So you're asserting that the only reason developers would keep developing for the Apple App Store is if they have no other choice? Security guarantees are a sales-pitch, hard to get numbers on that but I bet I'm not the only one that avoids installing random proprietary apps out of fear for privacy violations. The recent move to showing "privacy promises" on the App store pages is an indication of that. If alternative stores can't give sufficient security guarantees, then users will prefer the official one.
Android is doing well with its multiple app-stores, security-conscious users can limit themselves to F-droid, and the rest can keep using the PlayStore for proprietary apps. Granted Android still lacks an independent option for paid apps, but I think it will come.
“If alternative stores can't give sufficient security guarantees, then users will prefer the official one.”
Nope. Users will use the stores where the apps they want are.
Players starting new stores will just pay for exclusives of popular apps, so that users are forced to install other stores, which will of course claim to support privacy and security in marketing terms that have no substance.
Android is why it is clearly wrong to intervene in Apple’s secure store.
If people want a choice of stores, Android is available and just as good as iPhone.
> Android is why it is clearly wrong to intervene in Apple’s secure store.
Why is Android wrong? The sky hasn't fallen over on the Android side.
Android's security woes are caused by lack of updates from carriers (which frequently delay or block Android updates), OEMs (which frequently don't bother to port security updates because they want to sell the newest devices, shenanigans similar to those pulled by Apple until it changed its stance about 2 years ago or so).
I don't know many people side loading apps or installing alternate app stores. The big alternative app stores are Chinese, which are there for obvious, non security related issues, and Amazon's app store, which is used primarily on their devices.
So I don't really see the problem. I do see a solid Stockholm syndrome.
Especially with Apple, the ecosystems are so big that the choice given to users is weak. Do users chose between an open phone and a closed one, or between a phone that connects with their laptop and their earphones, or a phone that can Facetime™ their friends and family?
Same kind of problem with presidential elections in democratic republics. Closed systems limit choice.
Android is doing well with its multiple app-stores, security-conscious users can limit themselves to F-droid, and the rest can keep using the PlayStore for proprietary apps. Granted Android still lacks an independent option for paid apps, but I think it will come.