• Lung
    link
    fedilink
    English
    1910 months ago

    Well, not really, because you could use android, and it commands 70% of the global market share

    Also, the way the law is, you have to have both a monopoly & also be causing substantial harm to the public. I.e. you can have a monopoly if it’s really nice and more like a public utility. So after the Microsoft antitrust case (for basically same thing), it’s been very hard to justify breaking up tech companies or banks

    If a company acquires its monopoly by using business acumen, innovation and superior products, it is regarded to be legal; if a firm achieves monopoly through predatory or exclusionary acts, then it leads to anti-trust concern

    For example, business can defense that its business conducts bring merits for consumers

    (Wikipedia)

    What happened with Microsoft browser tie ins antitrust?

    Ultimately, the Circuit Court overturned Jackson’s holding that Microsoft should be broken up as an illegal monopoly. However, the Circuit Court did not overturn Jackson’s findings of fact, and held that traditional antitrust analysis was not equipped to consider software-related practices like browser tie-ins

    So in short, Apple’s legal / business strategy here is totally solid. Arguably helps users, defended by precedent, and doesn’t dominate market share. Of course they have to debate all this

    • @[email protected]
      link
      fedilink
      English
      4010 months ago

      if a firm achieves monopoly through predatory or exclusionary acts, then it leads to anti-trust concern

      Hey, ChatGPT …?

      Closed Ecosystem: Apple is known for its closed ecosystem, which can limit users’ choices. For instance, iOS users can only download apps from the App Store, and Apple tightly controls the app approval process.

      Proprietary Connectors: Apple often uses proprietary connectors and cables, such as the Lightning port, which can be inconvenient for users who want more universal standards like USB-C.

      Repairability Issues: Apple products are often criticized for being difficult to repair. For example, the company discourages third-party repairs and designs its products with components that are challenging to replace.

      • @[email protected]
        link
        fedilink
        English
        1210 months ago

        To be fair, USB-C didn’t exist when Lightning was introduced, and it was vastly superior to Micro-USB.

        It doesn’t really have any reason to exist now…

        Agreed with your other points though!

        I have an old iPad that I try to reuse for another purpose and all the locks to stop me to keep using it make it such a pain in the butt, when the alternative is simply to enable developer mode on an Android tablet.

        Thankfully I remembered when buying a laptop and skipped the very enticing M-series hardware, because in 5-7 years that thing is a brick destined for the landfill.

        • @[email protected]
          link
          fedilink
          English
          510 months ago

          To be fair, USB-C didn’t exist when Lightning was introduced

          Hmm, I wonder why that was?

          Lightning is a proprietary computer bus and power connector, created and designed by Apple Inc. It was introduced on September 12, 2012

          Design for the USB-C connector was initially developed in 2012 by Apple Inc. and Intel.

          So Apple helped develop USB-C but failed to integrate it into their products for a decade. Now, why would they do that?

          Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lightning_(connector)

          https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USB-C

          • @[email protected]
            link
            fedilink
            English
            210 months ago

            Because it’s not a superior connector. Lightning is better as a purely charging port. It’s less fragile and doesn’t have a million competing implementations. One of the most frustrating things about USB-C is you can’t be sure if a cable is actually going to work.

          • @[email protected]B
            link
            fedilink
            English
            110 months ago

            Here’s the summary for the wikipedia article you mentioned in your comment:

            Lightning is a proprietary computer bus and power connector, created and designed by Apple Inc. It was introduced on September 12, 2012, in conjunction with the iPhone 5, to replace its predecessor, the 30-pin dock connector. The Lightning connector is used to connect Apple mobile devices like iPhones, iPads, and iPods to host computers, external monitors, cameras, USB battery chargers, and other peripherals. Using 8 pins instead of 30, Lightning is much smaller than its predecessor. The Lightning connector is reversible.

            to opt out, pm me ‘optout’. article | about

              • @[email protected]
                link
                fedilink
                English
                710 months ago

                Obviously it would be updated? Why would it be obvious when Apple hasn’t updated it at all, it was introduced in the Iphone 5 where it had USB 2 speeds, the Iphone 14 also has lightning connection and has… USB 2 speeds.

                10 years and no update. Seems more like you liking Apple to mucb to think rather then us hating them too much.

          • @[email protected]
            link
            fedilink
            English
            1110 months ago

            it feels better

            that’s based on nothing. technically, it’s inferior in every way.

              • @[email protected]
                link
                fedilink
                English
                310 months ago

                So basically you would want every device to use a nonexistent updated lightning just because “it feels better”? Are you aware that lightning is a proprietary connector?

                Additionally, USB-C debuted only two years later than lightning, so age is no excuse here.