Category: Economics

a rotting apple core with a closed padlock running through it

Shameless Insult, Malicious Compliance, Junk Fees, Extortion Regime: Industry Reacts To Apple’s Proposed Changes Over Digital Markets Act

Posted on by Robin Edgar

In response to new EU regulations, Apple on Thursday outlined plans to allow iOS developers to distribute apps outside the App Store starting in March, though developers must still submit apps for Apple’s review and pay commissions. Now critics say the changes don’t go far enough and Apple retains too much control. Epic Games CEO Read more about Shameless Insult, Malicious Compliance, Junk Fees, Extortion Regime: Industry Reacts To Apple’s Proposed Changes Over Digital Markets Act[…]

a rotting apple core with a closed padlock running through it

Mozilla says Apple’s new browser rules are ‘as painful as possible’ for Firefox

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Apple’s new rules in the European Union mean browsers like Firefox can finally use their own engines on iOS. Although this may seem like a welcome change, Mozilla spokesperson Damiano DeMonte tells The Verge it’s “extremely disappointed” with the way things turned out. “We are still reviewing the technical details but are extremely disappointed with Apple’s Read more about Mozilla says Apple’s new browser rules are ‘as painful as possible’ for Firefox[…]

Apple Isn’t Ready to Release Its Grip on the App Store

Posted on by Robin Edgar

[…] For the first time, new EU rules have forced the company to entertain the idea that you can shop for apps outside of Apple’s own App Store, as well as allow browsers other than Apple’s own Safari to run on iOS with their full suite of features. Yet critics say those changes, although drastic, Read more about Apple Isn’t Ready to Release Its Grip on the App Store[…]

EU forces Apple to open up to third-party app stores and payments. Details emerge what it will look like.

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Apple is making major changes to the App Store and other core parts of iOS in Europe in response to new European Union laws. Beginning in March, Apple will allow users within the EU to download apps and make purchases from outside of its App Store. The company is already testing many of these changes Read more about EU forces Apple to open up to third-party app stores and payments. Details emerge what it will look like.[…]

if buying isnt owning then piracy isnt stealing

Ubisoft Says It Out Loud: We Want People To Get Used To Not Owning What They’ve Bought

Posted on by Robin Edgar

[…] the public too often doesn’t understand how it happens that products stop working the way they did after updates are performed remotely, or why movies purchased through an online store suddenly disappear with no refund, or why other media types purchased online likewise go poof. There is a severe misalignment, in other words, between Read more about Ubisoft Says It Out Loud: We Want People To Get Used To Not Owning What They’ve Bought[…]

Supreme Court declines appeals from Apple and Epic Games in App Store case

Posted on by Robin Edgar

The US Supreme Court has declined to hear the appeals filed by both Apple and Epic Games following a judge’s ruling that Apple must allow developers to offer alternative methods to pay for apps and services other than through the App Store. It did not provide an explanation as to why it refused to review Read more about Supreme Court declines appeals from Apple and Epic Games in App Store case[…]

Hospitals owned by private equity are harming patients, reports find

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Private equity firms are increasingly buying hospitals across the US, and when they do, patients suffer, according to two separate reports. Specifically, the equity firms cut corners, slash services, lay off staff, lower quality of care, take on substantial debt, and reduce charity care, leading to lower ratings and more medical errors, the reports collectively Read more about Hospitals owned by private equity are harming patients, reports find[…]

hp printers printing money over your dead body

HP CEO: You’re ‘bad investment’ if you don’t buy HP supplies

Posted on by Robin Edgar

HP CEO Enrique Lores admitted this week that the company’s long-term objective is “to make printing a subscription” when he was questioned about the company’s approach to third-party replacement ink suppliers. The PC and print biz is currently facing a class-action lawsuit (from 2.42 in the video below) regarding allegations that the company deliberately prevented Read more about HP CEO: You’re ‘bad investment’ if you don’t buy HP supplies[…]

a rotting apple core with a closed padlock running through it

I can have app store? Apple: yes but NO! Give €1,000,000 + lock in to Apple ecosystem. This is how to “comply” with EU anti competition law

