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That's fine, just stay on the default settings then. This however isn't a reason for the rest of the world to accept this. And since the power in the market is

That's fine, just stay on the default settings then. This however isn't a reason for the rest of the world to accept this. And since the power in the market is highly concentrated and all of it is moving more and more in this direction, regulation enforces these alternative options now. All this does is regulate the power the provider of a product has over their customer. This does not ruin the walled garden for the people who prefer to stay in it for peace of mind, but it adds a door for the people who want to leave. There is no negative side-effects for the people staying, only the platform providers will have to spend some money and lose some revenue.

philliphaydon 4y ago
> That's fine, just stay on the default settings then. This isn't going to end well.
microtonal 4y ago
That's fine, just stay on the default settings then. I agree in principle, but I worry that we end up in the situation where if you need to use a particular app, you can only get it from a third-party store that you don't trust. (Something gross like Facebook starting an app store.) Or course, this is mostly a result of Apple being greedy. If they had acted like a good steward of the platform rather than trying to extract a lot of money from developers, we probably wouldn't be here.
- roblabla 4y ago
  Then don't use this particular app? This already exists today: A lot of apps are android-only, or jailbreak-only. In the same sense, tomorrow we'll likely have amazon-store-only apps. In practice I doubt many apps will use a third-party appstore. Apple has a lot of leeway in how they will implement the regulation - they can make it painful enough to use a third-party store that most popular apps will want to keep using the primary app store to get maximum reach. Just like how almost every android app is on the google play store - despite sideloading being a thing since forever.
  - est31 4y ago
    The issue is what if you have to use a specific app to access some service or community. And then that app requesting access to your location data and your address book even though there is no point in it requesting either. Sure you can deny but if you do it, the app will refuse service. It can only be solved by the app store requiring that users denying access won't result in the app refusing to work, or only the features will refuse to work that actually need that data. "just don't install the app" won't work in many, many cases.
    - MichaelCollins 4y ago
      > The issue is what if you have to use a specific app to access some service or community. Such compulsions are the real problem. In a free society, nobody should be compelled to have a phone at all, let alone install software on one. Government services in particular should never be gated in this way. If no compulsion exists, then there is no problem with people having the choice to use any appstore they wish. If by 'have to' you mean something along the lines of "My brother keeps badgering me to install WhatsApp" then the answer is to simply say "No." Real example. He texts me instead.
      - warkdarrior 4y ago
        In US I have not seen any government services that are available only via mobile devices. Most online government services are accessible via a website, and one can go to a public library to use a (non-mobile) computer there.
      - est31 4y ago
        It's thankfully not mandated by governments. However, often there is social pressure to obtain a given app. E.g. when a friend group is all on snapchat and they organize outings via the group chat. Do you want to be left out of that discussion and only be informed by one person from that group who forwards the decision when and where to go to you?
        4y ago
- mattnewton 4y ago
  > you can only get it from a third-party store that you don't trust. (Something gross like Facebook starting an app store.) As apposed to today where you can’t get it at all if apple and the app disagree about anything? I know you are thinking of another large enough player you don’t trust as much forcing their store as the only avenue for an app, but it’s hard to imagine how that wouldn’t provide large incentives for a smaller party to make a competitor on the official store.
  - microtonal 4y ago
    As apposed to today where you can’t get it at all if apple and the app disagree about anything? Since there is only one app store for iPhones, almost every app vendor is willing to conform to Apple's guidelines (which are often pro-privacy and protect the user). Otherwise they lose out on a significant market share with a lot of spending power. smaller party to make a competitor on the official store Sure, they will pop up. But Facebook, Microsoft, and Google will start iOS app stores and app developers will go to their app stores because of network effects.
    - tristan957 4y ago
      > Since there is only one app store for iPhones, almost every app vendor is willing to conform to Apple's guidelines (which are often pro-privacy and protect the user). Otherwise they lose out on a significant market share with a lot of spending power. You've just described why these changes are good. I feel like the word "willing" in your statement is carrying a lot of weight. Apple forces developers to publish from Apple devices, spend $100 a year for a developer account, give up 15-30% of any revenue generated from that app, use WebKit, etc. That is not at all what I describe as restrictions that lead to "willing" app vendors.
    - Apocryphon 4y ago
      > But Facebook, Microsoft, and Google will start iOS app stores and app developers will go to their app stores because of network effects. They might try, but it would be a lot harder than you imagine.
- deleted 4y ago
  [deleted]
  - MichaelCollins 4y ago
