Really? Microsoft was ruled a monopoly over similar issues with browsers. All the big tech monopolies should be shifting uncomfortably in their seats right now. They are rapidly losing support from the pro-business conservatives who are normally against this sort of regulation on account of being deplatformed, shadow banned, and railroaded. Who's left to stand up for big tech? Is that the new Democrat platform? I don't think being pro-monopoly is going to rally the progressives.
I see two arguments usually pop up when talking about Apple being a monopolyst
1 - you can buy androids
2 - MS had a dominant position, Apple does not
But
1 - Android is not a replacement for Apple and it doesn't come for free (extracting data from an Apple device is harder for the user than it is for a malicious actor, all the money spent on the Apple platform go out of the window)
2 -if Apple has no power, how is it possible that it killed Flash and stopped the adoption of PWAs? If Apple is different from MS why the only browser available on iOS is Safari which is also the main vector for vulnerabilities on Apple mobile devices? (according to security analysts)
So Apple has a de facto monopoly, one that is costly to escape from and it's using it to push its own browser volunterly crippling a web standard (PWAs) that would make apps and their store less relevant.
If that's a crime or violates antitrust laws I don't know, but that it is true I'm sure.
Ironically in the open letter "Thoughts on Flash" Steve Jobs said he would not allow Flash on Apple devices because
- to to avoid a third party layer of software coming between the platform and the developer. Exactly what Apple is doing right now.
- by almost any definition, Flash is a closed system. Exactly like Apple store.
There must be a reason why the open letter is not available anymore on Apple webiste.
"he who controls the past controls the future"
The main reason to kill Flash was that HTML 5 allowed playing videos and interactive content without the need for a third party plugin.
Steve Jobs claimed that (and was right) pure HTML 5 could replace Flash in almost every aspect.
Fast forward to WWDC 2020
> Apple has announced that the following Web APIs will not be supported by Safari.
Web Bluetooth
Web MIDI API
Magnetometer API
Web NFC API
Device Memory API
Network Information API
Battery Status API
Web Bluetooth Scanning
Ambient Light Sensor
HDCP Policy Check extension for EME
Proximity Sensor
WebHID
Serial API
Web USB
Geolocation Sensor (background geolocation)
User Idle Detection
Isn't it even more ironic?
They also ruled that after 7 days of non use cookies and the content stored in Indexed DB, LocalStorage, Media keys, SessionStorage and Service Worker registrations will be deleted.
Ok, they said this last won't affect apps saved on home screen, but given Apple history do you really trust them?
Of course it does. It has an extremely secure duopoly with Google and it's even stronger when you look at US market in isolation. You don't have to own 100% of a market to be broken up or regulated for anticompetitive practices.
