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Comment by kibwen | Hacker News Reader

> Competition is the natural state of affairs.

This is not even remotely true. Economies of scale mean that power accumulates and monopolies emerge, and monopolies are the antithesis of competition. In order to ensure competition, you need regulation to shake the jar regularly.

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How is Apple a monopoly? iPhones are less than 20% of phones sold in the world. Samsung sells more phones than Apple.

The App Store is the monopoly. Once you own an iPhone, you have no choice but to use their software ecosystem where they double dip and charge everyone again to buy apps. It’s dirty.

I love Apple’s hardware. But I want to be able to get software from other sources just like I can on my Mac and my windows computer.

Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo restrict their game consoles in the same way. Are all three monopolies that are somehow competing with each other? Why is it good for the government to force Apple to open up their hardware, but bad to do the same to game console makers?

This is a very good point. Didn't the EU just gleefully wave through the Microsoft/Activision sale?

I can think of a few differences with game consoles:

- Phones are designed and used as general purpose devices, complete with thriving app ecosystems. I’ve installed software from dozens of companies on my phone - for gaming, work, leasure, health, everything. Phones are used much more like computers than an Xbox. We buy them to use them like computers.

- Unlike most game consoles, phones aren’t subsidised by the App Store. Apple makes a profit from iphone sales even if you don’t buy any apps.

- Phones matter more. I carry an iPhone in my pocket every day. I don’t carry a Nintendo switch.

The entitlement here is unreal. “I should be free to coerce others into doing what I want”. Man, just buy an Android. Unreal.

I should be free to buy software for my iPhone from other vendors. I should be free to write & run software on my iphone without paying apple for the privilege.

Its my phone. I bought it with my own money. I do feel like I'm entitled to do whatever I want with my device. Its mine.

You bought that thing wide eyed as to its capabilities. Now you’re complaining and want to use coercion to get a feature. Yea it’s entitled and unnecessary. I can understand if Apple murdered someone and you want to punish them, use the law. But “I like their hardware and totes wish it had side loading” is immoral and egregious.

A big reason why consoles aren't as general purpose is because their app stores are more restrictive than phone app stores. Also this reasoning leads to some odd policy outcomes. If console manufacturers increased their prices so that their consoles weren't loss-leaders, would you be swayed towards forcing them to open their app stores? Likewise if Apple sold iPhones as loss leaders, would you be swayed against forcing them to open their app store?

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