Apple developers are revolting!

February 04, 2022

Dutch lawmakers forced Apple to accept third-party payments -- a possible model for future regulation of the App Store.

But in response, Apple set up a system that looks as though it was purposely designed to stop developers from using outside payment systems.

Righty, developers are hopping mad.

Back in the day when Apple was struggling, the company bent over backward to help developers. Cupertino understood very clearly that it needed a healthy ecosystem to thrive, or even just survive.

But now that Apple is big and powerful, it treats developers with contempt.

Of all the dangers and risks Apple faces in the future, I'd say alienating developers is the biggest threat to its future prosperity. Keep your friends close, Apple.

-- Leander Kahney, EIC.

P.S.: Check out the Apple TV+ section below, where we review and recap the week's best new offerings. You might find something to watch this weekend.

P.P.S.: Earlier this week, we sent out an email offering Microsoft Office for $50. The deal proved so popular that it quickly sold out. I'd like to apologize to readers who clicked the link, found a nonexistent web page, and missed out on the deal. Also, we've heard from some buyers who haven't gotten their codes yet. Our partner is working through the backlog, and everyone who bought the deal will get their code soon. Again, apologies for the snafu.

Apple's new plan for developers in the Netherlands does not go down well. Steve Troughton-Smith, creator of apps like Broadcasts and Pastel for iOS, said Apple executives “should be ashamed.” Here’s what others are saying.

Apple publishes new details on how it plans to handle third-party payments for dating apps in the Netherlands: by continuing to take a cut of all net revenues at a “reduced” rate of 27%.

Apple users do the darnedest things with old gear. TikTok user @skipperfilms used 3D printing technology and power tools to convert an iBook G3 shell into a working iPad case with a slot for an Apple Pencil and an embedded Apple Watch charger just above the keyboard.

The game has been in “advanced development” since last summer, but this is the first time Blizzard has offered a release date.

These tough, tempered-glass protectors from Limited77 keep your iPhone 13 looking sharp by covering its entire front panel. Get yours today to save 20% — and enjoy the same discount on all other Limited77 accessories for iPhone and Apple Watch in the Cult of Mac Store.

What to do with your MacBook or iPad when you’re not using them? You can leave them lying around, but that’s wasted space. The iVoler Vertical Laptop Stand holds your computer upright, either when it’s charging or when you have an external screen and keyboard connected. Best of all, its clamp closes on your computer to securely hold it but also easily release it.

Demand for some iPad models outstrips supply. And the result is customers waiting a month or more to receive their tablets. Buyers in some countries who place an order now will be waiting until March to receive it.

Bacteria is everywhere. Health experts say a lot of it is actually beneficial rather than harmful, but it can still give you the “icks.” If you’re a person who wipes down gadgets a lot because you know your hands and fingers are basically petri dishes gone wild, Targus' new active iPad stylus might suit you.

Anyone with a curious cat knows the desktop can be one of their favorite spots. Lucky for you, today’s featured computer setup shows a simple method for protecting peripherals like input devices — keyboard, mouse, perhaps a trackpad — from pushy pets. And if you’ve got canines, take heart. It also works for dog slobber.

What to watch on Apple TV+

Suspicion, which stars Uma Thurman and premieres today, is a no-nonsense, globetrotting thriller with plenty of real-world resonance. Say this for Suspicion — it gets right down to business.

In the upcoming Apple Original documentary series, historians reflect upon what Abraham Lincoln was really about, and how a changing country challenged the president who never asked to be “The Great Emancipator.”

In a first look at season 2 of the political thriller Tehran, Apple TV+ put out a photograph showing the series’ new cast member, Emmy Award winner Glenn Close. And the streaming service said the first episode will premiere on May 6.

Apple TV+’s murder mystery/comedy The Afterparty soldiers on this week, investigating drunken party girl (and former valedictorian) Chelsea. The genre-hopping show, which made a fitful start with last week’s first three mirthless episodes, has no better luck with this week’s half-hearted, half-remembered crime story than it did as a poorly thought-out musical or rom-com.

Tweetz o' the day

One more thing ...

"And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary." -- Steve Jobs

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