    Any of this is already possible on MacOS, Windows, and Android. It's not actually so wild as you're making it out to be. Just ignore the software merchants you don't want to affiliate with. I don't like Valve, so I don't install their 'appstore' Steam. That means I can't buy games that are only sold on Steam. Big whoop, it's a consequence I accept of a decision I am free to make or reconsider. Life goes on.
  - fyzix 4y ago
    There's no precedent for this because you don't see this happen in Android en mass
    - Apocryphon 4y ago
      Yeah, even the ones run by major tech players- the Amazon and Samsung Android app stores, are really just there to serve their own devices. They don't contain any exclusive apps that are forcing Android users off of the Play Store for.
  - summerlight 4y ago
    This doesn't happen on Android, so don't worry too much about it. I can bet my 2 cents on that 99% of users will only use app stores even after this regulation and Apple has a power to make it happen. Of course Apple will need to spend some of its energy on suppressing real competition but that's not what customers need to worry about...
- MrStonedOne 4y ago
- onion2k 4y ago
  if you need to use a particular app, you can only get it from a third-party store that you don't trust This will be a problem but the solution is not to transfer your freedom to choose to Apple and just let them decide which third party apps you are allowed to use. In some cases that will mean making a hard choice between accepting the risk of using the third party app store, or accepting that you won't be able to use certain apps. The benefits are significant though - your device will actually be under your control. You will be able to do all the things Apple prevent now.
  - s3r3nity 4y ago
    > In some cases that will mean making a hard choice between accepting the risk of using the third party app store, or accepting that you won't be able to use certain apps. You already have that choice today: I can buy into the walled-garden, or go to Android and side-load to my heart's content. Clearly the market has chosen the preferred route. (I personally am also in the camp of preferring the simple, locked-down approach for my family that Apple has created.)
    - sangnoir 4y ago
      > Clearly the market has chosen the preferred route Indeed - iOS trails Android in Europe. With this law in effect, perhaps more Europeans will choose to buy iPhones
    - dane-pgp 4y ago
      > You already have that choice today: I can buy into the walled-garden, or go to Android and side-load to my heart's content. So if Google decided to force this policy onto Android phones, you would support the EU introducing this legislation to bring back the option of side-loading? Or would you want the legislation to only apply to Android phones, and not Apple devices?
      - thefounder 4y ago
        Give the Europeans the choice to own their device and install whatever they want!
- MichaelCollins 4y ago
  I have never needed to install an app from Facebook, and never have. Amazon has an appstore; I have never been forced to install it or anything from it. Should the day come when people are actually forced to use any facebook app or appstore, that compulsion is the problem that needs to be corrected. The problem isn't having the option to install a facebook app; the compulsion is the problem.
- yieldcrv 4y ago
  Apple could make a greater incentive to use their approval Competition
- koyote 4y ago
  > but I worry that we end up in the situation where if you need to use a particular app, you can only get it from a third-party store that you don't trust I often hear this argument but Android has had third-party app-stores and 'side-loadable apps' since day one and I can't think of a single major app that needs its own app-store.
  - com2kid 4y ago
    More than one semi-legit app asks you to install the APK on its own. There are also app stores on Android that basically push lots of scamware targeted at kids. We aren't the target audience so we aren't going to see much of these going ons.
  - vanillaicesquad 4y ago
    Pornhub
  - hammyhavoc 4y ago
    Fortnite has the Epic Games app. It's only the biggest video game in the world.
    - musicale 4y ago
      > the biggest video game in the world My bet is on Microsoft Solitaire. :-) Though Minecraft is supposedly still at 170 million monthly active players vs. 80M or less for Fortnite. Not necessarily up to date but interesting: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_most-played_video_games_by_player_count https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_most-played_video_game...
      - hammyhavoc 4y ago
        Wasn't meant literally, but sure. It's a big enough deal that it having its own store app is potentially something to take note of.
- nine_k 4y ago
  - Third-parry app stores exist, the app in question is available on one of them. You have a choice: install it, or ignore it and stay fully under Apple's aegis, as before. - The app in question does not exist because the only existing app store run by Apple rejects it. Tough luck, no choice, but you still can stay safe. Don't you agree that the latter situation is a strict subset of the former? Also, if I were Apple, I would implement a one-click return to "safe defaults", and a prominent badge to tell Apple's software and setting from third-party.
- xdennis 4y ago
  > I worry that we end up in the situation where if you need to use a particular app, you can only get it from a third-party store that you don't trust. This works both ways. Some people want to use iOS exclusive apps but can't justify buying an iPhone because of how restrictive it is. This act alleviates that.
- deleted 4y ago
  [deleted]
- simion314 4y ago
  >I agree in principle, but I worry that we end up in the situation where if you need to use a particular app, you can only get it from a third-party store that you don't trust. (Something gross like Facebook starting an app store.) You have Android as a real world experiment, go ask an Android users to search the Facebook Messenger app on Google Play store and you will see it is there, FB did not forced Android users to install the app by side loading it and FB did not created their own app store for their apps. What could happen though is you would get fair prices, say an app/Game would be 30% cheaper if you buy it directly from the developer and not from an intermediary, though I did not see this happening on PC (getting a better deal if I buy directly, I am wondering what causes this)
