Google paid $20 billion to Apple in 2022 to be Safari’s default search engine, Bloomberg News reports, citing newly unsealed court documents in the Justice Department’s antitrust suit against Google. Leah Nylen for Bloomberg News: ‎ The deal between the two tech giants is at the heart of the landmark case, in which antitrust enforcers allege Google has illegally monopolized the market for online search and related advertising. The Justice Department and Google will offer closing arguments in the case Thursday and Friday, with a decision expected later this year. Google and Apple had hoped to shield the payment amount from public disclosure. At the trial last fall, Apple executives testified that Google paid “billions,” without specifying a number. A…

Google paid Apple $20 billion in 2022 to be the default search engine for Safari on iPhone, iPad, and Mac, reports Bloomberg. The information was revealed in court documents Google provided in its antitrust dispute with the United States Department of Justice. The DoJ has accused Google of having a monopoly on search, and in the lawsuit against Google, the search engine deal with Apple has been a major focus. In November, lawsuit documents indicated that Google was paying 36 percent of the total revenue that it earns from searches conducted on Safari, and now it turns out that equates to $20 billion. Google has been the default search engine on Apple devices since 2002, though the deal has been…

In the vast and ever-expanding digital landscape, where personal data is a coveted commodity, Apple stands out as a beacon of privacy and security. The company's unwavering commitment to safeguarding user information has not only earned it the trust of millions of customers worldwide but has also set a benchmark for other tech giants to aspire to. (more…)

iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max Apple is widely expected to show off iOS 18 during its June 10th WWDC keynote, including new features for many apps, including Safari, Messages, Apple Maps, Apple Music, Calculator, Notes, and more. Joe Rossignol for MacRumors: ‎ At least two new Apple Maps features are expected on iOS 18, including custom routes and topographic maps. Custom routes would allow users to choose specific roads to travel on while navigating, while topographic maps include details such as trails, contour lines, elevation, and points of interest for hiking. Topographic maps were added to the Apple Watch with watchOS 10. iOS 18 is expected to add RCS support to the Messages app, which will improve…

Safari will gain a series of AI-powered features and UI enhancements in iOS 18, AppleInsider reports. Safari will apparently receive a range of visual tweaks alongside several new tools to improve the browsing experience, including: An "Intelligent Search" browser assistant tool that leverages Apple's on-device AI technology to identify key topics and phrases on webpages for summarization purposes. A "Web Eraser" tool that allows users to remove unwanted portions of webpages easily. Erasure is persistent, remaining even when revisiting a site unless changes are reverted. A new, quick-access menu emerging from the address bar that consolidates page tools, bringing over some functions that currently sit in the Share Sheet and placing them alongside the new tools. The iPadOS and macOS…

Apple’s Safari icon One of Apple’s lead designers for Safari has departed the company to join The Browser Company. The news was announced today by Josh Miller, CEO of The Browser Company. Chance Miller for 9to5Mac: ‎ The Browser Company is the company behind the increasingly popular Arc web browser, which claims to offer “a calmer, more personal” internet browsing experience. In his announcement on social media, Miller said that Charlie Deets is joining The Browser Company after five years at Apple. Miller describes Deets as one of the two Safari lead designers on Apple… Deets confirmed his move to The Browser Company on his personal X account. Extremely excited to start work at @browsercompany today. https://t.co/MD9e8vQdqL — Charlie Deets…