Earlier quoted context omitted.
This assumes facts not in evidence. The change is being forced by EU law, but it would take more effort to geo-fence it than to make the change globally. Not to mention the fact that it would be effort in the direction of a PR loss. No, the more Apple way to spin this is as a positive for everyone. As if they had the idea the entire time and just now figured out how to make it work.
It’s not that hard - they already do it plenty. Like Apple One, Apple News, the Emergency SOS feature, the Apple card stuff, Apple Pay it Later, ECG on the watch, heart rate notifications, Siri defaulting to a male voice, etc that’s only available in the US/UK/some other countries. And that’s not even getting into all the changes they’ve made to the Chinese version of iOS to appease the Chinese government.
iOS 17 will reportedly set the stage for sideloading apps on iPhone
81–90 of 587 posts
Re: iOS 17 will reportedly set the stage for sideloading apps on iPhone
#82The 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-re…
Samsung is the same, you can't unlock them any more without signing in into both Samsung and Google accounts which allows the two companies to detect if the device was registered as stolen. And for what it's worth, Samsung is the worst of the bunch anyway as rooting it permanently bricks the TEE via an e-fuse.
Re: iOS 17 will reportedly set the stage for sideloading apps on iPhone
#83I'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?
Users made this choice when they bought an Apple product in the first place. Everybody knows well in advance that this is the current state of things, that is a well-informed choice by the end user.
Re: iOS 17 will reportedly set the stage for sideloading apps on iPhone
#84Earlier quoted context omitted.
I understand your concern and share some of them. However the solution to overreaching unaccountable private cooperations cannot be to hand all the power to another private unaccountable company. Apple is venturing into advertising and that'll tempt them to weaken privacy protections sooner or later. Additionally their app store rules went far beyond enforcing security and privacy. They gave themselves an advantage a…
> They gave themselves an advantage and removed competitors for commercial reasons. Which competitor has been “removed”? > Regulate tightly what apple/google are allowed to do with their stores (e.g. like a common carrier) So there shouldn’t be any rules are quality controls on what should be allowed? > The elected EU legislative took some points from both approaches AFTER the free market failed to implement a meanin…
I don't think the (perhaps perceived) lack of entrepreneurship in the EU should be taken as a sign of regulation overreach to protect privacy. Seems liked a red herring in this conversation
Re: iOS 17 will reportedly set the stage for sideloading apps on iPhone
#85This has been bugging me for a few minutes, and I'd be keen on hearing thoughts from other hackers. Given sideloading will be available, does this not create a broader attack vector that government agencies may use to access user data?
Of course it does. In addition to governments, how long do you think it will take for companies and schools to roll out apps to monitor what people are doing with their phones? Companies will say you have a choice (you can always quit!) and schools will just be protecting children - who could oppose that? And you know when it comes to enterprise and software sold to school districts, it's usually top quality stuff.
Re: iOS 17 will reportedly set the stage for sideloading apps on iPhone
#86Could and will people be taking advantage of by side loaded apps? The obvious answer is yes, it's a risk that allows for responsibility and freedom.
Re: iOS 17 will reportedly set the stage for sideloading apps on iPhone
#87Apple users should also rejoice, because browsers coming to iOS will finally support full PWA functionality and Safari will either support all the features as well (not the current neutered one) or it will disappear into obscurity.
Re: iOS 17 will reportedly set the stage for sideloading apps on iPhone
#88I can't wait when Apple will stop being a little childish brat about "What obscure rule does this application break and I am not allowed to publish?" when I will have the ability to publish on competing app store and tell Apple to GFY. Apple users should also rejoice, because browsers coming to iOS will finally support full PWA functionality and Safari will either support all the features as well (not the current neu…
They will, at every point, do as little as possible to avoid EU fines, while simultaneously not opening up the platform to developers like you.
Re: iOS 17 will reportedly set the stage for sideloading apps on iPhone
#89Earlier quoted context omitted.
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?
> You're dreading giving other people the freedom to make one choice Users made this choice when they bought an Apple product in the first place. Everybody knows well in advance that this is the current state of things, that is a well-informed choice by the end user.
Re: iOS 17 will reportedly set the stage for sideloading apps on iPhone
#90I'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…
Personally if Apple finally allows me to install whatever I want on my phones then I may return to their phones. Until then, I will use Android since I can download and install any .apk I want on my device.