Small but meaningful correction: Apple decides what is allowed on _Apple_ devices consumers own.
So again, how does this hurt choice? You can choose a dozen other phones. Your ability to participate in the smartphone revolution isn’t hindered in any meaningful way.
To be clear, I HATE the App Store review process as it stands. But that’s not because I don’t have a choice and somehow magically think other app stores will fix everything. It’s because it is objectively badly run as a business process. They don’t respond for weeks. The communication is entirely arbitrary. The application of rules is wholly inconsistent.
I’m not sure a second App Store will help with that.
I can still only see mostly downsides by creating confusion for consumers like others have said will happen.
> Apple decides what is allowed on _Apple_ devices consumers own.
It doesn't matter, the consumer still bought the device. It's their hardware, they own the iPhone. They deserve the last say over what runs on their computer. A system like the current M1 Macs (unlocked bootloader, OS with overrides) would completely shut everyone up over Apple's abuse here. This legislation is a step in the right direction.
> I’m not sure a second App Store will help with that.
If nothing else, it gives Apple an incentive to compete. Something I'd argue is sorely needed on iOS.
> I can still only see mostly downsides by creating confusion for consumers like others have said will happen.
Well, it didn't really cause any confusions when Android did it, or even when Microsoft added sideloading to Xbox. Very little evidence supports the claim that everything will fall to pandemonium when third-party stores hit iOS.
> still bought the device. It's their hardware, they own the iPhone.
Consumers own the hardware NOT the software. Apple, Google, etc are expected maintain the software over a long period of time. The content on the device is owned and manage by developers, Apple, Google, etc. You only rent access to the software. It's not yours.
You can buy a TV but you still have a cable bill. The TV is yours, the channels are not!
So again, how does this hurt choice? You can choose a dozen other phones. Your ability to participate in the smartphone revolution isn’t hindered in any meaningful way.
To be clear, I HATE the App Store review process as it stands. But that’s not because I don’t have a choice and somehow magically think other app stores will fix everything. It’s because it is objectively badly run as a business process. They don’t respond for weeks. The communication is entirely arbitrary. The application of rules is wholly inconsistent.
I’m not sure a second App Store will help with that.
I can still only see mostly downsides by creating confusion for consumers like others have said will happen.