Apple just made a long-requested change to how users discover apps — and while it doesn’t radically alter how you install them, it does make finding what you need a whole lot easier. The company has quietly rolled out a fully redesigned, browser-based version of the App Store, transforming what was previously a collection of isolated app pages into a proper, searchable hub.

Now, heading to apps.apple.com no longer dumps you onto a plain landing page with minimal information. Instead, you’re met with a refreshed interface that mirrors the App Store experience on iPhones, iPads, and Macs. It’s clean, organized, and, for the first time, useful for browsing.

You still can’t download apps directly from the web — something Apple continues to reserve for its devices — but the new site lets you open an app listing on your Apple device instantly or share it via link. For many users, that’s enough: a simple way to look up apps when you’re away from your iPhone or want to send a recommendation to someone else.

One of the biggest upgrades is the ability to switch between platforms. A menu at the top lets you jump between app categories for iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, Apple TV, and Vision Pro. You can also browse by category — productivity, entertainment, adventure, and more — or check out curated recommendations on the familiar Today tab.

Search is finally functional, too. Previously, Apple’s web-based app pages existed, but finding them required a direct link or a lucky Google search. With the new App Store on the web, you can type in any app name and get an organized result instantly.

While the lack of direct downloads may disappoint some users hoping for a more flexible experience, the new web interface still fills a long-standing gap. It makes the App Store easier to explore, easier to share, and much more accessible across devices.

Apple hasn’t said what comes next, but even in this limited form, the web-based App Store marks a welcome step toward a more open — or at least more convenient — ecosystem.

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Apple‘s upcoming developer conference, WWDC 2024, might see the introduction of an AI App Store. This could be a major shift in Apple’s AI strategy. Traditionally, Apple develops its own apps and integrates AI features into its operating systems. However, analyst Ben Reitzes believes Apple might prioritize creating a platform for various AI apps from different developers.

Rumors suggest that Apple has communicated with companies like Google & Baidu

This approach reflects Apple’s past success with app stores like iTunes and the iPhone App Store. Apple convinced other companies to join these platforms while offering their own products as well.

Reitzes predicts Apple will showcase how users can purchase AI apps at WWDC. This new App Store could potentially include Apple’s own AI assistant (an upgraded Siri) alongside offerings from competitors.

The concept of an AI App Store isn’t entirely new. Other analysts have envisioned a similar model, suggesting Apple might hold internal discussions about it at WWDC.

There’s also speculation that Apple might have spoken with companies like Google and Baidu about adding their AI services to this potential App Store. Google’s Gemini AI, already available through a regular app, could easily fit within an AI-specific store. With WWDC expected in early June, we’ll have to wait and see if Apple unveils this new approach to AI. Stay tuned for future coverage from Gizmochina.

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The US government is joining the European Union in taking a huge bite out of Apple, accusing it of holding an illegal smartphone monopoly over the market. The Justice Department (DOJ), backed by 16 states, filed a lawsuit challenging Apple’s practices that lock down the iPhone ecosystem. The feds claim Apple stifles competition by limiting app functionality, restricting communication between iPhones and Android devices, and hindering third-party smartwatches and digital wallets. This, they argue, keeps users trapped in the iPhone world, inflating prices for consumers and developers.

The US wants Apple to stop using functionality-limiting tactics for the competition

The lawsuit seeks to pull these practices apart, pushing for a more open mobile landscape. They aim to prevent Apple from restricting app distribution that could lead users to switch platforms. Ultimately, they want to stop the company from using tactics that limit functionality on competing devices – breaking Apple’s grip on the app store.

This David vs. Goliath battle seems to overlook Apple’s immense resources, instead, it emphasizes protecting competition and innovation. It follows similar actions against Google and reflects a renewed focus on regulating tech giants. App developers have long criticized Apple’s control of the iOS marketplace, particularly its app store fees. This lawsuit aligns with a 2020 Congressional report that found Apple holds a monopoly in iOS app distribution.

With Europe already taking steps to regulate Big Tech, this lawsuit is a significant move. The coming months will be crucial as the DOJ fights to create a more open mobile landscape, potentially paving the way for similar US regulations. And a few of these regulations might be enough to force Apple into a tight corner.

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Apple is reportedly preparing to make a significant policy change in Europe, aiming to allow third-party app stores on its devices by March 2024. This shift is in response to the European Union’s Digital Markets Act, which requires such adjustments to promote competition in the app distribution space.

EU’s Digital Markets Act Pushes Apple to Enable Alternative App Stores by 2024

According to Apple’s recent 10-K filing, the company expects to comply with the new EU legislation, which will directly impact the way its App Store operates. This includes changes in how Apple charges developers, manages the distribution of applications outside its App Store, and allows developers to communicate with users for alternative purchase options.

This move towards permitting third-party app stores could potentially reduce Apple’s App Store revenue, which could have a significant impact on the company’s overall business and financial performance.

Apple, historically known for its strict stance against third-party app stores and sideloading, has not made any public comments regarding these developments following the filing.

Analysts at Morgan Stanley have interpreted the updated language in the filing as a sign that third-party app store access in the EU is on the horizon. They believe that Apple can successfully navigate these changes, citing the security, centralization, and convenience of the existing App Store as factors that might discourage users from switching to third-party alternatives.

In addition to its European challenges, Apple has also faced complications related to its app guidelines in China. The company has adjusted its guidelines to comply with new regulations, which limit access to banned foreign apps. These changes align with China’s increasing internet restrictions, potentially affecting Chinese iPhone users’ access to global platforms. However, Apple’s strong brand and diverse product range, including the popular iPhone 15, are expected to help maintain its hardware sales in China.

