Apple today released iOS 14.7, marking the seventh major update to the iOS operating system that came out in September 2020. iOS 14.7 comes two months after the launch of iOS 14.6, a major update that added Apple Card Family Support, Podcast Subscriptions, and more.
The iOS 14.7 update can be downloaded for free and the software is available on all eligible devices over-the-air in the Settings app. To access the new software, go to Settings > General > Software Update.
According to Apple's release notes, iOS 14.7 adds support for the recently introduced MagSafe Battery Pack, which is compatible with the iPhone 12, 12 mini, 12 Pro, and 12 Pro Max.
The update also introduces an Apple Card Family feature for combining credit limits, plus it introduces new features for the HomePod and the Weather app. Apple's full release notes are below.
iOS 14.7 includes the following improvements and bug fixes for your iPhone: - MagSafe Battery Pack support for iPhone 12, iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max - Apple Card Family adds the option to combine credit limits and share one co-owned account with an existing Apple Card user - Home app adds the ability to manage timers on HomePod - Air quality information is now available in Weather and Maps for Canada, France, Italy, Netherlands, South Korea, and Spain - Podcasts library allows you to choose to see all shows or only followed shows
Bug Fixes: - Share playlist menu option missing in Apple Music - Dolby Atmos and Apple Music lossless audio playback may unexpectedly stop - Battery service message that may have disappeared after reboot on some iPhone 11 models is restored - Braille displays could show invalid information while composing Mail messages
iOS 14.7 may be the last update to the iOS 14 update as Apple transitions work to iOS 15, which was introduced at WWDC. iOS 15 is set to be released this fall.
Update: An earlier version of this article said that Apple had released both iOS 14.7 and iPadOS 14.7. It does not appear that Apple has released an iPadOS 14.7 update for iPads, which is unusual as these updates have never previously been separated.
Apple today released watchOS 7.6, the sixth major update to the watchOS 7 operating system that was released in September 2020. watchOS 7.6 comes two months after the release of watchOS 7.5.
The watchOS 7.6 update can be downloaded for free through the dedicated Apple Watch app on the iPhone by going to General > Software Update. To install the new software, the Apple Watch needs to have at least 50 percent battery, it needs to be placed on a charger, and it needs to be in range of the iPhone.
According to Apple's release notes, the watchOS 7.6 update brings support for the ECG app and irregular heart rhythm notifications to 30 additional regions.
No other new features were discovered during the beta testing process, and it's likely that watchOS 7.6 will be one of the final updates to the watchOS 7 operating system as Apple works to transition to watchOS 8.
Apple today released tvOS 14.7, the seventh update to the tvOS 14 operating system that initially debuted in September 2020. tvOS 14.7 comes two months after the launch of the tvOS 14.6 update.
tvOS 14.7, which is a free update, can be downloaded over the air through the Settings app on the Apple TV by going to System > Software Update. Apple TV owners who have automatic software updates enabled will be upgraded to tvOS 14.7 automatically.
Apple's tvOS updates are usually minor in scale, focusing on under-the-hood bug fixes, performance updates, and small tweaks rather than major outward-facing changes. No new features were discovered during the tvOS 14.7 beta testing process.
Apple does not provide detailed release notes for its tvOS updates, but it does offer some tvOS details through its tvOS support document.
tvOS 14.7 may be one of the final updates to the tvOS 14 operating system as Apple shifts its attention to tvOS 15, which is set to come out this fall.
Mesh technology offers whole home Wi-Fi coverage that is easily expandable by adding additional nodes, with Wi-Fi 6 offering faster speeds with lower latency compared to Wi-Fi 5, which was previously known as 802.11ac. HomeKit support, which rolled out with a software update last week, allows the AX4200 nodes to be managed through the Home app on iPhone, iPad, and Mac, complete with improved network security options.
Nanoleaf, known for its range of smart lighting panels, recently launched new HomeKit-enabled "Elements Wood Look" hexagon lights with a wood grain veneer designed to offer a more natural lighting experience that blends in better with home decor and creates a cozy ambiance in the room. Apple is now carrying these lights for $299.95.
Other accessories added to Apple's online store include various protective cases and sleeves for the MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, iPad Pro, and AirPods Pro, as well as Belkin's wall-mounted Wemo Stage Scene Controller that allows you to control smart lights, shades, thermostats, door locks and other HomeKit-enabled accessories.
In a recently updated support document, Apple has indicated that customers should not use products containing hydrogen peroxide to disinfect Apple products, including the iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, HomePod, AirPods, and more. On the other hand, Apple has confirmed it is okay to use a 75% ethyl alcohol wipe to disinfect products.
