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Apple enforcing iOS 11 support, iPhone X resolution in app updates

It was reported back in February that all new apps submitted to the App Store had to support the iPhone X’s Super Retina display starting last month. Today, Apple has informed developers that all new apps, whether updates or new submissions, will be required to support the iPhone X’s screen resolution, beginning in July of 2018.


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Photo-hiding app disguised as calculator disappears from App Store following police investigation

Apple’s app review process while streamlined and quick, doesn’t always catch everything within an app before it is approved and released on the App Store. This time an app disguised as a calculator was able to make it through the cracks, with a hidden photo/video aspect underneath an otherwise fully functional calculator.

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PSA: Watch out for these convincing App Store subscription phishing emails

Representing such a large and diverse percentage of the market, Apple customers are common targets of phishing attempts. Whether they be innovative methods via iOS applications or traditional email phishing attempts, it’s important for customers to remain skeptical of communication asking for sensitive information.

A new wave of phishing attempts targeted at Apple customers comes in the form of subscription renewal email and has seemingly become so widespread, Apple has shared new tips on protecting yourself…


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Apple will require all new apps to natively support iPhone X display from April

Apple has informed developers today that all new apps submitted to the App Store from April 2018 must support the iPhone X’s Super Retina display. This means developers of new apps must ensure they accommodate the notch and go edge-to-edge on the 5.8-inch OLED screen.

Apple has not set a deadline for when updates to existing apps must support iPhone X natively. From April, all new apps must also be built against the iOS 11 SDK.


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Apple abruptly pulled Telegram last week when it learned app was serving child pornography

We now have the answer for why the popular messaging app Telegram was pulled from the App Store last week. Telegram for iOS notably disappeared from the App Store for several hours without an explanation before the service’s CEO blamed the problem on Apple pulling the app due to ‘inappropriate content’ appearing in the app.

According to an email shared by 9to5Mac reader Alijah that includes a response from Phil Schiller who manages the App Store, Telegram was abruptly pulled when Apple learned that the app was serving child pornography to users.


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App Review rejecting apps that use Apple emoji for user interface icons

App Review appears to be more strictly enforcing rules regarding the use of Apple intellectual property in third party apps, which now includes emoji. Developers are reporting that their apps are now getting rejected for using the Apple emoji icon set in screenshots, other marketing and parts of the user interface (such as using emoji in place of custom iconography).

As described to Sam Eckert, apps cannot use emoji outside of places where a user would have typed it in to comply with the new rules. Apps must replace usage of Apple emoji with custom icons, or nothing at all, if they want their app to be approved.


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Apple blocks iOS app that claims to detect net neutrality violations through data throttling [Update]

[Update: The developer now says his app has been approved after all.]

Apple has reportedly rejected an app that claims to detect net neutrality violations and study which carriers throttle major video services. Motherboard reports that researcher David Choffnes says his app Wehe was rejected by the App Store for apparently offering no benefit to the user, but the app’s promise sounds rather straightforward…


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Google Arts & Culture tops iOS free app charts for all the wrong reasons

If you were to guess which app would top the charts of free iOS apps, you’d probably guess Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook, a game or something to do with emoji. But no, right now it’s an app no-one would ever have predicted: Google Arts & Culture.

Google Arts & Culture has collaborated with over 1,200 international museums, galleries and institutions from 70 countries to make their exhibits available for everyone online.

Sadly, this unexpected popularity doesn’t reflect a sudden popular interest in either cultural artifacts or art …


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iOS App Store will be bigger than entire worldwide movie industry sometime this year

Following Apple’s announcement of record-breaking app sales in the holiday shopping season, Asymco’s Horace Dediu did some number-crunching, and came up with some surprising facts.

Not least among them is the clear pointer that iOS app sales will be worth more than the entire worldwide movie industry at some point this year …


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