MacRumors

Update October 26 3:31 p.m.: In a statement shared with MacRumors today, Apple said it has paused gambling ads in App Store app pages, with no further details provided:

We have paused ads related to gambling and a few other categories on App Store product pages.

Original story from October 25 follows.

---

Apple today rolled out new ad placements in the App Store on the iPhone, allowing developers to advertise their apps in more places, including the main Today tab and in the "You Might Also Like" section at the bottom of individual app listings.

Just hours later, several prominent developers have complained about distasteful ads for gambling apps appearing in their own App Store listings outside of their control, including Marco Arment, Simon Støvring, and others. The issue was also highlighted in a tweet shared by MacStories editor-in-chief Federico Viticci.

"Now my app's product page shows gambling ads, which I'm really not OK with," tweeted Arment. "Apple shouldn't be OK with it, either."

As noted by Arment, Apple provides advertisers with the choice to have their ad shown in app categories different than their own app's category, allowing ads for gambling ads to appear in listings for unrelated apps like the podcast app Overcast.

The presence of gambling ads in the App Store as a whole has prompted some criticism, with some accusing Apple of being greedy and moving away from policies that the company upheld under former CEO Steve Jobs. Apple earns revenue from both the ad placements and its 15% to 30% cut of in-app purchases in gambling apps.

Beyond upsetting some developers, Apple allowing apps to run ads in other apps' listings has already led to the company facing accusations of anticompetitive behavior. In a tweet last week, legal expert Florian Mueller argued the ads are "another means of increasing the effective app tax rate, forcing developers to buy ads on their own app pages in order to avoid that others steer customers away from there."

In August, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said Apple wanted to nearly triple its current advertising revenue to at least $10 billion per year in the future. Gurman said keyword-based search result ads are coming to the Apple Maps app starting next year.

We've reached out to Apple for comment and asked if the company will consider tightening its rules surrounding the ads. We'll update this story if we hear back.

Today is the official launch day for the 10th-generation iPad and the M2 iPad Pro models that Apple announced last week, and we picked up one of each of the new tablets to give MacRumors readers a look at what's new.

The updated 11 and 12.9-inch ‌iPad Pro‌ models are not particularly exciting, as Apple has not introduced any design changes or major feature updates. We did not get the rumored MagSafe charging, the reverse wireless charging, or any other notable additions.

Apple added an upgraded ‌M2‌ chip, which is the same chip that's in the MacBook Air. It brings up to a 15 percent improvement in CPU speeds and up to a 35 percent improvement in GPU performance compared to the M1, but the ‌M1‌ was already pretty robust, so casual users are not going to notice the upgrade.

There is a new Apple Pencil hover feature that allows the display to detect the ‌Apple Pencil‌ when it's 12mm away from the screen for new sketching, drawing, and interface functionality, plus there's WiFi 6E support for faster connection speeds, but that's it. There's no reason to upgrade if you have an ‌M1‌ ‌iPad Pro‌, and it's even a questionable upgrade if you have an A12Z or A12X model.

The low-cost ‌iPad‌ got a much bigger update, but it's unfortunately not as low-cost anymore, with pricing that starts at $449 instead of $329. It no longer has thick bezels and a Touch ID Home button, with Apple instead transitioning to the same ‌Touch ID‌ power button used for the iPad Air and the iPad mini.

There is more available display area (it now measures in at 10.9 inches) and a range of bright colors to choose from, plus it is equipped with a faster A14 Bionic chip. There's an improved 12-megapixel rear camera and it is the first ‌iPad‌ with a landscape front-facing camera, which is useful if you use it in landscape mode with a keyboard.

The low-cost ‌iPad‌ has also gained USB-C and 5G connectivity, plus Apple designed a Magic Keyboard Folio for it, so it's actually quite a bit like the ‌iPad Air‌. In fact, Apple has made the ‌iPad‌ line a bit confusing with the addition of the ‌iPad‌ because it is so similar to the ‌iPad Air‌. It's essentially an ‌iPad Air‌ without an M-series chip.

