MacRumors

Apple has removed the Infowars app from the App Store, just a day after controversial Infowars radio show host Alex Jones was permanently banned from Twitter.

Apple confirmed the app's permanent removal to BuzzFeed late on Friday, but instead of giving a specific reason for taking action now, Apple simply cited its own general App Store guidelines, which prohibit content that is "offensive, insensitive, upsetting, intended to disgust, or in exceptionally poor taste."

Early last month, Apple removed the entire libraries of five Infowars podcasts from its Podcasts platform and said it had chosen to do so on the grounds that it does not tolerate hate speech.

At the time, the tech giant defended its decision not to remove the Infowars app, saying that the App Store is a place for "all points of view" as long as apps are respectful to users with differing opinions. However, Apple also noted that it continues to monitor apps for violations of its guidelines and will remove them if necessary.

Apple's initial stance struck some observers as odd, given that the Infowars mobile app allowed users to live stream the same programs that were removed from the Apple Podcasts platform. The app's continued availability also allowed it to benefit from the publicity surrounding Apple's removal of the podcasts.

However, that's no longer the case, and as of Friday evening, searching for the app within the App Store only returns apps related to Infowars, while the official app is nowhere to be seen.

Apple's removal of the Infowars app follows Twitter's decision on Thursday to permanently suspend Alex Jones and Infowars. The social media network said the suspension was based on new reports of tweets and videos posted that violate its abusive behavior policy, in addition to the accounts' previous violations.

Note: Due to the political nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Politics, Religion, Social Issues 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.

Dozens of popular iPhone apps are sharing the location data of millions of mobile devices with third-party data monetization firms, according to a group of security researchers called GuardianApp (via TechCrunch).

The apps in question are mostly news, weather, and fitness apps that require access to location data to work properly, but then share that data to earn money.

According to security researchers, the apps send both precise location and other sensitive customer data to data monetization companies "at all times, constantly" sometimes without customers being aware of the location data collection. The information is used for purposes like creating databases for ad targeting.

Researchers used tools to monitor network traffic to discover apps collecting Bluetooth LE data, GPS longitude and latitude, WiFi SSIDs, accelerometer information, battery charge percentage, location arrival/departure timestamps, and more.

While the apps say that personally identifiable information is not included in the data collection, one of the researchers, Will Strafach, told TechCrunch that latitude and longitude coordinates can provide information on a person's home or work. Many customers who agree to provide apps with location data may not be aware of the extent of the information being collected and shared.

Apps that were found to be collecting location info and sending it to data monetization firms include ASKfm, NOAA Weather Radar, Homes.com, Perfect365, C25K 5K Trainer, Classifieds 2.0 Marketplace, GasBuddy, Photobucket, Roadtrippers, Tapatalk, and more, with a full list available on the site.

The data is being sent to companies that include Reveal, Sense360, Cuebiq, Teemo, Mobiquity, and Fysical. These companies denied wrongdoing, suggested customers were able to opt out at any time, and said that developers are required to inform customers about the data collection.

Some of the apps in question do indeed have clear data collection notices when opening them up for the first time, but data monetization firms do not make sure apps are following disclosure policies and not all do.

"None of these companies appear to be legally accountable for their claims and practices, instead there is some sort of self-regulation they claim to enforce," said Strafach.

iPhone users who want to avoid having their location data shared with data monetization firms should be wary of the third-party apps they install that are using location services. Limiting ad tracking in Privacy settings by going to Privacy > Advertising is recommended.

GuardianApp also suggests users use a generic name for router SSIDs and turn off Bluetooth functionality when Bluetooth is not in use.

Fortnite players across platforms have taken to Reddit and Twitter over the past day to point out a few performance bugs plaguing the game in the wake of the new "High Stakes" event, with a glut of users calling the iOS game unplayable over the last 12 hours.

Following the complaints, Epic Games this morning responded to players, stating that it is aware of the iOS performance issues and that it has begun working on a fix, which will be shared in an update "as soon as possible." The update is being tested internally, but no word was given on when it'll be out.

Hey everyone,

We know that iOS performance is in a rough state, but we want to let you know that we've fixed the issues and are working on getting a patch out as soon as possible. We know you’re eager to get started on those High Stakes Challenges and try out the Getaway LTM. We'll let you know as soon as we have an update for when the patch will go live.