  - d12bb 4y ago
    We did not see this as being in an app store actually has value: these 30% cover server/traffic for downloading, billing, discoverability, ease of use in getting the app, little marketing (getting featured). For lots of developers, this seems to be worth whatever the market in question asks for.
- luplex 4y ago
  I'd much rather have lawmakers set standards on which apps are legal than appstores.
- bayindirh 4y ago
  You can't believe how jolting people and/or companies make them change for the better. Maybe this is the kick we needed for the companies to start innovating and "Think Different"? I use MacBooks and iPhone, and I love their current form, but they are victim of their own success at one point, like how Intel just dragged its feet to just keep the performance gap enough to keep the lead. Maybe this can help us to see a better, more exciting Apple and tech ecosystem, no? The last battery lawsuit brought us "Battery health" menu, and this is immensely useful, even if it only reads a couple flags and shows us what the iOS is doing.
- norman784 4y ago
  Don't quote me on this, but there was some discussions early this year about dominant platforms (I didn't read what does cover this Act, but) need to provide API to allow users to use third party alternatives, like Facebook, WhatsApp, iMessage, etc, so you could now have an app like Adium again where you have all your chats. So in theory this will be not an issue.
- highwaylights 4y ago
  This will immediately happen, and is the intent of the law. Direct downloads from websites isn't far off - I wouldn't be surprised if we very rapidly get to a place of each-app-is-it's-own-store for the purposes of complying with the law so you can freely download apps from websites. It'll be Windows all over again, with all that implies.
- krzyk 4y ago
  > if you need to use a particular app, you can only get it from a third-party store that you don't trust This sounds like iPhone user argument. In Android world you can have multiple app stores, but if you want your app to be used you must be on Google one, because it has the most eyes. Facebook didn't create their own app store. Custom App stores are fringe apps, with exceptions of f-droid which is source of open source apps and many prefer it to google play (and apps are frequently on both stores) and maybe samsung/amazon ones because they are preinstalled on some devices.
- s3p 4y ago
  >Or course, this is mostly a result of Apple being greedy. If they had acted like a good steward of the platform rather than trying to extract a lot of money from developers, we probably wouldn't be here I don't think so. Another comment was mentioning how some desktop apps are built to install ONLY from a certain marketplace (eg Steam) so you can't install them from anywhere else. It could easily happen on iOS.
- rnk 4y ago
  I think you missed the point of the new restrictions. Stopping those practices that are harmful to users is a good thing. Ending endless spying, aka corporate surveillance, that can be a good thing. When Apple made their changes, Apple conceptually blocked any new facebook app that spys on you, because you can't install it. If there's a future facebook store that has the only facebook app (because facebook won't agree to that more limited apple ad/surveillance world capability), you'd have freedom to install that app because of european rules described here - but you wouldn't necessarily be better off by having more spying.
  - Apocryphon 4y ago
    European (and other) regulators are concerned about tech data collection. It’s an issue that’s not necessarily orthogonal to this development. If Meta wanted to try their luck at putting their apps on an exclusive Facebook app store, such a platform would be subject to regulator scrutiny as well, and would be an even more convenient target for investigation.
Krasnol 4y ago
> This however isn't a reason for the rest of the world to accept this. I guess most of "the rest of the world" will still be hindered by the price tag.
- hammyhavoc 4y ago
  Price is right on the iPhone SE. Not an Apple user anymore, but it is very competitive versus Samsung, Google Pixel et al.
  - Krasnol 4y ago
    This is like if you'd say a Lamborghini is not an expensive car because there are Ferraris out there.
drexlspivey 4y ago
Just wait till Facebook forces you to download their app from the alternative app store with all their tracking crap up to 11
- Zak 4y ago
  I imagine they'd like to do that, but they wouldn't like users to use the website instead, and they really wouldn't like users to use Facebook less.
- emsy 4y ago
  You are forced to download the Facebook app?
  - musicale 4y ago
    Last I checked Facebook owned several popular apps including Instagram and WhatsApp.
MR4D 4y ago
> That's fine, just stay on the default settings then. That’s actually not possible though. For instance, Microsoft is likely to create its own app store, as is Adobe, Google, and obviously Epic, among the many others. So now I will have to install a bunch of app stores just to install different softwares. I already have this problem on my gaming PC where I not only have a bunch of different app stores, but a bunch of different update tools, payment providers, logins (not just for the games, but for the app stores). It’s a freaking pain in the butt. I just want to play a game on my PC and I have to deal with crap like that. I don’t want it on my phone!
- hammyhavoc 4y ago
  Don't think of them as stores, think of them as repositories, just like how civilized operating systems use package managers.
- kavenkanum 4y ago
  Then maybe someone come with a platform that is agnostic. Like Humble Bundle - they offer in many cases both Steam codes AND ability to download directly from their servers with no need to install any additional platform software.

