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One by one, the rumours indicate that Apple will be complying with each and every requirement under the EU Digital Markets Act. These include: * Install any so

One by one, the rumours indicate that Apple will be complying with each and every requirement under the EU Digital Markets Act. These include: * Install any software * Install any App Store and choose to make it default * Use third party payment providers and choose to make them default * Use any voice assistant and choose to make it default * Use any browser and browser engine and choose to make it default * Use any messaging app and choose to make it default * Make core messaging functionality interoperable. They lay out concrete examples like file transfer * Use existing hardware and software features without competitive prejudice. E.g. NFC * Not preference their services. This includes CTAs in settings to encourage users to subscribe to Gatekeeper services, and ranking their own services above others in selection and advertising portals

likeabbas 4y ago
What about any music player? I want Spotify to be the default, dammit.
- shellac 4y ago
  I only see the Apple Music app when I open it explicitly. Are there situations where a 'default' music app might appear?
  - RockRobotRock 4y ago
    Asking Siri to play music on Spotify without having to say "on Spotify" every time.
    - deleted 4y ago
      [deleted]
    - entropicdrifter 4y ago
      Yeah, Google Assistant lets you set a default music player or if you already have one open it'll try to use that one by default
      - 2OEH8eoCRo0 4y ago
        Why can't I set Plex then? It gives you like 4 options. It's interesting that Apple Music is a choice though. Can you choose YouTube Music on iPhone?
    - Ar-Curunir 4y ago
      It definitely doesn’t default to Apple Music for me.
    - deleted 4y ago
      [deleted]
  - sofixa 4y ago
    Even on macOS if i accidentally click on the play button of my keyboard without having anything to play (like an open YouTube tab somewhere) will open the Apple Music app which i have never used nor opened myself.
- Gareth321 4y ago
  Music isn't mentioned specifically but I believe any app is covered. Article 6: > 4. The gatekeeper shall allow and technically enable the installation and effective use of third-party software applications or software application stores using, or interoperating with, its operating system and allow those software applications or software application stores to be accessed by means other than the relevant core platform services of that gatekeeper. The gatekeeper shall, where applicable, not prevent the downloaded third-party software applications or software application stores from prompting end users to decide whether they want to set that downloaded software application or software application store as their default. The gatekeeper shall technically enable end users who decide to set that downloaded software application or software application store as their default to carry out that change easily.
- apaprocki 4y ago
  I've found when talking to Apple-ecosystem users that they aren't even aware of how well Apple Music works. I'm aware there's certain integrations that might not be possible, or a random family member being on Android that would preclude its use, but it really does work great if you don't have any reason to stray from the ecosystem. Lots of people I talk to started using Spotify years ago and just never reevaluated. Similarly, people that only use iPhones and Macs and still use Dropbox. I'm sure someone has curated a list somewhere...
manzu 4y ago
if anything this won’t hurt them, rather it will drive more users to apple devices.
- Gareth321 4y ago
  Great! Then everyone wins.
- smoldesu 4y ago
  The goal wasn't hurting them in the first place, just ensuring that Apple plays fair on their own hardware. You may be totally correct with your second point, if Apple implements things well.
  - Terretta 4y ago
    > just ensuring that Apple plays fair on their own hardware As software, firmware, and hardware lines blur, it's a legacy concept that hardware and software must be divided. Incredible value comes from fluid and designer-driven remixing of the three according to usability, ruggedness/resilience, and security principles. The most useful appliances for Normals™ will be the ones that blend these best. This kind of ruling holds us back from the huge vertically integrated design investments that deliver ease of use and trust that end users want.
    - smoldesu 4y ago
      Well, good news. Apple can still blur the lines for you while unlocking the bootloader for me and letting normal users install software packages. You have yet to present an example of how the things I want conflict with the things you want.
      - yamtaddle 4y ago
        Go read the discussion sections of any of the other 50,000 times this exact exchange has happened. There's plenty of explaining in those. It never seems to get through, but you could fill a 20-volume encyclopedia with those (incredibly repetitive) posts. TL;DR many Apple users like the way things are now, and don't want any amount of risk to that. The chief risk we see is that we'll no longer be able to get 100% of the software we want (or are forced to use) on iOS through the Apple app store, with all of Apple's protections and guarantees, or that Apple will have to reduce those protections and guarantees to keep such a splintering from happening. Yes, we're aware that Android hasn't seen much adoption of alternative stores, but Android also hasn't (delightfully) jammed a thumb in Facebook's eye over and over. Even a small chance of that coming to pass isn't worth it to us. We wish you'd all just go use Android or Linux phones or whatever and leave us alone.
drewg123 4y ago
* Use any voice assistant and choose to make it default * I would so love to have Google Assistant rather than Siri on my iPhone. GA is so much better hands-free / eyes-free. Being able to say "OK Google ...." when driving, cooking, working out, etc and being able to get a decent answer is something I really miss from my Pixel days. It is so frustrating when Siri just says "here is what I found on the web"