Now if you have come this far, I highly recommend you to read our recent article on how governments are actively regulating big tech companies to align with their objectives.

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Granted, Apple is enjoying widespread popularity in the Netherlands (especially after the iPhone 15 launch), it also finds itself entangled in a disagreement with the country’s competition regulator, Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM). The ongoing feud centers around consumer choice, specifically concerning payment systems for Dutch dating apps available on the App Store.

Apple stated that it will take its appeal to the Netherlands Courts

Although Apple has appealed against the $53 million in fines levied by the ACM, the regulator remains unmoved. The issue first came to light internally on July 13, 2023, but has only recently been made public.

Apple’s stand is that complying with the ACM’s demands could jeopardize user privacy and data security, effectively stifling investment incentives. “We will appeal to the Netherlands courts,” Apple told Reuters, signaling a readiness to prolong the battle.

The crux of the disagreement lies in Apple’s App Store commission fees, which many Dutch consumers find too steep. The ACM has simply called for Apple to allow alternative payment systems for these dating apps, offering consumers a way out of the commission fees. While Apple has met “most of its demands,” the ACM notes that there’s still an undisclosed condition yet to be satisfied. With Apple digging its heels in and the ACM equally adamant, what remains unclear is the nature of this undisclosed demand. The ACM has vowed to reveal details should they secure a court victory.

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In a move that has left the global tech community puzzled, Apple finds itself excluded from China’s first official list of 26 registered mobile app stores. The list, unveiled by China’s Cyberspace Administration (CAC), features local giants like Alipay and Lenovo, but the absence of Apple is raising eyebrows and sparking concerns over the business environment for international tech companies in China.

This move might be a signal to other companies in the tech space

The new CAC regulation, introduced last year, mandates app stores to submit business details for “registration” and actively police apps on their platforms. While this is seen as a bid to tighten control over the digital landscape, it also exposes a growing trend—China’s apparent aim to sideline global tech players and promote local alternatives.

Interestingly, this comes at a time when the number of apps in China is dwindling. According to recent statistics, there was a 25% drop in the total number of apps available in the country, from 3.5 million in 2020 to just 2.6 million in 2022. Industry insiders associate this decline with Beijing’s expanding regulatory net that seems to be throttling not just international players but also stifling local innovation.

Independent developers in China, who often look up to global players like Apple for inspiration, have expressed their concerns. The new rules make it challenging for local developers to launch apps quickly, a hurdle that runs counter to the fast-paced nature of tech innovation.

China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology has warned of unspecified “punishments” for non-compliance within a window stretching from September to March next year. While it remains uncertain what penalties could be levied, the climate seems increasingly frosty for companies that don’t toe the line.

Apple has yet to comment on the situation, but its omission from China’s official list is more than just an oversight. It could very well be an indicator of the challenges global tech companies face in navigating an increasingly restricted and complex Chinese digital landscape. For businesses and consumers alike, the situation confirms the notion that in China’s burgeoning digital economy, playing by Beijing’s rules is not just encouraged, it’s enforced.

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Apple has always been known for its strict App Store policies, which have sometimes caused mixed reactions among developers. In the latest development, the Cupertino company has announced that developers will need to justify their use of certain Apple APIs before their apps can be listed on the App Store. This is an effort to limit apps from tracking user data.

Apple is against unecessary user data tracking

Apple is adding a new category of APIs called “required reason APIs”. These APIs have the potential to be misused to track users, so Apple is requiring developers to explain why they are using them in their app’s privacy manifest file. If you use a required reason API in your app, you will need to update your privacy manifest file by Fall 2023 or your app will be rejected from the App Store.

“To prevent the misuse of certain APIs that can be used to collect data about users’ devices through fingerprinting, you’ll need to declare the reasons for using these APIs in your app’s privacy manifest. This will help ensure that apps only use these APIs for their intended purpose,” Apple explains.

The new changes will start to take place this fall, with the release of iOS 17, tvOS 17, watchOS 10, and macOS Sonoma.  Developers will be notified about submitting apps using a Required Reason API without describing the reasons for using it. In fall 2024, Apple will start rejecting apps that do not provide a proper explanation.

The new requirements are designed to help protect user privacy. By requiring developers to explain why they need access to sensitive data, Apple can help ensure that apps are only using this data when it is truly necessary. However, this will also increase the number of app rejections.

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In an ongoing effort to enhance transparency and foster trust among developers and customers, Apple has released its highly anticipated “2022 App Store Transparency Report.” This comprehensive report provides detailed insights into app removals, appeals, developer account terminations, government takedown requests, and more. What Apple has shared goes beyond the requirements of previous agreements with shareholders and developers, demonstrating the company’s commitment to accountability and security.

More than 185,000 apps were also removed from the App Store

App rejections and removals form a significant portion of the report’s findings. Over the course of the year, a staggering 1,679,694 app submissions were rejected. These rejections were primarily attributed to violations of the App Store Review Guidelines, with performance-related issues being the most prevalent at 1,018,415 rejections. Other categories included safety (92,598), business (152,391), design (212,464), legal (441,972), and miscellaneous reasons (79,736). However, amidst a large number of rejections, 253,466 apps managed to gain approval following the initial rejection.

The report also sheds light on the number of apps removed from the App Store, amounting to 186,195. These removals were categorized by app type, with games (38,883) taking the lead, followed by utilities (20,045), business (16,997), education (16,509), and lifestyle (15,171). The removals were carried out primarily due to violations of specific guidelines, with guideline 4.0 on design (149,3787) and DPLA 3.2(f) on fraud (32,009) being the most common reasons.

