5 ms·

This is game changing, one thing is accepting a weakness or a negative side-effect and another is implementing features that mitigate that. Props to Apple, this

by lalos 8y ago

This is game changing, one thing is accepting a weakness or a negative side-effect and another is implementing features that mitigate that. Props to Apple, this is some impressive work that will have a net benefit for users. It is almost as if they care. Of course, they can do this since it does not go against their incentives like other companies that make money on the time spent of the platform (video watching, website browsing for ad clicks, etc). It is a good step in the right direction way better than nothing or sitting on the sidelines until regulation steps in.

endless1234 8y ago
Android is doing something similar as well https://www.engadget.com/2018/05/08/android-and-youtube-will-help-you-manage-screen-time/ https://www.engadget.com/2018/05/08/android-and-youtube-will...
deleted 8y ago
[deleted]
lern_too_spel 8y ago
> Props to Apple, this is some impressive work that will have a net benefit for users. It is almost as if they care. Of course, they can do this since it does not go against their incentives like other companies This post reads like parody, considering that these features are copied from Samsung [1] and Google [2]. [1] https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.washingtonpost.com/amphtml/news/the-switch/wp/2018/01/19/smartphones-finally-tackle-addiction-with-a-little-help-from-arianna-huffington/ https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.washingtonpost.com/amphtml/... [2] https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.cnet.com/google-amp/news/google-creates-new-android-controls-to-take-on-phone-addiction/ https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.cnet.com/google-amp/news/go...
- Retric 8y ago
  [1] Not by Samsung they just made an exclusive partnership. [2] Recent announcement, not out yet. No idea how it's going to operate. In terms of actual features it's a step up from [1] and [2] is vaperware.
  - deleted 8y ago
    [deleted]
  - lern_too_spel 8y ago
    > [1] Not by Samsung they just made an exclusive partnership. This partnership contradicts GGP's assertion that the other companies wouldn't do it because their incentives aren't aligned. > [2] Recent announcement, not out yet. No idea how it's going to operate. [2] is vaperware. In that respect, iOS 12 is also vaporware. Google gave exactly the same amount of detail that Apple did on how its "digital wellbeing" features work. https://blog.google/products/android/android-p/ https://blog.google/products/android/android-p/
    - Retric 8y ago
      I can update to iOS12 right and test this stuff out so it's hardly vaporware. Google's announcement is just that an announcement if it was working then you could downloaded it, until this it's meaningless.
      - deklerk 8y ago
        Android P beta is available to the public. You could go try out many of the wellbeing features right now.
        lern_too_spel 8y ago
        What's more, you don't need to pay anybody $99 per year for that privilege. iOS betas are only available to people with a developer account.
        sudouser 8y ago
        public beta are free for anyone: https://beta.apple.com/sp/betaprogram/ https://beta.apple.com/sp/betaprogram/
        8y ago
- lalos 8y ago
  I'm aware of the Google announcement, that is why I mention incentives. Who do you think will push harder in the future or who do you think will get push back once metrics come back with less revenue numbers (possibly), even now look at features parity wise and marketing message. One is soft and targeted to parents this one has been rebranded as 'screen time'.
  - lern_too_spel 8y ago
    > One is soft and targeted to parents this one has been rebranded as 'screen time'. How can you argue that "app timer" is softer than "screen time" with a straight face? https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.cnbc.com/amp/2018/05/09/google-fighting-smartphone-addiction-with-android-p-digital-wellness.html https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.cnbc.com/amp/2018/05/09/goo...
    - lalos 8y ago
      Ok, I'll concede that it is a hard ask and I was not aware of the name "app timer" I thought it was under parental controls. I can with a straight face defend the aligned incentives. :)
      - evrydayhustling 8y ago
        In what way is Apple not profiting off excess screen time? Did they turn off in-app purchases on pay to play games, which account for growing billions in revenue [1]? Congrats to both companies for taking a long view against their immediate incentives, and disagreed about this stretched comparison. [1] https://www.google.com/amp/s/techcrunch.com/2018/04/13/u-s-iphone-users-spent-23-more-in-apps-in-2017-have-an-average-of-45-apps-installed/amp/ https://www.google.com/amp/s/techcrunch.com/2018/04/13/u-s-i...
