Whether you’re an Android user or an iPhone user you know how restricting iOS can be and it’s probably one of the main demeaning factors of using an iPhone. however, due to the EU’s rulings, Apple has been forced to enable sideloading, which means more freedom for iOS users.
But what is sideloading?
Sideloading is when you use Unofficial third-party sources to download Applications onto your devices, giving you a wide range of possibilities regarding the applications you can use, as you can start using applications that aren’t available on other official app stores, you can also download the applications directly from a developers page which means better flexibility and more user freedom.
What are the risks?
Well, first of all, a lot of sideloading sources have illegal and pirated applications that enable the user to get them for free. A lot of times those APK files can contain malware that could harm your device and steal your information, which is one of the reasons why Apple has refrained from enabling it, which means if you’re not careful you can seriously get in trouble when sideloading.
Is it worth the risk?
Whether the risks are worth it or not depends on the user, but for the most part, it is worth it, because if you’re careful and know what you’re doing it is completely safe and won’t harm you, you just need to use trusted sources and refrain using suspicious ones, and of course always read the privacy policies and terms of those applications before giving them any permissions to ensure your safety.
Release information
As of now, we are unsure of the exact release date, but what we do know is that it should roll out around March alongside the iOS 17.4 or 17.5 Update.
Apple enabling sideloading is definitely interesting and it will give Apple users a whole new experience and finally give them a taste of user freedom.
The Catch
However, it’s not all sunflowers and roses. Apple while they are opening up sideloading, they are doing it in a way that allows them to still be in control… Apple will impose the same review process for sideloadable apps as App Store apps, so not necessarily full freedom. Not to mention alongside these new requirements, Apple has revised their business terms, Under the new terms, apps distributed through the App Store that choose to use an alternative payment system will pay a 17 percent commission (rather than 30 percent) on digital goods and services. Another fee also announced is a new Core Technology Fee, which charges developers 0.50 Euro per annual install if they have more than a million annual installs in the EU Sideloaded or not.
In my opinion, Apple is maliciously complying with the EU’s demands as this is nothing but Apple sending the message that they are still in control, which gives them the right to Approve and Reject apps as they please. Sideloaded or not. In my opinion, this is still letting the so-called Monopoly Apple has been accused of by the EU to still exist. I guess we just have to wait until sideloading is activated to see how much freedom has been given to us.. but right now it doesn’t seem like much.
Who will benefit from this?
Well unless you’re a marketplace developer this won’t be of any use to you as it will only enable developers to add App Store-like marketplaces for certain apps, which is a huge hassle since every single app has to be checked, and reviewed, and has to be officially contracted to be on the marketplace.
Not only are the benefits really low, but the cost is even greater, as now bigger developers with millions or even billions of downloads per year such as TikTok LLC, Spotify, and Google will have to pay an insane amount of money per year to be able to keep their apps on the App-Store which means that we might have some of them removing their services and apps from iOS due to problems with funds.
Final situation assessment
For now, there isn’t much we can do but wait and see how this plays out how the EU will react to the current situation, whether any actions will be taken, and whether the feature will be EU only, but for now, Stay tuned for further updates here at Techexposed, and if you want, you can always support us by buying us a coffee.
