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U.S. ITC scrutinizes redesigned Apple Watch blood oxygen feature
In August 2025, Apple reintroduced a redesigned version of the Blood Oxygen monitoring feature on the Apple Watch in the U.S., shifting data processing from the device to users’ iPhones to circumvent an ongoing patent dispute with health tech firm Masimo. This move came 18 months after Apple began selling certain Apple Watch models without the feature, following a U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) ruling that found the original implementation infringed Masimo’s pulse oximetry patents.
The ITC has now launched a new investigation to determine whether Apple’s workaround violates the same patents, potentially leading to another import ban on affected models.
In new filings today, the ITC said it “has determined to institute a combined modification and enforcement proceeding” to determine whether the redesigned Apple Watch blood oxygen feature is permitted under the initial ITC import ban. The decision was made following a complaint from Masimo.
According to the ITC, conditions have changed because Apple is now selling a redesigned watch that wasn’t part of the original investigation. This, in turn, justifies the revisiting and will be the “sole issue to be resolved” in the proceeding.
The review includes the question of whether Apple causes infringement by selling an Apple Watch that, once paired with an iPhone, performs the disputed features.
MacDailyNews Take: The ITC says it expects to make a decision within six months. You know, thanks to government expeditiousness.
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Apple’s iPhone Pocket rapidly sells out
ISSEY MIYAKE’s and Apple’s iPhone Pocket is inspired by the concept of “a piece of cloth,” its singular 3D-knitted construction is designed to fit any iPhone as well as all pocketable items. It went on sale today, Friday, November 14th and quickly sold out across America, in both short and long sizes, and all in all colors.
William Gallagher for AppleInsider:
There was no denying that an iPhone in this Pocket looked snuggly. There was definitely no denying that the accessory was well designed.
There’s also no question that it was about as goofy as the iPod Sock from back the in the day.
But there was every denying of the price. The iPhone Pocket came in a short version for $150, and a longer one for $230…
As ever, though, if you liked it, if you had a use for it, and if you had the budget, there was no reason left not to buy.
MacDailyNews Take: Hope you moved fast, iPhone Pocket lovers! Apple and Issey had better get back to knitting!
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Mini App Partner Program launch is a ‘clear positive’ for Apple
Analysts at Morgan Stanley view Apple’s new Mini App Partner Program as a significant move to broaden App Store revenue streams and mitigate threats from rising AI platforms.
According to Morgan Stanley analyst Erik Woodring, the program—imposing a 15% commission on web-based mini apps embedded in native iOS apps—represents “a clear positive for Apple.”
Sam Boughedda for Investing:
The analyst added that the change “could add $800M of App Store revs annually from WeChat/Weixin alone, implying 80bps upside to our FY26 Services growth ests and supporting valuation multiple expansion.”
Woodring explained that the move allows Apple to monetize an area that “previously stood outside Apple’s App Store commission structure,” which should create “incremental revenue generation opportunities for the App Store at a time the sustainability of growth is being called into question.”
Analysts also highlighted the defensive benefits of the program. “This move should be viewed as a clear risk mitigation tool against emerging AI ‘super-apps’ such as ChatGPT,” the note said, adding that the reduced rate marks “a meaningful improvement from the prior 0% take rate on mini apps.”
Woodring stated that the launch is “a compelling offensive and defensive strategy aimed at better monetizing the App Store and protecting businesses from the rise of AI native LLM apps.”
MacDailyNews Take: As we wrote yesterday, it’s great news for Apple and AAPL shareholders: “Mo’ money, mo’ money, mo’ money!”
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Apple’s China iPhone sales jumped 22% in the month after iPhone 17 launch
Apple’s iPhone sales in China surged 22% year-over-year in the first month following the iPhone 17 series launch, despite a softening overall market, according to a private survey released on Friday.
The new lineup dominated Apple’s smartphone sales in China during the period starting September 19, with the 17 series comprising nearly 80% of units sold to consumers, per data from research firm Counterpoint.
Reuters:
Sales of iPhones in China were down 5% during the first month after the iPhone 16 line launched in September 2024.
The iPhone 17 launch drew hundreds of people to Apple’s Beijing flagship on release day - a sign of continued enthusiasm for the brand, despite intensifying competition from Xiaomi and Huawei.
China’s smartphone market remained weak amid subdued consumer demand, with third‑quarter sales down 2.7% year on year, Counterpoint said.
