davidw
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Fortnite coming to iPhones in the EU via AltStore
This same CEO that "couldn't be bought", but is more than willing to buy out others for his Epic Game Store "exclusives". He don't seem to have a problem with making "marketing kickbacks" deals that prevented game developers from selling their games in other PC gaming stores, to developers that are willing to be bought out.The same "genius" CEO that saw fit to run his company like this .........Remember, no one hired Sweeney to be CEO of epic Games. He inherited the job by being its founder and majority share holder. Plus he sold 40% of his company to Tencent, one of China's largest company with a dark side. If he was "hired" to run Epic Games, he would have been fired by now, genius or not.>Amnesty International gave Tencent a score of zero out of 100 for the company's treatment of data. Raising questions about the potential misuse of user information.< -
Fortnite coming to iPhones in the EU via AltStore
nubus said:macxpress said:I can't wait for this to be a failure so Mr Sweeney can bitch and complain again about how Apple's App Store practices are unfair after he can't even get people to buy his apps and addon's via a 3rd party store.A "quiet" "marketing kickback" deal? Nothing is "quiet" with that sleazeball Sweeney. Google tried to make a "marketing kickball" deal with that sleazeball and Sweeney ended up using it against Google in their Google Play Store monopoly lawsuit. Sweeney used that offered deal (and other deals that Google had made other developers) as evidence (to a jury) that Google was being anti-competitive and behaving like an illegal monopolist with the monopoly power they had with their Google Play Store. Apple did nothing wrong by not making any "quiet" deal with such a sleazeball. It is totally on Sweeney, that Epic Games had loss hundreds of millions of dollars of revenue on both iOS and Android, by violating their respective app store policies and getting the boot.>Google’s dealings with app developers played a prominent role during the trial. In particular, Epic repeatedly pointed to an initiative called “Project Hug” where the company paid major game developers like Activision and Nintendo millions of dollars in incentives to keep their wares in the Play store and persuade them not to create their own rival stores. The stakes were high. Activision alone was reportedly offered $350m. Epic was offered $147m to keep Fortnite on Google Play. Google documents reportedly referred to Epic in this case as a worrisome “contagon” that could cause other developers to defect.
“None of those circumstances, as I understand it, exists in the Apple case,” said Katherine Van Dyck, senior legal council for the American Economic Liberties Project. “In the Apple case, it’s simply that Apple only has one App Store and won’t allow any others.”<
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Child safety watchdog accuses Apple of hiding real CSAM figures
gatorguy said:y2an said:This is chalk and cheese. Facebook and Google both have social media platforms hosting user content for consumption by others. Apple does not. Where is the recognition of that rather significant difference in the “findings“?
Of note, PatentlyApple has an expanded viewpoint.
https://www.patentlyapple.com/2023/06/apple-was-once-a-leader-in-scanning-message-apps-for-child-pornographic-images-now-joins-a-group-to-protect-encryption-ov.htmlIt's Google Chat (formerly Hangout) that is their main "social media platform". With it, anyone can create a topic for a "chat room" (Google now calls it "Space") and invite others to join and share in the topic. And anyone can search for a topic and maybe join in, if the creator of the "chat room" (Space) allows for it.But like all of the other social media networking attempts by Google in over 15 years, that have failed to gain market share, Google Chat have less than 2% of the social media market share. So you are correct in that Google can hardly be labeled a "social media platform". But I've read that Google Chat is more popular with businesses as a means for employees or people in the same profession, to get together to share ideas, without all of them meeting in the same room. And only recently had Google implemented E2EE with Google Chat.
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EU hits back at Apple withholding Apple Intelligence from the region
xRAHx said:9secondkox2 said:foregoneconclusion said:xRAHx said:indiebug said:EU commission head is targeting Apple either because she has clandestinely sided with its competitors or as a means to milk American companies which are far ahead of European counterparts. EU is literally finding ways to squeeze money out of American tech giants. EU s policies are based on protectionism and jealousy towards Big American brands. This is awful and anyone with common sense can understand. Interoperability- nonsense. Next, make iMovie compatible with android. Why does not Microsoft make windows compatible with Mac? Why no android on iPhone. All nonsensical hogwashThe EU commission requires owners of market-dominating operating systems not to set their own browsers as the default, but to show users a selection of competing browsers during setup, from which they should choose one as the default.
The EU commission wants the owners of the market-dominating operating systems not to prevent app developers from advertising the sale of licenses in their own apps.
