iOS 17.4 brings a number of new options to the iPhone, resembling Apple Music-like lyrics for Apple Podcasts, new emojis, widgets, a greater iMessage safety protocol, and extra. Nonetheless, probably the most important change is Apple’s compliance with the European Union’s Digital Market Act, permitting customers in Europe to obtain apps from third-party app shops.
That is the primary time the Cupertino large has allowed downloading apps from sources apart from the Apple App Retailer on the iPhone. Nonetheless, earlier than you begin utilizing these new options in your iPhone, there are some important factors to think about. Here is what it is advisable know:
1. Various app shops will cease working exterior the EU
(Even when you have them put in in your system)
For individuals who might not know, the power to sideload apps on iPhones working iOS 17.4 is solely accessible inside the EU. Though this characteristic is built-in into the system, Apple has not prolonged its availability to different areas like North America and Asia. Nonetheless, what’s significantly noteworthy is that for those who depart the EU for an prolonged interval, third-party app shops will not work in your system. To put in apps from exterior the App Retailer or obtain new app marketplaces, it’s essential to stay bodily current inside EU areas.
2. Apps nonetheless must undergo a safety test (Notarization)
By permitting the set up of apps from sources exterior the App Retailer, Apple can not make sure the safety and content material of the apps supplied by means of various app shops. To handle this, Apple has carried out a safety measure often called Notarization in iOS 17.4. This ensures that each one apps, whatever the platform they’re distributed by means of — App Retailer or various marketplaces — bear a baseline safety test to detect and forestall malware, viruses, and different threats.
Whereas apps from the App Retailer bear rigorous human evaluation and safety checks, these from third-party shops will undergo Notarization for his or her safety test. Apple says that if an iOS app is discovered to include identified malware after set up, will probably be blocked from launching, and new installations can be revoked.
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3. There is a grace interval earlier than third-party apps cease receiving updates exterior the EU
To obtain new apps and various marketplaces, customers must be within the EU. However what about updating these apps whereas exterior the EU? It appears Apple can be imposing restrictions on this regard as effectively. Third-party apps will cease receiving updates if a consumer stays exterior the EU for greater than 30 days.
Which means that for those who’re away from the EU for over a month, Apple will revoke replace entry, stopping you from updating present apps. You will need to return to a supported EU area to replace the apps. Whereas 30 days appears greater than sufficient, this restriction might be irritating for individuals who spend most of their time exterior the EU.
4. Mother and father can block ‘unsafe’ apps from non-App Retailer sources
Apple says that it can not monitor the content material of the apps distributed by means of various marketplaces, which may embody objectionable materials like hate speech, unlawful medication, or pornography. To handle this, the corporate is providing an answer the place dad and mom can stop members of the family from putting in third-party app marketplaces altogether.
This may be carried out by means of Display Time restrictions by going into Content material & Privateness Restrictions → App Installations & Purchases, and altering ‘App Marketplaces’ to ‘Don’t Permit’. Alternatively, dad and mom can even choose to set age rankings for putting in apps from third-party app shops as an alternative of utterly blocking them. These age restrictions will then apply to non-App Retailer marketplaces as effectively.
5. Builders can provide direct app downloads from their web sites
Whereas Apple has solely opened up third-party app shops within the EU, the corporate extra lately mentioned that it’s going to permit builders to supply apps immediately by means of their web sites. Nonetheless, to be eligible for this, builders should adhere to a stricter set of necessities. These embody being a member of the Apple Developer Program for 2 steady years, with not less than one app reaching a million installs within the EU, and passing the Notarization test. This characteristic will develop into accessible by means of a software program replace later this 12 months, marking the primary time Apple permits customers to obtain apps immediately from web sites.
