Sideloaded app stores are coming to iOS in the EU

aprnu@feddit.ch to Technology@lemmy.world – 309 points –
Sideloaded app stores are coming to iOS in the EU
thenextweb.com
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Might have to start importing all my tech from the EU at this rate.

Someone found some code that referenced geo-blocking features. So if you are physically in Europe, then it should work and when you are outside of Europe then it wouldn’t.

I’m not sure if they plan to use the os with way, but maybe they will.

Maybe turning on a vpn will do the trick.

I’m guessing that they will lock it to Europe for some time, but in the next iOS update roll it out world wide as they see the writing on the wall.

But Apple always seems to find a way to disappoint.

It’s likely to be based on your iOS account.

In order to use the EU store, your account just needs an EU address & credit card on file.

I say this because I have a coworker who came from Ukraine and today he asked me how to find the Tim Hortons app on the app store. His phone was still loading the EU store so there was no app found.

Once he changed his apple account address to Canada and added his Canadian card, he had access to the NA store.

This policy is so frustrating for me.

I’m from the US but live in another country.

There are so many apps that are only available in one country or another so I effectively have two phones just so I can access all my banking apps and some streaming stuff.

You can create another Apple ID in the country you need. I am a Canadian in the US and couldn’t change the country of my Apple ID because I have active subscriptions (another idiotic limitation) I created a second ID with a US address and CC. Downloaded US-only apps just fine and didn’t lose my Canada-only ones either.

Faraday cage and GPS simulator? A hackrf and some tinfoil can probably do it for a few hundred bucks

How are you getting an Internet connection in which to download, if you're in a Faraday cage?

Serious answer... the GPS (and location tracking in general) on an iPhone is disabled by default and you're asked to opt-in when you set up a new device. You don't have to enable location features and you can change your mind later — on a case by case basis as well. So you an have GPS in maps and weather reports, but not allow the general system services to access your location.

A faraday cage doesn’t neutralize all wireless communication in its area, just from passing through its walls. Meaning that any network hardware within the cage would work just fine. You could even just slip the antenna in and leave the rest of the unit outside if the cage isn’t large enough.

I'm sure Apple will heavily region-lock this.

I’m really interested to see how they’re going to region lock this. Will it be where the device was sold? Does that comply with EU regulations? Will it be geographical location? If I move to the US, will it lock the side loaded apps? If I grab a VPN can I side load things?

Yeah I'm curious too. There doesn't seem like there is a good way.

I wouldn't be surprised if it's the country where the SIM originates. A prepaid eSIM from an EU carrier (as secondary sim) is pretty cheap though and might work if this is what they do.

Interesting thought! This wouldn’t work for iPads and iPhones with no sim (but use WiFi) though

Any recent iPhone/iPad will support eSIM. It would work just fine for them.

An eSIM still requires an account with a carrier, which is optional when you setup a new phone.

Yes, but you can just contact an EU company that provides eSIMs and get one.

Only the cellular iPads have the eSIM. The standard WiFi ones do not. Since iOS covers both of these devices, older models, and folks who choose not to have a carrier despite having the ability to do so, I don’t believe this would be a partial solution at best.

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