Ghostboard pixel Skip to content
Sign In
Open Source

Apple Reconsiders its Approval of Open-Source Emulator App for iOS

Thank you, Apple, more open-source options for the users!

,   and  Sourav Rudra
2 min read

If I got a dime each time Apple did something to gatekeep their ecosystem, I would've been a wealthy man by now 😁

Just a month or so ago, they had decided to block the publishing of an open-source emulator app for iOS, without providing any clarity over what the issue was.

Even the developers gave up, citing that UTM SE was a “subpar experience and isn't worth fighting for”, and unless Apple changed their stance, they wouldn't invest any additional time/effort into it.

But, in a surprise move, Apple has gone back on the initial gatekeeping-fueled decision, which is unusual to see.

Apple Warms Up To UTM SE: What Gives?

Over the weekend, UTM announced that UTM SE was now available for iOS and visionOS, and that the AltStore team helped them out, with a thanks to Apple for revisiting their policy.

If you are not familiar, UTM SE is the less powerful version of UTM, an emulator/virtual machine host for Apple devices that allows users to run different operating systems on their machines.

Some key features include:

  • Based on QEMU
  • Custom Configs for Machines
  • Support for emulating x86, RISC-V, and PPC.
  • VGA Mode for Graphics & Terminal Mode for Text-Only

Having said that, the emulation experience for old operating systems with this should be decent, but, don't expect anything extraordinary like running a modern Linux distro such as Ubuntu or Fedora in their full glory, with usable performance.

That is thanks to the lack of JIT support, which Apple still closely guards, keeping it locked up, citing “security reasons”. Here's the catch, though, Android has had that support for ages now.

Naturally, the Sherlock Holmes in me thinks that Apple just doesn't want to be caught lacking, trying to skirt their way around the Digital Markets Act (DMA). Take the battle between them and Epic Games, which has seen them finally approve the Epic Games store app for iOS in Europe, after they rejected it twice.

I still think that Apple doesn't really learn until it is forced to. 😆

📥 Get UTM SE

For now, those who are interested in trying UTM SE out can get it from the App Store, where it has been made available for the iPhone, iPad, and Apple Vision.

UTM SE (App Store)

The developers have also mentioned that UTM SE will be arriving at AltStore PAL very soon (as mentioned in the tweet above). It is a store geared towards European users, which is open-source and decentralized in nature.

💬 What do you think of Apple's decision? Are they trying to avoid a compliance issue with DMA?

Suggested Read 📖

Apple Decides to Block Open-Source Emulator App for iOS
Apple being Apple.
It's FOSS NewsSourav Rudra

Here's why you should opt for It's FOSS Plus Membership

  • Even the biggest players in the Linux world don't care about desktop Linux users. We do.
  • We don't put content behind paywall. Your support keeps it open for everyone. Think of it like 'pay it forward'.
  • Don't like ads? With the Plus membership, you get an ad-free reading experience.
  • When millions of AI-generated content is being published daily, you read and learn from real human Linux users.
  • It costs just $2 a month, less than the cost of your favorite burger.
Get It's FOSS Plus Membership

Related

Latest