Rabu, 31 Januari 2024

Apple Vision Pro battery specs revealed - GSMArena.com news - GSMArena.com

The Apple Vision Pro reviews are in, and so we finally know its battery's specs. Back when pre-orders started, Apple only revealed that the battery was good for two hours of "general use", and 2.5 hours of video watching. It turns out those estimates were pretty accurate, perhaps even underpromising a tad.

And yet, you may have been left wondering, all this time, what the actual capacity of the battery is. Now the mystery is solved: it's 3,166 mAh. That doesn't sound like much, considering its size and 353g weight, but there's a twist.

And that's that it is capable of 13V 6A max output, and that voltage far exceeds what any 3.8V phone battery is capable of. An equivalent 35.9 Wh for the typical phone battery voltage would result in a capacity of 9,440 mAh, so if you were thinking something along the lines of "that looks just like a 10,000 mAh power bank" - well, yes.

The Vision Pro's battery is external, as you surely know by now, and it has a proprietary connector to attach it to the headset, as well as a USB-C port that charges it using the shockingly-for-Apple bundled 30W wall charger. The proprietary connector uses a twist to lock system to connect to the headset without much fumbling about.

Apple does sell extra battery packs for the Vision Pro for $200 each, but note that these aren't hot-swappable. When the cable is disconnected, the headset dies and then it reboots when the new battery is connected.

The Vision Pro will become available in the US only this Friday, on February 2. It is slated to launch in additional countries sometime later this year.

Via

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2024-01-31 23:59:01Z
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BMW M4 facelift brings more power and lower prices - Autocar

The BMW M4 Competition has received a range of tweaks aimed at keeping it on pace with the sports car opposition, boosting its engine's output and cutting prices.

The twin-turbocharged 3.0-litre straight six gains 20bhp, up from 503bhp to 523bhp. This peak is delivered at higher revs than previously: 6250rpm, rather than 5600rpm.

Torque is unchanged, at 479lb ft, but this level is held for an additional 230rpm, peaking between 2750rpm and 5730rpm.

Rear-wheel drive has been dropped from the M4 line-up, leaving the four-wheel-drive xDrive version as the only option. This is capable of sending torque exclusively to the rear wheels, doing so when the stability control is disabled.

Despite the increased output of the new M4, its on-paper performance is unchanged, with BMW claiming 0-62mph sprint times of 3.5sec for the coupé and 3.7sec for the cabriolet.

BMW M4 Convertible facelift front driving

Meanwhile, the regular BMW 4 Series engine line-up is unchanged, comprising a 181bhp four-pot, designated the 420i, and a 48V mild-hybrid 369bhp six-pot, designated the M440i.

The 255bhp 430i was dropped from the 4 Series alongside the 420d and 430d diesels in March 2023, due to “evolving market demands”.

The new 4 Series and M4 are visually distinguished from the previous models by new lights at either end, with the rear set featuring the same glassfibre bundle technology featured on the limited-run BMW M4 CSL.

BMW 4 Series 2024 rear light

Inside, the 4 Series and M4 retain their dual-screen infotainment and instrumentation displays, measuring 14.9in and 12.3in. The software has been updated from version 8.0 to 8.5, with enhanced voice controls for the climate functions.

The ambient lighting has been extended into area above the central air vents, with a choice of nine different colours that automatically respond to stimuli such as an open door or an incoming phonecall.

The M4 Competition xDrive Coupé now costs £84,250, down from £86,665. However, that's up on the £83,810 asked for the now-dropped rear-wheel-drive model.

2024 BMW 4 Series convertible driving – rear quarter

Similarly, the 420i coupé is now £43,020, down from £44,180.

However, the soft-tops are mostly more expensive than previously: the 420i Convertible is £49,695, £170 more than before, and the M440i Convertible is £65,410, an increase of £1230.

The only one to have fallen in price is the M4 Convertible, which is now £88,255 – down by £2010.

Charlie Martin Autocar
Title: Editorial Assistant, Autocar

As a reporter, Charlie plays a key role in setting the news agenda for the automotive industry. He joined Autocar in July 2022 after a nine-month stint as an apprentice with sister publication, What Car?. He's previously contributed to The Intercooler, and placed second in Hagerty’s 2019 Young Writer competition with a MG Metro 6R4 feature

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2024-01-31 00:06:06Z
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The BMW Z4 M40i now gets a six-speed manual gearbox, yours for £60k - Top Gear

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2024-01-31 00:32:23Z
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Selasa, 30 Januari 2024

Samsung finally breaks silence on Galaxy AI's fate after 2025 - Android Authority

TL;DR

  • Samsung’s head of mobile, T.M. Roh, has opened up about the financial future of Galaxy AI.
  • The company could introduce more advanced AI features for paid subscribers in the future.
  • Roh also said that Galaxy AI will reach 100 million devices by the end of this year.

