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That trust in a distribution channel commands a price is fine. What is not is that no other distribution channel with equal access can exist on Apple devices.

qeternity 3y ago
This sentiment is obviously driving quite a lot of current regulatory action, but I'm not sure I really understand it. Apple is large yes, but not remotely close to a monopoly. They have 25% smartphone marketshare, and there are numerous other major smartphone manufacturers. If Apple abuses its power, there are plenty of alternatives that customers can switch to. They should otherwise be free to do with their products as they see fit no? I presume you disagree with my last question, so I ask then where do we draw the line? Should Nike be forced to carry Adidas clothes? Should AWS be forced to allow customers to co-locate their own hardware? Should Tesla be forced to produce cars that can also be converted to internal combustion engines? If I want the product to be different from the one being offered from vendor A, I simply go buy one from vendor B.
- ephemeral-life 3y ago
  > If Apple abuses its power, there are plenty of alternatives that customers can switch to This is just not how the 3 party markets work. For there to be mobility, both the users and developers have to move. Good luck convincing users to move of their $1000+ purchase. Maybe developers should start a union and boycott the app stores
  - qeternity 3y ago
    I don't follow: if third party developers only build for iOS, that is Apple's fault? If Walmart doesn't carry Target products, I either buy a substitute or I shop at both stores.
    - ephemeral-life 3y ago
      To apple, there are 2 customers. Device owners and developers. If device owners choose to buy ios, developers are forced to build for ios. There is no "just don't buy from apple" from the developers pov. A quick google says there are about 1.4 billion iphones. It is unrealistic to expect developers to just "not choose apple" on such a large market. Thus the digital markets act. Walmart doesn't own the distribution channel of a platform with a double digit percentage of the world population on it.
      - qeternity 3y ago
        None of this is illegal. Walmart is absolutely make or break for a huge number of companies. Being big and powerful isn’t a crime. > unrealistic to expect That’s true, but it changes nothing. Developers absolutely do not have to develop for iOS. That would still leave 75% of the market. It is not a monopoly. If the iPhone market is too lucrative to ignore, that’s not a competition issue. In fact it’s more supportive that Apple’s approach is pretty valuable to a lot of valuable people that developers want to sell to.
        smoldesu 3y ago
        > Developers absolutely do not have to develop for iOS. Europe absolutely does not have to sell iPhones.
        qeternity 3y ago
        Oh right sure, the millions of people who buy iPhones in Europe every year can pound sand. The bureaucrats know better.
        smoldesu 3y ago
        They threatened doing it before: > It was rumored in February that Apple may be planning to limit charging speeds and other functionality of USB-C cables that are not certified under its "Made for iPhone" program. […] In response to this rumor, European Commissioner Thierry Breton has sent Apple a letter warning the company that limiting the functionality of USB-C cables would not be permitted and would prevent iPhones from being sold in the EU when the law goes into effect. https://www.macrumors.com/2023/05/04/eu-warns-apple-about-limiting-usb-c-iphone-cables/ https://www.macrumors.com/2023/05/04/eu-warns-apple-about-li... > The bureaucrats know better. Than the corporations? Yes.

qeternity 3y ago

This sentiment is obviously driving quite a lot of current regulatory action, but I'm not sure I really understand it. Apple is large yes, but not remotely close to a monopoly. They have 25% smartphone marketshare, and there are numerous other major smartphone manufacturers. If Apple abuses its power, there are plenty of alternatives that customers can switch to. They should otherwise be free to do with their products as they see fit no? I presume you disagree with my last question, so I ask then where do we draw the line? Should Nike be forced to carry Adidas clothes? Should AWS be forced to allow customers to co-locate their own hardware? Should Tesla be forced to produce cars that can also be converted to internal combustion engines? If I want the product to be different from the one being offered from vendor A, I simply go buy one from vendor B.

ephemeral-life 3y ago
> If Apple abuses its power, there are plenty of alternatives that customers can switch to This is just not how the 3 party markets work. For there to be mobility, both the users and developers have to move. Good luck convincing users to move of their $1000+ purchase. Maybe developers should start a union and boycott the app stores
- qeternity 3y ago
  I don't follow: if third party developers only build for iOS, that is Apple's fault? If Walmart doesn't carry Target products, I either buy a substitute or I shop at both stores.
  - ephemeral-life 3y ago
    To apple, there are 2 customers. Device owners and developers. If device owners choose to buy ios, developers are forced to build for ios. There is no "just don't buy from apple" from the developers pov. A quick google says there are about 1.4 billion iphones. It is unrealistic to expect developers to just "not choose apple" on such a large market. Thus the digital markets act. Walmart doesn't own the distribution channel of a platform with a double digit percentage of the world population on it.
    - qeternity 3y ago
      None of this is illegal. Walmart is absolutely make or break for a huge number of companies. Being big and powerful isn’t a crime. > unrealistic to expect That’s true, but it changes nothing. Developers absolutely do not have to develop for iOS. That would still leave 75% of the market. It is not a monopoly. If the iPhone market is too lucrative to ignore, that’s not a competition issue. In fact it’s more supportive that Apple’s approach is pretty valuable to a lot of valuable people that developers want to sell to.
      - smoldesu 3y ago
        > Developers absolutely do not have to develop for iOS. Europe absolutely does not have to sell iPhones.
        qeternity 3y ago
        Oh right sure, the millions of people who buy iPhones in Europe every year can pound sand. The bureaucrats know better.
        smoldesu 3y ago
        They threatened doing it before: > It was rumored in February that Apple may be planning to limit charging speeds and other functionality of USB-C cables that are not certified under its "Made for iPhone" program. […] In response to this rumor, European Commissioner Thierry Breton has sent Apple a letter warning the company that limiting the functionality of USB-C cables would not be permitted and would prevent iPhones from being sold in the EU when the law goes into effect. https://www.macrumors.com/2023/05/04/eu-warns-apple-about-limiting-usb-c-iphone-cables/ https://www.macrumors.com/2023/05/04/eu-warns-apple-about-li... > The bureaucrats know better. Than the corporations? Yes.