DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ Google ordered to open Android app store in Epic Games trial
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-07 | by ( Kif Leswing | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

A U.S. judge issued a permanent injunction on Monday that will force Google to offer alternatives to its Google Play store for downloading apps on Android phones. Google will also be restricted from paying fees or sharing revenue with companies in exchange for them choosing not to compete with Google's app store. The Fortnite maker accused Google of anti-competitive practices, including paying hardware companies and Android phone makers to not develop competing app stores. Epic Games prevailed over Google late last year, and Monday's filing details the changes Google has to make. Epic Games mostly lost in a very similar suit against Apple and its control of the App Store.

Persons: Judge James Donato, Apple's, Tim Sweeney, Sweeney Organizations: Epic, Google, Games, Epic Games, Apple Locations: Los Angeles, U.S, California

☆ Check out 7 new emojis that could hit your iPhone next year, including a tired face with eyebags and a shovel
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-22 | by ( Sarah Jackson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Several new emojis have been proposed for addition to your devices' operating systems. They're up for approval later this year and after that, would reach your phones likely in 2025. From a tired face with eyebags to a leafless tree, here's a closer look at the 7 new emoji. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . There are seven new emoji being put up for approval before the emoji body Unicode Consortium later this year.

Persons: eyebags, — Organizations: Service, Business

☆ How Google CEO Sundar Pichai shook up his leadership team for the AI era
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-16 | by ( Hugh Langley | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +11 min

It came almost 12 months after Google combined two key AI groups, DeepMind and Google Brain. Google's AI MVPGoogle DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis GoogleDemis Hassabis might be the most important person at Google right now. Then, in April last year, Pichai announced he would merge DeepMind with Google's in-house AI unit, known as Brain, into a supergroup named Google DeepMind. Reid reports directly to Raghavan, the ads and search senior vice president, and is shepherding a dramatic transition of Google Search. Fears of chatbots eating into Google's search dominance have yet to be realized, giving Google time to reinvent its most hallowed product.

Persons: —, Sundar Pichai, Pichai, Susan Wojcicki, Demis, Hassabis, Larry Page, DeepMind, OpenAI, it's, accrues, ED JONES, Rick Osterloh, Sameer Samat, he'll, Hiroshi Lockheimer, Osterloh, Prabhakar Raghavan, Siri, Tim Cook, Hiroshi, SAJJAD HUSSAIN, Liz Reid, Reid, Raghavan, Pandu Nayak, Venkatachary, It's, chatbots, Bernstein, Mark Shmulik Organizations: Service, Google, Business, Google's, BI, Research, Hassabis, Android, Apple, Apple's Vision, CNBC, Google Local Locations: Raxium

☆ Google wants to make Android users super-texters with new AI features
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-26 | by ( Camilo Fonseca | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Google Messages will now have access to the company's Gemini chatbot and custom "photomojis." The standout announcement is that Gemini, Google's own AI chatbot, will be available in the Google Messages app. The Gemini chatbot was formerly known as Bard, before Google rebranded its AI portfolio earlier this year. AdvertisementGoogle Messages users now have access to a beta version of the Gemini chatbot. Android's "photomoji" allows Google Messages users to crop emojis out of their camera roll.

Persons: —, chatbot, Bard, Tim Cook, We've Organizations: Google, Service, Mobile, Congress, Android, Apple Locations: Barcelona, Canada

(Photo by Mandel NGAN / AFP) (Photo by MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images)Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai on Tuesday confirmed that Google pays Apple 36% of Safari search revenue, under the terms of a default search agreement that is core to the Justice Department's antitrust claims. Pichai was testifying in a separate lawsuit filed against Google by Epic Games, the maker of Fortnite. The Epic attorney then alleged that Google pays Samsung, Android's largest hardware partner, less than half of what it pays to Apple. Google's TAC costs include all of Google's payments to companies like Apple and Samsung to place its search engine in front of users. Apple, Google and Samsung did not immediately respond to CNBC's request for comment on Pichai's testimony.

