TLDR: Apple’s EU policy includes third-party app stores, strict app notarization, and new developer fees; exclusive EU features raise safety and fairness concerns.
This article is a summary of a You Tube video “Apple is Trolling the EU” by TechLinked
Key Takeaways:
- EU Digital Markets Act Compliance: Apple has addressed how it will comply with the EU’s Digital Markets Act, introducing third-party app stores, payment systems, and non-WebKit browser engines.
- EU-Exclusive Features: These changes will be exclusive to the EU, raising concerns about their safety and Apple’s real intentions.
- App Notarization: Third-party app marketplaces will require Apple’s authorization, and apps must be notarized, involving both bot and human review.
- No Support for Side Loading: Contrary to some reports, iOS will not support sideloading apps, unlike Android and other operating systems.
- New Business Terms for Developers: Developers using third-party payment systems or app marketplaces must agree to new terms, including a reduced App Store revenue cut and additional fees.
- Core Technology Fee (CTF): A significant fee is imposed on developers once their app exceeds 1 million installs, potentially increasing Apple’s revenue cut significantly.
- Game Streaming Platforms: Apple will allow game streaming platforms to submit a single iOS app for their entire game library, a departure from its previous policy.
- Epic Games and Fortnite’s Return: Epic Games plans to launch its store and Fortnite on iOS, despite criticizing Apple’s new rules.
- Beeper Cloud’s iMessage Issues: Apple’s block of Beeper Cloud’s service, which routes iMessages to Android, highlights its strict control over user experience.
- Microsoft Teams Outage: An outage affecting Microsoft Teams users, including a vague response from Microsoft, highlights the reliance on and vulnerabilities of such services.
