Federico Viticci Jan 25, 2024

Apple has announced some SWEEPING changes coming to the App Store in the EU with iOS 17.4:

- Alternative app marketplaces
- 0% commission for apps sold outside the App Store, with 0% commission on alternative payment methods (!)
- Third-party browser engines now allowed (!!)
- Game streaming now allowed on the App Store

We have an extensive summary of all the changes on MacStories, with more to come shortly: https://www.macstories.net/news/apple-details-how-it-plans-to-comply-with-the-eus-digital-markets-act/

Apple Details How It Plans to Comply with the EU’s Digital Markets Act

Today, Apple announced how it intends to comply with the Digital Markets Act (DMA), which the European Commission says applies to the App Store. There are a lot of details to cover, but in summary, radical change is coming to the EU App Store, but only in the EU. Let’s take a look at how

Show threadJames AtkinsonJan 25, 2024
@viticci hope people like a Chrome monoculture.
Show threadJohann-Tobias SchägJan 25, 2024
@jimmyjamesuk @viticci EU is comming after that too.
Show threadJames AtkinsonJan 25, 2024
@freemin7 they should have done it first.
Show threadJohann-Tobias SchägJan 25, 2024
@jimmyjamesuk I am sorry the EU has not your personal priorities at heart. I encourage you to vote for an EU political party which prioritzes google demonopolisation over apple demonopolisation. More power to you though!
Show threadJames AtkinsonJan 25, 2024
@freemin7 big fan of the eu generally. I do think this is a misstep however. It only entrenches Chromes monopoly and now sites will be able to say ”just install Chrome”.
Show threadJohann-Tobias SchägJan 25, 2024
@jimmyjamesuk In the EU, you don't believe that Apple will roll that out globally. Dp you?
Show threadJames AtkinsonJan 25, 2024
@freemin7 it’s absolutely a matter of time.
Show threadJohann-Tobias SchägJan 25, 2024
@jimmyjamesuk As is Google being nerfed
Show threadJames AtkinsonJan 25, 2024
@freemin7 I hope your correct, I suspect you aren’t. How are they going to stop web devs only supporting Blink?
Show threadJohann-Tobias SchägJan 25, 2024

@jimmyjamesuk You seem to be moving the goal post or we seem to be talking about different things.

Everyone using blink isn't a monopoly thing. Google pushing chrome through illegal/anti-competive things and knee capping ad blockers through API changes is a monopoly thing.

Show threadJames AtkinsonJan 25, 2024
@freemin7 Chrome/blink is absolutely a monopoly thing
Show threadJohann-Tobias SchägJan 25, 2024
@jimmyjamesuk Googles control over Chrome/Blink is. But i would need to see some strong argumentaent that Chrome/Blink itself is a monopoly thing.
Show threadJames AtkinsonJan 25, 2024
@freemin7 Google used their search dominance to promote and push chrome on the most popular webpage on the Internet. This allowed them to iterate on features extremely quickly without consulting any standards bodies. They then encouraged web devs to adopt these features to the detriment of other rendering engines, which were much more inclined to take a consultative approach. Now most devs don’t like to deal with anything other than blink.
Show threadJohann-Tobias SchägJan 25, 2024

@jimmyjamesuk
That is something that the EU can go after Google for.
> Google used their search dominance

That might be bad but is not a monopoly thing
> Now most devs don’t like to deal with anything other than blink.

Show threadJames Atkinson
@freemin7 yes it is. It doesn’t matter how much they go after search dominance. The damage is done and the only thing that is currently keeping Safari and Firefoxvas generally compatible with the web, is iOS being WebKit only.
Jan 25, 2024 at 7:51pmIvory for iOS
Show threadJohann-Tobias SchägJan 25, 2024
@jimmyjamesuk How is Blink (an open source project) being widespread a problem or "damage"?
Show threadJohann-Tobias SchägJan 25, 2024
@jimmyjamesuk like libcurl is used a lot, how would that be a problem?
Show threadJames AtkinsonJan 25, 2024
@freemin7 I already explained. It has created a monoculture. Web devs don’t want to support anything other than blink. Google does not support the cooperative process of standard setting. Are you a web dev?
Show threadJohann-Tobias SchägJan 25, 2024

@jimmyjamesuk
Google control over Blink and them alligning it with their buisiness interests is something monopoly relevant.

Blink being used a lot or the only maintained implementation of an html renderer is not. People can build browser on top of blink. This provides user choice.

Show threadJames AtkinsonJan 25, 2024
@freemin7 lol. Blink or blink. Awesome. Try and be less transparent. Are yours web dev?
Show threadJohann-Tobias SchägJan 25, 2024
@jimmyjamesuk
Okay. First off i don't owe you any information. Second you don't seem to be engaging with any arguments and seem unable to explain your reasoning. Third
i've done desktop apps which used blink. Not sure if that makes me a web dev or not. But i dislike front-end.
Show threadJames AtkinsonJan 25, 2024
@freemin7 and there we go. Every single time someone defends blink and laziness and desire for a monoculture, it’s a web dev. lol.
Show threadJohann-Tobias SchägJan 25, 2024
@jimmyjamesuk Check your assumptions by checking my profile.
Show threadJames AtkinsonJan 25, 2024
@freemin7 no thanks. It’s pointless. We both know what’s happening. You just don’t want to admit it.
Show threadJohann-Tobias SchägJan 25, 2024
@jimmyjamesuk If you don't want to challange your own stereotypes and preconcieved notions there is really no sense in continuing any of this.
Show threadJames AtkinsonJan 25, 2024
@freemin7 yes me challenging my preconceived notion that Blink should be the only engine is the problem. Very good.