Twitch is striving for more clarity about why and how it executes its policies. On Monday, the company said it’s adding Enforcement Notes, which it describes as “additional clarifications and examples within the Community Guidelines designed to make our rules easier to follow.” The notes come on the heels of (and complement) the company’s recent promise that it would do a better job of telling rule-breakers why their accounts were suspended.

The company says Enforcement Notes will outline how its rules apply to the trends you see on the platform. For example, if a new trending topic violates one of Twitch’s policies, it will publish a note under that rule, clarifying precisely which behaviors are and aren’t out of bounds. It will also publish new notes in response to data spikes it observes, widespread community confusion or trending discussions on social media.

Twitch has already added some enforcement notes to its community guidelines safety page. For example, one note says selling activities that could cause harm in exchange for money (like taking shots for subscriptions) is forbidden under its “Self-destructive behavior” rule. In addition, it states under “Sexual content” that direct links to websites that primarily provide intimate content aren’t allowed on the platform. Under “Impersonation,” it states that if someone else is posing as you, you can report the imitating stream to Twitch when it doesn’t qualify for a DMCA removal.

Twitch says its enforcement notes won’t replace any of its existing methods of communication with users, like blog posts or tweets. Instead, the company describes the notes as “a source of truth for all policy and enforcement updates.”

Right now, the easiest way to learn about Enforcement Notes is through a browser page search on the community guidelines page. However, Twitch says it will eventually add a visual symbol to indicate new ones. It’s also working on a built-in search feature to make the notes easier to spot without using Cmd-F or Ctrl-F.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/social-media/twitch-makes-its-complicated-rulebook-easier-to-follow-183617108.html?src=rss

Google has to open up the Play Store. On Monday, US District Judge James Donato issued a permanent injunction forcing the company to open its storefront to competitors for three years and make Android apps available in alternate stores. The ruling stems from Google’s four-year antitrust battle with Epic Games. Google said on Monday it will appeal the injunction, highlighting its competition with Apple and potential security concerns.

As part of the ruling, Google must allow third-party app stores access to the Google Play library. In addition, CNBC reports that the company has to make those alternate app stores available for download in the Play Store. Google also can’t make deals (using fees or revenue sharing) to launch apps exclusively on Google Play or preinstall its store on new hardware.

Billing changes will also emerge from the injunction. Google can’t require developers to use its own billing system. Nor can it stop devs from notifying users about less expensive payment options.

CNBC reports that a three-person committee will monitor Google’s compliance and technical issues stemming from the ruling. Google and Epic will form the committee.

When reached for comment by Engadget, a Google spokesperson pointed to a blog post explaining why it will appeal. Google VP of Regulatory Affairs Lee-Anne Mulholland wrote that the company’s competition with Apple helps to negate antitrust concerns. “The decision fails to take into account that Android is an open platform and developers have always had many options in how to distribute their apps,” Mulholland wrote. “In fact, most Android devices come preloaded with two or more app stores right out of the box.”

“For example, Epic Games has made its popular Fortnite app available to Android users through the Samsung Galaxy Store, sideloading, and the Epic Games Store — all while Fortnite was not distributed through Google Play,” Google’s Regulatory Affairs VP wrote. “These are options that developers have never been able to offer to their American users on iPhones.”

In December, a jury found Google’s Play Store to violate US antitrust laws. The unanimous verdict stated that the company held an illegal monopoly on app distribution and in-app billing for Android devices. It also ruled that its deals with other gaming companies and device manufacturers were anti-competitive. 

In April, Epic listed a proposed permanent injunction that largely matches Donato’s decision today. For its part, Google said at the time Epic’s demands went too far and were too self-serving.

The ruling went in a very different direction from a similar one Epic filed against Apple, which the Fortnite maker mostly lost. CNBC notes that a jury decided Google’s trial, while the fate of Apple’s suit fell into the hands of a judge.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/google-has-to-open-up-the-play-store-in-epic-games-antitrust-ruling-195239228.html?src=rss

The OnePlus 13 is set to support magnetic wireless charging, a feature popularized by Apple’s MagSafe technology, which debuted with the iPhone 12 in 2020. MagSafe enhances wireless charging by improving alignment and security through built-in magnets, a standard that was further advanced in 2023 with the Wireless Consortium’s Qi2.

Despite this development, most 2024 Android flagships have lacked Qi2 support. However, OnePlus has confirmed that its upcoming flagship, the OnePlus 13, will embrace this technology. Kinder Liu, OnePlus President and COO, teased this feature by responding to a fan query about phone cases on Weibo. Liu also revealed the first image of the device through the Chinese social media:

While OnePlus will not reintroduce bamboo cases, the company plans to launch cases with wood grain backs and a “magnetic suction function,” hinting at magnetic wireless charging capabilities.

Earlier leaks from Digital Chat Station, a reliable source, had also suggested that OnePlus was working on magnetic covers that would enable wireless charging for the OnePlus 13—Additionally, a magnetic snap-on cooler accessory for heat dissipation is rumored to be in development. The OnePlus 13 is expected to continue supporting 50W wireless fast charging, similar to its predecessor, the OnePlus 12.

The introduction of magnetic wireless charging will enhance user convenience by simplifying the charging process and allowing for easy attachment of accessories such as car and bike mounts. However, it is unclear if the magnets will be integrated directly into the phone or through magnetic cases, similar to third-party MagSafe adapters for existing devices.

Other Android manufacturers, like Oppo, are expected to follow suit, potentially making magnetic wireless charging a standard feature in future premium Android smartphones.

OnePlus 13 To Feature MagSafe-Like Magnetic Wireless Charging

, original content from Ubergizmo. Read our Copyrights and terms of use.

Samsung has introduced the Galaxy A16 5G, a budget smartphone that stands out by offering six generations of Android updates and six years of security patches, a first for its price category. This ensures software support for the Galaxy A16 5G until October 2030, setting a new benchmark for affordable phones. While the price hasn’t been officially disclosed, it is expected to be similar to the Galaxy A15 5G (which costs $199).

The Galaxy A16 5G features an octa-core processor, likely the Exynos 1330 chip, and a 5,000mAh battery. The front boasts a 6.7-inch AMOLED display with a Full HD+ resolution of 2,340 × 1,080 pixels and a 90Hz refresh rate. The phone includes 4 GB of RAM and 128 GB of internal storage, expandable up to 1.5 TB. Users can either use two SIM cards or a single SIM with a microSD card (not both simultaneously). The 5,000mAh battery should provide ample power for a full day’s usage.

For photography, the phone is equipped with a triple rear camera setup: a 50MP main sensor, 5MP ultrawide, and 2MP macro lens. A 13MP front camera is available for selfies. However, advanced camera features like Optical Image Stabilization are absent, reflecting the phone’s budget status. The Galaxy A16 5G also comes with an IP54 rating, providing basic dust and water resistance, another first for Samsung’s budget line.

Specs

Price and Availability

Although currently listed on Samsung’s Dutch website, the Galaxy A16 5G is not yet available in the U.S., and pricing details remain unclear. It is anticipated to be priced below $250.

Samsung Galaxy A16 5G: First Budget Phone With 6 Years Of Updates

, original content from Ubergizmo. Read our Copyrights and terms of use.

Nintendo’s new Switch bundles are here. As the seven-year-old console takes its victory lap ahead of the Switch 2, the standard Switch and the OLED model are now available in the new bundles announced in September. The systems are each packaged with redemption codes for a 12-month Switch Online membership and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. The standard bundle costs $300, and the OLED variant costs $350.

The baseline bundle includes the standard Switch with a 6.2-inch LCD and red and blue Joy-Cons. Meanwhile, the OLED console has a 7-inch OLED display and white Joy-Cons. For only $50 extra, the latter gives you extra screen real estate along with the richer colors and deeper blacks of OLED. Although the standard model still looks good, comparing them side-by-side makes the $50 more expensive OLED one hard to turn down.

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe has been one of the console’s flagship titles since its arrival shortly after the console itself in 2017. Initially released for the Wii U, the Switch revamp of the racing classic adapts its controls well to the portable system. The game’s optional smart steering feature helps make it more fun for those who frequently drive off-course and spend the next 30 seconds trying to get back on as their competitors lap them. (Raises hand.) The game looks terrific on the Switch’s screen — especially the OLED — and it runs in an enhanced 1080p mode when docked.

Nintendo

Meanwhile, Switch Online enables online play on Mario Kart 8 and many other titles, along with cloud-based saves. You also get access to hundreds of old-school games from the NES, SNES, Game Boy and Game Boy Advance, N64 and Sega Genesis (Mega Drive) eras. You’ll find Nintendo’s own Mario, Zelda and Metroid classics there, along with plenty of third-party fare to keep you entertained. 

The biggest caveat to this bundle is that the Switch 2 (or whatever Nintendo calls its successor) is on the horizon. Although Nintendo hasn’t announced the successor yet, the company is rumored to reveal it anytime. The sequel is expected to have a more powerful processor, more RAM and storage and support for NVIDIA’s DLSS upscaling tech. But even if Nintendo unveils the console soon, it isn’t expected to arrive until sometime in 2025, so it won’t be an option for this holiday season either way.

Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter for the latest tech deals and buying advice, and stay tuned to Engadget.com for all of the best tech deals coming out of October Prime Day 2024.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/nintendo/nintendos-discounted-switch-bundles-are-now-available-174016292.html?src=rss