Facebook and Apple have been at odds for several years now; Apple announced back at WWDC 2020 that iOS would require apps to ask users to opt-in to cross-app advertising tracking. Facebook spent much of the next months speaking out against Apple's plans and predicting revenue instability due to the upcoming changes, but the feature was released in iOS 14.5 back in April of 2021. Somewhat surprisingly, though, a new report from The Wall Street Journal claims that before this all went down, Facebook and Apple were working on a partnership and revenue-sharing agreement.
According to the Journal, Apple and Facebook were considering a a subscription service that would offer an ad-free version of the platform. And since Apple takes a cut of in-app purchases, including subscriptions, it could have been a very lucrative arrangement indeed.
Another arrangement that was discussed and ended up being a point of contention was Apple taking a cut of "boosted posts," which essentially amounts to paying to put a post in front of a larger audience. Facebook has long considered boosted posts part of its advertising portfolio; as the Journal notes, small businesses often use boosted posts to reach more people. The issue came down to Apple saying boosts should be considered in-app purchases, which would be subject to the 30 percent revenue cut that the company takes. Facebook, on the other hand, maintained that those were advertising products which aren't subject to Apple's cut.
Since rolling out its user-tracking changes in 2021, research firm Insider Intelligence claims that 37 percent of iPhone users have opted in to letting companies track their activity across apps. Since the change went into effect, Facebook (now Meta) has seen its revenue growth shrink significantly — and last quarter, Meta reported the first revenue decline in the company's history.
As these discussions reportedly took place between 2016 and 2018, we're a long way off from these talks. Apple is doing its best to position itself as a defender of privacy, and Meta… well, Meta is busy trying to make the Metaverse a thing. But for now at least, advertising is the only notable way Meta makes revenue, so the company will have to continue to adjust to a world in which iOS app tracking protection is a thing that most users take advantage of.
A new trove of leaked documents has shed an unfavorable light on the early days of Uber. Dubbed the Uber Files, the leak consists of approximately 124,000 internal company documents, including more than 83,000 emails and text messages exchanged between former CEO Travis Kalanick and other executives, that date to a period between 2013 and 2017. The latter marks the year Kalanick stepped down as CEO of Uber amid mounting controversy.
Working with the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ), The Guardian shared the trove with 180 journalists at 40 outlets across 29 countries. The documents show a company willing to do things many of its own executives thought were “fucking illegal.”
In 2016, for instance, Kalanick reportedly ordered French employees to encourage local Uber drivers to counter-protest the taxi strikes that were underway in Paris at the time. When one executive warned Kalanick that “extreme right thugs” were part of the protest, the former CEO pushed back. “I think it’s worth it,” he said. “Violence guarantee[s] success. And these guys must be resisted, no?”
One former senior executive told The Guardian that Kalanick’s response was consistent with a strategy of “weaponizing” drivers and a playbook the company returned to in other countries.
Another selection of documents details the lengths the company went to escape regulatory scrutiny. In at least 12 instances, Uber ordered staff at local offices in six countries, including France, the Netherlands and India, to employ the “kill switch,” an internal tool the company developed to protect its data.
“Please hit the kill switch ASAP,” Kalanick wrote in one email shared by The Washington Post. "Access must be shut down in AMS,” he added, referring to the company’s Amsterdam office. In two cases involving Uber’s Montreal office, authorities entered the building only to see all the computers and tablets before them resetting at the same time. The company told The Post “such software should never have been used to thwart legitimate regulatory actions,” and that it stopped using the system in 2017.
“We have not and will not make excuses for past behavior that is clearly not in line with our present values,” said Jill Hazelbaker, Uber’s senior vice president of marketing and public affairs, in a statement the company issued after The Guardian published its findings on the Uber Files. “Instead, we ask the public to judge us by what we’ve done over the last five years and what we will do in the years to come.”
In a statement published by the ICIJ, Travis Kalanick’s spokesperson said any suggestion the former executive “directed, engaged in, or was involved” in “illegal or improper conduct" is “completely false."
"The reality was that Uber's expansion initiatives were led by over a hundred leaders in dozens of countries around the world and at all times under the direct oversight and with the full approval of Uber's robust legal, policy, and compliance groups," they added.
