Direct sideloading comes to iPhone

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

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:

— Leander Kahney, EIC.

A message from the Cult of Mac Deals team

A message from the Cult of Mac Deals team

Tweetz o’ the day

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.

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