Fortnite on iOS has been a popular mobile alternative to the PC and console game, offering users the chance to play the well-known "Battle Royale" mode while on the go. Fortnite initially launched as a beta on iOS in March and then expanded wide in April. The smartphone apps are focused entirely on Fortnite's PvP Battle Royale mode, but the console and desktop versions of the game also include a PvE mode called Save the World.

Recently, rumors suggested that Epic Games was working on Fortnite for the Apple TV, but the company confirmed that it "isn't planning to bring Fortnite to Apple TV."

Best Buy's latest flash sale is for the Apple Watch Series 3 today only, particularly those models with GPS and Cellular capabilities. In the sale, you can save $300 on the Ceramic/Sports Band and Stainless Steel/Milanese Loop collections.

Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

This brings the 42mm Stainless Steel Case with Milanese Loop down to $449.00, from $749.00, and the 38mm White Ceramic Case with Soft White/Pebble Sport Band down to $999.00, from $1,299.00. These represent the best prices available online for the Apple Watch GPS + Cellular models, and some of the best-ever discounts on the wearables since Series 3 launched last fall.

Head to Best Buy's Daily Deals page to check out the models on sale and place your order before they expire later tonight. It's still worth noting that the Apple Watch Series 4 is just under one week away at this point.

B&H Photo is also continuing to offer nice discounts on the latest 2018 MacBook Pro in a few configurations, including the 13-inch MacBook Pro with Touch Bar (2.3 GHz, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) for $1,599.00, down from $1,799.00.

If you're looking for a larger display, the 15-inch MacBook Pro with Touch Bar (2.2 GHz, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD) is on sale for $2,099.00, down from $2,399.00. B&H Photo originally said this sale would end on August 31, but it has been extended to September 8 at 11:59 p.m. ET. Adorama is also still matching the discounts.

On Amazon, Anker has shared its newest collection of discounts, which are live through mid September and don't require any promo codes:

• PowerCore 15600 Power Bank - $32.29, down from $39.99 (exp. 9/16)

• Ultra-Slim Wireless Charger - $15.99, down from $19.99 (exp. 9/16)

• ZOLO Liberty+ Total-Wireless Earphones - $99.99, down from $149.99 (exp. 9/16)

• eufy App Control Smart Plug - $18.39, down from $22.99 (exp. 9/16)

• eufy App Control Smart Plug Mini 2 pack - $31.99, down from $39.99 (exp. 9/16)

• eufy Smart Bulb 2 pack - $25.99, down from $32.99 (exp. 9/16)

• Powerline II Lightning Cable 6ft (White) - $10.19, down from $12.99 (exp. 9/16)

Additionally, MacRumors and Magix have again partnered to offer our readers an exclusive discount on one of the multimedia software maker's bundles, called Sound Forge Pro Mac 3. The offer includes savings of up to 60 percent off, with Sound Forge Pro Mac 3 priced at $229.00, down from $557.00.

For those interested, Sound Forge Pro Mac 3 is an advanced audio editing suite with multi-channel recording and editing, mastering for music and dialogue clips, and support for high-resolution audio recording at 24 bits with sampling rates as high as 192kHz. The new sale will run through October 31, 2018. For more information on the software, visit Magix's website.

There are plenty of other deals going on as we enter the weekend, including App Store and iTunes gift card savings at Sam's Club, back to school savings on Mac apps like Pixelmator Pro and Fantastical 2, and ongoing $50 discounts on the HomePod at Best Buy and Costco. Be sure to check out our full Deals Roundup for information on these sales and more.

Nintendo's latest smartphone app Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp has just reached $50 million in player spending across iOS and Android globally, according to data tracked by Sensor Tower. It took the game 289 days to reach this goal, becoming the slowest of Nintendo's latest apps to do so.

Super Mario Run reached the $50 million mark 222 days after its release, while Fire Emblem Heroes achieved the $50 million milestone just 20 days after launching in February 2017. Fire Emblem Heroes has been called Nintendo and DeNA's "most successful mobile game" previously, and today's data cements the game's popularity.

At the one year mark, Fire Emblem Heroes had grossed $295 million worldwide, and as of August 2018 Nintendo has earned $400 million from the game. In a report earlier this week, Sensor Tower noted that Fire Emblem Heroes had grossed $63 million between the months of July and August 2018 alone, a 34 percent jump year-on-year. While it had a slow start, the game's free-to-play structure built on in-app purchases of items like "Orbs" help keep it a consistent earner for Nintendo and DeNA.

Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp is also free-to-play and includes in-app purchases for "Leaf Tickets," which can be used to reduce timers, craft items without the necessary materials, and more. While the tickets can be earned through regular gameplay, they are also available to buy with real-world money on the App Store.

Still, the game has yet to match Fire Emblem Heroes' success, and Sensor Tower says that Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp has earned a majority of its revenue from players in Japan, while those in the United States have been far less interested in it:

Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp revenue has largely come from players in Japan, who’ve contributed about 81 percent of the total it has earned to date. The United States is a distant second at about 14 percent. The majority of spending has been on iOS devices, at about 61 percent of revenue. It has been installed more than 25 million times so far.

Recently, Shigeru Miyamoto stated that Nintendo will "continue pushing" for its smartphone apps to adopt pay-once structures instead of being free-to-play, despite the breakout success of Fire Emblem Heroes. The only Nintendo app to release with a fixed price has been Super Mario Run, and Nintendo itself has admitted on numerous occasions that the game has failed its revenue expectations.

The next major Nintendo smartphone game based on an existing property will be Mario Kart Tour, and DeNA CEO Isao Moriyasu in February reportedly described the kart racer as free-to-start. While vague, Nintendo uses similar terminology on Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp's website, but Moriyasu could also have been referring to Super Mario Run's structure, which allows users to download the game and play the first few levels for free before paying $9.99 to unlock the full game.

Before Mario Kart Tour, Nintendo and developer Cygames will launch the original action RPG Dragalia Lost for iOS and Android later this month, on September 27.

Broadcom on Thursday offered analysts an upbeat end-of-year revenue forecast, thanks in part to the imminent launch of Apple's 2018 iPhone lineup, which is expected to boost the chipmaker's wireless business.

Reuters reports that Broadcom predicted current-quarter revenue largely above estimates, due to higher demand for components that power data centers, as well as an increase in manufacturing at a certain "North American customer," which analysts identified as Apple.

The chipmaker expects Apple's smartphone sales to increase its wireless revenue by 25 percent compared to the previous quarter, although the overall forecast may be down in single-digit percentage compared to the previous year.

That said, Broadcom's enterprise storage business was up 70 percent in Q3 2018, and CEO Hock Tan believes that another strong show will feed into a "seasonal uptick" in its wireless arm:

"More than half our consolidated revenue ... is benefiting from strong cloud and enterprise data center spending," Tan said on his post-earnings call with analysts.

"This, coupled with a seasonal uptick in wireless, will drive our forecast revenue in the fourth quarter."

Next week sees Apple launch its new flagship iPhone lineup, for which Broadcom traditionally supplies several components, including the wireless charger controller, touchscreen, and more.

Apple's September 12 event is expected to usher in a next-generation iPhone X, a larger 6.5-inch OLED screen mobile handset, and a mid-tier 6.1-inch device with an LCD display. The date should also see the company debut a new Apple Watch series and redesigned iPad Pro models.

British Airways says it is investigating the theft of customer data from its website and mobile app over a two-week period, during which 380,000 payment cards were exposed (via The Guardian).

"From 22:58 BST August 21 2018 until 21:45 BST September 5 2018 inclusive, the personal and financial details of customers making bookings on our website and app were compromised," the airline revealed in a statement on its website.

According to BA, travel and passport information was not accessed during the data breach, but concerned customers are being advised to get in touch with their card issuers in the first instance. The company said all customers affected by the breach had been contacted on Thursday night.

"British Airways is communicating with affected customers and we advise any customers who believe they may have been affected by this incident to contact their banks or credit card providers and follow their recommended advice."

The airline said it was informed of the hacking by a third party, which is why it was able to continue undetected for two weeks, but the company insists that the breach has been resolved and its website and mobile app are now working normally.

Twitter is testing an updated version of its desktop site that includes a new Bookmarks feature, the company outlined in a tweet earlier today.

Bookmarks is a feature that was added to the mobile version of Twitter earlier this year but has yet to make its way to the desktop. The Bookmarks option is designed to allow users to save tweets for later access.

According to Twitter, the design is a "limited test for now" and not everyone will see the revamped site. Those who are able to try out the site will see an opt-in popup and are able to go back to the "legacy" site at any time in the Settings options.