Venture capital backed which means it will inevitably go to shit
Alternative app store AltStore raises $6M, connects with the fediverse | TechCrunch
Submitted 2 months ago by Vittelius@feddit.org to fediverse@lemmy.world
Comments
db0@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 months ago
smeg@feddit.uk 2 months ago
This article vaguely hints but doesn’t actually say anywhere that this is for iOS apps
jol@discuss.tchncs.de 2 months ago
It says app store, not play store.
smeg@feddit.uk 2 months ago
It says “alternative app store”, not “alternative iOS app store”, “alternative to Apple’s App Store” or even “alternative App Store”. The term “app store” is used pretty generally nowadays, there’s no implication in the title that it’s even talking about mobile apps!
mfed1122@discuss.tchncs.de 2 months ago
How does this even matter if phone manufacturers block apps that aren’t approved by them? Forgive my ignorance, never done much mobile dev stuff
daniskarma@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 months ago
I suppose you can enforce additional politics into your store. Like forcing all apps being open source (like f-droid).
But everything will keep to be apple/google approved, at least until linux phone becomes more mainstream.
Until then I’m moving away from native app development, and focusing more on webapps and progressive apps.
mfed1122@discuss.tchncs.de 2 months ago
Yeah it really sucks. I was in the middle of developing an Android game and now I don’t really want to. Luckily I’m working with Unreal so I can just build it for desktop distribution anyways. But still, ugh.
SailorMoss@sh.itjust.works 2 months ago
You can sideload apps on iOS. There are however highly annoying limitations.
Aatube@kbin.melroy.org 2 months ago
even being Apple-notarized (what you mean by "approved") doesn't mean it'll be in the Apple App Store
kbal@fedia.io 2 months ago
Interesting news, but I'll just stick with F-Droid.
curbstickle@anarchist.nexus 2 months ago
AltStore is for iOS.
Casuallynoted@pawb.social 2 months ago
This is awesome but AltStore has been seriously missing several important features for years - most notably, PRs have been submitted to add support for organization dev accounts (as opposed to individual accounts), and they never get merged. In general, I haven’t seen AltStore get a meaningful update in well over a year or two.
There’s enough missing that has been in dire need of adding that it got forked into SideStore, which has that feature and tons of others, including the ability to sign apps on device which is hella convenient.
Aatube@kbin.melroy.org 2 months ago
confusingly the article leaves out what normal altstore does: install any app provided its file and a connection to a computer (while installing) for seven days
Vittelius@feddit.org 2 months ago
Or if you live in the EU you can just install the “PAL” version which works without a PC connection.
hornedfiend@sopuli.xyz 2 months ago
Yes, you can install the PAL version, however it’s not the same. Pal barely has any apps and Apple doesn’t “notarize” shit, so you’re still stuck with altstore/sidestore for any meaningful apps like youtube sponsorblock .
Apple found a way to circumvent the EU directive with this “notarized apps” shit. They are despicable.
Aatube@kbin.melroy.org 2 months ago
Now, alongside the additional funding, AltStore is launching its own Mastodon server, running on the ActivityPub protocol, where users will be able to view app updates and new information from the sources they follow. Developers can opt in to have their app updates published to the new server.
Tencho@lemmy.world 2 months ago
Strange new feature but im happy for testut. Riley is the reason I could play games on my iPhone back in 2015.
technocrit@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 months ago
No “store” needed for FOSS.
Aatube@kbin.melroy.org 2 months ago
some apps are paid
Alphane_Moon@lemmy.world 2 months ago
I would prefer if they were not based in the US, both for jurisdiction reasons and cultural reasons (no offense to sane Americans).
ThePantser@sh.itjust.works 2 months ago
No offense taken, we suck
curbstickle@anarchist.nexus 2 months ago
I don’t think any reasonable american would take offense. I would prefer it wasn’t either.
SparkyBauer44@lemmy.world 2 months ago
There’s only one type to take offense to that. We were embarrassing before this and we’ll be sure to embarrass ourselves in the future. It’s the American way.
ATS1312@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 months ago
Is your country taking American Refugees yet?
Alphane_Moon@lemmy.world 2 months ago
We have a war on, so probably not the best destination right now.
the_q@lemmy.zip 2 months ago
Throwing the baby out with the bathwater…