Alternative app store AltStore raises $6M, connects with the fediverse | TechCrunch

https://techcrunch.com/2025/10/07/alternative-app-store-altstore-raises-6m-connects-with-the-fediverse/

259 points · 25 comments · view on lemmy.world

25 Comments

Alphane_Moon@lemmy.world · 91 pts · 313d (7 replies)

I would prefer if they were not based in the US, both for jurisdiction reasons and cultural reasons (no offense to sane Americans).

ThePantser@sh.itjust.works · 67 pts · 313d

No offense taken, we suck

curbstickle@anarchist.nexus · 32 pts · 313d (1 reply)

no offense to sane Americans

I don't think any reasonable american would take offense. I would prefer it wasn't either.

SparkyBauer44@lemmy.world · 10 pts · 313d

There's only one type to take offense to that. We were embarrassing before this and we'll be sure to embarrass ourselves in the future. It's the American way.

ATS1312@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 10 pts · 313d (2 replies)

Is your country taking American Refugees yet?

Alphane_Moon@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 312d (1 reply)

We have a war on, so probably not the best destination right now.

ATS1312@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 3 pts · 312d

Valid and real. Good luck.

the_q@lemmy.zip · -7 pts · 313d
[ removed ]
db0@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 61 pts · 313d

Venture capital backed which means it will inevitably go to shit

smeg@feddit.uk · 30 pts · 313d (3 replies)
[ removed ]
jol@discuss.tchncs.de · -25 pts · 313d (2 replies)

It says app store, not play store.

smeg@feddit.uk · 27 pts · 313d (1 reply)
[ removed ]
GreenShimada@lemmy.world · 9 pts · 313d

You're 100% correct. I spent too long looking for the same info.

Just the term "app store" with no caps can mean any application repository - Shopify has an app store, FB has one, Blackberry used to have one, Apple technically has 2, etc. There's even a wiki entry for the term without caps.

mfed1122@discuss.tchncs.de · 17 pts · 313d (4 replies)

How does this even matter if phone manufacturers block apps that aren't approved by them? Forgive my ignorance, never done much mobile dev stuff

daniskarma@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 5 pts · 313d (1 reply)

I suppose you can enforce additional politics into your store. Like forcing all apps being open source (like f-droid).

But everything will keep to be apple/google approved, at least until linux phone becomes more mainstream.

Until then I'm moving away from native app development, and focusing more on webapps and progressive apps.

mfed1122@discuss.tchncs.de · 3 pts · 313d

Yeah it really sucks. I was in the middle of developing an Android game and now I don't really want to. Luckily I'm working with Unreal so I can just build it for desktop distribution anyways. But still, ugh.

SailorMoss@sh.itjust.works · 3 pts · 312d

You can sideload apps on iOS. There are however highly annoying limitations.

Aatube@kbin.melroy.org · 2 pts · 313d

even being Apple-notarized (what you mean by "approved") doesn't mean it'll be in the Apple App Store

kbal@fedia.io · 12 pts · 313d (2 replies)

Interesting news, but I'll just stick with F-Droid.

curbstickle@anarchist.nexus · 19 pts · 313d (1 reply)

AltStore is for iOS.

Edit: And hopefully F-Droid will be able to continue as an option, considering the new requirements Google is putting into place.

technocrit@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 0 pts · 313d
[ removed ]
Casuallynoted@pawb.social · 8 pts · 313d

This is awesome but AltStore has been seriously missing several important features for years - most notably, PRs have been submitted to add support for organization dev accounts (as opposed to individual accounts), and they never get merged. In general, I haven’t seen AltStore get a meaningful update in well over a year or two.

There’s enough missing that has been in dire need of adding that it got forked into SideStore, which has that feature and tons of other missing ones, including the ability to sign apps on device which is hella convenient.

Aatube@kbin.melroy.org · 6 pts · 313d (2 replies)

confusingly the article leaves out what normal altstore does: install any iOS app provided its file and a connection to a computer (while installing) for seven days

Vittelius@feddit.org · 3 pts · 313d (1 reply)

Or if you live in the EU you can just install the "PAL" version which works without a PC connection.

hornedfiend@sopuli.xyz · 1 pts · 312d

Yes, you can install the PAL version, however it’s not the same. Pal barely has any apps and Apple doesn’t “notarize” shit, so you’re still stuck with altstore/sidestore for any meaningful apps like youtube sponsorblock .

Apple found a way to circumvent the EU directive with this “notarized apps” shit. They are despicable.

Aatube@kbin.melroy.org · 6 pts · 313d

Now, alongside the additional funding, AltStore is launching its own Mastodon server, running on the ActivityPub protocol, where users will be able to view app updates and new information from the sources they follow. Developers can opt in to have their app updates published to the new server.

Tencho@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 313d

Strange new feature but im happy for testut. Riley is the reason I could play games on my iPhone back in 2015.

technocrit@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 1 pts · 313d (1 reply)

No "store" needed for FOSS.

Aatube@kbin.melroy.org · 1 pts · 313d

some apps are paid

(see also https://www.gnu.org/philosophy/selling.en.html)