Apple Facing EU Fine for Hindering Streaming Music Competition
Video Credit: Wibbitz Top Stories - Duration: 01:30s - Published
Apple Facing EU Fine for Hindering Streaming Music Competition
Apple Facing EU , Fine for Hindering , Streaming Music Competition.
On March 4, the European Union filed its first antitrust
penalty aimed at Apple, fining the tech giant almost
$2 billion for unfairly favoring its own music service.
On March 4, the European Union filed its first antitrust
penalty aimed at Apple, fining the tech giant almost
$2 billion for unfairly favoring its own music service.
According to regulators, Apple forbid streaming
music rivals from informing users that cheaper
subscription options available on their websites.
According to regulators, Apple forbid streaming
music rivals from informing users that cheaper
subscription options available on their websites.
Those options would allow users to
avoid a 30% fee charged when people
pay through the iOS App Store app.
.
This is illegal.
And it has
impacted millions of European
consumers who were not able to
make a free choice as to where,
how and at what price to buy
music streaming subscriptions, Margrethe Vestager, EU Commission's
competition commissioner, via NPR.
Margrethe Vestager, the EU's competition
commissioner, said the practice has resulted in , "millions of people who have paid two, three euros
more per month for their music streaming service
than they would otherwise have had to pay.".
NPR reports that the EU Commission
decision comes the same week as new
rules take effect aimed at preventing tech
companies from cornering digital markets.
Apple said the it would appeal
the commission's decision to
levy a fine against the company.
.
The decision was reached despite
the Commission's failure to uncover
any credible evidence of consumer
harm, and ignores the realities
of a market that is thriving,
competitive, and growing fast, Apple statement, via NPR.
Apple added that the EU decision benefits Spotify,
which is based in Sweden and currently holds
a 56% share of Europe's music streaming market.
Apple added that the EU decision benefits Spotify,
which is based in Sweden and currently holds
a 56% share of Europe's music streaming market.
Ironically, in the name of
competition, today's decision
just cements the dominant
position of a successful European
company that is the digital
music market's runaway leader, Apple statement, via NPR
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Samsung Knocks Apple , From Top Phonemaker Spot.
Samsung Knocks Apple , From Top Phonemaker Spot.
Fox News reports that Apple's phone shipments have dropped by about 10%.
During Q1 2024, Apple had a 17.3% market share, while Samsung had 20.8%.
During Q1 2024, Apple had a 17.3% market share, while Samsung had 20.8%.
Xiaomi came in third with 14.1%.
Samsung shipped over
60 million phones during Q1 2024.
Samsung shipped over
60 million phones during Q1 2024.
Apple only shipped 50.1 million. .
Last year during the same time period,
Apple shipped 55.4 million. .
Overall, smartphone shipments rose 7.8% worldwide to 289.4 million units during Q1 2024.
The increase in Samsung shipments
could be attributed to the company's
release of Galaxy S24 series phones.
During a launch event at the beginning
of the year, Galaxy AI, which is incorporated
into the company's new smartphones,
was touted as "a new era of mobile AI.".
News of Samsung's triumph comes as
Apple is cutting over 600 jobs in California
following reports that the company
is abandoning its electric car efforts. .
News of Samsung's triumph comes as
Apple is cutting over 600 jobs in California
following reports that the company
is abandoning its electric car efforts.
Credit: Wibbitz Top Stories Duration: 01:31Published
Apple Will Soon Allow iPhones , to Be Repaired With Used Parts.
On April 11, Apple announced that "select"
iPhone models will be eligible for repair with used, genuine parts beginning this fall, The Verge reports. .
Currently, repairing an iPhone with a used or aftermarket piece results in notifications that Apple isn't able to verify the component.
When attempting to repair Face ID and
Touch ID sensors with used or aftermarket parts,
it "might not work at all," The Verge reports. .
But with the changes coming this fall, Apple said, "calibration for genuine Apple parts, new or used, will happen on device after the part is installed.".
This should resolve some of
the aforementioned issues.
