Just to clarify, what you're saying above applies to apps that are distributed through the iOS App Store, correct? In other words, all of that does not apply to websites that have no presence in the App Store and are just accessed through browsers, right?
If an app publisher wants to avoid all the App-Store-related restrictions, can they just put their app on the Web and let people download and install it through the browser? I don’t have any iStuff so I don’t know the practicalities.
This is misleading, it doesn't apply to games and it's only if you link your customer directly into the app store (not if they go to the store and search for your app or find it some other way).
But from the perspective of a dev it means you will need to either go through the App Store (and pay / let Apple have any list word on your app) or have your users drastically reduced because they can't even open the app.
I expect in future you'll need to push these apps to the official app store, but have the ability to restrict who downloads them (to registered devices, or accounts - like with the Play Store beta program).
In the linked blog post, they say that apps will be still subject to their policies (same as when you want your app in the iOS app store or Android Play Store), but that you'll have a direct link to distribute.
I mean, I sure hope so :-D
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