        lalos 8y ago
        Apple's large chunk of revenue comes from hardware sales with huge margins. Around 10% would come from app store last time I checked. Google's large chunk of revenue comes from ads, also around the 90% mark.
- Razengan 8y ago
  Apple only announces new OS features at WWDC, and those news you linked were posted between WWDCs. Obviously Apple had been developing this for at least a year to be able to announce it now, and there had been rumors about it.
  - sigzero 8y ago
    Hey, no facts here! Let people bitch.
    - sneak 8y ago
      A personal request: please consider using non-sexist language to describe people complaining.
      - drewmol 8y ago
        I agree, sigzero sounds like a real  sneezing nose
        balladeer 8y ago
        We can use something like "sounds like a sneezing nose" to sound gender neutral.
  - 51Cards 8y ago
    And the others weren't working on it for a year before their announcements as well?
- megablast 8y ago
  I don't get your point. Is he saying these are unique to Apple? Should we not celebrate Apple doing good work, even if others have done it before? Should we not be happy that Apple is improving iOS?
  - lern_too_spel 8y ago
    > Is he saying these are unique to Apple? Yes, and what's more, he's saying that Apple did something that nobody else would do. Not only would Apple's competitors do it, they already did.
  - make3 8y ago
    he did say exactly that
  - sundvor 8y ago
    [Non-Apple] people are annoyed because whenever Apple introduce features they've copied/amalgamated from others, they always manage to spin it like they are the ones who came up with these fantastic designs.
    - deleted 8y ago
      [deleted]
  - ncallaway 8y ago
    > Is he saying these are unique to Apple? Yes, they said: > Of course, they can do this since it does not go against their incentives like other companies that make money on the time spent of the platform The implication of that sentence being that other companies haven't done it and that other companies wouldn't do it.
    - read_if_gay_ 8y ago
      >other companies that make money on the time spent of the platform This obviously refers to Facebook and the like, not Samsung etc.
- sundvor 8y ago
  Yeah, I have had (the automatic, time based) Do Not Disturb mode on my Samsungs for what seems like forever. And they also let me configure where notifications are sent very easily, per app. As a parent I welcome screen time locks, because any improvement over the previous non-existing support for such things is surely welcome. On Android I could install a lot of tools to manage the same thing, but iOS wouldn't let the same apps work to a satisfactory level. But of course since Apple finally does this, it becomes newsworthy.
  - nicky0 8y ago
    Hasn't automatic, time based DND been on iOS already for several years?
    - nthnclrk 8y ago
      Yes.
    - reitanqild 8y ago
      IIRC I think I might have seen it even before smartphones.
- Accacin 8y ago
  I wish we as a race could get over the whole 'this is copied from this'. How am I as a user meant to care? If Android has something I would like as a feature and Apple implements it, that's a win for me as before I didn't have that feature. We should only be worried when Apple or Google are too arrogant to provide a feature that is a huge benefit to users just they didn't think of it first.
  - deleted 8y ago
    [deleted]
ChrisClark 8y ago
Apple was the holdout on this 'reducing screen time' feature, it seems everyone else has done it already. I wonder why though, you do make a good point. Do they all know of upcoming regulations or something that will require these features?
- joezydeco 8y ago
  The screen time topic came up during Apple's education presentation the other month. It probably has a lot to do with reassuring teachers and parents that the iPad can be used as a teaching device without other distractions getting in the way. As a parent I'm curious to see how effective the screen time features will be. Previous apps I've tried always had UI issues or were full of loopholes the kids could work around.
- lalos 8y ago
  At the Zuckerberg testimony, somebody mention that tech companies were being reckless and if they don't prioritize on their negative impact it will force government to come in and regulate it. It was basically a wake up call of either you become conscious of your impact or don't complain once big gov come knocking. After all companies are part of the communities, they should be working on stuff like this.
  - tajen 8y ago
    And that’s probably why we have GDPR.
RobLach 8y ago
This is some of the sharpest sarcasm I've ever read. Absolutely brilliant.
drb91 8y ago
If only they could address the root of addictive behavior on the internet.... ads. Seems kind of weak without giving the user control of the incentives they represent: the abulity use apps and the browser without ads.

