3 ms·

I think what Apple’s afraid of is an app like Facebook tricking/forcing users to sideload in order to bypass privacy protections and get full access to user dat

I think what Apple’s afraid of is an app like Facebook tricking/forcing users to sideload in order to bypass privacy protections and get full access to user data. I don’t think they’re at all worried about hobbyists sideloading open source apps. Everyone likes to say “but would Apple would lose the $100/yr from all those hobbyists.” How many hobbyists do you think are out there right now paying $100/year just to load some apps on their phone? Can’t be more than 1000. Even if it were 10,000 that would represent $1 million/yr in lost revenue for Apple. That’s less than a rounding error on just one quarterly report. They really don’t care about that!

411111111111111 4y ago
I doubt any of that was really considered, honestly. Apple wants to fully control the devices they're letting people use. Allowing side loading can only be considered a reduction in control of their devices, thus it's against their main mission.
JKCalhoun 4y ago
Steam charges you $100 per app that you upload to their store. That seems like a better business model. No App Store presence? No $100 required.
cloverich 4y ago
They are worried about both, and use the former to justify the latter. And in the case of Facebook, they are worried for good reasons (they care about user privacy) and bad ones (they are happy to hurt Facebook financially, because it reduces their ability to compete with Apple).
adql 4y ago
> I think what Apple’s afraid of is an app like Facebook tricking/forcing users to sideload in order to bypass privacy protections and get full access to user data. I don’t think they’re at all worried about hobbyists sideloading open source apps. Nah, they're worried someone might sideload a software with payment method that doesn't give them cut
- anigbrowl 4y ago
  BS, nobody wants to sideload another app store. If they want to pay for sketchy software they get it off a dark web site and sideload that. Even if you wanted to install recreational_drugstore.app to have the convenience of a wraparound consumer experience for designer dugs, would you really want a dark web originated app hooked up to your crypto wallet or fiat payment methods? Get real, Apple's target demo is upper-middle class people who want a frictionless computing experience - the kind of people whose response to a massive avoidable security fail would be litigation and political/regulatory action.
  - rnk 4y ago
    That's not true. There are plenty of other stores on Android.
- robertoandred 4y ago
  Who wants another payment method? When something doesn't offer Apple Pay it's a huuugggee pain and a good reason to find something else.
  - smoldesu 4y ago
    The only thing simpler than a payment method is no payment method at all. A scary premise, judging from Apple's lethargic WebKit development.
LarryMullins 4y ago
> I think what Apple’s afraid of is an app like Facebook tricking/forcing users Apple treats their users like a nursing home treats senile people.

411111111111111 4y ago

I doubt any of that was really considered, honestly. Apple wants to fully control the devices they're letting people use. Allowing side loading can only be considered a reduction in control of their devices, thus it's against their main mission.

JKCalhoun 4y ago

Steam charges you $100 per app that you upload to their store. That seems like a better business model. No App Store presence? No $100 required.

cloverich 4y ago

They are worried about both, and use the former to justify the latter. And in the case of Facebook, they are worried for good reasons (they care about user privacy) and bad ones (they are happy to hurt Facebook financially, because it reduces their ability to compete with Apple).

adql 4y ago

> I think what Apple’s afraid of is an app like Facebook tricking/forcing users to sideload in order to bypass privacy protections and get full access to user data. I don’t think they’re at all worried about hobbyists sideloading open source apps. Nah, they're worried someone might sideload a software with payment method that doesn't give them cut

anigbrowl 4y ago
BS, nobody wants to sideload another app store. If they want to pay for sketchy software they get it off a dark web site and sideload that. Even if you wanted to install recreational_drugstore.app to have the convenience of a wraparound consumer experience for designer dugs, would you really want a dark web originated app hooked up to your crypto wallet or fiat payment methods? Get real, Apple's target demo is upper-middle class people who want a frictionless computing experience - the kind of people whose response to a massive avoidable security fail would be litigation and political/regulatory action.
- rnk 4y ago
  That's not true. There are plenty of other stores on Android.
robertoandred 4y ago
Who wants another payment method? When something doesn't offer Apple Pay it's a huuugggee pain and a good reason to find something else.
- smoldesu 4y ago
  The only thing simpler than a payment method is no payment method at all. A scary premise, judging from Apple's lethargic WebKit development.

LarryMullins 4y ago

> I think what Apple’s afraid of is an app like Facebook tricking/forcing users Apple treats their users like a nursing home treats senile people.