Apple Rejects Valve’s Steam Link Streaming App

A couple of weeks ago, Valve announced that they would be launching the Steam Link mobile app. What this app would do is allow PC gamers to stream games from their computer onto their mobile devices, which sounds like a fantastic way of gaming if you’d rather not sit in front of your computer all day.

The app was later launch on Android in beta form and an iOS release was also expected as well. Unfortunately that will not be happening, at least for now, because in a report from CNET, it appears that Apple has rejected the app from their App Store, citing “business conflicts with app guidelines that had allegedly not been realized by the original review team.”

Valve has since released a statement which reads, “On Monday, May 7th, Apple approved the Steam Link app for release. On Weds, May 9th, Valve released news of the app. The following morning, Apple revoked its approval citing business conflicts with app guidelines that had allegedly not been realized by the original review team. Valve appealed, explaining the Steam Link app simply functions as a LAN-based remote desktop similar to numerous remote desktop applications already available on the App Store. Ultimately, that appeal was denied leaving the Steam Link app for iOS blocked from release.”

Apple’s rejection is a bit vague and so the exact reason behind the rejection is unclear. However this isn’t the first time an app has been rejected or removed from the App Store over vague reasons, and is one of the reasons why some developers have come together to form a union to get Apple to improve its App Store. In any case it seems that until Apple and Valve can come to some kind of agreement, it looks like it’s a no-go for Steam Link on iOS devices for now.

Apple Rejects Valve’s Steam Link Streaming App , original content from Ubergizmo. Read our Copyrights and terms of use.

Apple Offering Free First Month iCloud Storage To Non-Subscribers

Just like with Google Drive and Dropbox, Apple’s iCloud storage service offers its users a small amount of free storage if they choose to use it. In the case of iCloud, Apple offers its users 5GB, which honestly isn’t enough if you’re looking to backup things like photos and videos. Users who want more will have to pay a monthly subscription for it.

However for those who are still on the fence about subscribing, it appears that Apple is trying to entice users with free first month storage. This means that users who want to try out the service won’t need to pay for the first month upfront, after which they can decide if subscribing to iCloud storage is useful or not.

However we should point out that this first month free offer isn’t for everyone. It is only available to those who are not paying for iCloud storage. This means that if you’re already paying for iCloud storage, you won’t be getting one month free. That being said, we’re not sure if this is  applicable to those who had previously subscribed and cancelled, or if it’s only available for brand new customers.

For those who have yet to subscribe, a 50GB iCloud storage plan will cost $0.99 a month, followed by 200GB which will cost $2.99 a month, and if you absolutely need more, the 2TB storage option is available at $9.99 a month.

Apple Offering Free First Month iCloud Storage To Non-Subscribers , original content from Ubergizmo. Read our Copyrights and terms of use.

Google Overtakes Amazon In Smart Speaker Shipments In Q1 2018

It goes without saying that with Amazon getting a head start in the smart speaker race that it’s not surprising that they have a very sizable market share. However it seems that Google could be catching up, at least according to recent data from Canalys in which apparently Google overtook Amazon in smart speaker shipments for Q1 2018.

As you can see in the graph above, Q1 2018 saw for the first time ever Google surpassing Amazon in terms of smart speaker shipments, where the company managed to ship 3.2 million smart speakers versus Amazon’s 2.5 million devices. However this is only for Q1 2018 and it is possible that Amazon could eventually get their lead back.

Also Amazon is still very much the king in the smart speaker market, but like we said if Google can keep up their lead, it is possible that the gap will start to close between both companies. For the most part both companies have similar offerings, where there is a cheaper and smaller version of the smart speakers aimed at users who don’t really need to play music but want the smart digital assistants.

Then there are also the “regular” versions, although in Amazon’s case they are also offering a model with a built-in display, while Google has a model aimed more at audio enthusiasts. For those wondering about Apple’s HomePod, last we heard the company had managed to ship 600,000 units in Q1 2018 which only accounts for a fraction of the market. There are claims that Apple might launch a cheaper version of the HomePod but that remains to be seen.

