Yay! Please stick with this, EU! 🥂
'For too long, Apple has operated a walled garden around its products': The EU forces Apple to open its closed system to third parties
Submitted 1 year ago by cm0002@lemmy.world to technology@lemmy.world
Comments
LostWon@lemmy.ca 1 year ago
Sagan_Wept@lemmynsfw.com 1 year ago
Good stuff EU
ohshit604@sh.itjust.works 1 year ago
I was so hyped when the EU pressured Apple into allowing external software on Apple devices.
Apple killed that hype making the change EU only, problem is I’m encapsulated in the walled garden with an iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Air Tags, HomePods.
Thinking of getting a second phone Android based to partially-escape the garden but if I ditch my iPhone all hell will break loose network wise.
zipzoopaboop@lemmynsfw.com 1 year ago
The funny thing is I would have joined the ecosystem this year if that change made it out of eu
JandroDelSol@lemmy.world 1 year ago
ditch the homepod and don’t replace it with any other spyware, and replace the rest as needed.
ohshit604@sh.itjust.works 1 year ago
ditch the homepod and don’t replace it with any other spyware
Family has gotten use to the HomePod being around, makes simple things like settings timers for cooking or other related task a bit easier.
And yeah, I’m aware it’s spyware. I wanted a “smart-home” and essentially landed on Apple products.
Ledericas@lemm.ee 1 year ago
With android you can change the os if your into it, developer at least
ChapulinColorado@lemmy.world 1 year ago
Some phones only. Or at least that is how it used to be when I had one not too long ago. The boot loader had the be unlocked and some apps like banks or Google pay refused to work at the time (or maybe it was if you had root enabled).
ohshit604@sh.itjust.works 1 year ago
Yeah I was looking into Linux based mobile OS’s and I’ve come to the consensus that hardware selection is very limited.
I was very interested in GrapheneOS but unfortunately it’s for Pixel phones only.
phoenixz@lemmy.ca 1 year ago
Sorry but the only way out of that is to stop buying apple products
I get the design choice, it looks nice, but the hardware is rather trashy and both hardware and software are hostile to it’s users. That won’t ever change
Ledericas@lemm.ee 1 year ago
They dumbed it down over the years
firepenny@lemmy.world 1 year ago
I was you up until 3 months ago. I went nuclear and focused on the more open source side of android and have been so much happier for it. Sold everything to afford the changes.
Ledericas@lemm.ee 1 year ago
It’s also cheaper consider the availability of different Android phones, I left pixel for OnePlus recently, because it decided then screen died after a small drop for pixel 5a, a phone with well known defects
Echolynx@lemmy.zip 1 year ago
Well, they did get them to switch to USB-C, so I’m not holding my breath, but I do hope that this will lead to more interoperability. I’m tired of Apple making Android/non-Apple users feel like second-class citizens.
Repelle@lemmy.world 1 year ago
I still don’t think that one was actually the EU’s doing. Macs got USB C before most PCs, iPads had it for a long time before iPhones, and iPhones switched over 10 years after Apple announced lightning saying it would be their connector “for the next decade”
T156@lemmy.world 1 year ago
Apple got an special exemption the last time the EU standardised the port to Micro-USB.
The writing would have been on the wall for them. Especially as thunderbolt 3+ uses the USB-C connector, there was no guarantee the EU would give them exception again, and lightning is almost certainly not designed to handle the wattage needed to charge a Mac.
But otherwise, if not compelled, I doubt that Apple would have carried it over to the mobile devices. The timing is fortuitous, but likely because Apple has a little leeway before the EU forbade their devices/fined them for not following the law.
gurnu@lemmy.world 1 year ago
Even then, for whatever reason, a (grantedly cheap) 3,5mm->USB-C adapter my dad bought didn’t work at all on his iPhone while it works just fine on my Android
CoCo_Goldstein@lemmy.world 1 year ago
I have to agree. Switching to USB-C is a big step, but I doubt Apple will become more interoperable unless they are forced to.
ILikeBoobies@lemmy.ca 1 year ago
It’s a shame Epic lost this lawsuit in the US because “just switch to Android”
O_R_I_O_N@lemm.ee 1 year ago
Huge win!
RememberTheApollo_@lemmy.world 1 year ago
Most every major company tries to build a walled garden. Apple does so via apps and services, services like netflix do by making sure you can’t watch shows on any other service (arr!), or even something as simple as cordless tools that have proprietary batteries and chargers where it gets really expensive to have to buy different batteries.
PresidentCamacho@lemm.ee 1 year ago
Most every major company isn’t entrenched in people’s lives as deeply as apple is though. If I want to leave Netflix it’s as easy as switching subscriptions. If I want to leave Apple I need months of migration and multiple product replacements.
