Harmony Evans's Blog, page 604
December 11, 2023
Epic Games: Jury finds Google Play Store has monopoly
Epic Games has beaten Google in court after a three-year-long legal battle against the tech giant over how it operates the Play Store.
It took a jury in San Francisco only a couple of hours to deliberate and rule that Google Play Store – the online app market for Android – is an illegal monopoly, court documents on Monday (Dec 11) show.
The verdict is a major win for the makers of Fortnite. The court agreed with Epic Games’ assertion that Google has a monopoly on Android apps via its store and also that the trillion-dollar company has stifled competition through its business practices, specifically by paying developers to ensure it keeps its grip on the market in place.
Furthermore, the jury found Google has an illegal link between its Google Play Store app store and its Google Play Billing payment services and that its distribution agreement, Project Hug deals with game developers and deals with OEMs were all anti-competitive, reports The Verge.
Epic Games hails ‘win for all’ against GoogleEpic Games hailed their victory as “a win for all app developers and consumers around the world” in a forthright statement on their website.
The company said: “[the verdict] proves that Google’s app store practices are illegal and they abuse their monopoly to extract exorbitant fees, stifle competition and reduce innovation.
“Over the course of the trial we saw evidence that Google was willing to pay billions of dollars to stifle alternative app stores by paying developers to abandon their own store efforts and direct distribution plans and offering highly lucrative agreements with device manufacturers in exchange for excluding competing app stores.
“These deals were meant to cement Google’s dominance as the only app store in town – and it worked. More than 95% of apps are distributed through the Play Store on Android.”
Epic didn’t stop there. They also aimed other Silicon Valley titans like Apple for their “stranglehold” over the smartphone market and welcomed recent legislation aimed at tackling the market dominance of some of the world’s biggest companies.
Google responds to Play Store verdictIt’s not yet known exactly what Epic Games will receive in compensation. The judge is still to decide what penalty Google faces, but already the search giant has signaled it will not accept the verdict.
Wilson White, Google VP, of Government Affairs & Public Policy told The Verge: “We plan to challenge the verdict. Android and Google Play provide more choice and openness than any other major mobile platform.
“The trial made clear that we compete fiercely with Apple and its App Store, as well as app stores on Android devices and gaming consoles. We will continue to defend the Android business model and remain deeply committed to our users, partners, and the broader Android ecosystem.”
Featured Image: Canva
Sam SheddenSam Shedden is an experienced journalist and editor with over a decade of experience in online news. A seasoned technology writer and content strategist, he has contributed to many UK regional and national publications.
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Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson Now Trying to Stop the Flow of Illegals Into the City by Suing Bus Companies | The Gateway Pundit
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson has thought up a new plan to stop the flow of illegal border crossers into the city. He is suing the bus companies that are transporting them.
He cannot simply call out the Biden administration for their open border policy, so he is going after the people who are driving the illegals to his city. It’s a completely backwards idea that essentially lets Biden off the hook.
The bus companies are not the root of this problem.
FOX News reports:
Chicago mayor launches lawsuits against companies transporting ‘rogue buses’ of migrants to city
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson has begun filing dozens of lawsuits against “rogue” bus companies transporting migrants from the southern border.
In an effort to show the seriousness of the migrant crisis, some Republican governors have sent buses of migrants to Democrat-controlled states and sanctuary cities. These Republicans argue the action is necessary to show the rest of the country what border states are dealing with due to the surge of migrants.
The Chicago Tribune (The Tribune) went into detail about how Johnson’s administration has begun filing lawsuits against those behind the transportation of migrants.
“The care of more than 24,400 migrants who have arrived in Chicago since August 2022 has taken on heightened urgency as winter sets in, and tested the limits of how welcoming the city can be,” The Tribune reported. “The city has filed 55 lawsuits since it implemented new rules about when and where buses can arrive in mid-November, the Law Department said. The lawsuits address 77 total buses accused of violating the rules, and public records show at least some cases are seeking fines against the bus companies.”
Mayor’s office spokesman Cassio Mendoza, in a statement to The Tribune, slammed “rogue, uncoordinated” buses, claiming they are endangering the lives of migrants, and called for bus companies to be held accountable.
