Latest news with #iOSAppStore
Arab Times
25-05-2025
- Business
- Arab Times
These are the apps that can now avoid Apple's in-app payment system
LONDON, May 25, (AP): Apple users are starting to get ways out of the iPhone maker's so-called "walled garden.' For years, the company blocked app developers from informing people about how to pay for a subscription or service that didn't involve going through its own iOS App Store. Some apps didn't like this. It's the reason you weren't able to pay for your Spotify subscription from the app. But all that changed last month, when U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers issued a scathing decision against Apple that promises to shake up the iPhone app payment ecosystem. She ordered Apple to tear down the barriers around its previously exclusive payment system for in-app digital transactions and allow developers to provide links to alternative options. She also ordered Apple to stop preventing app makers from communicating directly with users through their apps to let them know about deals and offers. She told Apple not to impose new commissions on purchases made outside the App Store. Some companies, including Spotify, moved quickly to capitalize on the judge's demand with app updates. Here's a look at how iPhone users - at least those in the United States - can make the most of the changes: Spotify Spotify customers previously had to go to its website to pay for a music streaming subscription. That's because Spotify long ago removed the in-app payment option in protest against Apple's practice of requiring that digital subscriptions be bought only through iOS apps while taking a commission of up to 30%. Following a U.S. app update, Spotify said users "can finally see how much something costs in our app, including pricing details on subscriptions and information about promotions that will save money.' If you're a Spotify listener, you can now scroll through various subscription plans on the app to see their prices. Free users who want to upgrade to a premium subscription can sign up by tapping a button directly in the app. Existing premium users can easily switch to a different subscription level, also by simply tapping a button. And in another update, the company said users can also view individual audiobook prices and buy them within the Spotify app. Premium subscribers will also be able to buy "top up' hours for audiobook listening if they've maxed out their 15 free listening hours each month. Epic Games Gamers can rejoice. Five years after Apple ousted Fortnite for trying to introduce a direct payment plan to bypass the App Store, the popular game is back on iOS. The comeback appeared in jeopardy after Apple initially refused to approve Fortnite's bid before Apple relented this week, clearing the app for U.S. users. It's also back in the European Union, where alternative app marketplaces have been mandated since last year. Fortnite maker Epic Games had previewed the updated app's new payment buttons to let players buy V-bucks currency to spend on character "cosmetics' like outfits, wraps for weapons or dance movements known as "emotes.' One button leads to Apple's in-app purchasing system while the other is for Epic's own payment system, which can earn players up to 20% extra V-bucks for their accounts. Kindle Amazon has updated its Kindle app to add a button so that users can more easily buy books directly from their iPhones. Previously, users could only look up books and download a sample on the app, but did not have an option to buy directly. They had to open up their web browser and log in to their Amazon accounts to make the purchase, or else buy it from a Kindle reader. Now, U.S.-based readers can tap the new 'Get Book' button in the Kindle iOS app, which the ecommerce giant says will take them directly to their mobile web browser to complete the purchase. "We regularly make improvements to our apps to help ensure we are providing customers the most convenient experience possible," Amazon said in a statement. Patreon If you support online creators by paying for their podcasts, videos, music or other content on Patreon, you've now got the option to bypass Apple when buying subscriptions. The subscription platform updated its iOS app so that fans in the U.S. purchasing memberships have the option to skip Apple's checkout option that includes a 30% fee and instead use Patreon's own checkout option. The update app lets fans pay directly from the Patreon app by tapping the Join button. You can use credit cards, PayPal, Venmo or even the Apple Pay mobile wallet. There's still the option to stick with Apple's in-app purchasing system - displayed less prominently underneath the Join button - which will include Apple's fees, according to screenshots posted on Patreon's website. Patreon said the update doesn't apply to fans in other countries. However, it does mean creators based outside of the U.S. whose fans are in the country will be able to access the new payment option. The platform said that based on Apple's feedback, eventually it will move its alternative checkout method to an external browser so it can continue to avoid adding the extra fees.