If you have a prior-generation low-cost ‌iPad‌, it is without a doubt a notable upgrade, and it continues to be $150 cheaper than the ‌iPad Air‌.

What do you think of the new ‌M2‌ ‌iPad Pro‌ and the 10th-generation ‌iPad‌? Let us know in the comments below.

With the iOS 16.2 beta, Apple has introduced a new Sleep widget that can be added to the new iOS 16 Lock Screen alongside other widgets.

The Sleep widget is the only new widget addition in iOS 16.2, and it draws from data stored in the Health app and collected by the Apple Watch or other sleep tracking devices. It provides information such as time spent in bed and sleep quality, with three variants available.

A simple one tile widget shows the amount of time that you spent in bed, and two multi-tile options display either a bar chart that shows sleep quality or a larger widget that shows time in bed along with a visual representation. Tapping on the widget opens up the Sleep section of the Health app.

On iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max models, the Sleep widget is collapsed down when the display is dimmed for the always-on display mode, with a series of lines available for the two tile widget and a bed icon available for the single tile widget.

iOS 16.2 is limited to developers at the current time, with Apple having provided one beta so far. The update is likely to expand to public beta testers in the near future.

The new iPad Pro models announced last week are the first Apple devices to support Wi-Fi 6E, which uses the 6GHz band to enable faster and more reliable Wi-Fi connectivity. In a new support document, Apple explains how the feature works.

To create a Wi-Fi 6E network, Apple says you need a Wi-Fi 6E router that also has its 2.4GHz or 5GHz bands enabled. For the best Wi-Fi performance, Apple recommends using a single network name across the router's 2.4GHz, 5GHz, and 6GHz bands. Otherwise, the iPad Pro identifies the network as having "limited compatibility," with Apple warning that the "overall experience with some activities over the network might not be as expected."

If you experience any issues with a Wi-Fi 6E network, Apple says you can turn off Wi-Fi 6E mode for that network, and the iPad Pro will no longer use that network's 6GHz band. To do so, open the Settings app, tap on Wi-Fi, tap on the name of the network you are connected to, tap on Wi-Fi 6E Mode and toggle it off. However, Apple says this setting appears only for Wi-Fi 6E networks that use a single network name for all bands.

The new iPad Pro was released today and also features the M2 chip, new hover functionality for the Apple Pencil, ProRes video recording, and Bluetooth 5.3.

Apple today introduced an overhauled design for the iCloud.com website, which is available in a beta capacity on Apple's test site, beta.icloud.com.

The updated design is a notable departure from the current iCloud design, showing full tiles with previews for Photos, Mail, iCloud Drive, Notes, and more, on a customizable Home page.

You can choose the apps that you use most for the ‌iCloud‌ Home page, selecting from all of the above listed apps as well as apps that include Pages, Numbers, Keynote, and Calendar.

Apple slightly redesigned some of the apps, tweaking toolbars and button locations for a more streamlined experience.

Anyone can see the new ‌iCloud‌ interface by visiting the beta site. It will be in testing for some time, and after Apple works out any bugs with the design, the new look is likely to expand to the main ‌iCloud‌ website.

(Thanks, Tim!)

Apple's software engineering chief Craig Federighi and marketing chief Greg Joswiak spoke with tech columnist Joanna Stern at The Wall Street Journal's Tech Live event in California on Tuesday. A full video of the interview is now available on YouTube.

Notable topics discussed included Apple admitting that it will have to comply with the EU's law requiring the iPhone to switch to USB-C, the lack of iMessage on Android, the lack of a built-in Calculator app on the iPad, App Tracking Transparency, privacy, working from home vs. the office, and more. The interview was also live-streamed on Twitter.

Read our previous coverage for a recap of notable comments from the interview.

Apple is developing a larger 16-inch iPad that it hopes to release in the fourth quarter of 2023, according to a report today from The Information's Wayne Ma. This would be the largest-ever iPad model, topping the 12.9-inch iPad Pro.

