iOS 17 to Support App Sideloading to Comply With European Regulations

[AppliedMicro]

I wonder if just the EU version of IOS 17 will have this. If in the US hopefully there will be a setting to NOT ALLOW cause I don't want this at all and want a way to turn off the ability in case something accidentally gets by. Stupid IMO. If you want this capability then buy an android phone! Different cars have different features and people buy what they want for that feature.

No problem. You'll still get the same phone (well, basically - there have been small differences with frequency band support). It would just have less functionality than EU phones - i.e. have a useful software switch turned off.

It's not as if would be able to install third-party inadvertently (same as on macOS).

Or Meta with their tracking etc.

So..? They can just as well track you with their apps that are available in the App Store. And they do.

the people who are angry here about people talking against side-loading are probably want side-load only because they don't want to pay for apps and sideload cracked versions instead.

Nope - I just bought an App from a developer that I could have downloaded a cracked version of.

Apple should just stop selling iPhones in the EU.

We all saw what happened when the French’s retirement was meddled with - mass riots.

Imagine what they’d do if they couldn’t FaceTime? Vive la révolution!!

If you were managing a billion dollar enterprise, you'd realise how you'd be shooting yourself in the foot by forgoing billions in hardware sales - and then billions in App Store sales, when none of your customers in Europe use iPhones anymore.

 

[msackey]

Whilst I wouldn't normally want something like this, I hoping it'll make it easier for me to install apps not available in my countries App Store! Being an international student from the UK in the US the current process of having to sign out of my primary UK account (which has all my subscriptions on & downloaded music) just to download a single app I need for class isn't fun as I have to redownload all music and videos etc each time which is so frustrating!!

Hopefully a different solution is afforded for the scenario described above other than side loading.

I can understand why the App store has such restrictions per geographic area. What this does speak to is that a part of our current geopolitical system as envisaged for economics is out-of-date and bumps up against another set of realities that the internet puts forth and challenges, namely that boundaries are much more fungible and that we should have a different way of organizing our geopolitics to account for both internet challenges and globalization which long has been a reality for all of us.

 

[redpandadev]

warranty will expire as soon as someone sideloads it. Apple would do that

Not dissimilar from Jailbreaking - while not as common anymore, in order to get warranty service on a Jailbroken device, you (or them) had to restore the device to non-jailbroken state and still be able to reproduce the issue. Often this would mean that the latest non-jail breakable OS would be installed so you couldn't just go jailbreak again when you got home.

 

[DEMinSoCAL]

If a BitTorrent client was available to sideload, I’d do it. And no, not for pirating, I download a lot of live concerts and they’re shared via torrent.

You can do it now. There are cloud storage services that include server-side torrent clients. Feed it a magnet link and it downloads it to your cloud storage. From there, use an SFTP client on iOS to get it on the phone.

 

[fromgophonetoiphone]

Never say never

The Android side has sideloading and over the years I've sideloaded less and less. There's very few apps out there that require sideloading and the vast majority of users don't sideload at all.

 

[makitango]

This will finally allow me to use the tablet not just like a toy.

 

[centauratlas]

100% disagree. Consumer always has the choice. You have the choice to look elsewhere or don't buy it at all.
...

That was Apple's message to the EU - consumers have the right to look elsewhere or don't buy and iPhone at all. You see what the EU said to that.

 

[acader]

So if a malicious app is packaged very nicely and a user downloads it and the phone is no longer functional, will Applecare+ be valid?

IMO, this presents a huge risk to the consumer just like Google Play Store does. Play Store has so many malicious apps. There are apps that can track every key stroke on your Android phone.

It's time for a new OS, one that would tie you biometrically into the OS. No authentication, no boot.

 

[bankshot]

I don’t understand how sideloading can lead to malware - uncontrolled data tracking and whatnot, sure, probably… but malware? How is it going to alter the operating system? as it is, apps are heavily sandboxed in iOS. They also need explicit permissions to access most things outside of that sandbox, and those are usually “read only” permissions. I don’t see how this would suddenly change just because the app comes from a different source. You may be allowed to install “alternative apps” but iOS isn’t going to allow them to do anything an app from the App Store couldn’t do from a technical standpoint.

Exactly. This is why Apple's claim is so disingenuous. If they say sideloading will allow malware, then they're saying the sandboxing in iOS is broken. You can't have it both ways.

And frankly, the claim that the App Store review process actually prevents tracking is nearly as laughable. We know from numerous stories over the years that App Store review is a joke, allowing all kinds of user-hostile apps, scam apps, copycat apps, with literally no critical review. I understand that they have literally millions of apps to go through, but the bottom line is that the review process adds zero value when reviewers are spending all of 30 seconds before clicking the Approve button. If Apple wants to claim that it protects users, then they need to spend the resources to actually do that.

As always, it's really only about money.

 

[bobthebuilderissus]

Just don’t buy Apple if you don’t want the App Store.
Forcing a company to do the opposite of what it stands for is just madness.
If you want Sideloading, buy Android.

yet people like you flip out when anyone does switch to andriod
also, if everyone stopped buying apple as soon as they disagreed with a feature, at one point there would be n o o n e buying apple products, so you should probably just accept features rather than get upset with people who want them, because then eventually iphones wouldn't exist

 

[Wags]

This is great right up until companies refuse to offer App Store version of their software and force users to sideload. I can see Meta doing this and bringing along spyware and user tracking that they were forced to eliminate due to apple’s tracking bans

100% will happen at some point with some companies refusing to have Apple Store version or charging way more than an their own alternative store.

 

[SpaceDog42]

I think when making the comparison with console games it's more relevant to look at how they're sold - iOS apps can only be sold through the App Store, so the 30% is effectively a retailers mark-up (and there's also no competition to drive down that mark-up).

However, if I want to buy an Xbox game, I can download it from the MS online store, but I also have the choice to buy the download code from third parties, or go to the shops and buy a hard copy of the game, with each of those sellers free to set their own margins. That's good for me because rather than pay £50 for the game on the MS Store, I can pay £40 for the download code on Amazon, or get the disc for £40 from GAME or wherever.

Your example may allow you to find discounts for software at various locations versus the App Store, but as an apples to apples comparison, it doesn't account for the fact that console publishers need to pay licensing fees to the respective platform owners (Nintendo, Sony, MS) for each physical copy that is produced and sold. You also need to factor in these licensed games all go through an approval process with the platform owners before they are released.

In the end, there's no free lunch for console publishers. The platform owners retain complete control over what software gets on their machines. Publishers have to pay to play, whether it be digital or physical media. The iOS side loading completely circumvents this aspect for Apple and their AppStore.

I don't understand folks here that say the dedicated Nintendo, Sony, MS app stores with full control over available software is different than Apple and their App Store. It's not, it's exactly the same; it doesn't matter if one group is just for games, that's irrelevant.

It's fascinating the EU has a beef with one group, and not the other.

 

[sleeptodream]

Well that's pretty much the common sense answer. To each person who complains that sideloading will "undermine the privacy and security protections that iPhone users rely on, leaving people vulnerable to malware, scams, data tracking, and other issues" THEN DON'T DO IT! No one is forcing you to sideload apps.

We will be “forced” to sideload apps we’re already using. Any company with something to gain by pulling their apps from the store will pull them. Have you seen the Mac App Store? Sure the intertia of the iOS App Store will keep some major apps in there for a while, but it won’t last

I can’t wait to have to go to amazon.com to download the kindle app and updates, and netflix.com for their app and updates, and discord.com for their app and updates…

Every time you open an app you haven’t used for a week you’ll get a nice “oop! there’s an update available!” as automatic updates won’t be a thing for sideloaded apps. Unless you want the Adobe Creative Cloud Helper running in the background at all times to ensure you’re always running the most up to date version of all your Adobe Creative Cloud™ applications 🤗 Oh boy I just can’t wait

 

[iOS Geek]

Has anybody else noticed a dearth of information suggesting that there was a majority of iOS users who actually wanted this? I haven't been able to find a single poll of iOS users about this issue. Perhaps MR should conduct one. 🍿

I’d also point to the countless times that other posters on here mention how underused sideloading is on Android. Almost like the majority of users don’t actually want this. If they wanted it…they’d use it. And if it’s such a “desired” feature (one so desired that people are excited about it being FORCED to be allowed), why is it so underused on the platforms that allow it? If comments are anything to go by…Android users who DO sideload…are in a very small minority. Doesn’t sound like a highly desired feature to me…

 

[B4U]

Feel free to side-load anything you want. I will simply refuse to interact with your device on mine.
Just like you don't have to wash your hands after using the washroom, I will simply refuse to shake your hand.

(Sigh, didn't think I need to actually mention this is intended for sarcasm so that folks can stop disliking for no reason)

 

[DEMinSoCAL]

That was Apple's message to the EU - consumers have the right to look elsewhere or don't buy and iPhone at all. You see what the EU said to that.

You're missing the target -- software companies exist to make money. they WANT to sell you their software or services. They don't want you to go elsewhere (maybe to a different music service that DOES have an App Store app). Bottom line is the consumer is (for the most part) in control since our wallets are involved. Money speaks very loudly.

I would guess the majority of apps will still be available on the App Store, but cheaper versions may be available for those who want to save a couple bucks each month on the services they pay for.

