Policy
135 post(s)
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Apple Developer: App Store submissions open for iOS 27 etc. (Xcode 27 RC, asset previews, and April 2027 SDK gates)
A credited summary of Apple’s Sept 9 note: App Store submissions are open for the latest OS releases. The operational takeaway: treat Xcode RC + Rosetta/Intel cutoff + age rating questions + new creative surfaces as a planned release, not a last-minute scramble.
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Apple’s ATT prompt is changing in 2026 (Germany’s FCO case): what to watch
Didomi summarises the Bundeskartellamt decision and Apple’s commitments to make ATT consent experiences more neutral and closer to Apple’s own. Practical takeaway: expect prompt copy/layout changes, and plan measurement baselines + consent UX work like a product update.
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Google Play Developer Programme Policy update (effective Aug 26, 2026): why ‘policy’ is now a release dependency
Google’s Developer Programme Policies took effect on Aug 26, 2026 (unless otherwise stated). The practical takeaway for app teams is that policy enforcement increasingly behaves like a build-and-release dependency, especially for chat/social/dating features and child-safety controls.
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Google Play policy deadlines: a single register of what’s left in 2026 (PrimeTestLab)
A credited summary of PrimeTestLab’s ‘deadlines register’ for Google Play policy changes. The useful bit is not the list, it’s the operational framing: Google’s sources disagree in places, so teams should build their release calendar for the earliest plausible enforcement date.
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Google Play policy announcement (July 15, 2026): verification, permissions, and ‘quiet’ compliance cliffs
Google’s July 15 policy announcement is a grab bag, but three items matter operationally: (1) READ_CALL_LOG can’t be used for account verification via phone call, (2) developer verification and app registration checks, and (3) the Aug 31, 2026 target API deadline.
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Engadget: Phil Schiller reportedly steps back from running the App Store (and Apple events), with Services taking back the remit
Engadget reports (via Bloomberg) that Phil Schiller is stepping down from overseeing the App Store and product events. The App Store is said to move back under Apple’s Services org (Eddy Cue), with deputies taking day-to-day ownership. For app teams, it’s a reminder that policy, review nuance, and platform priorities often shift with internal structure.
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App Store Marketing Weekly – Week 36 (2026)
This week’s theme: monetization is getting ‘policy-shaped’. EU payment choices now come with 12-month commitments and child-safety gates, and hybrid monetization patterns are pushing teams to unify ‘free’ and ‘paid’ access under one entitlement model.
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Apple Developer: EU app distribution hub (Aug 18, 2026) is a product decision, not paperwork
A credited summary of Apple’s ‘Changes for apps in the European Union’ support hub. The key shift is operational: payments, link-out, and alternative distribution now come with clear minimum-term commitments and child-safety gating requirements.
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UK CMA consults on steering and NFC access: payments and wallets become product decisions
A credited summary of the UK Competition and Markets Authority consultation on new conduct requirements for Apple and Google. If ‘steering’ constraints loosen and NFC access opens up, app teams inherit real UX, trust, support, and measurement work.
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Korea App Store age ratings update: GRAC overrides now, two descriptors shift to 12+ in Oct 2026
A credited summary of Apple’s Aug 12, 2026 update to Korea App Store age ratings: you can now override with a GRAC Rating Classification Number, and two content descriptors will move from All to 12+ starting October.
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Google Play: US listings can be shared with third-party Android app stores (opt-out + catalog settings)
A credited summary of Google Play Console’s July 22, 2026 notice: your US Play listing assets (name, icon, description, screenshots, video) may be shared with enrolled third-party US Android app stores unless you change Catalog Settings.
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App Store Marketing Weekly – Week 35 (2026)
This week’s theme: growth is getting more ‘operational’. EU terms are turning payments into a product decision, and lifecycle messaging keeps reminding teams that channels are fragile. The boring work (preferences, logs, decision memos) is becoming the advantage.
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Apple’s updated Developer Program License Agreement (EU terms) is live (Aug 18, 2026)
A credited summary of Apple’s notice that Attachment 14 is now part of the Apple Developer Program License Agreement, covering the updated EU terms for alternative distribution, alternative payments, and business terms, effective Oct 1, 2026.
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Apple updates EU terms: unified commissions, alternative payments rules, and a ‘Core Technology Commission’
Apple’s Aug 18, 2026 update reworks EU business terms across IAP, alternative payments, link-out purchases, and alternative distribution. The practical impact is not just fees, it is checkout UX, parental gates, fraud risk, and support workload.
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Apple is simplifying EU distribution terms, and turning the ‘Core Technology Fee’ into a 5% commission
Apple’s new EU terms aim to reduce the ‘multiple track’ complexity by moving every EU-distributing developer onto one set of business terms, effective Oct 1, 2026. The headline change is replacing the per-install Core Technology Fee with a 5% Core Technology Commission on digital transactions in apps distributed outside the App Store. Tiny win: write a one-page ‘EU payments + distribution’ decision memo so marketing, product, and legal stop debating this in Slack.
