Apple has announced that starting from March 7th, it will allow the use of external app stores on its App Store in Europe. The new regulations from the European Union will enable the company to do so. However, in a surprising decision, Meta, the parent company of Facebook, confirmed that it does not plan to launch its own app store for iPhones. This is due to Apple’s policies and their implementation.
During the announcement of the fourth-quarter financial results, Meta’s CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, shared his company’s views on Apple’s new policies. According to him, the way Apple is implementing them will not affect their business in any way. “I don’t think the Apple issue is relevant to us. The way they have implemented it makes it very unlikely that many developers will choose to use the alternative app stores they have created,” said Zuckerberg. “They have gone too far with the level of difficulty, which contradicts the intention of the EU regulations. I think it will be very challenging, not just for us, but for others to seriously consider what they are doing,” he added.
Apple and Google have always claimed that installing apps from outside their official stores poses a security threat to iPhones and Android smartphones. However, the EU Digital Markets Act has forced both companies to open up iPhones in the region. Unfortunately, Apple has introduced a new fee that affects the business model of free apps, such as Meta, if they are distributed outside the App Store.
Zuckerberg is not the only one criticizing Apple’s new policies. Daniel Ek, CEO of Spotify, and Tim Sweeney, CEO of Fortnite creator Epic Games, have also expressed their dissatisfaction. Sweeney referred to Apple’s approach to installing apps from outside the store as “hot garbage,” while Ek described it as a “new low.” In addition, David Heinemeier Hansson, the creator of Ruby on Rails and CTO of 37signals, called it “enforcement tyranny.”
FAQ:
1. When will Apple allow the use of external app stores on its App Store in Europe?
– Apple will allow the use of external app stores on its App Store in Europe starting from March 7th.
2. Does Meta, the parent company of Facebook, plan to launch its own app store for iPhones?
– No, Meta has confirmed that it does not plan to launch its own app store for iPhones. This is due to Apple’s policies and their implementation.
3. What are the opinions of Meta’s CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, regarding Apple’s new policies?
– Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta, has stated that the way Apple is implementing the new policies will not affect their company’s operations. He believes that Apple has gone too far with the level of difficulty, making it difficult for developers to utilize alternative app stores.
4. Why do Apple and Google believe that installing apps from outside their official stores poses a security threat to iPhones and Android smartphones?
– Apple and Google claim that installing apps from outside their official stores poses a security threat to iPhones and Android smartphones.
5. What actions were taken by the EU Digital Markets Act against Apple and Google?
– The EU Digital Markets Act forced Apple and Google to open up iPhones in the region.
Key terms/jargon definitions:
– App Store: The store for applications on Apple devices.
– Meta: The parent company of Facebook.
– CEO: Short for Chief Executive Officer, the highest-ranking executive in a company.
– Android: An operating system for smartphones and tablets, primarily developed by Google.
– EU Digital Markets Act: An initiative by the European Union aimed at regulating and overseeing digital markets.
Related links:
– Official Apple website
– Official Facebook website
– Official Spotify website
– Official Fortnite game website
The source of the article is from the blog procarsrl.com.ar