Apple’s🍎 Walled Gardens Are Over. Here is What It Means for Us.
Photo by Louis Hansel on Unsplash
Today’s news is that Apple is bringing sideloading and alternate app stores to the iPhone. This means third-party app stores will be allowed on iOS for the first time, breaking the Apple App Store’s position as the sole distributor of iPhone apps and opening up a world of possibilities for consumers and app developers alike.
The Secret Developer thinks this highlights how big tech is resistant to change and can see a time when the dominance of FAANG will come to an end — because of close-minded behaviors.
“To be honest it is time that Apple allowed ‘alternative app marketplaces’ (who in their marketing department thought of that name?), which is good news for developers wanting to get a foothold in Apple’s little ecosystem.
For Apple and big tech, it might be the beginning of the end. Hear me out on this one, if you need regulators to make you get with the times there might be something entirely wrong with your company.”
Big Tech’s Change-Resistant Armor Starts to Rust
Big Tech has built its empires on “it’s our way or the highway” and The Secret Developer believes this attitude goes right to the heart of the FAANG companies — the software developers themselves.
“At Google, they are a particularly bright bunch. There is always some expert to ask about any particular issue you might have. They have internal documents on EVERYTHING you might wish for.
Yet a culture persists. The stench of Not Invented Here Syndrome reeks around the office but is completely inescapable if you use Google’s software products and suffocating if you create them. Apple certainly has the same divisive culture where solutions need to be in-house or not used.
Sure, there are reasons (scale, security, etc.) explaining why third-party solutions aren’t suitable.
When the solution in software development is ’always go it alone’ you start to think something is wrong.
These companies seem to avoid change. Swallowing companies that are actually innovative isn’t innovation!
It’s like the broken interview process. The giants don’t want to do anything as it works for them (sure it would, they get the best graduates and then use them).
It’s a shame FAANG does not see the negative consequences of their actions until regulators take a look. As in this case”
The Fall of FAANG’s Fortress?
Apple has been ordered to allow other app stores. Unfortunately, this ruling is limited to the EU and Apple still holds the keys as to who can open up a new marketplace.
“Marketplaces will need to go through Apple’s approval process, designed to deny them access. Developers will be freed from using Apple’s expensive in-app payments system.
So far so good.
You’d think that Apple would see the writing on the wall and allow marketplaces (and other user freedoms) for all their users but no. They’re not going to do that.
Usually, I’d put a joke here about their reason for not rolling out these improvements to all. My joke would be about marketplaces impacting battery life, but unbelievably Apple has descended into parody in their press release.”
“If that’s not a joke I don’t know what is.”
Conclusion
This could be a turning point for developers. It could give Apple the kick they need to become innovative again.
“It could stop our mobile developers complaining about the review process and what they term ‘App Store Gods’.
I’ve seen enough tech trends come and go to know one thing: nothing lasts forever, not even the reign of the FAANG. This could be the beginning of the end.
I hope at least it’s going to be the end of the status quo. Things need to change; the only question is when.”