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Apple must open iPadOS to sideloading within 6 months, EU says

(arstechnica.com)
380 points rezonant | 5 comments | 30 Apr 24 04:44 UTC | HN request time: 0.403s | source
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tomashubelbauer ◴[30 Apr 24 07:58 UTC] No.40208346[source]▶
I am happy to see Apple's arm twisted, but disappointed the demand is to allow alternative app stores and not user-facing side-loading. In my view, having only the official Apple App Store is just fine as long as Apple also adds the ability to install an app off an unsigned IPA file for free. With that, users would be free to install apps that Apple don't deem fit for the app store, giving them the freedom to use their device as they see fit.
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1. firstbabylonian ◴[30 Apr 24 09:05 UTC] No.40208758[source]▶
> ability to install an app off an unsigned IPA file for free

I feel like the thinking is that there must be an entity — somebody running an app store — who could be held legally responsible for any damage caused by malware distributed via their channels. Regular non-tech-savvy users cannot be trusted with such delicate software as apps running on their personal phones.

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2. robertjpayne ◴[30 Apr 24 10:48 UTC] No.40209510[source]▶
This is the myth that everyone is going to be screwed by. Nobody is going to be legally responsible for malware that ends up on your device.

The only difference is Apple has the $$ and incentives to remove it as soon as it's brought to their attention (assuming it's actual malware that may cause large financial loss not just copyright infringement).

Alt-stores will be ridden with malware and nobody is going to be legally responsible for it. We can just hope the alt-stores that end up existing have incentives to keep them "clean".

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3. firstbabylonian ◴[30 Apr 24 11:24 UTC] No.40209787[source]▶
Correct, which is why allowing no-store app delivery would unleash an even greater chaos. In a world where any random website can trick a user into downloading an app via sideloading, there's no hope to protect people from 'unclean' software.
4. cwales95 ◴[30 Apr 24 11:33 UTC] No.40209849[source]▶
The thing is though, as you said, it's my personal iPhone. If I want to be able to install an unsigned app I should be able to. There should be ways to dissuade the non-technical people but my feeling is it is my iPhone so I should be able to do as I wish.
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5. firstbabylonian ◴[30 Apr 24 11:49 UTC] No.40209955[source]▶
Nothing against you personally, but since you get the same iPhone as the non-technical folks, some compromises have to be made, and they ain’t gonna be in your favour.