Notably, the report reveals that apps are removed only from storefronts where the jurisdiction demanding their removal has authority, ensuring their availability in other storefronts worldwide. The report discloses specific government takedown demands, with mainland China leading the list (1435), followed by India (14), Pakistan (10), Russia (7), and several other countries.

The transparency report also provides valuable insights into developer account data. With a total of 36,974,015 registered Apple developers, the report reveals that 428,487 developer accounts were terminated. Fraud (428,249) and export control violations (238) were the primary reasons for account terminations. While developers have the option to appeal terminations, the report highlights that most appeals from terminations due to fraud are typically rejected.

Apple’s commitment to customer security is evident in the termination of 282,036,628 customer accounts, preventing fraudulent transactions valued at a staggering $2,090,195,480. The average weekly visitors to the App Store amounted to 656,739,889, with app downloads reaching 747,873,877, and app redownloads totalling 1,539,274,266. Additionally, there were an average of 40,876,798,492 automatic app updates and 512,545,816 manual app updates each week.

Apple’s 2022 App Store Transparency Report serves as a testament to the company’s ongoing dedication to maintaining a secure and reliable App Store ecosystem. By providing granular details on app rejections, removals, account terminations, and more, Apple aims to bolster trust among developers, shareholders, and customers alike.

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Over the weekend, two of the world’s most prominent CEOs, Daniel Ek of Spotify and Elon Musk of Tesla, took to Twitter to criticize Apple’s App Store policies. Musk, in particular, called it a “battle for the future of civilization” and criticized the company’s app review system. The issue at hand is Apple’s 30% revenue share rule for in-app subscriptions of digital content, which has previously drawn the ire of both Ek and Musk. This policy has been a thorn in the side of many app developers, including Spotify and now Twitter.

Apple is taking a 30% cut of Twitter’s Revenue

While some argue that Apple’s policy is necessary to maintain a level playing field and ensure fair competition among developers, others see it as a greedy cash grab that stifles innovation and limits consumer choice.

Elon Musk’s recent acquisition of Twitter for $44 billion has only added fuel to the fire. With so much money at stake, it’s no wonder Musk is pushing for a subscription-based model and seeking to maximize profits. But with so much money at stake, it’s no wonder Musk is pushing for a subscription-based model and seeking to maximize profits.

At the end of the day, this battle is not just about money, it’s about control. Apple wants to maintain its grip on the App Store and the digital content market, while developers like Musk and Ek are pushing for more freedom and autonomy. It remains to be seen who will come out on top, but one thing is clear: the future of the digital content industry is at stake, and the outcome of this battle will have far-reaching implications for years to come.

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It seems like Apple’s App Store regulations keep making app developers unhappy, time and again. Music streaming giant Spotify, alongside eight other companies, has composed a letter to the EU Commission’s executive vice president. In the letter, the companies call Apple a harmful, anticompetitive and monopolistic organization, with further requests to regulate Apple’s policies through ‘urgent action’. 

The letter has been signed by the CEOs of Spotify, Deezer, Basecamp, Proton, EPC, Schibsted, France Digitale, and News Media Europe. The letter was addressed to Margrethe Vestager, the Executive VP of the EU Commission, and it strongly urges the commission to provide a verdict on the investigation that Spotify previously started. The companies claimed that the Apple App Store is creating hurdles for them to function effectively and grow, owing to Apple’s flawed app distribution practices. Furthermore, the letter states that the policies also affect European citizens negatively because of Apple’s high commissions for app developers and restricting them from accessing user data (which in turn can be used to improve user experience). They cited the newly cleared Digital Markets Act (DMA), urging the EU Commission to act fast for the welfare of European consumers. 

This is not the first time that companies have raised their voice against Apple’s practices. In April 2022, Spotify filed a complaint, which caused the EU Commission to start a probe into the matter. They stated that Apple App Store regulations “purposely limit choice and stifle innovation at the expense of the user experience,” in addition to the exorbitant commission rates on their applications. Spotify has also previously stated that Apple’s regulations create an unfair playing field where Spotify struggles against Apple Music. Now, time will tell if the EU decides to make a statement on Apple’s policies or if it refrains from doing so.

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Apple has announced some new measures to expand variability in app pricing in the App Store. The new measures will see developers accessing up to 700 new price point options in pricing their apps and services. This comes on the heels of tightening regulatory scrutiny of the Cupertino-based tech powerhouse.

The new expansion of the pricing system in the App Store will also allow US developers to fix the price of their products outside the ending $.99 tag currently subsisting in the Store. The new total number of price points now available in the App Store stands at 900. The new pricing templates offer greater variability to developers and buyers. The changes cover app purchases and subscriptions. Apple will also extend the new policy to the global market together with new tools aimed at helping developers manage pricing outside their local market.

Apple has had a running battle with vendors and regulators because of its iron-grip control of some activities in the App Store. Regarding pricing, it has continued to get complaints from developers especially as demand shifted to subscription revenue. Developers continue to demand greater flexibility within Apple’s pricing setup. Some critics have also pointed out that such a lack of flexibility could hinder some businesses’ development. The new rules are meant to address developer concerns relating to making special offers and discounts on purchases and subscriptions. It offers developers a wider range of options overall across Apple’s 175 markets. 100 new higher price points are available upon request for prices between $1,000 and $10,000.

