Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
It's going to get ugly when people ignorantly infect and ruin their brand new phones with bloatware, viruses, malware and trojan horses etc.
 
  • Like
Reactions: iOS Geek
The big difference is that even sideloaded iOS apps run in a sandbox, unlike on macOS or Windows. It's the sandbox that provides security, not App Review, which in my experience mostly checks your app for attempts to bypass Apple's 30% cut (lots of questions about business models etc.)
Sandbox doesn't mean 100% locked down. I have had stuff break through sandboxes before.
 
Perhaps, but it is an app that was paid for upfront nonetheless. I think in this regard, it's hard to argue that it's someone in the user's best interests to have to visit a dozen (or more) different websites in order to redownload the apps you use, vs being able to scroll through your purchase history in the App Store and tap on the ones you want to download.

This is also assuming you are still holding on to serial keys for apps like airbuddy, or you may find yourself having the purchase the same app again.
Well damn, perhaps I should give Apple a call regarding all the apps that no longer exist in the AppStore such as: TapTap revenge, knights on rush, iDracula, Fly catbug Fly! Etc that are forever removed from the store


Se pictures below 👇
IMG_4436.png
IMG_4437.jpeg
 
  • Like
Reactions: toobravetosave
Well damn, perhaps I should give Apple a call regarding all the apps that no longer exist in the AppStore such as: TapTap revenge, knights on rush, iDracula, Fly catbug Fly! Etc that are forever removed from the store


Se pictures below

And your point is that they would have continued to remain available on an external website, and the developer would have continued to update them to maintain compatibility with the latest versions of iOS…?
 
  • Like
Reactions: mrBeach
And your point is that they would have continued to remain available on an external website, and the developer would have continued to update them to maintain compatibility with the latest versions of iOS…?
Well the developer doesn’t exist anymore and I’m not sure when many apps was removed.
But yes to an extent the probability is extremely high if we go buy Valves track record.

If the developer had published it on Steam then it would still be available in user libraries to be installed or downloaded irrespective if the publisher goes bust or removed the game from the store.

You could download it to try and make it work on the latest OS or run it in a simulator etc.

My point is that’s the current reality for iOS and your criticism is baseless in regards to losing apps permanently is new.

Had they been in steam I could have downloaded it to my computer, try to update the game to run on my current system.
Especially when others would have kept it
 
And your point is that they would have continued to remain available on an external website, and the developer would have continued to update them to maintain compatibility with the latest versions of iOS…?
As a god example the game: warzone 2100 was published in 1999. The studio doesn’t exist since many years but some people did do the work to make it work flawlessly on today’s computers. And I play it regularly
Or being available on Itchio for both Mac and windows.

Had it been published on iOS it would’ve likely been lost forever essentially.
 
Congratulations EU people for having more flexibility to choose apps you want and optionally get them directly from those who make them. More freedom to run software on devices you own is a desirable option we should all envy.

The rest of us outside the EU have this same ability with our Macs- and always have- and it has not resulted in our destruction... but some of us have been snowed into believing the bulk of the EU will soon be destroyed by iDevice owners gaining an ability to download and use apps from anywhere other than the Apple App Store.

If I'm not mistaken, we're about a month into this multi-country (but not global) "experiment." Presumably, some number of EU people have already taken advantage of getting some apps from sources other than Apple App Store, making payments through means other than Apple, etc. How many tales of woe have hit about the evil crime syndicates wiping out EU iDevice users because they did this? How many tales of rampant iDevice viruses unleashed because of this so far? More simply: where's the destruction so many promised... and are still promising?

Security spin is a very easy card to play. People can be easily fooled into believing anything when the implication is that personal security risk is increased. But the catch in playing that card but then being "forced" to comply is that all get to see the terribly destructive or non-event outcome. The law is in play. Apple has already complied and is taking that further as the EU pressed for compliance with intent of the law vs. only letter of it.

My guess is that a month from now there will still be this international chorus of disdain against these EU market freedoms... but still no sweeping tales of woe & destruction we sling about how terrible this will prove to be for EU people.

My guess is that a YEAR from now, it will still be the same... much as some of us also passionatelly slung the "lint magnet", "broken tongues", "endless repairs" of iPhone going USB-C, which has since resulted in how much actual devastation as spun? I still find lint in my pockets. I haven't even spotted one "broken tongue" USB-C repair kiosk pop up anywhere. I haven't seen one story highlighting how countless latest iPhones are being sent in for USB-C port repairs because of its great inferiority as a port. I assumed there would a mountains of broken tongues by now, tripping all of us as we try to walk, ride or drive anywhere. What happened?

We can only play this negative spin game so long. If we keep crying Wolf when there is no wolf, the villagers will eventually wise up and stop coming. Very much as we should have leaned with the USB-C port nonsense, the clock is ticking for the EU armageddon we sling to either manifest... or for us to learn once again that it was much ado about nothing.

Everyone with a Mac who has ever purchased/downloaded a Mac app directly from developers, in bundle packs, etc (sources other than the Apple Mac App Store) should know how this will play out for EU people. But even if you can find some way to see it as dramatically different, stand by and just watch the doomsday spun by many play out... or not. This train has a already left the station. Either the EU will prove such confident passion about security-driven destruction correct... or maybe those who so easily run with whatever they think Apple wants will learn a lesson... again.

All that shared: everyone be careful out there. Tripping over a pile of iPhone USB-C tongues could be hazardous. Just ask those who so confidently assured us all of that total disaster for many months ahead of that round of Apple compliance with EU law. ;)

I appreciate being able to download any app from the App Store on my phone. Seems like this change will mean less options on the App Store.

Or am I misunderstanding. Will all apps still be available on the App Store but also available elsewhere if the user wants to go to a website to get them there?

If this does mean less apps on the App Store, this change means more work for me the user to have the same access I had previously.
 
  • Like
Reactions: mrBeach
My point is that’s the current reality for iOS and your criticism is baseless in regards to losing apps permanently is new.

My point was more the convenience of having a ready list of all my apps that I could reinstall whenever I migrated to a new device. I don’t deny that I have lost some apps along the way, and since iOS apps are typically so cheap, I just end up buying new alternatives along the way.

The only one thing was when i wanted to reinstall an app on my Mac but couldn’t locate the serial key (could have deleted it), and so I ended up purchasing it again. I don’t have this problem on my iOS devices.

I suppose I could maintain a Google doc containing links to all the websites where I have purchased apps from on my Mac.
 
I didn't choose Apple because it's a closed environment, and I actively want Apple to be more open.
Like everyone has been saying for months, you can just choose to keep your environment as closed as you want, nobody will force you to install apps from outside the App Store.

Yes, but now my closed environment will have less options than it did before.
 
I appreciate being able to download any app from the App Store on my phone. Seems like this change will mean less options on the App Store.

Or am I misunderstanding. Will all apps still be available on the App Store but also available elsewhere if the user wants to go to a website to get them there?

If this does mean less apps on the App Store, this change means more work for me the user to have the same access I had previously.
Are you in the EU? If not, this law changes nothing for you.

If you are, let your Gov know how you feel.

My opinion: there’s more money to apps being left in the store AND sold directly than only the latter. Some will try the latter exclusively and learn that lesson the hard way. People have had towards 16+ years to get accustomed to getting any and all apps from a single store. That won't change easily... even for better pricing potentials.

Other developers have no choice because "Daddy" says they can’t sell their apps in Apples store. EU people can now decide for themselves, which seems to me to be much better than any Corp deciding for everyone... exactly as it is with Mac apps for all of us.
 
Last edited:
Yes, but I think Apple should have been even stricter in censoring apps.

I want something like enlightened despotism when it comes to running a platform and ecosystem.

Same for me... I don't like the phone but it is a necessary tool today. I want to spend as little time as possible on managing it. So yes, I also would have preferred a more restrictive system, not a more open one.
 
Well that’s Apple’s problem to deal with.

Apps don’t exist on the AppStore for two reasons.
1: the rules are to restrictive
2: the store is terrible value to the developers

And apple could deal with it in two ways.
1: make the AppStore competitive and attract developers
2: Do nothing to attract developers, BUT make it the only way FOR developers to publish apps and customers to get apps on their Mac. Effectively monopolize the application distribution market for the Mac.

You can guess what option they went with.
1. Yeah and with competitive marketplaces/ platforms, one day you will reach the current state of streaming platforms. You pay more because things are scattered on different subscriptions. You will have multiple setapp subscriptions in the future. What is the problem with preventing that from happening? It’s still one of the way to go right?

Ah, and we have this ecosystem in China. There are a million app stores, and the few ones which have the highest popularity for their respective segments charge 80% fee from the devs. I am sure devs would absolutely love it!

2. It’s not like you find all apps on Windows app store either.

And wait till devs need to publish to a dozen stores, pay ad for each store, pay a higher cut because one of the stores is domanient in marketshare for that category, and requires you to build on the auth/backend they provide.

I've seen it all in China for the past 10 years. It's just bad
 
Last edited:
Right, but I don’t want to use the App Store exclusively and that’s my choice?
Oh and also as a consumer, what is the reasoning behind not using App Store but get from a lot of places, if the software you get is exactly the same and you are paying the same price
 
If you need to remember which apps to download, I’ll be inclined to think you don’t really need them.
And what is the problem with making it easier to set up a new clean laptop without using Time Machine? Even if I can remember them, it's still easier to download from App Store. They charge you the same price anyways.

