To comply with the EU legislation, Apple pushes changes to its software, allowing for example side-loading of applicatons in iOS 17.4 and later. But, this change is only applied to iPhones resided in EU.
To comply with another legislation from the same EU, Apple has changed iPhone 15’s charger port to USB-C. But this one, they do on global scale. EVERY iPhone 15 has USB-C, EVERY iPhone from now on will have USB-C port.
Why does it worth the hassle to ship different software in different parts of the world, but not worth it to do the same with hardware?
In: Technology
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They are shipping the exact same software to all phones. But the software contains a module for detecting which country you are in and then enable or disable software features based on the regulation. So the exact same phone with the exact same software will behave differently if it is under EU regulation then if it is outside of EU regulation. This is done just because it is too much hassle to ship different software.
Shipping two different hardware versions requires two different production lines, which adds cost and complexity.
On the other hand software is easy. You’ll get the same software whether you are in the EU or outside it, it’s just there will be a flag in the software that will unlock side loading if you are in the EU. Something like “if region is EU then allow sideloading otherwise don’t”.
There’s no added complexity there, everyone gets the same software just the way it works will vary. This is basically how any computer program works, it will only do x if y is true.
With hardware you would need two separate schematics and production lines, while software can be changed on-the-go with updates, as well as can activate certain functions, such as side-loading based on the country you are in/you bought the phone in.
It’s much cheaper to make software location dependent – just one change required to enable sideloading for specific areas.
They would prefer no sideloading at all, but to sell in the EU they need to conform to the legislation.
Mass producing 2 different connectors cost more than mass producing 1 connector.
Because it makes them more money.
They looked at how much extra it would cost them to manufacture and support double the number of iphone versions and how much they would earn from lightning accessories.
Given the fact that USB-C is also better than lightning port they saw it wasn’t worth it. Economies of scale mean that manufacturing higher volume of fewer products with mostly the same components is way cheaper.
For side loading that’s a different thing altogether. Not having competing app stores is very profitable. And allowing side loading doesn’t benefit Apple at all, so there is no potential upside from their point of view.
Maintaining different software versions is not that expensive as they are not that different.
The cost of developing iOS does not depend on the number of devices it will run on. Once you make it the scaling is basically free.
This time they are actually doing it to comply with an EU regulation, and so they are only doing it in the EU. With USB-C, it actually had nothing to do with the EU, they were just giving Lightning the full ten year lifespan they explicitly promised users after the immense backlash from changing away from the old 30-pin connectors. Essentially it was slated to happen worldwide for the iPhone 15 either way. Clever of the politicians to take the W for it anyway though!
You will need a Flipper Zero to spoof GPS to sideload with wifi and cellular off, just like precision air tags.
Little side note: The side loading of apps is a sham. They still require a cut from any sale of any other appstore running on their iphones., Because it’s theirs not yours apparently
Its expensive to have an iphone with lightning and an iphone with usb
On the other hand sideloading is an option they can just toggle for free
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