Apple also says that the new range of pricing options can be useful for managing subscriptions and other in-app purchases. The company hopes the new system will make pricing to be more consistent across the App Store ecosystem. The new Apple changes kicked in on December 6 for auto-renewable subscriptions. The changes will take effect in Spring 2023 for paid apps and in-app purchases.

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Apple has just recently been hit with an outage that has affected a number of its popular services. This includes the likes of its Music, App Store, and even Podcasts, which stopped working for two days straight.

According to a Reuters report, the Cupertino based giant’s official system status page has confirmed that the services have seen resumed operations as of Tuesday (22nd March 2022). Although, this followed after two days of outage. Before this, the Mac App Store, users of Apple Card, Apple Books, iCloud Web Apps, and even the Weather app stopped working yesterday. Apart from these apps, another 11 apps from the iPhone maker’s services stop working on Monday (21st March 2022), including Arcade and Maps as well.

As of right now, it is still unclear as to what exactly caused the outage on the two days. However, a separate report had stated that the company had told its staff that the outage on Monday had been caused by a domain name system or DNS, which is basically an address book of the internet which enables computers to match website addresses with the correct server. At the moment, the brand has also yet to respond to any comments regarding the outage in Tuesday.

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South Korea has approved certain rules that will allow the government to ban app stores by Apple and Google from forcing software developers to use their payments systems.

For those unaware, the Cupertino and Search Engine giant have been facing scrutiny across the globe over their app stores. At the moment, both brands hold a duopoly in the market with most smartphone users using either of the two stores for apps. However, the two companies also charge take a share from any transaction made within apps from developers and did not allow for third party payment methods. Thus, telecom regulators in nations like South Korea have been targeting the Google Play Store and iOS App Store.

South Korea has recently passed a new law, an amendment to the Telecommunication Business Act, which will help remove the dominance held by Apple and Google. Both firms typically charge 30 percent on developers, but the new rules that are called enforcement ordinance will help developers bypass this charge. The new rule will be put into effect starting from March 15 and bars “the act of forcing a specific payment method to a provider of mobile content.”

Han Sang-hyuk, chairman of Korea Communications Commission (KCC) added that “In order to prevent indirect regulatory avoidance, prohibited acts’ types and standards have been established as tightly knit as possible within the scope delegated by the law.” So now, any infractions may reach as high as 2 percent of an average annual revenue from related business practices, as per the new rules.

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Instagram has just removed two of its standalone applications from both the Google Play Store and Apple App Store. The two new apps that were discontinued include Boomerang and Hyperlapse.

Also missing from Play Store! pic.twitter.com/q6rNmMVdIl

— ㆅ (@WFBrother) March 7, 2022

In other words, both of these apps are no longer available on either iOS or Android devices. Many Twitter users found out that the social media platform had removed both of the apps from the app stores. Recently, the Meta owned brand had also announced that it was discontinuing its standalone app for IGTV as well. This was primarily due to Instagram’s plan on shifting its focus to a single main app rather than a bunch of smaller ones.

Furthermore, the company had already integrated the IGTV platform into the primary app for years now. Similarly, Boomerang and Hyperlapse were always features on the main app. So, it arrives as no surprise that the social media platform quietly discontinued both of the apps. These were originally launched during a time when smartphone had limited performance. Thus, you had a separate app dedicated to just the Boomerang and Hyperlapse feature.

Despite the standalone apps offering a better Boomerang effect or time lapse recording overall, these features have been available in the main app for a while now. On the other hand, Instagram’s Layout application is still available for download. This app helps in making photo collages, but it shouldn’t take too long for the company to take this down as well.

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Apple today announced its much-anticipated list of the most downloaded apps across iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, and Apple Watch. Unsurprisingly, the most popular free iPhone app in the United States was TikTok in 2021, while Procreate was the most popular paid app. As for free games on iPhone, Among Us secured the top rank, while Minecraft dominated the paid games realm.

The Cupertino-based tech giant also announced App Store Award winners, with children’s app maker Toca Boca winning iPhone App of the Year for “Toca Life World,” and Riot Games’ “League of Legends: Wild Rift” being declared the iPhone Game of the Year.

Typically, award winners are relative newcomers and are lauded for having taken advantage of Apple’s tech in innovative ways. However, with “Toca Life World,” the strategy seems to be a bit different this year. Its developer – Toca Boca – celebrated its ten-year anniversary this March, having released over 40 kids’ apps. Apple has accordingly praised the app maker for “masterfully iterating on the art of play and self-expression for kids.”

The past year has been rather tough for the Apple App Store owing to increased regulatory scrutiny and various lawsuits concerning its commission-based business model. The Epic Games case, for example, is still ongoing. As a result, Apple was forced to reduce commission in some cases and even adjust its policies. But despite this, its overall quality of apps remains high, especially when compared to that of Android.

