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Apple's App Store Officially Bans Cryptocurrency Mining (venturebeat.com)
Apple has updated the App Store's Review Guidelines to explicitly ban on-device mining across any type of app, and all of Apple's platforms. The new section 3.1.5 (b), titled Cryptocurrencies, provides five clear rules for what will and won't be allowed in macOS, iOS, tvOS, and watchOS apps going forward. VentureBeat reports: The upshot of the new rules is that while Apple will permit cryptocurrencies to exist on its platforms, it's adding requirements to stop scammers and individuals from exploiting App Store customers, while making explicit that it's blocking developers from eating Apple device processing power for mining activities. As AppleInsider notes, the Review Guidelines were previously less concerned with cryptocurrencies, allowing an app to facilitate crypto and ICO transactions if it complied with the laws in the app's distributed territories.
Since the App Store is virtually the only place to acquire software for iPhones, iPads, iPod touches, Apple TVs, and Apple Watches, Apple's decision will effectively end crypto mining on those devices. On macOS, however, users will continue to be able to acquire apps outside of the Mac App Store, enabling mining and other activities to continue without Apple's seal of approval.
Since the App Store is virtually the only place to acquire software for iPhones, iPads, iPod touches, Apple TVs, and Apple Watches, Apple's decision will effectively end crypto mining on those devices. On macOS, however, users will continue to be able to acquire apps outside of the Mac App Store, enabling mining and other activities to continue without Apple's seal of approval.
because mining on your phone or watch was ever viable. fucking 1849ers. didnt learn then. arent learning now.
Make 'murika Greedy Again.
The freedom to run what you want on your own devices
That's not really what is going on here. These are scumbag app developers offering "free" apps that run miners in the background. The user is either not informed, or informed in fine print that nobody reads. The device owners don't even know anything is going on until they notice their phone is unusually hot and the battery is dead.
Huh? This actually concerns your freedom to run what you want on other people's devices.
Which is very likely a freedom that the owners of said devices would prefer that you not have.
Il n'y a pas de Planet B.
So you got pwned and you want to testify? Come on up brother Bill!
This makes sense, I have never heard a crypto currency miner talk about mining on apple device as anything more than a novelty like mining on a Raspberry Pi. Intentional mining on Apple devices isn't likely occurring often enough to cause Apple any hardware related warranty problems.
Honestly, fuck those users.
Depends on the coin. It's not all that crazy to think a mobile platform as an alternative to ads could pull in enough revenue from mining and selling alt coins to be a viable product.
You can still compile and run cryptocurrency stuff yourself if you want.
As it is prone to, Apple has decided that its customers are too stupid to do this. Yes, some will find a way by compiling code to do it but the inability to do that is not a definition of stupid. This sort of thing plays into the hands of totalitarian governments (EG Chinese, N Korean etc), over protective governments (US, UK etc) and criminal organisations (various TLA's for example)
Alternatively, is this just another case of "we know better than you what you want to do"?
I'll see your Constitution and raise you a Queen.
Isn't it awesome how Apple has it's owners by the balls and likes to squeeze them from time to time as a reminder?
Nearly 5 years ago, there was a plugin for Unity (game engine) to mine Bitcoin. Not sure if it was ever deployed, but your device was already running something intensive, so the miner would be hidden among the normal execution of the game anyways.
I think this was basically just prior to the bitcoin mania. Not sure if it ever left beta, but I do recall there being an extremely negative reaction to the article.
You people don't know what you're talking about. Mining on a Raspberry Pi is done using USB mining devices that are tweaked for Bitcoin's algorithm. Mining on phones is done using pool software like MinerGate.
And 9-11 was obviously a controlled demolition, idjuts. AE911Truth org
It's my device, I should be able to run whatever I want. That's why I prefer Android. But if they had let Electroneum in they'd have to let them all into the store or they'd be picking winners and losers, so I guess it had to be all or none.
It's my device, I should be able to run whatever I want.
