AltStore PAL, the European and iOS compatible version of the application store, is the first alternative store to be offered on the iPhone.
It took almost two months for the first alternative application store on iOS to appear. Since the beginning of last March, and the release of iOS 17.4, Apple has authorized competing stores to its own App Store on European soil. The American company is in fact forced by the rules of the Digital Markets Act to offer the installation of alternative stores, and has complied willingly or unwillingly, by imposing very restrictive rules on publishers wanting to offer their own stores. Finally, AltStore was the first to launch this Wednesday, April 17, 2024 and is now available to all European users.
AltStore launches in Europe with Delta, a GameBoy Advance emulator for iPhone
AltStore is not an unknown platform. The software has been available for several years and allows, via a Mac or a Windows PC, to install the store, then applications that could normally have been rejected by the App Store teams. We can notably cite Delta, a Nintendo game emulator, starting with GameBoy Advance titles while awaiting support for other consoles. We also find Clip, a digital clipboard refused by App Store validation, offered in a paid version.
AltStore PAL is the version reserved for European users. No need to use a computer to install the software. This is now available directly via the publisher’s website, which will allow you to retrieve the installation link from the application store and download it to your iOS device.
A paid store and only two applications for the moment
Installing AltStore PAL is not free. The publisher invoices the service in the form of an annual subscription, amounting to €1.80. AltStore explains that it is setting up this payment to support the fees charged by Apple to each publisher of third-party application stores.
The Californian manufacturer’s new rules of use require a payment of €0.50 for each installation by a user, or for each update carried out. This tithe is also hotly contested by many players, and the European Commission will quickly look into the issue to validate Apple’s practices or force it to make changes.
The installation procedure may seem a little complex to ordinary people, and requires going to the settings of the iPhone or iPad to activate a specific option, but only takes a few minutes. More software is expected to join AltStore Pal in the coming days now that the store has officially launched in Europe.
Source : The Verge
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