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Epic celebrates "the end of the Apple Tax" after court win in iOS payments case

(arstechnica.com)
432 points nobody9999 | 1 comments | 12 Dec 25 16:04 UTC | HN request time: 0.301s | source
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codedokode ◴[12 Dec 25 17:38 UTC] No.46246465[source]▶
In my opinion, every manufacturer of a programmable device should not be allowed to prevent the buyer from reprogramming it.
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tomp ◴[12 Dec 25 23:18 UTC] No.46250233[source]▶
Well, your opinion is literally illegal.

You're legally (and technically) prohibited from re-programming GPS modules, GSM modules, and probably many stuff in cars as well.

(Actually, maybe contractually when it comes to GPS modules.)

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loloquwowndueo ◴[12 Dec 25 23:21 UTC] No.46250260[source]▶
He is saying that it should not be illegal to do so.
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simonask ◴[12 Dec 25 23:30 UTC] No.46250341[source]▶
And they are saying that it already is, naming a few examples of things that really need to be illegal to reprogram.

GPS et al would be non-functional if everybody could make a jammer.

(That’s not to say that app stores fall even remotely in that category.)

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fluoridation ◴[12 Dec 25 23:57 UTC] No.46250530[source]▶
I don't really understand your point in restating this. Someone who says "X should be true" isn't going to be convinced that X should be false by reminding them that X is in fact false.

>GPS et al would be non-functional if everybody could make a jammer.

Then it should be illegal to make a GPS jammer. Making it illegal to reprogram a GPS receiver in any way is unnecessarily broad.

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everforward ◴[13 Dec 25 01:24 UTC] No.46251068[source]▶
GPS is a bad example, but there are things that pose a physical threat to others that we maybe shouldn't tinker with. Like I think some modern cars are fly-by-wire, so you could stick the accelerator open and disable the breaks and steering. If it's also push-to-start, that's probably not physically connected to the ignition either.

It would be difficult to catch in an inspection if you could reprogram the OEM parts.

I don't care about closed-course cars, though. Do whatever you want to your track/drag car, but cars on the highway should probably have stock software for functional parts.

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1. lelanthran ◴[13 Dec 25 19:49 UTC] No.46257370[source]▶
> GPS is a bad example, but there are things that pose a physical threat to others that we maybe shouldn't tinker with. Like I think some modern cars are fly-by-wire, so you could stick the accelerator open and disable the breaks and steering. If it's also push-to-start, that's probably not physically connected to the ignition either.

I'm not seeing an argument here.

Cars have posed a physical threat to humans ever since they were invented, and yet the owners could do whatever the hell they wanted as long as the car still behaved legally when tested[1].

Aftermarket brakes (note spelling!), aftermarket steering wheels, aftermarket accelerator pedals (which can stick!), aftermarket suspensions - all legal. Aftermarket air filters, fuel injectors and pumps, exhausts - all legal. Hell, even additions, like forced induction (super/turbo chargers), cold air intake systems, lights, transmission coolers, etc are perfectly fine.

You just have to pass the tests, that's all.

I want to know why it is suddenly so important to remove the owners right to repair.

After all, it's only been quite recent that replacement aftermarket ECUs for engine control were made illegal under certain circumstances[2], and that's only a a few special jurisdictions.

What you are proposing is the automakers wet dream come true - they can effectively disable the car by bricking it after X years, and will legally prevent you from getting it running again even if you had the technical knowhow to do so!

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[1] Like with emissions. Or brakes (note spelling!)

[2] Reprogramming the existing one is still legal, though, you just have to ensure you pass the emissions test.