AltStore, the app that facilitates sideloading, does not really like the sideloading wanted by Europe

On both sides of the Atlantic, regulators clearly intend to bend Apple and impose on the manufacturer sideloading, in other words the downloading and installation of applications outside the App Store. This is the case of the Digital Markets Act (DMA) in Europe, which will come into force next spring.

What DMA will change for the App Store, iPhone and Apple

But you don’t have to wait another year before you can do without the official store! From now on, it is possible to experiment with sideloading on iPhone or iPad, thanks to AltStore, an alternative store that has the great advantage of installing without having to jailbreak your device. Once on the smartphone or tablet, you can easily import apps from AltStore .ipathe native format for iOS apps.

The newly available version 1.5 brings two important new features. First, applications from reliable sources are appearing directly in AltStore: Flycast (Dreamcast emulator), UTM (virtual machines for iOS) and DolphiniOS, the Nintendo emulator developed by Riley Testut — who is the creator of AltStore.

These reliable sources, duly approved by AltStore, have been selected for their compliance with security standards. It will still take a little bit of work before opening the door to all sources. It is still possible to install any .ipa.

If these applications have won the green light from AltStore, it is because they support AltJIT, the “in-house” Just-In-Time (JIT) compilation which frankly improves the performance of applications, in particular emulators. However, it will be necessary to think about activate itholding down an app in the tab MyApps > EnableJIT. The release notes can be viewed at this address.

Since its launch in 2019, AltStore has been downloaded 1.5 million times, according to Riley Testut who gloats about it in Fast Company. The store has 300,000 monthly active users and 6,000 of them contribute $14,500 to the developer’s Patreon.

Installing AltStore is not easy. You must first install AltServer on your Mac, then a module in Mail, and then go through the minuet of the app (Install AltStore > [Nom de l’iPhone]). The Mail module allows you to run AltServer, necessary to install apps on the iOS terminal. You should also know that the number of sideloaded applications is limited to ten per week, and they must be “refreshed” every 7 days (AltServer takes care of the operation). The official user manual, in English, is at this address.

Regarding sideloading as required by the regulatory authorities, Riley Testut wants to be cautious, which may seem paradoxical in view of its creation, which precisely facilitates this manipulation. ” There are many risks in sideloading “, he underlines. ” It is our responsibility to do everything possible to prevent people from accidentally crashing “.

” In fact, we don’t like these laws “, he declares, “ we really think they are overreaching and have serious ramifications for privacy “. Still, he believes the mobile app industry needs this freedom. Testut judges that Apple’s approach is wrong: ” anything that pushes the boundaries [de ce qu’Apple peut imaginer] is rejected [par l’App Store] “. However, this is where sideloading can be very useful.