iOS 17.4 is now available, and with this update, third-party iOS app stores are also available. This is a giant step for Apple, required by the European Union and under the Digital Markets Act, but it comes with a lot of fine print on the company’s part.
Apple published a document detailing the operation and availability of third-party app stores, as well as some details that surprised users because they were restrictive. And despite the fact that it is quite obvious that Apple did not like this imposition of the European Union at all (the launch of which coincided with an exemplary fine), the company creates many obstacles to the implementation of this functionality.
Not only for developers, who will actually have to continue to go through Apple’s controls even if they run their apps in third-party apps, in addition to paying a good amount when exceeding certain installations, but also for users.
Well, as you can read in the said document, the functionality of third party app stores They will no longer be available if you move outside the European Union. That is, even if you are a European citizen, your Apple ID is European and you live in Europe, there are huge restrictions when using third-party stores.
Apple confirms that if you move outside the EU, third-party app stores will stop working after a while
The operating system analyzes that you are physically located in the European Union, and if you travel for an extended period of time (Apple does not indicate this period), the functionality of third-party application stores will stop working. This means that while you can continue to use apps you’ve already downloaded, You will not be able to update them or download new applications:
If you leave the European Union for a short trip, you will still have access to alternative app stores during a grace period. If you’re away for too long, you’ll lose access to some features, including installing new alternative app markets. Apps you installed from alternative app stores will still work, but the store you downloaded them from won’t be able to update them.
The rights of European citizens do not expire even if they reside outside the European Union.
What’s more, it looks like it won’t be possible to fool the system, since it’s the iPhone that locally checks that you’re in a European Union country where the feature is available. Information is not sent to Apple but uses an unspecified local geolocation system:
Your device’s eligibility for alternative app markets is determined through on-device processing and only an eligibility indicator is sent to Apple. To protect your privacy, Apple does not collect your device’s location data.
In the document, the company highlights other problems with third-party app stores that aren’t really a problem at all, such as apps offering content that isn’t on the App Store (?). And what does Apple think is the best way to avoid all the problems of third party app stores?:”If you want to continue to have your apps approved according to Apple’s App Store review guidelines, please use the App Store.”
Source: Hiper Textual
I’m Ben Stock, a highly experienced and passionate journalist with a career in the news industry spanning more than 10 years. I specialize in writing content for websites, including researching and interviewing sources to produce engaging articles. My current role is as an author at Gadget Onus, where I mainly cover the mobile section.