And some apps I use occasionally but if I forgot to download from the beginning I need to find it down the line with the previous license.

It's not like if Apple want to provide a better customer experience ?
 
  • Like
Reactions: mrBeach
That’s market freedom for you.

If developers leaves, then you pick something else or follow them depending on your values.

What did you do when Fortnite got removed? Did you panic about how you lost your purchase or did you shrug and move on?
There are other platform to play it on, that's the freedom.
Oh and why don't people just buy another phone / PC / PS5 to play on? Why does Epic lose money if Apple removes them? It's because App Store provides the exposure and convenience, and what's wrong with charging for it?
 
  • Like
Reactions: mrBeach
1. Yeah and with competitive marketplaces/ platforms, one day you will reach the current state of streaming platforms. You pay more because things are scattered on different subscriptions. You will have multiple setapp subscriptions in the future. What is the problem with preventing that from happening? It’s still one of the way to go right?
And just as currently with streaming I don’t use them all, but only 2 or so.

The problem with preventing that is you’re ruining what works for others and enforcing your own personal choice to others. What if I like anime and Bollywood movies? Will you force me to use Apple+ only?

P.s guess what happenes if all the streaming platforms was banned from exclusivity deals and region restricted content? Suddenly you don’t have to have a hundred accounts as you put it.
Ah, and we have this ecosystem in China. There are a million app stores, and the few ones which have the highest popularity for their respective segments charge 80% fee from the devs. I am sure devs would absolutely love it!
And just like now I use steam as my go to gaming storefront.
2. It’s not like you find all apps on Windows app store either.
And? If the app is there I will get it( games I purchase must register on steam or Xbox)
And wait till devs need to publish to a dozen stores, pay ad for each store, pay a higher cut because one of the stores is domanient in marketshare for that category, and requires you to build on the auth/backend they provide.

I've seen it all in China for the past 10 years. It's just bad
Simple, I just don’t use them on your devices until they release the game on your preferred storefront.

I refused to use the EA store, Ubisoft, blizzard etc. I have plenty of options.

And sorry but the shenanigans you can get away with in china and USA don’t fly here.
 
There are other platform to play it on, that's the freedom.
Don’t change that the market on the platform is restrictive and acts as a bottleneck to intra market competition.
Oh and why don't people just buy another phone / PC / PS5 to play on?
You can sell the same exact game in other storefronts for the same customer base and platform.
Why does Epic lose money if Apple removes them? It's because App Store provides the exposure and convenience, and what's wrong with charging for it?
Epic loses money because iOS users can no longer access their services. And epic can no longer conclude contracts with iOS customers.

It has zero to do with the exposure as everyone knew what Fortnite was before it launched on iOS, and the AppStore isn’t a convenience if it’s obligatory.

Buys it’s nothing wrong charging for the AppStore, but you should let them sell their products without it independently.
 
My point was more the convenience of having a ready list of all my apps that I could reinstall whenever I migrated to a new device. I don’t deny that I have lost some apps along the way, and since iOS apps are typically so cheap, I just end up buying new alternatives along the way.

The only one thing was when i wanted to reinstall an app on my Mac but couldn’t locate the serial key (could have deleted it), and so I ended up purchasing it again. I don’t have this problem on my iOS devices.

I suppose I could maintain a Google doc containing links to all the websites where I have purchased apps from on my Mac.
And multiple such services exist in alternative storefronts.

Do you think I need to keep track of all the games I own in steam?

My game library will transfer irrespective of platform.
 
Last edited:
And multiple such services exist in alternative storefronts.

Do you think I need to keep track of all the games I own in steam?

I don’t buy games. I was referring to Mac apps I purchased from websites such as airbuddy, sleeve, 1Password, bartender, zoom, VLC, an app to download YouTube videos (just off the top of my head) and that’s already from 7 different websites.

Granted, I am not upgrading laptops or migrating platforms every other day.
 
I don’t buy games. I was referring to Mac apps I purchased from websites such as airbuddy, sleeve, 1Password, bartender, zoom, VLC, an app to download YouTube videos (just off the top of my head) and that’s already from 7 different websites.

Granted, I am not upgrading laptops or migrating platforms every other day.
Well to that I would agree I would rather have apps available in a single or multiple stores than going to random websites.

To that I would say the windows AppStore have made huge improvements over the curent Mac AppStore.

In 2021 Microsoft had the revenue share terms at 85/15 for apps, and the option to bring their own or a third party commerce platform in their apps, and if they do so they don’t need to pay Microsoft any fee. They can keep 100% of their revenue
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.