>This is a false choice - there's no reason the iPhone can't be both a walled garden-type device and support alternative OSes/software, just like a computer.
There are a few reasons.
E.g. allowing sideloading amounts to basically allowing any third party with clout whose apps users want to use (Microsoft, Facebook, Google, etc) to mandate the use of their own apps bypassing all related protections and integrations.
It also enables smaller malicious third parties to demand the same (but at least there the user has to be duped into installing them. Whereas with big-name apps, even users who know what they're doing could have a legitimate need to run those apps).
So, what about supporting alternative OSes/software? So basically, Apple not to sell a phone (with OS and everything), but a generic target phone hardware, that comes with their iOS preinstalled? Isn't that a quite different demand?
>The future on a long timescale may not be so nice.
On a long timescale you can change devices. It's not like something you buy now you'll have to run in 10 years.
There are a few reasons.
E.g. allowing sideloading amounts to basically allowing any third party with clout whose apps users want to use (Microsoft, Facebook, Google, etc) to mandate the use of their own apps bypassing all related protections and integrations.
It also enables smaller malicious third parties to demand the same (but at least there the user has to be duped into installing them. Whereas with big-name apps, even users who know what they're doing could have a legitimate need to run those apps).
So, what about supporting alternative OSes/software? So basically, Apple not to sell a phone (with OS and everything), but a generic target phone hardware, that comes with their iOS preinstalled? Isn't that a quite different demand?
>The future on a long timescale may not be so nice.
On a long timescale you can change devices. It's not like something you buy now you'll have to run in 10 years.