"A 16-inch iPad would likely be geared toward creative professionals such as graphic artists and designers who prefer a larger screen," the report says. No additional details were provided about the prospective device, which would have the same screen size as a 16-inch MacBook Pro, providing users with a significantly larger canvas to work with.

Bloomberg's Mark Gurman last year claimed that Apple was exploring the idea of larger iPads that could further "blur the lines" between a tablet and a laptop.

Earlier this year, oft-accurate display industry analyst Ross Young claimed that Apple was also developing a larger 14-inch iPad Pro with a mini-LED display. Taking both of these rumors into account, it is possible that Apple is planning to release both 14-inch and 16-inch iPad Pro models next year, which would mirror the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro.

Apple just updated the iPad Pro with the M2 chip, Wi-Fi 6E, an Apple Pencil hover feature, ProRes video recording support, and a few other minor improvements last week.

The first tvOS 16.2 beta seeded to developers this week enables Siri voice recognition on the Apple TV for a more personalized experience.

The new feature allows Siri to recognize your voice and switch to your Apple TV user profile, play your music, and provide personalized recommendations for videos, with support for up to six family members, according to Apple. The feature will be available for all users when tvOS 16.2 is released later this year — likely in December.

As noted by Screen Times editor-in-chief Sigmund Judge, it is possible to associate your Siri voice profile from your iPhone or iPad with your Apple TV. Judge shared a preview of the feature on Twitter, but it is not fully functional yet in the beta.

Apple released tvOS 16.1 earlier this week with a new compact Siri interface and added support for "Hey Siri" voice commands via AirPods on the Apple TV.

The Apple TV 4K received a spec bump last week, with new features including an A15 Bionic chip, HDR10+ video support in compatible apps, up to 128GB of storage, a Siri Remote with a USB-C port for charging, a thinner and lighter design without an internal fan, and more. Pricing now starts at a lower $129 to $149 depending on the configuration.

Today on Amazon you can get $100 off nearly every model of the iPad mini 6, starting at $399.00 for the 64GB Wi-Fi model, down from $499.00. This is available in all four colors, and it's the first time we've seen the sale since Prime Early Access earlier in the month.

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.

The iPad mini is shipped and sold directly from Amazon, with the fastest delivery estimated to arrive on October 28, and free delivery estimated for October 31 for most colors. As of writing, only Amazon is offering $100 off the iPad mini.

Not only the 64GB Wi-Fi model is on sale, as you can also get the 256GB Wi-Fi iPad mini for $549.00, down from $649.00. Additionally, the 64GB Cellular model is available for $549.00 and the 256GB Cellular model is on sale for $699.00, but only in one color.

For even more iPad deals, head to our full Best Deals guide for iPad. In that guide we track the best discounts online for iPad, iPad mini, iPad Air, and iPad Pro.

Target today highlighted recent expansions to its relationship with Apple, led by the growing number of "Apple at Target" locations with the dedicated Apple sales areas now available in over 150 Target stores.

Target says these Apple "shop-in-shops" feature Apple-trained Target Tech Consultants with twice the amount of space dedicated to Apple products compared to a typical Target store.

Ahead of the holiday shopping season, Target is also promoting extended trials of various Apple services for members of the retailer's free Target Circle loyalty program. Target Circle members can get a four-month free trial of Apple Fitness+, which Target says is the best trial offer available from any retailer.

"Apple Fitness+ is designed to be welcoming to all, no matter where you are on your fitness journey. Whether you're just getting started, trying something new or switching up your fitness routine, there are over 3,000 workouts and meditations to choose from, with new ones added each week, ranging from five to 45 minutes across 11 workout types and all led by our amazing team of motivating trainers," says Jay Blahnik, vice president of Fitness Technologies, Apple. "We look forward to bringing Fitness+ to even more people, and helping them lead a healthier day by being more active, through this collaboration with Target."

Beyond Fitness+, other Apple services will also be available under extended free trials for Target Circle members. Services such as Apple Music, Apple Arcade, Apple News+, and iCloud+ are currently available with three-month free trials for Target Circle members, but trials for select services will be extended to as long as five months as part of a holiday promotion starting next month and running through January 5.

