Apple Announces Ability to Download iPhone Apps From Websites in EU

[scorpio vega]

Nobody cares about DMA. I’m not going to accept this joke when every scammer starts putting their Trojan horses on websites to download just because of DMA and “fairness”.

I’m actually excited for this to happen since it will literally be hilarious.

 

[Neg4433]

Then get yourself an Android, nobody is forcing you to stay with Apple.

Also good luck running an App on android without a signed package. And then go look at how much code signatures cost.

If you read my Signature, I own an android device and owned other devices in the past and I developed for android without paying a cent. So what you say is nonsense. Also when I pay 1900€ for a device, I should have the option to develop for it and install Applications however I want. You can keep your "Get an android, if you don't iike it" I own plenty of devices depending on my needs from Apple's to Windows, Android even Linux. I am not going to eat Apple's BS and keep myself fanboying about a trillion dollar company for devices I pay myself.

 

[USB-Adapter]

I guess soon I can sell my old 12 pro as an EU iPhone with installed Fortnite and such.

 

[MilaM]

I guess soon I can sell my old 12 pro as an EU iPhone with installed Fortnite and such.

Would be hillarious if such a market were to emerge 😂.

 

[Beautyspin]

This is a good decision.

I have mixed feelings about the requirement that the direct downloads require a developer account with 2 years and 1m+ installs as it rules out smaller, newer developers, but it's obviously trying to strike a balance between freedom and protection.

They're pushing the boundaries, but I doubt this requirement will fly with the EU.

 

[Joe The Dragon]

Google's own app store,

has way less rules then apples and the dev fees are lower.

 

[scrapesleon]

I never knew we’ll finally see the day let this be worldwide no more jailbreak needed

 

[Rogifan]

Because only iOS was designated gatekeeper status. iPadOS does not have enough users to count as one, and is therefore not subject to the DMA.

Got it. Not sure I agree as iPadOS is basically iOS. It’s certainly more like iOS than MacOS.

 

[koil]

The price of the hardware will just go up.

That's fine, the market will decide if Apple makes any money using that strategy.

 

[one more]

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 allow us to install anything from anywhere in macOS, so until they offer the same possibility on all of their devices, this will just remain a bunch of well-meaning statements, not resulting in anything real. What “overall risk” are you talking about?

 

[one more]

The two are not mutually exclusive. In the very least, users shouldn't run the risk of accidentally downloading malware via Facebook ad links.

Have you ever experienced this on your Mac?

 

[Abazigal]

Have you ever experienced this on your Mac?

It’s evidently an issue with android in my country at least.

Nearly 2,000 victims fell for Android malware scams, at least S$34.1 million lost in 2023

The majority of victims were aged 30 to 49, and were most frequently targeted on Facebook and Instagram.

www.channelnewsasia.com

 

[spazzcat]

I just want my CarPlay screen to have video apps And emulators.

I'm pretty sure that's illegal in almost every country; at least video apps are.

 

[one more]

Still waiting for real side-loading. I want to be able to install my own software directly built on and loaded from my Mac!

This you can do already with Xcode, no?

 

[maszaikasza]

Yes. I love when I get a new Mac, I sign in to my Apple ID, all my apps are available right from the App Store to download.

I hate having to track down apps downloaded from third party sources and managing different licenses and keys.

None of this is about improving the user experience. All of this is about companies fighting for profit margin.

Yes, and all of them updating automatically, often introducing bugs in new versions. Even native Apple apps have those problems. You should talk to software developers and ask if anyone uses Xcode installed via App Store. It's unbelievable how many things Apple can break in their own software.

 

[.wojtek]

In addition, developers will soon be able to distribute apps directly from their websites

Sounds awesome...!

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.

...oh wait...

FFS Apple...

sounds like a massive fail for the user experience

"hey you want our app?"

"yeah but I don't see it on the App Store"

"nah you gotta go to the website and download because we want more money"

"terrible"

"oh and type it correctly or else you might go to a scam site"

this is so stupid

You are aware this is how every app is and was distributed on macOS/Linux/Windows? And noone will force you to download it - you will be free NOT to do it and stay in the walled garden of the appstore...

 

[vakarpochui]

They're pushing the boundaries, but I doubt this requirement will fly with the EU.

Give me a good reason why there shouldn’t be a qualifying requirement for this?

 

[spazzcat]

Nice try, but "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" isn't going to be accepted by the European Commission. These requirements still block new or small developers from exercising their rights under the DMA.

It also blocks most if not all bad actors.

 

[Unami]

sounds like a massive fail for the user experience

"hey you want our app?"

"yeah but I don't see it on the App Store"

"nah you gotta go to the website and download because we want more money"

"terrible"

"oh and type it correctly or else you might go to a scam site"

this is so stupid

Just unlike the app store where you'll be directed to shovelware and cheap copies that want to scam you first, even when you type in the name correctly, and where you won't find anything when you make a spelling error.

So much better...

 

[one more]

It’s evidently an issue with android in my country at least.

Nearly 2,000 victims fell for Android malware scams, at least S$34.1 million lost in 2023

The majority of victims were aged 30 to 49, and were most frequently targeted on Facebook and Instagram.

www.channelnewsasia.com

So what? Macs have nothing to do with Android, yet iOS was built up from a macOS core. Which means that if we can safely do something on a Mac, we should be able to do the same thing in iOS/iPadOS with a similar level of “safety”.

 

[spazzcat]

I’d rather watch the circus. More entertaining.

I can't wait for the battery life whining when people install ****** apps on their phones.

 

[one more]

Give me a good reason why there shouldn’t be a qualifying requirement for this?

Because there is not on a Mac, for starters.

 

[vakarpochui]

Because there is not on a Mac, for starters.

That’s not a good reason. This only shows lack of understanding.

 

[one more]

I can't wait for the battery life whining when people install ****** apps on their phones.

I suppose we should still be able to delete those apps, if they are not to our liking. As for the battery life, people are complaining about it in iOS 17.4, so go figure.

 

[maszaikasza]

Still waiting for real side-loading. I want to be able to install my own software directly built on and loaded from my Mac!

I'm pretty sure you just need an Xcode and a cable