[kelnos]

Why is that a problem, though? If we assume that the Facebook, Instagram, and Whatsapp apps all have some levels of good behavior and bad behavior, then we can probably assume that the "Meta App Store" would be similar. So what's the big deal if they require you to install it?

They could also just offer direct app downloads from facebook.com, instagram.com, etc.

So what? This feels like a nothingburger to me. Given how sideloading is a much less pleasant experience on even Android (and we can expect Apple to do worse), Facebook wouldn't leave the main App Store without an earth-shattering reason.

[NobodyNada]

Apple’s App Store has very strict privacy rules. Last year Apple implemented the App Tracking Transparency requirements, which Facebook says will cost them $10B in lost revenue this year [0]. If sideloading becomes a thing, I can definitely see Facebook requiring it in order to get around these privacy rules.

[0]: https://hothardware.com/news/facebook-claims-10b-revenue-hit...

[Apocryphon]

That's a dangerous gamble. The data tracking and privacy concerns aside, users are going to be mad at the additional friction that involves. They might get mad at Apple for making the enablement of sideloading an uneasy process (lots of disclaimers about how insecure it is, etc.), but they'll also get mad at Meta for pulling their apps off of the store for no discernible reason. Meta would have to offer more than the existing service they're getting from their current apps, to convince users to do this without losing goodwill.

[Jcowell]

One would argue that the app stores provides a benefit to the consumer that would not be implemented anywhere else since these benefits are not lucrative. One example is the ability to cancel subscriptions from one source, App Privacy Reports, seeing when an app is reading from the clipboard etc.

And no, entitlements mean nothing without enforcement.

[Jensson]

> One example is the ability to cancel subscriptions from one source

You pay 40% extra for that. The creator gets $100, Apple gets 40, you see $140 sticker price. It is a nice feature, but how many would pay 40% extra for that? And if many wanted to pay 40% extra for subscriptions to have them cancellable, I'm sure there would already be companies doing that.

[ccouzens]

> seeing when an app is reading from the clipboard

I expect that to be a operating system feature that works regardless of how the application was developed or installed.

[Jcowell]

Yes but there’s a difference between exploring and seeing it happen when it happens.

[keleftheriou]

What do you mean, exactly?