Apple TV Set to Launch Season Finale of Pluribus Early Next Week

**Pluribus Season One Finale: Early Release Announcement**

Apple TV+ subscribers have something to look forward to as the eagerly awaited finale of the inaugural season of *Pluribus* is set to debut sooner than anticipated. Initially planned for December 26, the ninth episode will now be accessible on December 24, just in time for the holiday festivities.

This is not the first occasion Apple TV+ has delighted its viewers with an earlier release. Last month, episode five was released two days prior to its scheduled airing during the Thanksgiving/Black Friday week. This pattern of early releases appears to be a tactical decision by Apple to boost viewer interaction during holiday times, with Christmas Day and Kwanzaa affecting the choice this time.

Fans can anticipate watching the new episode on the evening of December 23, as Apple generally releases new episodes at 9 p.m. ET the night before the official debut date. This advanced access allows devoted viewers to savor the finale before the holiday celebrations begin.

Episode nine, which has a runtime of 57 minutes, is noteworthy for being the third longest episode in the series. The premiere episode has the second longest duration at 59 minutes, while episode two is the longest, running for 1 hour and 5 minutes. As the season finale, this episode is anticipated to provide a gripping conclusion to the narratives established throughout the season.

*Pluribus* has attracted considerable attention, marking itself as the most-viewed show on Apple TV+ thus far. Apple had earlier disclosed that two seasons of the series were commissioned in 2022, guaranteeing fans that the story will continue beyond this initial season.

For those looking to view *Pluribus*, Apple TV+ can be subscribed to at a rate of $12.99 per month. Additionally, viewers have the option of a bundled subscription that features Apple TV+, iCloud, Apple Music, and Apple Arcade for $19.95 per month via Apple One.

As the finale nears, anticipation mounts among fans eager to find out how the first season wraps up and what awaits in the next installment of *Pluribus*.

Apple Faces Reinstituted Antitrust Class Action Concerning App Store at U.S. Appeals Court

Following the reversal of her own class action certification by U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers in a case alleging that Apple holds a monopoly over the iPhone app market, the situation has been revived today. Here are the specifics.

### A Brief Overview

In 2022, after a complex series of motions, appeals, and the merging of overlapping antitrust claims, the case In re Apple iPhone Antitrust Litigation was assigned to U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers.

At first, she chose not to certify it as a class action. Two years later, she changed her mind, approving it under a more limited scope, covering “only Apple account holders who spent $10 or more on app or in-app content,” as noted by Reuters.

Last October, after Apple contested the plaintiffs’ damages model, Judge Rogers once again reversed her ruling and decertified the class action, determining that the plaintiffs did not provide a model “capable of reliably showing classwide injury and damages in one stroke.”

At that point, the plaintiffs’ legal team indicated they would evaluate their next actions. Shortly thereafter, they submitted a petition requesting permission to appeal, which leads us to the current situation.

### Antitrust Case Revived

As reported by Reuters, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals approved the plaintiffs’ petition for permission to appeal.

In practical terms, this indicates that the appeals court will now assess Judge Rogers’ decision to decertify the class action, which could either restore the lawsuit as a class action, return it to her for additional scrutiny, or affirm her ruling.

According to today’s ruling, the appeal will advance under Rule 23(f), meaning the Ninth Circuit will only consider the class certification ruling (not the underlying antitrust claims against Apple). The plaintiffs now have 14 days to formally advance the appeal.

In a statement to Reuters, Mark Rifkin, an attorney representing the plaintiffs, expressed that they “look forward to briefing and arguing the merits of the appeal in the Ninth Circuit.” Conversely, Apple did not respond to Reuters’ request for a statement.

AltStore PAL Debuts in Japan Following Major App Store Modifications

# Japanese Users Can Now Download AltStore PAL and Sideload Applications on Their iPhones and iPads: Here’s How

## A Bit of Context

Recently, Apple revealed major changes to the App Store and iPhone in Japan to adhere to the Mobile Software Competition Act (MASCA). These modifications permit developers to launch their applications through alternative app marketplaces, in addition to Apple’s App Store. Moreover, developers can now take advantage of alternative payment methods beyond Apple’s In-App Purchase system and direct users to external payment systems. Apple will maintain its Notarization review process for all applications while unveiling new business terms, including App Store commissions and transaction fees.

## AltStore PAL Now Available in Japan

Shortly after Apple enacted its new regulations, AltStore announced on Mastodon that its AltStore PAL application is now accessible in Japan, allowing users to sideload applications on their iPhones and iPads. To commemorate this growth, AltStore is providing a complimentary month of Patreon access to all AltStore PAL users, which includes special features.

AltStore’s Patreon subscriptions vary from $3 to $10 per month, granting access to unique app icons, achievements, and a Discord community.

## How to Install AltStore PAL

For users situated in supported regions, here are the official instructions to install AltStore PAL:

1. Tap “Download” on the [AltStore download page](https://altstore.io/download), and a “Marketplace Installation” notification will pop up, requesting you to permit downloads from AltStore LLC.

2. Launch the Settings app, and you will notice a new option, “Allow Marketplace From AltStore LLC” at the top under your Apple ID. Choose “Allow.”

3. Go back to the [AltStore download page](https://altstore.io/download), tap “Download” once more, and a second prompt to install will show up. Select “Install App Marketplace.”

For additional details about AltStore, check out

TikTok’s Sale in the U.S. Set to Conclude Next Month After Lengthy Discussions

**TikTok Sale Journey: Final Moves Towards a New Chapter**

The eagerly awaited sale of TikTok’s operations in the U.S. is approaching its conclusion, with a transaction expected to finalize on January 22, 2025. This milestone follows a complicated path that began in 2020 during the Trump administration and has encountered numerous legal and political hurdles, culminating in a divest-or-ban regulation enacted by President Biden in 2024.

### Agreement Framework and Principal Stakeholders

As reported by Axios, TikTok has agreed to sell its U.S. division to a newly established joint venture comprised of three managing partners: Oracle, Silver Lake, and Abu Dhabi-based MGX. Per an internal note from TikTok CEO Shou Chew, the new TikTok USDS Joint Venture LLC will see these investors collectively owning 45% of the entity. Moreover, 5% will be designated for additional new investors, while 30.1% will be owned by affiliates of current ByteDance investors, and 19.9% will stay with ByteDance itself.

### Emphasis on Data Security

A crucial component of this agreement is the pledge to retrain TikTok’s U.S. content recommendation algorithm utilizing data from American users. This initiative is designed to safeguard the content feed from external interference, addressing persistent worries regarding data privacy and security. Oracle will lead efforts to ensure data protection, highlighting the need for user trust in the platform.

### Final Thoughts

The approaching conclusion of this agreement signifies a critical moment for TikTok as it manages the intricacies of functioning in the U.S. market under regulatory oversight. As the company gears up for this transition, the consequences for users, investors, and the wider social media environment remains to be determined. What do you think about the TikTok sale agreement?