The change will also make it so that individuals
and repair shops will no longer need the device's serial number to order "most parts from the
Self Service Repair Store," The Verge reports. .
At launch, the new policy will support
displays, batteries and cameras.
"Future" iPhone releases will support biometric sensors, Apple said. .
With this latest expansion to our repair
program, we’re excited to be adding
even more choice and convenience for
our customers, while helping to extend
the life of our products and their parts. , John Ternus, Apple’s senior vice president
of hardware engineering, via statement.
Apple did not make it clear which iPhone models
will be supported under the new policy this fall
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The European Union will provide €1 billion in financial aid to Lebanon over three years to prop up the country's economy and help prevent a surge in refugees leaving for Europe.
Credit: euronews (in English) Duration: 01:24Published
European Union figures have lent their support to Ukraine joining the bloc as the Czech Republic commemorates 20 years of European Union Member State status with an event at Prague Castle in the capital. Key figures say that the continent will not be "divided".
Credit: euronews (in English) Duration: 02:03Published
Many left-wing contenders didn't miss the opportunity to attend the traditional May Day protest in Paris, while the far-right politician Jordan Bardella, currently leading the polls, announced the rest of his candidate list in southwestern France.
Credit: euronews (in English) Duration: 01:18Published
Critics fear it could be used to stifle the press and non-governmental organisations and derail the country’s chances of joining the European Union. Georgia has been a candidate country since December 2023.
Credit: euronews (in English) Duration: 01:49Published
How to Be , a Better Neighbor.
You don't even know
your neighbors, do you?.
Per a Pew Research study conducted in 2018, only a quarter of adults under 30
said they know even one of their neighbors.
A fostered sense of community may be what's missing in your young life.
A fostered sense of community may be what's missing in your young life.
Here are a few ways to
become a better neighbor:.
Say
Hello.
Obvious, yes, but the logical first
step to becoming a better neighbor
is to introduce yourself.
Don't do anything grandiose so you
don't come on too strong.
You don't have to show up with a fresh apple pie or anything like that. , Chris Loggins, supervising producer
Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood, via NPR.
You don't have to show up with a fresh apple pie or anything like that. , Chris Loggins, supervising producer
Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood, via NPR.
Small Acts
of Kindness.
Show your neighbors that you can
be a kind and generous person.
Always clean up after your pets,
and don't litter.
Connect.
Often it may feel easier to just go home, but experts believe human connection is worth the effort.
Overcoming the initial anxiety may trouble you, but meeting new people could increase your happiness
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Biden Is Giving $6 Billion , to Micron Technology , for Semiconductor Production.
On April 25, President Biden will travel to Syracuse, NY, to announce over $6 billion in federal grants that his administration is awarding to Micron Technology, NPR reports. .
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, who was heavily involved in enacting the CHIPS and Science Act, issued a statement about the investment. .
This is the federal government taking back the reins, putting money where its mouth is when we say we want the future of tech to be stamped: 'Made in America.', Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, via statement.
Micron will invest $100 billion of the funds to construct a manufacturing facility in Syracuse.
Schumer referred to the plan as "quite a
great return" on the government's investment.
A factory will also be built in
Boise, Idaho, NPR reports. .
That facility is expected to be ready for production by 2026, while two New York factories will likely be ready by 2028 and 2029.
The White House estimates that
the projects could create 20,000 jobs
in construction and manufacturing.
in addition to "tens of thousands of
indirect jobs in the regions," NPR reports. .
The CHIPS and Science Act has also provided funding for Intel, TSMC and Samsung
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Are You in a Creative Rut? , Here's How to Stay Inspired.
Have you had a hard time accessing the creative part of your brain lately?.
Maybe you're hoping for a magical breakthrough
like something you'd see in a movie.
Experts say it may not be so easy, but it's still possible to pull yourself out of a creative rut if you keep these things in mind:.
Creativity Is for Everyone.
Most folks are creative, and experts
say you don't have to be a genius
to harness the power.
