Sideloading iOS Apps No Longer Possible on M1 Macs

[NagasakiGG]

Hey guys, update: Did apple reverse it?
Today I downloaded Adobe Scan from my iPhone and installed it on my Mac...with success. Although not being able to find the app itself in the (Mac-)AppStore

 

[hashsi99]

Hey guys, update: Did apple reverse it?
Today I downloaded Adobe Scan from my iPhone and installed it on my Mac...with success. Although not being able to find the app itself in the (Mac-)AppStore

I’m on 11.0.1 and it still works. Quickly downloaded everything I’d want to.

netflix however gives an error.

 

[TheWatchfulOne]

9 out of 10 developer are being an ASS to deliberately opt out to not us run the app in macOS

The first M1 Macs have only been available for a few months. It's quite possible 9 out 10 developers don't even own one yet and therefore can't test yet. Smart Developers don't release code to run on a platform without first verifying their code works as expected on that platform.

Furthermore, currently available M1 Macs are the MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, and Mac Mini. Not all developers are interested in these models. Some would rather have an iMac, iMac Pro, or Mac Pro which are not yet available with the M1 (or other Apple Silicon chip.) Some Developers may be waiting for an M1 MacBook Pro with a redesigned body or more ports. Some developers might be waiting for the rumored smaller sized (and maybe less expensive?) Mac Pro.

In other words, have some patience and allow time for developers to acquire the M1 Mac that best meets their needs.

 

[4jasontv]

If the developer does not own an M1 Mac, they can't test your suggested pop-up to verify that it even works. As a developer, looking at code, no matter how simple, and not seeing problems is not good enough. I want to run it. Many times. In every possible situation. That pop-up code (and the code to detect what type of device the app is running on) would just be extra code added to the app that may or may not work. Extra code just means more opportunities for bugs and crashes to happen. Bugs and crashes mean more 1 star negative reviews. No thanks.

And then what if every feature of the app depends on iPhone specific hardware? Mac users may purchase it only to find an app that does absolutely nothing but display a pop-up telling them the app will do nothing on their Mac. Total lack of features means more 1 star negative reviews. No thanks.

In order to guarantee your pop-up suggestion works on a Mac, the developer needs to own an M1 Mac to test with. If the developer does own an M1 Mac, they can write and test code and cut off any code paths the access hardware not found on the Mac. If they can do that, they can just go ahead and make the app available for the Mac. That just means more places where users can find and purchase the app. I don't think any developer would turn down having more opportunities for downloads for just a little extra work.

I have a better idea. Let the developer decide what kind of product they want to build and which OS and hardware they are willing and able to support. Let Apple come up with a system that protects users by allowing developers to opt out of their iOS apps installing on Mac hardware when said app is not at all compatible or useful on the Mac. Oh wait, that's what we have now isn't it?

To sum up, the "solutions" you keep proposing are only going to create more of the problems you appear to be concerned about.

Tl;dr developer can't do their job because they won't get the tools they need.
Obligatory car analogy: BMW uses a new screw and third party stereo company tells me I can't install the deck I purchased because they won't buy a new screwdriver.

No mac version should mean 0 star reviews. Can we add that?

 

[4jasontv]

The first M1 Macs have only been available for a few months.

That's sort of the point. Everyone who preordered already got their unit and units are in stock and easy to come by. I would expect all developers to preorder with a major hardware change. There is little excuse for a developer to not have an M1 at launch, less of an excuse for not having one in the first month, and no excuse for not having one now.

 

[ikramerica]

That's sort of the point. Everyone who preordered already got their unit and units are in stock and easy to come by. I would expect all developers to preorder with a major hardware change. There is little excuse for a developer to not have an M1 at launch, less of an excuse for not having one in the first month, and no excuse for not having one now.

Money grows on trees, especially this year.

 

[hieromonk]

The first M1 Macs have only been available for a few months. It's quite possible 9 out 10 developers don't even own one yet and therefore can't test yet. Smart Developers don't release code to run on a platform without first verifying their code works as expected on that platform.

Furthermore, currently available M1 Macs are the MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, and Mac Mini. Not all developers are interested in these models. Some would rather have an iMac, iMac Pro, or Mac Pro which are not yet available with the M1 (or other Apple Silicon chip.) Some Developers may be waiting for an M1 MacBook Pro with a redesigned body or more ports. Some developers might be waiting for the rumored smaller sized (and maybe less expensive?) Mac Pro.

