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As Apple’s Wideworld Developers Conferencce gets closer, the rumors have continued coming in at rapid succession. Over the weekend, in his Power On newsletter, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman claims that iOS 17 will support app sideloading to comply with European regulations. This would allow iPhone users to download apps and games that are hosted on digital storefronts that are not Apple’s official App Store — something Android phones have been able to do for years.
With the ability to sideload apps, customers don’t necessarily need to use Apple’s App Store to download and purchase apps or make in-app purchases. This change would also mean developers can bypass Apple’s 15% to 30% fees from all purchases.
This change will comply with the EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA) that went into effect on November 1, 2022. This doesn’t affect only Apple, as it requires all “gatekeeper” companies to “open up their services and platforms” to third-party companies and developers. This includes other big tech companies like Google, Meta, Amazon, and more.
The DMA will have significant impact on Apple’s platform and services. Though no one knows for certain just yet, it can affect not just the App Store, but Messages, FaceTime, Siri, and more Apple services. According to Gurman, Apple seems to be implementing sideloading support to comply with these regulations by next year, so it would make sense as an iOS 17 feature.
Apple has always been a strong opponent against sideloading, as the company claimed such a feature would “undermine the privacy and security protections” that the iPhone is known for, making it more likely to be vulnerable to malware, scams, data tracking, and more. But if Apple does not comply with the DMA, it could be fined as much as 20% of its global revenue.
Though Apple may be allowing sideloading in iOS 17, it could also implement its own security requirements instead. One of these could be verification, which Apple could charge a fee for instead of getting a cut from app sales and in-app purchases. This is not completely out of line, as Apple already has such a verification process on the Mac.
While these changes would be great in terms of giving users more choice, we feel like most people will still continue to use the App Store. I myself am skeptical about possible security issues, and I like having my 3% cash back with my Apple Card. Still, if this change does happen as it’s rumored, it could be one of the biggest changes to iOS in years.
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Christine Romero-Chan has been writing about technology, specifically Apple, for over a decade. She graduated from California State University Long Beach with a degree in Journalism and Mass Communications, and her byline has appeared on sites like iMore, MakeUseOf, AppAdvice, Lifehacker, MacLife, and more. While her speciality has been all things Apple, especially the iPhone, she loves technology in general. Before the iPhone, she enjoyed seeing the latest innovations in the mobile space, from BlackBerry to the Palm Pre. Though she’s been using an iPhone for the past 14 years, she is open to dabbling with Android and other mobile platforms, which is why she’s here at Digital Trends.
Christine’s other interests include mechanical keyboards (the superior typing experience), mobile photography, lots of coffee, food, Star Wars, a lot of animated series, and gaming. She’s also based in Southern California, so she takes advantage of this by being a Disneyland passholder. If she isn’t writing, chances are high that you’ll find her at Disneyland with her husband and daughter.
You can find Christine on Mastodon.
iPhone 15: release date and price predictions, leaks, rumors, and more
As great as the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro are, they’re both already a few months old at this point, and the rumors about the iPhone 15 are well underway. We still have several months before the iPhone 15 models drop, though, as Apple usually makes iPhone announcements in the fall. In other words, there’s still a lot of time for rumors to make the rounds — and make the rounds they will.
We’re keeping all of the reports and rumors of the iPhone 15 here in a single place for your convenience, but do remember to keep in mind that these are all still just speculation. Nothing is final until Apple confirms it during an official announcement. Still, a lot of the rumors give us an idea of what to expect each year, which is unfortunate if you like surprises. Here’s everything we know of the iPhone 15 so far!
iPhone 15: models
Your old iPhone may not get iOS 17 this year, and that’s good
With Apple’s Worldwide Developer Conference coming on June 5, we’re expecting a lot of cool things to be announced during the keynote. This could finally be the time that Apple unveils its mixed reality headset, and — of course — we’ll be getting our usual slate of software updates for existing products. That includes iOS 17, which will no doubt ship with the iPhone 15 later this year.
But one rumor going around recently is that iOS 17 could be dropping support for the iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, and iPhone X. iPadOS 17 may also be leaving the first generation 9.7-inch and 12.9-inch iPad Pros, as well as the fifth-generation iPad, in the dust. Though many people who are using these devices seem to be outraged at the possibility of not getting iOS 17 on their older iPhones, I think it’s the right decision. Here’s why.
You already got over 5 years of software upgrades
Excited for the iPhone 15 Pro? You have to see these new renders
The iPhone 15 — and its rumored hardware upgrades — have been the talk of the rumor mill for the past few months. Now, the folks over at 9to5Mac have shared what they claim to be CAD-based renders of the iPhone 15 Pro and its Max variant in some stunning visual fashion.
Let’s start with the screen. The pill-shaped Dynamic Island is here to stay, but it looks like Apple is trimming the bezels on its upcoming flagships. If the leaked renders turn out to be true, the iPhone 15 Pro would offer some of the thinnest bezels you can find on any phone out there.
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Christine Romero-Chan