iPhone App Sideloading Coming to Users in the EU in First Half of 2024

[Abazigal]

It's not. Would you install a random "Document Scanner" or a "Flashlight" app from the app store and be confident that it's not a scam that will sell you a overpriced subscription for little actual functionality, just because Apple has reviewed the app?

First, you would have to define what a scam is. Am I not allowed to sell a flashlight app with a $100/year subscription just because? Are you saying Apple should have the power to dictate to developers what they are or are not allowed to charge, and based on what yardsticks exactly?

Second, users do have tools to monitor and manage their subscriptions within the app, so it’s not like Apple is totally blind to the matter.

 

[I7guy]

It's irrelevant how many cell phone manufacturers there are (similar to how it was irrelevant how many computer makers there were in the 1990s during the Microsoft case) as the as the dominance I was referring to was mobile operating systems of which there are only two major players (iOS and Android).

The Microsoft case was totally different. Apple does not license iOS and hence the number of independent vendors of which apple is a minority player is important.

Again, no needle threading.

Plenty to go around.

 

[Analog Kid]

the dominance I was referring to was mobile operating systems of which there are only two major players (iOS and Android).

And there were two major system philosophies to choose from. Now there is one.

I don't see how that improves anything.

 

[Ctrlos]

Who are you to tell how an iPhone should work? Do you own Apple?

This is going to be alot of fun now FaceBook can do all the data mining and tracking on people from now on, as they don't have to adhere to Apple their rules.

It's hypocritical for a company to operate one open platform and then one closed one and claim opening it would be a bad thing.

Either close MacOS to the app store or open up iOS

 

[Samplasion]

Again, you're wrong. More technologically inclined users already have another way of installing apps-- it's called Xcode.

Xcode is an IDE. You primarily use it to develop apps. And it’s not available outside of macOS.
Also, installing every 7 days is hardly a solution

 

[sideshowuniqueuser]

No this was passed down by the EU commission and was not even voted on.

Yeah nah, how do you think the EU commission gets chosen?

Essentially by the member states, meaning the member state's governments, which are elected by the citizens of those member states.

This, is democracy in action.

 

[Samplasion]

And there were two major system philosophies to choose from. Now there is one.

I don't see how that improves anything.

Blocking all apps the company doesn’t like is not a philosophy

 

[Ctrlos]

It is using government to undermine paths to innovation and the business models that fund them.

People have developed a schoolyard definition of what freedom means. I remember being in grade school having learned about democracy and suddenly everyone thought we could vote on every classroom decision. Turned out it didn't work that way.



They have not. I couldn't run Windows on Mac, then I could, now I can't-- or I can but not really, it's messy apparently. There are endless examples of services that you can't run on whatever device you like. I certainly can't run any services on Windows that interferes with their licensing mechanism.

To achieve this, you will also need to legislate that every service be made available on every device.



Explain what you mean by "the open internet" and how you think this is true. I certainly can't run any service on any device.



No they shouldn't. First, those other things don't work the way you're romanticizing them to, and second they are different things.

I can install Linux over Windows or MacOS.

You can run any web app on any device.

Phones and PCs are only 2 different platforms if you've lived in Apple land your entire life and never experienced anything outside the walled garden. The Apple ecosystem is really good but it's also an insidious method of consumer lock-in.

Immstill amazed Macrumors offers comments on these articles anymore because any time they do we end up going round and round in circles. Big tech companies aren't out friends any more than governments are!

But sideloading will come to the EU and do you know what will happen? A few core users will use it to install emulators, Microsoft might release a native Gamepass app and Fortnite will probably come back.

That's it. And the sky won't fall in.

 

[kucharsk]

Personally I would never install an app that didn't come from the App Store.

If I wanted the Wild West where you have no vetting of apps I'd choose Android.

I pretty much do the same for macOS except for companies I trust like Adobe, certainly not random third party developers.

 

[Samplasion]

Personally I would never install an app that didn't come from the App Store.

Good thing nobody's forcing you.

 

[Zest28]

It's hypocritical for a company to operate one open platform and then one closed one and claim opening it would be a bad thing.

Either close MacOS to the app store or open up iOS

It is not hypocritical, it is called giving a choice.

You want a safe, secure and well integrated experience, there is the iPad. Else there is a MacBook.

 

[Samplasion]

It is not hypocritical, it is called giving a choice.

As if Apple wouldn't lock macOS down if they could get away with it

 

[Zest28]

As if Apple wouldn't lock macOS down if they could get away with it

Apple couldn’t because Apple would loose all Mac customers if they close than Mac.

The fact is, iPad and iPhone users like the safe and secure environment, else they would be on Android.

You know Android sells smartphones that is open, yet the iPhone is the best selling smartphone. So people prefer Apple their approach.

If the customers didn’t like the safe and secure environment and sells dropped because of it, Apple would have opened the iPhone and iPad a long time ago.

 

[Samplasion]

Apple couldn’t because Apple would loose all Mac customers if they close than Mac.

