WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.000 Don't you just love computers? There's 00:00:03.080 --> 00:00:09.480 with the plastic and the wiring and they got lights and stuff. I don't know. I 00:00:06.960 --> 00:00:14.840 just think they're cute. Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney finally has his first big 00:00:12.240 --> 00:00:18.080 win after spending 3 years crusading against Apple and Google's app stores 00:00:16.600 --> 00:00:23.880 instead of making the Epic Games store not suck so it wouldn't depend on exclusive games. Hey, but to each their 00:00:21.200 --> 00:00:28.600 own. On Monday, the jury in the Epic v Google trial unanimously agreed with 00:00:26.120 --> 00:00:33.240 Epic's argument that Google illegally used monopoly power and anti-competitive 00:00:31.200 --> 00:00:37.520 business deals to ensure the Play Store remains dominant in the Android app 00:00:35.280 --> 00:00:41.880 distribution market, thereby crushing Epic's plans to bypass the Play Store 00:00:39.600 --> 00:00:46.320 tax. Now, this may be confusing given that Epic lost in court making basically 00:00:44.320 --> 00:00:51.000 the same argument against Apple who bears a much stronger resemblance to 00:00:48.400 --> 00:00:55.760 this guy, but Epic's case against Google was actually made easier since Google 00:00:53.280 --> 00:00:59.440 does allow third-party app stores on Android while doing everything they can 00:00:58.080 --> 00:01:03.880 behind the scenes to ensure those all fail. Google was also hurt by the fact 00:01:01.520 --> 00:01:07.800 that its executives wrote things down allowing incriminating documents to be 00:01:05.720 --> 00:01:11.240 obtained by Epic's covert task force of elite Fortnite hackers. 00:01:09.200 --> 00:01:15.120 This security system is mid, no cap. Bro, if you want a full deep dive on 00:01:13.040 --> 00:01:17.680 this, I did a full deep dive in this TechLinked. 00:01:16.440 --> 00:01:21.840 I think it's pretty good. Now, this development could fundamentally change 00:01:19.880 --> 00:01:25.960 the app store landscape for both Apple and Google, but of course Google will 00:01:24.200 --> 00:01:30.600 appeal the ruling and if it sticks, it'll be years before the changes affect 00:01:27.840 --> 00:01:35.680 end users. But Tim Sweeney is good at the long game. Fortnite has survived and 00:01:33.360 --> 00:01:39.320 as evidenced by a recent launch of games within a game like Lego Fortnite which 00:01:37.600 --> 00:01:43.760 is actually Minecraft, is actually blossoming into a metaverse of its own. 00:01:42.040 --> 00:01:48.680 One that won't have to hand over a cut of its Android revenue to Google. So, 00:01:46.160 --> 00:01:52.600 what's next? Well, according to Tim, he's taking the fight back to Cupertino 00:01:50.760 --> 00:01:57.200 so he can lose again. Speaking of antitrust and Apple, early next year EU 00:01:55.200 --> 00:02:01.880 regulators are likely to serve Apple with a ban on app store rules that block 00:02:00.000 --> 00:02:05.120 music services from steering users away from the app store and towards other 00:02:03.600 --> 00:02:09.560 subscription options. It's also theoretically possible that the European 00:02:07.000 --> 00:02:13.320 Council could fine Apple up to 10% of annual sales as part of the decision, 00:02:11.800 --> 00:02:17.040 but a fine of that scale would be extremely unusual. After all, the mark 00:02:15.400 --> 00:02:20.560 of a good threat is that you never have to follow through. Good night, app store 00:02:18.760 --> 00:02:26.040 you have. Shame would be if something were to happen to it. EU regulators are also investigating how 00:02:23.760 --> 00:02:30.960 Apple restricts access to mobile payment features on its devices prompting Apple 00:02:28.280 --> 00:02:34.600 to offer opening up its tap-and-go system Pay competitors 00:02:32.840 --> 00:02:38.040 for some reason. Meanwhile, the right to repair movement is gaining traction in 00:02:36.560 --> 00:02:44.680 North America and the European Parliament recently voted near unanimously to pass new aggressive right 00:02:41.920 --> 00:02:48.400 to repair legislation. Apple, by pure coincidence, is expanding its 00:02:46.440 --> 00:02:54.120 self-repair program to more devices including the iPhone 15 and newer M2 00:02:50.720 --> 00:02:56.080 