Or at least that’s what it looks like to someone who has avoided Apple their whole life, it was apparent to me as a teen that the walled garden was a trap. The iPhone and iPhone 3g where the only and last peices of apple hardware I’ve ever owned.
RememberTheApollo_@lemmy.world 1 year ago
You’re right on all counts. It is not cheap and easy to migrate away from apple, and some apps may not have an equivalent.
I’ve been anti-apple most of my life for multiple reasons, and I still am, however my work uses apple products for the employees so it just made sense to have my own as well. I deeply recognize the walled garden Apple has created, and the only products of theirs we use are those associated with the mobile devices. We buy nothing else apple; no laptops, no desktops, no backup, TV, etc.
Ledericas@lemm.ee 1 year ago
And also getting using to an entirely new UI and OS
rottingleaf@lemmy.world 1 year ago
There should be a porn movie with that headline
Showroom7561@lemmy.ca 1 year ago
Destroys their entire business model 😂
MiDaBa@lemmy.ml 1 year ago
Their entire business model has been to focus on systems that lock people in and exclude people who are out. None of this is done for security or as a means for the best possible customer experience. It’s done for the sole purpose of forcing income they couldn’t achieve with innovation alone. I’ve heard so many tech reviewers and even my own personal friends who say they would love to switch if only to try something else. They say they’d switch today if their friends, family and coworkers wouldn’t get mad at them. Apples only real innovation over the past ten years has been built in social pressure.
Ledericas@lemm.ee 1 year ago
And the air pods was often referenced to bring like condoms, on reddit
Earflap@reddthat.com 1 year ago
Trying to get my family to use signal and its like pulling teeth. “Dont you want to be on the same messaging app as everyone”, “sure but you’re the one with a problem”
Mate, I only have a problem because of you!
Showroom7561@lemmy.ca 1 year ago
This is why the only Apple product I’ve owned was a free iPad. It feels claustrophobic to be trapped in their ecosystem.
lepinkainen@lemmy.world 1 year ago
Maybe Nintendo, Sony and MS will be next?
I want a 3rd party store on all my consoles, why can’t I?
Petter1@lemm.ee 1 year ago
Not skilled enough hackerboy 😉🫶🏻
Mod your damn consoles!
ILikeBoobies@lemmy.ca 1 year ago
While I don’t think people get consoles without homebrew being unlocked first it is still better for homebrew to be unlocked on day 1
It will also give the possibility of open development
Realitaetsverlust@lemmy.zip 1 year ago
Not the biggest fan of this tbh. People who want open standards should just not buy iOS devices. It’s not that hard.
prototype_g2@lemmy.ml 1 year ago
You say that until Google realises that there is no other viable alternative and so they can do the same thing since it’s not like there is another option.
I know you ca try and install other OSes, but that isn’t an option for many, as many manufacturers make acquiring root access impossible.
You answer is basically a big “go fuck yourself” to everyone who bought an iphone before they knew about the things Apple did to keep users looked in. Same goes for the acquiring root access on an android phone.
People are not born with knowledge.
Realitaetsverlust@lemmy.zip 1 year ago
You say that until Google realises that there is no other viable alternative and so they can do the same thing since it’s not like there is another option.
Not entirely. I’m fairly sure that, if google decides to lock down pixel devices, the graphene team would evaluate other devices that are more open. The reason they recommend pixels is because they are open, not because they are big google fans. Graphene DOES run on other devices aswell, it’s just not officially tested or supported. And there are other devices with unlockable bootloaders, most noteably older oneplus devices and fairphones.
You answer is basically a big “go fuck yourself” to everyone who bought an iphone before they knew about the things Apple did to keep users looked in
No, my answer is a big “go fuck yourself” to everyone who voluntarily decides to stick with apple devices despite knowing of their practices. Let’s be honest for just one second: Barely any consumer is so tied into an operating system that it would prevent them from switching. What do most people do with their phones? Listen to music, have a messenger, maybe check emails, browsing - that’s it. And you can do that on any other phone. The amount of people that are apple power users that use applications that only exist in the apple ecosystem is abysmal and largely irrelevant in this discussion.
Same goes for the acquiring root access on an android phone. People are not born with knowledge.
True. Neither was I. But in 2025, we have the internet and you can read up on almost anything imagineable. If I wanted to learn about astrophysics, I could find plenty of videos or resources about it. If I want to learn about japanese history during the sengoku period, there are a lot of resources about that. And if I want to learn how to unlock the bootloader of a phone and install a custom rom, not surprisingly, there are resources for that.