Apple technicians will decline to fix iPhones that had been reported as stolen or lost, according to MacRumors. The tech giant has reportedly sent out a memo to Apple Stores and authorized providers not to accept a device for repair if they get a notice on their internal MobileGenius or GSX systems that the phone had been marked as missing. Presumably, that means technicians will check a device's IMEI against the GSMA Device Registry when a customer brings it in for repair.
The GSMA registry is a global database where owners can register their devices' IMEI and designate a status for them, such as whether they'd been lost, stolen or were fraudulently obtained. This move expands Apple's existing policy to decline repairs for devices whose owners cannot disable the Find My iPhone feature. It could discourage more people from buying second-hand devices outside of official and authorized sources in case they unknowingly end up with a stolen unit. That said, users could just as easily go to a third-party repair shop that doesn't care where they got their devices from.
Apple's iPhones have become increasingly cost-prohibitive over the years, giving rise to a market for second-hand units. According to a recent Bloomberg report, though, the tech giant is working on a subscription service for the iPhone and other hardware to make regular upgrades more accessible with monthly fees and no huge upfront costs.
The White House isn't the only one trying to steer discussion of Ukraine on TikTok. Vice News has discovered that Russian TikTok influencers are reportedly being paid to share videos promoting the Putin government's narrative surrounding the invasion. An anonymous operator in a Telegram channel has been telling creators what and when to post, what goals they must meet and otherwise dictating their content. At least some of the followers have over a million followers.
It's unclear who is behind the campaign, but the operator claims to be a journalist and has looked for posters for additional pro-government content (such as supporting Russian athletes in the Olympics) and private companies. However, TikTok's ban on new videos from Russia apparently isn't an obstacle. The channel administrator tells influencers how to dodge the ban, and at least some producers have posted videos after the ban took effect.
The channel suddenly shut down on March 9th as Vice conducted its investigation. Most of the videos have since been removed, but the campaign team reportedly asked them to do this. Others remain, and it's not certain how many similar initiatives might be underway. It's also unclear if the propaganda was effective.
TikTok hasn't commented on the pro-Kremlin campaign and told Vice about its general efforts to spot "emerging threats" and "harmful misinformation" surrounding Russia's war against Ukraine.
Whether or not the Russian government was involved with this TikTok effort, there's little doubt the country has tried to control the online narrative on Ukraine. It has blocked social networks like Instagram, posted misinformation through its embassies' accounts, circumvented bans on its state news outlets and criminalized media reports that contradict the official stance on the war. TikTok's large user base may be a tempting target if Russia hopes to sway more of the internet to its side.
Samsung reports that its Samsung Galaxy S22 and Tab S8 are among its most popular devices ever in terms of pre-orders.
Android | Digital Trends
It’s been a while since Motorola’s Razr clamshell series has been in the news, but it seems that a third iteration is on the cards which may actually feature flagship specifications instead of the rather mid-range offering that the Razr 5G (reviewed here) had to make do with. This time around, Motorola is said to […]
Come comment on this article: Motorola’s Razr 3 clamshell will reportedly feature flagship specifications
Now that the Galaxy S21 FE has finally launched Samsung is free to concentrate its efforts on its newest flagship series, the Galaxy S22. Consisting of the Galaxy S22, S22+, and the Galaxy Note-esque S22 Ultra, Samsung’s new range will reportedly launch during an Unpacked event that will be held on February 8th. The South […]
Come comment on this article: The Galaxy S22 will reportedly launch during an Unpacked event on February 8th
It’s no secret that the OnePlus 9 Pro’s 65W Warp Charge obliterates the charging rate offered by phones such as the Galaxy S21 and Google’s Pixel 6 Pro, but it seems that 2022 could see the gap increased further still with the OnePlus 10 Pro. According to Digital Chat Station on Twitter, the OnePlus 10 […]
Come comment on this article: The OnePlus 10 Pro will reportedly charge even faster than its predecessor
Google is giving employees until December 3rd to declare their COVID-19 vaccine status. And according to CNBC, if they fail to comply with the tech giant's vaccine mandate, they'd have to apply for a medical or religious exemption and convince Google that it's warranted if they don't want to eventually lose their job. Google will approve exemptions on a case-by-case basis.
