iOS and iPadOS 17.4 are coming soon – in March – and with those updates for our iPhones and iPads comes the ability to access alternative app stores and side apps. Warning? These upcoming big changes will only apply to users within the European Union, due to the EU Digital Markets Act coming into effect in May. Apple’s hand was mostly legally forced on this. Regardless, Apple will surely do its best to not only limit alternative app stores and sideloading apps to EU users only, but also to make these processes as frustratingly complicated as possible, to discourage users from they try them out.
But why does it even matter and why do I care? Well, I happen to be an EU citizen, and there are some things I’ve always wanted to do with my iPhone and iPad that I’ve only been able to do on Android phones and tablets until now.
Here’s why I’m excited about this update and why you should be too, especially if you’re an EU Apple user…
Use your powerful iPad, finally
The iPad is a powerful machine, but we can use it even better without some of Apple’s limitations
Unlike the way things are on Android, on Apple’s mobile devices users can only access apps approved by the multi-trillion dollar company. Until now, iPhone and iPad users could access only one app store—Apple’s—and only download or purchase apps pre-approved by that store.
That’s great in terms of security, but if you’re someone who, say, wants to play Fortnite or download a torrenting app – you’re out of luck. Apple has fallen out with the developer of Fortnite, so it’s ultimately your problem, as a consumer. Apple also doesn’t allow certain gray-zone apps like those for torrenting, so once again – if you ever need one – you’re out of luck.
There are many reasons why games and apps might not get Apple’s seal of approval, and unfortunately for users like you and me, that means we don’t have the ability to download them to our Apple devices.
I don’t care about Fortnite or torrenting apps, but I love virtual machines. That is, the possibility of running one operating system inside another. For example, I used to run Windows on my Mac and Linux on my Android tablet. It’s not only a fun thing to try, but truly useful for true professionals and hobbyists alike.
iPads have become quite powerful these days, but they are limited to only running iPadOS. My problem with that? Multitasking is still not great and I can’t run the desktop Chrome browser that I’m used to and need for work.
iPadOS’s Chrome browser can be roughly described as a mobile Safari browser in disguise, again due to Apple’s developer restrictions.
If only I could run a virtual machine on my iPad, I could run Windows or Linux on it and get the full Chrome browser I need to make my iPad really replace my laptop.
That’s just one example of how sideloading apps and alternative app stores will soon empower iPad users like me, and as you can probably see, that can be a big deal for some of us.
Make your iPhone truly yours; no limit, finally
EU gets second version of iOS 17.4
Again, I have to say that Apple’s set restrictions aren’t inherently bad, especially if you look at things with privacy and security in mind. However, the limitations of the iPhone can be quite a trade-off to deal with if you’re coming from Android. You get less customization and fewer apps overall, due to the aforementioned lack of alternative app stores, on top of Apple’s stricter rules about what apps are allowed per se.
I love retro games. I have a huge collection of them and I am part of a whole community that is like me. We all have collections of abandoned program retro games Android phones, and occasionally let them on airplane flights and what not. However, Apple has decided that emulators are one of the many things it doesn’t allow in its app store.
These are programs that emulate game consoles, such as the old Atari, SEGA Genesis, or maybe the arcade machine you played as a kid. Once again – Google allows them Android phones and tablets, but not Apple, on the iPhone and iPad.
When iOS 17.4 arrives for us EU guys, we’ll finally be able to play our old “I can’t let go of my childhood” games on the go, when the nostalgia hits us. No more jumping through hoops – we’ll just download our emulators from alternative app stores, no matter how discouraging Apple sounds about it. The EU Digital Markets Act gives us that right, as users, and I’m quite happy about that.
Developers of mobile apps and games can go outside Apple’s walled garden
I mentioned the conflict between Fortnite developer Epic Games and Apple. This is just one example (albeit the most publicized one) where an app developer disagrees with Apple, and at the end of the day – consumers suffer because of it. Your kid can’t play their favorite game because Epic Games wants to share less of their revenue with Apple, while Apple… being Apple… Wants a cut of that revenue. It takes a percentage of all earnings from all app and game developers that sell on their devices, namely the iPhone and iPad.
The legal details don’t really matter; the point is – with the entry into force of the EU Digital Markets Act, and Apple being forced to comply with it, more developers will be able to reach more users, at least within the EU.
More, potentially cheaper mobile games, and more software in general, like the examples I gave earlier. More freedom of choice for everyone.
I’ve shared why it’s important to me and why I’m excited about the iOS and iPadOS updates, but what about you? Would you like to see the Digital Markets Act extended to other regions, such as the US, in one form or another? Let us know what you think about this topic in the comments section below!
Learn more about the upcoming iOS update: