Apple's iOS 17.2 Update: Sideloading Apps, iTunes Movie Store Phase Out, and More

Evidence found in the iOS 17.2 beta code suggests that Apple is moving towards enabling sideloading on iOS devices, in compliance with the Digital Markets Act antitrust legislation in the European Union. The code reveals a new public framework called "Managed App Distribution" that allows for the creation of extensions, potentially enabling developers to create their own app stores. The API also includes controls for downloading, installing, and updating apps from external sources, as well as a region lock feature that could restrict sideloading to specific countries. Apple is expected to make changes impacting the App Store's business model by March 2024.