Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney says Apple is keeping Fortnite’s return to the App Store in limbo, having “neither accepted nor rejected” the latest submission for review. The ongoing silence now threatens to delay Fortnite’s next major update, planned for this Friday. Judge ordered Apple to comply, but didn’t require Fortnite’s return The ink wasn’t even dry yet on Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers’ order for Apple to quit it and do what it was told in the original 2021 injunction, when Epic Games confirmed it would submit Fortnite for Apple’s approval as soon as humanly possible. Which they did, on May 9th. Then… nothing. After five days without response, Epic withdrew the original submission and filed a new version to accommodate a planned Friday update. Since Apple’s own guidelines state that 90% of app submissions are reviewed within 24 hours, this radio silence is highly unusual. But here’s the thing: this may not be radio silence at all, but rather a one-sided stalemate. When Judge Rogers issued her original decision in 2021, she said Apple was not obligated to let Fortnite return to the App Store. She concluded that Epic Games had willingly broken the rules it had agreed to when creating its developer account, so the ban was fair game. So far, Apple has not given any indication whether it will actually let Fortnite back into the App Store. Which is probably why Sweeney has been very active on X about it, knowing that Fortnite fans will pile on (often, mentioning Tim Cook directly). Apple is listening Adding to this entire predicament, Tim Sweeney posted earlier today about how a Fortnite knock-off was available at the App Store. A few hours later, the app was pulled, to which Sweeney posted about yet another knock-off making the rounds. For now, Fortnite fans on iOS remain in wait-and-see mode. Sweeney has not indicated what Epic’s next move will be if Godot never comes. However, with no communication from Apple and the Friday update at risk, the saga between both companies appears far from over. Add 9to5Mac to your Google News feed.  FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.You’re reading 9to5Mac — experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Don’t know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

It’s the time of year when the NFL schedule for the coming season gets revealed, and one team, the Baltimore Ravens, has gone all-out making a Severance parody video as part of their schedule announcement. NFL’s Baltimore Ravens show deep Severance knowledge in parody Severance may be on a hiatus as work continues on season 3, but the NFL’s Baltimore Ravens have just made a parody worthy of the Apple TV+ show’s high production values. The nearly 7-minute video showcases the team’s deep knowledge of all things Severance, with references to: goats watermelon busts face balloons MDR and a lot more There’s an impressive amount of detail and throwbacks that will delight any Severance fan, whether you care about the NFL or not. You can watch the video below. Apple did a great job marketing Severance season 2 before its debut earlier this year. Ahead of season 3’s arrival, considering the show’s massive success, maybe the company can get more partners in on the fun like the NFL. Apple TV+ is available for $9.99 per month and features hit TV shows and movies like Ted Lasso, Severance, The Morning Show, Silo, and Shrinking. Best iPhone accessories Add 9to5Mac to your Google News feed.  FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.You’re reading 9to5Mac — experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Don’t know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

