Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Centuries of anti-trust would like to have a word with you. How many app categories does Apple blatantly discriminate against?

Web browsers, game streaming, etc.'

Maybe Apple will improve its app review process and make it safer worldwide (instead of just the EU), too, once it finally gets competition.

I trust Setapp ~1000x more than the App Store for safe, non-bloatware, non-trash apps.
Everything that’s bad in the App Store will be magnified going into the future in the EU.

Thankfully third party app stores are not a thing in the US.
 
Apple could've avoided this and still can.

Microsoft offers "Stores within Stores", so everything is still within the Microsoft Store on Windows.

UpvkqHb.png


Apple: when people say you should get ahead of regulation, ☝️is what they mean 😂
If I were apple I would be fighting this to the death — which they seem to be doing. There is no getting ahead of regulation, there is only quashing it.
 
Consumers won't benefit. The only ones that will are large corporations who have been lobbying for these changes. Billion dollar corporations trying to take a byte out of trillion dollar corporations. They're just using small developers and consumers to create empathy.
To be honest, I don’t give a damn who’s pushing for it. Paywalling the installation of basic software on most peoples’ most-used devices is inexcusable. Plenty of people want this ability and will benefit.
 
Everything that’s bad in the App Store will be magnified going into the future in the EU.

Thankfully third party app stores are not a thing in the US.

You: if Almighty Apple can't figure out app store moderation, nobody else can, either.

This is literally the point of anti-trust regulations: companies proclaiming only they (Apple, Setap, etc.) can be the consumer's best protector.

If I were apple I would be fighting this to the death — which they seem to be doing. There is no getting ahead of regulation, there is only quashing it.

Thank God you're just one of us and not actually Apple, Inc. 😅

There is always getting ahead of regulation and smarter companies do it all the time (including, hey, Apple lmao with type-C on so many devices).
 
Centuries of anti-trust would like to have a word with you.
I'm well aware that centuries of antitrust have very little to say about a company with legitimate business practices and 30% market share. Which is why the EU is targeting Apple with new regulations instead of centuries of antitrust law.

How many app categories does Apple blatantly discriminate against?
A few minor ones. Mostly ones that enable developers to run arbitrary code or ignore native interfaces in favor of awful cross-platform UIs.

Web browsers, game streaming, etc.'
Emulators, porn. I saw the list earlier.

FWIW, I'd support browsers having their own browser engines, as long as Apple continues to require that webviews in other apps use the system engine.

Maybe Apple will improve its app review process and make it safer worldwide (instead of just the EU), too, once it finally gets competition.
Okay? Maybe everything will be free too!

I trust Setapp ~1000x more than the App Store for safe, non-bloatware, non-trash apps.
Good for you! You realize that Setapp can review and release apps on the App Store for a single subscription price like they do on the Mac right now.
 
To be honest, I don’t give a damn who’s pushing for it. Paywalling the installation of basic software on most peoples’ most-used devices is inexcusable.
I have no idea what "paywalling" means in this context. Most people don't use iOS devices.

Plenty of people want this ability and will benefit.
Plenty? How many? How will they benefit? How does that compare to the negative effects?
 
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.

Somehow, I suspect these people didn’t choose to have malware installed on their android phones either, but it still happened. I can’t say how big of an issue it is in my country, but I am seeing this phenomenon getting more common.


Funny thing - one of the banks recently updated their app so that it no longer works if it detects the presence of sideloaded apps on your android phone.


It would truly be ironic if, when this feature finally does come to iOS, that it still become inaccessible not because of Apple, but through the actions of other apps.
 
You: if Almighty Apple can't figure out app store moderation, nobody else can, either.
Correct.
This is literally the point of anti-trust regulations: companies proclaiming only they (Apple, Setap, etc.) can be the consumer's best protector.
You keep discussing what anti-trust . What anti-trust in the US has been brought against the App Store?
Thank God you're just one of us and not actually Apple, Inc. 😅
Ditto.
There is always getting ahead of regulation and smarter companies do it all the time (including, hey, Apple lmao with type-C on so many devices).
Sure there is always planning. Smart companies plan.
 
  • Haha
Reactions: ikjadoon
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?
It directly impact the safety of your personal information more than your phone. As, if you know anyone who’s apt to sideload NOT knowing what they’re doing (No, no, this one is real because it’s a nigerian PRINCESS, not prince), then your contact information they have stored plus any images or chats that have been shared with them are just one “Give this app access to your everything” dialog box tap away.
 
  • Like
Reactions: strongy
To be honest, I don’t give a damn who’s pushing for it. Paywalling the installation of basic software on most peoples’ most-used devices is inexcusable. Plenty of people want this ability and will benefit.

It's good, because Apple sets standards. Else developers will make bad software for iOS.

I have seen some software that was constantly rejected by Apple how piece of crap it was. And still, the final version that got approved by Apple was still a piece of ****.

Without Apple gatekeeping, developers will make lower quality crap.
 
If I were apple I would be fighting this to the death — which they seem to be doing. There is no getting ahead of regulation, there is only quashing it.

Well, the devil is in the details, and we currently still don’t have any information on just how sideloading will be implemented on iOS. How onerous will the process be? I doubt it will be as straightforward as simply clicking on a web link and installing the app the same way you would download a file.

Would Apple still demand a cut of setapp’s revenue? It’s not we don’t have precedent in this matter.

Might certain system features be disabled in the name of security?

Apple can’t stop sideloading from happening, but they can nudge users away from it. The devil is ultimately still in the details.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Shirasaki
I have no idea what "paywalling" means in this context. Most people don't use iOS devices.

It’s a paywall because Apple already allows sideloading for $100/year — part of the Dev program. It’s not like an impossible feat that nobody’s tried before. Apple allows easy-ish sideloading to an extent. You just need to pay for it.

Plenty? How many? How will they benefit? How does that compare to the negative effects?
How many? I dunno man.

*spins wheel*

88 billion. That’s my number. Question for you: How many people will be negatively impacted?

Consumers will benefit by having a wider variety of apps on their devices, if they choose to. Do I need to explain further?

How does it compare to the negative effects? I’m not sure — sideloading has never been offered to the masses on iOS. Anybody can sideload on iOS with a free dev account, yet the sky somehow hasn’t fallen.

Both Xbox and Meta Quest support sideloading, yet the vast majority of apps are in their official marketplaces, and there are no notable malware issues.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Shirasaki
It's good, because Apple sets standards. Else developers will make bad software for iOS.

I have seen some software that was constantly rejected by Apple how piece of crap it was. And still, the final version that got approved by Apple was still a piece of ****.

Without Apple gatekeeping, developers will make lower quality crap.
I’m SO curious to know what you consider “bad software”, and which apps you’re referring to.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Shirasaki
I hope the UK is still considered part of ‘Europe
It's EU only.
Unless Apple will decide to make it worldwide - UK is not getting it.

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.
The problem is that eventually you will have to - Microsoft, Adobe, Steam, every large enterprise, etc. They will all want to avoid Apple's cut by forcing people to use their own App Stores. And then you will have to deal with multiple places with separate sets of logins, payment methods, subscription rules, ways to update software, etc.
 
Yes, just like Android...Riddled with viruses and stolen user information... Can't you see the EU is another unnecessary bloated layer of government that just collects taxes and fees making laws that benefit who? Just so they can clink their champagne glasses and create useless jobs for political cronies... Yes their looking out for YOU.... HA....
And, this does NOTHING to actually increase any real choice in the EU region. Before their regulatory spree, Apple and Android were the only choices. AFTER… Apple and Android are still the only choices. This actually solidifies their stranglehold on the EU mobile market as the governmentally chosen winners, making it impossible for any new platforms to compete.
 
So will setApp be required to allow other companies to host apps on their platform too? And where does it end? I assume they would be a gate keeper for their own store?
 
So will setApp be required to allow other companies to host apps on their platform too? And where does it end? I assume they would be a gate keeper for their own store?

Setapp won't necessarily be required to accept apps in its app store any more or less than Apple is required to accept apps in its App Store.
 


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

Setapp-Europe-Feature-1.jpg

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
Good luck to them, they'll be bankrupt within 2 years if they try it 🤣
 
  • Angry
Reactions: Shirasaki
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.
I like the walled garden 😊
One of many reasons I moved from Android
 
  • Like
Reactions: strongy
I don't like this law, but I guess this comes with democracy.
Sometimes something you wouldn't have voted for passes and you yjust have to patiently stand on the loser's side.
 
  • Like
Reactions: BaldiMac
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.