We've emphasized the wording added to the support document below:
Using a 70 percent isopropyl alcohol wipe, 75 percent ethyl alcohol wipe, or Clorox Disinfecting Wipes, you may gently wipe the hard, nonporous surfaces of your Apple product, such as the display, keyboard, or other exterior surfaces. Don't use products containing bleach or hydrogen peroxide. Avoid getting moisture in any opening, and don't submerge your Apple product in any cleaning agents. Don't use on fabric or leather surfaces.
Apple says to avoid getting moisture in any opening when disinfecting products, and warns against submerging an Apple product in any cleaning agents, as liquid damage is not covered by Apple's standard warranty.
Many common household cleaning brands offer solutions with hydrogen peroxide, such as Lysol, so be sure to read labels as necessary.
Nomad today is hosting a 30 percent off sitewide sale, giving you the chance to save on iPhone cases, AirPods cases, Apple Watch bands, charging accessories, and more. This "Summer Vibes Sale" will last through July 25 and you'll need to enter the code SUMMER30 to see the discount.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Nomad. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
This coupon code can only be applied to full-priced items on Nomad, and it is not valid on any of Moment's camera gear that is sold on Nomad's website.
In terms of cases, Nomad sells MagSafe-compatible cases and folios for the iPhone 12 series. The Rugged Case with MagSafe is priced at $41.97 (regular $59.95) and the Rugged Folio with MagSafe is priced at $55.97 (regular $79.95).
There are plenty of other opportunities for savings during the Summer Vibes Sale, including discounted AirTag Keychains, wallets, the Nomad titanium Apple Watch band, MacBook Sleeves, and other products. Head to Nomad's website to browse the full sale before it ends July 25.
Apple's new MagSafe Battery Pack will begin arriving to customers around the world this week, and one lucky person has already snagged one.
Steven Russell from Memphis, Tennessee said he managed to pick up the MagSafe Battery Pack from a local Apple Store over the weekend, and he has since shared photos on Reddit, providing a closer look at its design and thickness.
Russell shared some early impressions of the battery pack, noting that it is designed with hard but smooth plastic and has a very strong magnetic attraction to his iPhone 12 Pro, even with Apple's silicone MagSafe case on the device. He added that while the battery pack is quite thick, its rounded edges make it comfortable to hold.
Priced at $99 in the United States, the MagSafe Battery Pack attaches magnetically to the back of the iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Pro, or iPhone 12 Pro Max, providing additional hours of battery life. Apple says the battery pack is able to wirelessly charge the iPhone at up to 5W on the go, or at up to 15W when the battery pack is connected to a 20W or higher power adapter with a Lightning to USB-C cable.
When you attach the MagSafe Battery Pack to an iPhone 12 running iOS 14.7 or later, it will automatically begin to charge the iPhone and a charging status will appear on the Lock screen. iOS 14.7 is currently in beta and should be released within the next few days.
The MagSafe Battery Pack can be ordered on Apple's online store in a white color only and currently has a late July delivery estimate.
Update: Russell has also confirmed that the MagSafe Battery Pack can wirelessly charge AirPods, which is to be expected, as the battery pack is functionally equivalent to the MagSafe Charger in this regard.
One more thing to add. I have been asked if it wirelessly charges AirPods. Answer appears to be yes. pic.twitter.com/2WCcKSOlbI
— Steven Russell (@stevenrussell) July 19, 2021
Activations of iOS and Android devices are now evenly split in the United States, with little sign of movement toward either platform dominating over the past two years, according to data sourced by Consumer Research Intelligence Partners (CIRP).
CIRP estimates that iOS and Android each had 50 percent of new smartphone activations in the year ending this quarter. iOS's share of new smartphone activations climbed from 2017 to 2020, but has now remained at its peak level for a second consecutive year.
CIRP Partner and Co-Founder Josh Lowitz said that the finding is significant because for several years, Android smartphones "had a significant edge, with over 60 percent of customers opting for an Android phone in most quarters. In the past couple of years, though, iOS has closed the gap, and now splits the market with Android."
Both Android and iOS users have had a high level of loyalty historically. Android loyalty has varied very slightly, in a narrow range of 90 to 93 percent in the past four years. iOS loyalty, on the other hand, has gradually increased over the past four years, from a low of 86 percent in early 2018 to 93 percent in the most recent quarter ending in June 2021.
