Apple announces changes to iOS, Safari, and the App Store in the European Union

[TheLostSwede]

Yeah. Most companies with BYOD policies that I know require either an iPhone with the latest version of iOS or a Samsung Knox-compatible Galaxy. As you know, attempting to root or flash unauthorized firmware will trip the eFuse and cause the device to be considered permanently untrustworthy, even if it's reflashed back to a "Samsung official" binary state.

Why would you even want to use your own phone under those circumstances? I would just make the company supply the phone.
It sounds like a total scam where the company is making you pay for your work tools.

 

[Dr. Dro]

Why would you even want to use your own phone under those circumstances? I would just make the company supply the phone.
It sounds like a total scam where the company is making you pay for your work tools.

Sometimes they don't supply the phone at all, unfortunately. It's a way to cut costs - just enforce a BYOD policy. Phones with hardened enterprise security were Blackberry's niche for a while, until they refocused on being a software company (also focused on enterprise security) - it was the iPhone and basically Knox-equipped Galaxy phones that ran them out of this business.

 

[bug]

All I am reading is a bunch of whining from people who have never bothered to code in their lives or create anything of significance. Also, for all of the complaining about the "walled garden" none of you would ever switch to using Linux on your desktop or something like the Pine phone. So basically the whiners want Apple to do things their way and use the force of government to get their way. Then they call it freedom! Sad!

Software developer here, I dislike iPhones because of lack of freedom. And I am typing this from my KDE on top of Arch Linux tyvm.
When I wanted to dabble with development for mobiles, I could do it for free on my PC. I didn't need a Pine phone, the little app that I needed has been running on all my Android phones since I wrote it. If I wanted to develop for iOS, all I needed was a small $100 annual fee. And a $1,000+ MacBook. Thus, my crib is iDevice-free.
Hate the EU as you will, they haven't even begun to scratch the surface on the stranglehold Apple holds on their ecosystem.

 

[docnorth]

If you want a second rate OS, sure

Anything but the big pimp.
P.S. Forgive me, I use a (simple) iPad.

 

[trsttte]

No one is forcing you to use Apple proprietary technology. I'd rather use anything else. Not withstanding the "Apple Tax" you pay.

Can always head over to xda and root the device if needed ax well, to take control of your own technology.

They're one of the biggest players in the ever more prevalent phone market, controlling the way millions of people access and interact with millions of other products and taking a cut of every one of those transactions. Apple and it's AppStore policies are a defacto tax on the way millions of users access services and the way they're able to control and profit from this system has made them one of the most valuable companies in the world and allows them to bury any competitor

How much this is absolutely NOT ok should be completely obvious to anyone.

It is a good phone, good hardware.. has its own eco system like erryone else.. what's not to like

So many things, i.e. the complete lack of freedom to do simple things like use you any contacless system - like transit or banking - outside apple's control, broken apps that can't explain you how to sign up because they'd be unprofitable if they had to paid 30% and they can't include something as simple as a "go to the website" notice, etc. etc. etc.

Agree on this one. Personally I could care less about tinkering my phone beyond "normal" customization and that's why I love iOS. You set it up once and that's fine as long you use the phone.

Way to completely miss the point, this is not about that AT ALL.

Regulations are made for both the consumer's AND the seller's benefit. Most of the noise about opening up iOS is made by developers, not consumers.

If it was only Apple who develops applications for iOS, then sure, they have every right to publish said applications however they wish. But they don't.

Just because the loudest noise is made by developers, doesn't mean consumers are not being hurt by Apple's control of the platform. The costs caused by the lack of competition on the platform and because of pure extortion from Apple are passed directly to consumers.

And if Apple was the only one developing applications for iOS with the same size as they have now this would still very much be a problem, you can't take over a huge slice of the market and gatekeep everyone else, that's what competition and market regulations are made to avoid.

All I am reading is a bunch of whining from people who have never bothered to code in their lives or create anything of significance. Also, for all of the complaining about the "walled garden" none of you would ever switch to using Linux on your desktop or something like the Pine phone. So basically the whiners want Apple to do things their way and use the force of government to get their way. Then they call it freedom! Sad!

