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> Web Distribution, available with a software update later this spring, will let authorized developers distribute their iOS apps to EU users directly from a web

> Web Distribution, available with a software update later this spring, will let authorized developers distribute their iOS apps to EU users directly from a website owned by the developer. iPhone users don't really own their own device, do they...

pavlov 3y ago
The iPhone revolution was that your phone used to be owned by the carrier, but now was owned by Apple, and Jobs got away with it.
- pjmlp 3y ago
  Hence why most European countries just mostly stayed with pre-paid, and operators have been trying to bride us with contracts for iDevices, or if that doesn't get us, contracts in disguise for pre-paid users as post pay. I will keep using Android devices with physical SIM until it isn't no longer viable.
  - PlutoIsAPlanet 3y ago
    Due to financing options like Klarna, keeping on monthly prepaid sim-only plans (which are cheap) and using a finance option to purchase the device outright has become much more popular at least in my circle in the UK.
    - desas 3y ago
      You don't even need Klarna, the Apple website offers 0% 24 months financing for iPhone in the UK.
  - sbuk 3y ago
    That’s nonsense! Bundled contracts are common in most if not all of Europes economies.
    - pjmlp 3y ago
      Where are your numbers against my numbers?
      - sbuk 3y ago
        Show me yours first!
        pjmlp 3y ago
        Nah, you were the one doubting me, Thomas, I don't need to show my wounds.
        sbuk 3y ago
        You’re the one making spurious claims! Too much ‘In Europe…’ bullshit posted here
        pjmlp 3y ago
        It goes both ways my friend.
    - NekkoDroid 3y ago
      That might be the case, but the phones aren't bound to any specific carrier. A phone bundled with an O2 contract can be used by someone with a Telekom contract.
  - yourusername 3y ago
    This really seems like a post from 15 years ago. In my experience prepaid is almost dead. It's the most expensive way to use a mobile phone and you can get a decent sim only subscription for 5 euro per month.
- paxys 3y ago
  Used to be owned by your carrier for two years, and you could always pay to unlock it. Now it costs double and Apple owns it forever with no recourse.
CaptainMarvel 3y ago
I don't. This is a stark realisation that I have had over the past few years. I would once staunchly recommend iPhones for their strong security, in particular app isolation, on-device AI, and physical device security. However, over the years there have been more and more instances where Apple decides what I can do with my phone. From restricting APIs to give their first-party apps advantage, to, most recently, not having any (local) method to move voice memos off my Apple Watch. I've realised they are orchestrating their hardware and software to build a truly solid wall from within which they can extract continuous rent from their captives. I don't own my device because I cannot freely run the software I create on it (without paying Apple and gaining their approval, which is impossible in some cases). I'm done with Apple... but there are no acceptable alternatives. Android is bad in other aspects. This is not a free and fair market; it's a duopoly. I genuinely pray weekly for a phone like the Framework Laptop, where I can run my own software (Arch Linux) and repair and replace the hardware as needed.
- Vinnl 3y ago
  I assume you're aware and have some other reason that disqualifies it (e.g. you're in the US), but Fairphone does exist and comes pretty close (i.e. PostmarketOS is supposed to run, at least): https://www.fairphone.com/ https://www.fairphone.com/
  - CaptainMarvel 3y ago
    Thank you. I did actually come across this a few weeks ago as I semi-regularly search for new phones in my despair! It is the closest phone to what I have been after for a while. I particularly like their long software support and their support for right-to-repair. It runs stock Android, however I'm not sure whether that means Google is still fully entrenched into all aspects of the phone by default including through Play Store APIs, notifications, etc. (If anyone would shed some light on the software side, I would appreciate it because I'm not familiar with modern Android.) Even if it were suitable I would not be in a position to buy it for a while, hence I am still plodding along with my iPhone but just keeping an eye out for good alternatives. Edit: I re-noticed you said it runs postmarketOS. That's awesome and I'll need to look into it - I know very little about it. Though it seems many aspects of the hardware are not supported on even the Fairphone 4.
jwnin 3y ago
It's been a 'rent, not own' model since day one, since batteries are non-user-replaceable.
- shepherdjerred 3y ago
  That is a wild take. For one, batteries certainly are user replaceable, though it does require specialized tools and quite a bit of care. Would you consider a car to be "rented, not owned" because they are difficult for the average end-user to repair?
- BlueTemplar 3y ago
  Wow, I had no idea that even the first iPhone's battery change involved soldering ! https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/iPhone+1st+Generation+Battery+Replacement/448 https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/iPhone+1st+Generation+Battery+R...
deleted 3y ago
[deleted]

pavlov 3y ago

The iPhone revolution was that your phone used to be owned by the carrier, but now was owned by Apple, and Jobs got away with it.

