Live data from Hacker News

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

techcrunch.com

151–160 of 587 posts

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

#151

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…

Why is everyone so worried that Facebook, etc. will pull out of the App Store and require sideloading on iOS just because it'll be possible, when they haven't pulled out of the Play Store or required sideloading on Android where that's already been possible all along?

> when they haven't pulled out of the Play Store or required sideloading on Android where that's already been possible all along?

Has Android restricted spying as much as iOS has? I seem to recall Facebook freaking out pretty hard about iOS policy changes around tracking and blaming that for some serious revenue shortfalls, a while back, and have no such recollection about Android, but maybe I just missed it.

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

#152

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…

Same. I wish all laptops and all electronics gadgets are totally locked down and only cozintrollable by the manufacturer. Like Lenovo laptop, should only have apps from Lenovo store. I would also say we should have only one editor. I don't see point of many. Like you, i am filled with dread about multiple choices!

Edit: just thought of an idea. Maybe each ISP can provide a store and we can only install from those into our devices. After all, we trust ISP already

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

#153

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They are doing no such thing. You don't have to use side loaded apps. If a company decides to only distribute from side loading, you can just not use their app. This is effectively what you are forcing on people who would prefer side loading, so it shouldn't be a problem for you.

This will be the biggest future exploit vector. “Your phone is infected. Click here to load our antivirus”

Good thing even my mom learned to ignore that one a decade ago in windows.

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

#154
So many "Not good. I want [company I trust] to be free to regulate [company I don't trust]" comments here.

Even more odd, its sometimes followed by the even stranger argument "If [company I trust] is legally forced to stop restricting its competitors and has to allow me to choose, I may be lured into choosing [company I don't trust]".

Sorry, but all this is closer to religion than common sense.

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

#155
post #93

Having "side loading" -- also known as regular app installation on non-phone platforms -- hasn't caused chaos on desktop platforms or android. No reason to think it will on iOS either.

Wait... hasn't in? How many examples do you have of people dealing with ransomware on their non-jailbroken iPhone?

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

#156

Earlier 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…

> Apple is venturing into advertising Why is this a worry right now and not 12-13 years ago when they started venturing into advertising with iAd?

If I am not mistaken, HN pointed it out back then too.

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

#157

One upside I haven't seen discussed a lot about this: sideloading your own apps. I don't care, and don't really imagine, sideloading others' apps... but this could give rise to a hobbyist/customization wave again.

Apple already lets you sign your own apps, but i will admit the 1 week expiration is very quick and a $99/year developer subscription for 1 year signing is way too expensive for most hobbyists.

It'll be great to see all the neat little apps that macos has come over to ios

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

#158
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?

Facebook hasn't recently blamed the Play Store rules for their losing a shitload of money. They have so-blamed iOS App Store rules.

Basically, they have far less incentive to try to push a side-loaded version of their app, or to try to create an alternative app store, on Android.

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

#159

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I have a tiny measure of power over Apple. I can decide not to buy their products or their stock. But I have zero power over the EU. And yet they're legislating what my iPhone is going to work like. Talk about unaccountable. The free market did not deliver competing app stores because that is not a problem for the majority of users and is in fact a huge boon for most.

They are doing no such thing. You don't have to use side loaded apps. If a company decides to only distribute from side loading, you can just not use their app. This is effectively what you are forcing on people who would prefer side loading, so it shouldn't be a problem for you.

I want a locked down phone. So does every old person in my life. I'll literally pay extra for a locked-down phone. If you want to side load, buy a phone that allows it, don't force Apple to make one.

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

#160
post #102
post #93

Having "side loading" -- also known as regular app installation on non-phone platforms -- hasn't caused chaos on desktop platforms or android. No reason to think it will on iOS either.

A company can get taken down by a .pdf.scr file on Windows.

As if anyone is suggesting iOS adopt the Windows 95 security model.
Post reply on HN