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Apple Working to Add Support for Sideloading and Alternate App Stores in Europe
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Totally. I believe it was only in Mojave when Apple started to add most of the security & privacy permissions that we have now on the Mac.
And that was 2018's release - just 4 years ago.
Before this (I believe) a typical non Mac App Store Mac app could help itself to most of your iCloud data without you knowing.
So when people say that bad things will happen with 3rd party App Stores as Apple has always kept iCloud user data safe - well, they didn't if you were a Mac user, for years.
And finally, for those with long memories - Apple often hasn't even been a good custodian in its own iOS App Store.
In the early part of the last decade, the now defunct social network iOS app 'Path' helped itself to your entire contacts data without users knowing.
Why could it do that?
Apple on iOS back then let any iOS App Store app access your contacts if it wanted to, without you having to give it permission & without you knowing
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What a time to be alive. Never thought I'd see the day. Those who don't like it don't need to do it simple stick to the App Store.
Honestly the only need I would personally see in sideloading is for emulators. The speculation on its downsides is a bit worrisome.
Will be interesting to see, regardless.
Will be interesting to see, regardless.
A lot of comments by people on here that are way too comfy in the years spent in the good ole' walled garden. My God...if you don't want to side load, don't. Apples got you covered. Been using Android and Windows phones for years and I personally NEVER caught a virus or trojan. Used to side load and root all the time. Why? Because I personally have common sense and a brain and did what Apple does for you. Weed out the scammy ****, don't click on stuff you don't trust. I wonder how many of the ones that are lamenting this have ever used anything but an IOS device?
Good question.
I have a couple that Google removed - not sure of the reason, a couple that were removed due to aging (but still work - got them on Amazon Android) and a couple I found via recommendation (Sam Beckman and others). Seems to be a mix. Then some theming stuff from sites like Behance and Gumroad.
It’s nice having options.
Well then you're wrong. Really no other way to put it. And confused about the role of government, for certain.
Guess folks will have to buy cans and string. Maybe some green wood and a blanket. Flags and mirrors?
There are options.
You might want to look at the EU rules around that.
As the hardware owner, you own a copy (1) of the OS. Not the same rules as the US.
Explain how that remains true when it is not up to users in the first place. When Apps they use/want to use leave the App Store and distribute elsewhere, how does the user "just keep it the same"?
What are you using for a backup? Google?
That might be your issue if you are.
Hmmm…. Wonder hoe Apple will handle backups and 3rd party?
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Then you have to make a decision. Browser version, Side Load, or Different OS/Device?
I have another query for the collective Mac community.
IIRC, it was ruled that in an earlier lawsuit involving Dutch dating apps that Apple is allowed to charge apps 27% even if they use third party payment options, because Apple sees the 30% cut as a platform fee, not a payment processing one.
I had also previously pointed out that in the event that Apple were to allow the side loading of apps, they would in theory still be allowed to charge developers 27% of their app revenue, likely by way of audits of sales receipts that would likely prove to be extremely inconvenient and time consuming for all parties involved, more so the developer to the point where they may deem it not worth their while to side step the App Store in the first place.
Another member refuted this claim, claiming that it was against the terms in the Digital Market Act, but I have not been able to find the corresponding claim to this. Could anyone help locate the relevant clause, if any? 🤔
Even as I debate with the other members here about the respective pros and cons of side loading, I can't help but wonder if we are all looking at this from the wrong angle.
If Apple can't fight the legislation, they could still in the very least destroy the number one reason why developers want to get around the App Store - that 30% cut. If developers end up having to pay the same amount of money to Apple either way, then there really is no reason to not stick with the App Store. Not to mention that subscriptions are reduced to 15% after the first year, and developers earning under $1 million get taxed only 15% as well.
And we still don't know what sort of restrictions side loaded apps may be subjected to, and Apple has shown that they are experts in adhering to the letter of law while still being able to skirt around the spirit of it.
Let's treat this as a collective thought exercise. If you were Apple, what's the worse you could do to third party apps installed outside of the App Store to scare users away?
I think you SHOULD be able to sideload apps or install 3rd party app stores (and subsequently use their relevant billing systems) but... and it's a big but...
- It should be disabled by default as it is on Android
- The feature cannot be enabled during the warranty period... or if enabled the warranty will cease
- There should be a clear warning of the risks when enabling the feature
- Third party apps/stores must use documented APIs only and run sandboxed
- Third party apps/stores cannot access the wallet (applepay)
- Third party apps (which are sideloaded) cannot be made default
I wonder how long it will take for this to come to the USA. I suspect not very long because once the politicians in the USA say it’s going on in Europe they’re going to want it here.
If I had a dollar for every post saying this would not happen… This is not something I really want but Apple pushed itself into a corner. There’s going to be quite a few negatives along with the positives.
If I had a dollar for every post saying this would not happen… This is not something I really want but Apple pushed itself into a corner. There’s going to be quite a few negatives along with the positives.
Desktop computers don’t “sideload” to install apps, and there have always been malware issues with distributed installers and packages. The term sideloading refers to installing an application via proxy methods.
Learn how computers work. It’s 2022.
Sideloading - Wikipedia
Malware - Wikipedia
Ransomware - Wikipedia
Computer virus - Wikipedia
I literally can't comprehend all the negative reactions to this news.
We already have an Apple system which allows you to download apps from a store OR install them yourself from the internet: macOS. It works pretty well and has not lead to a malware apocalypse.
Just because Apple is constrained by law to allow the sideloading of apps does not mean that you have to use it, so it doesn't take anything away from you. On the other hand, being able to install stuff like retroarch without having to jailbreak your iPhone or iPad is actually much easier and safer.
Everybody wins!
We already have an Apple system which allows you to download apps from a store OR install them yourself from the internet: macOS. It works pretty well and has not lead to a malware apocalypse.
Just because Apple is constrained by law to allow the sideloading of apps does not mean that you have to use it, so it doesn't take anything away from you. On the other hand, being able to install stuff like retroarch without having to jailbreak your iPhone or iPad is actually much easier and safer.
Everybody wins!
not to mention being able to buy kindle books from my kindle app.. preventing this has always been one of apple's scummiest moves.
Technically, if you consider each major OS has its own store, it *is* sideloading.
Now, making a distinction between installing from a store or from elsewhere is total nonsense and completely arbitrary in my opinion.
Yeah, that would never happen because of warranty laws. The hardware warranty would still have to stay into effect. The closest thing would be Apple would not provide software support if third-party apps were enabled so they would have to reset your phone to get it back to factory.
Warning, pop-ups don’t work. A good example is on Windows. People all the time install viruses by clicking the hey this is dangerous do you still want to go for it pop up. People are impatient and they just click next next next.
Apple is getting a lot of heat open up Apple Pay so I don’t think this will happen either
At first yes, but after this change, app developers will have no incentive to put apps on the App Store. It’s like on the Mac where some apps are not available on the App Store.
why do you think that apps have to come from an "app store".. independent ios devs can just sell their apps like mac devs do now.