Riley Testut launches Delta emulator on US App Store (free) - shows middle finger to Europe (payment required) (9to5mac.com)

submitted 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago) by TCB13@lemmy.world to c/technology@lemmy.world

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cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/14398634

Unfortunately I was proven to be right about Riley Testut. He's yet another greedy person barely batter than Apple. After bitching to Apple to remove GBA4iOS from the App Store he's now leveraging Delta to force people into his AltStore.

Delta has finally made its way to the App Store. Additionally, the Delta developer has also published their alternative marketplace, AltStore, in the EU today.

If you're in the EU you'll only be able to get Delta on the AltStore and that requires:

This is complete bullshit he could've just launched Delta on the App Store in Europe as well but he decided not to.

Thanks Riley Testut for being a dick to the people that actually forced Apple into allowing alternative app stores in the first place.

Github issue related to this dick move: https://github.com/rileytestut/Delta/issues/292

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[-] BaronVonBort@lemmy.world 28 points 7 months ago

It’s the opposite of giving the EU the middle finger, it’s taking advantage of them opening the system. Just because Apple lists it doesn’t prevent them from taking it down off the App Store; having it loaded from his own does.

[-] Kolanaki@yiffit.net 11 points 7 months ago

Just because Apple lists it doesn’t prevent them from taking it down off the App Store; having it loaded from his own does.

Did you miss the part in the rules that still have Apple controlling what can be on and who can offer 3rd party stores? Apple still has final approval over everything basically. They complied with the verbiage of the law, but certainly not the intended spirit.

[-] TCB13@lemmy.world 5 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago)

Did you miss the part where Europens will have to pay 1.50€/year to have access to Delta while Americans can get it for free on the App Store?

having it loaded from his own does.

This isn't even true. Apps distributed via alternative stores are subject to notarization and are signed as well. Apple can take any app down at any point - even if distributed by a 3rd party store.

[-] bagfatnick@kulupu.duckdns.org 2 points 7 months ago

This was always a known risk of having alternative app stores. Think of it from the dev’s point of view, he’s also one of the founders of AltStore. Of course an exclusive app is one of the best ways to get people onboard. Just wait for the Epic, Meta, Amazon… stores next. At least AltStore has an open-source ethos behind it.

[-] Tick_Dracy@lemm.ee 13 points 7 months ago

As an European, I still prefer the freedom to have alternate App stores.

Yet, I still don't see a reason why they don't provide the same app to all customers since it's allowed by Apple, aside from greed or something like that.

Either way, let these developers enjoy their small time of fame, because as soon as RetroArch becames available, a lot of these emulators will be left in the dust ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[-] TCB13@lemmy.world 1 points 7 months ago

RetroArch

Do you have experience with it? Isn't RetroArch a frontend to another solutions? How does that play in iOS? Does it come with the other code compiled and bundled? How does it get around the fact that in iOS it can't just launch another executable for xyz?

[-] Tick_Dracy@lemm.ee 10 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago)

I only use RetroArch on PC, so I don’t know how it works on iOS, but I will assume will be identical to the console versions, which already have all the cores included on the emulator (on PC they are downloaded individually).

I wouldn’t call it just a front end, it’s much more than that, and it has a great integration. Also the devs seem to focus a lot on the emulation accuracy.

[-] TCB13@lemmy.world 4 points 7 months ago

According to this it as it currently stands you've to download all the core, compile than and bundle them with the App. This is very likely to pass the App Store checks depending on a few details.

[-] suckmyspez@lemmy.world 9 points 7 months ago

Talk about over dramatising the story!

This is hugely positive 🥳

[+] TCB13@lemmy.world -6 points 7 months ago

I bet you're living in the US not having this deal with this bullshit. While you've access to a free app, I'm (in Europe) required to pay and install a 3rd party store just because some guy decided like it.

[-] suckmyspez@lemmy.world 12 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago)

Wtf does the US have to do with this?

I live in Scotland and I’m gutted we don’t get access to the alternative app stores. It’s a huge positive.

Also the developer can charge whatever the fuck he wants for his work. Stop being so entitled

[-] TCB13@lemmy.world -4 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago)

Why should he make the app free in the US and payed in the EU then? I was okay with paying for this directly on the AppStore even 10$ would be fair, but this is bullshit.

[-] suckmyspez@lemmy.world 5 points 7 months ago

I downloaded it for free. Stop making this about the US 🤣

Why shouldn’t he? It’s his work he can do what ever he wants with it. He’s pushing users onto his new App Store so he’s making apps available there 🤷‍♂️

He has to pay a fee to create an AppStore. Do you think he can magically make money out of this air to pay apple?

[-] TCB13@lemmy.world -5 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago)

I downloaded it for free. Stop making this about the US 🤣

Enjoy your 3 side loaded app limit + 7 day refreshes and having to install a 3rd party store to get access to an application that was approved by Apple for distribution on the App Store.

He’s pushing users onto his new App Store so he’s making apps available there 🤷‍♂️

Yes and that's a dick move, he is leveraging Delta to push people into AltStore. Why some users can have it for free while others have to pay? How can this make sense to you? This is the same of, let's say, you've to pay taxes but your next door neighbor does not just because.

