'Hot garbage!'

Developers trash Apple's App Store plans.

Leander Kahney
January 26, 2024

Big, big changes to the iPhone are afoot — sideloading, alternative app stores, streaming game apps and more — but so far, app developers are not fans.

Tim Sweeney, the CEO of Epic Games, which publishes the massively popular Fortnite, calls Apple’s plans for the EU App Store “hot garbage” and “malicious compliance.”

Of course, Sweeney’s not an impartial observer: Epic sued Apple over the same issues that EU regulators addressed.

Nonetheless, I’ve not seen many positive reactions to Apple’s plans. Developers are criticizing all of it, with only a few exceptions.

Steve Troughton-Smith, an influential developer with a large social media following, is generally positive, however. He says Apple’s plans are technically impressive, even if the business proposals are not. “There's a foundation here that I think has great potential to enable whole new aspects of iOS,” he said on Mastodon.

Also in today’s newsletter:

What amazing magic is this? Apple’s already-magical music recognition app, Shazam, can now ID tunes playing in your headphones!
Tagging people and pets in your photos makes it much easier to find pics down the line. Here’s how to do it.
If you have the cash — and the space — stereo-paired HomePods are great for your computer setup.
The latest iPadOS 17 beta contains a strong clue that the next iPad will come with a horizontal camera.
Elago’s Premium Apple Watch bands are made from colorful fluoro rubber, which is strong but flexible and — surprisingly — breathable. And they cost less than $19.

— Leander Kahney, EIC.

Devs call Apple’s new iPhone sideloading rules 'malicious compliance' and 'ludicrously punitive'

A noted critic of Cupertino used the phrase "malicious compliance" to describe the rules Apple laid down to allow EU iPhone users to sideload apps.

Now Shazam can name songs even when you wear headphones

With Shazam version 17.3, a user can identify music around them or in apps like YouTube while wearing headphones.

iPadOS 17.4 beta hints next iPad Pro will have horizontal camera

The 2024 iPad Pro could make a change tablet users have wanted for years: a front-facing camera designed for horizontal use.

^{A message from}^CdkeySales

Get Windows 10 for just $17, Microsoft Office 2016 for $28 in CdkeySales January Sale

In the new year, enter promo code CULT to get the best deals on Microsoft Windows and Office at CdkeySales.com.

Elago's new Apple Watch bands are durable, comfortable, just $18.99

Elago's fluoro rubber Apple Watch bands offer supreme comfort, immense durability and brilliant blue and red color options.

First iOS 17.4 beta brings new emoji plus huge changes for EU

Apple just seeded the first beta of iOS 17.4 to developers, giving the first look at emoji coming to iPhone. Europeans get more changes.

^{A message from the Cult of Mac Deals team}

Price cut: Apple TV-compatible remote gives you the buttons you crave

Maximize your experience with a proven alternative Apple TV remote. You can purchase the Function101 Button Remote for only $24.97.

Auto-generated transcripts coming to Apple Podcasts

The Apple Podcasts app soon will be able to automatically turn audio into text for all episodes.

Grab a pair of clip-on mics to capture high-quality audio with your iPhone

Enjoy professional-grade audio in any content you capture, whether that's a video, interview or podcast, with these clip-on mics for iPhone or iPad.

How to tag photos on iPhone with people and pets

You can tag photos on your iPhone with the names of your friends, family and pets so you can easily find pictures of them later on. The Photos app will detect pictures of people automatically — you just need to give them a name.

Today in Apple history: iPhone sales hit first speed bump

On January 26, 2016, iPhone sales flatlined for the first time after nine years of spectacular growth. Some called it "peak iPhone."

Day or night, you can't go wrong with stereo HomePods [Setups]

We wonder why we don't see more paired HomePods (as opposed to HomePod minis). Hmm, could it be the price?

Tweetz o’ the day

Under what possible theory of antitrust regulation is it acceptable for a monopoly to decide what companies are allowed to compete with it, and on what terms they can compete? Apple makes a mockery of free market competition.
— Tim Sweeney (@TimSweeneyEpic)
2:14 AM • Jan 26, 2024

Really nice implementation of auto-transcripts in iOS 17.4 Podcasts; it even uses chapter markers as section headings!
— Benjamin Mayo (@bzamayo)
11:17 PM • Jan 25, 2024

One more thing ...

❝

Windows has won. It beat the Mac, unfortunately, it beat UNIX, it beat OS/2. An inferior product won.

— Steve Jobs, 1995.

Today’s poll

What do you think of Apple's plans?

Results from yesterday’s poll: How do you feel about sideloading iPhone apps?

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