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App Store - page 28

Apple sends ad spend reports to the wrong developers

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App Store
Did your Search Ads Basic report reach someone else?
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Apple appears to have sent ad spend and install reports to the wrong app developers. A number of people have reported the mistake on social media, but it’s not clear exactly how many developers are affected.

A Hollow Doorway and other awesome apps of the week

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Awesome Apps
'Appy weekend everyone!
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
Awesome Apps

A fun retro game that’s packed to the gunwales with zombie blasting action is just one of our selections for this week’s “Awesome Apps of the Week.”

In addition, we’ve got a neat update to GarageBand, a trippily brilliant door-tilting puzzle game, and YouTube’s premium skinny TV bundle finally come to Apple TV. Check out our picks below.

What to expect from Apple’s first earnings call of 2018

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Earnings call
Apple's Q1 2020 earnings report will probably break some records.
Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac

The first big Apple earnings report for 2018 is nearly here. And, based on analysts’ expectations, it will likely be Apple’s biggest moneymaking quarter ever.

After weeks of waiting, investors will finally get their first look at how well the iPhone X is selling. Apple’s holiday sales probably hit historic levels. But with recent reports that Apple slashed iPhone X orders in half, there could be quite a few surprises in store.

As usual, Cult of Mac will be here to liveblog all the action as it transpires on Thursday, February 1, at 2 p.m. Pacific. Get ready to watch for these six things during the call:

Slime Pizza, Swift Playgrounds, and other awesome apps of the week

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Awesome Apps
'Appy weekend, everyone!
Image: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
Awesome Apps

A game in which you stick to surfaces in order to capture slices of pizza, while avoiding enemies? Yep, it’s another oddball (but brilliant) iOS puzzle game.

That’s just one of the picks we’ve highlighted for this week’s “Awesome Apps” roundup. We’ve also got major upgrades of Logic Pro X and Apple’s educational Swift Playgrounds, and a Friday the 13th title which really shouldn’t work, but totally does. Check out our picks below.

iOS 11.3 makes App Store reviews much more useful

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iOS 11 iPad Pro
Look out for the changes next month.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Apple’s upcoming iOS 11.3 update makes App Store reviews more useful by allowing them to be sorted. Users can cut through the clutter to find the most helpful reviews, the most critical reviews, and more.

Cytus II, AudioStretch, and other awesome apps of the week

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Awesome Apps
'Appy weekend!
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
Awesome Apps

A futuristic, sci-fi rhythm game called Cytus II is just of one of our picks for this week’s “Awesome Apps of the Week.”

In addition, we’ve got a great music transcription app, a frantic explosion-driven platformer, and… Microsoft Office? Check out our selections below.

Apple raids Silicon Valley Data Science for new hires

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Apple leases new offices near to Apple Park
Apple's building a huge team of data scientists.
Photo: Duncan Sinfield

Apple’s data team just got a big talent boost after the company raided a local Silicon Valley consultant firm in hiring spree of data scientists.

Some of Silicon Valley Data Science’s key employees have reportedly joined Apple, giving the company more experts that can analyze data to make products even better.

OurPact, Kraino, and other awesome apps of the week

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Awesome Apps
'Appy weekend, everyone!
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
Awesome Apps

An app to help parents keep track of what their kids are doing on their iPhones is just one of our picks for “Awesome Apps of the Week.”

In addition, we’ve got a pair of fun retro-style platformers, and an impressive display of artificial intelligence to help keep track of the food you’re eating. Check out our selections below.

Apple starts showcasing subscription-based iOS apps

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Apple pays $467k for doing business with blacklisted app developer
Apple's picks all offer a free trial.
Photo: Apple

As part of its efforts to highlight human curation-led discovery in the App Store, Apple is shining a light on different app-based business models and content types.

In the latest illustration of this, it is directing users to subscription-based apps offering free trials. The new section can be found in the “Apps” section of the App Store, and is titled “Try It For Free.”

Death Road to Canada, and other awesome apps of the week

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Awesome Apps
'Appy weekend!
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

A well-timed January update of one of my favorite games of the last year — combining road trip action and zombie invasion — is just of one of the picks for this week’s “Awesome Apps of the Week.”

In addition, we’ve got a great arcade-style space blaster, a superb data-heavy weather app given an iPhone X polish, and an excellent task manager. Check out our picks below.

App Store and Google Play raked in $60 billion last year

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iOS 11
iOS 11 made big changes to the App Store.
Photo: Apple

2017 was a great year to be an app developer, based on new data that show smartphone users spent more money than ever on apps last year.

According to a new report from Sensor Tower, customers spent $58.6 billion on apps and games in 2017 on the App Store and Google Play. And iOS developers took away the most cash.

App Store shatters revenue record on New Year’s Day

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New Year's apps
It’s still
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

2018 is already starting to look like a historic year for Apple after the company just broke the record for the most revenue pulled in by the App Store in a single day.

