hard for companies to go against its strict code
of practice and marketplaces. This year changed
a great deal, and though Epic Games’ battle with
Apple undoubtedly played a role Apple has
been lowering its walls in other ways. Apple TV+,
for example, has seen Apple launch dedicated
applications for televisions, games consoles, and
more, and recently the firm has began offering
support for Apple Music and Podcasts on rival
smart speakers. As Apple looks to move away
from its reliance on hardware towards more
software, it’s clear that these barriers are being
lowered to help Apple access a wider audience
and loosen the strings on its tightly-controlled
ecosystem on its own terms. Indeed, earlier in
the year, Apple said it would open up FaceTime
to non-Apple users for the first time. Android
and Windows users can be invited to FaceTime
calls, and though it’s great to see Apple offering
such features, it will ultimately encourage non-
Apple users to switch to an iPhone in the future.
In perhaps one of the most surprising moves
of the year, Apple confirmed in November
that it would soon allow users to fix their own
iPhones and Macs. Apple will provide parts, tools
and manuals to those who feel comfortable
repairing their own devices. The move was
justifiably hailed as a major victory for the “right
to repair” movement, and though some would
say that the new scheme is nothing more than
a PR stunt, it’s yet another sign that Apple is
retreating on some of its often-criticized policies
and making itself better for users.