Category: Apple Insider

First details of Apple’s planned specifications for its forthcoming Apple Silicon Macs have begun to emerge from sources within the supply chain. As well as details of the forthcoming MacBook, it’s claimed that Apple is developing its own GPU which may first appear in an iMac to be released in the second half of 2021.

The report claims that the new Apple Silicon MacBook will run on an Apple A14X processor, which is expected to used in the next iPad Pro models.

It’s possible that the reference to a MacBook instead of a MacBook Pro is generic and that the sources are simply describing any Mac laptop. However, those sources also specify that the device will have USB Type-C and weigh less than 1kg. It will provide a battery life of between 15 and 20 hours. For comparison, the last MacBook weighed less than a kilogram. The current MacBook Air weighs 1.29kg and the 13-inch MacBook Pro weighs 1.4kg.

The A14X processor design has reportedly been finalized and is expected to go into mass production at TSMC, using that firm’s 5nm process. It’s claimed that Apple has bought TSMC’s production capacity that was previously to be used by Huawei.

TSMC’s 5nm process is also said to be being used for a forthcoming Apple-designed GPU. The design for this is still being worked on but China Times says that it is progressing smoothly. It’s not clear whether all Apple Silicon Macs will gain this Apple GPU, but the publication says that a revised iMac launching in the second half of 2021 will.

Apple launched its seventh-generation iPad in September 2019, with it sporting a larger 10.2-inch Retina display and support for the full-size Smart Keyboard. In what could be an indicator for other products that may launch alongside the anticipated “iPhone 12” in September, schematics claiming to show the next iPad suggest it may gain another facelift.

The images published by 91Mobiles depict an iPad with a 10.8-inch display, which is said to correlate with other rumors and speculation about the model. To match the larger screen, Apple will also take advantage of the design language of the iPad Pro to make the bezels slim.

The change in bezel design would also mean the loss of Touch ID, as the images don’t seem to show a Home button at all. Another leaker on Thursday claimed it would have Touch ID on the power button, though the schematics also propose the tablet will have the requisite sensors in the bezel to be able to use Face ID.

The edges use the same flat design as the iPad Pro lineup rather than a more gradual curve. Towards the base are claimed to be a USB Type-C port for charging, four microphones, and dual speakers, though this last point could be Apple adding a second grille for design symmetry.

On the back, instead of a camera bump, it will apparently have the same single-camera setup as previous models. There is also seemingly no sign of the LiDAR element found on the Pro models.

There is also a claim that the back includes magnetic connectors, which the publication says would be for Magic Keyboard support.

The report claims the schematics show an eighth-generation iPad, but other rumors have also suggested it could be an iPad Air 4. As the third-generation iPad Air launched in March 2019, it remains a possibility that the schematics show that model instead.

The Cupertino tech giant on Friday followed through with a promise to shut down Epic’s developer account on Aug. 28. Epic attempted to block the action by filing a restraining order earlier this month, but a U.S. District Court denied that request on Monday.

In a statement to AppleInsider Friday, Apple confirmed that it had shut down the Epic developer account and that the game company would no longer be able to submit new apps or app updates to the App Store. “We are disappointed that we had to terminate the Epic Games account on the App Store,” Apple said.

We have worked with the team at Epic Games for many years on their launches and releases.

The court recommended that Epic comply with the App Store guidelines while their case moves forward, guidelines that they’ve followed for the past decade until they created this situation. Epic has refused.

Instead, they repeatedly submit Fortnite updates designed to violate the guidelines of the App Store. This is not fair to all the other developers on the App Store, and is putting customers in the middle of their fight.

We hope that we can work together again in the future, but unfortunately that is not possible today.

A search for the Epic Games developer account on Apple’s website turns up a blank web page and “Fortnite” is still absent from the App Store. Although users who have “Fortnite” installed on their phones can continue to play the game, they will not see any new content on the platform, nor will they be able to re-download the game if deleted.

Apple says Epic is directing Fortnite customer complaints to AppleCare, a move that is causing problems with refund processing and general support services, reports CNBC.

On Thursday evening, Epic Games began sending emails directly to iOS and macOS users claiming Apple was the sole reason it could no longer issue “Fortnite” updates.

“Epic lowered prices through a direct payment option, but Apple is blocking Fortnite in order to prevent Epic from passing on the savings from direct payments to players,” the company said in the email.

The “Fortnite” maker originally baited Apple into removing the battle royale title from the App Store by implementing a feature that was a direct violation of Apple’s developer guidelines. The move a strategic effort, combined with a lawsuit and a marketing campaign, that sought to protest Apple’s 30% cut of in-app purchases.

In her ruling Monday, U.S. District Court Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers denied Epic’s request for a temporary restraining order, citing the facts that it was not suffering “irreparable harm” and that it was in a situation “of its own making.”

Judge Rogers did bar Apple from shutting down a separate developer account used to maintain the Unreal Engine, however. The Unreal Engine is a platform used by many gaming applications, including Apple-highlighted “Fortnite” competitor PUBG.

Update: Epic CEO Tim Sweeney responded to Apple’s decision in a tweet Friday, saying, “Apple’s statement isn’t forthright. They chose to terminate Epic’s account; they didn’t *have* to. That’s not so. Epic submitted three Fortnite builds: two bug-fix updates, and the Season 4 update with this note.” The note informs Apple of a submitted Fortnite build that includes current Season 4 content, but also continues to offer Epic’s direct payment system in violation of App Store guidelines.

The social network in a statement to Reuters said it attempted to inform users of the App Store commission as it pertains to a new feature that allows small businesses to host paid online events.

“Now more than ever, we should have the option to help people understand where money they intend for small businesses actually goes. Unfortunately Apple rejected our transparency notice around their 30% tax but we are still working to make that information available inside the app experience,” Facebook said.

Facebook in August announced a new paid event tool that enables influencers and small businesses to offset revenue shortfalls caused by the coronavirus pandemic. To further assist users, Facebook is not collecting a cut of purchases processed through the platform. It asked Apple to do the same by waiving the App Store’s 30% fee for in-app purchases, but the iPhone maker refused.

In response, Facebook publicly condemned the action and resolved to notify users of Apple’s decision by displaying an in-app message detailing App Store commission rates. It also planned to tell users that Facebook is not collecting fees on purchases. Neither notification is currently present in the app, according to the report.

According to Facebook, Apple blocked the message by invoking an App Store clause that restricts developers from displaying “irrelevant” information to users.

Facebook joins a chorus of developers critical of App Store policy. Epic Games, perhaps the most prominent voice calling for change, is embroiled in a heated legal row over App Store fees and rules that prohibit third-party app stores. The gaming firm launched a private antitrust suit against Apple earlier this month, and this week won a temporary restraining order blocking Apple from following through with threats to remove its developer account.

In particular, the filings concentrate on the operational aspects of a multi-interface transponder (MIT) device, including connectivity, communication with nearby electronics, and power affordances, among other features. Notably, the patents outline special power management features like intelligently boosting beacon transmission rates depending on determined location and proximity to nearby devices.

At its core, the MIT device is described as a small, portable electronic with a rudimentary processing element, light and motion sensors, radio stack and power core. The product can be attached to common objects like wallets, keys and IDs for position tracking purposes. In short, the tag is able to connect with a host or other compatible device to assist in the location of a lost item.

According to Apple, current location-tracking solutions suffer from a number of disadvantages, not the least of which is a traditional reliance on near field communications. Long-range communications technologies are typically expensive, require sophisticated circuitry and power hungry, not a good combination for a highly portable tag device. Existing low-power products tap NFC or similar radio tech that functions only when in close proximity to a user, thereby limiting their utility.

Apple proposes an updated MIT device that relies on ultra-wide band (UWB) radios and smart power management to overcome the shortcomings of current industry standard technology. In addition, the position of a tag can be updated on the backend by non-companion devices, including those not owned by or associated with a user’s cloud account. Such a solution for iOS and Mac devices was introduced in an update to Find My that rolled out with iOS 13 and macOS Catalina.

As described in the filing, Apple’s positional tag incorporates a system-on-chip processor, a connector for data transfer and charging, integrated power supply and communications circuitry. Alternative embodiments allow for signaling hardware like lights, speakers and vibratory modules for haptic feedback. Supported communications technologies include UWB, Bluetooth/Bluetooth LE, and LP/ULP. Optional configurations cover more power intensive protocols such as Wi-Fi and cellular.

Power management is key to Apple’s solution. Depending on the situation, the tag can operate in a range of power modes, from ultra-low power to ultra-high power. For example, the MIT device can remain in an ultra-low power mode until it strays from a host device or is otherwise triggered by data from internal sensors. It can also receive a wake-up signal from a neighboring device, such as an iPhone pinging a lost tag.

