Every day, there seems to be new generative AI news, and while it can often be serious and quite technical, this time around it’s just plain fun. Instagram has launched a new generative AI-powered tool called backdrop that lets you create a new image in the, yes, background of your Story. Meta’s generative AI lead, Ahmad Al-Dahle, announced the feature on Threads alongside a video tutorial.
Instagram’s backdrop tool appears once you upload or capture content for your Story. It sits alongside existing icons at the top of your screen, like text and music, represented by an image of a person with a rectangular frame behind them. To use backdrop, just click on that icon, and the image’s entire background will go checkered (similar to picture editors like PhotoShop) along with a text box prompting you to “describe the backdrop you want…” From there, you can add anything from “surrounded by puppies” to “chased by dinosaurs” — very different vibes — and the AI tool will generate it in the background.
Don’t expect people to actually think you’re hanging out under the aurora borealis (another possible prompt), as your Story will get tagged with AI·Backdrop by Instagram, along with a sticker saying try it and your description in quotation marks. Currently, Instagram’s backdrop tool is only available to users in the United States.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/instagram-now-offers-ai-generated-backgrounds-on-stories-115054259.html?src=rss
Meta’s Threads has finally arrived in Europe over five months after it launched in the US, UK and elsewhere around the world. Following a countdown and Instagram teaser invitation, the app is now officially available in the bloc on the web, though the iOS and Android apps still aren’t available for many.
Threads.net is now live on the web, though the mobile apps are still showing as unavailable for many (you may have to wait patiently). I was able to sign in using my Instagram account, though Meta also offers access without creating a profile — though you can’t post or interact with content in that case. Once I agreed to use Instagram and chose my profile, it asked if I was okay with it being public and if wanted to follow the same people I do on Instagram. A few more clicks and I was in.
Steve Dent for Engadget
The delay was reportedly due to the EU’s upcoming Digital Markets Act (DMA) set to take effect in 2024. As one of seven tech giant “Gatekeepers,” Meta wanted to ensure it’s in compliance with the DMA, particularly around rules for sharing data between apps. In compliance with EU policies, the app also allows users to access the platform without needing to create a profile.
Threads launched July 5 on mobile with a basic feature set and required users to sign in using their Instagram accounts. It was much like Twitter (now X) when it launched, with support for text posts up to 500 characters, along with photos and five-minute videos. It also supported reposts and quote posts, while allowing users to limit their replies and block/report other users.
Since then, it has added a web version, along with both “following” and “for you” feeds, the ability to send Threads posts on Instagram, following list sorting, liked posts on your profile page and more. In short, it’s become a robust rival to X, Bluesky and its other short-form social media apps.
In addition, yesterday Meta started testing the ability to make Threads posts available on Mastodon and other fediverse apps. That compatibility with the decentralized “ActivityPub” service, and the ability to cross-post to other apps, was a key promise Meta made when it introduced Threads.
Threads’ rise came with the steep decline of Elon Musk’s X, now seen as more polarized than ever. Among much other drama, the platform recently lost a number of key advertisers after Musk boosted an antisemitic conspiracy theory. In response to that, Musk delivered a new message for advertisers pulling back from the platform: “Go fuck yourself.”
Threads is still in a precarious spot, though. It was an instant hit, crossing the 100 million signup mark just five days after launch and counted 141 million users as of November 10, according to research company Quiver Quantitative. However, engagement is another issue — the number of daily active users has fluctuated and dropped steeply a month or so after launch. It should get a massive boost now that it’s in Europe, though, and Meta easily has the might (and money) to make it work and crush both established and potential rivals.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/threads-finally-launches-in-europe-110747780.html?src=rss
Proton finally has a desktop app. The Swiss company, known for its privacy-focused alternatives to the Google Workspace apps, revealed a Windows and macOS application on Thursday that includes Proton Mail and Proton Calendar. The desktop app is currently available in beta for subscribers on the most expensive premium tier, but the company says it will launch for all Proton users in early 2024.
The company says the desktop app has a modern design with a clutter-free experience. Proton views the move as providing a leg up over Google. “While many people use email on desktop in a browser, desktop apps can still provide certain advantages such as better offline support,” Proton CEO Andy Yen wrote in a press release. “For this reason, we have decided to launch a desktop app, something that even Gmail does not provide.” The desktop app now gives Proton apps on all major platforms.
