4 ms·

I do have a problem with Apple forcing the iPhone app developers to use MacBooks, given that about 90% of the purchases from cellphone app stores are made using

I do have a problem with Apple forcing the iPhone app developers to use MacBooks, given that about 90% of the purchases from cellphone app stores are made using iPhones (as far as I remember). This is the kind of anti competitive behavior that an anti trust law is supposed to punish. I don't know the legal technicality they are using to avoid it. Big Tech also formed a cartel to lower engineers salaries. This is also something that should be punished by law (and AFAIK, they did win a class action suit). I do think this is a problem and needs to be addressed.

superuser2 11y ago
Antitrust law can't force you to develop your products for platforms you don't want to target. You will never see an antitrust decision that Apple must develop a Windows version of XCode, and in fact doing so would probably require a total re-architecture of the iOS platform. You might see antitrust law force Apple to allow sideloading, including apps built by toolchains third parties have hacked together. You're also not required to use a Macbook; the Mini is $500.
- aurelianito 11y ago
  Why not? If a monopoly is allowed to choose, it can use its domination in one vertical to influence another vertical. Anyway, I would prefer a Linux version of the iPhone SDK. I do not use neither Windows nor OSX normally.
striking 11y ago
The second point was addressed, though, by your own admission. It was punished (and if it happens again, I can only imagine the hammer will strike even harder). If you don't like the MacBook, you can buy a Mac mini and use it as a build server from other (non-Macintosh!) computers. There are tools for other platforms, and Apple isn't obligated to maintain their platform for "non-standard" use. It's not antitrust, and it's not a technicality. They're not obligated to open their platform, because they're not restricting something that was previously open. I don't like it either. That doesn't mean it's illegal.

superuser2 11y ago

Antitrust law can't force you to develop your products for platforms you don't want to target. You will never see an antitrust decision that Apple must develop a Windows version of XCode, and in fact doing so would probably require a total re-architecture of the iOS platform. You might see antitrust law force Apple to allow sideloading, including apps built by toolchains third parties have hacked together. You're also not required to use a Macbook; the Mini is $500.

aurelianito 11y ago
Why not? If a monopoly is allowed to choose, it can use its domination in one vertical to influence another vertical. Anyway, I would prefer a Linux version of the iPhone SDK. I do not use neither Windows nor OSX normally.

striking 11y ago

The second point was addressed, though, by your own admission. It was punished (and if it happens again, I can only imagine the hammer will strike even harder). If you don't like the MacBook, you can buy a Mac mini and use it as a build server from other (non-Macintosh!) computers. There are tools for other platforms, and Apple isn't obligated to maintain their platform for "non-standard" use. It's not antitrust, and it's not a technicality. They're not obligated to open their platform, because they're not restricting something that was previously open. I don't like it either. That doesn't mean it's illegal.