Persons: Sundar Pichai, Mandel NGAN, MANDEL NGAN, Pichai, Google's, Kevin Murphy, Murphy, Connolly, John Schmidtlein, Leswing Organizations: Artificial Intelligence, Getty, Google, Apple, Epic Games, Washington , D.C, Samsung, Google's TAC, University of Chicago, Williams, Department, D.C Locations: Washington ,, AFP, Virginia, Washington

☆ Apple reportedly abandoned a secretive project that would have made the Apple Watch compatible with Android phones
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-01 | by ( Lakshmi Varanasi | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Apple reportedly considered making the Apple Watch compatible with Androids under a secret project. The project was reportedly abandoned over concerns it could impact iPhone sales, Bloomberg reported. Apple previously had similar concerns around making iMessage for Android, with an exec saying it would hurt Apple more than help. AdvertisementAdvertisementIf you buy one Apple product, Apple wants you to be tempted to buy another — and that's why we might never get an Android-compatible Apple Watch. You need an iPhone to set up an Apple Watch, for example.

Persons: —, Apple, smartwatch, Apple's, Craig Federighi, Phil Schiller Organizations: Apple, Apple Watch, Bloomberg, Android, Service, Epic Games Locations: Brazil, India, Indonesia, Iran, Turkey

☆ Apple's iPhone loses top spot in China to Huawei: Analysts
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-16 | by ( Ashley Capoot | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Apple's iPhone has officially been dethroned from its position as the smartphone market share leader in China, according to a Monday report from Jefferies analysts. But Apple's iPhone has seen a significant, double-digit decline, and its volume growth year over year has been negative since the iPhone 15 launched, according to the analysts. "We believe weak demand in China would eventually lead to lower-than-expected global shipments of iPhone 15 in 2023," the analysts wrote, adding that the trend suggests the iPhone will "lose" to Huawei next year. The analysts noted that resale iPhone 15 devices are all "trading at discounts to official selling prices," which also reflects the weak demand in China. The Morgan Stanley analysts said they will be watching Apple's total revenue, services revenue growth, gross margin and revenue growth in China from its September quarter, but that the December quarter guide "is what will matter most."

Persons: Tim Cook, Morgan Stanley, Apple, Michael Bloom Organizations: Apple, Jefferies, Huawei, Xiaomi Locations: Cupertino , California, China

Learn moreSamsung's Galaxy Watch line of wearables has long been Android's answer to the Apple Watch, offering as close to a comparable experience as there is. With the recent release of the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 and Watch 6 Classic, that distinction is true for yet another year. It does have the largest screen of any Galaxy Watch, measuring 3mm larger than the Watch 5 Pro. If it's accurate activity tracking you're after in a Galaxy Watch, the Watch 5 Pro is a far better option with more reliable GPS. AdvertisementAdvertisementThe best experience requires the use of a Samsung phoneCompatibility has long been a weakness of the Samsung Galaxy Watch, and the Watch 6 Classic is no different.

Persons: Rick Stella, It's, durably Organizations: Galaxy, Apple Watch, Samsung Galaxy Watch, Galaxy Watch, Samsung, Navigation, Samsung Galaxy, Samsung Health Monitor

☆ Popular tech YouTuber finds the iPhone beats out Android in a head-to-head comparison, but says it's impossible to declare an 'objective winner'
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-05 | by ( Kylie Kirschner | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Prominent tech reviewer and YouTuber MKBHD weighed in on the age-old Apple vs. Android debate. This video comes after Instagram head Adam Mosseri reignited the debate by declaring Android better. To figure out your own personal winner, Brownlee suggested viewers give each of the 7 categories a rating from 1 to 5 based on how much they care about it. Then, based on the earlier head-to-head, viewers should add up the scores they gave all of the iPhone-won categories and the scores they gave to the Android-won categories. AdvertisementAdvertisementFollowing this weighted system, Brownlee found his personal winner was Android, which he said he uses as his main device while also using an iPhone.

Persons: YouTuber MKBHD, Apple, Adam Mosseri, YouTuber Marques Brownlee, That's, Brownlee, doesn't, Instagram Organizations: Apple, Service Locations: Wall, Silicon

☆ 'Android's now better than iOS': Instagram boss weighs in on the age-old iPhone vs. Android debate
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-23 | by ( Haley Tenore | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Instagram head Adam Mosseri said Android is "now better" than Apple's iOS. Which is better: iPhone or Android? "Android's now better than iOS," Mosseri posted on Threads in response to tech YouTuber Marques Brownlee, aka MKBHD, who had asked for people's best tech "hot takes." Both Android and iOS have been wildly successful since the introduction of the first iPhone and Android phones in 2007 and 2008, respectively. As of the first quarter of 2023, Apple held an estimated 52% US smartphone market share, with Samsung the runner-up with a 27% share.

