Passing part of a medical licensing exam doesn’t make ChatGPT a good doctor
- August 16, 2024
The software’s medical certification exam was OK, but its diagnoses aren’t.
Fortnite returns to iOS in the EU as the Epic Games Store debuts on mobile
- August 16, 2024
It's a big day for Epic Games. Not only has the company rolled out the latest season of Fortnite, it has achieved a long-held ambition by bringing the Epic Games Store to mobile devices. The app marketplace is now available on iOS in the European Union (after the bloc required Apple to allow third-party app stores on iPhone and iPad) and on Android worldwide. As a result, that means Fortnite is once again available on iOS in the EU without having to rely on cloud gaming services.
You may recall that, back in 2020, Epic tried to bypass the cut Apple and Google take from in-app purchases by telling Fortnite players on iOS and Android they could save money by buying the in-game V-Bucks currency directly from the publisher. Apple and Google removed Fortnite from their stores, making the game unplayable on their platforms as Epic was no longer able to update it to maintain parity with the console and PC versions. Epic swiftly sued both companies, kicking off legal battles that are still rumbling on today.
But the EU kicked open the door for Fortnite to make a return to iOS in the bloc with the Digital Markets Act coming into force this year. (As Android's a more open platform, Epic can make its store and Fortnite available worldwide there.) Epic said in early 2024 that it would bring its games store and Fortnite to iOS in the EU this year. After yet more cattiness from Epic when Apple twice rejected the app marketplace, the latter eventually approved an iOS version of the Epic Games Store in July.
Along with the official return of Fortnite on mobile, the Epic Games Store is bringing Fall Guys to iOS and Android for the first time. The mobile version of the excellent platformer battle royale has nearly full parity with the console and PC versions — the level-building creative mode isn't available on iOS or Android for now. Otherwise, the game supports full cross-play and cross-progression with the other versions as everything's synced through your Epic account.
Rocket League Sideswipe, a mobile spin-off of Rocket League, is available via the Epic store on iOS and Android too. Epic plans to work with other developers to bring their titles to the storefront in the future.
In addition, Epic is making its games available on other third-party mobile storefronts, starting with AltStore PAL today. It also plans to do so on Aptoide’s iOS store in the EU, ONE Store on Android and other app marketplaces.
“The tide is turning and the mobile ecosystem is finally opening up to competition. We are grateful to the European Commission for making it possible to launch the Epic Games Store and offer our games to iOS users in the European Union," Epic Games founder and CEO Tim Sweeney said in a statement. "Now European iOS users and all Android users can access our store and games, as they've always been able to do on open platforms like PC and Mac. The fight is far from over, but this is tangible progress for developers and consumers who can begin to benefit from competition and choice."
Meanwhile, I'm looking forward to dropping back into Fortnite, in part because for the last several years my iPhone's nickname has been Doctor Doom, aka the Marvel villain who is the central figure in the new season. Also, I'm dearly hoping that in short order Epic gives the people what they truly want: an emote of Chappell Roan's "Hot To Go!" dance in Fortnite. I would gladly spend all the V-Bucks I have on that.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/fortnite-returns-to-ios-in-the-eu-as-the-epic-games-store-debuts-on-mobile-142457411.html?src=rss
Apple Changes App Store Rules
- August 16, 2024
The company faces pressure from governments around the world and complaints from companies that it is still too restrictive.
The Best Field Recorders for Portable Audio
- August 16, 2024
Tired of recording on your cell phone? These portable field recorders are fantastic for everything from interviews to concerts.
Margrethe Vestager, Big Tech’s European nemesis, reportedly steps down later this year
- August 16, 2024
Margrethe Vestager, the European Union’s commissioner for competition, won’t be back for a third term and will be stepping down this year. According to the Financial Times, the Danish government will be nominating a different candidate as EU commissioner after Vestager’s political party didn’t do well in the previous election. Vestager is known for being one of Europe’s top antitrust authorities and has been been tough on big tech companies during her term. The market abuse cases she has filed over the years inspired the creation of the Digital Markets Act (DMA), which is a regulation meant to ensure that large companies don’t abuse their market power.
Apple, Google, Meta and other big players in the industry have had to implement changes to how they conduct business after the DMA came into force. Google, for instance, said it will start displaying price comparison results in Search from external aggregators when looking up services, such as flights or hotels. It will be easier for Android users to change search engines, as well. Apple said it will let companies set up their own app stores for iOS, but it conjured its own stringent rules that developers will have to follow.
The EU, under Vestager, started investigating Apple, Alphabet and Meta in March to look into their efforts to comply with the DMA. In an interview with CNBC afterward, Vestager said that Apple has “very serious” issues when it comes to non-compliance. Vestager also ruled way back in 2016 that Irish tax authorities had given Apple a “sweetheart deal” for over a decade and had ordered the company to pay Ireland €14.3 billion ($15.72 billion) in taxes. EU’s General Court overturned her order in 2020, but the commission had appealed that decision.
The European Commission also fined Google €4.3 billion ($5 billion) for antitrust violations surrounding Android and $2.8 billion for favoring its own comparison shopping services over others in Search under her leadership. More recently, the EU slapped Apple with a €1.8 billion ($1.95 billion) fine for suppressing music streaming services on the App Store that rival its own.
European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen will start interviewing new candidates next week, the Times said. Vestager’s replacement is expected to replace her this autumn.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/margrethe-vestager-big-techs-european-nemesis-reportedly-steps-down-later-this-year-140024124.html?src=rss
Kamala Harris’ Brat Summer Is Almost Over. What’s Next?
- August 16, 2024
Writer and critic Hunter Harris has some thoughts on Kamala Harris’ social media strategy and whether the vice president can sustain her moment in the online spotlight until November.
Why the Fiat 500e could be your ideal second EV
- August 16, 2024
The phenomenally efficient Fiat 500e is enjoyable to drive.
Turkish parliament descends into fistfight
- August 16, 2024
A fistfight broke out in Turkey’s parliament on Friday when an opposition deputy was attacked after calling for his jailed colleague to be freed.
Our favorite ThermoWorks instant-read thermometer is on sale for $79 right now
- August 16, 2024
The ThermoWorks Thermapen One instant-read food thermometer is on sale for $79, which is $30 off and nearly a record-low price. This is an Engadget exclusive so act quickly if you wanna snag one before the sale goes up in smoke on August 22. The typical price, after all, is a whopping $109.
Amazon and other retail outlets are filled with meat thermometers so what makes this one so special? It’s incredibly fast, offering precise temperature calculations in under a second. The display is bright and easy to read, and it rotates depending on how you’re holding the gadget so the temp will always be in view.
There are some other reasons why this thermometer made our list of the best grilling gear. There’s a sleep/auto-wake feature to help preserve battery life and this thing even boasts an IP67 rating to protect against spills. That last one is important, as food tends to splatter.
The Thermapen One also made our list of the best small kitchen gadgets, for similar reasons. We called it “the best your money can buy.” The only major downside to this thermometer is the price, especially when compared to some of its rivals. This deal helps alleviate some of that sticker shock, but only until August 22.
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This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/our-favorite-thermoworks-instant-read-thermometer-is-on-sale-for-79-right-now-130028874.html?src=rss
Elon Musk Is No Climate Hero
- August 16, 2024
During a live interview with Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, the former president literally said, “Drill, baby, drill.” Musk met the statement with … silence.
