This is game changing, one thing is accepting a weakness or a negative side-effect and another is implementing features that mitigate that. Props to Apple, this is some impressive work that will have a net benefit for users. It is almost as if they care. Of course, they can do this since it does not go against their incentives like other companies that make money on the time spent of the platform (video watching, website browsing for ad clicks, etc). It is a good step in the right direction way better than nothing or sitting on the sidelines until regulation steps in.
> Props to Apple, this is some impressive work that will have a net benefit for users. It is almost as if they care. Of course, they can do this since it does not go against their incentives like other companies
This post reads like parody, considering that these features are copied from Samsung [1] and Google [2].
I wish we as a race could get over the whole 'this is copied from this'. How am I as a user meant to care? If Android has something I would like as a feature and Apple implements it, that's a win for me as before I didn't have that feature.
We should only be worried when Apple or Google are too arrogant to provide a feature that is a huge benefit to users just they didn't think of it first.
Yeah, I have had (the automatic, time based) Do Not Disturb mode on my Samsungs for what seems like forever. And they also let me configure where notifications are sent very easily, per app.
As a parent I welcome screen time locks, because any improvement over the previous non-existing support for such things is surely welcome.
On Android I could install a lot of tools to manage the same thing, but iOS wouldn't let the same apps work to a satisfactory level.
But of course since Apple finally does this, it becomes newsworthy.
I don't get your point. Is he saying these are unique to Apple? Should we not celebrate Apple doing good work, even if others have done it before? Should we not be happy that Apple is improving iOS?
[Non-Apple] people are annoyed because whenever Apple introduce features they've copied/amalgamated from others, they always manage to spin it like they are the ones who came up with these fantastic designs.
> [1] Not by Samsung they just made an exclusive partnership.
This partnership contradicts GGP's assertion that the other companies wouldn't do it because their incentives aren't aligned.
> [2] Recent announcement, not out yet. No idea how it's going to operate. [2] is vaperware.
In that respect, iOS 12 is also vaporware. Google gave exactly the same amount of detail that Apple did on how its "digital wellbeing" features work. https://blog.google/products/android/android-p/
As it turns out, these features will only be available with the next beta, which is due some time in the next week. So in the strict sense, the GP is correct here.
Oh please, can you and all GP's stop with this childish nonsense. There are other places on the internet that are much better suited for these type of discussions.
Might be a legacy hangover from having been enrolled in the developer beta scheme with that same device. I just enrolled my spare iPhone 6 into the public beta program and can only get iOS 11.4.1 beta, no iOS 12 beta in sight sadly.
I'm aware of the Google announcement, that is why I mention incentives. Who do you think will push harder in the future or who do you think will get push back once metrics come back with less revenue numbers (possibly), even now look at features parity wise and marketing message. One is soft and targeted to parents this one has been rebranded as 'screen time'.
Ok, I'll concede that it is a hard ask and I was not aware of the name "app timer" I thought it was under parental controls. I can with a straight face defend the aligned incentives. :)
In what way is Apple not profiting off excess screen time? Did they turn off in-app purchases on pay to play games, which account for growing billions in revenue [1]? Congrats to both companies for taking a long view against their immediate incentives, and disagreed about this stretched comparison.
Apple's large chunk of revenue comes from hardware sales with huge margins. Around 10% would come from app store last time I checked. Google's large chunk of revenue comes from ads, also around the 90% mark.
They use the data collected from any activity on your phone and merge it back with any other data they have of you, to display ads on all the platforms you use. Less time spent on your phone, less usage they can collect to get your behavior, less specific ads. I thought it was common knowledge.
At the Zuckerberg testimony, somebody mention that tech companies were being reckless and if they don't prioritize on their negative impact it will force government to come in and regulate it. It was basically a wake up call of either you become conscious of your impact or don't complain once big gov come knocking. After all companies are part of the communities, they should be working on stuff like this.
The screen time topic came up during Apple's education presentation the other month. It probably has a lot to do with reassuring teachers and parents that the iPad can be used as a teaching device without other distractions getting in the way.
As a parent I'm curious to see how effective the screen time features will be. Previous apps I've tried always had UI issues or were full of loopholes the kids could work around.
If only they could address the root of addictive behavior on the internet.... ads. Seems kind of weak without giving the user control of the incentives they represent: the abulity use apps and the browser without ads.