 

[bobthebuilderissus]

Then they will whine it's Apples fault when their phones are bricked and full of virus .

1st of all, good thing recovery mode exists!
2nd of all, it probably isn't a good idea to download FREE ROBUX GENERATER----BEST GOOD ROBUX 100% GAURENTEEDDD
only thing i will say that children accounts should automatically have it turned off and anyone who wants to turn it off should be able to do so in settings.

 

[DEMinSoCAL]

Feel free to side-load anything you want. I will simply refuse to interact with your device on mine.
Just like you don't have to wash your hands after using the washroom, I will simply refuse to shake your hand.

But, how do you know I didn't wash my hands and you shake my hand anyways?

 

[Ethosik]

Okay I'm tired of having to debunk this whataboutism claim from the anti-sideloading crowd.

I’m tired of debunking similar statements about macs and computers. A phone is very different from a computer. I don’t take my 50 pound computer to the store and chat with my wife on it. My computers are locked down and I don’t do banking on it. My phone knows my health more than my PC. At please stop treating it is if phones and PCs are equal. I don’t want my phone held at ransom when I need to call with an urgent issue.

 

[jimbobb24]

Please only be Europe and don’t make us involved in that android nightmare

 

[makitango]

We have been able to "side load" on the Mac system since forever, and it has been a blessing as I have been able to download apps that q) more complete than their App Store versions, b) download apps that compete directly with Apple's apps, and c) down load apps whose cost 100% goes to the developers. One has to be a little more careful, but then Apple hasn't been that good at protecting us from bad players in the iOS App Store. (It's always been more about protecting Apple's profits than protecting the consumer)

It's about choice, folks. If you want the walled garden you are free to stick with the App Store. But I for one look forward to the expanded choices soon to become available.

I find it also funny to have random people telling me to keep riding my bike with practice wheels. Grow up, people, this is not just about you, and as they just said: No one is turning on the „switch“ to „end“ your walled garden. It still exists, judt with the choice for some to leave the sandbox. Ironically, though, apps will still be sandboxed. Nothing has changed and devs cannot run malware because there is something called an OS, and iOS doesn‘t allow all those things you think bad actors can do, like accessing any of your data without you saying „yes“.

 

[makitango]

I’m tired of debunking similar statements about macs and computers. A phone is very different from a computer. I don’t take my 50 pound computer to the store and chat with my wife on it. My computers are locked down and I don’t do banking on it. My phone knows my health more than my PC. At please stop treating it is if phones and PCs are equal. I don’t want my phone held at ransom when I need to call with an urgent issue.

Then don‘t click yes when an app you don‘t recognize wants access to your health data. It is the same prompt for App Store apps and sideloaded apps. How do we know? Because sideloading existed since the App Store, through developer accounts.

Don‘t try to sell it as rocket science because it‘s not. It is a known practice just without Apple being able to say which content is appropriate for the audience and which is not.

 

[Spaceboi Scaphandre]

I’m tired of debunking similar statements about macs and computers. A phone is very different from a computer.

Yes the difference is the form factor. Still not an excuse to restrict software on it.

I don’t take my 50 pound computer to the store and chat with my wife on it.

Bro what? What the hell computer are you using that's 50 pounds?! Are you carrying a server?! 🥴

My computers are locked down and I don’t do banking on it.

Good for you. I do my banking on my computers though, as do many others.

At please stop treating it is if phones and PCs are equal. I don’t want my phone held at ransom when I need to call with an urgent issue.

Then don't. You're not being forced to install apps from outside the app store. You don't wanna sideload that is your choice that you are free to make, while those who do want sideloading can use it.

 

[jimbobb24]

Then don't? What kind of response did you expect? Lol.

The reality once this happens everyone will have to. I am not the one who pointed this out - someone else here. But eventually some organization, school, etc is going to require you use their crappy app they didn’t want to put on the App Store. This is going to hit everyone and it’s disingenuous to pretend those who want to avoid it will be able to. This is basically breaking everyone’s phones and ecosystem by govt fiat. I am happy for those who see an advantage but for the huge majority who don’t we are getting screwed and it cannot be escaped.

 

[Spaceboi Scaphandre]

Then don‘t click yes when an app you don‘t recognize wants access to your health data. It is the same prompt for App Store apps and sideloaded apps. How do we know? Because sideloading existed since the App Store, through developer accounts.

Don‘t try to sell it as rocket science because it‘s not. It is a known practice just without Apple being able to say which content is appropriate for the audience and which is not.

Like I said: Apple and Google have gaslit their users into thinking installing software outside of their stores is taboo, which is why I hate the term sideloading. Let's call it what it really is: Installing software. That's it.