Latest news with #Apple-approved
Tom's Guide
19 hours ago
- Tom's Guide
I review Apple Watches for a living — and this is my all-time favorite strap
By my count, there are around ten zillion different straps you could attach to your Apple Watch, from cheapo no-name Amazon finds to pricier Apple-approved options. I test smartwatches for a living, and as a result, I try out a lot of watch straps. So, I often get asked about my go-to. Whenever reviewing a smartwatch, I first spend quality time with the standard-issue band that comes in the box. I'm pleased to report that in 2025, most of the best smartwatch models ship with a high-quality, comfortable option. Once the in-box strap has been thoroughly assessed, I tend to swap it out for my go-to. If it's an Apple Watch, that means attaching a Nike Sports Loop strap (in red and blue, to be exact). This ultra-comfy strap isn't at the mercy of an old-fashioned pin-and-buckle adjustment system; velcro lets you modify the tightness to your exact specifications. It's also lightweight, super-stretchy, and sweat-wicking; plus, the pop of color and attractive woven pattern add just the right amount of pizazz to an otherwise boring bit of wrist candy. The Nike Sport Loop for Apple Watch is my all-time favorite smartwatch strap thanks to its ultra-comfortable and highly adjustable design, eye-catching woven design, and sweat-wicking/fast-drying capabilities. But what if you don't want to shell out $50 for a smartwatch strap or don't own an Apple Watch? For the price-conscious watchOS fan, it's worth noting that the Nike Sports Loop goes on sale fairly often. Just be sure to double-check that you're selecting the correct width to match your device. However, for a lot less cash, I also swear by this $10 Amazon dupe. I've been rocking the very one I've linked here on my Apple Watch SE (2022) for the past few years, and it's still going strong. For my non-Apple Watch people, I have not forgotten about you: The same sports loop dupe can be altered to work on just about any smartwatch (or standard wrist watch for that matter), with a little bit of creativity/elbow grease. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. For example, I converted a sport loop dupe to fit on my Garmin Forerunner 165, and I much prefer it to the standard-issue strap. This stretchy, sweat-wicking Apple Watch strap is almost as amazing as the actual Apple Sports Loop but costs one-fifth the price. It also comes in a wider range of fun styles, and can be modified to work on non-Apple smartwatches. Almost like clockwork, anytime an article showing the Forerunner 165 + sport loop dupe appears on the site — like in this comparison with the Forerunner 165 vs. the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 — I get a reader email inquiring about it. Here's what I tell everyone: If you want to use my go-to sport loop dupe on a non-Apple device, you'll need to modify it slightly by removing the two plastic end pieces meant to slide into either end of the Apple Watch case. The process is very easy. One slides right off with a little maneuvering. For the other, you can simply (and carefully) clip it with a pair of wire cutters or cut it with an exacto knife. Just be mindful not to cut the woven strap itself (or your fingers). Once removed, you can slide a standard watch springbar in place of the plastic end pieces and go about attaching your new favorite smartwatch strap to your device. Quality-wise, my go-to sports loop dupe is about 90% as lovely as the legit Nike Sports Loop but a fifth of the price; that's some darn good bang for the buck. And there you have it, the easiest way to give your favorite smartwatch a major makeover for just ten bucks, from somebody who has tried roughly 500 of the ten zillion smartwatch straps out there. What's your go-to smartwatch strap? And are you a fan of Apple's Sport Loop? Let me know in the comments below. Follow Tom's Guide on Google News to get our up-to-date news, how-tos, and reviews in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button.