philliphaydon 4y ago

> That's fine, just stay on the default settings then. This isn't going to end well.

microtonal 4y ago

That's fine, just stay on the default settings then. I agree in principle, but I worry that we end up in the situation where if you need to use a particular app, you can only get it from a third-party store that you don't trust. (Something gross like Facebook starting an app store.) Or course, this is mostly a result of Apple being greedy. If they had acted like a good steward of the platform rather than trying to extract a lot of money from developers, we probably wouldn't be here.

roblabla 4y ago
Then don't use this particular app? This already exists today: A lot of apps are android-only, or jailbreak-only. In the same sense, tomorrow we'll likely have amazon-store-only apps. In practice I doubt many apps will use a third-party appstore. Apple has a lot of leeway in how they will implement the regulation - they can make it painful enough to use a third-party store that most popular apps will want to keep using the primary app store to get maximum reach. Just like how almost every android app is on the google play store - despite sideloading being a thing since forever.
- est31 4y ago
  The issue is what if you have to use a specific app to access some service or community. And then that app requesting access to your location data and your address book even though there is no point in it requesting either. Sure you can deny but if you do it, the app will refuse service. It can only be solved by the app store requiring that users denying access won't result in the app refusing to work, or only the features will refuse to work that actually need that data. "just don't install the app" won't work in many, many cases.
  - MichaelCollins 4y ago
    > The issue is what if you have to use a specific app to access some service or community. Such compulsions are the real problem. In a free society, nobody should be compelled to have a phone at all, let alone install software on one. Government services in particular should never be gated in this way. If no compulsion exists, then there is no problem with people having the choice to use any appstore they wish. If by 'have to' you mean something along the lines of "My brother keeps badgering me to install WhatsApp" then the answer is to simply say "No." Real example. He texts me instead.
    - warkdarrior 4y ago
      In US I have not seen any government services that are available only via mobile devices. Most online government services are accessible via a website, and one can go to a public library to use a (non-mobile) computer there.
    - est31 4y ago
      It's thankfully not mandated by governments. However, often there is social pressure to obtain a given app. E.g. when a friend group is all on snapchat and they organize outings via the group chat. Do you want to be left out of that discussion and only be informed by one person from that group who forwards the decision when and where to go to you?
      - 4y ago
mattnewton 4y ago
> you can only get it from a third-party store that you don't trust. (Something gross like Facebook starting an app store.) As apposed to today where you can’t get it at all if apple and the app disagree about anything? I know you are thinking of another large enough player you don’t trust as much forcing their store as the only avenue for an app, but it’s hard to imagine how that wouldn’t provide large incentives for a smaller party to make a competitor on the official store.
- microtonal 4y ago
  As apposed to today where you can’t get it at all if apple and the app disagree about anything? Since there is only one app store for iPhones, almost every app vendor is willing to conform to Apple's guidelines (which are often pro-privacy and protect the user). Otherwise they lose out on a significant market share with a lot of spending power. smaller party to make a competitor on the official store Sure, they will pop up. But Facebook, Microsoft, and Google will start iOS app stores and app developers will go to their app stores because of network effects.
  - tristan957 4y ago
    > Since there is only one app store for iPhones, almost every app vendor is willing to conform to Apple's guidelines (which are often pro-privacy and protect the user). Otherwise they lose out on a significant market share with a lot of spending power. You've just described why these changes are good. I feel like the word "willing" in your statement is carrying a lot of weight. Apple forces developers to publish from Apple devices, spend $100 a year for a developer account, give up 15-30% of any revenue generated from that app, use WebKit, etc. That is not at all what I describe as restrictions that lead to "willing" app vendors.
  - Apocryphon 4y ago
    > But Facebook, Microsoft, and Google will start iOS app stores and app developers will go to their app stores because of network effects. They might try, but it would be a lot harder than you imagine.
deleted 4y ago
[deleted]
- MichaelCollins 4y ago
