Google to pay $700 million in case over whether its app store is an illegal monopoly (www.npr.org)
from dantheclamman@lemmy.world to technology@lemmy.world on 19 Dec 2023 08:17
https://lemmy.world/post/9742871

#technology

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autotldr@lemmings.world on 19 Dec 2023 08:20 next collapse

This is the best summary I could come up with:


Google has agreed to pay $700 million and will make changes to its app store it has resisted for years in order to resolve a an antitrust lawsuit brought by state attorneys general, the company announced on Monday.

“We’re pleased to resolve our case with the states and move forward on a settlement,” Wilson White, Google vice president of government affairs and public policy, said in a company blog post.

While states announced a settlement with Google back in September, the details were unknown until the company publicly revealed the terms of the agreement on Monday.

A federal judge will hold hearings in January about what changes Google must make in order to remedy the anti-trust issues raised in court at the trial.

On iPhones, Apple operates an app store under terms similar to Google, and it, too, has been the target of scrutiny in lawsuits and by policymakers.

Among them, a case brought by the Justice Department centered on Google allegedly breaking the law in maintaining its dominance of online search and advertising.


The original article contains 568 words, the summary contains 174 words. Saved 69%. I’m a bot and I’m open source!

MilitantAtheist@lemmy.world on 19 Dec 2023 08:59 collapse

So what is that? What they earn in a day running the app store?

MilitantAtheist@lemmy.world on 19 Dec 2023 09:03 next collapse

Did some searching.

In 2021, the Apple App Store reportedly reached around 85 billion U.S. dollars in revenues from global consumers worldwide.

Synthead@lemmy.world on 19 Dec 2023 09:53 collapse

Wrong app store

MilitantAtheist@lemmy.world on 19 Dec 2023 11:55 collapse

My bad, Google are only at 47 billion.

Evilcoleslaw@lemmy.world on 19 Dec 2023 14:19 collapse

So averaged out, this settlement would be about 5-6 days of revenue.

Blackmist@feddit.uk on 20 Dec 2023 12:39 collapse

They made about $42 billion last year. Supposedly they keep about 30% of that (assuming that’s the full figure and not already their cut), so it’s about 20 days worth of Google’s cut.

Cost of doing business.

Evilcoleslaw@lemmy.world on 19 Dec 2023 09:01 next collapse

On the consumer side another article I read said that the settlement should provide $2 each, and then a pro rata payment based on the amount of app store purchases between 2016 and the settlement date.

cm0002@lemmy.world on 19 Dec 2023 09:53 collapse

based on the amount of app store purchases between 2016 and the settlement date.

Oh I wonder if all play store purchases are included or just app app store stuff, if books are included I might be able to get a whole 5$ lmao

blunderworld@lemmy.ca on 19 Dec 2023 12:01 next collapse

Just try getting a popular app anywhere else. There are options of course, but they require a working knowledge of APKs and other technical concepts which many casual users may not be familiar with. Even once you get them installed, these apps often don’t work without play services, and – depending on the source – can be less secure.

LDerJim@lemmy.world on 19 Dec 2023 12:40 next collapse

Uhm. This is not true. They don’t require working knowledge of apks and Android walks you through the process of installing via Unknown Sources.

Try installing packages from outside iOS…

blunderworld@lemmy.ca on 19 Dec 2023 13:03 next collapse

I don’t use iOS and have only been able to install many popular apps through APKs sourced from other sites like github and apkpure.

Ill admit I don’t know much about side loading but I think that only supports my original point that the average user isnt aware of less intuitive alternatives to the play store.

sorghum@sh.itjust.works on 19 Dec 2023 13:08 collapse

Let me introduce you to !fdroid@lemmy.ml

Also Amazon has an app store for android as well.

blunderworld@lemmy.ca on 19 Dec 2023 14:15 collapse

I’m vaguely familiar with fdroid, but thanks for linking. My understanding is that fdroid doesnt support automatic updates, though I might be wrong. I use obtainium instead.

Amazon store is indeed another option. Personally my issue with the Google play store is the sketchiness of the company though, so Amazon isn’t a good alternative for people like myself.

KISSmyOS@lemmy.world on 19 Dec 2023 20:05 collapse

F-Droid searches for updated app versions automatically, downloads them when you’re connected to WiFi, and notifies you.
You then have to install them one by one manually, which is a bit annoying, yes.

PlantObserver@lemmy.world on 22 Dec 2023 21:49 collapse

There’s other frontends for fdroid available like neostore that handle it automatically

Nima@lemmy.world on 19 Dec 2023 18:18 collapse

I’m sure this isn’t the right place to ask this, but does anyone have a website they use for apks that is pretty solid?

I’m trying to de-google my life and the play store is the last holdover for me. I already use F-droid but that is more for open source software.

apologies if this was the wrong place to ask.

Devdogg@lemmy.ml on 19 Dec 2023 20:49 collapse

The one I use is called Aurora Store.

Nima@lemmy.world on 20 Dec 2023 03:43 next collapse

thank you! I will check it out.

RGB3x3@lemmy.world on 20 Dec 2023 12:27 collapse

That just connects back to Play Store. It’s essentially just a front-end for it.

F-droid is actually unconnected to Google. They both have their place, but it’s best to clarify that.

Devdogg@lemmy.ml on 20 Dec 2023 17:32 collapse

It shows what I know!

TigrisMorte@kbin.social on 19 Dec 2023 13:12 next collapse

https://f-droid.org/en/

dantheclamman@lemmy.world on 19 Dec 2023 16:06 collapse

F-droid is awesome, but I don’t think it will ever be mass market

Lileath@lemmy.blahaj.zone on 19 Dec 2023 13:32 next collapse

My phone can install APKs out of the box. XAPKs need a separate installer though, but that is a one time problem. Many APKs even get recognised by the playstore which made it easier to update it.

My device either isn’t verified or in some way geolocked for some apps so I had to get APKs of them to use those apps and I never had a problem with that.

TseseJuer@lemmy.world on 19 Dec 2023 16:14 collapse

hello sundar had no idea you were on lemmy

blunderworld@lemmy.ca on 19 Dec 2023 19:57 collapse

???

Are you trying to imply my comment is somehow pro-google?

TseseJuer@lemmy.world on 19 Dec 2023 20:11 collapse

don’t you have some shareholder knob to polish? see ya later sundar!

blunderworld@lemmy.ca on 19 Dec 2023 21:00 collapse

Okay weirdo, whatever you say

TheGiantKorean@lemmy.world on 19 Dec 2023 13:59 collapse

Google: oh ok, is cash good? gets out wallet

w2tpmf@lemmy.world on 19 Dec 2023 16:21 collapse

No need to get the wallet out when loose pocket change will cover it