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Epic vs. Apple and Google

Fortnite is a pitched battle game that was available on all devices with a store that offered a free download of an application that, in turn, downloaded the necessary files -a package of about 10 GB- to run the game properly.

However, this changed a month ago, when on August 13 of this year, Epic decided to incorporate into its download package the ability to pay Epic directly for micro-transactions or purchases within the application - better known as in-app purchases-skipping not only the security of platforms like Apple's App Store and Google Play Store.

According to Apple, in the section "Shopping within the app" it states that:

"...are optional transactions designed to modify the functionality of the app or unlock items (...)".

In the case of FortniteEpic, a fictional, non-monetary currency was offered to enhance the player's experience known as V-bucks and, until August 13, the only way to pay for V-bucks - "V currencies", in Latin America; or "PaVos", in Europe- was through micro transactions handled by Apple and Google virtual stores.

However, in order to operate, Apple and Google require up to 30% of the amount of each payment within their platform not only to cover banking movements between the customer and the developer, but also to safeguard privacy and preserve the security of billing data.

Epic has stated that it is not satisfied with this policy, which applies to all developers who are required to process a payment for a virtual good.

Not only that, Apple, a company that promotes user safety and, above all, the safety of minors, indicates that

"(...) parental controls (...) include the ability to disable purchases within the app entirely" and "(...) prevent your child (...) from buying or downloading content on iTunes and the App Store (...)".

It means that not only did Epic enter code into the application that downloads the package needed to play Fortnite which enabled Epic's direct payment, but they were also able to circumvent the parental controls on Apple and Google devices, making both systems highly vulnerable.

Later that day, the application Fortnite was removed from the App Store. Epic, knowing in advance that it was violating Apple's developer terms and conditions, announced that he had filed a lawsuit almost immediately, according to a statement issued by Epic. At the same time, Fortnite had been removed from the Google Play Store for the same reasons. Epic then proceeded to sue Google.

On August 17, Apple issued a statement regarding its position on the case through the digital media The Vergewhich translates:

"The App Store is designed to be a safe and trusted place for users, and as a great growth opportunity for all developers' business. Epic has been one of the most successful developers on the App Store; additionally, it has become a multi-billion dollar company that reaches millions of iOS customers worldwide. We want to keep the company with us as part of the Apple Developer Program, as well as its apps on the Store. Epic has created a problem in itself that can easily be remedied by simply releasing an update to your application in accordance with the agreed terms that apply to all developers. There will be no exception for Epic because we don't believe it's right to put your business interests ahead of the terms that protect our customers.

On August 17, Epic announced through his Twitter account that the Apple developer account required for the distribution of the application Fortnite would be closed on August 28 and, consequently, a second lawsuit would be filed against Apple for that action which Epic described as "retaliation" for the first lawsuit.

This was taken advantage of by the same Epic video game to "denounce" publicly through a tournament that has the name "Free Fortnite" against the policies of Apple and Google that, according to its website, declares in favor of the actions of the video game company: "We decided to fight Apple and Google's policies on behalf of all consumers and their rights to have access to more efficient payment methods and receive the best possible prices". The battlefield game promoted a contest in which players were invited to participate in the tournament that aimed to make visible Epic's position regarding Apple.

Following the above logic, then, games and applications distributed by Epic in stores where an "exorbitant" commission is also charged -as the company has described it-, should leave environments like PlayStation Store, Nintendo and Xbox Live for handling only payments through their platforms. Meanwhile, Epic does not allow the sale of its fictional currency with no monetary value - the V-bucks- outside their own platform. On Epic's support page they mention that: "We know there are websites that offer V-bucks. (...) These websites cannot deliver V-coins under any circumstances. Is Epic "playing" a double-sided game?

Suddenly, on August 21, the case took an unexpected turn: Apple officially responded to Epic's demand with a court filing. Phil Schiller, Apple's global marketing director, told CNBC that Epic demanded special treatment and revealed how Epic's CEO, Tim Sweeney sent emails to different divisions of Apple in charge of the App Store.

On August 24, the decision was partial for both Apple and Epic. U.S. District Court Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers of the Northern District of California, who heard the case, said she was "inclined" not to require Apple to resume distribution of the application Fortnite on the App Store; meanwhile, he also said the termination of Apple's developer account at the hands of Epic could be reversed. The hearing was held through the Zoom platform for the government given the contingency by the Covid-19.

From the audience, it was concluded that Apple would not restore Fortnite to the App Store and Epic would maintain the tools required for video game development, specifically the Unreal Engine -a programming chain that allows the creation and design for the operation of a game- used by other programmers.

During that week, Epic was hostile to Apple devices that were once compatible with the FortniteThe new season's download package was announced, announcing that players who would not receive the new season's download package would lose access to the multiplatform mode of the online game whether it was via iOS, iPadOS or macOS.

