Epic Games intentionally violates Apple and Google store guidelines to start a revolution

Epic Games intentionally violates Apple and Google store guidelines to start a revolution

Epic Games, producers of popular game Fornite, yesterday took on Apple and Google in what might spark an app store revolution.

Epic Games fornite free fornite app store

Something very interesting happened yesterday. News broke out that Apple has removed Fortnite from the iOS App Store. Referencing that the game company had violated its App Store guidelines. It wasn’t long before Google did the same. Since then Epic has filed a lawsuit against Apple. In what it says is to “end Apple’s anti-competitive restrictions on mobile device marketplaces“.

So this is what started it all. Epic Games introduced its own payment system, Epic direct payment, on iOS and Google. Knowing very well that this move will violate both the Goole Play and Apple App store rules. This, however, will offer users a 20% discount on the usual in-app purchases in the Apple and Google Play stores. That is where the store violation comes into play. Apple says they are using their own in-app payment option. Whereas when it comes to Google that isn’t an issue till the app in question is a game.

Epic Games fornite free fornite app store  
Epic direct pay on Apple App Store google store

The game company sort of had it all figured out, knowing Apple and Google will come after them and they were ready for them. That’s because they released a 65-page lawsuit just moments after Apple removed their app from the app store. This, Business Insider says, “Fortnite set an antitrust trap for Apple and Tim Cook walked right into it“.

They also released a video mimicking Apple’s 1984 Macintosh commercial that introduced the Mac PC. Check it out below.

The Epic Games War

Epic Games is staging a fight that is bigger than them and concerns the wider 3rd party developer community in relation to the App Store. Most of these developers have complained to Apple but the giant seems to have its way. In recent times, Microsoft has been unable to bring its xCloud gaming service to Xbox users on iOS becuase of such issues. Epic calls it a monopoly in its lawsuit.

The question is will Epic succeed where others have failed? Will it encounter the same hurdles others faced and decide they have no choice but to play to Apple and Google’s tunes? When Epic wins this will it apply to the wider 3rd party community or will it be a special treatment as Apple notes.

We will find out soon enough i guess. What do you think?

More to come …

Update :

iDevice Care reports that Apple says it will not be making an exception for Epic. In Apple’s remarks, Epic created a problem for itself. Noting this “problem can be easily fixed if they send an update of their app that restores it to comply with the guidelines again.”

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Surface Duo, Microsoft Android dual-screen mobile device available

Surface Duo, Microsoft Android dual-screen mobile device available

Surface Duo with Surface Slim Pen and Surface Earbuds

Today, Microsoft announces its Android Surface Duo mobile device is available for preorder. The device starts at $1399 and will be available in-store and online from September 10.

Here is a first look at the device.

Device specifications

The mobile device weighs 250 grams and has two 5.6″ PixelSense fusion AMOLED displays that open up to be 8.1″. It sports an 11MP adaptive camera that Microsoft says is optimized with AI for front and rear camera and video recording. The mobile device is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 processor, 6GB memory and will have storage variants of 128GB or 256GB. With the 256GB variant costing $100 more.

It comes preloaded with Android version 10 and preinstalled with most google and Microsoft apps, including Microsoft Surface Duo UI.

For inking, the Surface Duo works with other Microsoft Surface pens.

Microsoft notes the Surface Duo is available for preorder in the U.S. It doesn’t mention any specifics for other markets, except to check with your local commercial reseller.

What’s under the hood? Take a look into the new mobile device and what runs on the circuit board. The folks at TheVerge share a rich history on the device you should check out.

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Tackling gender-based violence with Tech, Microsoft announces Safe@Home Hackathon

Tackling gender-based violence with Tech, Microsoft announces Safe@Home Hackathon

gender-based violence microsoft south africa hackathon

Microsoft South Africa, together with leading gender-based violence NPO partners, 1000 Women Trust and TEARS Foundation, launch Safe@Home Hackathon to address gender-based violence in South Africa.

The virtual hackathon event will run from 22 September to 19 October. It invites the South African developer community to create and develop technology-based solutions that will help victims of gender-based violence, vulnerable women and children.

Access to the right technology can enable a better and safer way for women and children to reach out for help.

Gender-based violence is one of the most pressing and critical challenges South Africa faces: President Cyril Ramaphosa identified it as the second pandemic our country is currently battling and a war that is being waged against our women and children, with over 40% of South African women experiencing sexual and/or physical interpersonal violence in their lifetime,” says Lillian Barnard, Managing Director of Microsoft South Africa.

A study by the World Health Organisation, for example, found that 42 percent of females between 13 and 23 in the country reported experiencing physical dating violence. The incidence of unreported violence is much higher – and getting worse.

Violence against women and children is escalating under the current circumstances, with many South Africans confined to their homes. This indicates a clear need to take action to address gender-based violence in South Africa,” says Tina Thiart, founder of 1000 Women.