This “People are not born with knowledge” argument is so stupid - nobody is born with it, the problem is just that most people are too lazy to learn about their possibilites to break free from oppressing corporate conglomerates. And THAT’S something I have an issue with.
Ironfist@lemmy.ca 1 year ago
Except it is that hard because companies collude and work to drive the competition out of business.
ChokingHazard@lemmy.world 1 year ago
I completely agree with you. So many phones are business tools. Forcing your employer to use the App Store is good. Side loading fly by night bullshit is a risk and lack of oversight the world just doesn’t need. If you want that stuff get an android.
Goun@lemmy.ml 1 year ago
This is such a lazy argument, it doesn’t add any kind of value and it shows you don’t care about how other people are treated. Please stop doing this.
Nalivai@lemmy.world 1 year ago
Companies that do anti-consumer practices shouldn’t think it’s the norm. The more we fuck Apple, the less other companies think that it’s OK to fuck consumers.
Realitaetsverlust@lemmy.zip 1 year ago
Companies that do anti-consumer practices shouldn’t think it’s the norm
Yes, and they would know if people would start voting with their wallets.
Bezier@suppo.fi 1 year ago
Oh no, not more freedom and rights, please no!
Realitaetsverlust@lemmy.zip 1 year ago
I’m not affected by this in the slightest, and I do not think people that buy iOS devices will care about their newfound freedom
jnod4@lemmy.ca 1 year ago
Sixtyforce@sh.itjust.works 1 year ago
I have no doubt the EU won’t have much mercy for American corporations hong forward.
anomnom@sh.itjust.works 1 year ago
When apple announced messaging would be cross platform nobody else adopted it. Any idea why?
Oh yeah one reason: Apple won’t be forced to open up iMessage by EU
ledix@lemmy.world 1 year ago
In the eu literally nobody is using iMessage, so it doesn’t fall under dma laws.
MdRuckus@lemmy.world 1 year ago
Let me see that gong…gong gagong gong gong
AA5B@lemmy.world 1 year ago
We don’t need no friends, allies or influence when we can be bullying, a child’s concept of tough, looking up to other dictators like Putin and Erdogan. Im sure all it will take is loud threats of widespread tariffs and a stable Genius who’s “great” at deals
univers3man@lemmy.world 1 year ago
Go ahead, this is a safe space. Get it out of your system.
tacocatgoat@lemmy.world 1 year ago
Gong gong, gonging gong gong!
LiveLM@lemmy.zip 1 year ago
themurphy@lemmy.ml 1 year ago
Finally. We all about to see better prices and more features. If this ends in lower app store fees, its a massive win for every app company in the world!
MiniMoose4Free@lemm.ee 1 year ago
This is very bad. Their walled garden is perfect for the young, elderly, and stupid.
Hopefully some competitor arrives to replace them.
Petter1@lemm.ee 1 year ago
It is not the walled garden that makes it easy, I mean, only because you open up doesn’t mean that your costumer still can buy only apple and it just works…
dan1101@lemm.ee 1 year ago
You’re right, they are like a bike with training wheels, helmet, and pads.
then_three_more@lemmy.world 1 year ago
No one is forcing you do use apps outside of the app store. It’s about choice.
If such a competitor emerged they’d not be able to trade in the EU, given the size of the EU economy that ain’t happening.
forrgott@lemm.ee 1 year ago
If but perfect you mean perfectly exploitative, sure. The walled garden issue has nothing to do with ease of use my friend; in fact, the whole point is to do the opposite - make anything outside the wall impossibly hard to access or use.
heavydust@sh.itjust.works 1 year ago
Apple is free to sell phones where walled gardens are allowed. You’re also free to stay in the walled garden, Apple lied to you.
echodot@feddit.uk 1 year ago
Yeah because using Android is so difficult
xigoi@lemmy.sdf.org 1 year ago
Walled gardens are not good for anyone.
RainbowHedgehog@lemm.ee 1 year ago
I thought that “walled-garden” was for security and privacy in the case of Apple? I always relied on them for that.
Jehuty@lemmy.ml 1 year ago
Hopefully this actually leads to something lasting, but I don’t have high hopes considering how Europe is getting dragged atm
Rhoeri@lemmy.world 1 year ago
I honestly don’t get it. It’s their product. Why are entire countries getting involved in how they make their own devices?
DrunkRobotMan@lemmy.world 1 year ago
It is in the public interest to regulate companies. This is the best tool we have to promote a healthy market with fair competition, and to ensure companies make safe products that aligns with the public interest.
Rhoeri@lemmy.world 1 year ago
Perhaps instead of watering down one company, maybe all the others should be inspired to make better quality products that can compete with them.
Because- and this is only my opinion, allowing governments to control how a company manages their IP is a slippery slope to go down.