Proton
In addition to the desktop app, Proton is launching several new features for all platforms, including auto-forwarding email rules. Messages sent this way will be encrypted between Proton accounts, and it supports unencrypted auto-forwarding to non-Proton accounts. In addition, Proton Mail now integrates with customer relationship management (CRM) and customer support software as the company looks to grow its footprint in the business world.
Proton says encrypting forwarded messages while maintaining the security the company brands itself on was an enormous challenge. “Messages sent between Proton Mail accounts are always end-to-end encrypted by default,” Proton CTO Bart Butler wrote. “But to maintain end-to-end encryption for messages forwarded to other Proton users presented a huge technical challenge. We needed to figure out how to re-encrypt messages for different recipients without the server being able to access the content.”
Attachment previews are also available for all Proton Mail platforms. Previously, you had to download email attachments locally before viewing them. It now lets you see them directly from the inbox with one click. Proton says it does so without compromising security.
Proton
You can also now snooze Proton Mail messages in another catch-up move for the encryption-focused company. In addition, it spruced up the Proton Calendar with searches on the web while adding public holidays. The company has had a busy year, also launching a native Windows file-syncing app in July and a password manager in April.
Before it officially launches early next year, the Proton Mail desktop app is available now in beta for Proton Visionary subscribers. That tier was previously locked to legacy supporters, but the company has reopened registrations from now until January 3. (The plan isn’t cheap, though, at $40 monthly or $360 annually.) Meanwhile, auto-forwarding is available now for paid users on any plan, while attachment previews, snoozing and calendar improvements are here for everyone with a Proton account.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/proton-mail-now-has-a-desktop-app-in-beta-110021703.html?src=rss
In October, Insomniac Games launched Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 without key features like New Game+ and audio descriptions. Just before the game’s release, Insomniac’s community and marketing director, James Stevenson, shared that New Game+ “should” arrive before the end of 2023. However, Insomniac has now released a statement explaining that it’s targeting the next Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 update for early 2024.
Insomniac shared the news on X: “We know players have been eagerly awaiting features such as New Game+ and Audio Descriptions, among many more. We have been working vigilantly on these features and require more testing to ensure the quality is up to our standards. We are now targeting Early 2024 for the next game update, and we’ll have a feature-complete list closer to its release.”
Insomniac went on to explain that it’s adding more “highly requested features” to the game, such as replaying missions and changing the time of day. Many users’ responses on X were positive, encouraging Insomniac to take all the time it needs and expressing their love for the company — some of which got answers from the company sharing its thanks and appreciation.
The original Marvel’s Spider-Man game has New Game+, allowing players to start the game over while holding on to items they acquired during previous gameplay. But, despite the few missing features, we’re big fans of Marvel’s Spider-Man 2. Gamers can play as Peter Parker or Miles Morales across a world that’s expanded to include parts of Brooklyn and Queens. The story, side-quests, and more minor activities all added to the gameplay, creating a sequel that is “both bigger and better.”
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/spider-man-2s-new-game-mode-pushed-back-to-2024-102622924.html?src=rss
Discord has officially updated its hateful conduct policy to add behaviors that don’t reflect its “goal to promote acceptance and inclusivity.” These newly added bannable behaviors include “deadnaming or misgendering a transgender person.” According to TechCrunch, Discord started internally implementing its expanded policy in 2022, but the chat app has just only made it public in an effort to provide more transparency.
“As part of our ongoing efforts to ensure Discord remains a safe and fun place for people to hang out with friends, we continually evaluate potential harms and update our policies,” a spokesperson told the publication. “We often work with organization and subject matter experts to ensure our policies accurately encompass a holistic view of how these issues manifest across the internet and society.”
In addition to misgendering and deadnaming trans people, Discord also considers expressing contempt or disgust towards members of protected groups, perpetuating negative stereotypes about them, repeatedly using slurs to degrade them, threatening or promoting violence against them, as well as calling for their segregation and exclusion as hateful behaviors. LGBT organization GLAAD has praised Discord in its call for social networks to update their policies to recognize deadnaming and targeted or deliberate misgendering as hate speech.
GLAAD also points out that among the biggest social networks today, TikTok is the only one that explicitly prohibits intentional misgendering and deadnaming. Notably, X implemented a rule against the behavior in 2018 when it was still called Twitter, but it quietly removed that section in its hateful conduct policy under Elon Musk’s leadership.
