There’s no other stores available if you’re an iPhone or iPad user. The m1 in the MacBook can run apps from anywhere, yet the m1 in the iPad cannot. Why?!
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Tim Cook Delivers Speech Emphasizing Apple's Opposition to Sideloading
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jonblatho
macrumors 68030
I don’t get why every Apple product user absolutely must deal with the App Store’s restrictions on account of the stupidest among us. If someone ignores warnings and downloads some scam Bitcoin app from an untrusted source and loses thousands of dollars, I simply do not care. It is not my problem, and I’m neither dumb nor mindless enough to fall victim to it. **** around and find out, and hopefully do better next time.
I’d love to pull some Python code of mine from GitHub and work with it in Pythonista on the iPad, for example. Apple purportedly won’t allow that because it’s considered to be executing remote code, even though the code is my own (not that that should matter anyway, so long as the user trusts the source). Wonderful hardware, and fantastic third-party software, held back solely by a dumb interpretation of an App Store guideline. If Apple’s not willing to budge on that guideline, it’d be nice to be able to download a copy outside the App Store not subject to that restriction. That, of course, isn’t possible.
Ultimately, as my own use cases changed, despite absolutely loving the iPad + Magic Keyboard form factor, I had no choice but to give up on waiting for Apple to make the iPad a more compelling computer and replace it with a notebook. What’s more, with all this talk about the superior “user experience” of being locked into the App Store — I didn’t just stop using my iPad, I grew to resent it because of the immense wasted potential of the hardware. I know that I’m far from alone, especially among iPad Pro users.
You don't care, but Apple does, because it affects their brand.
Apple has been building the Apple brand for decades to the point that people will buy anything with an Apple logo at any cost. The lay consumer now have that high expectation of the Apple brand. To that extend, Apple wants better control on anything with their logo.
When someone got scammed off a sideloaded bitcoin app on their iPhone, you don't care, but the bad image in the news will be on Apple. Apple doesn't want to afford that.
If you don't agree with Apple's method, good thing there are choice out there you can get instead of sticking with Apple products. Vote with you wallet, plain and simple.
turbineseaplane
macrumors Penryn
Their own App Store is STUFFED with scams that go on forever and new ones get in all the time..
The "top charts" and search results are littered with BS apps, ip theft, Subscription cons...on and on
And Apple does nothing about basically any of them.
"Worried about their brand" - my butt they are..
They are worried about their bottom line and maintaining their iOS App revenue and distribution monopoly
Period.. End of story.
iZac
macrumors 68040
I agree wholeheartedly, but one counterpoint - android users in Xinjiang were forced to download a random spyware App on their phones so the government could keep track on them.
https://www.rfa.org/english/news/ch...deletes-terrorist-content-07142017102032.html
When I read that I was delighted that I used an iPhone and had some sort of built-in protections and a UK region account. There’s already a bunch of Chinese apps that are hamstrung by Apples data collection restrictions (even though Chinese region iCloud accounts are stored in a state controlled server) So if Apple ever allowed installing Apps from weblinks, you know they would force all users to install the same kind of spyware.
turbineseaplane
macrumors Penryn
Right -- so the Chinese are already getting what they want (spying on their own) on the back end usually..
It was much easier for them to just force that issue and not worry about the app front ends as much -- just pluck data right off the servers!
There's also plenty of history of China "making a quick call" and getting anything they want pulled from the App Store.
Having one central monopoly on iOS App Distribution is not a "win" for consumers -- especially in China.
iZac
macrumors 68040
Yeah, users are screwed either way in China. Like I say, I’m glad at least I have a UK region account. They still fundamentally require all users to have an ID linked WeChat or AliPay account though, because so many official services conduit through those apps.
the one thing I will say though, regarding the iCloud server / spyware app debate is … who has the ‘keys’ so to speak. China like any other country is an incredible bureaucratic mess, and no single department or service or region or company cooperate with one another. The less people with eyes on peoples personal data is arguably better.
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Wildkraut
Suspended
Yeah he shoot angry at individual customers because he knew they were in a weaker position, but this time it’s the EU that is shooting laws and they would reply “if Apple don't like the way we’re regulating things, go sell your crap elsewhere.”
Few months later Steve Jobs would realize that other countries incl. the US is pulling on the same rope and back off, but it would be too late, and Microsoft would have to give Apple a bit of pocket money again to survive. I’m looking forward to see Satya Nadella on a big screen at WWDC.
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You don't care, but Apple does, because it affects their brand.
Apple has been building the Apple brand for decades to the point that people will buy anything with an Apple logo at any cost. The lay consumer now have that high expectation of the Apple brand. To that extend, Apple wants better control on anything with their logo.
When someone got scammed off a sideloaded bitcoin app on their iPhone, you don't care, but the bad image in the news will be on Apple. Apple doesn't want to afford that.
If you don't agree with Apple's method, good thing there are choice out there you can get instead of sticking with Apple products. Vote with you wallet, plain and simple.
Maintaining profit is obvious for every publicly traded company. Welcome to the world called reality.
The question is, knowing all that you claimed, what are you going to do about it? If you feel so strongly, are you still going to use Apple products? Vote with your wallet.
sudo-sandwich
Suspended
Give app publishers that option, and they will make it the only way to obtain their apps. How choices work: I chose iPhone instead of Android so I don't have to deal with that nonsense, as is my right. Apple chose their rules for whatever reasons, including profit, as is their right.
I don't believe Apple's "privacy commitment" either. It's just marketing. They want the 15-30% cut and control, that's it.
