nealc5

maciekskontakt said:

sflocal said:

So if I build my own phone and my own os, and sell it as a single product, I would be barred from loading my own apps on it?

F**k you politicians.  

I see no scenario where Apple would ever let this happen.  If passed, it will be forever tied up in the courts.  The iPhone has plenty of competition.  There is zero point to this.

This is no different than Microsoft in the end of ''90. Start using brain. It was bad that time and it is bad now. You people are so blind that you blame Microsoft and then 20 years later it is okay for another large corporation to try and monopolize market. Are you born fairly recently with last year brainwash problem or you did not put enough study to know prior cases like this one and ruling on them?

Microsoft used hardball tactics to force PC hardware makers to pre-load Windows. Some wanted to pre-load Linux and Microsoft tried to deny them licenses.  Microsoft actively tried to kill Internet Explorer competitors. Apple is not doing that. Apple created the "walled garden" iPhone to purposely limit the virus-riddled free-for-all software industry that plagued computer systems for years. When I had a Blackberry in the early 2000's, software downloads were terrible, and some software crashed my phone a few times. The constraints make it work better.  I do agree that now that it is mature, they could open up to competing app stores. But if you don't like the Apple approach, then buy an Android phone (or Windows PC). That's the competition. There's nothing stopping anyone from buying a Samsung phone. Many people do.

AppleZulu said:

Next up, let's not allow automakers to include factory sound systems in cars. Instead, they have to leave the hole open for any after-market radio you want to install. For that matter, they shouldn't be able to pre-install any component for which there is a third-party competitor. Tires, wheels, brakes, fog lights, headlights, floor mats, shocks, turbos, tailpipes, seat covers, seats, wiper blades, wipers, windshields, sunroofs, moon-roofs, batteries, belts, oil, coolant, the list goes on. Let's break the automakers' monopoly on car components they want to force you to take preinstalled on your new car!

Why stop there? What if I want a Toyota hybrid drive train, but I want that in a Chevy. Shouldn't GM be forced to sell me a car without an engine? Why not get Costco to stop selling "Kirkland" brand items.

Apple's business model has ALWAYS been, since the birth of the Macintosh in 1984, to provide a turnkey solution. Operating system and hardware together, from the same company.  And that combination has to appeal to users, or they will go to their competitors, who work on the open hardware model (Windows PC's and Android devices). Apple almost went out of business in the late 1990's because they DIDN'T make the hardware/software model compelling.  That changed, and we are where we are today. What's next? They won't allow Apple to use their own silicon in their products, because it forces out competition with Intel? Let's get real.

Forcing a company to change their successful business model won't help competition.  They may be able to force Apple to allow competing app stores...I can see that coming.  Those of you that had Blackberries may remember the multiple app stores that had variations of the same app, and not knowing which one was the one you wanted.  What a mess. You don't have to buy apps from the Google Play store, but how many do that?

But to sell an iPhone without 1st party apps? Apple gives away iMovie with every phone and iPad.  Apple doesn't stop people from buying Adobe Premiere.  If Congress forces Apple to sell a "bare bones" iPhone, all Apple will need to do is to e-mail a new registered owner with a list of "essential" apps to download.  What a waste of time.

OutdoorAppDeveloper said:

Just download the apps from another App Store. Oh, right you can't. Apple TV is a monopoly and you the owner of the device have no right to install whatever software you want in Apple's opinion.

If you would like to download apps from a different App Store, you can get a Roku, or FireTV.  Nobody is forced to buy an AppleTV.  Of course, if one selects to buy an AppleTV, that means they choose to get apps from the App Store.

avon b7 said:

gregoriusm said:

Does anyone have any suggestions on what to purchase instead of a Harmony remote?

I've never found a dedicated device that could do things to my liking and always thought, that with the correct tweaks, this is something that Apple could integrate into its product line to great effect. And not only via software, including the radios for motorised blinds for example. 

Voice and gesture control is nice but there are times when a touchscreen remote is the perfect tool. 

I agree. There’s still a need for a programmable remote to make it simple to change inputs on my AVR. Obviously, this isn’t necessary for everyone, but for my setup, it’s essential. Otherwise, I need Sony TV, Denon AVR, Apple TV, Blu-Ray and Optoma Projector and drop-down screen remotes. A just try instructing my family on how to set the inputs on each device to make it all work. Now, with my Logitech remote, it only takes one button to set everything.  This kind of thing is still needed. I hope someone else provides this. 

rare comment said:

xyzzy-xxx said:

I hope that some of the limits of Apole Silicon will be lifted:

1. no target disk mode

2. more / expandable ram

3. 3rd party graphics hardware 

Agree with this list and the priority order.  Target disk mode was a nice Apple-only function.  And the RAM situation just looks like greed (at least for desktops where space is at a lower premium).

Since the system RAM and GPU RAM are unified to get speed, it's not a greed thing, but a speed thing.  I suppose there may be a way to do some external RAM but still maintain speed with RAM swaps (like 32 GB unified RAM and then more external if some power user really needed it). 
https://www.macworld.com/article/234843/m1-macs-memory-isnt-what-it-used-to-be.html