iDOS 2 has been in the news in recent weeks because of a new development in the app. According to the App Store description, the app is meant to play old Windows games, but technology journalist Harry McCracken found a way to run the entire Windows 3.1 system. Developer Chaoji Li says he was disappointed when he recently wanted to release an update for iDOS 2.
iDOS 2 emulator cannot be an emulator
Apple states in article 2.5.2 of the App Store guidelines that apps should not run code that has been imported from another place. Developers must therefore develop an app that works without additional downloads outside the App Store.
Since iDOS 2 is an emulator, its main functionality is precisely this. After purchasing the app, you can download and import executable code from the internet. iDOS 2 will then execute the code. Last week in our App Missed section we wrote about the possibility to also run Windows 3.1 as executable code.
“Download it before it's too late”
iDOS developer Li is now being summoned by Apple to adjust the functionality. If this is not done within 14 days, the app will be removed from the store. Li has already said he has no intention of doing this. On his blog, he writes: “download it before it's too late”. This makes it clear that Li expects nothing more than to see his app disappear from the App Store.
Sorry guys. iDOS caught some unfavorable attention in Apple and will be gone in a few days.😭https://t.co/9yY3fn7Acq
— Chaoji Li (@litchiedev) July 22, 2021
The entire conversation between Li and Apple is on Li's website. It can be read that Li is still trying to convince Apple that his app follows the rules. He also writes that the recent attention to iDOS may have gone down the wrong way at Apple.
At the time of writing, you can still go to the App Store and buy iDOS 2. If Apple removes the app, it will still work on your iPad. However, you will no longer receive updates and it is therefore uncertain how long the app will work with future iOS versions.