The Star
23-05-2025
- Business
- The Star
One Tech Tip: These are the apps that can now avoid Apple's in-app payment system
For years, the company blocked app developers from informing people about how to pay for a subscription or service that didn't involve going through its own iOS App Store. But all that changed last month. — AP LONDON: Apple users are starting to get ways out of the iPhone maker's so-called "walled garden'. For years, the company blocked app developers from informing people about how to pay for a subscription or service that didn't involve going through its own iOS App Store. Some apps didn't like this. It's the reason you weren't able to pay for your Spotify subscription from the app. But all that changed last month, when US District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers issued a scathing decision against Apple that promises to shake up the iPhone app payment ecosystem. She ordered Apple to tear down the barriers around its previously exclusive payment system for in-app digital transactions and allow developers to provide links to alternative options. She also ordered Apple to stop preventing app makers from communicating directly with users through their apps to let them know about deals and offers. She told Apple not to impose new commissions on purchases made outside the App Store. Some companies, including Spotify, moved quickly to capitalise on the judge's demand with app updates. Here's a look at how iPhone users – at least those in the United States – can make the most of the changes: Spotify Spotify customers previously had to go to its website to pay for a music streaming subscription. That's because Spotify long ago removed the in-app payment option in protest against Apple's practice of requiring that digital subscriptions be bought only through iOS apps while taking a commission of up to 30%. Following a US app update, Spotify said users "can finally see how much something costs in our app, including pricing details on subscriptions and information about promotions that will save money.' If you're a Spotify listener, you can now scroll through various subscription plans on the app to see their prices. Free users who want to upgrade to a premium subscription can sign up by tapping a button directly in the app. Existing premium users can easily switch to a different subscription level, also by simply tapping a button. And in another update, the company said users can also view individual audiobook prices and buy them within the Spotify app. Premium subscribers will also be able to buy "top up' hours for audiobook listening if they've maxed out their 15 free listening hours each month. Epic Games Gamers can rejoice. Five years after Apple ousted Fortnite for trying to introduce a direct payment plan to bypass the App Store, the popular game is back on iOS. The comeback appeared in jeopardy after Apple initially refused to approve Fortnite's bid before Apple relented this week, clearing the app for US users. It's also back in the European Union, where alternative app marketplaces have been mandated since last year. Fortnite maker Epic Games had previewed the updated app's new payment buttons to let players buy V-bucks currency to spend on character "cosmetics' like outfits, wraps for weapons or dance movements known as "emotes.' One button leads to Apple's in-app purchasing system while the other is for Epic's own payment system, which can earn players up to 20% extra V-bucks for their accounts. Kindle Amazon has updated its Kindle app to add a button so that users can more easily buy books directly from their iPhones. Previously, users could only look up books and download a sample on the app, but did not have an option to buy directly. They had to open up their web browser and log in to their Amazon accounts to make the purchase, or else buy it from a Kindle reader. Now, US-based readers can tap the new 'Get Book' button in the Kindle iOS app, which the ecommerce giant says will take them directly to their mobile web browser to complete the purchase. "We regularly make improvements to our apps to help ensure we are providing customers the most convenient experience possible," Amazon said in a statement. Patreon If you support online creators by paying for their podcasts, videos, music or other content on Patreon, you've now got the option to bypass Apple when buying subscriptions. The subscription platform updated its iOS app so that fans in the U.S. purchasing memberships have the option to skip Apple's checkout option that includes a 30% fee and instead use Patreon's own checkout option. The update app lets fans pay directly from the Patreon app by tapping the Join button. You can use credit cards, PayPal, Venmo or even the Apple Pay mobile wallet. There's still the option to stick with Apple's in-app purchasing system – displayed less prominently underneath the Join button – which will include Apple's fees, according to screenshots posted on Patreon's website. Patreon said the update doesn't apply to fans in other countries. However, it does mean creators based outside of the U.S. whose fans are in the country will be able to access the new payment option. The platform said that based on Apple's feedback, eventually it will move its alternative checkout method to an external browser so it can continue to avoid adding the extra fees. – AP