MacDailyNews Take: Sounds like iPhone knockoff peddlers Xiaomi and Huawei are going to have to further “intensify” their so-called “competition.”
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Apple launches ‘Mini Apps Partner Program’ to tap ‘super app’ boom with slashed 15% fees
Apple on Thursday launched the Mini Apps Partner Program, enabling the company to take a 15% cut — half its standard 30% commission — on in-app purchases made inside mini apps and games hosted within larger “super apps,” as it moves to capture revenue from the fast-growing mini-app ecosystem.
Chris Welch for Bloomberg News:
Tencent Holdings Ltd., the owner of WeChat, is the most successful developer in the mini app space, and the China-based company has already signed on to the new initiative, Bloomberg News reported earlier on Thursday.
The new program should help lock those software creators into Apple’s preferred approach and guarantees the company more revenue. Launching a program that’s open to all developers helps avoid the idea that Apple is creating special rules for influential companies like Tencent, which has over a billion WeChat users.
Beyond WeChat, super apps have grown popular in Japan with the Line social network. In Russia, the Max platform allows users to handle communications and finances.
To qualify for the new program, a mini app or game must be released by a party “that’s not directly or indirectly controlled” by the developer of the dominant app. Developers must also rely on several frameworks, including one that asks for a user’s age range to ensure age-appropriate content.
MacDailyNews Take: Apple’s Mini Apps Partner Program is an excellent solution for the “super app” ecosystems.
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With MLS games now available to all Apple TV subscribers, revenue-share plans may be altered
In 2022, when Apple and Major League Soccer announced their 10-year global streaming partnership, the deal included two main financial elements: a guaranteed $250 million annual payment from Apple to MLS, plus the potential for MLS to earn a share of upside revenue if the MLS Season Pass subscription exceeded specific performance thresholds.
However, beginning with the 2026 season, the standalone MLS Season Pass subscription will go away, and all MLS games will instead be streamed directly to all Apple TV streaming service subscribers.
MLS action will now be more accessible to Apple TV’s existing audience, as well as those who might enter through larger bundles or offers tied to new devices. Apple SVP of services Eddy Cue recently said the company has “significantly more than” 40 or 45 million worldwide Apple TV subscribers, though specific numbers have not been shared.
MLS games will join Friday night MLB games and every F1 race on a streaming service increasingly designed to appeal to sports fans. Portland Timbers owner Merritt Paulson told Sports Business Journal that the latest move, which was formally approved at a league meeting in Florida Thursday, would likely “double our viewership.”
But it could also limit teams’ financial upside. Tracking MLS-connected revenue becomes more complicated without a standalone service, though Apple’s guarantee could theoretically be altered to account for the change—or other measures like view time could be used to trigger additional payment. Stevenson declined to comment on MLS and Apple’s financial agreements.
One change to the agreement will ensure that full-season ticket holders get a free Apple TV subscription next year, after previously receiving free MLS Season Pass access.
MacDailyNews Take: With Lionel Messi now signed to Inter Miami through the end of the 2028 MLS season, the iron is primed for striking!
MacDailyNews Note: Apple TV is available on the Apple TV app in over 100 countries and regions, on over 1 billion screens, including iPhone, iPad, Apple TV 4K, Apple Vision Pro, Mac, popular smart TVs from Samsung, LG, Sony, VIZIO, TCL and others, Roku and Amazon Fire TV devices, Chromecast with Google TV, PlayStation and Xbox gaming consoles, and at tv.apple.com, for $12.99 per month with a seven-day free trial for new subscribers. For a limited time, customers who purchase and activate a new iPhone, iPad, Apple TV or Mac can enjoy three months of Apple TV for free. Apple TV is included in Apple One, which bundles up to five other Apple services into a single monthly subscription. Apple One plans start at $19.95 per month. The Apple Music Student Plan comes with a free subscription to Apple TV.
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Jason Momoa set to star in Apple TV’s outlaw biker series ‘Nomad’
Apple TV is developing a drama series titled “Nomad,” with Jason Momoa in talks to star. The project is co-created by “Sons of Anarchy” creator Kurt Sutter, and Chris Collins.
Mike Fleming Jr for Deadline:
In the violent underworld of New Zealand’s outlaw bikers, a warrior torn between two lives, two callings and two families must decide which path defines his true destiny.
