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by elashri 548 days ago
Considering that the DOJ is going to come after Apple in the future probably after scoring win against Google and Amazon. I don't think this is a wise strategy by Apple to take this obvious side with monopoly position. And I hate that apple consider their hardware users as some belongings that they need to get money in order for others to reach them.
3 comments
rubyfan 548 days ago
They might argue they provide Safari for free and as part of their business model earn a fee for referring users to the preferred search engine vs something substandard. This is a very common business model on just about every web publisher today.
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elashri 548 days ago
I am pretty sure that if Apple lawyers to present this argument. Then DOJ will find it a gift when they file a monopoly case around apple monopolistic position and restrictions of non-Safari/Webkit based browsers (probably app store too). Because this will make it harder for Apple to present the case about security or privacy of the users if they just said before in a court that they do this as part of their business model to earn money.
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rubyfan 548 days ago
Defaulting the search to Google in Safari in no way impairs the users ability to choose an alternative search engine. Apple have always left the search setting changeable, for a long time have allowed 3rd party browsers and have allowed other browsers to be the default system browser. This is hardly a monopoly and it’s no secret that Google is paying them gobs of money to be the default. It’s a separate issue from their appstore business entirely where security and privacy are legitimate arguments for the control they exert on that business.
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ttt3ts 547 days ago
"3rd party" browsers on iOS are just safari/webkit. They do not allow browsers that don't use safari/webkit.
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jocaal 548 days ago
The thing is, this payment from Google is billions in pure profit. If it were to stop, it would have a serious impact on Apple's valuation. Shareholders would want management to do anything they can to keep that cash flow coming.
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ninth_ant 548 days ago
I mean you can read into it in all sorts of ways, but the simplest is that Apple likes getting $20b per year by having a default setting on a config that is trivially easy for users to change.

That’s already so compelling, that I’m not sure it’s needed to read anything more sinister into it.

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