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Apple’s proposed ‘link-out’ commission is the new tax you have to model, not just argue about
TechCrunch reports Apple has proposed a 15% commission on purchases made via external links in iOS apps (with lower rates for Small Business Program and certain partner programs). Whether it sticks or not, this is the moment to stop thinking ‘link-out = free’ and start treating it like a margin and measurement problem. Tiny win: build a simple ‘link-out unit economics’ sheet with best, base, worst assumptions before you redesign checkout.
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Google Play (US): your listing assets can now be shared with third-party Android app stores
Google says US Play listings (name, icon, description, screenshots, video) can be made available to enrolled third-party US Android app stores, with downloads still completed through Google Play. Practical takeaway: treat your listing as a portable asset and audit what it says out of Play’s UI.
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UK CMA consults on ‘steering’ rules and NFC access: payments may become a product surface (GOV.UK)
The UK Competition and Markets Authority proposes conduct requirements for Apple and Google that would allow developers to steer users to off-platform payment options, and explores opening NFC access on iOS. This is policy, but it turns into UX, trust, and measurement work fast.
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Apple proposes 15% link-out commission in the US: why this turns pricing into funnel design
Per 9to5Mac (Aug 13, 2026), Apple submitted a proposed fee structure for purchases made outside App Store IAP in the US: 15% standard, 10% partner programs and subscription renewals, and 5% for Small Business. For app teams, the interesting part is less the number, and more the operational reality: pricing, UX, entitlement verification, and support now become one system.
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Apple updates South Korea App Store age ratings: GRAC override support now, and two descriptors shift to 12+ in October
Apple Developer News outlines two Korea-specific age rating changes: you can now override your App Store Korea age rating by submitting a GRAC Rating Classification Number, and in October two ‘infrequent’ content descriptors will move from All to 12+.
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App Store Marketing Weekly – Week 33 (2026)
This week’s theme: the store and the funnel keep gaining new ‘surfaces’. Creative placements, paid auction visibility, link-out payments, and push notifications all look like channels, but they behave like product UX.
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App Store Connect age rating questionnaire adds social media questions (Apple)
Apple has updated the App Store Connect age rating questionnaire with questions about ‘social media capabilities’. From September 2026, your answers will be required for new apps and updates, so product, legal, and lifecycle teams should align now.
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Google Play policy announcement (July 15, 2026): permission tightening, AI data responsibility, and admin hygiene
Google Play’s July 15, 2026 policy announcement includes a notable tightening for call-log permissions, a reminder about app registration in Play Console, and a clear line that developers remain responsible for third-party AI integrations under User Data rules.
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Google Play expands the Age Signals API: more ‘age + supervision’ becomes a product dependency
A credited summary of Google Play’s update on safer, age-appropriate experiences. The key change for app teams: the Play Age Signals API is expanding beyond early markets, turning age/supervision status into a signal you may need to handle in-product, not just in policy docs.
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Google Play target API deadline (Aug 31, 2026): what it really blocks, and the 3 things most likely to break
Google Play’s ‘target Android 16 (API 36) by Aug 31’ warning is mainly a release-plumbing problem: after the deadline, non-compliant updates are rejected. The migration is usually small, but edge-to-edge UI and background rules can surface real bugs.
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Apple pushes back on the UK’s ‘steering’ proposal: why payments is turning into a UX and support problem
Per a Reuters report via 9to5Mac (July 29, 2026), Apple is arguing the UK CMA’s proposed ‘steering’ rules are effectively price regulation. For app teams, the practical work is not the policy debate. It’s the link-out UX, trust, and support surface area if steering becomes real.
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Google Play Terms update (July 29, 2026): a clearer ‘system services’ story, and a 48-hour subscription charge window
Google updated the Play Terms of Service on July 29, 2026. Two lines worth noticing: system services background network communications are spelled out more explicitly, and subscriptions may be charged up to 48 hours before the next billing period.
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Third-party app stores are now a real Play Store surface (here’s the practical nuance)
Android Authority breaks down what changed in the US: app listings can be syndicated to enrolled third-party stores, while installs still complete via Google Play. The practical work is listing clarity and support routing.
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Play Integrity API library release notes: remediation prompts turn integrity failures into a UX (not just an error)
Android’s Play Integrity API release notes add more remediation dialog codes you can trigger in-app. The practical implication: integrity checks are becoming a user-facing flow, so product and support teams need copy, fallbacks, and measurement for ‘can’t pass integrity’ states.
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Apple’s June 2026 App Store updates: Creative Assets, better previews, and more ‘compliance UI’
Apple is pushing App Store pages toward reusable Creative Assets and better previews, while quietly turning age ratings and Time Allowances into real product requirements you need to ship against.
