Tag: App Store

  • Apple faces legal trouble and plans new Apple Watch Ultra 3 for 2025

    Apple faces legal trouble and plans new Apple Watch Ultra 3 for 2025

    Apple is dealing with two big news stories right now. First, a U.S. appeals court has decided that a lawsuit against Apple can move forward. This lawsuit claims that Apple has made it hard for other companies to compete with its Apple Pay system.

    The court said there is enough evidence for the case to continue, which means Apple will have to answer these claims in court. The lawsuit says Apple uses its control over iPhones and Apple Pay to keep other payment services out, which could hurt both customers and other businesses.

    At the same time, Apple is getting ready to launch the Apple Watch Ultra 3. After some rumors that Apple might skip this model, new reports say the Apple Watch Ultra 3 will come out in 2025. This new smartwatch is expected to have better features and improved performance, but details are still limited. Apple fans who were worried about missing out on a new Ultra model can now look forward to its release next year.

    In summary, Apple is facing a serious legal challenge over how it runs Apple Pay, while also planning to release a new and improved Apple Watch Ultra 3 in 2025. Both stories show that Apple is dealing with challenges but is also working on new products for its customers.

  • Apple App Store helps businesses and people make money

    Apple App Store helps businesses and people make money

    This week, Apple explained the size of the App Store for businesses and app-making people. Reports say the App Store has supported companies and workers worldwide in gathering over 1.3 trillion dollars.

    The company has made this announcement just days before their main developer event, WWDC. They want to demonstrate the significance of the App Store for everyone such as large companies, small teams and even solo app makers. With the App Store, users can introduce their ideas to millions and make money in the process.

    Apple also explains that the App Store plays a role in providing employment and aided many people in growing their professions. App development allows companies of all sizes to introduce their products to more customers and contribute to their growth. Apple takes pride in the App Store’s benefits for so many users and they intend to improve it for everyone going forward.

    This story shows how much our phones and business activities have changed because of the App Store. You can get apps from Play Store, but it is also where people achieve their dreams, get new clients and make money. The company is still dedicated to supporting the big and valuable community of developers.

  • New iPhone will charge faster and App Store helps developers worldwide

    New iPhone will charge faster and App Store helps developers worldwide

    The iPhone 17, under development by Apple, is expected to have support for up to 50 watts of MagSafe wireless charging. Currently, it tops out at 15 watts, but this could change.

    Other parts of Apple’s world are the App Store and developers everywhere. Recently, a study found that the app store lets people from all regions access apps from developers in various countries. This helps both small and large companies expand their business. The study also highlighted the security and safety Apple offers for everyone.

    Apple keeps progressing by making its gadgets better, also giving people around the globe a helping hand. For example, the iPhone 17 might allow quicker charging, while the App Store enables developers to introduce their ideas to a large group of people.

  • Apple’s US App Store crossed $400 billion in developer earnings and sales in 2024

    Apple’s US App Store crossed $400 billion in developer earnings and sales in 2024

    Developers on the United States App Store made over $400 billion during the year 2024. We can see that many people make and use apps on the platform due to its success.

    Apps created for iPhones, iPads and additional Apple devices brought in significant earnings for developers on the US App Store last year. Including cash from purchasing, subscribing and selling in the app store. The rise is the result of Apple gadgets being used for apps and digital content.

    Millions of customers have made the App Store important for developers to reach them. Apple continues to update the store’s offerings to let developers make better apps and expand their businesses. This achievement indicates that the App Store is still a key player in the app business.

    Because Apple pays attention to security, privacy and quality, users continue to feel safe in using their apps and services. As more people trust the App Store, they spend more money and this is good for developers and Apple.

    All in all, the US App Store reaching $400 billion by 2024 demonstrates its relevance as a place where apps succeed and users discover valuable offers. The report also reveals that more people are buying software from their mobiles.

  • Tap to pay on iPhone expands to more countries and Apple says App Store rules save users money

    Tap to pay on iPhone expands to more countries and Apple says App Store rules save users money

    Apple is helping individuals all over the world use their iPhones to complete payments. The Tap to Pay feature is being introduced in 18 additional countries, the company revealed. This means businesses have the ability to accept transactions using just their iPhones.

