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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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?

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.

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.