Google Fined $21 Million by Competition Commission of India for Search Bias

The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has imposed a fine of ₹135.86 Crores (or about 21 Million USD) on Google in India.

In a 190-page order, the Competition Commission of India (CCI) said Google abused its dominant position on three counts that largely relate to search, while no foul play was seen in case of advertising.

The fine imposed is 5% of the average revenue generated by the company in India over three years, which Google has to pay within 60 days.

February 9, 2018 ✚ Permalink

Typekit Expands Support for Devanagari, Gujarati and Other Non-Latin Fonts

Sally Kerrigan, writing on the Typekit blog:

In this newest batch of fonts from three of our foundry partners, we’re delighted to expand our support for Arabic, Devanagari, Hebrew, Gujarati, and Armenian. Latin script tends to be overrepresented in the typography world, and we’re eager to better represent the true range of scripts used all over the globe on Typekit.

I had no idea that Skolar Devanagari even existed. Skolar Sans is one of the nicest font I’ve used, so I’m excited to use Skolar Devanagari in production soon.

On the Gujarati side of things, Rasa and Skolar Gujarati look really good too.

February 7, 2018 ✚ Permalink

A Roundup of All the Good Apple HomePod Reviews

Apple HomePod Reviews

Apple’s HomePod goes on sale in just three days. The pre-orders have been open for a little over a week now and so far, very little has been known about this new category of device from Apple. Thankfully, the embargo for the reviews has lifted today and several HomePod reviews are now rolling out as I type this.

Here’s a roundup of some of the notable HomePod reviews I’ve come across so far:

(more…)

February 6, 2018 ✚ Permalink

Apple Puts Key Software Features On Hold to Focus on a More Stable Release This Year

Mark Gurman, reporting for Bloomberg:

While core features like the combined apps platform are still on schedule to be introduced this year, some flashier changes like the redesigned home screen will likely be held back until the 2019 software update, a person familiar with the matter said. The company will also probably delay a revamped photo management application that used new algorithms to better automatically sort pictures, though some smaller upgrades to the Photos app will still appear this year.

I was really looking forward to the redesigned Homescreen.

I’m not a developer, but a combined iOS/Mac platform for third-party apps sounds a lot more complex than a redesigned arrangement of icons on the home screen.

January 30, 2018 ✚ Permalink

Apple Decreases Pricing of Apps on the Indian App Store As it Adjusts Pricing for Several Countries

App Store India Pricing January 2018

Apple has adjusted the App Store pricing for several countries this week to account for foreign exchange rate fluctuations and tax changes. App Store developers were notified of this change via an email earlier this week, as reported by 9to5Mac. Apple periodically adjusts the pricing on the App Store to account for these changes and the last major change for pricing of apps for Apple customers in India happened in January 2017 when Apple increased the pricing of apps on the App Store for India by around 25% to 32%.

App Store Pricing Adjustment for India

According to the email that Apple sent out to developers, the pricing for apps in India will decrease.

India: Prices will decrease for apps and in-app purchases (including auto-renewable subscriptions)

As a consumer, it’s obvious to get excited upon reading that, but wait till you hear the new pricing that is now live on the App Store. The pricing of apps on App Store India has been reduced by Rs. 1. That’s right, apps will cost less by a whole Rupee going forward.

Here are the top pricing tiers now active on the App Store:

App Store India Pricing January 2018

App Store India Pricing January 2018

I’m not really sure why Apple decided to make this minor change to the pricing. I’m hoping that this ₹1 discount is just cosmetic — such that the pricing appears in line with the standard xx.99 way and that the change announced in the email is rolling out in the coming days with a notable change in the pricing.

What do you think about this change? Let me know your thoughts on Twitter @preshit or @nuclearbits.

[h/t @macpeercom]

January 26, 2018 ✚ Permalink

No Cutting Corners on the iPhone X

Brad Ellis, an Interaction Designer, writes about the corners present on the iPhone X:

Here’s where the nerd part comes in, iPhone X rounded screen corners don’t use the classic rounding method where you move in a straight line and then arc using a single quadrant of a circle. Instead, the math is a bit more complicated. Commonly called a squircle, the slope starts sooner, but is more gentle.

This is a fascinating look at the squircles seen on the iPhone and how Apple’s attention to detail comes about.

Also Read: Brad’s take on Why Reach Navigation Should Replace the Navbar in iOS Design.

January 23, 2018 ✚ Permalink

Apple Partners with Malala Fund to Support Girls’ Education

Apple Partners with Malala Fund

Apple today announced that it is partnering with Malala Fund to help girls receive free, safe, and quality education. Apple will become the fund’s first Laureate partner, which will enable significant expansion of Malala’s effort to support girls’ education, according to the release issued by Apple today.

“We believe that education is a great equalising force, and we share Malala Fund’s commitment to give every girl an opportunity to go to school,” said Tim Cook. “Malala is a courageous advocate for equality. She’s one of the most inspiring figures of our time, and we are honoured to help her extend the important work she is doing to empower girls around the world.”

Apple Partners with Malala Fund

(Photo: Apple / Karen Kasmauski)

Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO will be joining the fund’s leadership council and Apple will be helping Malala Fund by assisting with technology, curriculum, and research into policy changes needed to help girls everywhere attend school and complete their education.

Malala Fund currently runs the Gulmakai Network initiative in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Lebanon, Turkey, and Nigeria and help push for girls’ education in these countries.

January 22, 2018 ✚ Permalink