arthurba

AFAICT this does NOT require Apple to give up control or fees.   An "App Store" will be a new class of app that can be distributed by Apple. And you can bet (just like the 3rd party payments) that Apple will charge fees.  Ie: if you want to have an App Store then 30% of your revenues will go to Apple. 

I find the tone of this article really disturbing.

The majority of MacOS apps that natively support M1 have been compiled on Intel MacOS with the Xcode cross compiler/universal binary - not on M1 natively.  

Application developers like me are developing on Intel hardware for 3 Intel platforms (Linux, Windows and Mac).  Now I can't even buy an MBP to develop on any more.  The odd platform out that makes our life difficult it going to come waaaay down our list of priorities.

I've written a more detailed reply elsewhere in the forum: https://forums.appleinsider.com/discussion/224834/the-last-mac#latest

barthrh said:

darkvader said:

jace88 said:

It’s due to recent changes to Australian consumer law around the sale of additional warranties. Basically can’t be done until four days after the purchase. Apple basically confirms this is the rationale in their email to customers after making a purchase of an applicable device eg iPad mini. 

Wow!  That's an amazing win for consumers in Australia!  All 'product protection plans' are scams, and yes that absolutely includes AppleCare.

How is it a scam? For anyone who avoided a $600 repair for a $99 deductible, I think they'd disagree. All insurance is a scam until you need it. I've been paying thousands a year in home insurance and have never been robbed or burned down. That doesn't make it a scam. I hope I never see any value in my life insurance.

Insurance is only a scam when the insurer tries to dodge the claim. Based on commentary from users who filed claims, AppleCare+ pays readily.

In Australia (as in many parts of Europe) we have very strong consumer protection laws.  Therefore goods sold here are also generally more expensive than the same product sold somewhere without those strong consumer protection laws (eg: USA).  Here in Oz, the ACCC have gone on record to say that for an expensive computer (anything that Apple sells, including phones, would qualify) - the consumer should receive a complete refund or a quick repair for minimum cost for the first 3 years.  For Apple to honour the local laws, it really should be bundling AppleCare with every product sold. The problem is, their competitors are not, and Apple aint gonna be the only company following the rules.  Whilst these laws are strong, the enforcement is negligible.  That doesn't stop local suppliers charging way more for their products and claiming the price difference is because of these laws, but not actually providing the service.  So yes, it is a total scam.  Here.  But not necessarily a scam elsewhere.   About 20 years ago this came to a head, and the Federal government did a big inquiry and the result of that came a recommenddation: all Australians should purchase any significant item via grey market import (ie: buy in USA  and buy international extended warranty and ship it here yourself) - even with all the added costs, it works out generally about 10% cheaper than buying it in Oz and relying on the 'statutory warranty'.  For me (any many/most other Apple customers), this is a business purchase, and the extra cost of AppleCare is just factored in to the cost of the product.  We wouldn't ever buy an Apple product without AppleCare.  But yes, technically, it's a total rip off, because the law here clearly states they should provide all those same services as part of the product cost (except theft, which until recently hasn't been available with AppleCare in OZ).

In an opinion piece I think it would be kinder if the author at least tried to unpack Apple’s position. “Apple claims that opening up repair access to its devices would create consumer safety and security risks.”

Those “consumer safety and security risks” are very apparent to me.  Last summer, several people in my neighborhood "lost" their iPhones at local beaches, and community members helped the owners track the lost items down with "find my" (why people find this so hard I don't know).

Last known location - a "phone repair shop" some 40km away (but no, the police won't investigate, and I've no idea why).

So I guess someone can spend a morning "collecting" iPhones and by the afternoon have a few dollars in their pocket.

This creates a “safety and security risk” for iPhone owners.

After iPhone's - the next most common thing stolen here are BMW's - and again, it's for parts.  If BMW could stop 3rd party repairs, they absolutely would, because folk around here are now actively campaigning "don't buy a BMW" because it's bringing crime to the area (particularly at night). I doubt BMW are very happy about the crime or the consumer response.

You can buy BMW parts as "genuine" or “thirdparty”, but it doesn't stop people stealing BMW's for parts.  Having "3rd party" suppliers for Apple parts is also not  going to discourage or prevent the theft of iPhone's for parts.  Making the iPhone irreparable (except by Apple) and/or the parts unuseful (as described here: the display can be replaced but it breaks Face ID) are significantly more effective strategies for combatting theft and keeping iPhone owners safe.

I'm all for Apple making it absolutely impossible for "3rd party" repairs on iPhone.

In my home town we have a Facebook community group.  

Last summer, several people "lost" their iPhones at local beaches, and community members helped them track them down with "find my" (why people find this so hard I don't know).

Last known location - a "phone repair shop" some 40km away. (and no, the police won't investigate, but I've no idea why)

iPhone's are stolen regularly, and yet they are pretty useless to a pawn shop - so this is pretty much the only use for them.  And iPhone parts are expensive.  So I guess someone can spend a morning "collecting" iPhones and by the afternoon have a few dollars in their pocket.

After iPhone's - the next most common thing stolen here are BMW's - and again, it's for parts.  If BMW could stop 3rd party repairs, they absolutely would, because folk around here actively campaign now "don't buy a BMW", which I doubt BMW are very happy about.