Google Overhauls Android App Store Policies, Fortnite Returns

Google announced major changes to its Android app store, expanding billing options, and reducing developer fees. This move resolved a long-running dispute with Epic Games and led to Fortnite's return to the Google Play Store in the U.S. in December, following the lawsuit settlement. Google also announced policy changes that would enable Fortnite's worldwide return.

Credit: FORTNITE

These extensive changes aim to boost competition and offer more choices for developers and consumers. They also address key concerns from Epic Games’ antitrust lawsuit.

Epic Games had accused Google of illegally monopolising how users access apps and make in-app purchases on Android devices. The two companies reached a U.S. court settlement.

Alphabet-owned Google said it would now enable mobile app developers to use their own billing systems alongside Google Play’s. Developers can also direct users to their own websites for purchases.

Google is also simplifying the process for users to download and install third-party app stores on their Android devices. This change begins outside of the U.S. first, with an update planned for the country pending court approval.

Sameer Samat, president of Android Ecosystem at Google, stated this provides app stores more ways to reach users and gives users more easy, safe access to their preferred apps and games.

Furthermore, Google is lowering in-app purchase service fees and making other fee structure adjustments to reduce costs for developers. It will start rolling out the updated fees in June in select regions, with a complete global roll-out expected by September 2027.

Fortnite was removed from Google Play in 2020 after Epic Games introduced a direct payment system that bypassed Google’s billing. This triggered a legal battle over fees and app distribution rules.

The wildly popular battle royale title returned to the Google Play Store in the U.S. in December, following the lawsuit settlement.

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• Google is expanding billing options and reducing developer fees for its Android app store.

• These changes resolved a dispute with Epic Games, leading to Fortnite’s return to Google Play.

• Developers can now use their own billing systems and direct users to external websites for purchases.

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Source: REUTERS

Apple Unveils MacBook Neo, Priced at USD 599, Targeting Budget PC Market

Apple has unveiled the MacBook Neo, a new lower-priced laptop starting at USD 599, aiming to broaden its reach in the price-sensitive personal computer market. This launch comes as rival companies face tighter supplies of memory chips.

Credit: APPLE

The MacBook Neo is powered by the A18 Pro chip, the same processor that first debuted in the company's iPhone 16 Pro models in 2024. This marks one of Apple’s most aggressive entry points into the PC market in many years.

Credit: APPLE

Priced at USD 599, the device is considerably cheaper in both nominal and inflation-adjusted terms than Apple's previous non-Pro, non-Air MacBook. That model debuted in May 2006 at USD 1,099, roughly USD 1,750 in today’s value.

Customers can pre-order the device starting Wednesday, with deliveries and in-store availability beginning March 11, Apple said.

Francisco Jeronimo, vice president of client devices at IDC, commented, "The real question is not whether Apple can sell a MacBook at this price (because it will be one of the most sold Macs ever if they can deliver), but how it balances cost, performance, and brand positioning while maintaining the premium experience that defines the Mac."

Credit: APPLE

The new MacBook is not Apple's initial venture into this price point. The organisation previously created a special USD 699 MacBook Air for Walmart, utilising its M1 chip which originally debuted in 2020.

The MacBook Neo directly targets users of Google-powered Chromebooks and lower-end Windows devices. Microsoft's efforts to shift to more battery-life-friendly chips, made with Arm technology, have not ignited a sales boom in this segment.

This foray into the mid-range personal computer segment could help Apple broaden its reach among students and first-time buyers.

Amid a global memory chip crunch, the new MacBook Neo comes with only 8 gigabytes of unified memory. This amount is half the 16 gigabytes in the M4-based MacBook and less than the 12 gigabytes in the iPhone 17 Pro.

Global personal computer and smartphone markets remain highly price-sensitive after several quarters of uneven demand. Hardware manufacturers continue to navigate fluctuating component costs, particularly for memory chips.

Apple this week launched its USD 599 iPhone 17e with higher base storage and refreshed its MacBook Air and Pro lineup. These updates include new M5 chips and standard configurations with larger memory.

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• The MacBook Neo is a new lower-priced laptop from Apple, starting at USD 599.

• It is powered by the A18 Pro chip, also found in the iPhone 16 Pro models.

• The device aims to challenge Google Chromebooks and lower-end Windows PCs.

Source: REUTERS

Investors Urge Resolution in Anthropic's Pentagon AI Battle

The Information Technology Industry Council, a technology industry group, has expressed concern over the U.S. Defense Department's decision to declare artificial intelligence company Anthropic a supply-chain risk. The council's members include major Anthropic backers Amazon and Nvidia. Other investors are working to contain the fallout from Anthropic’s ongoing dispute with the U.S. Defense Department, which the Trump administration renamed the Department of War.

