TCB13

TCB13, 1 month ago (edited 1 month ago)

Because:

Quad9 blocks lookups of malicious host names from an up-to-the-minute list of threats. (…) If the system detects that the site you want to reach is known to be infected, you’ll automatically be blocked from entry – keeping your data and computer safe.

If you query their “unsecure” servers, it works:

<span style="color:#323232;">dig spy.pet "@9.9.9.10" +short
</span><span style="color:#323232;">104.26.1.165
</span><span style="color:#323232;">172.67.74.73
</span><span style="color:#323232;">104.26.0.165
</span>

I would never use a provider that has the means in place / likes to filter the DNS - you never know when a govt will ask them to kill a certain domain (even for the “unsecure” servers) or redirect things.

TCB13, 1 month ago

Yes, but if the provider doesn’t have the capabilities baked in they’ll take more time to comply or just not do it at all.

TCB13, 1 month ago

Don’t all providers have the ability to filter things?

It depends on what you can consider “the ability”. If by ability you mean have to deploy a team of engineers working for a week to make it happens, that’s okay, if they’ve their system built for it things are different.

TCB13, 1 month ago

Making a DNS server not respond to queries for a specific name is trivial for any DNS provider to implemen

It might not be that easy, you’re thinking about one single server running some kind of DNS server you’re familiar with. When we’re talking about Quad9, Cloudflare etc. were talking about hundreds of servers across the planet, highly distributed solutions that rely on multicast and other non-trivial techniques. If you’ve to change a system like that to add the ability to block something, trust me, it won’t take a few hours.

TCB13, 1 month ago

This is just like the iPhone (lack of) storage and the (lack of) SD cards. Apple is trying to maximize profits by using less RAM and by forcing people into buying more hardware in a few years. Apple does a lot of stuff very well but then they also pull this crap.

TCB13, 1 month ago

Or via the AltStore tax for EU users.

TCB13, 1 month ago

• US User: get’s Delta for free from the App Store
• EU User: needs to install AltStore and pay a Tax €€€

Riley Testut decided to be a dick and show the middle finger to every European out there in hopes to push his little AltStore. He’s clearly leveraging Delta as a way to force EU people into the AltStore and this makes it yet another greedy person.

https://lemmy.world/pictrs/image/45414324-2f52-4b5e-9001-e0b4b25cfe27.png

The App was approved by Apple for distribution - meaning it can be distributed in ALL App Stores, the fact that it is only available on the US store is a solely the decision of Riley Testut, and complete bullshit.

Riley Testut spends years bitching that Apple isn’t open, the EU proceeds to make sure Apple is more open and what does he do? Show the middle finder to the EU.

TCB13, 1 month ago

Yes, because the developer was a dick.

TCB13, 1 month ago

The angle is very clear: he’s leveraging Delta as a way to force EU people into the AltStore and this makes it yet another greedy person.

TCB13, 1 month ago

He’s most likely just leveraging Delta as a way to force EU people into the AltStore and this makes it yet another greedy person. We had the Apple tax, now we’ve the Riley Testut tax for Europeans. The more things change, the more they stay the same.

TCB13, 1 month ago

Because…

• US User: get’s Delta for free from the App Store
• EU User: needs to install AltStore and pay a Tax €€€

The App was approved by Apple for distribution - meaning it can be distributed in ALL App Stores, the fact that it is only available on the US store is a solely the decision of Riley Testut, and complete bullshit.

TCB13, 1 month ago (edited 1 month ago)

Some of you people get so salty because of your own cluelessness it’s sad.

I believe you completely missed the point here and while what you said is correct, it isn’t totally accurate.

you need to agree to the new EU-specific Apple terms

This isn’t correct. You only have to agree if you plan do have access to the new features such as alternative app stores, web install and whatnot. The developers can keep operating as usual without being charged the CTF fee and without those features.

Read this: developer.apple.com/support/core-technology-fee/

The Core Technology Fee (CTF) is an element of the new business terms in the European Union (EU) (…) Developers can choose to remain on the App Store’s current business terms or adopt the new business terms for iOS apps in the EU. Developers can choose to remain on the App Store’s current business terms or adopt the new business terms for iOS apps in the EU.

He could’ve just decided not to accept to operate “under the new business terms for EU apps” and still be able to distribute a free App on the App Store without paying the CTF, as before.