Discord won’t be banning users who violate its hateful conduct policy after just one infraction, though. Under its warning system, users who go against its rules will receive a direct message detailing their offense, with the platform weighing each violation differently based on the “severity of harm.” Users can see their account standing in their settings page. If they have one or more violation, their accounts will be marked “at risk,” while they could be permanently suspended if they’re marked as having “severe or repeated” violations.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/discord-could-ban-users-if-they-continue-to-deadname-trans-people-083112064.html?src=rss
Twitch has finally streamlined its confusing guidelines surrounding sexual content after a creator was able to appear seemingly topless in a stream posted on the website. The incident compelled viewers to question what kind of content could actually appear — and what could get you banned — on livestreams. Following feedback from users, Twitch has merged the two separate sexual content policy sections on its guidelines page and clarified that some materials that were previously prohibited are now allowed on the platform, as long as they’re properly labeled.
They include content that “deliberately highlight breasts, buttocks and pelvic region” when fully clothed, which Twitch admits has caused female-presenting streamers to be “disproportionately penalized.” The website now also allows streams to show drawn, animated or sculpted female-presenting breasts, genitalia or buttocks that are fully exposed. That said, fictionalized sexual acts and masturbation are still prohibited. Videos that show writing on female-presenting breasts and buttocks are now allowed, as well, along with videos that contain strip tease dances. Meanwhile, dance moves that include “twerking” and “grinding” can now be shown in videos even without being labeled.
In addition to clarifying its sexual content policy, Twitch has also altered its homepage algorithm so that it’ll no longer recommend content that had been labeled with Drugs, Intoxication, or Excessive Tobacco Use; Violent and Graphic Depictions; Gambling; and/or Sexual Themes. The website explains that while viewers must deliberately click on videos on the homepage to watch them, parts of streams with those themes were still visible even to those who may be uncomfortable seeing them due to their thumbnails. Now, viewers must explicitly seek out videos containing those themes.
We’ve gotten feedback that our policies around sexual content are unclear so we’ve drawn clearer boundaries between what is & isn’t permitted on Twitch.
We also recognize that not everyone wants to see certain content, so we’re updating our criteria for homepage recommendations. pic.twitter.com/rvZ4kFADR6
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/twitch-clears-up-its-confusing-sexual-content-guidelines-065648446.html?src=rss
Following the revelation that our mobile push notification records can be handed over to law enforcements, Apple put the blame on the Department of Justice (DOJ) for preventing tech companies from revealing such process. Meanwhile, the company also updated its Legal Process Guidelines document to state that “a subpoena or greater legal process” was required to obtain the relevant records. However, Reuters spotted that a week later, Apple quietly tweaked this particular line to match Google’s stricter policy on this matter:
“The Apple ID associated with a registered APNs token and associated records may be obtained with an order under 18 U.S.C. §2703(d) or a search warrant.”
In other words, law enforcement will now need a judge’s consent in order to obtain push notification data from Apple — as is the case with Google all this time, according to a statement provided to Reuters. Engadget reached out to Apple, but it refused to comment on the updated guidelines.
The “push notification spying” concerns were originally brought to light by Oregon Senator Ron Wyden who, in an open letter to the DOJ, claimed that foreign governments have been demanding Google and Apple to provide push notification records. Given how push notifications go through these companies’ servers, the senator is worried that “Apple and Google are in a unique position to facilitate government surveillance of how users are using particular apps.”
Wyden then addressed the elephant in the room, by arguing that these two tech giants “should be permitted to be transparent about the legal demands they receive, particularly from foreign governments.” Apple’s response regarding the DOJ’s suppression appears to align with the senator’s claims, but it’s unclear whether the department will take action on both tech companies’ stepped-up transparency on push notification surveillance.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apple-now-needs-a-judges-order-to-hand-over-push-notification-records-052710429.html?src=rss
A few weeks after Cruise’s CEO Kyle Vogt and co-founder Daniel Kan resigned, the company has also dismissed nine executives considered as “key” figures for the firm. According to Reuters and other sources, GM’s robotaxi unit sent an internal memo to staff members announcing the executives’ departure while regulators are investigating an incident wherein a pedestrian was dragged by a Cruise vehicle after being struck by another car. Authorities are accusing the company of withholding a video that allegedly shows the victim underneath its vehicle.
“Following an initial analysis of the October 2 incident and Cruise’s response to it, nine individuals departed Cruise,” the memo reportedly reads. “We are committed to full transparency and are focused on rebuilding trust and operating with the highest standards when it comes to safety, integrity, and accountability. As a result, we believe that new leadership is necessary to achieve these goals.”