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Apple is keeping a firm grip on people with alternative marketplaces, fleecing them for money but also for other control. Here are some of the terms Apple requires you to conform to in order to start up your own app store (which they call alternative marketplace): If you’re interested in becoming a marketplace developer in Read more about I can have app store? Apple: yes but NO! Give €1,000,000 + lock in to Apple ecosystem. This is how to “comply” with EU anti competition law[…]

HP sued (again) for blocking third-party ink from printers via security updates

Posted on by Robin Edgar

HP has used its “Dynamic Security” firmware updates to “create a monopoly” of replacement printer ink cartridges, a lawsuit filed against the company on January 5 claims. The lawsuit, which is seeking class-action certification, represents yet another form of litigation against HP for bricking printers when they try to use ink that doesn’t bear an Read more about HP sued (again) for blocking third-party ink from printers via security updates[…]

dollar bills going up in flame

Amazon Gives Giant Middle Finger To Prime Video Customers, Will Charge $3 Extra A Month To Avoid Ads Starting In January

Posted on by Robin Edgar

[…] Amazon customers already pay $15 per month, or $139 annually for Amazon Prime, which includes a subscription to Amazon’s streaming TV service. In a bid to make Wall Street happy, Amazon recently announced it would start hitting those users with entirely new streaming TV ads, something you can only avoid if you’re willing to Read more about Amazon Gives Giant Middle Finger To Prime Video Customers, Will Charge $3 Extra A Month To Avoid Ads Starting In January[…]

mt gox logo

Mt. Gox Victims Report ‘Double Repayments’ From 2014 Bitcoin Hack

Posted on by Robin Edgar

[…] In 2014, the largest cryptocurrency exchange in the world, Mt. Gox, suffered a notorious hack that stole 850,000 Bitcoins from the platform. Victims are finally starting to get their money back on Tuesday, nearly 10 years later. However, some are reporting Mt. Gox accidentally sent “double payments” and the trustees are asking for some Read more about Mt. Gox Victims Report ‘Double Repayments’ From 2014 Bitcoin Hack[…]

apple and google as monopoly characters holding big bags of cash in front of a store

Google to pay $700 million and make tiny app store changes to settle with 50 states

Posted on by Robin Edgar

On December 11th, a jury decided that Google has an illegal monopoly with its Google Play app store, handing Epic Games a win. But Epic wasn’t the only one fighting an antitrust case. All 50 state attorneys general settled a similar lawsuit in September, and we’ve just now learned what Google agreed to give up Read more about Google to pay $700 million and make tiny app store changes to settle with 50 states[…]

EU’s top court rules in favour of Amazon and Luxembourg in €250m tax dispute – Have a mailbox in Lux and a massive corp tax haven!

Posted on by Robin Edgar

The Court of Justice in Luxembourg ruled on Thursday against the appeal of the EU Commission. The Commission challenged a 2021 decision of the General Court of the European Union, which annulled the Commission’s illegal state aid charges against Amazon. […] In a statement from October 2017, the EU Commission concluded that Luxembourg granted undue Read more about EU’s top court rules in favour of Amazon and Luxembourg in €250m tax dispute – Have a mailbox in Lux and a massive corp tax haven![…]

MEPs exclude audiovisual sector in geo-blocking regulation reassessment – Sabine Verheyen shows who’s pocket she is in.

Posted on by Robin Edgar

In 2018, the European Parliament voted to ban geo-blocking, meaning blocking access to a network based on someone’s location. Geo-blocking systems block or authorise access to content based on where the user is located. On Wednesday, following a 2020 evaluation by the Commission on the regulation, MEPs advocated for reassessing geo-blocking, taking into account increased Read more about MEPs exclude audiovisual sector in geo-blocking regulation reassessment – Sabine Verheyen shows who’s pocket she is in.[…]

European Commission agrees to new rules that will protect gig workers rights – hopefully in ~2 years they will get the rights they need

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Gig workers in the EU will soon get new benefits and protections, making it easier for them to receive employment status. Right now, over 500 digital labor platforms are actively operating in the EU, employing roughly 28 million platform workers. The new rules follow agreements made between the European Parliament and the EU Member States, Read more about European Commission agrees to new rules that will protect gig workers rights – hopefully in ~2 years they will get the rights they need[…]

Jury finds Google’s Play store is illegal monopoly – now… Apple?