Loyalty and tendency to switch platforms may explain some of the change in the share of new smartphone activations, where iOS has gained loyalty in a market with a limited amount of switching. CIRP Partner Mike Levin explained:
In the most recent quarter, Apple had an edge in loyalty, with 93 percent of prior iPhone owners upgrading to a new iPhone, compared to 88 percent of Android owners staying with Android. Over several years, iOS gained about five percentage points in loyalty, while Android remained flat. This allowed Apple to steadily increase the iOS share of new smartphone activations.
CIRP's latest data was based on a survey of 500 U.S. subjects that activated a new or used smartphone in the period from April to June this year. Given the small sample size, there is certainly some margin of error to these numbers, but the data provides a reliable look at activations and loyalty over time as it uses the same survey each quarter.
Amazon is offering up to $59 in savings on Apple's AirPods this week, including the regular model and the AirPods Pro. If you're shopping for the AirPods Pro, you can get these for $189.99 on Amazon, down from $249.00.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
This price is beating the typical Amazon sale by $7, and it's the best sale currently available at a major Apple reseller online this week. This is also the most common sale that we've tracked on the AirPods Pro in 2021, typically seen at both Woot and on Amazon.
For the lower-cost model, Amazon has the AirPods with Wired Charging Case for $119.99, down from $159.00. We've seen this model drop to $109 in the past, but this is another example of rare sales that haven't reemerged very often since their popularity earlier in 2021.
Lastly, the AirPods with Wireless Charging Case is marked down to $149.99, from $199.00. Similar to the previous sale, this is a solid second-best option given that we haven't seen any steeper discounts on this model of AirPods since early 2021.
We track sales for every model of the AirPods in our Best AirPods Deals guide, so be sure to bookmark that page while you shop around for the wireless headphones.
Back at CES, Anker announced the PowerWave Go 3-in-1 Stand, a docking station for iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods that also includes a removable power bank to charge your devices on the go, and after a few months to finalize the product, it's launching today.
I've had a few days to try out the PowerWave Go, and I can say that it's a clever gadget that comes in handy for those steeped in the Apple ecosystem. I've been using Belkin's MagSafe 3-in-1 charger at my bedside for the past few months, so swapping it out for the PowerWave Go made for a convenient comparison.
The PowerWave Go is made largely of gray plastic, but it looks nice and feels solid. The front of the main body is dominated by a depression which houses a slot for the rechargeable power bank that doubles as the phone charger portion of the device, as well as a spot for wirelessly charging an AirPods or AirPods Pro case.
On top of the body behind the AirPods charging spot is a USB-C port where the separate Apple Watch charging module connects. Fully assembled, it's a fairly attractive-looking charger that offers a versatile setup.
One limitation worth noting is that Anker says the unit is not compatible with the iPhone 12 mini, as the smaller size of the device prevents the charging coils from lining up properly in stand mode. The phone will work fine in power bank mode.
The whole docking station is powered through a single five-foot USB-C to USB-C cable and the 45-watt version of Anker's new ultra-compact Nano II GaN chargers, with both the charger and cable included in the box.
In this desktop mode, the PowerWave Go supplies up to 10 watts of charging power for a phone, although an iPhone will be limited to 7.5 watts due to Apple's limitations on non-MagSafe charging solutions. It will also supply 5 watts each to the AirPods charging spot and the USB-C port for the Apple Watch charger.
When you're ready to go on the road, you can just grab the removable power bank from the base as it's simply held in place magnetically and receives its power through pogo pin contacts. On its own, the power bank can then supply up to 10 watts of wireless charging power and up to 20 watts from a USB-C port.
If you also need to charge your Apple Watch on the go, all you need to do is pop the Apple Watch charging module of the main body of the PowerWave Go and attach it to the USB-C port on the power bank and you're all set. Anker includes a plastic cover to protect the USB-C connector on the Apple Watch module while it's loose, but I can see myself losing that in no time. USB-C ports are pretty hardy though, so I'm not too concerned about losing the cover.
Since the Apple Watch charging module uses USB-C, you can also use it separately without the power bank or docking station, such as by connecting it directly to a USB-C power adapter or to a USB-C port on a computer.
The power bank holds up 10,000 mAh of charge at 3.7 volts for a total of 37 Wh of energy. That's enough to fully charge most iPhone models around two to four times. The power bank can also be charged directly over USB-C, so you don't need to have access to the PowerWave Go base to recharge it. And thanks to passthrough charging, you can also wirelessly charge your phone while recharging the power bank.
