“We think it is entirely appropriate for Congress to take a closer look at Apple’s business practices,” Mr. Prober mentioned.

Apple has confronted scrutiny in recent times for its strict control over its App Store, together with Apple’s apply of forcing apps to make use of its cost system, which permits it to gather a fee of as much as 30 p.c on many app gross sales.

That coverage has fueled a multibillion-dollar enterprise, but additionally introduced Apple regulatory headaches, together with Wednesday’s listening to and legislative fights in several states. Next month, Apple is about to face off in a trial against Epic Games, the maker of Fortnite, which is suing Apple over its App Store insurance policies.

As a part of its bulletins on Tuesday, Apple mentioned it was redesigning its podcast app, which now gives tens of millions of reveals, up from 3,000 when Apple launched the service 16 years in the past. Starting subsequent month, creators can promote subscriptions to their podcasts, Apple mentioned. It was unclear if Apple would take a reduce of these gross sales, however that has been its method when pushing into new industries, together with in apps, music and information.

The subscription service will put Apple in much more direct competitors with Spotify, which has been working by itself podcast subscriptions. Spotify has been a number one critic of Apple in recent times. The music service’s enterprise relies upon up reaching listeners via iPhones, placing the corporate at Apple’s whim. Spotify has filed antitrust complaints towards Apple in Europe and has complained in regards to the firm to American regulators.

Apple additionally confirmed off a sequence of slimmer, quicker and extra colourful iMacs. The desktop computer systems, which have 24-inch screens, vary in value from $1,300 to $1,700. Apple additionally unveiled its new iPad Pro, its top-of-the-line pill, with a sharper display, quicker speeds and the flexibility to hook up with 5G wi-fi networks. The iPad will value between $800 and $1,100.

Apple’s different bulletins on Tuesday included an replace to its branded bank card that may enable spouses to construct credit score collectively, and enhancements to its Apple TV gadgets, akin to a brand new distant and quicker processor that may make video play extra easily.



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