Jazz Shaw of Hot Air makes a good point about this:
What Johnson is attempting here is a sort of economic warfare, or perhaps economic civil war. He can’t stop Abbott from sending the buses to Chicago, so he’s threatening economic punishment on the bussing companies that are simply performing their normal function. He apparently feels that if he can frighten or damage the companies enough, they will begin refusing to provide service in Texas.
We’re talking about basic transportation and the freedom of movement here. Certainly, the illegal migrants shouldn’t be free to move about in the first place and should really have been sent back to Mexico. But once they’ve been caught and released, they are being given that freedom by the Biden administration and they’re taking advantage of it. Many of them have heard that Chicago is a “sanctuary” city so they want to head north to take them up on their offer. Abbott’s buses offer a free and easy way to make the trip.
At the end of the day, this is all about the Biden administration, not bus companies.
Brandon Johnson is just too weak to lay the blame at Biden’s feet.
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Nicki Minaj makes Roblox debut to promote her new album
Pop icon Nicki Minaj has jumped, pink boots first, into the metaverse to launch a virtual shop in Roblox to help promote her new album – Pink Friday 2.
Music Business Worldwide says the shop is called “Nicki Minaj’s Gag City’ and users can “explore a 3D shopping experience to buy exclusive emotes — expressive character animations for Roblox avatars — and digital items inspired by the artist’s iconic career moments and latest album.”
The first 100,000 visitors to the shop also receive a special free shoulder pet to celebrate Minaj’s birthday.
Minaj herself said: “I’m so excited to unveil this Gag City project, to give fans a new way of connecting with me and my music. This is the perfect way to celebrate the launch of Pink Friday 2 as my Barbz will be able to dress up just like me. Can’t wait to see thousands of Roblox Nickis running around Gag City.”
Minaj is the first female rapper to reach 1 billion views on YouTube with multiple solo tracks. Her debut album. Pink Friday made history selling 375,000 copies in the first week – the largest sales week for a female hip-hop artist since Lauryn Hill in 1998.
The Roblox metaverse experience has been created by Karta, which specializes in immersive shopping experiences within games such as Roblox.
Tony Barnes, Karta co-founder said, “We are thrilled to be working with the superstar and cultural icon Nicki Minaj on the launch of her official virtual fashion collection and shop on Roblox. As one of the most popular artists on the platform, it will be awesome to see Nicki’s fans, the BARBZ, interact with and enjoy this unique, immersive commerce experience.”
According to Music Business World, Karta raised $1.1 million in funding last July.
Paul McNallyPaul has been around consoles and computers since his parents bought him a Mattel Intellivision. He spent over a decade as editor of popular print-based video games and computer magazines, including a market-leading PlayStation title. Has written gaming content for GamePro, Official Australian PlayStation Magazine, PlayStation Pro, Amiga Action, Mega Action, ST Action, GQ, Loaded, and the Daily Mirror. Former champion shoot ’em-up legend.
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Michelle Obama Makes ‘Surprise’ Appearance at ‘American Symphony’ Premiere in Leather Corset | The Gateway Pundit
ka Goldring/Getty Images for Netflix
So this happened.
Michelle Obama made a surprise appearance at the ‘American Symphony’ premiere in New Orleans in a brown leather corset with her hair in a high ponytail.
How appropriate for a former First Lady.
“American Symphony takes its name from Batiste’s 2022 project. The Grammy-winning musician set out to create “an original symphony that reimagines the traditions of the classical form, bringing together an expansive and inclusive diaspora of music for a performance at storied Carnegie Hall.” The film documents his process as well as his wife’s battle with cancer, which they both believed to have been dormant,” Yahoo reported.
Yahoo reported:
Former first lady and national treasure Michelle Obama hit the red carpet last night for a screening of Netflix’s Jon Batiste documentary, American Symphony, in New Orleans, Louisiana. And while she’s not unfamiliar with the flashbulbs and the glamour that comes with a movie premiere (or state dinner), since she’s left her White House duties behind, Obama has shown off a more laid-back approach to her fashion choices and her combination of sumptuous leather corset and sky-high braided ponytail show just how much of a cool girl MObama is — and always has been.
Obama and her husband, former President Barack Obama, co-produced the documentary, which chronicles Batiste’s wife, Suleika Jaouad, and her battle with cancer. Jaouad later served on Barack Obama’s Presidential Cancer Panel, the national advisory board of Family Reach, and the Bone Marrow and Cancer Foundation.
Obama spoke at the screening last night and arrived on the carpet in a double-breasted brown leather jacket, which she paired with coordinating leather corset top and wide-leg pants. She wore her braids in a high ponytail and added a smoky eye and bold gold hoops for the occasion.
Michelle Obama needs a stylist.
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Shoppers Warned of Gift Card Scam Linked to Chinese National | The Gateway Pundit
Buyers of gift cards from retail locations are being warned to pay attention to their purchases.
Sacramento County Sheriff’s “Operation Bad Elf” has led to over 250 arrests for felonies and misdemeanors involved with big retail locations.
One of those arrested was a Chinese National Ningning Sun who had in his possession thousands of Target and Apple gift cards. Some of those he had stolen from a Sacramento Target store.
The investigators involved in Operation Bad Elf saw Sun take the gift cards off the shelf and put them in his coat. Then he put a replacement set of cards back on the racks.
The Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office is warning the public of a disturbing and “very sophisticated” gift card scam that has national and international implications.
The sheriff’s office told Fox News Digital this week it carried out a massive anti-retail theft operation at big box stores across the county, netting 285 felony and misdemeanor arrests in seven days. Among those arrested was a Chinese national who was found to be in possession of thousands of Target and Apple gift cards.
“During our recent retail theft Operation Bad Elf, detectives observed an individual, later identified as Ningning Sun, acting suspiciously near the gift cards in the payment aisles in a Sacramento Target store,” the sheriff’s office said in a press release Wednesday.
The office said investigators witnessed Sun take all the gift cards off a rack in a Target store and put them inside his jacket. Authorities said the suspect then replaced the missing cards with “another set of seemingly identical ones.”
The Sheriff investigators followed the suspect outside the store and arrested him. They found gift cards in his coat and upon searching his car, found thousands of gift cards which consisted of Apple and Target cards.
The sophistication of the crime included pulling information off the cards. The glue that covered the bar codes was carefully removed. The PINs would allegedly be lifted off the cards, the bar codes would be repaired to look normal and the cards were then returned to the store shelves.
This would allow the scammers to steal the money off the gift cards as they were adding or loading money onto them. The money is usually wired to an offshore account and at the same time the victims don’t realize it is happening.
Sun was most likely part of a larger crime syndicate involving the theft of gift cards. The card tampering was done in such a way that it is difficult to detect it when purchasing the cards. The Sheriff Department said to look for signs like scuff marks near the bar code.
The following video was released by the Sacramento Sheriff Department for “Operation Bad Elf.”
Watch:
Watch the latest video at foxbusiness.com
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December 10, 2023
The Man Who Beat Sheila Jackson Lee Adds Insult to Injury with Post-Victory Statement on His Defeated Opponent | The Gateway Pundit
Being a gracious winner is overrated and there’s nothing wrong with being a sore loser.
As far as being a “sore” loser goes, show this writer a “good” loser, and he’ll show you a loser. There’s nothing wrong with letting a loss bug you and eat away at you, especially if it helps provide some much-needed life motivation.
(Society could stand to benefit from quite a bit more of that sort of shame and introspection, but that’s neither here nor there.)
As far as how it’s overrated to be a gracious winner … Look, sportsmanship and decorum obviously have their place in civilized society.
But there are times when tough love — or “tough grace,” if you will — isn’t just recommended, but almost necessary.
Take, for example, the biting victory speech put forth by the new Houston mayor, John Whitmire.
As reported on by the Houston Chronicle, Mayor-elect Whitmire handily beat Sheila Jackson Lee in a landslide win, 64.4 percent to 35.6 percent in a special election Saturday night, and didn’t pull punches when describing his fellow Democrat in a victory speech.
“People want to go to work for me because we respect people. We don’t bully people,” Whitmire said in a Saturday night victory speech, per the Chronicle. “My family taught me to treat people the way you want to be treated, and that works wherever you are, regardless of what community you’re visiting with.
