U.S. Bills Allowing Sideloading Would Cause Consumers to Be Hit With 'Malware, Ransomware, and Scams,' Says Apple

[gregmancuso]

To this day you still cant run IOS apps on the Mac desktop in Monterey like APPLE promised Can you??

You can run Android Apps in Windows 11.

Yes. Yes you can. The only restriction is that the developer has to authorize their app to be run on the Mac and for it to be distributed via the Mac App Store. Many developers have not opted to authorize this support - being for sales financial (Mac + iOS versions), support financial (testing and tech support for Mac and iOS), or platform choice (just don't want to support Mac and be mobile only).

Back when first released in beta Apple allowed you to copy the .ipa bundle directly. But that process was never promised as the final implementation. If I remember correctly Apple even said that developer support or approval was going to be required.

It really is no different than a developer opting to support iOS on iPhone-only, iPad-only, or both.

 

[bviktor]

Kinda stating the obvious. We already had this experiment with Windows. Now they want us to go back there. No thanks.

 

[appleArticulate]

Is this really government's job to decide this?

Well it is now that Apple refused to act despite years of warning. They are the ones responsible for letting it get to this. And it will be infinitely worse once the government gets involved.

 

[bobcomer]

Is this really government's job to decide this?

Yes, it's government's job to protect the interest of its citizens.

 

[Macintosh TV]

Certainly is true. We certainly saw evidence of this when people were really into jailbreaking their devices.

 

[MauiPa]

Solution: Require all side loading app developers to be bonded and put in the legislation specific rules on privacy and security. Violate said rules, then the government collects penalties and distributes to consumers, and developers go to jail. simple and done!

 

[Wildkraut]

I have no problem with Apple's way being the default. I also think that opening up competition by sideloading can also be a good thing given the appropriate warnings. (one time warnings!) Having only one way to get apps means no outside competition that Apple doesn't allow and that's bad for consumers.

The not allowing sideloading of iOS apps on MacOS also really leaves a bad taste in my mouth as that capability is one of the reasons I bought my M1 MBA, and now there's nothing to be had from it.

A warning like "This Application was downloaded from the Internet, it could blah blah blah. Do you trust this application and want to install it anyway? Yes/No

This is enough...

Is about time to forbid Apple parenting its users.

 

[Jason111001]

To this day you still cant run IOS apps on the Mac desktop in Monterey like APPLE promised Can you??

You can run Android Apps in Windows 11.

Yes you can. In the app store you search as you normally would, at the top there is a toggle for iPhone/iPad apps. When I am on my iMac, I pretty much have no reason to pick up my phone. Amazing.

 

[gregmancuso]

I was looking at this from the article.

While I am not at all interested in the mobile games for iOS, iPadOS, and tvOS its hard not to think about all the attempts from gaming companies to get Apple to allow cloud based gaming, instead of all games being filtered though the App Store service. Then you have Apple creating their own Apple Arcade service. So even if you see the ecosystem secure and protected, its almost impossible to ignore their absolute gatekeeper power. Its a tough call where you draw the line, but its seems like Apple could budge a bit and find ways to allow cloud based gaming to remove this impression.

I don't follow this. Cloud-based gaming already exists (via web apps like GamePass).

Apple Arcade is a licensing scheme - all apps are still native apps that must be individually installed. The only thing is the Arcade version is includes the necessary entitlement so that it is included in the Arcade "bundle". Some of the games in the Arcade library were previously available for purchase. Some of the games are available on other platforms as well.

 

[iOS Geek]

Yes, it's government's job to protect the interest of its citizens.

Let me know when they actually start doing that. ?

 

[MauiPa]

Yes, it's government's job to protect the interest of its citizens.

Interesting, do we have free enterprise, or do we not? Where does it stop? Can I side load on my Kindle, how about my smart TV? Does amazon have to provide links to other marketplaces where the price may be cheaper? Is a grocery store liable if it sells it's own store brands?

This whole issue is made up to benefit a few rich and powerful. You can already get your product into the App Store and have customers access it free of charge. Just like Spotify, virtually all Spotify subscriptions are not paid through the App Store, because Spotify sells versions on lots of different devices, have a subscription - use it on Macs and iOS no fees to Apple. If customers really wanted this, there would be dozens of third party app stores selling subscriptions and "vbucks" for customers to use once you downloaded the app from the App Store. Sure a new customer would have to have the option to sign up and pay through the App Store, if they so chose, but like Spotify, few people would, so it is not really much of an issue.

 

[CASMAS]

Then bring better supports for iOS on macOS. Currently, it's useless and many popular apps aren't even supporting macOS.