    It is already offered in the US, UK and Australia and shortly, residents of Europe, Asia and similar regions will be able to try it too. By using just their iPhones, even small food and retail businesses can make sure all their payments are safe and easy.

    As one more point, Apple updated the community on its App Store. According to the company, its policies have played a big role in saving users billions. Every app is vetted by Apple before it is placed on the App Store to confirm that it is safe and not designed to get people to spend unwisely.

    Following these rules has stopped a lot of scams, keeping users from losing their hard-earned money, according to Apple. Over the last four years, the company has detected and blocked more than $7 billion worth of suspicious transactions, it says. Because more countries around the world now have Tap to Pay and the App Store protects users, Apple says it is dedicated to making its devices easy and secure for everyone to use.

    Source/Via

  • Apple faces court ruling on App Store changes

    Apple faces court ruling on App Store changes

    In a major win for Epic Games, a U.S. judge ruled on April 30, 2025, that Apple broke a 2021 court order meant to make its App Store fairer. The order told Apple to let app developers guide users to payment options outside the App Store, avoiding Apple’s fees. Instead, Apple added new rules, like a 27% fee on outside purchases and warning screens that scared users away from external payments. The judge called this a deliberate move to keep billions in profits and said Apple’s actions were “anticompetitive.”

    The court now bans Apple from charging fees on external purchases or blocking developers from linking to other payment options. Apple can’t control how developers design these links or track user activity outside apps. The judge also referred Apple’s case to federal prosecutors for possible criminal charges, pointing to false statements made by Apple’s finance vice-president, Alex Roman. Apple plans to follow the new rules but will appeal the decision.

    This ruling could bring Fortnite back to iPhones and iPads worldwide, as Epic Games is ready to return if Apple follows the court’s orders. Epic’s CEO, Tim Sweeney, celebrated the decision, saying it ends Apple’s high fees, similar to changes in Europe. The case shows Apple’s ongoing struggle to balance its App Store control with growing demands for fair competition.

  • Brazil gives Apple 90 days to open iOS to outside apps

    Brazil gives Apple 90 days to open iOS to outside apps

    After the European Union pushed Apple to make big changes to iOS and the App Store for users in Europe, other nations started looking into Apple’s rules too. Now, a court in Brazil has decided that Apple has just 90 days to let iPhone users in Brazil download apps from places other than the App Store, a process called sideloading.

    Apple Faces New Rules in Brazil

    According to the Brazilian newspaper Valor Econômico (mentioned by O Globo), a judge in Brazil said on Wednesday that Apple must allow apps from outside its store, just like it did in Europe. The judge believes Apple’s strict rules stop new companies from joining the market and competing fairly.

    Back in November 2024, Brazil’s competition watchdog, called Cade, told Apple it could no longer block app makers from selling digital items or sharing apps outside the App Store. Apple was given 20 days to follow the rules or face a fine of over $40,000 per day. Apple fought back, asking for more time, and a judge agreed, saying the changes weren’t urgent. Apple argued that quick changes could hurt its business. Last month, the company attended a public meeting in Brazil about this issue.

    Court Sets a Deadline

    Now, Judge Pablo Zuniga has made it clear: Apple has three months to update iOS in Brazil. He pointed out that Apple already follows similar rules in other countries without major problems, so it shouldn’t be a big deal here, either.

    The trouble started when Mercado Libre, a huge online shopping company in Latin America, complained that Apple forces app makers to use its payment system. Other businesses, like Match (which runs Tinder) and Epic Games, also told Brazil’s regulators they weren’t happy with Apple’s rules.

    An Apple spokesperson told Valor Econômico that the company loves “lively and fair markets” and competes hard everywhere it works. But Apple warns that these changes might make iOS less safe and private for users. The company plans to fight the decision in court.

  • Apple’s App Store faces public hearing in Brazil over competition rules

    Apple’s App Store faces public hearing in Brazil over competition rules

    Next week, Apple will have to explain its App Store practices in Brazil due to an ongoing antitrust investigation. The Brazilian competition authority, known as Cade, has been looking into whether Apple’s rules for the App Store are fair to other companies.

    Antitrust Scrutiny in Brazil

    Cade is holding a public hearing to talk about competition issues in the world of mobile apps, especially on iOS devices. Google will also be there since it’s under similar scrutiny for its Android platform.

    According to local news sources, the hearing is meant to address the increasing complaints about unfair business practices in digital markets, focusing on how mobile devices and their operating systems operate.

    Complaints and Investigations

    Companies like Match, which runs Tinder, and Epic Games, famous for their battle with Apple over Fortnite, have made complaints to Cade about both Apple and Google. These firms argue that Apple and Google have rules that hurt competition. Representatives from these companies are expected at the hearing.

    Cade’s investigation into Apple started when Mercado Libre, a big e-commerce player in Latin America, claimed that Apple forces developers to use its payment system for digital goods, which could stifle competition. There’s also a concern about “tying,” where Apple links the use of one product to another, potentially anti-competitive practice.

    Previous Rulings and Appeals

    Last year, Cade decided that Apple couldn’t stop developers from selling apps outside the App Store in Brazil. Apple was supposed to follow this rule within 20 days or face daily fines of over $40,000. However, after Apple appealed, a judge decided they didn’t need to change right away, giving them more time to argue their case.

    The outcome of this case could mean big changes for how Apple’s App Store operates in Brazil if Apple doesn’t win the appeal.

    Looking Ahead

    The Brazilian government is also planning to look into how other big tech firms like Meta and Amazon do business, showing that this hearing might just be the start of broader regulatory actions. All this comes at a time when international trade tensions, like those hinted at by former US President Trump’s tariff threats, could influence tech policy globally.

    Source

  • EU App Store removes non-compliant ‘Trader’ apps

    EU App Store removes non-compliant ‘Trader’ apps

    Apple has started removing apps from the App Store in the European Union that do not provide trader contact information. Developers were notified that apps missing this crucial data would be taken down by February 17, 2025, and that deadline has now passed.

    Under the new EU Digital Services Act (DSA), apps must list trader details like an address, phone number, and email for customers to see. This is to ensure transparency and accountability from app developers who earn money from sales or in-app purchases.

    Apple has been emphasizing this rule for some time, requiring all new apps and updates to include this trader information. This data needs to be verified by Apple before apps can return to the App Store. The process to add trader information is straightforward, done through App Store Connect.

    However, this requirement has caused some friction, especially among smaller developers or solo app creators who might not have formal business contact details. They argue that this could expose them to unwanted spam or complicate their operations.

    Despite the pushback, the DSA mandates that Apple must display these contact details on the app’s product page within the EU’s 27 member countries. This ensures that users can reach out with any concerns or issues they might have with the app or its developer.

    For more detailed guidance on how to comply with these new regulations, developers can visit Apple’s official website. This move signifies a growing trend towards more transparency in digital markets, although it does present new challenges for some in the development community.

  • New Update for App Store Connect: Dark mode icon and bug fixes

    New Update for App Store Connect: Dark mode icon and bug fixes

    The App Store Connect app, which helps developers manage their software on the App Store, has been updated to version 2.1. This update brings a new look with a dark mode icon, switching from the usual white background to a sleek black one.

    Here are the fixes included in this update:

    • Fixed a problem where reviews for apps only available on macOS were not showing up in the Ratings and Reviews section.
    • Corrected an issue that prevented some apps from sharing their marketing videos.
    • Fixed a glitch in the Trends section so Finance and Sales users can now see all the necessary details.
    • Other small tweaks have been made to make the app run more smoothly.

    Apple has recently added the option for dark mode icons with iOS 18. To change how your icons look, simply hold down on your Home screen, hit ‘Edit’ at the top left, then ‘Customize’, and you can choose from light, dark, automatic, or even tint the icons to your liking.