Credit: UNSPLASH

In a letter, the Information Technology Industry Council, whose members include Nvidia, Amazon.com, Apple, and OpenAI, stated, "We are concerned by recent reports regarding the Department of War’s consideration of imposing a supply-chain risk designation in response to a procurement dispute." The letter did not explicitly name Anthropic.

In recent days, Anthropic Chief Executive Officer Dario Amodei has discussed the matter with key investors and partners, including Amazon.com Chief Executive Officer Andy Jassy. Venture capital firms Lightspeed and Iconiq have also contacted Anthropic executives.

Lightspeed and Iconiq are also engaging with other investors to explore potential solutions. Some investors are reaching out to their contacts within the Trump administration, hoping to ease tensions and prevent a ban of Anthropic's AI from all Pentagon contractors.

Anthropic and the Department of War are continuing discussions. The dispute stems from a months-long disagreement over how the military can utilise Anthropic's technology on the battlefield.

The clash is widely seen as a referendum on the level of control AI companies can maintain over their developed technology. The Pentagon has urged AI companies to remove strict limitations, favouring an "all-lawful use" clause.

Anthropic has, however, refused to compromise on its bans against its Claude AI powering autonomous weapons and facilitating mass U.S. surveillance. Anthropic was among the first AI companies to handle classified information through a supply deal via cloud provider Amazon.

OpenAI stated that it has secured its own classified deal with the Department of War and argued that Anthropic should not be designated a risk. Connie LaRossa, who focuses on national security policy at OpenAI, outlined their shared "red lines".

LaRossa stated, "Our red lines were the same as Anthropic's, which is at this point in time, no domestic surveillance and no use of AI for autonomous weapons." LaRossa added, "We are actually working to have the secure risk designation removed from Anthropic... That shouldn't be applied to a U.S. industry counterpart with such an important tool."

During discussions with Anthropic executives, investors have reaffirmed their support for the San Francisco-based AI laboratory while also expressing a desire to find a resolution with the Pentagon. Some investors voiced frustration that Chief Executive Officer Amodei antagonised rather than cultivated Department of War officials.

An individual briefed on the matter described the situation as "an ego and diplomacy problem." Investors believe that Amodei cannot be perceived as yielding to the administration without alienating a core group of employees and consumers drawn to Anthropic due to his stance.

Chief Executive Officer Amodei has stated that Anthropic cannot "in good conscience accede to their request." He informed investors that the company would "continue to work to figure out a solution with the DoW."

Investors involved in the Department of War talks aim to help Anthropic avoid a "supply-chain risk" designation from the U.S. government. Such a designation, if implemented, could severely impact the startup's rapidly growing sales to business customers.

Demand has increased for Anthropic's products, including its chatbot Claude and coding assistant Claude Code. Claude was the most-downloaded free app in the Apple App Store on Monday, surpassing OpenAI's ChatGPT.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has stated that such a risk designation would necessitate all government contractors ceasing to use Anthropic's technology across their business operations. Anthropic has publicly challenged Hegseth's comments, asserting he lacks the statutory authority to block its AI use outside of defence contracts.

Anthropic also announced it would legally challenge any supply-chain risk designation in court. Some investors worry the dispute could deter potential customers who wish to avoid government scrutiny.

These concerns arise at a critical juncture for the startup. Anthropic has raised tens of billions of USD with high expectations for its enterprise sales, which constitute about 80% of its revenue.

The success of future share sales, including its anticipated initial public offering, relies on Anthropic's continued expansion of its business revenue. Anthropic is currently allowing employees to sell shares to investors, and the company has previously stated that an IPO decision has not yet been made.

Anthropic's projected annual revenue, or revenue run rate, is approximately USD 19 billion, an increase from USD 14 billion a few weeks prior. This push from investors coincides with several U.S. government agencies terminating their use of Anthropic's technology.

The State Department, for instance, has switched to rival OpenAI, following President Donald Trump's order for government agencies to discontinue using Anthropic within the next six months.

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• The Information Technology Industry Council expressed concern over the Department of War's "supply-chain risk" designation for Anthropic.

• Anthropic is in a months-long dispute with the Pentagon over military use of its AI technology, refusing to allow it for autonomous weapons or mass U.S. surveillance.

• Major investors, including Amazon and Nvidia, are engaging with Anthropic and the administration to de-escalate tensions and avoid a ban on its AI for government contractors.

Source: REUTERS