Samsung’s mobile chief, T.M. Roh, has broken the silence about the company’s plans with Galaxy AI once it stops being free in 2025.

Roh confirmed to ET Telecom what we already knew about Galaxy AI when the Galaxy S24 series launched a few weeks back. He said that despite the enormous resources invested in the development of Galaxy AI, its features will remain free for customers until 2025. The question on everyone’s mind is what will happen to Galaxy AI after 2025 once it stops being free. As it turns out, Samsung doesn’t know either.

Roh told the publication that the company has made no decisions about the fiscal future of Galaxy AI after 2025. However, he hinted at plans to introduce more powerful AI features in the future for paid subscribers.

“According to our analysis, there are various needs for mobile AI. So, there will be consumers who will be satisfied with using the AI capabilities for free. Then there could also be customers who wish for even more powerful AI capabilities and even pay for them. So, in the future decision-making, we will take all these factors into consideration,” Roh said.

The company has over a year to decide, so we’re sure we’ll hear an update once it has something to share. Android Authority had previously reached out to Samsung regarding the future of Galaxy AI but got no response from the brand.

Meanwhile, Roh painted a rosy picture for Galaxy AI for the coming months. He said the company plans to bring the tech to over 100 million devices worldwide this year.

Samsung already confirmed that the AI helper will be coming to a bunch of older Galaxy flagships, including the Galaxy S23 series, Galaxy S23 FE, Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Flip 5, and Galaxy Tab S9 series within the first half of 2024. We’re also guessing that the upcoming Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Flip 6 will include Galaxy AI features. Together, all these devices might help Samsung achieve its 100 million target for Galaxy AI’s rollout.

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2024-01-30 06:15:51Z
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OM System OM-1 Mark II Adds Live Graduated ND, Improved AF, and More - PetaPixel

OM System OM-1 Mark II

OM Digital Solutions Corporation has unveiled the OM System OM-1 Mark II. The successor to 2022’s OM-1 flagship camera includes everything that made the OM-1 “the best Micro Four Thirds camera ever made,” but the “Mark II” moniker doesn’t include the substantial upgrades photographers may be expecting.

There have been no changes to the camera’s image sensor — it’s still a 20-megapixel stacked backside-illuminated Live MOS chip — or TruePic X image processor.

OM System OM-1 Mark II

Despite staying the course on the image processing pipeline, OM has expanded the Mark II’s memory, which results in some changes to buffer depths. Sequential shooting speeds remain unchanged, allowing for up to 50 frames per second with full AF/AE and 120 fps with locked AF/AE, but photographers can shoot more than 200 RAW frames at 120 fps, up from around 90.

OM System OM-1 Mark II
Credit: Christian Brocke

The camera can also shoot blackout-free at slower frame rates than before. There wasn’t blackout at 50 fps before, but some photographers wanted that same experience at slower speeds, so now users can select 12.5 and 16 fps rates and still achieve a blackout-free viewfinder.

OM System OM-1 Mark II
Credit: Matt Horspool

An area where OM System promises further improvement is autofocus. The company says autofocus accuracy is significantly improved, especially for fast-moving subjects. The camera also includes human detection as an option.

Some photographers found the original OM-1’s dials were lackluster and difficult to use when wearing gloves. OM heard the complaints, so the OM-1 II includes rubberized control dials with an improved tactile feel and response.

OM System OM-1 Mark II
The OM-1 Mark II is compatible with the same optional battery grip as the original OM-1.

Computational photography has long been an essential component of Olympus and now OM System cameras, and the OM-1 Mark II is no exception. Beyond the typical suite of features like Live ND and High Res Shot (50 megapixels handheld and 80 megapixels when using a tripod), the OM-1 II features the world’s first Live GND (Graduated ND) feature.

OM System OM-1 Mark II
Credit: Matt Horspool

With this, photographers can replicate the effects of a graduated ND filter, a popular choice for landscape photographers, without the cumbersome use of actual filters. Further, users can customize the filter steps and type of Live GND filter in real time. Users can adjust the location and angle of the transition from light to dark and pick between soft, medium, and hard gradations.

