Apple Might Allow Other App Stores On iPhone And iPads In Europe

According to Bloomberg, Apple intends to allow app stores other than the Apple App Store on iPhones and iPads. This would be done in order to comply with imminent European regulations requiring the corporation to support "sideloading."

The act of moving files between two local devices, namely a personal computer and a mobile device such as an iPhone or iPad, is referred to as sideloading. In the context of iOS apps, "sideloading" refers to installing a software in IPA format onto an Apple device via a jailbreak technique or a signing service rather than through Apple's App Store.

The Digital Markets Act would, among other things, oblige companies like Apple to provide alternatives to its App Store and payment methods. Cedric O., the European Union's French Minister of State with responsibility for Digital, stated in a March 25 news release:

The European Union has had to impose record fines over the past 10 years for certain harmful business practices by very large digital players. The DMA will directly ban these practices and create a fairer and more competitive economic space for new players and European businesses. These rules are key to stimulating and unlocking digital markets, enhancing consumer choice, enabling better value sharing in the digital economy and boosting innovation. The European Union is the first to take such decisive action in this regard and I hope that others will join us soon.

Apple Releases List For Most Popular Apps, Music, Movies And More In 2017

Apple has released its charts and trends, celebrating the most popular apps, music, movies, TV shows, books and podcasts across the App Store, Apple Music, iTunes, iBooks and Apple Podcasts for 2017. Editors and curators from Apple Music, App Store and iTunes highlight great content from indie artists and developers from around the globe. You can find the complete list here.

The Apple App Store Join’s In On The Confederate Flag Boycott

Apple has joined the boycott of the Confederate flag that large retailers like Amazon, eBay, Sears, Target, and Walmart are apart of. Apple is removing any content featuring the Confederate flag from the App Store. Titles like Ultimate General: Gettysburg and the entire Hunted Cow series have disappeared. Apple is telling developers that the apps are being removed because “it includes images of the confederate flag used in offensive and mean-spirited ways”. The Charleston, South Carolina massacre on June 17 has caused an outcry against the use of the Confederate flag, which was still flying above the state’s capitol building. Retailers like Wal-Mart acted swiftly in pulling all Confederate flag merchandise from its stores. This is a smart move on Apple’s part, but it does mean there is a void of historical games from the Civil War period. Hopefully those apps can remain on the App Store if they change a few things. What do you think about this outcry ? 

The Canadian App Store Apps Get A Price Increase

Looks like the days of $0.99 in the Canadian App Store have come to an end, thanks to the falling value of the Canadian loonie. Apps that were previously $0.99 are now $1.19, which is a 20% increase. Most other apps have only seen a 15% increase according to reports. The increase is a move on Apple's part to ensure that revenue generated in each of the international App Stores is on par with the other stores.

Call Of Duty : Heroes Coming Soon To All iOS Devices

Activision is making a casual, social real-time strategy game similar to Clash of Clans but using their popular Call of Duty franchise, and as they said they would they've soft-launched the game in the New Zealand and Australian App Stores. The game is called Call of Duty: Heroes, and based on the screenshots in the App Store. From the screenshot below we have a pretty good idea what it's like as it even looks like it plays similar to Clash Of Clans.