I think we are already
creative beings and
how you use that
[creativity] is
up to you, Sarah Urist Green, producer of
'The Art Assignment,' via NPR.
You don't need to have particular skills; you don't need to have
particular materials. , Sarah Urist Green, producer of
'The Art Assignment,' via NPR.
Take a Break.
Experts say allowing your brain to de-stimulate is great practice
if your schedule allows. .
What our brains actually need is periods of destimulation, Rahaf Harfoush, host of 'The Thought Experiment,' via NPR.
which means no screens, no emails, no audiobooks. , Rahaf Harfoush, host of 'The Thought Experiment,' via NPR.
Don't Force
Yourself.
Experts say don't use stress as a tool
to get things done.
Being overly reliant on pressure and stress may deepen your creative rut.
It could also increase chances of
anxiety attacks and depression
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How to Be , More Timely.
Have you been rolling out
of bed with minutes to spare?.
Maybe you've been wondering to yourself: "where does all the time go?".
Strive to be on time with these helpful tips:.
Timeliness is
a Sign of Respect.
Being timely can project respect for ourselves and others.
I think it's very important to be on time. , Rashelle Isip, professional organizer-productivity consultant, via NPR.
You can always let time pass, but you can't
get it back once it's already gone. , Rashelle Isip, professional organizer-productivity consultant, via NPR.
Plan Ahead.
For the chronically late, experts
say it helps to have a plan.
There's a lot of steps
that I think people just don't consider. , Rashelle Isip, professional organizer-productivity consultant, via NPR.
There's a lot of steps
that I think people just don't consider. , Rashelle Isip, professional organizer-productivity consultant, via NPR.
Help yourself by picking out tomorrow's outfit today. Pack your bag, and confirm appropriate directions before you depart.
Be Honest With Yourself and Others.
Everybody is late for something now and then. True character is how you respond to it.
If you know you're going to be late to something, the very best thing you can do is communicate right away, Rashelle Isip, professional organizer-productivity consultant, via NPR.
If you know you're going to be late to something, the very best thing you can do is communicate right away, Rashelle Isip, professional organizer-productivity consultant, via NPR.
It's not thinking about it and then calling or texting
30 minutes later.
It means right at that moment. , Rashelle Isip, professional organizer-productivity consultant, via NPR.
It's not thinking about it and then calling or texting
30 minutes later.
It means right at that moment. , Rashelle Isip, professional organizer-productivity consultant, via NPR
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FTC to Decide , Whether Noncompete Agreements , Should Be Banned.
After receiving over 26,000 public comments about the issue, the Federal Trade Commission is set to deliver its verdict on April 30, NPR reports. .
The commission said that if approved, the
final rule "would generally prevent most
employers from using noncompete clauses.".
The commission said that if approved, the
final rule "would generally prevent most
employers from using noncompete clauses.".
Approximately one in five Americans, spanning minimum wage workers to CEOs, are subject to noncompete agreements, the FTC estimates. .
The Biden administration says that these types of agreements hurt workers by decreasing wages.
The White House also argues that these
agreements harm the U.S. economy because entrepreneurship isn't allowed to freely flourish. .
FTC Chair Lina M. Khan issued a statement when
the proposed ban was initially introduced.
The freedom to change jobs is
core to economic liberty and to
a competitive, thriving economy, FTC Chair Lina M. Khan, via statement.
Noncompetes block workers from
freely switching jobs, depriving
them of higher wages and better
working conditions, and depriving
businesses of a talent pool that
they need to build and expand, FTC Chair Lina M. Khan, via statement.
Businesses argue that noncompete agreements are essential for safeguarding investments and proprietary information.
Those businesses also question whether
the agency has the power "to regulate
such agreements," NPR reports. .
If the FTC votes to issue a final rule, enforcement wouldn't occur for 180 days,
and legal challenges would likely ensue.
