Putting pirated applications and emulators on an iOS device has now become easier with news that Apple now allows non-paid up developers to sideload applications on their devices via the new version of XCode.

The latest version of Apple’s integrated development environment for OSX and iOS, XCode 7, now allows anyone to install apps on their iOS device, whereas previously users had to be signed up to Apple’s Developer program, and subsequently have approval to install apps outside of the App Store.

What the means, put simply according to PocketNow, is that anyone can download the source code to an iOS project, compile it on their  machine, and load it directly to their iPhone or iPad.

Banned apps, pirated apps, emulators, and every variation in between that could only have been previously installed on a cracked iOS device are now open slather, presuming you own a Mac computer.

Giving in?

The move to allow anyone to sideload applications on an iOS device could be indicative of Apple giving in after trying to strictly enforce its walled garden of apps only from the App Store from the day the App Store launched.

The spin from Apple naturally indicates nothing of the sort, and instead makes the change out as one of making app development easier, saying “[now it’s] easier for everyone to build apps and run them directly on their Apple devices. Program membership is not required.”

There has already been an example of how it works published, with Pocket Gamer reporting that Developer Bouke van der Bijl has demonstrated that it’s possible to run Game Boy Advance emulator GBA4iOS on any iOS device simply by importing the source code into Xcode and sending it to an iPhone.

It’s clearly not as simple a process as installing apps on an Android is, but the learning curve isn’t the least bit high. It’s even conceivable that someone will come up with an overlay or program that taps into a Xcode installation to make it easier again for those looking to install forbidden apps on their iOS devices.

If you’re running OS X you can download the beta of Xcode 7 here.