That's why I wrote "if they could get away with it"

iPad and iPhone users like the safe and secure environment

Who doesn't like a safe environment? But that's not a prerogative of a closed-down App Store. You can be safe and secure on Android as well. In fact, everyone in my family who has Android uses a safe and secure device because the apps they download are trustworthy. And that's despite Android being "open to viruses and backdoors"

 

[H2SO4]

Unfortunately I very much doubt they will include the UK when they don't have to. Like with Facebook and their ad free tier, EU only.

Yep, great shame that. The price you pay for myopia.

 

[H2SO4]

Why would I develop something that already exists. It’s called iOS.

You must have missed what was said. Allow me to enlighten you;
If you want a completely closed down OS you should develop one yourself.

Now, one exists at the moment which goes back to his/her comment, "if you want a completely closed down OS you should develop one yourself", as you have no control oiver what Apple does. The European Union DOES have control of what Apple does in THEIR Market unit.

 

[Zest28]

That's why I wrote "if they could get away with it"

Who doesn't like a safe environment? But that's not a prerogative of a closed-down App Store. You can be safe and secure on Android as well. In fact, everyone in my family who has Android uses a safe and secure device because the apps they download are trustworthy. And that's despite Android being "open to viruses and backdoors"

That's the thing, on Android and Mac the user has to take care of security and privacy themselves. On iOS and iPadOS, Apple already did this for you.

The point is, the free market has spoken. The iPhone is the best selling smartphone so the consumer prefers to have Apple provide us a safe and secure environment without us having to do it. Else they would be on Android.

 

[H2SO4]

That's the thing, on Android and Mac the user has to take care of security and privacy themselves. On iOS and iPadOS, Apple already did this for you.

Once iOS and iPadOS is opened up, what's stopping companies like FaceBook pulling all their apps from the App Store and forcing people to download it from a 3rd party store in order to bypass all the strict rules Apple has put in place?

Then we choose what Apps we install and where.
There are many examples, (and it's even easier now it the advent of the M Series processors), but I use an app called Datagraph. It is available both on and off the App Store.
YOU choose which compromises you make.
Must be simple enough for Apple to put up warnings during the install process?

Same as when you go to a less secure website like my printer web interface.
I get I think 3 warnings before it connects me.

 

[Zest28]

Then we choose what Apps we install and where.
There are many examples, (and it's even easier now it the advent of the M Series processors), but I use an app called Datagraph. It is available both on and off the App Store.
YOU choose which compromises you make.
Must be simple enough for Apple to put up warnings during the install process?

Same as when you go to a less secure website like my printer web interface.
I get I think 3 warnings before it connects me.

It is not as simple as that. You don't think companies like FaceBook will pull their apps from the App Store because Apple heavily restricts them for good reason?

Just look on Mac, the App Store on Mac is pretty much empty.

 

[H2SO4]

It is not as simple as that. You don't think companies like FaceBook will pull their apps from the App Store because Apple heavily restricts them for good reason?

Just look on Mac, the App Store on Mac is pretty much empty.

Then don't use them. I don't.
I do agree though, a lot will pull their stuff. Maybe we need to give something a chance and see what the real outcome is?

The problem is Apple have been to restrictive and the reaction is opposite, but not equal.

 

[Zest28]

Then don't use them. I don't.
I do agree though, a lot will pull their stuff. Maybe we need to give something a chance and see what the real outcome is?

The problem is Apple have been to restrictive and the reaction is opposite, but not equal.

I can predict what the outcome is and the EU will start crying to Apple by something they caused themselves.

And that is illegal apps, something that Apple currently blocking. The iPhone will be used for illegal activities and Apple can no longer do anything against it.

 

[H2SO4]

I can predict what the outcome is and the EU will start crying to Apple by something they caused themselves.

And that is illegal apps, something that Apple currently blocking. The iPhone will be used for illegal activities and Apple can no longer do anything against it.

We'll have to disagree.
The EU should stand their ground. That's my opinion.
I'll fix this; "I THINK I can predict what the outcome is and the EU MIGHT start crying to Apple by something they caused themselves."
The iPhone is already used for illegal activities, same as every other compueter other is/can be.

 

[Zest28]

We'll have to disagree.
The EU should stand their ground. That's my opinion.
I'll fix this; "I THINK I can predict what the outcome is and the EU MIGHT start crying to Apple by something they caused themselves."
The iPhone is already used for illegal activities, same as every other compueter other is/can be.

Ofcourse, the iPhone is used for illegal activities, but there are currently no apps available on the iPhone for these activities. Without Apple blocking these apps from the App Store, they are going to be apps for the iPhone that are made for illegal activities.

I won't say what type of illegal apps as I don't want to get the FBI knocking on my door for saying it. But I think you can think of some really bad apps yourself that shouldn't exist.

 

[H2SO4]

Ofcourse, the iPhone is used for illegal activities, but there are currently no apps available on the iPhone for these activities. Without Apple blocking these apps from the App Store, they are going to be apps for the iPhone that are made for illegal activities.

Just so I'm clear what do you mean by this?

 

[Zest28]

Just so I'm clear what do you mean by this?

You know, apps that sure as hell shouldn't exist as it is just very bad and also illegal. I'm not going to say it here for obvious reasons.