We are not sure how this whole process will work, as some devs might well choose to stick to the App Store. These are very early days and none of the implemented changes are actually useable as yet (no functional alt app stores and no IPAs to download). Let’s also not forget that Apple are very reluctant to see it work, as it will cut into their profit.
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iOS 17.5 Lets EU iPhone Users Download Apps From Websites
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We are not sure how this whole process will work, as some devs might well choose to stick to the App Store. These are very early days and none of the implemented changes are actually useable as yet (no functional alt app stores and no IPAs to download). Let’s also not forget that Apple are very reluctant to see it work, as it will cut into their profit.
while having all apps in one place is convenient…. I have quite a few apps in my iOS AppStore purchase history that are no longer updated, don’t run on latest os, or simply not available anymore.
Where-as on my computer, I might have to visit various websites, check emails or access my external hardrive, but I can still use all the programs I’ve purchased over the years. I think this is certainly better.
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I don’t think it’s a fair comparison. And right now I can think of 2 reasons:
1. Unless your app is targeting solely European users, publishing it outside the AppStore would mean you’re annihilating a large share of your potential user base. Because if you’re a user based outside Europe, no matter how much you like the app, there’s no way for you to get it. On the Mac, every user can side load, so every user can still get it even if it’s published outside the AppStore (albeit with the eventual inconvenience of not having it on the AppStore)
2. Even then, developers aren’t dumb, and they know they’ll face some resistance from users to get the app from outside the AppStore, even if you’re only targeting the European public, so many developers will prefer the existing solution of publishing it on the AppStore, like the vast majority still prefer to publish on the Google PlayStore despite having the option to distribute it elsewhere. Will this happen 100% of the time? Most likely not, but I don’t think it will have that much of an impact. It will be up to the developers to decide whether having a smaller user base is worth the extra income per app sold. Right now on the Mac, the resistance from users to download something from outside the AppStore is close to zero, because it has always been like that, and people are used to it being that way.
Bonus: the other day I’ve decided to check whether the apps I have on my iPhone are available on android or not. They were either available on the PlayStore or not available on Android at all. So I’m not very concerned about these changes. Most likely close to zero practical impact. The upside is being able to get apps Apple decided to veto for God knows why, if you really want them. Will I be sideloading? Most likely not, but I’m happy for those that want to.
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nobody is forcing you to buy that car that won't allow you to install alternate os
talk about freedom
You can do that right now on the App Store. You can see from their malware reports how much trash they invite into their house which they then have to remove again once the complaints are spamming their inbox.
apple collects fees to provide free services to developers that normally they would have to pay for.
who said 0.50 euro per user equates to a profit? a user can easily use substantially more than 0.50 euros of Apple services that Apple provides to these developers for free in a single year.
Tim Berners-Lee has entered the chat and would like his cut.
I have folks I know with the same attitude and use the same nonsensical argument... yet all of them have Macs and most of the apps aren't downloaded from the App Store... go figure, people aren't rational.
I don't think that MacRumours web page is using any proprietary SDKs or technologies from Apple... However, MacRumours may have developed their webpages in accordance with practices or techniques recommended by or shared by Apple (e.g. to detect if your iOS app is installed when the user visits your website - the proprietary part is implemented in the browser vendor in their code e.g. in Safari, Chrome, etc. in order to talk to the Apple API that will return the correct response to the browser page).
Another x.xGB/MB update wherein I cannot even use those features.
Apple should now push separate versions: 17.5_EUOnly and 17.5_No_EU_Features_ForYou 💥
Apple should now push separate versions: 17.5_EUOnly and 17.5_No_EU_Features_ForYou 💥
To be fair, this late in the iOS development cycle, the most exciting bits are shifted forward to the next major release, so June should be much more fun.
Calm calm This is a billion dollar tech company. Apple is not the US, even though it is founded and operated from the US. I also don't think that the everyday life of American citizens will change because we in the EU are allowed to download apps from places other than the App Store. You're overthinking this.
I choose Apple products in general because I think they make some really well-designed and well-functioning devices. Both hardware and software. As it is right now, I don't feel like I'm missing any apps that can't be found in the App Store. But like everything else in life, I'm happy to have opportunities - and I'm getting more of them now. There, I continue to choose Apple, rather than Android devices.
Yes, I remember Nokia very well. Unfortunately, they didn't take smartphones and touch screens seriously - and when they did, it was unfortunately too late. But I miss Symbian from time to time, probably mostly for nostalgic reasons.
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⬆️ People seem to be skimming past this part.
This capability will only be available to very few apps — the biggest, like Spotify or Netflix, who can actually afford the new business terms despite needing to pay the CTF for millions of users.
Password stealing typically happens by spoofing a legitimate entity. Such apps are unlikely to meet the requirements, and one would expect Apple’s review team to look especially closely at those Apps.
This is how Apple intends to meet the requirements of the legislation while still preserving the security the iPhone is known for.
The opposite is true. Apple was setting rules what is allowed and what not in terms of freedom of speech and/or what they consider decent. I do not need some tech dude in the middle of America working for apple to decide which journal is allowed to be displayed to my eyes. If there is censoring in this world already I do not want this to be done by companies with their own rules of what is considered freedom of speech. A good example of this business practice is religious companies such as Mastercard not providing service to a lot of adult entertainment websites.
We also want freedom of speech. Not sure why you are so anti this freedom? It would be great if also the US realised that diversity and free opportunities in app development will ultimately benefit the consumer. Please start lobbying in the US for this same law so its not always the EU who is pushing for consumers right of people like you and me
“All apps must be “notarized” by Apple, and distribution through third-party marketplaces is still managed by Apple’s systems. Developers will only be allowed to distribute a single version of their app across different app stores, and they’ll still have to abide by some basic platform requirements, like getting scanned for malware.”
Also, website distribution is only allowed to developers having already 1 million downloads being a “notable” developer for the last two years
There is more bills to pay than providing good DX. I‘m not sure you know how costly it is to do R&D for hardware, let alone all the costs associated with getting these products into and out of the prototype phase into costumer hands.
Apple has high margins, they surely could funnel some of these funds into DX and co. but they‘re not obligated to do that when they can monetize elsewhere.
Don‘t get me wrong, I like calling Apple out on their ******** (browse my post history, excessive complaining about their artificial gatekeeping and lack of interest in being a more open platform when it comes to interoperability like texting via RCS or their services on other platforms) but I get that they should NOT have every dick harry developer freeload off of the ecosystem they created (the CTF is a misguided approach, I agree with that).
naked bosoms can destroy iPhones. It needs to be regulated by the Church of Apple.
I hope that Apple would eventually be brought to their senses and abandon the CTF altogether. Either this or risking another hefty EU fine.
i think you shouldn’t be able to download apps at all without emailing apple for permission and recommendations so you only get safe proper apps
this sentence makes no sense. if you have to pay for it then it isn't free, and if it's paid then it's no different from any other similar paid service
I’m tired of the paternalism of Apple, as if the user is stupid.
It’s Apple that wants to restrict what the user can do with his device, not the EU
Terrible take. What if I don’t want to use any of those tools and services? It’s Apple that is forcing them on the developer.