Apple revealed today that iPhone and iPad customers spent an astounding $300 million in the App Store on New Year’s day, shattering the previous record of $240 million.

The iOS apps that dominated our screens in 2017

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Best apps 1
This was a great year for the App Store.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Cult of Mac's 2017 Year in Review: Best iOS apps of 2017 2017 was a great year for Apple as a whole, and the App Store was no different.

From messaging apps to music-generating tools to a smart AI assistant, Apple and various third-party developers unleashed an impressive array of new software designed to get us tapping, swiping and — most importantly — downloading.

Civilization VI, Rainbrow, and other awesome apps of the week

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App holiday1
'Appy holidays!
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

A brilliant iPad port of one of the greatest turn-based strategy games of 2016, Civilization VI, is just of one of our picks for this week’s “Awesome Apps of the Week” roundup. In addition, we’ve got neat updates for the official Reddit and Shazam apps, plus a game that you control… using your eyebrows?

Check out our picks below — and have a very happy holidays!

Revised App Store guidelines give devs a reason to celebrate early

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App Store
Template apps don't mean much to you? They would if you were a developer.
Photo: Graham Bower

A minor change in its App Store guidelines this week concerning template apps doesn’t sound like much. But if you’re one of the many, many iOS developers running a small business who rely on the App Store for a living, either directly or indirectly, it was a major triumph.

Here’s why it’s given developers another reason to celebrate this holiday season.

Apple issues pre-emptive refunds to customers who bought fake Cuphead app

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Cuphead
Apple has gone out of its way to make up to customers.
Photo: Studio MDHR

Apple has taken swift steps to make up to customers following the recent counterfeit Cuphead app, which appeared in the App Store this week without permission from the popular game’s developers.

Rather than customers having to request refunds for the fraudulent app, Apple is pre-emptively offering them to everyone who bought the app. It’s a nice “make good” for a situation that could have been embarrassing for the company.

Apple’s got a secret plan to merge iOS and Mac apps in 2018

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Coronavirus could have a surprisingly positive impact on App Store revenue
Mac apps? iOS apps? There soon might be no difference.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Apple has always denied that merging its mobile and desktop operating systems, the way that Microsoft has done, is a good idea. But from 2018, it is reportedly starting to explore that road by giving developers the ability to create apps which work on iPhones, iPads, and Macs.

Depending on the hardware you use them on, these apps could be controlled via touchscreen, mouse, or trackpad — and would be equally at home on both iOS and macOS.

Chinese clothing company sues Apple over App Store logo

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Kon vs. Apple
Spot the difference?
Photo illustration: Kon/Apple

Apple is facing a lawsuit in China from a local clothing brand, which argues that Apple is infringing on its design trademark with its logo for App Store.

Apple changed the icon for the App Store in August this year — jettisoning the previous image showing a ruler, pencil and paintbrush crossing over to form an “A” shape, in favor of a simplified version of the same image. Unfortunately, clothing brand Kon has been using a similar image dating back to 2009, supposed to show skeletons bones symbolizing triumph over death.

You control this new iPhone X game by wiggling your eyebrows

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Rainbow
I'd love to have seen Roger Moore play this game.
Photo: Nathan Gitter

When it comes to the iPhone X, facial recognition is most associated with the Face ID biometric security system, but there are other ways to use the front-facing camera on your device.

In a new game, titled Rainbrow, Washington University computer science graduate Nathan Gitter has created an innovative new game mechanic using Apple’s TrueDepth camera system — requiring players to control an on-screen character by raising or lowering their eyebrows. Yes, seriously!

Selfissimo!, Life is Strange, and other awesome apps of the week

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Awesome Apps
'Appy weekend, everyone!
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

A unique selfie app, created by Google, that summons up your inner supermodel is just of one of the picks for this week’s “Awesome Apps” roundup.

In addition, we’ve got part one of an excellent episodic adventure finally available on iOS, a sound-matching app for any guitar players out there, and an augmented reality-focused update to Facebook Messenger. Check out our picks below.

iTunes won’t arrive on Windows Store by 2017

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The Windows Store is getting iTunes.
Windows 10 S users still can't get iTunes.
Photo: Microsoft

Windows 10 users hoping for some love from Apple by the end of the year are in for a dose of disappointment.

Apple says it won’t be bringing iTunes to the Windows Store this year. The move comes after Microsoft announced in May that iTunes would be supported on Windows 10 S machines by the end of 2017.

Apple will give you a $5 iTunes gift card for using Apple Pay

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Apple Pay reward 2017
There's a treat for you when you treat someone else.
Photo: Apple

Apple will reward you with a $5 gift card for using Apple Pay at select retailers over the holidays. Your credit can be spent in the App Store or on iTunes. There’s a limit of one card per retailer, and the promotion is only available in the United States.