“Treat these individuals like you want to be treated.”
Whitmire was clearly referring to an October audio leak that exposed some ugly behavior from Lee. The audio leaks revealed a voice that many think is Lee, berating staffers in a positively degrading way.
Elsewhere in his victory speech, Whitmire noted how “fed up” he was with Lee’s constant boasting and bragging, particularly when it came at the expense of other Democrats in the local delegation.
Lee, a card-carrying Democrat and documented Trump hater, is no stranger to the hysteria and theatrics emanating from the three ring circus known as the modern Democratic Party.
Whitmire, while still a Democrat (and therefore not fully trustworthy), at least seems to understand a basic reality of the modern American society: People are sick and tired of being sick and tired about the partisan hackery that has consumed American politics.
People are hurting — and painfully reminded of that fact during the time of year where gifts are expected to be purchased — and don’t have the time or patience to see grown adults squabbling like children instead of passing legislation to improve their lives.
And because of that, how can anyone find fault with Whitmire’s potshots at Lee in his victory speech?
Whatever one may think of the Democratic Party, it’s inarguable that swathes of America will likely always remain under some semblance of deep blue control. Given that, even Republicans and independents should be demanding more of that party — and not more theatrics.
A fawning, congratulatory victory speech from Whitmire would only embolden the worst behaviors of Lee and further hurt her constituents.
Applying some shame — assuming Lee has any — and pressure is exactly what any right-minded Democrat should be doing.
And to be clear, this is not an exclusively Democrat problem. There are plenty of Republicans (some in name only) who are far more enamored with shallow style than actual substance.
It’s high time the American government started working for Americans again, instead of focusing on itself.
If it takes “sore winners” to be the agents of change for that, so be it.
This article appeared originally on The Western Journal.
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Woman Arrested After Striking “Religious Group” in Montana, Police and FBI Keep Group’s Faith a Mystery | The Gateway Pundit
A woman in Billings, Montana, was arrested after driving her car into a “religious group” gathered near North 27th Street in the downtown area of Billings.
Genevienne Rancuret, 55, of Billings, was arrested after she drove through a religious group several times.
Rancuret has since been charged with eight counts of felony assault, driving under the influence, and felony criminal mischief.
Billings Police Lieutenant Matt Lennick, in a public statement, shared, “The suspect drove at or through the group several times, damaging equipment and injuring a 45-year-old (man).”
The FBI is now investigating the crime to see if the incident was a “bias-motivated crime.”
The Billings Police Department and the FBI have both refused to release any details regarding the religious group that was attacked.
Woman intentionally drove through a group of religious people on the sidewalk in Billings, Montana pic.twitter.com/jzfkqehST4
— Aaron Flint (@aaronflint) December 10, 2023
Per AP:
A woman has been arrested after she drove her vehicle several times at or through an unspecified religious group gathered on a sidewalk, hitting and injuring one man, Montana police said Sunday.
Genevienne Rancuret, 55, was pulled over by police in Billings on Saturday a few hours after the episode and taken to jail on charges of felony assault, felony criminal mischief and driving under the influence, police said. It is not known if she has a lawyer representing her yet.
The 45-year-old man who was struck suffered minor injuries, police said.
A police spokesperson did not return a call or email asking for details about what kind of religious group was involved and what Rancuret’s alleged motive was. However, an update from police said that the FBI was also reviewing what happened, along with local prosecutors, suggesting the federal agency was looking into whether it could be a bias-motivated crime.
One man injured, woman arrested after car drives through religious demonstration Saturday | Tap on the picture to learn more https://t.co/nw4RxkshmI
— Billings Gazette (@billingsgazette) December 10, 2023
In the last several months, attacks against members of the Jewish and Muslim faiths have been identified swiftly, which raises questions about why the Billings Police Department, along with the FBI, have labeled the group attacked as just a “religious group.”
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Hot Mic Catches Vivek Ramaswamy Peeing During Livestream on X Spaces with Elon Musk (AUDIO) | The Gateway Pundit
A hot mic caught Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy using the bathroom during a livestream with Elon Musk.
