Now that Apple allows the installation of third-party app marketplaces with the release of iOS 17.4, EU iPhone owners have a new option when it comes to downloading and installing their apps. The whole process is still shrouded in mystery somewhat as companies and developers work to get their app marketplaces ready, but a new report has shed some new light on what goes into actually installing one of them — and it turns out that the process is a little more convoluted than you might think.
Apple has so far come under scrutiny for the way it has chosen to comply with the European Union's Digital Markets Act. It's that act that has forced Apple to allow the installation of third-party app marketplaces and while it stops short of requiring sideloading as such, these marketplaces are a far cry from the walled garden of the App Store. Apple has also since confirmed that it will allow app developers to offer apps for download via their own websites, too.