Posted on by Robin Edgar

The case was heard by the United States District Court for the Northern District of California. As The Register has reported, the matter tested Epic’s allegations that Google stifles competition by requiring developers to pay it commissions even if they use third-party payment services, and paid some developers to secure their exclusive presence on the Read more about Jury finds Google’s Play store is illegal monopoly – now… Apple?[…]

Greedflation: corporate profiteering ‘significantly’ boosted global prices, study shows

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Profiteering has played a significant role in boosting inflation during 2022, according to a report that calls for a global corporation tax to curb excess profits. Analysis of the financial accounts of many of the UK’s biggest businesses found that profits far outpaced increases in costs, helping to push up inflation last year to levels Read more about Greedflation: corporate profiteering ‘significantly’ boosted global prices, study shows[…]

Sam Altman May Have Found a Loophole to Cash in at OpenAI – buying his products from another company

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Sam Altman reportedly has no equity in OpenAI, a strange move for a tech founder, but new reporting from Wired this weekend shows the CEO would profit from an OpenAI deal to buy AI chips. OpenAI signed a previously unknown deal back in 2019 to spend $51 million on advanced chips from a startup Sam Read more about Sam Altman May Have Found a Loophole to Cash in at OpenAI – buying his products from another company[…]

HP’s CFO tells world: we are locking in customers for more profit

Posted on by Robin Edgar

[…] Tech vendors – software, hardware, and cloud services – generally avoid terms that suggest they’re perhaps in some way pinning down customers in a strategic sales hold. But as Marie Myers, chief financial officer at HP, was this week talking to the UBS Global Technology conference, in front of investors, the thrust of the Read more about HP’s CFO tells world: we are locking in customers for more profit[…]

Roundcube Open-Source Webmail Software Merges With Nextcloud

Posted on by Robin Edgar

The open-source Roundcube webmail software project has “merged” with Nextcloud, the prominent open-source personal cloud software. In boosting Nextcloud’s webmail software capabilities, Roundcube is joining Nextcloud as what’s been described as a merger. In 2024 Nextcloud is to invest into Roundcube to accelerate the development of this widely-used webmail open-source software. Today’s press release says Read more about Roundcube Open-Source Webmail Software Merges With Nextcloud[…]

Google reportedly struck a special with Spotify that let it skip Play Store fees revealed in Epic vs Google lawsuit

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Spotify struck a special deal with Google that lets it pay no commission to Google when people sign up for subscriptions using the music streaming service’s own payment system on Android, according to new testimony in the ongoing Epic v. Google trial first reported by The Verge. As part of the same deal, Spotify paid Read more about Google reportedly struck a special with Spotify that let it skip Play Store fees revealed in Epic vs Google lawsuit[…]

The EU DMA will finally free Windows users from Bing (but not Edge) and allow 3rd parties into the widgets

Posted on by Robin Edgar

Microsoft will soon let Windows 11 users in the European Economic Area (EEA) disable its Bing web search, remove Microsoft Edge, and even add custom web search providers — including Google if it’s willing to build one — into its Windows Search interface. All of these Windows 11 changes are part of key tweaks that Read more about The EU DMA will finally free Windows users from Bing (but not Edge) and allow 3rd parties into the widgets[…]

The Oura Ring Is a $300 Sleep Tracker Suddenly needs a Subscription

Posted on by Robin Edgar

[…] Now in its third iteration, the Oura Ring tracks and analyzes a host of metrics, including your heart-rate variability (HRV), blood oxygen rate, body temperature, and sleep duration. It uses this data to give you three daily scores, tallying the quality of your sleep, activity, and “readiness.” It can also determine your chronotype (your Read more about The Oura Ring Is a $300 Sleep Tracker Suddenly needs a Subscription[…]

The Netherlands wants EU measures against misleading “discounts” on altered prices

Posted on by Robin Edgar

From January 1, 2023, a seller may no longer increase the price of a product for a short period of time, then reduce the price and then present this ‘before’ price as an offer or a significant discount. Despite this tightening, consumers are still faced with misleading discounts, especially in the run-up to the holidays. Read more about The Netherlands wants EU measures against misleading “discounts” on altered prices[…]