There are dozens of hardware platforms running hundreds (if not thousands) of software stacks that a user can play with that aren't Apple's ecosystem. Everything from a Raspberry Pi to a Lenovo ThinkPad. It's a color-wheel of hardware and software out there.
All 300 million American consumers doing all of their business, emails, dating, instagram, phone calls, photography, etc. on Raspberry Pi?
No. The solution is to regulate iPhone and make it a common carrier / open platform. It won, and now Apple has to bear the consequences. If their device was in niche usage, you might have a case.
300 million American consumers aren't using iPhones. Why this obsession? Seriously, 99% of your comments on anything remotely connected to Apple end up being this same thing. "A New Apple Variety has been Developed"
What is stopping 300 million American consumers from doing their business, emails, dating, instagram, phone calls, photography, etc. on Raspberry Pi?
... and if it's "They don't want to; Apple's user experience is better for their use case," why should the government intercede to take that away from them?
> why should the government intercede to take that away from them
Because Apple is the new Standard Oil. We've decided that too much power and control in one vertically and horizontally integrated company is bad for consumers, bad for business, and bad for the health of our capitalist enterprise.
Under Apple's thumb it's much harder to launch a new product and be profitable. Apple takes too much and demands unreasonable things.
Apple is the face of computing today. They've installed themselves as the troll on the bridge. They need to be reminded that this is not the correct or healthy role for them to play and that there are plenty of other opportunities for them to pursue.
Microsoft post-DOJ emerged a healthier company. Apple will too.
In contrast to the EU, where monopoly protection guards the market itself from lack of competition, the US standard centers on harm to consumers.
... And that's the hardest part to prove regarding bringing antitrust against Apple. Millions of users and they aren't switching to another computing platform when the barriers to transition are extremely low, which suggests they're happy with Apple's products.
"Satisfies customers' needs" isn't harm to consumers.