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Google Play policy update (July 15, 2026): phone verification via READ_CALL_LOG is out, and app registration is now a hard requirement
Google’s July 15 policy announcement has two practical ‘don’t get removed’ items: (1) you can no longer justify READ_CALL_LOG for account verification via phone call, and (2) you must register your Play apps in Play Console (including apps you distribute outside Play, if you want installs on certified devices). It also clarifies that User Data rules apply to third-party AI integrations.
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App Store Marketing Weekly – Week 30 (2026)
This week’s theme: treat store exposure and review as ‘production surfaces’. Your listing is now portable across stores, your review path must be testable, and your retention loop should not rely on slow channels.
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App Store review rejections are rarely ‘random’. They’re usually untestable flows (AppFollow)
AppFollow’s 2026 guide reframes App Review as a verification problem: reviewers reject what they can’t access, can’t validate, or can’t reconcile with metadata. The actionable bit is a pre-submit checklist that treats review like QA, not paperwork.
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Google Play says US app listings will be shared with third-party Android app stores (starting July 22, 2026)
A credited summary of Google Play Console Help’s notice that US Play listing assets (name, icon, description, screenshots, videos) will be made available to enrolled third-party US Android app stores. The practical takeaway: your listing becomes a portable promise, and support and trust signals matter more.
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Apple Ads terms quietly expand the definition of where Apple can run ads
A credited summary of PPC Land’s analysis of Apple’s updated Advertising Services Terms, which removes explicit ‘Apple-owned surfaces’ language from the placement definition. The practical takeaway: treat this as a legal precondition for expansion, and audit your measurement and creative assumptions now.
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Google Play (US): your Play listing can be reused by third-party Android app stores (starting July 22, 2026)
Google Play says US app and game listings (name, icon, description, screenshots, video) may be shared with enrolled third-party US Android app stores from July 22, 2026. The practical takeaway: treat your listing like a portable promise, and decide whether to opt out.
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Apple Ads publishes Maps + News/Stocks policies (July 2026): what’s actually prohibited
Apple’s Advertising Services policies for News/Stocks, Maps, and Sports Programming read like ‘App Store rules, but for ads’. The practical angle: copy quality, substantiation, UI-mimic bans, and a surprisingly specific Maps category exclusion list.
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Google Play (US): third-party app stores are about to be installable from the Play Store (MacRumors)
A court injunction is pushing Google to support alternative app stores in the US starting July 22. The practical shift is not sideloading as a niche, it is ‘rival stores’ being distributed inside the Play Store UI, with Google still collecting its service fee.
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Apple Ads: a subtle Terms change that could hint at third-party inventory (Mobile Dev Memo)
Eric Seufert spots updated Apple Advertising Terms language that appears to grant Apple latitude to place Apple Ads beyond Apple-owned surfaces. If true, it raises a big follow-on question: what does attribution look like when Apple Ads is not just on Apple inventory?
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App Store Marketing Weekly – Week 28 (2026)
This week’s theme: growth teams are being pulled into two new responsibilities: proving lift like finance (incrementality), and keeping your store catalog ‘portable’ without letting it turn into a support mess.
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Google Play (US): your listing can appear in third-party store catalogs (and you must opt out if you don’t want it)
Google Play says US app and game listings (name, icon, description, screenshots, video) may be shared with enrolled third-party US Android app stores starting July 22, 2026. The download still completes through Google Play, but your catalog footprint just got wider.
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Google Play Terms update (effective July 29, 2026): background data language + subscription charge window
Google’s updated Play Terms (July 29, 2026 version) tightens the language around background data usage and clarifies a 48-hour subscription charge window. It’s not a growth ‘feature’, but it can drive support tickets and renewal expectation mismatches.
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App Store Connect age ratings now ask about social media capabilities (Apple Developer News)
A summary of Apple’s new age-rating questions for ‘social media capabilities’, how it affects the Time Allowances Social Media category, and what teams should do before September submissions.
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Google Play: age verification bills turn into product work (Play Age Signals API, Texas SB 2420)
Google Play outlines how Texas’ SB 2420 and similar laws change developer obligations, introducing the Play Age Signals API (beta) plus new Play Console workflows for ‘significant changes’ and parental approval status.
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Google Play Terms: subscriptions can be charged 48 hours early (and Google finally spells out background data)
Android Authority highlights Google Play’s updated Terms of Service (effective July 29, 2026), including a new ‘System Services’ section, clearer background mobile data language, and a change that allows subscription renewals to be charged up to 48 hours before the next billing period.
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App Store Marketing Weekly – Week 27 (2026)
This week’s theme: retention is not a channel, it’s a system. If your policy, listing promises, and lifecycle messaging aren’t aligned, you’ll spend all week explaining the gap to users.