In comparing the PowerWave Go to Belkin's 3-in-1 dock, there are some aspects I prefer about each of them. As a first point of comparison, the Belkin stand supports MagSafe while Anker the stand does not. I find MagSafe handy for making it easy to set my iPhone to charge with a very clean look, but the PowerWave Go's stand is essentially just as easy as far as getting my phone into charging position.
The PowerWave Go won't charge as quickly as the MagSafe Belkin charger, but I'm generally using it overnight so speed isn't really a factor and can actually be a detriment if too much heat is generated. The MagSafe aspect of the Belkin also means that support is limited to the iPhone 12 lineup at the moment, while the PowerWave Go can support a broader range of Qi-compatible devices.
The power bank on the PowerWave Go has a fairly bright blue light on its side that comes on whenever it's charging a device in either stand mode or portable mode. So for those who are sensitive to light at night, that's something to be aware of.
I definitely prefer the AirPods charging spot on the PowerWave Go over the Belkin one, at least for the AirPods Pro I use daily. It's super easy to just drop them into their spot on the PowerWave Go, while the Belkin has more of a slight depression on a flat surface and it takes longer than I'd like for the charging light to come on and confirm that I have the case positioned correctly. The Belkin setup does allow for larger devices like another phone to be charged in the AirPods spot, but it's at slower speeds and not something I've ever needed to use.
The portable conversion aspect of the PowerWave Go is of course something the Belkin 3-in-1 can't match, and I like that I can just pick up the power bank and Apple Watch charger and be ready to go. I've been using Apple's MagSafe Duo Charger for the little bit of traveling I've done recently, but the PowerWave Go portable setup offers more flexibility given that it doesn't need to be plugged in.
All of this convenience doesn't come cheaply, with the PowerWave Go priced at $179.99, which is $40 more than the Belkin dock when purchased through Apple. But with a quality build supporting a number of Apple devices, a removable high-capacity power bank with wireless charging, and Anker's excellent 45W wall charger also included, there's a lot of value in this package.
Note: Anker provided MacRumors with a PowerWave Go for the purpose of this review. No other compensation was received. MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
Apple TV+ original animated shows were named three times in the Daytime Emmy Award winners for children's programming announced over the weekend.
According to Variety, original Apple TV+ film "Here We Are: Notes for Living on Planet Earth" won its nomination for "Outstanding Special Class Daytime Animated Program." For her work on the film, animator Anne Moth also received an award for "Outstanding Individual Achievement in Animation."
Meanwhile, Apple Original "Stillwater" won an Emmy for "Outstanding Editing for a Preschool Animated Program," and had nominations in several other categories. "Helpsters" was also named in multiple categories but was ultimately unable to bag an award.
Daytime Emmy ceremonies were aired on Saturday and Sunday, and streamed via the web and the Emmy app, where they remain available to watch. The winners of the 73rd Annual Primetime Emmy Award winners will be announced on September 19, 2021, when Apple TV+ comedy "Ted Lasso" will hope to bring home more awards after receiving nominations in several categories including "Best Comedy."
Apple plans to update the iPhone SE, its 4.7-inch entry-level iPhone, with an updated A14 Bionic processor from the iPhone 12 series in the first half of next year, according to a report from DigiTimes.
DigiTimes' report follows in the footsteps of reliable Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who reported last month the iPhone SE would receive an updated processor and 5G capabilities in the first half of 2022. Kuo says the new iPhone SE, which has marketed well for customers looking for smaller handsets, will be the "cheapest 5G iPhone ever" and is hoped to bolster Apple's position in the increasingly competitive 5G market.
The iPhone SE was originally released in March of 2016 as a small entry-level iPhone to replace the iPhone 5S, released three years earlier. Apple updated the iPhone for the first time in April of last year with the A13 Bionic processor borrowed from the iPhone 11, a larger screen, a new design, and improved cameras. According to reports, the upcoming iPhone SE 3 will sport fewer changes, featuring only the improved A14 Bionic processor and 5G.
The iPhone SE is the only iPhone within Apple's current lineup that features a Touch ID sensor and a Home Button, and that design will continue with the iPhone SE 3 next year, according to DigiTimes and Ming-Chi Kuo. Looking further out, Apple is reportedly planning to redesign the iPhone SE with a punch-hole screen design rather than a notch in 2023.
Journalists, lawyers, and human rights activists around the world have been targeted by authoritarian governments using phone malware made by Israeli surveillance firm NSO Group, according to multiple media reports.