Vivek Ramaswamy forgot to mute his phone when he took a break to use the bathroom during a livestream on X Spaces with Elon Musk, Alex Jones and others.
“Someone’s got their thing open peeing. Someone’s got their phone open in the bathroom,” Alex Jones said.
The host told Vivek Ramaswamy to mute his phone.
“Well, I hope you feel better,” Elon Musk said to Ramaswamy.
Vivek responded, “I feel great, thank you! Sorry about that, guys!”
AUDIO:
Presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy takes a piss with his mic on during an Space with 100K+ listeners
Elon Musk: “I hope you feel better”
Vivek: “I feel great, thank you” pic.twitter.com/3ljslTqnpX
— Holden Culotta (@Holden_Culotta) December 10, 2023
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Truck Billboards Calling For University President Claudine Gay to be Fired Circle Harvard | The Gateway Pundit
Billboard trucks were sent to Harvard’s New England Campus on Sunday demanding the university’s president Claudine Gay be fired.
The trucks displayed Claudine Gay’s photo along with the words “Fire Gay.”
Claudine Gay came under fire for dismissing the calls for genocide against the Jews to be a violation of the school’s code of conduct in front of the House Education Committee earlier this month.
Gay was among the university presidents grilled by Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., regarding the rise of antisemitism on college campuses and the vocal calls of “intifada” during pro-Palestinian demonstrations.
Stefanik asked Gay, “You understand that the use of the term intifada in the context of the Israeli-Arab conflict is indeed a call for violent armed resistance against the State of Israel, including violence against civilians and the genocide of Jews… And there have been multiple marches at Harvard with students chanting quote ‘There is only one solution, intifada revolution’ and quote ‘Globalize the intifada.’ Is that correct?”
Gay responded, “I’ve heard that thoughtless, reckless and hateful language on our campus, yes,” calling it “abhorrent” and “hateful speech.”
When specifically pressed on whether calls for “intifada,” direct support for the genocide of Jewish people, violated Harvard’s code of conduct, Gay weakly replied that it “depends on the context.”
One truck circled the campus while a second one is at the main gate of the school showing her conversation with Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik of New York earlier this week.
A plane will also fly over the campus over the coming week saying “HARVARD-STOP JEW HATRED.”
Billboard trucks demanding Harvard’s President Claudine Gay be fired were deployed to the New England campus on Sunday, Fox News Digital learned, just days after her controversial remarks to Congress regarding whether calls for the genocide of Jews breaks the school’s code of conduct.
“FIRE GAY,” the privately-funded trucks read, accompanied by photos of Gay while she appeared before Congress last Tuesday.
One of the trucks is circling the campus, while the other is positioned at the school’s main gate and blaring Gay’s exchange with Republican New York Rep. Elise Stefanik on Tuesday. The private funder running the billboard box truck campaign will also deploy a plane over campus this week with a banner reading, “HARVARD — STOP JEW HATRED,” Fox News Digital learned.
The same tactic was used to put pressure on University of Pennsylvania President Elizabeth Magill.
Billboard trucks drove around University of Pennsylvania with the words “Fire Liz.” The pressure that was put on her led to her resignation on Saturday.
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AMAZING! Libertarian Economist Javier Milei Sworn in as Argentina’s President – Then Leads Hundreds of Thousands of Supporters in Chants of “Viva la Libertad!” | The Gateway Pundit
53-year-old libertarian politician Javier Milei was sworn in as Argentina’s president on Sunday.
Tens of thousands of supporters and global dignitaries gathered in Buenos Aires to get a glimpse of the popular new leader.
Milei has vowed to confront decades of overspending, debt and convoluted currency controls in Latin America’s third-largest economy. He hopes to rescue the Argentinian economy after decades of leftist destruction
After the swearing-in ceremony, Milei led hundreds of thousands of supporters in chants of “Viva la Livertad!”
| Argentinos e estrangeiros encheram as ruas de Buenos Aires para comemorar a posse do presidente Javier Milei. pic.twitter.com/c7jfF1qsTE
— Maria Laura Assis (@MLauraAssis) December 10, 2023
President Javier Milei leads his country in chants of “Long Live Liberty!” after he was sworn in.
Via Midnight Rider.
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