Apple Approves PC/Linux/Mac-Emulating App 'UTM SE' for App Store, Reversing Earlier Rejection (theverge.com) 21
At the end of June, Apple's App Store rejected the Windows/retro PC emulator "UTM SE". But in a reversal Apple approved the app Saturday, reports the Verge.
"We are happy to announce that UTM SE is available (for free) on iOS and visionOS App Store," the developer posted on X, "and coming soon to AltStore PAL."
From the Verge: After Apple rejected the app in June, the developer said it wasn't going to keep trying because the app was "a subpar experience." Today, UTM thanked the AltStore team for helping it and credited another developer "whose QEMU TCTI implementation was pivotal for this JIT-less build."
As with other emulators on the App Store, you can't do much with UTM SE out of the box. It doesn't come with any operating systems, though the app does link to UTM's site, which has guides for Windows XP through Windows 11 emulation, as well as downloads of pre-built virtual Linux machines. Mac OS 9.2.1 and DOS are listed in one screenshot from the UTM SE App Store page. Mac OS 9.2.1 and DOS are listed in one screenshot from the UTM SE App Store page.
"We are happy to announce that UTM SE is available (for free) on iOS and visionOS App Store," the developer posted on X, "and coming soon to AltStore PAL."
From the Verge: After Apple rejected the app in June, the developer said it wasn't going to keep trying because the app was "a subpar experience." Today, UTM thanked the AltStore team for helping it and credited another developer "whose QEMU TCTI implementation was pivotal for this JIT-less build."
As with other emulators on the App Store, you can't do much with UTM SE out of the box. It doesn't come with any operating systems, though the app does link to UTM's site, which has guides for Windows XP through Windows 11 emulation, as well as downloads of pre-built virtual Linux machines. Mac OS 9.2.1 and DOS are listed in one screenshot from the UTM SE App Store page. Mac OS 9.2.1 and DOS are listed in one screenshot from the UTM SE App Store page.
APPLE WHAT ARE YOU DOING?! (Score:1)
Re:APPLE WHAT ARE YOU DOING?! (Score:5, Interesting)
Before anything else: I agree in the general case, and specifically in this case, especially around their communication.
That said, my recollection of this particular case was that this was related to the app's use of JIT compilation (hence why JIT was called out in the summary). For those not familiar, JIT (just-in-time) compilation is a means of compiling code as and when you need it, rather than doing so in advance, allowing you to make it run significantly faster subsequently. It's useful with emulation in particular, because you don't know what code you'll be running in advance in your emulator. Unfortunately, it also means that the build that's reviewed for notarization purposes can more or less incorporate new code into its functionality at any point later on, which means that JIT can be used as a means for bypassing the (valid) security restrictions Apple has in place. Moreover, this is an area where the EU's DMA provides Apple and other gatekeepers with an explicit carve-out, allowing them to take the necessary steps to protect the security of the platform.
The way Apple is doing that is wrong (e.g. some of these rejections have seemed arbitrary or punitive, and many have been poorly communicated) and will almost certainly be slapped down in short order, and I've actually been personally affected by the inability to use apps that rely on JIT (if you install RetroArch on your Apple TV, you can't emulate anything newer than the N64 or so, because everything after that still relies on JIT to enhance its performance), but I can't say that they are entirely in the wrong here. Or maybe a better way of saying that is that they actually have a legal right to do this, but they're even managing to screw that up.
Re:APPLE WHAT ARE YOU DOING?! (Score:5, Insightful)
Unfortunately, it also means that the build that's reviewed for notarization purposes can more or less incorporate new code into its functionality at any point later on, which means that JIT can be used as a means for bypassing the (valid) security restrictions Apple has in place.
This is one of those emperor's new jammies situations, because it shows that Apple can't have security with JIT like every other modern OS can.
Moreover, this is an area where the EU's DMA provides Apple and other gatekeepers with an explicit carve-out, allowing them to take the necessary steps to protect the security of the platform.
