What worries me is that Google has a fairly legit argument to say "then Apple should as well". But we've accepted Apple's status for so long now, a lot of consumers are stockholmed into thinking giving away control is the only way to have a good phone (evidence: see any thread discussing that maybe Apple should allow other vendors to also use their smartwatch hardware to offer services in non-smartwatch-hardware markets that Apple also offers services in. Half the users seem like they're brainwashed by the marketing material they put out). I don't know that we can convince the general public anymore that 1984 is bad (thinking of Apple's own 1984 ad, specifically) and, without general public, there can theoretically also not be political will
I was part of this problem. I've accepted what Apple is doing because I had Android. I didn't think they'd come for me next so I didn't speak up
> What worries me is that Google has a fairly legit argument to say "then Apple should as well".
Not a legal argument, since Apple never claimed the iPhone was anything else but a walled garden, and walled gardens are legal as long as you are clear that users will be buying into a walled garden from the start.
(For example: Nintendo, PlayStation and Xbox)
Legally, the only thing you could do is change the law to make walled gardens illegal, as they did in the EU.
The changes Google has proposed for sideloading are illegal under existing law, since Android was sold to consumers with the promise that it was the "open" platform that allowed users to run anything they like.
That argument would only last as long as current Android devices are supported for. In seven years, the last devices will run out of support and we'd be back to square one
Legislation, as you say, seems like it'll be necessary :/
It's about the lifespan of the platform, not the lifespan of a device.
When you chose to create an open platform with multiple participants, you are creating a new open market where antitrust laws will apply... even to you as the platform creator.
Microsoft, for example, was found guilty of antitrust in the personal computer market long after the original computers running Windows were gone.
I was part of this problem. I've accepted what Apple is doing because I had Android. I didn't think they'd come for me next so I didn't speak up