Apple’s long-brewing next generation of CarPlay is finally here. CarPlay Ultra officially launched this morning. And while anyone not driving an Aston Martin may be disappointed, Apple’s announcement actually brought good news for all CarPlay users. The future of CarPlay isn’t what Apple thought Three years ago, Apple laid out its plans for the next generation of CarPlay. It’s been a long wait, but today the newly branded ‘CarPlay Ultra’ is here—first on Aston Martin vehicles, and later other automakers. Unless you’re in the market for an ultra-premium new car (or already own one), today’s announcement may seem irrelevant to you. But the details of Apple’s announcement reveal it’s actually good news for all CarPlay users. When Apple originally presented its vision for CarPlay’s future, it felt very much like a ‘CarPlay 2.0.’ In other words, next-gen CarPlay was the future, which meant the existing CarPlay would become the past. Today’s announcement, however, makes very clear that Apple’s not taking that approach. CarPlay Ultra isn’t ‘CarPlay 2,’ and that’s good news for the rest of us For anyone worried about CarPlay’s future now that something new has arrived, Apple has reassurance for you. In its press release announcing CarPlay Ultra’s launch, Apple included a key sentence near the end: CarPlay Ultra joins CarPlay, which is beloved by drivers around the world and has fundamentally changed the way people interact with their vehicles, providing a safer, smarter way to use iPhone in the car. ”CarPlay Ultra joins CarPlay”—the word choice is important, as is Apple’s naming choice. CarPlay Ultra is not a replacement for CarPlay. Apple isn’t eventually going to phase out CarPlay as more and more automakers support its new system. Through its branding, and press release, Apple makes very clear that CarPlay Ultra is not ‘CarPlay 2.’ It’s not a replacement, but rather an alternative. Current CarPlay will continue getting better, alongside Ultra Now that CarPlay Ultra has officially shipped, I’m optimistic Apple will continue investing in the current CarPlay system—perhaps more than it has in a while. We’ve seen signs of this happening already, with new features added to CarPlay in recent iOS updates. Perhaps some of CarPlay Ultra’s features will eventually trickle down to standard CarPlay too. Likely not any time soon, since Apple still needs ways to differentiate the system. But a version of widgets coming to standard CarPlay seems likely eventually. In short: CarPlay Ultra is good news because Apple no longer sees it as the future of all CarPlay offerings. Rather, it’s a new, premium option that “joins” the existing CarPlay. And hopefully before long, all CarPlay users will start to benefit. Best CarPlay accessories Add 9to5Mac to your Google News feed.  FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.You’re reading 9to5Mac — experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Don’t know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

05/15 — 2025 by abduzeedo Explore how Slanted Magazine pushes editorial design, challenges conventions, and champions independent typography. Dive into visual storytelling. For those immersed in the world of graphic design, there’s a unique satisfaction in seeing a publication truly come alive. It’s not just about the content; it’s about the entire experience. Abduzeedo has always championed design that inspires, and today, we’re looking at a prime example of editorial design pushing boundaries: Slanted Magazine #45—Sex. Slanted Magazine, in collaboration with Munich’s Archive Artist Publications (AAP), has created an issue that dives deep into sexuality, gender, and body politics through a curated selection of artistic publications and critical essays. This isn't merely a magazine; it's a meticulously crafted artifact, a testament to how powerful editorial design can be. Visual Storytelling and Challenging Norms The magazine showcases a diverse range of historical and contemporary works. It presents publications that challenge conventions and reshape discourse on self-image, identity, and representation. Alongside these visual narratives, in-depth essays offer multifaceted perspectives on media, cultural taboos, and shifting societal norms. The issue actively provides a space for critical engagement, questioning how marginalized bodies—non-binary, queer, disabled, racialized—are represented in art and media. This commitment to impactful visual storytelling is evident throughout the entire publication. Consider the striking imagery and thought-provoking texts that open a dialogue on desire, power, and the politics of visibility. From the tactile feel of the softcover with its open thread-stitching to the dust jacket, every detail contributes to the overall narrative. The use of uncoated and transparent high-quality papers by Reflex paper adds another layer of sensory engagement. This attention to physical attributes elevates the magazine from a simple collection of pages to a tactile experience. The Power of Independent Type Beyond Slanted Magazine #45—Sex, there’s also a significant new release that influences editorial design: Support Independent Type II. This follow-up to the acclaimed 2020 book continues to celebrate the vibrant culture of independent type specimens and their influence on design and typography. It acts as both a manifesto and a visual showcase, featuring over 300 cutting-edge type foundries that offer a promising alternative to corporate font distributors. The book highlights a diverse range of fonts, from experimental designs to bold, groundbreaking typefaces that push traditional boundaries. It delves into new trends and innovative designs, presenting the book itself as a visual art object. Through this carefully curated collection, the authors emphasize how independent type design reflects cultural shifts and sparks creative innovation. The impact of independent type on editorial design is immense, offering designers a richer palette for expression and a way to imbue their work with unique character. A Thought on the Future of Editorial Design The work exemplified by Slanted Magazine and the Support Independent Type series underscores a crucial point for designers: the medium is as important as the message. Editorial design is not static; it evolves with cultural dialogues and technological advancements. The choices we make in typography, layout, imagery, and even the physical properties of a publication, all contribute to how a message is received and understood. These projects inspire us to consider how our design choices can challenge, inform, and engage, making the printed page, or digital screen, a truly dynamic space. Explore more about their work and publications on their website: Slanted Publishers Editorial design artifacts Tags editorial design

