Apple have made users so paranoid about straying anywhere from their totalitarian control that all the 3rd party app stores will likely just die off. As it stands there is little to be gained for developers and users lose out on basic things like family sharing. The only real reason anyone ever wanted sideloading (emulators) can be circumvented anywhere in the world by using PWA emulators for anything up to the Gameboy Advance that Apple can do nothing to block.
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Alternative iOS App Stores Only Work for 'Grace Period' When Traveling Outside of EU
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The absolute state of this.
Can someone just sack Cook already
Can someone just sack Cook already
Politicians are fighting for consumer choice. If you're an EU citizen you can choose not to use 3rd party app stores and stick with Apple. But citizens also have a choice of going beyond this if they so wish.
I'd much rather democratically elected officials give me more choice than trillion-dollar corporations take it away.
Apple should just read the room and open this up everywhere. It's painful watching them cling onto this and do everything in the book to make it as hard as possible, and attracting bad PR along the way.
Considering there is a grace period, the agreement is voided once you live outside the EU long (longer than the grace period)-term. Apple has already established the 60-90 day requirement, so the lawyers don't have to invent anything else. If the EU mandates the access be permanent there will be some other method of checking for EU residence because it's a region/EU specific mandate. Someone in the US will not be able to buy an EU phone and expect easy access to alt app stores.
Apple should focus on making the damn best possible products and services. People should *want* to use their products and services, not be forced to do so by any means.
So Apple, please stop trying to jail your users and force them into your ecosystem, just create the best and most secure tech products in the world instead of the best money machine in the world...
So Apple, please stop trying to jail your users and force them into your ecosystem, just create the best and most secure tech products in the world instead of the best money machine in the world...
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Can you show us where Apple are actually in the wrong here? They are the ones who have made this stipulation, and at this stage, it complies in its current form. Where is this contract that says Apple cannot do this?
I get that you're only guessing on this, but then maybe admit that its the way you would like it be and not actually a fact.
What's the problem with this? If you're not residing in the EU anymore, you won't be able to use this. Easy.
Realistically the only EU citizens who this impacts are residents working outside the EU on longer contracts.
It's almost like EU citizens lose their rights once they leave the EU. Wild.
I'm just saying, that it will be difficult for Apple to enforce such a clause in the EU, given my experience with consumer protection law. It's not that easy to change terms of service unilatterally, when they clearly rob the consumers of certain rights. But I'm not an expert lawyer, just someone who has a decent understanding how the law works in my country and how courts usually interpret that law.
EU Citizens have the rights under GDPR regardless of where they are currently based I.e you don’t lose your right to be forgotten while travelling
Collecting data about EU citizens applies even if that data was collected in a non-eu country.
It’s on device processing, to be fair. No real privacy concern.
This is so much more than the bare minimum. Apple is spending HUGE amounts of effort to hobble apps from outside the app store.
I have been continuously shocked over the past decade at how little regard Apple has under Cook towards what is right or legal, and how openly hostile they are to their customers and third party developers.
I'm trying to think how Apple compares to the worst companies of all time. Network companies are pretty awful - they don't do what's right and they are hostile to their customers and television networks... but I think they generally make an effort to better follow the laws. They don't invest a huge amount into harming everyone like this, just so they can argue they comply with the legal minimum.
There's tobacco companies... obviously Apple isn't that bad since they don't outright kill their customers (but quite possibly only because it's bad for business - Cook may otherwise be alright with it.)
So, somewhere between Comcast/Verizon and tobacco companies. It's quite bad that we've gotten to the point where these are valid comparisons to make.
No one is forcing them into an ecosystem.
Reality number 1. They are the most secure phones on the market. We don't need to rehash the malware debate here, but Android suffer pretty badly.
And they have clearly addressed your concerns about app security here:
"..risks from installing software from unknown developers that are not subject to the Apple Developer Programme requirements, installing software that compromises system integrity with malware or other malicious code, the distribution of pirated software, exposure to illicit, objectionable and harmful content due to lower content and moderation standards, and increased risks of scams, fraud and abuse."
They also lose their rights on open Internet when they go to certain countries. Women also lose rights when they go to certain countries. But let's worry about downloading the latest porn from your favourite side loading app store shall we?
Perspective people, it's downloading an app when you have been out of the country for 2+ months!
Since you disagreed with my post. Except for EU residents working long-term outside the EU, who else is affected by this 60-90 day rule? If you're an ex-pat living permanently away from the EU, why would you expect this EU-specific benefit?
I find it quite surprising that Google is basically sucking up to the EU and they released a very friendly press release even though the EU is trying to cut into their Ad stream revenue yet Apple is loosing their damn mind and pointing fingers.
Google:
We have approached compliance with transparency and meaningful product changes, even where we have concerns that some rules will reduce the choices available to people and businesses in Europe. We do believe that consistent interpretation and enforcement of these new rules across all the designated companies will be critical in ensuring a level playing field for European businesses and consumers in the future.
Beyond the March deadline, we will continue to work with the European Commission and industry to ensure we continue to offer products and services that are helpful, safe and compliant to people and businesses in Europe.
Apple:
The DMA requires changes to this system that bring greater risks to users and developers. This includes new avenues for malware, fraud and scams, illicit and harmful content, and other privacy and security threats. These changes also compromise Apple’s ability to detect, prevent, and take action against malicious apps on iOS and to support users impacted by issues with apps downloaded outside of the App Store.
Google:
We have approached compliance with transparency and meaningful product changes, even where we have concerns that some rules will reduce the choices available to people and businesses in Europe. We do believe that consistent interpretation and enforcement of these new rules across all the designated companies will be critical in ensuring a level playing field for European businesses and consumers in the future.
Beyond the March deadline, we will continue to work with the European Commission and industry to ensure we continue to offer products and services that are helpful, safe and compliant to people and businesses in Europe.
Apple:
The DMA requires changes to this system that bring greater risks to users and developers. This includes new avenues for malware, fraud and scams, illicit and harmful content, and other privacy and security threats. These changes also compromise Apple’s ability to detect, prevent, and take action against malicious apps on iOS and to support users impacted by issues with apps downloaded outside of the App Store.
So why have you and your like minded sticked around so long with apple to begin with and not moved to Android (assuming that's where you are moving next) long time ago ?
Wow... Someone is taking this too far. Suggesting Tim Cook would be okay with killing people...
They wouldn't. It's faux rage. Kinda funny how they are getting all worked up on this really. I'll just sit here waiting on the angry face emoji's 😂
This seems to complicate my life even more as an EU citizen. I hope no financial apps move outside app store. They are free apps anyway.
At current point in time I don't think any app is moving anywhere until alternative market places becomes a thing worldwide (why would anyone want to decrease their user base ?).
This is starting to seem like spiteful behavior on Apple's part now.
I'm really starting to wonder why they're like this. The Mac is a successful product and they let you install software from anywhere. What's wrong with allowing the same on iOS?
99% of people will still use the app store, and installing software from elsewhere will be at your own risk, just like it is on the Mac, on Windows, Linux and every other computing platform.
It's tiring. If I didn't love the design of iOS, MacOS, etc. so much, along with Apple's stance on privacy, I probably would have jumped ship a while ago.
I'm really starting to wonder why they're like this. The Mac is a successful product and they let you install software from anywhere. What's wrong with allowing the same on iOS?
99% of people will still use the app store, and installing software from elsewhere will be at your own risk, just like it is on the Mac, on Windows, Linux and every other computing platform.
It's tiring. If I didn't love the design of iOS, MacOS, etc. so much, along with Apple's stance on privacy, I probably would have jumped ship a while ago.