iOS 17.2 hints at Apple moving towards letting users sideload apps from outside the App Store

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iOS 17.2 hints at Apple moving towards letting users sideload apps from outside the App Store::undefined

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Great. I'm looking forward to hearing all the Apple zealots change their tune on side-loading from "iOS is more secure because it doesn't allow side-loading " to "side-loading is amazing, I'm so glad Apple invented it!"

I fully expect they will make it challenging and plastered with scary warnings.

I’m ok with that.

I would, in fact, advocate for scary warnings.

Blanket scary warnings for all apps that don't use their app store can and will be used to dissuade their tech illiterate user base from ever daring to try something outside the garden.

Using "security guidelines" to scare people away from using anything outside an ecosystem is more abusable than people are willing to talk about, and it happens a lot nowadays.

Well ya can't fix stupid. All you can do is try and help them make informed decisions.

I’ve had iPhones for 15 years now. I’ve wanted side loading the entire time. It’ll be nice if I can do that without jailbreaking, but I won’t be holding my breath.

This is probably the main reason why I don't use an iphone. I was surprised I had to jailbreak for such a simple functionality when I first got my iphone 4. That was my first and last iphone.

Where were you when I was arguing with some dude on Reddit about how people "buy iPhones specifically because they can't sideload" 🙃

Like no, there are lots of genuinely good reasons to buy an iPhone... This is not one

Thank you Tim Apple for freeing me from choice just because the same people that send gift cards to the “IRS” would likely install 85 safari toolbars if sideloading was enabled.

But why would you do that though. It’s a phone company, I couldn’t give two shits which phone someone uses. If someone were trying to drag me into an argument about something so mundane I’d probably just agree with them so we can move past the subject.

Because which phones (and any other product, for that matter) people choose to buy ultimately affects the direction of the entire industry. See: headphone jacks.

Because constructive criticism makes the world go around. There are things I like about iOS, that's definitely not one.

There are also ethical issues involving the lack of sideloading. Imagine Microsoft had never allowed people to install unapproved software in Windows. There would be a lot of Chinese folks that get around the great firewall that never would've been able to do so. Taking sideloading away makes it very easy for the CCP to just say "don't sell that on your store" and for that to be the end of the story.

People argue about OSes too. It's petty. Use what you want. It's your money and your time.

Why not just get an Android phone instead of encouraging the company that doesn't want you to do what you want?

I’ve used Android devices before and just didn’t like them as much.

No no, they will say that apple does it the right way. Instead of downloading and installing a file like a peasant, you will do it through x-code, using your paid developer account only available on Apple hardware. And of course with massive limitations that apps from the app store don't have.

I'm only half joking, I really expect Apple to make it the most miserable experience, to them say "well, nobody is doing it!"