MacBreak Weekly (Audio) MBW 1004: A Sad Farewell - Into the Cupertino Mists
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Dec 24, 2025 The panel discusses a developer's harrowing loss of access to their Apple ID after a compromised gift card incident. Apple gains approval to activate hypertension detection on the Apple Watch in Australia. Italy slaps Apple with a $115 million fine over App Tracking Transparency violations. Meanwhile, the team reflects on the farewell of a beloved panelist and dives into upcoming features in iOS 26.3. Rumors about a potentially smaller foldable iPhone spark interest, as do the implications of increased ads in the App Store.
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Joining Apple To Push 3D Forward
- Alex Lindsay accepted a role in Apple's developer relations to work on the 3D ecosystem starting in January.
- He explained he wanted to stop complaining and actively help USDZ, photogrammetry, and 3D tooling evolve.
Gift Card Fraud Locked Out A Developer
- Dr. Paris Butfield Addison lost access to his Apple ID after redeeming a previously-activated gift card and Apple deauthorized his account.
- Executive Relations eventually restored access after days of escalation, revealing fragile account-recovery paths.
Regulatory Pressure Is Forcing App Store Change
- Brazil and Japan forced Apple to allow third-party app distribution and alternative app stores under local rules.
- Apple appears to be preparing for a more open global app ecosystem rather than fighting every jurisdictional change.