OM System OM-1 Mark II
Credit: Matt Horspool

The OM-1 II also includes an updated Live ND feature, which now offers strength up to ND128, doubled from the original OM-1’s strongest Live ND filter option of ND64.

Unfortunately, it is impossible to combine Live ND and GND with the OM-1 II’s High Res Shot modes, but at least Live ND and Live GND allow for the capture of RAW image files.

OM System OM-1 Mark II
Credit: Petr Bambousek

The High Res Shot mode now allows photographers to capture 14-bit RAW files, up from 12-bit RAW files. This may sound like a relatively small jump, from just 12 to 14, but the way bits work, it amounts to three times the tonal range.

OM System OM-1 Mark II
Credit: Christian Brockes

Rounding out the noteworthy changes is an improved in-body image stabilization system. The OM-1 was already an excellent camera for handheld shooting, given its relatively compact and lightweight design and stabilization system, rated for up to seven stops. The OM-1 II offers 8.5 stops of shake correction.

OM System OM-1 Mark II

Pricing and Availability

The OM System OM-1 Mark II will be available in late February for $2,400 ($3,200 CAD) body only and $3,000 ($4,000 CAD) in a kit with the OM System M.Zuiko Digital ED 12-40mm f/2.8 Pro II zoom lens.


Image credits: OM

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2024-01-30 06:02:16Z
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Senin, 29 Januari 2024

Stellar Blade Springs Back to Life as Anticipated PS5 Exclusive Nears - Push Square

Stellar Blade Springs Back to Life as Anticipated PS5 Exclusive Nears 1

One of the tentpole titles featured during this week’s State of Play will be Korean developer Shift Up’s highly anticipated PS5 exclusive Stellar Blade, which is scheduled to release later this year. Already confirmed to be one of the 15 titles featured during the 40-minute presentation, the game’s social media account has suddenly sprung back into life ahead of the event.

The account previously tweeted on 22nd September, 2022 celebrating 10,000 followers – but it was reactivated overnight, well over a year later, to retweet Sony’s official State of Play confirmation. The game – a console debut from the Goddess of Victory: NIKKE developer – had been due out in 2023, but missed its target. Presumably we’ll learn about a firm release date later this week.

Stellar Blade was previously announced as Project EVE for multiple platforms, but Sony has since signed a publishing deal with Shift Up, making the team a second-party developer. In an announcement post, PS Studios boss Hermen Hulst said we should anticipate an “extended look” at the title, which will presumably include tons of gameplay, cinematics, and screenshots.

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2024-01-30 05:00:00Z
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'Apple's new policy is a step in the wrong direction.' Microsoft, Spotify, decry Apple's 'compliance' with new European app store rules - Windows Central

What you need to know

  • Recently, Apple changed its App Store rules on iOS devices to comply with new EU rules on digital platforms. 
  • Microsoft, Spotify, Epic Games, and others have decried the new policies as a step backwards. 
  • Microsoft is aiming to set up a mobile gaming store on iOS and Android, despite Apple's anti-competitive blocks on Xbox Game Pass. 

Apple's new App Store rules designed to comply with new European legislation are under attack, as the firm seeks to profit from poorly worded clauses in the Digital Markets Act. 

Apple and others have been designated so-called "gatekeeper" companies, which subjects them to rules designed, in theory, to promote competition within digital platforms. However, Apple has managed to skirt the bulk of the new rules, by imposing a new tax on developers who choose to exist on third-party storefronts. 

The new EU rules are essentially forcing Apple to open itself up to side-loading and third-party storefronts, similarly to platforms like Windows 11. On Windows 11, you, I, or anyone can create and sell apps without having to pay a fee to Microsoft. The same is true on Android, however, Google doesn't exactly make it easy for third-party apps and services to be visible, as it aggressively controls default apps and services on its platform. The EU already forced Google to add an search engine choice when setting up a new phone on Android, but we're a long way from educating users on the fact third-party stores potentially exist, such as the Galaxy Store on Samsung phones. 

Apple is a different battleground all together. Apple blocks services like Xbox Game Pass and NVIDIA GeForce Now, since they would have to compete more directly for users' money, if they had a choice where to play games on its platforms. Microsoft has been hoping to grow its own third-party app and mobile game store on iOS and Android, and has been banking on the European Commission to help crack open iOS devices to that end. Sadly, it looks as though Apple has found a way to avoid complying fully.  

