If you were left wondering what Apple’s “gone for too long” policy towards users who have sideloaded apps and leave the European Union – it’s 30 days. Apple updated its support page to clarify the grace period is exactly 30 days after which users will not be able to download apps from alternative app stores or receive updates to downloaded apps. You can still use third-party apps outside the EU indefinitely but software updates to those apps will be unavailable after the 30-day grace period. In the specific case where a user is outside the EU for 30 days and returns to EU territory,...

If you were left wondering what Apple’s “gone for too long” policy towards users who have sideloaded apps and leave the European Union – it’s 30 days. Apple updated its support page to clarify the grace period is exactly 30 days after which users will not be able to download apps from alternative app stores or receive updates to downloaded apps. You can still use third-party apps outside the EU indefinitely but software updates to those apps will be unavailable after the 30-day grace period. In the specific case where a user is outside the EU for 30 days and returns to EU territory,...

Yesterday Apple released iOS 17.4 (and iPadOS 17.4), the version which adheres to the EU's newly gone into effect Digital Markets Act (DMA), even if Apple's compliance seems to be incredibly begrudging and at times resentment-filled. You can tell from its press releases on the matter, and the theme continues today with a support document that outlines what happens if an EU citizen with access to a third party app store leaves the EU "for too long". You guessed it - no more access to the third party app store for you. In case you were wondering - what "too long" means in this context...

Yesterday Apple released iOS 17.4 (and iPadOS 17.4), the version which adheres to the EU's newly gone into effect Digital Markets Act (DMA), even if Apple's compliance seems to be incredibly begrudging and at times resentment-filled. You can tell from its press releases on the matter, and the theme continues today with a support document that outlines what happens if an EU citizen with access to a third party app store leaves the EU "for too long". You guessed it - no more access to the third party app store for you. In case you were wondering - what "too long" means in this context...

Today Apple is releasing iOS 17.4 and iPadOS 17.4, in order to comply with the EU's Digital Markets Act (DMA), which is imminently going into effect. This is the version that brings support for third party app stores, and many more changes that are mandated by the DMA - but keep in mind that all of the DMA-related stuff will only be available in the EU. Any browser that isn't Apple's Safari can now use whatever rendering engine its developers want, they're not forced to go with Apple's WebKit anymore. Additionally, when you first enter Safari after installing this update, you'll be...

Today Apple is releasing iOS 17.4 and iPadOS 17.4, in order to comply with the EU's Digital Markets Act (DMA), which is imminently going into effect. This is the version that brings support for third party app stores, and many more changes that are mandated by the DMA - but keep in mind that all of the DMA-related stuff will only be available in the EU. Any browser that isn't Apple's Safari can now use whatever rendering engine its developers want, they're not forced to go with Apple's WebKit anymore. Additionally, when you first enter Safari after installing this update, you'll be...

Back in mid-February, Apple announced that iOS 17.4 would remove support for progressive web apps in the EU. The company blamed this on the EU's Digital Markets Act (DMA), which goes into effect next week and is the reason why iOS 17.4 will come with support for alternative app stores. Following a huge amount of online backlash, today Apple has changed its mind and revealed that progressive web apps will still be supported even in iOS 17.4 in the EU. So, like before, you'll be able to add a progressive web app to your home screen and it will launch in its own top-level window, not being...

The European Union will investigate whether TikTok breached online content rules, revealed Reuters. The social media, owned by ByteDance, may have failed to protect children and ensure transparent advertising and might have to pay a fine of up to 6% of its global turnover. According to Thierry Breton, the European Commissioner for Internal Market, the decision was taken after he analyzed the short video app's risk assessment report and its replies to requests for information. Today we open an investigation into #TikTok over suspected breach of transparency & obligations to protect...

When some European users installed the iOS 17.4 beta, they noticed that the progressive web apps no longer function, they thought it was a bug. Turns out, this is a deliberate decision on Apple's part, which the company detailed on its Developer website. Apple will drop support for progressive web apps in the European Union pointing to the Bloc's Digital Markets Act as the reason. So what are progressive web apps - these are websites you can add as a shortcut to your homescreen as an app but with added functionality like the ability to send you notifications, offer notification badges,...

The EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA) entered into force back in August with the goal of more transparent regulations over large companies like Apple and Microsoft and their core platform services. The EU initially considered Apple’s iMessage and Microsoft’s Edge, Bing and Microsoft Advertising as gatekeepers - large digital platforms with over 45 million active users in the EU and €7.5 billion annual revenue but Apple and Microsoft have appealed the EU Commission's preliminary assessments and are now clear of any accusations. The EU’s probe found out that despite meeting the quantitative...