  Any of this is already possible on MacOS, Windows, and Android. It's not actually so wild as you're making it out to be. Just ignore the software merchants you don't want to affiliate with. I don't like Valve, so I don't install their 'appstore' Steam. That means I can't buy games that are only sold on Steam. Big whoop, it's a consequence I accept of a decision I am free to make or reconsider. Life goes on.
- fyzix 4y ago
  There's no precedent for this because you don't see this happen in Android en mass
  - Apocryphon 4y ago
    Yeah, even the ones run by major tech players- the Amazon and Samsung Android app stores, are really just there to serve their own devices. They don't contain any exclusive apps that are forcing Android users off of the Play Store for.
- summerlight 4y ago
  This doesn't happen on Android, so don't worry too much about it. I can bet my 2 cents on that 99% of users will only use app stores even after this regulation and Apple has a power to make it happen. Of course Apple will need to spend some of its energy on suppressing real competition but that's not what customers need to worry about...
MrStonedOne 4y ago
onion2k 4y ago
if you need to use a particular app, you can only get it from a third-party store that you don't trust This will be a problem but the solution is not to transfer your freedom to choose to Apple and just let them decide which third party apps you are allowed to use. In some cases that will mean making a hard choice between accepting the risk of using the third party app store, or accepting that you won't be able to use certain apps. The benefits are significant though - your device will actually be under your control. You will be able to do all the things Apple prevent now.
- s3r3nity 4y ago
  > In some cases that will mean making a hard choice between accepting the risk of using the third party app store, or accepting that you won't be able to use certain apps. You already have that choice today: I can buy into the walled-garden, or go to Android and side-load to my heart's content. Clearly the market has chosen the preferred route. (I personally am also in the camp of preferring the simple, locked-down approach for my family that Apple has created.)
  - sangnoir 4y ago
    > Clearly the market has chosen the preferred route Indeed - iOS trails Android in Europe. With this law in effect, perhaps more Europeans will choose to buy iPhones
  - dane-pgp 4y ago
    > You already have that choice today: I can buy into the walled-garden, or go to Android and side-load to my heart's content. So if Google decided to force this policy onto Android phones, you would support the EU introducing this legislation to bring back the option of side-loading? Or would you want the legislation to only apply to Android phones, and not Apple devices?
    - thefounder 4y ago
      Give the Europeans the choice to own their device and install whatever they want!
MichaelCollins 4y ago
I have never needed to install an app from Facebook, and never have. Amazon has an appstore; I have never been forced to install it or anything from it. Should the day come when people are actually forced to use any facebook app or appstore, that compulsion is the problem that needs to be corrected. The problem isn't having the option to install a facebook app; the compulsion is the problem.
yieldcrv 4y ago
Apple could make a greater incentive to use their approval Competition
koyote 4y ago
> but I worry that we end up in the situation where if you need to use a particular app, you can only get it from a third-party store that you don't trust I often hear this argument but Android has had third-party app-stores and 'side-loadable apps' since day one and I can't think of a single major app that needs its own app-store.
- com2kid 4y ago
  More than one semi-legit app asks you to install the APK on its own. There are also app stores on Android that basically push lots of scamware targeted at kids. We aren't the target audience so we aren't going to see much of these going ons.
- vanillaicesquad 4y ago
  Pornhub
- hammyhavoc 4y ago
  Fortnite has the Epic Games app. It's only the biggest video game in the world.
  - musicale 4y ago
    > the biggest video game in the world My bet is on Microsoft Solitaire. :-) Though Minecraft is supposedly still at 170 million monthly active players vs. 80M or less for Fortnite. Not necessarily up to date but interesting: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_most-played_video_games_by_player_count https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_most-played_video_game...
    - hammyhavoc 4y ago
      Wasn't meant literally, but sure. It's a big enough deal that it having its own store app is potentially something to take note of.
nine_k 4y ago
- Third-parry app stores exist, the app in question is available on one of them. You have a choice: install it, or ignore it and stay fully under Apple's aegis, as before. - The app in question does not exist because the only existing app store run by Apple rejects it. Tough luck, no choice, but you still can stay safe. Don't you agree that the latter situation is a strict subset of the former? Also, if I were Apple, I would implement a one-click return to "safe defaults", and a prominent badge to tell Apple's software and setting from third-party.