You clearly have zero grasp of the situation and are not worthy of a reply. Educate yourself on the issue before acusing people you don't know of whining or not creating anything.

 

[Dr. Dro]

Just because the loudest noise is made by developers, doesn't mean consumers are not being hurt by Apple's control of the platform. The costs caused by the lack of competition on the platform and because of pure extortion from Apple are passed directly to consumers.

I agree. Man, what wouldn't I do for RetroArch on iOS. You see it's ironic, I bought a mid-2010 Mac mini literally to run RetroArch and MAME on it. It's a wonderful machine for that purpose...

 

[mb194dc]

Don't really get the security arguments about Android. You can always use GrapheneOS or even get your own version written if you're a big enough corporate, as AphyOS have done.

The point is you have control, less concern of a SolarWinds situation or government backdoor etc in ios.

 

[stimpy88]

Android fanbots can now get used to the fact that some of the "best" features of Android are coming to iOS!

Spyware
Viruses
Malware
Un-installable Apps
Apps that cause OS instability
Apps that open the device to 3rd parties
Apps that send private data to undisclosed 3rd parties, even after they have been removed

Hey, it's my device, and I should be able to do what I like with it, unlike crappy Apple...

I really hope that these "features" are disabled by default. It won't help stupid, but it will help many of us that don't run our business website from our phones, hack the planet from our mobile, and don't download Torrents all day long on it either, change the 10-year-old TV's channel, or any other amazing things Android users say iPhones can't do that Android can and that they would die without.

I love it when crusty, clueless and corrupt politicians think they know best and force it on everyone. Thanks EU!

 

[Shihab]

And if Apple was the only one developing applications for iOS with the same size as they have now this would still very much be a problem

If Apple did all dev work on their own, they wouldn't be the size they are now in the first place. Part of the point here. Devs have as much a right to iOS as Apple does.

Don't really get the security arguments about Android.

Because they don't make sense. People acting as if the EU ruled to disable sandboxing or allow unmanaged C code with root access (which, I admit, would be cool).
The OS won't change (much), the hardware is the same, dev tools are still 100% Apple controlled (which is a problem).

The vanilla iOS experience will not change an iota. Cult of Jobs can continue business as usual. But I suppose cults tend to follow the company line, even clearly bs ones.

 

[Rahnak]

Android fanbots can now get used to the fact that some of the "best" features of Android are coming to iOS!

Spyware
Viruses
Malware
Un-installable Apps
Apps that cause OS instability
Apps that open the device to 3rd parties
Apps that send private data to undisclosed 3rd parties, even after they have been removed

Hey, it's my device, and I should be able to do what I like with it, unlike crappy Apple...

I really hope that these "features" are disabled by default. It won't help stupid, but it will help many of us that don't run our business website from our phones, hack the planet from our mobile, and don't download Torrents all day long on it either, change the 10-year-old TV's channel, or any other amazing things Android users say iPhones can't do that Android can and that they would die without.

I love it when crusty, clueless and corrupt politicians think they know best and force it on everyone. Thanks EU!

Way to put your foot in your mouth. You didn't even bother to read the article.

The experience isn't changing for anyone that doesn't want it. And for those that do, it's only in the EU and it's so crippled it won't really be used.

 

[Prima.Vera]

Android fanbots can now get used to the fact that some of the "best" features of Android are coming to iOS!

Spyware
Viruses
Malware
Un-installable Apps
Apps that cause OS instability
Apps that open the device to 3rd parties
Apps that send private data to undisclosed 3rd parties, even after they have been removed

Hey, it's my device, and I should be able to do what I like with it, unlike crappy Apple...

I really hope that these "features" are disabled by default. It won't help stupid, but it will help many of us that don't run our business website from our phones, hack the planet from our mobile, and don't download Torrents all day long on it either, change the 10-year-old TV's channel, or any other amazing things Android users say iPhones can't do that Android can and that they would die without.