MacBook models. M2. It's also released a 00:02:54.120 --> 00:03:00.400 relatively sophisticated web-based diagnostic tool that will give users 00:02:58.080 --> 00:03:04.440 access to the same testing abilities as Apple authorized providers. This 00:03:02.640 --> 00:03:09.200 diagnostic tool is currently available only in the US, but will be expanding to 00:03:06.920 --> 00:03:13.720 Europe next year. Or else. The California Department of 00:03:11.400 --> 00:03:18.400 Motor Vehicles is accusing Tesla of false advertising regarding its 00:03:15.640 --> 00:03:23.240 so-called full self-driving feature. A feature that does not and cannot fully 00:03:21.080 --> 00:03:28.800 automate a car, but sure does sound like it can. In response, Tesla's lawyers are 00:03:26.000 --> 00:03:33.640 arguing that the DMV implicitly condoned its marketing because Tesla started 00:03:30.600 --> 00:03:36.400 using the term autopilot in 2014 and 00:03:33.640 --> 00:03:39.680 full self-driving in 2016 and the DMV chose not to take action until 2021. 00:03:38.920 --> 00:03:44.520 Like if the cops don't see, it's legal. Tesla 00:03:42.400 --> 00:03:48.720 also claims that California's false advertising rules for autonomous 00:03:46.080 --> 00:03:52.880 vehicles inappropriately restrict constitutionally protected speech that 00:03:50.720 --> 00:03:57.040 is truthful and non-misleading. Now, that might be relevant if it weren't for 00:03:55.200 --> 00:04:01.720 the fact that unprotected speech that is dishonest and very misleading is exactly 00:03:59.760 --> 00:04:06.000 what they're currently accused of. Tesla recently escaped a class action lawsuit 00:04:04.040 --> 00:04:09.520 for alleged false advertisement, but that's largely due to a forced 00:04:07.440 --> 00:04:15.720 arbitration clause embedded in Tesla's terms and conditions. Today, Tesla also 00:04:12.000 --> 00:04:17.840 issued a recall of over 2 million cars 00:04:15.720 --> 00:04:22.200 which is basically all of them in the US for a partial defect in Tesla's 00:04:20.040 --> 00:04:25.840 autopilot controls which the Highway Traffic Safety Administration found 00:04:24.120 --> 00:04:29.480 didn't sufficiently ensure that drivers were paying attention and then prevent 00:04:27.720 --> 00:04:33.840 them from using it under inappropriate conditions. Of course, by recall, 00:04:32.040 --> 00:04:37.640 regulators just mean an over-the-air patch to the infotainment system. Just 00:04:35.880 --> 00:04:40.960 in case you weren't already worried that automotive safety regulators are 00:04:39.040 --> 00:04:44.480 dangerously behind the times. Now, it's time for quick bits brought to you by 00:04:42.520 --> 00:04:48.120 Manscaped. If you're looking for a way to quickly take care of your bits, 00:04:46.320 --> 00:04:53.040 Manscaped's on the case with their Performance Package 5.0 Ultra. It 00:04:50.760 --> 00:04:57.400 includes the Lawn Mower 5.0 Ultra so you can mow the lawn as well as the Weed 00:04:54.880 --> 00:05:00.400 Whacker 2.0 for your ears and nose so it doesn't look like a kraken is trying to 00:04:58.880 --> 00:05:04.000 escape from up there. You'll even get their Crop Soother and Crop Preserver 00:05:02.200 --> 00:05:07.360 which will keep you smelling fresh down in your nether regions. Because 00:05:05.520 --> 00:05:11.360 remember, taking care of your hygiene is the manliest thing you can do depending 00:05:09.440 --> 00:05:15.800 on your conception of gender. Check out the Performance Package 5.0 Ultra at 00:05:13.920 --> 00:05:20.040 manscaped.com/techlinked and use the code TechLinked for 20% off 00:05:18.200 --> 00:05:24.440 and free shipping. It was recently discovered that every quick bit emits 00:05:22.360 --> 00:05:27.600 low-level radiation. Don't worry, you folks at home are 00:05:25.440 --> 00:05:30.920 perfectly safe. I, however, have 6 months to live. I've been doing this a 00:05:28.840 --> 00:05:35.200 while. In response to a concerned post by a Chinese user, AMD has clarified 00:05:32.960 --> 00:05:39.480 that while yes, overclocking a Ryzen Threadripper 7000 does blow a hidden 00:05:37.760 --> 00:05:43.480 fuse to indicate that the chip has been used with overclocking, but 00:05:43.840 --> 00:05:50.320 that doesn't necessarily void its warranty. According to AMD's standard 00:05:48.040 --> 00:05:55.360 terms