uniladtech homepage
  • News
    • Tech News
    • AI
  • Gadgets
    • Apple
    • iPhone
  • Gaming
    • Playstation
    • Xbox
  • Science
    • News
    • Space
  • Streaming
    • Netflix
  • Vehicles
    • Car News
  • Social Media
    • WhatsApp
    • YouTube
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • UNILAD
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Archive
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
TikTok
Snapchat
WhatsApp
Submit Your Content
Apple announce major change for iPhone users as they relax rule

Home> Apple> iPhone

Published 09:50 14 Mar 2024 GMT

Apple announce major change for iPhone users as they relax rule

The upcoming change is all to do with the App Store.

Prudence Wade

Prudence Wade

google discoverFollow us on Google Discover
Featured Image Credit: chanakon laorob/ NurPhoto / Contributor / Getty
Apps
Apple
iPhone

Advert

Advert

Advert

Just because iOS 17.4, a major software update for iPhones is here, that doesn't mean Apple's done making major changes to how its platform works.

That update promised and delivered some sweeping changes for EU users in particular, as a result of the Digital Markets Act being enforced by the EU itself.

It hasn't been a complete and immediate thing, though - Apple still has plenty more changes in the pipeline as part of its journey toward full compliance with every part of the Act.

NurPhoto / Contributor / Getty
NurPhoto / Contributor / Getty

Advert

One such change has just been announced, with Apple detailing how it's going to let users in the EU download apps from web pages, rather than exclusively being able to do so through the App Store.

It's going to be quite a complicated system, in fact, so any worries that people will be able to accidentally install malware in a single click might be unfounded.

Developers will still need to register on the App Store and use a service called App Store Connect to link their apps to the App Store, before they can make them available to download elsewhere.

Plus, on the user's side of things, you'll have to go into your Settings app and mark the developer in question as approved in order to download its apps.

Then, before you actually start downloading the app, Apple says that 'a system sheet will display information that developers have submitted to Apple for review, like the app name, developer name, app description, screenshots, and system age rating'.

NurPhoto / Contributor / Getty
NurPhoto / Contributor / Getty

This should help people to make sure that what they're downloading looks right and doesn't contain any tags or flags that seem wrong.

Another huge restriction on which developers can actually use this system comes in the form of a clause that Apple is insisting on. Developers must 'be a member of good standing in the Apple Developer Program for two continuous years or more, and have an app that had more than one million first annual installs on iOS in the EU in the prior calendar year'.

That means that, in theory at least, this really should only be an option open to quite big developers at first, although it's anyone's guess whether these standards will stay the same forever, or be adjusted over time.

Again, though, while this is pretty seismic stuff for the iOS ecosystem, it's still very much limited to EU accounts - and it's only set to become available 'later this spring'.

But even in the EU, it seems like Apple is going to put up plenty of barriers to try to ensure this doesn't result in a flood of scam apps on the web.

Choose your content:

7 hours ago
8 hours ago
a day ago
4 days ago
  • NurPhoto / Contributor via Getty
    7 hours ago

    Chart shows exactly when your iPhone will stop accepting iOS updates

    Some older models are losing iOS 26 support

    Apple
  • NurPhoto / Contributor via Getty
    8 hours ago

    Bizarre Japanese law that prohibits all iPhone owners from silencing camera feature

    It's worth being aware of

    Apple
  • Fiordaliso / Getty
    a day ago

    Apple delivers urgent response to 'darksword' attack hitting iPhone users

    Your security could be at risk thanks to a major vulnerability

    Apple
  • Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
    4 days ago

    Iconic Apple device that sold for $29,000 could be sitting in your drawer right now

    This gadget was released nearly 25 years ago

    Apple
  • Apple delivers urgent response to 'darksword' attack hitting iPhone users
  • iPhone users beg 'please don't do this' as Apple announces plan to add 'ridiculous' new maps feature
  • Apple could unveil a bold new iPhone design to mark its anniversary
  • Apple update lets iPhone users roll back 'absolutely horrible' recent change