this post was submitted on 06 Mar 2024

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139

iOS 17.4 is now out with support for third party app stores in the EU (www.gsmarena.com)

submitted 8 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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[–] [email protected] 1 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago)

Apple: we now allow third party stores! You just need to pay us 1 million $! (We hope no one does it). And you need to use your developer account, but its easy!

Epic Games: we paid the 1 million, we are gonna make a third party store!

Apple: bans epic games developer account "Epic Games is not trustable!"

Apple really looks like a 5 year old kid with its own make-up rules based exclusively on their interest and gets mad when those rules that they themselves created are still not enough for them to win.

[–] [email protected] 13 points 8 months ago (1 children)

but just roll it out everywhere, if it's such a forward thinking company. i don't understand where this precedent came from -- you can of course install whatever you want on macs. what makes phones different in that regard?

[–] [email protected] 20 points 8 months ago

what makes phones different in that regard?

Corporate greed

[–] [email protected] 29 points 8 months ago (1 children)

shakes head in Brexit

[–] [email protected] 1 points 8 months ago

Right in the feels dude....

[+] [email protected] -8 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago) (2 children)

There will be people buy EU iPhones and sell them in the US

[–] [email protected] 21 points 8 months ago (2 children)

It's location-based. If you leave the EU, your sideloaded apps stop working.

[–] [email protected] -1 points 8 months ago (1 children)

Without a source I assume its hardware based. ;)

[–] [email protected] 5 points 8 months ago

Much easier to do it in software.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 8 months ago (1 children)

Where‘s that mentioned?

[–] [email protected] 8 points 8 months ago (1 children)

https://9to5mac.com/2024/03/05/ios-17-4-app-stores-stop-working-travel/

[–] [email protected] 2 points 8 months ago (1 children)

So the law only applies to devices in the EU, not to devices sold to EU residents?

[–] [email protected] 2 points 8 months ago

Your Apple ID has to have a European country set and the phone has to be physically in the EU. I don't think where you bought it matters.

[–] [email protected] 12 points 8 months ago (1 children)

It might just be a matter of having a eu apple account.

But at this point, there is no reason to worry about that.

There isn’t really true side loading. I’m hoping come March 8 the EU tells Apple that they have to do better.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 8 months ago (1 children)

There isn’t really true side loading. I’m hoping come March 8 the EU tells Apple that they have to do better.

Exactly, this new store thing is essentially the same that the Enterprise was, but extended in some ways and way more expensive for companies who want to run the store.

I hope the EU keeps pushing this, because, after all, what’s the point of having a computer in your pocket if you can’t run any software you would like? Android may do that but it’s also a mess of poorly designed system.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 8 months ago (1 children)

I completely agree. Even current and last gen consoles could really be used as a desktop pc. It would be great to see a law passed that forces companies to unlock boot loaders after a certain number of years. I imagine it would reduce selecting waste a bit. I’d totally pickup a ps4 to use as a desktop if it were possible to install Linux on it.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 8 months ago

The thing is that those companies want to protect themselves against piracy. The issue with Apple is essentially the same, they're kind of burned by people (in China) using Enterprise certificated to setup alt app stores that sell or offer pirated applications. Yes, that's a big thing in China. There are also a couple of examples outside China but I believe you get the point.

This is... half unjustifiable corporate grief, half legit piracy concerns that would eat into their profits. I would like to see a law that forced them to have everything unlocked on the first day but I also see how it won't be feasible...

[–] [email protected] 10 points 8 months ago (3 children)

I wonder if the functionality is present in the US images at all. It's probably excluded during the build but if it's a feature flag it'd be a good reason to root... Which is probably EXACTLY why it's excluded from the build.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 8 months ago

Hum if you jailbreak/root you always could and will always be able to use any third party app store. 17.4 didn't change a thing for jailbreak users

[–] [email protected] 2 points 8 months ago

Yea but like… if you root/jailbreak an iphone, you don’t have the problem anyways…

[–] [email protected] 12 points 8 months ago

to root

As if the equivalent is possible on 17.4

[–] [email protected] 55 points 8 months ago (2 children)

Now how does a non-EU developer test apps destined for a third-party app store in the EU?

[–] [email protected] 56 points 8 months ago

That's the great part, you don't!

[–] [email protected] 14 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago) (2 children)

Are there any yet?

That said, there is a white paper that was released with details about how apps will be notarized. I have yet to have the energy to read it.

https://developer.apple.com/security/complying-with-the-dma.pdf

[–] [email protected] 14 points 8 months ago

This whole document is disturbing. Apple tries to frame it as all about protecting users by removing their choices and skimming profits. They even start including e-mails from users begging Apple not to let them use their expensive phones.

[–] [email protected] 31 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago) (1 children)

So even with third-party app store, Apple still has the final say if the app can be listed there or not? We know Apple's stance regarding game emulation, so even if the app is technically safe and respect the privacy of its users, Apple could still deny the app because they don't like it?

Big yikes.

[–] [email protected] 23 points 8 months ago (1 children)

They say they won't block apps because of their content, but that they will protect users that use too much energy, which seems like a loophole for blocking emulators and alternative browsers.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago)

Yes, and the worst part is that this new legislation doesn't change anything. We won't still be able to indecently build and install applications on iOS like we do on macOS. This new store thing is essentially the same that the Enterprise was, but extended in some ways and way more expensive for companies who want to run the store.

I hope the EU keeps pushing this, because, after all, what's the point of having a computer in your pocket if you can't run any software you would like? Android may do that but it's also a mess of poorly designed system.