- threeseed 4y ago
  Hey Siri is a hardware feature: https://machinelearning.apple.com/research/hey-siri https://machinelearning.apple.com/research/hey-siri It's likely that third-party assistants will only be accessible via the side button.
  - dave84 4y ago
    "Hey Siri, ask Google...", only slightly ridiculous.
  - AstixAndBelix 4y ago
    just like having real access to NFC would mean that developers will have more access to the hardware, I believe the same will happen here. the ML hardware will be opened just enough to let developers choose their own verbal cue
    - threeseed 4y ago
      Apple is not giving real access to anything. They will be providing a friendly, abstracted API as they always have. And there is zero chance Apple will allow third parties to submit their own model since this part of the hardware has continuous access to the microphone.
  - legulere 4y ago
    The model seems to be replaceable though, it differs by language like described in the article you linked for instance.
threeseed 4y ago
Note that Apple will likely still: * Require apps to pay their commission similar to the Netherlands dating apps situation. * Only allow apps to be installed that have a valid certificate. * Require apps on their store to go through the approval process.
- Gareth321 4y ago
  You will be pleased to discover that the Digital Markets Act doesn't permit any of those. Edit: I'm not sure if the third point has been edited or I simply misread it, but the DMA would not prevent Apple from moderating their own App Store. It would prevent Apple from moderating apps on iOS, iPadOS, and macOS.
  - threeseed 4y ago
    Please provide evidence of this. I especially love the idea that the DMA prevents Apple from moderating apps inside their store. And no I didn’t edit my comment. Feel free to provide evidence of the others.
    - Gareth321 4y ago
      Sure! Just to be clear, I'm not stating that Apple won't be able to moderate apps on their store. I'm stating that Apple won't be able to moderate apps on their operating systems. The Gatekeeper must allow installation of applications (Article 4. S4): > The gatekeeper shall allow and technically enable the installation and effective use of third-party software applications or software application stores using, or interoperating with, its operating system and allow those software applications or software application stores to be accessed by means other than the relevant core platform services of that gatekeeper. The gatekeeper shall, where applicable, not prevent the downloaded third-party software applications or software application stores from prompting end users to decide whether they want to set that downloaded software application or software application store as their default. The gatekeeper shall technically enable end users who decide to set that downloaded software application or software application store as their default to carry out that change easily. There is no wiggle room here. The Gatekeeper can't restrict installation of applications in any way, including by way of certificate requirements, approval processes, or fees. You can read the Act in full here: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2022/1925/oj https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2022/1925/oj If you're a legal geek like I am it's worth spending a few hours combing through it. I am thoroughly impressed with how meticulous they've been. It's easily the most comprehensive (and impressive) tech legislation in my lifetime.
chadlavi 4y ago
I truly don't know what the point of getting an iPhone is if you're going to change every single part of it. A lot of us buy them BECAUSE of the software, not despite it. Why do so many people want to force Apple to make them an Android phone?
- jchw 4y ago
  I don't get this logic. I've bought 4 iPhones and the biggest frustration I have is that I can't use real Firefox like I can on Android (particularly my favorite variant, Fennec F-Droid.) Not all iPhone users are the same. I'm not forcing you to side-load apps, or switch off Safari. What about this is so bad?
  - eatsyourtacos 4y ago
    >I'm not forcing you to side-load apps, And no one is forcing you to buy an iPhone. Why don't you buy Android if you want to do all that stuff? I recently switched to an iPhone because I want everything to "just work" and not deal with the android crap- and I honestly couldn't be happier. >Not all iPhone users are the same Actually most of them are- they don't want to deal managing a device.. they just want something that works.
    - sushisource 4y ago
      How is this a meaningful retort to the other commenter? They get to use FF on iOS, you get to keep using Safari and every other stock app. What exactly is the problem there besides what comes across as some weird form of "keep the dirty Android users away from my iPhone"?
    - jchw 4y ago
      Well, Sometimes I don't like democrats. I don't like all policies backed by democratic candidates, and I definitely have problems with the DNC. However, that doesn't mean I want to vote Republican, or Green Party, or Libertarian. Please don't get caught up in taking the analogy to it's logical extreme (or read it literally, because it's not literal.) The point is that there is no perfect option on the market for me. I don't have a single criteria for the perfect smartphone. I don't just want a device that boots Firefox well. And in fact, Apple, much to the chagrin of those of us who hate Apple, makes some of the best computer and phone hardware on the planet. It's not even a contest, in some cases. Do you use a macOS computer by chance? Do you feel like the Asahi Linux effort is harming your ability to use and enjoy the Mac computer? Does it cause problems for you, or make things no longer "just work", when someone is allowed to install Firefox? > Why don't you buy Android if you want to do all that