Apple's made yet more changes to App Store rules in the EU, allowing apps to "direct customers outside of the app or to a website with a web view that is available directly in the app" without "directing the design of communications provided to customers, nor is the company dictating what developers are able to say" and you can even mention in your app that buying something outside the App Store is cheaper. Amazing! But the catch is you agree to give Apple a "5% initial acquisition fee" for "all sales of digital goods and services that the customer makes on any platform that occur within a 12-month period after an initial install", plus a "store service fee" between 5% and 10% on "all sales of digital goods and services that the customer makes on any platform that occur within a fixed 12-month period from the date of an install, including app updates and reinstalls" - what the fuck???
Google and Meta appear to have collaborated via an ad agency to target ads at teenagers on YouTube, to get them to use Instagram. Google had a bunch of "unknown" users in its advertising system - "people whose age, gender, parental status, or household income are supposedly unidentified", but was able to use "app downloads and online activity to determine with a high degree of confidence" that these were teenagers. It's against Google's own policy to target ads based on people under 18 years old, but I guess the money Meta was throwing at them to do this was too good to ignore and Meta is so desperate to remain relevant with teens (gotta get them addicted early!) that "morals" and "policies" and even annoying "laws" are just speed bumps on the road to bags of money.
The sad and sorry story of former Australian manufacturing and technology darling Tritium is reaching its conclusion, having been acquired (based on Tritium's share price, probably for peanuts) by Exicom, an Indian "power management solutions company, offering cutting-edge EV charging and Energy storage solutions". They will be retaining the brand, as well as the factory in Tennessee in the USA and Tritium's R&D facility in Brisbane. Good to see that they're going to keep the Brisbane setup alive, but I really wonder how long that will last. I hope one day there's a dissection of what went wrong with Tritium that led to it failing during an EV charger gold rush.
There's a petition going around the internet called "Stop Killing Games" aiming to push various legislators around the world to create laws forcing game publishers to have an "end-of-life plan" for their titles. Their FAQ has more details, but basically the petition creator (Ross Scott, dunno who that is) want to be able to play games they've purchased, indefinitely, even if the developer and publisher of that game has abandoned it and the online services the game needs to run. Practicalities aside, being able to use the thing you paid for without a time limit is a good foundational argument and I think something most sane people would agree with.
Here's five interesting discussions over on The Sizzle's paid subscriber forum for you to enjoy over the weekend. If you are not a paid subscriber but want to get involved, visit https://thesizzle.com.au/payme to get onboard.
More broadly, the System/360 marked the beginning of a new generation of computers with wide application in business, science and government. The System/360 ended the distinction between commercial and scientific computers because it was no longer necessary to match a user’s problem to a specific piece of equipment. (IBM Heritage)
📻 Garbage - I Think I'm Paranoid
😎 The Sizzle is curated by Anthony "decryption" Agius and emailed every weekday afternoon.
💬 Checked out the paid subscriber only forum? It's a tidy little place to discuss tech with like minded Aussies.
👋 Forums not your thing? The Sizzle has a Slack group you can procrastinate in and chat with other nerds bored at work.
💳 Paid subscriber looking to manage your billing info, change email address or cancel your subscription? Visit the customer portal.
🎁 Make someone's day and buy them a 12 month gift subscription to The Sizzle.
📚 Browse The Sizzle Archive. A few issues are missing and it's not searchable, but it's better than nothing.
🫂 Friends of The Sizzle is a small group of businesses or organisations operated by Sizzle subscribers. Support your fellow Sizzler!
💔 Tired of my bullshit? Unsubscribe and I'll never speak to you again.
The Sizzle is created on Wathaurong land and acknowledges the traditional owners of country throughout Australia, recognising their continuing connection to land, water and community. I pay my respect to them and their cultures and to elders both past and present.