Group 1 - Apple has approved Spotify's U.S. app update, allowing users to access pricing information and external payment links, following a U.S. judge's order to stop charging commissions on in-app purchases [1][4] - Spotify's spokesperson highlighted that this update represents a significant milestone for transparency and choice for U.S. consumers, enabling lower prices and more control over subscriptions [2][3] - The updated app version 9.0.40 is now available on the App Store, making Spotify one of the first major apps to implement these changes [2][3] Group 2 - The U.S. District Judge ruled that Apple violated an order to reform its App Store, indicating that Apple willfully failed to comply with the order to allow developers to direct customers to their websites for purchases [5]

Core Viewpoint - Apple has updated its App Store rules in the U.S. to allow apps to link users to their own websites for purchasing subscriptions or digital goods, following a court ruling in favor of Epic Games [1][2]. Group 1: Legal Context - The lawsuit initiated by Epic Games in 2020 challenged Apple's control over in-app transactions, leading to a 2021 injunction that required Apple to provide developers with options to redirect users to their own websites to avoid a 30% commission [3]. - After failing to appeal the injunction, Apple began allowing apps to link to external payment methods but still charged a 27% commission and implemented "scare screens" [4]. Group 2: Compliance and Reactions - Following the recent ruling, Apple must eliminate the "scare screens" and has already removed guidelines regarding the language used in these screens and links [4]. - Apple expressed its disagreement with the court's decision, stating it will comply with the order while planning to appeal [7]. - Spotify has taken advantage of the new rules by submitting an app version that includes links for users to purchase subscriptions externally [7].

Core Viewpoint - Spotify has submitted a new app update to Apple following a court ruling that requires Apple to ease restrictions on developers' communication with customers, allowing for improved subscription management and payment options [1][4]. Group 1: Spotify's App Update - The app update will enable U.S. consumers to view subscription pricing details, promotional information, and other relevant details directly within the Spotify app [2]. - Users will have the ability to click links to purchase or change subscriptions seamlessly [2]. - The update will also allow U.S. consumers to utilize payment options beyond Apple's payment system, enhancing the purchasing experience [3]. Group 2: Legal Context and Reactions - The court ruling, stemming from a case brought by Epic Games, mandates that Apple must stop restricting developers' ability to communicate with customers without incurring charges [1][4]. - Spotify criticized Apple's previous restrictions as an abuse of market power, emphasizing the absurdity of not being able to offer basic services despite the judge's order from four years ago [4]. - Epic Games plans to return its game Fortnite to the U.S. iOS App Store following the court ruling, indicating a potential shift in the competitive landscape [5].

Core Viewpoint - Apple is facing potential criminal charges after a federal judge ruled that the company violated an antitrust order related to App Store restrictions, with CEO Tim Cook being singled out for allegedly ignoring advice from his deputies to comply with the ruling [1][5][7]. Group 1: Legal Proceedings and Rulings - The judge, Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers, stated that Cook "chose poorly" by directing his team to defy a court order in the ongoing dispute with Epic Games [1][4]. - Epic Games accused Apple of anticompetitive behavior, leading to a 2021 injunction that required Apple to allow developers to offer alternative payment methods outside the App Store [2][14]. - The judge found that Apple had considered external costs related to alternative payment methods and intentionally set its commission high enough to exceed those costs, undermining claims made by Apple's vice president of finance, Alex Roman [9][14]. Group 2: Internal Dynamics at Apple - Internal discussions revealed that senior executives, including Phillip Schiller, advocated for compliance with the court's order, but Cook sided with his finance team [4][5]. - The judge accused Roman of lying under oath and stated that Apple adopted misrepresentations to the court [6][10]. - Cook's decision to ignore Schiller's advice and follow the finance team's direction was highlighted as a significant misstep [5][11]. Group 3: Implications for Apple and Developers - The ruling mandates that Apple cease collecting commissions on purchases made via external links within apps, which is a significant concession aimed at curbing Apple's dominance in digital commerce on iOS [15]. - Epic Games' CEO, Tim Sweeney, described the ruling as a landmark moment for app developers, emphasizing that it forces Apple to compete [15][16]. - The judge also directed Apple to cover Epic Games' legal fees related to the contempt issue, further impacting the company's financial obligations [15].

罗杰斯本周三表示，此前法院裁决后，苹果反而采取了一种新的方式，使在App Store之外销售商品的 应用程序开发者需要向苹果支付27%的佣金。此外，苹果还以App Store之外支付可能不安全为由，劝用 户不要在其他地方支付。该法官表示，苹果无视法院禁令。该法官将苹果移交给联邦检察官进行藐视法 庭刑事调查。 法官表示，苹果不能再从App Store以外的应用程序销售中收取佣金，也不能制定规则来阻止应用开发 者创建外部链接。 当地时间周三，美国加州一名联邦法官裁定，苹果必须放松对App Store的控制，并停止对部分应用程 序的销售收取佣金。此事前因是Epic Games曾对苹果发起诉讼，相关诉讼裁决后，该法官认为苹果违反 了相关诉讼裁决。 2020年，Epic Games游戏《堡垒之夜》因绕过"应用内购买"、开通第三方支付被苹果下架。Epic Games 认为，苹果非法维持iOS系统在App分销市场中的垄断地位，起诉了苹果。2021年，美国法院在要求 Epic Games支付佣金和利息的同时，要求苹果改进应用商店政策。经历多起诉讼，2021年，苹果作出妥 协，同意开发者可通过邮件等方式，向用户介绍苹果iOS支 ...

