This is a most excellent place for technology news and articles.
So now we know it is possible, it is time to replicate that success worldwide.
"Allow". The fact that they must allow, is the key abhorrent element.
Indeed. We, Apple the Almighty, have decided Japan will be allowed to open a shop.
Yeah, allow implies voluntary. They're only doing this because they're required to. ~~Like how Apple only offers phones with USB-C where they're forced to.~~ Turns out they don't do that.
EDIT: I misjudged Apple.
Pretty sure Apple's newer phones are USB-C worldwide. I doubt they're leaving countries that don't require it stuck with old models.
Cupertino has complied anyway, and said it introduced “Notarization for iOS apps, an authorization process for app marketplaces, and requirements that help protect children from inappropriate content and scams.”
Notarization requirements mean that they still maintain total control over the operating system and what software it can run. These kinds of onerous requirements keep the bar artificially high for competitors and are only possible because they are still enforcing their monopolistic control over the platform.
So no, they're not complying at all actually. They're just doing the same thing in a different way.
Exactly what Google was trying to enforce with their mandatory developer verification/app signing until they backed down. Hopefully that lasts for a while, but the future of open computing isn't bright...
The article doesn't go into detail about how the notarization works. I would hope that users can choose to only use notorized apps, or accept the risk.
European iOS still requires """notorization""" (app signing by Apple-verified developers), so I wouldn't hold my breath.
Oh true competition. Nice.
It would be amazing knowing if as a tourist one can have access to a different browser in iPhone or sideload crazy apps that block ads without questioning.
If it’s anything like the EU setup, it’s based off of where your iCloud account is based out of. At least I think that was what it was last time I went looking.
Nope, Apple is way more anal than that.
You need to have an iCloud account registered in the EU/Japan, AND be physically located in EU/Japan.
Changing the iCloud account region requires you to contact Apple, surrendering all of your current account balance, and providing them with an EU/Japan billing method + address. Users have also reported mixed results with VPNs in getting around the physical location requirement.
About alternative app distribution - Apple Support - https://support.apple.com/en-us/118110
Hell, no. If there were "true competition," Apple would sell out and move to a new industry entirely.
This needs to be the standard. I don't understand how we ever allowed it in the first place, really.
because of the cut in digital sales theyd get. phone companies are the current front, but its going to get extremely messy when the front gets for example, put into the console gaming front. its all for money for software they did not develop and prevent that money from going to any other payment processor.
for example on the PS5 front, sony makes more than 50% of their revenue on live service games. none that they actually own themselves. Apple, and to a lesser extent, Google, apply that for ALL software, and gain additional money from developer subscriptions. It's the same fear Valve had back when Microsoft was pushing for the Microsoft Store to become the defacto storefront for personal computers. that push however failed miserably.
"Even if a firm gains monopoly power, the Chicago school prefers to allow the market to correct the problem rather than to rely on government intervention". And of course, Reagan.
Phones were already restricted by what could be installed on them prior to smart devices entering the scene.
Given how powerful the hardware is, it should have eased up long ago. They've over played their hand and are still unable to acknowledge it.
... and it destroyed their company right? Their entire business model broke down and it impacted the security of their customers who complained constantly about the decision. Right?
Right?
Now we just need these laws worldwide.
Watch Mark Carney pretend like “it’s too hard for these 2 small businesses trying to make ends meet”
I don't want a device that requires the manufacturer to allow me to use it.
Unfortunately that's every device
You're right but that doesn't mean I want that.
How can I simulate being in Japan?
Get yourself some universal health care, good roads, affordable small cars, and cheap, beautiful old houses in the countryside.
You forgot about the amazing public transport. Fast long distance trains, tiny local trains, towns with random monorails. It’s amazing.
Don't forget to include a healthy dose of xenophobia, so that you'll feel unwanted and ostracized anywhere you go. Add some fascism too, lots of people there love it.
If you're waiting for a xenophobia-free society with no right-wing nationalist presence before you're allowed to say something nice about a place, I'm afraid the only place we're allowed to praise is the moon.
I'm just putting some gray on your rose-tinted idealized Japan. No need to be so defensive about it. And it's hardly the only place that what I said applies, plenty of places in Europe are like that, or on the fast track to become like that.
Play a Pokémon game
Eeek.
Can I try something else?
Digimon.
Sorry that’s the only way. I don’t make the rules.
other places: they can, but they won't
This might be wishful thinking but could this lead to Nintendo and other console manufacturers having to open up their ecosystem and allow third party stores?
The full text of this act (translated to English) is available here: https://www.jftc.go.jp/file/MSCA_Guidelines_tentative_translation.pdf
I haven't read through the full text, but it does seem to specifically apply to only smartphones. The Switch is a mobile device but I think it'd be a hard case to make it count as a phone and a general computing platform like iPhone/Android.
So what alternative apps stores are there? Is there any other app store for Android that lets developers charge users for the app? Samsung's Galaxy Store I guess? Anything for iPhone?
Where can I get a list of such app stores?
For Android, F-Droid provides only open source apps. It also has a section for downloading other stores.
