All articles tagged with #developers
Apple seeded the first iOS 26.6 and iPadOS 26.6 betas to developers, two weeks after the 26.5 releases, with no major features expected as Apple focuses on bug fixes and performance improvements ahead of iOS 27.
Light Phone is launching a LightOS developer program to allow anyone to build 'Tools' for the Light Phone III, expanding its minimalist device with community-created apps (like transit trackers or ebook readers) via an official Tool Library that vets and curates tools, while still supporting optional sideloading. First-party tools (Calculator, Alarm, Calendar, Podcasts) are planned, plus a Signal Tool, and the program aims to keep the experience simple, private, and free of ads.
Apple announced a new App Store option that lets developers offer subscribers monthly payments at a discount typically tied to annual pricing, with a 12‑month commitment. Users can cancel anytime, and Apple will show completed versus remaining payments and send renewal notices. Developers can configure and test these subscriptions in App Store Connect and Xcode, with a live rollout on iOS 26.4+ and related platforms next month; the US and Singapore are currently excluded from this feature.
Apple released the third betas of iOS 26.5 and iPadOS 26.5 to developers, a week after the second betas. The updates do not bring new Siri features (likely saved for iOS 27); Maps gains a Suggested Places feature and ads groundwork, while Apple continues testing end-to-end encryption for RCS messages between iPhone and Android. In the EU, Apple is testing proximity pairing, notification forwarding, and Live Activities for third‑party wearables, enabling more features for earbuds and smartwatches. Details are covered in the iOS 26.5 beta features guide.
Apple released the second beta builds of iOS 26.5 and iPadOS 26.5 to developers—two weeks after the first betas. The update avoids new Siri features (likely saved for iOS 27) and adds Maps Suggested Places with groundwork for ads. It also continues testing end-to-end encryption for RCS messages between iPhone and Android, while the EU is trialing proximity pairing, notification forwarding, and Live Activities for third‑party wearables to mirror many Apple Watch/AirPods capabilities. Details are summarized in the iOS 26.5 beta features guide.
Sony confirms a 60+ minute State of Play for Thursday, February 12, featuring news and updates from developers worldwide—including third parties, independents, and PlayStation Studios—streaming on YouTube and Twitch across multiple time zones.
Razer CEO Min-Liang Tan says players hate “generative AI slop” but want AI tools that assist developers in making better games, a stance aligned with the company’s $600 million AI investment to hire 150 engineers for QA and development support.
Apple has released the first beta version of macOS Tahoe 26.3 for developers, marking an early testing phase for the upcoming update.
Apple has released the first beta versions of iOS 26.3 and iPadOS 26.3 to developers for testing, signaling upcoming updates for these platforms.
Apple has released the first beta versions of iOS 26.2 and iPadOS 26.2 to developers for testing, indicating upcoming updates for iPhone and iPad devices.
A study by Rokky reveals that 72% of developers believe Steam has a monopoly on the PC games market, with most studios relying heavily on it for revenue, though many are diversifying to other platforms like Epic Games Store and GOG, and expect to increase their use of alternative channels in the future.
Microsoft has increased the prices of Xbox Development Kits from $1,500 to $2,000 and raised the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription by 50%, citing macroeconomic factors like tariffs, as part of broader efforts to improve margins amid economic pressures.
OpenAI has expanded ChatGPT to include app integration, allowing users to interact with apps like Spotify, Canva, and Zillow directly within the chat. Developers can create and submit new apps for inclusion, with a future app store-like directory planned. This feature is available to all ChatGPT users outside the EU, enhancing the chatbot's functionality and user experience.
Microsoft is now allowing developers worldwide to publish apps to the Windows Store without any onboarding fees, removing a significant barrier and promoting a more inclusive platform for app innovation and distribution.
The EU lobbying group Video Games Europe responded to the Stop Killing Games petition, arguing that laws forcing developers to support online games indefinitely would make live service titles too costly to develop and maintain, potentially limiting developer flexibility and game preservation. The petition, which has gained over 1.2 million signatures, aims to prevent publishers from shutting down online services and destroying games, but industry representatives emphasize the complexities and costs involved in supporting online-only titles and private servers.