Articles about App Store

Using WhatsApp on an iPad has long meant making a compromise or two. The reason is that there has simply not been a version of WhatsApp designed for Apple's tablet, forcing users to turn to WhatsApp Web in Safari.

After an incredibly long period of development, Meta has finally produced an iPad version of WhatsApp. So how does the iPadOS port of WhatsApp look?

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Using an app store to keep installed apps up to date is something that the likes of Apple’s App Store and Google Play brought to the mainstream, and it eventually moved to the desktop. Until now, the Microsoft Store has been limited in its capabilities, but Microsoft has announced some huge changes.

Perhaps the biggest change is support for updating Win32 apps directly in Microsoft Store, which is something users have been asking for for some time. But there are other changes too, including zero onboarding fees for developers, and an expanded set of Health Report insights.

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Later this year, Apple says, there is big things in store for accessibility. The company has pre-announced a large number of new tools and features that are coming to a number of its devices. One of the more intriguing is a new Magnifier app for macOS.

On the face of things, this is simply a macOS port of the existing iPhone and iPad app, but there is more to it than that. The app can work in conjunction with an iPhone to function as a loupe or magnifying glass. And this is just one of many accessibility options that are scheduled to roll out; there is also Apple’s Accessibility Nutrition Labels for the App Store.

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Apple is expanding its accessibility efforts in a very big way. You see, the company just announced a collection of new accessibility features coming later this year, and they’re designed to improve the experience for handicapped users across iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, and Vision Pro.

One of the most interesting changes is the launch of Accessibility Nutrition Labels on the App Store. These new labels will give users key details about an app’s accessibility features before downloading. That includes VoiceOver support, color contrast, captions, and more.

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The Google logo is iconic -- as, indeed, are its icons. Every so often, though, there is an update, a refresh… normally to great fanfare.

But this time around things are a little different. Google has very quietly rolled out a new icon for its search app and has made no fuss about it at all. All of the familiar design aspects are present, but now there is a rainbow gradient.

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Moving incredibly quickly after a court ruled that Apple was in “willful violation” of an injunction that ordered it to allow out-of-app purchases, Spotify has updated its app with new payment options. Developers have long been frustrated by Apple’s requirement for purchases and subscriptions to be paid for via the App Store, and Spotify is the first to take advantage of the latest ruling.

The music streaming service submitted an app update to Apple which allows users to start a Spotify subscription or change plans within the app, change plans easily, and avoid Apple’s payment system. Apple has accepted the update, so users in the US now have more flexibility.

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Apple has just announced a series of new tools, features and improvements that it says will “help parents protect their kids in a way that is designed around privacy”.

One of the biggest changes is an overhaul of the age rating system that is used in the App Store, with the number of categories expanding to five. But this is far from being the only changes Apple is unleashing.

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Many people have more than one Apple Account, and it can be frustrating to have to bounce from one to another just to manage digital purchases. If only there was a way to consolidate everything into one account...

Well, now there is! Apple has quietly launched a new option to migrate apps, music, and other purchased content from one Apple Account to another. There are, of course, caveats, and it’s not a feature that is available everywhere, but it is an exciting development that will make Android users jealous.

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Apple finds itself starting a new legal battle today, this time in the UK. A class action lawsuit alleges that the iPhone maker has abused its position to overcharge App Store customers.

A second prong of the lawsuit alleges that the 30 percent commission fee Apple charges app developers runs counter to both UK and European competition laws. The UK’s Competition Appeal Tribunal will be looking into the claims and passing judgement.

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Apple's practices with its App Store and the policies relating to it means that the company is in breach of European Union laws. The European Commission says that Apple fails to comply with the Digital Markets Act (DMA).

The iPhone-maker has been criticized following an investigation by the Commission, and the findings say that App Store rules "prevent app developers from freely steering consumers to alternatives channels for offers and content".

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Game emulators have long proved popular, but they are something that Apple as balked at. Until now. In an update to its App Review Guidelines, the company has introduced changes that will be welcomed by fans of retro gaming.

The new rules mean that game emulators are now permitted in the App Store on a global basis and, more than this, developers can give users the ability to download games from within the apps. Things are not as free-and-easy as they are for Android users, with Apple stressing that developers must ensure that copyright is respected.

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The Linux world is sure to be buzzing with excitement, as Zorin OS 17 officially rolls out today, marking a significant upgrade over its predecessors. This release is more than just a cosmetic overhaul; it’s a comprehensive enhancement of the entire system, promising a smoother, faster, and more intuitive user experience.

Zorin OS 17 leaps ahead with noticeable performance boosts, now requiring only 1.5 GB of RAM as opposed to the previous 2 GB. This change not only breathes new life into older hardware but also aligns with environmental sustainability by reducing the need for frequent upgrades. How cool is that?

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Having previously rejected the X app from its App Store for having too short a name, Apple has had a change of heart, changing the rules for the renamed Twitter.

It used to be the case that app names had to be at least two characters in length, and this led to delay in getting the X app listed. But with Apple having relaxed for rules after Musk's latest example of spontaneity, X is the first -- and currently only -- app to be listed with a name comprising a single character.

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Apple has long taken a walled garden approach with so many of its products, but this is perhaps most apparent for iPhone users who are only able to install apps from the official App Store. But with the release of iOS 17, this looks set to change.

The ability to easily sideload apps from other sources is something that Apple customers have desired for years, and while the iPhone-maker seems on the verge of giving people what they want, it is not necessarily the case that the company is doing so willingly.

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New Insider builds of Windows 11 are usually about Microsoft testing out new features of the operating system, but sometimes the company tries something a little different. This is something that is true of the latest Canary release, build 25330, and Dev release, build 23424.

In both of these new releases, there are important changes to the Microsoft Store. The latest version of the app gives Insiders a new way to install free apps and games faster than ever.

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