As Epic case begins, senior Google engineer undermines one of Apple’s arguments
On the day that the Apple/Epic case begins, a senior Google engineer has used a blog post to undermine a key part of the Cupertino company’s antitrust defense.
Apple denies that the iOS App Store amounts to a monopoly, for two reasons. First, it says that developers can create apps for other platforms, like Android and games consoles. Second, it argues that those who want to reach iPhone users can simply create web apps. It is this latter claim that has come under fire …
Expand Expanding Close
[Update: Photos] Google releases on iOS resume in earnest with Gmail, Search, Maps
At the start of last month, Google started to release new iOS versions of the YouTube family of applications following a long, unspecified pause. Gmail, Google Calendar, Docs, and other apps were updated today in a seeming return to normal for iPhone and iPad owners.
Expand Expanding CloseComment: Google’s copy of Apple’s 15% commission is actually a fairer version
Google has copied Apple’s 15% commission level for smaller developers in the App Store, offering almost exactly the same deal in the Play Store.
However, the way Google has done it is actually fairer, and is how Apple should have implemented the program in the first place …
Expand Expanding CloseDuckDuckGo uses App Store privacy labels to call out Google for ‘spying’ on users
Google is slowly updating its many iOS applications with App Store privacy labels, detailing the type of data it collects from users. The Google and Chrome applications were recently updated with these new labels, and DuckDuckGo is already using them to its advantage.
Expand Expanding Close77% of tech employees think Apple, Amazon, Google, and Facebook have too much power
A survey of 1,500 tech employees found that 77% of them think that Apple, Amazon, Google, and Facebook have too much power. Only 8% disagreed.
Tech workers were also asked about a wide range of other tech issues, including working with law enforcement, China, and legislating AI…
Expand Expanding CloseAustralia to investigate the impact of Apple and Google’s default search engine deal
The Australian Competition & Consumer Commission wants to know the impact of Google being the predominant web search service on most devices, including on the iPhone and Safari browser. The press release sent today is seeking submissions from consumers and industry participants about choice screens.
Expand Expanding CloseUK judge rules against Epic in bid to sue Apple despite mixed Google decision
Epic’s legal battle with Apple has hit a roadblock in the UK. Despite a mixed ruling on Epic’s right to sue Google, Justice Roth has ruled that a lawsuit against Apple doesn’t reach the UK court’s jurisdiction.
Expand Expanding CloseApple and Google welcome Biden’s executive orders on immigration
Apple and Google have both welcomed two executive orders on immigration signed by President Biden on his first day in office.
Biden wasted no time yesterday in getting down to work, signing no fewer than 17 executive orders. Many of these reversed decisions taken by Trump during his time in office, two of them concerning immigration …
Expand Expanding CloseComment: Google’s scattered approach to App Store Privacy Labels leaves users in the dark
Two weeks ago, a report from Fast Company highlighted that Google had suspiciously not updated the vast majority of its iOS apps since December 7, a day before Apple required developers to provide a privacy report for every app available on the App Store. Following that report, Google quickly fired back and said it would start updating its iOS apps with the privacy labels as soon as that same week, the week of January 4.
Two weeks later, Google still hasn’t updated the vast majority of its iOS applications with these privacy labels, including its popular apps such as Gmail and YouTube. Even if Google has no mal-intent, this scattershot approach is leaving users puzzled and concerned.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle says it will update its iOS apps with privacy details beginning this week
Earlier today, it was reported that Google hasn’t updated any of its iOS apps since December 7, a day before Apple required developers to provide a privacy report for every app available on the App Store. However, Google has now said it will update its iOS apps with privacy details beginning this week.
Expand Expanding CloseReport speculates that Google hasn’t updated its iOS apps in weeks to avoid providing privacy details
Apple officially rolled out its new App Privacy labels on the App Store last month, requiring developers to provide detailed privacy information about what data is collected from users. Interestingly, Fast Company has spotted that Google has not updated any of its iOS applications since the new App Privacy details became mandatory.
Update: Google says it will add these privacy labels as soon as this week.
Expand Expanding CloseApple is holding Google in check when it comes to web privacy
Business Insider has an interesting look at the battle for web privacy — and how Apple is effectively keeping Google’s data-grabbing ambitions in check across the web as a whole.
New web standards are agreed by the World Wide Web Consortium, also known as the W3C. In theory, each member organization gets one vote, but the site’s Shona Ghosh argues that the reality is somewhat different…
Expand Expanding Close
Bummed free unlimited storage is ending? Here’s how to export Google Photos to iCloud Photos
After launching in 2015 with free unlimited storage and marketing the service around that key feature, Google Photos has become a popular option even for Apple users. However, that’s all changing as the company announced that the free unlimited storage is ending come 2021. Read on for how to export Google Photos to iCloud Photos.
Expand Expanding CloseApple search engine efforts ‘stepping up’ as Google deal under threat – FT
Speculation about plans for an Apple search engine to compete with Google has been around for many years now, ever since the company was first seen to be using its own web crawler back in 2014. Apple confirmed the existence of the Applebot crawler in 2015.
A report in the Financial Times claims that Apple is now ‘stepping up’ efforts to create its own search engine as its lucrative deal with Google comes under threat …
Expand Expanding CloseRoundup: Google preempts iPhone 12 with new 5G-enabled Pixel 5 and 4a, redesigned Chromecast, more
Google today held a virtual event to announce its newest products, including Pixel 5 and 4a with 5G network support, a redesigned Chromecast with Google TV, a Nest Audio speaker, changes to the Android TV, and more. Read on as we highlight Google’s main announcements to keep you updated on the latest tech news.
Expand Expanding CloseNew CDC criteria points to Apple and Google contact tracing system as a ‘preferred’ choice
The CDC has shared a new document today that covers some of the minimum as well as preferred criteria for digital contact tracing apps. No surprise here but Apple and Google’s exposure notification system lines up with many of the “preferred” criteria elements and looks like it will offer a good choice for local health authorities as they develop apps and start to release them this month.
iPhone and Android COVID-19 contact tracing FAQ: What govt. sees, where data is stored, more
Apple and Google announced their partnership two weeks ago to develop contract-tracing via Bluetooth in iOS and Android. Last week we shared details about how it will work and roll out, and today we’ve got answers to frequently asked questions about COVID-19 contact tracing for iOS and Android as well as updates on the Bluetooth and cryptography specifications.
Expand
Expanding
Close
First version of Apple/Google contact tracing API will be available on April 28
Tim Cook held talks with European Commissioner Thierry Breton yesterday regarding the upcoming contact tracing frameworks, that Apple and Google are jointly collaborating on. The companies announced a privacy-preserving API that allows devices to be notified when another user’s device who reports positive for COVID-19 was in close proximity, based on Bluetooth, without sharing the identities of said user.
However, some governments want more data like location information and user identification. Breton said that tech companies should do everything possible to develop solutions for the national use cases, but did not mention specific cases. As reported by iGeneration, Cook also announced a new date for the rollout of the contact tracing API.
Comment: Apple really needs to spell out the contact tracing privacy features
If there’s one thing that’s become abundantly clear since Apple and Google’s API partnership, it’s that the coronavirus contact tracing privacy protections need to be spelled out in terms that non-technical people (even POTUS) can understand.
The two companies have gone to pains to explain that privacy was top priority in the design of the application programming interface, but mainstream media reports and conversations with non-techy friends have made it obvious that many don’t understand why apps that use this can be trusted …
iPhone and Android COVID-19 contact-tracing: Public health authority apps only, can be disabled by region, multiple iOS updates required
Last week Apple and Google announced a group effort to introduce a single contact-tracing system that works with both iOS and Android. The development is the latest in an ongoing effort to stop the spread of COVID-19 and save lives.
The concept is simple — at least as far as contact-tracing systems go. iPhones already use Bluetooth for all sorts of features like AirDrop and streaming music to AirPods. Starting in mid-May, Bluetooth will also be used as a tool to help detect exposure to COVID-19 before symptoms are even present.
Here’s how Apple and Google’s COVID-19 contact tracing API could be implemented to help reopen society
Apple and Google announced a collaboration to release a COVID-19 contact tracing API at the end of last week. It will enable health departments around the country to release apps to track and contain the pandemic but there are still privacy and security concerns even though Apple and Google have described how the approach will work anonymously via Bluetooth as well as questions about how it will all roll out to users. Here are a couple of ways we could see health departments across the US implement Apple and Google’s contact tracing API in iOS and Android apps to move us closer to reopening society (or at least portions of it).
Apple-Google coronavirus API sees weakened adoption plan and criticisms in UK
The UK’s National Health Service has announced plans to adopt the Apple-Google coronavirus API jointly announced last week, but in a weakened form.
Even without the UK’s planned compromise, the idea of this type of contact tracing has come under criticism from a University of Cambridge computing professor …
Europe says it may need to take tougher antitrust action against tech giants
The European Commission has indicated that it may have to take far tougher antitrust action against tech giants, as fining them and giving them time to make changes may not be adequate…
Amazon and Google smart speakers can eavesdrop and phish owners; HomePod safe
We’ve known since the spring of last year that Amazon Alexa and Google Home smart speakers can eavesdrop on owners, and even phish them via voice. However, new research shows that new malicious apps with these capabilities continue to be approved by both companies.
The two vulnerabilities, demonstrated in videos below, occur because both companies make their speakers smarter by allowing third-party developers to create apps or “skills” for them. Apple’s HomePod is safe because the company doesn’t allow this type of third-party access…