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

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

#161
post #123

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.

What happens when the apps which used to be available on the app store get taken down and made sideload-only, like what Epic did with Fortnite on Android?

I hope Epic does this for the Bandcamp store on iOS (Epic bought Bandcamp recently). The iOS app disallows the purchasing of digital music, but if they can get around the App Store policies then I can purchase digital music from the app without needing to go to the mobile site.

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

#162
post #123

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What happens when the apps which used to be available on the app store get taken down and made sideload-only, like what Epic did with Fortnite on Android?

Are you implying that allowing companies the choice to go sideload-only is a bad thing?

It is a good thing that mainstream users get their apps from somewhere that they've been reviewed by a third party. A world where sideloading from anywhere becomes a normal thing for mainstream users to do, is bad for privacy and security.

eg.: https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2040/1924189728_668c4bc4e2.jpg

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

#163

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)

Im fairly certain it will be just like macos, sure you can make apps people can download, but if you don't want your users to face scary popups when starting up your app for the first time you gotta cough up $99/year for a developer subscription

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

#164
post #150
post #123

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What happens when the apps which used to be available on the app store get taken down and made sideload-only, like what Epic did with Fortnite on Android?

> like what Epic did with Fortnite on Android? Epic pulled Fortnite from Google Play Store in 2018 because they wanted to keep more of Google's 30% share and they were back in 18 months because most people aren't that determined to get an app outside of the official app store. Any company pulling their apps from the App Store must have a pretty good reason to do so, because they're gonna be decimating their download…

I also think Google dropped down to 15% IIRC

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

#165
post #27

> 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…

Genuine question: what are you basing these 'trust' judgements on, especialy in the case of the Android apps? Open source, or something else?

All applications on fdroid's main repos are

a) open source b) built by fdroid's CI from source without depending on external executable binaries.

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

#166
post #160
post #102

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

What people are suggesting is giving an entire new unsupervised point of entry and one with a lot of permissions is opening up unsuspecting users to these kinds of problems.

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

#167
Can't wait to have five different App Stores and be forced to install a spying app with full system access upon entering undemocratic countries.

The average person does not care about the "walled garden." They want a phone that works and protects them.

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

#168

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'm the opposite, as looking at android, where do we see this? All big players are still in the play store, because the average user of those services doesn't want to be bothered going to a website, clicking scary looking buttons to enable third party installs, then manually update their own installed apps. Basically the risk would be someone like TikTok dropping out of the store, but I find that unlikely. Maybe at t…

> I'm the opposite, as looking at android, where do we see this?

For one, DJI drone software. It's available in the Apple store but you have to sideload it for Android. DJI isn't a small company, and there is quite a large professional market.

Edit: meant apple app store, not play store...fixed for clarity

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

#169
post #15

> 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.

> perfectly reasonable argument for locking down a device you’re handing to family members who aren’t security conscious

Then enable a more limited App Store mode as an opt-in feature.

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

#170

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”

There is absolutely zero chance Apple will allow it to be this simple.
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