iOS 17: sideloading only in Europe, improvements for the Maps and Locate app

Should we expect a big update with iOS 17? Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman evoked the topic today with some information, making it clear that there will be above all improvements compared to iOS 16.

Gurman believes that iOS 17 could be compared to iOS 15, namely a release that focuses on updates to built-in apps, rather than notable changes or new features that have been talked about (like widgets of iOS 14 or the redesign of the lock screen of iOS 16).

Sideloading… for Europe

One of the new features will be support for sideloading, ie the ability to install applications without necessarily going through the App Store. Gurman advises that this feature should only be available in Europe. The reason ? A European directive (Digital Markets Act) imposes more competition and above all more freedom. Apple can therefore no longer limit users to having to go through its App Store to download applications.

Apple will keep the current system in other regions of the world. It will be interesting to see if some non-European users will succeed in scheming to activate sideloading, when they are not allowed to do so.

Also according to Gurman, developers may have to pay additional fees to make applications available through a third-party service. He adds that Apple probably won’t mention sideloading when showing off iOS 17 at WWDC in June. This is to prevent the function from being highlighted. Indeed, this story bothers Apple since the group will no longer receive the 15%/30% commission on transactions via the App Store.

On the other hand, iOS 17 will bring improvements to the Cards application (Wallet) and to the Locate function. Gurman doesn’t give any further details, except that it will be part of an increased push for location-related features.