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Judge Orders Fortnite Back On iOS After Apple Exec Rages That "It's Our F****ING STORE"
A five-year court battle between tech titans Apple and Epic Games may finally be coming to a close. After months of explosive back-and-forth that went as high as the Supreme Court, Apple has reinstated Epic Games' landmark game, Fortnite, back onto its App Store. Fortnite — a free-to-play game which makes money from gamers spending cash on flashy cosmetics — began prompting users to bypass Apple's iOS payment system and pay Epic directly back in August, 2020. The move helped Epic get around Apple's 30 percent fee, a flat tax it charged all developers for selling on the App Store. Apple didn't like that, as Fortnite had over 116 million downloads through the App Store at the time. Apple argued Epic's payment portal violated the App Store's terms of service, and took the massively popular game off its platform. In response, Epic filed suit against Apple on antitrust grounds, launching an admittedly corny "Free Fortnite" campaign, which nonetheless posed a serious question: does Apple have the right to restrict developers' access to the billions of devices that exclusively use the iOS App Store? It's a question that took years to answer, and more twists and turns than a viral Fortnite dance. Apple countersued Epic, seeking damages from Epic's terms of service violation. In September 2021, Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers issued a split decision, ruling with Apple on nine of ten counts, but awarding Epic a crucial injunction ordering Apple to allow apps to link to external payment platforms. Notably, Gonzalez Rogers found that Apple wasn't a monopoly, but rather a duopoly alongside Google, which was engaged in a similar legal battle with Epic over the Google Play store. She likewise ordered Epic to pay Apple $3.6 million in damages. Unhappy with the decision, both companies appealed, eventually escalating the issue to the Supreme Court, which declined to hear either appeal. Forced to allow developers to bypass Apple Pay, the company begrudgingly complied, but with on caveat. Apple now required developers to fork over 27 percent of the revenue made this way within 7 days of each transaction — a tactic known as malicious compliance. That, of course, spawned another series of lawsuits in March 2024, as Epic vowed to continue the fight and prove that Apple was acting in bad faith. Though Apple put on a cooperative face as the next phase kicked off, it would later emerge that the company's execs withheld documents, delayed proceedings, misled the court, and lied under oath. On the final day of that trial, Epic introduced a series of messages between senior PR executives at Apple, showing the tech giant's frustration at having to follow the law. "How is this still going," wrote Apple corporate communications worker Hannah Smith during an earlier day of trial. "I have no idea. I am stunned," replied Marni Goldberg, Apple's director of public affairs, and former press secretary for Senator Joe Manchin. "It's our F****ING STORE," she roared in a message minutes later. "This is very much pissing me off." Now knowing exactly who she was dealing with, Judge Gonzalez Rogers issued her scathing ruling on April 30, 2025, finding Apple "in willful violation" of the court's earlier decisions. "In stark contrast to Apple's initial in-court testimony... documents reveal that Apple knew exactly what it was doing and at every turn chose the most anticompetitive option," Gonzalez Rogers wrote. "To hide the truth, Vice-President of Finance, Alex Roman, outright lied under oath," the judge found. Though Roman testified that Apple decided on the 27 percent fee in January 2024 — a split-second decision made after the Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal — other records prove the tech giant was plotting it as early as July 2023. The ruling found that the decision to ignore the injunction went as high as Apple CEO Tim Cook, who ignored advice to follow the court's decision, and instead went with his "finance team," which convinced him to go through with the 27 percent fee. As Gonzalez Rogers wrote: "Cook chose poorly." Somehow, that wasn't enough hot water. After the April 30 decision, Apple began quickly approving updates to apps linking to third-party payment platforms, according to antitrust journalist Matt Stoller. However, there was one exception: Epic's Fortnite, which Apple had "determined not to take action on the Fortnite app submission" until after all lingering legal appeals were done. Presumably at her wit's end, Gonzalez Rogers issued a brutal one-page order, demanding Apple either make amends with Epic, or else sacrifice an Apple executive to the full wrath of the law. "Obviously, Apple is fully capable of resolving this issue without further briefing or a hearing," the judge raged. "However, if the parties do not file a joint notice that this issue is resolved, and this Court's intervention is required, the Apple official who is personally responsible for ensuring compliance shall personally appear at the hearing." Within a day of that final order, Apple folded, and has officially allowed Fortnite back on the app store (it's now estimated that the five year legal battle cost Apple $1 billion in lost revenue and legal fees.) Though the appeals battle still rages with Google, this one's a major win for software developers, publishers, and phone gamers everywhere. More on Apple: Tim Cook Has a Strange Obsession
