Category: iOS

Apple's response to Digital Millennium Act in EU contains browser choice screen. This screen seems to be causing more users to use alternative browsers in EU.

This might result in higher diversity of browsers on iPhones.

References:

• More people choose alternative iPhone web browsers when prompted
• Report: DMA’s browser choice requirement benefiting third-party browsers ↦
• Effects of the DMA’s Browser Choice Requirement

Apple notifies users in 92 countries that they could be a target of ongoing spyware attack by undisclosed organizations Apple calls 'mercenaries'.

Apple previously called similar attacks government-based.

Apple Support: About Apple threat notifications and protecting against mercenary spyware

References:

• Apple Warns Users in 92 Countries About Mercenary Spyware Attacks
• Apple alerts some iPhone users that they were targets of ‘mercenary spyware attack’
• Apple warning users about a mercenary spyware attack on iPhones

According to IDC Samsung regains top position is smartphone worldwide shipments. Apple seems competition from cheaper Chinese vendors too. 2024 first quarter iPhone shipments fell 9.6% compared to 2023.

Apple did not disclose quarterly financial results yet.

IDC: Worldwide Smartphone Market Up 7.8% in the First Quarter of 2024 as Samsung Moves Back into the Top Position, According to IDC Tracker

References and further reading:

• iPhone sales drop 10% as Samsung steadies and Chinese rivals grow
• Samsung Regains Top Spot as Apple's iPhone Shipments Fall in Q1 2024
• iPhone market share dropped 9.6% this year; Samsung retakes lead
• The Financial Times Pretends Apple Plays the Market Share Game
• Seeing What One Wants to See

Following recent App Review Guidelines update retro game emulators now added to App Store.

iGBA Game Boy emulator was the first to arrive at App Store. It was later removed by Apple due to copyright violations.

Then Bimmy NES Emulator was published and then – also removed by the developer. Developer claims that removal was not triggered by any request, but they decided not to take risks with possible violations.

References:

• Game Boy emulator now available on the iPhone following App Store rules change [update: gone]
• Game Boy Emulator for iPhone Now Available in App Store Following Rule Change [Removed]
• Apple Removes Game Boy Emulator iGBA From App Store Due to Spam and Copyright Violations
• iPhone ‘iGBA’ emulator removed from App Store, but we aren’t sure why
• Apple Further Explains Why Game Boy Emulator iGBA Was Removed From App Store
• Drama about emulators on the App Store has only just begun
• NES Emulator for iPhone and iPad Now Available on App Store [Removed]
• Bimmy NES Emulator is the latest game emulation app for iPhone, iPad, and Mac [update: developer decided to pull]
• Here’s why Apple removed the first Game Boy emulator from the App Store
• Fear of Nintendo's wrath is keeping emulators off of the App Store

New Apple Developer Academy opens in Bali, Indonesia. Applications for 2025 are now open.

Academy provides valuable 30 days and 9 months educational programs targeting various aspects of software development for Apple platforms.

Apple Newsroom: Apple Developer Academy expands to Bali

UC: Apple Developer Academy

References:

• Apple opens fourth Developer Academy in Indonesia
• Apple Developer Academy: Anyone in the world can apply for the Bali program

Apple publishes beta 2 for iOS/iPadOS 17.5, macOS Sonoma 14.5, watchOS 10.5, tvOS 17.5 and visionOS 1.2. Also, Xcode 15.4 beta is available.

App installation through web link is now available in iOS 17.5 for EU users. Apple fixes Jerusalem flag autosuggestion in iOS.

Apple Developer: Web Distribution now available in iOS 17.5 beta 2 and App Store Connect

Release notes:

• iOS & iPadOS 17.5 Beta 2 Release Notes
• macOS Sonoma 14.5 Beta 2 Release Notes
• watchOS 10.5 Beta 2 Release Notes
• tvOS 17.5 Beta 2 Release Notes
• visionOS 1.2 Beta 2 Release Notes
• Xcode 15.4 Beta Release Notes

References:

• Jerusalem Flag autoprediction bug is fixed in iOS 17.5 developer beta
• Apple rolls out second beta round, including EU Web Distribution in iOS 17.5
• How iOS Web Distribution works in the EU in iOS 17.5
• New iOS 17.5 Beta Lets EU iPhone Users Download Apps Directly From Websites
• iOS 17.5 beta 2 coming today with new Web Distribution sideloading feature in the EU

Another weekend comes with great pack of articles.

