Apple may have begun a new push to remove outdated software from the App Store

Apple may have begun more rigorously enforcing its policy against unused and dysfunctional apps. Back in 2016, the company vowed it would go out of its way to remove applications that had stopped working, not kept up with its latest guidelines or become outdated. After not drawing much attention over the last few years, that policy came back into the public consciousness this week. In a series of tweets spotted by The Verge, a handful of indie developers shared an email notice from Apple prompting them to update their games.

“This app has not been updated in a significant amount of time and is scheduled to be removed from sale in 30 days,” the company states in the email. “You can keep this app available for new users to discover and download from the App Store by submitting an update for review within 30 days.”

Apple notes developers can continue to earn revenue from microtransactions even if it removes their app or game from the store. Moreover, their programs will continue to work for those who have them downloaded to their devices. Some people who shared screenshots of the notice on Twitter expressed concern that the policy disproportionately affects smaller developers.

“This is an unfair barrier to indie devs,” Protopop Games developer Robert Kabwe said. “I’m sitting here on a Friday night, working myself to the bone after my day job, trying my best to scrape a living from my indie games, trying to keep up with Apple, Google, Unity, Xcode, macOS changes that happen so fast my head spins while performing worse on older devices.”

On a support page dedicated to its App Store Improvements initiative, the company states the policy is designed “to make it easier for customers to find great apps that fit their needs.” It also notes it wants to ensure all the software you found on the platform is “functional and up-to-date.”

Obviously, there isn’t an easy answer to the situation. From the perspective of an iOS user, it’s not great when you buy a new Apple device and find apps that aren’t optimized to take advantage of the hardware. I encountered that situation when I bought my 2020 iPad Air and downloaded Klei’s tactical espionage RPG Invisible, Inc. Playing the game for the first time, I was disappointed when I found out the studio had not updated the game to support the iPad Air’s 2,360 by 1,640 resolution. In fact, Klei hasn’t updated the iOS version of Invisible, Inc. since 2016. That hasn’t stopped me from enjoying the game, but I wish I could play it without black bars letterboxing the interface.

Twitter is reportedly re-examining Elon Musk’s $43 billion takeover bid

Twitter may be warming up to the idea of selling itself to Elon Musk. According to The Wall Street Journal, the company is re-examining Musk’s takeover bid after the billionaire announced he had the financial backing to get the deal done. When Musk fir…

Sony’s WH-1000XM5 noise-cancelling headphones could feature a new design

Since their release in 2020, Sony’s WH-1000XM4 have consistently been among the best Bluetooth headphones you can buy thanks to their long-lasting battery and excellent noise cancelling capabilities. It now looks like the company has a substantial upgrade planned. In a leak spotted by Gizmodo, German-language publication TechnikNews shared details on what to expect from the WH-1000XM5.

According to the outlet, Sony’s next flagship noise cancelling headphones will feature up to 40 hours of battery life. If accurate, that would be a significant improvement from the already impressive 30 hours you can get on a single charge from the XM4. Charging the new model to full via USB-C will reportedly take approximately three-and-a-half hours, or about 30 minutes longer than the XM4. The new model is also said to feature an additional processing chip for ANC and a new set of drivers.

But as you can see from the renders TechnikNews shared, the most notable difference between the WH-1000XM4 and its alleged successor is an entirely new design. It looks like the XM5 won’t fold in like Sony’s current flagship Bluetooth headphones but the tradeoff it appears is that they’ll feature more padding on the earcups and a lighter band. A lot of people love the WH4 for their comfort and it will be interesting to see if the design of the new model makes it even easier to wear over long listening sessions.

TechnikNews didn’t say anything about a release date or pricing for the WH-1000XM5. Outside of sales, the current model retails for $350. We’ll note here Sony’s WF-1000XM4 earbuds ended up costing more than their predecessor due the addition of features like Qi charging and LDAC support.

Ubisoft’s new ‘team battle arena’ game isn’t a battle royale, claims company

Following a leak early Saturday, Ubisoft announced it was working on a new “team battle arena” game codenamed Project Q. Before Ubisoft’s official announcement, leaker Tom Henderson shared footage of Project Q, showcasing a title that looks like a mix between Overwatch and Fortnite. One mode, dubbed “Showdown,” features four teams of two players pitted against one another to decide the winner, while a second “Battle Zone” mode sees two teams of four players competing to earn 100 points first.

Despite similarities to games like PUBG and Warzone, Ubisoft was quick to claim Project Q isn’t another battle royale. “By the way, this is not a battle royale,” the company tweeted. “The game will feature a variety of PvP modes with one single goal in mind: Fun!” Ubisoft also announced it doesn’t plan to add NFTs to Project Q. Among video game publishers, Ubisoft has been one of the more bullish proponents of Web3 monetization, a stance that has not endeared the company among gamers.

