Apple outlines guidelines for COVID-19-related apps on the App Store

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Apple is cracking down on apps in its App Store that are related to COVID-19 to help prevent the spread of misinformation. At the same time, it's released some guidelines on what apps related to the virus will be allowed. Credible organizations—such as government entities, health-focused NGOs, and educational institutions—will be allowed to submit apps. And the company encourages developers that meet these criteria to pick "Time-Sensitive Event" on the expedite request form to make sure these get priority for review since it might take some time for App Store reviews. 

What the tech giant isn't allowing are those that are meant to entertain (like games) with the virus as their theme, but also, of course, those that spread misleading information. "The App Store should always be a safe and trusted place for users to download apps. Now more than ever that commitment takes on special significance as the world fights the COVID-19 pandemic," Apple wrote in a statement.

Feel the World Cup fever with Apple

Starting today, you can keep up and celebrate all things World Cup on Apple devices and services. You can ask Siri about everything from scores, standings, team rosters, schedules, etc. The App Store will feature favorite apps and games from football stars. App Store editors will even offer tips on how to take perfect football photo and get your football fix on social media. If you use the Apple TV App, you can keep track of all of the action on TSN and RDS, Bell Media’s English and French language apps in Canada. You can favourite teams and follow their matches in Up Next as well as receive notifications on your Apple devices when their team is playing or when a match is coming up.

If you just want to keep up on the news, the News app will make it easier for you to follow what’s happening. You get up-to-date scores and schedules as well as a knockout bracket and profiles of the event’s key players from Eight by Eight magazine. Meanwhile, Apple Music will have playlists for each participating nation that feature the most exciting local artists the teams have selected. And Apple Podcast and iBooks will both feature editorial collections called “The Beautiful Game” that highlight podcasts and books that celebrate the sport. If you want to show your love for the sport creatively, Clips now comes with football-themed graphics, which include an animated sticker, label, and poster with customizable text.

Did you know you can try out paid iOS apps for free?

Hoping to get you to use subscription-based apps, Apple is highlighting apps that come with free trials. At the moment, you get four of these apps: 1Password, USA Today, Lake: Coloring Books, and Panna Video Recipes. You can check these out through the Try It For Free section in the iOS App Store (located in the Apps tab). The App Store highlights the free trial offered by these apps. If you opt for the free trial, you be taken to the “Subscription Offer” screen where you’ll be informed of how long the trial runs for, the price after the trial, and how you can download the app.

Source: 9to5Mac

You can now use PayPal with Apple services

PayPal just announced that its payment service is now coming to Apple’s major services. You can now use it for the App Store, Apple Music, iTunes, and iBooks on both iOS and Mac devices. It’s available in Canada, the US, the UK, Mexico, Australia, Austria, France, Germany, Israel, Italy, the Netherlands, and Spain. Setting it up is similar to how you would a credit card. PayPal now shows up as a payment option. So when you select that, any purchases you made on that Apple ID will be charged to your PayPal account.