No App Store needed: Apple caves, will allow sideloading in EU

Apple's compliance measures with the EU's Digital Markets Act haven't exactly been universally well received, so the iMaker is making a few tweaks to appease the software-developing masses.  In a post to its developer site today, Apple said it is modifying not only how developers can distribute apps, but also changing the …

[gedw99]

PWA

Still no proper PWA and A2HS from Safari

It’s amazing how much functionality and GUI and Storage you can provide using a Service Worker.

Apples worst nightmare is making the A2HS feature super easy and upfront for users.

The security / hacking problems all go away since the WebView sandboxes the developers code , protecting users device.

Would be so great is the EU / UK /US forced Apple and Google to do this.

Probably save a ton of money in software development budgets too. Everything is just a WebView.

[Anonymous Coward]

Yes, yes, yes... but no!!!

[FF22]

Misleading

This is just another attempt from Apple to fool legislators and users alike. Successfully- as proven by the article.

The apps downloadable from the web will be subject to the same agreement that applies to all other apps, meaning they will still have to be presented to Apple, and Apple will have to approve them in order for users to be actually be able to download and install them onto their iPhones. Apple will also charge the developers the same amount of money they'd have charged if the latter published their apps through an alternative app store.

Which means Apple will still have total control over what iPhone users can install, will know how and how many times installed it, and will still make everyone pay the "Apple tax". And it will still make no financial sense to make apps directly downloadable from a website, as that will actually cost developers more, than if they'd have just put their apps into the App Store.

Hopefully the EU will fine Apple into oblivion, because of the definitive breach of the DMA, and force them to actually open up the iPhone, so that app vendors and users will be able to sell and buy apps without the involvement of Apple at all.

[Snake]

Re: Misleading

Actually, it's more

"The apps downloadable from the web will be subject to the same agreement that applies to all other apps, meaning they will still have to be presented to Apple, and Apple will have to approve them in order for users to be actually be able to download and install them onto their iPhones. Apple will also charge the developers the same amount of money they'd have charged if the latter published their apps through an alternative app store."

Then Apple is still enforcing a monopoly rights-access to their devices. If you are going to charge developers the same amount of money to allow said developers to have their own app stores, then the independence of business is an illusion. Paying a tithe to Apple, either inside the Church of Apple itself or even if you are standing across the sidewalk selling photos of street scenes for a pence, is still paying a tithe.

[karlkarl]

Still full of DRM, at every bloomin turn.

Consumer landfill crap.

[Rich 2]

Title

“…Apple caves…”

Hardly caving in!! None of this nonsense is the least bit relevant as long as Apple is trying to charge protection money for not using their magic money tree (app store).

It is this aspect that the EU need to take Apple to the cleaners for

[Fred Daggy]

Your freedom weakens my security.

As someone that is responsible for ensuring the Digital Safety of at least 8 75+ year olds - I can only hope that there is a lock I can set to never, ever see a prompt for a sideloaded app. Something like "Only use Official Apple Store".

[DS999]

Re: Your freedom weakens my security.

Even if they have that, what stops a scammer from emailing or messaging one of the oldsters and providing instructions for installing a scam app that include turning off that setting? You might have to use parental rights settings to lock their phones down because any setting Apple provides could be undone by fooling someone into going into the settings and changing it.

[fPuck]

Re: Your freedom weakens my security.

It already has locks in Screen Time. That's how you lock App Store purchases and payments.

Also, I'd really like to see any evidence that Android users are subjected to malicious sideloading scams.

[Justthefacts]

Re: Your freedom weakens my security.

Let me just google that for you….

“ Android malware apps master list — stay away from these titles at all costs”

https://www.phonearena.com/news/android-malware-apps-master-list_id149175

“https://www.indiatoday.in/amp/technology/news/story/new-dangerous-android-malware-found-in-14-apps-delete-them-immediately-here-is-a-list-of-apps-2481526-2023-12-28”

[fPuck]

Re: Your freedom weakens my security.

Allow me to actually read those articles for you...

"through malicious apps on the Google Play Store"

They're not sideloaded. Yes apps can be malicious, news at 11. The question is whether people are being tricked into sideloading malicious apps on an OS that has supported doing that for over a decade?

[doublelayer]

Re: Your freedom weakens my security.

Fortunately for you, there is. There is a default set of locks that make it difficult because Apple would rather that you didn't go through this in the first place, additional locks in screen time settings (yes, I think that's a weird place for them to be) that make it harder, and a method for you to completely prevent someone else from using it unless they enter a separate code, mostly intended for children but if your elderly friends trust you, that can work. A search will give you full instructions.

I still find it a bit surprising that you're worried about this more than the kind of scams that are more common, the kind where the scammer asks them to hand over financial details, something an iPhone doesn't at all prevent.

[DS999]

Re: Your freedom weakens my security.

I still find it a bit surprising that you're worried about this more than the kind of scams that are more common, the kind where the scammer asks them to hand over financial details, something an iPhone doesn't at all prevent

Apple can't do anything to prevent those, because apps aren't a vector for them (other than email or messaging apps possibly being used to contact the person and initiate the scam, or banking/financial apps being used to initiate the money transfers)

It remains to be seen whether scam apps become an issue or not. But worrying about them isn't out of place until we know for sure how this goes. If it starts happening and Apple's hands are tied by EU rules, maybe all anyone can do is point and say "told you so" since I'm sure no one would expect the EU to act quickly in updating their regulations to allow putting a stop to it. They might just shrug and say "well yeah with greater freedom there is greater risk but we think the good outweighs that risk" and everyone has to live with it.

[navarac]

Scammers - IMO

Apple - the original scamming company.