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  • Apple faces backlash in over warning messages on apps not using its payment system, despite recent rulings allowing third-party payments.
  • The warnings, part of Apple’s DMA Compliance Plan since March 2024, discourage users from apps using external purchases.
  • The controversy resurfaces due to Apple’s past practices and ongoing legal battles with Epic Games.

It’s been almost two weeks since a US court ruled against Apple in their legal battle against Epic Games, forcing the Cupertino Giant to change its App Store Guidelines to allow third-party payment links without charging a commission. However, some users have recently reported seeing a warning sign for apps that are not using the company’s internal payment system on the Apple App Store.

Several users in the EU region have spotted a warning sign with a red exclamation mark for certain apps on the Apple App Store page. The warning states, “ This app does not support App Store’s private and secure payment system. It uses external purchases “. It essentially discourages users from using such apps, even though they are allowed under the new EU law, the Digital Markets Act (DMA).

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However, according to TechCrunch , Apple has confirmed to the publication that this is not a new occurrence. These warnings have been in place on the EU App Store since the company’s DMA Compliance Plan, which came out in March 2024. This clears the fact that this is not a rebellious move by the iPhone maker, and something that has existed before the recent rulings.

The post in question, which started the outrage, shared a screenshot of the Instacar app, which is available in the EU version of the App Store. It shows the same warning message right at the top of the page.

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With over 4 year of experience under the belt, I cover all facets of consumer tech, from smartphones to other consumer electronics, our favorite social media apps, as well as the growing realm of AI and LLMs. As an Apps and AI writer app Beebom, I provide my expertise in all these areas, weaving stories that help you get familiar with the tech around you. But you will find me playing NYT daily puzzles in my free time.

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Using-Siri-on-iPhone - 4
  • Apple and Google have officially confirmed their team-up for the next-gen Siri AI.
  • The Cupertino Giant will be using Google’s Gemini for a more personalized Siri model as well as Apple Intelligence features.
  • We can expect the next-gen Siri to come out with iOS 26.4, sometime in March or April.

Apple has officially confirmed joining forces with Google to use its Gemini AI model to power the next-generation Siri. It will offer a more personalized experience and will be coming out with the iOS 26.4 update. Apple also plans to leverage Gemini’s capabilities for other Apple Intelligence features as well, later down the line.

The Next-Gen Siri will be powered by Google’s Gemini AI

Apple officially confirmed that it will be partnering with Google in a statement to CNBC . Here’s what it stated, “After careful evaluation, we determined that Google’s technology provides the most capable foundation for Apple Foundation Models, and we’re excited about the innovative new experiences it will unlock for our users.”

Later, Google also shared a post on X confirming the tie-up, “Apple and Google have entered into a multi-year collaboration under which the next generation of Apple Foundation Models will be based on Google’s Gemini models and cloud technology. These models will help power future Apple Intelligence features, including a more personalized Siri coming this year.”

News from Google X Post Screenshot - 5

Image Credit: X/@NewsFromGoogle

Both statements clearly mention that the Cupertino Giant will be using Gemini to power its assistant Siri. This was already rumored, as Apple’s attempts to acquire Perplexity went nowhere. With Gemini, Siri will get a major AI update . It will be able to handle more nuanced conversations and provide better results. Something long-time Apple users have been asking for years.

The next-gen Siri will arrive with the iOS 26.4 update, which will launch sometime in March or April. And it is only going to be available for Apple Intelligence-supported devices .

Something else worth noting is how Google’s statement mentions that Gemini will power Apple Intelligence features. This leads us to believe that Apple could use Gemini’s multi-modal capabilities for its Writings tools , Image Playground , and Message summaries, too.

Elon Musk Not Happy With Apple and Google Tie Up

xAI CEO Elon Musk also responded to Google’s announcement post on X, sharing his thoughts on the matter by saying, “This seems like an unreasonable concentration of power for Google, given that they also have Android and Chrome.” Though we don’t expect either Apple or Google to respond to Elon, we will update the situation as it progresses.

It is worth noting that xAI is the company behind Grok, which is in hot water currently due to its inappropriate image generation fiasco , and has been getting backlash from multiple news outlets, X users, and even government authorities.

Apple Showing App Store Warnings to Discourage Users from External Payments - 6

With over 4 year of experience under the belt, I cover all facets of consumer tech, from smartphones to other consumer electronics, our favorite social media apps, as well as the growing realm of AI and LLMs. As an Apps and AI writer app Beebom, I provide my expertise in all these areas, weaving stories that help you get familiar with the tech around you. But you will find me playing NYT daily puzzles in my free time.

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