Google Overtakes Amazon In Smart Speaker Shipments In Q1 2018 , original content from Ubergizmo. Read our Copyrights and terms of use.

Pioneer NEX receivers first with wireless Android Auto, CarPlay

Connecting smartphones to car dashboards isn’t exactly new. Having those dashboards support Google’s Android Auto or Apple’s CarPlay, or both, is just a bit newer. But doing all of that without getting tangled in USB cords is definitely fresh off the press. That’s exactly what Pioneer is delivering with its three new 2018 in-dash NEX receivers, promising the convenience of … Continue reading

Snapchat Send and Request Location is thankfully less invasive

Snapchat seems to need no help from third-party actors to stir up controversy. But, as they say, bad publicity is still publicity. Even before the widely unpopular redesign or the more recent unskippable ads, Snapchat had its always-on location broadcasting Snap Map feature. That potentially privacy-invasive feature eventually sagged after a brief surge of popularity but now Snapchat has found … Continue reading

PayPal Now Available As Payment Option Across Google Apps

PayPal and Google have an existing partnership where PayPal can be used as a payment option for the Play Store. However the good news for PayPal users is that if you wanted to keep using PayPal across Google’s other apps and services, you now can as both companies have recently announced that they will be deepening their partnership.

What does this mean? This means that if you link your PayPal account to your Google account, not only are you able to use it with Google Play and Google Pay, but you will also be able to use it as a payment option within Google’s other products and services, such as Gmail, YouTube, and also peer-to-peer payments. The best part is that for the sake of convenience, users only need to sign in once and will never need to log in again (unless you choose to log out).

According to PayPal, “PayPal and Google Pay share common goals of creating simple payment solutions across our platforms that enable people to shop more seamlessly. We look forward to continued collaboration that helps increase conversion for merchants and gives users the flexibility, security and speed that digital payments can offer.”

It seems like a convenience feature if anything, but like we said if you prefer using PayPal and appreciate the protection it offers to buyers and sellers, then this deeper integration is probably good news.

PayPal Now Available As Payment Option Across Google Apps , original content from Ubergizmo. Read our Copyrights and terms of use.

Pornhub Just Launched Its Own (And Free) VPN

If there is a reason to using incognito mode when browsing certain NSFW adult websites, it is because you don’t want to be tracked and don’t want someone else using your computer to know what you’ve been up to. This is why it doesn’t come as a surprise to learn that adult video website Pornhub has launched their own VPN.

Dubbed VPNhub, this is essentially a VPN which means that in addition to being able to use it to browse Pornhub, you will also be able to enjoy the benefits associated with VPNs in general. According to VPNhub, “Enjoy the pleasure of protection with VPNhub. With full data encryption and guaranteed anonymity, go with the most trusted VPN to protect your privacy anywhere in the world.”

They add, “VPNhub helps you bypass censorship while providing secure and private access to Internet. Access all of your favorite websites without fear of being monitored.” The best part about VPNhub is that it is free, something that is rare nowadays when it comes to VPNs. It will be available across multiple platforms such as Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android.

However it should be noted that the free version of the service is only available for iOS and Android. If you want to use it on your desktop, you will need to purchase the Premium version which will cost $12.99 a month in subscriptions. To get started head on over to the VPNhub website for the download details.

Pornhub Just Launched Its Own (And Free) VPN , original content from Ubergizmo. Read our Copyrights and terms of use.

Trump Scraps North Korea Summit, But Leaves Door Open For Future Cooperation

Morgan Freeman Speaks Out After Multiple Sexual Harassment Allegations Surface

CNN reports eight women accused Oscar-winning actor Morgan Freeman of making unwanted comments or contact with them

Apple awarded $539 million in damages from Samsung in patent battle

The Apple vs Samsung patent war that started in 2011 has experienced a new twist, with a jury revising the amount Apple was awarded from its original $1 billion to about half that amount. Apple has ultimately been awarded $539 million in damages, that following around four days of jury deliberation. The ruling brings to a close seven years of … Continue reading