Besides, even for those who accept the “new business terms” the CTF isn’t always applied:

What happens if I have fewer than one million first annual installs in the past 12 months? If you have fewer than one million first annual installs in the past 12 months, you won’t pay a Core Technology Fee that month.

He just wanted to release AltStore and for that he had to accept the “new terms” that lead to this situation". That’s a dick move either way but the truth is that he could’ve still done it and proceeded to publish Delta on the App Store and charge the fee there instead of pushing AltStore down people’s throats.

As I said before, I was even okay with paying for the App but only if it was distributed through the App Store. It would take care of the potential > 1M download CTF fee and he would profit as well. No harm there. What he did instead was to gatekeep the app from the App Store in order to force people into his AltStore.

What’s truly bullshit is Apple charging (and allowed to charge) what they call a core technology fee

While I agree with you there, before calling people clueless maybe you should do your research because the rest of your argument is kind of not the reality of the EU/CTF/App Store.

TCB13, 1 month ago

Yes, I understand that. But it’s €1.50. What’s that, half a coffee

People are angry about it because you’ve Americans having an app for free and Europeans getting charged a yearly fee for the same thing. This is not much about the value, it’s about the principle and the gatekeeping.

and ten minutes spent getting AltStore installed.

This is the worst part of it all is the gatekeeping, why can’t he just sell the App for 1.50€ on the EU App Stores then? Why would we have to install his AltStore and pay a recurring fee to cover the potential CTF fee? Why not let people get the App from the store they want to use instead of forcing one way or another?

If you read my other comment here and the Apple terms, you’ll find out he’s only subject to the CTF in the first place because he decided he wanted to launch the AltStore, otherwise he would be able to launch in Europe for free without any CTF costs.

TCB13, 1 month ago

So sure, they could’ve decided to not agree to the new terms, but then they couldn’t have released Clip (or only via self-signed sideloading like before).

They could’ve got around that in multiple ways. What you see a lot is people having multiple developer accounts with different Apps, you see this all around the App Store with major companies.

Another thing is, as I said, I know he “had” to agree to the new terms in order to have the AltStore BUT, why is he gatekeeping from the EU App Store then? Why can’t he distribute in both places and charge the 1.50€ on the EU App Stores?

The fee might be unfair but as you said in order to release Clip he had to accept it. Gatekeeping from the App Store is much worse, it’s his own decision and very bad taste one. C’mon we’re talking the guy who spend years bitching that Apple wouldn’t allow people to chose from where they get apps and now he’s the one forcing people into (his) single store? The more things change the more they stay the same.

TCB13, 1 month ago

Sure they could’ve gone out of their way to create another developer account which also costs another yearly fee of 98,99€.

So it’s not okay for the developer to create another another that costs < 100€ but it’s okay for him to say that the CTF may bankrupt him? Like he did on his blog post? It would’ve been way cheaper and risk free for him to get another account than what he’s doing.

I agree that they could distribute it in the EU App Store, but even then a subscription would be required to cover costs

As I said before, I was okay paying for the App on the EU Stores, but the gatekeeping is bad taste.

You can also install it via the non-PAL AltStore or you can sideload it manually by signing the app manually, no store required.

Yes and then I’ve to refresh the App every 7 days…

You could also create a US Apple ID

There have been multiple people reporting that after iOS 17.4 you can’t do this anymore. Seems Apple applied more geolocation specific rules not only for EU users abroad but also the opposite.

TCB13, 1 month ago

I believe everyone should read this: developer.apple.com/support/core-technology-fee/

The Core Technology Fee (CTF) is an element of the new business terms in the European Union (EU) (…) Developers can choose to remain on the App Store’s current business terms or adopt the new business terms for iOS apps in the EU. Developers can choose to remain on the App Store’s current business terms or adopt the new business terms for iOS apps in the EU.

The “Riley Tax” as you called it is mostly just an Apple tax though and to pay for infrastructure. I don’t see him getting rich from that.

I’m not saying he wants to profit from this (“greedy”), it’s all about pushing people into the AltStore. I don’t even believe the AltStore pricing is sustainable unlike he says on the announcement… he’s most likely have to increase the price later on once he gets more Apps over there.

It looks a lot like he just wanted to release the AltStore and for that he was forced to accept the “new terms”. This in turn lead to the current situation where Europeans have to pay more. He could’ve still done it and proceeded to publish Delta on the EU App Stores and charge the fee there instead of pushing AltStore down people’s throats. OR he could’ve not accepted the terms all together and distributed Delta for free on EU Stores / without being charged the CTF (losing AltStore in the process).