European iOS and iPadOS users shall become free to choose who they want to buy apps and content from. Apple shall not stay the monopoly reseller of apps for iOS and iPadOS in the EU. The EU does not want Apple to be able to continue to prevent certain apps from being available on iOS and iPadOS. European Users of iOS and iPadOS shall become able to freely develop, distribute, install, sell and buy apps for iOS and iPadOS.
That is more freedom for European users, that is more freedom for developers all over the world who want to sell apps for iOS and iPadOS in the EU, that is less freedom for Apple in the EU.
The EU commission demands that the owners of the market-dominating operating systems do not use the APIs of the operating systems exclusively for themselves, but that the owners of these operating systems allow all app developers to use the APIs of the operating systems so that there are more better applications that run on all operating systems.
The EU commission does not require Apple to develop apps for other operating systems.
Second: Not sure why the EU thinks this is important. Advertising licenses inside an app is not typical for any platform. Smartphone users also have access to all kinds of information outside of apps and the App Store on the same device...internet, social media, email, text messages, direct messages etc. Basically, you have to pretend that smartphone users aren't aware that they can get information about developers and their products/services anywhere other than inside apps or the App Store in order to think this is important.
Third: Apple monopolizes app distribution because iOS/iPadOS and iPhone/iPad hardware are their own IP. That formula has been around for decades and was never previously considered to be anti-competitive since there is a high degree of difficulty in achieving success with it commercially. Think of all the various video game consoles that have either flopped or been unable to maintain viability in the long run. Think of Microsoft's attempt at a smartphone. It's not a magic formula for market dominance. Apple does have limits for what it allows to be sold in the App Store but that is true of any store...digital or brick/mortar. For the most part though, it's really the app developers that choose whether or not to provide their apps on iOS. Example: Microsoft made a big stink about its game streaming app not being allowed on the App Store but they had never previously ported 1st party games to the App Store either. They preferred to limit their own gaming apps to Windows/Xbox.
Fourth: Requiring access to APIs across the board is kind of an odd stance since not every API can be linked to market competition. I can see how it makes sense for something like NFC/Wallet or the browser engine aspect, i.e., targeted situations. This seems like a big overreach on the part of the EU similar to the third point above.No one goes to target or wal mart to find information about what else is available from a handbag maker - or if there are any vendor-specific sales better than what’s at that brick and mortar store.They use the internet, advertising in tv, radio, direct mail, etc.
when you go to a Mercedes dealership, they don’t have to post up signs telling you that a certain bmw can be had cheaper for similar horsepower, etc.
in the smartphone, you have the whole internet at your disposal. People know what search engines and websites are. Sheesh. It’s not kindergarten where you don’t know something unless it’s in front of you at all times.It’s really quite embarrassing that the eu is forcing a tech company to divert customers to vendors own separate stores -inside their own store.It’s a solution looking for a problem and has indeed become the problem.Brick and mortar stores have digital storefronts/apps. To be fair, that’s a digital market and would need to force them to have a sign next to the Kilauea bananas item in the apps that directed them to Klause’s stall down the street where he sells cheaper because of less overhead. It’s the height of stupidity.
Smartphones are (vitally) important. Game consoles are not important.
Smartphones are now regulated in the EU. Games consoles may be regulated later.
There are two operating systems for smartphones: Android and iOS. Alphabet/Google and Apple have a duopoly here.
Google and Apple have agreed that the Google search engine will be the default setting on all smartphones. They made it obvious that they want to manipulate the owners of smartphones in order so squeeze money out of them.
A smartphone is a computer that is connected to the Internet and GPS and can be used to make phone calls, take photos, navigate, chat, read and listen.
Anyone who has bought a computer for 1000+ dollars/euros in the EU shall now be able to decide freely in the EU from whom they buy software for this computer.
The EU has changed the law exactly for this. It doesn't matter what was allowed before. Now it's different. There is a new law.
The EU wants freedom for EU citizens who own computers called smartphones. The owners of the computers shall decide where they buy software. Not Google. Not Apple.
Apple doesn't want that. A minority of Apple users in the EU don't want that either, because they are afraid. The majority of citizens in the EU, however, want to be free to decide from whom they can buy software for their computers that they have already paid for.