One of the executives who was dismissed was Gil West, who served as Cruise’s Chief Operating Officer. A spokesperson also confirmed to Reuters that Jeff Bleich and David Estrada, who were the company’s Chief Legal and Policy Officer and Senior Vice President of Government Affairs, respectively, were among the nine executives who were let go.
This is just the latest update in the major upheaval Cruise is going through. The California DMV suspended the company’s driverless permit in October, the same month the incident happened. In November, Cruise recalled 950 of its robotaxis following reports that they had trouble identifying children and that the company knew about it but kept the vehicles on the streets anyway. The robotaxi company eventually suspended even its manual operations as part of a safety probe by a third-party firm. Vogt also reportedly announced before he left the company that layoffs are on the horizon, so these executives may not be the only personnel leaving Cruise before the year ends.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/cruise-drops-nine-executives-in-the-midst-of-an-accident-probe-involving-its-vehicle-044408544.html?src=rss
Meta is rolling out a suite of new tools on Instagram that give users more control over how much spam content and bots they will see on their feeds. People will also be told if something they posted is in accordance with community guidelines. The new tools will be introduced gradually in the coming weeks.
Instagram has developed and improved its automated detection system that checks for spam across comments, tags, story views and followers. The moderation systems will flag fake followers and spam-filled content and give users the option to delete those items in bulk to save users time. Any suspected spam or bot account will get filtered into a separate inbox for you to review, and if an account isn’t spam, you can approve a request and they’ll be added to your following list. Otherwise, all accounts will be automatically removed after 30 days. Posts by profiles that get tagged as spam won’t appear on the content creators’ accounts unless they get approved. An account holder can view, bulk delete or approve any tag requests flagged by the system.
Instagram will also send in-app notifications if it detects posts that violate its content policies. This follows Instagram’s most recent update that shows when posts are blocked from appearing on the Explore page, which should stop account holders from repeating those mistakes. For Stories though, Instagram said it is still experimenting with hiding views from accounts that the platform deems as spam.
The company already introduced the “Hidden Words” tool in 2021, which hides messages with questionable keywords. In the coming update, Instagram said it will start to edit out suspected spam through the advanced comment filtering tool. The issue of harassment and spam has long been a focal point for Instagram. It has had to deal with bots storming the platform and proliferating sexually explicit content. However, the company needs to strike a balance between policing inappropriate content and allowing for the free exchange of ideas on its platform. Recently, Instagram has faced scrutiny for allegedly censoring pro-Palestinian content amid the ongoing war in the Gaza.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/instagram-is-making-it-easier-to-remove-spammy-followers-021801458.html?src=rss
Instagram inboxes are about to get a little busier. The app is adding two-second looping videos and direct replies to Notes, the status update-like feature that lives at the top of users’ inboxes.
The feature was first introduced a year ago as a way to share quick text updates with your mutual followers and close friends. Since then, the company has also added music and translation capabilities to the feature. Now, with the latest change, users will also be able to share 2-second looping videos in the space, almost like a mini Boomerang. The clip will appear at the top of your friends’ inboxes in place of your normal profile photo.
At the same time, Meta is also adding the ability for people to interact with their friends’ notes similar to how you might respond to a Stories post. Tapping on a note at the top of your inbox brings up a shortcut to reply with a GIF, sticker, voice note, photo or text. Replies to notes are routed to users’ inboxes alongside other messages.
The updates come as Meta has looked for more low-pressure ways to encourage users to share on its apps, including with smaller groups of friends. The company recently rolled out the ability to share feed posts and Reels with “close friends” only. It’s also recently been spotted working on a feature called “flipside,” which could offer a finsta-like space directly in users’ profiles.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/instagram-notes-can-now-include-two-second-looping-videos-010755739.html?src=rss
An anonymous and inventive Nintendo fan has recreated the Game Boy classic The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening with a twist that separates it from the official 2019 remaster. The widescreen Windows remake adds high frame rate support and lets you zoom out to view a larger portion — or even all — of Koholint Island. But the game may not last long as Nintendo has a habit of crushing copyright-infringing fan games, even when crafted lovingly and offered for free like this one.
Spotted on X (alongside a writeup by Polygon), Link’s Awakening DX HD is a love letter to the 1993 original and its 1998 color re-release. The unofficial port recreates the quirky Zelda installment with 120 frames per second (FPS) support, which the developer describes as adding “unparalleled fluidity.”
