh-ell.

If you think governments won't simply block the App Store and force people to use a government approved one, you're delusional.

Well, the right for sideloading will work against something like that. It will eliminate a single point of failure, which is currently Apples AppStore.

 

[nvmls]

No, you want everything for free. You're not a valuable customer at all.

Free != options

Nice try though.

 

[Dimka]

> Apple could be forced to make major changes to the App Store, Messages, FaceTime, third-party browsers, and Siri.

That is why so few big businesses originate from EU, eventhough it's a big market and has large educated population and established industry. It is ridiculous when bureaucrats dictate a private company how they should design and implement their products, because it greatly disincentivizes the innovation.

 

[jakey rolling]

If the only way a company feels they can guarantee security or whatever on their platform is to lock it down

Then perhaps that company should decide to either hire more competent software engineers or exit the business of building complex electronic devices that can be used to access banking or medical services.

 

[jakey rolling]

Why is smartphone ecosystems so valuable when you can use computers instead?

Because they fit in your pocket and connect to cell networks.

 

[GMShadow]

Free != options

Nice try though.

Options like pirating apps, which is what this is always about for sideloaders. The honest ones admit it.

 

[jakey rolling]

No, you want everything for free. You're not a valuable customer at all.

My my, you sure are insightful, aren't you?

 

[Stunning_Sense4712]

I am hoping this passes since it would force Apple Inc to actually compete on pricing for developers and also allow users greater control of what they can install on their devices.

 

[Ethosik]

Then perhaps that company should decide to either hire more competent software engineers or exit the business of building complex electronic devices that can be used to access banking or medical services.

I don’t think iOS is as secure as people (and Apple) claim. It’s been safer due to the App Store. I don’t think macos is as secure as people (and apple actually agrees) think. I think Windows and Android are the most secured. They have been battle hardened.

I fully expect if this happens, the first few iOS versions will be a security nightmare. I will NOT upgrade if this happens.

 

[nvmls]

Options like pirating apps, which is what this is always about for sideloaders. The honest ones admit it.

You don't get out much, do you?

 

[Ethosik]

Options like pirating apps, which is what this is always about for sideloaders. The honest ones admit it.

The funny thing is, it’s all one sided with these people. The minute an App is removed from Apple’s App Store, they tell us it’s not a “need” to use the app and we can ignore it. So what gives them the right to say your side loaded app is more important than the apps I use?

 

[robco74]

Bring it on. The old iChat app in MacOS used to let you add AIM and other kinds of accounts. I don't see how this would be different.

Those services weren't end-to-end encrypted.

 

[Stunning_Sense4712]

Apple's legal team is going to be busy in the coming days. I don't understand why the government is always after Apple. I wonder if Apple will put out from all this mess.

Busy doing what? The EU has the authority to regulate them and mitigate anti trust behavior. It would be nice if the United States would be more like the EU to protect consumers.

 

[jakey rolling]

Those services weren't end-to-end encrypted.

That certainly is a difference. Too bad that there aren't any industry-standard encryption algorithms that the brilliant minds in Apple, Google, and Microsoft's software development departments could use as a starting point for solving that seemingly impossible puzzle.

 

[Stunning_Sense4712]

What Apple should consider is - a toggle switch that keeps the ecosystem as is, with full Apple support. With the toggle off support for hardware and software support only up to resetting iOS as shipped with the phone. No support for issues caused by side loaded apps. No representation of security or tracking unless you opt for secured close setting.

Apple would immediately be sued and gone after by goverment regulators since they can not void your warranty based on the fact you installed your application outside of their application store. In addition the burden of proof is on Apple to prove that a side loaded application actually caused damage and not a hardware/software bug in the OS.

 

[jimothyGator]

Because I've already spent over a grand on a device that I would expect to own, and I don't just have another grand lying around to buy a new device in another ecosystem?

I mean, sure, a lot of Apple's most loyal customers are just used to shelling out more and more money to fix a problem that their vendor created for them. But there are some of us who would rather actually be treated like valuable customers, not just ATMs.

Sell the phone if you’re so unhappy with it. What sort of fool waits for the EU to save him when he could easily solve the problem himself?

 

[JM]

Is there something wrong with a company being worth 2+ TRILLION ???? I don’t see that is a bad thing. I would say that’s a sign that they’re highly successful. ?‍♂️

Maybe governments could take a lesson from how Apple runs their business. The USA government for example is trillions in debt

Apple should buy the government ?

 

[Stunning_Sense4712]

Apple shouldn't pull out of the EU forever, but they should announce that they will be suspending all sales while they come into compliance with EU regulations. That will take the better part of a year or more. Then they should release specific SKUs just for the EU market, with Messaging, FaceTime, and pretty much all the services removed. Basically, you get a blank brick that makes calls, everything else must be installed elsewhere.

And of course, Apple should jack up prices by a lot to cover the cost of complying with all of this nonsense.

I doubt they will make a serperate operating systems just for the EU since that would cost Apple more money and could delay critcal security updates if a zero day vulnerability is discovered in the wild.

 

[jakey rolling]

Apple would immediately be sued and gone after by goverment regulators since they can not void your warranty based on the fact you installed your application outside of their application store. In addition the burden of proof is on Apple to prove that a side loaded application actually caused damage and not a hardware/software bug in the OS.

Apple's warranty already excludes software issues. As do the warranties of pretty much every computer hardware manufacturer in the world. I think what the previous commenter was talking about was Apple not offering support for sideloaded apps, which really also wouldn't be any kind of change, because they already offer no support for apps installed from the app store.

 

[Stunning_Sense4712]

Bad policy that’s going to open up endless new security vulnerabilities.

Mac OS X is secure and it allows side loading. So why would iOS/iPADOS not be as secure as well????