The fact that we can't side-load apps is a tragedy. Any anti-trust investigation into Apple + Google should discuss this it's highly anti-competitive.<p>I get that they want a sanitary app store but if I go to myapp.com I should be able to side load.<p>It would also be nice to side-load from phone to phone in situations like this so that apps can't be blocked by governments like China.<p>If the apps just verified keys that would be enough so that you know you're installing the app from the right developer.
The big takeaway is that the app was never <i>removed</i> from the store - it was just never approved. Apps not being approved is quite common.<p>All the headlines were saying that the app was "banned"/removed from the store, leading to massive outrage.
As others here have said, Linux distributions are well used by using official packages. That said, my two Linux laptops and Linux servers I spin up for personal projects are at least partially for the freedom to install anything I want.<p>For macOS, iPadOS, iOS for my watch, and iOS for my iPhone, I like the protected walled garden. I also like to sometimes use my Chromebook for the same reason: these closed platforms feel more secure to me.<p>I am happy that Apple OKed the HKMap.live app.
Since no other comments or the Twitter thread have any context, here's a Boing Boing article on what the heck HKMap.live is: <a href="https://boingboing.net/2019/10/04/hkmap-live-hong-kong.html" rel="nofollow">https://boingboing.net/2019/10/04/hkmap-live-hong-kong.html</a>
I once got denied. Deleted the app, changed the name by just adding a !. Got approved. Apples process is very inconsistent. Unclear to me if it was public pressure or just the failures of their system
Slightly OT: Why does HKMap have to be an actual app and not a browser app/PWA? Does it do something in the background or with the hardware of the phone? Or are websites more easily blocked in HK than the App Store?
What if this app is actually a "honeypot" developed by the HK/Chinese government?<p>Protestors being infiltrated by those who wish to subdue them, has been a thing since forever.
Our game uses emoji to represent players and their structures on the map. Just like HKMap app which displays live events using iOS emoji font.<p>We’ve been rejected until we came up with our own graphics for emoji. Who knows, maybe this was why they were rejected. Also, the UI is quite buggy. Could be another reason.
Cool, Apple isn't so bad I though after this app ban.<p>But anyway, if you're in China - be careful, seems like Chinese icloud (or something like it) under government control, too many issues/speculations about it.