See more

Microsoft Gaming President Sarah Bond called the new rules "a step in the wrong direction," and called on Apple to "listen to feedback" on the new rules. Spotify's Daniel Ek was a little less diplomatic, posting a large blog post calling out Apple for years of "bad behavior." 

"Under the new terms, if we stay in the App Store and want to offer our own in-app payment, we will pay a 17% commission and a 0.50 cent Euro Core Technology Fee per install and year," Ek continued, "this equates for us to being the same or worse as under the old rules. And if we managed to remove our app from the App Store and only existed in the Alternative App Store, that would still not work. With our EU Apple install base in the 100 million user range, this new tax on downloads and updates could skyrocket our customer acquisition costs, potentially increasing them tenfold. This, as we have to pay on every install or update to our free or paid app, even for those who no longer use the service."

See more

Mozilla, Epic Games, and various other companies have also lined up to attack Apple for its new rules, which create various barriers, hurdles, and hidden taxes for developers who dare to build apps that aren't fully tying themselves to Apple's ecosystem. Apple, for example, is requesting that anyone trying to create a storefront on iOS needs to guarantee a credit line of 1 million euros to "support developers." In Windows 11 terms, it would be like telling companies like Steam, GOG, and Epic Games they can't set up a store on Windows without following a range of arbitrary rules. 

The EU's DMA also stipulates that Apple needs to allow alternative browser engines on iOS. Right now, browser firms are forced to use Apple's despised webkit platform. Apple is trying to make it more difficult for third-party browser engines like Chromium to create offerings on iOS with a range of similar, arbitrary barriers. "Apple’s proposals fail to give consumers viable choices by making it as painful as possible for others to provide competitive alternatives to Safari. This is another example of Apple creating barriers to prevent true browser competition on iOS," Mozilla's Damiano Demonte lamented (via The Verge).

Epic Games' CEO and Fortnite co-owner also lambasted Apple, "Under what possible theory of antitrust regulation is it acceptable for a monopoly to decide what companies are allowed to compete with it, and on what terms they can compete? Apple makes a mockery of free market competition."

Malicious compliance 

Apple's long-standing anti-competitive, anti-consumer stance has made it an incredibly wealthy company over the past few decades, building an ecosystem that hinges entirely offering a sub-par experience while hiding behind excuses like "privacy" while raising the spectre of imaginary viruses or hackers. 

Apple's taxes on developers and compliance burdens make it impossible for even the biggest companies to compete with its default offerings, giving them a wholly unfair advantage that also erodes the experience for users who dare to use competing services. I've seen people unironically praise Apple for giving musicians a better cut than Spotify on its platform, glossing over the fact Apple's tax burden it places on Spotify and other music services is money that could go towards artists instead. If you're a subscriber of NVIDIA GeForce Now or Xbox Game Pass, Apple doesn't want you to have access to those services on its platform, despite not offering a similar service of its own. 

Apple's behavior reduces consumer choice, increases prices, and stunts innovation, and it's about time regulators grew a pair and did something about it. 

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2024-01-29 23:47:32Z
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Microsoft says Apple's new App Store rules are 'a step in the wrong direction' - The Verge

Apple Apps Photo Illustrations
Photo by Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Apple’s new plan to comply with the European Union’s tech regulations has already drawn criticism from Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney and Spotify. Now Microsoft is weighing in with its own concerns, calling the App Store changes in the EU “a step in the wrong direction.”

Apple has proposed a new Core Technology Fee for apps that want to operate on third-party app stores in the EU. It will require developers using third-party app stores to pay €0.50 for each annual app install after 1 million downloads. Apple will also still take a 17 percent commission from the developers who choose to use third-party payment processors. 

“Apple’s new policy is a step in the wrong direction,” says Xbox president Sarah Bond in a post on X. “We hope they listen to feedback on their proposed plan and work towards a more inclusive future for all.”

Bond is now responsible for overseeing all of Microsoft’s Xbox platform and hardware work, just as the company is hoping to launch its own Xbox mobile store. Microsoft has been quietly building a mobile Xbox store that may launch as soon as this year. The Xbox mobile store is designed as an alternative to Apple and Google’s mobile gaming store dominance, and it will rely on content from Activision Blizzard like Call of Duty: Mobile and Candy Crush Saga — two hugely popular mobile games published by Activision and King, respectively.

Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer previously discussed the potential for the Xbox mobile store last year, referencing the EU’s Digital Markets Act as a “huge opportunity” for Microsoft.

Epic Games’ CEO Tim Sweeney has labeled Apple’s App Store changes “hot garbage,” and said that “Apple’s plan to thwart Europe’s new Digital Markets Act law is a devious new instance of Malicious Compliance.” Sweeney fought a long-running legal battle against Apple’s App Store policies and payment processing in the US.

Spotify has also accused Apple of “extortion” with this new App Store tax, and calls on the EU regulators to take action. The European Commission says it will issue a response to Apple’s changes when the regulations officially go into effect in March, and it promises “strong action” if Apple’s “proposed solutions are not good enough.”

Microsoft’s reaction to Apple’s latest policy changes could also spell trouble for a potential Xbox Cloud Gaming app on iOS. Apple opened the App Store to cloud gaming services last week, at the same time that it announced its new App Store policies for EU markets. “Developers can now submit a single app with the capability to stream all of the games offered in their catalog,” Apple wrote in a blog post.

Nvidia, Microsoft, and other cloud gaming providers haven’t reacted to Apple’s acceptance of cloud gaming services. We’re still waiting to hear if Apple’s changes are enough to convince these providers to publish iOS apps for their services.

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2024-01-29 22:34:01Z
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Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth is the series' biggest ever Steam launch | VGC - Video Games Chronicle

Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth has earned the largest launch on Steam for any game released by Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio.

Infinite Wealth was released last week to hugely positive reviews, making it the best-received game in series history. That appears to have translated to Steam success, as the game has seen more concurrent players than any other game in its developer’s history.

According to independent Steam data aggregator SteamDB (collated by ResetEra user Mocha Joe), Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth ranks highest with over 30,000 peak concurrent users, followed by Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name.

The full ranking of Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio Steam releases is:

  1. Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth      30,741
  2. Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name     13,737
  3. Yakuza: Like a Dragon     9535
  4. Yakuza 0               8985
  5. Like a Dragon: Ishin!        8461
  6. Judgment            5606
  7. Yakuza Kiwami   3473
  8. Yakuza 2 Kiwami               3229
  9. Yakuza 3 Remastered      2740
  10. Lost Judgment   2269
  11. Yakuza 6: The Song of Life              1635
  12. Binary Domain   1077
  13. Yakuza 4 Remastered      913
  14. Yakuza 5 Remastered      852

Released on January 26, Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth is mainly set in Hawaii (rather than the series’ usual Japanese locations), and features both Yakuza: Like a Dragon protagonist Ichiban Kasuga and the series’ original protagonist Kazuma Kiryu.

VGC’s Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth review says the game is “the series at its very best”, calling it a “can’t-miss RPG”.

“Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth is one of the best RPGs we’ve played in years,” we concluded. “Excellent combat, a wonderful cast of characters, and a willingness to be incredibly weird make it absolutely unmissable.

“Not only that, but it’s so full to the brim with things to do, we could have probably spent another three weeks with it and not finished everything.”

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2024-01-28 13:21:33Z
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Yes, Suicide Squad's PS5 Platinum Will Require You to Kill the Justice League - Push Square

Yes, Suicide Squad's PS5 Platinum Will Require You to Kill the Justice League 1
Image: Push Square

Put any sentimentality aside: Rocksteady really will insist you kill the Justice League if you want to unlock Suicide Squad’s seemingly accessible PS5 Platinum Trophy. Obviously, it’s the subheadline of the game so there are few surprises here, but you’ll earn gongs for offing the likes of Batman, Superman, and the Green Lantern.

Elsewhere, you’ll need to solve at least 21 of the Riddler’s Riddles, and reach max level with all four launch characters – including Harley Quinn. You’ll also need to finish at least 100 Support Squad Contracts, which could potentially prove time consuming. While the list doesn’t look especially difficult at first glance, it could potentially take a long time.

Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League is due out later this week, but we’re still awaiting review access – along with most major sites, like IGN. As such, perhaps don’t expect us to post a review on launch day, because we’ll want to properly put this title through its paces before bringing you a definitive verdict.

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2024-01-29 04:30:00Z
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Minggu, 28 Januari 2024

Apple drives Spotify spitting mad - Slippedisc - Slipped Disc

norman lebrecht

January 28, 2024

This is the start of a new blast from Spotify’s Daniel Ek against Apple, whom he claims are stealing his clothers. Since neither company compensates musicians properly we might stay neutral in this war, but should we?