Willyrex, the most famous Spanish-speaking youtuber and player in Fortnite spoke out about Epic's case against Apple and Google, in a live broadcast: "And now, doing the filth, the filth of "Free Fortnite" which, is that, I find it an incredible filth, really. (...) Are you going to break the rules for something special about iOS and Android? Anyway, I'll tell you what. They're desperate, I think."he pointed out.

The day has come. On August 28th, the application could not be downloaded Fortnitefrom the App Store worldwide and remove it from the device meant that it could no longer be installed on the latest supported devices. In this regard, Apple commented, in a statement, that it could be translated:

"We're disappointed we had to close the Epic Games account on the App Store. We've worked with the Epic Games team on their announcements and news for many years. The court made the recommendation to Epic to comply with App Store rules as the case takes its course, rules they had followed for the past decade until they caused their current situation. Epic has refused to do so. Instead, they continued to send Fortnite updates designed to violate the App Store rules. It's not fair to the other developers on the App Store where consumers are involved in their struggle. We hope we can work together again in the future, but unfortunately that is not possible today.

One week after the disappearance of Fortnite of the App Store -a situation caused by Epic-, on September 5th, Epic asked the court to "stop the retaliation" of Apple, according with information from ReutersThey also made it known that a preliminary injunction would be issued to Fortnite was back on the App Store while the trial between the two companies continues.

Three days later, on September 8, Apple filed a counterclaim against Epic for damages for breach of contract, according to with information from CNBCIn addition, the company stated that Epic "is positioned as a modern-day but corporate version of Robin Hood when, in reality, they're a multi-million dollar company that simply won't pay a penny of the colossal value they profit from the App Store".

With Epic's legal battle against Apple and Google, the disappearance of Fortnite of major mobile app stores, and serious financial consequences for Epic, the latest step taken by Apple in the wake of the cancellation of Epic's account - but not the development tools - is the cancellation of the use of Apple's secure login tool with each user's Apple ID. Therefore, Epic has sent a message to those players who are registered under the Apple platform and migrate to a different security standard.

The duel between Epic and the two most important companies in the industry of creation and distribution of mobile devices and content is far from over. Is Epic really "fighting" monopoly practices to protect consumers or should the lawsuits - which total five since August 13 - be understood as a call from Epic to Google and Apple to receive special treatment?

Cristian Carlos is a writer, journalist and sociologist.

Hunger in times of pandemic: 14 million children in the US do not eat the food they need

By Jenny Manrique / Ethnic Media Services

When Jovanna López realized that the food received by immigrants, blacks and indigenous people who stood in long lines at food banks in San Antonio, Texas, was expired or rotten, she set herself the task of working to make fresh fruits and vegetables available to these communities. Even more so when the organic markets were overrun by producers who only catered to a bourgeois public, with astronomical prices, who also refused food stamps as payment.

So it was that in 2015, this food promoter co-founded People 's Nite Market, a night market where access to nutritious food replaced the avocados and spoiled salads handed out at food donations. "The situation before COVID-19 was already difficult," Lopez said during a press conference organized by Ethnic Media Services. "But when the pandemic started all this poverty and hunger went up and people with disabilities, or without access to transportation to go anywhere, or even with immune problems, had to stop eating."

An 85-year-old neighbor had been feeding herself on bread for weeks because no one could visit her due to social distancing, until Lopez's organization brought her a box of rice and beans. Since early June, thanks to a hard-fought $$600,000 grant from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), People's Nite Market has been able to feed 150,000 families in the area, including undocumented immigrants, with a weekly delivery of 5,000 boxes of produce such as fruits, vegetables, eggs and rice.

According to Lopez, the San Antonio housing authority decided to cancel the food delivery as soon as COVID started and people were trying to help each other, especially those who were immuno-compromised or under 60, since aid for young people is scarce. "I talked to a lot of activists and we had residents start their own community web to access any resources they might need," he said.

As an urban farmer, Lopez works with Garcia Street Urban Farm, a four-acre farm on the west side of San Antonio that allows people to grow their own food. But this model, while successful, requires an initial investment of $$20,000 that many don't have. "We are fighting for the development department to change its policies on the use of public spaces and for the government to support community organizations so that more families can be farmers," Lopez said.

54 million hungry

San Antonio's situation is a microcosm of a picture that is very pale nationwide. According to the Census Bureau's weekly surveys (analyzed by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities Hamilton), in the first two weeks of August, about 14 million children were not getting the food they need. This is equivalent to children living in one-sixth of U.S. households and is five times higher than before the pandemic.

And according to the economic model of Feeding America, a nonprofit organization with a national network of more than 200 food banks, 54 million people, including 18 million children, will experience food insecurity by 2020. The figure during the Great Depression of 1929 was 60 million.

