Support NeoGAF

[Bernoulli]

The eu is going to force them again to changes the conditions

We’re providing more flexibility for developers who distribute apps in the European Union (EU), including introducing a new way to distribute apps directly from a developer’s website.

More flexibility​

Developers who’ve agreed to the Alternative Terms Addendum for Apps in the EU have new options for their apps in the EU:

• Alternative app marketplaces. Marketplaces can choose to offer a catalog of apps solely from the developer of the marketplace.
• Linking out to purchase. When directing users to complete a transaction for digital goods or services on an external webpage, developers can choose how to design promotions, discounts, and other deals. The Apple-provided design templates, which are optimized for key purchase and promotional use cases, are now optional.

Distributing directly from your website​

Web Distribution, available with a software update later this spring, will let authorized developers distribute their iOS apps to EU users directly from a website owned by the developer. Apple will provide authorized developers access to APIs that facilitate the distribution of their apps from the web, integrate with system functionality, back up and restore users’ apps, and more. For details, visit Getting ready for Web Distribution in the EU.

Latest News - Apple Developer

Learn about the latest technologies, events, and policies for developers.

developer.apple.com

 

[LiquidMetal14]

Welcome to 10-15 years ago.

 

[mayham2199]

Hilarious that they are only doing it in the EU. I knew they wouldn't allow this in the US. Which is their biggest market share and I'm pretty sure where they make the most money.

 

[Sushi_Combo]

In the process of actually applying for my EU ID card/Citizenship, so can't wait to be part of the real land of opportunity.

 

[//DEVIL//]

Hilarious that they are only doing it in the EU. I knew they wouldn't allow this in the US. Which is their biggest market share and I'm pretty sure where they make the most money.

People can just go to that site and download it. No ?

It shouldnt matter where you live. Obviously they are not going to advertise it.

 

[Xyphie]

Getting closer and closer to real sideloading. EU should not relent until there's a pure sideloading toggle without restrictions though. Just give them that $20 billion fine already.

 

[cyberheater]

I hope the EU keeps applying pressure to force Apple to do it properly

 

[Topher]

People can just go to that site and download it. No ?

It shouldnt matter where you live. Obviously they are not going to advertise it.

Websites can block specific regions, but probably nothing a VPN wouldn't bypass.

 

[Bernoulli]

Websites can block specific regions, but probably nothing a VPN wouldn't bypass.

you can't bypass it for now, they have a special EU firmware

 

[Topher]

you can't bypass it for now, they have a special EU firmware

ah......that makes sense

 

[Trogdor1123]

It will be interesting how this turns out. The first app that comes out and ruins phones will be in the news everywhere when it happens. Apple just won’t warranty the stuff

 

[StereoVsn]

Note the caveats, that’s a lot of conditions, but first steps I guess.

I am just afraid from security perspective we are going to get to same crap we have on Android.

At this juncture I am going to have to get some O365 E3 licenses for my family and manage them through Intune MDM, lol.

 

[//DEVIL//]

Websites can block specific regions, but probably nothing a VPN wouldn't bypass.

Not to mention I highly doubt these websites will block traffic from NA lol

 

[Unknown?]

Hilarious that they are only doing it in the EU. I knew they wouldn't allow this in the US. Which is their biggest market share and I'm pretty sure where they make the most money.

Could you circumvent this with a VPN or is it firmware and/or hardware based?

 

[Topher]

Not to mention I highly doubt these websites will block traffic from NA lol

See Bernoulli 's post. They are segmenting off EU phones via firmware.

 

[Belthazar]

People can just go to that site and download it. No ?

It shouldnt matter where you live. Obviously they are not going to advertise it.

I imagine actually installing the apps would be blocked on iphones sold outside the EU.

 

[hepfom]

They got rid of region locking on video games only to add it to phones.

 

[Hudo]

Maybe I can get an iOS version of Firefox that uses the actual browser engine and not Webkit. And also proper extension support.

 

[Mithos]

Maybe I can get an iOS version of Firefox that uses the actual browser engine and not Webkit. And also proper extension support.

If you live in Europe, using a European iPhone/iPad, you should be able to soon.

 

[Hudo]

If you live in Europe, using a European iPhone/iPad, you should be able to soon.

I am. So I am anxiously awaiting the day. But it will probably still take a bit of time for Mozilla to put that version out.

 

[mayham2199]

People can just go to that site and download it. No ?

It shouldnt matter where you live. Obviously they are not going to advertise it.

It says to EU users so I don't think it will work on Iphones in the US. How they stop it I do not know but I'm sure it's simple enough for them to do that.

Could you circumvent this with a VPN or is it firmware and/or hardware based?

That I don't know. Not sure how they are going to lock it down.

 

[Oddvintagechap]

It will be interesting how this turns out. The first app that comes out and ruins phones will be in the news everywhere when it happens. Apple just won’t warranty the stuff

This is interesting. I can see bunch of phones with malware. Alot of my family members get fooled by a calendar trick scam. Basically calendar that adds events and notifications like “youre phone has virus download this app”.

