New U.S. Antitrust Bill Would Require Apple and Google to Allow Third-Party App Stores and Sideloading

[PinkyMacGodess]

I feel so comfortable having people that called the internet 'a series of tubes' meddling in the internal operation of technological based companies.

I'm 'old', and even I know that the internet is more like a series of squares! 😆 And that fiber optic cable helps the internet work more smoothly if it's taken in large enough doses! 😧

The average politician is so much more concerned with keeping their rear ends in their current cushy seat that they will let 'interest groups' write the legislation they introduce, and are also more than willing to let those groups lead them by the nose to what bills they want passed. This might get my post expunged, and me spanked, but unless WE can get money out of politics, those politicians will continue to work for their contributors, and NOT the public good.

Demanding that Apple hobble their ecosystem is counter productive, and damages Apple's brand! What incredible balls they have to dictate how Apple should run their company. It's not an antitrust issue until Apple is forced to break the trust they have said they have with us.

If this is forced through, I can see Apple taking a hit here. It's sad, but that's the way it goes I guess... Hopefully it can be stopped.

 

[Ethosik]

Well it works fine on the mac where you can install whatever you want and it's quite secure. I don't see any chaos on the mac.

Its not "secure". Its only as secure as it is because Windows has the majority of the marketshare. macOS malware increased 1,000% in 2020.

 

[Ethosik]

Has it done that on macOS?

Yes? macOS does have quite a bit of malware. I run into it often in my line of work. macOS is not immune to malware. Only reason Windows has more is due to marketshare.

 

[robjulo]

Will the government next force Walmart to allow Target to advertise their own products and install their own cash registers in Walmart stores?

They don't have a duopoly. This is good for the consumers.

 

[Ethosik]

I am a developer.


I don't want Android. I want an open iOS the way I have an open MacOS.

I want to be able to code Direct X games in macOS. But I cannot have that. I want to be able to code once and not have to have ANY adjustments for any platforms. That is not possible. We don't get everything we want as developers. I want the full Visual Studio experience on Mac, not the poor limited version we have today.

 

[robjulo]

Unless you are a Developer, you wouldn't understand it.

98% of the apps made by "developers" are trash. I'll pass at making "developers" the arbiters of what is good for the consumer.

 

[hasanahmad]

They work directly with government agencies "bro"
Wrong spot for this debate anyhow - my fault for bringing it up

The idea that this reduces security is FUD from Apple. The security of iOS is from the sandboxing model, not the App Store. In fact, you can technically already side load- it’s just difficult.

Secondly, Apple’s narrative of “we need to lock iOS down for security/privacy” has been revealed to bald-faced lies with the new government spyware “feature”, so I’m all for this. Maybe I can find a third-party app that disables the Apple spyware.

Mac OS can be

The idea that this reduces security is FUD from Apple. The security of iOS is from the sandboxing model, not the App Store. In fact, you can technically already side load- it’s just difficult.

Secondly, Apple’s narrative of “we need to lock iOS down for security/privacy” has been revealed to bald-faced lies with the new government spyware “feature”, so I’m all for this. Maybe I can find a third-party app that disables the Apple spyware.

Mac OS can be hijacked for ransom while an iPhone cannot Because Mac OS relative openness allows users to unbeknownst to them install ransomware. If you allow iOS to have the same openness as Mac OS then you invite a future where your device is held hostage by ransom ware

 

[Ethosik]

The ignorance of some politicians never ceases to amaze. Their time would be better spent passing laws which help stop the planet from going up in flames, but no, let's focus on side loading apps.

Yep. And putting limitations on Dell PCs to combat global warming instead of addressing the automobiles on the road?!

 

[Ethosik]

You know, no one is required or will be forced to use 3rd party app stores or 3rd party payments. That's the beauty of having options and choice.

With this logic nobody is forcing you to even have apps in the first place. My parents are one of those. They don't have ANY apps other than the built in ones.

 

[Ethosik]

I can't say I'm thrilled about this. Your phone is about to become a cesspool of trashware as developers leave the App store and Apple's safety review. I chose the walled garden because I wanted to not have to worry about this stuff.

To all those saying "just don't sideload", HA. You know that's going to be the primary method of getting apps as soon as the AAA developers build their stores. Now to get an app I'll have to install that developer's store, manage my login/pass/CC info there, install the app, deal with all their store's updates and sales pitches, and that's just for one app. This will happen for all the AAA apps. The Epic lawsuit shows the way. Soon it'll be King/Zynga/Adobe/Microsoft/Facebook/TenCent/et al soaking up bandwith, eating your battery, introducing all manner of security breaches, etc.

Big developers win. Hackers win. Small developers don't. Customers don't. Enjoy your 12% savings at cost of your security, bandwidth, storage space, and battery.

Battery life will suffer with 6 different app stores checking for updates constantly too.

 

[notabadname]

All the “give the consumer what they deserve” comments. Not sure how the consumer ”deserves” this. Wants, yes. Deserves? . . . Is this something that was sold in the purchase agreement and software license, that I missed? People complain about unnecessary laws and regulations, the expanding reach of government, but yay! . . . Look at what they did to Apple, the evil large corporation. The future of small business innovation is not helped by knowing you get treated as the enemy, that should be ripped apart, once you grow too large. We should also mandate that “mom and pop” stores have to provide a sales space for Walmart, that pays zero revenue to that “mom and pop”. It would be absolutely ridiculous to have to pay “mom and pop” a cut of my proceeds from selling in their business space.

