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iOS 17 will reportedly set the stage for sideloading apps on iPhone

techcrunch.com

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Re: iOS 17 will reportedly set the stage for sideloading apps on iPhone

#11

Post by 29083011397778 »

> Historically, Apple execs including Tim Cook and Craig Federighi have staunchly opposed sideloading citing privacy and security reasons.

Which is funny to me, because after flipping through the App Store for an email client, I found, on this heavily curated storefront, a single digit number of apps I would trust with my email credentials. Android, with it's option to "sideload" F-Droid, gives me dramatically more options that I trust.

Security and trust do not require locking me out of my own hardware.

Re: iOS 17 will reportedly set the stage for sideloading apps on iPhone

#12

Post by kroltan »

EMIRELADERO wrote: post #9

The big question is: will there be some kind of "program" the user and/or developer needs to get into to be able to sideload/distribute independent apps? The ideal status quo would be one where developers can make native apps, and users download and run them, without entering into a contractual relationship with Apple period . (Beyond the iOS EULA, which stands on legally shaky ground)

Speaking of which, if you don't like that kind of thing, never use a Xiaomi phone. It requires registering for a Xiaomi account to "unlock" the bootloader and install alternative operating systems (such as one without most of the spyware - why does the calculator app or the pdf viewer need a privacy policy?)

This account registration is baked into the phone while the bootloader is unlocked, and you have to factory-reset the phone and lock it back up to be able to dissociate the account from the phone.

Re: iOS 17 will reportedly set the stage for sideloading apps on iPhone

#13

Post by supriyo-biswas »

ChuckNorris89 wrote: post #8
wahnfrieden wrote: post #5

EU only. Not in the land of the free.

How will that geofencing be enforced? Is this EU feature dependent to the place you purchased your device or to the location registered on your Apple account? If you change your location in or out of the EU does it then apply or revert the feature?

This isn't as difficult as you make it look.

Many Android devices have the concept of carrier-specific configuration files (CSCs) which are baked into the ROM, and phones sold in the region come baked with the variant with only the specific CSCs in question. A similar implementation could be followed by Apple, where they have a separate image for the EU.

Re: iOS 17 will reportedly set the stage for sideloading apps on iPhone

#14

Post by bogwog »

zapdrive wrote: post #4

Don't hold your breath over it.

I expect it to be implemented in the most passive-aggressive way possible.

Also, it will probably have the same bullshit tricks that Google uses to make it difficult, meaning it will only be useful to tech nerds.

Re: iOS 17 will reportedly set the stage for sideloading apps on iPhone

#15

Post by Retric »

29083011397778 wrote: post #11

> Historically, Apple execs including Tim Cook and Craig Federighi have staunchly opposed sideloading citing privacy and security reasons. Which is funny to me, because after flipping through the App Store for an email client, I found, on this heavily curated storefront, a single digit number of apps I would trust with my email credentials. Android, with it's option to "sideload" F-Droid, gives me dramatically more o…

Apps you trust is a really poor security mechanism for the general public.

The Apple App Store is a dumpster fire, but there is a perfectly reasonable argument for locking down a device you’re handing to family members who aren’t security conscious.

Re: iOS 17 will reportedly set the stage for sideloading apps on iPhone

#16

Post by EMIRELADERO »

TexanFeller wrote: post #10

I'm dreading this. I want privacy hostile companies like Facebook to have to comply with the app store rules and respect system settings relating to privacy. As a user, I'm thrilled when Apple wields its big stick to stop big tech companies from overreaching. Before there was a bit of a compromise, I could use evil apps with some peace of mind that they wouldn't do something egregious. Now I suspect evil apps just wo…

Maybe it's just me, but I'd rather have my government defending my (and most citizen's) interests (with laws such as GDPR) rather than a private company's rules which, as evidenced by this article's existence, have pretty big "collateral damage".

Re: iOS 17 will reportedly set the stage for sideloading apps on iPhone

#17

Post by overthrow »

TexanFeller wrote: post #10

I'm dreading this. I want privacy hostile companies like Facebook to have to comply with the app store rules and respect system settings relating to privacy. As a user, I'm thrilled when Apple wields its big stick to stop big tech companies from overreaching. Before there was a bit of a compromise, I could use evil apps with some peace of mind that they wouldn't do something egregious. Now I suspect evil apps just wo…

You're dreading giving other people the freedom to make one choice, and yourself the freedom to make a different choice (yours being the default option from the factory btw), and everyone gets the privacy/control tradeoff they want?

Re: iOS 17 will reportedly set the stage for sideloading apps on iPhone

#18

Post by ChuckNorris89 »

supriyo-biswas wrote: post #13
ChuckNorris89 wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How will that geofencing be enforced? Is this EU feature dependent to the place you purchased your device or to the location registered on your Apple account? If you change your location in or out of the EU does it then apply or revert the feature?

This isn't as difficult as you make it look. Many Android devices have the concept of carrier-specific configuration files (CSCs) which are baked into the ROM, and phones sold in the region come baked with the variant with only the specific CSCs in question. A similar implementation could be followed by Apple, where they have a separate image for the EU.

In EU phones are also sold unlocked without any carrier info baked into the ROM.

Re: iOS 17 will reportedly set the stage for sideloading apps on iPhone

#20

Post by Silhouette »

TexanFeller wrote: post #10

I'm dreading this. I want privacy hostile companies like Facebook to have to comply with the app store rules and respect system settings relating to privacy. As a user, I'm thrilled when Apple wields its big stick to stop big tech companies from overreaching. Before there was a bit of a compromise, I could use evil apps with some peace of mind that they wouldn't do something egregious. Now I suspect evil apps just wo…

This seems like the wrong target. A better solution might be to break the monopoly control that platform operators like Apple and Google have and impose proper laws and regulations to fight abusive behaviours by app developers (and the platform operators, if necessary).

Even if this set of changes is coming out of the EU and the chances of getting good tech regulation any time soon might not be high it's probably still better than having all of the safeguards for millions of people using a platform depending only on the whims of companies like Apple, whose track record on user-hostile behaviours and issues like privacy has no shortage of concerning events.

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