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App Store - page 17

App Store highlights UK government’s COVID-19 PSA

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App-Store-UK-coronavirus
You can't miss it.
Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

Apple on Thursday placed the U.K. government’s public service announcement on COVID-19 at the very top of the App Store.

Customers who visit will be greeted first and foremost by chief medical officer Chris Whitty’s guidance on reducing the spread of the coronavirus. They will also see a handy link to the NHS app for iOS.

Average iPhone user spending in App Store rockets to $100 in 2019

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App Store
Spending was up 23%.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Last year, iPhone users in the U.S. spent an average of $100 on in-app purchases and premium apps for the first time, according to data published Wednesday by app analytics firm Sensor Tower.

This figure was up $21 on the $79 average spent in 2018. It does not cover payments made using retail apps like Amazon, ride-sharing apps such as Uber, or any other payments that aren’t processed via Apple and the App Store.

App Store expanding to 20 more countries this year [Updated]

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iPhone App Store
The iPhone App Store is a sort of magazine about iOS software.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

The Apple digital distribution App Store is expanding to 20 more countries this year, Apple informed developers Monday. Apple has yet to reveal which countries are included in the expansion nor when the first additional nations will go live.

Apple recommends best apps for working and staying at home during coronavirus crisis

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tulsa.apple.store.2
Everywhere's closing right now. Fortunately, apps can help us continue to get things done.
Photo: Brad Gibson / Cult of Mac

Massive numbers of people are self-isolating or working from home at the moment. As many challenges as that can raise, it is at least easier than it would have been previously thanks to the strong ecosystem of apps which can help with just such a scenario.

With that in mind, Apple has started adding more editorial content into the App Store, offering curated suggestions to suit people stuck home as a result of coronavirus.

iPhone and Mac top Fortune’s list of ‘greatest designs of modern times’

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Both iPhone and the 1984 Macintosh make Fortune’s list of “The greatest designs of modern times.”
The iPhone and the Macintosh are first and second on a list of the greatest designs of our time.
Photo: Apple/Cult of Mac

Fortune asked experts what product designs they consider truly great, and Apple features very prominently in the responses. iPhone and Mac captured the top two places in the list of 100, and has four products in the top 20.

They beat out some other amazing designs, from Lego bricks and the 747 to the Apollo 11 spacecraft.

Apple rejecting COVID-19 coronavirus apps that aren’t from official sources

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app-store
Apple has changed App Store rules to only accept coronavirus apps from official channels.
Photo: Apple

With plenty of scaremongering about the COVID-19 coronavirus, Apple is doing its part to stop the spread of misinformation related to the outbreak. According to a report published Thursday, Apple is cracking down on non-official apps relating to the novel coronavirus.

Those are apps not made by recognized institutions such as governments or hospitals. Independent apps providing functionality like tracking of the outbreak’s spread are being rejected by Apple, developers claim.

Controversial Clearview AI iPhone app disabled for breaking App Store rules

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Clearview AI violated Apple’s terms of service.
Apple deliberately broke a facial-recognition iPhone app from Clearview AI.
Photo: Clearview AI/Cult of Mac

A facial-recognition application that has been the source of recent controversy has been taken offline by Apple. This came after a published report accused Clearview AI of evading the App Store by distributing its iPhone software to customers via tools that are only supposed to be used inside companies.

Cloud gaming service Shadow pulled from App Store after reported Apple guideline infraction

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Shadow cloud gaming service image
Shadow's iOS app has been removed from the Apple App Store for reportedly violating developer guidelines.
Photo: Shadow

Cloud gaming service Shadow announced Wednesday that its iOS app has been removed from Apple’s App store for what that tech-giant called a violation of its developer guidelines. 

In a Reddit post, Shadow would not explain in detail those infringements or say if it even knows at this point what those are. It said it is working to resolve the issues and “bring Shadow back to every one of you mobile users as soon as possible!”

Conquer the world for $5 with Civilization VI’s biggest ever iOS discount

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Get the latest and greatest installments of the classic Civilization strategy game.
And there goes your entire weekend.
Photo: Aspyr Media

Approaching a year-and-a-half after it marched onto iPhone, I’m still amazed that Sid Meier’s epic Civilization VI has somehow been squeezed onto a device that fits in your pocket.

Now there’s a new reason to be amazed, too. That’s because the turn-based 4X game (that’s “eXplore, eXpand, eXploit, and eXterminate” for all you newbies) has been discounted to its cheapest price yet. Instead of the $59.99 regular price, it’s currently just $4.99.

How can you go wrong?

Cash quiz app HQ Trivia may not be dead after all

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HQ Trivia 1
HQ Trivia had its moment in the sun, before beginning its decline.
Photo: HQ

One-time App Store sensation HQ Trivia has been thrown a lifeline after the company behind it initially announced that it was shutting down. On Twitter, HQ CEO and co-founder Rus Yusupov said that, after negotiations, they have found a tentative new home for the business.

“We have found a new home for HQ, with a company that wants to keep it running,” Yusupov wrote. “All employees, contractors and players are top priority. Severance will be paid and you will be able to cash out.”

YouTube TV cancels all App Store subscriptions

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YouTube in Safari on iMac Pro
YouTube TV is making some customers jump through hoops to keep their subscriptions.
Photo: Apple/Cult of Mac

Everyone who subscribed to YouTube TV via Apple’s App Store got a notice today that their subscriptions will be canceled next month. They’ll have to resubscribe on the YouTube website.

