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Apple Announces App Store Small Business Program

(www.apple.com)
830 points todsacerdoti | 2 comments | 18 Nov 20 11:04 UTC | HN request time: 0s | source
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medhir ◴[18 Nov 20 18:48 UTC] No.25140690[source]▶
The core problem here is that Apple is still disallowing users from side-loading / installing iOS apps from outside of the official App Store.

My question: what is stopping us from demanding a legislative solution that requires Apple to open up the iOS platform to allow installation of apps outside its sanctioned ecosystem?

With ARM Macs now on the market, the hardware architecture / software differences between their mobile and desktop platforms is becoming smaller and smaller. The argument that mobile devices should be treated differently from any other general computing device has always been weird. But now the disparity is now ever more glaring given how similar iPhones, iPads, and Macs have become. We should be demanding openness and the right to modify software as the end user sees fit. This does not preclude users looking for a more secure experience to continue exclusively loading apps from the App Store.

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neolog ◴[18 Nov 20 21:33 UTC] No.25142714[source]▶
Why not get an Android device?
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heavyset_go ◴[18 Nov 20 22:19 UTC] No.25143235[source]▶
Android is hobbled, as well. The only way to implement automatic upgrading, background installation or batch upgrading/installation of apps is via the Play Store. Not only that, but most people have no idea how to side load apps, and Android doesn't make it easy.

Both Google and Apple have kept a stranglehold on the mobile app distribution market for over a decade now.

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freedomben ◴[18 Nov 20 23:11 UTC] No.25143897{3}[source]▶
> Not only that, but most people have no idea how to side load apps, and Android doesn't make it easy.

I completely disagree. I'm not sure how they could make it much easier without defaulting to allowing it. Download the APK, open it, click install (or if the setting disallows it, follow the prompt to change the setting).

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johannes1234321 ◴[18 Nov 20 23:56 UTC] No.25144371{4}[source]▶
The tour via settings isn't that easy for "Joe Average" and updating isn't easy as well.
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1. Andys ◴[19 Nov 20 01:10 UTC] No.25145037{5}[source]▶
This is a good thing! It shouldn't be too easy, just easily possible for someone who knows what they're doing (What we used to call "power users", what happened to those?)
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2. johannes1234321 ◴[19 Nov 20 13:53 UTC] No.25149417[source]▶
The point in this sun thread is "phone creators make it hard to use other app stores, that's anti-competitiom", the GP claimed "it's easy on android, come on" I refused that notion. I didn't make a statement about the value as I'm conflicted. I see the issues of the Windows desktop, where users install whatever they find as administrator without second thought, but I also see the issue of gatekeepers apple and Google ...