Apple specifically limits apps ability to get a unique identifier that can be used across apps. And the percentage of people who use multiple accounts is not even worth optimizing for.
Very good points and it's ridiculous to require other login providers to be hidden away.
Note that though that I do prefer Apple sign-in to other providers, but mostly prefer not having to create an account/login unless I need my data to be available on other devices/platforms (synced). I mostly uninstall apps immediately that require signup to start using them.
Or how about accept a key associated with the iCloud account linked to the phone?
This basically prevents any user friendly third party app store, but also allows users to, you know, use the device like they own it.
But I thought there was some ability to load apps without a developer account? Am I wrong? I've always just purchased the account because I was getting paid and wanted to show some professionalism but I thought there was a workaround.
You're absolutely right, I agree. But I thought something like that, what if you had another account only for use with iCloud etc. and an account for purchases and to setup other iDevices?
Is that still true when those accounts are literally just backend-side caches of your shipping+billing address and credit card details?
I had to create an "account" to order a pizza. That account does nothing other than to make ordering pizzas slightly faster. I would be literally not inconvenienced at all if I had to input all that information for each order (because AutoFill.) I would also be literally not inconvenienced in the slightest if I lost access to that account and had to create another one.
To me, that's the type of "account" for which "Sign In With Apple" is a perfect solution. The type of account where it's only the provider insisting on having an account in the first place, and you would be get on just fine without one if they'd let you.
(Or, for an even more annoying example: web forums that you have to "create an account" for to read certain posts, or download attachments on those posts. Thanks for making me
take five minutes to verify my email just so I can click a link on a page!)
I think Apple does allow apps to limit social sign in options where it makes sense. So for example, an email app could have sign in with Google, Microsoft, and Yahoo! but not Apple.
It feels like an over engineered solution for a simple problem. If Apple were instead to add multi-users support to iOS then it would be as simple as having a work identity with dedicated apps and segregated data, and a personal identity as such, invisible to IT.
Apple already requires that you offer their login service if you offer any other ones, so I could see them imposing that requirement. But then you'd have to be able to compete with their option, like by offering lower prices, and they don't allow that.
I am sure users would simply love that. The point of sign in with Apple is that I don’t have to give out my real email. If you ask me for it anyway, I’m gone.
As a user I would prefer no account in most cases. As a distant second, I would prefer the convenience, security, and privacy of Sign in with Apple over Google, Facebook, or the headache of managing yet another web account.
As a developer, I use my preferences as a user to steer my choices, but recognize that the world doesn't revolve around Apple so would allow other options.
> Having saw Epic's developer account t...
Since I have zero need to deliberately violate Apple's App Story policy, I don't worry about this overmuch.
Agreed, Sign In with Apple is a fantastic feature from a user point of view and I also think twice about signing up for an app which does not support it
> It's certainly not better for users than creating a separate account tied to a separate email for every service without a big company in between.
Some apps don't offer this as an option and force social login. Apple's new rules require Sign In With Apple any time a developer has implemented another social login. So, strictly speaking, this always guarantees more options for users. And Sign In With Apple doesn't leak any other information about you to the app developer. This is a win for privacy, even if it's not the best possible scenario. The world is not perfect. Measures to make it slightly less imperfect are how we walk the path to a better future.
This is exactly why the iPad needs some sort of user account system. Everone in my family loves using it—and friends and co-workers love to play with it—but I don't like my email accounts and some app data accessible to all.
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