We've eschewed any Valentine's theming this year, but Edwin put this in our news queue last night as a sort of dare for our evening shift, and let the record show I am less of a coward than Graham Smith. The Cosmic Wheel Sisterhood, a visual novel Tarot-themed card game from perennial (perhaps perineal, in this case) favourites Deconstructeam, was praised by Edwin in his review, and I was going to use the same strapline for this news post had he not got there first. Because now, in time for the season of romance, they've teamed up with sex toy purveyors Uberrime to create a frankly prohibitively massive dildo as an official tie-in for the game, which can be won in a free competition by three lucky people living in either the UK, EU, US or Canada (as in, they each win their own dildo; they don't have to time share).
Apple unveils major overhaul for iPhone users in EU - Sideloading, alternative app stores, and more
27.01.2024 - 07:43 / tech.hindustantimes.com
Apple is set to introduce substantial changes to its ecosystem in the European Union, scheduled to roll out by March 6. One of the notable modifications is to allow iPhone users to sideload apps from third-party stores, a departure from Steve Jobs' original stance due to security concerns. The shift is part of iOS 17.4, primarily targeting EU countries, and aims to enhance user flexibility while maintaining security standards.
App developers within the EU now have the option to provide alternative app stores, adhering to Apple's criteria for customer experience, fraud prevention, and customer support. A revised fee structure accompanies this change, allowing any developer to create an app marketplace. The alterations also extend to payment options, eliminating the mandatory use of in-app purchases. Developers can integrate alternative payment methods within their apps or redirect users to external websites for transactions, Macrumors reported.
Apps distributed through alternative stores in EU countries will undergo a notarization process similar to that for Mac apps. However, some features such as Screen Time, refunds, and in-app purchases won't be applicable to these apps. NFC payments will be directly available in apps, enabling third-party payment services and banks to offer tap-to-pay solutions within the European Economic Area.
Additionally, EU users gain the ability to select a default browser from popular options like Firefox, Opera, Chrome, Brave, and Microsoft Edge. Apple also opens doors for iOS app developers in the EU to request additional interoperability with iPhone hardware and software features, subject to case-by-case evaluation. The App Store changes extend beyond the region, with Apple providing developers worldwide with over 50 new analytics reports through the App Store Connect API.
Apple emphasises the limitations of these changes to the EU in a support document, citing concerns about fraud, scams, and privacy threats. Meanwhile, there are notable repercussions following the announcement of iOS 17.4. Apple's new terms introduce a Core Technology Fee, potentially posing financial challenges for freemium apps that experience rapid growth. While the first one million "first annual instals" per iOS account annually remain fee-free, subsequent installations may incur substantial charges, impacting popular apps like Spotify with large user bases. Apple's Core Technology Fee has prompted warnings of potential financial strain on certain app developers.
In short, Apple's forthcoming updates in the EU represent a significant shift in its approach to app distribution, payment methods, and user preferences, while also raising concerns about the financial implications for certain developers.
IPhone 16 leaks hint at larger screens, better battery life and AI capabilities; Know Apple is planning
As we advance into 2024, the launch date for Apple's iPhone 16 series nears. The iPhone maker introduced notable upgrades last year with its iPhone 15 series, bringing USB Type-C and Dynamic Island across all models. Even though the launch is months away, the latest leaks shed light on a few interesting updates that this year's iPhone 16 series is in line to receive.
Google Gemini lets users create images from text prompts; Know how it's done
Google's AI chatbot Bard has now been renamed Gemini, which matches the name of its new multimodal model. In the process Gemini itself has now received new capabilities for users to find all the required AI features in one place. With Google Gemini, users can now generate images with text prompts. Gemini, which is powered by Imagen 2 model, enables the tool to generate high-quality images that match the user's prompt. Just like any other AI image generation tool, Gemini also requires detailed prompts to generate AI images. Know how to use Google Gemini for AI image generation.
Apple iMessage, Microsoft Bing Dodge EU’s Big Tech Crackdown
Apple Inc.'s iMessage and Microsoft Corp.'s Bing search engine, Edge web browser and Advertising service will avoid strict new European Union rules reining in Big Tech platforms.
PlayStation Store: January 2024’s top downloads
It’s time to see which PS5, PS4, PS VR2, PS VR, and free-to-play games topped the download charts last month. New release blockbusters and vintage fan favorites are included in January’s PS5 list with Tekken 8 and Grand Theft Auto V both breaking the top five. The PS VR2 list saw Beat Saber rock and roll to the top of the list with the most downloads in both US and EU regions.
Rockstar unveils GTA Online's weekly discounts, offering players savings and thrills; check deadline
Rockstar Games has initiated a new weekly event in GTA Online, commencing today, February 8, 2024, in the bustling city of Los Santos. As part of this event, players worldwide are being treated to enticing discounts on various in-game purchases, extending until Valentine's Day on February 14, 2024. This promotional period presents an opportunity for players to make significant savings when acquiring new vehicles or investing in the lucrative Arcade business property.
Spotify says Apple's plan to comply with EU regulation 'farce'
Spotify said that Apple's new plan to comply with the European Union's Digital Markets Act (DMA) is “a complete and total farce.” From early March, developers will be able to offer alternative app stores on iPhones and opt out of using Apple's in-app payment system, which charges commissions of up to 30%, under the bloc's new rules.
5 things about AI you may have missed today: AI-enhanced resumes, ByteDance unveils StreamVoice, more
AI enhanced resumes gain favour as hiring managers embrace technology trends; ByteDance unveils StreamVoice: AI voice transformation raises fraud concerns; Netcore Cloud report: 7 in 10 CEOs set to invest in generative AI; Nasscom foundation launches fourth cohort at Hexart AI to skill students in emerging technologies- this and more in our daily roundup. Let us take a look.
EU hails 'change' as Apple App Store opens to competition
The European Union's digital enforcer celebrated on Friday the "change" underway in the tech world after Apple yielded to a new EU law by announcing it would allow alternative app stores on the iPhone for the first time.
IOS 17.4 will allow sideloading & third party app stores in EU – Epic Game Store incoming
Apple has announced that iOS and iPadOS 17.4 will introduce support for developer app sideloading and third party app stores in the EU, complying with the incoming Digital Markets Act (DMA). But there’s an awful lot of caveats to this, with the iPhone maker determined to keep as much control and make this as awkward, fussy, and costly as possible.
Apple is finally letting developers release game streaming services on the App Store
Apple has announced some big changes for the App Store ecosystem, with the company permitting developers to release video game streaming apps at long last.
Fortnite is Coming to iOS This Year in Europe
Epic Games has announced that Fortnite will be coming back to iOS devices. Taking to social media platform X (formally Twitter), the studio revealed that Fortnite will be available on iOS through the Epic Games Store later this year. This will only be the case for iOS users in the EU, however.