We knew iPhone sideloading was inevitable in Europe long before Apple actually announced the feature. By sideloading, I don't just mean the ability of an iPhone user to download any application regardless of the source.
Yes, iPhone owners in the European Union will be able to install apps from the App Store, third-party App Marketplaces, and developer websites. But I also mean support for third-party payment systems and the ability for developers to place links in their apps to their websites that might feature better deals than the App Store pricing.
When Apple finally announced iPhone sideloading, the iPad was curiously absent. That wasn't entirely surprising, as iPadOS is similar but different from iOS.
Fast-forward to late April, and the EU has unexpectedly expanded its gatekeeper designation to label iPadOS as a gatekeeper service under the Digital Markets Act (DMA). The European Commission (EC) can do so at any time. The DMA allows it to give companies and products gatekeeper status when the conditions are met.
As such, we've already told you that iPadOS 18 will bring sideloading to the iPad, but with the same caveat. It'll only apply to the EU markets. However, when the EU announcement dropped, Apple did not confirm that iPadOS would support sideloading. That changed on Thursday, as Apple announced the iPad will indeed support sideloading in the EU.
The post iPad sideloading is now official… with the same big caveat as the iPhone appeared first on BGR.
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