In other words, have some patience and allow time for developers to acquire the M1 Mac that best meets their needs.

LOL that's a load of BS
see what has the developer lame ass response about my email to ask them to stop being an ******* for opting out of macOS , just bunch of irrelevant ****

 

[alien3dx]

LOL that's a load of BS
see what has the developer lame ass response about my email to ask them to stop being an ******* for opting out of macOS , just bunch of irrelevant ****

as me as developer how they reply is good. in Apple platform, they very test it goodly before publishing to apple store. Apple also helpfull to identify requirement and changes. Software development not easy as seem.

 

[svanstrom]

LOL that's a load of BS
see what has the developer lame ass response about my email to ask them to stop being an ******* for opting out of macOS , just bunch of irrelevant ****

How DARE they send you a polite answer, with potentially helpful information, even though you're clearly out for a fight?? The gall of some people!! Clearly an evil corporation in business only to hurt your feelings!!

 

[camilasaunder89]

This feature is newly introduced in Mac and it is totally going to impact previous versions.

 

[4jasontv]

Money grows on trees, especially this year.

That’s sarcasm, right? Or are you mixing free, ad free, no IAP apps with for profit apps?

 

[4jasontv]

How DARE they send you a polite answer, with potentially helpful information, even though you're clearly out for a fight?? The gall of some people!! Clearly an evil corporation in business only to hurt your feelings!!

It would have taken less time to just make the app available on macOS than to draft that email.

 

[svanstrom]

The first M1 Macs have only been available for a few months. It's quite possible 9 out 10 developers don't even own one yet and therefore can't test yet. Smart Developers don't release code to run on a platform without first verifying their code works as expected on that platform.

Furthermore, currently available M1 Macs are the MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, and Mac Mini. Not all developers are interested in these models. Some would rather have an iMac, iMac Pro, or Mac Pro which are not yet available with the M1 (or other Apple Silicon chip.) Some Developers may be waiting for an M1 MacBook Pro with a redesigned body or more ports. Some developers might be waiting for the rumored smaller sized (and maybe less expensive?) Mac Pro.

In other words, have some patience and allow time for developers to acquire the M1 Mac that best meets their needs.

Many developers are, simply put, waiting to be able to afford one.

A lot of software is made by people earning less from their dream job of coding their own software than they would any other job; and getting new hardware sometimes has a cascading effect, so suddenly you're sitting there having to bite the bullet and get that whole new professional setup that you should have had long ago.

Then it's that refactoring of the code, replacing those out of date libraries you've been using, learning a new framework, spending time researching what other people taking the same path has run into, potentially looking into making something available on the Apple Watch while you're making changes; and so on.

For a small-scale developer, especially one living a frugal life with a partner, this could be 6-12 months worth of sales going into new stuff; and 6+ months of ignoring all current work to essentially start over with a new version of their app.

And if it's a larger development bureau of some kind that we're talking about, then it could instead be that you have to redirect staff to new responsibilities; support staff having to get trained to deal with a whole new platform, support-sections of websites that needs to be updated, new screenshots, and so on.

So sometimes it really is a simple as something that can be done in under an hour, because everything just fits; and sometimes life's just structured against it. 🤷

 

[chucker23n1]

I would expect all developers to preorder with a major hardware change. There is little excuse for a developer to not have an M1 at launch,

Wow. You really think developers are all rich, don’t you.

 

[svanstrom]

It would have taken less time to just make the app available on macOS than to draft that email.

I'm sorry that I'm directing this direct at you, but are you really this ignorant (meant in the "not an insult"-way) about what actually goes into professionally making sellable apps?

Also, that was clearly mostly a form letter; and probably sent by someone great at what they do, but couldn't code themselves out of a paper bag no matter what. All resources are not equal within all fields.

 

[Alan Wynn]

Wow. You really think developers are all rich, don’t you.

Of course they are. They were paid $2.99 four years ago for that app.

 

[1958llakin]

I’m on 11.0.1 and it still works. Quickly downloaded everything I’d want to.

netflix however gives an error.