Hamilton Spectator
22-05-2025
- Business
- Hamilton Spectator
One Tech Tip: These are the apps that can now avoid Apple's in-app payment system
LONDON (AP) — Apple users are starting to get ways out of the iPhone maker's so-called 'walled garden.' For years, the company blocked app developers from informing people about how to pay for a subscription or service that didn't involve going through its own iOS App Store. Some apps didn't like this. It's the reason you weren't able to pay for your Spotify subscription from the app. But all that changed last month, when U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers issued a scathing decision against Apple that promises to shake up the iPhone app payment ecosystem. She ordered Apple to tear down the barriers around its previously exclusive payment system for in-app digital transactions and allow developers to provide links to alternative options. She also ordered Apple to stop preventing app makers from communicating directly with users through their apps to let them know about deals and offers. She told Apple not to impose new commissions on purchases made outside the App Store. Some companies, including Spotify, moved quickly to capitalize on the judge's demand with app updates. Here's a look at how iPhone users — at least those in the United States — can make the most of the changes: Spotify Spotify customers previously had to go to its website to pay for a music streaming subscription. That's because Spotify long ago removed the in-app payment option in protest against Apple's practice of requiring that digital subscriptions be bought only through iOS apps while taking a commission of up to 30%. Following a U.S. app update, Spotify said users 'can finally see how much something costs in our app, including pricing details on subscriptions and information about promotions that will save money.' If you're a Spotify listener, you can now scroll through various subscription plans on the app to see their prices. Free users who want to upgrade to a premium subscription can sign up by tapping a button directly in the app. Existing premium users can easily switch to a different subscription level, also by simply tapping a button. And in another update, the company said users can also view individual audiobook prices and buy them within the Spotify app. Premium subscribers will also be able to buy 'top up' hours for audiobook listening if they've maxed out their 15 free listening hours each month. Epic Games Gamers can rejoice. Five years after Apple ousted Fortnite for trying to introduce a direct payment plan to bypass the App Store, the popular game is back on iOS. The comeback appeared in jeopardy after Apple initially refused to approve Fortnite's bid before Apple relented this week , clearing the app for U.S. users. It's also back in the European Union, where alternative app marketplaces have been mandated since last year. Fortnite maker Epic Games had previewed the updated app's new payment buttons to let players buy V-bucks currency to spend on character 'cosmetics' like outfits, wraps for weapons or dance movements known as 'emotes.' One button leads to Apple's in-app purchasing system while the other is for Epic's own payment system, which can earn players up to 20% extra V-bucks for their accounts. Kindle Amazon has updated its Kindle app to add a button so that users can more easily buy books directly from their iPhones. Previously, users could only look up books and download a sample on the app, but did not have an option to buy directly. They had to open up their web browser and log in to their Amazon accounts to make the purchase, or else buy it from a Kindle reader. Now, U.S.-based readers can tap the new 'Get Book' button in the Kindle iOS app, which the ecommerce giant says will take them directly to their mobile web browser to complete the purchase. 'We regularly make improvements to our apps to help ensure we are providing customers the most convenient experience possible,' Amazon said in a statement. Patreon If you support online creators by paying for their podcasts, videos, music or other content on Patreon, you've now got the option to bypass Apple when buying subscriptions. The subscription platform updated its iOS app so that fans in the U.S. purchasing memberships have the option to skip Apple's checkout option that includes a 30% fee and instead use Patreon's own checkout option. The update app lets fans pay directly from the Patreon app by tapping the Join button. You can use credit cards, PayPal, Venmo or even the Apple Pay mobile wallet. There's still the option to stick with Apple's in-app purchasing system — displayed less prominently underneath the Join button — which will include Apple's fees, according to screenshots posted on Patreon's website. Patreon said the update doesn't apply to fans in other countries. However, it does mean creators based outside of the U.S. whose fans are in the country will be able to access the new payment option. The platform said that based on Apple's feedback, eventually it will move its alternative checkout method to an external browser so it can continue to avoid adding the extra fees. ___ Is there a tech topic that you think needs explaining? Write to us at onetechtip@ with your suggestions for future editions of One Tech Tip.