by lalos 8y ago

endless1234 8y ago

Android is doing something similar as well https://www.engadget.com/2018/05/08/android-and-youtube-will-help-you-manage-screen-time/ https://www.engadget.com/2018/05/08/android-and-youtube-will...

deleted 8y ago

[deleted]

lern_too_spel 8y ago

> Props to Apple, this is some impressive work that will have a net benefit for users. It is almost as if they care. Of course, they can do this since it does not go against their incentives like other companies This post reads like parody, considering that these features are copied from Samsung [1] and Google [2]. [1] https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.washingtonpost.com/amphtml/news/the-switch/wp/2018/01/19/smartphones-finally-tackle-addiction-with-a-little-help-from-arianna-huffington/ https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.washingtonpost.com/amphtml/... [2] https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.cnet.com/google-amp/news/google-creates-new-android-controls-to-take-on-phone-addiction/ https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.cnet.com/google-amp/news/go...

Retric 8y ago
[1] Not by Samsung they just made an exclusive partnership. [2] Recent announcement, not out yet. No idea how it's going to operate. In terms of actual features it's a step up from [1] and [2] is vaperware.
- deleted 8y ago
  [deleted]
- lern_too_spel 8y ago
  > [1] Not by Samsung they just made an exclusive partnership. This partnership contradicts GGP's assertion that the other companies wouldn't do it because their incentives aren't aligned. > [2] Recent announcement, not out yet. No idea how it's going to operate. [2] is vaperware. In that respect, iOS 12 is also vaporware. Google gave exactly the same amount of detail that Apple did on how its "digital wellbeing" features work. https://blog.google/products/android/android-p/ https://blog.google/products/android/android-p/
  - Retric 8y ago
    I can update to iOS12 right and test this stuff out so it's hardly vaporware. Google's announcement is just that an announcement if it was working then you could downloaded it, until this it's meaningless.
    - deklerk 8y ago
      Android P beta is available to the public. You could go try out many of the wellbeing features right now.
      - lern_too_spel 8y ago
        What's more, you don't need to pay anybody $99 per year for that privilege. iOS betas are only available to people with a developer account.
        sudouser 8y ago
        public beta are free for anyone: https://beta.apple.com/sp/betaprogram/ https://beta.apple.com/sp/betaprogram/
        8y ago
lalos 8y ago
I'm aware of the Google announcement, that is why I mention incentives. Who do you think will push harder in the future or who do you think will get push back once metrics come back with less revenue numbers (possibly), even now look at features parity wise and marketing message. One is soft and targeted to parents this one has been rebranded as 'screen time'.
- lern_too_spel 8y ago
  > One is soft and targeted to parents this one has been rebranded as 'screen time'. How can you argue that "app timer" is softer than "screen time" with a straight face? https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.cnbc.com/amp/2018/05/09/google-fighting-smartphone-addiction-with-android-p-digital-wellness.html https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.cnbc.com/amp/2018/05/09/goo...
  - lalos 8y ago
    Ok, I'll concede that it is a hard ask and I was not aware of the name "app timer" I thought it was under parental controls. I can with a straight face defend the aligned incentives. :)
    - evrydayhustling 8y ago
      In what way is Apple not profiting off excess screen time? Did they turn off in-app purchases on pay to play games, which account for growing billions in revenue [1]? Congrats to both companies for taking a long view against their immediate incentives, and disagreed about this stretched comparison. [1] https://www.google.com/amp/s/techcrunch.com/2018/04/13/u-s-iphone-users-spent-23-more-in-apps-in-2017-have-an-average-of-45-apps-installed/amp/ https://www.google.com/amp/s/techcrunch.com/2018/04/13/u-s-i...
      - lalos 8y ago
        Apple's large chunk of revenue comes from hardware sales with huge margins. Around 10% would come from app store last time I checked. Google's large chunk of revenue comes from ads, also around the 90% mark.
Razengan 8y ago
