Apps

Apple has once again extended its deadline requiring in-app purchases for paid online group events within iOS apps till June 30. In 2020, Apple announced to support apps and developers that needed to adapt services from in-person to digital as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. Specifically, it deferred App Store Review Guideline 3.1.1, which requires apps offering paid online group services to do so via in-app purchase. "Given the recent resurgence of Covid and its continued impact on in-person services, we've extended the most recent deadline to June 30, 2022," the tech giant said in an update. Apple earlier temporarily waived its customary 30 per cent App Store fee on in-app purchases for paid online events by small businesses on Facebook . Amid the ongoing pandemic, Apple in April last year announced not to charge iOS apps providing online classes and group events until December 31, 2021. The new guideline allows apps offering realtime … [Read more...] about apple: Apple extends in-app purchase exemption for online group events

Audio player loading… Every week I’m sent apps that are meant to help or solve a situation for users that haven’t been done before. But I was sent a particular app this week that made me rethink how a note-taking app should work. Created by Rihab Mehboob, Note Yourself was released this week (January 20) for iOS for $2.99 / £2.99 / AU$ 2.99 where you can note down your thoughts and your plans, but in a chat interface. You may think, as I did at the start, that this sounds like a combination that simply can’t work. It sounds like having sugar on your Weetabix, or playing Banjo Kazooie on an iPad. But the more I’ve used Note Yourself, the more I’ve been impressed. You’re brought to a layout that looks as though you’re going to start a conversation with yourself, and you can jot down something that you can set to remind you after a certain amount of time. You can also pin some of these entries to easily go back to, all in a very simple but elegant layout. … [Read more...] about A note-taking app that works like iMessage shouldn’t work, but it does

Audio player loading… It’s an age-old adage that if something’s successful, there’s a good chance it’ll be copied. And that’s exactly what’s happened with Josh Wardle’s Wordle game, with copies swiftly appearing on Apple’s App Store. Some developers were trying their luck in charging subscription fees for as high as $30 a year, which would grant you more words and no ads. But overnight, after a heavy backlash against a copycat app that mirrored Wardle’s game in name and design exactly, Apple looks to have taken all of them down in one fell swoop. We’ve reached out to Apple for confirmation that it was the App Store team who did this. Wardle has yet to comment on this, but as he has maintained that he’s not planning on monetizing Wordle, there could still be an opportunity for him to expand the game, offering different word counts or leaderboards with friends for example, but in an official capacity. Analysis: What about the other copycats? It’s … [Read more...] about Dodgy Wordle copycats are already banned from Apple’s App Store, but there’s more work to do

Meta-owned WhatsApp is reportedly planning to bring a new security feature for its desktop and web users. According to a report by WaBetaInfo, the instant chat platform may bring two-step verification on the web/desktop. For those unaware, two-step verification is an optional feature that adds more security to your WhatsApp account. The two-step verification PIN is different from the 6-digit registration code you receive via SMS or phone call. It is required when you login to your WhatsApp account and is primarily aimed to prevent unauthorized access. When you enable two-step verification, you have the option to enter your email address. This allows WhatsApp to email you a reset link in case you ever forget your PIN, and also helps safeguard your account. It is currently available on WhatsApp mobile app. The WaBetaInfo report says that WhatsApp is planning to bring this feature for web/desktop clients as well. They will be able to enable and disable two-step verification … [Read more...] about WhatsApp is adding this mobile feature to desktop app

Apple was fined 5 million euros ($5.65 million) by the Dutch antitrust regulator on Monday for failing to comply with an order to open its app store to allow dating app providers in the Netherlands to use alternative payment methods. Apple on Jan. 15 said it had complied with the December order https://www.reuters.com/technology/apples-app-store-broke-competition-laws-dutch-watchdog-says-2021-12-24 from the Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) - but the regulator said on Monday Apple had not. "Apple has failed to satisfy the requirements on several points," the ACM said in a statement. "The most important one is that Apple has failed to adjust its conditions, as a result of which dating-app providers are still unable to use other payment systems. At the moment, dating-app providers can merely express their 'interest'." Apple could not immediately be reached for comment. The company is appealing the ACM's December decision. The ACM said it had … [Read more...] about Why Apple has been fined 5 million euros by Dutch antitrust regulator

