dewme

I have not turned ADP on because I have a mix of devices, some with older versions of iOS, macOS, and iPadOS. I’m not sure how ADP handles backward compatibility so I’m not going to do anything that’ll cripple my older devices. 

I wouldn’t make any assumptions about anything until we see exactly how Apple implements alternative app stores on their proprietary platform. My preference would be to by-default sandbox side loaded apps so they cannot access any core services that have security or privacy implications. I suspect they’ll take an approach similar to macOS where users will have to explicitly grant side-loaded apps access to built-in operating system features that have security and privacy implications. This should not be a big deal since it’s worked out pretty well for macOS, assuming no hurdles based on the fact that the total number of available apps on iOS and iPadOS dwarfs the total number of apps available on macOS.

In my opinion I don’t think that having other ways to get apps on to devices that are now supported by the App Store is going to make a difference for anyone other than a very tiny fraction of developers. It really comes down to what those folks who are complaining about Apple’s App Store expect from an alternative “app store” other than direct download from a developer’s own e-commerce functionality. I appreciate @Cropr’s “wish list for the perfect app store“ but who is providing such a store today? Who is going to build such a store tomorrow with lower commissions, fewer restrictions, and greater app discovery capabilities than what Apple currently charges? 

I’m not discounting the viability of third party app stores because the same basic model is already widespread for products sold through retail channels. But somebody has to have the financial incentive to build them and the details of how to do that in a highly profitable way are still TBD. Yes, discovery of apps could be greatly improved if app stores were more narrowly defined and specialized, like a game store, online gambling store, photography store, personal health management store, etc. I have no problem with this model and actually see it as a normal evolution for the app market in general. The early days of automobiles saw far greater numbers of manufacturers than what we have today. The ones that survived were the ones that could sustain sales and profitability over time. The ones that couldn’t went away or were consolidated into the ones that survived. The App Store is really no different. Some apps don’t deserve to survive.

We may eventually see such specialization emerge, but in the meantime I think the primary beneficiaries of opening up Apple’s proprietary devices to alternative app loading and payment models will be the same deep pocketed and obnoxious self promoters who have convinced public officials through various means that the company’s personal problems are actually global problems that need to be solved through heavy-handed legal directives. The rest of the vast developer community will have to deal with normal evolution and “survival of the fittest” laws of customer driven natural selection. Having more app stores to sell their wares through isn’t going to make a difference in the end if their apps don’t make the cut with buyers. 
 

DAalseth said:

Open question; 
What was this used for? I work on a remote system using Microsoft Remote Desktop. I log into it using an app called Duo, that also logs me into my Microsoft account.
if I don’t need Authenticator to do that, what was it used for?

Microsoft Authenticator is a general purpose 2FA app that can be used with a number of sites once it’s registered with the sites in question. I use it for Google, VMWare, Firefox, Slack, and a few more sites. It’s not exclusive to Microsoft. These authentication apps basically make your device function like a hardware key. The 2FA process is based on two things, 1) something you know and 2) something you have. The “know” part is your password and the “have” part is something that you must have physical access to when prompted, be it a device with an authentication app or a physical hardware key like a YubiKey. (Note: this is very oversimplified)

I’m very curious to see how PassKeys will impact the 2FA landscape. 

foregoneconclusion said:

davidw said: You don't think Walmart is making at least 30% of the retail sale price of an Xbox game? 

Difference between Walmart and App Store:

A. Seller has to negotiate the deal individually with Walmart. Bigger companies have more leverage and get better deals.

B. Walmart buys the product outright and then puts whatever retail price it wants on the product in stores.

C. Most companies are going to be selling to Walmart below wholesale prices.

D. If the product doesn't sell well enough, you're SOL and Walmart isn't going to continue to buy it. 

sflocal said:

Oh my god... people have way too much time on their hands.  Amazing the effort people put into lame projects.  I get it, many don't like the "chin".  Thankfully, I'm not one of them.  Get over it already.  That horse has been beaten to death so many times.

I’m actually glad that some people have or make the time to delve into things that they are curious about and then share their thoughts with others. It’s a healthy brain exercise and is probably not too bad for maintaining mental equilibrium and perspective. Of course, the nature of the topic still matters, but I see nothing wrong with someone’s thought experiment about a chinless iMac being floated. 

The single most important thing about these “wouldn’t it be cool if …” thought experiments is that they represent an individual or sometimes a group contributing to a conversation as a “producer” rather than just being a “spectator.” In the middle I suppose we have the “responder.”

Having a good balance between the three groups: producers -> responders -> spectators is always a good thing, and a very healthy thing for keeping curious people engaged in a community that is based a shared interest. I think the producers have the hardest time both in terms of effort and risk. Nobody likes being shot down, i.e., “stupid idea” response, and sometimes obtaining the material and focus to create and launch a topic is difficult. If we didn’t have people who are willing to take on those production challenges everything around here would be rather boring. Of course we’d all be a lot more efficient and industrious with our use of time. However, I’m willing to sacrifice some efficiency to avoid boredom-induced brain rot, but that’s just me.