The Federal Trade Commission has postponed enforcement of its consumer-friendly "click to cancel" rule from May 14 to July 14, giving businesses two additional months to comply. The regulation requires companies to make subscription cancellations as straightforward as the sign-up process, prohibiting practices like forcing customers who subscribed online to navigate through chatbots or call centers to cancel. The rule, established under former Democratic Chair Lina Khan, unsurprisingly has garnered support from consumer advocates while facing legal opposition from industry groups. A coalition including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and organizations representing major telecom and media companies -- Charter Communications, Comcast, Disney Entertainment, and Warner Bros. Discovery -- has sued to block implementation, claiming the agency exceeded its authority. Read more of this story at Slashdot.

As I mentioned recently, SmartGym has become one of my favorite apps. Anyone who uses it as a workout companion can easily see why it was named Apple Watch App of the Year in 2023, chosen as a finalist for the Apple Design Awards, and recently featured by Apple as one of the best apps optimized for iOS 18. Now, the app just got even better, with its biggest update yet. More personalization Tracking your performance and streaks is one of the best ways to stay motivated. SmartGym now offers custom goals, complete with history, targets, achievements, and detailed infographics to help you visualize progress over time. And speaking of personalization, one of the app’s most unique features, the Smart Trainer, uses AI to generate personalized routines based on your goals and available equipment. In this update, the Smart Trainer UI has been completely redesigned. Users can now group routines together, customize them more easily, and tweak individual settings with less friction. Heart rate tracking You may remember that recently, Beats released the Powerbeats Pro 2 with built-in heart rate monitoring. Now, SmartGym supports the feature, and uses it to better calculate calorie consumption during the exercise. Even more helpful: it now displays live heart rate zones during workouts, an especially useful addition for HIIT sessions or cardio training. Better UX for mid-session use One of SmartGym’s greatest strengths is its UX for mid-training interactions. It does its best to get out of the way and quickly deliver the exact information, exercise editing tools, or stats you may need. Now, it allows you to quickly find an alternate exercise for any given workout, which is great for those busy days at the gym when that chest fly machine is really on demand. The app now also features a “listen” option that reads out loud the description of its vast database of nearly 700 exercises, which will surely be very useful for when you are not familiar with a new workout routine. To top it off, the app just crossed out one of my biggest wishes for it, which is to display a persistent rest timer right on the interface. Syncing and integration Much, if not all, of these new features will now work in sync or integrate between multiple devices. From displaying custom goals as an Apple Watch complication to syncing of exercise changes between the iPhone and the iPad, this SmartGym update really packs many actually useful features for both gym rats and casual home fitness fans alike. SmartGym is free to download on the App Store, and offers a wide variety of subscription options. But the developer Matt Abras was nice enough to send five promo codes for SmartGym’s Annual Plan. If this app is for you, act fast! 9XA7P9YREA3F 364MPJRE4LKJ E7H67W6LKHWR 4Y36HW43KR6J RW7JPLERM34M Add 9to5Mac to your Google News feed.  FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.You’re reading 9to5Mac — experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Don’t know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