When moving to a higher power mode, the tag increases beacon transmission and incoming instruction reception rates over various radio protocols including, but not limited to UWB.

Interestingly, in some embodiments the tag might delay or forego transitioning to a high-power output mode if it is determined to be in a “safe zone,” such as a user’s home, workplace, friend’s home or other frequented location. Likewise, tags might stay in low-power mode if onboard sensors detect movement similar to that experienced by a companion device, suggesting both items are with the user.

Conversely, tags may rapidly switch from low-power to high-power modes if it determines — or is notified — that it is entering a “danger zone.” For example, the device will in some cases ramp up power when a train is coming to a stop, when a user exits their car or a plane comes to rest, all situations in which a user might actively search for an item inadvertently left behind.

If the MIT device determines it is lost, whether based on lack of communication with a host device or updated location information passed to the cloud by nearby non-companion devices, it enters a so-called “lost mode.” During this period, the tag alters power output to increase the chances recovery. In some embodiments, beacons are transmitted at a higher rate during the day — as determined by an onboard light sensor — when the tag is more likely to be spotted by a passing device. Alternatively, transmission rates and power might increase as the duration of time increase.

Apple notes that tag logic adjusts transmission decisions based on time since last contact with a companion device. When that time period is short, perhaps hours, transmission rates and power ramp up may be aggressive, while longer periods of no contact might result in slow transmission patterns that allow for months of battery life.

An MIT device can in some embodiments poll onboard motion sensors to determine whether it has been found, at which point it will cease broadcasting and enter an ultra-low power mode. Alternatively, a companion device might instruct the tag to activate a high-power interface like UWB to pinpoint its location.

When discovered, a companion device may display a location interface that takes the form of an augmented reality environment or map. This UI can include positional indicators such as arrows, dots, circles and other onscreen graphics that vary in size, shape, color and intensity to assist in the location of a lost tag. Previous reports citing internal iOS builds note balloons and other AR graphics could be used as tag indicators.

Further embodiments allow for the MIT device to serve as a monetary vehicle, storing payments data or bank or credit card account information in the form of a secure, standalone “tap to pay” device complete with Apple Pay integration. The patents also mention using the tag as a form of identification with user tracking capabilities. Finally, the device might see use in a group setting to track the location of communal objects like sports equipment, the patents read.

Apple is widely rumored to introduce an “AirTags” system this year. Code relating to the operation and handling of Tile-like location tracking devices was discovered in a private iOS build more than a year ago, prior to the launch of iOS 13. While rumblings surrounding “AirTags” have largely given way to hardware leaks related to Apple’s cyclical iPhone refresh, the tracking solution could launch at an “iPhone 12” event expected this fall.

Apple’s “AirTags” patent application was filed for in February 2019 and credits James H. Foster, Marlene Nilsen and Paul G. Puskarich as its inventors. Of note, the IP appears to have originated from the tech giant’s UK offices.

Revealed in a U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filing on Tuesday, Cook on Monday saw a batch of 560,000 RSUs vest for satisfying performance goals set forth by the company’s board of directors.

After Apple’s statutory tax withholding, which came out to 294,840 stock units, Cook was left with 265,160 vested units that were immediately sold in multiple trades executed at prices ranging from $493.50 to $500.11 on Monday and Tuesday. Withheld units were traded on Monday at $503.43.

As usual, the trades were made pursuant to Cook’s trading plan adopted on Feb. 28.

The fully vested award includes 280,000 time-based RSUs and 280,000 performance-based RSUs. Performance-based RSUs were calculated by monitoring Apple’s performance relative to the S&P 500. To receive the full grant, Apple had to land in the top third of firms over a three-year period from Aug. 25, 2017 through Aug. 24, 2020, which it did. Adjusted for dividends, Apple’s starting value was calculated at $157.56, with the stock ending the period at $464.63.

Total shareholder return for the three-year period was 194.89%, placing Apple in the 99th percentile and 7th among the 442 companies on the index.

Cook has 1,260,000 RSUs remaining in his current award, all of which are slated to vest on Aug. 24, 2021. To see the RSUs convert in full, the executive must continue employment at Apple and maintain the company’s financial health.

Today’s filing comes a day after a disclosure noted Cook’s donation of 10,715 owned shares to an unknown charity. The gift was worth more than $5 million when the transaction was completed on Friday.

