Plus: OK which one of you was on the phone for five and a half days ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

November 06, 2025 | Read online
# Google surrenders to Epic, Microsoft AI refunds and a Big Short on AI Plus: OK which one of you was on the phone for five and a half days
Edition 2455
Eee PC 901 (Flickr: yoppy)
# The News
### Google is giving in to Epic’s demands to loosen up its control over Android
Google has given in to a number of demands to open up the Android ecosystem, under a proposed settlement with Epic (Reuters). In response to its losses in court battles with the Fortnite creator, the search company has offered up a handful of significant concessions (The Verge), which include:
Allowing registered third-party app stores to function more-or-less the same as Google Play Store. Reducing its standard in-app store fee to 20% or 9%, with the lower number for purchases that are essentially game items or upgrades and not significant buys. Permitting alternative payment systems to Google Play Billing, although developers must still include Google’s as an option.
And, crucially, this will apply to new installs of apps, for at least six years and, mostly importantly, all around the world and not just the United States. A US judge needs to approve the settlement, but the Epic CEO seems stoked.
| Tim Sweeney @TimSweeneyEpic |
Google has made an awesome proposal, subject to court approval, to open up Android in the US Epic v Google case and settle our disputes. It genuinely doubles down on Android's original vision as an open platform to streamline competing store installs globally, reduce service fees
Sameer Samat @ssamat Exciting news! Together with Epic Games we have filed a proposed set of changes to Android and Google Play that focus on expanding developer choice and flexibility, lowering fees, and encouraging more competition all while keeping users safe. If approved, this would resolve our
4:03 AM • Nov 5, 2025
2.15K Likes 198 Retweets
90 Replies
The Sizzle: It’s a pretty comprehensive victory for Epic, but Google was able to get a few small wins. Requiring people to offer Google’s payment provider means it will still be the de facto default. And there is some vague language about Google having the right to take a cut with an alternative payment provider — but the company says that isn’t the plan. All in all, I see this as a pretty big W for the average punter who will now have more options, even if most of the time they’ll just stick with Google as long as they make a competitive effort.
Also relevant: iOS 26.2 to Allow Third-Party App Stores in Japan Ahead of Regulatory Deadline (MacRumors)
Discuss in the Sizzle Slack or forum.
### Microsoft is refunding its scummy AI plans so that the ACCC doesn’t go so hard on them
Microsoft is offering refunds to 3 (!) million Australian customers and apologised about its dodgy AI plan pushing (SmartCompany). In an email sent to customers today, Microsoft says it will refund all the additional cost of its Copilot AI plans if people revert to its non-AI plan by the end of the year.
“In hindsight, we could have been clearer about the availability of a non-AI-enabled offering with subscribers, not just to those who opted to cancel their subscription,” the statement said.
grovelling email by Microsoft
The Sizzle: None of this happens if the ACCC hadn’t launched legal proceedings against Microsoft. Notably, this is just for Australian customers. Everywhere else just remains ripped off. If our consumer protections make us a nanny state, then stick a dummy in my mouth and give me a diaper!!! Greatest country in the world!!!!
Discuss in the Sizzle Slack or forum.
### The Big Short guy is putting a Big (maybe) Short on AI as OpenAI asks for just a liiiiiiittle bit of government help
The guy who inspired the Big Short film is signalling his belief that the AI bubble is going to pop soon (BBC). Michael Burry, whose trading against the 2008 subprime mortgage crisis inspired a book and film, has taken out options against chipmaker Nvidia and icky data firm Palantir and seemingly posted about it.
| Cassandra Unchained @michaeljburry |
Sometimes, we see bubbles. Sometimes, there is something to do about it. Sometimes, the only winning move is not to play.
1:19 AM • Oct 31, 2025
43.7K Likes 6.22K Retweets
2.56K Replies
(Although I should note it’s unclear how much he’s actually bet against the companies so it might not be a big bet). Anyway, OpenAI’s chief financial officer has also floated the idea of a government “backstop” for its data deals (Yahoo), meaning that the government would guarantee to pay for a loan if OpenAI wouldn’t.