In comments to press this morning, President Donald Trump said he has an issue with Apple’s handling of the tariff policy in regard to iPhone production. Trump wants Apple to build iPhones domestically in the United States, but has clearly seen the recent news that Apple will source most of the iPhones sold in the US quarter from India, rather than China. “I don’t want you building in India”, he said … It has been reported that within the next couple of years Apple is trying to import all iPhones intended to be sold in the US, from India, rather than China, in a diversification of its production pipeline. Right now, that means avoiding the higher tariff rates imposed on Chinese exports. Indeed, on the latest company earnings call, Apple said most iPhones sold in the June quarter will have India as their country of origin. Naturally, the Trump administration see the tariff policy as a way to incentivize companies to manufacture more locally, and Apple has so far shown no signs of doing so. Cook has previously indicated it is simply unfeasible, due to the lack of U.S. manufacturing facilities and talent. Here’s what Trump said: “I had a little problem with Tim Cook yesterday. I said to him, my friend, I treated you very good. You’re coming here with $500 billion, but now I hear you’re building all over India. I don’t want you building in India.” “I said, Tim look, we treated you really good, we put up with all the plants that you build in China for years, now you got build us. We’re not interested in you building in India. India can take care of themselves, we want you to build here.” The $500 billion number refers to U.S investment Apple has pledged for the next four years, covering infrastructure projects like a new factory for Apple Intelligence servers, R&D, data centers, Apple TV+ productions, and more. It does not include any plans to manufacture Apple consumer devices domestically. For US sales, Apple’s public statements to investors indicate it will source most iPhones from India, and products like Mac, iPad and AirPods from Vietnam. iPhones produced in China will be sold locally and exported to other countries around the world that do not impose tariffs. Apple previously indicated that tariff policy would cost the company almost a billion dollars in the April – June quarter, however this was before the recent US-China trade deal amnesty. But with these interim deals set to expire in 90 days, the future impact on U.S. businesses remains very much uncertain. Add 9to5Mac to your Google News feed.  FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.You’re reading 9to5Mac — experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Don’t know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

Apple Card launched nearly six years ago, and in some ways it still feels odd that the iPhone maker offers its own credit card. But here are three Apple Card features that help make it my no-brainer favorite to this day. #1: Monthly installments for Apple products Apple Card automatically offers the chance to pay for new Apple products over time, completely interest free. It’s quick and easy to choose Apple Card Monthly Installments during the Apple Store checkout process, and you get benefits like: 3% Daily Cash on your purchase, all up front 0% interest, usually for 12 months Seamless trade-in experience to lower payments If you buy Apple products every so often, this could be reason alone to get an Apple Card. As someone who writes about Apple for a living, my Apple Card Monthly Installments option gets a lot of use. #2: Savings account One of Apple Card’s most recent additions is the option of a built-in savings account. The aptly named ‘Apple Card Savings Account’ launched in 2023 as an optional add-on for Apple Card users. I love this feature for two main reasons: You can set your Daily Cash to automatically get added to savings And the high-yield APY is very compelling On this last point, Apple’s savings APY is currently 3.75%, which is significantly higher than bank accounts offer and in line with other top credit cards. Several cards that offer competitive APY come with a drawback for me though: they really want to push you toward investment. Apple doesn’t offer investing tools, so it doesn’t stress that angle. #3: Apple Maps places for transactions I try to stay on top of my spending and make sure to review transactions fairly often. And in that regular scan of transactions for my family, there are of course times when I don’t recognize a vendor for a particular charge. When this happens with other credit cards, they don’t offer much help. Usually tapping to view the transaction’s extra details is futile because so little information is provided. But with Apple Card, there’s a handy Apple Maps place listing built right in. Typically the header image and map thumbnail are enough to help me remember the transaction. But if not, tapping the map brings up the full Apple Maps place listing with more details. Maps integration can go a long way toward taking the mystery out of unknown transactions. Apple Card features: wrap-up There are plenty of other reasons I find Apple Card compelling, like its elegant UI, clear communication on potential interest charges, and 2% Daily Cash on all Apple Pay transactions. But the three features above help elevate Apple Card above other options for me, and keep it in regular use in my household. What are your favorite Apple Card features? Let us know in the comments. Best iPhone accessories Add 9to5Mac to your Google News feed.  FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.You’re reading 9to5Mac — experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Don’t know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

