The problem is that people can easily be induced to install software that negates the benefit of Apple’s hardware. Apple can’t deliver their hardware benefits without also controlling the operating system.
It’s as simple as that.
It’s as simple as that.
Nobody is talking about loading something besides iOS on Apple mobile devices. The argument that "The OS is everything" failed over 20 years ago in US v Microsoft.
It would be simple enough for Facebook for example to build a store into their own App, and build their own ‘platform’ within the Facebook app.
I'm 100% sure that if Facebook could have an iOS app store, they would start one. It's worth all the work for the improved tracking alone, as app download ads are a big part of Facebook's mobile revenue.
From a technical perspective, I'm not sure how hosting littler apps within your own app, which is already on the Apple App Store and subject to its review process and rules, would allow you access to improved tracking.
On the subject of a Meta third-party app store independent of Apple's control- yes, there is motivation there to do that, but I am dubious of how much of a threat that is to the end user because:
1. Apple still maintains control of iOS and can restrict invasive tracking from the OS level.
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=30199125
2. I'm not actually convinced that Meta, Google, Amazon, et al are really capable of executing successful alternative app stores. They would need to make it a sufficiently seamless and friction-free experience, and offer enough incentives for users to overcome having to sign up for yet another service just to use the apps they already have access to.
Apple is less concerned about this than profits.
They could make their hardware ecosystem more open, that's easy, but that wouldn't make them a significant amount of extra money, so why would they?
"Cloud services, Apple Music , advertising, video, and payments saw all-time revenue records, while the App Store saw a new June quarter revenue record."
"Services brought in $17.5 billion during the quarter"
https://www.macrumors.com/2021/07/27/apple-services-revenue-...
"The Company posted a June quarter record revenue of $81.4 billion"
https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2021/07/apple-reports-third-q...
=> Services is already 22% of their revenue and their strongest growth segment.
Thanks for posting data proving me right. You probably should have googled that before you made your false claim. Not after.
They could, they just choose not to because there is no money to be made out of that.