google play

Apple, Google Face Pressure Overseas Over App Store Payment Systems

According to recent reports, countries such as South Korea are considering altering their laws to force tech giants Apple and Google to allow third-party payment systems in their app stores. The change would give app developers the freedom to offer payment options outside of Google and Apple’s app stores, bypassing the company’s massive 30 percent cut of revenues.

Apple CEO Tim Cook looking down

Senators Question Google over Bullying Tinder the Day Before Hearing

The two top senators on the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Antitrust have sent a letter to Google asking about a phone call the company made to Match Group, the developer behind the Tinder dating app, a day before its top lawyer was set to testify about the company’s treatment on the Google Play app store. Match claims the call was an attempt to pressure the company into making positive comments about the Masters of the Universe.

Google CEO Sundar Pichai testifies remotely during a House Judiciary subcommittee hearing

Apple And Google Under Fire for App Store Duopoly

The smartphone market has become a duopoly. Two companies, Apple and Google, have captured almost 99 percent of the global market for smartphone operating systems. Almost every new smartphone made today will either feature Google’s Android operating system, or Apple’s iOS.

The Associated Press

Google Removes Gay ‘Conversion Therapy’ App Following Outcry

Google has removed an app from the Google Play store which encouraged gay people to go through “conversion therapy,” following complaints from LGBT groups. Google still hasn’t removed an app which allows users to report “heresy” to Indonesia’s strict Muslim government, however, nor has the company removed a Saudi Arabian app which allows men to track women and limit their movement.

Google gay pride (Niv Singer / Flickr / CC / Cropped)