🚨 Apple’s DMA Backlash, Amazon Expands with TikTok, Maduro Bans X
Good morning. It’s Friday, August 09. Today we are covering:
Spotify and Epic Games call Apple's revised DMA compliance plan 'confusing,' 'illegal' and 'unacceptable'
Amazon Enlists TikTok, Pinterest in Quest to Sell Everywhere
Venezuela's Maduro blocks X access in country for 10 days
Europe's Auto Chipmakers Have a Deepening China Habit
Man vs. machine: DeepMind's new robot serves up a table tennis triumph
Let’s dive in
By Sarah Perez via TechCrunch
Spotify and Epic Games criticize Apple's revised DMA compliance plan as confusing, illegal, and unacceptable, claiming it disregards the fundamental requirements of the Digital Markets Act (DMA).
Apple's new plan introduces two additional fees—an Initial Acquisition Fee and a Store Services Fee—on top of existing charges, sparking concerns from developers about increased costs.
Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney labeled the revisions as "malicious compliance," highlighting an "illegal 15% junk fee" imposed on users migrating to competing stores.
𝕏: In the European Union where the new DMA law opens up app store competition, Apple continues its malicious compliance by imposing an illegal new 15% junk fee on users migrating to competing stores and monitor commerce on these competing stores. - Tim Sweeney (@TimSweeneyEpic)
Amazon Enlists TikTok, Pinterest in Quest to Sell Everywhere
By Theo Wayt via The Information
Amazon is expanding its e-commerce reach by partnering with popular social media apps TikTok and Pinterest to enable in-app shopping directly from Amazon ads.
TikTok will allow users to purchase items from Amazon without leaving the app, while Pinterest aims to enhance its shopping features through this collaboration.
These partnerships reflect Amazon's strategy to tap into the fast-growing social media shopping trend amid slower growth in its traditional e-commerce business.
𝕏: This is actually big news, it flips the script on the competitors and now offers a completely new HUGE distribution channel thru TikTok - Banana3 (@Banana3Stocks)
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Venezuela's Maduro blocks X access in country for 10 days
By Vivian Sequera via Reuters
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro banned the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) in the country for 10 days, accusing owner Elon Musk of inciting violence and civil unrest following a disputed presidential election.
The ban on X follows a controversial election where Maduro was declared the winner with 51% of the vote, sparking accusations of fraud and protests both domestically and internationally, with some countries refusing to recognize the results.
Maduro has also urged Venezuelans to abandon WhatsApp in favor of Telegram or WeChat, further escalating his crackdown on Big Tech and dissenting voices in the wake of the election.
𝕏: Nicolás Maduro the President of Venezuela has ordered @X to be shut down for 10 days. He justified it on the basis of “hatred, fascism & civil war”. David Atherton (@DaveAtherton20)
Europe's Auto Chipmakers Have a Deepening China Habit
By Alan Crawford via Bloomberg
European auto chipmakers are increasingly reliant on China's EV market, which remains a rare growth area amid declining sales in Western markets.
Despite China's push for tech independence, foreign chipmakers see the country's demand as crucial for maintaining sales, especially as inventory gluts and slowing EV adoption impact other regions.
As US and allied semiconductor companies pull back from China, the auto chip sector continues to deepen its ties with the world's second-largest economy, highlighting the region's strategic importance.
Man vs. machine: DeepMind's new robot serves up a table tennis triumph
By Benj Edwards via Ars Technica
Google DeepMind unveiled an AI-powered robotic table tennis player, combining the ABB IRB 1100 robotic arm with custom AI software, capable of competing at an amateur human level.
The robot won 45% of its matches against human players, achieving a 100% win rate against beginners but struggling against advanced opponents, highlighting its adaptability and learning potential.
Beyond table tennis, the project's innovations in robot learning and control could be applied to various fields requiring rapid decision-making and adaptability, from manufacturing to healthcare.
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