FYI: iOS 8.1 shuts down emulators for NES, SNES, etc

[Bateluer]

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2014/10/09/apples_kills_super_mario_and_zelda_and_sonic_bastards/

A fresh beta version of iOS 8.1 landed in developers' laps on Tuesday, and it was confirmed that Apple had plugged a date-time workaround that had allowed nostalgic gamers to run the unapproved emulators.

The so-called "date trick" allowed rogue apps to be installed by manually changing the date to some time in the past and then downloading the app through Safari's mobile browser. This allowed retro-minded fiddlers who weren't too fussed about the copyrights of Nintendo and other developers to play their favourite classic console games from the comfort of their iPhones.

If anyone enjoys their NES roms on their iPhones, you may want to hold off on 8.1 and betas until there's a fix or workaround.

 

[KB]

This is one reason why I am an Andoid user. With android you can install apps from an APK fil outside the google store. They also are more lenient on emulators.

 

[poofyhairguy]

And just last night I was playing SNES games with a real SNES controller (via USB) on my Nexus 7. This and media support are two areas where Android just destroys iOS, on purpose basically.

Heck its gotten to the point where Android is maybe the second best OS platform behind Windows for emulators. I have trouble with emulators recently in Ubuntu that aren't the newage combo ones, and many were never an easy ride on OSX. Android covers a lot of ground, has a lot of high-quality emulators, and allows for a lot of controller options even without root (amazing options with root).

 

[PowerYoga]

in b4 some fanboy praises apple for shutting down dirty pirates for using bugs to exploit their device in a way that it's not intended to be used.

 

[sweenish]

I just feel like Apple users had to know this would happen.

It's a consequence of signing into a walled garden. Anyone getting overly worked up about it should re-evaluate their hardware choices, or their ability to use common sense and logic. I'm not saying they can't be a bit angry about this, but this sort of thing (Apple is free to do what they want to their devices and not give you any recourse) is exactly what you sign up for when deciding to go with Apple.

 

[Phynaz]

This is just a side effect of plugging a security hole around revoked digital certificates.

Emulators weren't targeted.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

This is one reason why I am an Andoid user. With android you can install apps from an APK fil outside the google store. They also are more lenient on emulators.

I do think that there will be more and more restrictions as we move forward on Android though. If you look at Chrome, you can only install extensions from the Chrome store now. It's not always going to be the wild west where you can do anything you want.

 

[Oyeve]

Heck its gotten to the point where Android is maybe the second best OS platform behind Windows for emulators.

True true true. My Retron 5 runs android for its emu.

 

[poofyhairguy]

It's not always going to be the wild west where you can do anything you want.

You say that, but I think the way Android is will always make it the more open platform.

Plus, the honest truth is Google cares less than Apple about piracy. Ever since way back when the iPod was THE Napster companion, Apple has gone out of its way to not accommodate anything near piracy.

Meanwhile in the Google store the only time these emulators get pulled is if they use a trademarked logo, like the PS1 logo. Oh and they let me throw thousands on those old Napster mp3s on their server for free.

 

[eelw]

I think this patch had more to do with released of Movie Box and Popcorn Time over enulators.

 

[Zodiark1593]

I see we've established Apple's callous disregard for nostalgic gamers and hobbyist programmers. Where's the fanfare. Its been overdue for 5 years.