121–130 of 587 posts
Let’s see how Apple innovates in this space. It’s time. The iPhone is 16 years old this year. Time to users get behind the wheel if they want to.
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…
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…
Why is this a worry right now and not 12-13 years ago when they started venturing into advertising with iAd?
Having the power to choose side load is a net benefit. For those that have any sort of fear, they simply just get apps from the official store. Could 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.
Earlier 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?
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…
You don't have that "freedom" right now either, it's just the Apple Store one. Also the law is about giving options on the distribution system, not on "app versions". So if Epic or 37 Signals use their own channel to distribute their own apps with subscriptions fees, they can do it and Apple cannot take its cut. So, Apple might want to reduce their fees there. You know, competition.
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…
Basically the risk would be someone like TikTok dropping out of the store, but I find that unlikely. Maybe at the best they will have an "unrestricted" version with bonus features outside the app store. Visibility for indie apps is basically zero on the big platforms, but for the large players, being in the app store is actually important, at least for now, as users are used to going to the app store to search for software, and not just typing something into google.
The other thing is, these apps will still be sandboxed. Being available outside the store just means they can accept their own payments, they aren't going to have full system access to photos/contacts/files/etc. without explicit user permission, same as an app available via the app store.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
I agree, and the idea of a sideload-able iOS makes me very uneasy. I like the idea of Apple aligning itself with the user to protect me and, more importantly, my tech-unsavvy friends and family, from scams, data-hoarding apps, and just generally crappy software. I don't mind that they take a portion of revenue in return for providing that platform (30% feels too much, but you can't argue that it should be zero). Unfo…
[flagged]
For many years, everyone who wanted to sideload apps on an iPhone has been able to do so. I am unsure about what makes this so exciting.
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…
I don't think Apple will diminish their control on the App Store requirement, it's too much of a selling point to them. In fact I hope they keep their requirements the same, and I'm quite happy to see sideloading becoming a thing. More choice is nice. I'd be so happy to see F-Droid venturing on the iOS side, and distribute open-source apps you can trust that would otherwise not be available on the App Store (emulator…
Earlier quoted context omitted.
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.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
>today you have the ability to install facebook with app store restrictions on iOS and without on Android You have a third choice: don't install facebook at all.
You see how that's worse right? Either give up your privacy or don't use FB. On iOS you can have both.