AltStore PAL Launches in Europe: A Fresh iPhone App Haven!

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Installing AltStore PAL, a new app marketplace, comes with its set of challenges, primarily due to Apple’s extensive security measures that often seem overly cautious. Users who wish to download apps from outside the Apple App Store must navigate through multiple warning screens that repeatedly confirm their intentions to proceed with the installation. Despite these hurdles, those determined enough will find that AltStore PAL can be successfully installed with enough persistence.

AltStore PAL launches carrying two key applications developed by Riley Testut: Delta, an emulator boasting compatibility with a wide range of Nintendo consoles including NES, SNES, Nintendo 64, Game Boy, Game Boy Advance, and Nintendo DS; and Clip, a clipboard manager that Apple does not permit on its App Store. Both applications manifest the collaborative efforts of Testut and his business partner, Shane Gill.

In a strategic move, Delta has also made its debut on the Apple App Store for users located outside of Europe. This development is particularly significant for those affected by the recent iGBA debacle, offering a reputable alternative for accessing emulator functionalities on iOS devices.

A distinctive feature of AltStore PAL is its integration with Patreon for monetization purposes. This setup supports developers who are keen on distributing beta versions of their apps as a perk for crowd-sourced funding—a practice that the Apple App Store does not allow. To manage the Apple Core Technology Fee (CTF) associated with installing the AltStore PAL marketplace itself, Testut imposes a nominal annual fee of €1.50 (plus tax) for downloads. While Delta is available for free as a means to help counterbalance the CTF, acquiring Clip necessitates a minimum monthly pledge of €1 (plus tax) on Patreon.

AltStore PAL is not entirely new to the scene. The AltStore has been accessible to iOS users since 2019, albeit via a somewhat convoluted installation process. Initially, setting up AltStore required a workaround that involves deceiving an iPhone into recognizing the user as the developer of the app, facilitated by AltServer—a companion software operating on Mac or PC. Although not technically requiring a jailbreak, the process has been perceived as somewhat unconventional.

Thanks to recent developments under the Digital Markets Act (DMA), Delta and Clip are now officially notarized by Apple for their launch on the AltStore PAL app marketplace in the European Union (EU). This endorsement signifies a major leap towards legitimizing the presence of these apps within a highly regulated space.

The arrival of these apps on AltStore PAL underscores the potential for iPhone software development post-Apple’s stringent App Store policies. Delta’s positioning has always been a matter of contention due to its emulator status, which exists in a legal gray area that Apple has, until recently, chosen not to endorse. Clip, on the other hand, employs several ingenious workarounds to remain operational indefinitely in the background—an approach that directly contravenes Apple’s App Store guidelines. According to Testut, while there are valid reasons for these rules—such as ensuring user trust in apps that can monitor all copied and pasted content—the decision to use such apps now rests with the users rather than Apple.

Furthermore, AltStore PAL is opening its doors to third-party developers, offering a more decentralized approach to app distribution. Unlike the centralized framework of Apple’s App Store, AltStore PAL plans for apps to be self-hosted by developers on individual servers. This system requires users to add extra “sources” to the marketplace in order to access software from these external developers, marking a significant shift from the traditional app distribution model.

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