Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Apple Working to Add Support for Sideloading and Alternate App Stores in Europe

4743913 said:
not to mention being able to buy kindle books from my kindle app.. preventing this has always been one of apple's scummiest moves.
Click to expand...
Apple hasn’t prevented this. Amazon just doesn’t want to pay the purchase percentage. We all know Amazon is a small mom and pop corporation so they really can’t afford to pay this.
 
Mercifull said:
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 think that would be a fair compromise and lets me honest, only a very small number of people would get apps this way and they are likely to be power users/jailbreakers anyway. As much as Elon would love to threaten to leave the app store to claim back that 30% on blue subs, it's an empty threat. They need the app store presence.
Click to expand...
Your suggestions may work in a perfect world..
Not here... unless there's a way for Apple to strictly regulate and enforce the requirements you are suggesting.
But Apple will not do it for free.
Imagine a hacker with bad motives gaining access to Messenger, Wallet, Keychain, etc.
This non-sense is going to present a huge security risk if left without control.
 
russell_314 said:
Apple hasn’t prevented this. Amazon just doesn’t want to pay the purchase percentage. We all know Amazon is a small mom and pop corporation so they really can’t afford to pay this.
Click to expand...

amazon shouldn't have to. apple did not want ibooks competition.
 
Mercifull said:
  • The feature cannot be enabled during the warranty period... or if enabled the warranty will cease
Click to expand...
That's a whacked idea. Your warranty covers the hardware. No matter where you install software from, it's not going to break the hardware. Good God, think of your MacBook or iMac. You can install any software you want on them, and it's certainly not going to void your warranty.
 
Mercifull said:
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 think that would be a fair compromise and lets me honest, only a very small number of people would get apps this way and they are likely to be power users/jailbreakers anyway. As much as Elon would love to threaten to leave the app store to claim back that 30% on blue subs, it's an empty threat. They need the app store presence.
Click to expand...
The Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act would not allow Apple to cancel someone's warranty for such benign reasons as simply installing an app from somewhere outside of the iOS App Store.
 
Mercifull said:
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 think that would be a fair compromise and lets me honest, only a very small number of people would get apps this way and they are likely to be power users/jailbreakers anyway. As much as Elon would love to threaten to leave the app store to claim back that 30% on blue subs, it's an empty threat. They need the app store presence.
Click to expand...
no they must be the same as any sandboxed app store app and can't have void warranty
 
russell_314 said:
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.
Click to expand...
I think a better comparison would be android, not the Mac.
Let’s face it, the majority of people using the Mac are usually more tech savvy. Not all of them, but most of them. And most of them can figure out how to download applications outside of the App Store.
With android, 99.9999999% of people are probably just using the Google play store, which is why the majority of applications are still available through it.
I don’t see this being any different with iOS, especially with how confusing and restrictive everyone already knows apples going to make it to sideload.
If you don’t offer your application in the App Store, you’re going to basically have no chance of survival.
Even from the big companies, you’ll see Facebook moan and groan all day, but will they remove their apps from Apple‘s App Store? Absolutely not.
Also, the Mac App Store is a terrible comparison to anything because the Mac App Store is terrible in the first place.
Even Apple doesn’t use the Mac App Store for everything, the trial version of Final Cut Pro, betas of Xcode, all of that you download from the Apple website, not the Mac App Store.
 
Lounge vibes 05 said:
I think a better comparison would be android, not the Mac.
Let’s face it, the majority of people using the Mac are usually more tech savvy. Not all of them, but most of them. And most of them can figure out how to download applications outside of the App Store.
With android, 99.9999999% of people are probably just using the Google play store, which is why the majority of applications are still available through it.
I don’t see this being any different with iOS, especially with how confusing and restrictive everyone already knows apples going to make it to sideload.
If you don’t offer your application in the App Store, you’re going to basically have no chance of survival.
Even from the big companies, you’ll see Facebook moan and groan all day, but will they remove their apps from Apple‘s App Store? Absolutely not.
Also, the Mac App Store is a terrible comparison to anything because the Mac App Store is terrible in the first place.
Even Apple doesn’t use the Mac App Store for everything, the trial version of Final Cut Pro, betas of Xcode, all of that you download from the Apple website, not the Mac App Store.
Click to expand...
I don’t agree because apps like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, whatever popular top 10 apps aren’t going to crash if they’re not in the App Store. People aren’t going to be like oh no it’s not the App Store I guess I’ll stop using Facebook. People will Google search Facebook app and it will lead them to the actual Facebook app download page or some malware page where they’ll get a malicious app (not the actual Facebook app). I think Facebook has been dreaming of this moment of pulling out of the App Store. Why have a locked down app in the App Store when you can do anything you want with your app like no commission in app purchases or freely harvest user data.