Persons: Adam Mosseri, YouTuber Marques Brownlee, reigniting, Android's, Mosseri, Marques Brownlee, MKBHD, Apple hasn't, Sameer Samat Organizations: Android, Morning, iOS, Meta, Counterpoint Research, Apple, Samsung, Google, Lenovo

☆ Tim Cook is bullish on India being the new China for Apple. These 3 charts show there's a long way to go.
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-24 | by ( Beatrice Nolan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

This first store comes 14 years after Apple first opened in China, and Cook has sometimes compared the two markets. And so I'm very, very bullish and very, very optimistic about India," Cook told investors on an earnings call in 2017. In the same year, Apple only took 6% of the market share in India compared to Android's 94%. Apple has increased iOS device sales over the years to claim 17% market share from rivals, per Counterpoint Research's data. For Cook, India could offer similar tantalizing growth.

☆ iPhone users will soon be able to send iMessages through their PCs
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-28 | by ( Britney Nguyen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Phone Link for iOS will let iPhone users send and receive iMessages on their Windows devices. Despite not being able to share photos on Phone Link, iCloud Photos is already integrated into the Windows 11 Photos app. Messages sent from Phone Link appear as iMessages on iPhones, Yusuf Mehdi, Microsoft's head of consumer marketing, told The Verge. "It's something we've been wanting to do for a long time," Mehdi told The Verge about bringing iOS users to Phone Link. However, Apple hasn't budged towards switching to RCS, and CEO Tim Cook has previously said he doesn't hear many Apple users request a change to texting between iPhones and Androids.

☆ GenZers who own an Android have lost track of how many times they've been bullied for not having an iPhone but they still refuse to switch
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-22 | by ( Jordan Hart | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Gen Z accounts for 34 percent of iPhone users and just 10 percent of Samsung users, according to data reported by Financial Times. Two Android phone users in their twenties told Insider that because of the wide disparity, they face challenges as minorities in the digital world. However, issues with being the only one with an Android phone still affect Carrier's friendships. According to Avila, Android users were seen as "poor or a loser," and the mentality gained popularity online. "Even if Androids are the better phone, that stigma would never make me get one," Avila told Insider.

☆ Google's massive New Year billboard ad told Apple to fix 'pixelated' photos and videos in texts between iPhones and Androids
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-16 | by ( Britney Nguyen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

A Google ad told Apple it doesn't have to "drop the ball" on fixing "pixelated photos and videos." The ad is part of Google's #GetTheMessage campaign urging Apple to adopt the RCS standard. In the New Year's-themed ad, Google shared lines of RCS code to help Apple "get the ball rolling." In December, Google continued its campaign against Apple with a "happy birthday" post for SMS which turned 30 in 2022. Apple CEO Tim Cook has said he doesn't hear many requests from Apple users to fix texting between iPhones and Android phones.

The only way to screenshot someone's Snapchat without them knowing is by using another device. Android users can also use screen recording or Google Assistant to secretly screenshot a Snapchat. These days, there's only one guaranteed way to screenshot someone on Snapchat without them knowing: Using a camera. How to take a screenshot on Snapchat without someone knowingWith another cameraUsing your iPhone or Android's built-in screenshot feature to capture someone's Snap will send that person a notification. Use Google Assistant on AndroidAndroid users also have another trick up their sleeve for taking a screenshot on Snapchat without the other person knowing: Google Assistant.

☆ Google to appeal India antitrust ruling on Android
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

BENGALURU, Dec 23 (Reuters) - Alphabet's Google (GOOGL.O) said on Friday it will appeal the Indian antitrust watchdog's ruling that ordered the tech giant to change its approach to its Android platform and imposed a fine of $162 million for anti-competitive practices. Reuters had earlier reported that the CCI ruling worried Google as it sought wider-ranging remedial measures. "Android has greatly benefitted Indian users, developers, and OEMs (original equipment manufacturers), and powered India's digital transformation. Google plans to appeal that decision as well, where it faces a record $4.1 billion fine. The U.S. tech giant, Android has created more choice for everyone and such agreements help keep the operating system free.

Incoming calls on your Android phone that inexplicably go straight to voicemail without ringing is a mundane — yet frustrating — issue. How to troubleshoot your Android when incoming calls go straight to voicemailHere are six things to troubleshoot when your calls go straight to voicemail — and the one thing you should do when nothing else works. Make sure the toggles in the Incoming calls section – All incoming calls and All incoming calls when roaming – are turned off. Turn off "All incoming calls" and "All incoming calls when roaming." If your coverage is very weak, incoming calls can go straight to voicemail.