 

[BrownyQ]

Yes. Yes you can. The only restriction is that the developer has to authorize their app to be run on the Mac and for it to be distributed via the Mac App Store. Many developers have not opted to authorize this support - being for sales financial (Mac + iOS versions), support financial (testing and tech support for Mac and iOS), or platform choice (just don't want to support Mac and be mobile only).

Back when first released in beta Apple allowed you to copy the .ipa bundle directly. But that process was never promised as the final implementation. If I remember correctly Apple even said that developer support or approval was going to be required.

It really is no different than a developer opting to support iOS on iPhone-only, iPad-only, or both.

Tangent, but is the ability to copy the .ipa file straight to the computer still viable for those apps that aren't available for downloading from the App Store on Mac? I actually hadn't thought to try this myself.

 

[bobcomer]

Let me know when they actually start doing that. ?

They do all the time. Fighting monopoly powers is one of the most important, though it definitely is slower moving than I'd wish.

You remember that venture capitalist that raised drug prices so much the last few years, well stopping that kind of thing is a good example of doing what's needed.

 

[mi7chy]

Scare mongering to maintain excessive profit and control of end users' devices.

 

[b0fh666]

If that legislation should move forward and pass, Apple should not be responsible for any adverse consequences (bricked phones, stolen data, ransomware, etc) to customers should they choose to side load apps.

Rather it should be on the customer to take responsibility for their poor choices and actions. No doubt people will whine that should instead be on Apple.

newsflash : they never were.

 

[KidPub]

Here's a thought...maybe the American Choice Online Act should let, I dunno, CONSUMERS choose who they want to work with.

 

[UBS28]

So is Apple going to remove "sideloading" from the MAC too? So basically only being able to install apps from the App Store.

 

[Wildkraut]

I don't follow this. Cloud-based gaming already exists (via web apps like GamePass).

Apple Arcade is a licensing scheme - all apps are still native apps that must be individually installed. The only thing is the Arcade version is includes the necessary entitlement so that it is included in the Arcade "bundle". Some of the games in the Arcade library were previously available for purchase. Some of the games are available on other platforms as well.

Till Apple starts to sabotage the browser engine to make the web gaming performance worse.
But not allowing third-party browser engines is part of their master-plan.

How would Jony say, a very precisely and meticulously handcrafted master-plan to elbow the competition out of the market and magically lock-in customers by interconnecting business types.

 

[sw1tcher]

Is this really government's job to decide this?

Yes. What do you think the antitrust laws created by the federal government are for?

But I get it. This is about Apple, and Apple should not be restricted from dominating the world.

 

[mi7chy]

Till Apple starts to sabotage the browser engine to make the web gaming performance worse.
But not allowing third-party browser engines is part of their master-plan.

Too late on iOS/iPadOS. All third browsers are forced to use the gimped Apple WebKit engine vs Chrome Blink, Firefox Gecko, etc. That's why my iPad Pro m1 is just collecting dust and need to pawn it off.

 

[jz0309]

To this day you still cant run IOS apps on the Mac desktop in Monterey like APPLE promised Can you??

You can run Android Apps in Windows 11.

and to this day YOU still don't get it - the developer has to enable it ... go do some fact checking for a change

 

[0924487]

yah part of the reason I stick with Apple instead of Android is that I don't want a bunch of random apps in the App Store written by shady and untalented developers, and prefer a curated set. I mean, even the most basic of editorial control over the App Store is so much better than zero control.

Imagine having to go through the curation process yourself in an unfiltered App Store...

What if I want porn apps, torrenting apps, modified YouTube apps, etc.?

 

[sw1tcher]

If that legislation should move forward and pass, Apple should not be responsible for any adverse consequences (bricked phones, stolen data, ransomware, etc) to customers should they choose to side load apps.

Rather it should be on the customer to take responsibility for their poor choices and actions. No doubt people will whine that should instead be on Apple.

You mean like how Apple isn't and hasn't been responsible for any consequences of Mac users getting their apps from outside Apple's app store for several decades now?

So nothing will change.

 

[BigBlur]

yah part of the reason I stick with Apple instead of Android is that I don't want a bunch of random apps in the App Store written by shady and untalented developers, and prefer a curated set. I mean, even the most basic of editorial control over the App Store is so much better than zero control.

Imagine having to go through the curation process yourself in an unfiltered App Store...

Side loading has nothing to do with the App Store, these random/shady apps would not be in there. They would be obtained via other means, such as downloading them from the web or some other app store. So as long you continue to get your apps from Apple's App Store, you have nothing to worry about.

It'd be similar to macOS. There is the App Store, but you can also download apps from the web to install, such as HandBrake. Installing HandBrake would be akin to side loading because it didn't come from the App Store.