humbug1873

That's one of the points missing in the App Store. My favourite model, start with a free 'test run', if the product convices 'buy it' (for a one off price) and give the developer a good way to eventually charge for an upgrade when the next big release comes out. 

A developer has to jumps to all kinds of hoops to reach that goal, might need to update by offering a 'new' product in the app store ... and that whole process is fraught with errors since Apple makes such a poor job in keeping bad actors out of the app store (the search is broken and delivers copy cats and ads instead of what you are looking for).

I guess the poor App-Store experience is by intend .. since Apple figured out a way to rip off more money by pushing developers into subscription models for apps or 'stacks of gold' in games.

sflocal said:

MacOS Sonoma has been the worst MacOS release for Intel-based machines ever.  I'm still on MacOS 14.2 because each point-release update has result in bricking my 2020 iMac and my having to reinstall MacOS, and only with a USB install drive.  Headlines like these makes me wonder if Apple has abandoned any real QC checks with Intel machines.  For the first time ever, I'm seriously considering downgrading my iMac to macOS Monterey as it was completely stable.

It's a disgrace in my book.  Apple really dropped the ball here.

I would guess Intel machines are considered legacy now for Apple. Even though they never say this out loud, various comments when the first M3 machines were released were speaking a clear language - get off of Intel. So in the list of priorities it falls down fast.

Last but not least, Apple moved from making 'insanely great' products to 'making money' as their internal priority (aka Apple has become 'insanely boring' these days). With 'iPhone growth' having reached it's natural ceiling (aka there are just not enough people with enough money on hand), it boils down to saving money, by reducing legacy support (Intel), by dropping innovative technologies  (MicroLED, Car), by filching customers (subscription models, ad's galore in the App Store, that everybody is forced to use, etc).

The bean-counter CEO Tim Cook has run out of ideas that remained from the Steve Jobs area and goes the way of others (like Boeing sacrificing quality on the altar of shareholder value).

Yes there is the Vision Pro thingy, but that likely takes years to take off (if ever) ... then again it's introduction was proof of my thesis. There is simply no 'killer app' for that thing and it's introduction was very boring, no 'oh wow' moment like we had several on the introductions of the first iPod or the first iPhone. I have serious doubts about Apple's innovation machine these days and certainly hope the next CEO will be a product guy again instead of a bean counter.

jas99 said:

It will be interesting to see what the security implications of this become. 

Will European iPhones become infected with malware and distribute that malware throughout the world via messages and email and…?

Looks like we are ending up in a similar situation as with Mac OS. Except for the 'remaining' security issue on the Mac side (unsigned apps). I sure hope Apple offers the security setting that only App Store Apps can be installed on the iPhone.

Draco said:

Another EU money grab. 

I hope these costs are directly passed along to purchasers of Apple products in Europe. 

For decades, Apple prices in Europe are usually about 20% higher than in the US
(That is taking Apple US price in USD, convert at market rates to Euro, add EU sales taxes ~20% ... you end up with a price that is still about 20% lower than the end user prices Apple charges in the EU). So yeah cost of doing business. The EU still needs a way to finance their tax gifts to farmers.

Well it is going to be a great movie - in 3D no less - where everybody can clearly see the exact moment, when his woman stopped loving him.