Setapp Planning to Launch Alternative App Store for iOS in Europe

[MacRumors]

App subscription service Setapp today announced plans to launch an alternative app store for iOS and iPadOS in 2024.

The European Union's Digital Markets Act (DMA), which came into effect on November 1, 2022, requires "gatekeeper" companies to open up their services and platforms to other companies and developers. The DMA will have a significant impact on Apple's platforms, and it could result in Apple being forced to make major changes to the ‌App Store‌, Messages, FaceTime, Siri, and more.

Apple is expected to be compelled to allow users to download apps from outside its official App Store. Otherwise known as sideloading, the change would allow customers to download apps without needing to use the App Store, which would mean developers wouldn't need to pay Apple's 15 to 30 percent fees.

Apple is believed to be planning to implement sideloading support in iOS 17 to comply with the new European regulations by next year. Apple must comply with the DMA or it risks fines of as much as 20 percent of its global revenue.

Setapp offers a large collection of Mac apps in a single subscription service. The company's new app store for iOS and iPadOS will ensure that users can access universal Setapp apps on other devices, as well as a range of apps new to the Setapp catalog from over 30 developers.

Users interested in being among the first to try Setapp's alternative app store once it is available can now sign up to a waiting list. It will be available in the European Union only.

Article Link: Setapp Planning to Launch Alternative App Store for iOS in Europe

 

[Spaceboi Scaphandre]

Forget Setapp. How about Cydia? I'd kill for Cydia to finally become a legit alternative app store, no longer requiring jailbreaking

 

[supremedesigner]

re: DMA - I think that is a dumb move. I am not comfortable having a "side load" on my iPhone due to security issues.

 

[PowerMacBook]

Since Apple is only a hardware company…and is very concerned about our privacy… I believe the best is just to make the App Store free, so they have what they want!

 

[Sigvard]

I know people (understandably) rag on subscriptions but I love Setapp. IMO, one of the best value for Mac people out there.

 

[supremedesigner]

Since Apple is only a hardware company…and is very concerned about our privacy… I believe the best is just to make the App Store free, so they have what they want!

I am not sure about "free". How do the people who work reviews (to make sure the app is in compliance and not breaking the rules, etc.) at the Apple App Store apps get paid? Was the "15-30%" fund commission go to the App reviewers?

 

[Akrapovic]

I currently use SetApp on the Mac, and frankly their store is nicer to use than the Mac App Store - which feels clunky and slow to use.

I am optimistic for this.

 

[mjohansen]

Is AppleTV also part of the DMA requirements? Sideloading on AppleTV would be great.

 

[Doodah7]

re: DMA - I think that is a dumb move. I am not comfortable having a "side load" on my iPhone due to security issues.

If you are in America, it won’t bother you then and you can stay nice and comfy. For us in Europe, this will provide greater flexibility and usability for our IOS devices.

Setapp are based in Cork in Ireland!! Yay!!!!

 

[Shalev]

Apple need to fight this BS as hard s they can, it will destroy the platforms

 

[Akrapovic]

If you are in America, it won’t bother you then and you can stay nice and comfy. For us in Europe, this will provide greater flexibility and usability for our IOS devices.

Setapp are based in Cork in Ireland!! Yay!!!!

SetApp are Ukranian (they're MacPaw). The company is registered in Ireland for tax purposes.

 

[farleysmaster]

I’m curious as to whether Apple will include the UK in their EU plans. I’m guessing not.

I presume it will be like on android where you can turn sideloading on or off in the settings.

 

[iZac]

I hope the UK is still considered part of ‘Europe’

 

[Spaceboi Scaphandre]

re: DMA - I think that is a dumb move. I am not comfortable having a "side load" on my iPhone due to security issues.

Well it's a good thing YOU DON'T HAVE TO. Just like on Android it is completely optional. You don't want to sideload, you don't have to. Keep the toggle off and stick with the Apple App Store. But it's there if you want to ever change your mind and want to venture outside of the walled garden.

 

[farleysmaster]

I hope the UK is still considered part of ‘Europe’

It will be a cost benefit question for Apple over whether it’s more expensive to have a different rule for the uk or to allow sideloading.

 

[supremedesigner]

If you are in America, it won’t bother you then and you can stay nice and comfy. For us in Europe, this will provide greater flexibility and usability for our IOS devices.

Setapp are based in Cork in Ireland!! Yay!!!!

Good for you. It's not that I can stay nice and comfy, I care about privacy and security. Will you be willing to fork over $60 - 120 per year?

 

[Doodah7]

I’m curious as to whether Apple will include the UK in their EU plans. I’m guessing not.

The DMA is EU legislation and is obviously not applicable to the UK. However it would be up to Apple to work out a technical solution to ensure that the UK are excluded, probably based on whatever appstore is set as the default country against an Apple ID.

 

[chrisi29]

I hope the UK is still considered part of ‘Europe’

And Switzerland and Norway too, hopefully

 

[Franjelisco]

I hope the UK is still considered part of ‘Europe’

As the article states, this only applies to countries in the European Union, not generally Europe. So unless the UK passes a similar law, it won’t apply to it.

 

[H3LL5P4WN]

Apple needs to pull out of Europe.

SetApp is malware.

 

[AndreaCicca]

re: DMA - I think that is a dumb move. I am not comfortable having a "side load" on my iPhone due to security issues.

Then don’t install apps outside the App Store, nobody will force you

 

[Spaceboi Scaphandre]

Apple needs to pull out of Europe.

They ain't gonna do that lmao. Europe is too big a market to leave and their shareholders would pull out in droves if Apple left an entire continent just because they lost a little bit of their app store monopoly.

Plus, Japan has mandated sideloading for 2024 as well. You gonna tell Apple to pull out of Japan too? Fat chance when Japan is iPhone dominated with an over 70% marketshare for Apple.

SetApp is malware.

Then don't use it. If you know SetApp ain't legit, don't use it. Consumers will follow to what works and what doesn't when sideloading becomes available, just like on desktops.

 

[Franjelisco]

re: DMA - I think that is a dumb move. I am not comfortable having a "side load" on my iPhone due to security issues.

This only applies to the 27 countries of the European Union and is going to be optional, so no one will force you to install apps beside the App Store.

 

[Doodah7]

Good for you. It's not that I can stay nice and comfy, I care about privacy and security. Will you be willing to fork over $60 - 120 per year?

What am I paying $60 to $120 a year for? Setapp? There will be plenty of other apps - available direct from the publisher - cheaper, as I won't have to pay the 30% Apple Tax. Using the Setapp service does not mean less privacy and security. Why would you correlate the two? By the way, we use euro not dollars for the most part in the EU.

 

[raybo]

How will sideloading potentially affect the security of our phones? Does Apple now have to constantly defend against malicious unapproved apps? How much money and effort should they spend to modify software every time a sideloaded app wrecks havoc on iOS?