9to5Mac is supported by Incogni: Stop robocalls, spam emails, stalkers, fraud, and more with Incogni. Exclusive discount for 9to5Mac readers: Use the code Apple55 at checkout to get 55% off the annual plan. A new report from TechCrunch today claims that TikTok might be bypassing Apple’s App Store in-app purchase system. The report says that TikTok is “presenting some of its users with a link to a website” to purchase coins, instead of using Apple’s in-app purchase flow. more
The decision follows a mandate from government authorities.
Apple has removed apps from the App Store that claimed to make nonconsensual nude imagery, a move that demonstrates Apple is now more willing to tackle the hazardous app category. App Store icon The capabilities of generative AI to create images based on prompts has become a very useful tool in photography and design. However, the technology also has been misused in the creation of deep fakes -- and nonconsensual pornography. Despite the danger, Apple has been remarkably hands-off...
Apple is cracking down on a category of AI image generation apps that “advertised the ability to create nonconsensual nude images.” According to a new report from 404 Media, Apple has removed multiple AI apps from the App Store that claimed they could “create nonconsensual nude images.” more
Setting up a VPN on your Apple TV 4K allows you to avoid geographic region restrictions and access services not normally available to you. With tvOS 17, VPN apps can now be installed on the Apple TV directly. VPN apps available now for Apple TV include NordVPN, PureVPN, IPVanish, ExpressVPN, and more. Here’s all the best VPN apps for Apple TV available now more
Spotify submitted a new version of its iOS app in the European Union with in-app pricing information, but Apple has rejected it. The reason? Apple wants Spotify to accept its updated rules on the Music Streaming Services Entitlement, according to which Spotify would still need to pay Apple a 30% entitlement commission for in-app purchases. Spotify says it won't be adopting Apple's revised changes. Spotify spokesperson Jeanne Moran told TheVerge - “Apple has once again defied the European...
TikTok is avoiding at least some Apple in-app purchase commissions. Can it do that?
Spotify has not been able to get Apple to approve an EU app update that added information on subscription pricing and links to the Spotify website, and it turns out that's because Spotify has not agreed to the terms of Apple's Music Streaming Services Entitlement. A recent antitrust ruling from the European Commission fined Apple nearly $2 billion and mandated that Apple "remove anti-steering provisions" for music apps in the European Economic Area (EEA). As a result, Apple updated its App...
Encrypted apps Telegram and Signal are also unavailable in the China app store, according to a censorship tracker.
Apple said it removed Meta-owned apps WhatsApp and Threads from its App Store in China. The US company was ordered to do so by the state government, which cited national security concerns. Other Meta apps including Facebook, Messenger, and Instagram remain available, as well as other popular US social media apps like YouTube or X (formerly Twitter). Apple stated that the Cyberspace Administration of China ordered the removal of these apps from the China storefront. "We are obligated to...
Company says Chinese government ordered it to remove two Meta-owned apps for ‘national security’ reasonsApple has removed WhatsApp and Threads from its Chinese App Store after the Chinese government ordered it to do so for “national security” reasons.Apple confirmed it had withdrawn the two apps – both owned by Meta, also the owner of Facebook – under instruction from the Cyberspace Administration of China, which regulates and censors China’s highly restricted internet and online content....
Apple has removed Meta-owned apps WhatsApp and Threads from the China App Store after government officials claimed national security concerns. China dictates what it allows on its country's internet and App Store The App Store culling continues in China after 30,000 games, then an additional 94,000 games, 44,000 apps, then 100 ChatGPT-like apps were removed over the past four years. The government in China is the driving force behind these app removals, but a more significant App Store...