Marco ArmentApr 17, 2023

“[sideloading] would allow customers to download apps without needing to use the App Store, which would mean developers wouldn't need to pay Apple's 15 to 30 percent fees.” https://www.macrumors.com/2023/04/17/app-sideloading-support-coming-ios-17/

Not a chance. Apple will just use another method to collect their "commission”: https://developer.apple.com/support/storekit-external-entitlement/

Remember: Tim Cook views our customers as THEIR customers, our sales as THEIR sales, and the 30% as what they rightfully deserve for gracing us with a platform that we provide no other value to.

iOS 17 to Support App Sideloading to Comply With European Regulations

Apple in iOS 17 will for the first time allow iPhone users to download apps hosted outside of its official App Store, according to Bloomberg's...

MacRumors
Show threadManton ReeceApr 17, 2023
@marcoarment I agree with you on the way Tim Cook sees this, but I also think once sideloading is possible, Apple will start to lose control. And that's how it should be. Are they going to sue small developers to access our bank accounts? Ridiculous.
Show threadJosh RiversApr 18, 2023
@manton @marcoarment I can still easily drop $5-10k/yr on Microsoft development tools. $99/year with an unlimited free tier at developer.apple.com isn’t guaranteed to exist. Apple doesn’t need to sue you, they can just inform you of the new pricing. Good luck running code without a code signer and linker.
Show threadManton Reece
@joshrivers @marcoarment Charging for dev tools is different than dipping into my business revenue. If Apple wants to charge $5k for Xcode, they can feel free. I would probably pay it. But they are not entitled to a cut of my subscriptions (to be clear I don't use IAP).
Apr 18, 2023 at 1:49amWeb
Show threadJosh RiversApr 18, 2023
@manton @marcoarment I don’t think they are entitled either, but SalesForce sells products that cost 3% of gross customer sales. I think Apple needs to cut a new deal with their ecosystem, but alternative app stores won’t magically make that happen. There are still so many ways they can extract whatever price they consider fair unless they get regulated like a utility and have prices set by government. Which our government seems unlikely to do.