I think the average iPhone user is smart enough to figure out how to download an app from a webpage. App developers know this.
 
Christoffee said:
While I am certain there will be alternative app stores that are scamming dross, there will be legitimate developers that cannot get their apps approved because of App Store guidelines, and these apps may be really useful.
Click to expand...

This is what I'm looking forward to.
There are very legitimate App types that Apple doesn't allow for "reasons"

Very very excited for this change!
 
2WheelsGood said:
Are you telling me that every app on your MacBook or iMac came from the App Store?
Click to expand...

No kidding, right?

Looking at my installs, I'd say I have maybe 10-15% of my Apps from the Apple Mac App Store.

It honestly could/should be lower, but I have some that I bought in there and continue to just get from there, but if buying them today I'd go dev-direct for sure.
 
  • Like
Reactions: dk001 and russell_314
CalMin said:
It wouldn't surprise me if you had to disable a lot of features to make it work (e.g. no iCloud)
Click to expand...

That'd be a big mistake if they did that -- I'll be surprised if "disabling iCloud" is a requirement.

Stuff that like that doesn't lock people in... it simply begins the exodus from their core services.
It'd be a really bad strategic move
 
  • Like
Reactions: dk001
This could be a good development if done properly. My main concern is about the introduction of bad apps (viruses, trojan horses) and that kind of thing. But again, if done properly, it should be a good thing. What App Store charges for developers (between 15 to 30% of the app price) seems ridiculously high to me. Hopefully with this new development, greedy Apple lowers what it charges for developers. It cannot take THAT much money to maintain an app store. Apple is too greedy.
 
turbineseaplane said:
This is what I'm looking forward to.
There are very legitimate App types that Apple doesn't allow for "reasons"

Very very excited for this change!
Click to expand...
True but even though you’re going to agree with some “reasons” you might not with others. I think there’s going to be a lot of bad with a little good
 
russell_314 said:
True but even though you’re going to agree with some “reasons” you might not with others. I think there’s going to be a lot of bad with a little good
Click to expand...

that comes with everything. people died in space. hey we walked on the moon. the mac seems to be doing well allowing users to install software. the iOS/iPadOS devices will be fine.
 
  • Haha
Reactions: russell_314
Mercifull said:
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...
  1. It should be disabled by default as it is on Android
  2. The feature cannot be enabled during the warranty period... or if enabled the warranty will cease
  3. There should be a clear warning of the risks when enabling the feature
  4. Third party apps/stores must use documented APIs only and run sandboxed
  5. Third party apps/stores cannot access the wallet (applepay)
  6. Third party apps (which are sideloaded) cannot be made default
I think that would be a fair compromise and lets me honest, only a very small number of people would get apps this way and they are likely to be power users/jailbreakers anyway. As much as Elon would love to threaten to leave the app store to claim back that 30% on blue subs, it's an empty threat. They need the app store presence.
Click to expand...
I numbered yours for ease of use ;)

1. Yes
2. What does the warranty have to do with it? I am not sure about EU, but I know in the US even jailbreaking did not invalidate the warranty.
3. detailed or general? I would think general.
4. What API's? Currently the App Store does not allow personal API's or Apple core API's. I would think personal would be fair game. This isn't only about cost but also general restrictive API use.
5. That might be tough dues to the spread use of ApplePay across sites.
6. Not (IMO). Not that Apple allows much in the way of default anyway. Wish they would change that.

I would add:
7. Each app site needs to be individually granted permission.
8. If iOS will not backup (to iCloud) 3rd party apps, the user needs to be alerted to and allowed to use alternative backup methods (cloud backups)
9. If the app is also available in the App Store, let the user know.
10. Remove the current "you can't tell the world that alternative methods of getting the app exist" that Apple has
 
4743913 said:
that comes with everything. people died in space. hey we walked on the moon. the mac seems to be doing well allowing users to install software. the iOS/iPadOS devices will be fine.
Click to expand...
I don’t think we can compare sideloading to the first walk in space. Apple might be hiring for some sort of promotional writer. You should apply 😂
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back