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Jason Cipriani/CNET
One of the creepiest parts of iOS 8 is its app suggestion feature. This new feature uses your current location to determine if there’s a nearby venue or business who has an iOS app in the App Store. If it determines an app is likely relevant based on your current location, it will discreetly recommend the app to you on your lock screen.
30 tips every new iOS 8 user should know
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For some, this new feature is going to be more of a nuisance than anything else. Naturally, Apple has provided a means to disable the feature that’s otherwise on by default.
Screenshot by Jason Cipriani/CNET
Simply go into the Settings app where you should find and select “iTunes & App Store” from the list of options.
Scroll down to the bottom of the page where you’ll find two switches; one allows for alerts from apps you currently have installed, the other for alerts from the App Store. Slide one or both switches to the off position based on your personal taste.
Turning either on can lead to some pretty intrusive results. When you’re near a Starbucks you’ll notice a small Starbucks app icon in the lower-left corner of your lock screen. Tapping on the icon doesn’t offer much, but touching and sliding it up (like the gesture used to launch the Camera on the lock screen) will either launch the app on your device, or take you to the App Store where you can download the app.
While testing iOS 8, I’ve had random apps ranging from Frontier Airlines while at an airport, to King Soopers alert me when I was near one of its many locations in my area. In both instances, I had neither app installed, so instead of the app’s icon on my lock screen, I found the generic App Store icon to be an indicator for launching the App Store.
For more helpful iOS 8 tips, be sure to check out our complete guide to iOS 8.
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