Google and Epic Settle Android Antitrust Case; AI Forecasts Hurricanes

Epic Games and Google Antitrust Settlement

• 🤝 Epic Games and Google have settled their 5-year-old antitrust case regarding the Google App Store, preventing an appeal.
• 🌍 The settlement expands Google's previous US-only obligations to apply worldwide.
• ⏳ The agreement will last for at least 6.5 years, extending through 2032, a significant increase from the judge's initial 3-year requirement.
• 💰 Google will adjust its fee structure for in-app payments, with a maximum of 20% and a minimum of 9% for purchases made through its system.
• 🖱️ Registered app stores will be able to offer one-click installation from a website, replacing the previous requirement for Google to distribute third-party app stores.

AI in Weather Forecasting

• ⛈️ Google DeepMind's AI has shown significant promise in forecasting hurricanes, outperforming traditional models.
• 📊 In a comparison of 11 forecast models, DeepMind was nearly twice as accurate as the US National Weather Service's global forecast model at the five-day maximum forecast level.
• 🎯 The AI's performance was nearly identical to the official forecast from the National Hurricane Center (OFCL) for the first 12 hours, and slightly better until about 4 days out.
• 📈 DeepMind also performed well in predicting intensity changes of storms, a crucial factor for preparedness.
• ⚡ The AI's ability to learn and improve on the fly, combined with its speed and lower computational cost compared to physics-based models, makes it a powerful tool for saving lives.

Amazon Sues Perplexity and Project Suncatcher

• 🛒 Amazon is suing Perplexity for computer fraud, alleging its Comet browser engages in data mining without proper disclosure.
• 🚫 Perplexity had previously agreed not to let its agent shop on Amazon sites, but the Comet browser reportedly identified itself as a Chrome browser user when accessing Amazon.
• 🛰️ Google announced Project Suncatcher, an initiative to explore launching a cluster of satellites in low Earth orbit to function as a data center.
• ☀️ These satellites would utilize Tensor Processing Units (TPUs) and solar panels, aiming for significantly higher energy productivity than ground-based solar panels.
• 🚀 While currently cost-prohibitive, Google anticipates launch costs will decrease by 2030, making the energy savings competitive with terrestrial data centers.

Other Tech Briefs

• 🎧 The PlayStation Portal now supports cloud streaming of games directly from Sony servers with a PlayStation Plus Premium subscription.
• 📱 The DJI Osmo Mobile 8 gimbal is now available globally, featuring multi-functional tracking, a built-in light, and Apple DockKit support.
• 💍 Sandbar, a smart ring with a mic and touchpad, has been launched by former Meta employees for note-taking and assistant interaction on iOS.
• 🗺️ Gemini is replacing Google Assistant in Google Maps, allowing for more natural language queries and multi-question requests.
• 🇨🇳 China has sentenced five members of a Myanmar scam organization to death as part of a crackdown on online scams.
• 🎧 Apple Podcasts will soon automatically generate chapter markers and links to related content, with an opt-out option for creators.
• 🚗 Xpeng plans to roll out three models of autonomous cars next year, built entirely with Chinese domestic technology.
• 🛍️ Shein has opened its first physical store in France, while the French Finance Ministry is considering suspending the online platform due to illegal products.