News in brief

A bite of the Apple

> GOOGLE, SNAP AND FACEBOOK STILL TRACK YOU Apple’s Ad Tracking Transparency (ATT) rules, designed to restrict the ways advertisers can track iPhone users, are reportedly being skirted by big names including Facebook, Google, and Snap. According to more than one source, these companies are using a loophole in ATT guidelines to continue collecting aggregated user data, from which they are still able to derive “user–level” details.

> UNIVERSAL CONTROL DELAYED Apple’s ambitious Universal Control feature for Mac and iPad has not been included in macOS Monterey but is now promised in a software update slated for spring. The new feature will enable you to use your Mac keyboard and mouse or trackpad to control both your Mac and your iPad seamlessly, and drag–and–drop content between devices.

> APP STORE CHANGE ON HOLD A big change to the App Store ordered by the judge in the Fortnite case, allowing alternative payment systems outside Apple’s in–app payments, will be on hold while Apple appeals against the ruling, the US Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has decided. Apple will, however, have to permit app makers to communicate directly with customers, as ordered by US District Court Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers in the lawsuit brought against Apple by Epic Games.