Apple only announces new OS features at WWDC, and those news you linked were posted between WWDCs. Obviously Apple had been developing this for at least a year to be able to announce it now, and there had been rumors about it.
- sigzero 8y ago
  Hey, no facts here! Let people bitch.
  - sneak 8y ago
    A personal request: please consider using non-sexist language to describe people complaining.
    - drewmol 8y ago
      I agree, sigzero sounds like a real  sneezing nose
      - balladeer 8y ago
        We can use something like "sounds like a sneezing nose" to sound gender neutral.
- 51Cards 8y ago
  And the others weren't working on it for a year before their announcements as well?
megablast 8y ago
I don't get your point. Is he saying these are unique to Apple? Should we not celebrate Apple doing good work, even if others have done it before? Should we not be happy that Apple is improving iOS?
- lern_too_spel 8y ago
  > Is he saying these are unique to Apple? Yes, and what's more, he's saying that Apple did something that nobody else would do. Not only would Apple's competitors do it, they already did.
- make3 8y ago
  he did say exactly that
- sundvor 8y ago
  [Non-Apple] people are annoyed because whenever Apple introduce features they've copied/amalgamated from others, they always manage to spin it like they are the ones who came up with these fantastic designs.
  - deleted 8y ago
    [deleted]
- ncallaway 8y ago
  > Is he saying these are unique to Apple? Yes, they said: > Of course, they can do this since it does not go against their incentives like other companies that make money on the time spent of the platform The implication of that sentence being that other companies haven't done it and that other companies wouldn't do it.
  - read_if_gay_ 8y ago
    >other companies that make money on the time spent of the platform This obviously refers to Facebook and the like, not Samsung etc.
sundvor 8y ago
Yeah, I have had (the automatic, time based) Do Not Disturb mode on my Samsungs for what seems like forever. And they also let me configure where notifications are sent very easily, per app. As a parent I welcome screen time locks, because any improvement over the previous non-existing support for such things is surely welcome. On Android I could install a lot of tools to manage the same thing, but iOS wouldn't let the same apps work to a satisfactory level. But of course since Apple finally does this, it becomes newsworthy.
- nicky0 8y ago
  Hasn't automatic, time based DND been on iOS already for several years?
  - nthnclrk 8y ago
    Yes.
  - reitanqild 8y ago
    IIRC I think I might have seen it even before smartphones.
Accacin 8y ago
I wish we as a race could get over the whole 'this is copied from this'. How am I as a user meant to care? If Android has something I would like as a feature and Apple implements it, that's a win for me as before I didn't have that feature. We should only be worried when Apple or Google are too arrogant to provide a feature that is a huge benefit to users just they didn't think of it first.
- deleted 8y ago
  [deleted]

ChrisClark 8y ago

Apple was the holdout on this 'reducing screen time' feature, it seems everyone else has done it already. I wonder why though, you do make a good point. Do they all know of upcoming regulations or something that will require these features?

joezydeco 8y ago
The screen time topic came up during Apple's education presentation the other month. It probably has a lot to do with reassuring teachers and parents that the iPad can be used as a teaching device without other distractions getting in the way. As a parent I'm curious to see how effective the screen time features will be. Previous apps I've tried always had UI issues or were full of loopholes the kids could work around.
lalos 8y ago
At the Zuckerberg testimony, somebody mention that tech companies were being reckless and if they don't prioritize on their negative impact it will force government to come in and regulate it. It was basically a wake up call of either you become conscious of your impact or don't complain once big gov come knocking. After all companies are part of the communities, they should be working on stuff like this.
- tajen 8y ago
  And that’s probably why we have GDPR.

RobLach 8y ago

This is some of the sharpest sarcasm I've ever read. Absolutely brilliant.

drb91 8y ago

If only they could address the root of addictive behavior on the internet.... ads. Seems kind of weak without giving the user control of the incentives they represent: the abulity use apps and the browser without ads.