Also: these articles all seem to focus on the recently introduced Screentime, which adds new insights for users with data about their device and application use and the ability for parents to limit "screen time" to specific hours of the day - while Parental Controls in various forms have been a part of iOS since 2008.
Apple didn't introduce granular restrictions until iOS 12 and the introduction of Screen Time though, which is precisely when Apple started to limit 3rd party apps that duplicated many of the features. As articles have pointed out, the 3rd party apps allow even more control, or used to, before Apple began limiting their functionality or removing them from the App Store altogether. It certainly isn't a good sign.
A far more concerning sign to me personally is a news items NAG1 noted here last week, about Apple's new requirement for Mac apps to be notarized by Apple for new developers.
Message 32129552
While on the surface this looks like a good idea, and it is, it's also another step in the direction of requiring ALL Mac software to be put on the Mac App Store for it to run at all on a Mac. Since iOS already requires this unless you jailbreak your iOS device, it's not a big leap to see where Apple could be headed here.
I hope it never comes to pass. Apple already limits the functionality of some apps on the MAS that are also available separately from the developer in full-featured versions.
Then there's Apple's 30% cut of apps on the MAS. There are also apps there that are available cheaper or free directly from the developer. If all Mac apps have to be obtained from the MAS, prices will no doubt increase. |