I love it when crusty, clueless and corrupt politicians think they know best and force it on everyone. Thanks EU!

 

[stimpy88]

View attachment 331824

Lets come back to this thread in a few years, shall we.

 

[Easy Rhino]

You clearly have zero grasp of the situation and are not worthy of a reply. Educate yourself on the issue before acusing people you don't know of whining or not creating anything.

You choose to use Apple products? You choose to develop for Apple products.? It is your choice. Stop blaming others and getting the government to forcefully change how Apple does business just because you don't like it. Very bad precedent and I am not surprised many people here do not see it.

 

[trsttte]

You choose to use Apple products? You choose to develop for Apple products.? It is your choice. Stop blaming others and getting the government to forcefully change how Apple does business just because you don't like it. Very bad precedent and I am not surprised many people here do not see it.

Apple iOS platforms represent a large part - often largest by a fair margin - of the adressable mobile market. It's not a choice to develop for Apple products, if you want your business to reach more people you simply have to. Apple has no right to exert that kind of control over people's access to millions of different services, just as they have no right to extort and profit from others work and every transaction they do.

The government is only forcefully changing how Apple does business - and clearly unsuccessfully as this latest example of malicious compliance shows - because they're not complying with existent competition laws and market regulations. The only baffling thing is how it's taking so long to break down this walled garden

 

[Rahnak]

You choose to use Apple products? You choose to develop for Apple products.? It is your choice. Stop blaming others and getting the government to forcefully change how Apple does business just because you don't like it. Very bad precedent and I am not surprised many people here do not see it.

In some cases, it's not a choice. And governments regulate markets, always have, and always will. The App Store is not a fair market and given its size, it's damn time it gets some regulation. Companies can't (or shouldn't) get away with everything. As much as capitalists hate that (muh money, muh freedom).

 

[Dr. Dro]

Apple iOS platforms represent a large part - often largest by a fair margin - of the adressable mobile market. It's not a choice to develop for Apple products, if you want your business to reach more people you simply have to. Apple has no right to exert that kind of control over people's access to millions of different services, just as they have no right to extort and profit from others work and every transaction they do.

The government is only forcefully changing how Apple does business - and clearly unsuccessfully as this latest example of malicious compliance shows - because they're not complying with existent competition laws and market regulations. The only baffling thing is how it's taking so long to break down this walled garden

Not only: iOS is currently experiencing a rapid growth phase. It's a losing battle on the Android side as Apple has overtaken all major Android vendors in market share and revenue, so Google needs to revisit its strategy and lagdroid phone makers need to innovate, look at the last 6 or 7 Galaxy S phones and tell me if you're not BORED of them. I am.

 

[Vayra86]

You choose to use Apple products? You choose to develop for Apple products.? It is your choice. Stop blaming others and getting the government to forcefully change how Apple does business just because you don't like it. Very bad precedent and I am not surprised many people here do not see it.

You need to wake up. The lack of regulation has already been destructive to our societies. Not just in mobile. Its not free choice, there are libraries full of research and knowledge about how markets work. We know monopolists are damaging. Stop trying to deny reality. This isnt a precedent either, its something that has been happening for a long time, quite often being too little rather than too much.

 

[R0H1T]

Very bad precedent and I am not surprised many people here do not see it.

What's bad in it? You're telling me you want to go to a time where Windows store is your only option to install applications? And before you say it's different ~ no it's not!

It's a losing battle on the Android side as Apple has overtaken all major Android vendors in market share and revenue, so Google needs to revisit its strategy and lagdroid phone makers need to innovate

You're deluded if you think that's the case & no the biggest phone manufacturer in the world is BBK ~ look them up

 

[Dr. Dro]

You're deluded if you think that's the case & no the biggest phone manufacturer in the world is BBK ~ look them up

Perhaps not globally, but in virtually all major markets, it has already happened.

Decent video, tbh:

 

[Easy Rhino]

In some cases, it's not a choice. And governments regulate markets, always have, and always will. The App Store is not a fair market and given its size, it's damn time it gets some regulation. Companies can't (or shouldn't) get away with everything. As much as capitalists hate that (muh money, muh freedom).

