I assume it's a complaint about how iOS devices are computing appliances - they're much less open than the PCs that they've come after.
From my point of view, I'm extremely glad that they're computing appliances and mostly locked down. The younger people here probably have never had the "pleasure" of removing 568 "helpful" toolbars from IE6. For people who just want to use a few applications, a locked down device is simply superior to a more open computer.
Once the EU enforces their external app store policy, you won't be forced into using non-Apple software. You can still continue using your iPhone exactly the way you do today, with the option of letting it do more if you ever wanted. It is truly a win-win situation unless your main source of income is Apple stocks.
I'm ambivalent about the EU regulations. But it'll be interesting to see what happens, and whether consoles are next, and what that means.
I already have to educate and then console when they fall for email or SMS scams. Are you really saying that means I have to accept a new vector from scam stores that impersonate the Apple app store and just charge $100 for "Free" apps?
This regulation will be good for techies AND good for fraudsters. We don't have to pretend there is no downside.
Yes? It's rather important that they know how to distinguish the two. If they aren't honing these skills, what's stopping them from logging into a fake iCloud dialogue on someone's random website, or feeding their SSN to the "IRS" over the phone?
It's not like... a naive request. Talk to aging adults about fraud. They will be subjected to it as long as they have some form of individual agency. It sucks, but it's better than telling ourselves fairytales like "it doesn't exist here, though!"
I still don’t see why that means government-mandated removal of a consumer protection is an unmitigated good thing. I guess it’s an idealism I just don’t share.
I’m not opposed to the EU regulation; I am a fan of policy experimentation. But I do expect EU to see a huge increase in scams and fraud, which I guess we should celebrate?
DRM-locking your tires to certain manufacturers is a good thing, arguably. The manufacturer has exact measurements and can arguably make safer tires than anyone else.
...that's not an excuse to allow it, though. Yes, by allowing third-party tire manufacturers we sacrifice a bit of safety. If safety is a foremost concern of the OEM, they can work with third-party manufacturers to ensure they keep the users safe too.
> But I do expect EU to see a huge increase in scams and fraud, which I guess we should celebrate?
Again - putting a web browser and cell phone onto an iPod ushered in 2 new avenues for fraud. The number of people who were being scammed on-the-go skyrocketed after the release of the iPhone. That doesn't make it a defacto bad release though, and most people would argue both features were a net-positive. So yeah, people did celebrate that newfound freedom. You don't have to use it - you can be the sort of Luddite who only uses Apple Applications and calls the web a hive of scum and villainy if you want. But other people will use it, and probably enjoy and celebrate the feature. Lord knows Mac and Android users have.
Until publishers decide to launch their own app store and remove games from the app store, forcing me to create accounts and store payment details with them.
Then, poeple like me who explicitly purchased apple devices because this is a feature, are forced to have a "choice" between install the app and the store of their proviser, or no app. That's a lose in my book.
App Store transaction fees amortize the costs of development/operations of not just the store itself but the OS it all runs on. If you pay 99¢ for an app that covers re-downloads and multiple devices in perpetuity. All running on a global CDN with exceptional uptime.
Apple doesn't charge users a dime for new iOS upgrades over years of the life of the device. Even years old devices get the latest software features of new iOS versions. Supporting old devices has a non-zero development cost.
Considering how Apple makes almost 50% hardware margins on every iPhone sold, I think they make plenty enough to continue software support off the initial hardware sale alone.