App Store stories

Edifier NeoBuds Pro 3 deliver impressive ANC, comfort and crisp audio, though simplistic touch controls and lack of earbud volume may irk.

Apple has opened submissions for the 2026 Swift Student Challenge, inviting student developers worldwide to submit Swift app playgrounds by 28 February.

Avast rolls out Deepfake Guard for Windows and expands Scam Guardian on mobile, promising real-time protection from AI-powered scams.

Cyber experts warn Valentine’s Day brings a surge in romance and shopping scams, urging users to be wary of links, apps and payment requests.

Xero is axing its app store billing by June 2026, forcing developers onto new API-based tiers and their own subscription systems.

AI fintech Cleo stages UK comeback with a waitlisted app, betting its chatty budgeting assistant can ease mounting money anxiety.

Apple adds agentic coding to Xcode 26.3, integrating Claude and Codex so AI agents can autonomously build and refine entire apps.

Meta promotes parental controls over teen social media bans at NZ Instagram safety camp as debate grows on under-16s’ online access.

Snap locks 415,000 suspected under-16 Snapchat accounts in Australia and renews calls for stricter app store-level age checks.

DoubleVerify flags surge in “zombie” Android app fraud as hijacked dormant accounts push bogus games that drain ad budgets and devices.

Incode has joined the OpenAge Initiative, bolstering a push for interoperable, privacy-preserving age checks across online services.

Xero broadens its App Store with new global integrations spanning finance, automation, CRM and sector-specific tools for key markets.

Xero overhauls developer portal and readies new API fees tied to connection counts and data egress, as it tightens recertification rules.

Xero unveils its 2025 Power Lists, spotlighting the most‑connected apps across accounting, payments, retail, trades and professional services.

Verde Digital has hired former PrettyLittleThing specialist Chloe Steele as SEO Manager to bolster fashion and eCommerce search expertise.

Litera debuts Litera One Mobile for iOS, bringing AI agent Lito and synced drafting, review and knowledge tools to lawyers on the move.

Outdoor Outlook launches in New Zealand, giving trampers and other outdoor lovers personalised, colour-coded weather-based activity tips.

Singapore’s Agnes AI hits 5m users in six months and open-sources its SEA-focused 8B-language model to cut reliance on foreign tech stacks.

Infoblox agrees to buy AI-driven threat hunter Axur, aiming to curb phishing and brand abuse beyond the traditional network perimeter.

Apple has unveiled Creator Studio, a subscription bundling pro creative apps with new AI tools and premium content across its platforms.