Following an antitrust verdict, Google has appealed the court’s decision to open its Play Store to third-party marketplaces. The tech giant also seeks to block Epic Games’ demands for competing app stores and payment system modifications, mirroring Apple’s tactics in a similar dispute. Google argues that Android is not a standalone market and faces direct competition from Apple’s iOS, emphasizing the platform’s role in expanding choice and affordability for users.
In a significant victory for Epic Games, a US judge has ordered Google to allow competing app stores within the Google Play Store for the next three years. This ruling comes after a long-running antitrust lawsuit against Google, challenging its control over Android’s app distribution. The decision could have a major impact on the mobile app market, potentially giving developers more options and users more control over their devices.
A U.S. District judge has ordered Alphabet, Inc. (GOOG, GOOGL) to open its Google Play Store to competitors, a major victory for developers and a potential shift in the mobile app market. The ruling requires Google to allow third-party app stores on Android devices and grant them access to the full catalog of Google Play apps. This decision could lead to increased competition and potentially lower prices for consumers.
Google’s new safety features designed to prevent theft and unauthorized access on Android devices are beginning to roll out to users in the US, ahead of the official Android 15 release. These features include Theft Detection Lock, Offline Device Lock, and Remote Lock, which aim to protect user data and prevent unauthorized access to stolen phones.
Google has unveiled a significant update to its search engine, leveraging AI to enhance Google Lens capabilities, enrich search results pages, and introduce AI Overviews with paid ads. This new wave of features promises a more intuitive and informative search experience, while also introducing a new monetization strategy for Google.
Gmail is enhancing its user experience with dynamic summary cards, designed to simplify the management of important information like purchases, events, bills, and travel details. These cards offer a more comprehensive and interactive way to track and manage key details directly from your inbox, eliminating the need to search through cluttered emails or multiple apps.
Google has offered a settlement proposal to resolve an antitrust case in India. The investigation found that Google’s agreements with smart TV manufacturers potentially violated the country’s competition laws. This would be the first instance of a company using India’s new settlement scheme, which allows for reduced penalties.
Epic Games, the maker of Fortnite, has filed another lawsuit against Google, accusing them of collaborating with Samsung to restrict app installations on Samsung devices. This follows Epic’s previous victory against Google regarding antitrust violations in the Android app store. The lawsuit centers on Samsung’s ‘Auto Blocker’ feature, which Epic claims is designed to prevent users from installing apps from sources other than the Google Play Store or Samsung Galaxy Store. Epic argues that this feature undermines the jury’s verdict in the previous lawsuit and reinforces Google’s dominance in the Android app market.
Google has announced two new Chromebooks, the Samsung Galaxy Chromebook Plus and Lenovo Chromebook Duet 11, along with a host of new AI features for all Chromebooks. The Galaxy Chromebook Plus boasts an OLED display and the Quick Insert key for quick access to AI features, while the Duet 11 is a tablet-style Chromebook designed for students. Google is also rolling out AI-powered features like Help Me Read for text summaries, Live Translate for video captions, and more, across all Chromebooks.
The Google Pixel Watch 3 is a significant upgrade over its predecessors, boasting improved performance, a larger screen, and remarkably longer battery life. While the larger size might not appeal to everyone, it makes the watch a compelling option for those seeking a feature-rich and durable smartwatch experience. This review delves into the Pixel Watch 3’s strengths, including its fitness tracking capabilities, integration with Google’s ecosystem, and overall user experience.
