iOS 17.4 Coming Soon as iPhone App Sideloading Deadline in EU Nears

[MacRumors]

Apple has until March 6 to fully comply with the EU's Digital Markets Act, which among other things will require the company to allow iPhone users to install apps outside of the App Store. With the deadline for this regulation fast approaching, it is likely that Apple will begin preparing for these changes with iOS 17.4.

The first iOS 17.4 beta is expected to be released as early as this week, although it is unclear if the app-related changes will be rolled out for testing immediately, or held for later beta versions. Apple is expected to add support for both third-party app stores and app sideloading on the iPhone for users in EU countries, including Austria, Belgium, Italy, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, and others.

Apple has strongly opposed the Digital Markets Act and app sideloading over the past few years, citing privacy and security risks for customers. At a tech conference in 2021, Apple CEO Tim Cook said app sideloading "would destroy the security of the iPhone and a lot of the privacy initiatives that we've built into the App Store."

Apple will likely do the minimum required to comply with the Digital Markets Act, which may lead to several limitations and guardrails surrounding third-party app stores and app sideloading on the iPhone. We've seen Apple do similar with legal compliance in the U.S., where it recently allowed developers to direct customers to payment methods outside of the ‌App Store‌, but is still collecting up to a 27% commission and has several rules.

There are other changes coming to the iPhone in Europe as a result of regulatory pressures. Earlier this week, the European Commission announced that Apple has promised to give third-party payment apps access to the iPhone's NFC chip in the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway, which should result in more competition for Apple Pay. It's unclear when Apple will implement this change, but it is likely further away than app sideloading.

We will be digging into iOS 17.4 as soon as it is released, so stay tuned for a closer look at any new features and code changes.

Article Link: iOS 17.4 Coming Soon as iPhone App Sideloading Deadline in EU Nears

 

[contacos]

They will probably end up charging an additional fee to compile the in Xcode written App to be "exported" and "Apple verified" to offer them in other stores which kind of makes the whole thing as inconvenient as possible

 

[mcilwraith]

will this cover the UK? Brexit? I would only trust the App store anyway, to be honest. security is all.

 

[Kylo83]

As the uk left the eu would we not get the side loading

 

[mrat93]

Looking forward to the “here’s what you can do on iPhone in the EU but nowhere else” videos. Hopefully this brings more visibility to the matter and other countries put pressure on Apple to enable sideloading for everyone. Enough is enough.

Also, does this apply for only iPhone? Are iPad and AVP exempt?

 

[AeroZ]

Yeah, I’d rather use Apollo without having to refresh it with AltStore every 7 days.

 

[jjwwqq]

It’s far better for consumers if Apple gave them the true choice of what apps to install on their phone. Some people may choose to use only Apple curated apps, some may do their own curation - successfully. Others may foolishly download junk that trashes their phone. Ultimately, it is up to the end user to choose, not Apple. But if maximizing revenue at the cost of alienating users is your goal, Apple will keep doing what they are doing until they are forced to do otherwise.

 

[deckard666]

Would be nice to have Mame back especially now with BT controllers....Cant beat a game of Robotron on the move with an iPad and Switch controller.

 

[Glenny2lappies]

These are EU rules, not European rules.

The EU is not Europe.

 

[SmugMaverick]

As the uk left the eu would we not get the side loading

Yep, very annoyed we're missing out.

 

[krspkbl]

They should do everyone a favour and allow sideloading worldwide.

It's not as scary as you think. You don't ever need to use it if you want Apple to protect you but it's nice to have the choice.

Do people only download apps on their Macs through the app store there? lol. If my PC didn't allow "side loading" (which is basically normal installing) then I'd not use it because it'd heavily restrict my use of it.

iOS is the most locked down OS out there and it's only that way to protect Apple's ability to make money. Every other advanced modern OS allows side loading (including MacOS).

 

[xpxp2002]

Yeah, I’d rather use Apollo without having to refresh it with AltStore every 7 days.

It still won't matter because the app's API keys are no longer valid. This won't allow Christian to revive Apollo. Reddit's policy would need to change. And given the breakdown in that relationship, it isn't even clear whether he would be interested if they had a change of policy.