Yahoo
05-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Apple hits out at pornography app allowed onto EU iPhones
Apple has hit out at a newly launched pornography app available on the iPhone in the EU, warning digital competition rules in Europe could undermine user safety and consumer confidence. Earlier this week, AltStore PAL, an alternative app marketplace now accessible on EU-based iPhones because of European competition laws introduced in 2023, unveiled an adult content browser called Hot Tub. In a social media post, AltStore called Hot Tub 'the world's first Apple-approved porn app'. Apple rejected that description and hit back at AltStore, saying it would never allow such an app on its own App Store, and that it is required by the European Commission under the Digital Markets Act to allow other marketplaces to operate in the EU. Under Apple's rules, apps on alternative app stores still have to go through a certification process called notarisation to ensure they meet 'baseline platform integrity standards', but after that it is the decision of the marketplace itself whether to publish the app in question. In a statement, Apple said: 'We are deeply concerned about the safety risks that hardcore porn apps of this type create for EU users, especially kids. 'This app and others like it will undermine consumer trust and confidence in our ecosystem that we have worked for more than a decade to make the best in the world. 'Contrary to the false statements made by the marketplace developer, we certainly do not approve of this app and would never offer it in our App Store.' Under the Digital Markets Act, tech giants are required to open up their services to more competition, including allowing smartphone users to access content and apps from alternative sources, instead of being limited to the native Apple App Store or Google's Play Store. AltStore hit back at Apple in a further statement of its own, saying it was 'not true' that it had made 'false statements about the approval of Hot Tub'. 'All apps distributed with AltStore PAL must be submitted to Apple for 'notarisation',' it said in a post on its social media channels. 'Unlike macOS, iOS notarisation involves a human-review process where Apple employees manually review apps before they are 'approved' or 'rejected' for distribution (in Apple's own words). 'Unfortunately, Apple has rejected several apps from our store in the past for dubious reasons, so the phrase 'Apple-approved' in our marketing is a reference to the fact that Hot Tub was approved, not rejected, by Apple for notarisation. 'To be perfectly clear, Apple has not endorsed Hot Tub in any way. However, they did approve it.' AltStore is backed by Fortnite maker Epic Games, which has been embroiled in a years-long battle with Apple over app distribution and App Store commission fees for developers. Epic Games chief executive Tim Sweeney also took to social media to comment on the incident, saying 'this isn't how platforms should work'. 'On Windows, Mac, and Linux, developers can make and release apps without the platform maker adding junk fees and rendering moral judgments on their decisions. On iOS, Apple forces its processes on developers against their wishes,' he said in a post on X. 'We've argued to the European Union that Apple should be forced out of developers' way, because when Apple are allowed to be the gatekeeper of competing apps and stores, they grossly misuse that power to disadvantage competition.'
The Independent
05-02-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Apple hits out at pornography app allowed onto EU iPhones
Apple has hit out at a newly launched pornography app available on the iPhone in the EU, warning digital competition rules in Europe could undermine user safety and consumer confidence. Earlier this week, AltStore PAL, an alternative app marketplace now accessible on EU-based iPhones because of European competition laws introduced in 2023, unveiled an adult content browser called Hot Tub. In a social media post, AltStore called Hot Tub 'the world's first Apple-approved porn app'. Apple rejected that description and hit back at AltStore, saying it would never allow such an app on its own App Store, and that it is required by the European Commission under the Digital Markets Act to allow other marketplaces to operate in the EU. Under Apple's rules, apps on alternative app stores still have to go through a certification process called notarisation to ensure they meet 'baseline platform integrity standards', but after that it is the decision of the marketplace itself whether to publish the app in question. This app and others like it will undermine consumer trust and confidence in our ecosystem that we have worked for more than a decade to make the best in the world Apple In a statement, Apple said: 'We are deeply concerned about the safety risks that hardcore porn apps of this type create for EU users, especially kids. 'This app and others like it will undermine consumer trust and confidence in our ecosystem that we have worked for more than a decade to make the best in the world. 'Contrary to the false statements made by the marketplace developer, we certainly do not approve of this app and would never offer it in our App Store.' Under the Digital Markets Act, tech giants are required to open up their services to more competition, including allowing smartphone users to access content and apps from alternative sources, instead of being limited to the native Apple App Store or Google's Play Store. AltStore hit back at Apple in a further statement of its own, saying it was 'not true' that it had made 'false statements about the approval of Hot Tub'. 'All apps distributed with AltStore PAL must be submitted to Apple for 'notarisation',' it said in a post on its social media channels. 'Unlike macOS, iOS notarisation involves a human-review process where Apple employees manually review apps before they are 'approved' or 'rejected' for distribution (in Apple's own words). 'Unfortunately, Apple has rejected several apps from our store in the past for dubious reasons, so the phrase 'Apple-approved' in our marketing is a reference to the fact that Hot Tub was approved, not rejected, by Apple for notarisation. 'To be perfectly clear, Apple has not endorsed Hot Tub in any way. However, they did approve it.' AltStore is backed by Fortnite maker Epic Games, which has been embroiled in a years-long battle with Apple over app distribution and App Store commission fees for developers. Epic Games chief executive Tim Sweeney also took to social media to comment on the incident, saying 'this isn't how platforms should work'. 'On Windows, Mac, and Linux, developers can make and release apps without the platform maker adding junk fees and rendering moral judgments on their decisions. On iOS, Apple forces its processes on developers against their wishes,' he said in a post on X. 'We've argued to the European Union that Apple should be forced out of developers' way, because when Apple are allowed to be the gatekeeper of competing apps and stores, they grossly misuse that power to disadvantage competition.'
