Newspaper investigation suggests random chat apps have a harassment problem. Photo: Apple
More than 1,500 complaints of unwanted sexual approaches have been made against random chat apps in the App Store. Many of these targeted children.
Random chat apps connect users randomly with strangers. The majority of the apps do not request users register with them. Lots of these apps have age restrictions of 17+. Minors can still access them, however.
Apple is removing all 181 vaping-related apps from the App Store. This is the result of mounting health concerns about the impact of e-cigarettes.
At least 42 people have died as the result of vaping-related lung illnesses. Apple, it seems, does not want to be in any way responsible for contributing to any more.
Disney+ has the potential to be a leviathan in the streaming game. Image: Disney
The Disney+ app is officially available to download through the App Store. The subscription service features an extensive back catalog plus new shows, including the Star Wars spinoff The Mandalorian.
And, just like that, the streaming war just got a whole lot more intensive!
Get ready for another record breaking quarter. Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac
Apple is ready to unveil its last earnings report of 2019 this week, and investors are anxiously waiting to hear some good news on iPhone sales.
All early indications point to sales of the iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Pro performing even better than expected. But because the new devices were only on sale for the very tail end of the quarter, they might not have given Apple the growth Wall Street is desperate to see.
Apple CEO Tim Cook and CFO Luca Maestri are set to divulge all the details for Apple’s fiscal Q4 2019 earnings on Wednesday, October 30, at 2 p.m. PDT. Per usual, Cult of Mac will be analyzing all the data right when it drops and there are a couple of areas and metrics that are key to keeping Apple’s stock price soaring.
As Arnie would say, "Do it now!" Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac
You must update to iOS 10.3.4 if you want to continue using your iPhone 5.
Apple says the handset’s GPS location and features that rely on the correct date and time — like iCloud — will stop working properly on November 3 if the update is not installed.
Apple has given malware apps the boot. Photo: Apple
Apple quietly removed 17 sketchy apps from the App Store for delivering malware. All made by one developer based in India, the apps secretly generated money by clicking ad links and opening background windows without users’ knowledge.
Although less malicious than some other malware, the apps still threatened to slow down devices or drain batteries.
It's like a comic book experience bought to your iPhone! Photo: No Yetis Allowed
Famed 2000AD lawman Judge Dredd has arrived in the App Store. Get ready for Judge Dredd: Crime Files: a collectible card-based strategy adventure RPG.
Boasting all your favorite Dredd characters and a story written by current writers of the comic, this should be a hit with anyone looking for a zarjaz gaming experience!
Apple Arcade is a great deal, but it might be time to drop out if it’s not right for you. Photo: Apple
Everyone who signed up for a free trial of Apple Arcade when this gaming service launched is about to be charged for their first month. The 80+ titles currently available give plenty of options, but anyone who hasn’t warmed up to it should drop out before they get their first bill.
Apple is one of a number of multinationals who face challenges in China. Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
Apple has reportedly removed the Quartz news app from the Chinese App Store by request of the China government. According to Quartz‘ investigations editor, this is due to their, “excellent coverage of ongoing Hong Kong protests.”
The company also banned an app that let Hong Kong protesters track Hong Kong police. This came one day after Chinese state media blasted Apple for not getting rid of it.
App helps protesters track police presence in Hong Kong. Photo: HKMap Live
China’s state media took a swipe at Apple for allowing an app that let Hong Kong protesters track the location of police back into the App Store. The app, called Hkmap Live, uses reports from a Telegram group to share information about things like arrests and the use of weapons such as tear gas.
App shows the location of police activity. Photo: Hkmap Live
Apple has booted an app used by protesters in Hong Kong out of the App Store. Called Hkmap Live, the crowdsourced app uses reports from a Telegram group that tracks the whereabouts of police and protesters. It also contains information about things like arrests of people wearing protest-related paraphernalia and the use of weapons like tear gas.
“Your app contains content – or facilitates, enables, and encourages an activity – that is not legal,” Apple told the app makers. “Specifically, the app allowed users to evade law enforcement.”
The quickest way to see your app updates in iOS 13. Photo: Cult of Mac
iOS 13 did away with the old Updates tab in the App Store, and replaced it with Apple Arcade. That’s pretty bad news if you don’t want to use Apple Arcade. But on the plus side, you can access your app updates from the Home screen using 3D Touch. And the good news is that, in iOS 13, you can also use this trick on the iPad.