• Doug Gregor started a series of articles on Swift for those who previously coded in C++ – Swift for C++ Practitioners, Part 1: Intro & Value Types, Swift for C++ Practitioners, Part 2: Reference Types & Optionals, Swift for C++ Practitioners, Part 3: Extensions and Access Control, Swift for C++ Practitioners, Part 4: Generics, Swift for C++ Practitioners, Part 5: Type erasure & metatypes;
  
  
• Run-time Polymorphism in Swift by Jordan Rose covers aspects of polymorphism in Swift;
  
  
• Natascha Fadeeva shares productivity tips on Xcode – Quick tip on how to learn Xcode keyboard shortcuts efficiently;
  
  
• Leonardo Maia Pugliese goes through text animation in SwiftUI – Number Text Animation in SwiftUI with contentTransition;
  
  
• Fetching OSLog Messages in Swift by Keith Harrison covers logging practices in Swift;
  
  
• Mark Szymczyk guides through launching command-line utilities from Mac app – Running a Command-Line Program from a Mac App;
  
  
• Deep linking for local notifications in SwiftUI by Majid Jabrayilov covers typical patterns of using deep links in notifications;
  
  
• Matt Massicotte provides some explanation on property wrapper actor isolation changes coming to Swift – Concurrency in Swift 6: SE-401;
  
  
• Display empty states with ContentUnavailableView in SwiftUI by Pasquale Vittoriosi is another guide on how to display empty lists;
  
  
• And another one on SVG usage in SwiftUI – Creating Shapes from SVG in a SwiftUI app;
  
  
• Donny Wals explains actor reentrancy – Actor reentrancy in Swift explained;
  
  
• Embracing Imaginary Spatial User Experience in visionOS by Francesco Perchiazzi explores design considerations with visionOS;
  
  
• WebKit team goes through their efforts to improve Safari performance – Optimizing WebKit & Safari for Speedometer 3.0.

This is it for today. Come back next week – we'll prepare more interesting reads.

Samsung takes back first place from Apple in global smartphone shipments according to Counterpoint Research via The Korea Times.

The Korea Times: Samsung beats Apple to regain top spot as world's leading smartphone seller

Reference: Samsung takes back #1 spot in global smartphone shipments from Apple, at least for now

Report covers the experience of AltStore installation and usage. Installation warns users of possible dangers of alternative marketplaces.

The Verge: A first look at Europe’s alternative iPhone app stores

References:

• Installing a third-party app store takes a dozen ‘irritating and scary’ screens
• A First Look at AltStore in the EU

Apple amends App Review Guidelines with couple of updates:

• Music Streaming Services in some regions now could link to external purchases methods and contact users; apps will need specific entitlement and these links are only available on iOS and iPadOS in specific storefronts;
• Amended guideline 4.7 to clarify that mini apps should be in HTML5, and also to allow retro game console emulator apps.

The App Review Guidelines have been revised to support updated policies, upcoming features, and to provide clarification. The following guidelines have been updated:

• 3.1.1(a): Updated to include Music Streaming Services Entitlements. 
• 4.7: Added games from retro game console emulator apps to the list of permitted software, and clarifies that mini apps and mini games must be HTML5.

Apple Developer

Apple Developer: Updated App Review Guidelines now available

Apple App Review: App Review Guidelines

References:

• Apple Updates App Store Guidelines to Permit Game Emulators, Website Links in EU Music Apps
• Apple now allows classic game emulators on the App Store
• Apple Amends App Review Guidelines to Permit Game Emulators and Make Other Changes
• App Store guidelines now allow game emulators; music apps in the EU can take users to an external website
• Allowing iOS Game Emulators and Mini Apps