Apple Announces Ability to Download iPhone Apps From Websites in EU

[UnknownIdaho]

Apple today announced three further changes for developers in the European Union, allowing them to distribute apps directly from webpages, choose how to design in-app promotions, and more.

Apple last week enabled alternative app stores in the EU in iOS 17.4, allowing third-party app stores to offer a catalog of other developers' apps as well as the marketplace developer's own apps. As of today, Apple is allowing third-party app stores to offer apps solely from their own catalog. For example, a games studio could create an app store on iOS that exclusively offers their own games.

When directing users to complete a transaction on their website, developers can also now choose how to design their in-app promotions, discounts, and deals. Apple's templates for designing these links out to websites are optional as of today.

In addition, developers will soon be able to distribute apps directly from their websites, providing they meet Apple's specific criteria, such as being a member of the Apple Developer Program for two continuous years or more and having an app with more than one million first installs on iOS in the EU in the prior year, and commit to ongoing requirements, such as publishing transparent data collection policies. Apps distributed in this way must meet Apple's notarization requirements like all other iOS apps and can only be installed from a web domain registered in App Store Connect.

Authorized developers will gain access to APIs to facilitate app distribution from the web, integration with system functionality, back up and restore, and more. Web distribution will become available following a software update later in the spring – allowing app downloads directly from a website for the first time on iOS.

The latest changes are part of Apple's Digital Markets Act (DMA) compliance plan and only apply within the European Union.

Article Link: Apple Announces Ability to Download iPhone Apps From Websites in EU

Coming soon to the Rest of the World!

No way they can keep that from enterprising coders…

 

[Victor Mortimer]

My experience was that many people had no problem installing Weather Bug and 15 IE search bars, but had no clue on how to download and install Acrobat Reader to open a PDF.

And now I know you're making sh*t up.

You're not talking about Mac users. Mac OS X came with the ability to open PDFs from the beginning.

 

[Victor Mortimer]

This is the kind of thing that got me into computers, back when all computers could do this because that's just what computers do. "Side-loading" is just Newspeak attempting to put that concept down the Memory Hole.

That's why I call it "normal installing". I'm not going to let the Newspeak term take over.

 

[Victor Mortimer]

Remember when apps came on CD-ROMs? Maybe this has been Apple's long game? And, why this still sell the Super Drive in their stores!? They're bringing back physical media!!!!!

You're trying to be funny, but that would be a very good thing.

 

[CraigJDuffy]

You mean that a developer said to Apple give us better terms or we won’t be on your platform.

that is precisely what I said devs should do In my post.

thank you for confirming that what I said was correct and works by giving us such an example of a Dev that done what I suggested that they should do.

So big developers should be able to break the rules while small developers suffer?

 

[CarAnalogy]

So big developers should be able to break the rules while small developers suffer?

Sadly this is exactly how it is. Small developers only have power in groups. And then we start talking about unions and we're right back where we started.

 

[CarAnalogy]

Ironically, even when I was on Android — a platform that's had sideloading since day one — very, very few people would just install apps off of websites. Almost everyone just gets all their apps from Google's own app store, and if for some reason their phone didn't come with access to it (like with some phones imported from China), you can bet they'd find some way to install Google's stuff onto their phone so they could access the official app store.

Basically, I really question how common this whole "install apps on your iPhone from websites" thing is going to be.

Not that common, which makes one wonder why Apple is fighting it so hard from every possible angle.

 

[Victor Mortimer]

It makes sense that Apple is not going to just let anybody host their own iOS app on their website and let things devolve into a free-for-all. I suppose that if you meet the criteria, you should be a pretty established developer with a proven track record and the chances of you doing something nefarious is way lower?

That does seem to be one way in which Apple is attempting to mitigate the overall risk to their platform here.

Apple IS going to do exactly that.

They're going to have to be forced to do it, but they WILL do it. Nothing less than normal software installation is acceptable.

 

[Victor Mortimer]

I don't agree with Sony locking Playstation down
I don't agree with Microsoft locking Xbox down
I don't agree with Nintendo locking Switch down
I don't agree with Tesla locking Model S/3/X/Y/Cybertruck down
I don't agree with Canon locking their cameras down

Doesn't mean I can willy nilly force them open.

You aren't making the point you think you are.

This behavior SHOULD have been outlawed decades ago with game consoles. Ninnytendo should have been forced to open up the NES in '83 or been fined out of existence. Turdla should never have been allowed to lock down cars. Canon should never have been allowed to lock down cameras. HP should never have been allowed to put chips in toner cartridges.

At least governments are finally waking up to how incredibly corrupt tech companies are, and passing laws that begin to fix the problem. And that's because, in a democracy, the people CAN "willy nilly" force companies to do what they should have done in the first place.

 

[Victor Mortimer]

the larger political problem is that the US is pushing digital sovereignty and threatening to nuke apps it doesn't like off of apple and google's app stores. this presents a much lesser problem for android users but opens up the possibility that the US can force apple to delete apps it doesn't like off the app store for every country and not just the US.

if america didn't threaten to weaponize app stores as foreign policy tools laws like the DMA wouldn't need to exist.

No, laws like the DMA would still need to exist. What you're talking about is obviously a huge problem (and I've sent some nastygrams to my reps about their bad behavior) but the problem goes FAR beyond bad government behavior, it's about bad Apple behavior.

 

[I7guy]

No, laws like the DMA would still need to exist. What you're talking about is obviously a huge problem (and I've sent some nastygrams to my reps about their bad behavior) but the problem goes FAR beyond bad government behavior, it's about bad Apple behavior.

