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I agree with David's general thesis and the items on the list except for the App Stores. Naturally government-oriented influences like the patent system and re
by crusso 14y ago
I agree with David's general thesis and the items on the list except for the App Stores.
Naturally government-oriented influences like the patent system and regulations are monopolistic. Net neutrality is monopolistic because the backbone infrastructure is in the hands of a relative few number of infrastructure owners. Often, where you live determines the connection to your house and that's a monopoly often enforced by municipal contracts.
App Stores are the only item on his list that are not quite monopolistic in nature. As such, new competitors can come along at any time to unseat App Stores that are failing to provide enough value to consumers.
- benatkin 14y agoYes, that's the black and white market vs government worldview. The App Store thing turns this black and white thinking on its head. It is oligopolistic from a practical standpoint, for people making and distributing of mobile applications.
- crusso 14y agoIs my worldview artificial or somehow contrived? If I REALLY don't like my phone's app store, I can switch phones. If I don't like my government's policies, I have to move to a new country. Don't pay Apple and you don't get an iPhone. Don't pay the Govt and you go to jail. Jailbreak an iPhone, breaking Apple's terms and conditions and they won't service your phone. Break the Patriot Act's Gag Rules and you're squirreled away to PMITA prison. If Apple makes stupid decision after stupid decision, they lose their dominance. If they are too reckless with their finances, they lose their business and possibly go to Jail. If Govt is reckless with its finances it just points at corporate scapegoats and raises taxes. No one goes to jail and this last election shows that no one will even be held accountable by the mostly ignorant voting public. It's not like I'm making up the basis of this worldview out of thin air. Have you seen what's happening in Southern Europe? Turn on world news (from networks outside of the USA), open a browser, wake up...
- hokua 14y agoApp Stores are monopolistic on the platform they serve. If I want to build Mac Apps, I have to go through the App Store. Yes, I could make it a web app, but that would limit the types of apps I can create.