Recently, with the official release of iOS 17.4, iPhones in the EU region have finally opened up to sideloading.
Apple has made some compromises but not entirely. For EU users, this is a mixed blessing.
The good news is that users can finally access third-party app stores, but the downside is that there are still many restrictions on sideloading on iPhones.
For example, sideloading on iPhones can only be done in the EU region, and the sideloading feature will be restricted once you leave the designated area.
Moreover, the experience with the first iOS third-party app store is quite average, drawing criticism from many developers.
Image Source: Official Account @XiaoLeiBiBi
So, what will the future of third-party app stores on iOS look like? That's a big question mark.
However, Xiao Lei has another "but" to add.
Just when app developers and Apple are still figuring out open sideloading, the EU has spoken up again.
Everyone knows this time it's about iOS open sideloading on iPhones, and let's not forget about iPadOS on iPads under the Apple umbrella.
That's right, the next target for the EU is iPadOS. What's the specific situation? Xiao Lei will discuss it today.
iPadOS to allow sideloading?
Fast forward to September last year, the EU unveiled the first batch of 6 "gatekeeper" companies under the Digital Markets Act.
These 6 "gatekeepers" are Apple, ByteDance, Amazon, Microsoft, Alphabet, Meta,
Under them, 22 core businesses, such as Apple's App Store, must be adjusted within 6 months.
Businesses must ultimately comply with the Digital Markets Act regulations to avoid penalties from the EU.
Image Source: Internet
Initially, the EU only considered iOS, Safari, and the App Store as businesses eligible for the "gatekeeper" status.
At that time, the EU had not yet included iPadOS in the scope of "gatekeeper" eligibility, probably focusing on observation.
According to the regulations, back then Apple only needed to open side-loading for the system, browser, and app store.
However, after Apple officially opened side-loading for iOS, the EU turned its attention to iPadOS and issued an official announcement on April 29th.
The European Commission stated that after a long period of market research, Apple's iPadOS will be designated as a "gatekeeper."
Image Source: European Commission
The European Union's reasoning is simple: even though iPadOS has not yet reached the threshold set by the Digital Markets Act, it serves as a crucial gateway for Apple to reach users, establishing a deep-rooted and enduring position for Apple in the realm of iPadOS.
Therefore, to ensure fairness in competition among companies in the industry, iPadOS should be recognized as having the status of a "gatekeeper."
Following the enforcement of this announcement, similar to the timeline for opening iOS for side-loading, Apple will have six months to ensure that iPadOS complies with the provisions of the Digital Markets Act.
In other words, just like the iPhone, the iPad will also be able to enjoy the privilege of installing apps from third-party app stores and not defaulting to using the Safari browser.
Image Source: Apple
Some may wonder, what if Apple chooses to stand firm without compromise this time? It seems unlikely, according to Xiao Lei.
If Apple does not comply with the Digital Markets Act, it could face penalties of up to 10% of its global annual revenue.
Is it better to earn less money or to incur heavier fines? Apple probably understands the pros and cons better than we do.
Goodness me, right after the EU just announced this decision, Apple's frenemy Epic quickly followed up with a statement.
Epic stated that this year they will go all out to bring Fortnite and the Epic Games Store to the iPad.
Image Source: X@EpicNewsroom
iPadOS makes sideloading more challenging
Now iPad users can also access third-party app stores, allowing them to install more apps from independent developers, which is definitely a good thing.
However, based on the sharp eyes of Xiaolei, who has been in the tech circle for many years, at least in the initial stage, the experience of using third-party app stores on iPad may not be that great.
To put it bluntly, it might not even be as good as the first third-party app store AltStore PAL on the iPhone.
Image Source: AltStore PAL Official Website
Over the years, the mobile app ecosystem has reached a highly usable stage, while the tablet app ecosystem lags behind significantly.
Even Apple, with its top-tier influence, struggles to have developers adapt their apps to fit the screen size and user interface logic of the iPad.
This results in many mainstream apps on the iPad still displaying and operating like enlarged versions of their mobile counterparts.
Therefore, third-party app stores definitely lack the influence of Apple. The extent to which independent developers can adapt apps for the iPad remains an unknown factor.
Image Source: Internet
Furthermore, judging from the performance of AltStore PAL, the user experience of third-party app stores is really hard to endure.
Developers need to promote their apps themselves to attract users to their websites, then redirect them to AltStore PAL for installation. This process involves multiple steps and is not straightforward enough.
Moreover, when downloading and installing apps on iPhone via AltStore PAL, issues such as unclear installation prompts and failure to install properly may arise.
If even the well-established iPhone platform hasn't figured it out yet, with just half a year to go, the upcoming launch of a third-party app store on the iPad platform doesn't seem promising to Xiao Lei.
In conclusion, it is worth noting that this change currently only applies to the European Union region, with no immediate plans for other regions.
Overall, for many users, the ability to sideload on iPadOS is a positive development, signaling a step towards a more open ecosystem, albeit in a passive manner.
Apple has officially stated its intention to engage with the EU further and comply with the regulations set forth in the Digital Markets Act.
Image Source: Apple
However, with the iPad allowing side-loading, some people have expressed concerns about potential security issues leading to privacy breaches.
There is some merit to this concern, as opening up more interfaces to third-party stores by Apple could attract malicious actors.
After enabling side-loading, what Apple needs to focus on is enhancing the security level of the device system, without compromising on the selling point of "security."
Are you looking forward to the possibility of side-loading on iPads in the future? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments section.
Cover Image Source: Apple
