iOS developers will now be able to send you ads through notifications — as long as they have your consent. Apple has updated its App Store guidelines and one of the new changes allows third-party companies to use push notifications for “promotions or direct marketing purposes.” Developers will be, however, required to program an opt-out switch and explicitly ask for permission before spamming their users.
“Push Notifications should not be used for promotions or direct marketing purposes unless customers have explicitly opted in to receive them via consent language displayed in your app’s UI, and you provide a method in your app for a user to opt out from receiving such messages,” states the new policy.
In the last two years, as hardware revenue has stalled and Apple has continued its push toward services, the company has been caught on several occasions unlawfully promoting its own products through notifications. The move was criticized for being anti-competitive and ironic since at that time, developers were restricted from using “Apple Services to spam, phish, or send unsolicited messages to customers, including Game Center, Push Notifications, etc.”
The new policy will extend that privilege to third-party developers while ensuring users have the ability to easily opt out if they want. We don’t expect this to result in a deluge of ad spam on iOS in comparison to Android, where frail policies have let developers run amok.
Other than that, Apple is also cracking down on dating and fortune-telling apps. Unless the app offers a “unique, high-quality experience,” it will be rejected, wrote Apple in the updated guidelines. Similarly, submissions for generic apps such as triggering the flashlight or producing burp noises won’t be approved unless they stand out.
In addition, Apple has set a deadline for when developers need to update their apps with the iOS 13 SDK features. Apps that offer sign-in options will be required to add Apple’s own single sign-on service, Sign In With Apple.
Apple launched its log-in system last year as a more private alternative to the ones offered by Facebook and Google. On Sign In With Apple, users also have the option to hide their email address and instead, feed a third-party app a randomly generated ID.
Google Play is borrowing one of the Nintendo Switch’s most useful little tricks. A new Sidekick tool called Playbacks captures a short clip after something interesting has already happened, sparing players from running a screen recorder throughout an entire game.
Playbacks is part of Google Play Store v53.8 and keeps saved clips on the phone. Google first announced it earlier this month, but the new Play Store update marks its arrival for players. Anyone who has watched a perfect win vanish because the record button came too late already understands the appeal.
Samsung’s scandal over its Game Optimizing Service, or GOS, has returned with a bill attached. South Korea’s Fair Trade Commission has tentatively fined the company 20.1 billion won, or about $15.1 million, over gaming claims made for the Galaxy S21, Galaxy S22, and Tab S8.
The regulator says Samsung promoted the devices as gaming powerhouses without disclosing that GOS placed preset CPU and GPU limits on certain demanding games. Samsung disputes that conclusion, calling GOS a legitimate way to manage heat.
Apple's next cheaper iPhone could get a brand-new processor while keeping its most stubborn display compromise. Digital Chat Station tips the iPhone 18e for a 2027 release with a 2nm A20 chip and a 6.12-inch OLED screen still limited to 60Hz.
The rumored camera setup includes a single 48MP rear camera and a possible 24MP selfie camera. There's new hardware to consider, but buyers hoping Apple would extend that upgrade generosity to smoother scrolling could be disappointed.