5 ms·

There is no indication they haven't read the article. This product, much like iMessage and others, provides an inferior experience to non-Apple users. It aims

by esolyt 2y ago

There is no indication they haven't read the article. This product, much like iMessage and others, provides an inferior experience to non-Apple users. It aims to make other devices and operating systems look less capable and cheap. iMessage also partially works with other phones. This doesn't change the fact that its intention is to create a lock-in effect, as evidenced by internal Apple emails.

pinoy420 2y ago
Why is this a problem? Typical HN downvoting because of “muh vendor lockin” without giving an answer as to why exactly this matters for the general population. It is a fantastic business model.
- abenga 2y ago
  Because we want to interact with our friends and family without being forced to switch platforms. I don't care about Apple's business model.
  - Longhanks 2y ago
    If you feel your ability to interact with your friends and family is threatened by some business launching a service, you should seriously question your friends and family and/or your and/or their social/communication skills.
    - thoroughburro 2y ago
      Help, I followed your advice and alienated a bunch of people I need in my life. Will you support me now??
  - what-the-grump 2y ago
    So interact with them? This doesn’t stop you in any way.
  - GiorgioG 2y ago
    The self-entitlement is getting old. Nobody's forcing you to switch platforms. If your Apple-friends send you an invite, you will not be shunned from the event. Yes even the uncool non-Apple users will be allowed to participate in said invite.
    - pinoy420 2y ago
      Got to love the HN bubble. Anti anti apple is immediate downvote even with a sensible argument like yourself…
  - therealfigtree 2y ago
    This is a weird way to think about it. You are basically saying a company should not launch something exclusive to their platform or ecosystem, but rather should consider launch a generic product compatible with everything out there. Why would they ? How will they stand different if everyone does that ? Exclusivity is a basic part of business model. Look at PS4 with exclusive titles. Hell, look at your local store with exclusive products only available in their stores. I would have agreed with you if Apple had done this for a basic feature like calling. But this sure is a privileged feature and there is nothing wrong in making it exclusive to iPhone (but they haven't you see).
adrr 2y ago
How so? It just sends a link either in a message or email. Acceptance is done via a web page. How do online invitations ensure vendor lock in? What will prevent me from using another online invite system in the future? I’ve used a bunch in past like evite, paperless post and the cost to switch is nothing.
- ejoso 2y ago
  It is a degraded experience. Not as smooth as being on iOS. It’s a common playbook used by Apple (as well as MS and others) in an attempt to get and retain users.
  - mjamil 2y ago
    Why would the stewards of a walled garden want other gardens (walled or otherwise) be as good as theirs? What moral or economic imperative exists for such a belief? Why is that bad?
    - TeMPOraL 2y ago
      > Why would the stewards of a walled garden want other gardens (walled or otherwise) be as good as theirs? What moral (...) imperative exists for such a belief? Not being an asshole? It's normal instinct unless one's brain has been thoroughly eaten by competitiveness. > Why is that bad? Because in this, Apple is attacking the commons. They're trying to provide an alternative to normal invite system - one that's been established and battle-tested over decades, one that works okay-ish across any device, real or virtual, on any platform, and one that people know how to use. An alternative that gives some bells and whistles exclusively to the Apple users, and perhaps even is more ergonomic in practice. An alternative that overlaps with the commons just enough to perhaps get the significant chunk of Apple-first userbase to switch over, but purposefully doesn't overlap enough to work well for non-Apple users (as well as professional users). Take commons, drive a wedge down the side, use it as lever for your massive userbase to push everyone else off it. Screw everyone else. Hell, even screw your own users too for having Android users (or Windows or Linux desktop users!) among family and friends. The next generation of users should remember that thou shalt only befriend and marry people from within your corporate community.
sharpshadow 2y ago
I would rather join an Apple Invite Group than a WhatsApp Group. If they now make it possible to invite people in your radius they even get a share of dating apps.
- fsflover 2y ago
  How about a Matrix group? https://matrix.org https://matrix.org
  - echelon_musk 2y ago
    I'm sure Matrix users are a great dating pool.
    - fsflover 2y ago
      Indeed, they're likely more educated than the average.

