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AltStore PAL is the first “Apple-approved” third-party app store for iOS (in Europe-only)

by Brad Linder Comments Off on AltStore PAL is the first “Apple-approved” third-party app store for iOS (in Europe-only)

After years of blocking third-party app stores from iPhones and iPads, Apple has changed its rules regarding installation of apps from sources other than its own App Store… at least in Europe. The changes come in response to the European Union’s Digital Markets Acts, and Apple’s not particularly happy about them. But now that the […]

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Lilbits: The tiniest “Steam Deck,” Android’s desktop mode gets (a little) better, and would you pay for Google’s AI search features?

by Brad Linder 5 Comments on Lilbits: The tiniest “Steam Deck,” Android’s desktop mode gets (a little) better, and would you pay for Google’s AI search features?

AI is the buzziest buzzword in tech right now… although since it’s an abbreviation for two words, maybe it’s a buzzphrase? Anyway, chip makers are slapping so-called Neural Processing Units into their silicon destined for smartphones, tablets, and PCs. Mobile and desktop operating systems are backing AI features into their software.  And search, social media, […]

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Apple will continue to allow web apps on the iOS Home Screen in the EU after all

by Brad Linder No Comments on Apple will continue to allow web apps on the iOS Home Screen in the EU after all

A few weeks after announcing a series of changes coming to iOS users in the European Union as a response to the EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA), Apple has reversed course on one of the most controversial changes. Apple had planned to stop users from installing Progressive Web Apps to the Home Screen starting with […]

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Apple drops support for iOS Home Screen web apps, blames the EU’s Digital Markets Act (Updated)

by Brad Linder 7 Comments on Apple drops support for iOS Home Screen web apps, blames the EU’s Digital Markets Act (Updated)

Big changes are coming to the way iPhones work in the European Union this year. In response to the EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA), Apple says that starting with iOS 17.4, the iPhone operating system will support third-party app stores and browser engines, among other things… even if the company bends over backward to discourage […]

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Lilbits: Another Intel Core i9-13900H mini PC, another Beeper Mini v Apple update, and Asus ROG Ally 2 coming this year (maybe)

by Brad Linder 2 Comments on Lilbits: Another Intel Core i9-13900H mini PC, another Beeper Mini v Apple update, and Asus ROG Ally 2 coming this year (maybe)

It’s only been a few months since the first mini PCs with Intel Core i9 processors began to hit the streets, but they’re becoming increasingly common. As spotted by the folks at AndroidPC.es, one of the latest is the Chatreey IT12, which is a compact desktop computer available with up to an Intel Core i9-13900H […]

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iOS 17.4 will support 3rd-party app stores and browser engines, app sideloading and game streaming… in the EU only

by Brad Linder 16 Comments on iOS 17.4 will support 3rd-party app stores and browser engines, app sideloading and game streaming… in the EU only

Apple is cracking open the walled garden that is its iPhone ecosystem… but only in Europe. Up until recently, the only official way to install apps on an iPhone was through the App Store (or with a developer account). But now, in order to comply with the European Union’s Digital Markets Act (DMA), Apple is […]

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Europe will require all phones and other gadgets to have user replaceable batteries by 2027

by Brad Linder 24 Comments on Europe will require all phones and other gadgets to have user replaceable batteries by 2027

The European Union has adopted new regulations regarding batteries that could extend the lifespan of gadgets, cut back on electronic waste, and generally improve sustainability. While the regulations apply to all sorts of batteries and covers things like waste collection and use of recycled materials, one section has been gathering a lot of attention: smartphones […]

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The EU wants to make it easier to replace your laptop or smartphone battery

by Lee Mathews 12 Comments on The EU wants to make it easier to replace your laptop or smartphone battery

In a few years it’s possible that nearly every new battery-powered product sold in the European Union may need to have a user-replaceable battery. Members of the of the EU Parliament have drafted an agreement that would take effective three and a half years after the final legislation is passed. While the rule would apply […]

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Apple could allow third-party app stores on iPhones and iPads to comply with EU regulations

by Brad Linder 5 Comments on Apple could allow third-party app stores on iPhones and iPads to comply with EU regulations

Want to install an app or game on an iPhone or iPad? The only official ways to do that are to get them from the App Store or set up a developer account. And that’s been the case since the App store first launched in 2008. But according to a new report from Bloomberg’s Mark […]

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All phones sold in the EU will need USB-C ports starting December 28, 2024

by Brad Linder 26 Comments on All phones sold in the EU will need USB-C ports starting December 28, 2024

Most modern Android smartphones feature USB-C ports, but soon that might be a requirement for all phones sold in Europe… including iPhones. After announcing a provisional agreement in June  to create “a single charging solution for certain electronic devices,” the European Union has finalized that agreement and announced that starting December 28, 2024 all new […]