The EU wants this rule to apply to both Android and Apple. That's just how it works. This is not unusual in the EU.You are living in a fantasy world of wishful thinking. Android has always allowed third party app stores and side loading. So where are all the app stores in Android that Android mobile phone users are flocking to, to buy their apps from? Why do over 80% of Android users only use the Google Play Store to get their apps? Why is Google Play Store still a monopoly on Android? Why don't the likes of Starbucks, Spotify, Netflix, banks, retailers, CC, stock traders, Whatsapp, Facebook, online stores, etc., open their own app stores to distribute their free apps on Android or have their customers side load or have it available in other app stores? So all Android customers can choose where or how to install their apps? Why haven't Google been forced to lower their commission due to competition from other apps stores and sideloading? You think it's going to be different with iOS?The bottom line is that over 90% of apps on both platforms app stores are free. There is no way that any other app store can afford to offer as many free apps. But free apps is what draws the "foot traffic" to the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. So why should any of the developers that sells apps, want to offer them in other apps stores that won't even have nearly the "foot traffic" as the Apple App Store and Google Play Store? And why should any of the developers of free apps, want to offer their free apps in any other app stores that few Android users will visit 9much less trust) or have their customer sideload it?This isn't about giving the consumers more choice. With Android, consumers already have those choices and have already chosen that they want to get their apps from the Google Play Store, whenever possible and only get it from elsewhere when forced to. This is about giving developers more choice because they want to avoid paying any commission for the commercial use of IP that they don't own or their apps do not pass the policies of the Google Play Store or Apple App Store. Policies that are put in place to protect the users that installs the app on to their devices.Can EU iOS users look forward to having more choices of app stores and being able to choose what ever app they want to install on their iDevice in the next few years, like from these app stores?This isn't about making the EU forcing both Android and Apple to obey the rules. This is about forcing Apple to be more like Android and thus removing the choice for EU consumers to use a mobile OS that is safer, more secure and with better privacy protection.When including all OS's, Windows is the most malware infected. Android is a close second. OSX (MacOS) is a distance third or fifth. With iOS having multiple times less malware that even OSX. And guess which of these are on devices that are the least like a desktop computer, that you think smartphones should be like?If the EU was concern about the consumers, they would force Android to be more like iOS, not the other way around. But alas, the EU is more concern about the developers. Funny how the EU enforces one of the strictest (the probably the best) consumer data privacy protection regulations in the World and yet willing to look the other way when it comes to a mobile OS that has proven over time to be more private and secure than the mobile OS they are forcing it to be like.BTW- and the majority of citizens in the EU that wants to be free to decide from whom they can buy software for their computers that they have already paid for, can do this by buying an Android phone. And the fact that more than 75% of the EU citizens are using an Android phone proves that Apple in not forcing anyone to use iPhones. And if the majority of EU iPhone users also wants this, why don't they switch to an Android phone? Why did they buy an iPhone to begin with, if that's what they wanted? iOS have been the same for over 10 years. What apps are on an iPhone, that can't be found (or least similar ones) on an Android phone? -
Glued iPhone batteries may be a thing of the past, if this new tech works out
VictorMortimer said:macxpress said:Command strips would work great for securing in the battery. It's also easily removable and replacable without damaging the battery while removing it. Flat out glue is a very bad decision.Clips would work great. There is ZERO excuse for using the garbage they use, which is essentially a very thin "command strip" type strip (that breaks virtually every time you try to pull it out.davidw said:There is a reason why the battery in iPhones and iPads are "glued" down, that most here don't seem to realize. That is that the adhesive, which covers the whole backside of the battery, acts like thermal paste to help transfer the heat from the battery to the metal back cover. The back cover acts as a heat sink. Just like how thermal paste is applied between a CPU and the heat sink, to ensure as much contact as possible.There is also a very small gap, (at least on the ones I've replaced), between the top of the battery and the screen on top of it. This acts as a insulator to keep as much heat away from the back of the screen and more importantly, to provide enough space for normal expansion of the battery when it heats up. Therefore, one do not want that expansion gap between the battery and the back cover or any gap there at all, caused by just putting a small amount of adhesive on the corners of the battery (to hold it down) so that it can be easily removed later.And if possible, when replacing the battery, one shouldn't just use any double sided tape but heat sink double side tape (they sell such a thing) when bonding the battery to the back cover. And the tape should cover the whole battery to ensure a complete bond. The very last thing one want to do is to use any adhesive that ends up acting like an insulator. (Which is why velcro is a no-no.)https://www.amazon.com/25Mx20mmx0-15mm-Adhesive-Performance-Thermally-Heatsink/dp/B0751GYD6N /ref=sr_1_2?