of sale, damage that directly results from overclocking may not 00:05:52.800 --> 00:05:59.520 qualify for repair under warranty, but an overclocked chip is still covered by 00:05:57.360 --> 00:06:04.720 warranty for replacement or repair for other issues. Nothing has changed so 00:06:01.640 --> 00:06:06.880 overclockers can relax and keep overing 00:06:04.720 --> 00:06:11.480 those clocks. Cow tipping, I think. All right, let's just up the voltage a bit. 00:06:09.360 --> 00:06:15.560 Huh? That's dumb. The Australian Competition 00:06:13.600 --> 00:06:22.080 and Consumer Commission has hit Google subsidiary Fitbit with a 7.3 million USD 00:06:19.960 --> 00:06:27.360 fine for making misleading claims to at least 58 customers about its warranties. 00:06:24.960 --> 00:06:33.200 I'd say it was warranted. Well, the fine is only 3.8% of Fitbit's 00:06:30.000 --> 00:06:35.680 $190 million net income last year, it's 00:06:33.200 --> 00:06:39.600 also over 120,000 per customer lied to. Fitbit 00:06:37.720 --> 00:06:43.480 representatives reportedly told several customers they only had 45 days to 00:06:41.720 --> 00:06:46.440 return a faulty device. They told another that they couldn't receive a 00:06:44.880 --> 00:06:52.120 refund because the device wasn't purchased directly from the Fitbit website. According to Australian law, 00:06:50.400 --> 00:06:56.360 goods sold in the country must hit a certain threshold of quality and fit to 00:06:54.440 --> 00:07:00.920 purpose or the customer must be offered a repair, replacement, or refund. Either 00:06:58.480 --> 00:07:05.920 you comply or they drag you out into the desert and leave you to the kangaroos. 00:07:03.600 --> 00:07:10.960 They look cute, they're not. The FTC has released a warning advising citizens to 00:07:08.160 --> 00:07:15.480 be cautious when scanning QR codes given their increased use in scams and 00:07:13.040 --> 00:07:19.840 distribution of malware. Pictures of QR codes embedded in phishing emails can 00:07:17.520 --> 00:07:23.880 easily bypass normal security checks where a direct link to a malicious site 00:07:22.040 --> 00:07:27.400 would be quickly detected. You're also likely to find QR codes on restaurant 00:07:25.560 --> 00:07:31.200 tables, shop Windows, posters, and parking lot kiosks which just makes it 00:07:29.480 --> 00:07:35.520 easy for a scam artist to just paste their own code over the authentic one. 00:07:33.120 --> 00:07:39.560 Also, why do we call them scam artists? This is like sandwich artist all over 00:07:37.040 --> 00:07:44.720 again. It's just mustard. You're not Picasso. Valve has asked 00:07:41.840 --> 00:07:49.800 Steam Deck owners to please stop inhaling the device's exhaust fumes. 00:07:47.800 --> 00:07:54.040 A writer for Kotaku has elected to ignore the health and safety advice 00:07:51.640 --> 00:07:59.600 because they can't stop, quote, smelling the hot plasticky, almost fruity scent. 00:07:57.320 --> 00:08:03.680 Apparently, a non-zero amount of people on Reddit feels strongly about the scent 00:08:01.880 --> 00:08:07.760 with one commenter lamenting the day their Deck stopped smelling. 00:08:05.840 --> 00:08:12.240 Or maybe his olfactory nerve finally died of Deck poisoning. I'm so happy I 00:08:10.440 --> 00:08:17.120 got to write that. Why do we love what's bad for us? And an 00:08:14.320 --> 00:08:21.360 AI companion robot has been dividing New York's elderly community. What show is 00:08:19.360 --> 00:08:26.000 this? Is this local news? All right, here we go. ElliQ has been given out to 00:08:23.720 --> 00:08:30.000 hundreds of lonely seniors as part of an initiative by the New York State 00:08:27.480 --> 00:08:34.479 Government's Office for the Aging. While many seniors seem to enjoy the company, 00:08:32.320 --> 00:08:39.680 others likened the robot's reminders and prompts to nagging and even called the 00:08:36.919 --> 00:08:44.360 device's tone rude. Man, if one of them says kids these days, I'll finally win 00:08:41.880 --> 00:08:48.120 elderly catchphrase bingo. Finally, we strike back against Big Grandma. And 00:08:46.320 --> 00:08:52.400 you'll win more tech news if you come back on Friday for another episode of 00:08:49.760 --> 00:08:56.480 TechLinked. Don't forget. This is me reminding you to sub. 00:08:55.160 --> 00:08:59.080 Better see you there. Okay.