Snippet: Apple to Allow Outside App Stores in Overhaul Spurred by EU Laws ☇

Mark Gurman for Bloomberg:

Software engineering and services employees are engaged in a major push to open up key elements of Apple’s platforms, according to people familiar with the efforts. As part of the changes, customers could ultimately download third-party software to their iPhones and iPads without using the company’s App Store, sidestepping Apple’s restrictions and the up-to-30% commission it imposes on payments.

If this report came from just about anyone else, I’d be highly skeptical, but it sounds plausible and could be Apple testing the waters now to appease regulators. From a technical standpoint, things could work exactly like macOS, making sideloading an optional thing with some layers of security. While I’m in favor of this as a way for developers to push the limits and capabilities of devices (and even get out from under the 15-30% cut Apple gets), I hope most stay in the App Store for the sake of simplicity.