Apple has been pretty restrictive when it comes to allowing users to install applications on their smartphones or tablets. The apps on the iPhones and iPads need to be installed only through the company’s App Store, and for every transaction through those apps, the tech giant charges a commission.

Now, it appears that users will have more choices when it comes to installing applications. As per the report from Bloomberg, Apple is preparing to add support for third-party app stores for the iPhones and iPads in the European Union.

The development comes as the Cupertino-based technology giant works to comply with new competition law in the European Union. The Digital Markets Act has a set of rules designed to create fair and open competition in the digital world, and large companies that fail to comply with the rules could face fines of up to 10% of their global revenue.

Apple is now working to comply with the relies and would allow users to install third-party apps without going through the company’s own App Store, essentially bypassing the tech giant’s restrictions and up to 30% commission that Apple charges on App Store purchases.

Google and Samsung already have their own app stores, but they already allow sideloading of applications, which means that users can download applications from anywhere and are not restricted to their own app stores. On the other hand, Apple has been restrictive, allowing users to only download apps from its App Store, citing security reasons, but it’s most likely to keep the 30% commission.

Apple has been in the hot waters for a couple of years now because of its restrictive policies when it comes to downloading and installing applications on iPhones. While app makers like Epic Games and Spotify have filed lawsuits against Apple because of the App Store restrictions, other giants like Facebook, Twitter, and others have publicly criticized the company.

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Source

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Huawei has just announced the return of the world’s largest smartphone photography competition. The NEXT IMAGE Awards for 2021 has just been announced, with the theme of this year being “Better Together.”

Starting from today (15th September 2021), Huawei users from across the globe are eligible to submit photos and videos and have a chance in winning one of 70 amazing prizes. The prizes include the recently launched Huawei P50 and cash prices up to $10,000. The Chinese tech giant will be accepting submissions till 30th of November 2021. For those unaware, the NEXT IMAGE Awards began back in 2017 and have been the world’s largest smartphone photography competition. To enter, one can visit this link to submit their images directly on the homepage.

Since its inception about four years ago, the brand has seen over 2 million entries due to the easy entry system and attractive prizes, which encourage even amateur smartphone photographers from all over the world to take part in the competition. The 2021 Awards would mark the fifth iteration, with judges being a team of photography experts from a diverse range of backgrounds and countries around the world. This includes notable names like Canadian extreme sports photographer Reuben Krabbe, renowned art critic Karen Smith from the UK, and French radio and TV producer Olivier Chiabodo.

Notably, the competition does not have a single overall winner, rather, the company encourages entries in multiple formats that aim on covering diverse settings. This includes Portrait, Monochrome, Color, Snapshot, Night, Telephoto, Super Wide Angle, Super Macro, Story Creator, and Storyteller as well. Meanwhile, the prizes include $10,000 for three winners of the ‘Photographer of the Year’ award, $1,000 for 27 Category winners, 30 Winners can receive the Huawei Watch 3, while Student Focus Awards will have 10 winners receive a brand new Huawei P50 along with $1,000 in NEXT IMAGE Creation Fund.

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Competition Commission of India has just ordered an investigation into Google. The company has allegedly abused its dominant position of Android in the region’s smart TV market.

According to a TechCrunch report, the news arrives hours after the European Union opened a formal antitrust investigation into the Search engine giant for abusing its leading role in the advertising technology sector. As per the Competition Commission of India’s initial review, which began back in 2020, Google has breached certain anti competitive laws in the region. Thus, it is now facing an investigation of this scale that could apparently take up to a year to resolve.

The agency added that “The Commission is of the prima facie opinion that by making pre-installation of Google’s proprietary apps (particularly Play Store) conditional upon signing of ACC (Android Compatibility Commitments) for all Android devices manufactured/distributed/marketed by device manufacturers, Google has reduced the ability and incentive of device manufacturers to develop and sell devices operating on alternative versions of Android i.e. Android forks, and thereby limited technical or scientific development relating to goods or services to the prejudice of consumers in contravention of Section 4(2)(b) of the Act.”

For those unaware, India is one of the largest markets by users for Google. Back in 2020, the company even pledged investing 10 billion US Dollars in the nation. In 2019 alone, 8 million smart TVs were sold in India, out of which 60 percent were powered by the Android OS. Now, a spokesperson has stated that the company is denying all allegations and added that “We are confident that our smart TV licensing practices are in compliance with all applicable competition laws.”

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OnePlus has just announced the Crackables 2.0, which is the second competition it is hosting that was brought back after popular demand. The original was a cryptic, yet addictive, puzzle phenomenon that was conceptualized alongside Google.

