When the European Union introduced the Digital Markets Act, some big tech companies, including Apple, were forced to react. Now, Bloomberg’s Mark Garman also claimed that the new features mandated by the EU are a “threat to the App Store.” This change comes in his iOS 17.5, which is currently in its second beta. Details can be found here. General release is scheduled for May.
New app marketplace AltStore on iPhone.
In the latest Power On newsletter, Garman mentions EU law. “Devices like the iPhone require you to install apps directly from the web. The idea is to bring smartphones closer to personal computers so that installing software from the Internet becomes natural. But this is a big change for Apple and could disrupt its App Store business, especially if this approach spreads beyond Europe.
Mr. Garman’s last sentence is most telling. Although the legal changes will only be implemented in the European Economic Area, it may only be a matter of time before other countries, such as the US and UK, consider the changes important enough for their countries. You can also hire them.
And Gurman’s analogy is apt enough. PC and Mac users don’t think twice about downloading software from the Internet on a daily basis. That is not why the EU introduced this bill. They wanted to limit the behavior of high-tech companies, especially those that behave like monopolies, and sought to open things up.
Apple has already introduced a framework that allows users in the EU to install third-party app stores (such as the recently launched new AltStore PAL) in its currently generally released software iOS 17.4 and iOS 17.4.1. doing.
Gurman said: “Apple was comfortable with a separate but related EU requirement to allow third-party app stores. These marketplaces are cumbersome to set up and operate, so many of them take off. It seems unlikely, and it may not be a very pleasant experience for consumers, who must first launch the store, create an account, and search for what they need in an unfamiliar environment. .”
Having set up AltStore PAL on my iPhone here in Spain, I would like to tell you that it is not difficult at all. Sure, it’s more complicated than the simple process of downloading from the App Store, but it’s not unpleasant.
But he’s right that finding new app marketplaces isn’t easy.
And, as he explains, there are still hurdles. “The software must be notarized with a valid developer account, and he will see a permission screen on his iPhone before installing the app.”
Users often don’t care. With recent changes allowing game emulators in the App Store, Delta has arrived. It is available for free on the App Store and forms one of his two apps on the AltStore PAL. It’s not in the regular EU App Store, but if it was, I suspect most users would choose that as their source rather than an external marketplace. If I had a choice, that would be my choice.
