iOS can be used without an account. iPhones can be acquired outside of Apple. The EU has the alternative App Store option that doesn’t require an Apple account.

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birdsongs 3 hours ago | parent | next [-]

But I can't use my Norwegian BankID unless I have an apple store or play store account. This is required for every aspect of society. Heathcare, banking, taxes, driving, using my debit card online.

They removed SMS 2FA options recently, the only non-tech monopoly method is a 2fa codebrick that's getting harder and harder to acquire (there are new ridiculous facial ID and passport scanning requirements, run by a private corporation, in order to get one).

It's garbage and getting worse. And it seems no one cares our entire lives exist at the whim of two US tech monoliths.

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BetterThanSober 2 hours ago | parent | next [-]

That's on your bank and not necessarily because of Apple/Google duopoly. I think it is crazy to put the whole banking system on foreign, private company though

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anonzzzies an hour ago | parent | prev | next [-]

We need all countries and the EU govs to mandate companies to provide the same vital access via a Web page that works on the 4 major browsers (not an issue anymore) as via the app. All my banks have it; I need an otp device but thats fine; it works well. I wish EU would mandate that plus an EU made hardware device on which all seeds can be stored and otps generated. That can be the size of an USB stick you can put on your keyring. Add NFC/qr so you don't have to type the otp and there we go.

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graemep an hour ago | parent [-]

Most places are going the other. The UK uses ID verification for company directors that gave me an alternative between driving half an hour each way (plus parking and queueing) or using a mobile app. There is a web page but apparently they do not have the data to let me use it. The EU is pushing an age verification app that will only work on Apple or Google phones.

There is a huge push towards cashless payments that has the same effect, especially as people increasingly use mobile payments.

	▲	anonzzzies an hour ago \| parent [-]
		Yep, it's pretty bad.

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elondaits an hour ago | parent | prev | next [-]

The App Store account doesn’t need to be the same as the Apple iCloud account. You can create an account without a credit card associated to it.

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duskdozer 2 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

That's much worse than I expected. Is it a hard play store requirement or can you install the apk? Are there really no other workarounds?

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artisinal an hour ago | parent | prev [-]

What Norway has sounds pretty crazy to me. If I am reading this correctly, Trump can disable the entire Norwegian healthcare system by calling Apple and Google and having them block BankID.

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qilo an hour ago | parent | prev | next [-]

You can't install anything without an Apple account. Just tried installing altstore.io to repeat my previous unsuccessful attempt.

Only users based in Brazil, Japan, or the European Union are able to install apps through alternative app distribution. The country or region of your *Apple Account* must be set to one of those countries or regions, and you must physically be located there. [0]

UPDATE: Also tried to install onside.io. No luck. The same popup:

Cannot Install App: You are not eligible to install apps from "onside.io".

[0] https://support.apple.com/en-us/117767 https://support.apple.com/en-us/118110

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tempodox 2 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

> The EU has the alternative App Store option that doesn’t require an Apple account.

I cannot install any iOS software without being logged into my Apple account, not even an alternative app store.

It would be perfect on my older iDevices, but they don't let me log in anymore “because the OS is too old”. And guess what: I cannot update the OS without being logged in. I never logged out of those iDevices, Apple did that from their end.

	▲	artisinal an hour ago \| parent \| next [-]
		I tried to install onside.io through Safari and it doesn’t seem to use my Apple credentials. Have you tried updating your older iOS devices through a Mac?
	▲	givinguflac 2 hours ago \| parent \| prev [-]
		You can update the OS using a Mac or PC.

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pfortuny 4 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

Wow, I did not know this and -despite its drawbacks, like not being able to install apps from the Apple App store- this seems like a great way to have a powerful dumb-phone.

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malfist 2 hours ago | parent [-]

Why do you need a powerful dumb phone?

	▲	broken-kebab 2 hours ago \| parent [-]
		One can read it aloud in sarcastic tone, and it will become clear then.