Really hoping the EU finally forces Apple to open up their devices and we can be done with their nonsense. Let me use real Firefox on my iPad already!
Apple is legally required by the EU Digital Markets Act to allow 3rd party app stores on iOS by March 2024
This is not going to be popular but Apple’s walled garden is why I am a customer. The fact that they don’t carry decades of baggage into to their ecosystem is a benefit. Did I hate that I had to leave a perfectly fine 2012 iMac because no more updates and missing features? Sure, but I got a decade out of one computer.
They control the hardware and software in a tightly integrated manner that works great. People who complain about this not being open… you’ve got other options. To me, it’s a product differentiator.
Before someone says I’m not capable of using a “real” OS, I ended up here in 2007 due to OSX with its *nix backend. I started time sharing on a VAX8800, built a career on Sun stuff, jumped to Linux in 1994 doing development (submitted driver updates, FAQs and more). I’ve never looked back and I’m certain I am as efficient and productive as I can be. I use Linux and Windows as well but for different things.
I get your point, but third-party app stores are optional. You can still only download apps from THE App Store.
And I get what you mean, when it comes to the longevity of devices. I feel like this will change in the future, but time will tell.