For example:
- You MUST use Apple’s own apps (iMessage, Phone, etc.) as well as Apple’s own App Store
- To be fair, the EU is doing work to solve this particular issue…but most of the reforms are only for EU customers
- You have to use WebKit when developing a browser for
macOSiOS and iPadOS, you can’t use Gecko or Blink - iOS apps must be developed using XCode IF YOU WANT TO PUBLISH IT ON THE APP STORE, which is only available on MacOS…
That last one is weird. Why can’t you compile Swift outside of MacOS (i.e. third party IDEs)? Why can only XCode do it?
edit: Gecko and Blink based browsers are available on macOS. I learnt something new today. Not for iOS or iPadOS though. Also, Xcode is only a requirement for publishing in the App Store. You are able to compile Swift in any OS. You’ll just need to distribute the app via sideloading and/or third-party app stores (in the EU)
No. It was leaps and bounds ahead of everyone else. They just sat on their hands and didn’t do anything with it, allowing Google, RiM and Apple to steamroll them.
And to blame Microsoft (which – don’t get me wrong – is hugely evil and truly is the cause behind many of the problems you properly identify) for all of the tech problems without a hat tip to IBM is missing some important details. IBM showed the tech world that if you use your war chest to drag out a legal battle long enough, you will eventually get a president in power (Reagan) that you own enough to dismiss all claims. That’s how Microsoft got off without even a fine for all their antitrust violations. They played the long game and George W. waved a hand, making the enforcement effort go away.