An investigation by 17 media organizations and Amnesty International's Security Lab uncovered a massive data leak, indicating widespread and continuing abuse of the commercial hacking spyware, Pegasus, which can infect iPhones and Android devices and enable attackers to extract messages, emails, and media, and record calls and secretly activate microphones.
The leak contains a list of over 50,000 phone numbers that are believed to have been identified by clients of NSO as possible people of interest. Forbidden Stories, a Paris-based nonprofit media organization, and Amnesty International had access to the leaked list and shared that access with media partners as part of reporting consortium the Pegasus project. Forensic tests on some of the phones with numbers on the list indicated that more than half had traces of the spyware.
The company behind the software, NSO, denies any wrongdoing and claims its product is strictly for use against criminals and terrorists, and is made available only to military, law enforcement and intelligence agencies.
In a statement given to media organizations in response to the Pegasus project, NSO said the original investigation which led to the reports was "full of wrong assumptions and uncorroborated theories."
NSO does not operate the systems that it sells to vetted government customers, and does not have access to the data of its customers' targets. NSO does not operate its technology, does not collect, nor possesses, nor has any access to any kind of data of its customers. Due to contractual and national security considerations, NSO cannot confirm or deny the identity of our government customers, as well as identity of customers of which we have shut down systems.
In an earlier version of the spyware, surveillance activity depended on the phone user clicking on a malicious link sent to them in a text or email (so-called "spear-phishing"). However, the most recently discovered version doesn't require interaction from the user and can instead exploit "zero-click" vulnerabilities – bugs or flaws in the OS – to succeed.
For example, Amnesty's Security Lab and Citizen Lab found an iPhone running iOS 14.6 could be hacked with a zero-click iMessage exploit to install Pegasus.
It also indicates that Apple has a MAJOR blinking red five-alarm-fire problem with iMessage security that their BlastDoor Framework (introduced in iOS 14 to make zero-click exploitation more difficult) ain't solving.
— Bill Marczak (@billmarczak) July 18, 2021
Meanwhile, media organizations involved in the project plan to reveal the identities of people whose number appeared on the list in the coming days. They are said to include hundreds of business executives, religious figures, academics, NGO employees, union officials and government officials. Disclosures which began on Sunday have already revealed that the numbers of more than 180 journalists are already known to be among the data.
WhatsApp sued NSO in 2019 after it alleged the company was behind cyber-attacks on thousands of mobile phones involving Pegasus. NSO denied any criminal wrongdoing, but the company has been banned from using WhatsApp.
Update: Apple has provided the following statement condemning the use of the zero-click exploit against journalists, lawyers, and human rights activists to The Guardian.
In a statement, the iPhone maker said: “Apple unequivocally condemns cyber-attacks against journalists, human rights activists, and others seeking to make the world a better place. For over a decade, Apple has led the industry in security innovation and, as a result, security researchers agree iPhone is the safest, most secure consumer mobile device on the market.”
Apple also said that security was a dynamic field and that its BlastDoor was not the end of its efforts to secure iMessage.
“Attacks like the ones described are highly sophisticated, cost millions of dollars to develop, often have a short shelf life, and are used to target specific individuals,” it said. “While that means they are not a threat to the overwhelming majority of our users, we continue to work tirelessly to defend all our customers, and we are constantly adding new protections for their devices and data.”
Note: Due to the political or social nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Political News forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.
Following a successful supercycle launch of the iPhone 12 last year, Apple aims to make another "big splash" with its upcoming 2021 iPhones, which can be expected to feature larger batteries, smaller notches, improved performance, and more advanced displays that may sport an always-on mode.
In the latest publication of his weekly Power On newsletter, Bloomberg journalist Mark Gurman outlines what customers can expect from this year's iPhone. According to Gurman, in line with previously leaked battery capacities, the new iPhones will feature larger batteries that may be used to power displays with a 120Hz refresh rate and possibly an Apple Watch-inspired always-on mode.
With recent Apple Watch models, the display can remain on at a lower brightness and variable refresh rate. This allows wearers to see their watch face at all times. Gurman says that Apple may bring similar functionality to the 2021 iPhone, allowing customers to possibly see information such as the time, date, and their notifications at all times on their display.
This would be made possible thanks to LTPO displays which can power efficiently keep the display on at a lower brightness at all times, without a significant impact on battery life.
Apple can be expected to release its redesigned 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pros sometime between September and November, as part of another packed fall season for new product launches, according to Bloomberg journalist Mark Gurman.
Gurman notes that Apple had originally planned to release the new MacBook Pros earlier this year, but continued complications around mini-LED production delayed their launch.
