Apple's week April 17: a complicated future

Another awkward week has gone by for Apple. This time, one focused on the failings of App Review and the inevitability of spatial computing.

Here's the news of the week:

• Jon Prosser continues to do nearly nothing in Apple lawsuit
• Apple did kind of intervene in the Grok controversy
• An Apple smart home series
• Visa loophole nothing to worry about
• Apps capable of producing deepfakes are advertising on the App Store
• Apple needs to do better with App Review

Apple's ongoing developer relation issues

It's been a weird week for Apple. These quiet times between events, especially before WWDC, tend to be the worst for Apple PR.

Developers are gearing up for what will inevitably mean a busy summer of updates. So, they're also thinking about the complexities of doing business with Apple and airing their concerns.

While 2026 has been more quiet in terms of developer relations, it doesn't mean it is any less of a problem. There are signs of issues brewing in App Review thanks to the influx of vibe-coded apps. It is taking longer for submitted apps to go through, while more junk apps are getting approved.

In this single week, AppleInsider covered multiple scam apps that made it through, plus deepfake nudify apps that are paying for advertising.

I don't know what's going on, but something is wrong. These are the problems of today presented because Apple seemingly doesn't realize that there's a potential for deepfakes from any AI image editor.

I'll acknowledge that the developers with a bone to pick are the loudest. There's also the obvious continuing issues with support for Apple Vision Pro. I think it is all related.

Apple wants to control the App Store, but it doesn't want government interference. If that's going to continue, something needs to change.

I've already spilt enough ink on the matter. Let's move on.

Fear mongering in the media

One of the most enticing things a content creator can do is target someone's emotions. Among those, fear is one of the most tempting.

I grew up in the 90s and 00s, so I'm very familiar with the 24-hour news cycle and programs like 60 Minutes. One of their biggest attractors is the "it could happen to you" stories.

I'm not a big fan of when these kinds of stories rely on the title and initial setup to scare the individual into watching more. This video took 12 minutes of the 26-minute watch time to tell you this was a Visa problem, not an Apple one.

There's no real solution here beyond the individual. Remember to remain skeptical. There's so much in this world that can do us harm; there's no need to invent new demons that don't really present a threat.

If you've taken the proper precautions to ensure your iPhone is locked down with biometrics and encryption, you're more protected than many average users. Yes, the attack in question involves a locked iPhone, but it is too specific to affect you in particular. Don't abandon a useful feature like Express Transit to avoid a potential attack that isn't scalable.

Apple's App Store problem

I already wrote a whole thing about this, so I don't want to spend much time reiterating my thoughts.

Apple is in control of the App Store, for better or for worse. It is the one that can solve all of its problems well ahead of any regulatory body. For whatever reason, so far, it has chosen to ignore its biggest flaws.

Scams still get through easily. Updates provided by legitimate apps are being held up by an influx of vibe-coded garbage. AI is creating more problems thanks to the ease of access to deepfake nonconsensual nude generation.

The whole situation is becoming untenable more and more each day.

Apple's answer, as always, is to point to its guidelines. It doesn't allow pornographic apps. It doesn't allow apps that scam the users.

The problem is the rules are being ignored and bypassed on a regular basis. Something with App Review is broken.

No one is really familiar with how App Review really works. Some parts are automated, some involve humans. But whatever the case, it seems as if more and more scams get through each year.

Apple has a strong record for blocking and removing problematic apps. However, it tends to point out this track record in the midst of rampant failures.

Great, Apple has removed 325k apps from the app store, or whatever the number is, but that doesn't solve the problem in front of us. The 31 apps targeted towards minors capable of generating deepfake nudes without guardrails is the problem, not the apps that have already been removed.

I'm not sure what the solution is, but I'm certain that it doesn't involve any government. If Apple wants to continue to operate independently, it needs to figure this out. Otherwise, it is about to get much worse for everyone.

Thanks for reading

It's been a particularly difficult week in our household. I thank everyone for their condolences pertaining to Edgar.

Every kind comment or dollar donated via Buy Me a Coffee is a big help. My wife, Natalie, is taking things one day at a time. Edgar was a big loss for our family after over five years with the guy.

This post might be a tad redundant and short, but for obvious reasons. It's a slower week than usual, and I hope everyone has enjoyed keeping up with things. The AppleInsider Podcast was fun to record this week, even if I did a lot of the talking this time around.

Each day is a new challenge and a new learning opportunity. I'm happy to be here writing, whether it is for myself or my job. Let's be happy for each post as they come.

Talk to you next week. Let's hope for happier tidings.