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App Store Connect (June 18, 2026): Brazil alternative distribution support, age rating updates, and Intel Mac drop support
Apple’s June 18 App Store Connect notes bundle three ‘quiet but launch-breaking’ changes: alternative distribution/payment option updates (including Brazil support), region-specific age rating shifts (AU/VN), and an official path to drop Intel Macs for universal apps targeting macOS 13+.
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Google Play policy announcement (Apr 15, 2026): Contacts access, account transfer, and tighter location expectations
A quick summary of Google Play’s April 15 policy announcement, including a new Contacts Permissions policy, a new Account Transfer policy, and updated guidance around location permissions and the Android location button.
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Apple introduces ‘Time Allowances’ categories (iOS 27): why the new Social Media questionnaire matters for age rating and distribution
Apple is adding Time Allowances categories in iOS 27, including a new Social Media bucket based on ‘social media capabilities’ (not your App Store category). Starting Sept 2026, you will have to answer this in App Store Connect to ship updates or notarise for alternative marketplaces.
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The 15% app store fee: if you’re under $1M, stop donating margin
A credited summary of RevenueCat’s practical guide to Apple’s Small Business Program and Google Play’s 15% service-fee tier, plus the subscription commission quirks teams still miss.
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UK CMA consults on ‘steering’ rules: letting developers link to off-platform payments (and what ‘fair fees’ could mean)
Summary of the CMA’s June 30, 2026 consultation on allowing app developers to steer users to off-platform payment options, plus the related NFC access discussion.
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US distribution shift: Google Play may share your store listing with third-party Android app stores
Google says that for US users, developers can opt out, but otherwise Google Play will begin providing app listing(s) to third-party US Android app stores via the Play Catalog Access program. The operator risk is copy-and-asset drift: your ‘official’ listing content may show up in more places than you expect.
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App Store Marketing Weekly – Week 26 (2026)
This week’s theme: payments and ratings are not ‘growth hacks’, they’re trust surfaces. Google is modularising Play fees, and Apple is tightening review-prompt enforcement. Treat both as UX you can break (or improve).
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Google Play splits fees into service + billing, and expands billing choice (June 2026)
A credited summary of Google’s June 2026 update: alternative billing and web link-out programs expand, and fees get separated into a service fee plus an optional billing fee.
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Apple updated the Developer Program License Agreement for Brazil, alternative distribution, payments, and out-of-app offers
Apple revised Attachment 12 of the Apple Developer Program License Agreement to spell out Brazil-specific terms for iOS apps, including alternative distribution, alternative payments, out-of-app offers, and the Core Technology Commission. Treat it as launch-risk hygiene: review, accept, and make sure your legal and release checklists reflect the new rails.
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App Store Connect release notes (June 18, 2026): Brazil alternative distribution tweaks, age rating changes, and dropping Intel Mac support
Apple’s June 18 App Store Connect release notes bundle a few quiet but high-impact changes: updates to alternative distribution/payment options (including Brazil support), region-specific age rating shifts (Australia, Vietnam), and the option to ship Apple silicon-only macOS binaries if your minimum version is macOS 13+.
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Apple is changing App Store age ratings in Australia and Vietnam: what to check before June 18
Apple says the 15+ rating is being removed in Australia (some 15+ apps will be bumped to 16+), and Vietnam will require a region-specific age rating (00+, 12+, 16+, 18+) based on your questionnaire. It’s a small storefront signal that can create surprise compliance work.
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Texas age assurance on iOS (SB 2420): what Apple’s June 3 update means for consent, significant changes, and server notifications
Apple says new Apple Accounts in Texas are now subject to SB 2420 age assurance requirements, including parent/guardian consent for downloads, IAP, and significant app changes. If you ship to Texas, this is now funnel plumbing: eligibility, consent, and revocation handling.
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WWDC26 App Store guide: new creative surfaces, Asset Library, and ‘Retention Messaging’ in App Store Connect
Apple’s WWDC26 App Store guide is a sneak peek at how distribution is becoming a creative workflow (Asset Library, preview tooling) and how churn is becoming a storefront surface (Retention Messaging at cancellation).
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Google Play policy announcement (April 15, 2026): contacts access, account transfers, and tighter location defaults
A skimmable summary of Google Play’s April 15, 2026 policy announcement, focused on what will trip releases: contacts access expectations, account transfer workflow, and location permission scope.
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Updated Play policies: Contact Picker, location button, and account transfer workflow (Android Developers Blog)
A skimmable summary of Google’s Android Developers Blog post tying Play policy changes to concrete platform features (Contact Picker, location button) plus the new account transfer workflow.
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App Store Marketing Weekly – Week 25 (2026)
This week’s theme: permission UX and auction UX are both funnel surfaces now. If you treat policies as paperwork and ads as ‘just bids’, you ship friction you cannot measure until reviews or CPCs punish you.
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Apple: age ratings are changing in Australia and Vietnam (June 18, 2026)
A short, practical summary of Apple’s June 18 age-rating updates in Australia and Vietnam, and why it can create surprise review or support issues if your questionnaire answers are stale.