They are writing the pilot, and the showrunner will be Collins, whose credits include John Wick Chapter 3, Sons of Anarchy, The Man in the High Castle, and The Wire. The EPs will be Sutter through SutterInk, Collins through Generator Entertainment and Momoa and Brian Mendoza through their On the Roam banner.
Momoa is coming off a Polynesian-flavored series in the Hawaii-set Chief of War for Apple TV and Chernin Entertainment, and the biker docuseries On the Roam for Discovery.
MacDailyNews Take: Oodles of potential in this one!
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U.S. judge rules Apple and OpenAI must face Elon Musk’s xAI’s lawsuit
A federal judge in Texas on Thursday rejected attempts by Apple and OpenAI (the company behind ChatGPT) to dismiss a lawsuit filed by Elon Musk’s X Corp, which accuses the two companies of illegally conspiring to monopolize the smartphone and generative-AI chatbot markets.
In a ruling that represents an early win for Musk, U.S. District Judge Mark Pittman in Fort Worth allowed the case — brought by X (the social media platform) and Musk’s AI startup xAI — to proceed for the time being, keeping alive the billionaire’s legal challenge against rivals in the race for AI supremacy.
xAi’s Grok tops SpeechMap.AI’s AI model results.
Reuters:
Pittman said in his brief order that his ruling should not be seen as a judgment on the merits of X’s allegations, and that he will look at disputes over fact at a later stage in the case.
Musk’s companies claimed in the lawsuit filed in August that Apple has violated antitrust law by exclusively integrating ChatGPT into Apple Intelligence features on iPhones and other Apple devices. The lawsuit alleged Apple had illegally shut out rivals in its partnership with OpenAI.
X and xAI also alleged Apple reinforced the exclusivity by featuring ChatGPT on its “Must-Have Apps” list while sidelining rivals in the App Store.
Apple, in seeking dismissal of the lawsuit, said its OpenAI deal is not exclusive and that the complaint fails to allege any agreement barring Apple from working with other chatbots.
“Choosing one partner first is not unlawful,” Apple told the court.
Apple denied any anticompetitive conduct, telling the court that other chatbots remain available through browsers and apps, and X and Grok rank high in App Store charts.
MacDailyNews Take: Regardless of the lawsuit, in our experience, Grok is the best AI Chatbot. If you haven’t already, give Grok a try via grok.com.
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It’s official: Major League Soccer is coming to Apple TV subscribers at no additional cost in 2026
Major League Soccer (MLS) and Apple on Thursday officially announced that beginning in 2026, all MLS matches will be available to stream for Apple TV subscribers at no additional cost.
Starting next season, fans can watch every regular-season match, the annual Leagues Cup tournament, the MLS All-Star Game, the Campeones Cup, the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs, and more — all included with an Apple TV subscription. The standalone MLS Season Pass subscription on the Apple TV app will conclude at the end of the 2025 season.
This next chapter of the Apple and MLS partnership builds on the momentum established over the past three seasons, and will continue to deliver MLS matches, studio shows, and VOD content in more than 100 countries and regions, offering fans a single destination to watch every MLS match — with no blackouts. The evolution further streamlines access to MLS for fans at a pivotal moment for soccer in North America, including as anticipation grows for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The move enhances value for fans and brings MLS alongside Apple TV’s acclaimed original series, films, documentaries, “Friday Night Baseball” doubleheaders, Formula 1 races in the U.S., and more. As part of the transition, an Apple TV subscription will be included as part of 2026 full-season ticket packages with MLS clubs. In addition to every live match, Apple TV subscribers will have access to studio programming along with a wide range of complementary on-demand content.
“We’re thrilled to bring MLS to more fans around the world next season on Apple TV,” said Eddy Cue, Apple’s senior vice president of Services. “Every match, all in one place, alongside incredible Apple Originals — it’s a win for fans everywhere.”
“Our partnership with Apple has always been about innovating for our fans,” said Don Garber, Major League Soccer’s commissioner. “Bringing every MLS match to Apple TV takes that vision to the next level by making it easier than ever for fans everywhere to watch, connect, and be part of the game.”
This year marked Major League Soccer’s 30th season, underscoring continued expansion and sustained growth across the league. Strong performance across viewership, attendance, and digital and social platforms highlights MLS’s growing presence throughout North America and beyond. Fueled by passionate supporters and the global appeal of stars such as Lionel Messi and Son Heung-Min, the league is deepening fan engagement and solidifying its position as a leading sports property on the world stage.
Apple TV offers subscribers an array of thrilling dramas, epic sci-fi, feel-good comedies, groundbreaking documentaries, kids and family entertainment, as well as live sports. Apple TV is available to watch across all of a user’s favorite screens. Since launching in 2019, Apple TV has expanded its deep library of hundreds of exclusive Apple Originals, with thousands of hours of premium programming across genres and brand-new releases weekly. To date, Apple Original films, documentaries, and series have earned 640 wins and 2,872 award nominations and counting.
Soccer fans around the world can enjoy the remainder of the 2025 season and the race for the Audi MLS Cup on Apple TV.
MacDailyNews Note: As we wrote earlier, this is a win-win as it will add value to Apple TV and substantially increase viewership for MLS games!
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Apple releases new firmware for AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods Pro 3
Apple today released new firmware updates for the AirPods Pro 3 and the previous-generation AirPods Pro 2.
• The AirPods Pro 3 receive build 8B25
• The AirPods Pro 2 receive build 8B21
Both are updates from the previous 8A358 firmware that launched in October.Apple hasn’t detailed what’s included in these releases. However, both the AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods Pro 3 are expected to gain expanded Live Translation support in the European Union with the upcoming iOS 26.2 update (currently in beta testing). The new firmware may enable or prepare for that feature, or it could simply include bug fixes and under-the-hood performance improvements.
Firmware updates install automatically when your AirPods are charging and within Bluetooth range of an iPhone, iPad, or Mac connected to Wi-Fi.
To force the update:
1. Place your AirPods in their charging case and close the lid.
2. Connect the case to a power source.
3. Keep the lid closed for at least 30 minutes while the AirPods remain near your device.
MacDailyNews Note: You can check the current firmware version in Settings > Bluetooth > [Your AirPods] > About (on iPhone/iPad) or System Settings > Bluetooth > info button next to your AirPods (on Mac).
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Apple TV unveils first look and premiere date for ‘Born to be Wild’
Today, Apple TV revealed the exciting first look and premiere date for the all-new wildlife series “Born to be Wild,” narrated by SAG Award winner Hugh Bonneville (“Paddington,” “Downton Abbey,” “The Secret Lives of Animals”). Filmed over several years across three continents, the six-part documentary series follows six endangered young animals as they grow up in our world but are destined to return to theirs. From their earliest days through their journey to life in the wild, the series highlights the challenges, triumphs and resilience that define their survival, both for the animals and the extraordinary people working to raise and protect them. “Born to be Wild” premieres worldwide on Friday, December 19, on Apple TV.
Apple TV unveils the first look at “Born to be Wild,” a breathtaking new wildlife series narrated by Hugh Bonneville, premiering December 19, 2025.
A co-production between Tailfeather Productions and Offspring Films for Apple TV, “Born to be Wild” is executive produced by Lucy van Beek (“Wild Tales from the Farm,” Stephen Hawking’s “The Search for a New Earth,” “Britain from Above”) for Tailfeather Productions, and by IDA Award nominee Alex Williamson (“Earth At Night In Color,” “Earthsounds,” “Big Cats”) and Isla Robertson (“Earth At Night In Color,” “Last of the Giants,” “Animals at Play”) for Offspring Films.
Apple TV offers premium, compelling drama and comedy series, feature films, groundbreaking documentaries, and kids and family entertainment, and is available to watch across all of a user’s favorite screens. After its launch on November 1, 2019, Apple TV became the first all-original streaming service to launch around the world, and has premiered more original hits and received more award recognitions faster than any other streaming service in its debut. To date, Apple Original films, documentaries and series have been honored with 640 wins and 2,872 award nominations and counting, including multi-Emmy Award-winning and history-making comedies “The Studio” and “Ted Lasso,” and Oscar Best Picture winner “CODA.”
MacDailyNews Note: Apple TV is available on the Apple TV app in over 100 countries and regions, on over 1 billion screens, including iPhone, iPad, Apple TV 4K, Apple Vision Pro, Mac, popular smart TVs from Samsung, LG, Sony, VIZIO, TCL and others, Roku and Amazon Fire TV devices, Chromecast with Google TV, PlayStation and Xbox gaming consoles, and at tv.apple.com, for $12.99 per month with a seven-day free trial for new subscribers. For a limited time, customers who purchase and activate a new iPhone, iPad, Apple TV or Mac can enjoy three months of Apple TV for free.
