iPhone apps can now spam you with ad notifications – but there’s a way to stop it
APPLE is now allowing iPhone apps to send you adverts through push notifications.
This will only happen if you agree to receive the ads in the first place so users will now need to take caution when installing apps.
The change was spotted by 9to5Mac when reading through Apple's new App Store guidelines.
The tech giant's traditionally strict guidelines have revealed that apps are no longer banned from using push notifications for “advertising, promotions, or direct marketing purposes".
As of this week, apps will be able to send marketing notifications if "“customers have explicitly opted in to receive them.”
This change comes after a few incidents that saw Apple bend its own rules to send push notifications that looked a lot like adverts.
This was criticised and blasted as an example of Apple getting special treatment.
However, Apple's previous rules have protected users from being spammed too much.
If you don't want to be sent push notifications then you will need to opt out.
You will either be given this option when you download a new app or you should be able to go into 'Settings' on your phone and turn push notifications off manually.
iPhone tricks to try today
Here are some of the best...
- Typing cursor – When typing, hold down the space bar to turn your keyboard into a trackpad, letting you move around words and sentences more easily
- Close all Safari tabs – To do this in one go, simply hold the overlapped squares in the bottom right-hand corner, and press close all tabs
- Delete lots of photos quickly – Hold down on a photo and then drag your finger diagonally in Photos to select lots of images at once, then hit delete
- Convert currency quickly – Swipe down from the top of your Home screen (or swipe left to right on an iPhone X), then tap in the bar and type a currency (like $200) and it will automatically covert to your local currency
- Check if you're due a battery upgrade – Batteries inside smartphones degrade over time. Just go to Settings > Battery > Battery Health, and check out the Maximum Capacity reading. Generally a battery is considered worn when you're down to 80% capacity. If you're below, you can buy a battery swap from Apple
- Move apps around faster – Hold an app until it starts wiggling, then (while still holding) tap other apps, causing them to stack so you can move them around easier
TOP STORIES IN TECH
In other news, Twitter has plans to add a vanishing Tweet feature called 'Fleets'.
WhatsApp’s new dark mode branded ‘ugly' and 'gross’ by furious users.
And, TikTok has been accused of copying Instagram after developers gave the booming app a surprise makeover.
Do you have apps that spam you with ads? Let us know in the comments...
We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online Tech & Science team? Email us at [email protected]