Wesley Hilliard
An iOS developer claims Apple Music is bumping competitor Spotify from the dock on install — but it isn't targeting competitors, and even Apple says that it's a bug.
Developer Kevin Archer has shared a video showing the Apple Music app bumping Spotify from the iPhone dock upon installation.
While this occurrence seems to show Apple somehow promoting Apple Music over Spotify, Archer says this occurs when any third-party app is in the fourth slot in the dock. He also states that first-party apps like Apple's Camera app won't be bumped off.
AppleInsider tested this and reinstalled default apps will reinstall where Apple thinks they should go, by default. We found that any app sitting in that default slot will be bumped from the dock in favor of Apple Music regardless of who it is made by. Even Apple's apps will get bumped out of that place.
To further test the scenario, we loaded the dock with Spotify, Amazon Music, Tidal, and Photos. On reinstall, Apple Music bumped Photos, because it was in the slot that Apple Music "should" occupy.
When an iPhone is set up for the first time, it comes with a set of pre-installed apps, and four are automatically set to the dock.
Apple gives users the ability to delete default apps like Apple Music if they aren't in use. If a user wants to reinstall the app later, the apps are available from the App Store.
Seems like if you download the Apple Music app from App Store, it will automatically appear on your device (iPhone) dock, more than this, it will change any other 3d party app with the Music app. If on your dock, you only have Apple apps it won't do anything. pic.twitter.com/c0pkO9G2pq
— Kevin Archer (@IM_Kevin_Archer) May 5, 2022
Apps, however, tend to try and install in a pre-configured location — especially default apps. Since the Apple Music app comes preinstalled in the right-most dock slot, it will always install in that location, no matter what app is present.
Third-party apps do attempt to reinstall in previously-configured locations on the Home Screen, but never the dock since those default apps are locked into the dock by the OS at install. This seems to result from a programming quirk more than an attempt to push its own apps above third-party ones.
While the behavior isn't preferred, and we'd rather apps install themselves in locations outside the dock, it isn't fighting off competitors like the Twitter claims say that they are.
Apple has reached out to AppleInsider and states that the behavior is a bug and will be looking into it.
Antitrust complaints from regulators, users, and developers have kept Apple in an actively defensive position surrounding iOS and its App Store. The company claims that every developer is treated the same with open and transparent rules.
David Schloss
Marko Zivkovic
Andrew Orr
Malcolm Owen
William Gallagher
13 Comments
What!?! Someone on Twitter made an unfounded accusation based on a misunderstanding? I’m shocked, SHOCKED I tell you.
/s /s /s
Why is Apple setting default positions for their apps in the first place?
If I install an app, I don't want it to move stuff around on my home screen, it can just put itself on the next free spot like every other app I install.
I Find that claim interesting, as I have never had Apple Music in the default position since day one when I bumped it From my first iPhone, series 3s. As my needs have changed I have moved various prime Apps onto the dock and none have ever jumped back and I even used only three spots for a while. I can’t be bothered trying it out, but it must be something to do with the current iOS and deleting and reinstalling music altogether from the phone. I’m not going to jinx myself by trying lol. Current 12pro max on the latest public beta
Why do people think they own Apple?
Apple invented iPhone and iOS. They can do whatever they want. We should appreciate they even allow us to switch apps from the dock.