☆ Buying new iPhone for better camera, battery, faster chip? Cybersecurity got an upgrade, too
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-25 | by ( Kaitlin Balasaygun | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Customers shop at the Apple Fifth Avenue store for the release of the Apple iPhone 14 in New York City, September 16, 2022. Improved low-light photo abilities and the extended battery life may have appeal than security upgrades on the new Apple iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, iPhone 14 Pro or iPhone 14 Pro Max. While in Lockdown Mode, phone calls, plain text messages and emergency features will continue to work. The switch to eSIM-only phonesSteve Jobs never wanted the original iPhone to have a SIM card tray, and the iPhone 14 models are finally achieving this goal. All iPhone 14 models purchased in the U.S. are eSIM-only, which enables users to easily connect and transfer their plans digitally.

Elon Musk fired one of Twitter’s software engineers on Monday after the pair argued publicly over what Musk said was the company’s subpar experience for Android users. Some of the software engineer’s colleagues appeared initially uncertain as to whether Musk's tweet firing Frohnhoefer was sincere. Musk began exchanging tweets with Frohnhoefer on Sunday after the software engineer disputed a tweet from Musk about why the app had been "super slow in many countries" for those who use the Android operating system. "I have spent ~6yrs working on Twitter for Android and can say this is wrong," Frohnhoefer tweeted. Amid the back-and-forth, a Twitter user on Monday suggested Musk may not want Frohnhoefer "on your team."

☆ Google will pay $391.5 million to a settle a lawsuit on accusations of misleading users on its location-tracking practices
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-14 | by ( Aaron Mok | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Google agreed to pay $391.5 million settle accusations of misleading location tracking practices, reported the New York Times. The decision comes after Google announced that it will limit Android's ad-tracking practices. The accusations also comes in the wake of an ongoing debate between Democrats and Republicans on how far federal privacy laws should go to limit businesses like Google from collecting personal user data. Google, in particular, collects user geolocation data and uses it to sell targeted ads which can be beneficial for retailers to sell their products. In October, Google settled a similar $85 million lawsuit with the state of Arizona.

☆ Google calls India antitrust watchdog's Android decision a "setback" for consumers
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

A man walks past the sign of "Google for India", the company's annual technology event in New Delhi, India, September 19, 2019. REUTERS/Sankalp PhartiyalBENGALURU, Oct 21 (Reuters) - Alphabet Inc's (GOOGL.O) Google said on Friday that the Indian antitrust watchdog's decision to fine it 13.38 billion Indian rupees ($161.95 million) for anti-competitive practices was a "major setback" for consumers and businesses in the country. read moreBesides the fine, the CCI also ordered Google to change its approach to its Android platform and restricted it from certain revenue sharing agreements with smartphone makers. "The CCI's decision is a major setback for Indian consumers and businesses, opening serious security risks for Indians who trust Android's security features, and raising the cost of mobile devices for Indians." Google said it will review the decision to evaluate next steps.

☆ Google is giving Apple a dose of its own medicine. iPhones owners will now get annoying messages that an Android user 'reacted' to their text.
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-20 | by ( Britney Nguyen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

iPhones exchange messages using iMessage, Apple's proprietary messaging system, but revert to SMS when texting an Android. Text messages sent with RCS would work like iMessages between iPhone users, according to The Verge. For example, like in iMessage, Google Messages users will be able to watch YouTube videos in the app, and can make a calendar event if a date or time is sent in a message. Recently, Apple CEO Tim Cook said he doesn't get a lot of feedback from iPhone users that Apple needs to fix messaging between iPhones and Androids. In legal documents from a 2021 lawsuit between Epic Games and Apple, an Apple executive said "Moving iMessage to Android will hurt us more than help us."

Depending on the phone model and OS, airplane mode may disable Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, but it won't turn off GPS. Though your phone's location services should work while in airplane mode, your phone can't be tracked by outside devices or services. Your phone's airplane mode is designed to disable wireless signals that might interfere with the sensitive electronic systems on an airplane. With rare exception, though, airplane mode doesn't interfere with your ability to use GPS for location services on your phone. Does airplane mode turn off location services on your phone?

It's possible to change the lock screen on an Android using a photo of your own or one of the built-in wallpapers on the device. If you have an Android phone, there are actually two different ways to change your lock screen. Check out the products mentioned in this article:How to change the lock screen on an Android to your own photo1. Choose "Lock Screen" from the menu — or, if you want it to be the background of your phone after it unlocks as well, choose "Home screen and lock screen." Select "lock screen" or "home screen and lock screen" to set the wallpaper.

Search resuls for: "Android's"

24 mentions found