Live data from Hacker News

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

techcrunch.com

91–100 of 587 posts

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

#91

I 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…

Nah - Apple with drag its feet at every step. 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.

From my perspective I just need a PWA browser with working WebBLE API or Apple stop having set of obscure unpublished rules. I am betting that I will get working PWA sooner than Apple will stop being Apple.

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

#92

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

Can't they already do this with MDM?

Yes, that "scary story" basically describes MDM

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

#94

EU only. Not in the land of the free.

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 would take more effort to geo-fence it than to make the change globally

No, really not. It's dead-simple to tie such a feature to the region of the user, it's how Apple rolls out and operates lots of their services...

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

#95

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

Can't they already do this with MDM?

yes they can.

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

#96
post #14
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.

Following the typical cycle of adversial compliance by industry, politicans will immediatly start working on round 2 to plug the holes.

I believe this is much better than being to broad on the first attempt. And maybe apple decides that this battle is not worth their time and preempts the need for further regulations.

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

#97
post #30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think you're missing something. Meta makes the Facebook app. Currently, the only way to get the Facebook app on iOS is through Apple's App Store. Which means Meta has to follow all of Apple's guidelines. Once sideloading is allowed, Meta can make a version of their app that does not follow Apple's guidelines. Now, they can maintain two apps, but last time I checked, the cost of maintaining one app was lower than th…

This hasn’t happened on Android where side loading and alternative app stores have been available for years. Why would iOS be different?

Because play store have less rules? FB can steal all your photo and play store couldn't care less.

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

#98

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

Phones of major vendors sold in EU still contain carrier info for the region even if they're sold unlocked.

Outside of US and China, Samsung for example ships so-called "Multi-CSC" variants of their devices which permanently apply the region and country of your device on first power-on with a SIM-card.

The required information for that is not pulled from the network but is already preloaded in the ROM of the device, a network connection can be used to get an updated version of these profiles though

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

#100
post #7

I just want first class PWAs.

iOS 16.4 added a bunch of PWA-focused features. What gaps do you feel still exist?

Not OP, but I'd start with a one-click way to "install" the PWA apps using an API, e.g. with a banner (like on Android) instead of an item in the share menu.
Post reply on HN