Amazon today has all-time low prices on Apple's 2022 M2 MacBook Air, starting at $1,049.00 for the 256GB model. This one is available in Silver and Space Gray, and both are in stock and ready to ship from Amazon today.

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.

Apple launched the redesigned MacBook Air this past July, and it comes with the new M2 chip, a 13.6-inch LCD display, MagSafe, and an entirely new design. For the 256GB model, Midnight and Starlight colors are available at $1,099.00, which is a decent second-best option as well.

Additionally, you can get the 512GB M2 MacBook Air at a discount, available for $1,349.00, down from $1,499.00. This one is available in all colors except Space Gray, and it's another record low price on the 2022 MacBook Air.

Head to our full Deals Roundup to get caught up with all of the latest deals and discounts that we've been tracking over the past week.

iOS 16.1 was released to the public this week with support for Live Activities in third-party apps. However, Live Activities integration for select sports games via Apple's built-in TV app appears to have been pushed back to iOS 16.2.

Midway through the iOS 16.1 beta testing period, Live Activities integration in the TV app was disabled, but it has been reenabled in the first beta of iOS 16.2 seeded to developers this week. iOS 16.2 will likely be released to the public around December, so the sports feature should finally be available to all users later this year, as Apple promised.

The feature allows iPhone users to view live sports scores at a glance on the Lock Screen, and in the Dynamic Island on iPhone 14 Pro models.

During a Premier League match, for example, the Dynamic Island shows a live-updating scoreboard with the number of goals scored by each club. When long pressed, the Dynamic Island expands to show the time elapsed and play-by-play action. When an iPhone 14 Pro is locked, and on all other iPhone models, the score is shown on the Lock Screen.

To test the feature with an iPhone on the iOS 16.2 beta, open the TV app and tap on the "Follow" button for a supported game. Apple says the feature is available for MLB games for users in the U.S., Canada, Australia, U.K., Brazil, Mexico, Japan, and South Korea, in addition to NBA and Premier League games for users in the U.S. and Canada only. The feature will likely be expanded to other sports leagues in the future.

In the meantime, some sports apps are offering Live Activities on iOS 16.1, such as Sports Alerts.

(Thanks, Mike Quinn and Youssef Salem!)

Starting today, the new 11-inch iPad Pro, 12.9-inch iPad Pro, and redesigned 10.9-inch iPad are available for pickup at select Apple Stores around the world, with no pre-order required. A wide range of size, color, and storage capacity options are available for each device at Apple Store locations in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and many other countries, but selection may become more limited throughout the day.

To order a product with Apple Store pickup, add the product to your bag on Apple.com or in the Apple Store app, proceed to checkout, select the "I'll pick it up" option, enter your ZIP or postal code, choose an available Apple Store location, select a pickup date, and select a 15-minute check-in window. Payment is completed online, and a valid government-issued photo ID and the order number may be required upon pickup.

While most Apple Stores appear to have adequate stock of the new iPad Pro and iPad models as of Wednesday morning, note that walk-in customers may be placed into a separate queue with lower priority upon arrival to the store, so arranging a pickup is recommended.

The new iPad Pro models received a minor spec bump, with new features including the M2 chip, Wi-Fi 6E support, new hover functionality for the Apple Pencil, ProRes video recording capability, Smart HDR 4, and Bluetooth 5.3. In the U.S., pricing continues to start at $799 for the 11-inch model and at $1,099 for the 12.9-inch model.

The redesigned 10th-generation iPad features a larger 10.9-inch display with slimmer bezels, flat edges, the A14 Bionic chip, a USB-C port, a Touch ID power button, a landscape-positioned FaceTime camera, 5G support on cellular models, Wi-Fi 6, new color options, and support for a new two-piece Magic Keyboard Folio accessory. Pricing starts at $449 in the U.S., while the ninth-generation 10.2-inch iPad remains available for $329.

