I have said it before, I’ll say it again: Black Panther: Wakanda Forever star Tenoch Huerta does not need me to defend his honor, but I will do it regardless. I just think he’s neat. A nice guy. A cool dude. And, in a recent interview that he did while in Mexico City with the luchador Golden Scorpion, Huerta opened up…
The Luxembourg Directorate of Defense and Virgin Orbit signed an agreement earlier this week to explore the possibility of developing “responsive space capabilities” for use by NATO and possibly other allies.
The ongoing chess cheating scandal now has some dollar signs attached to it. On Wednesday, burgeoning chess master Hans Neimann filed a $100 Million complaint against five-time World Chess Champion Magnus Carlsen over multiple hints and outright allegations of cheating.
Google is facing another fine for allegedly misusing its control of Android to suppress competition. CNETreports India’s Competition Commission has fined Google the equivalent of $161.9 million for supposedly giving its Android apps an edge using restrictive terms. The company imposes an “unfair condition” on phone makers by requiring that they preinstall Google apps as part of agreements, according to officials. That, in turn, is said to discourage companies from developing heavily modified Android variants that rely less on Google services.
The Commission also maintains that Google is wielding its “dominant position” to squeeze out competitors in search, app stores, web browsers and video services. Historically, Google has required that phones with the Play Store installed also include apps like Chrome and YouTube, often with prominent placement on the home screen. While you can always install alternatives like Firefox and Vimeo, they’re not included out of the box. Brands can use the Android Open Source Project (AOSP) if they want more flexibility, but they lose access to the Play Store in the process.
The regulator has issued a cease and desist order barring Google from requiring a “bouquet” of preinstalled apps. Companies have to be given the choice of which apps they want. Google also isn’t allowed to deny access to the Play Services framework, to include “anti-fragmentation” clauses that bar Android forks, or to offer incentives in return for exclusive search deals. Third-party app stores must be allowed to distribute through the Play Store. Users, meanwhile, must have the power to choose their search engine on setup and to uninstall Google apps they don’t want.
Google has declined to comment until it receives the official Commission order. The investigation began in 2019, but didn’t determine that Google had abused its dominance until September 2021.
The fine is tiny for Google, which made about $257.6 billion in worldwide revenue last year. The order could force it to significantly alter its deals with Android manufacturers, however, and comes after South Korea, the European Union and others have demanded similar changes. And Google can’t afford to ignore India — it’s the second-largest smartphone market on Earth with about 606.6 million users. A forced withdrawal would significantly damage Google’s bottom line, not to mention clout in the mobile industry.
The skin care entrepreneur got emotional during an episode of “Red Table Talk” when she discussed a difficult conversation she had with her son.
If the companies behind a product no longer care about ruining something for an audience, why should you? Today, mere hours before the release of Black Adam, the official DC Comics Twitter account posted a cute little animation. One that, well—we aren’t going to be assholes and spoil it without warning, so if you want…
Natural gas stoves commonly emit toxic chemicals into homes, even when the appliances are not in use. A study published today in Environmental Science & Technology found that, when researchers took samples from gas stoves in California, nearly all of them were leaking harmful levels of benzene, which is known to cause…
Amazon could soon go to court over its use of the Buy Box that highlights shopping deals. The Guardianreports that lawyers are filing a class action lawsuit with the UK’s Competition Appeal Tribunal over claims the Buy Box “tricks” shoppers into paying more than they should. Consumer advocate Julie Hunter says the section favors either Amazon’s own products or sellers who use the company’s logistics, not the best price or quality of service. A better deal might be buried lower on the page or even tucked into an “obscure corner” on the site, Hunter adds.
Co-leading lawyer Lesley Hannah contends that users rely heavily on the Buy Box, with up to 90 percent of purchases going through that space. “Millions” of buyers have likely overpaid as a result. Supposedly, the practice also violates competition requirements by stifling sellers with better deals.
The lawsuit seeks damages of £900 million (about $1 billion). It covers any UK resident who has made purchases since October 2016, and doesn’t require that you opt in.
Amazon tells The Guardian in a statement that it believes the lawsuit is “without merit.” It maintains that it supports all the sellers in its UK marketplace, and that “more than half” of physical good sales in the country go through independent sellers. It didn’t directly address the purported Buy Box manipulation. The firm has lately asked sellers to oppose antitrust legislation meant to prevent tech giants from giving their services an unfair advantage.
There’s no guarantee the lawsuit will force Amazon to alter the Buy Box. However, it comes as the company faces multiple accusations that it misuses its dominant position to stifle third-party sellers. California recently sued Amazon over assertions that it punishes sellers who offer cheaper prices elsewhere, and the US Securities and Exchange Commission is reportedly investigating Amazon for misusing seller data to launch competing products.
Your own paycheck is a battleground in the fight over inflation.
Google Messages has a long way to go before Android users begin adopting it en masse, but these newly added features may help get the ball rolling.
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