xdennis 4y ago
> I worry that we end up in the situation where if you need to use a particular app, you can only get it from a third-party store that you don't trust. This works both ways. Some people want to use iOS exclusive apps but can't justify buying an iPhone because of how restrictive it is. This act alleviates that.
deleted 4y ago
[deleted]
simion314 4y ago
>I agree in principle, but I worry that we end up in the situation where if you need to use a particular app, you can only get it from a third-party store that you don't trust. (Something gross like Facebook starting an app store.) You have Android as a real world experiment, go ask an Android users to search the Facebook Messenger app on Google Play store and you will see it is there, FB did not forced Android users to install the app by side loading it and FB did not created their own app store for their apps. What could happen though is you would get fair prices, say an app/Game would be 30% cheaper if you buy it directly from the developer and not from an intermediary, though I did not see this happening on PC (getting a better deal if I buy directly, I am wondering what causes this)
- d12bb 4y ago
  We did not see this as being in an app store actually has value: these 30% cover server/traffic for downloading, billing, discoverability, ease of use in getting the app, little marketing (getting featured). For lots of developers, this seems to be worth whatever the market in question asks for.
luplex 4y ago
I'd much rather have lawmakers set standards on which apps are legal than appstores.
bayindirh 4y ago
You can't believe how jolting people and/or companies make them change for the better. Maybe this is the kick we needed for the companies to start innovating and "Think Different"? I use MacBooks and iPhone, and I love their current form, but they are victim of their own success at one point, like how Intel just dragged its feet to just keep the performance gap enough to keep the lead. Maybe this can help us to see a better, more exciting Apple and tech ecosystem, no? The last battery lawsuit brought us "Battery health" menu, and this is immensely useful, even if it only reads a couple flags and shows us what the iOS is doing.
norman784 4y ago
Don't quote me on this, but there was some discussions early this year about dominant platforms (I didn't read what does cover this Act, but) need to provide API to allow users to use third party alternatives, like Facebook, WhatsApp, iMessage, etc, so you could now have an app like Adium again where you have all your chats. So in theory this will be not an issue.
highwaylights 4y ago
This will immediately happen, and is the intent of the law. Direct downloads from websites isn't far off - I wouldn't be surprised if we very rapidly get to a place of each-app-is-it's-own-store for the purposes of complying with the law so you can freely download apps from websites. It'll be Windows all over again, with all that implies.
krzyk 4y ago
> if you need to use a particular app, you can only get it from a third-party store that you don't trust This sounds like iPhone user argument. In Android world you can have multiple app stores, but if you want your app to be used you must be on Google one, because it has the most eyes. Facebook didn't create their own app store. Custom App stores are fringe apps, with exceptions of f-droid which is source of open source apps and many prefer it to google play (and apps are frequently on both stores) and maybe samsung/amazon ones because they are preinstalled on some devices.
s3p 4y ago
>Or course, this is mostly a result of Apple being greedy. If they had acted like a good steward of the platform rather than trying to extract a lot of money from developers, we probably wouldn't be here I don't think so. Another comment was mentioning how some desktop apps are built to install ONLY from a certain marketplace (eg Steam) so you can't install them from anywhere else. It could easily happen on iOS.
rnk 4y ago
I think you missed the point of the new restrictions. Stopping those practices that are harmful to users is a good thing. Ending endless spying, aka corporate surveillance, that can be a good thing. When Apple made their changes, Apple conceptually blocked any new facebook app that spys on you, because you can't install it. If there's a future facebook store that has the only facebook app (because facebook won't agree to that more limited apple ad/surveillance world capability), you'd have freedom to install that app because of european rules described here - but you wouldn't necessarily be better off by having more spying.
- Apocryphon 4y ago
  European (and other) regulators are concerned about tech data collection. It’s an issue that’s not necessarily orthogonal to this development. If Meta wanted to try their luck at putting their apps on an exclusive Facebook app store, such a platform would be subject to regulator scrutiny as well, and would be an even more convenient target for investigation.