 

[RemedyRabbit]

Really curious to see how this works on the phone, wouldn’t be at all surprised if the interface is designed to scare people off using it. However as has been mentioned I can see there being a rising clamour for it in other territories once people realise the sky hasn’t fallen in and they begin to see the real world benefits.

 

[Lounge vibes 05]

Seems a lot more likely to be a server side change that just allows altstores to be downloaded directly from the App Store.

I know a lot of people think that starting on March 6 they’ll just be able to go to any website and download any .ipa file and run it as an application on their phone, but I do not think this is going to be the case.

Could be wrong though of course

 

[AeroZ]

It still won't matter because the app's API keys are no longer valid. This won't allow Christian to revive Apollo. Reddit's policy would need to change. And given the breakdown in that relationship, it isn't even clear whether he would be interested if they had a change of policy.

I’m not talking about reviving Apollo. You can install it via ipa and use it right now. It’s not getting updates etc but it’s still miles better than the official Reddit app.

 

[krspkbl]

Really curious to see how this works on the phone, wouldn’t be at all surprised if the interface is designed to scare people off using it. However as has been mentioned I can see there being a rising clamour for it in other territories once people realise the sky hasn’t fallen in and they begin to see the real world benefits.

You can bet the optional to enable it will be hidden away and if you ever find it then it'll have a big scary warning lol

 

[Lounge vibes 05]

iOS is the most locked down OS out there.

tvOS has entered the chat…

 

[contacos]

How would anyone write apps that work on iOS without XCode though? You’d still have to give the dev fee at least to Apple to compile your IPA. It’s not like you can built an app in Eclipse using JAVA and iOS will magically be able to install it. What am I missing?

 

[krspkbl]

tvOS has entered the chat…

I'm talking about major OS across smartphones and laptops/desktops so Windows, MacOS, Linux, Android, iOS.

iOS is the only one that doesn't allow it (yet). There's nothing to be scared of.

 

[RemedyRabbit]

You can bet the optional to enable it will be hidden away and if you ever find it then it'll have a big scary warning lol

Haha yeah! Probably at least three stages of confirmation along the lines of “You are about to disable security leaving your phone vulnerable to terrible hacking, ARE YOU SURE???”

 

[stocklen]

Im in the UK and quite happy to not get this.

I buy Apple products with my eyes wide open - I understand the App Store 'limitations' but it doesnt affect me one bit and frankly I pay a premium to have the protection that Apple enables.

So.. even if this applied to the UK - im sure this will just be another app store app you can download that then gives access to apps that basically arent available on the main app store.

Lets hope that EU customers who DONT want this can ignore it and remain with the status quo and im sure this is how Apple will design things going forward.

 

[krspkbl]

How would anyone write apps that work on iOS without XCode though? You’d still have to give the dev fee at least to Apple to compile your IPA. It’s not like you can built an app in Eclipse using JAVA and iOS will magically be able to install it. What am I missing?

I think you still would need to use XCode and pay apple for that if that's the only make to make an iOS app. After that then you should be allowed to distribute it however you like. Through the app store so Apple gets their money, hosting it on your own store, or on your website for download through Safari or any other browser.

 

[GMShadow]

You can bet the optional to enable it will be hidden away and if you ever find it then it'll have a big scary warning lol

So...exactly like it is on Android?

How would anyone write apps that work on iOS without XCode though? You’d still have to give the dev fee at least to Apple to compile your IPA. It’s not like you can built an app in Eclipse using JAVA and iOS will magically be able to install it. What am I missing?

They want other app stores so they can install totally not pirated apps all the essential things that Big Mean Apple keeps them from installing.

 

[contacos]

Haha yeah! Probably at least three stages of confirmation along the lines of “You are about to disable security leaving your phone vulnerable to terrible hacking, ARE YOU SURE???”

That’s how it is on the Android devices I have used in the past a well tbh.

On one device I had to tab 5 times on a specific word for the dev settings to even appear

 

[Kevrani]

All this scaremongering about security, it isn't mandatory for users to install other app stores. It's not like Android where the manufacturers and operators preinstall their own app stores.