Microsoft South Africa is pledging its support to helping address gender-based violence through the Safe@Home Hackathon. Hackathons are aimed at finding solutions to specific challenges through collaborative brainstorming and programming in a short space of time.

The Safe@Home Hackathon will look to facilitate collaboration to create and develop technology-based solutions that will work in the context of South Africa’s unique circumstances and challenges.

Our goal is to find real, sustainable solutions to help South Africa’s most vulnerable and at-risk.  Ensuring that we are able to build these kinds of fit-for-purpose technology-based solutions will require partnerships with developers, NGOs in the gender-based violence space like TEARS Foundation and 1000 Women, government, corporate South Africa and other technology players,” says Barnard.

Together, we will provide the support needed as we call on developers across the country to come together, understand the issues surrounding gender-based violence, and create and develop technology-based solutions that can help save lives.”

Safe@Home in South Africa is replicating the successful initiative piloted by Microsoft Israel in partnership with the “Michal Sela Forum” – headed by the sister of a victim of gender-based violence – and the country’s developer community to create and develop technology-based solutions to help victims of gender-based violence. The hackathon resulted in the development of a number of applications that will be deployed in Israel to help other women and children who need it.

Likewise, South Africa’s hackathon aims help the country’s most vulnerable. The intention is that winning idea will be developed into a full application that will be deployed to support women across South Africa who need help, and make a difference in curbing gender-based violence in South Africa. The top three teams also stand to win cash prizes. The winners will be announced on 26 October.

I look forward to exploring the possibilities that technology can provide to help keep women and children ‘safe@home’, and working together to tackle the scourge of gender-based violence in South Africa. The time for collective action is now,” says Mara Glennie, founder and director at TEARS Foundation.

South African developers wanting to be part of positive change to help vulnerable women and children can enter to join the hackathon here: https://safeathome.bemyapp.com/

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Microsoft announces USD 2 million investment for smallholder farmers in South Africa

Microsoft announces USD 2 million investment for smallholder farmers in South Africa

smallholder farmers Microsoft investment south Africa farmbeats

Smallholder farmers in South Africa are set to benefit from a 2.3 million dollar Microsoft investment aimed at driving sustainability in South Africa’s agricultural sector.

Through the investment, Microsoft will use technology to solve some of the challenges these farmers face. That prevents them from becoming commercially viable, efficient and sustainable.

Microsoft notes that smallholder farmers form an important part of the agricultural workforce in South Africa.

To achieve this, Microsoft will identify and work with South African tech companies to conceptualise, develop and roll-out various agritech solutions.

Lillian Barnard, Managing Director at Microsoft South Africa notes the investment is aimed at making a real difference in one of South Africa’s most vital sectors.

There is no doubt that South Africa’s smallholder farmers have significant potential to drive growth and employment opportunities. As well as enable other sectors within the country to ultimately drive food security.

This makes it critical to invest in the sector to address the challenges they face. Key challenges are a lack of infrastructure, access to competitive formal markets, production and business skills, funding and financial support to re-invest in their farming activities, and compliance with food safety regulations and legislation.”

Our investment is aimed at making a real difference in one of South Africa’s most vital sectors by harnessing the power of technology. High-impact technological solutions will improve efficiencies in smallholder farming, lower the cost of production, improve access to local and international markets, improve compliance with legislation, and drive access to information, among others.

By investing in the agriculture sector and unlocking the potential of technology to act as an enabler for growth and skills development, we are showing our commitment to driving sustainability and creating opportunities in one of South Africa’s most critical, job-creating industries.”

Lillian Barnard, Managing Director, Microsoft South Africa.

Investments in AgriTech

Last year, Microsoft South Africa announced a new evolved Microsoft Equity Equivalent Investment Programme to focus on investments in technology solutions in agriculture and digital transformation in the manufacturing sectors.

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Watch Samsung Galaxy Unpacked August 2020 livestream

Watch Samsung Galaxy Unpacked August 2020 livestream

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. today hosts its Galaxy Unpacked virtual event to introduce its new suite of Galaxy devices.

The company is scheduled to announce Galaxy Note20, Galaxy Note20 Ultra, Galaxy Tab S7 and S7+, Galaxy Watch3, Galaxy Buds Live, and Galaxy Z Fold2.

Watch the Galaxy Unpacked virtual event livestream below.

https://youtu.be/CmS5rlX9cDA

Let’s know what you think about the new Samsung Galaxy devices

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African Library Project, Microsoft present Hack for Africa Challenge

African Library Project, Microsoft present Hack for Africa Challenge

Hack for Africa challenge Microsoft African Library Project

African Library Project in partnership with Microsoft presents the Hack for Africa Challenge.

A hackathon event aimed at discovering solutions that address some of Africa’s pressing needs in literacy, health, and any other sector.

The hackathon event invites makers, innovators, educators, policy experts, and students from across the globe to participate.

Hack for Africa challenge submissions open from August 10 to 16. It is opened to persons 13 years and above. There is about $6420 in prizes to be won.

Visit the hackathon event page for event rules and details.

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