This is it. After downgrading from macOS 11.1 to macOS 11.0.1, sideloading iOS apps works again.

I followed this YouTube tutorial to downgrade:

The IPSW firmware can be downloaded from Apple's server: http://updates-http.cdn-apple.com/2...86B85C/UniversalMac_11.0.1_20B29_Restore.ipsw

 

[chucker23n1]

I'm sorry that I'm directing this direct at you, but are you really this ignorant (meant in the "not an insult"-way) about what actually goes into professionally making sellable apps?

It’s technically correct — allowing the app to run on ARM Macs is simply a checkbox on App Store Connect.

 

[Alan Wynn]

LOL that's a load of BS
see what has the developer lame ass response about my email to ask them to stop being an ******* for opting out of macOS , just bunch of irrelevant ****

Having read your email, I can easily see how the tech support person did not understand what you were asking and pulled FAQ answer 7 to send you. However, as far as I can tell, this is a free service that has not charged you for running it yet, and does not display ads. Given what seems like limited funds, I am not sure why they would set as a priority testing the macOS version.

The fact that you are so angry about something you get for free explains a lot about why companies are choosing to not release untested macOS versions (or worse yet, an app that you know will perform poorly on macOS). Rather get a low rating for not having a macOS version then a low rating for having a bad macOS version.

 

[Alan Wynn]

It would have taken less time to just make the app available on macOS than to draft that email.

That is a stock email the tech support person sent, probably because he or she did not really understand the original email’s questions. However, the person who sent that stock answer, would not be the same as the person who would need to enable the app for macOS.

This is a free app that has no advertising and provides a free, ad-free social network (I have not used it, but that is the description from the developer’s website). Given that, level of antipathy these developers is astounding.

 

[svanstrom]

It’s technically correct — allowing the app to run on ARM Macs is simply a checkbox on App Store Connect.

Maybe I've missed something in this thread about a particular app; but making the business decision of officially making an app available on such a completely different platform goes way beyond clicking a button to make it run on that platform.

 

[hieromonk]

It would have taken less time to just make the app available on macOS than to draft that email.

Lol yes

All iOS are DEFAULT to be ENABLED to run on macOS Big Sur Mac M1

It’s is those ******* developers trying to be a DICK and deliberately opt out of MacOS to stop us from using their app on iOS

Don’t know what’s wrong with this thread , bunch of weird people saying lame ass excuses trying to deflect and spin from that behavior


As a refresher, Apple Silicon Macs allow users to run iOS and iPad applications on their Mac, but developers can opt out of allowing their apps to be installed on the Mac.

 

[hieromonk]

How DARE they send you a polite answer, with potentially helpful information, even though you're clearly out for a fight?? The gall of some people!! Clearly an evil corporation in business only to hurt your feelings!!

Are we even talking about the same **** ?

All iOS are DEFAULT to be ENABLED to run on macOS Big Sur Mac M1

It’s is those ******* developers trying to be a DICK and deliberately opt out of MacOS to stop us from using their app on iOS

Don’t know what’s wrong with this thread , bunch of weird people saying lame ass excuses trying to deflect and spin from that behavior


As a refresher, Apple Silicon Macs allow users to run iOS and iPad applications on their Mac, but developers can opt out of allowing their apps to be installed on the Mac.

 

[chucker23n1]

Maybe I've missed something in this thread about a particular app; but making the business decision of officially making an app available on such a completely different platform goes way beyond clicking a button to make it run on that platform.

From a business point of view (support costs, possibly licensing constraints, etc), yes, but from a technical perspective, it's simply an opt-out.

 

[svanstrom]

Don’t know what’s wrong with this thread , bunch of weird people saying lame ass excuses trying to deflect and spin from that behavior

Well, in this case the weird person is someone experienced with both the tech and the business sides of things; and I'm telling you that from that perspective it's not always as simple as users make it up to be in their own heads.

There are a gazillion and one reasons why it might be a nightmare for a developer to find that their apps have been "highjacked" by Apple to also run on MacOS; and right now they might be absolutely fuming with anger as Apple has made them out to be the bad guys, as they had no option but to "opt-out" of having their apps on MacOS.

Believe me, developers don't go out of their way to piss off their users and lose customers; there's always something else going on.