In its report, the publication said that it has seen an internal memo warning personnel of the consequences if they still haven't complied with the company's vaccine rules by January 18th. Those who refuse to be vaccinated or who have failed to secure a valid exemption will be placed on paid administrative leave for 30 days. Google will then put them on unpaid personal leave for up to six months and will ultimately fire them if they truly don't want to be inoculated against COVID-19.
The tech giant reportedly explained in the memo that it's implementing its vaccine mandate to comply with the administration's executive order. Under that order, all US companies with more than 100 workers must be fully vaccinated by January 18th. While the order is in limbo after courts had blocked its implementation, Google may have simply chosen to push through with its plans to ensure that it's compliant in case the order suddenly takes effect.
"We expect that almost all roles at Google in the US will fall within the scope of the executive order. Anyone entering a Google building must be fully vaccinated or have an approved accommodation that allows them to work or come onsite… frequent testing is not a valid alternative to vaccination," the memo reportedly reads.
Earlier this month, CNBC also reported that Google delayed workers' return to office and will no longer require personnel to come in a few times a week starting on January 10th. However, it still encouraged employees to come into the office "where conditions allow, to reconnect with colleagues in person and start regaining the muscle memory of being in [one] more regularly."
While it will strictly enforce its rule for all employees that fall within the scope of the order, Google did give those who don't want to get vaccinated an option. If they can't secure a valid religious or medical exemption, they can "explore" other roles within the company that don't conflict with the order. If they can find such a role and it doesn't require in-office work, they can also permanently work remotely going forward.
Apple might be eager to minimize future complaints about working conditions. NBC News said it obtained a newly released internal memo telling employees they're allowed to discuss conditions and pay outside the company. Staffers should be free to talk about issues in the way they "feel most comfortable," including with managers and the People (human resources) team.
We've asked Apple if it can confirm the memo and comment on the release. The statement would reinforce the rights private workers already have under the National Labor Relations Act, which lets workers both organize and discuss conditions, as well Apple's own conduct policy.
Provided the news is accurate, it could represent a bittersweet moment for critics of Apple's working culture. The memo supports their beliefs the company unfairly limited talk about labor issues by shutting down surveys and Slack channels. Employees like Ashley Gjøvik also accused Apple of punishing workers for speaking out for by putting them on leave or even firing them.
However, the statement is also coming too late to prevent significant damage. Apple now faces eight labor charges alleging issues like harassment and wrongful dismissal. Outspoken #AppleToo advocate Cher Scarlett (who settled with Apple) just left the company, too. While a memo like this might allow more discussion going forward, it can't change the past.
I’m not sure how many times we’ve run some version of the above headline for the Galaxy S21 FE but it’s probably more than any other phone. Having suffered delay after delay due to the ongoing chip shortage, the Galaxy S21 FE will apparently make its debut on January 4th, 2022 which is just a […]
Come comment on this article: Samsung will reportedly announce the much-delayed Galaxy S21 FE on January 4th, 2022
It’s long past the time that many of us gave up hope and bought the Pixel 6 instead but it seems that Samsung is still planning on launching the Galaxy S21 FE, allegedly during CES 2022 in January. Much delayed due to the ongoing global chip crisis, the Galaxy S21 FE’s new launch date could […]
Come comment on this article: Samsung will reportedly launch the much-delayed Galaxy S21 FE during CES 2022
Facebook’s newly announced parent company, Meta, has reportedly been working on a smartwatch for much of this year. This is what it looks like.