The Sizzle: Everyone knows that a healthy company in a stable industry with confidence in their future cashflows and ability to fulfill financial obligations is always politely asking the government to spot them for no reason. Right?
Anyway, look at this incredibly dumb graphic.
| TBPN @tbpn |
BREAKING: Per WSJ, OpenAI CFO Sarah Friar says the company is seeking federal support to help guarantee financing for the chips it needs to scale.
12:05 AM • Nov 6, 2025
379 Likes 12 Retweets
71 Replies
Discuss in the Sizzle Slack or forum.
#### Leftovers
Australia:
Crack team to keep watch on big tech is about to run out of money (AFR, $) Fake claims about Australian road rules on headlights generated by AI and spread on Google (The Guardian) CommBank, Temu top Choice's 2025 Shonky Awards (SmartCompany) ID shock: Forged Australian passports double in price on the dark web (Cyber Daily) I'm a father and an IT worker. The social media ban won't protect our kids – it will hurt them (SMH, $) From AusLegal to AmItheAsshole: why I’m downvoting the social media ban on Reddit (The Guardian) Handheld gaming PCs are making a bigger splash than you think (GadgetGuy) My chilling week on Roblox: sexually assaulted and shat on as a child avatar roaming the online world (The Guardian) Oliver Curtis’ Firmus set to triple valuation to $6b in fresh raising (AFR, $)
Rest of the world:
Motion Picture Trade Group Pans Instagram's Use of 'PG-13' With Cease and Desist (WSJ, $) France suspends access to Shein's online platform after controversy over child-like sex dolls (WSJ, $) If you want to satiate AI's hunger for power, Google suggests going to space (Ars Technica) YouTube Deletes 700 Videos Documenting Rights Violations by Israel (The Intercept) gotta say, not a huge fan of US using sanctions to make tech companies deplatform anyone who the Trump administration doesn’t like Microsoft warns Windows 11 25H2, 24H2 October update triggers BitLocker recovery on PCs for businesses (Windows Latest) YouTube somehow found a way to make ads on mobile even worse (Android Authority) iOS 26.2 to Allow Third-Party App Stores in Japan Ahead of Regulatory Deadline (MacRumors)
Discuss these links in the Sizzle Slack or forum.
# Oh, Also
### OK which one of you was on the phone for five and a half days
Friend of the Sizzle Trevor Long shared some stats released by Vodafone which shows that someone from Kilkenny, South Australia, had a phone call that went for 133 hours this year (EFTM). The link has the chart of 15 longest calls and their location. And, looking at them, I’m not surprised that many of those customers had to resort to calling someone so they had something to do!
Discuss in the Sizzle Slack or forum.
# Bargains
Electrical & Electronics
Arlo Pro 6 Kit 4 Cameras (6th Gen 2025) - $506 at Amazon US via AU SVS Subwoofers at CHT Solutions SB-1000 Classic for $899 PB-1000 Pro Subwoofer for $1399 (Down from $1749) SB-3000 Ash for $2079 SB-3000 Gloss for $2189 Sony Bravia 65 Inch X90L XR Full Array LED 4K Google TV XR65X90L - $1499 at Costco Klipsch Heritage La Scala AL5 Heritage Floorstanding Speakers Pair (Walnut) - $22398 at Klapp Audo Visual (Down from $27998) what a bloody deal
Computing
Samsung Odyssey OLED G8 34" Curved WQHD Gaming Monitor - $999 at Samsung
Mobile
OnePass Mobile 20GB 90-Day Prepaid Mobile SIM Plan - $30 at OnePass Mobile (Down from $40) amaysim 12-Month SIM/eSIM with 220GB - $175 at TopCashback AU Google Pixel 9a 128GB Obsidian - $597 at JB Hifi Google Pixel 10 Pro at JB Hi-Fi 128GB for $1357 (Down from $1697) 256GB for $1477 (Down from $1847) 512GB for $1637 (Down from $2047)
# The End
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