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Direct sideloading comes to iPhone

Direct sideloading comes to iPhone

Plus, crazy mod makes iPhone 15 Pro look like Vision Pro.

Leander Kahney
March 12, 2024

In a surprise announcement, Apple just approved direct sideloading in the European Union.

The company previously approved sideloading in EU countries, but only through Apple-approved alternative app marketplaces, which come with significant baggage.

On Tuesday, Apple backtracked on its own stringent rules, saying app developers can offer downloads directly from their websites — and even from advertisements.

Plenty of sweeping changes are coming to iOS for EU users, and this is another big liberalization of the platform that Apple previously kept under very tight grips.

It’ll be interesting to see if Apple loosens up even more.

Also in today’s newsletter:

This clever mod makes iPhone 15 Pro Max match Vision Pro.
If an online retailer doesn’t accept Apple Pay, don’t worry. You can conjure up a virtual debit card instead. Here’s how.
The M3 MacBook Pro sounds even more appealing with discounts up to $199.
We give the highest marks to a new USB-C iPhone game controller in our hands-on review.
This is a cool 5-in-1 travel charger that will charge all your Apple devices in one tidy package.

— Leander Kahney, EIC.

No App Store needed: EU iPhone users can install apps directly from websites

EU developers can forgo the App Store entirely and distribute their apps to iPhone users directly from their own websites.

Brilliant mod makes iPhone 15 Pro Max match Vision Pro

iPhone 15 Pro Max Vision is a modified version of Apple's premier handset that mimics the company’s AR headset.

^{A message from the Cult of Mac Deals team}

M3 MacBook Pro gets a whopping $199 discount

Amazon's latest M3 MacBook Pro discount knocks $199 off the laptop's price, making it a smart buy for people who like power and ports.

How to pay with an Apple Cash card number

You can get a virtual debit card number to pay with Apple Cash online in case you want to use it on a site that doesn’t accept Apple Pay.

^{A message from the Cult of Mac Deals team}

Keep your iPhone and other Apple gear topped up with this 5-in-1 power bank

Charge your iPhone and other gear on the go with this 10,000mAh 5-in-1 Multi-Device Power Pack that offers MagSafe wireless charging.

AI travel app sets you up with cheap flights, hotels and rental cars for life

Travel in style for less with an AI travel app you can trust. Get a lifetime subscription to OneAir Elite and save on airfare, hotels and rental cars.

This USB-C iPhone game controller is soooo fun and portable [Review] ★★★★½

Enhance your iPhone gaming experience with GameSir’s X2s Type-C Mobile Controller. It lets you dump virtual controls for precise joystick and trigger inputs.

Today in Apple history: Apple market cap breezes by Walmart

On March 12, 2010, Apple moved into third place among publicly listed U.S. companies. Soon the Apple market cap would hit the top.

Tweetz o’ the day

Genius approach
— ICE UNIVERSE (@UniverseIce)
Mar 12, 2024

“Siri, play Classic Hard Rock Station”
Siri: “looks like Apple Music can’t play that”
Tried 3 times, same thing. So I tried Alexa on an echo and she said:
“Sure, here’s Classic Hard Rock Station on Apple Music”
Fuck you Siri, you piece of shit!
— Jim Dalrymple (@jdalrymple)
Mar 12, 2024

this is a must have app on the Apple Vision Pro
Spatial Media Toolkit turns your normal photos and videos into spatial photos and videos. It’s hypnotic
— Justin Ryan ᯅ (@futureio)
Mar 12, 2024

One more thing ...

❝

Some people say, “Give the customers what they want.” But that’s not my approach. Our job is to figure out what they’re going to want before they do.

— Steve Jobs, 2011.

Today’s poll

Do you use Apple Cash?

Results from yesterday’s poll: Did you know about the SSD problem with the M2 MacBook Air?

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