iOS 17 Speculation Thread

[gank41]

Do we think app sideloading will pop up in iOS 17.4? That’s what I’m guessing since the deadline is in March. Also, I don’t think Apple will split the App Store or necessarily even restrict sideloading to the EU. I think it would make much more sense to just roll it out worldwide with settings that need toggled to enable it, and protections in place like on macOS, such as pop-ups notifying you that you’re about to open an app from the web. It would also likely not allow installation of software from non-signed developers, at least not without a lot more friction. But rolling it out worldwide would have several benefits: it would simplify things by not having to maintain two separate systems, and would reduce mounting regulatory pressure worldwide. And I don’t see a mass exodus from the App Store, most developers and iOS users would likely continue to use the App Store. I originally was against app sideloading on iOS, but I think that if it’s implemented properly, it could be a good improvement. I’m interested in seeing what Apple will do with app sideloading in the coming couple months. What do you think?

I think we might see the addition of an app like the TestFlight app alongside the Apple App Store app. Not sure what they'd call it. I'm sure internal Apple folks would want to call it something like H E double hockey sticks or C r a p. It might be called something related to an Alternate App Store. I'd think. I do remember in one of (the MANY) posts on the interwebs about this that Apple said they'd "offer another outlet for this", which to me sounded like another "App" that groups the Alt App Stores together. And if true, that's super awesome and convenient.

 

[Kal Madda]

I think we might see the addition of an app like the TestFlight app alongside the Apple App Store app. Not sure what they'd call it. I'm sure internal Apple folks would want to call it something like H E double hockey sticks or C r a p. It might be called something related to an Alternate App Store. I'd think. I do remember in one of (the MANY) posts on the interwebs about this that Apple said they'd "offer another outlet for this", which to me sounded like another "App" that groups the Alt App Stores together. And if true, that's super awesome and convenient.

Ya, I hope they go that route. 👍🏻. I think that would be a better solution than splitting the App Store, and it could help preserve security by keeping everything sandboxed similar to TestFlight. 👍🏻

PS, one point of potential validation for this approach is that in 17.2 they added options for apps in the App Store to distribute “sub-apps”. This is a feature for internal business apps, but a secondary Apple app distribution app could function similarly.

 

[gwhizkids]

Do we think app sideloading will pop up in iOS 17.4? That’s what I’m guessing since the deadline is in March. Also, I don’t think Apple will split the App Store or necessarily even restrict sideloading to the EU. I think it would make much more sense to just roll it out worldwide with settings that need toggled to enable it, and protections in place like on macOS, such as pop-ups notifying you that you’re about to open an app from the web. It would also likely not allow installation of software from non-signed developers, at least not without a lot more friction. But rolling it out worldwide would have several benefits: it would simplify things by not having to maintain two separate systems, and would reduce mounting regulatory pressure worldwide. And I don’t see a mass exodus from the App Store, most developers and iOS users would likely continue to use the App Store. I originally was against app sideloading on iOS, but I think that if it’s implemented properly, it could be a good improvement. I’m interested in seeing what Apple will do with app sideloading in the coming couple months. What do you think?

I believe Apple already announced that it was splitting the App Store. In any event, I don’t see them permitting sideloading anywhere other than where it has been legally mandated.

Edit: Apple hasn’t announced it but it’s per Gurman.

App Store to Be 'Split in Two' Ahead of EU iPhone Sideloading Deadline

Apple is preparing to split the App Store "in two" in the coming weeks ahead of European Union requirements that will force Apple to enable...

www.google.com

 

[john991]

I think you mean 17.4?

🤣🤣 17.4 one of those days.

 

[john991]

I believe Apple already announced that it was splitting the App Store. In any event, I don’t see them permitting sideloading anywhere other than where it has been legally mandated.