The homebrew port also gets rid of the original’s transitions, which loaded a new screen every time you walked to the next one (old-school Zelda style). In this version, the camera pans fluidly as Links strolls around the island, something we imagine was no small task for the unnamed creator.
linksawakeningdxhd / itch.io / Nintendo
Zoom level, available in the in-game settings menu, lets you pan out to a 1:1, half or one-third pixel scale, allowing you to view as much as the entire island simultaneously. This isn’t a static perspective, either. Each visible section is fully activated (as if Link were on it in the original) and swarming with enemies. You can move around in the panned-out views, swinging your sword at Moblins and searching for the next task without pausing to consult a static game map.
The game’s developer posted the 90s love letter anonymously, likely to shield them (for a time, anyway) from Nintendo’s litigation-happy legal team. The 24 MB Link’s Awakening DX HD is a free download on itch.io, but we wouldn’t count on it staying there for much longer. Either way, you can watch a snippet of gameplay in the video below.
I’ve found out that there’s a port of Zelda Link’s Awakening for PC and I’m amazed with it. This version not only offers widescreen support, but the game now runs at a single screen without any transitions and you can zoom out to see more of the overworld. pic.twitter.com/yQBbbFeytn
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/fan-made-zelda-links-awakening-remake-lets-you-zoom-out-to-see-the-entire-island-214345008.html?src=rss
Meta has been promising as much for a while, and now Meta Quest 2, 3 and Pro owners can now stream hundreds of games through Xbox Cloud Gaming. You’ll need an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate membership, compatible controller, solid internet connection and the most recent Quest software update. Then, you’ll be able to snag the Xbox Cloud Gaming (Beta) app and hop into games such as Starfield, Cocoon and Halo Infinite on a large virtual screen.
Meta says you’ll be able to choose from four virtual display sizes. You can opt to play games in an Xbox-themed virtual space or make it appear as though the display is floating in mid-air thanks to the Quest 3 and Pro’s full-color passthrough features. As for supported controllers, Meta says Xbox gamepads, PlayStation 4 peripherals and the Nintendo Switch Pro all work. Support for the PlayStation 5’s DualSense will be available at a later date.
This is the second major cross-platform collaboration that has arrived on Quest in the last couple of weeks. It’s now possible to wirelessly play PC VR games on the headsets thanks to Steam Link support. While some folks were already able to access Xbox Cloud Gaming on Quest headsets via workarounds, the arrival of the app will make it much easier for anyone to dive in and play something when, say, they’re traveling or someone else is occupying the TV.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/xbox-cloud-gaming-lands-on-meta-quest-headsets-204929253.html?src=rss
Etsy is the latest company to lay off staff in 2023. CEO Josh Silverman confirmed the marketplace is letting go of 11 percent of its staff (around 225 employees) in its first significant staffing cut in recent years. It’s also reshuffling its leadership, including announcing two executives’ departures at the beginning of 2024.
“After deep discussion and careful consideration, we are reorganizing our internal structure to more closely align our resources with our most important business priorities and better serve our customers,” Silverman wrote to employees. “As part of this, I’m sad to share that we must say goodbye to approximately 225 team members, reducing the Etsy workforce by ~11%. This decision was among the hardest we’ve ever made, and one that we have tried earnestly to avoid.”
The company is facing a consumer spending slowdown, as its leadership warned in its Q3 2023 earnings call in November. “There’s no doubt that this is an incredibly challenging environment for spending on consumer discretionary items,” Silverman said to investors last month. “It’s therefore important to acknowledge that the volatile macro climate is going to make it challenging for us to grow this quarter.” Etsy’s revenue growth had already stalled in recent years, with customers adjusting their spending habits post-lockdowns after a pandemic-era boom.
Etsy’s Brooklyn headquarters
Etsy
Etsy’s CEO says Shein and Temu have also affected the company’s bottom line. “There’s no question that Temu and Shein are having an impact in the market,” Silverman said in the November call. “You don’t get that big that fast without taking share from many people.”
However, the two upstarts’ competition isn’t the only issue; Shein and Temu have also allegedly driven up Etsy’s advertising costs. “And the other thing that is happening is they’re spending a large amount of money on marketing, not clear that they’re using ROI thresholds to do that,” Silverman added. “And so I think those two players are almost single-handedly having an impact on the cost of advertising, particularly in some paid channels in Google and in Meta.”
Silverman plans to market the platform’s “quality, value and reliability” to help fend off the younger competitors, which specialize in cheaper goods. “I have great confidence in these plans, but we need the right structure and resources in place to successfully execute on them,” he wrote to employees.
The CEO wasn’t above talking a little smack, either. “We are the opposite of Temu,” Silverman said to investors in November. “If I had to think about what is the polar opposite of Etsy, I’d probably get pretty close to Temu.”
As part of the reorganization, Etsy’s chief marketing officer, Ryan Scott, and chief human resources officer, Kim Seymour, will leave the company on January 1. Chief operating officer Raina Moskowitz will now lead marketing teams, and chief product officer Nick Daniel inherits Moskowitz’s previous turf, overseeing payments and fulfillment teams.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/etsy-is-laying-off-11-percent-of-its-staff-201545615.html?src=rss
OpenAI will pay German publisher Axel Springer to use its news articles to train its AI models and show real-time information from Axel Springer’s brands, which include Business Insider and Politico in the US and Bild and Welt in Europe, in ChatGPT’s responses. None of the companies disclosed how much the deal was worth, but Bloomberg reported that OpenAI will pay the publisher tens of millions of euros over the next three years.
“This partnership with Axel Springer will help provide people with new ways to access quality, real-time news content through our AI tools,” said OpenAI’s chief operating officer Brad Lightcap in a statement. “We are deeply committed to working with publishers and creators around the world and ensuring they benefit from advanced AI technology and new revenue models.”
OpenAI’s partnership with Axel Springer comes on the heels of concerns from creators, authors, and publishers who have criticized and sued generative AI companies for training their models on their content without consent or compensation. Some publishers like The New York Times, Vox Media, BBC News, Reuters, and CNN have blocked OpenAI from accessing their data. Striking deals with AI companies, however, could provide a brand new revenue source for publishers who are currently going through the worst year for the media business in decades.
As part of the deal, Alex Springer will provide OpenAI with both current news articles as well as archives from all its brands to train its large language models, the foundational tech that powers ChatGPT. When ChatGPT uses Axel Springer’s articles in its responses, it will include attribution and links to the pieces for transparency. Axel Springer will also be able to use OpenAI’s technology to improve its own products, The Wall Street Journal reported.
This isn’t the first deal that OpenAI has struck with a news publisher. Earlier this year, the company entered into a two-year partnership with The Associated Press to use select content from the AP’s archives dating back to 1985 to train its AI models, although the terms of that deal do not include letting ChatGPT use AP content in its responses. OpenAI also has a $5 million partnership with the American Journalism Project to explore how local news organizations can benefit from artificial intelligence.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/openai-will-pay-to-train-its-models-on-business-insider-and-politico-articles-200327559.html?src=rss
EU regulators have reportedly sided against Apple in its long fight against Spotify over App Store policies. The complaint centered on “anti-steering” rules that allegedly prevented platforms like Spotify from adequately promoting alternative methods of payment. While Spotify was the key opposition, the decision impacts not just music-streaming, but anyone offering software that requires a monthly subscription.
Bloomberg reports that regulators are still putting the final touches on the ruling, with a formal decision expected for early next year. Along with the ruling, the EU will likely penalize Apple for the practice and ban it outright. It’s expected that Apple will get hit with a steep fine, with some experts suggesting it could be as much as ten percent of its annual global revenue. This could add up to nearly $40 billion.
However, the fine is likely to be lower than that, as the EU tends to place more of an emphasis on actually ending abusive practices, instead of relying solely on fines as a deterrent. So the big news will be Apple being forced to play by the rules when operating in Europe, ending anti-steering practices once and for all. Of course, it’s all up in the air until the regulating body releases its judgment.
This follows a probe that started four years ago. It all began with a complaint from Spotify alleging that Apple’s anti-steering practices were forcing the music-streaming platform to raise prices to cover costs associated with appearing on the App Store. This led to an initial “statement of objections” against Apple in 2021 and a formal charge sheet this past February, as reported by The Verge.
The formal charge sheet declared in a “preliminary view” that “Apple’s anti-steering obligations” offer “unfair trading conditions.” For years, Apple didn’t allow rival streaming services like Spotify to even include links in third-party apps to their own subscription sign-ups. The company has since loosened this restriction slightly after an antitrust investigation in Japan. The EU ruling could further erode this mandate.
The European regulatory commission will address the accusation that Apple stopped companies from advertising alternative subscription methods but will not address anything related to in-app purchases. If you’ve been following this story, fees associated with in-app purchases were also part of the complaint until being dropped in February. The EU has issued a separate probe into Apple’s tap-to-pay technology and whether there are any inherent antitrust concerns. According to reports, the company’s in talks to settle that case.