"Since mid-March, we've seen food shortages rise across the country," said Ami L. McReynolds, director of equity and programs for Feeding America, an organization that was already assisting 37 million people before COVID, at 60,000 distribution points across the United States.

"The cost of living continues to rise and people are going without food because their income covers the basics of housing, food and transportation. But food expenses are flexible; it's the first thing they cut back on when there are problems with household resources," McReynolds added.

Indigenous, Black and immigrant communities suffer 2.5 times more hunger than white people, and are more affected by unemployment which is already at 11%. These households can cover a maximum of US$400 in emergencies, have less access to transportation to get to food distribution points, and due to discriminatory practices are not homeowners so they live in neighborhoods with less infrastructure and access. Not to mention that they have been the hardest hit by COVID-19.

"There is a 60% increase in our services during the pandemic. Many individuals who are coming to our food centers today have previously been volunteers or donors to the banks. They are some of our newest clients," McReynolds said.

His organization has mutated to new distribution models such as home delivery of groceries and canned goods to reduce contact with people, especially seniors, of whom there are an estimated 5.5 million going hungry. There are also technology applications through which people can order food online at nearby supermarkets to reduce lines at satellite distribution sites. And many banks that work specifically with Latino communities have created partnerships with grassroots organizations to understand cultural food preferences and reduce trust barriers to access.

"We know that fear prevents access to food, it's a concern. We want communities to feel comfortable and safe coming to these centers."

McReynolds says that while they have the support of a network of nearly two million volunteers and even the National Guard to help maintain health protocols dictated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), they are still looking for allies.

Federal Grants

Feeding America, for example, provides only one-ninth of what federal programs like SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, better known as food stamps) and WIC (Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children) do. But in the new relief packages to address the coronavirus pandemic, resources for these programs are at risk of being cut or underfunded.

"Both Republicans and Democrats want to pass some assistance, but the problem is they want it to be a third of what was passed in the House," said the Rev. David Beckmann, president of the Bread for the World Institute. "Making cuts to programs like SNAP in schools, even while they're closed, is going to be devastating to a lot of people."

Beckmann recalled that this federal assistance is also not available to undocumented people. Even for resident immigrants, the current administration's change to the public charge law makes them reluctant to ask for help for fear of affecting their future immigration regularization process. That's why they urge other measures such as immigration and labor reform because to end hunger "it's not enough to just give people food, but to make people able to earn that food.

The expert said, however, that the absence of the issue at the Democratic and Republican conventions reflects the impact of consultants who have asked politicians not to use the word poverty in the world's richest country. "(Joe) Biden's program would give us a better chance of creating a healthier economy and reducing poverty," Beckmann said of the Democratic candidate's platform. "We can end hunger in eight years if we wanted to," he concluded.

Redwood City, orange sky for forest fires

Orange-gray skies and mid-day darkness in Redwood City and the rest of the San Francisco Bay Area due to the smoky curtain of the Northern California wildfires that have consumed more than half a million acres.

Climate change flooding imminent in Palo Alto

Wikimedia Commons

Pamela Cruz / Peninsula 360 Press


Palo Alto, CA. After experts predicted that the Baylands nature preserve could be submerged by mid-century due to sea level rise from climate change, the city of Palo Alto is moving forward to create an adaptation and containment plan to prevent catastrophic flooding.

The document provides for infrastructure improvements and a risk assessment of structures near flood-prone areas, as well as strategies for new development that must adapt to a new reality with increased wetness.

In addition, the project envisions a dike that would use treated wastewater, thereby supporting a new natural habitat in the transition zone between the tidal and upland areas.

In response, on Wednesday afternoon, September 9, city officials will discuss the progress of both efforts through a webinar to discuss sea level rise and opportunities for future public engagement.

The event, which will be held from 3:00 to 4:30 p.m., will include presentations by City and Santa Clara Valley Water District staff, who will discuss their own long-range planning efforts on the issue.

Palo Alto also intends to enter into new partnerships with surrounding cities, including East Palo Alto and Mountain View, to collaborate on plans and projects to contain rising tides.

They are also working with the San Francisco Estuary Association to create a conceptual plan for a "horizontal levee," a structure intended to improve the city's flood protection and protect habitat that would be threatened by sea level rise.

Unlike traditional levees, this one would feature "green" infrastructure that can support a salt marsh in the transition zone near Palo Alto Airport and the Baylands Golf Course.

The city's Department of Public Works engineer, Samantha Engelage, says the current flood control levees near the Baylands do not meet the standards set by the Federal Emergency Management Agency because they sometimes overflow, particularly when king tides coincide with storms.