Anyway, following are the lists of the most downloaded apps of the year in the US:

Top Free iPhone Apps

1. TikTok
2. YouTube: Watch, Listen, Stream
3. Instagram
4. Snapchat
5. Facebook
6. Messenger
7. Google Maps
8. Gmail – Email by Google
9. ZOOM Cloud Meetings
10. Amazon Shopping

Top Paid iPhone Apps

1. Procreate Pocket
2. HotSchedules
3. The Wonder Weeks
4. TouchRetouch
5. Facetune
6. Shadowrocket
7. 75 Hard
8. Dark Sky Weather
9. Autosleep Track Sleep on Watch
10. SkyView®

Top Free iPhone Games

1. Among Us!
2. Roblox
3. Project Makeover
4. Call of Duty®: Mobile
5. Subway Surfers
6. High Heels!
7. Magic Tiles 3: Piano Game
8. Water Sort Puzzle
9. Shortcut Run
10. Bridge Race

Top Paid iPhone Games

1. Minecraft
2. Heads Up!
3. Bloons TD 6
4. Monopoly
5. Geometry Dash
6. My Child Lebensborn
7. Plague Inc.
8. True Skate
9. Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
10. Incredibox

Top Free iPad Apps

1. YouTube: Watch, Listen, Stream
2. ZOOM Cloud Meetings
3. Disney+
4. Netflix
5. TikTok
6. Google Chrome
7. HBO Max: Stream TV & Movies
8. Hulu: Watch TV series & movies
9. Amazon Prime Video
10.  Gmail — Email by Google

Top Paid iPad Apps

1. Procreate
2. GoodNotes 5
3. Notability
4. Duet Display
5. Toca Kitchen 2
6. Toca Life: Hospital
7. LumaFusion
8. Shadowrocket
9. Affinity Designer
10. Toca Life: Vacation

Top Free iPad Games

1. Among Us!
2. Roblox
3. Project Makeover
4. Phone Case DIY
5. Subway Surfers
6. Hair Challenge
7. Magic Tiles 3: Piano Game
8. Tiles Hop – EDM Rush
9. Blob Runner 3D
10. Bridge Race

Top Paid iPad Games

1. Minecraft
2. Bloons TD 6
3. Geometry Dash
4. Monopoly
5. Five Nights at Freddy’s
6. Stardew Valley
7. Plague Inc.
8. Human: Fall Flat
9. Ultimate Custom Night
10. Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas

Top Apple Arcade Games

1. The Oregon Trail
2. NBA 2K21 Arcade Edition
3. Sneaky Sasquatch
4. Sonic Racing
5. SpongeBob: Patty Pursuit
6. Skate City
7. PAC-MAN Party Royale
8. Cut the Rope Remastered
9. Hot Lava
10. Angry Birds Reloaded

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Earlier this week, Apple had requested a delay over the implementation of new changes in its payment system in a virtual hearing. However, the US Judge denied this request, which gives the company till December 9 to make the changes to its App Store.

For those unaware, the changes in question would allow developers of various apps to add an in app link to an external website. Through this, users will be also be given an option for alternate payment options that do not use the in app payment system. After the initial ruling, the Cupertino based giant was given 90 days to implement the new changes. But back in October, Apple filed a request for more time as it sought to wait until all appeals in the lawsuit against Epic Games were concluded.

As of right now, the iPhone maker’s request has been denied by US Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers and no additional time will be given to add the requested App Store changes. The original ruling also read that the company can no longer restrict developers from including “in their apps and their metadata buttons, external links, or other calls to action that direct customers to purchasing mechanisms” (Via MacRumors).

The Judge believes that the app developers should have the option to choose an in app payment system or an external one, since “Consumer information, transparency, and consumer choice is in the interest of the public.” Although, Apple argued that the new changes might “upset the careful balance between developers and customers provided by the ‌‌App Store‌‌.”

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A few weeks ago, the South Korean government had passed an amendment to the country’s Telecommunications Business Act which now prohibits Google and Apple from forcing their own payment solutions on developers.

Now, to comply with the new law, Google has announced that it will allow developers to add an alternative in-app billing system in South Korea. Along with the developer’s chosen billion systems, the Google Play Store‘s billing system will also be available.

This new change will be applicable for both mobile as well as tablet users in South Korea. Users will be able to choose which payment or billing system to use for the in-app billing during the checkout process.

Google is also warning users that the alternative billing systems may not provide the same protections or features that the company’s own billing system offers. Currently, the tech giant’s billing system offers several payment options, including gift cards and Play Points along with the usual set of options.

The company has said that it will be sharing implementation details for developers in the coming weeks and months. While Google has not provided an exact timeline for this, it’s safe to assume that the alternative in-app billing system will go live next year in Korea.

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Apple has recently been facing pressure from regulators and rivals over its control over its iOS App Store. Now, the company has published a new document that showcases its defensive stance on the subject, which also warns of the hazards of allowing sideloading of iOS applications.

According to the 31 page long document with the title “Building a Trusted Ecosystem for Millions of Apps, A threat analysis of sideloading”, the Cupertino based giant shared a that “Some are demanding that Apple support the distribution of apps outside of the App Store, through direct downloads or third-party app stores, a process also referred to as ‘sideloading. Supporting sideloading through direct downloads and third party app stores would cripple the privacy and security protections that have made iPhone so secure, and expose users to serious security risks.”

In other words, Apple is strictly against bringing in competition due to these concerns, which it has also told US lawmakers as well. As of right now, the iPhone maker has even voiced out concerns of being forced by the European Union to allow third party app stores and direct download of apps by the user. However, there is a major flaw in Apple’s argument against “sideloading.” As pointed out by TheRegister, the brand refers to sideloading as both the user directly downloading and installing apps and third party app stores.

Although, this is not the case as only the former classifies as side loading and the two scenarios are not equal to one another. Generally speaking, “sideloading” is when the users installs an app on their device without a trusted intermediary that performs some oversight function. Or simply put, installing apps that are not from an official source. This means that installing an app from an unverified website is not similar to downloading an app from an app store from another rival company like Google, Epic Games, or Microsoft, which Apple is clearly against to hold onto its monopoly.

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Apple’s recent antitrust trial revealed that the company raked in more profits from gaming than Xbox’s Microsoft Corporation, Nintendo Co., Activision Blizzard Inc., and PlayStation maker Sony Corp. combined in 2019.

