By news@appleinsider.com (Amber Neely) Apple has started lifting iMessage bans on Mac users who previously lost access after granting access to Beeper, but it remains unclear why the bans were imposed in the first place.In mid-January, Apple began banning a handful of Mac owners from the iMessage platform after granting Beeper access to Apple’s messaging platform. As of January 21, Beeper said that there were around 30 users who had reported being banned.No warning was given to users before the ban, and it was thought that the move could have been retaliation against using the controversial messaging app. According to Beeper, Apple alleged that “spam” was the reason for the hardware ban.Full details Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums
By news@appleinsider.com (William Gallagher) Even as EU developers get the option to sell apps outside of the App Store, there are some who should stay with Apple, and a few who should go it alone. Here’s the breakdown.Developers will need to calculate carefully whether it’s worth leaving the App Store. (image: PCalc app on an iPhone)Apple is enabling developers in the EU to sell apps through alternative stores, but of course it wants them to stay within its existing App Store. Call it concern for the security of iOS, or call it a desire to keep all the App Store fees, but the result is that moving away is not a simple decision.There are developers who should not leave Apple, there are others who should make their own alternative app stores, and then there are those in the middle where it’s worth accepting Apple’s new EU business terms. That last type of developer can stay in the App Store or move to a third-party one, but there are costs that have to be considered. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums
By news@appleinsider.com (Amber Neely) Epic Games has announced that it will bring the much-beloved battle royale game “Fortnite” back to the iPhone and iPad in 2024 — but only in Europe.Image Credit: Epic GamesOn Thursday, Epic Games posted that it plans to launch its own Epic Games store for iOS in Europe later this year. Of course, the company couldn’t resist taunting Apple in the post, either.Currently, there is no concrete date for the launch of the Epic Games Store. Epic CEO Tim Sweeney originally promised a 2023 return. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums
By news@appleinsider.com (William Gallagher) As part of what the European Union is requiring as part of the Digital Markets Act, Apple is allowing browsers other than Safari to be set as a default in iOS 17.4. Here’s what can be chosen.Apple must offer alternatives to Safari within the EUThe first time that an iOS 17 iPhone user in any of the European Union’s 27 member states opens Safari, they will be prompted to choose a default browser. It’s long been possible to switch from Safari as the default, but now iOS prompts for the decision — and offers a series of options.Those optional alternative browsers vary slightly between the countries. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums
By news@appleinsider.com (Andrew O’Hara) The first beta of iOS 17.4 has arrived and is an unusually large update. Aside from new features and new emoji, Apple is also allowing third-party app stores for the EU, and there are references to unreleased devices. Here’s what’s in the update.Developers got their first look at iOS 17.4 this week, ahead of a likely public beta. The update, build number 21E5184i, was a big 6GB on our iPhone 15 Pro Max.The biggest change in iOS 17.4 isn’t coming to everybody. It’s Apple’s compliance with an EU ruling that mandated Apple allow installation of apps outside of the App Store, allowing for third party app marketplaces for the first time. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums
By news@appleinsider.com (Amber Neely) US intelligence and defense organizations are perhaps operating outside mandates to spy on American citizens by buying a wealth of personal data harvested from smartphones through brokers, and a senator wants the practice stopped.The U.S. government is a key customer of data brokersSenator Ron Wyden says in a letter that, thanks to a “legal gray area,” US intelligence and the Department of Defense can purchase bulk data about U.S. citizens without their consent. He wants the practice stopped, and the data deleted.Typically, if a government security agency wants to obtain data about a user’s internet activity, they would need to petition developers and internet service providers with a warrant. However, they can avoid issuing warrants by purchasing data from data brokers. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums
By news@appleinsider.com (Jess Pingrey) Today’s hottest deals include Apple accessories as low as $5.99, 51% off a Samsung Q-Series Dolby Atmos soundbar & subwoofer, 39% off a 65″ 2023 Samsung OLED 4K Smart TV, 50% off H&R Block Tax Software Deluxe, and more.Save $1,018 on a 2023 Samsung OLED 4K Smart TVThe AppleInsider team searches the internet for stellar deals at online retailers to develop a list of deep discounts on trending tech gadgets, including deals on Apple gear, TVs, accessories, and other products. We share our top finds daily to help you get more bang for your buck. Continue Reading on AppleInsider
By news@appleinsider.com (Wesley Hilliard) The new Apple Vision Pro is the first step into spatial computing and, more critically, the development of visionOS. So, shipping the product is a win for Apple, regardless of what Wall Street prognosticates.Apple Vision ProThere is a lot of discourse surrounding Apple Vision Pro and its launch. Who is it for, why it exists, why didn’t Apple wait until it could sell you AR-equipped sunglasses, and so forth.The answer to almost every question is simple — Apple needed to get Apple Vision Pro and visionOS out there to make any more progress. If Apple’s marketing around Apple Vision Pro is confusing or seems to be missing a killer app, it’s not just you. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums
By news@appleinsider.com (Bon Adamson) There are thousands of languages in the world, and chances are, you or someone you know speaks one other than English. If you want to have your Mac use that language, making the switch is easy enough to do.There are many languages available for use on your Mac, all of which can be easily cycled through.You don’t have to go as far as changing everything within your Mac to display in a different language. If you’d still like your Mac to predominantly display in English with certain apps being in an alternative language, that’s possible as well.Both are very simple settings to modify and take a matter of minutes to set up. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums
By news@appleinsider.com (William Gallagher) Apple has been forced to allow third-party App Store in the European Union, but not all countries in Europe are in the EU. Here’s where Apple’s new rules will take effect.Which countries do Apple’s new App Store rules apply to?The famous example of a European country not being in the European Union is the United Kingdom, which voted to leave. But there are others that just never joined the EU. AppleInsider can confirm that Apple is being very precise about changing the App Store solely were it is legally required to. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums
