Apple will allow European iPad users to download apps from third-party stores starting next week , coinciding with the release of iPadOS 18 on September 16.
The change comes after the iPad operating system was recognized as a “core platform service” in April under the EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA). Those same rules had already forced the company to allow third-party app stores on iPhones earlier this year.
See more: Netflix stops working on older iPhones and iPads
A number of third-party app stores have already launched for iPhone users in the EU, including Setapp Mobile, AltStore PAL, and the new Epic Games Store, which promises to support iPads this year. So, Fortnite, get ready! You'll soon have more options for on-the-go gaming.
Apple has had six months to ensure that iPadOS meets the DMA’s requirements. These include allowing users in the EU to download apps outside of the Apple App Store, uninstall pre-installed iPad apps, and choose their own default apps, such as browsers. iPadOS, like iOS, also opens the door to apps that use alternative browser engines other than WebKit, although we’re still waiting to see someone like Google take advantage of this opportunity.
Read also: Snapchat: Now Coming to iPads as a Native App
The iPhone maker initially argued that iPadOS did not meet the required usability criteria for the DMA, but decided to remain as an “important gateway through which many companies can reach their customers,” according to EU antitrust chief Margrethe Vestager.
Source: theverge