Another thing he could’ve done was release the AltStore under a different developer account so the Delta account could use the old terms (no Apple Tax) and the AltStore one would use the new terms.

Look, I was even okay with paying 0,50€, 1€ or 10€ for the App but only if it was distributed through the App Store. It would take care of the potential > 1M download CTF fee and he would profit as well. No harm there. What he did instead was to gatekeep the app from the App Store in order to force people into the AltStore. Forcing people into the AltStore and a yearly fee is at least less than ideal.

TCB13, 1 month ago

the developer offers a more convenient way to install it in the EU via their own AltStore PAL for a tiny fee.

Having to install a 3rd party store isn’t, at all, “more convenient” than having Delta on the App Store and buying it for 0.50€.

Even as much as calling the developers’ decision “bullshit” comes off as super entitled. They owe you nothing and get flak for it

You are right, it was a big exaggerated from my part, but still he was the one accepting the “new terms” that brings the CTF and that caused an inequality situation between US and EU users. As Apple says here developers can keep operating under the “old terms” and not be subject to the CTF - the downside is that he wouldn’t be able to launch the AltStore under the same account.

TCB13, 1 month ago

According to this it as it currently stands you’ve to download all the core, compile than and bundle them with the App. This is very likely to pass the App Store checks depending on a few details.

TCB13, 1 month ago

or should he refer to your poor arguments in the future

Okay, when your govt decides you should pay taxes and your neighbor in the exact same situation doesn’t have to pay then I hope you’re happy. That’s what you’re advocating for there.

maybe you’re the Portuguese Tim Cook and you’re still butthurt about opening up iOS??

Ahahah, the exact opposite. I’m all for alternative app stores and I believe iOS should allow for direct IPA installs without signatures and checks from Apple at all. What I’m against is developers screwing over specific groups of people, in this case Europeans, like this one did.

At the end of the day Testut is charging 1.50€/year for AltStore PAL access, so… he just created a new tax, a fee and so is Apple. The more things change, the more they stay the same ;)

TCB13, 1 month ago

Riley Testut, as he could flip a switch and have Delta appear on all European app stores.

TCB13, 1 month ago

I don’t get the special treatment for US users. But okay.

I really hope that RetroArch (that is actually done by decent people) get’s released in the stores soon and Delta / Testut fades away.

TCB13, 1 month ago

Let’s forget about the inequality situation that was created here, even though it was mostly created by his choices of accepting the “new terms” and wanting to launch the AltStore.

Do you like to have a phone where you’re forced into having just the Apple App Store? You don’t, you want freedom to choose whatever App Store you would like to use.

This is exactly the same, instead of just making Delta available on the EU Stores for a price (in order to cover the CTF tax) he decided to restrict it to his single store.

TCB13, 1 month ago

Did you try out Nextcloud AIO instead of setting it up manually?

Yes, mostly the same.

I agree that NC has a lot of problems. It’s a good example of an application that tries to do everything and unsurprisingly doesn’t do many things truly well. With that said, I was surprised that NC AIO ran well for me despite the horror stories of NC I’d always read

I believe this is a problem of scale, once you get a lot of data and a couple of users things then to go downhill from there.

To make things better NC isn’t polished at all and there’s a lot of moving parts that break randomly at multiple times or at the same time.

My main problems with Syncthing is that there’s no official iOS client and that there’s no easy selective sync

This is kind of the problem with Syncthing for… everyone. What I do with iOS is to avoid syncs, have a central “server” where all your Syncthing devices sync to/from and access everything on iOS through WebDAV/SFTP or FileBrowser running on that server.

TCB13, 1 month ago

The American mind can’t just comprehend that there’s world besides the USA. Australia, Germany, Italy, Norway, Sweden, Finland as many pointed out all have longer routes. Don’t let me get started on Russia or we might end up with a new race between the US and Russia trying to come with the longest road.

Another thing the American mind can’t just comprehend (about Europe) is how someone can drive across multiple countries without ever stopping on checkpoints/border controls/customs and most of time without even exiting/changing highways.

The American mind can’t just comprehend what it is to send money to a friend in another EU country with just a single number. No 3rd party services, no routing and account numbers, no fees, no banking shenanigans. Simply login into your European bank, type the value and the IBAN and the transfer is done. :)

TCB13, 1 month ago

You can but it’s not as straightforward as it is in Europe. It varies much from bank to bank.