Apple will allow EU-based users of its devices to download apps without going through its app store, as the tech giant reluctantly moves to comply with the bloc’s incoming Digital Markets Act (DMA).  Apple will also give iPhone and iPad users a range of browsers to choose from as their default and allow the use of alternative payment systems to Apple Pay. The sweeping changes will come into effect for all new Apple devices purchased in the EU from March of this year.  In theory, this could see major competitors like Google’s Play Store becoming available on Apple devices.  Pro ..read more

Apple is having a rough time of it in France as of late. As if mandated updates to the iPhone 12 due to radiation concerns weren’t enough, Apple customers in the country may now struggle to get their mitts on the latest model when it’s released.  French Apple store workers have voted to strike at the end of the week — coinciding with the launch of the iPhone 15. Apple unions including CGT, Unsa, CFDT and Cidre-CFTC, are asking for better pay and working conditions, or their members will walk out this Friday and Saturday.  Among the demands is a… This story continues at The Next Web ..read more

Apple is a sector definer. While the company rarely creates entirely new products, its hardware ends up being the baseline other devices are measured by. You only need to look at how the iPod, iPhone, and iPad defined what people expect from MP3 players, phones, and tablets. Now, Apple is hoping it can repeat this trick with an entirely new product: its rumoured VR/AR headset, expected to be announced on June 5th. This is a huge moment for not only the company, but the European extended reality (XR) sector as a whole. While Apple has had some successes with products… This story continues at ..read more

If there’s one thing I’ve learnt in this life, it’s that the more stuff you have, the better. If you have a higher number of things, basic math tells you that you have more money. And we all know that more money is better than less money. That’s why I live life by this simple mantra: you can never have too many things. This doesn’t just apply to day-to-day life, as the same is true of your Mac. Yeah, losers might tell you that clogging up your Apple computer with data will lead to “problems” and make it “go slower,”… This story continues at The Next Web ..read more

Around once a year, a magical thing happens: Apple releases a new version of macOS. When this hallowed day rolls around, you have one option and one option only: to make things as hard for your computer as possible. Look, life’s hard. Actually, life’s more than hard, it’s brutal. Every day is a challenge that’s more pressing than the last. So I ask you this… why should your computer have it so easy? If I want to update my life, it takes months, if not years, of hard work for some incremental change — but Apple thinks my computer should… This story continues at The Next Web ..read more

You’ve got a brand new MacBook? Perfect. Now’s the time for you to completely ruin its battery, to ensure it only lasts for minutes when you’re out and about. I mean, what’s the point in your laptop being portable? As far as I’m concerned, none. That’s why we’ve put together a handy guide outlining everything you should do to mess up your MacBook’s battery as quickly as possible. And yes, you are very welcome. Keep all your apps running all of the time Answer me this: what’s the fastest way to open that bit of software you sometimes need? You… This story continues at The Next Web Or just re ..read more

Know when you click on a link? And it takes you to a weird page? One that asks you to select all the motorcycles in a picture? Or to try and decipher some bizarre wiggly text that could well be an incantation to raise some sort of vengeful spirit? Well, in iOS 16, that may no longer be a problem. Why? Because Apple is rolling out a feature called Automatic Verification that bypasses CAPTCHAs on certain websites and apps. The company has worked with Fastly and Cloudflare — two of the biggest content delivery networks (CDNs) — in order to… This story continues at The Next Web Or just read more ..read more

Fans of Apple-powered smart devices, rejoice — it’s rumored there’ll be a new HomePod released either at the end of 2022, or the start of 2023. What’s currently unclear is whether this will be a direct replacement for the now-discontinued original HomePod, or if Apple is going to release a model that’s sized in between this and the mini — as has been reported in the past. It isn’t all plain sailing though. According to renowned leaker and analyst, Ming-Chi Kuo, Apple won’t make any substantial changes to the smart speaker: Apple would release a new version of HomePod in… This story continues ..read more

The AirPods Pro weaseled their way into my life two years ago and haven’t let up since. I take Apple’s earbuds with me everywhere — and I love them dearly. But, today, I had a horrendous shock. I got up nice and early to go for a run (that #FitBoy lifestyle,) and, to my horror, my AirPods Pro were nowhere to be found. After spending a good 20 minutes searching the usual places, I accepted I must’ve left them somewhere weird and went for my jog anyway. During my huffing and puffing and grunting and groaning, I wracked my brain… This story continues at The Next Web ..read more

Friends, some excellent news: recent reports suggest Apple will ditch the Lightning port and embrace USB-C on its gadgets from next year. There’s a problem though. If this news is excellent (which I’m certain it is), then why do I feel so sad? Before we try and unpack that mess, let’s suckle on a little slice of context. For the past several years, the writing has been on the wall for Apple’s proprietary Lightning standard. Arguably, the biggest driver behind this has been the EU, which has been pushing for a single smartphone charger standard across the union. Apple, of… This story continue ..read more