Yeah, I'm baffled at Apple's response to this. Like I get WHY they're doing it, I just don't understand why they'd think they'll get away with it. How would this not get slammed with more anti-competitive lawsuits in the EU? The whole reason they're even being forced to allow 3rd party downloads was due to the anti-competitive nature of forcing everything into their app store, right?

I'm charging you $1 for that comment. I'll have my lawyers tally your overview and they'll provide the total sum you owe me.

I'm all about customer care so I'm happy to extend the usual 30 day due period out to 90, but you'll need to subscribe to the Protection Plan for that benefit, which is only $4.99 a month. But your first 100 comments are free. So, really it's a way better option for you financially over the 24 month period the contract runs for. If you comment a lot, you might be interested in the Premium Plan.

For an extra $2.99, the Premium plan also means I'll manage your password and post for you.

But don't take my word for it, here's Doja Cat...

It's just buying time, so they can make a few billions more until then.

Tim Cook is not British, and would say "asshole." Kindly get your facts straight before posting on the interwebs, sir/madam/other. /s

Serious response: the average consumer doesn't give a fuck.

Most people don't know this is going on.

Most people couldn't care less about side-loading apps. They'll only ever get stuff from the app store.

And then there is the contingent that buy apples products because of their walled garden ecosystem. They want to trust the apps they download are vetted by apple. They don't care if the air pods don't have all the features if you use them on Android because they'll always have an iPhone. They don't care if they can't customize xyz on their phone because they like the design choices or will always adapt to the choices apple made.

If all of this sounds really shitty to you, you probably aren't their target demographic.

Continue not buying their stuff. It crazy how worked up non-customers get over this stuff. It's not like rabid apple fans are grabbing their pitchforks. It's always Android weenies(self included in that group) that do the bitching.

I have seriously considered switching the last few years because, at the very least, they pay lip service to privacy. They also have different incentives in terms of data harvesting since they don't also run a giant ad business at their core (Google). This type of lawsuit isn't the reason I haven't. It's dumb shit like not having a back button or knowing where basic things are.

In the meantime you can use SideStore to side load two apps on your iOS device. Down side you need to open the SideLoad once a week and renew access to your side loaded apps.

For anyone looking to sideload on their iPhone without jailbreaking or paying for a dev account, look into Trollstore, if your IOS version is compatable, you can sideload unlimited apps thanks to the 2 coretrust bugs.

Look into a tool called expo. Maybe it only works with react native, but I was using it to load an app I was building onto testers devices and I didn’t have a developer account.

This might be their strategy. There's no way they could come to the conclusion they'd be allowed to continue charging a fee for access. The DMA is explicit:

(57) If dual roles are used in a manner that prevents alternative service and hardware providers from having access under equal conditions to the same operating system, hardware or software features that are available or used by the gatekeeper in the provision of its own complementary or supporting services or hardware, this could significantly undermine innovation by such alternative providers, as well as choice for end users. The gatekeepers should, therefore, be required to ensure, free of charge, effective interoperability with, and access for the purposes of interoperability to, the same operating system, hardware or software features that are available or used in the provision of its own complementary and supporting services and hardware. Such access can equally be required by software applications related to the relevant services provided together with, or in support of, the core platform service in order to effectively develop and provide functionalities interoperable with those provided by gatekeepers. The aim of the obligations is to allow competing third parties to interconnect through interfaces or similar solutions to the respective features as effectively as the gatekeeper’s own services or hardware.

(7) The gatekeeper shall allow providers of services and providers of hardware, free of charge, effective interoperability with, and access for the purposes of interoperability to, the same hardware and software features accessed or controlled via the operating system or virtual assistant listed in the designation decision pursuant to Article 3(9) as are available to services or hardware provided by the gatekeeper. Furthermore, the gatekeeper shall allow business users and alternative providers of services provided together with, or in support of, core platform services, free of charge, effective interoperability with, and access for the purposes of interoperability to, the same operating system, hardware or software features, regardless of whether those features are part of the operating system, as are available to, or used by, that gatekeeper when providing such services.

It's an incredibly risky strategy, as the fine is payable immediately. That's up to $38B for the first offence. They've had years to check compliance with the EU, so leaving it to the last minute then claiming "confusion" won't be a valid defence. If Apple continues to renege on their legal responsibilities, a second fine of up to $76B can be levied. There are additional fees for late payments and other infractions too. The EU legal system uses the principle of the spirit of the law. This is contrasted with the US system which is the "letter of the law." As such, constructive evasion isn't taken lightly in the EU. Anything but free access is clearly intentional non-compliance.

Pixel is the only decent Android phone if you don't like Samsung.

Pixel with GrapheneOS is pretty good.

Lenovo is a solid choice for a laptop. I really would encourage you to explore Linux rather than Windows. Pop_os and Elementary both have a MacOS feel - I use Pop_os

As far as phones, I use a Pixel 6a, the 6a is the budget model - it performs well and has a great camera. The good thing about androids is that you can customize the hell out of em. Fairphone is another one I would recommend because you can do all of your own repairs if that is important to you.

The Samsung Galaxy line is very popular and they just announced they will support the phone for at least the next 7 years - so there's longevity there - so dunno if that will change your mind, a lot of kinks have been worked out ( just don't buy their appliances)

Good luck - happy to answer any questions

I have been quite happy with Nokias (HMD Global). Only downside is poor spare part availability.

You know what really sucks? Is that I'm in the exact opposite situation you're in. I've been using Pixels since they came out and androids since the Galaxy S3.

I'm so done with Google and their shitty, inconsistent services that I've been waiting for Apple to open up iOS to sideloading and Firefox so that I could leave Android.

Turns out the grass is brown and dying on both sides and we consumers have a choice between two trash options.

It is still a fully locked down device. They will just ban every app signed by your key.