Exactly

 

[Realityck]

17.3 changes
Lock Screen
- New Unity wallpaper honors Black history and culture in celebration of Black History Month

Music
- Collaborate on playlists allows you to invite friends to join your playlist and everyone can add, reorder, and remove songs
- Emoji reactions can be added to any track in a collaborative playlist

This update also includes the following improvements:
- AirPlay hotel support lets you stream content directly to the TV in your room in select hotels
- AppleCare & Warranty in Settings shows your coverage for all devices signed in with your Apple ID
- Crash detection optimizations (all iPhone 14 and iPhone 15 models)


Note the hotel support that we thought was coming on 17.4

To devs today
iOS 17.3 Release Candidate (21D50) - January 17, 2024
iPadOS 17.3 Release Candidate (21D50) - January 17, 2024
macOS 14.3 Release Candidate (23D56) - January 17, 2024
watchOS 10.3 Release Candidate (21S644) - January 17, 2024
tvOS 17.3 Release Candidate (21K646) - January 17, 2024

 

[Kal Madda]

I believe Apple already announced that it was splitting the App Store. In any event, I don’t see them permitting sideloading anywhere other than where it has been legally mandated.

That could be, but I haven’t seen anything official from Apple about splitting the App Store. All I’ve seen is Mark Gurman speculating that they might do that.

 

[john991]

HomePodOS rc out but my update starts almost done then starts all over again. Stuck in a loop. 😮

 

[gwhizkids]

17.3 changes
Lock Screen
- New Unity wallpaper honors Black history and culture in celebration of Black History Month

Music
- Collaborate on playlists allows you to invite friends to join your playlist and everyone can add, reorder, and remove songs
- Emoji reactions can be added to any track in a collaborative playlist

This update also includes the following improvements:
- AirPlay hotel support lets you stream content directly to the TV in your room in select hotels
- AppleCare & Warranty in Settings shows your coverage for all devices signed in with your Apple ID
- Crash detection optimizations (all iPhone 14 and iPhone 15 models)


Note the hotel support that we thought was coming on 17.4

I noticed the hotel thing too.

 

[Kal Madda]

I noticed the hotel thing too.

Yeah, I’m curious to see if AirPlay Receiver on iPadOS has possibly expanded to support iPhone rather than only the Vision Pro. I really hope they expand this feature the way it is on macOS, that could be extremely useful. It’s going to be irritating if I can flawlessly screen mirror my iPhone to a hotel TV (not Apple device), but not my iPad (Apple device)! 🙁

 

[Kal Madda]

iPadOS 17.3 RC didn’t expand AirPlay Receiver like I hoped. Come on Apple, continuity features like this is your kind of thing! This is going to be really irritating that here I’ll be able to screen mirror my iPhone to a hotel TV, but not to my iPad! Hopefully they’ll fix this, either in a future iPadOS 17 release, or in iPadOS 18. This is just going to be silly otherwise… 🙁.

 

[Realityck]

• Introduction of over 100 new emojis. After the approval of Emoji Unicode 15.1 in September 2023
• Update is rumored to bring the much-awaited Game Mode feature to iPhones that use A17
• Likely to introduce sideloading in Europe. Initially exclusive to the European region, this feature might eventually be rolled out globally

The final release is anticipated around mid to late March 2024, aligning with the company’s previous release schedules. The first beta of Apple’s iOS 17.4 is expected to be released in early February.

 

[gank41]

• Introduction of over 100 new emojis. After the approval of Emoji Unicode 15.1 in September 2023
• Update is rumored to bring the much-awaited Game Mode feature to iPhones that use A17
• Likely to introduce sideloading in Europe. Initially exclusive to the European region, this feature might eventually be rolled out globally

The final release is anticipated around mid to late March 2024, aligning with the company’s previous release schedules. The first beta of Apple’s iOS 17.4 is expected to be released in early February.

Ya gotta wonder if enabling a VPN to spoof your location would get passed something like this.

 

[Kal Madda]

Ya gotta wonder if enabling a VPN to spoof your location would get passed something like this.

If they’ll even bother limiting it to only the EU. I think they might just release it worldwide.