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Major League Soccer will be available to all Apple TV subscribers at no extra charge beginning in 2026
MLS and Apple have agreed to overhaul their partnership starting in 2026, multiple sources tell The Athletic. The standalone MLS Season Pass subscription will be discontinued, and every MLS match will stream directly on the main Apple TV app as part of the broader service.
Paul Tenorio for The Athletic:
It’s an important change for the MLS-Apple deal, which put every MLS game behind a paywall that cost fans for $14.99 per month or $99 for the season. While the streaming service provided a far better broadcast experience than the local TV deals for diehard MLS fans, it also made it much more difficult for the league to reach new fans.
The standard Apple TV subscription is $12.99 per month or $99 for an annual plan.
Coming out from behind a separate paywall will make MLS available for all of Apple TV’s subscribers.
Variety reported that Apple had 45 million subscribers, but on a recent podcast appearance Apple executive Eddy Cue pushed back on those projections. “We haven’t said what our numbers are but we’re significantly more than that,” Cue said.
MacDailyNews Take: This is a win-win as it will add value to Apple TV and substantially increase viewership for MLS games!
Importantly, Lionel Messi’s new Inter Miami contract, announced on October 23, 2025, is a three-year extension that keeps him with the club through the end of the 2028 MLS season. This extends his original deal (which ran from mid-2023 through 2025).
Removing the paywall and making MLS available to all Apple TV subscribers is, of course, a genius idea (even if it is over eleven years old):
Cook should consider bidding for and winning NFL Sunday Ticket away from DirecTV, buying rights to Premiere League and La Liga games, etc. and making them Apple TV exclusives. Go directly to the sports leagues with boatloads of cash. — MacDailyNews, May 6, 2014
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Tesla is working to add Apple CarPlay to its vehicles
Tesla is developing Apple CarPlay support for its vehicles in a bid to boost sales, Bloomberg News reports, citing people familiar with the effort — one of the most frequently requested features from customers.The company has already begun internal testing of the integration, according to the sources, who asked not to be named as the project remains confidential.
Mark Gurman and Edward Ludlow for Bloomberg News:
The CarPlay platform — long supported by other automakers — shows users a version of the iPhone’s software that’s optimized for vehicle infotainment systems. It’s considered a must-have option by many drivers.
Adding CarPlay would mark a stunning reversal for Tesla and Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk, who long ignored pleas to implement the popular feature.
Tesla cars rely on an in-house infotainment system, which has its own apps and features like messaging and web browsing. The company had long opposed giving Apple more access to Tesla customers — especially when the iPhone maker was angling to become a rival in electric vehicles.
But the landscape has changed. Apple bowed out of the EV race in 2024 by canceling its Titan initiative, and Musk now relies on Apple as a critical partner for distributing the X social networking app and Grok AI service. Tesla sales also have softened, with some buyers citing the lack of CarPlay support as a reason for not choosing the company’s cars.
MacDailyNews Take: No CarPlay support? No sale!
(Not that we’d ever buy a pure EV, regardless)
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Apple’s iOS 26.2 adds new CarPlay setting
iOS 26 brings pinned conversations to CarPlay Messages, letting drivers jump straight to their favorite chats. For those who prefer the simpler list of individual threads without pins, Apple has added a toggle to switch back to the classic view.
Joe Rossignol for MacRumors:
Apple released the second beta of iOS 26.2 this week, and it introduces a new CarPlay setting for turning off pinned conversations in the Messages app. After installing the beta on your iPhone, simply open the Settings app on CarPlay, look for the Pinned Conversations toggle in the main menu, and turn it off if you prefer to.
CarPlay received many other upgrades on iOS 26, including a Liquid Glass design, Live Activities, widgets, a compact view for phone calls, and more.
MacDailyNews Take: More info about CarPlay via Apple here.
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Sneak Peek: Apple TV’s ‘Monarch: Legacy of Monsters’ season two returns February 27th
Apple TV on Thursday unveiled a monstrous preview of the highly anticipated second season of its Monsterverse series “Monarch: Legacy of Monsters,” starring Kurt Russell, Wyatt Russell, Anna Sawai, Kiersey Clemons, Ren Watabe, Mari Yamamoto, Joe Tippett, and Anders Holm. The 10-episode second season of “Monarch: Legacy of Monsters” will premiere globally on Friday, February 27, 2026 with the first episode, followed by one episode every Friday until May 1, 2026.