How will this affect the rest of the world? There’s a similar case making its way through the US courts, via an antitrust suit brought forth by Epic Games. A judge sided with Epic, but Apple recently asked the Supreme Court for an appeal. The court granted a temporary reprieve, so Apple can still do whatever it wants in its App Store, for now. Apple is a global entity, however, so all it takes is a few countries to force a company-wide change. As an example, just look at USB-C ports.
Google faced a different outcome in a US court this week. A federal jury sided with Epic Games in a similar antitrust case against Google. The jury unanimously agreed that Google held an illegal monopoly on app distribution and in-app billing services for Android devices.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-eu-will-reportedly-rule-against-apple-in-spotifys-complaint-over-app-store-policies-195704039.html?src=rss
Log into the web app with your Nintendo account and you’ll see the first game you played on your Switch this year. You can then scroll down to see how many different games you’ve checked out on the console on our most recent trip around the sun, as well as your total playtime.
Look back at all the fun you had with #NintendoSwitch games in 2023 with a personalized wrap-up! You can see what you played most, choose your favorite game of the year, and share your stats with friends.
Along with a breakdown of your most-played games this year, Nintendo will reveal your gaming trends — i.e. a chart breaking down your Switch gaming time by genre. Naturally, Nintendo will condense these details and info about your busiest months in terms of playtime into shareable cards.
Nintendo’s year in review app is fairly bare bones compared with the ones Sony and Microsoft put together this year. Still, it can be a fun way to help you look back at your year in gaming. And don’t worry about all the other things you could have done with the time you spent playing games. Self-care is important.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/nintendos-switch-year-in-review-site-is-now-live-192907994.html?src=rss
When Threads launched this summer, one of the more intriguing aspects of the new service was Meta’s promise to support ActivityPub, the open-source protocol that powers Mastodon and other decentralized social media platforms. But there were still many unanswered questions about how such interoperability would work, and just how committed Meta was to the plan.
Now, Meta is taking its first step toward making Threads compatible with the fediverse. A new test will make some Threads content available on Mastodon and other apps for the first time, Mark Zuckerberg announced in a post on Threads. “Making Threads interoperable will give people more choice over how they interact and it will help content reach more people,” he wrote. “I’m pretty optimistic about this.”
It wasn’t immediately clear how this would work or how much Threads content might be available on Mastodon or other services. But the company previously introduced the ability to verify your Threads profile on Mastodon, so Meta does have some insight into Threads users who are also active in the fediverse. We’ve reached out to Meta for more details and will update if we hear back.
The test is the latest sign of growing momentum behind decentralized social media, which advocates say could upend how we interact online. Because decentralized platforms like Mastodon rely on protocols rather than a single company’s platform, more mainstream adoption of say, ActivityPub, means that people would be able to interact with a wider variety of content in more places. Meta has also said ActivityPub support would allow users to “to stop using Threads and transfer your content to another service.”
Though some fediverse enthusiasts have been skeptical about Meta’s entry into the space, Mastodon founder Eugen Rochko has said he’s supportive of their efforts. “The fact that large platforms are adopting ActivityPub is not only validation of the movement towards decentralized social media, but a path forward for people locked into these platforms to switch to better providers,” he wrote in a blog post earlier this year.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/meta-tests-making-threads-posts-available-on-mastodon-and-other-fediverse-apps-190003236.html?src=rss
We knew that the iPhone 15 Pro and the Pro Max would be able to record spatial videos, but that capability wasn’t available until the release of iOS 17.2. Well, it’s here now, so there’s no time like the present to start building up a library of spatial video clips for the impending launch of the Apple Vision Pro mixed-reality headset. The process isn’t quite as simple as taking a standard video, however, so follow along and we’ll get it sorted. Here’s how to take a spatial video with your iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max.
How to take spatial video with an iPhone 15 Pro or Pro Max
This is a more complicated process than making a traditional video, but just slightly. Here’s how to capture iPhone 15 Pro spatial video.
1. Head to settings
Engadget / Will Shanklin
You have to set up your phone to record spatial video. Do this by heading to settings and then camera and, finally, formats. Look for “Spatial video for Apple Vision Pro” and turn it on. That’s it. You’re good to go.
2. Open up the camera app
Now that the setting has been enabled, just open up the camera app as you would to take traditional photos or videos. Select video mode to begin the process. Spatial videos must be captured in landscape orientation, so flip the phone.