Look out for the changes next month. Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
Apple will raise App Store pricing in Japan next month in line with an update to Japan Consumption Tax (JCT).
The increase will affect sales and in-app purchases, but not auto-renewable subscriptions. Only the most affordable tier priced at ¥120 will avoid the change.
App Store updates are still open for business. Photo: Charlie Sorrel/Cult of Mac
In all versions of the App Store up until iOS 13, there has been an Update tab — a whole page of the store dedicated to showing you the latest updates to your installed apps. In iOS 13, that’s gone, replaced by Apple Arcade, whether you subscribe to the new gaming service or not.
So, how do you update your apps in iOS 13? And if you have auto-update switched on, then how do you even see which apps have been updated, and read their release notes? Fear not. Manual update is still there. It’s just hidden.
Presidential candidate Elizabeth Warren has taken shots at Apple in the past. Photo: elizabethwarren.com
Senator and presidential candidate Elizabeth Warren thinks Apple exerts “too much power” through its operation of the App Store, and uses this to stifle competition.
Warren tweeted the message Tuesday, complete with the hashtag #BreakUpBigTech. That’s probably not great news for Apple!
Former Apple boss doesn't buy all the antitrust complaints. Photo: Apple
With the looming shadow of antitrust, plenty of folks are talking about whether or not Apple is abusing its position. Specifically, they claim that Apple has a conflict of interests by running the App Store and also creating its own software tools.
Former Macintosh division boss Jean-Louis Gassée is now wading into the argument. Gassée says that people calling antitrust on Apple haven’t considered the number of jobs Apple has created through the App Store.
Apple apps no longer dominate App Store search results. Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
Apple’s recently-adjusted App Store algorithm prevents too many of its own apps from dominating search results.
The change, which followed Spotify’s complaint regarding “unfair” App Store practices several months, handicaps Apple titles and has had a huge impact since being introduced.
A retro nod to the past -- by which I mean the show released last month. Photo: BonusXP/Netflix
Movie and TV show video game tie-ins still have a pretty poor reputation dating back to the rushed-out titles that proliferated in the 1980s and 90s. Fortunately, Stranger Things hasn’t taken this as part of its meta homage to all things retro.
Instead, it’s had fun with fan service by recreating its Netflix series in the form of surprisingly good, retro-style games. Now developers BonusXP have recreated the third season of the show in a new isometric action game. Welcome to Stranger Things 3: The Game on iOS…
It looks like the greatest Sega Saturn game the Saturn never got. Photo: Motion Twin
Motion Twin’s celebrated game Dead Cells has finally landed on the App Store. In the process, it gives iPhone and iPad gamers the chance to play one of the most fun indie releases of recent times.
For the uninitiated, Dead Cells combines Castlevania-inspired side-scrolling action with some beautiful graphics and terrific gameplay. The results are an undisputed “must download.” Check out the trailer below.
Changes have been criticized by some developers. Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac
Apple is delaying a change in rules for kids apps, banning them from using external analytics software and their ability to sell ads.
While Apple still believes the decision is the right one, it is pushing back its implementation. That’s to give time to developers to make the necessary changes.
Kids can now play iPhone gambling apps, but not for much longer. Photo: Hot Vegas Slot Machine Games!
Apple will soon allow parents to block children’s access to all games that include “Frequent/Intense Simulated Gambling” no matter where they are in the world. As it stands now, not all gambling applications are currently rated as 17+. That’s apparently about to change.
An oddly named game about cats and machine learning lands on iOS this week. Screenshot: Nival
Do you want a fun iPhone game that combines cats with a stealth lesson in artificial intelligence and machine learning?
Of course you do. And thanks to the oddly titled while True: learn(), you’re about to get your chance. Check out the game’s new trailer, which landed ahead of this week’s release of while True: learn() on iOS.
Apple’s impact on South Korea is much larger than most fans will have anticipated.
Cupertino directly employs 500 workers of its own, and has created hundreds of thousands of jobs on Samsung’s home turf. Local App Store developers have earned a whopping 4.7 trillion won.