iPhone sideloading isn’t the freedom you think it is
With each iOS 17.4 beta that Apple releases, Europeans are getting closer to what's considered to be the holy grail of Apple's iPhone for many longtime users: iPhone sideloading. That's the ability to install any app on your phone, like you do on Mac and Windows. Third-party App Marketplaces will emerge to compete with the App Store. Third-party payment systems will also be available, and many people think that will make apps cheaper. Apple confirmed all that, so it's happening in Europe this March when the Digital Markets Act (DMA) goes into effect.
But most of that is just wishful thinking. In reality, this is a potential nightmare waiting to happen, as malware could become much more prevalent on iOS.
iPhone sideloading is hardly as good as some people might expect it to be. And that's actually a great thing for users like me who want nothing to do with it. Apple's new deal for developers has plenty of provisions in place that might keep malware away from the iPhone despite opening it to apps outside of the App Store.
If you're excited about iPhone sideloading, like some of you clearly are, you should temper your expectations. Your iPhone experience won't change all that much. You're not getting the freedom you wanted. And those third-party App Marketplaces? It'll be a while before there are any good options out there.
The post iPhone sideloading isn’t the freedom you think it is appeared first on BGR.
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iPhone sideloading isn’t the freedom you think it is originally appeared on BGR.com on Thu, 22 Feb 2024 at 13:56:55 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.