Apple released iOS 16.1 earlier this week and introduced Live Activities – lingering interactive notifications that stay up to date, allowing you to keep an eye on things happening right from the Lock Screen. Since then, Apple has released the first iOS 16.2 beta to developers, and evidence has been found that Apple is working on a way for Live Activities to update more frequently.

According to inactive code in iOS 16.2 beta 1 discovered by 9to5Mac, Apple will provide users with an option for "More Frequent Updates" for Live Activities, although the setting will also drain an iPhone battery faster, warns the following unearthed message:

More Frequent Updates

Allowing more frequent updates lets you see more real time information, but can drain your battery faster.

Despite the increased battery usage, the upcoming option in the Settings app is likely to be a welcome addition for users relying on third-party apps that use Live Activities to relay information about travel times, such as Flight tracking app Flighty.

Since the release of iOS 16.1, several third-party apps have been updated to support Live Activities on iPhone Lock Screens. The ‌Dynamic Island‌ component requires an ‌iPhone 14 Pro‌ or ‌iPhone 14 Pro‌ Max.

In addition to the additional Live Activities option, the first iOS 16.2 beta includes other extras including the new Freeform App, Stage Manager External Display Support, Accidental Emergency SOS Reports and More

At the Wall Street Journal's Tech Live event, Apple's Craig Federighi and Greg Joswiak talked about a wide range of topics, including USB-C on iPhone, why iPadOS still lacks a calculator app, iMessage on Android, and more.

The EU is forcing many consumer electronic devices, including the iPhone and AirPods, to move to USB-C by the end of 2024. The new rule will directly impact Apple, which still uses the Lightning connector on the iPhone and AirPods. Speaking today at the event, Joswiak said Apple will "have to comply" with the new rule, indirectly confirming the iPhone will switch to USB-C in the future. Reports suggest Apple is testing USB-C on iPhone 15 models destined for release next fall.

Federighi and Joswiak spoke about the pace of innovation on the iPhone, including whether or not smartphones have become boring and if the iPhone needs an update every year. "People are very excited by the new iPhones," Joswiak said, referencing new features on the iPhone 14 Pro, including the new 48-megapixel camera and Dynamic Island. "We always have a ton of stuff that we've got to get out," Federighi said. "We've been working on things for years and years, and there are a pipeline of things we believe that will better help our customers."

Speaking about why iPadOS still lacks a native calculator app, Joswiak said, "There are a ton of them. Go to the App Store." "I use third-party apps," he continued when pressed by the ‌Wall Street Journal‌'s Joanna Stern on what the two executives do when they want to calculate something on their iPads.

Federighi and Joswiak were also asked about the lack of iMessage on Android and Apple's reasoning behind keeping iMessage exclusive to Apple devices. Federighi was asked about an email he sent in 2013 where he said, "I'm concerned iMessage on Android would simply serve to remove [an] obstacle to iPhone families giving their kids Android phones."

"I'm not aware of it shipping," Federighi jokingly said in response to the question. "If we're going to enter a market and go down the road of building an application, we have to be in it in a way that's going to make a difference, that we'll have a lot of customers, and have a great experience," Federighi said.

"If we just shipped an app that really didn't get critical mass on other platforms, what it would have accomplished is it would have held us back in innovating in all the ways we want to innovate in Messages for our customers and wouldn't have accomplished much at all in any other way," Federighi explained. iMessage on Android seemed like a "throwaway" that "was not going to serve the world," he concluded.

During their interview, Federighi and Joswiak also spoke about Apple's transition to Apple silicon on the Mac, Apple's stance on privacy, and Apple's return to in-person work and the controversy around it. The full 35-minute interview can be watched through a replay of the live stream on the ‌Wall Street Journal‌'s Twitter account.

Apple's vice president of worldwide marketing, Greg Joswiak, today said that Apple will have to move to USB-C on iPhone and its remaining devices that still have a Lightning connector in order to comply with new EU rules.

Speaking at the Wall Street Journal's Tech Live event, Joswiak said that Apple ultimately respects the decision made by the EU to mandate a common charger across consumer electronic devices. "We'll have to comply," Joswiak said, indirectly confirming Apple will move to USB-C in the future.