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Coda: Google Play fee changes after Epic settlement, link-outs, and a Registered App Stores program (rolling out from June 30, 2026)
A vendor-written but useful cheat sheet on Google’s announced Play fee structure changes: tiered service fees, a separate billing fee in some regions, link-out rules (24h window), and an easier install flow for approved third-party app stores.
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Apple updates the Developer Program License Agreement and App Review Guidelines (June 2026)
Apple revised key sections of the Developer Program License Agreement and App Review Guidelines. Here’s what changed at a practical level, and what to sanity-check so reviews and releases don’t get surprised.
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App Store Marketing Weekly – Week 24 (2026)
This week’s theme: the store is adding new creative surfaces at the same time the rules tighten. The compounding move is to treat every new surface as a promise + a measurement plan, not as extra space to fill.
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Google Play at I/O 2026: more surfaces, more AI tooling, and a bigger ‘trust tax’
A credited summary of Google’s I/O 2026 Google Play update, focused on what changes the day-to-day: new discovery surfaces, Play Console ‘agentic’ workflows, reporting that shifts how you read performance, and the safety tooling that now affects revenue.
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Android Studio I/O Edition: developer verification signals are moving into the editor
A credited summary of Google’s Android Studio I/O Edition update, with the growth-team takeaway: verification and distribution readiness are becoming build-time checks, not launch-day surprises (notably ahead of the September 2026 requirement for certified Android devices).
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Apple Developer: WWDC26 is one week away (what app teams should sanity-check before the churn)
A credited summary of Apple’s June 1 WWDC26 reminder, plus a practical ‘pre-WWDC checklist’ for growth teams: what usually shifts (store rules, toolchain, App Store Connect quirks) and what to review before launch plans lock.
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Apple Developer: Texas App Store age assurance (Declared Age Range + PermissionKit Significant Change)
A credited summary of Apple’s June 2026 update: new Apple Accounts in Texas now fall under SB 2420 age assurance rules, which adds declared age ranges, parent/guardian consent for minors, and a ‘significant change’ consent flow apps need to implement.
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Apple Newsroom: App Store fraud stats (2025) are a reminder that ‘trust’ is a growth lever
Apple says it blocked $2.2B in potentially fraudulent transactions in 2025 and filtered 195M fake ratings and reviews. The takeaway for teams: reviews, account hygiene, and refund prevention are funnel mechanics, not PR.
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Google Play: Q1 2026 updates add new discovery surfaces (Shorts, Ask Play) and more payment recovery
Google highlights Play Shorts, deeper Gemini Q&A, review search, subscription recovery extensions, and more granular Play Console reporting. Treat it as a reminder that store UX changes can move your funnel without a single bid change.
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Google Play: Developer Program Policy update (effective May 27, 2026)
A credited summary of Google Play’s May 27, 2026 Developer Program Policy update, with a focus on the operational bits that can quietly block releases (especially child safety standards for Social and Dating apps).
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FunnelFox: in the EU, Apple fees are now a configuration problem (not a single commission rate)
A credited summary of FunnelFox’s April 2026 breakdown of Apple’s post-DMA EU fee stack: why ‘external payments’ don’t equal ‘no Apple tax’, and what changes for forecasting, attribution, and experimentation when monetization becomes region-fragmented.
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Play policies are turning into product work (contacts picker, location button, and account transfers)
A credited summary of the Android Developers Blog post on updated Play policies, focused on the concrete implementation changes that reduce review risk and user friction.
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FSFE says Apple is still blocking DMA interoperability in practice (56 requests, no solutions yet)
A credited summary of FSFE’s April 2026 report arguing Apple’s request-based DMA interoperability process is producing lots of paperwork and very little actual access. The practical takeaway for app teams: expect platform capability access to remain uneven, and plan for compliance and distribution strategy to vary by region.
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Apple vs Epic: the Supreme Court declines to pause the contempt order (why app teams should care)
A credited summary of SCOTUSblog’s May 6, 2026 note that Justice Kagan denied Apple’s request to pause a contempt order in the Apple vs Epic dispute. Practical takeaway: external payments and steering rules are still moving, and ‘link out’ UX plus commissions can become a legal battleground, not just a product decision.
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Google System Services (May 2026): the Play changes you feel before you can name them
A credited summary of Google’s May 2026 System Services release notes (Play services v26.19 + Play Store v51.5), focused on what app teams should watch: AppFunctions groundwork, credential manager expansion, and new Store discovery surfaces like Play Collections.
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Brazil looks next for alternative iOS app marketplaces: iOS 26.5 adds a ‘default marketplace’ setting
A credited summary of 9to5Mac’s report that iOS 26.5 introduces an ‘App Installation’ setting for Brazilian users, suggesting Apple is preparing a marketplace-based model (not just web distribution). The practical implication: discovery, trust, and measurement may fragment beyond the EU.