Season one of “Monarch: Legacy of Monsters” tracks two siblings looking to uncover their family’s connection to the secretive organization known as Monarch. Clues lead them into the world of monsters and ultimately down the rabbit hole to Army officer Lee Shaw (played by Kurt Russell and Wyatt Russell). The first season takes place in the 1950s, as well as half a century later when Monarch is threatened by what Shaw knows.
Season two will pick up with the fate of Monarch — and the world — hanging in the balance. The dramatic saga reveals buried secrets that reunite our heroes (and villains) on Kong’s Skull Island, and a new, mysterious village where a mythical Titan rises from the sea. The ripple effects of the past make waves in the present day, blurring the bonds between family, friend and foe — all with the threat of a Titan event on the horizon.
Hailing from Legendary Television, “Monarch: Legacy of Monsters” is executive produced by Joby Harold and Tory Tunnell from Safehouse Pictures, alongside Chris Black, Jen Roskind, Matt Shakman and Lawrence Trilling, who also directs four episodes, as well as Andrew Colville, who writes two episodes and serves as executive producer. Black serves as showrunner on season two. Hiro Matsuoka and Takemasa Arita executive produce on behalf of Toho Co., Ltd., the owner of the Godzilla character. Toho licensed the rights to Legendary for “Monarch: Legacy of Monsters” as a natural byproduct of their long-term relationship with the film franchise. Apple TV has a multi-series deal with Legendary Entertainment, which includes a second season of “Monarch: Legacy of Monsters” and multiple spinoff series based on the franchise.
Catch up on the first season of “Monarch: Legacy of Monsters,” now streaming globally on Apple TV.
Legendary’s Monsterverse is an expansive cross-platform story universe centering around humanity’s battle to survive in a world facing a catastrophic new reality — the monsters of our myths and legends are real. Beginning with the “Godzilla” film in 2014 and continuing through 2017’s “Kong: Skull Island,” 2019’s “Godzilla: King of the Monsters,” 2021’s “Godzilla vs. Kong,” and most recently, the record-breaking “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire,” the franchises’ highest-grossing installment and the highest-grossing “Godzilla” film of all time, along with the eagerly anticipated sequel “Godzilla x Kong: Supernova,” which is set to release in 2027, the Monsterverse has accumulated over $2.5B at the global box office and expanded into the highly successful series “Monarch: Legacy of Monsters” for Apple TV. Including an interconnected world of video games, graphic novels, toys and live experiences, the Monsterverse represents epic entertainment on the largest possible scale.
Apple TV offers premium, compelling drama and comedy series, feature films, groundbreaking documentaries, and kids and family entertainment, and is available to watch across all of a user’s favorite screens. After its launch on November 1, 2019, Apple TV became the first all-original streaming service to launch around the world, and has premiered more original hits and received more award recognitions faster than any other streaming service in its debut. To date, Apple Original films, documentaries, and series have been honored with 640 wins and 2,872 award nominations and counting, including multi-Emmy Award-winning and history-making comedies “The Studio” and “Ted Lasso,” and Oscar Best Picture winner “CODA.”
MacDailyNews Take: We watch it. We like it. We recommend it.
Apple TV is available on the Apple TV app in over 100 countries and regions, on over 1 billion screens, including iPhone, iPad, Apple TV 4K, Apple Vision Pro, Mac, popular smart TVs from Samsung, LG, Sony, VIZIO, TCL and others, Roku and Amazon Fire TV devices, Chromecast with Google TV, PlayStation and Xbox gaming consoles, and at tv.apple.com, for $12.99 per month with a seven-day free trial for new subscribers. For a limited time, customers who purchase and activate a new iPhone, iPad, Apple TV or Mac can enjoy three months of Apple TV for free.
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Apple secures 15% cut from Tencent’s WeChat mini app revenue
Tencent has struck a deal with Apple under which Apple will process all payments for WeChat mini games and mini apps, taking a 15% commission on every purchase.
Resolving the issue, under negotiation between the two tech titans for over a year, opens a new revenue stream for Apple and takes pressure off Tencent. Apple had demanded Tencent close loopholes that app creators employed to funnel users to external payment systems, circumventing the iPhone’s typical 30% commission.
To qualify, developers will need to sign up to certain Apple software requirements, such as one to help parents share their child’s age range, one of the people said.