So what is stopping you? Just because Apple isn't cooperating with you is irrelevant. As you said it's your hardware so wipe off iOS and put whatever idiotic mining software or malware you want on it. Hell, run Android on an iPhone if you want.
That's why I prefer Android.
A distinction without a difference. If you like Android better that's fine but it doesn't change the fact that you own the hardware and you can compile and run whatever software you want on it. If you want to argue that Apple should cooperate with you running whatever software you want, then you have an argument. It's a walled garden with all that entails. But if your argument is that you should be allowed to run whatever software you want then your argument is moot because you already have that right. The flipside is that Apple is not and should not be under any obligation to cooperate with you if they don't think it is in their interest to do so.
But if they had let Electroneum in they'd have to let them all into the store or they'd be picking winners and losers, so I guess it had to be all or none.
That's kind of the point. Most of the activity surrounding cryptocurrency mining is nothing more than transparent get rich quick scams. There also is quite a lot of organized criminal activity surrounding them including bitcoin. While there is undoubtedly some amount of honest activity, there is no practical way for Apple to determine who is "honest" and who isn't. Allowing such software also would tend to make their devices perform like shit and Apple would of course get blamed for this. Apple isn't stupid so it makes sense to ban all mining software because there is no upside for them nor for virtually any of their users.
If you want to do this sort of mining on a mobile phone for whatever reason buy some other sort of phone. I assure you nobody will care - Apple least of all.
Are (any) fiat-currency and (any) cryptocurrency really equivalent, as cryptocurrency fans claim?
For example, US Dollar and Bitcoin are really equals?
Value/validity/authorization of US dollar is provided/guaranteed by US Government (and in-turn whole US Public)!
Also, not to mention, US Dollars in any US Bank is insured by US Government!
What authorization/guarantee/insurance is behind Bitcoin? Nothing!
Sorry but that is the end of discussion then!
Why do you think Satoshi Nakamoto is really hiding his identity, if Bitcoin is really such a great innovation?
He is just someone does not like media/fan attention?
Or, could it be really because Bitcoin (and all cryptocurrencies followed it) are actually Ponzi Schemes?
(So he knew very well that law enforcement would come after him sooner or later?!)
If so-called cryptocurrencies are really good innovation, why they attract so many criminals/criminal activity?
Could it really be because, all cryptocurrencies themselves are scams, and that is why they attract all kinds of criminals/criminal activity?
If so-called cryptocurrencies are really currency, why no company/store can use Bitcoin as currency anymore?
Because the price of Bitcoin proved to be extremely unstable to use as a currency?
Would the result be different, if Bitcoin replaced by any other "cryptocurrency"?
Aren't all work the same way?
If so-called cryptocurrencies are really money; isn't people issuing their own money, illegal already, in all countries?
If so then, why they are still not banned in all countries?
Or, they are not actually virtual currency but virtual investment?
But, if they are actually investment, why we need/want them?
What would happen to world economy, if people invested in virtual investments, instead of real investments?
Or, all so-called cryptocurrencies are actually just a modified (made decentralized and paying variable interest) Ponzi Schemes?
(Price of cryptocurrencies would keep increasing in the long term (by their design), so it is equivalent of paying variable interest to all long term investors.)
Also, since all so-called cryptocurrencies are actually financial scams (Ponzi Schemes), that means, they cannot be the solution for any of existing financial problems of our world!
As more and more people invest in cryptocurrencies, it will become harder and harder to ban their trading everywhere (because people invested in cryptocurrencies, would try to stop anyone trying to ban cryptocurrencies)!
All cryptocurrencies need to be banned globally before it is too late!
Honestly, fuck those users.
So you are one of those developers? Stop trolling then or f*** off.
The headline says the app store has banned cryptocurrency mining. That is still correct, which means you are still wrong.
"You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
As it is prone to, Apple has decided that its customers are too stupid to do this.