Krasnol 4y ago

> This however isn't a reason for the rest of the world to accept this. I guess most of "the rest of the world" will still be hindered by the price tag.

hammyhavoc 4y ago
Price is right on the iPhone SE. Not an Apple user anymore, but it is very competitive versus Samsung, Google Pixel et al.
- Krasnol 4y ago
  This is like if you'd say a Lamborghini is not an expensive car because there are Ferraris out there.

drexlspivey 4y ago

Just wait till Facebook forces you to download their app from the alternative app store with all their tracking crap up to 11

Zak 4y ago
I imagine they'd like to do that, but they wouldn't like users to use the website instead, and they really wouldn't like users to use Facebook less.
emsy 4y ago
You are forced to download the Facebook app?
- musicale 4y ago
  Last I checked Facebook owned several popular apps including Instagram and WhatsApp.

MR4D 4y ago

> That's fine, just stay on the default settings then. That’s actually not possible though. For instance, Microsoft is likely to create its own app store, as is Adobe, Google, and obviously Epic, among the many others. So now I will have to install a bunch of app stores just to install different softwares. I already have this problem on my gaming PC where I not only have a bunch of different app stores, but a bunch of different update tools, payment providers, logins (not just for the games, but for the app stores). It’s a freaking pain in the butt. I just want to play a game on my PC and I have to deal with crap like that. I don’t want it on my phone!

hammyhavoc 4y ago
Don't think of them as stores, think of them as repositories, just like how civilized operating systems use package managers.
kavenkanum 4y ago
Then maybe someone come with a platform that is agnostic. Like Humble Bundle - they offer in many cases both Steam codes AND ability to download directly from their servers with no need to install any additional platform software.