Mini games, contained entirely within WeChat — which is now used by 1.41 billion people every month — contributed to 32.3 billion yuan ($4.5 billion) in social network revenue for China’s most valuable company in the September quarter.
Tencent disclosed in August last year that it was talking to Apple about “economically sustainable” and fair terms to let the US company take a share of mini game and app sales on iPhones. Mini games, in particular, have been steadily growing in popularity, though the previous absence of an agreement meant that Apple wasn’t receiving any income from purchases.
MacDailyNews Take: Mo’ money, mo’ money, mo’ money!
Apple built the Mac. Apple built the iPhone. Apple built the iPad. Apple built the App Store. Apple created the most verdant ecosystem ever created for developers by far… If anything, Apple takes too little of a cut for all that the App Store provides developers. — MacDailyNews, June 21, 2020
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Apple’s iPhone Pocket is coming Friday. Who’s up for a $230 sock?
ISSEY MIYAKE and Apple on Tuesday unveiled iPhone Pocket. Inspired by the concept of “a piece of cloth,” its singular 3D-knitted construction is designed to fit any iPhone as well as all pocketable items. Beginning Friday, November 14th, it will be available at select Apple Store locations and on apple.com in France, Greater China, Italy, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, the UK, and America.
iPhone Pocket, born out of a collaboration between ISSEY MIYAKE and Apple, will be available at select Apple Store locations beginning Friday, November 14th.
iPhone Pocket’s short strap design is available in lemon, mandarin, purple, pink, peacock, sapphire, cinnamon, and black; the long strap design is available in sapphire, cinnamon, and black. iPhone Pocket in the short strap design retails at $149.95 (U.S.), and the long strap design at $229.95
Rachel Kurzius and Shane O’Neill for The Washington Post:
We gathered Style writer Shane O’Neill and Lifestyle writer Rachel Kurzius to discuss all things Pocket.
Rachel Kurzius: On a very personal level, I felt vindicated when I saw the Pocket. I have been wearing my phone on a leash for more than two years — I have a cross-body strap that attaches to my phone case… The iPhone Pocket is probably more chic (and significantly more pricey!) than what I’ve got going on, but it has the same central reason for being: All you really need to navigate the modern world is your smartphone. It’s communication, information, wallet, all in one. What about you, Shane? Will I see you donning the iPhone Pocket?
SO: You will not. I really wanted to like this but I think it’s a miss… Put bluntly: If it were cute enough, I would be willing to shell out $149 for a Miyake-designed phone carrier. I could especially justify it to myself by saying, “I use my phone all day every day, so why not?” But this ain’t it.
MacDailyNews Take: Maybe this guy:
(Thanks to MDN reader Jake Underwood for jogging our memory about why iPhone Pocket looked so familiar.)
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Apple pulls two gay dating apps in China to comply with government order
Apple announced the removal of two prominent gay dating apps, Blued and Finka, from its App Store in China to comply with a directive from the CCP’s cyberspace regulator. The same-sex dating and social apps abruptly vanished from iOS downloads over the weekend.
Apple said the removal was “based on an order” from the Cyberspace Administration of China but didn’t elaborate on what the order was about.
BlueCity, a Beijing-based tech company that owns both Blued and Finka, didn’t announce why its apps were pulled from Apple’s app store in China.
The removal has raised concerns among LGBTQ people in China, who have been facing a lack of legal protection and shrinking public spaces in recent years, including closures of major LGBTQ advocacy groups…
China decriminalized homosexuality in 1997 and delisted it as a mental disorder in 2001, but same-sex marriage is not legal and there is limited official recognition of gay relationships… In September, the U.S. movie “Together” that featured a same-sex wedding scene was digitally altered to turn one of the two men into a woman for early screenings in mainland China.2
MacDailyNews Note: “We follow the laws in the countries where we operate,” Apple spokesperson said in a statement to the media.
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Apple introduces Digital ID, a new way to create and present an ID in Apple Wallet
Apple today announced the launch of Digital ID, a new way for users to create an ID in Apple Wallet using information from their U.S. passport, and present it with the security and privacy of iPhone or Apple Watch. At launch, Digital ID acceptance will roll out first in beta at TSA checkpoints at more than 250 airports in the U.S. for in-person identity verification during domestic travel, with additional Digital ID acceptance use cases to come in the future.