San Francisco Chronicle
22-05-2025
- Business
- San Francisco Chronicle
One Tech Tip: These are the apps that can now avoid Apple's in-app payment system
LONDON (AP) — Apple users are starting to get ways out of the iPhone maker's so-called 'walled garden.' For years, the company blocked app developers from informing people about how to pay for a subscription or service that didn't involve going through its own iOS App Store. Some apps didn't like this. It's the reason you weren't able to pay for your Spotify subscription from the app. But all that changed last month, when U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers issued a scathing decision against Apple that promises to shake up the iPhone app payment ecosystem. She ordered Apple to tear down the barriers around its previously exclusive payment system for in-app digital transactions and allow developers to provide links to alternative options. She also ordered Apple to stop preventing app makers from communicating directly with users through their apps to let them know about deals and offers. She told Apple not to impose new commissions on purchases made outside the App Store. Some companies, including Spotify, moved quickly to capitalize on the judge's demand with app updates. Here's a look at how iPhone users — at least those in the United States — can make the most of the changes: Spotify Spotify customers previously had to go to its website to pay for a music streaming subscription. That's because Spotify long ago removed the in-app payment option in protest against Apple's practice of requiring that digital subscriptions be bought only through iOS apps while taking a commission of up to 30%. Following a U.S. app update, Spotify said users 'can finally see how much something costs in our app, including pricing details on subscriptions and information about promotions that will save money.' If you're a Spotify listener, you can now scroll through various subscription plans on the app to see their prices. Free users who want to upgrade to a premium subscription can sign up by tapping a button directly in the app. Existing premium users can easily switch to a different subscription level, also by simply tapping a button. And in another update, the company said users can also view individual audiobook prices and buy them within the Spotify app. Premium subscribers will also be able to buy 'top up' hours for audiobook listening if they've maxed out their 15 free listening hours each month. Epic Games Gamers can rejoice. Five years after Apple ousted Fortnite for trying to introduce a direct payment plan to bypass the App Store, the popular game is back on iOS. The comeback appeared in jeopardy after Apple initially refused to approve Fortnite's bid before Apple relented this week, clearing the app for U.S. users. It's also back in the European Union, where alternative app marketplaces have been mandated since last year. Fortnite maker Epic Games had previewed the updated app's new payment buttons to let players buy V-bucks currency to spend on character 'cosmetics' like outfits, wraps for weapons or dance movements known as 'emotes.' One button leads to Apple's in-app purchasing system while the other is for Epic's own payment system, which can earn players up to 20% extra V-bucks for their accounts. Kindle Amazon has updated its Kindle app to add a button so that users can more easily buy books directly from their iPhones. Previously, users could only look up books and download a sample on the app, but did not have an option to buy directly. They had to open up their web browser and log in to their Amazon accounts to make the purchase, or else buy it from a Kindle reader. Now, U.S.-based readers can tap the new 'Get Book' button in the Kindle iOS app, which the ecommerce giant says will take them directly to their mobile web browser to complete the purchase. 'We regularly make improvements to our apps to help ensure we are providing customers the most convenient experience possible," Amazon said in a statement. Patreon If you support online creators by paying for their podcasts, videos, music or other content on Patreon, you've now got the option to bypass Apple when buying subscriptions. The subscription platform updated its iOS app so that fans in the U.S. purchasing memberships have the option to skip Apple's checkout option that includes a 30% fee and instead use Patreon's own checkout option. The update app lets fans pay directly from the Patreon app by tapping the Join button. You can use credit cards, PayPal, Venmo or even the Apple Pay mobile wallet. There's still the option to stick with Apple's in-app purchasing system — displayed less prominently underneath the Join button — which will include Apple's fees, according to screenshots posted on Patreon's website. Patreon said the update doesn't apply to fans in other countries. However, it does mean creators based outside of the U.S. whose fans are in the country will be able to access the new payment option. The platform said that based on Apple's feedback, eventually it will move its alternative checkout method to an external browser so it can continue to avoid adding the extra fees.
