Just after the WWDC2024 conference, Apple was caught in trouble by the European Union.
The European Union argues that Apple is suspected of violating the Digital Markets Act, creating a monopoly.
Source: European Commission
Make it clear that Apple's restrictions on developers in the Apple Store are unreasonable.
In the latest iPad OS 18 Beta2, Apple opens sideloading in the EU.
It's similar to the changes iOS made in April to meet the Digital Markets Act. This time, Apple allows EU users to install apps on the iPad using third-party app stores, third-party browser engines, third-party payments, and more.
Some students may have to raise their hands here, so isn't this the same as Android?
It's the same, it's not the same, it's the same.
Our domestic students may not know much, and sideloading is simply like only allowing users to download apps from Google Play Store at the beginning, and now allowing users to download apps from Huawei Store and Xiaomi Store.
Then the payment channel should not go through Apple's interface, and Apple will not be able to draw "Apple tax".
Of course, third-party app stores must also be authorized and certified by Apple before they can appear in the Apple Store.
The app of the third-party store still needs to be reviewed by Apple before it can be officially put on the shelves, and there is no way to find a wild APP installation package like Android.
Snap, ignore the risk, and continue to install it.
But even if you don't go to Apple's Apple Store, you still have to pay a service fee.
After more than 1 million downloads of apps and sideloaded apps distributed in the EU, developers will need to pay Apple a technical service fee of 0.5 euros (equivalent to 3.88 yuan) for each download.
Source: Apple
Sideloading apps may not have much impact on niche apps, and the user's recharge will not be taken by Apple, and can all go into the developer's pocket.
BUT FOR THE TOP TOP APPS, MORE THAN 1 MILLION IS TOO EASY.
Source: Apple
And if you still use love to generate electricity like an electric hand, then the developer will lose money and not even have any pants left.
Developers will certainly not be stupid and pay this money themselves, and it will eventually be passed on to users.
In addition, Apple also said that its "capabilities are limited", and the apps in third-party stores may be omitted, resulting in user privacy and security not being guaranteed.
Source: Apple
To put it mildly, it's best to download an app from the Apple Store, because if you don't have an app downloaded from another store, Siri will smoke in it.
And this move has led the European Union to believe that Apple is acting in violation of the Digital Markets Act. Ask Apple to revoke this fee agreement.
Failure to do so will result in a hefty fine of 10% of the annual revenue. Repeated offenses will result in a fine of up to 20% of your revenue.
Source: European Commission
Last year, Apple's annual revenue was 383.3 billion US dollars, and if calculated at 10%, it is a fine of 38.33 billion US dollars, equivalent to nearly 280 billion yuan.
In fact, this is not the first time that Apple has been fined by the European Union for app commissions, as early as 2019, Swedish music streaming Spotify sued Apple for too high a 30% recharge commission in the app store.
来源：Apple Store
Developers are also prohibited from informing users that there are alternative, cheaper subscription services other than the app, and Apple prohibits app developers from providing any explanation of the subscription service.
The European Union fined $1.84 billion in March this year, but Apple appealed and is still waiting for a final ruling.
And to express its displeasure, Apple has also paused the process of making Apple Intelligence available in the European Union.
Then again, we don't have to covet users in the EU for the time being, and users in the EU don't have to pay Apple tax for sideloading apps.
Because Apple's review is really "limited", this should be well known to students who are familiar with "camouflaged listing" apps.
The disguised application is on the shelf, ostensibly for children to learn English, but in fact it is film and television software.
And last year's Recipe Daquan APP bypassed Apple's two-factor authentication, and it can be seen that Apple's review of the APP did have some omissions.
This is still out of its own Apple Store, and third-party app stores are afraid that it will be more chaotic.
So until the final reasonable plan comes out, let's just keep eating melons, and wait until the plan is mature before it is too late to follow suit.