stuff? I do. They're not perfect either. Google Pixel phones are pretty good, but I doubt I need to expound upon the problems of them for you. You pretty much seem to get it given the next few lines. (Not trying to be condescending here.) > Actually most of them are- they don't want to deal managing a device.. they just want something that works. Most users of all mass-market devices are like this, be it Samsung Galaxy, Google Pixel or iPhone. It's not really to your point, though, because iPhone has bred perhaps one of the most interesting communities through people's sheer desires to break it apart and customize it. I'm sure you're aware of the rich history of jailbreaking iPhones; and while a small percent of users, (just like Android rooting,) those jailbreaks get nontrivial huge amounts of attention. It's basically international news when a new untethered jailbreak kit shows up, and undoubtedly millions of users use them. Apple may very well not want these users, but Apple wants to make the world's best phone. Well, you may not want the consumer you get, but that's the symmetry of this all. There's a give and a take.
echelon 4y ago
Good! And they'll still be top dog and make ludicrous money. Apple does not need to run the quasi government for 50% of US consumer Internet users, which is effectively what they were doing. This will free them up to focus on excellence and innovation.
- Gareth321 4y ago
  I fully agree. This isn't a doomsday scenario for anyone.
  - danielscrubs 4y ago
    Linux is a glorious fragmented mess. Now add the money incentive and you get apps that track and trick you in every turn because the competition is so heavy and marketing costly. Let’s say Netflix makes their own app store for Netflix and their games. If they loose around a third of their customers it’s still ok. Now Netflix plays fast and loose with the sandboxing because they really want feature x, like lock the screen to the Netflix app only unlockable with their PIN, so they allow this, suddenly another app with malicious intent uses the feature. We have seen similar things happen on early versions of Windows mobile and Palm Pilot.
    - Gareth321 4y ago
      If Netflix were to treat their customers like that, why would anyone continue to subscribe? I get the argument that Apple fighting on behalf of users can be good. Unfortunately they went well beyond that remit, and have blocked all kinds of useful applications on specious and moral grounds. What right should Apple have to block xCloud? Or Fortnite? Or emulators? Or torrent applications? Or crypto wallets? Or adult themed apps? Or Parler? And this says nothing of their predatory revenue model. They had their chance to be good citizens of a dominant platform. They totally blew it. They chose to tell users and legislators to go fuck themselves. This is 100% Apple’s fault.
mmanfrin 4y ago
> * Use any voice assistant and choose to make it default This would ironically make me come back to iOS. I use Android because google's voice system is magnitudes better than Siri.
irusensei 4y ago
If this happens I will forgive the EU for the cookie modals.
- f1refly 4y ago
  The EU is innocent, they didn't force anyone to create cookie modals. You need to forgive the digital stalking businesses instead.
  - NaturalPhallacy 4y ago
    >* You need to forgive the digital stalking businesses instead.* Do we, though? I use "I don't care about cookies": https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/i-dont-care-about-cookies/fihnjjcciajhdojfnbdddfaoknhalnja?hl=en https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/i-dont-care-about-... to deal with the mess.
    - 29083011397778 4y ago
      You only need a cookie modal to allow opting out of non-essential cookies though. Needing a cookie to store a login? Fine, no modal needed. Cookies to track you everywhere you go until the end of days? Requires a modal. This, to me, seems fair and reasonable. It's everyone else that botched it by using unnecessary and annoying modals for required cookies.
- unity1001 4y ago
  The screwed up cookie modals are not Eu's doing: Eu mandated that the users should be clearly told what would be tracked, they should be given an easy way to accept, reject, and choose which of them they accept. The corporations - mainly the US - chose to 'get around' these requirements in the undying US corporate tradition: Make it difficult for the user to reject cookies so they will have to give up and just accept. Most modals have only an 'accept' and 'choose' sections, and the 'choose' section includes a gigantic list of 'vendors' which you have to individually turn off one by one. So that you will give up and just click 'accept'. Some of them offer a 'reject all' button way at the bottom of of the list, after listing 30-40 vendors. So basically its the usual corporate trickery to force user to do things they don't want to. However, this is illegal - Eu works on civil law, and civil law is a clear, well defined legal practice. If it says you have to do some specific thing, there isnt much 'interpret my way around it'. So, per that law, all the cookie modals that do not give the users an EASY way to reject cookies are in violation of that law. It absolutely does not matter zit if the user 'consents' to the terms. Mutual agreements and contract law overriding actual law is a trait of the Anglosaxon common law, not civil law. In civil law, it doesnt matter zit if the other party agreed to something illegal per law. Therefore, not only all these pesky modals that try to force you into accepting those ~80 cookies from a random website you visit are not Eu's doing, but also most of them are actually in violation of the GDPR law.
Flow 4y ago
I've not read much about the new law/requirements, but will these points apply to Xboxes and Playstations as well?
- Gareth321 4y ago
  I think there is a good chance it could be applied to Microsoft, if not Sony and Nintendo as well. At least, I see no reason it should not. They satisfy a lot of the requirements as Gatekeepers like market cap and revenue.

