It's a duopoly. But what is the solution? Requiring developers develop for GrapheneOS? Or forbidding Apple from making iOS/iPhone secure enough to be used by at-risk individuals being targeted by nation state actors with n > $1M in resources to use on attacking someone (by forcing them to allow third-party app stores/downloading apps from websites/etc)?
The potential for manufacturers to abuse their customers when they control the full stack. Belllabs both Google and Apple. Hardware and software should developed by separate entities anyway. If it works for normal computers, it can work for small normal computers too.
> Or forbidding Apple from making iOS/iPhone secure enough to be used by at-risk individuals being targeted by nation state actors with n > $1M in resources to use on attacking someone (by forcing them to allow third-party app stores/downloading apps from websites/etc)?
This has always been a pretext. They could sell phones that allow you to do any of those things by default and allow the user to set an option that locks the device to only Apple's store until the device is factory wiped. That would not be any less secure for people who choose that option, but would give people the choice without tying that choice to the entire platform.
> It's a duopoly. But what is the solution?
That depends on who you are.
If you're a government, antitrust.
If you're anyone technical, buy a device that isn't always the easiest to use and then use your talents to make it better for everyone.
If you're in a managerial role at any kind of large enterprise, smart companies have purchasing requirements that penalize certain vendor behavior, by prohibiting purchases from them entirely or requiring them to come in some significant percentage lower than any competing bid. Make sure vendor-locked products get penalized by your company. Let the vendors know this is why they're not being chosen. (The reverse version of this also works: Have corporate charge individual departments a large premium for purchases of disfavored products. Then they have to decide how much they really need it and alternatives get attractive.)
If you're a regular person, don't buy anything that requires you to install an app on your phone. Use your bank's website and if you can't then get a different bank. Don't do business with companies that remove your choice of platforms, even if you still don't currently have one, so that someday you might.
For me that will require to change citizenship or get a visa or at least get the device shipped to another country at real exorbitant prices with essentially zero service or warranty