A person walks out of an Apple store in Beijing, China, on April 9, 2025.Apple willfully violated and ignored a 2021 decision that came out of the Epic Games case, judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers said in a decision on Wednesday.She wrote that Apple's Vice President of Finance Alex Roman "outright lied" to the court about when Apple had decided to levy a 27% fee on some purchases linked to its App Store."Neither Apple, nor its counsel, corrected the, now obvious, lies," Rogers wrote, saying that she considers A ...

Core Insights - Apple has notified several individuals that they were targeted by government spyware, continuing its practice of alerting users about potential cyber threats [1][6] - The notifications were sent to affected users in 100 countries, indicating a widespread issue [3] - Two individuals, Ciro Pellegrino and Eva Vlaardingerbroek, have publicly confirmed receiving these notifications [2][4] Group 1: Notifications and Responses - Pellegrino, an Italian journalist, received an email and text from Apple indicating he was targeted with spyware, and he noted that he was not the only one [2] - Vlaardingerbroek, a Dutch activist, shared her notification on social media, interpreting it as an attempt to intimidate her [4] - Apple expressed high confidence in the detection of the spyware attack, emphasizing the seriousness of the warning [4] Group 2: Context of Spyware Attacks - The specific spyware campaign related to the notifications remains unclear, but Apple has previously alerted users about similar threats [6] - Pellegrino is the second Italian journalist this year to be notified about being targeted by spyware, highlighting a concerning trend [7] - WhatsApp had previously notified Pellegrino's colleague about a spyware attack linked to Paragon Solutions, an Israeli company [7][8]

This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain Microsoft on Wednesday committed to boosting its presence in Europe and protecting European citizens' data against a backdrop of rising "geopolitical volatility." The tech titan's pledges come as the return of President Donald Trump has upended the relationship between the United States and Eu ...

Core Insights - The company is focusing on AI talent acquisition and has successfully attracted key technical personnel for its projects Mureka and SkyReels, which are seen as crucial for its future in the AI sector [1][5][25] - The company has shifted its focus from text models to music and video models, believing that these areas present less competition and greater potential for achieving state-of-the-art (SOTA) performance [2][8][10] - The company reported a total revenue of 5.66 billion yuan in 2024, a year-on-year increase of 15.2%, with its AI business generating an annualized revenue of approximately $140 million [5][30] Talent Acquisition - The company’s CEO has personally engaged in talent acquisition by visiting potential hires in informal settings, emphasizing the importance of sincerity in attracting talent [1][23][24] - The focus is on recruiting core creators for the Mureka and SkyReels projects, which are pivotal for the company's growth in the AI space [25][23] Product Development - The company launched its first music generation model, Mureka V1, in April 2024, followed by the Mureka O1 model, which incorporates Chain of Thought (CoT) technology, outperforming competitors [4][10] - The company also introduced the SkyReels platform for AI short dramas, integrating video and 3D models, and has open-sourced its video generation model SkyReels-V1 [5][4] Market Positioning - The company believes that the music and video content generation markets are more accessible, with a global audience of 8 billion for video and 4 billion for music, compared to smaller markets for comics and novels [5][30] - The CEO argues that focusing on niche markets allows the company to build a competitive edge that larger firms cannot easily replicate [6][20] Financial Performance - The company’s AI music business has an annual recurring revenue (ARR) of approximately $12 million, with a monthly revenue of around $1 million as of March 2025 [5][30] - The CEO estimates the AI music creation market could reach a size of $10 billion to $20 billion annually, with the company aiming to capture a significant share [32][30] Strategic Vision - The company aims to achieve general artificial intelligence (AGI) by 2030, with a clear focus on both AGI and AIGC (AI-generated content) as key areas of development [45][14] - The CEO emphasizes the importance of achieving SOTA in specific fields to attract top talent and maintain a competitive advantage [22][10]

Core Insights - Tencent showcased various AI applications at the 8th Digital China Construction Summit, emphasizing the theme of "creating useful AI to activate new industrial growth" [1][5] - Since 2018, Tencent has invested over 340 billion yuan in R&D, establishing a comprehensive product matrix for AI, from computing infrastructure to diverse intelligent applications [1][5] Group 1: AI Applications - Visitors experienced interactive AI applications, such as generating travel itineraries and creating 3D models based on random keywords [3][5] - The Tencent Hongyuan 3D generation model, with a trillion-level parameter scale, leads in domestic capabilities and supports multi-modal generation, including images, videos, and 3D models [3][5] Group 2: Industry Applications - Tencent demonstrated AI technology applications in various sectors, including office collaboration, healthcare, government, retail, digital mapping, and energy manufacturing [5] - The AI assistant "Xiao Geng" provides precise advice to rural residents on agricultural issues, with plans to support AI training for over 100,000 villagers through a village service platform [5] Group 3: Market Growth - The "National Data Resource Survey Report (2024)" indicates a 36% year-on-year increase in companies developing or applying AI, and a 27.4% increase in high-quality datasets, supporting AI training and application [5]