Thread

1. apatheticonion · 1790574506 · focus · HN ↗

   I believe it is critical for regulators to force mega-corporations (and software vendors in general) to permit third party clients.

   I use services like YouTube every day, why can I get sued if I write my own YouTube client that's better than the one provided by Google? Why can I get sued if I create a chat client that aggregates the myriad of chat services I use?

   I'd argue that this even extends down the stack. Why is there only Android and iOS? It's because hardware drivers are practically impossible to write for undocumented hardware (which is virtually all hardware). Vendors should be compelled to document their hardware such that drives could be produced for them.

   Asahi Linux is a testament to a team attempting the impossible and making unbelievable progress - but it's still not competitive with first party drivers.

   I want a world where I can run Linux on my MacBook Pro and my phone. I want a world where I can flash a custom firmware to my TV that removes the bloat and spyware. I want a world where I can use the services I depend on in ways that are better than what the vendor can produce. I want a world where I can rebuild applications and games lost to time.

   I have the skills and desire to do these things.

   But nah. Not allowed.

   1. throwaway743950 · 1790578977 · focus · HN ↗

      Maybe I'm uneducated here, but wouldn't this just commoditize the products of companies? Would it disincentivize them from creating their products in the first place?

      1. apatheticonion · 1790585033 · focus · HN ↗

         In a sense, yes - intuitively, you'd think it's bad but historically it's actually a major accelerant to innovation.

         Essentially, if competition entered the market, Apple (and co) aren't going to give up, they'd be forced to innovate in order to retain market share.

         If individuals (like me, some random on the internet) were permitted to create competing services on top of hardware and software that exists, you'd be running SteamOS on your MacBook, you'd be plugging your phone into a USB-C dock or lapdock, you'd be able to export data from your health tracker so you can buy a new one and keep your existing data, etc.

         By contrast, the status quo of permitting corporations to attain functional monopolies by making it practically impossible to compete is a far worse outcome for the general consumer.

         Also, when you consider that the EU is looking at cutting their reliance on US technologies - they are literally not going to make a MacBook or iPhone in this decade - but if Europeans were allowed to install their own software on these devices, the road to sovereignty gets a whole lot less impractical

         Also, as stated below, as long as you don't prevent YouTube (or similar) from making money from ads (ad blocking, etc) - there is no reason to not allow you do to this.

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