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WWDC26 (June 8 to 12, 2026): why app growth teams should care
WWDC is ‘dev news’, but it’s also a growth calendar event. New UI defaults, policy shifts, and tooling changes show up as conversion friction (or opportunity) within weeks.
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Google outlines Android’s 2026 security and privacy roadmap (banking scam calls, threat detection, theft protections)
Google’s Android Security and Privacy team previews 2026 platform protections: verified financial calls to stop spoofed bank scams, expanded on-device threat detection, tighter Advanced Protection, and stronger device theft defenses.
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Apple warns of South Korea App Store price equalization updates (and a Latvia VAT edge case)
Apple Developer News says App Store pricing will update for South Korea from May 28 (unless it’s your base storefront), and notes a Latvia VAT increase tied to the ‘Content is in Russian’ tax category.
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Apple will add more search ads in App Store search results (2026 rollout)
Search Engine Land reports Apple will add additional inline ad placements inside search results in 2026, with relevance gating who even enters the auction, not just bid size.
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Rave sues Apple over App Store removal: a reminder that ‘platform competition’ risk is real
A plain-English summary of Rave’s antitrust claims around an App Store removal, and what it means for distribution risk, review resilience, and product roadmaps.
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Google Play’s ‘safer apps’ push: more pre-checks, more guidance, and stronger signing
Google shared a 2026 look-ahead for making it easier to publish safer apps, including earlier policy issue detection and support for post-quantum cryptography in Play App Signing.
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Apple now requires a Brazilian betting license for fixed-odds gambling apps in the Brazil App Store
Apple Developer News says fixed-odds betting apps can be distributed in Brazil, but only if you provide a valid SPA license during a new version submission.
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Supreme Court lets Apple’s Epic contempt order stand, the real fight is what ‘external links’ cost developers
The U.S. Supreme Court declined to pause the order holding Apple in contempt in the Epic case. That keeps pressure on a core App Store question: if apps can link out to pay elsewhere, what commission (if any) can Apple still charge on those purchases?
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Google System updates (May 2026): Play Store v51.3 adds Sidekick access and expands community Q&A languages
May 2026 Google System release notes include Play Store v51.3 and Play services v26.17. The changes are small, but they touch areas that can leak into user trust, discovery, and support: notification drawer surfaces, in-store community content, and desktop sign-in warnings.
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Android Developers: Play is pushing contact picker, location button, and a real account transfer flow
Google’s Android Developers blog frames the April 2026 Play policy changes as ‘clearer choice’ plus business protection. The practical bits: move invites/sharing off READ_CONTACTS and onto Contact Picker/Sharesheet, use the location button for one-off precise location, and plan for an official account ownership transfer workflow with a cooldown.
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Google Play policy update (Apr 15, 2026): contacts access, account transfers, location, health data
Google Play’s April 15 policy announcement adds a new Contacts Permissions policy, formalises developer account transfers, and tightens expectations around location and sensitive health data. Here’s what changes, what’s just clarified, and what to sanity-check this week.
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Epic v Apple: stay reversed, App Store external payments rules back in play
The Ninth Circuit reversed a stay that had paused enforcement while Apple pursues another Supreme Court appeal in Epic v Apple. Practically, this pulls App Store ‘external purchase’ rules and fees back into the spotlight again, and teams should be ready for link-out UX and commission policy changes.
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Google System updates (April 2026): small Play Store changes that can quietly impact conversion
April 2026 Google System release notes include Play Store v51.2 and recent v51.0 tweaks: a large-screen badge, a new content-rating view, changes to inline install deep links, and the ability to give feedback on AI-generated review summaries. None are ‘big launches’, but they can change what users see (and do) on your store listing.
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EU Commission (DMA): draft measures to force Android interoperability, with a clear focus on AI services
The European Commission has issued preliminary findings and draft measures telling Google what it should implement to ensure effective access and interoperability with key Android capabilities, explicitly framed around giving users more choice of AI services. There’s now a public consultation open until May 13, 2026.
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App Store Marketing Weekly – Week 18 (2026)
This week’s theme: the lock screen is a product surface. Push, permissions, and platform policy now change retention and conversion as much as creatives do, because they shape what users see (and what they fear) before they ever open the app.
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Feroot: CCPA for mobile apps (SDK tracking risks and the compliance gap)
A sharp reminder that ‘we passed App Store review’ is not a privacy program. Regulators increasingly expect publishers to actively govern SDK data flows, propagate opt-outs into SDK configs, and detect drift when vendors change runtime behavior.
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Apple Developer: Upcoming SDK minimum requirements (April 28, 2026)
Apple says that from April 28, 2026, new uploads to App Store Connect must be built with the latest platform SDKs (iOS/iPadOS 26, tvOS 26, visionOS 26, watchOS 26). Treat this as release engineering, not an admin footnote.