USB-C will have to be the common port across a wide range of consumer electronic devices, including the iPhone and AirPods, by the end of 2024, according to the rules put forward by the EU. Apple is reportedly testing iPhone 15 models with a USB-C port.

Apple today provided the first betas of iOS 16.2 and iPadOS 16.2 to developers, introducing even more new features that have been promised for the iOS 16 update.

We've outlined all of the changes found in the iOS 16.2 and iPadOS 16.2 betas so far in this guide.

Freeform App

Apple debuted a new cross-platform Freeform app in iOS 16.2, iPadOS 16.2, and macOS Ventura 13.1. Designed for collaboration, Freeform can be used for jotting down notes, sketching, drawing, saving links, and more.

Multiple people can work on the same Freeform document, with updates synced for all participants in real-time. Apple says that Freeform can be used for sketching projects, designing mood boards, and brainstorming ideas, with the app serving as a creative space.

Stage Manager External Display Support

With iPadOS 16.2, Stage Manager on M1 and M2 iPads can be used with external displays once again. This is functionality that Apple removed in the first version of iPadOS 16 in order to expand ‌Stage Manager‌ to A12X and A12Z iPad Pro models.

With external display support, ‌Stage Manager‌ supports up to eight apps for multitasking purposes, rather than four. This functionality is limited to ‌M1‌ and ‌M2‌ iPads.

For the ‌M1‌ or ‌M2‌ capable iPads, there is also an option to drag and drop a window from the iPad to the external monitor that is connected to your device. Dragging a window from one device to another is new in the iOS 16.2 update.

New Home App Architecture

Paired with HomePod 16.2 software, iOS 16.2, iPadOS 16.2, and macOS Ventura 13.1 add support for an updated Home app architecture that comes following the addition of the Matter smart home standard.

Apple says that the new Home app architecture will bring faster, more reliable performance in homes with many smart accessories, but it requires every device that accesses the home to be running the iOS 16.2, iPadOS 16.2, macOS Ventura 13.1, tvOS 16.2, and watchOS 9.2 betas, along with the ‌HomePod‌ 16.2 beta software.

Expanded 120Hz ProMotion Support

On devices that support ProMotion, Apple says that SwiftUI animated layout changes will support a 120Hz refresh rate, functionality that was previously missing.

Unintentional SOS Calls

Apple appears to be collecting data on accidental SOS calls with the update, and one user has reported an Apple inquiry about the call that collects system data.

Disable Wallpaper and Notifications for Always On Display

iOS 16.2 adds two toggles for disabling wallpaper and notifications when always on display is active. The feature makes for a simpler always on display interface that only shows the time and any widgets that are enabled.

Battery Status Shortcut

There is a new Battery Status Shortcut available that provides information about the iPhone's battery and any charger that's connected.

Software Updates

Apple has made a small tweak to the Software Updates section of the Settings app, which is available under General. The text of the software version that's installed is now bolder, making it more apparent.

Lock Screen Sleep Widget

iOS 16.2 adds a Sleep widget to the Lock Screen, which draws from data stored in the Health app and collected by the Apple Watch or other sleep tracking devices. It provides information such as time spent in bed and sleep quality, with three variants available.

A simple one tile widget shows the amount of time that you spent in bed, and two multi-tile options display either a bar chart that shows sleep quality or a larger widget that shows time in bed along with a visual representation. Tapping on the widget opens up the Sleep section of the Health app.

Lock Screen Medication Widget

In addition to a new Sleep widget, Apple has also added a Medications widget. There are two options, one that is a single pill icon and a second that lets you know when you need to take a medication. It will alert you if all your medications are logged or if you have no more medications for the day.

5G in India

iOS 16.2 unlocks 5G service in India, and multiple carriers in the country are now supporting 5G speeds.

TV App Live Sports Scores

The iOS 16.2 beta re-adds Live Activities integration for select sports games for the built-in TV app on the iPhone. Games can be tracked in real time on the Lock Screen or the Dynamic Island on the iPhone 14 Pro models.

