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The problem is being an established, known company doesn't mean you can be trusted to not behave badly on the platform with regard to security vulnerabilities o

The problem is being an established, known company doesn't mean you can be trusted to not behave badly on the platform with regard to security vulnerabilities or user privacy. See Facebook as a prime example. The bad press doesn't really matter as long as they have such a dominant profit share on all mobile software sales.

shagie 4y ago
An old example of well known companies behaving badly... https://www.theverge.com/2017/4/23/15399438/apple-uber-app-store-fingerprint-program-tim-cook-travis-kalanick https://www.theverge.com/2017/4/23/15399438/apple-uber-app-s... > The practice, called fingerprinting, is prohibited by Apple. To prevent the company from discovering the practice, Uber geofenced Apple headquarters in Cupertino, changing its code so that it would be hidden from Apple Employees. Despite their efforts, Apple discovered the activity, which led to the meeting between the two CEOs, in which Cook told Kalanick to end the practice. If Uber didn’t comply, Cook told him, Uber’s app would be removed from the App Store, a move that would be a huge blow to the ride-sharing company. According to the article, “Mr. Kalanick was shaken by Mr. Cook’s scolding, according to a person who saw him after the meeting,” and ended the practice.
- mensetmanusman 4y ago
  Cook love money. Meanwhile he is cracking down on Chinese protestors and doesn’t bat an eye.
  - rootusrootus 4y ago
    You read that story and Cook is the villain? Uber deserved to get slapped down for that behavior. Should have knocked them off the store for a week just to punish them for the attempt.
    - mensetmanusman 4y ago
      It just shows he has principles when he gets paid more.
  - shagie 4y ago
    Uber doesn't pay any cut to apple. The money collected by Uber is for services and clearly falls under: > 3.1.3(e) Goods and Services Outside of the App: If your app enables people to purchase physical goods or services that will be consumed outside of the app, you must use purchase methods other than in-app purchase to collect those payments, such as Apple Pay or traditional credit card entry.
- bilbo0s 4y ago
  Well, this is why we can't have nice things. I get so ticked off with these other tech companies that on the one hand want me to support them in their fight to get more laisez faire access to Apple devices, and on the other actively engage in what are undoubtedly some of the most consumer hostile privacy invading practices on the planet. They actively compromise security, and then lobby and payoff senators to get better access because they are unable to compromise consumer security enough to make the profits they need. The entire industry from Apple on down to startups needs to be nuked with a "no use of user information for any commercial purposes at all" law. Coupled with draconian fines that pierce the corporate veil and are assessed per user violation. We need something like GDPR in the US, but more strict. Apple isn't the problem. I'm starting to see that this entire industry is problematic. Apologies for the rant.
shortcake27 4y ago
> The bad press doesn't really matter as long as they have such a dominant profit share on all mobile software sales. It also doesn’t matter because there’s no alternative. “Side-loading” can’t come quick enough. I have no issue with the App Store vetting apps arbitrarily, but there needs to be an alternative where developers can provide their apps direct to consumers without this BS.
- naravara 4y ago
  > “Side-loading” can’t come quick enough. I have no issue with the App Store vetting apps arbitrarily, but there needs to be an alternative where developers can provide their apps direct to consumers without this BS. I'd have agreed with you up until I heard about that Facebook Onavo thing and now I don't trust even that. Turns out companies whose whole business is emotional manipulation are really good at dark patterning users into doing unwise and unsafe things with their machines.

shagie 4y ago

An old example of well known companies behaving badly... https://www.theverge.com/2017/4/23/15399438/apple-uber-app-store-fingerprint-program-tim-cook-travis-kalanick https://www.theverge.com/2017/4/23/15399438/apple-uber-app-s... > The practice, called fingerprinting, is prohibited by Apple. To prevent the company from discovering the practice, Uber geofenced Apple headquarters in Cupertino, changing its code so that it would be hidden from Apple Employees. Despite their efforts, Apple discovered the activity, which led to the meeting between the two CEOs, in which Cook told Kalanick to end the practice. If Uber didn’t comply, Cook told him, Uber’s app would be removed from the App Store, a move that would be a huge blow to the ride-sharing company. According to the article, “Mr. Kalanick was shaken by Mr. Cook’s scolding, according to a person who saw him after the meeting,” and ended the practice.

mensetmanusman 4y ago
Cook love money. Meanwhile he is cracking down on Chinese protestors and doesn’t bat an eye.
- rootusrootus 4y ago
  You read that story and Cook is the villain? Uber deserved to get slapped down for that behavior. Should have knocked them off the store for a week just to punish them for the attempt.
  - mensetmanusman 4y ago
    It just shows he has principles when he gets paid more.
- shagie 4y ago
  Uber doesn't pay any cut to apple. The money collected by Uber is for services and clearly falls under: > 3.1.3(e) Goods and Services Outside of the App: If your app enables people to purchase physical goods or services that will be consumed outside of the app, you must use purchase methods other than in-app purchase to collect those payments, such as Apple Pay or traditional credit card entry.
bilbo0s 4y ago
Well, this is why we can't have nice things. I get so ticked off with these other tech companies that on the one hand want me to support them in their fight to get more laisez faire access to Apple devices, and on the other actively engage in what are undoubtedly some of the most consumer hostile privacy invading practices on the planet. They actively compromise security, and then lobby and payoff senators to get better access because they are unable to compromise consumer security enough to make the profits they need. The entire industry from Apple on down to startups needs to be nuked with a "no use of user information for any commercial purposes at all" law. Coupled with draconian fines that pierce the corporate veil and are assessed per user violation. We need something like GDPR in the US, but more strict. Apple isn't the problem. I'm starting to see that this entire industry is problematic. Apologies for the rant.

shortcake27 4y ago

> The bad press doesn't really matter as long as they have such a dominant profit share on all mobile software sales. It also doesn’t matter because there’s no alternative. “Side-loading” can’t come quick enough. I have no issue with the App Store vetting apps arbitrarily, but there needs to be an alternative where developers can provide their apps direct to consumers without this BS.

naravara 4y ago
> “Side-loading” can’t come quick enough. I have no issue with the App Store vetting apps arbitrarily, but there needs to be an alternative where developers can provide their apps direct to consumers without this BS. I'd have agreed with you up until I heard about that Facebook Onavo thing and now I don't trust even that. Turns out companies whose whole business is emotional manipulation are really good at dark patterning users into doing unwise and unsafe things with their machines.