3. Make a spatial video
Engadget / Will Shanklin
You should see a spatial video icon on the screen. Tap it and then hit record or either volume button to start making a video. Spatial videos benefit from an abundance of care while filming. Keep the iPhone steady and level, frame any subjects three to eight feet from the camera and use even and bright lighting. Tap the spatial video icon again to stop the recording.
4. Watch your video
Apple
For now, you’ll have to settle with watching the video on your iPhone or any other traditional screen. Spatial videos captured on the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max are recorded at 1080p at 30FPS. However, that changes with the launch of the Apple Vision Pro headset. Once that arrives, you’ll be able to view them in glorious 3D in the headset’s Photos app. You shouldn’t have to manually upload the videos to the Vision Pro, as spatial videos sync to all of your devices, assuming you’re signed in with the same Apple ID and have iCloud turned on.
The Apple Vision Pro headset releases at some point during the first half of 2024, so we have a bit of waiting to do before experiencing the magic of spatial video. In the meantime, start collecting clips.
What is spatial video?
You can’t make a spatial video without understanding the purpose. You know how spatial audio increases immersion by creating 360-degrees of virtual space for sound effects, music and narration? Spatial video is basically the same thing, but for visuals. The technology creates videos that feel similar to how we move in the real world that can be experienced in all directions.
There’s a major caveat. You can take these videos with an iPhone 15 Pro, but you can’t really enjoy them. Sure, you can play them just fine, but without any of those added spatial effects. For that, you’ll need the Apple Vision Pro mixed-reality headset, which will allow you to, in a way, relive the moment. You’ll be able to pull up the video as a large and immersive floating screen or expand it to occupy your entire field of view, which is sort of like stepping inside of a memory. The technology isn’t exclusive to Apple’s ecosystem, but this specific integration is.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/how-to-take-spatial-video-on-the-iphone-15-pro-184721039.html?src=rss
Apple is slowly but surely getting rid of the Lightning cable as it transitions to having a USB-C charging port in more of its devices and accessories. On the same day it announced iPhone 15 devices (which have USB-C ports), Apple revealed that it changed the physical charging jack on the second-generation AirPods Pro. But to get a USB-C case for the earbuds, you’d need to buy a fresh set of AirPods Pro too.
That’s no longer the situation as Apple has started selling the USB-C AirPods Pro case separately. The case by itself costs $99, which is much less than the $249 you’d have had to shell out before.
It might be worth picking up a case if you don’t want to have to deal with Lightning cables at all (and you perhaps aren’t a fan of wireless or MagSafe charging). Of course, if you’ve lost your previous case and need to replace it, you may as well switch to a USB-C version at this point. Of note, Apple says the case is only compatible with the second-gen AirPods Pro.
Apple’s transition away from Lightning and toward USB-C isn’t exactly voluntary. The European Union has mandated that most rechargeable devices sold in the region will need to have a USB-C charging port by the end of 2024. Apple was already moving to USB-C in iPads but making the switch on iPhone marked a significant sea change.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apple-is-now-selling-the-usb-c-airpods-pro-case-separately-182655258.html?src=rss
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, after policies were first proposed by the European Commission in 2021.
The new rules highlight employment status as a key issue for gig workers, meaning an employed individual can reap the labor and social rights associated with an official worker title. This can include things like a legal minimum wage, the option to engage in collective bargaining, health protections at work, options for paid leave and sick days. Through a recognition of a worker status from the EU, gig workers can also qualify for unemployment benefits.
Given that most gig workers are employed by digital apps, like Uber or Deliveroo, the new directive will require “human oversight of the automated systems” to make sure labor rights and proper working conditions are guaranteed. The workers also have the right to contest any automated decisions by digital employers — such as a termination.
The new rulings will also require employers to inform and consult workers’ when there are “algorithmic decisions” that affect them. Employers will be required to report where their gig workers are fulfilling labor-related tasks to ensure the traceability of employees, especially when there are cross-border situations to consider in the EU.
Before the new gig worker protections can formally roll out, there needs to be a final approval of the agreement by the European Parliament and the Council. The stakeholders will have two years to implement the new protections into law. Similar protections for gig workers in the UK were introduced in 2021. Meanwhile, in the US, select cities have rolled out minimum wage rulings and benefits — despite Uber and Lyft’s pushback against such requirements.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/european-commission-agrees-to-new-rules-that-will-protect-gig-workers-rights-175155671.html?src=rss