The Crackables 2.0 will be available for free via mobile gameplay on 14th April 2020. Similar to the original, it is a cypto puzzle based competition and will feature digital puzzles with enhanced state of the art design, user experience, and cryptography. The global registration are already open, so users can go apply by clicking here and following the link.

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The difficulty of the puzzles will start low so as to bring more people an oppurtunity to participate and have fun in the game. Once a challenge has been passed, players will advance through “gates” to get to the next level. Notably, a few of the levels have been orated through community participation, meaning the game will test people’s ability to work together to cross the hurdles and obstacles.

The first 10 people to finish the final level of the competition will be eligible to compete for an oppurtunity to win 10,000 US Dollars. Interestingly, OnePlus is also giving out another 10,000 US Dollars to the winner, but this will be directly donated to charity to support those affected by the ongoing Coronavirus Pandemic. The competition ends on 30th April 2020, with its grand finale tournament being live streamed across the globe on 7th Mar 2020.

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(Via)

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Earlier today (31st March 2020), Oppo officially announced that it would hold an “OPPO Watch App Development Contest.” The contest is will have various prizes and is aimed at the hidden talent in software programming.

The contest is being held by the Chinese smartphone manufacturer to enrich its existing Smart Watch software ecosystem. In other words, the company plans on bringing in new ideas with the incentive of different prizes. For those unaware, Oppo released its first smartwatch alongside the new Find X2 series earlier this year.

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The Oppo Watch features a 1.91 inch AMOLED hyperboloid curved display and features a wide color gamut with a pixel density of 326ppi. It is surrounded by a metal frame that blends into the display and the design, with the bottom being a 3D ceramic case which is capable also waterproof and can withstand up to 50 meters in depth. The smartwatch also arrives in various colors via its rubber different rubber bands.

This move from Oppo is clearly to attract the attention of developers from or outside of their community. The competition will seek to supplement the existing ColorOS Watch system and encourages original software coding and development for the same.

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Previously, we had reported that Lenovo’s former Vice President and head of Lenovo Mobile China, Chang Cheng, announced his decision on leaving the company. After working in Lenovo for 19 years, the senior executive had supposedly retired (due to familial reasons) but today we learned that he has officially joined Xiaomi, its competitor.

The news came as a surprise as Lei Jun, Co-Founder and Chairman of Xiaomi Group, welcomed Chang Cheng as the new Vice President of the Chinese tech giant. However, Lenovo has now released a statement that could possibly entangle the former VP in legal constraints.

According to Lenovo’s statement, all employees working with the company have to sign a non-competition agreement; this means that former employees are under a contract to not enter into a competition of any kind with the employer after the employment period has ended. Hence, Chang Cheng, the former VP of Lenovo, joining Xiaomi technically breaches the contract.

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Lenovo Group’s response states that if a violation in the breach is confirmed, the company will be seeking a recourse within the legal frameworks. In other words, there is a chance of a lawsuit being filed against Chang Cheng if he does not comply with the terms and conditions of breaching a non-competition agreement. The terms and conditions in question will either convey a monetary figure being paid to Lenovo and will most likely have him agree to a non-disclosure agreement regarding Lenovo’s operations.

Notably, a lawyer from a Beijing firm has pointed out that the competition agreement does not fall under mandatory signing. Hence, it will have to be confirmed if both parties have signed the contract. If Chang Cheng is found having has signed a non-competition agreement, he is liable to pay compensation in a fixed amount as stated in the agreement for the violation.

UP NEXT: Xiaomi stays true to its promise; sends out 100 Mi TVs to celebrate 10M sales

(Via)

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Elephone have launched a competition to win an M2 Business phone via their facebook page.

For a chance to win the Elephone M2 Halloween competition, simply take a picture of your cat or dog in halloween themed costume and post it to the Elephone facebook page here.

There are a few other bits in the terms and conditions to check out, but I have posted them here for you as well.

Please leave any questions, comments or pics of your halloween pets for us to check out below.

Regards Shanos

[Giveaway] Win $200 Elephone M2 – ‪#‎Halloween‬ Event
Rules
1. Like our page and Take a photo of your (or anyone else, even cats, dogs….) Halloween outfit with Elephone sign.
2. Share this post on your Facebook
3. Comment with your photo and tag 3 friends on this post.
4. The most creative people will be chosen by us and get the prize Elephone M2: http://www.elephone.hk/M2.html

Tips:
1)The photo is better taken outside(such as standing before local landmark buildings), and the written/printed/drawn word “Elephone” should be clear to see. Shooting poses are unlimited.
2) The photo should not be made by Photoshop work.
3) Photos can be submitted before Nov. 3, 2015 at 11:59PM GMT+8. Winners will be announced on Nov. 6, 2015.
4) Each person has only one chance to win,
Note: Elephone reserved the right of final explanation.

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