“Allow”. The fact that they must allow, is the key abhorrent element.
Through gritted teeth, Apple and Google allow alternative app stores in Japan
Submitted 2 weeks ago by throws_lemy@lemmy.nz to technology@lemmy.world
https://www.theregister.com/2025/12/22/asia_tech_news_roundup/
Comments
MrSulu@lemmy.ml 2 weeks ago
espentan@lemmy.world 2 weeks ago
Indeed. We, Apple the Almighty, have decided Japan will be allowed to open a shop.
Ensign_Crab@lemmy.world 2 weeks ago
Yeah, allow implies voluntary. They’re only doing this because they’re required to. Like how Apple only offers phones with USB-C where they’re forced to.
ryper@lemmy.ca 2 weeks ago
Pretty sure Apple’s newer phones are USB-C worldwide.
Endymion_Mallorn@kbin.melroy.org 2 weeks ago
This needs to be the standard. I don't understand how we ever allowed it in the first place, really.
Dudewitbow@lemmy.zip 2 weeks ago
because of the cut in digital sales theyd get. phone companies are the current front, but its going to get extremely messy when the front gets for example, put into the console gaming front. its all for money for software they did not develop and prevent that money from going to any other payment processor.
Clent@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 weeks ago
Phones were already restricted by what could be installed on them prior to smart devices entering the scene.
Given how powerful the hardware is, it should have eased up long ago. They’ve over played their hand and are still unable to acknowledge it.
kureta@lemmy.ml 2 weeks ago
“Even if a firm gains monopoly power, the Chicago school prefers to allow the market to correct the problem rather than to rely on government intervention”. And of course, Reagan.
logicbomb@lemmy.world 2 weeks ago
Now we just need these laws worldwide.
Sunshine@lemmy.ca 2 weeks ago
Watch Mark Carney pretend like “it’s too hard for these 2 small businesses trying to make ends meet”
namingthingsiseasy@programming.dev 2 weeks ago
Cupertino has complied anyway, and said it introduced “Notarization for iOS apps, an authorization process for app marketplaces, and requirements that help protect children from inappropriate content and scams.”
Notarization requirements mean that they still maintain total control over the operating system and what software it can run. These kinds of onerous requirements keep the bar artificially high for competitors and are only possible because they are still enforcing their monopolistic control over the platform.
So no, they’re not complying at all actually. They’re just doing the same thing in a different way.
asuka@sh.itjust.works 2 weeks ago
Exactly what Google was trying to enforce with their mandatory developer verification/app signing until they backed down. Hopefully that lasts for a while, but the future of open computing isn’t bright…
Onion@l.hostux.net 2 weeks ago
The article doesn’t go into detail about how the notarization works. I would hope that users can choose to only use notorized apps, or accept the risk.
asuka@sh.itjust.works 2 weeks ago
European iOS still requires “”“notorization”“” (app signing by verified developers), so I wouldn’t hold my breath.
Korhaka@sopuli.xyz 2 weeks ago
I don’t want a device that requires the manufacturer to allow me to use it.
winkerjadams@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 weeks ago
Unfortunately that’s every device
krooklochurm@lemmy.ca 2 weeks ago
You’re right but that doesn’t mean I want that.
Zwuzelmaus@feddit.org 2 weeks ago
How can I simulate being in Japan?
mycodesucks@lemmy.world 2 weeks ago
Get yourself some universal health care, good roads, affordable small cars, and cheap, beautiful old houses in the countryside.
Pechente@feddit.org 2 weeks ago
You forgot about the amazing public transport. Fast long distance trains, tiny local trains, towns with random monorails. It’s amazing.
demonsword@lemmy.world 2 weeks ago
Don’t forget to include a healthy dose of xenophobia, so that you’ll feel unwanted and ostracized anywhere you go. Add some fascism too, lots of people there love it.
pennomi@lemmy.world 2 weeks ago
Play a Pokémon game
brsrklf@jlai.lu 2 weeks ago
Technically only the first four generations are set in “Japan”.
The ones after them are set in fantasy New York, France, Hawaii, Great Britain, and Spain.