pjmlp 3y ago
Hence why most European countries just mostly stayed with pre-paid, and operators have been trying to bride us with contracts for iDevices, or if that doesn't get us, contracts in disguise for pre-paid users as post pay. I will keep using Android devices with physical SIM until it isn't no longer viable.
- PlutoIsAPlanet 3y ago
  Due to financing options like Klarna, keeping on monthly prepaid sim-only plans (which are cheap) and using a finance option to purchase the device outright has become much more popular at least in my circle in the UK.
  - desas 3y ago
    You don't even need Klarna, the Apple website offers 0% 24 months financing for iPhone in the UK.
- sbuk 3y ago
  That’s nonsense! Bundled contracts are common in most if not all of Europes economies.
  - pjmlp 3y ago
    Where are your numbers against my numbers?
    - sbuk 3y ago
      Show me yours first!
      - pjmlp 3y ago
        Nah, you were the one doubting me, Thomas, I don't need to show my wounds.
        sbuk 3y ago
        You’re the one making spurious claims! Too much ‘In Europe…’ bullshit posted here
        pjmlp 3y ago
        It goes both ways my friend.
  - NekkoDroid 3y ago
    That might be the case, but the phones aren't bound to any specific carrier. A phone bundled with an O2 contract can be used by someone with a Telekom contract.
- yourusername 3y ago
  This really seems like a post from 15 years ago. In my experience prepaid is almost dead. It's the most expensive way to use a mobile phone and you can get a decent sim only subscription for 5 euro per month.
paxys 3y ago
Used to be owned by your carrier for two years, and you could always pay to unlock it. Now it costs double and Apple owns it forever with no recourse.

CaptainMarvel 3y ago

I don't. This is a stark realisation that I have had over the past few years. I would once staunchly recommend iPhones for their strong security, in particular app isolation, on-device AI, and physical device security. However, over the years there have been more and more instances where Apple decides what I can do with my phone. From restricting APIs to give their first-party apps advantage, to, most recently, not having any (local) method to move voice memos off my Apple Watch. I've realised they are orchestrating their hardware and software to build a truly solid wall from within which they can extract continuous rent from their captives. I don't own my device because I cannot freely run the software I create on it (without paying Apple and gaining their approval, which is impossible in some cases). I'm done with Apple... but there are no acceptable alternatives. Android is bad in other aspects. This is not a free and fair market; it's a duopoly. I genuinely pray weekly for a phone like the Framework Laptop, where I can run my own software (Arch Linux) and repair and replace the hardware as needed.

Vinnl 3y ago
I assume you're aware and have some other reason that disqualifies it (e.g. you're in the US), but Fairphone does exist and comes pretty close (i.e. PostmarketOS is supposed to run, at least): https://www.fairphone.com/ https://www.fairphone.com/
- CaptainMarvel 3y ago
  Thank you. I did actually come across this a few weeks ago as I semi-regularly search for new phones in my despair! It is the closest phone to what I have been after for a while. I particularly like their long software support and their support for right-to-repair. It runs stock Android, however I'm not sure whether that means Google is still fully entrenched into all aspects of the phone by default including through Play Store APIs, notifications, etc. (If anyone would shed some light on the software side, I would appreciate it because I'm not familiar with modern Android.) Even if it were suitable I would not be in a position to buy it for a while, hence I am still plodding along with my iPhone but just keeping an eye out for good alternatives. Edit: I re-noticed you said it runs postmarketOS. That's awesome and I'll need to look into it - I know very little about it. Though it seems many aspects of the hardware are not supported on even the Fairphone 4.

jwnin 3y ago

It's been a 'rent, not own' model since day one, since batteries are non-user-replaceable.

shepherdjerred 3y ago
That is a wild take. For one, batteries certainly are user replaceable, though it does require specialized tools and quite a bit of care. Would you consider a car to be "rented, not owned" because they are difficult for the average end-user to repair?
BlueTemplar 3y ago
Wow, I had no idea that even the first iPhone's battery change involved soldering ! https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/iPhone+1st+Generation+Battery+Replacement/448 https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/iPhone+1st+Generation+Battery+R...

deleted 3y ago

[deleted]