In the world of gaming, most accessories launch in white, black, or perhaps grey with occasional accent colors. The Logitech G Color Collection launches with mice, a keyboard, and a wireless headset that all have a variety of colors available, as well as some other accessories to bring out your personal style.

“As gaming becomes a bigger part of pop culture, personal expression and style have become a huge part of a gamers’ identity,” said Ujesh Desai, general manager of Logitech G. “With that in mind we set out to design a collection of high-performance gaming gear in a fun and colorful way.”

The most notable of the new Color Collection is the G733 Lightspeed Wireless Gaming Headset. This 278 gram lightweight headset is a reliable, high quality gaming headset. You can game for up to 29 hours on a single charge and be up to 20 meters away from a host device.

The new G733 headset

It sports front-facing, dual-zone Lightsync RGB lighting that can be customized with more than 16 million colors. There is a detachable mic with Blue VO!CE technology that makes your voice sound richer, cleaner, and more professional.

Swap headbands or mic covers

It is available in White, Blue, Lilac and Black colorways. They also have reversible headbands that are color-coordinated with the headsets. Additional headbands are available for $9.99 apiece. There are mic covers as well that come in quirky colors and shapes such as a mustache, star, heart, lips, and a thumbs up. Those too will be available for $9.99.

The G733 gaming headsets will start shipping in September for $129. It will support Mac, PC, and PS4.

Following the new headset are the G203 and G305 gaming mice and G915 TKL gaming keyboard.

The wired G203 gaming mouse.

The G203 is all about affordable, gaming-level performance. It is a wired mouse with a reliable six-button design that can be used out of the box or customized with Logitech G Hub software, which allows you to change the vibrant LED colors but also program the buttons to your preference.

It uses a gaming-grade sensor with adjustable tracking up to 8000 DPI for a high level of accuracy.

When it launches, the mouse will be available in Black, White, Blue and Lilac for $39.99.

The G305 is a higher-end gaming mouse with wireless connectivity. It is more capable with 400 IPS precision and sensitivity up to 12,000 DPI. Users can game for 250 hours at a 1ms report rate in Performance mode on a single AA battery. When switched to Endurance mode, it refreshes at 8ms and can last up to nine months.

Wireless G305 gaming mouse is now available in blue and lilac alongside white and black

This mouse is ultra lightweight, has hidden storage for the nano receiver, and is great for on your desk or on-the-go gaming. When it originally launched, it was available in white and black but is now available in blue and lilac as well.

Finally, the G915 TKL Keyboard is a full keyboard with directional arrow keys and no number pad — the perfect combination for gamers who rely on solid arrow keys but don’t need the bulk of the number pad.

It offers three selections of low-profile GL switches and pro-grade 1ms Lightspeed wireless connectivity. On a single charge it can run over 40 hours of gameplay.

Like others in the lineup, it has fully customizable RGB colors that can be customized on a per-key basis. The lights can also react to in-game action, audio and screen color as you choose.

Logitech’s G915 TKL keyboard is strong and durable with an aluminum top plate and storage for the nano receiver so that it can travel with you.

The G915 TKL Gaming Keyboard has been available, but the new tenkeyless design will retail for $229.99 in September in white and black.

Find all of the new Logitech G Color Collection on Logitech G’s website.

This year, schools are offering in-person or virtual options. No matter which option your school is offering, the best new computer may be a computer that’s new-to-you.

Last year, we purchased a 2015 MacBook Air with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. The problem is that 128GB is not large enough to meet the school’s requirements. They want 256GB or greater.

First, you’re going to need to gather the computer and parts. We found the 2015 MacBook Air and a 2017 MacBook Air on Craigslist.

Both years are essentially the same computer, with a speed bump in CPU MHz. We could have also found a MacBook Pro, but those cost more and weigh more.

• 2015 or newer MacBook air
• bootable macOS USB drive to reinstall macOS
• Sintech NVMe adapter
• Crucial P1 1TB drive
• P5 pentalobe screwdriver
• T5 torx screwdriver

The Mac you upgrade doesn’t have to be a MacBook Air. It could also be a MacBook Pro, or Mac mini.

In general, any 2013 to 2017 MacBook Air, 2013 to 2015 MacBook Pro, and 2014 Mac mini can be upgraded, with good results. How can you tell if your computer is compatible with an upgrade? When you click on About this Mac, System Report, the Hardware Overview section has a Model Identifier number that you can use to determine compatibility.

