Apple App Store

Reports say the US Department of Justice is internally divided as its antitrust case against Apple moves toward 2026, with the company holding an edge in the dispute over its roughly 27% App Store commission structure. A split within the DOJ could weaken the government's position and shape how Apple's App Store fees are regulated going forward.

Elon Musk's xAI and X Corp have removed Apple from their antitrust lawsuit over AI partnerships, leaving the iPhone maker with one fewer legal battle. The suit had accused Apple of favoring OpenAI's ChatGPT in its App Store rankings. Reports are asking whether Apple's legal worries over its AI dealings are now easing, though Google remains a defendant in the case.

Developer Jeff Kaufman has released Clipboard Normalizer, a small Mac utility that cleans up text copied to the clipboard, and it is now available through the Mac App Store. The tool has drawn attention among programmers discussing utility software and the quirks of getting simple apps approved for Apple's store.

Colorado has passed an age-verification law that applies only to operators of commercial app stores, sparing volunteer-run Linux distributions. Governor Jared Polis signed the measure in June 2026, meaning Apple's App Store and Google Play must check users' ages, while a freely downloaded Debian installer carries no such duty. Observers see it as a pragmatic carve-out for open-source developers.

OpenAI has introduced new features that compete directly with the traditional app store model, according to TechCrunch. The move suggests OpenAI wants users to access apps and services through its AI products rather than through platforms like Apple's App Store or Google Play. The report is drawing attention in tech circles, where observers are weighing what this means for platform gatekeepers and mobile software distribution.

Apple's services business — including the App Store, iCloud, Apple Music and other subscriptions — is now almost as important to the company as the iPhone, according to new analysis. The finding underscores how Apple's high-margin recurring revenue streams have grown into a core pillar of its business, reducing its dependence on hardware sales.

Apple senior vice president of software engineering Craig Federighi has appeared in a video discussing how the company helps developers make the most of the iPhone, covering the tools and resources Apple provides for building apps. The remarks underline Apple's ongoing push to keep its app ecosystem thriving around the iPhone lineup.

Puzzle RPG Touken Ranbu Pazugiri has climbed to the top of Apple's App Store iPhone game chart in Japan, according to a Sankei report. The game blends match-style puzzle play with characters from the popular Touken Ranbu sword-warrior franchise, and its strong debut is drawing attention from mobile gamers and industry watchers.