Apple Stores

Reports say the US Department of Justice is internally divided as its antitrust case against Apple moves toward 2026, with the company holding an edge in the dispute over its roughly 27% App Store commission structure. A split within the DOJ could weaken the government's position and shape how Apple's App Store fees are regulated going forward.

Apple's rumored two-model iPhone lineup is drawing attention as reports point to when pre-orders will open and when the phones will hit stores. Buyers are weighing which of the two models to choose, with discussion focused on pricing, availability, and how the release schedule compares with previous iPhone launches.

Elon Musk's xAI and X Corp have removed Apple from their antitrust lawsuit over AI partnerships, leaving the iPhone maker with one fewer legal battle. The suit had accused Apple of favoring OpenAI's ChatGPT in its App Store rankings. Reports are asking whether Apple's legal worries over its AI dealings are now easing, though Google remains a defendant in the case.

A report from Engadget says online retailers that do not support digital wallet payments are losing Gen Z customers. Younger shoppers increasingly expect quick, mobile-friendly checkout options like Apple Pay, Google Pay or PayPal, and tend to abandon stores that only offer traditional card entry. The finding adds pressure on merchants to modernise payment systems or risk losing a key demographic.

A Mac user reports that after taking a MacBook to an Apple Store for a DFU restore, passive FTP was enabled in the background with no graphical interface to control or disable it. The write-up documents the finding along with other observations about what persists or changes after an official Apple device reset, raising questions about hidden settings on restored machines.

Apple's upcoming iOS 27 will allow users to digitize many types of physical cards directly into Apple Wallet, according to Gadget Review. The feature would let people store more of their everyday cards digitally, reducing the need to carry physical versions. Details on which cards will be supported have not yet been confirmed, and reaction so far appears limited to early coverage of the announcement.

Apple has sent sealed boxes marked 'Do Not Open' to its retail stores around the world, prompting speculation among staff and customers about what they contain and when they can be opened. Reports suggest the shipments are tied to an upcoming product launch or announcement, with employees instructed not to open them until a specified date.

Apple says it is tightening macOS 'Full Disk Access' controls, citing new security risks created by AI agents that can read and act on sensitive user data if granted broad file permissions. The change, reported by TechCrunch, reflects growing concern that autonomous AI tools could expose personal information stored on Macs. Cybersecurity observers are sharing the news widely.

Apple has updated its App Store developer terms for developers operating in the European Union. The move comes amid ongoing regulatory scrutiny of Apple's App Store practices under the EU's Digital Markets Act, and it affects how developers in the bloc can distribute apps, handle payments, and manage commissions. Commentators are watching whether the changes meet EU compliance demands.

Apple Stores have begun receiving sealed boxes ahead of what reports describe as an imminent smart-home product push. The deliveries suggest retail staff are being prepared for new hardware, with speculation centering on home devices such as a smart display or camera hub. Official details remain scarce as Apple has not announced the products.

A Mac user reports that passive FTP remains enabled in the background, with no graphical interface to disable it, even after an Apple Store performed a full DFU restore of a MacBook. The finding suggests Apple's devices run this legacy service without user-facing controls, and that a complete store-level reset does not remove it. Readers are debating what else may persist through resets and what that means for privacy and system control.

Apple has pulled Bitchat, an offline Bluetooth mesh messaging app with end-to-end encryption that works without internet, from India's App Store. The company says the removal followed a demand from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology under Section 69A of the IT Act, which allows blocking of content in the interest of national security. Security and privacy observers are questioning the takedown of an app designed for censorship-resistant communication.

Apple is revamping macOS's Full Disk Access permission model in response to the rise of AI agents. The new approach is designed to stop agentic apps from demanding broad, persistent access to sensitive data such as local files, Mail stores, iMessage databases and browser histories. Observers see it as a direct acknowledgement that AI software is reshaping what desktop security rules must protect against.

An Apple Store in the United Kingdom is set to reopen its doors on the same day Apple launches its new iPhone duo. The reopening coincides with the launch event, suggesting customers in the area will be able to buy the new devices in person from day one. Apple fans and local shoppers are watching for details on the exact location and opening arrangements.

AppleInsider reports that pre-orders for the new iPhone duo will begin on October 12, telling readers to 'get ready' ahead of the launch window. The date gives buyers a clear timeline for securing the devices before general availability, though specifics on models, pricing and in-store availability were not included in the report.

Apple has released version 3.4.0 of its iCloud Passwords extension for Google Chrome, bringing improvements to the PIN entry and verification process used when autofilling saved passwords. The update was highlighted by German tech blog Caschys Blog, which covers Apple and software news. The extension lets Chrome users on Windows access passwords stored in their iCloud Keychain.

Developer Jeff Kaufman has released Clipboard Normalizer, a small Mac utility that cleans up text copied to the clipboard, and it is now available through the Mac App Store. The tool has drawn attention among programmers discussing utility software and the quirks of getting simple apps approved for Apple's store.

OpenAI has introduced new features that compete directly with the traditional app store model, according to TechCrunch. The move suggests OpenAI wants users to access apps and services through its AI products rather than through platforms like Apple's App Store or Google Play. The report is drawing attention in tech circles, where observers are weighing what this means for platform gatekeepers and mobile software distribution.

A new report says Apple's upcoming smart home camera will not record video, positioning the device around live viewing and home monitoring rather than storing footage. The claim is drawing attention among technology watchers, with many reading it as a deliberate privacy-focused design choice that would set the product apart from rival security cameras that continuously record.

Apple is reportedly working on a smart home security camera that would not record video, according to a report by The Verge. The device would instead rely on on-device intelligence, likely AI, to interpret what it sees without storing footage, a privacy-focused approach to home monitoring. The news is circulating among tech watchers, with commenters joking about Apple expanding into yet another product category.

Colorado has passed an age-verification law that applies only to operators of commercial app stores, sparing volunteer-run Linux distributions. Governor Jared Polis signed the measure in June 2026, meaning Apple's App Store and Google Play must check users' ages, while a freely downloaded Debian installer carries no such duty. Observers see it as a pragmatic carve-out for open-source developers.

Apple TV remains unavailable for some users following a broader Apple services outage that began on September 30. The initial disruption took down the App Store, Apple Fitness+, Apple Music and several other services, and while most have since been restored, lingering Apple TV issues are affecting a subset of users. Apple has not indicated when full service will return.

Apple's services business — including the App Store, iCloud, Apple Music and other subscriptions — is now almost as important to the company as the iPhone, according to new analysis. The finding underscores how Apple's high-margin recurring revenue streams have grown into a core pillar of its business, reducing its dependence on hardware sales.

Apple senior vice president of software engineering Craig Federighi has appeared in a video discussing how the company helps developers make the most of the iPhone, covering the tools and resources Apple provides for building apps. The remarks underline Apple's ongoing push to keep its app ecosystem thriving around the iPhone lineup.

Puzzle RPG Touken Ranbu Pazugiri has climbed to the top of Apple's App Store iPhone game chart in Japan, according to a Sankei report. The game blends match-style puzzle play with characters from the popular Touken Ranbu sword-warrior franchise, and its strong debut is drawing attention from mobile gamers and industry watchers.