So Apple is compromising security in order to make use of this exception? That surely will end well!
Re: (Score:2)
"It's useful with emulation in particular..."
It sure is, but it's also problematic to say so when the narrative is that Rosetta is NOT an emulator!
"...rather than doing so in advance..."
In advance of what? JIT still works "in advance", just not "well in advance" but instead "just in time".
"...JIT can be used as a means for bypassing the (valid) security restrictions Apple has in place."
A problem that could be solved. Compilation is merely a form of translation, not an introduction of "new code". Yes, it
Re: (Score:2)
In advance of what? JIT still works "in advance", just not "well in advance" but instead "just in time".
In this case, in advance of the mandatory notarization process. Given that JIT enables new code to be introduced after the app has been reviewed for notarization, it's impossible for Apple to confirm whether the app will continue to abide by the platform's security restrictions, because new functionality can be introduced after the fact. Whether or not Apple should have that authority (or whether it should extend to JIT) is a worthwhile question to ask, and one I will not defend Apple on, but it's an author
How is Unix not a "real" operating system? (Score:3)
How is iOS, a Unix variant full of Berkley Standard Distribution (BSD) Unix code with an open source Mach Kernel not a "real" Operating System?
Re: (Score:3, Insightful)
You need a permission from Apple to install an emulator (or any other software) on it, for instance.
Re: (Score:2, Informative)
You don't. Sideloading has been possible on iOS devices without jailbreaking for years. What you need Apple's permission for is to download a JIT-based emulator from their app store.
Re: (Score:3)
It's been possible, yes. But it's also been beyond the reach of the average (or should I say median) iDevice user, who can't figure any of that out. Also, it has come at a price premium, you have to have a Macintosh to do it, or a hackintosh and those are going away.
Re: (Score:2)
It doesn't require a mac or a price premium via tools like Sideloadly, but it's admittedly not quite drag-and-drop.
Re: (Score:2)
By "sideloading", you mean the practice described, for example, in this document?
https://www.apple.com/privacy/... [apple.com]
However, some are demanding that Apple support the distribution of apps outside of the App Store, through direct downloads or third-party app stores, a process also referred to as “sideloading.” Supporting sideloading through direct downloads and third-party app stores would cripple the privacy and security protections that have made iPhone so secure, and expose users to serious security risks.
Doesn't look to me like it is a supported feature.
Re: (Score:2)
As a technically competent user you can load anything you want on your iDevice by acting as a developer.
The installations expire eventually and have to be refreshed
You have to use XCode, so you have to have a Macintosh
It costs you $99/year to become a developer and be allowed to do this
So while it is technically possible, as the iFanboys say, it is beyond the reach of the average user.
Re: (Score:2)
It does not require a mac, and can be done with a free account (with a shorter refresh window). The refreshing can be automated. You can use a program like Sideloadly to do it.
What is TCTI (spell out acronyms anyone?) (Score:2)
What is TCTI? I've never heard of it. It's used right after QEMU. The QEMU project on GitHUB does not contain a single reference to TCTI. WTF?!?.
https://github.com/search?q=re... [github.com]
What does TCTI have to do with being JIT-less?
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
TCTI is TPM Command Transmission Interface, this relates to TCG which is part of TPM2.0 specification and is JIT. This circumvents that.
Without this it would be trivially easy to run your own iOS apps inside this UTM virtual machine with a shim. Ooops.
So can i run Windows 11 on an M2 iPad Pro or not ? (Score:1)
So can i finally run the latest Windows 11 on an iPad Pro or not? with parallels / vmware fusion type performance
I use M1 macbook air with Parallels to run windows 11 as my main device but have always wanted to shift to iPad Pro or Air if i could run windows 11 with the same ease. With the touch input, great cameras & screen + magic keyboard & apple pencil it's the best laptop option.
The old M1/M2 models of ipads/macbooks are really cheap and have great battery life and beat any intel windows laptop