For almost five years – 1,782 days – we have been asking the European Commission to take action against Apple. In a world that values competition and innovation, we found it unacceptable to stand by and allow gatekeepers like Apple to go unchecked.

So you can imagine our excitement when the Digital Markets Act (DMA) was created and passed into law to once and for all put an end to this unfair stifling of innovation disguised by Apple as security protections. We were proud of Europe for leading the way and assumed that Apple would have no choice but to comply with the letter and the spirit of the law.

But as Apple has just shown the world, they don’t think the rules apply to them.

More here.

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2024-01-28 12:59:10Z
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Sabtu, 27 Januari 2024

Layoffs at Toys for Bob and Sledgehammer Games affect between 30% and 40% of staff, insider says - Eurogamer.net

Crash Bandicoot developer Toys for Bob and Call of Duty studio Sledgehammer Games have reportedly lost around 40 per cent and 30 per cent of their staff, respectively.

The layoffs are part of Microsoft's decision to lay off 1900 employees across its video game teams. In an email sent to employees, Xbox boss Phil Spencer called this a "painful decision after Microsoft's $69bn acquisition of Activision Blizzard last year, and $7.5bn acquisition of Zenimax in 2021. Microsoft also laid off almost 900 positions this time last year, too.

Newscast: Why are there so many games industry layoffs?

According to Bloomberg's Jason Schreier, Activision Blizzard staff have been contacting him directly to find out if they've been affected, while industry insider Tom Henderson says that 40 per cent of Toys for Bob's workforce equates to around 35 staff (thanks, TheGamer).

Sledgehammer, on the other hand, is listed on LinkedIn as employing between 500-1000 staff, intimating that anywhere between 150 and 300 staff could be affected by the job cuts.

It's been a horrific start to the year for the industry. As Victoria recently summarised for us, this month alone has seen multiple other companies announce layoffs, including League of Legends developer Riot Games, Black Forest Games, Unity, Behaviour Interactive, and Lords of the Fallen publisher CI Games.

Earlier this month GDC published its 2024 State of the Game Industry report, revealing that 35 percent of game developers had been impacted by layoffs in the last 12 months. Half of those surveyed admitted concerns that more job cuts were on the way, too.

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2024-01-27 13:40:33Z
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Apple makes dramatic changes to the iPhone and App Store - The Independent

Apple will make some of the most fundamental changes to the way the iPhone and its apps work since it was launched, it has announced.

The company will allow users to download apps from other sources for the first time, it said, as well as letting developers offer new ways to pay for goods inside those apps. It represents a profound change in the control that Apple exerts over iOS, the operating system that powers the iPhone.

The new changes mean, for example, that another company can offer their own rival market for apps. Those apps might include content that Apple would otherwise ban, such as pornography.

In effect, the changes mean that iPhone users can download a rival app marketplace that gives them access to otherwise unavailable apps, and pay for services inside them using payment systems not controlled by Apple, for the first ever time.

iPhone users will also be able to download game streaming services such as Xbox Cloud Gaming, which were previously banned. While most of the new rules apply only to those in the European Union, the changes to games will take effect everywhere.

Apple has been forced to make the changes in response to the EU’s Digital Markets Act. It has long lobbied against those new rules, and as it announced the changes said that they subjected people in the EU to “many risks”.

The company has always said that only allowing apps from the App Store keeps iPhones safe, since it means that malware and other threats cannot install themselves on users’ phones. It has made much the same argument about its payment offerings: at the moment, apps can only use Apple’s platform, which it says ensures users stay safe from fraud.

Forcing Apple to add new options for payments and downloading apps “open new avenues for malware, fraud and scams, illicit and harmful content, and other privacy and security threats”, it said in its announcement. It said that it had taken measures to act against those threats, but that even with them in place, “many risks remain”.

Supporters of the new legislation have argued that the rules only give them more choice – and that customers can stay with the existing App Store and other technologies if they are convinced by Apple’s arguments about security. But Apple has said that customers could be forced to use other marketplaces to get to apps they need.

“In that case, those users don’t have a choice to get that software from a distribution mechanism that they trust,” Ivan Krstić, Apple’s head of security engineering and architecture, told The Independent late last year. “And so, in fact, it is simply not the case that users will retain the choice they have today to get all of their software from the App Store.”

