Apple CEO Tim Cook: Sideloading Apps Would 'Destroy the Security' of the iPhone

[PC_tech]

You’d think technical knowledge on a mostly technical forum would be decently high. Sigh

Unfortunately, some will defend Apple no matter what and just say things like this, if they actually believe it, that’s another matter.

 

[ian87w]

You know Amazon and any drugstore is full of third party alternative Gillete razors blades for e.g. the Mach-3 I use. I personally don’t buy original ones either. That was a really bad analogy, next one please… 🤣

If we want to go into the grey areas, sure. You can jailbreak an iPhone, so why the complaints? End of discussion…

 

[mansplains]

Not gonna lie, I read the 'Brut.' in the corner as 'Bruh' with Tim's expression...

 

[PC_tech]

I don't think many people on this forum understand what a monopoly truly is.

Apple does not have a "monopoly" on phones, operating systems and applications.

Can you get everything you want on the App Store? Nope. But I also can't get a deep dish pizza in a Chinese restaurant, either.

Of course, I am free to go to the pizza joint across the street.

Want to side load Phone OS apps? Use Android.

Do YOU know what it is? You do realize Apple is being dragged into court for this exact reason, the COURT system will determine if it’s monopoly or not, not you 🙄

 

[ian87w]

Unfortunately, some will defend Apple no matter what and just say things like this, if they actually believe it, that’s another matter.

It’s about defending choice. Currently, there are two major smartphone platforms, each with unique characteristics (Apple’s walled garden, and Android’s more open platform). The choice exist. What being proposed is actually eliminating choice by making the walled garden option into more of the same as Android. As someone who likes choice, I want different options, not options of more of the same.

 

[PC_tech]

And how many Apple products do you own?

Not that it’s relevant to anything they said 🙄🙄🙄

 

[PC_tech]

It’s about defending choice. Currently, there are two major smartphone platforms, each with unique characteristics (Apple’s walled garden, and Android’s more open platform). The choice exist. What being proposed is actually eliminating choice by making the walled garden option into more of the same as Android. As someone who likes choice, I want different options, not options of more of the same.

It’s not eliminating any choice, you’re free to continue doing exactly as you are, and this has been explained a million times 🙄

 

[ryuworks]

If you want to sideload apps on your phone, get the f out of iOS. Macs are not the ultra secure platforms some people assumed it is because of the increased popularity in the last decade resulting in hordes of idiots on the platform doing stupid things that compromised security.

Anyone forcing alternative App Stores and user-abled sideloading of apps on iOS should and will be sued by a sizeable number of people, Apple included.

 

[Sarkany]

It would destroy their bottom line.

 

[Sarkany]

If you want to sideload apps on your phone, get the f out of iOS. Macs are not the ultra secure platforms some people assumed it is because of the increased popularity in the last decade resulting in hordes of idiots on the platform doing stupid things that compromised security.

Anyone forcing alternative App Stores and user-abled sideloading of apps on iOS should and will be sued by a sizeable number of people, Apple included.

Nobody is forcing you to sideload apps, nor are sideloaded apps on someone else’s phone affecting you.

 

[jk1221]

I wouldn't as Im sure the majority would not buy from anyplace other than Apple. If I couldn't buy the app from Apple I dont need it. So just for arguments sake, if you side load an app and all hell breaks loose do you expect Apple to fix your phone?The majority buy Apple products as we feel safe buying from the store and like the way the ecosystem works.

What do you mean "fix your phone?" Typically software issues are not under any warranty anyway.

"Fixing" implies hardware defects that are still covered regardless of software; unrelated.

Apple will still fix your Mac if you get a virus won't it? If something breaks. You can always wipe and reinstall software as well. I assume that is their "fix" to such an issue like any other device with an OS out there. You can always reinstall iOS fresh after going through a full device wipe.

Personal responsibility for one's actions and the consequences. This is not a vacuum where the Mac already doesn't exist with this very model.

Not that it’s relevant to anything they said 🙄🙄🙄

The ravaging fruit lovers are really annoying that will attack other users personally for no reason. As if you need to do something to have an opinion on it.

I bet he has an opinion on POTUS while never serving a day in government too By that logic no one should have any opinion on POTUS except the 46 who have actually done it. Or on China, if you never lived there. Or on a lot of topics in life.

Nobody is forcing you to sideload apps, nor are sideloaded apps on someone else’s phone affecting you.

I can't figure out why it is so hard for people to understand what an option is versus forced on every user. Its baffling.

 

[sracer]

They’ve stated a number of times, including by Craig F, that macOS will stay open for hobbiest and UNIX users.

I hope it’s true.

IF macOS becomes restricted like iOS (no terminal access, file system, etc) all devs would move to Linux. I know I would.

I highly doubt that all devs would move to Linux. Professional developers won't...the commercial opportunities are not as lucrative as they are for MacOS. Hobbyists who are interested in those things are mostly already over on Linux.

 

[Mystakill]

I can count on zero fingers how many viruses and malware I managed to install when I was still jailbreaking my devices. Ultimately, the decision to sideload apps should be up to the user, with caveats/warnings from Apple prior, similar to macOS with unsigned apps. The whole "privacy & security" bit is just a ploy to ensure the massive revenue stream that is the current App Store.

Much like the macOS App Store, there are apps which are prohibited from the iOS App Store because they replicate/improve on Apple's apps, violate prudency/oppressive-government guidelines, provide functionality that Apple wants to restrict for itself, etc. Plus, many people still don't realize that numerous iOS features (and some devs) were directly lifted from jailbreak apps - notifications, task switcher/closer, custom fonts, icon layout options, etc.

