this post was submitted on 12 Jan 2024
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[–] [email protected] 60 points 9 months ago (16 children)

Might have to start importing all my tech from the EU at this rate.

[–] [email protected] 17 points 9 months ago (2 children)

Someone found some code that referenced geo-blocking features. So if you are physically in Europe, then it should work and when you are outside of Europe then it wouldn’t.

I’m not sure if they plan to use the os with way, but maybe they will.

Maybe turning on a vpn will do the trick.

I’m guessing that they will lock it to Europe for some time, but in the next iOS update roll it out world wide as they see the writing on the wall.

But Apple always seems to find a way to disappoint.

[–] [email protected] 19 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago) (1 children)

It’s likely to be based on your iOS account.

In order to use the EU store, your account just needs an EU address & credit card on file.

I say this because I have a coworker who came from Ukraine and today he asked me how to find the Tim Hortons app on the app store. His phone was still loading the EU store so there was no app found.

Once he changed his apple account address to Canada and added his Canadian card, he had access to the NA store.

[–] [email protected] 21 points 9 months ago (1 children)

This policy is so frustrating for me.

I’m from the US but live in another country.

There are so many apps that are only available in one country or another so I effectively have two phones just so I can access all my banking apps and some streaming stuff.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 9 months ago

You can create another Apple ID in the country you need. I am a Canadian in the US and couldn’t change the country of my Apple ID because I have active subscriptions (another idiotic limitation) I created a second ID with a US address and CC. Downloaded US-only apps just fine and didn’t lose my Canada-only ones either.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Faraday cage and GPS simulator? A hackrf and some tinfoil can probably do it for a few hundred bucks

[–] Zagorath 5 points 9 months ago (3 children)

How are you getting an Internet connection in which to download, if you're in a Faraday cage?

[–] [email protected] 5 points 9 months ago

Wifi inside the cage?

[–] [email protected] 2 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago)

A faraday cage doesn’t neutralize all wireless communication in its area, just from passing through its walls. Meaning that any network hardware within the cage would work just fine. You could even just slip the antenna in and leave the rest of the unit outside if the cage isn’t large enough.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago)

Serious answer... the GPS (and location tracking in general) on an iPhone is disabled by default and you're asked to opt-in when you set up a new device. You don't have to enable location features and you can change your mind later — on a case by case basis as well. So you an have GPS in maps and weather reports, but not allow the general system services to access your location.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 9 months ago (1 children)

I'm sure Apple will heavily region-lock this.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 9 months ago (2 children)

I’m really interested to see how they’re going to region lock this. Will it be where the device was sold? Does that comply with EU regulations? Will it be geographical location? If I move to the US, will it lock the side loaded apps? If I grab a VPN can I side load things?

[–] [email protected] 3 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago)

Yeah I'm curious too. There doesn't seem like there is a good way.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 9 months ago (1 children)

I wouldn't be surprised if it's the country where the SIM originates. A prepaid eSIM from an EU carrier (as secondary sim) is pretty cheap though and might work if this is what they do.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Interesting thought! This wouldn’t work for iPads and iPhones with no sim (but use WiFi) though

[–] [email protected] 2 points 9 months ago (2 children)

Any recent iPhone/iPad will support eSIM. It would work just fine for them.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 9 months ago

Only the cellular iPads have the eSIM. The standard WiFi ones do not. Since iOS covers both of these devices, older models, and folks who choose not to have a carrier despite having the ability to do so, I don’t believe this would be a partial solution at best.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 9 months ago (1 children)

An eSIM still requires an account with a carrier, which is optional when you setup a new phone.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 9 months ago

Yes, but you can just contact an EU company that provides eSIMs and get one.

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[–] [email protected] 42 points 9 months ago (2 children)

I’m looking forward to FDroid both because I support open source and because it’ll presumably be called Fapple or the Fapp Store and really disappoint some confused horny people when it’s just things like Termux and privacy apps.

[–] [email protected] 18 points 9 months ago (1 children)

More like F-Apple. Don't pronounce it.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 9 months ago (1 children)

You’re talking about the internet, here…

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[–] [email protected] 1 points 9 months ago

FiOS makes the most sense to follow the naming convention.

AltStore also already exists

[–] [email protected] 35 points 9 months ago (1 children)

As much as i’m excited about this, “rumors predict” and “this is coming” are not the same

[–] [email protected] 4 points 9 months ago (2 children)

I mean, what else could they do except comply?

[–] [email protected] 9 points 9 months ago (1 children)

It's Apple we're talking about. They will find ways to continue gatekeeping this as hard as possible

[–] [email protected] 3 points 9 months ago

I mean TBF, everyone speculated that Apple would do some wacky antics to avoid putting a USB C port in their phones, like providing an adapter or removing it altogether.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 9 months ago

Think Different

[–] [email protected] 32 points 9 months ago (1 children)

I would love to see alternative operating systems, not just app stores.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 9 months ago (2 children)

Android or some other Linux based os on iPhone hardware anyone?

[–] [email protected] 35 points 9 months ago (1 children)

There's hardware we don't know how to write free software for, because they won't tell us how to use the hardware. That's shocking. They want to sell you the product and they won't tell you how to use it. They say "Here's a non-free [proprietary] program you can use. Run it and shut up."

Some time ago this was only about the peripetials and drivers, now this is about all phones, tablets and smart things...

[–] [email protected] 11 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Upvoted for Stallman quote

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[–] [email protected] 15 points 9 months ago

Clickbait, still just rumours and speculation.

I mean, I agree with the rumours and speculation, but that doesn’t make it any more confirmed.

[–] [email protected] 11 points 9 months ago (7 children)

We need true freedom not surface level sideloading. We need to be able to freely modify our devices. If I want to I should be able to install Linux on my phone.

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[–] [email protected] 9 points 9 months ago (1 children)

I wonder how this will work where apple controls the OS and sort of controls the Dev tools.

The gatekeeper shall not be prevented from taking proportionate measures to ensure that third party software applications or software application stores do not endanger the integrity of the hardware or operating system provided by the gatekeeper;

To me that sounds like they won't have to offer root access to users, which is no suprise, but will they be able to continue to require certification of apps, even if they're sold on other stores?

I've only just skimmed the legislation so far.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 9 months ago

Root is absolutely not required, you’re correct. But I don’t believe they would need to certify apps, since that kinda defeats one of the purposes.

This isn’t just “people should be able to not pay Apple a fee” it’s also “Apple has unreasonable control of the ecosystem and that is bad.” The moment Apple is allowed to just turn down whatever they don’t want on other stores, that second point is back in place.

Not to mention, Apple would be certifying apps either for free, or charging developers for that certification. Neither of which follows the spirit of the legislation.

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