Apple To Allow iOS App Downloads Direct From Websites in the EU (theverge.com) 30
Apple is planning to make further changes in EU countries to allow some developers to distribute their iOS apps directly from a website. From a report: The new web distribution feature will be available with a software update "later this spring," according to Apple, providing developers with a key new way to distribute iOS apps in EU markets without the need for a separate app store -- as long as they're willing to adhere to Apple's strict rules.
While Apple is opening up iOS to more third-party apps here, these are still some key security protections around how apps are distributed via websites -- namely, you'll still have to work within the strict Apple app development ecosystem.
While Apple is opening up iOS to more third-party apps here, these are still some key security protections around how apps are distributed via websites -- namely, you'll still have to work within the strict Apple app development ecosystem.
Oh Boy! (Score:4, Insightful)
Now people can go to millions of websites around the world to get shit, instead of just using the App Store. That's convenient!
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Not doing that is one of advantages of not using Windows!
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Enough with this idea that everything has to cater to that percentage of society who are morons. The OS vendor shouldn't monopolize app distribution on the OS just because a percentage of society are morons. Let them learn the hard way.
Re:Oh Boy! (Score:4, Insightful)
Good, this will teach them why downloading random crap from random internet sites is bad idea the hard way (the only way some people learn).
My impression of the iOS app store is that it's got an EXTREMELY low quality bar. I don't trust that my searches are getting the authentic app because (1) search results are swayed by advertising, (2) people publish "lookalike" apps that look like they're official but aren't. Say I want to download the safeway app to get coupons? I already do an internet search for Safeway, search for the app on their site, and click on the deep link "get it on the app store" just to be sure I'm getting the right app.
Why is downloading random crap a bad idea?
Is it because the random crap will abuse your privacy? -- already happens plenty with app-store apps. The "privacy notice" that developers write for their apps in the app store are largely useless. The only thing I trust is built-in OS level protections in the operating system, e.g. "can this app access your pictures/location?", which will be the same for app-store downloaded vs externally-downloaded.
Is it because the random crap will add a virus? -- this is something that should be at the OS level, not at the app-store level. No excuses. And iOS seems really good in this respect.
Is it because the random crap will be power-hungry? -- already happens plenty with app-store apps.
I think it's definitely possible to build an OS where "downloading random crap" is actually fine because of OS-level sandboxes and other protections. And I think iOS is already mostly there.
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The "Quality assurance" of Apple is akin to that in the former GDR. They, too, claimed that they want to keep their population "safe", when all they really did was to ensure that no "bad ideas" could enter the country while they had zero problem with all the pop-trash that flooded over from the FRG.
That's why they could have Boney M and Modern Talking but no Udo Lindenberg or Nina Hagen.
Doesn't matter if you don't know those artists. The gist is that the "security" they cared about was their own, not that o
Re: Oh Boy! (Score:2)
No, it won't. Apple is saying here that they will still approve all the apps. This is spitting directly in the EU's figurative face. They will not stand for it.
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Re: Oh Boy! (Score:2)
Sorry, I didnâ(TM)t catch who youâ(TM)re saying will pocket the saving: you or the developer?
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Nobody is force feeding you anything. Just don't use or develop for Apple products.
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Yep. Malwares, etc. Yikes. :(
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Do you realistically expect Apple will issue millions of developer keys?
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They already did. Don't get your point :)
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the install number and time in rules may get shot (Score:2)
the install number and time in rules may get shot down by the EU.
also that core fee as well.
Wow (Score:2)
Download software? For your phone? From a web site?
The next thing you know, someone might sell an app, right from their own site! Imagine that! Why, they might even hire someone to help them! Someone might find a JOB now!
Imagine people finding jobs. They could buy houses and start families, like we did fifty years ago when America did things and built stuff.
The only correct question is... (Score:4, Insightful)
Why does the manufacturer have any control over it at all once the owner has bought the device? When the manufacturer has more control than the owner, that just means it has malware that needs to be removed straight from the factory. Same with Android, but at least it is easier to rip that shit off and install OS's that honor you as the owner above all else.
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Why does the manufacturer have any control over it at all once the owner has bought the device?
I agree that they should not have control but Apple wants to keep the money coming in. I will accept a warning that Apple is not responsible for apps that do not come from its app store, but that is about it.
What the article did not say is whether the apps will need to make purchases via Apple.
Re: The only correct question is... (Score:1)
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Why does the manufacturer have any control over it at all once the owner has bought the device?
Because customers are buying into the Apple experience with an iDevice... they are not buying a generic device. It is a choice that the customers are making: they want a curated list of apps from a single trusted source. They choose to trust Apple to make the right choices for them so they don't have to think about it.
It's like how some cars are sold with maintenance plans included -you trust that the manufacturers representative is doing all the necessary maintenance as defined by the manufacturer instea
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Android users are free to choose exactly the same thing, but with Google as gatekeeper.
Allowing sideloading doesn't take away the choice from the people who want a walled garden.
Apple doing things the hard way (Score:2)
Consider that the EU labeled Google a gatekeeper too. That's despite the fact Android actually lets you tick a checkbox to indicate that you DGAF about their walled garden and to enable sideloading. So Apple is just wasting their time and blowing smoke by making tiny concessions which still put it well behind Android in terms of user choice to freely install apps. As the old saying goes: either shit or get off the pot.
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Consider that the EU labeled Google a gatekeeper too. That's despite the fact Android actually lets you tick a checkbox to indicate that you DGAF about their walled garden and to enable sideloading. So Apple is just wasting their time and blowing smoke by making tiny concessions which still put it well behind Android in terms of user choice to freely install apps. As the old saying goes: either shit or get off the pot.
So, since even Google doesn't Please the €U, WTF will?
history repeats itself (Score:2)
I can see it already: Apple issues key for a (small) number of developers and then on a whim revoke [slashdot.org] some of them.