As a Lifelong user of FOSS software, I thought you could just install any .ipa now like on android, and I was shocked to discover that just being able to install from Safari now changes nothing about how you install Apps. You still need to sign all packages with an Apple authorized Key to even be able to look at the App, and theres no way of Trusting other sources for Keys, like in SSL, Ssh, and general cryptography. This way, if I want to install anything for more than 7 days, I need a 99€/year Apple Subscription, together with my Full Name and Address.
So why the fuck did the EU just call it a day with this, since you still need a Apples consent to sign your App? If Apple dosent want your App on their Ecosystem, now instead of just removing it from the store they can just ban your Signature alltogether. Literally nothing has changed, apple still has as much control over your Devices as before, but now theres just this Sticker that says „now 30% more consumer friendly“ on the box.
And also, there is still no Official tutorial of how to install apps, and even in the Forum every single Thread about this gets closed with a generic „If you need Locally signed Apps for your Device, please buy this enterprise grade Management software for a billion bucks a month“. Nothing about installing ipas through Apple devices, nothing about signing an app, just the same bullshit.
so did it change anything at all, or is the Ecosystem still as locked down as before?
As an outside observer, I think it’s a lot like the cookie mandate: good intentions, not great application of law.