> Apple will even certify third party developers so that the system can still validate software outside of the Mac App Store. That kind of security model would be perfect for iOS and would moot pretty much all the substantive parts of Epic's complaint.

That's a really good point. Why isn't the dev community talking about getting Apple to do this on iOS?

It would allow sideloading while maintaining security, and a somewhat more fair amount of control from Apple.

Because the dev community seems to think that you shouldn't be allowed to go to the bathroom without checking in with Apple first, for "security."

Just because it is something YOU want doesn't mean we ALL want it. I appreciate Apple's review of apps and their store policies. While no human endeavor is perfect it is at least an attempt to keep their platform more secure, safer for kids, higher quality, and more trustworthy.

Opening up the platform to other app stores means they have less control over the experience on their platform it opens more avenues for malware.

If you want a more open platform use Android.

Why are Apple users so quick to recommend me Android when I point out this particular flaw with iOS? And yes, I do consider distrusting the owner's software installation preferences to be a flaw, especially when Apple is certainly capable of maintaining a robust and safe third-party distribution ecosystem on macOS. The Mac isn't demonstrably less secure because you have a sanctioned way to install Steam onto it. Likewise, Apple doesn't lose the ability to maintain the quality of the Mac App Store because people might get their apps on Steam.

"Safer for kids" isn't a factor here; Apple already provides tools for parents to lock down their children's devices should that be necessary. This would also presumably have an option (or default) to disable third-party apps, in the same way parents can already disable specific App Store and built-in apps.

The Mac is demonstrably less secure than iOS, and there is much less incentive for bad actors to target the Mac because of its tiny market share.

Or, you know, you could just not use any other app store on iPhone and continue to use Apple's and it'll still work fine.

And let others use the Epic app store for Fortnight.

> less control over the experience on their platform

I value the customer's ability to install programs of their choosing on a phone they purchased. It seems strange that we see it as desirable to concentrate authority over billions of devices this way. Taking a step back, it's sort of a "what could possibly go wrong" scenario.

Safer for kids who aren't in Hong Kong, presumably.

A single source of application signing will always be abused to entrench dangerous governments and prejudice. It is toxic, and needs to be outlawed.

They have an officially sanctioned way. Reinstall every 7 days without cost, or pay $100/year and you don’t need to reinstall.

It’s not as convenient as the main store, of course, but there are convenience tools (altstore.io) that make it close.

I have and use AltStore. It's amazing what they did, but it's certainly not Apple-sanctioned; they have to jump through a large amount of hoops in order to get your code signing certificate and then get iTunes to install the app for you. This also requires giving AltStore your iCloud password, among other things, and it resigns the app as yours. It technically works, but it doesn't work well.