They’re not actually relinquishing any control. They’re just allowing subsidiary “app stores” to take a tiny cut while Apple still controls everything.

I’ve been an Apple fanboy for years, but less so these days. I can’t imagine that the EU won’t fine them for this, although it’s hard to imagine any fine that would make an impression on a $3 trillion company.

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    9 months ago

    I suppose EU needs to charge a $1 trillion fine for this deliberate fuckery.

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      The only thing these companies care about is money. These fines need to have teeth to actually make them change.

      Not to mention that we’ve been living in a business and economic environment where Fortune 500 companies have been getting it easy both ways. They’re able to work with impunity AND they lobby the hell out of governments to leave them alone.

      This money could actually start to swing stuff towards the consumer again, rather than this new world where regular people seem to be fighting against the rich, corporations, and governments all at the same time. Although it could be said that those three entities are one and the same.

    • G0ldenSp00n@lemmy.jacaranda.club
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      If my understanding of the DMA is correct, and I think it is given this blurb from the DMA website “Fines of up to 10% of the company’s total worldwide annual turnover, or up to 20% in the event of repeated infringements.” The fines will be colossal.

    • mitrosus@discuss.tchncs.de
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      No. Moneyory fine should not be a form of punishment. I am for old fashioned style, an extreme example is to call the CEO, make him dance around the EU naked and then make him collect the shoes while returning home.

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    9 months ago

    It’s these types of moves that get me workin’ my way out of an ecosystem. I’ve already been strongly considering not-a-Mac as my next laptop.

    • Optional@lemmy.world
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      9 months ago

      If you go all FOSS, good on ya, and fare thee well.

      If you go Windows, Hahahahahaha

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        Agreed in principle. However, due to other factors, I have bought a couple of Windows machines in the last few years. Not my favorites, especially with Microsoft taking pages out of Apple’s app store playbook, but doesn’t suck too much either. Dual booting Linux seems a good compromise.

        • Untitled4774@sh.itjust.works
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          Hard disagree.

          With Windows you’re paying Microsoft for the privilege of them turning on a vacuum for all your private data AND showing you ads as well.

          If anything Windows is worse than MacOS from that standpoint at this point, and both companies need a huge about face for anti-competitive behaviour.

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            Both of them undoubtedly need a smackdown for anti-competitive behavior. I would even argue that both need to be broken up. But Windows can be hardened. And again, there’s Linux.

        • phoneymouse@lemmy.world
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          Windows is spyware. I use Mac, but if I didn’t I would go Linux. Wouldn’t touch Windows with a ten foot pole.

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          MacOS has less customizability and can’t run as many apps as Windows, but is otherwise comparable (only better if you ignore the price point: a 4000$ Windows machine is amazing). That said, they’re both pretty far down compared to a 4000$ Linux machine

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            How much customizability does windows even have these days? Changing the desktop (if you have the paid version) and moving the start menu to the corner? Are we really calling that customization now?

            (Edit for the record, I’ve never touched Mac OS and I currently use Linux after windows threw me away as a user 2 years ago)

            • OsrsNeedsF2P@lemmy.ml
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              Compared to MacOS, Windows still has a lot. You can’t even control individual app’s volume levels on MacOS lol

                • OsrsNeedsF2P@lemmy.ml
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                  I bet you consider closing File Explorer a basic feature and not customization too

    • phoneymouse@lemmy.world
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      The tough thing is Mac laptops are the best. New ARM-based chips deliver an unexaggerated 15-20 hours of battery life. It is game changing to be able to use your laptop without being tethered to the wall all the time. It gives a low battery notification with 2 hours left. 2 hours was the full battery life of my last Intel-based laptop. You’re just not going to find that with any other laptop these days.

      • CashewNut 🏴󠁢󠁥󠁧󠁿@lemmy.world
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        9 months ago

        The tough thing is Mac laptops are the best

        They’re not. I had a 2008 Unibody Macbook pro. In 2012 it literally fell apart. That was after 4 years of constantly hearing about recalls and fixes pushed by Apple for bad hardware fuckups.

        During a search to find a fix for the snapped display frame I came across Louis Rossman who showed in multiple teardowns how poorly made Macbooks are.

        It was a HUGE eye-opener. Macs are NOT well made. They have a fuck-ton of terrible design decisions.

        They look nice but they’re shit.

        E.g. my Lenovo P51 looks like a plasticy piece of shit. But I can pour a full bottle of water over the keyboard and drop it from head height but it will still work and will continue working for the next 15yrs+. Because it’s built to last.

        Even Apple doesn’t have confidence in it’s products forcing you to buy Apple Care to extend a warranty that other laptop manufacturers give you free. I think my P51 had a free 3 or 5yr warranty. My Macbook’s was 1yr.

