@Gargron I miss when android really was an open platform. Android might let you “install” any side loaded app, but the hardware and os is so locked down.
I really wish there was good third option in the phone space. :(

@Gargron I read (lightly, so feel free to correct if I misread) that app distribution will still happen using Apple’s infrastructure and as such applications will still need to abide by certain limitations like no malware and such. They are getting rid of the 3% processing fee if you use other payment processors (this would be what credit card companies take + ~.5% I assume they are counting towards compliance, infrastructure, and profit).

Now is their infrastructure worth 27%? Very debatable.

@Gargron

We should ALL switch to FOSS, Linux or a #DeGoogled smartphone, e.g. from #FairPhone.

It is still #ReclaimPrivacy Week!

@Gargron Question: If the EC rejects Apple's proposal to collect rent for apps distributed via other channels, would you stay with Apple, or is the fact that they even tried this enough to make you leave?

@Gargron But only when switching to the alternative app store plan for distribution. Not that that helps from a philosophical point of view.

@Gargron

Being able to pull the battery is a plus also.

@Gargron it’s like unity if they were a phone brand instead of a game engine

@Gargron @lisamelton that's the one that sold you off?

@Gargron Whether you agree with the EU or not (and there are fair arguments on both sides), they did a remarkable job of exposing the rationale behind Apple's policies.

The hard-core Apple fans always made apologies for Apple's behavior on security/privacy grounds (and of course this was Apple's line), but it's now completely inarguable that it has to do with anything besides extracting money from developers.

So at least we got that out of the way.

@Gargron @lisamelton

I know. They only make the hardware, the OS, the APIs, the distribution channel, the marketing, have the trust, did the R&D…what are they thinking?

@Gargron
it feels even worse than Unity (maybe

@Gargron Apple have for the longest time been upchargers and rent seekers. When your business model is producing status symbols over useful tech, you're not a computing company, you're a designer brand, and frankly everyone deserves better than what they've given us.

@Gargron dah, it took you this long to recognize was a horrible company Apple is?

@Gargron love android. Dumped Apple six years ago.

@Gargron Did no one there learn this lesson from Unity's last fiasco?

@Gargron they've been unhinged for a while.

@Gargron #Apple has ALWAYS been an overpriced pile of shite: surprised it's not been bought by #SpaceNazi Elmo

@Gargron @cronocx you’re not wrong, but Google is no saint either: https://www.theverge.com/23994174/epic-google-trial-jury-verdict-monopoly-google-play

@Gargron Wait... Really? This is where you draw the line? I mean.. I'm happy, don't get me wrong..

I'm just sort of fascinated that after years of lying, deeply anticompetitive practices, vendor lock-in and deep hostility to the open web and free software... (Not to mention mediocre products, but that's more subjective)

This is the straw that broke the Camel's back?

Happy to hear it though.

@Gargron I was actually looking into GrapheneOS today as an alternative to iOS (paired with a Pixel).

@Gargron I recently switched to a uConsole for this very reason. Fully free hardware & software, a portable cellular GNU/Linux handheld. Thing of my dreams, to tell you the truth.

@Gargron Time to Boycott Greedy Corporations

@Gargron I honestly can't see it going through. Every app developer I know is in revolt. They'll lose SO MANY apps.

Like, some current apps will get withdrawn (probably a LOT of current apps in the EU, as a lot just won't be profitable under the new rules), and they're going to lose so, so many FUTURE apps.

The once-proud App Store will become a desert.

@Gargron Wow, that first sentence is exactly what I've been thinking... yikes.

"If #Apple continues on this path I’m going to have to switch back to Android."

@Gargron Android's not doing too great right now either. Google just pushed an update that corrupted people's storage - AGAIN.

@Gargron I don’t think it’s doable. They will just push lots of small apps out of the AppStore, and that’s a net loss for them: quality matters more than money lol.

@Gargron I've always used Android. Love it!

@Gargron the App Store fee would only be justified if there was an ability to opt out, which there isn’t.

@Gargron Switching to Google ecosystem doesn't really make things any better. Their ethics aren't any better.

@Gargron I'm just kinda baffled that you didn't see this coming.

@Gargron Bummer or Congrats, whichever is appropriate.

@Gargron And they have often turned a blind eye to app vendors tracking/spying on users (while they get a cut of the loot). This just dropped a couple days ago: https://www.404media.co/inside-global-phone-spy-tool-patternz-nuviad-real-time-bidding/

Having just switched from an iPhone to a Fairphone, I can't imagine being held captive to Apple's app store knowing the above is still ongoing (and not even the first time this sort of thing has cropped up).

@Gargron
Why wait, just do it. I mean I cannot understand anyone using iOS, once I got 2 different iPhones from my employer, I don't wanna use these phones not even if given to me for free. iPhones lack so many customization options and the restrictions of interconnection are so awkward... and as a webdeveloper it's also a pain, no possibility to test on a real iPhone if I don't have MacOS at the same time. Apple is the new Microsoft.

@Gargron Apple have, and always will be, a terrible company who think they are way above everybody else....

@Gargron crDroid! Graphene! I'll help ya update ^ ^

@Gargron It‘s fun to read all the answers here from nerds who hate Apple for reasons 99% of normal users wouldn‘t care a second about. Rants from people who value customization over usability, over design, over privacy and over security. You may know how to make your Android phone secure and private, but my parents (and most everybody else I know) sure as hell don‘t and never will.

@Gargron Let Apple die. They deserve it. This time there won't be Microsoft to rescue them.🤷‍♂️

@Gargron I think there’s some logic to a fee. I think it’s probably closer to 3% than 30%. I might be able to get all the way to 5%.

@Gargron I don't really know what to do anymore. I was always a reluctant iOS user, I started with Windows Phone, but I refuse to let Google track me.

There are de-googled options but they are difficult to maintain and often break security. The hardware is never as good either.

Ubuntu had a nice start in this space but couldn't keep up. I don't really know what the answer is but I'm frustrated. I've moved most of the rest of my life to FOSS, but mobile is still a challenge.

@Gargron I don't understand why people buy Apple products... They are pretty bad developers, and their hardware isn't either that good. If you buy Apple products, you assume to be restricted and closed.

@Gargron If you are really thinking deep about it, Apple after the death of Steve Jobs is a luxury brand than an innovative tech company.

While their stuff is cool and hip all from my perspective, their stuff is extraordinarily expensive, their ecosystem limits what you can do with it, and the garden wall approach.

This is a move prioritizing money rather than innovation and this isn't sadly unusual as the world slowly turns into a place of greed.

@Gargron what about the cost of developing all the developer facing api’s?

@Gargron do it. Android is better now anyway