The FTC is preparing for a possible antitrust lawsuit against Facebook before the year ends, according to The Wall Street Journal and Bloomberg. If you’ll recall, the agency started looking into the social network’s purchase of smaller companies like Instagram and WhatsApp last year, shortly after it slapped Facebook with a $5 billion fine over its privacy practices related to the Cambridge Analytica scandal. While the FTC approved those acquisitions, it has the authority to revisit past transactions — in this case, its efforts were part of its investigation on the anticompetitive practices of the tech industry as a whole.
Back in July, lawmakers grilled Facebook chief Mark Zuckerberg on the company’s $1 billion Instagram acquisition during an antitrust hearing also attended by Google’s and Amazon’s CEOs. Several emails from the social network’s top execs were brought up, including one where they talked about having to “neutralize a potential competitor.” Zuckerberg also reportedly wrote in an email that Facebook “can likely always just buy any competitive startups,” though he said he didn’t remember writing the note.
Tempe Police Vehicular Crimes Unit is actively investigating the details of this incident that occurred on March 18th. We will provide updated information regarding the investigation once it is available. pic.twitter.com/2dVP72TziQ
The car’s software detected Herzberg more than five seconds before the crash but did not identify her as a pedestrian with a bike crossing the street away from a crosswalk. However the NTSB report went into depth saying that while the backup driver could have avoided the crash if they had been paying attention, it was “the last link in a long chain of actions and decisions made by an organization that unfortunately did not make safety the top priority.” That included Uber deactivating the Volvo SUV’s built-in automatic emergency braking system, which put all pressure on the backup driver to intervene in a situation where the self-driving rig failed.
The app has recently ramped up its outreach to influencers as it tries to expand its reach and build on its recent growth. Speaking today at TechCrunch Disrupt, Triller CEO Mike Lu said the company has begun to make deals with influencers, including the D’Amelio, though he didn’t share details of the arrangements. “Up until a month ago, we had never paid anyone to make a video,” Lu said.
Now the company is hoping its growing ranks of influencers will help the app expand its audience further. The app recently appointed Josh Richards, the 18-year-old TikTok star, its Chief Strategy Officer tasked with helping lure other social media celebrities. “Every day you’ll see some really big names,” Lu said of the company’s efforts to win over creators.
Launched in 2015, Triller looks a lot like TikTok at first glance. The app features two feeds with an endless stream of videos, and has slick editing controls for users who want to shoot their own clips. The LA-based company has made a name for itself with artists, thanks to its early focus on music videos, but also has influencer-friendly features and allows the app’s creators to monetize their content.
These features made Triller especially well-positioned to swoop in as questions mounted about TikTok’s future. (Lu also notes that Triller collects far less user data than TikTok.
It’s not just Gen-Z, either. Triller also made headlines when Donald Trump and Donald Trump Jr. joined the app amid the president’s threats to ban TikTok. While it’s not yet clear how their presence on the app has affected the platform, just the threat of a ban has benefitted the app significantly.
The app reached the number one spot in the US App Store the day after Trump said he wanted to ban the service. It also hit the top spot in India after TikTok was banned in the country. Triller app has been number one more than 80 countries this summer, Lu said. It’s been downloaded more than 250 million times around the world, the company told CNBC last month.
“It’s great to see that the world sees us as a natural successor to TikTok,” Lu said. “We’re definitely on a rocket ship… and we don’t see that slowing down any time soon.”
Still, Triller could see some of its recent momentum slow now that TikTok has reached a deal to remain in the US. TikTok stars who may have once been worried about having to restart their careers on another service will no longer need to worry about their audience disappearing overnight.
But if the company can continue to win over influencers with paid deals and monetization features, it could become even more of a threat to TikTok.
Some countries are also getting tweaks to its ride-sharing Carpool features, and everyone can appreciate the recently-added Live Map Save to App feature. So even if you’re working across multiple platforms, like in a desktop browser, you can pull up Waze, check real-time traffic data, save the route with associated information and it will immediately be available on your phone.