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This edition of State of the Union focusses on three issues feeding citizens' anger with the establishment in the EU and beyond: possible nepotism in the EU Commission, infringement of free speech and Georgia's controversial "foreign agent" bill
Credit: euronews (in English) Duration: 07:00Published
The European Commission has announced an inquiry into suspected illegal subsides for Chinese wind turbine producers, amid fears the domestic industry could be decimated by cheap imports.
Credit: euronews (in English) Duration: 01:03Published
Under the aegis of the Vice-President of the European Commission, almost all the political parties in Parliament signed a code of conduct for the EU elections.
Credit: euronews (in English) Duration: 02:16Published
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is embroiled in a row over favouritism, after appointing German MEP Markus Pieper as Envoy for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises, a five-year post with a salary of nearly 17,000 euros a month.
Credit: euronews (in English) Duration: 01:50Published
Security preparations for this year’s Eurovision come as Sweden is considered by police to be a “priority target” for Islamist terrorist groups. Add concerns over planned protests regarding Israel's involvement, cyberattacks and Sweden's NATO membership, and 2024's contest seems overcast by fear.
Credit: euronews (in English) Duration: 00:35Published
ABBA World celebrates 50 years since the Swedish foursome won the Eurovision Song Contest with their hit song, Waterloo, in 1974. The exhibition fuses aspects of the supergroup, past and present.
Credit: euronews (in English) Duration: 02:00Published
Negotiations on Global Treaty , to End Plastic Pollution , Reach Critical Phase .
'The Independent' reports that negotiators from around
the world have met to discuss what could become
a global treaty meant to end plastic pollution. .
The Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee on
Plastic Pollution has begun agreeing on treaty language
at their fourth of five scheduled plastics summits.
The most ambitious and contentious
idea revolves around limiting how much
plastic can be manufactured globally.
As most plastics are made from fossil fuels
and chemicals, oil and gas exporters
have strongly objected to the limitations, along
with plastic-producing countries and companies.
According to Stewart Harris, an industry spokesperson
with the International Council of Chemical Associations,
the treaty also focuses on recycling and reuse. .
We want to see the treaty
completed. We want to work
with the governments on
implementing it. The private
sector has a role to play, Stewart Harris, an industry spokesperson
with the International Council of Chemical
Associations, via 'The Independent'.
'The Independent' reports that the Scientists’
Coalition for an Effective Plastics Treaty provided
scientific evidence on plastic pollution at
the negotiations.
I heard yesterday that there’s
no data on microplastics,
which is verifiably false:
21,000 publications on micro and
nanoplastics have been published, Bethanie Carney Almroth, an ecotoxicology professor at Sweden's University of Gothenburg who co-leads the coalition, via 'The Independent'.
Ecuador's chief negotiator, Walter Schuldt stressed that
countries present at the negotiation share a common
vision of moving forward in the treaty process.
Because at the end of the day,
we’re talking about the survival
of the future of life, not only
of human life but all sorts
of life on this planet, Walter Schuldt, Ecuador's chief
negotiator, via 'The Independent'
Credit: Wibbitz Top Stories Duration: 01:31Published
This Day in History: , Nuclear Disaster
at Chernobyl.
April 26, 1986.
The disaster at Chernobyl, located about 65 miles from Kiev in the former Soviet Union, is the worst nuclear power plant accident to date.
50 tons of radioactive material was released into the atmosphere after an explosion of the Number 4 reactor, caused by an engineering experiment.
The 30,000 residents of
the nearby community of
Pripyat were evacuated the next day.
The Soviet government
attempted a cover-up.
But two days after the disaster, radiation levels
800 miles away in Sweden were detected at
40% higher than the normal level.
32 people were initially
killed in the Chernobyl plant.
5,000 Soviets eventually died
from radiation-induced illnesses.
Millions of acres of forest
and farmland across Northern
and Eastern Europe were contaminated.
The former residents of
Pripyat have never returned
Credit: Wibbitz Top Stories Duration: 01:08Published
Apple Faces App Update Standoff with Spotify Post EU Fine – Following the European Commission’s imposition of a €1.8 billion fine on Apple for anti-competitive App Store regulations targeting..