• MacBook Pro (15-inch Retina display Mid 2015) Model ID: MacBookPro11,5
• MacBook Pro (15-inch Retina display Mid 2015) Model ID: MacBookPro11,4
• MacBook Pro (13-inch Retina display Early 2015) Model ID: MacBookPro12,1
• MacBook Pro (15-inch Retina Display 2014) Model ID: MacBookPro11,3
• MacBook Pro (15-inch Retina Display 2014) Model ID: MacBookPro11,2
• MacBook Pro (13-inch Retina Display 2014) Model ID: MacBookPro11,1
• MacBook Pro (15-inch Retina Display 2013) Model ID: MacBookPro11,3
• MacBook Pro (15-inch Retina Display 2013) Model ID: MacBookPro11,2
• MacBook Pro (13-inch Retina Display 2013) Model ID: MacBookPro11,1

• MacBook Air (13-inch Mid 2017) Model ID: MacBookAir7,2
• MacBook Air (13-inch Early 2015) Model ID: MacBookAir7,2
• MacBook Air (11-inch Early 2015) Model ID: MacBookAir7,1
• MacBook Air (13-inch Early 2014) Model ID: MacBookAir6,2
• MacBook Air (11-inch Early 2014) Model ID: MacBookAir6,1
• MacBook Air (13-inch Mid 2013) Model ID: MacBookAir6,2
• MacBook Air (11-inch Mid 2013) Model ID: MacBookAir6,1

• Mac mini (Late 2014) Model ID: Macmini7,1

When we write, “with good results,” there is a caveat. 2013-2014 machines treat hibernation differently than 2015 and later machines.

Apple has different power management modes for increasing battery life. One of those can cause a problem for users who upgrade to an NVMe drive in a 2013-2014 machine.

Some of these machines will kernel panic when attempting to go into standby mode. Standby is where the computer records a snapshot of the current state of your computer to the flash drive, usually after about 3 hours. A Mac on Standby can stay charged for up to 30 days without being plugged in.

The solution is to prevent the computer from going into Standby. Here’s how to do it.

• Open the Terminal app
• Type sudo pmset -a standby 0
• Press Return
• Quit the Terminal

The computer will still hibernate or sleep, without saving the current state of the computer to the flash drive. You’ll still have battery-life, although maybe not the 30-days-without-charging kind of battery life.

2015 and later machines need no modifications like this at all.

You can run a range of macOS using these NVMe drives:

• High Sierra
• Mojave
• Catalina
• Big Sur (probably)

For the students in our house, we’re going with Mojave. Every app they’re going to use will work fine with Mojave, but your mileage may vary.

At some point in the future, we will likely upgrade the machines to Big Sur, but not until it’s been out for a few point releases.

There are a range of drives available that will work, but unless the Mac has a controller that can take advantage of faster speeds, there’s no benefit to spending more on a faster drive.

While the WD Black SN750 can transfer speeds at a rated 3400 MB/s, it’s not useful if the Mac can’t support those speeds.

The Samsung drives have a history of working after firmware updates have been applied. The problem with firmware updates is that they require a Windows machine to install them. If you’re preparing a computer for a student, this may be outside your comfort level.

The Crucial P1 drives are affordable (1TB for $104) where every other terabyte drive was more money.

Our advice: buy the drive that’s within budget and will meet the needs of your Macintosh and your school’s recommendations.

We considered what the machines we had were capable of, and maxed them out based on that.

For example, you could get a 4TB drive. It will be expensive. Practically, we targeted 1TB or fewer.

For a MacBook Air, the maximum speeds of the controller are between 700 and 1500 MB/s. The Retina 15″ Mid-2015 MacBook Pro supports 4x lanes PCIe 3.0 speed, and can support 3000 MB/s.

The upgraded MacBook Air

For our MacBook Airs, the Crucial P1 makes sense. If we were upgrading a Retina MacBook Pro 15″ from 2015, the WD Black might make more sense.

Even though we chose the slower Crucial drive, it reached 1476 MB/s read and 1323 MB/s write speeds on the MacBook Air. On our stock 2015 MacBook Pro, we get only 529 MB/s read, 482 MB/s write speeds.

The original drive in a 2014 MacBook Pro

It’s worth noting that just because a drive is rated at a high speed it’s possible to achieve less than that speed. For example, We tried the WD Black drive in a computer running Windows, and it reached 2900 MB/s. On macOS on the same computer, it reached 2400 MB/s.

