This Free App Unlocks AirPods Features on Android Devices

[turbineseaplane]

What the eu has done does not lower switching costs. You still have to sell your phone, buy a new phone.

My point about government dictating requirements stands. None of that makes it better for the consumer. Devs like epic win.

My understanding is that they don't think it's reasonable that one has to switch.
I'm not sure their goal is to lower switching costs at all.

I agree that their effectiveness at any of this is in question, but I do understand their hope and intent and agree with many aspects of it.

Cheers ✌️

 

[marte91]

I used to think it was okay...I have since changed my mind, and I'm now I'm decidedly against the concepts of closed ecosystems. Who or why doesn't matter.

i do understand, you do have the right to change your mind, but it seems a lost cause to complain about this particular case, i think apple will stop selling iphones before they open the ecosystem.

 

[djphat2000]

I agree with this.
It doesn't help with existing purchases however.

A big flaw in the "vote with your wallet" situation is that we all have existing products with long lives and it's unreasonable to expect folks to get rid of everything and buy new stuff in a different ecosystem.

Part of why the EU has come after some of these situations is that exact point (switching costs).

If the idea is when you purchase something it should last as long as it can. Then, maybe we should also consider purchasing a product initially that is supported by as many vendors as possible. This is still something that is up to the consumer. Apple just makes the product. And they make two sets of headsets (AirPods and Beats). Buy the Beats if you want multi platform support. Buy AirPods if you want it to work as best it can with Apple products. And since Apple makes 3 versions of AirPods. We have options on which one to get. They also make a variety of Beats headphones. So there should be something for everyone. Not to mention the variety of brands that support both Apple and Android and analog connectivity.

I think everyone has a ton of existing products. And when something new comes along, the desire to get it will just have to weigh against what you can afford (or want to spend on), vs what you already have and if it will work perfectly with it or not. These are choices and they should be made according to what that consumer wants to do. Just like if you already had a good pair of AirPods and see the new ones and say "hummm, I like those features. But, what I have works perfectly fine.". Or I'm thinking of switching to a Samsung phone, and I don't want to have to get new headsets as I like my AirPods.

Why should any government be involved in your decision? You make that choice. You choose to spend on something new or not. Forcing any company to say "you have to be compatible with everyone else so that the customer can mix and match as they see fit at the least amount of cost". Well, why not say all companies have to operate under an open standard? Remove IP, Trademarks, and anything that identifies it specifically to one company. No special sauce, you must share it with everyone else. And everyone else must adapt it at whatever cost it may be to implement it, and on and on. What incentive do we expect any company to have under such laws? Why come out with something new? Just wait for someone else to make something cool, and get it for nothing..