      • M500@lemmy.ml
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        I agree, I almost got an air, but reconsidered when I saw how much I had to pay to increase the hard drive and ram.

        It’s not worth it.

        Snapdragon is releasing new laptop arm chip this year and chrome is testing the arm version of chrome for windows.

        I think that we will see some decent battery optimized windows laptops this year.

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        The thing with the MBP is that it’s often considered “the best”, when in reality it’s just a premium work laptop. It’s built for heavy use, and it’ll do any extensive job well, whether it’s video editing, software engineering, whatever intensive specialist work you want to do for 8+ hours a day, 5 days a week.

        In terms of branding, there isn’t a consistent competitor, but premium build laptops do exist. My daily driver is still my Surface Book, and outside of the track pad, I’d say it’s better than my MBP that I use for work. I run Windows and Fedora with no problems, and while I don’t bother with detaching the screen, it’s lasted through several jobs and dozens of projects with barely a slowdown. Sadly, Microsoft kept with the gimmicks and didn’t continue to pursue a MBP competitor long-term, otherwise I’d probably upgrade when needed.

        This is a long-winded way to say that there is choice, and whereas a MBP is a consistent choice, you’ll probably get more bang for your buck by picking another highly-rated laptop from the premium market.

      • rottingleaf@lemmy.zip
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        New ARM-based chips deliver an unexaggerated 15-20 hours of battery life.

        I have a Linux setup on a Lenovo laptop with 11hrs (not exaggerated, but heavily tuned), and that’s AMD. With ARM I’m not surprised, but is Apple the only company selling ARM laptops?

        • ferret@sh.itjust.works
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          9 months ago

          Qualcomm’s arm chips are the next best thing and they are nowhere near the apple ones. It pleases me greatly that people are porting linux to arm macs

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    Apple know it’s fanbase will scream at the EU instead of them. I mean, they ate the bullshit apple claim that allowing sideloading will auto-magically give them viruses. I know Apple caters to the none-techy people but this is plain stupid.

    • rowdy@lemmy.world
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      Apple fan here - their mobile devices and laptops. The consumer practices are another conversation.

      Anyway, I never see any Apple fans defending Apple. Unless you use shit tier tech sites like MacRumors.

      But I do see a metric fuck ton of Apple haters complaining about these non-existent Apple white knights.

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        I geuss the comments I read on reddit, hacker news and even lemmy were all fragments of my imagination. It pissed me off that people were literally defending companies fucking them but eh, they kinda deserve what’s happening to them at this point.

        • rowdy@lemmy.world
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          Reddit I’m not surprised. Can’t speak for hacker news but if their comments are all in defense of Apple, that tells me everything I need to know about the site.

          Lemmy…. lol we both know that’s bullshit. The whole FOSS community is here. Just look at the echo chamber we’ve already created in just this thread.

          All I’m saying is we can be a little more nuanced than “Apple bad”. You see the same shit on both sides of the isle. Some people will shit on apple for something, then turn around and praise Google for the same shenanigans, or vice versa.

          I agree that Apple targets the non-tech people. But there are still technical people with legitimate reasons they use Apple. We shouldn’t be discounted because you don’t agree with the company. I think most of us don’t agree with most companies.

          • Diabolo96@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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            I kid you not, I vaguely remember that the comment about the phone becoming less safe due to sideloading was from lemmy. I think it was downvoted to hell but still. Lemmy isn’t all techy people and even then some people consider the walled garden as a feature.

            I know all companies are full of bullshit, and I reckon that Apple makes both great software and hardware, but I hate with a passion how they try to make the most anti-consumer shit ever and then claim it’s for their users/environmental benefits. I lose faith in humanity a little bit more each time I read someone comment stating that the EU forcing apple to open imessage would make it less secure or that their forced passage to USB-C would only hurt the users, or that Apple not including the faster charger was okey because they already had a charger at home ( so as Apple claimed, better for the environment ), but then they go and buy it separately ( because it’s better and faster ) and it comes in a box full of plastic.

            • rowdy@lemmy.world
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              9 months ago

              I respect your stance - I’m willing to bet we’d agree a lot on how we think things should be.

      • DJDarren@thelemmy.club
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        I love my MacBook, my iPad is a lovely bit of tech, my iPhone is perfect for my needs, and my Apple TV shits all over any and all “smart” TV setups I’ve used.

        Apple as a company though, are absolute shit. But they really do make good stuff.

        • Optional@lemmy.world
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          Mmmmpretty sure you’re saying a shit company makes good stuff? I mean, that seems unlikely.

          • DJDarren@thelemmy.club
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            And yet, here we are.

