Apple is reducing app store fees in China to 25% amid regulatory discussions, impacting revenue sharing with Tencent. Meanwhile, X has submitted changes to its EU verification system following a substantial fine, facing assessment by the European Commission. A high-stakes trial against Meta and Google, alleging social media addiction harm, moves to jury deliberations Friday, potentially setting a precedent for similar lawsuits. Concerns are growing about the environmental impact of data centers, despite awareness of their economic benefits.
🍎 Business & Policy
Apple lowers app store fees in China
Apple is lowering its commission fees for app developers in China from 30% to 25%, effective March 15th. This adjustment, reportedly made after discussions with Chinese regulators, aims to mitigate potential antitrust concerns within the key Chinese market. The change also impacts Apple’s revenue sharing agreement with Tencent concerning WeChat mini programs.
- Apple takes a bite out of app store fees in China — go.theregister.com
- Apple Cuts China App Store Fees to 25% — bloomberg.com
💻 Development & Coding
The Best Darn Grid Shader (Yet)
A developer has been working on a shader-based grid designed to visually surpass existing texture-based grids, which are currently the standard. The project aims to replicate the nuanced perspective and behavior of texture grids while avoiding issues like aliasing and Moiré patterns. The ultimate goal is a grid shader that accurately mimics the appearance of a texture-based grid without common shader pitfalls.
- The Best Darn Grid Shader (Yet) — bgolus.medium.com
Hyperlinks in Terminal Emulators
Recent updates to GNOME Terminal and iTerm2 now support clickable hyperlinks for any text, not just URLs. This functionality, built on the VTE widget, allows tools like apt-changelog and git log to create links directly within the terminal. The system uses a specific escape sequence to define these hyperlinks, enhancing user interaction and information access.
- Hyperlinks in Terminal Emulators — gist.github.com
🌐 Social Media
X Submits EU Checkmark Remedies, Faces Commission Assessment
X (formerly Twitter) has submitted proposed changes to its verification system in the EU following a €120 million fine. The European Commission will now evaluate these modifications, which relate to the platform’s “blue check mark” verification process. This action addresses regulatory concerns about user identification.
- X Submits EU Checkmark Remedies, Faces Commission Assessment — bloomberg.com
Social Media Trial: Closing Arguments, Jury Deliberations Begin Friday
A jury is currently deliberating in a trial against Meta (Facebook/Instagram) and Google (YouTube), determining if the platforms are liable for harm to a young woman who claims social media addiction worsened her mental health. The plaintiff’s legal team presented internal documents indicating awareness of addictive design features, while the defendants attribute her struggles to pre-existing conditions. This trial serves as a “bellwether,” potentially impacting thousands of similar lawsuits against social media companies.
💡 Tech Insights
Why Technology Makes Us More Productive but Not Richer
Technological advancements have boosted economic productivity, yet GDP growth has slowed and average household incomes haven’t kept pace. This disconnect stems from plateaued consumer spending and a redistribution of economic gains, increasingly flowing to capital and corporations rather than workers. Concentrated market power also prevents cost savings from being passed on to consumers, contributing to a lack of price deflation.
- Why Technology Makes Us More Productive but Not Richer — fullstackpm.tech
🌱 AI & Robotics
Can you instruct a robot to make a PBJ sandwich?
The PBJ test, created by The Deliberate Company, is a free online tool that challenges users to write instructions for a robot to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. It evaluates process-thinking skills by highlighting gaps and ambiguities in instructions, demonstrating the consequences of literal interpretation. The test provides scores and feedback across dimensions like completeness and precision, revealing how detailed instructions are crucial for successful execution.
- Can you instruct a robot to make a PBJ sandwich? — pbj.deliberateinc.com
🌎 Data & Environment
Data Centers: Many Americans Aware, Worry About Environmental Impact
A recent Pew Research Center survey found that 75% of US adults are familiar with data centers, facilities crucial for internet and AI infrastructure. However, a significant portion of Americans express concerns about their environmental impact and potential effects on home energy costs. While some see positive economic benefits like job creation and increased tax revenue, negative perceptions are more prevalent overall.
- Data Centers: Many Americans Aware, Worry About Environmental Impact — pewresearch.org