This has been made possible thanks to the 30% cut of the sales made through games on the App Store. The implication of this is that the Cupertino-based company has turned out to be a major player in the gaming world, despite not having a single gaming title of its own.

Analysis from the Wall Street Journal put Apple’s operating profits from gaming alone at $8.5 billion during that fiscal year, which is greater than the other four companies’ combined gaming operating incomes in the same period.

However, Apple had rubbished the report during the trial saying that the figures were not right and were higher than reality. The company explained this by saying that the operating margins discussed in the trial were produced without taking into account the numerous joint costs associated with the App Store. In effect, the analysis included all of the game-related revenue but only a tiny fraction of the possible cost.

An earlier report via Sensor Tower, an analytics firm, set Apple’s total revenue from the App Store at $15.9 billion, effectively making its $8.5 billion figure a massive 69% of the total. Using Apple’s operating margin calculation described in court records, the company’s App Store approximately generated an operating profit of $12.3 billion that year.

During trial, the judge ruled that Apple wasn’t a monopoly partly due to the fact that the mobile gaming market is growing far too quickly. Further, the likes of Microsoft and Nvidia are pushing gaming subscription services that can be accessed through websites, thus bypassing the App Store.

It was thus concluded that Apple does enjoy a “considerable market share of over 55% and extraordinarily high profit margins,” but that Epic Games failed to prove Apple as an “illegal monopolist” in the gaming market. Epic has filed to appeal against the ruling.

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US tech major Apple has announced that it prevented potentially fraudulent transactions via the Apple App Store to the tune of about $1.5 billion in 2020. The Apple news provides cheering reassurance to users of iOS devices that their safety is guaranteed when using the App Store.

There were a couple of accusations that Apple was not doing enough to safeguard its customers from potentially fraudulent activities on several fronts. One of the ways that fraudsters have used to gain access to critical data was through fraudulent apps. But Apple insists that its App Store remains a highly secure platform for mobile applications for its customers.

The blog post highlighted some of the steps taken to protect the App Store users, and the company outlined the outcomes. Apple said that up to a million problematic new apps were removed or rejected, together with a similar quantum of updates rejected. Several thousands of apps did not scale through the rigorous review process put in place, while many others were also axed for violating privacy restrictions.

Notably, the tech giant also says that more than 100,000 illegal apps were blocked on pirate storefronts, about 0.25 billion customer accounts were deactivated due to fraudulent or abusive activity within the year. In addition, about 424 million attempts at creating new accounts were denied after fraudulent patterns were associated with the potential accounts. Apple also says it could prevent more than 3 million stolen credit cards from being used to purchase goods and services.

App security remains a critical issue, and Apple focuses on establishing a secure platform responsive to potentially fraudulent activities. But despite these efforts there are still reports of fraudulent activities on the store. An iPhone user was recently thrown into confusion after his life saving of over $600,000 in Bitcoin was emptied by fraudsters using a fake Trezor wallet he downloaded from the Apple App Store.

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(via)

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A clone of the popular US game Among Us is the talk of the town in China. Known as Werewolf Among Us, it is currently topping the download charts on App Store in the country. The game has even managed to surpass giants like Peacekeeper Elite and Honour of Kings.

As per an SCMP report, the game is at the top of the Free Game download charts on Apple’s App Store. Albeit being developed by a recondite developer, it sits on the top with 116,000 downloads as of November 2. Further, App Tracking firm Qimai’s Data says the Clone has more than 478,000 total downloads so far.

That said, Tencent Holdings’ giants like Peacekeeper Elite(China’s PUBG). And Honour of Kings trail the charts with 111,000, and 112,000 downloads respectively behind Werewolf Among Us.

How did it get Popular?

However, this is not the only clone App of the American Video Game. IP(Intellectual Property) doesn’t generally protect Game Mechanics. Hence, popular games usually see a lot of rip-offs bombarding the market.

Having said that the most popular of them all, Werewolf Among us is developed by a small developer, Shenzhen Youliang Technology. And launched on October 28. Initially, it was thought of as just another version of another in-party game Werewolf that’s already popular in China. However, it has gained steam recently thanks to its OG version’s popularity that has a better-dedicated user acquisition budget.

Still, the number crunches of downloads are crazy considering it’s just been a week since launch. Anyway, the rip-off version has cloned the Map, Game Mechanics of the OG Among Us. The only difference is reportedly the setting of the game in a Medival Castle instead of Space.

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Among Us by InnerSloth

For the unware, the OG Among Us is developed by American Game Studio InnerSloth. It is a free-to-play Mobile/PC game allowing players to pit against each other. Players act as “crewmates” or “imposters” on a Spaceship and try to remove the opponent(imposter->crewmates and Viceversa) while performing other tasks.

It launched way back in 2018 but has become popular only recently. As per the company, the OG version currently has over 100 million downloads worldwide. And 60 million active users as of September.

Coming back, Qimai says the OG “Among Us” is the 10th most downloaded game in China with 885,000 downloads in the last three months. However, it doesn’t support the Chinese language, and that’s where Clones like Werewolf Among us reportedly comes into play.

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Apple has just been hit by another lawsuit. This legal action arrives after a woman filed a lawsuit against the Cupertino based giant for hosting gambling apps, on which she spent thousands of dollars for in game currency.

Earlier this week, the lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut, which claimed that Apple “promotes, enables, and profits” from gambling games on the App Store. The case was against the free to play games in the app store, which is allegedly considered illegal gambling. The plaintiff, Karen Workman, stated that she downloaded the app called “Jackpot Mania” back in 2017.

