US judge says Google must open Android phones to rival app stores

Why buy a device where you couldn’t?

That’s coming soon, but only in the EU.

“Is there any reason why this calculator needs permissions for my camera, microphone, contacts, and files?”

—said no one ever who posts on facebook that their account was hacked

It wouldn't be such a problem if it was just about quality control. But the app stores pocket big bucks from the apps you download, including a large cut of subscriptions to services entirely unrelated to the store just because you downloaded the app through them. If I recall, Google takes something like 20 percent and some takes something like 30 (I can't recall the exact numbers, just that Apple is marginally worse about it).

For example, I love Dropout, a comedy media platform from the former people at College Humor. They offer a $5.99/month subscription for access to their entire catalog. If I went to their website, created an account and bought a subscription, that is $5.99 directly into the hands of the creators I wish to support. I can also then go download the app and enjoy the same service throught that account on my phone or other devices.

However, if I go to the app store, download the app, and buy my subscription in it, Dropout now has to pay Google or Apple a sizable chunk of that $5.99. And not just for that month. For every month that follows for the life of that subscription. Just for the benefit of having an app available to users on devices that hold monopolies on these services.

You might be thinking, well, they could just raise the price for the subscriptions when you sign up through the app to offset the extra fees. You would think that, but no. If I recall correctly, Apple and Google both also require apps to sell subscriptions at the same price as they would be sold outside the apps. If you don't comply with that, they'll drop your app altogether. That means that everyone has to pay more, whether you got your subscription through the app or not, to offset those extra costs.

There are many other problems, including anti-competitive/antitrust practices, and ironically, shitty quality control. But such things are inevitable with monopolies.

Oh right like how Apple is going to maintain its monopolistic advantage in the EU - if you want to list your app on a "third party" store and the Apple one, you have to pay the blood sacrafice for both the app on the apple store and off it.

Edit: so I'm pretty sure this means if you want to be on the apple app store in the US, you don't have a choice in the EU