 

[LordOfChaos]

Wish we'd force them to do this in North America too. Obviously they'll rent seek and gatekeep as much as possible apart from what the law forces out of them, and even then allow as little as possible they can legally get away with until the law notices that too and comes around again.

 

[cyberheater]

I wonder if this will drive EU sales as folks from non EU countries import iPhones.

 

[Bernoulli]

I wonder if this will drive EU sales as folks from non EU countries import iPhones.

you can update your apps one month after you leave the EU, after that the app works but you can't update until you go back

 

[RoboFu]

I day let people do what they want but don't let them connect to the same service of people who don't.

I don't want an android level malware infestation.

 

[MayauMiao]

This is interesting. I can see bunch of phones with malware. Alot of my family members get fooled by a calendar trick scam. Basically calendar that adds events and notifications like “youre phone has virus download this app”.

If that were to happen I bet Apple is going to use this as an excuse why they need to block side loading again.

 

[IFireflyl]

I am torn right now.

On the one hand, I hate Apple. This means that I love to see them get smacked down.

On the other hand, I hate government overreach, and this feels a lot like government overreach to me. If I make a product that is designed and contracted to be used a specific way, I don't see why the government has the right to come in and tell me to change it unless I'm actually harming people. In this case, people are not being harmed by Apple's fee. They can choose to not release an app on iOS, or they can pay the fees and still bring in 70% of their revenue on a product that they didn't design/develop/create/et cetera.

I just can't see this as a good thing, even if the intention is good. Maybe someone can open my eyes, though.

 

[sofakng]

I'm really glad that Apple is protecting the rest of us. Can you imagine what would happen if the rest of the world can download outside the app store? /s

 

[ReBurn]

Welcome to 10-15 years ago.

But with ridicu fees

 

[cyberheater]

you can update your apps one month after you leave the EU, after that the app works but you can't update until you go back

EU phone with a VPN? That might work.

 

[SirKicksalot]

On the other hand, I hate government overreach, and this feels a lot like government overreach to me. If I make a product that is designed and contracted to be used a specific way, I don't see why the government has the right to come in and tell me to change it unless I'm actually harming people. In this case, people are not being harmed by Apple's fee. They can choose to not release an app on iOS, or they can pay the fees and still bring in 70% of their revenue on a product that they didn't design/develop/create/et cetera.

I just can't see this as a good thing, even if the intention is good. Maybe someone can open my eyes, though.

The Digital Markets Act: ensuring fair and open digital markets

Discover how the Digital Markets Act ensures large online platforms in the EU behave fairly, and allows new players to enter the market, thus developing a fast evolving digital sector.

commission.europa.eu

This is a good tl;dr and there's a link to the full document at the bottom. Samsung users will be very happy with it!

 

[kiphalfton]

In the process of actually applying for my EU ID card/Citizenship, so can't wait to be part of the real land of opportunity.

From where? America.

Take me with you.

 

[jm89]

I don't want an android level malware infestation.

Uhh it's not that bad.

I feel like people still have this bad perception of android from a decade ago.

 

[gothmog]

My prediction has been that Apple is going to stop selling in the EU directly. This kinda supports that direction. It's gonna be an interesting battle.

 

[Shake Your Rump]

It will be interesting how this turns out. The first app that comes out and ruins phones will be in the news everywhere when it happens. Apple just won’t warranty the stuff

I'm really not sure why so many people are championing for the ability to load malware to their iPhones. I can't imagine the tech support nightmare that this will present for Apple.

Imagine Sony or Microsoft being forced to allow people to load any game or app they wish onto their consoles directly from websites. What a security hellhole that would be. It would be like PC gaming.

 

[reinking]

I'm really not sure why so many people are championing for the ability to load malware to their iPhones. I can't imagine the tech support nightmare that this will present for Apple.

Imagine Sony or Microsoft being forced to allow people to load any game or app they wish onto their consoles directly from websites. What a security hellhole that would be. It would be like PC gaming.

I think most normal phone users championing this are not iOS users. It seems to be driven more by hate for Apple. I can see where developers want to bypass Apple chargers and loosen restrictions on software. Unfortunately, it is loosening restrictions that will allow the bad people to do bad things. I just hope things stay tidy for those that do not do dumb things like download software from untrusted sources.

 

[WitchHunter]

I am torn right now.

On the one hand, I hate Apple. This means that I love to see them get smacked down.

On the other hand, I hate government overreach, and this feels a lot like government overreach to me. If I make a product that is designed and contracted to be used a specific way, I don't see why the government has the right to come in and tell me to change it unless I'm actually harming people. In this case, people are not being harmed by Apple's fee. They can choose to not release an app on iOS, or they can pay the fees and still bring in 70% of their revenue on a product that they didn't design/develop/create/et cetera.

I just can't see this as a good thing, even if the intention is good. Maybe someone can open my eyes, though.

Ask Bing, Grok, Gemini and the like and you'll be enlightened. You will see the world through another lens, you will be finally free. But of course first we have to smack you in the head with a frying pan.