Apple, the giant that loved to control everything, has loosened its grip. With iPadOS 18, your iPad is finally opening up to the outside world.
Who would have thought? After the iPhone, Apple, the champion of control and the walled garden, has taken a giant step toward openness.
With the release of iPadOS 18, announced during the Glowtime event a week ago, iPad users in the European Union can now install apps outside of the official App Store.
But make no mistake: if Apple has given in, it’s due to the pressure of the Digital Markets Act, the new European regulation aimed at regulating the practices of digital giants. In other words, the Cupertino firm didn’t really have a choice.
Sideloading,Explained
For the uninitiated, let’s talk a bit about this famous “sideloading.” Basically, it’s the ability to install apps from sources other than the official App Store. You’ll be able to download an app directly from the developer’s website or from an alternative app store. If you’re on Android, this might seem trivial, but in Apple’s locked-down ecosystem, it’s a true revolution.
Until now, Apple justified its refusal of sideloading for security reasons. And to be fair, the argument held up: by controlling all the apps available on its devices, Apple could (to some extent) guarantee their safety. But with the introduction of sideloading, things are changing.
Of course, Apple wasn’t going to open the floodgates without taking some precautions. The company has implemented new security measures, including iOS app attestation.
In practice, all apps, whether they come from the App Store or elsewhere, will have to go through a basic verification process.
This includes automated checks as well as human review, providing reassurance to users… and allowing Apple to keep an eye on what’s being installed on iPads.
Additionally, the installation process is far from simple, with multiple steps involved. Apple is taking no chances.
The Controversy Over the “Core Technology Fee
But the real surprise is the introduction of the “Core Technology Fee.” Apple has decided to charge developers a fee of 50 cents per installation for any app installed more than a million times per year. This allows the company to continue profiting from its ecosystem, even when apps aren’t distributed through its official store.
This decision has raised quite a few eyebrows. Some see it as a backhanded way for Apple to discourage sideloading. Others accuse the company of trying to have its cake and eat it too. The European Commission, in any case, was quick to respond: an investigation was launched in late June 2024 to determine whether this practice violates the sacred Digital Markets Act (DMA).
