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Comment by hellcow | Hacker News Reader

This is likely my last iPhone. Apple’s behavior in opposing their own customers is unacceptable.

I’ll switch to a Pixel running GrapheneOS, where I can run “real Firefox” and any other software I choose.

The inability to run a real web browser (with extensions!) has been holding me back on the switch to iOS for a long time now. Reviewing Apple's behavior in the EU, I'm not really expecting that to change any time soon. Android is annoying in a lot of its own ways, but at the very least I can run whatever software I want on the thing, and that's too valuable to give up.

What's also really annoying is that copying non-image files to your phone is extremely limited. Apple's hardware is amazing and iOS is generally good and well maintained, but all these little ways they dictate what you can do with your own device make it unbearable.

If you're up for something experimental, then Genode on the PinePhone is coming along pretty well:

https://genodians.org/nfeske/2024-02-15-fosdem-aftermath

Android Firefox lets you have uBlock origin, among other things.

But not about:config :(

Just opened Firefox on my Pixel, typed in "about:config", and got a long list of configuration options.

Works for me on Firefox Beta and Firefox Nightly, but not on normal Firefox.

Ah, you're right, I'm running Firefox Beta. Forgot about that. Thanks for pointing that out.

Same here. But, I'd like to wait until iOS 18 so that text messages from various contacts are less painful.

„Real“ Firefox is now possible in EU.

Well, since Mozilla will have to pay 50ct per year per install to Apple to actually bring Firefox to iOS, I doubt it will happen unfortunately.

I believe they can continue to distribute via App Store for free.

No, the "core technology fee" applies to the app store too.

It depends. The fee applies only if Mozilla opts into the "new terms". You’re right that it if Mozilla chooses the new terms, they have to pay the fee on the app store too. But they are allowed to stay on the old terms and still offer "real" Firefox. In this case they pay nothing.

From https://daringfireball.net/2024/01/apples_plans_for_the_dma:

"Stay in App Store under the current (pre-DMA) rules, exclusively. Developers that take this option: Are not permitted to use any of the new business terms available in the EU, but new iOS platform options for the EU, such as alternate browser engines, are allowed. (Because they are required to be allowed.)"

Mozilla is a nonprofit organization, is it not?

> Nonprofit organizations, accredited educational institutions, or government entities based in the EU that have been approved for a fee waiver are exempt from the Apple Developer Program annual membership fee and the Core Technology Fee.

https://developer.apple.com/support/web-distribution-eu/

https://developer.apple.com/support/fee-waiver/

Firefox is administered by Mozilla Corporation the for-profit entity.

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