Great. I'm looking forward to hearing all the Apple zealots change their tune on side-loading from "iOS is more secure because it doesn't allow side-loading " to "side-loading is amazing, I'm so glad Apple invented it!"
I’ve had iPhones for 15 years now. I’ve wanted side loading the entire time. It’ll be nice if I can do that without jailbreaking, but I won’t be holding my breath.
This is probably the main reason why I don't use an iphone. I was surprised I had to jailbreak for such a simple functionality when I first got my iphone 4. That was my first and last iphone.
No no, they will say that apple does it the right way. Instead of downloading and installing a file like a peasant, you will do it through x-code, using your paid developer account only available on Apple hardware. And of course with massive limitations that apps from the app store don't have.
I'm only half joking, I really expect Apple to make it the most miserable experience, to them say "well, nobody is doing it!"
For everyone rejoicing in this thread, there's no way Apple will allow this outside the EU. From the article:
We also found references to a region lock in this API, which suggests that Apple could restrict it to specific countries. This wouldn’t make sense for MDM solutions, but it does make sense for enabling sideloading in particular countries only when required by authorities – such as in the European Union.
I want side loading as much as the next guy, but Apple will only do the bare minimum to appease the EU regulations. Suck for those of us outside the EU.
Yeah, software is way easier to manage over borders than hardware - they already do that with their different App Stores. The comparison to USBC isn’t valid.
However, I wonder if it would be easy enough to trick your device into thinking it’s somewhere else. Recently had to download an app from the US App Store (I am Canadian) and all it took was creating a new account and declaring my country as USA. If it was that easy, I’m sure plenty of people would be happy enough making an alt Apple ID for side loading.
I’m sure plenty of people would be happy enough making an alt Apple ID for side loading.
Except you can't just spin up an alt account on virtually any service anymore. I know because I always try to create anonymous accounts. These companies want your data and they need an identity to link it to, not to mention preventing bot spam. They will always want to at the very least verify your phone number via SMS, and they can detect if you're using VoIP now. And even if you could, AAALLLLLL your data and settings would be left on the other account.
Not sure the UK would be a valid option, the laws that the EU are passing now aren't making their way to the UK anymore so if Apple wanted to be thorough they'd block it in the UK too
Only safari (webkit} shells. There's been rumors of apple preparing to open up that requirement for appstore approval, but hasn't happened yet as far as I know.
Honestly that, and not being able to side load, are the only things holding me from switching. Yes I could get a pixel and install graphene OS on it, but I don't have time for that anymore and I just want a simple solution that gets support out of the box, and allows me to run the apps I want.
Finally! I have been interesting in developing some apps for personal use, but I don’t want to pay a developer fee and go through the App Store. It’s so much hassle.
Kinda? They have to do it soon, and betas are where they would do it. They wouldn’t just make a “last day possible” update, that would just be bad development practice. Imagine if they were delayed.