In April, we discussed the introduction of AltStore PAL, an alternative to the App Store, which became available exclusively for European Union countries due to a new regional digital markets law. Unlike the original App Store, AltStore PAL was distributed through a minimal annual subscription and initially offered only two applications: the Delta emulator for running retro Nintendo 64, Gameboy, and NES hits, and the clipboard manager Clip.
Expansion of AltStore PAL
Now, the developers have taken the next step by releasing the first programs from third-party creators. Among these are two torrent clients, iTorrent and qBitControl, a dating application called PeopleDrop, and an operating system emulator named UTM SE, which supports Windows and Linux. Notably, UTM SE is the only utility available in the official App Store, while the others remain exclusive to AltStore PAL.
Until today, Apple had not allowed torrent applications to be installed through its sole store, primarily due to third-party rights violations. However, the new EU digital markets law somewhat hinders Apple’s ability to control all iOS users. This development brings more freedom to users, but it also introduces equivalent risks.
Apple Maps Web Version
Interestingly, Apple has announced a significant update to its “Apple Maps” service—it is now available as a web version. Currently, this is in beta testing, so some changes are expected in the future. Nonetheless, users can already try out initial features such as route planning, location finding, and city exploration.
