It's been coming under increasing pressure over 'accidental' In-App Purchases (IAP), especially in kid-focused games such as Capcom's Smurfs' Village, and now Apple has moved to address the issue as part of its iOS 4.3 update.
Although not mentioned as part of its official press release, the OS has a new feature that requires your iTunes' password to be inputted separately for the download or purchase of apps, and the purchase of IAP.
The standard 15 minute log-in period remains in force for each action.
Different strokes
It had been rumoured that Apple was going to decrease the length of the log-in period to try to solve the issue, but splitting the download or purchase of an app, and an in-app purchase is a more elegant solution to the problem in which parents download content, and hand their iDevice to their children, who 'buy' in-game items without realising the consequences.
"We are proud to have industry-leading parental controls with iOS," said Trudy Muller, an Apple spokeswoman, according to the Washington Post.
"With iOS 4.3, in addition to a password being required to purchase an app on the App Store, a re-entry of your password is now required when making an in-app purchase."
[source: Washington Post]
News
Contributing Editor
A Pocket Gamer co-founder, Jon is Contributing Editor at PG.biz which means he acts like a slightly confused uncle who's forgotten where he's left his glasses. As well as letters and cameras, he likes imaginary numbers and legumes.
Top Stories
News
9 hours, 6 minutes ago
Q4 2024 was EA’s strongest for mobile, but it still only earned them $307 million
News
11 hours, 36 minutes ago
Krafton teases AI-developed games as "limited" voice actors, writers, and level designers get the boot
Feature
May 7th, 2024
Mobile Mavens: The industry has its say on Squad Busters ability to draw in “untapped audiences” with its “influence from a range of genres”
Feature
May 7th, 2024
Hot Five: Supercell’s Squad Busters supremacy, Brawl Stars bounces back, and a games industry journey at King
Feature
May 7th, 2024
April 2024 mobile game charts: Call of Duty: Warzone Mobile loses launch momentum and Brawl Stars’ astronomical rise
Events
Valencia Indie Summit 2024 | Europe | May 16th |
Mobidictum Meetup Tallinn May 2024 | Europe | May 21st |
Israel Mobile Summit 2024 | Middle East | Jun 6th |
WN Conference Istanbul 2024 | Jun 11th | |
DevGAMM Vilnius 2024 | Europe | Jun 14th |
Develop: Brighton 2024 | Europe | Jul 9th |
Devcom 2024 | Europe | Aug 18th |
Gamescom Cologne 2024 | Europe | Aug 21st |