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Showing content with the highest reputation on 17/08/20 in Posts

  1. Well that's a pretty bad take. So everyone should just roll over and go along with whatever crap Apple, Google, or Microsoft decides to put in there because "them's the rules"? That's ridiculous. Additionally, they deliberately broke the rules in order to start this ****-show. It's not like they're acting surprised, which makes your comment even weirder. EDIT: It's very weird to me how hard people are defending Apple here. One multi-billion dollar company is standing up to another multi-billion dollar company in a way that the small devs can't, in a move that may end up being profitable for those small devs. And people are.... Upset about that? I guess? Or something?
    10 points
  2. Good for Epic, someone needs go fight Apple's atrocious business practises, and I hope other devs join in. Apple doesn't exactly have a history of losing a lot of court cases, but with enough support they may be forced to ease restrictions on alternate ways to install apps and their literal robbing the customers. Apple claiming they're right because it's part of their contract is like slave owners denying human rights because they own slaves 'according to contract'. Just because it's on paper doesn't mean it's right. They'd be more successful were this EU where courts actually support consumer interests instead of big corporations.
    8 points
  3. Break the rules and cry when you get punished.
    7 points
  4. I'm still astonished how many people will actually defend Apple in this case...
    5 points
  5. Before you continue on deflection with whataboutisms, please tell us more on how they mitigated it, links would be fantastic.
    4 points
  6. Oh no, no more Fortnite on phones. How people are gonna live?
    3 points
  7. That's just a blatant lie. In case of slavery, there's no alternative, in case of Apple - there are other platform. Oh wait, Google has banned them as well because Epic is violating the contract it has signed. In the android world at least you can use other app stores to get fortnite. As for ios forget it apple doesn't allow that.
    3 points
  8. Apple's independent repair program now covers Mac computers

    "independent"... sure... then send Rossmann your schematics you still keep DMCAing
    3 points
  9. Can I have additional sources on what the mitigations were?
    3 points
  10. That is utter nonsense. Australian media is dominated by the Murdoch empire and Conservative voices are everywhere.
    3 points
  11. we are living in THE FUTURE
    3 points
  12. SpywareBlaster 6.0

    Looks like it came from 2002.
    3 points
  13. Google claims that music id works only locally and doesn't send anything to the cloud. And you can turn that off if you want to. How does it recognize songs which are not on my device if it sends nothing to the cloud? Not possible. It is possible. Pixel Ambient Services uses a locally stored database to check the music hashes against, and it even works offline. It's really cool. The confusion is that you're thinking it can identify any song ever made ala Shazam, but that is not the case. This feature on the Pixel only works with popular music that's been preloaded in that local database. Last year they improved this somewhat for the original Pixel 4, so that music that can't be identified is anonymously tracked to improve the database of what's popular in what regions. See: https://www.androidpolice.com/...ts-better-with-the-pixel-4/ I assume they were only using Google Play Music downloads and streams stats to generate the info before.
    3 points
  14. Seriously? What if you don't like the rules of the country you live in? What if there is a new law that forces all your messages to pass via the govt for scrutiny. Accept it? Their country, their rules right? Accept it or immigrate? Oh wait, what did you say? You can't compare democracies with authoritarian App stores controlled by private companies? So, by that logic App Stores are authoritarian regimes, aren't they? Shouldn't people in authoritarian regimes fight the establishment? When App Stores get revenues more than the GDP of entire nations, I think its fair to compare App Stores to countries, especially when they run the same way. wow...talk about comparing apples to coconuts.... One are basic privacy rules and rights... The other is companies doing business with each other. YOU do not have to buy an iPhone. Epic does NOT HAVE TO list their apps on the Apple app store. Epic list the app because they want access to a successful company and THEIR network and well built infrastructure/market. We could argue that 30% fees are nuts, and on that we could have a good discussion about, however, trying to validate what Epic is doing and compare it somehow with civil liberties and or rights, is down right silly. I hate apple as much as the next person, i dont like their computers, dont like how close their phones are, and or how restrictive their store is...So what did i do? I bought a freaking Android! A good'le Samsung S10. bah...you wont hear reason, just like arguing about political stuff....too far gone to the right or to the left. Wow, you jump to a lot of conclusion about me based on a single post. You must be fun. It is not about me the consumer. I can switch to Android in a heartbeat. Its about Epic the developer which has nowhere else to go in order to cater to the iOS users. All I just wanted to say is that developers should voice their concerns about App Stores the same way people voice their concerns about the government. If you can't comprehend that, then I can't help you.
    2 points
  15. Maybe Epic should be just as pedantic, and turn off the ability to use their engine on all Apple platforms. If Apple is going to be predatory and do illegal crap, Epic might as well join along. PS - Make no mistake, I have NO love for Epic, and they often are just as predatory and horrible as Apple or Google. The only 'good' thing is the attention Epic is shining on what Apple and Google does to everyone.
    2 points
  16. You would think these companies would calculate the monetary gain of being in the App Store and paying the %30 vs not being on iOS at all. I suspect they will be out a lot more money if they get evicted vs just paying their landlord.
    2 points
  17. Seriously? What if you don't like the rules of the country you live in? What if there is a new law that forces all your messages to pass via the govt for scrutiny. Accept it? Their country, their rules right? Accept it or immigrate? Oh wait, what did you say? You can't compare democracies with authoritarian App stores controlled by private companies? So, by that logic App Stores are authoritarian regimes, aren't they? Shouldn't people in authoritarian regimes fight the establishment? When App Stores get revenues more than the GDP of entire nations, I think its fair to compare App Stores to countries, especially when they run the same way. wow...talk about comparing apples to coconuts.... One are basic privacy rules and rights... The other is companies doing business with each other. YOU do not have to buy an iPhone. Epic does NOT HAVE TO list their apps on the Apple app store. Epic list the app because they want access to a successful company and THEIR network and well built infrastructure/market. We could argue that 30% fees are nuts, and on that we could have a good discussion about, however, trying to validate what Epic is doing and compare it somehow with civil liberties and or rights, is down right silly. I hate apple as much as the next person, i dont like their computers, dont like how close their phones are, and or how restrictive their store is...So what did i do? I bought a freaking Android! A good'le Samsung S10. bah...you wont hear reason, just like arguing about political stuff....too far gone to the right or to the left.
    2 points
  18. Well that's a pretty bad take. So everyone should just roll over and go along with whatever crap Apple, Google, or Microsoft decides to put in there because "them's the rules"? That's ridiculous. Additionally, they deliberately broke the rules in order to start this ****-show. It's not like they're acting surprised, which makes your comment even weirder. The Tweet ...read as if they were surprised. I guess we're both reading it differently. All I'm saying is they knew exactly what they were doing. They're starting this on purpose. And I'm all for it. At worst it does nothing, at best it benefits small devs with no power. Of course I want Apple to lose and/or change things. Not because I give a single crap about Epic, but because it benefits everyone else.
    2 points
  19. Seriously? What if you don't like the rules of the country you live in? What if there is a new law that forces all your messages to pass via the govt for scrutiny. Accept it? Their country, their rules right? Accept it or immigrate? Oh wait, what did you say? You can't compare democracies with authoritarian App stores controlled by private companies? So, by that logic App Stores are authoritarian regimes, aren't they? Shouldn't people in authoritarian regimes fight the establishment? When App Stores get revenues more than the GDP of entire nations, I think its fair to compare App Stores to countries, especially when they run the same way.
    2 points
  20. Indeed. What is the Apple's value in this case? An operating system, a hardware platform, a software development platform, a content distribution platform, a payment processing platform, user protection and support for all this stuff - pffft, that costs nothing of course, why even bother. aka A Monopolistic platform of hardware and software. iPhones are the only phones people can use? If so, you might be right.
    2 points
  21. Indeed. What is the Apple's value in this case? An operating system, a hardware platform, a software development platform, a content distribution platform, a payment processing platform, user protection and support for all this stuff - pffft, that costs nothing of course, why even bother. aka A Monopolistic platform of hardware and software.
    2 points
  22. Makes sense, you've started a legal suit, you ask the court to stop any retaliation, sounds like common practice. Besides, those developer accounts aren't free, last I checked. I really don't agree with the idea that Apple should take a 30% cut of all IAP and Subs, it's like the mob making you pay for "protection". Apple gets it's dev account money, and any money from the initial sale. You could say "then every app would just be free", then Apple changes to a different model that makes more sense.
    2 points
  23. Indeed. What is the Apple's value in this case? An operating system, a hardware platform, a software development platform, a content distribution platform, a payment processing platform, user protection and support for all this stuff - pffft, that costs nothing of course, why even bother.
    2 points
  24. Well that's a pretty bad take. So everyone should just roll over and go along with whatever crap Apple, Google, or Microsoft decides to put in there because "them's the rules"? That's ridiculous. Additionally, they deliberately broke the rules in order to start this ****-show. It's not like they're acting surprised, which makes your comment even weirder. The Tweet ...read as if they were surprised.
    2 points
  25. Microsoft announces release times for Flight Simulator, varies by region

    Just so you all know - I'm the lonesome person sitting here in Antarctica waiting for the game.
    2 points
  26. Monster Energy may have leaked the price of the Xbox Series X

    I am siding with $599.99 with free game. $500 is the most logical price and companies always tend to price their products a delta above the 'logical' price.
    2 points
  27. This issue was mitigated prior to this fix to the OS itself - which is probably why the code wasn't a priority. There were ways to still trigger this signing flaw, but it required bypassing additional security checks that made using this harder than just asking the user to grant permission. PS Before there are 50 comments about Microsoft or Windows security or flaws, do a search of the Linux, Android, OS X and iOS flaws from just the last couple of weeks. Everyone ######s up, and new ways to attack systems get invented all the time. However, I will continue to remind people that Android and iOS are horrible OS models with inherently bad security. BTW - Why hasn't Neowin ran anything about the latest security issues with Android and iOS, as it does affect the readers? There have been some major issues that users might want to be aware to take some precautions.
    2 points
  28. Please Advice - Windows 7 or 10?

    Depending on what you do (especially if you don't need many Windows specific programs and keep your usage more simple), Linux might be a solid alternative. Linux Mint is probably the safest all around choice for someone coming from Windows to Linux. Yeah, it's not really a option at this point if someone is using Windows since Windows 10 is the standard when it comes to Windows OS's right now, especially after Microsoft dropped Windows 7 support in Jan 2020. so basically it's either Windows 10, or look for Linux alternatives.
    2 points
  29. You should review it while playing games. that's that whole point of this phone.
    2 points
  30. ASTRA32 v3.80

    Total clone of HWiNFO. Disappointing. Right down to the icon. How stupid do they think people are? I think the logo is different. I believe it's this article's author who used the HWiNFO icon for the article.
    2 points
  31. At $1,399, Microsoft's Surface Duo is tragically overpriced

    no nfc, no wireless, older processor and 6 gb ram? overpriced too, well no its dead on arrival.
    2 points
  32. Does MS enjoy creating products that people will never by? How about ones that’ll never produce a profit in return? Did they think they’d be able to ride on the Fold’s coattails? The only hardware outside Xbox line in almost two decades that they’ve had mild success with is the traditional Surface. It’s just a joke at this point. Yet another DOA product.
    2 points
  33. And Apple issued an extremely clear solution. Address the regressions, re-submit, and the account stays. Hell, Epic could pull fortnite from the App Store *immediately* after a compliant version is approved. Heh, I would have a problem too if Apple pulled an app for a violation (understandable) and THEN canceled the account. That’s not how any of this is supposed to work.
    1 point
  34. Seriously? What if you don't like the rules of the country you live in? What if there is a new law that forces all your messages to pass via the govt for scrutiny. Accept it? Their country, their rules right? Accept it or immigrate? Oh wait, what did you say? You can't compare democracies with authoritarian App stores controlled by private companies? So, by that logic App Stores are authoritarian regimes, aren't they? Shouldn't people in authoritarian regimes fight the establishment? When App Stores get revenues more than the GDP of entire nations, I think its fair to compare App Stores to countries, especially when they run the same way. wow...talk about comparing apples to coconuts.... One are basic privacy rules and rights... The other is companies doing business with each other. YOU do not have to buy an iPhone. Epic does NOT HAVE TO list their apps on the Apple app store. Epic list the app because they want access to a successful company and THEIR network and well built infrastructure/market. We could argue that 30% fees are nuts, and on that we could have a good discussion about, however, trying to validate what Epic is doing and compare it somehow with civil liberties and or rights, is down right silly. I hate apple as much as the next person, i dont like their computers, dont like how close their phones are, and or how restrictive their store is...So what did i do? I bought a freaking Android! A good'le Samsung S10. bah...you wont hear reason, just like arguing about political stuff....too far gone to the right or to the left. Wow, you jump to a lot of conclusion about me based on a single post. You must be fun. It is not about me the consumer. I can switch to Android in a heartbeat. Its about Epic the developer which has nowhere else to go in order to cater to the iOS users. All I just wanted to say is that developers should voice their concerns about App Stores the same way people voice their concerns about the government. If you can't comprehend that, then I can't help you. Again, you are arguing about two different things, and more importantly two different approaches. A. Voicing your concern about unfair practices is welcomed...indeed needed. B. Epic is NOT going about this the right way, and everything coming their way as far as punishment (being removed from app stores) is the right thing to happen. C. Apple and Google should win their lawsuits easily. D. If Epic wanted to argue and prove a point about "unfair" practices by Google/Apple, they should have pull together other developers, pull their apps from their store, and get help from the public. Hell i would have joined their cause! E. There is always a right way and a wrong way...Epic here is WRONG. Simple.
    1 point
  35. Indeed. What is the Apple's value in this case? An operating system, a hardware platform, a software development platform, a content distribution platform, a payment processing platform, user protection and support for all this stuff - pffft, that costs nothing of course, why even bother. In this case, EPIC is ready to take care of its own software distribution, content distribution, payment processing, user distribution and support. It is also ready to take responsibility of whatever happens due to its software and services. Why not lower the 30%? Why still use all of Apple's services? Because that's the limitation of the platform. Don't like it - welcome to switch to another one. Don't like the other one? Welcome to develop your own. What limitation? Can you be more specific? Remember, people were able to buy V Bucks via both App Store and via EPIC before Fortnite got booted. Retailers and online marketplaces are all able to do everything without paying Apple anything. There is no limitation other than Apple's greed here. Develop your own? Haha, ask Microsoft about that. Even if they are able to develop their own, do you think Apple and Google will just sit around and not do anything about it?
    1 point
  36. I'm certainly no fan of Apple and its walled garden but it is what it is. I fail to understand why there should be options other than take the terms as given or leave. There are open platforms, like Windows, that Epic can go and monetize all they want. There are two mobile platforms: iOS (and iPadOS) and Android. Both mobile platforms offer the exact same terms with one exception: Google allows users to sideload apps, if they can figure it out. You are saying that, as a developer, your choice is to somehow gain a reasonable marketshare via sideloading exclusively on Android or give up 30% of your digital revenue to Apple / Google. For reference, Amazon -- easily in the top 3 largest software companies -- has not successfully done it. That is not a reasonable choice nor is it the original promise of either platform. Both platforms, once app stores appeared on them, enjoyed open competition (excepting where Apple got greedy and banned certain competitive apps; Google may have done so too, but not that I know of). It was only after Apple introduced their in-app purchasing framework, then forced developers to use it, that they both adapted to forcing a 30% cut of digital purchases. They did the same with in-app subscriptions. Do not forget that Apple and Google are free to come up with other terms as time goes on, regardless of how fair they may be, and they are both apparently likely to enforce them. Getting 15%+ for being a glorified credit card processor is egregious _at best_. Developers pay a nominal fee to host software on the app stores, so it's not a matter of that being free either. Apple and Google can, if they choose, increase those fees, particularly to enable certain other access, like being able to change the in-app purchasing system (and I'd be okay with that!).
    1 point
  37. Well that's a pretty bad take. So everyone should just roll over and go along with whatever crap Apple, Google, or Microsoft decides to put in there because "them's the rules"? That's ridiculous. Additionally, they deliberately broke the rules in order to start this ****-show. It's not like they're acting surprised, which makes your comment even weirder. EDIT: It's very weird to me how hard people are defending Apple here. One multi-billion dollar company is standing up to another multi-billion dollar company in a way that the small devs can't, in a move that may end up being profitable for those small devs. And people are.... Upset about that? I guess? Or something? If you have a problem with the way Apple (and Google in this case) do business... violating their agreements is a sure fire way for for them to remove developer access for them, as well, when signing up for said access, they agreed to not do what they did. If a company/entity has a problem with an agreement, there are legal avenues that can be pursued, opposed to acting like a teen who got their first paycheck and having a temper tantrum about taxes getting taken out of it. So according to you, people should never complain about taxes because they are already paying taxes. So, has your country never undergone a tax reform? Must be a utopia if not. I certainly don't skip filing my taxes or cheat the system... I'd vote people in on a platform that I agree with in regards to how taxes are allocated. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. You win some. You lose some. But I just don't decide to toss the rules out the window because I don't agree with them. Complain all you want, but if you don't file or are sketchy on taxes, prepare for fines/legal issues/audits. Get real. Epic not only complained, they broke the rules. There are plenty of legal avenues they could of taken prior to breaking their agreement, would they have won? Maybe, maybe not. If they don't like having their funds cut in the app, don't have micro transactions process in the app. (i.e a user has to add funds to a wallet on browser). And I don't know of any fortenight players that exclusively play on their phone.
    1 point
  38. That's just a blatant lie. In case of slavery, there's no alternative, in case of Apple - there are other platform. Oh wait, Google has banned them as well because Epic is violating the contract it has signed. Google is a little less than Apple in this area, but not by much. Blocking Epic from using the tools in addition to the store is unnecessary and petty. They cannot deploy the app, so Apple is just trying to hurt them and delay anything should they drop their lawsuit in order to dissuade anyone else from joining the fight. Apple and Google are behaving like a cartel as a duopoly that agreed on taking a 30% cut of in-app purchases that must be used (not to mention app store purchases and 15% for subscriptions). For Apple, they are forcing the only gateway onto iOS / iPadOS (and, if they get their way, likely macOS) devices into that funnel. For Google, there's at least the opportunity to sideload, but that's not a realistic mechanism. Even Amazon has failed to get a toehold into the market and they're one of the largest software companies in the world. A lot of people like to imply that the forcing function is no different than Best Buy or Walmart, but they're using the wrong metaphor. Retailers like Best Buy sell the iPhone. Does Best Buy deserve a cut of every app purchase made on the iPhone? Of course not. Apple (and Google) deserves a cut of any money paid through their system. But they do not deserve to force app developers into their system just to get that [unreasonably high] cut when the developers reasonably do not need it. Apple and Google reasonably force untrustworthy in-app purchases into the Apple / Google ecosystem where the _un_reasonably do not return 30% even for returns (at least in Apple's case). However, they have no reasonable right to say that you have to give them 30% of any digital good that you sell if you have a trustworthy purchasing system, like Amazon clearly has. Apple forced Amazon to either sell digital goods with a 30% going to Apple -- potentially larger than their Amazon's own profit margin in some cases -- or to stop selling digital goods altogether after Apple executives saw a Kindle ad showing the ability to switch between Android and iOS. That's not only anti-competitive -- they did it because they wanted to force users into iBooks -- but it only makes sense for a monopoly to pull such a move. Someone unafraid of competition would not prevent safe apps from doing this. (And to be clear, I am only using Amazon as an example here; I am not trying to say that Amazon should be allowed, but screw everyone else) Apple and Google should be forced to make the purchase system pluggable and developers should be able to pay a fee to put their own processor into it for their own apps. The fee should be large enough to deter quick scams, but small enough to not hurt small developers. Probably something on the order of $10,000. That's more than a taste than Apple deserves, while still funneling small players into their ecosystem to allow it to be safe. Apple in particular should be forced to be less anti-competitive. I love everything that Apple is doing with macOS on ARM, but I do not believe for a second they're doing it for anything except vendor lock-in. From Project xCloud to in-app payments, they completely block competition instead of beating competition. The only exception to that rule is that they make generally exceptional hardware (typing this via Sidecar on a 12" iPad Pro connected to my MacBook Pro, which I unlocked with my Apple Watch). Critically, it is Apple's fault that they encouraged app developers to release free apps and use in-app purchases to generate extra income. They could have encouraged an ecosystem where users pay for the app upfront and rarely get in-app purchases, but they wanted in-app purchases to make much more money and to do the same with subscriptions. It was a classically shortsighted move from a corporation interested in its market cap: they should have never been allowed to dictate that they get 30% of anything sold on the platform just because you used an app that you could not install any way except their app store.
    1 point
  39. Play stupid games win stupid prizes. Epic deliberately got themselves booted from the App Store now want to get legal action to stop Apple taking ‘adverse action’.... lol These guys are crazy. Bin them off and be done with it.
    1 point
  40. Get the offline installer https://www.neowin.net/news/mi...84052259-offline-installer" rel="">https://www.neowin.net/news/mi...-84052259-offline-installer Well yeah, I know I can manually install it. That's not what I'm talking about... I'm talking about the rollout of the windows update that installs it automatically. I'm not waiting on it because I need it; it's more a curiosity on how long it'll take to roll out to everyone at this point, so I decided to just watch and let it happen instead of manually installing it. I just find it odd that it only installed on a single one so far. Hence my comment...
    1 point
  41. At least give us all of the Edge Legacy features. And poor Internet Explorer 11 ... end of an era. It was the most amazing touch browser in Windows 8.1. It also is the only browser to support some of the features I still use ( e.g. Research Bar of Microsoft Office 2003 ).
    1 point
  42. Google criticizes Australia for new code about news media bargaining [Update]

    Google already pays news source for using their content, which it says is "millions of dollars per year and [...] billions of free clicks". The issue here is that now Google will have to bargain and reach a deal with news media within 90 days, with both sides making their respective offers. If a deal is not reached, someone else will force either party to accept a deal within 90 days. This, Google claims, can lead to unfair deals being struck. The security issue, I more or less agree, is just something that Google is mentioning to gain the support of the common public. The security aspect is likely something that can be protected as a part of the deal, yeah.
    1 point
  43. Please Advice - Windows 7 or 10?

    That is a very old and soon to be dead system. If you don't mind me asking what is your budget for repairs/upgrades? Like an old car you have to ask yourself is it worth it to upgrade a depreciated asset where other things are breaking -eg. Battery, fans, screen light etc. If your budget is say $400 and a new unit is $600 I would just buy new. Newer portables are lighter, come with super fast SSD/nvme flash storage with 15 seconds, 9 hour battery life, and are much faster, and are thinner and lighter. Storage speed and power usage has drastically improved for Intel CPUs and Windows 10 compared to 7. Also newer ddr 4 ram uses less power to than your ddr 3 which also improved battery life.
    1 point
  44. "White power" button? What does that do?
    1 point
  45. That one caught my eye too, but I guess what they mean is that there's nothing special about it, it's much like what you see on other platforms. Or something
    1 point
  46. 1 point
  47. At $1,399, Microsoft's Surface Duo is tragically overpriced

    I loved Windows Phone. My Lumias ran circles around my friends' and coworkers' phones back in the day.
    1 point
  48. At $1,399, Microsoft's Surface Duo is tragically overpriced

    The argument is the whole package, including NFC, the camera, and yes, the processor. At least the 765 comes with 5G.
    1 point
  49. First time in my life, I purchased an iPhone!

    I'd consider the move but I write my own android apps that I sideload. I don't have a problem learning to code for Apple, its that the cost of doing so is just to prohibitive. Dev license, mac to build plus additional tools to side load all adds up.
    1 point
  50. Issue regarding enhanced editor buttons with Orion Darkside skin

    I have been made aware by a forum member that my response above could be misconstrued as offensive or lacking in respect. I apologise to Steven; it was a poor attempt at random humor and nothing negative was intended by it.
    1 point