iOS 17.5 Sets the Stage for Sideloading on the iPhone
Apple just released the first beta version of their upcoming iOS 17.5 update for iPhones. With the next major update, iOS 18, on the horizon in a couple of months, it's not surprising that this latest beta doesn't have a lot of new features for regular users.
However, there's some big news for iPhone users in the European Union. Apple is adding the ability to download apps directly from the internet, bypassing the App Store. This means you'll be able to install apps on your iPhone without going through the App Store, but for now, it's only available in the EU.
App installation via the web (E.U. only)
In a recent update, Apple announced that iOS 17.5 will allow iPhone users in the European Union to download apps directly from developers' websites, for the first time ever. This is a big shift for Apple, which has always tightly controlled app downloads through its App Store.
This change comes after the European Commission ruled that Apple must allow more competition on its platform. Similar to downloading software on a computer, iPhone users in the EU will now have the option to download apps directly from a developer's website, instead of relying solely on the App Store.
It's important to note that Apple is still being cautious. They will only allow certain developers to offer this service, and there will be restrictions on the types of apps that can be downloaded. Additionally, developers will still have to pay Apple a fee.
While this is a limited change, only applying to the EU for now, it's a significant step towards giving users more choice over how they get apps on their iPhones. It's also worth noting that this update is still in beta testing, so the final release with web app downloads might be a little further out.
Other new iOS 17.5 features
While the iOS 17.5 update might seem small, especially with the big changes for the EU, there are still some cool things to discover. Your Podcasts widget will now match the color of the podcast you're listening to, ditching the boring purple. Plus, the Privacy & Security section got a tiny makeover with a new icon for the Passkeys Access for Web Browsers menu.
Speaking of security, there's some hidden code in iOS 17.5 that might be a game-changer. It seems Apple is working on a way to identify unknown Bluetooth trackers, like those pesky AirTags that people worry about being used for stalking. This feature would apparently help you find these trackers and disable them, even if they're not part of Apple's Find My network. However, it looks like we'll have to wait a bit longer for this one to be activated.
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