He has to pay a fee to create an AppStore. Do you think he can magically make money out of this air to pay apple?

Yes, and who asked for that?

People asked for an emulator on the App Store, eventually Apple changed their policies and allowed it, he was one that decided to create an alternative store, not the users.

[-] suckmyspez@lemmy.world 6 points 7 months ago

OMFG I’m not in the US I live in the UK. I don’t have access to alternative app stores 🫠

Again, it’s his work he can do what he wants with it. Is he not allowed to make his own decisions or should he refer to your poor arguments in the future? Fuck it’s not hard to understand. He can charge whatever the fuck he wants. That is his right. He built the damn thing!

At this point I feel like I’m speaking to a shitty ChatGPT bot or a troll. This conversation can’t be real 🤣🤣 maybe you’re the Portuguese Tim Cook and you’re still butthurt about opening up iOS??

[-] TCB13@lemmy.world -5 points 7 months ago

or should he refer to your poor arguments in the future

Okay, when your govt decides you should pay taxes and your neighbor in the exact same situation doesn't have to pay then I hope you're happy. That's what you're advocating for there.

maybe you’re the Portuguese Tim Cook and you’re still butthurt about opening up iOS??

Ahahah, the exact opposite. I'm all for alternative app stores and I believe iOS should allow for direct IPA installs without signatures and checks from Apple at all. What I'm against is developers screwing over specific groups of people, in this case Europeans, like this one did.

At the end of the day Testut is charging 1.50€/year for AltStore PAL access, so... he just created a new tax, a fee and so is Apple. The more things change, the more they stay the same ;)

[-] suckmyspez@lemmy.world 4 points 7 months ago

That comparison is wrong on so many levels 🤣 This is not a tax. Who’s forcing you to pay it?

[-] TCB13@lemmy.world -3 points 7 months ago

Riley Testut, as he could flip a switch and have Delta appear on all European app stores.

[-] suckmyspez@lemmy.world 4 points 7 months ago

No he’s not. You don’t have to download the app. Your entitlement is through the roof.

[-] TCB13@lemmy.world -2 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago)

I don't get the special treatment for US users. But okay.

I really hope that RetroArch (that is actually done by decent people) get's released in the stores soon and Delta / Testut fades away.

[-] suckmyspez@lemmy.world 2 points 7 months ago

I give up 😩

[-] TCB13@lemmy.world 0 points 7 months ago

Let's forget about the inequality situation that was created here, even though it was mostly created by his choices of accepting the "new terms" and wanting to launch the AltStore.

Do you like to have a phone where you're forced into having just the Apple App Store? You don't, you want freedom to choose whatever App Store you would like to use.

This is exactly the same, instead of just making Delta available on the EU Stores for a price (in order to cover the CTF tax) he decided to restrict it to his single store.

[-] the_crotch@sh.itjust.works 0 points 7 months ago

This is the same of, let's say, you've to pay taxes but your next door neighbor does not just because.

If my next door neighbor lives in a different country this is absolutely possible

[-] coffeebiscuit@lemmy.world 7 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago)

I’m confused, How is this a middle finger to Europe?

Edit: app only available in alt store which costs 1,50 per year.

[-] TCB13@lemmy.world -1 points 7 months ago

In the US you can go to the App Store and download Delta for free. In the EU you're forced to pay 1.50€/year because he decided to only make it available on the AltStore.

[-] coffeebiscuit@lemmy.world 4 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago)

Found it, just couldn’t find it in the initial story from 9to5mac.

[-] MisterMoo@lemmy.world 6 points 7 months ago

Do we have to assassinate someone’s character over this? Are you sure it isn’t more complicated than you’re describing it? Like Apple gets forced to allow alternative app stores by the EU, Testut plans to launch one, then at the last minute Apple attempts to pull the rug from under that by allowing emulators after 17 years of forbidding them. Testut was supposed to come back home to Apple just because they said so, but I think he did the right thing by sticking to his plans and foiling Apple’s. If you want Delta in the EU, download AltStore.

[-] TCB13@lemmy.world -4 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago)

Do we have to assassinate someone’s character over this?

Yes, he's acting in very bad faith, he launched Delta on the US App Store and NOT on the EU... Apple approved Delta for distribution and as so it can be distributed in all stores - not only in the US.

This is was a dick move to push EU people into the AltStore. If Apple made alternative app stores available in the US as well then this guy would've never published the app on the App Store.

If you want Delta in the EU, download AltStore.

I'm going to say again: AltStore is either payed or requires that constant refresh thing. It doesn't make sense for make the app free on the US and force EU users to pay...

Testut was supposed to come back home to Apple just because they said so, but I think he did the right thing by sticking to his plans and foiling Apple’s.

... again and how does that work when he only "stick to the plan" in the EU? Why does US users have access to Delta for free while other have to pay?

[-] MakePorkGreatAgain@lemmy.basedcount.com 0 points 7 months ago

cant imagine that Nintendo will let that fly for very long...

[-] TCB13@lemmy.world 4 points 7 months ago

Why not, Apple allows it, as long as there is no ROMs included it's okay.

this post was submitted on 17 Apr 2024

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