Would love to see Elon jump in with a proper Linux distro that doesn’t suck.
I would drop my iPhone to support it just due to the free speech he is working towards on X.
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Spotify Lauds $2 Billion EU Fine, Says Apple Has 'Muzzled' Streaming Music Services
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I would drop my iPhone to support it just due to the free speech he is working towards on X.
“Muzzled…” says the streaming company with a market share larger than all other streaming services combined. I don’t think that word means what they think it means.
Don't threaten me with a good time.
I'd absolutely love it if the Mac App Store were thriving like the iOS App Store. The latter thrives specifically because it's exclusive and developers have to follow privacy and safety rules.
If the Mac Store were the only place you could download Mac Apps, all the big apps would be there and you'd be protected against data mining, and they'd all follow the same standards with a more uniform UI. If the App Store exclusivity falls worldwide, then you'll see the likes of Meta only offering their popular apps on the open web so they could continue to track you. You may have the good sense not to install those apps but many others will, because they must have the popular apps.
I don't think that Apple should get anything from subscriptions, but Spotify was whining about Apple before Apple was streaming music.
I would gladly love to develop and distribute apps myself for Nintendo Switch, Sony Playstation, Microsoft Xbox, Tesla cars, Sony A7 IV cameras, and etc...but they won't open up. Does this mean a law should be made to open them up? I don't think so.
Even the PS Vita was a general purpose device with cellular capability and had social media apps like Twitter. Even Sony had final say of everything that goes on the device. So I don't buy this "general purpose devices must be open" assertion.
Spotify are liars. Apple helped Spotify get the streaming share and they would never be charged 30%.
Liars.
Yet Spotify charge customers more and pay artists less. All whilst having a massively higher market share. Scum.
They complain about money but gave huge contracts to Rogan. Me thinks they are in fact quite profitable but love to complain about money anyway.It won’t save you, Spotify.
Spotify Takes on $1.3B in Debt
Spotify is offering $1.3 billion in exchangeable notes it can pay off with cash or stock, while building its war chest for acquisitions or other purposes.www.billboard.com
Tick tock, tick tock. That 1.3 billion dollar debt looms.
Everytime the EU steals from Apple our prices go up.
Spotify helped Apple gain marketshare by having a music streaming platform while iTunes was dying and Apple Music wasn't even a thing yet.
The competition commission's ruling will be challenged and eventually overturned, just like the Ireland tax ruling.
That commission is sort of out of control at this point.
That commission is sort of out of control at this point.
So many people here comment on how they think Apple, as a global business, should be run. Newsflash people: Apple is a for-profit business. As an investor I expect them to charge for products and services what the market will bear. Don’t like the prices? Blame your financial situation. It’s not Apple’s fault you can’t afford Apple’s SW/HW.
I'm glad the EU is holding greedy AAPL accountable. I wish the US DOJ would do something to stifle their monstrous greed. I have Apple music because I get it for free, but overall it's a garbage app and I use Spotify and Audible 9 times out of 10. If I want to side load, then let me side load. The normies can use the app store and sleep sound knowing their phone doesn't have malware or whatever it is they're worried about. I've been "side loading" on my Mac and my Windoze computers for years and I've never once fallen victim to malware. Be smart and you won't have a problem.
I guess that by your logic back in the early 2000s Microsoft should have forced Apple to compensate them for allowing iTunes to be installed on Windows (since Windows was the platform used by more than 90% of iTunes users). Microsoft would have had a nice revenue stream for sales from iTunes back then. I am not saying Apple does not deserve some compensation, however, apps being forbidden from notifying customers that payment could happen outside of the app was, to me, shady from the start. I am glad that Microsoft allowed iTunes to flourish and merely tried (and failed) to compete. I have a house full of Apple stuff, and I prefer Apple Music to Spotify, but that does not mean I truly buy all of Apple’s argument.
You nailed it where all the other top comments missed it. Apple’s “closed garden” nature has allowed them unprecedented leeway to hoarde markets. Imagine Microsoft getting commission on all software and digital services purchased via Windows machines.
I wish the EU a merry tear-the-walls down. I love Apple’s security and privacy standards. It’s time they get those internal walls tight while giving us real OPEN devices.
I’m not delusional about the risks they have to add protections for and I appreciate a cautious approach. But they’ve enjoyed and exploited their position beyond what any platform should be allowed to.
Apple’s argument that they’re incurring the costs to deliver the app is convenient since getting it direct from Spotify wasn’t an option.