You can sign up on Ubisoft’s website to receive updates on Project Q. According to the registration page, the company is developing the title for Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, PS5 and PC. The confirmation of Project Q‘s existence follows the recent news that Ubisoft would shut down Hyper Scape, its first attempt at a battle royale, on the 28th.

Lapsus$ stole T-Mobile’s source code before member arrests in March

Before police arrested seven of the group’s more prolific members in late March, ransomware gang Lapsus$ stole T-Mobile’s source code that same month. In a report published Friday and spotted by The Verge, security journalist Brian Krebs shared screenshots of private Telegram messages that show the group targeted the carrier multiple times.

“Several weeks ago, our monitoring tools detected a bad actor using stolen credentials to access internal systems that house operational tools software,” T-Mobile told Krebs. “Our systems and processes worked as designed, the intrusion was rapidly shut down and closed off, and the compromised credentials used were rendered obsolete.” The company added the “systems accessed contained no customer or government information or other similarly sensitive information.”

Lapsus$ initially accessed T-Mobile’s internal tools by buying stolen employee credentials on websites like Russian Market. The group then carried out a series of SIM swap attacks. Those type of intrusions typically involve a hacker hijacking their target’s mobile phone by transferring the number to a device in their possession. The attacker can then use that access to intercept SMS messages, including links to password resets and one-time codes for multi-factor authentication. Some Lapsus$ members attempted to use their access to hack into T-Mobile accounts associated with the FBI and Department of Defense but failed to do so due to the additional verification measures tied to those accounts.

Hackers have frequently targeted T-Mobile in recent years. Last August, the company confirmed it had fallen victim to a hack that saw the personal data of more than 54 million of its customers compromised. That breach also involved SIM swap attacks and may have even seen the carrier secretly pay a third-party firm to limit the damage.

European Union limits targeted advertising and content algorithms under new law

Following a marathon 16-hour negotiation session, the European Union reached an agreement early Saturday to adopt the Digital Services Act. The legislation seeks to impose greater accountability on the world’s tech giants by enforcing new obligations companies of all sizes must adhere to once the act becomes law in 2024. Like the Digital Markets Act before it, the DSA could have far-reaching implications, some of which could extend beyond Europe.

While the European Commission has yet to release the final text of the Digital Services Act, it did detail some of its provisions on Saturday. Most notably, the law bans ads that target individuals based on their religion, sexual orientation, ethnicity or political affiliation. Companies also cannot serve targeted ads to minors.

Another part of the law singles out recommendation algorithms. Online platforms like Facebook will need to be transparent about how those systems work to display content to users. They will also need to offer alternative systems “not based on profiling,” meaning more platforms would need to offer chronological feeds. Additionally, some of the largest platforms today will be required to share “key” data to vetted researchers and NGOs so those groups can provide insights into “how online risks evolve.”

“Today’s agreement on the Digital Services Act is historic, both in terms of speed and of substance,” said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. “It will ensure that the online environment remains a safe space, safeguarding freedom of expression and opportunities for digital businesses. It gives practical effect to the principle that what is illegal offline, should be illegal online.”

Under the DSA, the EU will have the power to fine tech companies up to six percent of their global turnover for rule violations, with repeat infractions carrying the threat of a ban from the bloc. As The Guardian points out, in the case of a company like Meta, that would translate into a single potential fine of approximately $7 billion.

The DSA differentiates between tech companies of different sizes, with the most scrutiny reserved for platforms that have at least 45 million users in the EU. In that group are companies like Meta and Google. According to a recent report, those two, in addition to Apple, Amazon and Spotify, collectively spent more than €27 million lobbying EU policymakers last year to change the terms of the Digital Services Act and Digital Markets Act. The laws could inspire lawmakers in other countries, including the US, as they look to pass their own antitrust laws.

“We welcome the DSA’s goals of making the internet even more safe, transparent and accountable, while ensuring that European users, creators and businesses continue to benefit from the open web,” a Google spokesperson told Engadget. “As the law is finalized and implemented, the details will matter. We look forward to working with policymakers to get the remaining technical

Nitecore’s new Sony camera battery charges through built-in USB-C

Every year, companies like Canon and Nikon push camera technology forward with new models that add features like 8K video recording and 30 fps shooting speeds. But the batteries powering those cameras haven’t changed nearly as much during the mirrorles…

‘World of Warcraft’ expansion Dragonflight predictably lets you ride dragons

Nearly two decades into the life of World of Warcraft, Blizzard has just announced the MMO’s ninth expansion. Dragonflight will allow players to explore the Dragon Isles, the ancestral home of Azeroth’s dragonflights. It’s been a while since WoW’s…