Take a look around you, what do you see? Walls? People? An office? Take it all in, suck it all up. Why? Because today all that changes forever. Jamie’s revelation that he’s a University Challenge nut flips everything we know on its head. Also, Mat drops “convincement” like it wasn’t even a thing. This madness is the Eurocast.
Hosts: Dan Cooper, Mat Smith, Jamie Rigg
Producer: James Trew
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Filed under: Podcasts
This episode is all about size. The biggest phone we’ve ever man-handled, the biggest player in the PC processor business (for now), and an epic re-write of the mobile phone plan on this side of the pond. We might be over selling that last story, but here it is, the big one, Eurocast 23.
Hosts: Dan Cooper, James Trew, Sharif Sakr
Producer: James Trew
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Filed under: Podcasts
Google has no doubt been on pins and needles wondering whether or not the European Commission will accept the search engine changes it’s proposing to avoid an antitrust showdown. If what we’re hearing is right, Larry Page and crew might just get to relax in the near future: sources for the New York Times claim that the EU agency has accepted Google’s proposal. Reportedly, the terms of the deal are close to what had been mentioned last week. Google would have to explicitly label search results that come from its own services while sometimes showing those results from others. It would also have to test the results in the field to get feedback from both the Commission and competitors. While neither Google nor European officials have confirmed the apparent leak so far, any truth to the story could mean the long-running saga might draw to a close before it gets ugly.
Source: New York Times
There’s no question that most of the talk between Google and EU regulators over the firm’s search ranking practices have taken place behind closed doors, but now the antitrust inquiry is one step closer to a binding resolution. Following a preliminary assessment in which the European Commission laid out its concerns, Google has offered up a formal list of commitments in attempt to assuage the regulator — and in the process, avoid a nasty fine that could top $5 billion. Reuters sources suggest that one concession may involve labels within search results that distinguish Google’s services from those of its rivals, but whatever the final resolution entails, EU Commissioner Joaquin Almunia asserts that it’ll be a legally binding agreement. As for the next step, Google’s proposal will be subject to input from its peers, which includes complainants such as Microsoft. If there were ever an opportunity to kick up some dust, we reckon this’d be it. Then again, it could be that Redmond is more preoccupied with Android nowadays.
Source: Reuters
Believe it or not, the European Union’s public data hasn’t been very public: despite a 2003 directive, there wasn’t a clear right to reuse weather or other vital data, whether it’s for an app or a service. Logic is taking hold now that 27 countries on an EU Council committee have endorsed a European Commission revision opening the floodgates. The new rules would require that EU countries explicitly permit citizens and companies to reuse public information, either for free or no more than the basic cost of sending it out. The revamp would also push availability in open formats, along with expanding the directive’s coverage to archives, libraries and museums — you know, repositories of nothing but public knowledge. Both the European Parliament and individual governments will have to sign the changes into law sometime in the (likely not-so-near) future, but the shift could lead to a sudden wealth of data for Euro-centric hardware and software.
Via: GigaOM
Source: European Commission (1), (2)
It’s a very weird venn diagram that has early adopters, lazy millionaires and a trio of our European editors at the heart of it, but that’s where we find this week’s show. Steve talks about the new cameras and displays that’s been shown off at NAB, Mat dreams up the future of retail and Dan? Let’s just say that he’s feeling a little more miffed than usual.
Hosts: Dan Cooper, Steve Dent, Mat Smith
Producer: James Trew
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Filed under: Podcasts
Google has spent the past couple years facing down antitrust accusations in Europe for pushing its web services over those of competitors. But, just as that case is coming to a close, the New York Times now reports that new anti-competitive allegations have been levied against Android. This new complaint was filed by a group called Fairsearch — whose members include old EU foes Microsoft and Nokia, plus Oracle and a host of travel booking websites — and claims that Google’s using Android as a way to deceive consumers into using Google apps instead of competitors’ software. The problem, as Fairsearch sees it, is that Google forces OEMs who use Android to unfairly place apps like YouTube and Gmail in prominent places on the desktop. Of course, this new complaint is just the beginning, so we’ll have to wait and see what the European Commission’s investigation into the matter uncovers, and how the folks in Mountain View respond.
Filed under: Microsoft, Nokia, Google
Source: New York Times
An American has invaded the Eurocast! Okay, not really… We asked our amazing NYC-based editor, Joseph Volpe, to grace us with his lovely voice. Topics for this edition include the likely-to-be announced HTC & Facebook phone, Michael Dell’s restructuring memo, OUYA (OH, YEAH) and our — slightly NSFW — ideas for April Fools’ pranks. Right-o, this is the Engadget Eurocast.
Hosts: Dan Cooper, Jamie Rigg, Joseph Volpe
Producers: James Trew, Joe Pollicino
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Filed under: Podcasts
Sports, art and drama… this week has it all. In fact the only thing it’s lacking is a bit of romance. Unless Jamie’s love of a student lifestyle counts? Honestly, when you find out what that involves, you’ll realize it really doesn’t.
Hosts: Dan Cooper, Jamie Rigg, Steve Dent
Producer: James Trew
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Filed under: Podcasts
In 2011 Apple found itself in some hot water for failing to provide the legally required two-year warranty to European consumers. But, since being slapped with a €900,000 fine by Italy in December of that year, few other countries have taken any signifcant action. That’s led European Justice Commissioner Viviane Reding to call on the nations of the European Union to step up their enforcement efforts and to cooperate more on consumer protection issues. She also said that the Justice Commission should take a more prominent role in helping various state institutions work together. The call for stricter enforcement comes after only five EU members took any action against Apple for openly flouting the Union’s Warranty laws — and just two (Italy and Bulgaria) imposed any financial penalties. Denmark, Finland, Luxembourg and Belgium are still investigating the company, but it’s not clear what consequences if any remain to be faced. The company has begun to alter its warranty policies to fall more inline with local laws, but there are still concerns about the specific wording that leave room for abuse.
Filed under: Apple
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