Some compensation wasn’t unreasonable, but it’s been too high for a while and getting a cut in perpetuity for every subscription is crazy- especially as they are direct competitors with companies now in streaming video and music and e-books and audiobooks.
The fact this hasn’t been handled by US law is another sign of how intentionally broken and hobbled our government has become. Good on the EU to do something.
Hopefully our iOS 18 AI enhancements earn Apple Music an edge in competition, but abusing their place as THE PLATFORM just because they built it isn’t the way the world should allow any company to run.
In case anyone leaves thinking I’m gentle on Spotify, EU should next examine the system for paying artists and consider taking back some of that 2 Billy for them.
Spotify iOS app is $h1t. No EU fine is gonna change that. This is one of the main reasons why I use AM (along with lossless on Apple TV). Booo Spotify, boo 🤢
Apple was today fined €1.8 billion ($1.95 billion) for anti-competitive conduct against rival streaming music services in the European Union, and following the ruling, Spotify has praised the European Commission for its decision.
For context, the European Commission's investigation into Apple's practices started due to a 2019 complaint from Spotify over App Store policies. Spotify has long railed against Apple's 30 percent fee, and has complained that it is unfairly disadvantaged compared to Apple Music.
In a blog post, Spotify says that the European Commission has sent a clear message that "Apple's behavior limiting communications to consumers is unlawful."
It is worth noting that the scope of the investigation in Europe has changed several times. While Spotify complained over Apple's App Store fees and the requirement to use in-app purchase, the European Commission was unable to target Apple for those actions. Instead, the investigation ended up pertaining to Apple's anti-steering rules, and the rule that keeps Spotify from informing customers about lower prices on the web within the Spotify app.
The European Commission decided that Apple's restrictions preventing developers from letting iOS users know about alternative and cheaper music subscription services available outside the app is "illegal under EU antitrust rules." The EC claims that Apple caused customers to "pay significantly higher prices for music streaming subscriptions."
Spotify in its blog post further says that Apple has "routinely defied laws and court decisions in other markets," and that it is waiting for the next steps that will "clearly and conclusively address Apple's long-standing unfair practices." Spotify claims that it plans to continue to push against Apple until it is able to secure a "truly fair digital marketplace everywhere."
Apple has been ordered to "remove the anti-steering provisions" and keep from repeating the infringement or adopting similar practices in the future. Apple plans to appeal the decision and has claimed that the EC's view is misguided and has been heavily influenced by Spotify's complaints.
Spotify will soon be able to release an app outside of the App Store with support for alternative app marketplaces coming to the EU in iOS 17.4, but the streaming music company has complained that Apple's plans do not comply with the DMA and that the changes coming in Europe are a "complete and total farce."
Article Link: Spotify Lauds $2 Billion EU Fine, Says Apple Has 'Muzzled' Streaming Music Services
Spotify built itself on stolen music it didn't have the rights to; they can go sit in the corner quietly.
They could if they wanted to. That's their business decision. And it would be up to Apple to decide not to release iTunes for Windows which would be bad for Apple's iPod adoption but possibly good for Mac adoption. And Linux adoption could be much higher had Windows never allowed for an open style platform which would probably hurt Microsoft. See how the free market works?
I control the majority of music in the world, so any competitor is bad. Oh, Spotify is the controller. So....
Reminds me of politicians saying "They're silencing us!" while standing in front of cameras and the video will be shared on social media and seen by millions of people...
🤣
The EU is so against American companies and they are purposely targeting them with BS regulation and fines because their own companies can’t innovate or just want to freeload.
I think it's time to silence Spotify. They are a monopoly.
And then investigate every European company. Major artists should also start a lawsuit against Spotify for being underpaid. Eventually they should leave Spotify for good.
Cell phones have evolved into general purpose computing platforms. This evolution occurred because Apple wanted it to happen. If not they could have narrowly restricted the types of apps they approved on the platform, but this would have limited the utility of the platform and also sales.
Game platforms limit apps to games so as long as game platforms keep that gating criteria they have the right to control the ecosystem. Also don't think you'll be balancing your checkbook while driving your tesla, using the car's cpu.
But I was responding to a post that was whining about how much it costs Apple to distribute the Spotify App binary. No one is forcing Apple to be the exclusive distributor for apps on the platform. Mac apps can be distributed outside the Apple App Store, which proves it possible to do the same for iOS apps.