This company created an “app store” for iOS

In response to the new regulations of the European Union’s Digital Market Act, Apple announced on January 25 that it would open iOS application sideloading to 27 countries and regions in the European Union.

Apple’s new policy will be officially implemented in March this year. This major change means that third-party app stores other than the App Store will be allowed to appear on the iOS platform. This is an unprecedented change for Apple.

Recently, the software company MacPaw announced that it will expand its Setapp service to mobile operating systems in the European market. In other words, MacPaw plans to create the first third-party app store on the iOS platform. For ordinary users, they are one step closer to being able to install apps on iOS devices through channels other than the App Store.

#How is the Setapp service implemented on Mac?

The Setapp service under MacPaw is no stranger to many Mac users. MacPaw was originally a small company that developed software for Mac, as can be seen from its brand name. However, MacPaw quickly expanded the new business Setapp. Specifically, Setapp will package a large number of Mac third-party software, and users can obtain the right to use these software by paying a monthly subscription fee.

For users, the Setapp service has two main advantages. First of all, MacPaw will screen and review the software selected by Setapp to ensure that the software passes the quality standard, does not contain ads, and has an excellent experience. In other words, Setapp's software library is equivalent to MacPaw's "strict selection". Currently, the Setapp service includes more than 200 software, focusing on efficiency and tools, such as the well-known Markdown editor Ulysses, mind mapping software MindNode, etc.

(Source: Setapp)

Secondly, Setapp has certain price advantage. Setapp subscription price is $9.99 per month, which doesn’t seem cheap. However, the price of software on Mac is generally on the high side, starting at tens of dollars. Ulysses costs almost 40 US dollars, and MindNode costs about 20 US dollars. For experienced users who use Mac for office work and creation, it is a good deal to be able to use a considerable number of productivity tools for $9.99.

#Setapp can achieve price advantage mainly through its negotiation and cooperation with software developers. The Mac application ecosystem cannot be said to be absolutely rich. There are many small and medium-sized developers, and there are very few companies that can truly have a large number of users and achieve monopoly in some fields. Therefore, Setapp can maintain a certain bargaining power and achieve a win-win situation for MacPaw, developers and users.

Moreover, unlike iOS, macOS is not an absolutely closed platform. Application installation channels outside the App Store have always existed, and developers can also use this to circumvent Introduce apple tax.

#What will be different about the iOS version of Setapp?

In fact, before Apple officially announced the opening of iOS sideloading, MacPaw had already tried to launch the Setapp service for iOS. On the iOS platform, users who have paid on the Mac side can first download and install the iOS application included in the Setapp software library through the App Store, and then unlock the paid functions according to the method provided by MacPaw. In this way, MacPaw bypasses the Apple payment method in the App Store and avoids an Apple tax. At the same time, users can use the corresponding applications normally at a low price.

# However, this method is a bit tortuous, the experience is still not good enough, and there is a risk of being blocked by Apple. Moreover, so far, there are only about a dozen iOS applications in the Setapp software library, which is difficult to meet everyone's needs. It should be noted that there is an additional monthly fee of $2.49 to use the iOS app in Setapp.

(Source: Setapp)

But now with Apple After the sideloading seal of the iOS platform in the EU is lifted, Setapp can openly transform into a third-party application market that can be installed on iPhones and iPads. In other words, European iPhone users will soon be able to use third-party app stores on their phones as happily as Android users.

Of course, judging from the content of Apple’s previous press releases, the third-party app store on iOS is in some details different from the Android app store we are familiar with. , Coolan market is still different.

(Source: Kuan)

First of all, the third party Apps in the App Store will undergo virus scanning and basic manual review by the notarization system launched by Apple. In other words, these applications that are not listed through the App Store will also be reviewed, but the review intensity will be weaker.

#Secondly, developers who create third-party app stores must provide Apple with a 1 million euro letter of credit. This is not a high threshold for MacPaw to launch a Setapp store.

In addition, even if the application is distributed through a third-party app store, after the first installation exceeds 1 million times, Apple will pay a core technology fee of 0.5 euros each time. .

Xiao Lei personally speculates that after the Setapp app store is launched on iOS, the initial applications will most likely be efficiency and tool-based, continuing the previous successful experience on the Mac side. If the early response is good, Setapp is expected to gradually expand the type and number of applications to attract more users. As for the payment model of the Setapp app store, Xiao Lei believes that MacPaw may adopt a hybrid model of subscription and buyout, which can meet the different needs of more people.

So, is it possible for Setapp and other third-party app stores to compete with the App Store in the future? Xiao Lei thinks it is difficult.

Apple is extremely reluctant to open iOS sideloading in the EU, entirely to cope with the Digital Market Act. In the statement released by Apple, it repeatedly revealed its dissatisfaction with this regulation. Moreover, it can also be seen from the above analysis that although Apple allows third-party app stores to go online, it still imposes many restrictions.

#For example, if an application is downloaded more than 1 million times, the developer will have to pay a core technology fee. Moreover, Apple has also reduced the EU App Store’s commission ratio, which is only 10% for small and medium developers and 17% for large developers. If third-party app stores want to be more attractive, they have to offer a lower commission ratio. Low commission income With the suppression of technology fee costs, it is very difficult for third-party application stores to rise.

#How can Chinese users use the iOS version of “App Store”?

As mentioned before, Apple has opened iOS sideloading in the EU entirely for compliance. In other parts of the world, Apple still clings to closed iOS. In other words, Chinese users cannot experience third-party app stores on iOS in a conventional way. So, what about unconventional ways?

We all know that when the same model of iPhone is sold in different regions around the world, some functions and features may differ due to local regulations and policies. .

For example, the Japanese version of the iPhone will force a sound when taking a photo, and the Chinese version of the iPhone cannot use the FaceTime voice call function. Moreover, these restrictions are achieved through hardware means, and users cannot lift the restrictions even if they log in to an external Apple ID or switch overseas mobile phone SIM cards.

## (Photo source: Apple)

Considering that Apple is open to Xiao Lei has reason to believe that Apple will impose stricter restrictions on sideloading. iPhones that support sideloading, in addition to being a version sold in the EU, may also require users to log in with an ID in the EU, and may even limit the currency type of payment.

If Chinese users really want to experience the third-party app store on iOS, then I am afraid they have to buy a European iPhone and register a European ID. However, Apple's sideloading policy has not yet been officially implemented. It will take time to answer the specific changes it will bring to users' actual experience.

Written at the end

For a long time, compared to Android, the core advantage of iOS is through closed Third-party applications are subject to stricter control, resulting in a more unified and stable experience. The App Store has long been the only app store that can be used through formal channels on the iOS platform. There have been some third-party forces that have tried to challenge Apple's order before, but they have failed.

In the early years, Cydia used to be a well-known third-party app store on iOS, but it required jailbreak before it could be used normally. As the iOS jailbreak trend receded, Cydia was eventually shut down completely. Apple officially provides developers with testing application platforms such as TestFlight, which can bypass the App Store to install applications, but there are many restrictions and can only be used in a small range.

What will finally open up Apple’s “walled garden” is the antitrust stick of the regulatory authorities. Apple’s sideloading policy is extremely shrewd, and it creates pitfalls for third-party app stores. However, there are many companies that are dissatisfied with Apple's application distribution and commission policies. The lawsuit initiated by Epic in recent years is a fierce challenge.

Currently, in addition to MacPaw, Epic CEO Tim Sweeney has also issued a document stating that he will launch a third-party app store on iOS. They may not be able to shake the strong position of the App Store, but as long as they provide users with more choices, it is not a bad thing after all.

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