Google and European cell carriers have written to the European Commission, pressing them to make Apple provide better messaging interoperability between platforms. In other words, they want iMessage to play nicer with Android. Androidpolice.com notes that Apple was able to have iMessage excluded from the EU’s Digital Markets Act. iMessage is, however under investigation. Google argues that iMessage’s popularity and revenue make it eligible for regulation, while Apple downplays its importance in the EU. Google has demanded for years to have governments force Apple to adapt RCS support for iMessage. Let’s just say what this is really about…younger users favor iMessage to iMessage chats over iPhones which display the ‘blue bubble.’ Messages from Android have a green bubble, and they don’t have the cool factor that Google desperately wants for their platform to entice and keep younger users. 

Meta says it will require advertisers to disclose whether the ads submitted to its websites have been digitally altered, included via the use of AI tools, if the ads are political or social in nature. According to engadget.com, ads that have been digitally altered will be marked as such on Meta’s platforms, in the same way some advertisements come with a “Paid for” disclaimer. The company will start implementing the rule in the new year, just as the campaign period for what’s expected to be a brutal and divisive 2024 US presidential elections heats up. This seems like a way to keep the revenue coming in, but cover Meta’s butt to an extent. A really consumer friendly policy would be to refuse AI altered ads in those categories all together. Note that advertisers don’t have to notify Meta if pics are only size adjusted, cropped, color corrected or sharpened. The platform owner did say that repeated violations of their rule ‘may result in penalties.’ 

Amazon poured a billion dollars into Rivian back in 2019, and has some 100,000 electric vans on order. Now, techcrunch.com says Rivian has modified their deal so they can sell the vans to others before delivering the entire 100,000. They will still sell Amazon the 100,000 units by the end of the decade. Last month, Amazon said they have 10,000 of the E-vans on the road. Amazon retains a 17% stake in the EV maker. 

Here’s a story that has saved me money. Chamberlain Group…which has the MyQ smart garage door tech…is blocking ‘unauthorized access’ to its APIs. This will stop integration of MyQ doors with Homebridge and Home Assistant. Theverge.com reports that Chamberlain had hardy cut Apple HomeKit and Google Assistant integration. This really sucks because Chamberlain has their own brand, plus Liftmaster, and Sears Craftsman garage door openers. They control about 70% of the US garage door market. There are already some companies making work arounds, but they are pretty convoluted. Chamberlain only wants you to use their ‘authorized’ security partners. Those require a paid subscription, and are cloud based. Sure seems like restraint of trade to me. I won’t be upgrading to one.

I’m Clark Reid and you’re ‘Technified’ for now.