Developers can start using the new tools now, with the release of the iOS 17.4 beta and supporting software and documents. The changes will come to users in the 27 EU countries – but not the UK – when iOS 17.4 is released fully in March.

The EU’s Digital Markets Act went into force last year, though companies have until 6 March to comply. It is intended as a way of limiting the power of large technology companies, with politicians arguing it will help promote competition on the continent.

It focuses on the largest companies – Alphabet, Amazon, ByteDance, Meta and Microsoft as well as Apple – and 22 of their products that are defined as “core platform services”. That includes iOS, the Safari browser and the App Store.

For Apple, the designation requires it not to prefer its own services and to highlight those of others. It must therefore allow customers to download apps outside of its own App Store, give them an offer to use other browsers, and offer alternative payment plans, for instance.

For developers, the changes also come with a host of new “business terms”, which change the commission that Apple takes from the sale of apps. It said that more than 99 per cent of developers would pay the same fees or less under the new plan.

While most of the new changes are limited to the European Union, Apple also announced some global changes to the way that games can be distributed. Apple will now allow streaming games – so that developers can offer one app that allows players to stream all games in their catalogue.

Apple had previously banned services such as Microsoft’s Xbox Cloud Gaming app, which lets gamers play titles streamed over the internet, arguing that it was unsafe because it could not check every game that was available through it. The changes have been made to “reflect feedback from Apple’s developer community”, Apple said.

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2024-01-27 09:02:45Z
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Honor Magic V2 RSR Porsche Design is coming to Europe - GSMArena.com news - GSMArena.com

Earlier today, Honor finally launched the Magic V2 in Europe, almost five months after its initial announcement. Don't miss our unboxing.

If you're familiar with Honor's product roster, then surely you know about the Magic V2 RSR Porsche Design. This was first introduced a couple of weeks ago. During the launch event for the 'vanilla' Magic V2 in Europe, Honor thankfully confirmed that the RSR edition is also on its way to Europe.

Honor Magic V2 RSR Porsche Design is coming to Europe

Unfortunately, the company hasn't revealed any more details about how much it will cost or exactly when we should expect it. Hopefully it won't take five months again.

The Honor Magic V2 RSR Porsche Design comes in Porsche Agate Grey and the smartphone's body incorporates Porsche's signature "Flyline" - which describes the way its cars' rooflines slope downward toward the rear.

Furthermore, the RSR is said to have a "sports car fiberglass body", whatever that means. Its frame is made from magnesium alloy and the hinge mechanism is made from a titanium alloy, same as the 'vanilla' Magic V2.

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2024-01-27 00:07:04Z
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Jumat, 26 Januari 2024

Apple's rivals aren't happy about its EU App Store changes - Engadget

Last year, the European Union implemented new laws to make big tech open up its platforms to competitors. The deadline for compliance is March, and all eyes were on how Apple, which is famous for not playing nicely with others, would react. Now the company has set out how it will comply with the law, and the result is the sort of malicious compliance everyone was expecting. Similarly, the reaction from the coalition of well-heeled critics who were all hoping to get a slice of Apple’s pie for free has been similarly predictable.

The Digital Markets Act

In 2023, the EU laid down a new regime to prevent big tech throwing all of its weight around in the bloc. The Digital Markets Act and Digital Services Act govern what it calls “gatekeepers,” the big platforms who get between users and businesses. That includes Meta, Alphabet, Apple, Amazon and (TikTok owner) ByteDance, who all have big user bases, deep pockets and a lot of power. One key provision of the law was to get platform holders like Apple and Google to open their systems and allow competing services, such as alternative app stores, a topic we covered in depth back in 2020.

On January 25, Apple published a statement explaining how the DMA would impact iOS, Safari and the App Store. The document is laced with references to how the law makes iOS less secure and that Apple needs to take steps to mitigate those risks. And while Apple does not say how much each part of its business makes specifically, the App Store is a key part of its services division which earned a combined $22 billion in its most recent quarter. Consequently, Apple will happily let you set up a competing iOS app store, but in order to do so, you will have to vault Mount Everest, dig a tunnel to the center of the Earth and front a million dollars in cash.

Okay, not quite that.

You can compete, but you won’t want to

The creators of a would-be rival app store can’t simply turn up and sell their wares without any oversight. It was obvious from the get-go that even if Apple did open up its platforms, no third party app store would be allowed to do an end-run around the company’s basic rules. If you were hoping to run Honest Doug’s App Store (Not A Scam) and take the world for a ride, then you’re out of luck.