Wearables | Digital Trends
Facebook’s newly announced parent company, Meta, has reportedly been working on a smartwatch for much of this year. This is what it looks like …
Wearables | Digital Trends
When it comes to sequels in the phone industry, we like to see more battery, more power, more megapixels, and just more of everything else, with the exception of the dreaded bloatware monster. Sadly, it would appear that Samsung isn’t following the well-trodden path of more is better because the latest report suggests that the […]
Come comment on this article: The same company that supplied batteries for Samsung’s Galaxy Note 7 will reportedly produce batteries for the Galaxy S22
It sounds like Apple isn’t the only company that wants to reduce its reliance on Intel. According to Bloomberg, Microsoft is developing in-house ARM processors to power its Surface devices and cloud infrastructure. While there aren’t many details on…
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Apple’s in-house silicon could scale well beyond the eight-core (or rather four-plus-four-core) M1 you find in entry-level Macs. Bloomberg sources claim Apple’s 2021 roadmap is considerably more aggressive, to the point where the company is reportedl…
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As we near mid-November the Galaxy S21/S30 hype machine is upon us with rumors that Samsung will launch its new flagship earlier than ever in January, and also a recurring message that it could support the S Pen. Considering that the S Pen has previously been the exclusive feature of the Galaxy Note range, this […]
Come comment on this article: The Galaxy S21/S30 Ultra 5G will reportedly support the S Pen
Following a report by Reddit poster JonSigur showing internal memos suggesting OnePlus co-founder Carl Pei is no longer affiliated with the company, TechCrunch and Android Central have confirmed the claim citing their own sources. This comes after th…
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With the COVID-19 pandemic still ongoing on a global scale, one of the events that made way for it back in July was the now annual Amazon Prime Week Day, with the retailer giving a somewhat vague inkling of when it might actually take place. If wondering exactly when Prime Day might be held is […]
Come comment on this article: Amazon Prime Day will reportedly be held on October 5th
China could throw yet another wrench in TikTok’s attempts to secure its future in the US. Officials in the country are opposed to a sale and would rather see the app be banned than sold to an American company, Reuters reports.The report, which cites…
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As we wrap up our review of the OnePlus Nord, the brand is reported to be targeting the affordable smartphone segment with a phone that could cost around $ 200, sporting a humongous battery. Codenamed “Clover”, this new OnePlus handset is rumored to be coming to the US, unlike the recently announced Nord. According to AndroidCentral, […]
Come comment on this article: The OnePlus ‘Clover’ reportedly brings a massive 6,000mAh battery for ~$ 200 and will launch in the US
How much did you pay for your last Samsung flagship smartphone? I ask because if you are planning on buying the soon-to-be-launched Galaxy Note 20 there’s a good chance that you are going to pay more than ever before. After a previous leak hinted that the Galaxy Note 20 series might launch with a more […]
Come comment on this article: Samsung’s regular Galaxy Note 20 will reportedly cost more than ever before
After weeks of rumors and leaks, it seems that the affordable OnePlus Nord could launch on July 21st during an online-only launch that will include an AR experience. It’s going ahead later in July than first thought, with details having been posted on Twitter via a well-known leaker who pulled the post shortly afterward. Luckily, […]
Come comment on this article: The OnePlus Nord will reportedly launch on July 21st
If it wasn’t already apparent that the era of ‘big’ flying is ending, it might be soon. Bloomberg sources say Boeing is ending production of its iconic 747 jumbo jet (specifically, the 747-8) in about two years. A spokesperson for the aircraft maker…
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After teaming up with Netflix last year for The Irishman, director Martin Scorsese’s next major flick will reportedly have backing from Apple. Variety, The Hollywood Reporter and Deadline all report that Apple is in final talks with Paramount to join…
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The UK’s decision to allow Huawei gear in its 5G networks may be short-lived. Officials talking to the Financial Times (via The Verge) say the UK government is planning to gradually phase out use of Huawei equipment in 5G networks, eliminating it ent…
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It’s been a feature of Google smartphones since the days of the Pixel 2 and 2 XL but it seems that the upcoming Pixel 4a will launch without the ability to squeeze its sides to activate Google Assistant. It’s a feature that used to annoy the heck out of me until I disabled it, but […]
Come comment on this article: Google’s Pixel 4a will reportedly ditch squeeze-based Google Assistant activation
After a somewhat bumpy start with design flaws, followed by a recall of review units, Samsung’s Galaxy Fold relaunched in September 2019 having undergone a re-design and we’ve not heard a bad word about it since, other than the hefty price tag of course. February 2020 saw Samsung launch the foldable clamshell Galaxy Z Flip, […]