Digital ID gives more people a way to create and present an ID in Apple Wallet even if they do not have a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license or state ID. Digital ID is not a replacement for a physical passport, and cannot be used for international travel and border crossing in lieu of a U.S. passport.
“With the launch of Digital ID, we’re excited to expand the ways users can store and present their identity — all with the security and privacy built into iPhone and Apple Watch,” said Jennifer Bailey, Apple’s vice president of Apple Pay and Apple Wallet. “Since introducing the ability to add a driver’s license or state ID to Apple Wallet in 2022, we’ve seen how much users love having their ID right on their devices. Digital IDs brings this secure and convenient option to even more users across the country, as they can now add an ID to Wallet using information from their U.S. passport.”
The launch follows the capability for users to add an eligible driver’s license and state ID to Apple Wallet. If users do not have a U.S. passport to create their Digital ID, they can still add an eligible driver’s license to Apple Wallet.
Adding Digital ID to Apple Wallet
Users can easily create and add a Digital ID to Apple Wallet using a U.S. passport. They start by tapping the Add (+) button at the top of the screen in Wallet on their iPhone and then selecting Driver’s License or ID Cards. They then select Digital ID and follow the onscreen instructions to start the setup and verification process.
Users are then asked to use their iPhone to scan the photo page of their physical passport as part of the process. They will also be asked to use their iPhone to read the chip embedded on the back of their passport to ensure the data’s authenticity. From there, they are asked to take a selfie for verification, and as another security step, they will also be prompted to complete a series of facial and head movements during the setup process. Upon verification, their Digital ID is added to Wallet.
Using Digital ID in Apple Wallet
To present a Digital ID in person, users can double-click the side button or Home button to access Apple Wallet and select Digital ID. From there, they can hold their iPhone or Apple Watch near an identity reader, review the specific information being requested, and use Face ID or Touch ID to authenticate.
In the future, users will be able to present their Digital ID at additional select businesses and organizations for identity and age verification in person, in apps, and online.
Presenting Digital ID in a Secure and Private Way
Like all IDs in Apple Wallet, Digital ID takes advantage of the privacy and security features already built into iPhone and Apple Watch to help protect against tampering and theft. Digital ID data is encrypted. When users create a Digital ID, their passport data is stored on the device. Apple cannot see when and where users present their ID, or what data was presented. Biometric authentication using Face ID or Touch ID also ensures that only the owner of the Digital ID can present it.
Only the information needed for a transaction is presented, and the user has the opportunity to review and authorize the information being requested with Face ID or Touch ID before it is shared. Users do not need to unlock, show, or hand over their device to present their ID.
With Digital ID, only the information needed for a transaction is presented, and the user has the opportunity to review and authorize the information being requested before it is shared.
Driver’s Licenses and State IDs in Apple Wallet Today
The introduction of Digital ID brings users another easy, secure, and private way to create, store, and present an ID in Apple Wallet.
Today, the ability to add a driver’s license or state ID to Apple Wallet is live in 12 states and Puerto Rico. In the past six months alone, the feature has come to Montana, North Dakota, and West Virginia, and launched internationally for the first time in Japan with My Number Card on iPhone.
MacDailyNews Note: For more information on IDs in Apple Wallet, visit learn.wallet.apple/id.
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Apple: Developer fee cuts in the EU have not been passed on to end users
Apple’s decision to lower developers’ App Store fees — forced upon them solely to appease the European Union’s relentless overreach into private innovation — has, unsurprisingly, failed to translate into lower prices for users, Apple confirmed on Wednesday.
Foo Yun Chee and Paul Sandle for Reuters:
Last year, in response to the bloc’s Digital Markets Act, Apple allowed software developers to distribute their apps to users in the EU outside its App Store and opt out of its in-app payment system, which charges commissions of up to 30%.
That reduced fees for developers to an average of 20%.
The U.S. tech giant, however, said a study it commissioned from Analysis Group showed that app developers have not passed on the cost savings to users.
“This study provides further evidence that the DMA is not benefiting consumers in the form of lower prices. At the same time, we know the regulation is creating new barriers for innovators and startups while exposing consumers to new risks,” an Apple spokesperson said.
The European Commission, the bloc’s antitrust enforcer, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
MacDailyNews Take: This latest data point exposes the EU’s misguided overregulation, proving once again that bureaucratic meddling usually breeds inefficiency, not consumer benefits.
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