The new MacBook Pros are expected to be high in demand thanks to several significant features and changes. On top of a new design featuring flat-edges and more ports, Apple plans to include mini-LED displays in the new laptops, the same one used in the high-end 12.9-inch iPad Pro announced this past April. Faster Apple silicon chips will also power the new MacBook Pros. Learn more about everything we know about the upcoming MacBook Pros with our guide.
Apple this week surprised us with the debut of a new $99 MagSafe Battery Pack for the iPhone 12 lineup, taking the place of the full battery cases Apple has traditionally launched for its iPhones.
Other news and rumors this week included the release of the third betas of iOS 15 and Apple's other upcoming operating systems, our best look yet at the iPhone 13 in the form of some dummy units we were able to get our hands on, and a rumored webcam upgrade for the upcoming redesigned MacBook Pro models. Read on for details on these stories and more!
We're likely about two months away from Apple unveiling its rumored iPhone 13 lineup with several new features, including a smaller notch, a smoother 120Hz display on Pro models, camera upgrades, and potentially even a new Matte Black color option.
The new MacBook Pro models would be following in the footsteps of the latest iMac models, which are also equipped with a 1080p webcam for crisper video quality in this Zoom and FaceTime era. MacBook Pro models are currently equipped with a 720p webcam.
While the browser-based service will be limited to businesses when it launches in early August, it is conceivable that the feature will become available for consumers at some point in the future.
The feature could be similar to Apple Card Monthly Installments, except with no Apple Card required, making monthly installments available to a much wider group of iPhone users.
MacRumors Newsletter
Each week, we publish an email newsletter like this highlighting the top Apple stories, making it a great way to get a bite-sized recap of the week hitting all of the major topics we've covered and tying together related stories for a big-picture view.
More than 125 people have died in unprecedented flooding in Germany, Belgium, and the Netherlands, with high waters damaging roads, homes, bridges, and other infrastructure. Another 1,300 people are missing, with multiple small villages devastated by flood waters.
Our hearts are with all those affected by the devastating flooding across Germany, Belgium and Western Europe. Apple will be donating to support relief efforts.
— Tim Cook (@tim_cook) July 16, 2021
Fakespot, which is known for analyzing reviews from popular websites to determine their accuracy, today had its iOS app removed from Apple's App Store.
According to The Verge, Amazon sent Apple a takedown request, which led to the app being pulled. Fakespot's iOS app just launched in June, and it was designed to allow users to log into Amazon and buy items while using the Fakespot engine to analyze the reviews.
Amazon said that Fakespot's app was "wrapping" the website without permission and that the app could potentially be exploited to steal Amazon customer data. Amazon sent the initial takedown notice in June, and today, Apple kicked the app from the App Store.
Amazon claimed that Fakespot violated Apple's 5.2.2 App Store guideline that prevents apps from using, accessing, monetizing access to, or displaying content from a third-party service if not authorized to do so. A statement from Amazon said that the app was giving customers "misleading information" about Amazon sellers.
"The app in question provides customers with misleading information about our sellers and their products, harms our sellers' businesses, and creates potential security risks. We appreciate Apple's review of this app against its Appstore guidelines."
Fakespot founder Saoud Khalifah told The Verge that Apple did not give it an opportunity to solve the problem. "We just dedicated months of resources and time and money into this app," he said. He went on to say Amazon's willingness to "bully little companies" showcases "cracks in their company."
A search for Fakespot confirms that the Fakespot app is no longer available for download from the iOS App Store. While it was active, it had more than 150,000 installs.
Fakespot is well known for analyzing Amazon reviews and providing a rating or grade on how many of those reviews come from actual people. Amazon says that it regularly analyzes products with reviews that Fakespot calls out as untrustworthy, but that Fakespot's findings "were wrong more than 80% of the time."
Amazon says that Fakespot does not have the appropriate information to "accurately determine the authenticity of a review." Fakespot's website continues to be active and is available for Amazon shoppers to use, plus there is a browser extension for Chrome and Firefox.
Update: Apple in a statement provided to MacRumors explained that the dispute was between Amazon and Fakespot, and that Fakespot had been contacted multiple times.
This was a dispute over intellectual property rights initiated by Amazon on June 8 and within hours we ensured both parties were in contact with one another, explaining the issue and steps for the developer to take to keep their app on the store and giving them ample time to resolve the issue. On June 29, we again reached out to Fakespot weeks before removing their app from the App Store.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Nomad. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