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Android developer verification is becoming an on-device install check (via ‘Android Developer Verifier’)
Google’s new ‘Android Developer Verifier’ system service will check whether apps are registered to verified developers, with end-user protections starting in select countries in late 2026.
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App Store Marketing Weekly – Week 15 (2026)
This week’s theme: distribution is getting stricter. Treat developer verification and policy shifts like release engineering, not ‘admin’, because they can break installs and updates overnight.
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Apple updated the Developer Program License Agreement (again). If you ship privacy-sensitive features, skim the diffs
Apple’s March 30, 2026 update to the Apple Developer Program License Agreement adds more explicit requirements around specific frameworks (including privacy expectations). It’s the kind of ‘legal’ change that becomes a product/fire-drill if you only notice it during a release.
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Android developer verification is rolling out to all developers (Play Console + the new Android Developer Console)
Google is expanding developer verification and app registration ahead of user-facing install protections later this year. Here’s what changes, when, and what to do now if you ship outside Play.
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App Store Marketing Weekly – Week 14 (2026)
The next conversion gains are coming from boring discipline: test your store promise like a product change, and treat ‘alternative billing’ as an entitlement system, not a policy footnote.
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Google Play (US): external links and alternative billing are now ‘allowed’, but the programs still govern the workflow
Google’s Play Console Help page summarises what changed for US users during the Epic injunction period: developers can link out and use non-Play billing, but only via the published programs (payments policy, alternative billing, and external content links).
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Apple will show ‘regulated medical device’ status on App Store pages in the EEA, UK, and US
A credited summary of Apple’s March 26, 2026 update: some Health & Fitness and Medical apps must now declare regulated medical device status in App Store Connect, with new compliance cutoffs for new apps now and existing apps by early 2027.
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Google Play’s ‘choice and openness’ update: billing options, Registered App Stores, and new fee structure
A credited summary of Google’s March 4, 2026 announcement: expanded billing choice, a new Registered App Stores program to streamline sideload installs, and a new model that separates billing fees from service fees with phased rollout timelines.
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Apple launches Apple Business: device management, app distribution, and local ads in Maps (coming this summer)
A credited summary of Apple’s March 24, 2026 announcement: Apple Business unifies Business Connect, Business Manager, and Business Essentials, adds built-in MDM and brand/location tools, and introduces local ads in Apple Maps (US/Canada, coming this summer).
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App Store Marketing Weekly – Week 13 (2026)
Verification and review rules are becoming growth levers. This week: Android’s ‘advanced flow’ for unverified sideloading, and App Review guideline clarifications that can break launches if you miss them.
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Android’s new ‘advanced flow’ for installing unverified apps: the 24-hour wait is the point
Google detailed an ‘advanced flow’ that lets power users sideload apps from unverified developers, but adds friction (developer mode, restart, re-auth, and a one-day waiting period) to break coercive scam patterns.
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Apple updated the App Review Guidelines (Nov 2025): what app marketers should actually watch
Apple clarified rules around creator apps and age-gating, brand misuse in app names/icons, HTML5 ‘mini apps’, loan APR limits, and disclosing when you share personal data with third-party AI.
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Google Play announces expanded billing choice, a Registered App Stores program, and a new fee model (March 2026)
Google says developers will get more billing options (including user-choice billing and directing users to the web), Android will introduce a Registered App Stores program to streamline sideloaded store installs, and Play will roll out lower fees split into ‘service’ + ‘billing’ components.
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Apple’s App Store rules collide with ‘vibe coding’: why Replit-style builders are getting blocked
A credited summary of MacRumors’ report (via The Information) on Apple slowing or blocking updates for ‘vibe coding’ apps, and what Guideline 2.5.2 implies for any app that generates runnable software inside an embedded web view.
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Google Play starts enforcing battery technical quality: excessive partial wake locks can now hurt discovery
Google says apps that exceed the ‘Excessive Partial Wake Lock’ threshold in Android vitals may get a warning on their store listing and lose visibility in discovery surfaces. Enforcement started rolling out March 1, 2026.
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Apple cuts App Store commissions in mainland China: 25% standard, 12% for small business and year-2 subscriptions
Apple says it will reduce App Store commissions on the China mainland storefront from 30% to 25% (standard), and from 15% to 12% for Small Business / Mini Apps partner transactions and subscription renewals after year one, effective March 15, 2026.
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Google Play Console: ‘Save for later’ lets you send only some changes to review
Google added a simple but high-impact workflow: you can hold back specific Play Console changes (like store listing edits) while still submitting urgent track fixes for review.
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Maryland’s ‘App Store Accountability Act’ idea: why blanket age verification at the store layer is risky
R Street argues Maryland HB1179 would push app stores toward broad age verification and parental consent gates, creating privacy/security risk and likely constitutional problems.