Since then she “began purchasing coins through the app so he/she could continue to play for a chance to win free coins that would enable him/her to enjoy the game(s) for a longer period of time.” Just six months prior to the lawsuit being filed, Workman had spent over 3,312 US Dollars on in game currency. The argument being presented here is that apps with in game currency also fall under the “gambling” category, which is banned on the App Store.

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According to an AppleInsider report, the lawsuit alleged that the game is still considered if the users have “the ability to win and therefore acquire more playing time.” It further argues that credits that are “recorded and allow one to extend play” are a thing of value.” Furthermore, the complaint also read that “Apple is not some minor or incidental participant in these illegal gambling games. It is the principal promoter and facilitator of the illegal activity. Apple maintains dictatorial control over what apps can be downloaded from the App Store, and the payment method to purchase in-app items.”

At the moment, the lawsuit is seeking a class status and has also asked for a whole refund of “all money paid through the illegal gambling games described herein.” This payout would also include the attorney’s fees and an award for the plaintiff for “his/her services in this case on behalf of the class.” That is all we have to go on for now, and we’ll add more updates to the story, so stay tuned.

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Despite facing issues in a few countries, the short-form social media app TikTok continues to be the most downloaded non-gaming app worldwide for September 2020, according to the new report from Sensor Tower.

In the month of September, TikTok witnessed more than 61.1 million installs, which represents a 2 percent increase compared to the same period last year.

Zoom was the second most installed non-gaming app with around 55 million installs, a growth of 21.4 times compared to September 2019. Completing the list of the top five most downloaded apps last month include Facebook, WhatsApp, and Google Meet.

Following the top five apps, other apps that made it to the top 10 most installed applications in the month of September 2020 include Instagram, Snack Video, Messenger, Telegram, and Snapchat.

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As for the countries, it was Brazil which saw the most number of installs in September, representing 11 percent of the total installs worldwide. It was followed by the United States, which captured 9 percent of the total installs.

Do note that the report from Sensor Tower is for non-gaming mobile applications downloaded from 1st September 2020 to 30th September 2020 through Apple App Store and Google Play Store and no third-party app store.

Also, the company has clarified that it does not count Apple’s own applications and pre-installed Google apps. Further, the report includes only unique downloads and combines multiple versions of apps into one. For instance, Messenger and Messenger Lite from Facebook are counted together.

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India is planning on launching its very own app store that will act as an alternative to the Google Play Store and Apple App Store. This move arrives to boost the country’s self reliance.

The current Modi government might seek to ramp up its Mobile Seva App Store as reported by the local news agencies. An ETNow report quoted the government stating that “Android has a 97% market share in India. So, we should intervene and handhold Indian startups.” Furthermore, the government is also considering making the app store mandatory for Android phones to arrive with this app pre-installed.

#ETNOWExclusive | #Aatmanirbhar App Store Coming Soon? Sources tell ET NOW that Modi-govt is planning to launch its own App Store as an alternative to #Google & #Apple's app stores! @NayantaraRai with exclusive details!@PMOIndia @rsprasad @_DigitalIndia @GooglePlay @AppStore pic.twitter.com/eYoNVsdcC3

— ET NOW (@ETNOWlive) October 1, 2020

Notably, the news also arrived after numerous technology entrepreneurs joined hands to petition to the government for support regarding an overarching Indian digital app ecosystem to rival major tech giants like Google and Apple. In a meeting earlier this week, the ways to establish a large scale platform that hosts local apps was also discussed to break the monopoly in the current market.

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This group includes various founders, like Paytm’s Vijay Shekhar Sharma, Yashish Dahiya of Policybazaar, and Murugavel Janakiraman of Matrimony.com, which are a few major online platforms in the country. They will also be seeking the country’s banking regulator as well, including the finance ministry to seek redressal for Google’s recent move that aims to raise the commission on purchase made on its app store.

Murugavel Janakiraman stated that “If India has net neutrality, why can’t we have app neutrality. A body monitored by the government can ensure app neutrality, fairness, and openness.” While other notable figures also cited government support to help grow the indigenous brands and startups. It remains to be seen how Apple and Google respond to this news.

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Apple has just responded to its latest dispute which has emerged with Epic Games. The known game publisher had recently had its popular game, Fortnite, removed from both Google Play and Apple App Store, since it brought in a new feature that lets users bypass the app stores for in game microtransactions. This caused Epic to respond with a lawsuit for both tech giants. Now, Apple has responded, saying it ‘won’t make any exceptions.’

According to an official statement by the Cupertino based company, “We very much want to keep the company as part of the Apple Developer Program and their apps on the Store. The problem Epic has created for itself is one that can easily be remedied if they submit an update of their app that reverts it to comply with the guidelines they agreed to and which apply to all developers.” Epic believes that both Google and Apple’s business operations on their app stores are anti competitive, and has filed a lawsuit accordingly.

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This entire scenario was apparently planned months in advance as Epic Games responded with the lawsuit immediately after it got removed from both online stores. For those unaware, game developers that use either App Store or Google Play have to give either Apple or Google a 30 percent cut in any in game digital purchases. In other words, ordering a book or food is different, from buying a Fornite skin online, which must be bought through the platform’s respective payment system.

Thus, when Epic silently introduced the new bypass payment mechanics into its popular video game title, it was promptly removed from both platforms. At the moment, Apple has offered till the 28th of August to make changes to this system, and has said that this is a simple fix to the problem. If the publisher fails to comply, then it will be kicked out from its developer program, as reported by The Verge.

