New ‘Apps by Apple’ guide serves up great apps on a platter

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Apple quietly added a helpful new “Apps by Apple” section to its website last week. Cupertino’s new guide breaks down the world of great Apple apps into helpful sections all in one place.

Some people wonder if it’s part of Apple’s response to the European Union’s moves to force sideloading of apps on iPhones.

‘Apps by Apple’ webpage quietly launches

Apparently, Apple rolled out the new Apps by Apple webpage last week without any announcement, according to a column in Inc. magazine Thursday.

While you can find all of Apple’s apps in different places on its website (and in the App Store, of course), the new web section gives a helpful overview you won’t find elsewhere.

The new feature lists a wide array of apps on information cards divided into seven topic areas:

• Communication: Phone, Messages, FaceTime, Mail and Contacts
• Creativity: Photos, Camera, GarageBand, iMovie, Final Cut Pro and Logic Pro
• Productivity: Notes, Reminders, Calendar, Freeform and Pages
• Exploration: Safari, Maps, Weather, Find My and Wallet
• Entertainment and Home: Apple TV, Apple Music, Apple Arcade, Apple Music Classical and Podcasts
• Health and Fitness: Apple Health, Fitness, Workout, Sleep and Cycle Tracking
• Features: Siri, iCloud, CarPlay, Continuity and Family Sharing

The card for each app shows you which platforms offer the software. Or you can use buttons at the top to filter by device, like Apple Watch. You also can simply click to open the app.

And underneath all that useful information, you can access the App Store for more.

Related to EU regulations and sideloading?

The Inc. article brings up the possibility that the new section is part of Cupertino’s preparation for European Union regulations that could open up iOS to sideloading of third-party apps.

“Connect, create, and get things done with powerful and intuitive apps designed to be accessible, private, and secure,” Apple’s new page says, reminding you whose apps you can trust.