 

[jonnysods]

Remember Steve”s original idea of simply web apps? You have to remember that Steve Jobs was not even willing to put any expansion slots on the original Macintosh. His idea of a computer is a completely sealed appliance where Apple has complete control of the experience. iPhones and iPads are the realization of that vision. That’s why Jobs was so proud of the iPad. And also remember his refusal to support Adobe Flash back then, when every single tech blogger made fun of iPads for not supporting Flash.

All those things is why I'm so curious what he would do. How would he play it? I know that he was pretty stuck on web apps, until he saw the potential of the App Store. But I wonder what he would say, what type of open letter he would write to the industry? Imagine him on the stand at the Epic trial? He would shred those guys.

 

[RedRage]

The user already has a choice. I made my decision as well, by picking Android as my primary smartphone. Why should you force Apple to become Android? Why do you want to eliminate choice? Let those who want a walled garden be Apple’s customers. Those who you said want something more flexible already have the platform of choice. You cannot claim that you want choice by eliminating the actual choice by forcing everything to be the same.

They can stay in their walled garden. No one is going to force them to leave their walled garden. I don't understand why people don't want more ways to use their phones. If they don't want to sideload then don't sideload.

 

[RedRage]

But it's not about you or me. It's about the hundreds of millions of users that think they know what they're doing but will end up getting tricked into shady app stores made to look exactly like the Apple App Store, with apps that look exactly like official apps but contains all kinds of malware. It's like saying "people should be free to choose which side of the road they want to drive on" and expect it to work. We already have that experiment, it's called Android, it's "free" and users can f*ck up their phones all they want. Check the malware ratio on Android vs iOS.

That is their problem, not mine. People download and get scammed everyday just using PCs/Macs - their stupidity is not my problem.

 

[RedRage]

Imagine an eight year old turning on this feature on mommy/daddy’s iPhone after watching a YT video on a super hack for their favourite game.

That is their problem. Parents should have better watch over their children. So because some parents can't parent we can't have other options?

 

[PC_tech]

Yeah, "if the user knows what they're doing". sure.

Meanwhile, after it's all messed up, the same user will go to the Genius Bar and go "my phone broke...fix it" and Apple will say "sorry, we can't, you did this this and this to it...we don't cover that because apparently you "knew what you were doing". And then the customer will go off and bad-mouth Apple for not fixing the phone.

I can see it already.

Factory reset 🙄

 

[zanoii]

That is their problem, not mine. People download and get scammed everyday just using PCs/Macs - their stupidity is not my problem.

Sounds to me that you might be on the wrong platform.

That is their problem. Parents should have better watch over their children. So because some parents can't parent we can't have other options?

You already have other options.

 

[Taipan]

They may steal data on MacOS, Windows, Android and any other OSs on YOUR computer.

There is NO guarantee you data will be absolutely safe, I mean c'mon everyone dumps their information on Facebook, Twitter all manner of social platforms and on the Internet.

This is NOT a good enough reason for Apple to assume control over how users want to use THEIR devices.

Instead of Apple CONTROLLING everything, they can give the users the power to CONTROL things themselves.


Don't fall for the whole Security >>> Freedom BS.

It's about Apple having complete control over their platform at the expense of user's ability to choose from installing what they want from where else they want.

The threat is not users losing privacy, the REAL threat is users may have a choice in not having to depend on Apple's Monopoly cash cow App Store if the Wall Garden is opened.

MacOS would have fallen over decades ago if "privacy" was a massive issue, let alone other Operating Systems like Windows.

Apple are two faced - talking about the importance of privacy on iOS vs Macs' OS that has been around for 40 years.


Apple is hoping to convince the European Union with this BS Privacy concern because Apple is aware of mounting Anti-trust measures being brought up against the corporation.

+ We already had the Epic Vs Apple case in regards to their App store (which the deliberations are yet to come out)

+ Japan is coming after both Apple and Google for their duopoly and anti-competition

+ UK is following suite

+ and some other companies are also going after Apple's (and Google's) monopoly App Store/platform such as Sonos.


I have been a fan of Apple devices for over 15 years iPads, iMacs, MacBooks, BUT I am not an Apple Fanboy or blind sheep that thinks Apple can do no wrong and have to defend or excuse the corporation.


Keep a critical view on Apple's marketing BS, because they are very good.

As I have said in another comment, Malware on Mac OS exists. It‘s not that uncommon for people who download e.g. pirated software to fall prey to it. We are just lucky that Mac OS is not viable target for a**holes, otherwise it would be much worse. That‘s not true for iOS. A**holes all around the world are just waiting for a chance to potentially spread their sh*t on millions of iPhones.

Yes, they do steal data on Windows and Android as well, but there‘s not much hope that we can do anything against that. We can still hope that iOS doesn’t join them, though.

 

[RedRage]

Sounds to me that you might be on the wrong platform.

You already have other options.

So allowing something like your phone to do MORE is a problem?

 

[Absolute Trainwreck]

So allowing something like your phone to do MORE is a problem?

Yup for these people it is, and there’s little reason for it beyond just insta-voting for Apple and wanting to inflict personal philosophies on everyone else.

Isn’t it just fantastic? 😂🙄

 

[SigEp265]

I would just like to sideload the apps that I have purchased many years ago -- but have been removed from the app store.

 

[PC_tech]

The user already has a choice. I made my decision as well, by picking Android as my primary smartphone. Why should you force Apple to become Android? Why do you want to eliminate choice? Let those who want a walled garden be Apple’s customers. Those who you said want something more flexible already have the platform of choice. You cannot claim that you want choice by eliminating the actual choice by forcing everything to be the same.

You need to stop saying it’s eliminating choice, it’s not.

 

[farewelwilliams]

Hasn’t happened on Android. Big companies want to be in the App Store, where all the visibility is.

Wrong. It already happened on Android. Epic games purposely got themselves banned and now they forced all of their players to sideload Fortnite.