Last but not least, a Batman them is available from now until October 31st, with voice overs available from Batman (Kevin Conroy) or The Riddler (Wally Wingert) as well as associated icons.
Other hardware upgrades include a new S6 chip that Apple says is more power-efficient and charges 20 percent faster. The Series 6’s always-on display is 2.5 times brighter than the one on its predecessor and there’s now support for 5GHz WiFi networks. You’ll be able to buy the wearable in a variety of new case colors, including blue aluminum and Product RED.
Notably, the Series 6 won’t come with a bundled power adapter under the assumption that most people who plan to upgrade to the new wearable already have a couple of those lying around somewhere.
The Apple Watch Series 6 will start at $399 when it goes on sale on September 18th.
Apple Watch SE
Apple
Alongside the Watch Series 6, Apple unveiled a new, more affordable version of its popular fitness wearable. The Apple Watch SE includes many of the same features that you’ll find in its more expensive sibling, including heart rate and fitness tracking, as well as fall detection. The Watch SE features last year’s S5 chip, but it will come with a display that’s the same size as the Series 6’s screen. One thing it seems you won’t find on the Watch SE is the company’s ECG feature, which Apple debuted with the Series 4 in 2018. It also won’t include the Series 6’s new sensor for measuring your blood oxygen level. But with a $279 price tag, those are the type of ommissions you would expect when it comes to the more affordable version of a new device.
iPad Air
Apple
The iPad Air got a major makeover. To start, the tablet features a fresh iPad Pro-like design that Apple will offer in five different colors — including blue and green hues. It also includes a new 10.9-inch Liquid Retina IPS display with 2,360 by 1,640 resolution that includes Apple’s True Tone technology. Internally, the device features Apple’s new A14 chipset.
For unlocking the device, Apple has added a new fingerprint sensor that’s built into the top power button. Another welcome change is that the updated iPad Air supports the company’s second-generation Apple Pencil and recently released Magic Keyboard. It also makes the switch to USB-C. For photos, there’s a single 12-megapixel camera with an f/1.8 aperture lens. Apple has also redesigned the tablet’s speakers to provide stereo sound when you orient it horizontally.
Apple plans to release the iPad Air sometime in October. The 64GB model with WiFi-only connectivity will start at $599, while the LTE model will cost $729. You can upgrade both to include 256GB of internal storage for an additional $150.
iPad
Apple
Apple updated its entry-level iPad with a new processor and not much else. The 8th-generation tablet features the company’s A12 Bionic chip, which Apple introduced in 2018 with the iPhone XS. But at $329 to start, the good news here is that Apple’s most affordable iPad isn’t going up in price.
Fitness+
Apple
Apple is about to offer yet subscription service. This time, it’s a workout service dubbed Fitness+. Initially, it will include 10 different exercises, including yoga, cycling, strength and core workouts, that you’ll be able to follow along on your iPhone, iPad or Apple TV, with your Apple Watch tracking your progress. As you make your way through a session, you’ll see metrics like your heart rate, calories burned and pace on the corner of the interface. Of course, you’ll also see the progress you’re making toward closing your activity rings. Apple promises personalized class recommendations, and it will also offer instructional videos for beginners.
Fitness+ will cost $10 per month or $80 annually. New Apple Watch purchases will come with three months of the service for free. You can also get access to Fitness+ through one of the company’s new Apple One subscription bundles.
Apple One
Apple
Speaking of Apple One, Apple will now allow you to bundle its services together to save some money every month. It starts with an individual plan that brings together Apple Arcade, Apple Music, Apple TV+ and 50GB of iCloud storage for $14.95 per month. Families of up to six can access those same services and 200GB of iCloud storage for $19.95 per month. There’s also a Premier tier that will set you back $29.95 every month, but that also comes with access to Apple News+, Fitness+ and 2TB of iCloud storage.
iOS 14
Lastly, Apple announced it will release iOS 14 to the public tomorrow. Typically, major iOS updates have come out on the same day as the company’s latest iPhones — not so this year. Some of the more notable additions the software includes are new home screen widgets and a new way to organize all your apps with the App Library. The new software is available on the iPhone 6s and above.