This is not market regulation. This is a government body forcing a private entity to change its practices despite there being an alternative. Also, nothing is stopping people from using an alternative or a new corporation coming in and creating its own eco system and phone. This is why Linux exists and why I use it. Meanwhile people complain yet continue to use products created by Microsoft and Apple. Lots of hypocrites. If you truly felt this way you would abandon all closed sources software and market places. But be honest with yourself, you don't. You just want to complain and force government on people you don't like. Sad.

You need to wake up. The lack of regulation has already been destructive to our societies. Not just in mobile. Its not free choice, there are libraries full of research and knowledge about how markets work. We know monopolists are damaging. Stop trying to deny reality. This isnt a precedent either, its something that has been happening for a long time, quite often being too little rather than too much.

Sure, total lack of regulation is a bad thing. I do not disagree. But we are talking about a private market place on a phone for crying out loud. There is no damage to society. In fact, EU regulation slows innovation and therefore damages it in this case. This is why USA is still the leading tech innovator and why the EU is so far behind. Pathetic.

What's bad in it? You're telling me you want to go to a time where Windows store is your only option to install applications? And before you say it's different ~ no it's not!


You're deluded if you think that's the case & no the biggest phone manufacturer in the world is BBK ~ look them up

It is a phone. This isn't some robber baron who bought up all of the useable land with water under it and uses monopolistic practices to force others out of business. You are deluded if you think the EU cares about you.

 

[Vayra86]

You are deluded if you think the EU cares about you.

Companies do then? The EU is a consensus machine. Built on democratic votes. It cares about sustaining and protecting things. Not about profit for a top 3%.

Apple is the company telling you, me, us, that their hardware and software are closely integrated. So its not just a private store on some random device. Its a business plan that is aimed at controlling a full value chain. Look up that three word beauty and youll see this is corporate wet dreams before even beginning to care about you or anyone else.

 

[R0H1T]

You are deluded if you think the EU cares about you.

Well I care about this & don't give an eff if the EU courts(?) were to pound sand tomorrow, or the US FTC, as this decision is at least somewhat good for me provided it's actually implemented in the way it was supposed to be. Same goes for 3p payments but that's much less of an issue in India.

 

[remixedcat]

core technology fee

this is exactly what unity did w thier game engine.... they added per install fees n shit like that and there was backlash to epic proportions and then they partially backtracked.

 

[Rahnak]

This is not market regulation. This is a government body forcing a private entity to change its practices despite there being an alternative. Also, nothing is stopping people from using an alternative or a new corporation coming in and creating its own eco system and phone. This is why Linux exists and why I use it. Meanwhile people complain yet continue to use products created by Microsoft and Apple. Lots of hypocrites. If you truly felt this way you would abandon all closed sources software and market places. But be honest with yourself, you don't. You just want to complain and force government on people you don't like. Sad.

You're still missing the point. It's not people that are the main force pushing for changes, it's companies. Companies that have no other option than to use the App Store and Apple's payment system that takes a 30% commission.
People could benefit from this, in theory lower costs could be passed on to customers as lower prices, but in practice that rarely happens, so people aren't really a factor except for the small percentage that just want to stick it to Apple.

Also, your comparison to closed source vs open source makes no sense. Windows is open as far as application distribution is concerned. Heck, even MacOS is open. The only relevant ecosystem that isn't open is iOS/iPadOS.

 

[trsttte]

Oh wow, I just found out something, the iOS changes are iOS only and don't apply to iPadOS. Things like third party payments or links to other payment methods are relative to the App Store so they apply to both systems, but 3rd party stores, notarization, browser selection and independence from using the god awfull safari webkit are only available on iOS! You just couldn't make this shit up

Apple's EU App Store Changes: iPads, TestFlight, Default Stores and More

Apple announced an overwhelming number of changes to the app ecosystem in the European Union yesterday, and with the flood of information, there may...

www.macrumors.com