likeabbas 4y ago

What about any music player? I want Spotify to be the default, dammit.

shellac 4y ago
I only see the Apple Music app when I open it explicitly. Are there situations where a 'default' music app might appear?
- RockRobotRock 4y ago
  Asking Siri to play music on Spotify without having to say "on Spotify" every time.
  - deleted 4y ago
    [deleted]
  - entropicdrifter 4y ago
    Yeah, Google Assistant lets you set a default music player or if you already have one open it'll try to use that one by default
    - 2OEH8eoCRo0 4y ago
      Why can't I set Plex then? It gives you like 4 options. It's interesting that Apple Music is a choice though. Can you choose YouTube Music on iPhone?
  - Ar-Curunir 4y ago
    It definitely doesn’t default to Apple Music for me.
  - deleted 4y ago
    [deleted]
- sofixa 4y ago
  Even on macOS if i accidentally click on the play button of my keyboard without having anything to play (like an open YouTube tab somewhere) will open the Apple Music app which i have never used nor opened myself.
Gareth321 4y ago
Music isn't mentioned specifically but I believe any app is covered. Article 6: > 4. The gatekeeper shall allow and technically enable the installation and effective use of third-party software applications or software application stores using, or interoperating with, its operating system and allow those software applications or software application stores to be accessed by means other than the relevant core platform services of that gatekeeper. The gatekeeper shall, where applicable, not prevent the downloaded third-party software applications or software application stores from prompting end users to decide whether they want to set that downloaded software application or software application store as their default. The gatekeeper shall technically enable end users who decide to set that downloaded software application or software application store as their default to carry out that change easily.
apaprocki 4y ago
I've found when talking to Apple-ecosystem users that they aren't even aware of how well Apple Music works. I'm aware there's certain integrations that might not be possible, or a random family member being on Android that would preclude its use, but it really does work great if you don't have any reason to stray from the ecosystem. Lots of people I talk to started using Spotify years ago and just never reevaluated. Similarly, people that only use iPhones and Macs and still use Dropbox. I'm sure someone has curated a list somewhere...

manzu 4y ago

if anything this won’t hurt them, rather it will drive more users to apple devices.

Gareth321 4y ago
Great! Then everyone wins.
smoldesu 4y ago
The goal wasn't hurting them in the first place, just ensuring that Apple plays fair on their own hardware. You may be totally correct with your second point, if Apple implements things well.
- Terretta 4y ago
  > just ensuring that Apple plays fair on their own hardware As software, firmware, and hardware lines blur, it's a legacy concept that hardware and software must be divided. Incredible value comes from fluid and designer-driven remixing of the three according to usability, ruggedness/resilience, and security principles. The most useful appliances for Normals™ will be the ones that blend these best. This kind of ruling holds us back from the huge vertically integrated design investments that deliver ease of use and trust that end users want.
  - smoldesu 4y ago
    Well, good news. Apple can still blur the lines for you while unlocking the bootloader for me and letting normal users install software packages. You have yet to present an example of how the things I want conflict with the things you want.
    - yamtaddle 4y ago
      Go read the discussion sections of any of the other 50,000 times this exact exchange has happened. There's plenty of explaining in those. It never seems to get through, but you could fill a 20-volume encyclopedia with those (incredibly repetitive) posts. TL;DR many Apple users like the way things are now, and don't want any amount of risk to that. The chief risk we see is that we'll no longer be able to get 100% of the software we want (or are forced to use) on iOS through the Apple app store, with all of Apple's protections and guarantees, or that Apple will have to reduce those protections and guarantees to keep such a splintering from happening. Yes, we're aware that Android hasn't seen much adoption of alternative stores, but Android also hasn't (delightfully) jammed a thumb in Facebook's eye over and over. Even a small chance of that coming to pass isn't worth it to us. We wish you'd all just go use Android or Linux phones or whatever and leave us alone.

drewg123 4y ago

* Use any voice assistant and choose to make it default * I would so love to have Google Assistant rather than Siri on my iPhone. GA is so much better hands-free / eyes-free. Being able to say "OK Google ...." when driving, cooking, working out, etc and being able to get a decent answer is something I really miss from my Pixel days. It is so frustrating when Siri just says "here is what I found on the web"

threeseed 4y ago
Hey Siri is a hardware feature: https://machinelearning.apple.com/research/hey-siri https://machinelearning.apple.com/research/hey-siri It's likely that third-party assistants will only be accessible via the side button.
- dave84 4y ago
  "Hey Siri, ask Google...", only slightly ridiculous.
- AstixAndBelix 4y ago
  just like having real access to NFC would mean that developers will have more access to the hardware, I believe the same will happen here. the ML hardware will be opened just enough to let developers choose their own verbal cue
  - threeseed 4y ago
    Apple is not giving real access to anything. They will be providing a friendly, abstracted API as they always have. And there is zero chance Apple will allow third parties to submit their own model since this part of the hardware has continuous access to the microphone.
- legulere 4y ago
  The model seems to be replaceable though, it differs by language like described in the article you linked for instance.

threeseed 4y ago

Note that Apple will likely still: * Require apps to pay their commission similar to the Netherlands dating apps situation. * Only allow apps to be installed that have a valid certificate. * Require apps on their store to go through the approval process.

Gareth321 4y ago
You will be pleased to discover that the Digital Markets Act doesn't permit any of those. Edit: I'm not sure if the third point has been edited or I simply misread it, but the DMA would not prevent Apple from moderating their own App Store. It would prevent Apple from moderating apps on iOS, iPadOS, and macOS.
- threeseed 4y ago
  Please provide evidence of this. I especially love the idea that the DMA prevents Apple from moderating apps inside their store. And no I didn’t edit my comment. Feel free to provide evidence of the others.
  - Gareth321 4y ago
    Sure! Just to be clear, I'm not stating that Apple won't be able to moderate apps on their store. I'm stating that Apple won't be able to moderate apps on their operating systems. The Gatekeeper must allow installation of applications (Article 4. S4): > The gatekeeper shall allow and technically enable the installation and effective use of third-party software applications or software application stores using, or interoperating with, its operating system and allow those software applications or software application stores to be accessed by means other than the relevant core platform services of that gatekeeper. The gatekeeper shall, where applicable, not prevent the downloaded third-party software applications or software application stores from prompting end users to decide whether they want to set that downloaded software application or software application store as their default. The gatekeeper shall technically enable end users who decide to set that downloaded software application or software application store as their default to carry out that change easily. There is no wiggle room here. The Gatekeeper can't restrict installation of applications in any way, including by way of certificate requirements, approval processes, or fees. You can read the Act in full here: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2022/1925/oj https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2022/1925/oj If you're a legal geek like I am it's worth spending a few hours combing through it. I am thoroughly impressed with how meticulous they've been. It's easily the most comprehensive (and impressive) tech legislation in my lifetime.

chadlavi 4y ago

I truly don't know what the point of getting an iPhone is if you're going to change every single part of it. A lot of us buy them BECAUSE of the software, not despite it. Why do so many people want to force Apple to make them an Android phone?

jchw 4y ago
I don't get this logic. I've bought 4 iPhones and the biggest frustration I have is that I can't use real Firefox like I can on Android (particularly my favorite variant, Fennec F-Droid.) Not all iPhone users are the same. I'm not forcing you to side-load apps, or switch off Safari. What about this is so bad?
- eatsyourtacos 4y ago
  >I'm not forcing you to side-load apps, And no one is forcing you to buy an iPhone. Why don't you buy Android if you want to do all that stuff? I recently switched to an iPhone because I want everything to "just work" and not deal with the android crap- and I honestly couldn't be happier. >Not all iPhone users are the same Actually most of them are- they don't want to deal managing a device.. they just want something that works.
  - sushisource 4y ago
    How is this a meaningful retort to the other commenter? They get to use FF on iOS, you get to keep using Safari and every other stock app. What exactly is the problem there besides what comes across as some weird form of "keep the dirty Android users away from my iPhone"?
  - jchw 4y ago
    Well, Sometimes I don't like democrats. I don't like all policies backed by democratic candidates, and I definitely have problems with the DNC. However, that doesn't mean I want to vote Republican, or Green Party, or Libertarian. Please don't get caught up in taking the analogy to it's logical extreme (or read it literally, because it's not literal.) The point is that there is no perfect option on the market for me. I don't have a single criteria for the perfect smartphone. I don't just want a device that boots Firefox well. And in fact, Apple, much to the chagrin of those of us who hate Apple, makes some of the best computer and phone hardware on the planet. It's not even a contest, in some cases. Do you use a macOS computer by chance? Do you feel like the Asahi Linux effort is harming your ability to use and enjoy the Mac computer? Does it cause problems for you, or make things no longer "just work", when someone is allowed to install Firefox? > Why don't you buy Android if you want to do all that stuff? I do. They're not perfect either. Google Pixel phones are pretty good, but I doubt I need to expound upon the problems of them for you. You pretty much seem to get it given the next few lines. (Not trying to be condescending here.) > Actually most of them are- they don't want to deal managing a device.. they just want something that works. Most users of all mass-market devices are like this, be it Samsung Galaxy, Google Pixel or iPhone. It's not really to your point, though, because iPhone has bred perhaps one of the most interesting communities through people's sheer desires to break it apart and customize it. I'm sure you're aware of the rich history of jailbreaking iPhones; and while a small percent of users, (just like Android rooting,) those jailbreaks get nontrivial huge amounts of attention. It's basically international news when a new untethered jailbreak kit shows up, and undoubtedly millions of users use them. Apple may very well not want these users, but Apple wants to make the world's best phone. Well, you may not want the consumer you get, but that's the symmetry of this all. There's a give and a take.

echelon 4y ago

Good! And they'll still be top dog and make ludicrous money. Apple does not need to run the quasi government for 50% of US consumer Internet users, which is effectively what they were doing. This will free them up to focus on excellence and innovation.

Gareth321 4y ago
I fully agree. This isn't a doomsday scenario for anyone.
- danielscrubs 4y ago
  Linux is a glorious fragmented mess. Now add the money incentive and you get apps that track and trick you in every turn because the competition is so heavy and marketing costly. Let’s say Netflix makes their own app store for Netflix and their games. If they loose around a third of their customers it’s still ok. Now Netflix plays fast and loose with the sandboxing because they really want feature x, like lock the screen to the Netflix app only unlockable with their PIN, so they allow this, suddenly another app with malicious intent uses the feature. We have seen similar things happen on early versions of Windows mobile and Palm Pilot.
  - Gareth321 4y ago
    If Netflix were to treat their customers like that, why would anyone continue to subscribe? I get the argument that Apple fighting on behalf of users can be good. Unfortunately they went well beyond that remit, and have blocked all kinds of useful applications on specious and moral grounds. What right should Apple have to block xCloud? Or Fortnite? Or emulators? Or torrent applications? Or crypto wallets? Or adult themed apps? Or Parler? And this says nothing of their predatory revenue model. They had their chance to be good citizens of a dominant platform. They totally blew it. They chose to tell users and legislators to go fuck themselves. This is 100% Apple’s fault.

mmanfrin 4y ago

> * Use any voice assistant and choose to make it default This would ironically make me come back to iOS. I use Android because google's voice system is magnitudes better than Siri.

irusensei 4y ago

If this happens I will forgive the EU for the cookie modals.

f1refly 4y ago
The EU is innocent, they didn't force anyone to create cookie modals. You need to forgive the digital stalking businesses instead.
- NaturalPhallacy 4y ago
  >* You need to forgive the digital stalking businesses instead.* Do we, though? I use "I don't care about cookies": https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/i-dont-care-about-cookies/fihnjjcciajhdojfnbdddfaoknhalnja?hl=en https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/i-dont-care-about-... to deal with the mess.
  - 29083011397778 4y ago
    You only need a cookie modal to allow opting out of non-essential cookies though. Needing a cookie to store a login? Fine, no modal needed. Cookies to track you everywhere you go until the end of days? Requires a modal. This, to me, seems fair and reasonable. It's everyone else that botched it by using unnecessary and annoying modals for required cookies.
unity1001 4y ago
The screwed up cookie modals are not Eu's doing: Eu mandated that the users should be clearly told what would be tracked, they should be given an easy way to accept, reject, and choose which of them they accept. The corporations - mainly the US - chose to 'get around' these requirements in the undying US corporate tradition: Make it difficult for the user to reject cookies so they will have to give up and just accept. Most modals have only an 'accept' and 'choose' sections, and the 'choose' section includes a gigantic list of 'vendors' which you have to individually turn off one by one. So that you will give up and just click 'accept'. Some of them offer a 'reject all' button way at the bottom of of the list, after listing 30-40 vendors. So basically its the usual corporate trickery to force user to do things they don't want to. However, this is illegal - Eu works on civil law, and civil law is a clear, well defined legal practice. If it says you have to do some specific thing, there isnt much 'interpret my way around it'. So, per that law, all the cookie modals that do not give the users an EASY way to reject cookies are in violation of that law. It absolutely does not matter zit if the user 'consents' to the terms. Mutual agreements and contract law overriding actual law is a trait of the Anglosaxon common law, not civil law. In civil law, it doesnt matter zit if the other party agreed to something illegal per law. Therefore, not only all these pesky modals that try to force you into accepting those ~80 cookies from a random website you visit are not Eu's doing, but also most of them are actually in violation of the GDPR law.

Flow 4y ago

I've not read much about the new law/requirements, but will these points apply to Xboxes and Playstations as well?

Gareth321 4y ago
I think there is a good chance it could be applied to Microsoft, if not Sony and Nintendo as well. At least, I see no reason it should not. They satisfy a lot of the requirements as Gatekeepers like market cap and revenue.