iOS 26.2 to allow third-party app stores in Japan ahead of regulatory deadline

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

Apple’s Motives and Regulatory Pressure

  • Many see Apple as “gatekeeping until forced,” prioritizing its 15–30% app tolls and fast‑growing services revenue over openness.
  • Commenters argue the behavior is rational profit‑maximization for a public company, but short‑sighted: it erodes developer goodwill and fuels hostile regulation and regional fragmentation.
  • Others think Apple is intentionally bargaining with regulators: don’t concede early, wait for concrete demands, then comply minimally to preserve fees and control.
  • Several blame current leadership for turning Apple from a hardware‑first firm into a toll collector; some call for leadership change, but note shareholders are very happy with the cash flows.

Malicious Compliance and Fragmented Rules

  • EU experience is repeatedly described as “malicious compliance”:
    • Alternative app stores and web distribution exist on paper, but are hemmed in by notarization, Apple review, continued fees, scary UI warnings, and eligibility thresholds (e.g., needing a large existing App Store presence).
    • Result: few meaningful stores, mostly games/emulators/dev tools; some users report shovelware and subscriptions rather than F‑Droid‑style ecosystems.
  • Several note that by fighting every change, Apple now faces a patchwork of regional regimes (EU, Japan, US/Epic), increasing complexity for both Apple and developers.

Security vs. Openness

  • Pro‑Apple side: centralized review and payment give consumers recourse (refunds, dispute handling) and filter out bad actors; governments also like having a single accountable gatekeeper.
  • Critics (including iOS devs) say review mostly enforces Apple’s business rules, not real security:
    • Malicious behavior can be hidden during review; apps can later load new code via cross‑platform frameworks.
    • Real protection comes from OS sandboxing and permission prompts, regardless of app source.
  • Some fear users will be socially engineered into installing shady store apps; others counter that the same scams exist today via the web and that power users should be allowed true sideloading.

User Freedom, Alternative Tech, and Browsers

  • A segment wants:
    • Third‑party stores without Apple notarization,
    • Direct app installs (IPA ≈ EXE/APK) instead of per‑developer “store apps,”
    • Third‑party payment flows, and
    • Real browser engines (not just WebKit skins).
  • Apple has created a (very constrained) path for alternate engines in the EU; commenters say the criteria are so strict that none have shipped.

Regional Locking and Workarounds

  • Japan‑only store access is expected to be tied to multiple signals (Apple account region, billing info, GPS, nearby cell/WiFi country codes, SIM), not just IP.
  • VPN alone is considered insufficient; reports from EU features suggest elaborate workarounds (Faraday cages, spoofed hotspots) are needed to “trick” the system.