Originally Posted by mooper

Google is nothing like Apple. Google provides *choice*. They allow you to opt out of services, move your data freely, and they even allow competing software and devices to interact and port. By ceasing to invest in a service that has waning interest and a superior (and more profitable) alternative, they aren't "forcing" anything. They know that many users will flee to similarly antiquated services in the short-run, and this is a calculated loss. They will work to win those users back with a better (and also free) product in G+.

Another difference from Apple is that they offer many of their products free, supporting them with ads rather than charging huge premiums. That's not necessarily better, but it opens to door to those who can't afford Apple premiums.

Regarding the ads themselves... Google has succeeded by working to make ads targeted and useful rather than annoying and without value. To many, it's an appealing alternative to paying for products and subscriptions directly. Google has every right to protect their platform against poaching and free loaders. Asking them to allow ....... would be like expecting Microsoft to allow updates of cracked versions of their software. Apple, on the other hand, does it very differently. They aren't merely trying to stop their products from being abused/stolen; they block competing products because they fear the competition.