Would-be rivals will still need to meet Apple’s Notarization requirements and have tight rules and moderation tools governing quality, piracy, fraud and payment disputes. (Notarization will mean these apps will be checked by Apple to look for “known malware”, with the ability to shut the app down if any is detected.) They will need key rules around data collection and to offer users the same level of control they enjoy in the App Store proper. Not to mention complying with the Digital Services Act, GDPR and a number of other acronym-heavy EU regulations around digital services and online privacy. Essentially, if you want to run your own App Store, you’ll need to do it to the same level that Apple does.

Apple has also said app stores need to ensure they can meet their obligation to pay app developers. In this case, it means sharing a letter from a top financial institution with proof they have access to a minimum of €1,000,000 (around $1.1 million) in credit. And to avoid third party app stores taking advantage of Apple’s platform without Apple benefiting, developers will need to pay a Core Technology Fee once an app has been downloaded more than a million times. This is a per-install fee of €0.50 (around 54 cents) which renews every 12 months the app is installed for. You can decide for yourself if this reminds you of Unity’s aborted Runtime Fee payment scheme.

At the present time, Apple charges developers either $99 or $299, depending on if they are for an individual or a company. Apple then takes a flat commission on any transaction, either to buy the app itself or with an in-app purchase. For small developers making less than $1 million per year, Apple takes a 15 percent cut, while bigger names pay 30 percent. There are exceptions, including “reader” apps which are downloaded for free and tie to subscriptions elsewhere. So far it's not clear under what circumstances the sideloading fees might be preferable (if ever) to the vanilla "Apple tax" through its proprietary storefront.

The expected response

Naturally, Apple’s statement and all of the explanatory detail in its developer notes was controversial. Its critics, many of whom feel that Apple has too much power over its platform, were incensed.

Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney, who has previously sued the company about this matter, was quick to denounce the changes. He said the new rules were “a devious new instance of malicious compliance.” Adding that it is forcing app developers to pick between App Store exclusivity or an “anticompetitive scheme rife with new junk fees on downloads and new Apple taxes on payments they don’t process.”

The Coalition for App Fairness, a lobby group backed by Epic, Spotify and Match Group, was quick to support one of its biggest backers. Executive director and former Republican spokesperson Rick Vanmeter said Apple had “no intention” to comply with the DMA. And added the move was a “shameless insult to the European Commission and the millions of European consumers they represent,” and urged officials to reject the move.

Despite Sweeney’s personal objection and that of his lobbyists, Epic Games has already said Fortnite – which was pulled from the Apple Store when Epic deliberately violated Apple’s Terms of Service – will return to iOS. The company said it would launch its own Epic Games Store for iOS in 2024, through which it would distribute its own titles. It added in the announcement tweet it would continue to “argue to the courts and regulators that Apple is breaking the law.”

But it’s not just Apple’s well-heeled rivals who feel the company is thumbing its nose at the EU with these changes. Andy Yen, the founder of privacy service Proton, told Engadget that Apple’s compliance with the DMA is “done in bad faith,” and that the iPhone maker is “fighting tooth and nail to maintain its profits and monopoly." Yen added that the “strings attached to Apple’s new policies mean that in practice it will be impossible for developers to benefit from them.” And that the moves erode “the fundamental rights of users by giving Apple the ability to review apps downloaded outside the App Store.” He added that the “European Commission can’t let this blatant bending of the rules fly.”

But despite the chorus of calls demanding the European Commission to Do Something, the body hasn’t budged just yet. “We take note of Apple’s announcements ahead of the compliance deadline,” a commission spokesperson told Engadget “We do not comment on these announcements.” The spokesperson added they “strongly encourage designated gatekeepers to test their proposals with third parties.” And that these comments were “without prejudice to the Commission’s own assessment of these proposals.”

At the time of writing, there has not yet been a comment from any high-profile EU figures about the matter. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Margrethe Vestager, who handles technology and competition matters, have been active on social media but not about this topic. Similarly, we are waiting to hear back from Deezer, who have both previously urged the European Union to act. Not to mention that, before Apple’s announcement, Spotify published its own announcement saying it will offer app downloads directly from its site.

Update, January 26 16:19 ET: Spotify has now shared its statement saying that Apple's proposals are a "total farce." It adds that the plan for alternative app stores is an "undesirable alternative to the status quo" which will punish successful developers for "their success."

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2024-01-26 21:22:57Z
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