Netflix’s foray into the mobile gaming subscription market is showing no signs of slowing down. This week it added a pair of new titles to its service, a card-battling roguelike called Arcanium: Rise of Akhan , and a hidden object game called Krispee Street . Both are available to download on iOS or Android free of charge if you’re already subscribed to the streaming service. Arcanium follows an increasingly familiar template for Netflix’s mobile game releases, in that it’s a pre-existing title added to the subscription service. The game originally launched in early access on Steam back in 2020 , where it currently boasts “Mostly Positive” user reviews. Its Steam listing describes it as an “open-world, single-player strategy card adventure” and fusion of the roguelike and deckbuilding genres. Dive into a fantasy world where good, evil, magic, and technology collide for the ultimate tale of fellowship and bravery. Arcanium, an open-world single-player strategy card … [Read more...] about Netflix’s newest game is a Hearthstone-style card battler

Audio player loading… Pro gadgets are meant to be exciting, top-end products with flashy features and mind-bending specs, so it's a sad day when the suffix 'Pro' instead only inspires boredom or apathy. That's the case with Apple's iPad Pro range, at least for this writer. While the first few generations of Apple's top-end tablet line were exciting, with huge screens, powerful processors, and accessories that made them portable workstation powerhouses, that's not enough anymore. The iPad Pro (2020) and iPad Pro (2021) were both incremental upgrades over their predecessors, with barely any meaningful changes to inspire excitement in buyers, and that's why I don't think the iPad Pro (2022) should come along. No, I think Apple should skip a year and wait for the iPad Pro (2023), so software can catch up and new technology can be introduced to make the device exciting. What did you just say about the iPad Pro? I don't think the last two generations … [Read more...] about We don’t need a new iPad Pro in 2022

The official UK Dell store has some great XPS 13 deals right now with two choices in particular that are fantastic if you're looking for a powerful ultrabook on a budget. First up is this 'entry-level' Core i5 model for £729 (was £849) . Today's discount makes this one of the cheapest prices we've ever seen for this model, which features an 11th gen Intel Core i5 processor, 8GB of RAM, and a 256GB SSD. It's quite simply a bargain considering you're getting a superbly designed machine with a great screen and enough power to easily breeze through the majority of work or casual applications. Our only complaint? This one has a 256GB SSD, which is on the smaller side these days. That brings us onto our second pick with today's Dell XPS 13 deals - this Core i7 model for £859 (was £999) . The £150 discount is even bigger with this model and you'll be getting a larger 512GB SSD, 8GB of RAM, as well as a very powerful 11th gen Intel Core i7 processor. While a bit overkill for most daily … [Read more...] about Today’s Dell XPS 13 deals offer the lowest prices in the UK since Black Friday

Audio player loading… Microsoft is launching an update for cloud storage service OneDrive that will help users more easily control who has access to their files. As per a new entry in the company’s product roadmap, Microsoft OneDrive users will soon benefit from the ability to specify access permissions before copying a sharing link for a file. “We are updating the copy link command to give customers the ability to change their link type and permissions prior to generating a new link and pasting it into the app of their choice,” explained Microsoft. The feature is currently in the process of rolling out, but should take effect for all OneDrive users by the end of the month. Microsoft OneDrive vs. Google Drive The new OneDrive feature bears a striking resemblance to functionality already available with rival service Google Drive , which has long offered the ability to tweak access permissions before copying a link. Over the years, … [Read more...] about Microsoft OneDrive has pinched one of the best Google Drive features

Audio player loading… Google is reportedly making a new AR headset -- and this tech junkie is having flashbacks. This was me in 2013 , an idiot greeting the world while wearing a monocular AR device that made me look like a 21st Century Mad-Eye Moody . I could blame Google. It was their Google Glass AR headset , after all ... but the fault really lies with me for not recognizing that I looked like a Glasshole . In truth, Google Glass was incredible wearable technology, way ahead of its time. I mean way ahead. So far ahead that no one understood that you can't just have innovation for the sake of innovation. There's an aesthetic aspect. Anything you put on your body must be attractive or at least look like it belongs there. Google Glass failed that litmus test. The technology was proto-augmented reality. The roughly 25-inch overlay screen virtually floating in front of your face didn't so much interact or augment your environment as it did … [Read more...] about A new Google AR headset? Just don’t call it Google Glass 3.0