How is preventing a bunch of fraudulent scammers from hijacking people's computers in any way a statement that users are "too stupid"? If you want to run mining software knock yourself out. Nothing is preventing you from doing it - you just can't get it through the App Store. Go compile the software yourself if its important to you. Neither Apple nor the vast majority of their customers have anything to gain by permitting this sort of crap in the App Store. You know damn well that these apps would chew up all the performance of the phone and Apple would get blamed for it AND have to clean up the mess. You know damn well that these apps would be disguised as something other than what they actually are - effectively a form of malware.
Alternatively, is this just another case of "we know better than you what you want to do"?
No, it's simply protecting Apple's own interest and the interests of the vast majority of their users. Most of us have little to zero interest in cryptocurrency and even less in the fraud and criminality that tends to surround it. The majority of cryptocurrency activity is nothing but thinly disguised get rich quick scams and pyramid schemes. While there is some honest activity too it's impossible to tell who those parties are reliably and so it's sensible to just prevent such apps from being distributed through the App Store as policy. If you don't like it then don't buy Apple products.
Are (any) fiat-currency and (any) cryptocurrency really equivalent, as cryptocurrency fans claim?
For example, US Dollar and Bitcoin are really equals?
Clearly no they are not equivalent. Anyone who claims otherwise is not dealing in objective facts. That's not to say that cryptocurrencies are in principle intrinsically inferior but in actual practice thus far they definitely are for most legal transactions and are likely to remain so for the foreseeable future. Liquidity, risk, utility as store of value, transaction costs, volatility, inflation, and many more features have wildly different profiles between fiat currencies and cryptocurrencies. In an honest and objective appraisal cryptocurrencies are inferior in most respects for most people.
Or, could it be really because Bitcoin (and all cryptocurrencies followed it) are actually Ponzi Schemes?
To be fair there is SOME honest usage of cryptocurrencies but you are quite right that most of them are nothing more than thinly disguised get rich quick schemes if not outright fraud. Most of the usage of them is for illegal activity and money laundering and speculation. There certainly is no economic advantage to them over currencies like the dollar as the transaction costs are substantially higher as is the risk. (volatility, exchange rate, counterparty, etc... take your pick - it's very risky compared to the dollar and with risk comes expense)
The most interesting thing about cryptocurrencies has nothing to do with the currency. It's the blockchain technology which has all sorts of far more interesting applications than any cryptocurrency.
The issue here though isn't the mining, it is the hiding of that mining in ads NOT for the benefit of the owner of the phone.
If a bitcoin mining app was uploaded to the appstore, and that app was open about what it was doing, there probably wouldn't be much that apple could (or should even want to) do.
The problem is the app store. Apple should not be allowed to be the sole vendor.
Why? Because it bothers you? It's their product and they can do what they want. If you don't like it buy something else. And take your pathetic whining with you. Apple owes you nothing.
By law, they should be forced to support other stores.
I'm thinking you must be trolling because otherwise you are retarded. "By law"? They don't even have a majority of the smartphone market so what would be the point of that? Go buy Android or something else if you don't like it. Nobody is putting a gun to your head and forcing you to buy a single product from Apple. Literally every product they sell is the very definition of discretionary and there are very reasonable competitive options their entire product line.
Some distributed computing like BOINC give credit/points for computing similar to mining for cryptocurrency.
Is Apple making a clear distinction...how? Both apps use local-processing power to get electronic credit that different people value
Why is Apple deciding what I can/cannot do with my device?
No, you can side load the miner if you want to. He's talking about installing on personal devices, not other user devices.
Dirty miners have caused economic problems as well, driving up the price of graphics cards and flooding the used markets with ones that were overclocked and ran 24/7 for bitchcoin. Death to bitchcoin, confiscate it all. Put a $1000 bounty on every bitchcoin you find and the problem will solve overnight.
Running a miner surreptitiously while playing a game which already taxes your machine is just not the right use case. Running a miner on a webpage while you're reading an article instead of showing ads is totally reasonable.