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.vuZ8wI-bHDxR-RnUCevX5nGN1r9HBmsOSpS0LmTCCj28eheGdWn-TftGSY5q35FRGB5oFvliVoFrEmHIro_UXYt7bLobmGg_L7scdtbsdE9N1pGuS96deJ5EzMuV7XUuo1syF_WxRA2jf1biKPkjTjiO-4oKr0fVYjxsvufpKPVGUbfz9QFQp6FwGRvgf9geH1c7Pjx9G5rfDYf-qHY2QNYuhKcv3DZgq0U21IWZxL0.eepM9THFhEfI7AZ6NcEfXDhnFm6XHmwpM6kbCB31seM&dib_tag=se&keywords=double+sided+thermal+tape&qid=1719535955&sr=8-2One shouldn't be accusing Apple of unnecessarily making it difficult to replace the battery. But Apple do have a habit of over engineering a fix to a problem, where the fix might cause more of the problem later on, than the problem being fixed.I just use a hairdryer to heat the back cover for about 30 seconds, to soften the adhesive and battery can be easily pried off. But it still requires the battery to bend quite a bit (when being pried out.) and therefore, I would never use that battery again in another device. Don't know what internal damage could have been caused by the bending. Which is why I don't buy used iPhone or iPad batteries, even if the seller say that it's in excellent health. No telling how much bending occurred when it was removed.First, you DO NOT want the battery to be thermally coupled to a heat sink that is also the heat sink for the CPU. The battery would get HOTTER because of it.Fortunately, the back cover is not a heat sink in current iPhones, it's made of glass, which isn't that great at thermal conduction, particularly compared to the aluminum they used to use.And one should absolutely be accusing Apple of unnecessarily making it difficult to replace the battery, because that is exactly what they are doing.Heat is the WRONG option for removing the adhesive. Squirt a bit of 91% isopropyl alcohol in there, you'll be able to remove the battery undamaged.But adhesive of ANY kind is doing it wrong. Small metal clips with screws would be the perfect attachment for batteries like Apple uses, but that's ALSO the wrong approach, because batteries should be easily swappable without tools, like they were on older phones. Changing the battery on my old Motorola flip phones took seconds, I kept spare batteries charging so I never had to worry about charging the phone itself, I just changed to a fully charged battery. THAT is what Apple should be doing.If the heat sink can can stay cooler than both the battery and CPU, combined, then the battery will not get hotter because of the CPU is also being cooled by the same heat sink. And AFAIK, the CPU in an iPhone and iPad, is not thermally coupled to the back case. The exposed surface of the CPU faces up toward the back of the screen. And if it was, you would be contradicting yourself. If the back of an iPhone can not be used as a heat sink, then why would Apple couple the CPU to it?Glass can be used as a heat sink. Why do you think windows need to be double pane with an air gap in-between, in order for it to insulate? For sure it's not as good of a conductor of heat than metal, but it still transfer heat better than still air. A heat sink is nothing but a device that helps transfer heat from a hotter area to a cooler area by way of conduction. Just because it's not metal doesn't mean that glass can not act as a heat sink. And the "glass" back of an iPhone is made by corning. The same company that makes "glass" oven and stove top cookware. Why would they make cookware out of their "glass", if their glass is that poor of a conductor of heat? If the case of an iPhone, be it made of metal or glass is not useful as a heat sink, then why might external cases made of heat insulating material, cause an iPhone to over heat? You see any fan or air holes in an iPhone? ( The speakers holes don't count as they are covered by the speaker from the inside. and An iPhone wouldn't get the high water resistance rating it has.) If not, then the only way to disapate the heat from inside an iPhone to the outside, is by conduction through the case. That's makes the case a heat sink. Unfortunately, metal is a poor conductor of magetic wave and Apple had to start using "glass", in order to have magnetic charging.So you're telling us that the best way to remove the battery glued down in an iPhone, is to squirt some 91% isopropyl alcohol into the back casing. Just how much alcohol have to be squirted, in order to soften the all adhesive holding down the battery, when the battery is stil glued down on its whole back side? Quite a bit I imagine. And is this done with or without the logic board, camera, antennae, docking/charging board and all the other internal componets that don't need to be removed in order to remove the battery, still attached to the case? And since it's only 91% alcohol, how do you get rid of the 9% water that won't easliy evaporate. Use a hair dryer? And aren't you afraid of leaving a film inside the back camera lens, if some alcohol were to accidentally seep in there? Now isoprpyl alcohol is good for removing the adhesive that still remains after the battery is removed. But one don't need to squirt it in there. Using a small tissue soaked in the alcohol will do.Now Apple using the adhesive tape that is easily removed by using a tweezer to pull on the exposed tabs works quit well, when the tape don't break off while its being pulled. Which for me, is more often than not. One don't even need to use alcohol to remove any left over adhesive, once the battery is removed.