Come comment on this article: Samsung is reportedly prepping a more affordable Galaxy Fold for launch in July
DJI is almost ready to unleash the Mavic Air 2. The FCC recently uploaded documents revealing the drone’s specs, and now DroneDJ has also obtained clearer and close-up images of the machine. According to the publication, a DJI partner site accidental…
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The Huawei Mate 40 is the next anticipated phone from Huawei, but we’re still a few months away from any kind of official announcement. That’s not going to stop the rumor mill, though. A new leak suggests that Huawei will adopting a freeform camera lens in the Mate 40, which should improve photos in one […]
Come comment on this article: Huawei Mate 40 will reportedly use a “freeform” lens to improve wide-angle shots
The NBA already has an official esports league with various teams represented, but with the live basketball season on hiatus due to the coronavirus pandemic, it's reportedly about to put real NBA players on the sticks. Yahoo Sports reporter Chris Hay…
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TikTok parent company ByteDance has built a feature that could let users create their own deepfakes, TechCrunch reports. The feature, referred to as Face Swap, was spotted in code in both TikTok and the Chinese app Douyin. It asks users to scan their…
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Recently TikTok's popularity has exploded worldwide, and so has scrutiny over the app's parent company ByteDance and its relationship to the Chinese government. Now Reuters reports that the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS)…
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In the ongoing storm of legal controversy around Facebook and whether it engaged in anticompetitive behaviors, yet another player has joined the fray. Soon the Justice Department will open its own antitrust investigation into the company, according t…
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Buying a Tesla in China could be more expensive in the very near future. The automaker will increase prices on its cars in the country this Friday, according to Reuters. That potential price lift is said to be in response to the yuan weakening agains…
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The Sprint/T-Mobile merger has been put on hold while the concerns and details get squashed out, and it looks like another roadblock has been taken down. Originally, the Justice Department had issues with how many carriers the new mega-carrier would own; to resolve this, Sprint or T-Mobile would have to sell something off. Early rumors […]
Come comment on this article: Dish Network is reportedly first in line to buy Boost Mobile and wireless spectrum from Sprint, T-Mobile
Future Huawei phones will no longer come pre-installed with Facebook's apps, according to Reuters. The social network has reportedly prohibited the Chinese manufacturer from loading its main app, Instagram and WhatsApp onto any phone that hasn't left…
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Apple may have another Gatekeeper security flaw on its hands. Researcher Filippo Cavallarin has detailed a macOS vulnerability that he said would let attackers install malware without the usual permission request. As Gatekeeper considers network sh…
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Facebook is quick to tout its efforts to thwart misinformation campaigns in major European countries and the US, but its approach in other countries might not be quite so enthusiastic. Developers in Moldova told BuzzFeed News that they'd been asking…
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Spotify is reportedly looking to sink big money into podcasts. According to Recode and The Wall Street Journal, the music streaming company is currently in talks to acquire podcasting giant Gimlet Media for over $ 200 million. If Spotify manages to fi…
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When Oculus co-founder Palmer Luckey left Facebook, neither said exactly why. The implication that it was due to his quiet donation to a group spreading pro-Trump memes. Now, however, we might have a better idea — and it raises questions about Fac…
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Many of us are waiting patiently for Fortnite to finally launch on Android with the game having become available on Apple’s iOS way back in March. It seems that PUBG‘s arch-rival will finally make its début on Android at the same time as the Galaxy Note 9 launch, that’s right, it’s going to be exclusively available on […]
Come comment on this article: Fortnite for Android is reportedly a 30-day exclusive to Samsung’s Galaxy Note 9
Uber is facing some intense scrutiny after one of its self-driving cars struck and killed a pedestrian in Arizona ten days ago. The company (along with it's partner, NVIDIA) has stopped testing its autonomous vehicle in cities across the US, and the…
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Astonishingly, Apple's long-delayed HomePod speaker might not be the last to market when it launches early next year. Samsung will release its own smart speaker in the first half of 2018, according to a Bloomberg report. Unsurprisingly, it will repor…
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