 

[Stuipdboy1000]

• Introduction of over 100 new emojis. After the approval of Emoji Unicode 15.1 in September 2023
• Update is rumored to bring the much-awaited Game Mode feature to iPhones that use A17
• Likely to introduce sideloading in Europe. Initially exclusive to the European region, this feature might eventually be rolled out globally

The final release is anticipated around mid to late March 2024, aligning with the company’s previous release schedules. The first beta of Apple’s iOS 17.4 is expected to be released in early February.

Probably timed around an event and the release of the new iPads and Macs too.

 

[one more]

The final release is anticipated around mid to late March 2024, aligning with the company’s previous release schedules. The first beta of Apple’s iOS 17.4 is expected to be released in early February.

According to the DMA, Apple will have to allow side-loading by 7 March, so they might need to fast-track it somewhat.

 

[Kal Madda]

According to the DMA, Apple will have to allow side-loading by 7 March, so they might need to fast-track it somewhat.

I could be wrong, but they might be able to get an extension if they demonstrate they’re working on incorporating it. It would be silly of the EU to not give them a week or two extension to get it to public release so it can go through a proper beta process. That’s at least my opinion.

 

[one more]

I could be wrong, but they might be able to get an extension if they demonstrate they’re working on incorporating it. It would be silly of the EU to not give them a week or two extension to get it to public release so it can go through a proper beta process. That’s at least my opinion.

If iOS 17.3 comes out on Monday, 22 Jan, as expected, Apple will still have six weeks to run iOS 17.4 through beta stages and release it, say, on 4 March, just in time. After all, Apple new about this DMA date well ahead, so I guess they must have planned for it?

 

[Realityck]

If iOS 17.3 comes out on Monday, 22 Jan, as expected, Apple will still have six weeks to run iOS 17.4 through beta stages and release it, say, on 4 March, just in time. After all, Apple new about this DMA date well ahead, so I guess they must have planned for it?

Apple could also release a specific beta build, or minor update to use like they do for new product releases.

 

[Realityck]

If iOS 17.3 comes out on Monday, 22 Jan, as expected, Apple will still have six weeks to run iOS 17.4 through beta stages and release it, say, on 4 March, just in time. After all, Apple new about this DMA date well ahead, so I guess they must have planned for it?

If Apple is trying to encompass new features in 17.4 and this is at least 5 beta cycle it might be mid to late march. Don't expect first beta to be weekly either.

both iPadOS 15.4, 16.4 show 12 days for beta 1

iOS Version History Chart

iOS version history chart

www.thinkybits.com

 

[one more]

Apple could also release a specific beta build, or minor update to use like they do for new product releases.

A beta won’t do, I guess, as not everyone is running betas, but a 17.3.x variant could work just fine. This would also allow Apple to be quite discreet about it, if they want to keep side-loading buzz to a minimum.

 

[Realityck]

So 15.3/16.3 RC was 5 days or 6 days only before public. Thats suggesting Monday or Tuesday of next week for 17.3 becoming released.

 

[Realityck]

A beta won’t do, I guess, as not everyone is running betas, but a 17.3.x variant could work just fine. This would also allow Apple to be quite discreet about it, if they want to keep side-loading buzz to a minimum.

When it is kitted with a new product they identify it as something other then a beta. You might recall that it was with identified as iOS 17, then they had you update to 17.0.2 version for iPhone 15, and 17.0.1 was released to everyone else, then a few days later non-iPhone 15 owners also got a 17.0.2 version. That a example of Apple hurried trying to use some build to ship their new products.

 

[Realityck]

Note no last minute RC2's on Friday as expected, because all the OS's seem solid.

 

[Realityck]

note

Apple today made a tweak to the iTunes Store app in iOS 17.3, giving users access to their TV show and movie wishlists. Apple with iOS 17.2, iPadOS 17.2, and tvOS 17.2 killed wishlists without warning when it moved the option to purchase TV shows and movies from the iTunes Store app to the TV app.

All the more important to kick 17.3 out ASAP for iOS/IPadOS 17.2 users.