Telegram Founder Slams Apple’s iPhone
Pavlov certainly didn’t mince his words. In a public post on his Telegram channel, Durov called people who use an iPhone a “digital slave” to the company:
He also criticized Apple’s decision to disallow third-party app stores on the iPhone.
Durov’s App Store comment echoes accusations that Fortnite maker Epic Games in its lawsuit has leveled against Apple. Epic is arguing that Apple is stifling competition and creativity by not allowing third-party stores on the iPhone.
As for iCloud being the only system-wide syncing service available to iPhone users, this is something of a disingenuous comment. Android, for example, uses the Google cloud for backing up the contents of the user’s device. From a security standpoint, using a first-party cloud is a much better solution than trusting a third-party service with sensitive user data.
The iPhone and 60Hz Screens
The harsh criticism of Apple continued with Durov’s analogy that using an iPhone is like being “thrown back into the Middle Ages.” He takes issue with the fact that iPhones to this date have remained stuck with 60Hz displays even though Android competitors have moved to smoother, more responsive 120Hz screens for their high-end smartphones.
He has a point here.
Apple currently offers 120Hz screens on its iPad Pro tablet lineup, a technology it named ProMotion, and the latest rumors indicate that the upcoming iPhone 13 lineup could offer twice the refresh rate. Apple apparently turned to Samsung for power-sipping LTPO display panels so that using a 120Hz iPhone won’t eat into your battery life.
What About Apple’s Concessions in China?
Durov then launched into a harsh critique of Apple’s approach to conducting business in China:
Durov is referring to an article in The New York Times which investigates Apple’s relationship with the Chinese government and the concessions the company has allegedly made in terms of user privacy and security in mainland China.
Telegram Usage Is Booming
Telegram is a cross-platform messaging software that offers many advanced features, including end-to-end encryption to prevent eavesdropping.
The app is available on iOS, Android, Windows, macOS, Linux, and the web. The software experienced a surge after Facebook announced controversial privacy policy changes coming to WhatsApp, prompting people to seek alternative messaging solutions.
Telegram currently claims more than half a billion active users worldwide.