 

[hasanahmad]

The first thing I will do when this happens is download large amounts of mp3 files for my new sideloaded mp3 app to work like it does on my mac and then DELETE Spotify

then I will sideload emulators to play games only found on epic store but get the games for free from other sources to play on my iPad . Then disable my EPIC account as I don’t need them anymore.

 

[Ethosik]

Last I checked, Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo do not control eBay, Facebook Marketplace, etc.

IMO, being able to obtain new and pre-owned games from those channels (as well as 3rd party retailers) is equivalent to sideloading.

If I buy a pre-owned game, Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo do not get a single cent from the sale, just like how sideloading an iOS app means Apple doesn't get a single cent.

As a developer, I still need to get Sony's, Microsoft's or Nintendo's approval to even distribute the app. There is no way for me to create the game, put it on my website, and direct PS4 users to download it. ALL without paying Sony nothing.

 

[hasanahmad]

I actually like the idea of iOS install on purchase. Option 1 . uOS where user chooses an open os without Apple services

Option 2: iOS Where user chooses apple’s walled garden

 

[jinnj]

Hmmm wonder who is one of Amy's biggest contributors...? Paul, Weiss and who has hired him as a lobbyist? Tencent! The biggest corporation that wants unadulterated access to the iOS platform.

 

[Ethosik]

I haven't read all the comments on here so please forgive me if somebody else has made this point...but isn't it likely that Apple will now start charing for its developer tools? Surely it provides those free of charge to developers because it knows it will be getting a cut of app revenue, but if those developers can take their apps elsewhere then surely Apple would be completely (and legitimately) free to start charging for those tools? Obviously it is unlikely to make a big difference to bigger developers as I can't see them charging fortunes for them, but to smaller developers...would a charge of a few hundred dollars a year make a difference?

Yep. I bet you if this gets forced on Apple, be expected to pay for the tools like I need to on Windows. I pay for Visual Studio Subscription, Azure DevOps for the CI/CD pipelines and testing features. Expect this to be a payed service now if this goes through.

 

[Jeaz]

Apple sort of played inte the hands of this by being so obtuse about their App Store cut, and such things as streaming apps.
It’ll be interesting how it all turn out, but doubt Apple will keep their current cut. I think your average user will still prefer to keep it simple and use the App Store, but if that means an app is 15-30% more expensive, then I doubt it.

Only downside of this, is that with easy and allowed side-loading, I can see a surge of piracy again. And of course the security risks.

 

[4jasontv]

You know, no one is required or will be forced to use 3rd party app stores or 3rd party payments. That's the beauty of having options and choice.

At least not by choice.
Step 1: figure out how to do it without the user involved
Step 2: declare pacemakers a device
Step 3: gain root access
Step 4: disable user access to stepping
Step 5: Profit

 

[Ethosik]

Well, it will be secure like macOS.
People simply aren’t used to freedom anymore. Like those jailed guys that gets free and start doing criminal stuff again, just to get back to jail, because they feel more comfortable there. And the ones who fears the World Wide Web and can’t get over it, can keep getting whipped inside the Apple AppStore.

Look at Affinity Designer,Photo and Publisher, this is how Apps will be distributed in the future, over multiple different platforms, and competing with each other. Customers will be able to choose what suits them best.

I’m looking forward to install Firefox with Gecko Browser Engine and uBlock Origin.

macOS DOES have a malware problem. Not to the extent of Windows though. And it is ONLY because Windows has way more marketshare. People just think macOS is immune to malware when its not. I have actually gotten some pretty interesting macs to deal with in the past.

 

[4jasontv]

Yay! Give the consumers what they deserve! It really is a win/win for everyone. It’s time developers get paid real money + incentives. (For their hard work, creating/developing/innovative the apps).

This number could be a lot higher! FACTS!!!

View attachment 1817474

Could be a lot smaller too. Which would be even better for the customer.

 

[Ethosik]

Im also looking forward to install a Firewall like Little Snitch (but for iOS/ipadOS), this would give us all more security than Apple ever offered.

But wait, I thought macOS was amazing. Why does such a tool even exist?

 

[kcslc]

I like iOS secured and the way it is, no thank you

iOS and secure? After the crap Apple has pulled the past couple of days? That’s laughable.

 

[Analog Kid]

We are talking about "on iOS itself" (c'mon - you know that)

No, we're not. If you're talking about blowing up the walled garden, then you're not talking about iOS. We're talking about mobile device ecosystems.

There is a mobile device ecosystem that supports the business model you want. I want a different model. Why take that away? Why make everything work the same? Why eliminate the ability to innovate at various places in the business model?

 

[macduke]

I’m curious whether Apple will try locking Xcode to the App Store and require Xcode if you want to use certain APIs by needing signing certificates or something. This could effectively make third party stores suck, since the language of this might be open enough to not require the same level of access. I also wouldn’t be surprised if Apple voids warranties on devices that flip the switch.

 

[tongxinshe]

Are there a flood of Mac users every day at the Genius Bar seeking help for their malware infested Macs?

Since we've been able to sideload Mac apps since forever there should be.

Apple sells 200 million iPhones a year, but only 20 million Macs a year.
Besides the obvious multiply-base shown in these two numbers, there are also two other implied factors:
1. Less user base always means much smaller attraction to the malware/virus creators.
2. On the average the Mac owners are much more technology-kosher than the iPhone owners. The big base of the non-tech-kosher iPhone users will be a huge attraction to the malware/virus creators.