Month: August 2022

Following a months-long saga, the competition regulator in the Netherlands has finally accepted concessions by Apple to allow dating apps in the App Store to use alternative payment methods (via Reuters).

On Friday, the Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) released an update stating that "Apple now complies with the rules" regarding dating apps’ ability to let their customers pay in different ways other than Apple’s own payment method. The statement continued:

"That is why ACM no longer needs to impose a new order subject to periodic penalty payments. Over the past few months, ACM had collected information from dating-app providers and independent experts before its assessment that Apple complied with the order."

In December 2021, the ACM announced that Apple must let dating apps accept alternative payment methods on the ‌App Store‌ in the Netherlands. Apple complied with the demand, but it initially required Dutch dating apps to submit a separate app binary to accept alternative payments.

The ACM had remained unsatisfied with the changes, and the regulator fined Apple a total of €50 million between January and March for failing to comply with the order.

Apple dropped its requirement that dating apps compile a separate binary, which the regulator had deemed "unreasonable" and an "unnecessary barrier" for developers of dating apps. Apple also announced further changes to its policies on Friday, but said it does not believe these updates are "in the best interest" of user privacy or data security, and it is continuing to appeal the original ACM order.

"Until recently, customers of dating apps had only been able to pay using the payment method that Apple imposed," the ACM wrote in its latest update. "In ACM’s opinion, Apple abused its dominant position with those practices. From now on, dating-app providers are able to let their customers pay in different ways."

This article, "Dutch Regulator Now Happy With Apple’s Rules Surrounding Dating Apps" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Despite reports that Apple is working on a new form factor iPad Pro for release in early 2023, Apple still intends to update its existing 11-inch and 12.9-inch iPad Pro models later this year, based on comments by well-connected Bloomberg journalist Mark Gurman.

Last week, Display Supply Chain Consultants (DSCC) analyst Ross Young claimed Apple is developing a new form factor 14.1-inch iPad Pro with mini-LED display and ProMotion that will likely debut early next year. Young’s claim about a 14.1-inch iPad Pro was corroborated by "Majin Bu," but the hit-and-miss Twitter leaker also suggested new ‌iPad Pro‌s could be unveiled at an Apple event later this year, which left it unclear which models the leaker expected to debut.

Gurman’s latest comments add some clarity to Apple’s plans for its iPad Pro lineup and the launch timings of its upcoming devices. In the Q&A section of his latest Power On newsletter, Gurman said he expects Apple to update its existing iPad Pros in September or October, with "M2 chips, wireless charging, and upgrades to the camera system."

Last year, Gurman revealed that Apple was exploring iPads with larger displays, but cautioned that they were unlikely to arrive before 2023 because Apple’s attention was still on bringing to market a redesigned iPad Pro "in the current sizes" for 2022.

In addition to the aforementioned upgrades, Majin Bu has claimed that Apple’s updated 12.9-inch model will also feature reduced bezels around the display, but this isn’t something we’ve heard corroborated from other sources. For all the details on what to expect for Apple’s 2022 iPad Pro, be sure to check out our dedicated roundup.

This article, "Gurman: New iPad Pro Models With M2 Chip and Wireless Charging to Debut in September or October" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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The recent announcement of watchOS 9 had given us clues as to where Apple may be headed in development with the Apple Watch Series 8. Like usual, this version will replace the previous Series 7 at the 2022 September Event, alongside the new iPhones and other. Last year’s Series 7 served as a huge screen […]

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