            I have a 15" MacBook Air that’s easily the most beautiful, most powerful computer I’ve ever owned, running an operating system that works incredibly well for me, an OS that syncs damn near perfectly with my phone and iPad. I have a 2011 MacBook that’s running the last version of macOS even though it officially lost support a fair few years ago. It’s still absolutely solid for a 13 year old laptop.

            They make incredible stuff.

            But they have very, very shitty consumer practices.

            • ElJefe@lemm.ee
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              Totally agree.

              As a side note, do you have any tips on updating an old MacBook to newer os? I also have a 2011 MacBook, and I’ve been looking at ways to upgrade the os. So far I’ve found Opencore as maybe the only viable way. Any tips would be greatly appreciated!

              • DJDarren@thelemmy.club
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                Yeah, Opencore is the gold standard for patching new macOS onto unsupported hardware. In fact, I’m not sure there are really any other ways now.

                I can’t speak for how Sonoma runs on a 2011 MacBook, but I have Ventura on mine and it runs just fine. It’s not going to set the world alight with its benchmarks, but it’s still a perfectly usable laptop. Does yours have an SSD and maxed out RAM? Because those two will help enormously.

                • ElJefe@lemm.ee
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                  It does. I upgraded from hard drive to SSD, and maxed out the RAM up to 4 gb per slot several years ago.

                  I’m not super techy, but I’ll figure it out. My main hangup right now is not having a backup drive. I suppose I should start there lol. Thanks so much!

              • ChunkMcHorkle@lemmy.world
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                I’m not the guy you’re talking with, but I have successfully installed multiple flavors of Linux on a 2010 MacBook recently, and am now running Zorin on it. Linux will run on unbelievably tiny resources compared to Windows. I wrote a post about it a few months ago asking the Linux community here for suggestions if you’re interested.

      • Octopus1348@lemy.lol
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        9 months ago

        There are a lot of people saying that sideloading is bad actually on Twitter. You know, the place where you can get brain damage.

        • rowdy@lemmy.world
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          Ah yes but brain damage is a requirement for that data aggregation propaganda service.

          Surely, us Lemmings wouldn’t ever use a Tweet as a source…. Right?

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      Apple caters to the none-techy

      Ok, I’ll bite……

      • I chose to buy into the walled garden for my phone. I like the usability, consistency, privacy reliability, and I know the stats on safe downloads for the App Store vs Google Play. I especially would not touch whatever privacy invading , advertising, crashing dreck that would be an Epic Store
      • At work I develop on a Mac, because my company supports that best for engineering. I have no idea if there is an App Store or how to get to it - I’ll just use Brew, or download open source and IT can do whatever it does
      • my work products are deployed on Linux or various AWS
      • my home laptop is Windows because of games and TurboTax
      • my home lab are Raspberry Pi’s running Linux, but I’m looking at a Linux VM server

      I’ll match techy-credentials with anyone.

      Y’all should stop complaining and chose the right tool for the right job, depending on your needs. It’s good to have choices in approach and the one you chose is on you

      • Diabolo96@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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        In my second comment I mentioned that even some techy people considered the walled garden as a feature and lo and behold.

        I’ll match techy-credentials with anyone.

        None-techy people don’t need to sideload to install their own app, use an alternative store or root their phone, but Techy users would. IPhone don’t allow any of those and the fact that some IT guys use the product for its walled garden features doesn’t make it any more suitable for people who actually wants to have control over their phones.

        The only thing differentiating Macs from Linux are proprietary softwares.

        I chose to buy into the walled garden for my phone. I like the usability, consistency, privacy reliability, and I know the stats on safe downloads for the App Store vs Google Play. I especially would not touch whatever privacy invading , advertising, crashing dreck that would be an Epic Store

        Have you ever heard of f-droid ? free and open source software made by people for people. More than half my apps are from this app store and the other half are sideloaded. Tho I’d recommend you to use one of these alternative f-droid front-ends : Neo-store, Droid-fly.

        Y’all should stop complaining and chose the right tool for the right job, depending on your needs. It’s good to have choices in approach and the one you chose is on you

        Absolutely, I agree a 100%.

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        Just because you opted in, doesn’t make their statement untrue.

        The simplicity of use in the walled garden, caters to people who aren’t techy. It’s a huge reason for their success.

        But just like “nontechy” people like my husband can use an android, “techy” people can opt into a system that caters to the opposite.

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      At one time, they could’ve. These days, after decades of takeover by Repugnicans and their Chamber of Commerce masters, I doubt it. Even if they still can, the real question is “Will they?”

    • linearchaos@lemmy.world
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      Unfortunately we’re not a government of and for the people anymore were government of the corporations. Literally nothing gets done anymore without paying the corporation’s off in favors.

      We’re approaching the point at which we’re so corrupt that were no longer trying to hide it.

      Any one of these companies has more than enough money to buy any outcome they want and US politics is designed to take that money.

