Tim Cook: Users Who Want to Sideload Apps Can Use Android, While the iPhone Experience Maximizes 'Security and Privacy'

[Mockletoy]

Let them sideload all they want. And if they do…warranty voided. Problem solved.

The only software I know of currently releasing software that destroys otherwise functional hardware is … Apple.

If they want to save themselves some money and hassle, they should void the warranties of anyone stupid enough to install a .0 macOS update.

 

[haydn!]

Side-loading is not going to remove Developers financial cost. Apple will still be getting paid. I hope they all realize this.

Nope, if anything, if will push up the cost of the dev lisence.

 

[BeefCake 15]

Most jailbreaking is done to skirt the few dollars people pay to buy an app....

 

[januarydrive7]

Nope, the main problem is that most of Apple's consumers are NON techies !

So, you're approach won't work, & side loading won't work, as they could be easily tricked into doing something they shouldn't be doing (i..e, installing the wrong app).

Apple's notary service is probably the best middle-ground option.

I use it for my one macOS app.

The only issue with Apple's notary service in macOS (for the average user) is that it's too easy to turn off.

 

[mox358]

And it’s like, “So, what you’re telling me is that if iOS worked the way Android has always worked, then the planet would fly off its axis, the heavens would fall, and it would be the literal end of all things … even though Android is used every day by far more people than iOS is?”

Something is kinda funky in that math, huh?

I think that is the point you don’t understand. We bought iPhone specifically because they worked this way. It’s a feature not a bug. Android has always worked that way and people voted with their wallet on how they wanted their device to function.

If you want sideloading, buy a device that side loads. Would you buy a car and complain it doesn’t float on water? Chevy should make your Corvette float just because you want it so?

 

[joeblow7777]

Well, he's not wrong. There are pros and cons to each platform. You get more freedom with Android, but you never have to worry about malware or other security issues on iOS.

 

[_Spinn_]

This is exactly why I bought an iPhone and not an Android device.

 

[boss.king]

I think that is the point you don’t understand. We bought iPhone specifically because they worked this way. It’s a feature not a bug. Android has always worked that way and people voted with their wallet on how they wanted their device to function.

If you want sideloading, buy a device that side loads. Would you buy a car and complain it doesn’t float on water? Chevy should make your Corvette float just because you want it so?

What a load of crap. The average user did not buy an iPhone because they knew it didn't support sideloading. They bought it for the camera, or for iMessage, or because they already has a Mac, and so on. The number of nerdy people who vehemently oppose sideloading are just as few and far-between as the ones who want it.

 

[nastysailboat]

100% agree with him.

100%

I agree with both of you 100%

 

[GrumpyCoder]

I don't understand how you can be concerned about security bugs (i.e., something that is on the dev's radar to fix) while arguing for something that would amount to something worse than those security bugs.

Simple, I can use common sense when putting stuff on my phones/tablets/computers. I can not close a security bug in iOS (or any other non open source system) myself. One thing I can control (sideloading), the other I have absolutely no control over (iOS). Unless Apple makes it all open source, which would be brilliant, but that's not going to happen of course.

 

[840quadra]

Well, he's not wrong. There are pros and cons to each platform. You get more freedom with Android, but you never have to worry about malware or other security issues on iOS.

That is not correct.

Apple patches iPhone zero-day in iOS 15.0.2 - The Recordhttps://therecord.media › News

Forbes.iPhone Alert: Apple Leaves 2 Zero-Day Hacks Inside iOS 15.1.Tokarev revealed Apple has again left two “zero-day” iPhone hacks unfixed, despite making Apple aware of them more than seven months ago..1 week ago

I can cite many more.

 

[JonGarrett]

100% agree with him.

100%

Of course you do. ??

 

[nastysailboat]

What a load of crap. The average user did not buy an iPhone because they knew it didn't support sideloading. They bought it for the camera, or for iMessage, or because they already has a Mac, and so on. The number of nerdy people who vehemently oppose sideloading are just as few and far-between as the ones who want it.

I bought an iPhone for all those reasons plus the security

 

[now i see it]

Well in one respect he is right.
I needed to download an app that is used to program a motor controller and it was only available as an Android side loader from the manufacturer’s website- so I purchased an old android phone to run it.

 

[davidjytang]

Can you imagine having a product, that your company sells, and a whole bunch of people are telling you what you allowed and not allowed to put on it?
Am I allowed to tell LG to use android instead Web OS? Can I ask Samsung to not allow sideloading? Can I ask Toyota to install CarPlay access? WTF is going on here

You probably don’t remember Microsoft was one time required to let user choose which browser to install upon first boot in Windows instead of having IE as default.

 

[januarydrive7]

Simple, I can use common sense when putting stuff on my phones/tablets/computers.

I don't know if you know what "common" means here.

I can not close a security bug in iOS (or any other non open source system) myself. One thing I can control (sideloading), the other I have absolutely no control over (iOS). Unless Apple makes it all open source, which would be brilliant, but that's not going to happen of course.

You're not the average user. However, the average (non tech) user would have a huge attack vector opened up on them.

 

[KindJamz]

All these discussions but it seems like it comes down to one thing.

Tim cool believes that iPhone users aren’t smart enough to own a phone without apple keeping them safe ? Now I’m being ridiculous intentionally but the point stands

 

[boss.king]

I bought an iPhone for all those reasons plus the security

1) Just by being a MacRumors member, I'd put money on you not being an average user (although maybe I'm wrong there).
2) Security and sideloading are not mutually exclusive. Did you buy it specifically because it didn't allow sideloading?

 

[burgman]

What about Windows phone? Classic Apple ignoring the competition

The 100 or so people who bought one share your anger

 

[Rocko99991]

"..While the iPhone Experience Maximizes 'Security and Privacy'​

Like scanning all of your photos.

 

[joeblow7777]

Or you can use Safari for Facebook, Instagram and twitter…

I mean, you can, but it kinda sucks compared to using dedicated mobile apps. Most people won't go that route.

 

[burgman]

It is their platform and their rules and they are under no obligation to help you sideload. However, if you can figure it out on your own...

Why would someone go through the hassle, and security issues to jailbreak an iPhone when there are so many nice Android phones that are better? I get the hackers who want the challenge, but everyday users, makes no sense to me.

 

[mox358]

What a load of crap. The average user did not buy an iPhone because they knew it didn't support sideloading. They bought it for the camera, or for iMessage, or because they already has a Mac, and so on. The number of nerdy people who vehemently oppose sideloading are just as few and far-between as the ones who want it.

You’re looking too narrowly at this. It’s not because it supports / doesn’t support sideloading. It works like an appliance. You can forget about it and not have to babysit it. You don’t have to worry about it getting messed up.

Think of it this way - why do Sony or MS sell any consoles? Every person who buys a console could buy a PC and get better graphics, more options, different games stores, more control options, etc.. The reason is (some) people don’t want that. They want to sit down on a couch, select a game and KNOW it will play, no fuss. They don’t care about all that “freedom” they get from gaming on a PC. The walled garden is a feature of some products.

 

[WestonHarvey1]

But I want to sideload iOS apps.

 

[jman240]

Why would someone go through the hassle, and security issues to jailbreak an iPhone when there are so many nice Android phones that are better? I get the hackers who want the challenge, but everyday users, makes no sense to me.

I used to jail break every version. I had quick replies before apple knew what to call it. I had a notification shade years before apple added one to the OS. Being able to install things not sanctioned by the mother ship is not a bad thing or to be feared. I'd prefer an official method to all the sketchy ones we have currently. Just because they let me side load doesn't mean any one else has to ever do it.