Over the last couple of months, Psyonix has been explaining how various aspects of the free-to-play transition will work, including cross-platform progression. There’ll be an update for existing players tomorrow (September 16th) that will allow them to link the game to an Epic Games account. Once you’ve done so, you can access the Rocket League items you’ve unlocked across all platforms. Those who already own the game will also receive Legacy items tomorrow, and the update includes other additions and quality-of-life changes.
When Rocket League goes free-to-play next week, it’ll debut on the Epic Games Store. If you claim the game there by October 23rd, you’ll get a $10 coupon you can put towards any game or add-on in the store, as long as it costs at least $14.99. If you download Rocket League from the Epic Store, you’ll also get a couple of bonus cosmetic items when you fire it up for the first time.
It appears there’s a Fortnite-related in-game event in the works too. Psyonix said it’ll soon reveal more details about a Llama-Rama event, which’ll start soon after the free-to-play move.
During the 2018 midterms and this year’s primaries, Lyft offered free and discounted rides to help people get to the polls. It’s expanding on those efforts yet again for November’s general election. On election day, you can get 50 percent off one ride (up to $10) to a dropbox or polling location when you use the code 2020VOTE. Lyft’s bikes and scooters are eligible for the offer too.
The company is also working with several nonprofits to provide free and cheaper rides in communities where reliable and affordable transportation isn’t easy to come by. Its partners include More Than A Vote, which is providing ride access to arena polling locations in several cities, as well as Black Women’s Roundtable, the National Federation of the Blind and Student Veterans of America.
It’s September again, which means it’s time for another Apple event. But not iPhones this time. Today we’re getting a peek at new tablets and watches. Yes, that’s right, “watches” plural, because the company is releasing a budget-minded model alongside its flagship wearable. The exterior design never really changes much, so we need to look under the hood to see how these new Apple Watch devices measure up to each other as well against their rivals from Samsung. Of course, this is only a glimpse at their potential, and you’ll need to wait for our full reviews to see this year’s Apple Watch models put through their paces.
Somehow, the chaotic hivemind that is Twitch chat managed to takeoff, fly and land a plane in Microsoft’s Flight Simulator. The Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner took off from Košice International Airport in Slovakia, flew for about an hour, performed a barrel roll and landed back at the airport, Eurogamer reports. The flight was, impressively, piloted by dozens of people who were typing commands into the chat to control all of the Dreamliner’s functions.
Engadget
Rami Ismail, co-founder of Vlambeer, set up and hosted the stream, and he tracked some of the highs and lows of the flight. Highlights included the successful barrel roll and the moment of collective awe that happened when the plane broke through the clouds and caught a particularly beautiful scene.
Spotify didn’t specify which aspect of Apple’s event prompted this response, though one bit of news stands out as a likely candidate. The Apple One bundle announced today sells Apple Arcade, TV+, iCloud access and — most notably — Music for $15 per month. This is a potential threat to Spotify, which also operates a music app on iOS.
For more than a year, Spotify has been making noise about Apple’s unchecked power over the App Store, and in March 2019, it filed a complaint against Apple with the European Commission. Spotify claims Apple’s practice of taking 30 percent of an app’s revenue is unjustified, and says the company operates as a monopoly on iOS.
This echoes similar complaints made by Microsoft and Epic Games, both of whom have condemned Apple’s anticompetitive practices in recent months. Epic CEO Tim Sweeney has long been opposed to Apple’s — and Google’s, and Valve’s — 30 percent revenue cut. In August, Epic sued Apple in dramatic fashion, parodying the company’s iconic 1984 ad and urging its own Fortnite players to get behind the lawsuit. Epic and Apple have been suing each other and undermining each other’s services since then.
