CloudTalkin

goofy1958 said:

harrykatsaros said:

aderutter said:

This will have far reaching effects, so really hope Apple & Google simply pull the app-store from South Korea.
I

100% agree. Pull the stores and leave South Korea scrambling until consumers rip the government a new one for trying to fix something that wasn’t broken. People retaliating against this legislation will prevent other countries from attempting to do the same. Allowing alternative stores opens up the platform to a world of hurt. There’s a reason I don’t use Android. I don’t want my experience as a consumer to be ruined or compromised because some clueless government bureaucrats half way around the world went on some bullshit self righteous crusade in seek of good press.

Just because other app stores are allowed, doesn't mean that you have to download apps from them.  Stick with the Apple app store, and there is no change for you (or me).  I would never go to another app store other than Apple's, so not a big deal to me.  If people want to be stupid and download unknown apps from another site, that is on them, and one thing I really hope Apple does is have some sort of disclaimer that if you do, you may void your warranty.

Apple couldn't put out a disclaimer stating using an alternative store or infrastructure would void the warranty.  That would be considered anti-competitive and would be smacked down in short order.  Example: Your screen has a small crack and you want it replaced before the crack grows.  Oh no there's an app on your phone from an alternative app store.  Warranty voided.  ←  That dog won't hunt.

Apple could (and will if everything comes to fruition) put out a disclaimer that they are not liable for damage to device or information compromised by an alternative app store app.  Example: Alt-app store app steals cc and banking info or app causes chip to overheat and burn components.  ← Apple not responsible.  That dog will hunt.

aderutter said:

This will have far reaching effects, so really hope Apple & Google simply pull the app-store from South Korea.
I

Imo, neither company is going to pull it's app store from SK.  That's silly.  SK is just the first in a line of countries that are probably going to pass similar legislation.  Neither Apple nor Google is going to leave those countries either.  Again, because it's silly.  Google has one issue (alternative pay system) and Apple has two (alternative pay system and alternative app stores).  The only thing that will have an impact on either store is the option of alternative pay systems.  Google has always lived with the specter of alt-stores and that threat has amounted to nothing of consequence.  Imo, it will be the same on the iOS side.  People are going to continue to go to the App Store just like they continue to go to the Play Store (even though there have been dozens of alt-stores since the beginning of Androids existence)

The alt-pay systems might have a small impact initially.  Might.  My guess is both companies will have an indicator on apps that use their pay systems so customers know when an app uses an alternative.  Dollars to doughnuts, the vast majority of people will gravitate towards what they know, Apple and Google.  

Forum people are all up in arms over what will amount to a nothing burger imo.  

I've never understood the handwringing by some Apple fans regarding alternate app stores.  Imo, it would be an inconsequential development soon forgotten by most everyone.  Android has had alternative app stores almost since existence and virtually nothing has happened because of it.  The Play Store is where almost all apps are downloaded.  Pretty sure it would be the same on the iOS side as well.  People go with what they know and they know the App Store.  Same reason jailbreaking and rooting remain niche activities done by niche techies.  Devs dependent on the App Store for their livelihood will remain in the App Store.

There's no precedent to believe any of the doom and gloom surrounding alternate app stores.  History says they won't amount to anything other than an interesting curiosity.

Doval said:

Beats said:

The solution is easy:

GIVE A SH**!!

It’s sad that casual forum posters in 2016 had better ideas than Apple has executed in 2021.

AR, Gaming, FaceTime, Fitness and other huge multi-billion dollar industries are lost on Apple TV.

tjwolf said:

Apple’s core clientele are middle to upper income folks.  These folks are looking to simplify, not further clutter their living rooms.  That’s why, I think, Apple TV was never going to be a big seller.  It’s not  about it’s price - it’s about clutter and wiring.  As much as I’ve ridiculed Gene Munster for his years’ long prediction of an impending actual Apple TV set, I think that would be the only way Apple could have succeeded in the living room.  Apple should have sourced some 65”+ OLE panels from LG, added a thin & sexy frame to it, and built a user friendly UI on top.  Add some HomePod like built-in speakers & Homkit hub capability (maybe even throw in a wi-fi router a la AirPort) and Apple would have had a huge success.

This is rationalization. Apple TV is simplifying both hardware and software. People who can afford home theater buy it. The middle class and above aren’t throwing away their sound bars, speakers, game consoles and receivers.

The problem is APPLE TV SUCKS!!

What device can you give you almost lossless Dolby Vision streaming and Dolby Atmos like Apple TV.

The Chromecast Ultra w/Google TV.  It does it for $50.  

crowley said:

AppleInsider said:

"This sort of tool can be a boon for finding child pornography in people's phones," he said. "But imagine what it could do in the hands of an authoritarian government?"

But it's not in the hands of an authoritarian government?  It's in the hands of Apple.  If an authoritarian government wanted to do something like this I have no doubt they'd be capable of doing it, I don't see how Apple going after child abusers is going to affect that.

Coupla few things. 
1. It's not in the hands of Apple.  It's not in the hands of anyone.  It's a, thus far, unsubstantiated rumor from a security researcher. 

2. If it comes to fruition that Apple does enable the AI feature, wouldn't they be bound by the law to report the info to authorities (idk, ianal).  If the offending data is stored in iCloud, then it would also be subject to worldwide government data requests.  Requests that Apple has honored ~80% of the time on average.  

3. Keeping in mind this is only a claim by a researcher,  and not Apple, the question would then have to be asked: What constitutes child pornography to the AI?  Is it reviewed by a human for higher level verification?  If so, Apple employee or 3rd party source (like the original voice recordings)?  What triggers reporting to authorities and who bears responsibility for errors?

A parent sending pics of the kids in bubble bath to grandparents.  Photo of a young looking 18 girl topless at a nude beach.  Scouts shirtless around a campfire.  
Would any one of those trigger the AI?  What if all three were on the same phone?  It's entirely possible and not far fetched.  

I can't stress enough this isn't Apple going after child abusers.  This is a researcher making a claim.  But if Apple were going to do so it would most definitely affect that "government access -authoritarian or otherwise- query made by the researcher, in myriad way not even addressed in my comment.