TV App Updates

With the iOS 16.2, iPadOS 16.2, tvOS 16.2, and macOS Ventura 13.1 updates, Apple has tweaked the TV app. There's now a "Featured" section above the "Up Next" section, making it more difficult for users to get to the TV shows they want to watch.

The Featured section content replaces Up Next in the "Watch Now" tab of the Apple TV app, with featured TV shows and movies right at the top of the interface.

Weather App News

The Weather app now integrates with Apple News, displaying relevant Weather-related news information based on your region.

Live Activities in the TV App

There is an option to get more frequent Live Activity updates from the TV app for following sports games. More frequent updates can result in faster battery drain, so you might want to disable it if you're concerned about battery life.

Siri Silent Responses

In the Accessibility section of the Settings app, there is an option to set Siri to "Prefer Silent Responses" so that ‌Siri‌ will confirm requests on-device rather than out loud.

ProMotion Lag Fix

The iOS 16.2 update appears to address long-running issues affecting the iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro models with ProMotion. These devices can experience lagging and stuttering system animations when closing and switching between apps, and multiple reports from beta testers indicate the performance has been improved in the update.

Other New Features

Know of a new feature in iOS 16.2 that we left out? Let us know in the comments below.

Alongside the launch of iOS 16.1, Apple updated its App Store Guidelines to clearly state that apps such as Facebook that offer "boosts" for posts and other ad content must use in-app purchases for these features. Facebook parent company Meta is not happy with Apple's guideline tweak, and in a statement to The Verge, said that Apple is creating policies to bolster its own business while undercutting others.

"Apple continues to evolve its policies to grow their own business while undercutting others in the digital economy. Apple previously said it didn't take a share of developer advertising revenue, and now apparently changed its mind. We remain committed to offering small businesses simple ways to run ads and grow their businesses on our apps."

Facebook allows companies and individuals to pay to "Boost" a post that is performing well, getting it in front of more potential viewers and customers. Prior to the guideline update, Apple said multiple times that digital content sold within apps must be sold through in-app purchases, but Facebook has not followed that rule.

When boosting a post in the Facebook app for iOS, in-app purchase is not required. A boosted post is paid for through a credit card, debit card, PayPal, or a bank account, which means Apple is not getting a cut of the money that businesses and advertisers pay to Facebook. Instagram also uses direct purchase, but other social media networks like Twitter and TikTok use in-app purchases for similar post boosting features.

Facebook and Instagram have used the same direct purchase option for boosts for years, and Apple has let Meta get away with it. The Wall Street Journal, in fact, detailed the private dispute between Apple and Meta over the issue back in August.

While Apple had rules surrounding digital purchases prior to the revamped guidelines, the new wording calls out boosted posts specifically, though the text is listed at the bottom of a rule about ad management apps that do not display ads themselves.

"Advertising Management Apps: Apps for the sole purpose of allowing advertisers (persons or companies that advertise a product, service, or event) to purchase and manage advertising campaigns across media types (television, outdoor, websites, apps, etc.) do not need to use in-app purchase. These apps are intended for campaign management purposes and do not display the advertisements themselves. Digital purchases for content that is experienced or consumed in an app, including buying advertisements to display in the same app (such as sales of "boosts" for posts in a social media app) must use in-app purchase."

An Apple spokesperson confirmed to The Verge that Apple previously had a clear guideline requiring digital goods and services to use in-app purchases, but there was no explanation on why Apple has tweaked the wording of the guideline, nor why Facebook has not been made to comply.

"For many years now, the App Store guidelines have been clear that the sale of digital goods and services within an app must use In-App Purchase. Boosting, which allows an individual or organization to pay to increase the reach of a post or profile, is a digital service -- so of course In-App Purchase is required. This has always been the case and there are many examples of apps that do it successfully."

It is unclear if the guideline changes implemented yesterday represent Apple taking a firmer stance against Facebook and Instagram, but if Apple does start taking a cut of boosted posts, Facebook will likely pass the added cost along to the individuals and businesses that use the boost feature.