What Steam Link would have looked like on iPhone. Photo: Valve
Apple vice president Phil Schiller has offered clarification on Steam Link’s App Store ban in an email to disgruntled iOS users.
Valve’s hotly-anticipated app violates a number of guidelines, including those around in-app purchases, as suspected. Schiller insists, however, that Apple will work with Valve in an effort to resolve the problems and bring Steam Link to the App Store.
Steam Link’s first big update is great for controller users. Photo: Valve
Apple has decided that it won’t allow iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV owners to play PC games through Steam Link.
Valve’s new app, which is now available in beta on Android, has been banned from the App Store because of “business conflicts.” Apple has also turned down Valve’s appeals.
It’s yet another example of Apple customers being hurt by its often farcical App Store rules. What makes this ban even more ridiculous is that there are so many apps similar to Steam Link already available in the App Store.
Apple’s Data and Privacy website launched last year Photo: Apple
Apple is now giving users the opportunity to download a copy of all the data the company has collected from them. This includes App Store and iTunes activity, Apple ID account and device information, online and retail store activity, AppleCare support history, and more.
The tool is part of Apple’s new Data and Privacy website, which also allows users to correct any information Apple holds about them, and deactivate their account completely.
The new Burst assault rifle will help you gun down this challenge. Photo: Epic Games
Fortnite Battle Royale’s latest update has hit the App Store. Players have a new burst assault rifle to enjoy, as well as a new limited-time game mode. Epic Games has also added the ability to customize the game’s heads-up display on iPhone and iPad.
Apple's cracking down on apps which track their users. Photo: Apple
In the fallout from Facebook’s Cambridge Analytica scandal, Apple has begun cracking down on apps which share user location data with third-parties. Apple has started sending out emails to developers who infringe on these guidelines, saying that “upon re-evaluation” of their apps they have been found to break App Store rules.
In particular, Apple refers to the clause in the App Store guidelines which notes that Apple can turn down apps which transmit, “user location data to third parties without explicit consent from the user and for unapproved purposes.”
CheapCharts can save you you money on iTunes and the App Store Photo: Ian Fuchs/Cult of Mac
iTunes and the App Store are two of the best online stores for buying digital content like movies and books. They’re also really good at getting you (the customer) to spend money. CheapCharts for iOS is the perfect companion to the App Store and iTunes Store, helping you get apps and digital content at the best price possible.
Still one of the best GTA games ever! Photo: Rockstar North
Astonishingly, Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas turns 14 years old this year. And thanks to a new update to its iOS port, it looks better than ever on the iPhone X.
When news of the plan was first leaked in December, it was suggested that the feature may be announced at this year’s WWDC event. However, according to Apple watcher John Gruber, while Apple may still be working on a project like this, it is more likely to arrive with MacOS 10.15 and iOS 13 in 2019.
Twitterrific is now even better on iOS. Photo: Cult of Mac
Twitterrific 5, one of the best third-party Twitter clients for iOS, just got a new update that makes big improvements to direct messaging and keyboard support. Users can finally send images and videos, and it couldn’t be easier to insert them.
Telegram is one of the world's most popular messaging apps. Photo: Telegram/Cult of Mac
Russia’s state telecommunications regulator wants Apple and Google to remove the Telegram messenger app service from their respective app stores.
This follows a recent court decision in which a Russian judge ruled that Telegram, the world’s ninth most popular mobile messaging app, should be blocked in the country. This is due to the company’s refusal to give Russian state security services the encryption keys to access messages sent using the service.
The best and most useful apps for iPhone and iPad Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
With a mind-boggling 2.2 million apps in Apple’s iOS App Store, how do you find what’s good? That discovery problem is why we’re starting the 50 Essential iOS Apps series, a curated list of the best iOS apps on the planet, with new apps added every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.
Throughout this series, we will highlight essential iPhone and iPad apps in a variety of categories. We will show off apps that display excellent design, functionality, features and value. Or, most often, a combination of those desirable traits. Whether you’re looking to boost your productivity, take advantage of important data or just have a little fun, we’ll recommend great iOS apps to suit your needs.
Could this be one of the year's most visually beautiful iOS games? Photo: Vladimir Beletsky
The Mooseman, a beautifully evocative 2D adventure game, is coming to iOS next month.
Having launched on Steam last year, the game is already a proven winner with players. Boasting a gorgeous wintry palette and plenty of Russian lore thrown in for good measure, The Mooseman puts you in control of a mystical character with the ability to see beyond the physical world. Check out the trailer below.
Apple apps no longer dominate App Store search results. Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
App downloads hit a new record in Q1 2018 after the App Store and Google Play served a combined total of 27.5 billion downloads. More than half of those downloads came from the Play Store, yet iOS devices continue to earn developers almost twice as much cash.
Moody visuals help make this game memorable. Photo: Nada studio, sl
What’s better than a great game? A great free game. Thanks to a new promotion from Apple, that describes Starman: Tale of Light, a dream-like puzzle game for iPhone and iPad which now won’t cost you a penny.
Reminiscent of the excellent Monument Valley games in terms of bewitching atmosphere, the game revolves around a space man character who you guide through multiple levels, collecting lights as you do.
This is the first time the App Store has shrunk, rather than grown in Apple history. Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
Apple traditionally brags about the size of its App Store, but the vaunted app repository may actually have gotten smaller, not bigger, last year.
The App Store reportedly declined 5 percent in size in 2017, from 2.2 million apps at the start of the year to 2.1 million by the end. And that’s no bad thing.
Apple apps no longer dominate App Store search results. Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
Apple has made it easier to update apps and games purchased from foreign App Stores in iOS 11.3. Users no longer have to switch to the App Store they originally downloaded the title from, making the update process a whole lot quicker.
'Appy weekend everyone! Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
A great music-making app recreating one of the all time great synthesizers on iOS is just one of our picks for this week’s “Awesome Apps of the Week.”
In addition, we’ve got a superb Twitter client app update, the world’s most popular battle royale game, and a gamebook RPG recreating some of the genre classics of the 1980s. Check out our selections below.
'Appy weekend, everyone! Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
A great battle royale game that’s sure to become one of the year’s most popular titles (and isn’t Fortnite!) is just one of our picks for this week’s “Awesome Apps of the Week.”
In addition, we’ve got a great update for a tremendous iPad drawing app, a minimalist puzzle game, and more. Check out our selections below.
Look out for the changes next month. Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
Apple’s impending iBooks revamp will feature a new “Today” tab to showcase its hottest titles, according to a new report.
Sources have claimed that the new “Books” app will rollout with iOS 11.3 this spring, but recent changes in the developer betas suggest it could be on hold.
The world's most popular video streaming app is unsurprisingly a big money spinner. Photo: YouTube
After eight years in the App Store, YouTube finally climbed to reach the number one spot for highest-grossing app in the U.S. this week.
Until now, YouTube has never ranked higher than the number three spot. While it’s not clear exactly what pushed YouTube into pole position, revenues have gotten a big increase in recent years due to the launch of its $9.99 a month YouTube Red service.
Apple is said to be working on a fix. Photo: Apple
Apple looks set to release its macOS High Sierra 10.13.4 update with official eGPU support at any moment. An inadvertent Mac App Store listing indicates the company is making preparations for a public rollout following weeks of beta testing.
Fortnite is making big money! Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac
Fortnite, the ultra-popular battle royale game, earned $1 million in in-app purchases within its first 72 hours of landing in the App Store — and more than $1.5 million in total.
That would be impressive under any circumstances. What makes this even more so is the fact that, at this point, Fortnite is still an “invite only” game that’s not available to everyone who wants to play it!