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First please understand my post in context of what I was replying to. The user said that a warning would “sort” the issue, as in, it would solve it. But I replied pointing out that that was false—it would merely help on one issue (not solve), and it would fail to even address the other issue.
I too am inclined to not care much if a stranger is careless enough to fall for a simple scam. But I do care if it‘s someone I care about, or if it’s not a simple scam. The technological landscape is changing every day and scams are getting more and more sophisticated and ingenious. I don’t expect my aging family members to be able to always know how to navigate this tech world and protect themselves. I try to teach and oversee them, but there’s only one of me. So I appreciate any help I can get from Apple (or any company). For me it doesn’t matter if Apple is motivated by altruism or just monetary gain, as long as our interests coincide.
Believe me, I also have a long list of things I wish Apple would change about their devices, but Apple doesn’t see things my way. So I too had to take a step outside the Apple ecosystem, a $3000 step. But I guess where I differ is I don’t have any resentment. I think a company has a right to do as they see fit (within legal bounds) and for any company their financial success will determine whether they made the right choice or not. I don’t know what else I can do but choose the device that best suits my needs. It doesn’t seem right to try to legally force a company to do what I want.
turbineseaplane
macrumors Penryn
But they aren’t even doing that on android.
People are straw manning this completely to defend Apple.
We have an example to look at and the FUD is untrue!
tgwaste
macrumors 68000
tgwaste
macrumors 68000
What makes me nervous here is other companies (like my bank for example) not allowing me to use their app if I have that box checked. It happens when you jailbreak. Hopefully any law passed will take these things into account.
I wonder how much legalised side-loading would actual affect Apple's balance sheet? I'm betting that 90-95% of typical Apple users would exclusively stick to Apple's App Store, and in turn all of the major software developers would keep App Store versions of their software of there.
And if apps could be side-loaded, it might attract more customers who have previously been swayed over to Android for the extra freedom.
And if apps could be side-loaded, it might attract more customers who have previously been swayed over to Android for the extra freedom.
sudo-sandwich
Suspended
Looking at an example of recent relevance, yes they are...
Epic Games' Fortnite
The Action Building game where you team up with other players to build massive forts and battle against hordes of monsters, all while crafting and looting in giant worlds where no two games are ever the same.
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sudo-sandwich
Suspended
Beacon Wallet is the funniest one. I just wanted to test some cryptocurrency thing with it, so I didn't care about the security. Couldn't run it on my jailbroken iPhone. Eventually got a new phone that wasn't JB'd, and the app made me shake my phone for 2 minutes to generate entropy for the seed. When I screenshotted the seed, it got mad at me and forced me to start over.
A hypothetical:
I paid for my iPhone.
I live in China.
I am not an allowed religion, the government does not support Islam.
The Quran is disallowed to be downloaded.
It's funny that those who support freedoms are ok with restricting others as long as it doesn't impact their freedoms. "My world" is fine, so I don't care about YOUR world. Pretty myopic mode of thinking there.
Also, even thinking inside that walled garden, nothing says you have to download things from outside the app store. I have an Android as well -- I'm not compelled to download outside the app store. But I can. There is a huge, massive, major difference between "can" and "will do absolutely by default without me ever knowing and will immediately jeopardize my entire world so the entire premise is faulty omg the sky is falling and where is my tinfoil hat the entire premise is bad this sucks where is my bomb shelter". Just saying.
Apple has publicly stated that they view the Mac as vulnerable compared to iOS devices.
There might not be significant direct effect, but the risk of damaging the brand is huge. And knowing how control freak Apple is, I don't think they will want to risk it.
I don't think Apple is interested in those few Android users who wanted Android-like iPhone. Currently, Apple is already making a ton of money catering to people desiring the Apple brand. It's also shown time and time again that iOS users generally spend more money on app purchases than Android users. Keeping things as is is more worth it for Apple than trying to chase some Android enthusiasts.
laptech
Suspended
The huge difference between Apple and all the other US companies who do business with China is that they do not bang the drum of the importance of privacy, security and human rights like Apple do. China's citizens do not have privacy, they do not have secuirty and they are exposed to human rights violations almost on a daily basis but yet Tim Cook and Apple are happy to deal with the devil as long as it keeps on making them money.
It is extremely hypocrytical of Apple and Tm Cook to bang on about how they take privacy, security and human rights seriously when they are doing business with a country who's citizens do not have that.
Tim Cook is doing what any good CEO does, they give to the people what they want to hear whilst behind the scenes it's a case of 'screw the people, we are going to do what we want and what we want is to make billions of $$$$'. People are fools if they believe what comes out of Tim Cook's mouth because if he was sincere on the issues of privacy, security and human rights as he makes people out to believe he is then he would not be dealing with China or Russia, it's that simple.
As I follow this thread and read people's comments, it's reassuring to see that so many forum members know just what it takes to run a successful $3 trillion company.
bn-7bc
macrumors 6502a
maybe more like ill inormed, or wilfully ognorent, it@s surprising how many will ignore all warnings as irrelevant, when shady store x gives the famous and expensive app for free. Sadly apple costumers are not immune to this, so when=if alternative app stores and/or sideloading comes to apple devices I@m afraid we will see and increse in apple devices being compromised. Please note: I@m not saying that compromised apple products (due to os b/app buh´gs etc, don@t exist today, they absolutely do. What I'm saying is that they'll definitely increase. (altho to which extent is ofc debatable) when/if the above mentioned becomes available.