by esolyt 2y ago

pinoy420 2y ago

Why is this a problem? Typical HN downvoting because of “muh vendor lockin” without giving an answer as to why exactly this matters for the general population. It is a fantastic business model.

abenga 2y ago
Because we want to interact with our friends and family without being forced to switch platforms. I don't care about Apple's business model.
- Longhanks 2y ago
  If you feel your ability to interact with your friends and family is threatened by some business launching a service, you should seriously question your friends and family and/or your and/or their social/communication skills.
  - thoroughburro 2y ago
    Help, I followed your advice and alienated a bunch of people I need in my life. Will you support me now??
- what-the-grump 2y ago
  So interact with them? This doesn’t stop you in any way.
- GiorgioG 2y ago
  The self-entitlement is getting old. Nobody's forcing you to switch platforms. If your Apple-friends send you an invite, you will not be shunned from the event. Yes even the uncool non-Apple users will be allowed to participate in said invite.
  - pinoy420 2y ago
    Got to love the HN bubble. Anti anti apple is immediate downvote even with a sensible argument like yourself…
- therealfigtree 2y ago
  This is a weird way to think about it. You are basically saying a company should not launch something exclusive to their platform or ecosystem, but rather should consider launch a generic product compatible with everything out there. Why would they ? How will they stand different if everyone does that ? Exclusivity is a basic part of business model. Look at PS4 with exclusive titles. Hell, look at your local store with exclusive products only available in their stores. I would have agreed with you if Apple had done this for a basic feature like calling. But this sure is a privileged feature and there is nothing wrong in making it exclusive to iPhone (but they haven't you see).

adrr 2y ago

How so? It just sends a link either in a message or email. Acceptance is done via a web page. How do online invitations ensure vendor lock in? What will prevent me from using another online invite system in the future? I’ve used a bunch in past like evite, paperless post and the cost to switch is nothing.

ejoso 2y ago
It is a degraded experience. Not as smooth as being on iOS. It’s a common playbook used by Apple (as well as MS and others) in an attempt to get and retain users.
- mjamil 2y ago
  Why would the stewards of a walled garden want other gardens (walled or otherwise) be as good as theirs? What moral or economic imperative exists for such a belief? Why is that bad?
  - TeMPOraL 2y ago
    > Why would the stewards of a walled garden want other gardens (walled or otherwise) be as good as theirs? What moral (...) imperative exists for such a belief? Not being an asshole? It's normal instinct unless one's brain has been thoroughly eaten by competitiveness. > Why is that bad? Because in this, Apple is attacking the commons. They're trying to provide an alternative to normal invite system - one that's been established and battle-tested over decades, one that works okay-ish across any device, real or virtual, on any platform, and one that people know how to use. An alternative that gives some bells and whistles exclusively to the Apple users, and perhaps even is more ergonomic in practice. An alternative that overlaps with the commons just enough to perhaps get the significant chunk of Apple-first userbase to switch over, but purposefully doesn't overlap enough to work well for non-Apple users (as well as professional users). Take commons, drive a wedge down the side, use it as lever for your massive userbase to push everyone else off it. Screw everyone else. Hell, even screw your own users too for having Android users (or Windows or Linux desktop users!) among family and friends. The next generation of users should remember that thou shalt only befriend and marry people from within your corporate community.

sharpshadow 2y ago

I would rather join an Apple Invite Group than a WhatsApp Group. If they now make it possible to invite people in your radius they even get a share of dating apps.

fsflover 2y ago
How about a Matrix group? https://matrix.org https://matrix.org
- echelon_musk 2y ago
  I'm sure Matrix users are a great dating pool.
  - fsflover 2y ago
    Indeed, they're likely more educated than the average.