      • jaschen@lemm.ee
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        It’s sad but true. Until we get money out of politics (Citizen United), we won’t get out of this mess.

  • rottingleaf@lemmy.zip
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    I can’t imagine that the EU won’t fine them for this, although it’s hard to imagine any fine that would make an impression on a $3 trillion company.

    You need to write it down, not imagine it. Remove one zero from 3trln$ and that’s it.

  • AutoTL;DR@lemmings.worldB
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    This is the best summary I could come up with:


    Today, Apple announced how it plans to change the rules for developers releasing iOS software in the European Union in response to the bloc’s Digital Markets Act (DMA) coming into force in March.

    Developers can either choose to use these new business terms or stick with the existing model and continue to distribute through the App Store as normal.

    The App Store itself is also opening up to allow game streaming services globally, which, until now, have been all but banned under Apple’s existing policies.

    Earlier this week, Spotify — a longtime critic of Apple’s 30 percent commission rate — announced plans to bring in-app purchases back to its iOS app to let users upgrade subscriptions or buy audiobooks in the EU after the DMA comes into force.

    Passed in 2022, the DMA is the EU’s strongest attempt yet to rein in the alleged anticompetitive practices of Big Tech companies, which the regulation refers to as “gatekeepers.” The EU designated Apple as a gatekeeper last September and listed its App Store, Safari browser, and iOS operating system as “core platform services” that would have to comply with the DMA’s rules.

    As well as designating iOS, Safari, and the App Store as core platform services, the European Commission also opened an investigation into whether iMessage should be included (which would include having to make it interoperable with rivals), but reports suggest it might avoid being designated, and today’s announcement from Apple makes no mention of changes coming to iMessage.


    The original article contains 1,199 words, the summary contains 248 words. Saved 79%. I’m a bot and I’m open source!

    • CaptObvious@literature.cafeOP
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      Missed all the bit about trying to drill holes in the law in order to keep control of devices that they’ve “sold” to customers. But otherwise, good bot!

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    I’ve been an Apple fanboy for years, too, and I still am. The alternatives aren’t exactly better. And anyone who is surprised that Apple is dragging its heels and trying to do the bare minimum to comply, well, get back to me when you’re no longer twelve. Companies aren’t your friends, even when they look like they are. Hell, Google’s sudden about-face regarding Right to Repair is 100% intended to fuck over Apple. It’s not about the consumer, it’s about the money. Always, with every company, every time.

    Developers want alternate app stores because they want to make/keep more money. There’s no other reason. Every other reason given just comes back to more money. Is that a more valid argument simply because they’re smaller?

    I’m in favor of Apple opening up iOS to alternate stores. I think it’s going to be a privacy and security nightmare, but the horse is pretty much already out of the barn and the barn is burning, so… whatever. But I’m not so naive to think Apple’s going to fully embrace the ideal concept of alternate stores unless somehow it’s a way to beat Google’s or Samsung’s face in, and take their money.

    • Tau@sopuli.xyz
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      There are also app stores like F-Droid for Android to install Open Source apps, those are not in for the money, but for freedom, to make something nice for all

    • Tiger Jerusalem@lemmy.world
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      I find really disingenuous to talk about how sideloading would be a security nightmare when IOS had serious exploits that weren’t addressed for years.

    • richmondez@lemmy.world
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      How is it going to be a privacy and security nightmare to be able to install what I want on hardware I own? If you don’t want to take a risk and install things from other app stores or side load you don’t have to.

    • GigglyBobble@kbin.social
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      To the replies in the other threads, they never see fanboys defending Apple, especially not on Lemmy: see? Whataboutism and “sideloading is automatic security and privacy (?!) nightmare” kool-aid.

      More direct reply: no, alternative app stores don’t imply less security. They could be more secure even. And sure it’s all about money for Apple (and other companies = irrelevant here) but that doesn’t void criticism.

      • AA5B@lemmy.world
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        Have you ever submitted an App to the App Store? They have much higher standards on ownership, transparency, not being scammy, and they run some decent scans before the upload is allowed. I’m not claiming they’re perfect in protecting their customers but they set a higher bar than anyone else.

        While other stores could meet that standard, that would be naive to expect, given current stores

        • GigglyBobble@kbin.social
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          They have much higher standards

          Than who? Android play store? Definitely. Decades old established package managers like Debian’s apt? Not so much.

          Or do you mean the potential third party tool for iOS that doesn’t even exist and now is much less likely to be good because of Apple being a douche about it?

    • shrugal@lemm.ee
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      Literally no one thinks Apple will just roll over and start playing nice. That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t criticize and call them out for the blatant shit they keep doing.

    • Raz@lemm.ee
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      You were doing great, until the last paragraph. Too bad.