Apple to allow sideloading: Another reason not to buy Android

Emre Çitak
Apr 17, 2023
Apple
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20

In the forthcoming iOS 17, Apple is set to permit iPhone users to download applications from sources other than its official App Store, as reported by Bloomberg's esteemed technology journalist, Mark Gurman. This practice, commonly referred to as sideloading, enables customers to access apps without utilizing the App Store, thereby bypassing the necessity for developers to pay Apple's customary 15 to 30 percent fees.

This significant shift can be attributed to the European Union's Digital Markets Act (DMA), which came into force on November 1, 2022. The DMA mandates that "gatekeeper" corporations must grant access to their services and platforms for other businesses and developers. Consequently, Apple's platforms will experience a substantial impact, potentially leading to major overhauls in the App Store, Messages, FaceTime, Siri, and more. Gurman asserts that Apple intends to incorporate sideloading support by next year in order to adhere to the new European regulations.

Sideloading has long been on Apple's agenda

Apple has previously argued that sideloading could compromise the privacy and security measures that iPhone users depend on, exposing them to risks such as malware, scams, data tracking, and additional issues. Nonetheless, Apple is obligated to comply with the DMA to avoid incurring fines of up to 20 percent of its global revenue for violating EU regulations.

As detailed in Gurman's December 2022 report, Apple is contemplating the introduction of security prerequisites like verification, a process that could potentially generate revenue as an alternative to collecting fees from app sales. Apple already employs a verification system on Mac devices that allows users to safely access applications outside of the Mac App Store.

The possibility of alternate app stores expanding beyond the European Union arises if other countries adopt similar legislation. For instance, the United States is currently deliberating on regulations that would mandate Apple to permit sideloading.

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Comments

  1. Anonymous said on April 24, 2023 at 3:14 am
    Reply

    “Another reason not to buy Android”

    What are the other reasons to prefer Apple ?!?

    “Apple has previously argued that sideloading could compromise the privacy and security measures that iPhone users depend on, exposing them to risks such as malware, scams, data tracking, and additional issues.”

    This is just how they rationalize their emblematic power abuse of caging their users for profit. Being forced to use Apple malware and forbidden to use ethical, user-respecting software instead is what compromises the privacy and security of the users.

    “Apple is contemplating the introduction of security prerequisites like verification, a process that could potentially generate revenue as an alternative to collecting fees from app sales. Apple already employs a verification system on Mac devices that allows users to safely access applications outside of the Mac App Store.”

    Written like that it’s already obvious enough as an extortion scheme against developers.

  2. Johnston said on April 18, 2023 at 6:02 pm
    Reply

    Article Title: Apple strong-armed into less predatory behavior in a select few markets worldwide.

  3. JG said on April 18, 2023 at 3:19 pm
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    First I’d like to say that I don’t fault anyone for using what they like. To each their own. I was originally on Android, then moved to Windows Phone. When that went away, I was back to Android. Then I tried Apple. Here’s what I like about it: Free upgrades to the OS. I’m running iOS 15.7.5 on a 2016 iPhone 7 Plus. Apple’s apps can be deleted (mostly).

    Here’s what I don’t like about Android: Device maker can hold back OS upgrades as can the service provider. They both can also bake-in apps that I have no interest in and cannot remove unless I root the device. These two entities have zero interest in making the latest OS available to me. They want me to buy a new device regularly. Phones have simply gotten too expensive for that BS.

    I’m certainly not a fanboy of either ecosystem as they both have pros/cons. In my day-to-day, there’s really no task than I can accomplish with either OS that I cannot with the other. This makes the upgrade availability my one true sticking point.

  4. Nameless said on April 18, 2023 at 11:59 am
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    Apple was forced to do it not because they wanted too.

  5. Abdullah Masoud said on April 18, 2023 at 5:28 am
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    security prerequisites like verification
    Sounds suspicious
    Also android 12 stepped up the sideloading game with automatic updates

  6. RJ said on April 18, 2023 at 4:27 am
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    “another reason to buy Android”
    Tell me how you have no clue about Android without telling me you have no clue about Android.

  7. yanta said on April 18, 2023 at 2:34 am
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    I don’t have a cell phone now, but I recall years ago on my Samsung Galaxy 6 I could sideload APKs. That’s just installing from a source other than Google play right? I’ve never created a google account because I hate all things google, so I’ve definitely had to load APKs from other sources.

    I don’t remember it being difficult…

    These days, I’m much happier and more in-person sociable without a cell phone :)

  8. Mike said on April 17, 2023 at 10:12 pm
    Reply

    Big thanks to the people who finally got this through. A government did something good and useful for once, though not mine, naturally. Now apply the same policy to game consoles next.

