Apple rewrote its European app fees, and a macOS beta and some retail listings offered a look at products that are not quite official yet.
Apple rewrites its EU app fees
On Tuesday, Apple announced a single set of business terms for developers who distribute apps in the European Union, after talks with the European Commission. Developers can sign now, and the changes take effect on 1 October.
The Core Technology Fee, a per-install charge for the largest developers, is being replaced by a 5 per cent Core Technology Commission on digital transactions in apps distributed outside the App Store. The initial acquisition fee and store services fee are going as well. For App Store apps that use Apple’s In-App Purchase, the commission will be 26 per cent, or 15 per cent for small businesses, some partner programs, and auto-renewing subscriptions after the first year. Alternative payment processing inside the App Store will attract 20 per cent, or 10 per cent at the reduced rate. Linking out to complete a purchase will be 15 per cent, or 10 per cent at the reduced rate. Apps sold through other marketplaces or the web will pay the 5 per cent commission.
These terms apply in the EU only. Nothing in this announcement changes the App Store rules that Australian developers and customers deal with today, though it is another sign of how far regulators are pushing Apple on fees and alternative distribution. Developers who sell only in Australia can ignore the new paperwork; anyone with EU customers will need to look at the 1 October start date.
Camera AirPods leak, but may not be imminent
The release candidate of macOS Tahoe 26.7, seeded this week, included a short demo of AirPods with a camera, using Visual Intelligence to identify a book and save it for later. The same build also contained references to more than 20 unreleased devices, including future Macs, iPhones, iPads and products for a larger home lineup. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, though, now says the camera AirPods will not launch until next year. Treat the rest as a leak, not a date.
Beats 360 takes shape in retail listings
Retail listings also spilled most of the details on Beats 360, a new over-ear headphone with interchangeable ear and headband cushions, in pink, black, cloud and sky, plus extra cushion colours such as navy and volt. They are described as Beats’ first sweat- and water-resistant over-ear model. A price and Australian date have not been confirmed, and retail leaks have been wrong before, but the listings are detailed enough that a launch in the coming weeks would not be a surprise.
What to watch next week
Separately, reports continue to describe a new Apple TV, including Siri AI, though Apple has not confirmed a product or a date. An invitation to Apple’s September iPhone event is likely to land soon, and more hardware — possibly including desktops — could still appear before then. Until Apple publishes it, the event date is still a guess.