There are a lot of variables, and while we’re doing something not officially supported, it’s still an impressive speed increase over stock drives.

Shut down the computer. Use the Pentalobe P5 to remove the bottom cover of the MacBook. Not all screws are the same length, and it’s important to get each back into the same hole it came out of.

keep the screws in order

You might take cardboard and poke the screws into the cardboard in orientations similar to the screw holes they came out of. Or you might put strips of double sided tape down and organize them on that. Whichever you do, make sure the screws go into the holes they came out of when you’re done.

The cover will come off easily. On the MacBook Air, we lift at a corner or hinge area working around the sides. There’s a sort of latch at the middle of the sides of the machine, where you’ll feel the cover pop free and lift off.

Removing the original drive

Locate the SSD. In the center of the MacBook Air, there’s a Torx screw holding it down. Unscrew it and remove the drive, setting it aside.

Take the Sintech NGFF to M.2 NVMe adapter, and insert it in place of the original drive. Then, take the new NVMe drive and insert it into the adapter. When everything is aligned, the notch in the end of the NVMe drive will line up with the post the Torx screw came out of. You can reuse it, or use the Philips screw that came with the adapter.

Inserting the adapter

Make sure to align the adapter and drive correctly on the standoff that the Torx screw goes in. This may require some care to insert the adapter and drive fully into their slots.

Put the cover of the computer back on, taking care to replace the screws in the holes they came out of. Normally on Macs, the longest screws go near the hinge area, or near the center of that hinge edge.

The new drive and adapter installed

Insert the USB macOS drive you made earlier. Power on while holding down the Option key. When the list of drives comes up, select the USB drive. The computer will boot to recovery.

Open Disk Utility to format the new SSD drive as GUID partition scheme with macOS journaled file system. Once done, quit Disk Utility and proceed installing macOS.

Reinstalling macOS

The result will be a faster computer than stock configuration, more storage, and the drive will show up in System Report under NVMExpress.

System Report showing success

We purchased a 2015 MacBook Air for $280 and a 2017 MacBook Air for $420. Craigslist is subject to availability and haggling, and your willingness to meet strangers wearing face masks with considerable sums of cash.

There’s a lot of life left in second-hand Macs, and upgrading one from just a few years ago is an affordable way to meet or exceed back-to-school computing requirements. The computer will be faster, have more storage, on a budget.

On Friday, it was reported the lack of app updates for the WordPress app were due to it being “locked” on the App Store. After three weeks of absence, developers of the app had agreed to implement some form of in-app purchase to the app to enable updates to go through again, among other possible solutions.

In a statement provided to AppleInsider on Saturday, Apple claims the issue with the app has been “resolved” overnight.

“Since the developer removed the display of their service payment options from the app, it is now a free stand-alone app and does not have to offer in-app purchases,” states Apple. “We have informed the developer and apologize for any confusion that we have caused.”

At the time the block came to light, it was suggested the app was blocked because it was possible for users to see a page within the app’s Help Center discussing upgrades to paid plans. This is in reference to WordPress.com’s paid hosting offerings, which are managed from the website, not the app.

While the app itself doesn’t offer any monetary transaction capabilities at all, it is believed the mention in the support page for the website version was a violation of App Store review guidelines.

The confusion surrounding in-app purchases arrives at a time when the App Store is facing intense scrutiny. Apple is currently facing antitrust investigations from regulators in the U.S. and Europe, while a public legal fight between Epic Games and Apple is also taking place.

The entertainment giant earlier in August said the film would hit Disney+ as a paid exclusive on “premier platforms,” but failed to name partner providers, Deadline reports.

According to a Disney+ webpage, “Mulan” will be available from Sept. 4 as an in-app purchase on Apple, Roku and Google platforms. The film is also set to go up for purchase through Disney’s website.

Disney+ subscribers are slated to get access to the film following its September premiere, though a streaming date has not been announced.

The move comes amid controversy surrounding app store fees implemented by Apple and Google, each of which faces lawsuits from developers for taking a slice of in-app transactions. By making “Mulan” available as an in-app Disney+ “premium” purchase, Disney subjects its film to app store fees, which in Apple’s case is 30%.

“We thought we would give it a try, to try to recapture some of that investment that we’ve got,” said Bob Chapek, CEO of The Walt Disney Company. Chapek characterized the “one-off” strategy as a “a chance to learn,” Deadline reports.