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App Store Marketing Weekly – Week 11 (2026)
This week: age assurance is spreading, promo-code workflows are changing, and retention UX is now getting reviewed like a store page.
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Apple: Texas SB2420 age assurance requirements (what changes for accounts, consent, and your app)
Apple outlines how Texas’ SB2420 will affect under-18 accounts (Family Sharing + parental consent) and the developer-side capabilities expected for age categories and ‘significant change’ consent flows.
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Apple updates the Developer Program License Agreement, adding Japan-specific iOS terms (alt distribution, payments, and offers)
Apple revised the Apple Developer Program License Agreement, including an Attachment for iOS apps in Japan that covers alternative distribution, alternative payments, out-of-app offers, and the Core Technology Commission.
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Apple pauses Texas age assurance rollout (SB2420) after injunction, but keeps the tooling in sandbox
Apple says it will pause its previously announced Texas age assurance implementation plans after a court injunction, while leaving the Declared Age Range API + related tools available for sandbox testing.
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Google Play’s new era of choice: Registered App Stores, more billing options, and lower fees (staggered rollout)
Google is rolling out alternative billing options, a ‘Registered App Stores’ install flow for sideloaded stores, and a new fee model that separates billing from service fees.
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Apple: App Store Connect upgrades for review + marketing (CPPs x70, keywords, offer codes)
Apple quietly shipped a bundle of App Store Connect changes that matter to growth teams: submit items independently, double CPP capacity (plus keywords), and move from promo codes to richer offer codes (promo codes for IAP end March 26, 2026).
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App Store Marketing Weekly – Week 10 (2026)
This week’s highest-signal App Store + Google Play moves, plus what to do next (age assurance, ads, and release-risk).
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Apple updates age assurance tools (Declared Age Range API) for Brazil, AU/SG, Utah and Louisiana
Apple is tightening how 18+ apps are downloaded in some regions, and expanding developer signals for age assurance and significant updates.
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Google Privacy Sandbox update: Chrome is retiring several APIs (and doubling down on interoperable attribution)
Google’s Oct 2025 update retires multiple Privacy Sandbox technologies and shifts focus toward an interoperable attribution standard, plus CHIPS/FedCM and anti-fraud tooling.
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Google Play’s 2025 ‘tools that powered your growth’ recap (what matters for 2026)
A credited summary of Google’s year-end Google Play update covering discovery surfaces, engagement tooling, safety/policy workflow changes, and Play Console features that affect shipping and growth.
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Google’s upcoming Android developer verification: why it matters for distribution
A credited summary of AdGuard’s explainer on Google’s planned developer verification scheme, and what it could change for independent distribution, alternative stores, and friction in the Android install path.
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EU DMA: Apple Ads and Apple Maps will not be designated (for now)
The European Commission decided Apple Ads and Apple Maps won’t be designated under the Digital Markets Act. What that means (and what it doesn’t) for app teams operating in the EU.
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Google Play (US): external links + alternative billing rules updated under the Epic injunction
Google updated its US Play policies and launched new programs for external links and alternative billing while the Epic injunction is in effect. Here’s what app teams actually need to do.
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App Store Marketing Weekly – Week 09 (2026)
This week’s highest-signal App Store and Google Play moves, plus what to do next (ads, CPPs, policy, and measurement).
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Google Play’s 2025 safety numbers: 1.75M blocked apps, 80k banned dev accounts, and ‘policy-by-default’ tooling
A credited summary of Google Play ecosystem safety reporting: how pre-review checks, developer verification, AI-assisted review, and integrity signals are becoming part of shipping, not just compliance.
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Alternative iOS app stores are real now: what changes for discovery, trust, and measurement
A credited summary of TechCrunch’s roundup of alternative iOS app stores in the EU (DMA) and Japan (MSCA), plus the practical marketing implications: fragmented discovery, support/refunds, and new fee economics.
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UK CMA: proposed commitments from Apple and Google on app review, ranking, data use, and iOS interoperability
A readable summary of the UK CMA’s proposed app store commitments, what ‘fair, objective and transparent’ could mean in practice, and why devs should care.
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App Store Connect: new minimum SDK requirements start April 28, 2026
Apple announced new minimum SDK build requirements for App Store Connect submissions. Here’s the quick marketer-friendly version.
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Apple updates App Review Guidelines for random/anonymous chat apps
Apple clarified that random/anonymous chat apps fall under Guideline 1.2 (UGC). Here’s what that means operationally.
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iOS changes in Japan: alternative marketplaces and payments are coming
Apple outlines Japan-specific iOS changes enabling alternative marketplaces and out-of-IAP payments - with new security requirements and deadlines.
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ASO news recap (Jan 2026): more Apple Ads inventory + Gemini ‘Ask Play’
AppTweak’s January 2026 ASO updates: expanded App Store search ads inventory, Google Play’s Ask Play, and new store assets.