It seems like Apple is really tempting fate here. These onerous and anti-competitive rules will surely invite more regulation.
I was listening to the ATP podcast. All three hosts are big fans of Apple, they use and promote Apple products, and make all or some of their living selling apps. They all think Apple is making a huge mistake here.
Is there anybody who thinks Apple’s recent moves are going to be good for them long term? When even your biggest fans think you are being petulant and foolish, maybe it’s time to reevaluate?
Has there ever been a situation where a public company has valued consumer trust or goodwill?
To me it seems like it only matters when consumers actually have a choice and you need to convince them to give you money - once you've locked them in (because of contracts or anti-competitive practices), it doesn't really matter and you can (and should) milk them out of every dollar until you can't (as in competition or regulation disrupts the status-quo).
Did the lawyers inside Apple really expect their changes to satisfy EU-based regulators? Do they think this will just go away?
Nobody seems to think Apple is being smart right now. Usually you can find at least some supporters from their fan base, but not this time.
Hmmm…
They were fans of Apple before they ever started building in the ecosystem.
Sure, but there’s also the really obvious interpretation.
These are people who will immediately earn more if the apple tax is reduced.
Are you trying to make the argument that Apple's rules make sense and those who want to see change likely have a conflict of interest? If so, then you may be the person I didn't think existed. Do you think Apple's doing the right thing?
In fact I’d argue that it’s almost exclusively those with a conflict of interest who care the least bit about the Apple tax.
> Do you think Apple's doing the right thing?
Yes. Apple can charge whatever they feel is appropriate. If at some point their prices will be too high, I can jump ship.
I think you are answering a slightly different question than I’m asking. You might think they should be allowed to run their platform however they want but the reality is that because of their size and power, they can’t. Regulators will at least force them to allow alternate payment providers and if Apple keeps pushing back, they will eventually be forced to allow side loading or alternate app stores (which I would think would be a disaster).
So given the regulatory environment they exist in, they only way their current strategy is smart is if they can defeat the EU. I don’t think they can and I think we will all be worse off in a few years because of Apple’s petulance.
Yes, but the 27% apple tax is separate from the payment providers.
If my electricity company starts fucking around, people might literally freeze to death.
Apple store is not at all like a public utility, it would be downright madness to regulate it like such. Public utilities have very real impact on the lives of the public, Apple tax doesn’t.
I agree with you that it shouldn’t be regulated like a utility. I’m saying that Apples obstinance is going to lead them there.
If emergency calls don’t work, people die. Phone calls not working would have significant economic impact too, although less so nowadays.
The transactions covered by Apple Tax only pay a significant part in some developers lives, they don’t matter to the public in the same way utilities do.
> I’m saying that Apples obstinance is going to lead them there.
Unlikely, the iOS appdev lobbyists don’t have that kind of pull.
Both Apple and Google should be compelled to admit anything from F-Droid into their relevant app stores, at whatever price the developer sets.
When an app developer is proscribed, this option will allow access to mobile platforms that Apple or Google would otherwise revoke and ban.
There is enough attention on this issue now to force this to happen.
https://nypost.com/2022/01/31/googles-online-ad-business-wou...
That's the only explanation that respects his intelligence.
It seems like EU regulators are starting to wake up (both this and the recent GDPR developments) and are able to see straight through the bullshit and recognize bad-faith behavior.
It's politically very easy to bring out the big guns here for European politicians.
At least the US government can be brought to the negotiation table if it turns out to be a problem.
If this results in a more competitive environment where we're less stalked & screwed by big tech then why not? The enemy of my enemy is my friend.