DarkAri@lemmy.blahaj.zone 2 weeks ago
Watch anime
Cocodapuf@lemmy.world 2 weeks ago
… and it destroyed their company right? Their entire business model broke down and it impacted the security of their customers who complained constantly about the decision. Right?
Right?
pastermil@sh.itjust.works 2 weeks ago
other places: they can, but they won’t
DaTingGoBrrr@lemmy.world 2 weeks ago
This might be wishful thinking but could this lead to Nintendo and other console manufacturers having to open up their ecosystem and allow third party stores?
kopasu22@lemmy.world 2 weeks ago
The full text of this act (translated to English) is available here: jftc.go.jp/…/MSCA_Guidelines_tentative_translatio…
I haven’t read through the full text, but it does seem to specifically apply to only smartphones. The Switch is a mobile device but I think it’d be a hard case to make it count as a phone and a general computing platform like iPhone/Android.
goatinspace@feddit.org 2 weeks ago
ExLisper@lemmy.curiana.net 2 weeks ago
So what alternative apps stores are there? Is there any other app store for Android that lets developers charge users for the app? Samsung’s Galaxy Store I guess? Anything for iPhone?
Treczoks@lemmy.world 2 weeks ago
So now we know it is possible, it is time to replicate that success worldwide.
deathmetal27@lemmy.world 2 weeks ago
Where can I get a list of such app stores?
Quill7513@slrpnk.net 2 weeks ago
Japan
bah dum tiss
k0e3@lemmy.ca 2 weeks ago
I’ve never found this to be an issue as a Pixel user who never buys IAPs in Japan (or much of the PlayStore, honestly). But it’s cool that I can pick different payment options. Does this mean iPhone users can basically install whatever app they want or do apps still need to be approved by Apple or something?
sem@piefed.blahaj.zone 2 weeks ago
They have to go through a notarization process. Idk the details.
Adam_Crock@lemmy.world 2 weeks ago
same I only need two apps outside F-Droid (ProtonMail + Whatsapp) and even those two apps are available as apk in their official wbsites
jaybone@lemmy.zip 2 weeks ago
Can I do this in the US if I use a proxy? My guess is no.
paraphrand@lemmy.world 2 weeks ago
With a Japanese Apple ID and probally GPS spoofing too, sure.
sem@piefed.blahaj.zone 2 weeks ago
And the the app can only be updated for 90 days if you “leave” the supported region.
No_Ones_Slick_Like_Gaston@lemmy.world 2 weeks ago
Oh true competition. Nice.
It would be amazing knowing if as a tourist one can have access to a different browser in iPhone or sideload crazy apps that block ads without questioning.
NOT_RICK@lemmy.world 2 weeks ago
If it’s anything like the EU setup, it’s based off of where your iCloud account is based out of. At least I think that was what it was last time I went looking.
Meron35@lemmy.world 2 weeks ago
Nope, Apple is way more anal than that.
You need to have an iCloud account registered in the EU/Japan, AND be physically located in EU/Japan.
Changing the iCloud account region requires you to contact Apple, surrendering all of your current account balance, and providing them with an EU/Japan billing method + address. Users have also reported mixed results with VPNs in getting around the physical location requirement.
About alternative app distribution - Apple Support - support.apple.com/en-us/118110
_cryptagion@anarchist.nexus 2 weeks ago
Uh, well you can already have a different browser. I know Firefox, Opera, Chrome, and Brave are all on iOS. Brave has built in adblocking, but AdGuard is also available if you want to block ads in Safari. I’m in North America, but I assume they are available worldwide.
vinnymac@lemmy.world 2 weeks ago
I wouldn’t call them different browsers, more like skins or “chrome”. All iOS browsers are built on Apple WebKit. This essentially makes all of the browsers you listed reskinned versions of Safari.
Sure they may have some clever UI, accessibility, or platform specific functionality. But they are nothing like any of those browsers on other operating systems.
NOT_RICK@lemmy.world 2 weeks ago
They still all use the safari engine though, unless something has changed and I missed it.
jerkface@lemmy.ca 2 weeks ago
Hell, no. If there were “true competition,” Apple would sell out and move to a new industry entirely.