The cycle has come to an end for the walled garden which Apple has created for over 15 years to protect the user experience of the iPhone. I was thinking about this question just yesterday when we announced that iOS 17.4 will most likely be the first version of the operating system to allow sideloading and third-party usage, following investigations by The Wall Street Journal. payment methods to users in the European Union in response to a DMA application that targeted Apple, among others, last September.

As we told you back then, The European Union targeted three Apple products/services: iOS, the App Store and Safarialthough those at Cupertino have tried to avoid regulating the latter, arguing that the iOS browser is not the same as the ipadOS version and of course the macOS version, which is against Cupertino’s own communication policy. we told you a few months ago.

European authorities are still investigating whether ipadOS and iMessage will also have to be subject to the regulations set out in the Digital Markets Act, but until they decide, it’s clear that the iPhone user experience is dying. be more affected measures that must be implemented no later than March next yearbecause it is a deadline set by the EU for the mandatory fulfillment of the same by the EU porter. And of course iOS, but also the App Store and Safari are the three main pillars.

iOS

Although the first generation iPhone did not have an app store (because Steve Jobs opted for web apps), the iPhone 3G and The debut of this store began one of Apple’s great successes, though this time it wasn’t so much due to its ability to innovate (app stores existed before) or reinvent what already existed. No, they actually used a much simpler and more effective technique: they prevented the installation of apps from sources other than their own store. In fact, the most veteran ones will remember that it was necessary to jailbreak in order to install alternatives like Cydia, which in turn was the door to other applications, modifications of the operating system (some of which were later incorporated into iOS), etc.

From then until now, Apple has had the exclusive right to bring new apps to the iPhone, which has brought enormous benefits to those from Cupertino, but this model will no longer be in effect with iOS 17.4, as Apple has confirmed that this version of the operating system will allow users in the European Union to install and use additional app stores on their iPhones.

This is obviously something that doesn’t sit well with Cupertino, which has been warning for some time about the risks associated with removing garden fences. As a result, they announce it the operating system will display warning messages about risks which users incur when downloading applications from sources other than the App Store, but at the same time they reserve the right (which of course they claim will be valid) to perform a certain check (notarization and analysis) of said applications, the so-called notarization .., even if are in other stores to guarantee their security and adapt to the operating system’s own policies. This means that Apple will continue to have the final say in determining whether an app is available for iOS, regardless of the store in which it is to be distributed.

And yes, you probably imagined it, and I confirm it. Although they will be smaller than those from the official Apple store, payment operations through these new stores They will also be subject to commissions from Apple. Yes, commissions that will be lower than in the App Store.

App store

It goes without saying that there are also changes in the iOS app store and, by extension, in the options for both users and developers, and without a doubt the most anticipated the arrival of third-party payment methods in commerce. In this way, starting with iOS 17.4, developers will be able to offer users alternatives to the Cupertino payment platform, although at this point we will also find that Apple will be able to charge a commission for these operations. In addition, third-party stores may use Apple’s own payment methods in addition to other payment methods as a counterpart.

At this point it is very important to clarify, yes, that The technology company assumes no responsibility for said operations.. And what do I mean by that? Very simple, if you make a payment and later want to cancel it, Apple will wash their hands of it, so you will have to manage it directly with the developer and/or their chosen payment platform, which will be the one you used. Of course, this makes all the logic in the world.

Another interesting new feature is that starting with iOS 17.4, developers who upload their apps to the App Store will be able to include, if they wish, links that lead to payment and subscription management websites. To give an example that everyone will understand: until now, streaming platform apps can only offer in-app contracting through Apple’s payment platform, but with this change, they can also include a link to their website instead or in an additional way, so that from there they could manage subscriptions.

It went somewhat unnoticed, but another restriction was also broken, probably one of the most absurd we’ve seen in recent memory. Remember how NVIDIA, Microsoft, and Google were forced to create a web version of their cloud gaming services after Apple banned cloud gaming apps? Well, with iOS 17.4 it will end, so both NVIDIA and Microsoft (don’t forget that Google has already left this market) finally will be able to create and upload GeForce Now and Xbox Cloud streaming apps to the App Storeor of course to alternative shops.

Safari

It may seem like a small detail, but I assure you it is not. First, and this is something that many remember from the good old days of Internet Explorer and the European Union, now Safari will have to show a main screen when first opened by a user in iOS 17.4, in which you will be offered different web browsers so you can choose the one you want to use by default. However, let us remind you that since iOS 14, the operating system allows you to choose the iPhone’s default browser.

Now, the most important part of the news concerns the fact that until now all browsers that have come to iOS have done so with a huge limitation, being forced to use WebKit, the technology that Safari is based on, instead of using alternatives , which are much more popular on other platforms like Chromium or Gecko, which prevented iOS versions of browsers from Google, Microsoft, Mozilla, etc. from offering a more consistent experience. on all platforms. That’s also the end because Starting with iOS 17.4, iOS web browser developers will be able to use engines other than WebKit.

So with this change, We can expect the same interesting moves that Mozilla made with the Android version of Firefox, which for a little over a month now allows you to install extensions that were typical of the desktop version until then. Obviously, at least in the short term, Apple will continue to support WebKit, but the rest of the browser developers will likely abandon it as soon as possible.

Apple will notify you. Many

Apple does not like these changes, it is going to make them out of obligationin order not to be excluded from the European market, which has caused so many headaches for the technology company in recent years (USB-C as the only charger, right to repair, replaceable batteries…), and this is most evident when reading the official statement (in English), which they published to inform of these changes.

As you can see by looking at it, Cupertino in a negative sense means a lot of changes that will be introduced, risk disturbing consequences that can be grouped in particular into a significant reduction in safety that the platform has offered so far. So if you’re using an iPhone in the European Union and updating to iOS 17.4, be prepared for a few security warnings, disclaimer and other elements to that effect.