    *your business model is not my problem*

  9. Giorgi Gzirishvili said on April 17, 2023 at 9:18 pm
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    I use Android because I can sideload LineageOS or any other free and open-source custom ROM. I can also gain root access, run firewall on it, import and export anything, customize the user experience, and so much more. You can’t do these things reliably and safely on an iPhone. There’s jailbraking, but it’s a hack (exploitation of a security flaw) rather than a design decision, and it introduces significant security risks. Also, the updates will almost certainly break the jailbrake, and if you don’t update, that’ll also reduce your security. By comparison, Android is designed in such a way to that it allows you to go through certain steps to securely and reliably gain the root access. (That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be careful, though.)

  10. Tony said on April 17, 2023 at 7:39 pm
    Reply

    You can already sideload on Apple, though in a cumbersome way. However, I’d be surprised if Apple made it easy to sideload in iOS 17. However, if they allow for this and third-party browser engines, iOS might just be worth it.

    1. David said on April 17, 2023 at 8:22 pm
      Reply

      One thing that sideloading will unleash is security problems and crappy apps. Android has lots of apps, but far too many have security and quality problems. iOS is about to join them.

      1. Tony said on April 18, 2023 at 4:30 pm
        Reply

        From a privacy and security perspective, iOS has a lot of garbage apps already in the store.

        Just because Apple approves an app that spies on you 10 different ways, that doesn’t make it a good app.

        Also, current sideloading has not unleashed this security problem you’re imagining.

        Yes as with any software platform, even the current iOS app store, installing random garbage from the internet without knowing what you’re doing can lead to problems. That is an individuals problem though, not a problem with the app store. It is better if the end user can learn from their mistakes instead of being supposedly protected like a baby and never learning at all.

  11. Gerold Manders said on April 17, 2023 at 7:37 pm
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    People often choose Android, so they are not locked into Apple’s walled garden. That is at least why I use Android. Apple’s ways of doing business over the backs of their customers and 3rd party developers alike, I find morally reprehensible.

    So I don’t care if you as a customer have an excellent experience with their equipment. Now, that is not to say that I’m an Android fanboy by any means. There is more than enough to despise about that system and it is becoming worse with every iteration. But it will take a while before it is as bad as Apple currently is.

    If you must know, the only smartphone I enjoyed using was my Nokia Lumia (before it was branded Microsoft) with Windows Phone 8.1. That combination of hardware/software simply worked for me and my use-case. Unfortunately that went the way of the dodo very fast.

    Got an Android Phone after using that Nokia for 4 years (battery problem), and because of exposure to Android I lost more or less all interest in using it, so that phone still looks and feels as brand new, even though it is used daily.

    As a tech person, people put Apple devices in my hands for repair. So I am unfortunately aware of what Apple “provides” to their customer base. Seriously, I rather have nothing than an Apple device.

    Now, I don’t deny that some people are perfectly happy and thriving with their devices. But I’m not, nor will I ever be. Android is the only real other option out there, so I’ll use that and if another player would enter, I’ll test out their device within the blink of an eye. And if that disappoints, get a dumb phone instead.

    1. Tony said on April 17, 2023 at 7:43 pm
      Reply

      I get where you’re coming from. I despise the walled garden too, but Google has been waaaaay too dumb these past few years and it is bleeding heavily into Android. At some point, the consequences of the walled garden aren’t as bad as dealing with dumb decisions from Google.

  12. Anonymous said on April 17, 2023 at 6:21 pm
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    I agree it’s a reason to not buy Android, FOR NOW…
    BUT sideloading has never been on apples agenda UNTIL european mandates started…

  13. Consider This said on April 17, 2023 at 5:53 pm
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    This issue is why Apple is planning to move to a rental model for its iPhones.
    The rental model effectively counteracts the, now forced side-loading, because they (Apple) retains ownership of all of their devices, and can thereby dictate how their devices are used by their rental customers.
    The original problem walled-garden apps lock-down becomes even more controlling than it is now.

  14. Jon said on April 17, 2023 at 5:35 pm
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    Please remove the unnecessary “another reason not to buy android” from the article title.

    It’s misleading, childish and platform elitist.

    1. Sebas said on April 18, 2023 at 9:40 am
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      @Jon. Agreed. Where are the times such a childish article title would never be seen on ghacks net?

      1. GinoG said on April 19, 2023 at 6:46 pm
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        “Sideloading has long been on Apple’s agenda”
        Really?!? What will you say next? They have been planning to open source the OS for 10 years now.

  15. Oggy said on April 17, 2023 at 5:26 pm
    Reply

    “Another reason not to buy Android”
    Wow, really a reason!

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