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Houseparty, the video chat social application has become quite popular and has seen massive growth amid the coronavirus lockdown across several countries. The app is one of the top choices when it comes to being connected with the loved ones as social distancing and government lockdown came into effect.

A report from app store analyst App Annie suggests that Houseparty has hit the record numbers in the month of March 2020. Now, the company has itself revealed that the app has seen over 50 million sign-ups last month, which is claimed to be 70 times above normal in some markets.

During the past 30 days, Houseparty has reportedly seen 17.2 million new installs across iOS and Android platforms. A different third-party estimate from Sensor Tower reports 28 million installs. The numbers don’t include the company’s app on Mac and Chrome.

Thanks to the surge in popularity and usage, Houseparty became the leading Social app in 82 countries, including the U.S. App Store. It was also the third leading Social app on the U.S. Google Play store. The app grew to become the No. 1 Overall app in 16 countries.

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According to the company, the average time in conversation per user remained at more than 60 minutes and the average session times sometimes reached as high as more than 80 minutes. Since the app is designed for social hangouts, it has attracted younger users.

While Houseparty doesn’t reveal its metrics publicly, the company seems to be sharing the data about its popularity to distract people from the recent controversy. The app was recently accused of a data breach through social media posts from users claiming that user data was being used to access other accounts, like Netflix and Spotify.

The company denied the breach and even suggested that the social media posts were a part of a “paid commercial campaign” aimed at harming its business. Later, the company announced a $1 million reward for any evidence that proved it. So far, nothing yet has come of that and some of the accusations posted have also disappeared.

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While many economies and industries across the globe have been seeing a decline due to the ongoing crisis, the software side sees a contrary pattern. The time people spend on their smartphones has increased, and with it, the amount of spending on apps as well. Since people are stuck indoors, a record 23.4 billion US Dollars have been spent in Q1 of 2020 alone.

According to a new report from App Annie, the first quarter of 2020 saw the largest number of purchases and consumer spending on applications. Furthermore, statistics have even revealed that the average weekly time spent on apps and games worldwide has increased by about 20 percent over 2019. This translates to a record increase in consumer spending on the app stores that are available across the globe.

App Annie reported on a total of 23.4 billion US Dollars in consumer purchases, out of which $15 billion came from the iOS App Store from Apple and $8.3 billion from Google Play on the Android OS. Both popular platforms saw a year on year increase of 5 percent over 2019. Additionally, non-gaming applications accounted for about 35 percent of consumer spending on iOS and 15 percent on Google Play.

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Thus, a vast majority of 16.7 billion US Dollars has been spent on games in this quarter. Data reports show that the US and China were the largest contributors to consumer purchases on iOS, while Japan and South Korea were the largest for Google Play. Popular apps in Android OS include games, social media and entertainment apps, including streaming services like Disney+ and Twitch.

However, iOS users spent a majority on Games, Entertainment and Photo and Video apps. This includes TikTok, which recently broke into the top 5 of consumer spending apps in iOS, just behind YouTube and Tinder. Notably, 31 billion new apps were also downloaded during this period, which is an increase of 15 percent over last year. This shows the scale of social distancing and isolation that is taking place due to global Coronavirus fears.

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(Via)

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After much anticipation, Xiaomi Wear mobile application has now officially launched on the Apple App Store. However, as per the official report, the app currently supports only one wearable device — Xiaomi Watch Color.

The Xiaomi Wear application can be used to manage various smart wearable devices from the Chinese company as well as check statistics related to several sport activities, sleep patterns, changing sport modes, among others.

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Ren Tian, the person in-charge of software for the Xiaomi wearable devices had revealed earlier this month that the company had submitted the first version of the Xiaomi Wear app to the Apple App Store in October 2019 but the company had not approved it.

On the other hand, the Xiaomi Wear application for Android platform has been updated to version 1.1.12. It comes with several bug fixes to improve performance and the company has also added support for Xiaomi Watch Color, which was recently launched.

The launch of this application from the company on Apple App Store comes on the same day when Xiaomi has started rolling out its second over-the-air (OTA) update for the Mi Watch with several new features. The first OTA update was rolled out on 3rd December, just weeks after the official launch of the smartwatch.

You can check out the Xiaomi Wear app on the App Store from here.

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Social video app TikTok, also known as Douyin in China, was launched in China in September 2016. The media app was later introduced to the overseas market in 2017 and since then, it has been one success story to the other. The latest in TikTok’s success is that the app has hit a new milestone with more than one billion downloads recorded globally. This was released in the latest  Store Intelligence estimates report published by Sensor Tower.

TikTok is a media app for creating and sharing short videos and is owned by ByteDance.The app has seen consistent usage by individuals who use it to share short videos of people doing silly stuff ranging from lip-syncing or dancing to popular songs, among others. It is available on the Apple app store and on Google Play store from where the data was collated.

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Interestingly, the figures exclude downloads in China. Thus, the number of downloads globally may likely be way higher than one billion. The report also showed that the number of new users using the app reached 71.3 million persons. Other details include that 25 percent of TikTok’s downloads to date have come from India, and the userbase is estimated to be about 250 million. In January alone, 43 percent of new users were from India, compared to 9.5 percent in the same period last year. That underscores the growing popularity of the app in India. The number of new users in the US also grew as 9% of TikTok’s January installs were from the US compared to 5.6 percent last year. The app was also the number one non-game app in the US in January. In addition, the app was ranked as the number three app globally in terms of new installs across both Apple and Google app stores in January.

(source)

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