The App Store has been the central platform for distributing apps within the Apple ecosystem since July 2008 – available on iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, Apple TV and Vision Pro, each in dedicated versions. Today the store offers several million apps across nearly every category, from games and productivity to creativity, banking, education and health. At the same time, the App Store is Apple's most important gateway into the services business: through in-app purchases, subscriptions and Apple's commission on digital revenue, it has become one of the largest software distribution channels in the world – and one that is constantly at the center of antitrust cases, legislative initiatives and public debate.
Apfelpatient.de documents the full evolution of the App Store under this tag: regulatory proceedings in the EU, the US, India, Brazil and other countries, ongoing legal disputes around external payment links and commissions, new subscription models and pricing options for developers, app review topics such as gambling apps and AI-generated content, mysterious update mechanisms, shifting app ratings, and background on AI coding tools and their impact on new submissions. Alternative marketplaces under the Digital Markets Act and Apple's response to them are also covered here.
Anyone wanting to understand the App Store as the economic, legal and technical hub of the Apple ecosystem will find a complete topic hub right here.
Apple is preparing an AI shopping assistant for the Apple Store app. This is revealed in the new privacy policy regarding data and partners.
In 2026, almost as many new apps were released in the App Store as in the entire previous year – yet downloads stagnated.
Apple plans to suspend its commission system, but Epic strongly disagrees. Why Apple currently charges zero percent on purchases made through third-party sellers.
The EU court rejects all lawsuits: Apple remains a gatekeeper under the Digital Markets Act – for the App Store, iOS...
In the App Store dispute with Epic, a judge has postponed the deadlines. Within the EU, the core of the matter has been decided by the DMA...
Apple and Epic are requesting a short extension: Apple wants to suspend the App Store proceedings until the Supreme Court makes its decision.
Apple updates Creator Studio: new AI tools in Final Cut and Logic Pro, deeper Pixelmator integration, and more. The update is here.
The Supreme Court is hearing Apple's appeal against the Contempt ruling in the Epic dispute – but is leaving a second point unaddressed.
The CMA wants to require Apple to adopt alternative payment systems and open NFC – following the EU model. Apple warns of security risks.
The AI agent OpenClaw has been released as an official app for iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch – free of charge, with chat, voice, and more...
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