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I keep wondering what would happen if Apple were to license iOS. I know that's a sore spot (Jobs is dead though), but could they actually fuck over Android if t

I keep wondering what would happen if Apple were to license iOS. I know that's a sore spot (Jobs is dead though), but could they actually fuck over Android if they did? A whitebox iOS could be downgraded enough that they could still service the snob market, but maybe undercut Google completely. I mean, how much does it even have to cost per unit when each sold drives traffic to their own app store?

aledalgrande 3y ago
It would be a nightmare for iOS devs, now swamped by tons of device formats and missing capabilities depending on the model, like it is for Android.
- ohgodplsno 3y ago
  Now I kinda want to see how badly Apple would reinvent androidx libraries. NSPermissionCompat would be a beauty to behold in 2045 when they finally decide to do it. Unless they don't and leave it up to the iOS community to (badly) do it.
MBCook 3y ago
> A whitebox iOS could be downgraded enough[…] And that’s a huge part of the problem. Any move like that would tarnish iOS in everyone’s eyes. Apple wants you to buy a real iPhone, even if it’s the model from 2 years ago, instead. If BMW started selling a ton of $18,000 cars do you think that would help or hurt sales of the M3 and the 5 Series? That bit then with the clones. The competition undercut them. You know what that high Apple price does? Help pay to develop iOS. They would have to charge enough to make up for the money they would lose on the list phone sales. And seriously risk their reputation in the process. Apple has been through a lot in their 40 years. They have an atavistic reaction at this point against anything that prevents them from controlling their own destiny. It’s hurt them too many times. I suspect that’s why they’re doing this. They don’t want to be beholden to Samsung, LG, or anyone else for displays.
scarface74 3y ago
What good is iOS on commodity hardware? The entire value proposition of any of Apple’s products are the right integration of hardware and software.
rodgerd 3y ago
> I keep wondering what would happen if Apple were to license iOS. Much the same thing as happened to Apple when they licensed their OS in the 90s, I imagine.
Panzer04 3y ago
I use Apple devices despite iOS, not because of it.

aledalgrande 3y ago

It would be a nightmare for iOS devs, now swamped by tons of device formats and missing capabilities depending on the model, like it is for Android.

ohgodplsno 3y ago
Now I kinda want to see how badly Apple would reinvent androidx libraries. NSPermissionCompat would be a beauty to behold in 2045 when they finally decide to do it. Unless they don't and leave it up to the iOS community to (badly) do it.

MBCook 3y ago

> A whitebox iOS could be downgraded enough[…] And that’s a huge part of the problem. Any move like that would tarnish iOS in everyone’s eyes. Apple wants you to buy a real iPhone, even if it’s the model from 2 years ago, instead. If BMW started selling a ton of $18,000 cars do you think that would help or hurt sales of the M3 and the 5 Series? That bit then with the clones. The competition undercut them. You know what that high Apple price does? Help pay to develop iOS. They would have to charge enough to make up for the money they would lose on the list phone sales. And seriously risk their reputation in the process. Apple has been through a lot in their 40 years. They have an atavistic reaction at this point against anything that prevents them from controlling their own destiny. It’s hurt them too many times. I suspect that’s why they’re doing this. They don’t want to be beholden to Samsung, LG, or anyone else for displays.

scarface74 3y ago

What good is iOS on commodity hardware? The entire value proposition of any of Apple’s products are the right integration of hardware and software.

rodgerd 3y ago

> I keep wondering what would happen if Apple were to license iOS. Much the same thing as happened to Apple when they licensed their OS in the 90s, I imagine.

Panzer04 3y ago

I use Apple devices despite iOS, not because of it.