It’s about vote with your $$$ if you don’t like apples products or services.

 

[I7guy]

the larger political problem is that the US is pushing digital sovereignty and threatening to nuke apps it doesn't like off of apple and google's app stores. this presents a much lesser problem for android users but opens up the possibility that the US can force apple to delete apps it doesn't like off the app store for every country and not just the US.

if america didn't threaten to weaponize app stores as foreign policy tools laws like the DMA wouldn't need to exist.

Using the phone for subversive activities is not what any government wants. I believe there still be be a way to revoke certs to nuke certain apps to prevent the spread of apps that aid in illegal activity.

 

[Victor Mortimer]

actually linux started with "distribution repository" which was kinda "app store" ;-)

besides, if something started with only app-store it doesn't mean it can't evolve to a better state...

Nope, Linux started with "download the source code and compile it". Repos came much later.

But you can still download source and compile today. It's been a while since I built my own kernel, but I used to do it a lot, most distros didn't compile in Netatalk.

 

[Victor Mortimer]

It’s about vote with your $$$ if you don’t like apples products or services.

No, it's about vote with your VOTE.

To fix Apple's bad behavior, laws need to be passed.

 

[truthsteve]

how do you clasiffy, let's say, VSCode? ;-)

Is a binary being installed and run locally? That would be a native app, electron apps included, obviously. ;-)

You didn't really answer my question and you're trying to divert away from the primary discussion so I think we're done here. Moving on.

 

[truthsteve]

Wrong. A company doing what they may think (or claim) is best for their customers does NOT give them the right to violate laws.

Nope, wrong. You misunderstood.
The context is that you should have bought an Android instead of having rules changed. Rules changed after Apple implemented the initial App Store rules legally and therefore violate laws. I'm discussing what should have happened before the rules changed.

If a company thinks paying its employees only $5/hour is best for their customers because it would allow the company to charge a lower price

False analogy. See above.

 

[truthsteve]

Well side loading is extremely dumb on android as well and have been for years now. You need to jailbreak them as well.

Nope. It's actually less steps to install Fortnite on Pixel 8 compared to installing Fortnite on a PC. Literally count the taps.

Who changed the rules of the game? Didn’t Apple read the contract saying the ToS can be changed at anytime and they agree to the new terms by accessing EU customers?

You've effectively answered the first question by the second question. 😂

Putting "we're allowed to change the rules of the game" in the ToS would still be "changing the rules of the game" does it not? This gotcha isn't working 😂

 

[truthsteve]

You aren't making the point you think you are.

I think I made my point clear.

This behavior SHOULD have been outlawed decades ago with game consoles. Ninnytendo should have been forced to open up the NES in '83 or been fined out of existence.

Yet Nintendo is still free to lock it down while Apple needs to provide alt stores. See my point now? Rules should be applied to everyone. Otherwise, someone is arbitrarily choosing who should follow an extra set of rules.

 

[Sophisticatednut]

Nope. It's actually less steps to install Fortnite on Pixel 8 compared to installing Fortnite on a PC. Literally count the taps. A br D S Aa

Really? Does it take so many steps to download it from the galaxy store or their website?And on a Samsung phone? A lot android phones are locked tho.

You've effectively answered the first question by the second question. 😂

Putting "we're allowed to change the rules of the game" in the ToS would still be "changing the rules of the game" does it not? This gotcha isn't working 😂

Well not really as it’s in jest. But the premise is absurd in the first place.

The executive branch of any government establishes new laws all the time.

 

[truthsteve]

Really? Does it take so many steps to download it from the galaxy store or their website?And on a Samsung phone? A lot android phones are locked tho.

Yes really.
Same steps on the galaxy fold judging by the YouTube vids. Being "locked" doesn't matter.

So you should buy an Android if you wanted to sideload.

Well not really as it’s in jest. But the premise is absurd in the first place.

It's not.

The executive branch of any government establishes new laws all the time.

If you agree with every single gov law, then obviously that's where we will disagree with the matter.

 

[I7guy]

No, it's about vote with your VOTE.

To fix Apple's bad behavior, laws need to be passed.

It’s exactly vote with your $$$.

 

[heinzdembowski]

Just let me finally install an IPA file on MY phone like I'm an adult.

 

[heinzdembowski]

This is the kind of thing that got me into computers, back when all computers could do this because that's just what computers do. "Side-loading" is just Newspeak attempting to put that concept down the Memory Hole.

Very good point! I never install anything from the abysmal Mac App Store. I either download it or install it via brew. It's obviously just using the general purpose computer for the general purpose it was meant to be used for.

 

[CarAnalogy]

Very good point! I never install anything from the abysmal Mac App Store. I either download it or install it via brew. It's obviously just using the general purpose computer for the general purpose it was meant to be used for.

Exactly. Someone, somewhere wrote and compiled it on a real computer. If that becomes an increasingly rare thing, it will be like those who could read and write in the days before the printing press. Many years ago I heard computer programmers and admins compared to the priesthood in those days. That may become more true than ever.

 

[webkit]

Nope, wrong. You misunderstood.
The context is that you should have bought an Android instead of having rules changed. Rules changed after Apple implemented the initial App Store rules legally and therefore violate laws. I'm discussing what should have happened before the rules changed.

Your previous comment I replied to was, "They literally should do what they think is best for the customers that enjoy the walled garden." Who is the "they" you are referring to? The EU? Apple? Both?

You are now saying that you are "discussing what should have happened before the rules changed."

if "they" is the EU, what are you suggesting they should have done?

if "they" is Apple, what are you suggesting they should have done?