Why The Fuck Are Democrats Helping Build MAGA’s Censorship Machine With KOSA? from the what-are-we-even-doing-here? dept Wed, May 14th 2025 10:57am - Mike Masnick The Trump administration is methodically implementing every element of Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025 censorship playbook, and Democratic leadership’s response is… to help them? Earlier today, Chuck Schumer and Richard Blumenthal joined MAGA Republicans to reintroduce the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) — a bill that Heritage itself has proudly proclaimed as central to its strategy of censoring progressive content around LGBTQ issues and abortion. The new bill appears to be effectively identical to last year’s version. It raises a huge question of… what the fuck are they thinking? The press release touts its “bipartisan” nature, with Democratic Senators Chuck Schumer and Richard Blumenthal sponsoring the bill, alongside Marsha Blackburn and John Thune. Last year, when Heritage Foundation declared its desire to use KOSA to censor LGBTQ content and announced it would leverage the bill to remove pro-abortion content if Trump won, perhaps some could dismiss it as empty rhetoric. But now? The Trump administration is systematically implementing every element of Heritage’s Project 2025 censorship playbook. There’s no more room for wishful thinking about how KOSA might be used. And yet, Democrats seem to act as if none of that is happening, and we can just assume good faith in how KOSA will be implemented and enforced by an FTC that has loudly proclaimed its willingness to conduct partisan, culture war witch hunts on behalf of Project 2025’s goals. Yes, we expect Richard Blumenthal to reflexively support any anti-internet bill. But Chuck Schumer? After everything we’ve seen, how can Democratic leadership still pretend there’s any good faith here? Trump is already using every available tool to wage his censorial culture wars. Heritage has explicitly laid out how they’ll use KOSA to silence progressive voices. What possible justification could there be for Democrats to hand them an even more powerful weapon? Even some Republicans recognize the danger here. Senator Rand Paul has consistently maintained that censoring the internet won’t help children. And last year, House GOP members actually stopped the bill after realizing it was a censorship tool that could be used against their own speech. But now that Trump has won (and the GOP acts as though there will never be another free election), that objection may evaporate. The bill’s lead sponsor, Marsha Blackburn, was already openly stating last year that her support for KOSA was about using it to censor LGBTQ content. That was before Trump’s victory made Heritage’s censorship plans a reality. So here we are: Heritage Foundation explicitly laid out their plans to weaponize KOSA against progressive speech. Marsha Blackburn openly admitted it’s about censoring LGBTQ content. The Trump administration is systematically implementing every element of Project 2025’s censorship agenda. And the FTC stands ready to enforce it all. Yet Democratic leadership isn’t just standing idle — they’re actively helping to build the machinery of censorship that will be used against their own constituents. Either Schumer and Blumenthal are catastrophically naive, or they’ve simply decided that appearing “bipartisan” matters more than protecting vulnerable communities from state-sponsored censorship. The real question isn’t what they’re thinking. It’s whether they’re thinking at all.

When Netflix introduced its ad-supported tier in late 2022, it wasn’t exactly a surprise. Other mainstream streaming services had been widely adopting the strategy, much to viewers’ protests. Now, Netflix has shared some data that indicates that while many might object to an ad-supported tier, they’re watching it anyway. 20 million new monthly active users Netflix says its ad-supported tier now has 94 million monthly active users, up more than 20 million since last November. That’s a massive leap in just six months, signaling that price-conscious viewers might be flocking to the cheaper plan, which currently costs $7.99/month (compared to $17.99 for the lowest ad-free option). According to Amy Reinhard, the company’s president of advertising, the ad model isn’t just working. It’s actually outperforming expectations. “When you compare us to our competitors, attention starts higher and ends much higher,” she said. Profitability alone doesn’t merit praise. Oil companies are profitable. Health insurance companies are profitable. Vulture capital companies are profitable. Private prisons are profitable.I wouldn’t watch Netflix with ads if they offered it to me for free. View all comments Reinhard also claimed that viewers are engaging with mid-roll ads just as much as they do with the content itself, although it wasn’t clear how Netflix measured this data point. Netflix added that the ad-supported tier now reaches more U.S. viewers aged 18 to 34 than any broadcast or cable network. A clear signal to advertisers that Netflix is no longer just competing with streamers, but with traditional TV itself when it comes to this demographic. Up next Netflix’s numbers may be the clearest signal yet that ad-supported streaming actually works. At least, for streamers. With nearly 100 million users now engaging with ads, other platforms might feel more encouraged to follow suit more aggressively. Disney+, HBO Max, Peacock, and other mainstream streaming services already offer cheaper ad tiers. Still, as subscriber growth slows, they might resort to a more heavy-handed approach, now that Netflix has signaled there’s a large and willing audience (and real ad revenue) waiting on the other side. Add 9to5Mac to your Google News feed.  FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.You’re reading 9to5Mac — experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Don’t know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel