App Store

Apple might soon have to remove some of the App Store’s most popular apps in China. A new report from the Wall Street Journal today says that Apple will be forced to “strictly implement rules” that ban unregistered foreign apps on the App Store. Most notably, this could impact social media apps including Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Twitter (currently known as X).

Update: Reuters reports that the Chinese regulator has now published a list of 26 companies who have complied with the law, and Apple is not listed.

A range of Android app stores have taken action to comply with the latest developer clampdown in China, meeting a deadline of the end of August. Several days past the deadline, however, Apple’s Chinese App Store appears to have taken no action to comply with the new law …

Apple has opened applications for its next Entrepreneur Camp for underrepresented founders and developers. The company is expanding its outreach to include developers from Indigenous backgrounds this year.

The European Union has now named the six tech giants whose services will be subject to the Digital Markets Act antitrust law, with Apple as one of the so-called “gatekeepers.” It’s been confirmed that the App Store is subject to the law, while the status of iMessage remains under investigation.

In total, some 22 services operated by the the six companies are deemed sufficiently influential to be covered by law …

The App Store has become an extremely important business for Apple, since 26% of the company’s revenue comes from services. A lot of people download apps every day, but interestingly, there seems to be a new trend in the app market. A recent research shows that users are downloading fewer apps from the US App Store. However, this doesn’t mean that developers are making less money from their apps.

Apple has voraciously denied accusations that the App Store has monopolistic control over iPhone apps, yet the company’s ability to unilaterally close developer accounts without explanation forms a textbook antitrust case.

One small games developer had its Apple Developer Program (ADP) account terminated without explanation, was unable to appeal as it hadn’t been told what accusations it needed to address, took Apple to court – and then had its account reinstated after five months of lost sales, still without explanation or apology …

The Digital Markets Act (DMA) legislation could force Apple to open up iPhone to third-party app stores in the EU next year and Setapp says it will be ready if that happens. The company known for its popular app subscription service has officially announced its Setapp mobile app store and is taking applications from developers who would like to join in.

The New York Times is putting a spotlight on an ongoing challenge Apple faces with the App Store, and what parents are doing about it.

The piece highlights a website called the App Danger Project. The website uses a machine algorithm to provide two resources for parents.

Yet another app clampdown in China looks set to cause problems for developers both inside and outside the country, but with small developers from the US and other foreign countries hit hardest.

A new law will require all developers to “file business details” with the Chinese government, in what some are saying amounts to requesting permission to make an app available through the App Store …

Elon Musk hopes to do what no one before him has done: convince Apple CEO Tim Cook to change the cut it takes of in-app transactions via the App Store.

In a post on Twitter today touting the benefits of supporting creators, Musk said that he is going to “speak with Tim Cook” about making changes to this policy.

Apple is reportedly cracking down on the availability of ChatGPT-style apps in China amid regulatory scrutiny. A new report today says that Apple has removed “over a hundred” apps that “provide ChatGPT-style services” in China “ahead of forthcoming changes to regulations in the country.”

A bipartisan group of lawmakers in the United States has reached out to Apple CEO Tim Cook seeking details on how App Store guidelines impact “Apple’s iOS App Store and how these policies are impacting American leadership in emerging technologies including blockchains, nonfungible tokens (NFTs), and other distributed ledger technologies.”

The letter comes as Apple has faced criticism from the likes of Jack Dorsey, Coinbase, and others over its App Store rules.

The App Store review process is very strict to ensure that apps comply with Apple’s guidelines. And soon, this whole process will get even more strict. That’s because Apple recently announced that developers would be required to detail why their apps use certain APIs before submitting them to the App Store.

A bi-partisan proposal by two US senators has argued for the creation of a federal Big Tech regulator, with wide-ranging enforcement powers. It would issue operating licenses to tech giants, which ultimately could be revoked in the event that a company repeatedly ignored its rulings.

Apple is directly referenced in a piece co-written by Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D) and Sen. Lindsey Graham (R) …

We yesterday learned of a billion-dollar Apple developer lawsuit, in which the iPhone maker was accused of “abusive” commissions on app sales. Apple has now responded to the antitrust claim, emphasizing that the judge in the Epic Games case rejected the argument that it has monopolistic powers.

The US ruling of course sets no precedent in the UK – where the latest case has been filed – but Apple also told us that, far from taking advantage of its position, it has instead only ever lowered commissions or created new exemptions …

Apple this week announced a new series of events called “Meet with App Store experts.” Throughout the month of August, the company will hold online and in-person sessions where developers working with Apple platforms can come together to learn more about App Store features. In addition, there will also be special sessions focused on Apple Vision Pro.

A billion-dollar Apple lawsuit has been filed on behalf of more than 1,500 app developers, accusing the company of “abusive” commission levels on app sales and subscriptions.

The antitrust lawsuit says that Apple’s monopoly on the sale and distribution of iOS apps means that it is able to set its own commission levels, and that developers have no choice but to accept it …

Apple recently appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court to reverse Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers’ ruling in the case against Epic Games. As determined by the judge, the company would be forced to make some changes to the App Store rules. However, a district court allowed Apple to delay the changes until the appeal is heard by the Supreme Court.

Using the Telsa app on iPhone, Tesla owners are able to subscribe to the automaker’s Premium Connectivity package that unlocks a handful of features for $9.99 per month. A new report from Gizmodo, however, points out that Tesla isn’t using Apple’s In-App Purchase system for this subscription… and it probably should be.

Apple last month announced a new advertising format for the App Store, so that developers have even more options to promote their apps to iPhone and iPad users. The company said the new ads in the Today tab of the iOS App Store would become visible to users in July, and as of today, users are now seeing these new ads on the iPhone.

At least six scam loan apps have been removed from Apple’s official App Store in India after it was revealed that they engaged in a range of outrageous tactics, from fees of up to half the loan value, to threatening to send fake nudes to the contact lists of borrowers.

Four of the apps made it into the top 20 financial apps in India before Apple removed them …