How to stop all those App Store subscription-renewal emails

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subscription-renewal emails
This is how subscription-renewal emails used to arrive.
Photo: Charlie Sorrel/Cult of Mac

If you have any App Store subscriptions, you will be familiar with the emails you get every time one renews. And if you subscribe to more than a few monthly plans, then maybe you even get annoyed by them. If your tolerance to this kind of thing is particularly low, we have good news for you: You can now opt out of App Store subscription-renewal emails that Apple sends.

XFL official app launches day before Vince McMahon’s football league kicks off

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XFL logo
The football league started by WWE's Vince McMahon is back.
Photo: XFL

XFL, the football league founded by WWE chairman Vince McMahon, is coming back to screens nearly 20 years after its disastrous first iteration — and there’s an official app to prove it.

The eight-team XFL season debuts Saturday with the DC Defenders playing the Seattle Dragons. While the app won’t be streaming games, you can use it to get information such as real-time scores and stats, insider videos, and more.

Coronavirus could have a surprisingly positive impact on App Store revenue

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Coronavirus could have a surprisingly positive impact on App Store revenue
At least, according to one Morgan Stanley analyst.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

The spread of the new coronavirus is bad news, but a particularly bullish analyst thinks there’s an upside — for Apple’s bottom line.

In a note to clients, Morgan Stanley analyst Katy Huberty suggests that the spread of coronavirus within China will give people more time to buy apps from the App Store.

Apple’s universal purchases will change how you buy and use apps

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app-store
Universal Purchases are coming soon to iOS and Mac apps.
Photo: Apple

Apple is laying the groundwork to make it easier for developers to distribute their apps across all of Apple’s platforms.

Included in Wednesday’s big batch of beta updates, Apple introduced a new option in Xcode 11.4 beta 1 for developers to build and test apps using a single bundle ID. Starting in March, iPhone users will be able to download an app via the iOS App Store and then (if the developer supports it) download it on other Apple platforms with ease.

This simple change might seem like an obvious added convenience for users, but it also sets up the App Store for some colossal changes over the next few years. It will force Apple developers to make some big decisions about their businesses.

Mode sombre: Google Translate app finally gets Dark Mode option

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Mode sombre: Google Translate app finally gets Dark Mode option
Five months after Dark Mode debuted on iOS 13.
Photo: Google

Google has finally given its Translate app for iPhone and iPad a Dark Mode overhaul, adding a stylish graphical overhaul that’s also easier on your eyes (and, theoretically, your battery life.)

The update comes five months after Apple officially joined the dark side by adding a much anticipated Dark Mode feature for iOS 13.

Apple has paid out nearly double the amount to developers than Google has

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What’s it like to have your startup bought by Apple? Stressful
If you want to make money off apps, iOS is where the money is at.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Google’s Android operating system may have the biggest market share in the world, but if you’re a developer making apps, iOS is clearly where all the money is to be made.

In its latest quarterly earnings report, Google shared some surprising new numbers with investors, including the fact that the company has paid out $80 billion to Android developers to date. That may sound like a lot, but it’s just over half of what iOS developers have been paid so far.

Players have spent more than $1 billion on Nintendo’s mobile games

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Players have spent more than $1 billion on Nintendo's mobile games
That's a reason to jump for joy (if you're a Nintendo shareholder!)
Photo: Nintendo

Nintendo’s mobile games have pulled in more than $1 billion in revenue from global player spending, new data published by mobile analytics firm Sensor Tower suggests.

Nintendo currently has six mobile games, which have received a total of 452 million downloads worldwide. The biggest earner, accounting for 61% of mobile revenue, is the RPG game Fire Emblem Heroes.

A brand-new Tetris game is already out on iOS

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Tetris-iOS
That didn't take long.
Photo: The Tetris Company

A brand-new Tetris game today landed on iOS — just a day after EA confirmed it is retiring its own lineup of Tetris titles.

The game promises to deliver the traditional Tetris gameplay experience millions of fans around the world already know and love. But this is not the Tetris Royale title that was announced last year.

TikTok was the top iOS app worldwide in Q4 2019

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TikTok 1
TikTok had a great fourth quarter.
Photo: TikTok

TikTok was the most popular iOS app worldwide in Q4 2019, as measured by total number of downloads. In both the App Store and Google Play, TikTok downloads hit an all-time high of almost 220 million installs. On iOS alone, it racked up 42 million.

In the United States, TikTok ranked no. 2 after the newly launched Disney+.

Spending on Apple services grows much faster than new iPhone sales

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The App Store is important to Apple Services
Surprisingly, the App Store makes up less than half of revenue from Apple Services.
Photo: Apple

Revenue from Apple services reportedly grew 16% year-over-year in 2019 even as sales of iPhones declined. This indicates this company’s growth doesn’t depend on increasing handset sales, according to a market analysis firm.

Investor optimism about Apple’s services may have helped increase its share price almost 2% in the last month.

Exclusive: Moonshades is an old school dungeon-crawler 5 years in the making

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Moonshades 1
Moonshades is the work of a one-person-development team.
Photo: Viktor Domonyi

As a kid, Viktor Domonyi loved early computer role-playing games like Wizardry and Eye of the Beholder. Now that he’s grown, the 41-year-old Hungarian web developer-by-day, games developer-by-night wants to bring them back. And he’s willing to sacrifice massive quantities of free time to make his dream a reality.

Welcome to the world of Moonshades: a new (yet convincingly old school) RPG that’s just landed in the App Store. For fantasy fans who wish their 2020 was a bit more 1990 in style, this is the dungeon-crawler for you.