Obviously. But just because Apple is in it for themselves doesn’t mean that their customers can’t also benefit. Clearly, it’s mutually beneficial - customers get privacy-focused devices, and Apple gets money from people that care about privacy.
All that said, the level of privacy Apple offers in any of its devices is superficial at best. There are way more problems Apple needs to solve before any of its devices can be considered “private.”
Your IP still gives away your location, apps can remember if they were installed on your phone, you can’t turn off network or sensors for individual apps, etc.
> Your IP still gives away your location, apps can remember if they were installed on your phone, you can’t turn off network or sensors for individual apps, etc.
I agree with your last point, but the first two is asking for the impossible. You'd need multiple technological breakthroughs for that to happen.
> You'd need multiple technological breakthroughs for that to happen.
For (1), at the very least, Apple could provide a VPN by default.
For (2), why is this the case? Apple mostly just needs to delete content from the Keychain for deleted apps and throw a wrench into some APIs used for fingerprinting.
> For (1), at the very least, Apple could provide a VPN by default
Exactly how well a VPN improves privacy is highly controversial to say the least. Quite a few would go as far to say not at all, although I believe it's a bit more nuanced.
But most importantly, Apple directing traffic to their VPN by default would be an unwise move on all levels. It would put them in a position to be able to scoop up data on users, regardless of intent. Not only would that be devastating for their reputation, it would actually harm user privacy. If a single company can directly capture almost every single packet flowing in and out of user devices, governments are bound to demand access to it without an option to refuse. Even in the most democratic countries, government agencies aren't known for their restraint when it comes to accessing user data.
> For (2), why is this the case? Apple mostly just needs to delete content from the Keychain for deleted apps and throw a wrench into some APIs used for fingerprinting
Wouldn't that break iCloud syncing? Besides, preventing turing complete programs from uniquely identifying users on real world devices is an unsolved problem for all I know. It's not as simple as disabling some APIs here and there.
Of course Apple is in it for themselves, it’s just that Apple’s interests and mine overlap, as is supposed to be the case in the classical formulation of economics. I don’t mind that Apple or LEGO or Pixar is “out for themselves” — I care when the companies I transact with choose to enrich themselves from someone else’s pocket for someone else’s interests rather than from my pocket for my interests.
"Apple is in it for themselves. As opposed to those other companies, who track us without abandon and sell our data to whomever will pay. Those companies are in it because they love us."
All that said, the level of privacy Apple offers in any of its devices is superficial at best. There are way more problems Apple needs to solve before any of its devices can be considered “private.”
Your IP still gives away your location, apps can remember if they were installed on your phone, you can’t turn off network or sensors for individual apps, etc.