Apple finally put itself on equal footing with rivals by allowing users to rate and review its own, first-party apps for the first time this fall, amid increased regulatory pressure ahead of a likely antitrust investigation. Although some of Apple’s apps had been available to download separately, they had never been able to be reviewed. […]
Apple updates its App Store Guidelines to permit developers to contact customers about other payment methods
Apple today introduced a new set of App Store Guidelines that include three key changes. One of the changes is the result of a previously announced settlement agreement with a class of U.S. app developers. It clarifies that developers are allowed to communicate with their customers about other payment methods available outside their app. Related […]
Does the NFT craze actually matter?
Hello friends, and welcome back to Week in Review! Last week, we talked about Apple’s subscription addiction. This week, I’m diving deep into whether there’s actually any meaning to pull out of the NFT mania of 2021. If you’re reading this on the TechCrunch site, you can get this in your inbox from the newsletter […]
The New iPad Mini Reclaims The Title Of Best Gaming Tablet
When Apple released the original iPad Mini back in late 2012 I thought, “This is it, the perfect form-factor for tablet gaming.” Everywhere I went I pulled out the compact device, showing off its 7.9-inch screen, how well it fit in my oversized paws. I…
Apple releases iOS 15.0.2 with a security fix for a bug ‘under active exploitation’
Apple today released its second minor update to iOS 15 and iPadOS 15, which includes an “important security update” for a zero-day bug under active exploitation. Both iOS 15.0.2 and iPadOS 15.0.2, which are available to download on supported devices now, include a fix for a memory corruption vulnerability that allowed an application to execute […]
The growing pains of Apple’s subscription addiction
Hello friends, and welcome back to Week in Review! Last week, we talked about how YouTube has managed to skate along while Facebook has gotten pummeled over platform responsibility concerns. This week, we’re looking at another slippery slope Apple is dancing on the edge of. If you’re reading this on the TechCrunch site, you can […]
Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney calls out Apple for promoting its services in the iPhone Settings screen
Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney, whose high-profile antitrust lawsuit against Apple is now under appeal, is today calling out the iPhone maker for giving itself access to an advertising slot its competitors don’t have: the iPhone’s Settings screen. Some iOS 15 users noticed Apple is now advertising its own services at the top of their […]
In hopes of App Store changes, Paddle develops an alternative to Apple’s payments system
Paddle, a solutions provider subscription-based businesses, is betting on a future where App Store developers are able to use third-party payment systems — and it wants to be among the first to market with an alternative once such a system is permitted. The company today announced a new in-app purchasing (IAP) system aimed at iOS […]
Ex-Apple designer’s ultra-premium audio hardware startup Syng raises $48.75 million
Audio startup Syng has been building on quite a bit more hype than the average fresh hardware startup, largely because of the team behind it. Founder and CEO Chris Stringer was Jony Ive’s first hire at Apple and worked at the company for 21 years. In an interview, Stringer referred to the first time he […]
Apps to reach record highs in Q3 of 36B downloads and $34B in consumer spending
A new forecast on the state of the app economy indicates the third quarter will see record-breaking revenues spent on apps and games. According to App Annie, consumers worldwide will spend $34 billion on apps and games in Q3, a 20% year-over-year increase on spending. The increase indicates that the Covid-19 pandemic’s impact on consumer […]