As part of Palo Alto's recently adopted sea level rise plan, the city will conduct a "vulnerability assessment" that will identify critical infrastructure that could be at risk and estimate the economic impact of vulnerability for both public and private properties.

The city also plans to create a multi-year implementation plan that could include zoning changes near the Baylands, new permitting requirements for projects in at-risk areas, and relocation of facilities out of the area.

According to Palo Alto's sea level policy, which it adopted in March 2019, if the Baylands submerge by mid-century, as predicted, they would lose their ability to serve as a buffer during flooding, to attenuate storm surge, or for carbon.

Sea level rise would also have a disruptive and potentially devastating impact on local habitats as well as recreational offerings throughout the reserve, Engelale said.

More information at: https://www.paloaltosustainabilityplan.com/

The Ohlones, San Mateo County residents who worshipped the redwoods

Classless people estimated to have arrived in San Mateo County over two thousand years ago

By Rober Diaz / Peninsula 360 Press

Redwood City. The Ohlone, also known as "costanos", occupied a considerable part of the coast where they established a district called Aramai, although experts disagree and place their arrival in the area 2,000 years ago.

They were divided into autonomous villages, led by individual chiefs who guaranteed cohesion within each of the villages. Each group had its own language and their existence was put at risk once the Spanish missionaries penetrated their communities and established their villages.

The Ohlone settled around a seasonal swamp that the Spanish called Lake Mathilde. They fed on acorns, seeds from grasses they cultivated and on molluscs, salmon, marine mammals and seaweed. In addition, they fed on rodents, skunks and deer, establishing a peculiar relationship with the animals, which approached the settlers apparently without fear. They did not prey on them unchecked. That is why the English captain wrote upon his arrival, Frederick William Beechey: "The animals seem to have lost their fear and have become familiar with man".

They did not perform ceremonies to celebrate their marriage or divorce and maintained 20 months of sexual abstinence after childbirth.

Their dwellings were sticks covered with tow. The men walked around naked and the women wore an apron that covered them on both sides. They protected themselves from the cold with mud and with tattoos that were made, they differentiated the clan to which they belonged.

They cohabited peacefully with other tribes and developed marriages with them to avoid inbreeding. They counted by means of the decimal system, worshipped the sun and the sequoias (giant trees). If they fought with another people, the enemy's body was mutilated and the one who had done the deed had to eat a portion of the body in order to appropriate its strength.
It is estimated that the tribe was made up of more than 300,000 members. Such was the wealth of the region that it was not necessary for them to domesticate animals and for this and other reasons it was so surprising to the first settlers that there was so much wild vegetation.

Studies have revealed that they did not practice agriculture as such, however, their system of controlled burning yielded a good crop of vegetables.

Their form of social interaction attracted the attention of the colonists who wrote that: "In their heathen state no superiority of any kind is recognized. What they had they gave to their visitors, which also led the missionaries to claim that the Ohlone peoples lived in anarchy.

After the arrival of the Spaniards, the population dropped from 310,000 to 100,000. There were many cases in which the Ohlone preferred to remain in the forest rather than join the missions. By 1840 the American settlers began to arrive en masse, which only increased the derogatory practices against the natives and maintained their segregation and had the same genocidal attitudes against them. By 1846 they were peacefully incorporated into the United States.

Why did the Bay Area sky turn red and orange?

Jojo Oconer / Peninsula 360 Press

By Pamela Cruz / Peninsula 360 Press 

San Francisco. The 2020 has not given truce, and as if it were a fictional movie, this Wednesday the sky of the San Francisco Bay Area turned orange and reddish due to the wildfires recorded in the state, which have been labeled as "unprecedented".

The cars wore a light layer of ash, at times, and at various times of the day, the sky became so dark that it seemed to be night, reported several citizens through social networks, which did not cease to be surprised by the facts.

"Something really weird is happening right now in San Francisco. is this the apocalypse? Are we trapped in Silent Hill? We all woke up in this red sky nightmare," noted Twitter user @CookieBukowski.

According to Bay Area Air Quality Meteorologist Jarrett Claiborne, there is a lot of smoke across the state, even reaching the Pacific Ocean, from fires in California.

Why has the sky turned red and orange?

First you have to know that light is a combination of rainbow colors, from red to violet, and there are particles in the air that can refract certain colors.

"The smoke particles are filtering out other colors and only allowing red, orange and yellow to come through to the surface, so that's why we have orange skies," Claiborne said.

He also noted that smoke could reach ground level, which is harmful not only to vulnerable groups, but to the general population, especially in the East and North Bay, as well as higher elevation areas of the city.

The expert pointed out through the Twitter account of the government agency @AirDistrict, that the phenomenon will continue until Friday, September 11.

According to the U.S. Weather Service (NWS), fire threats persist from western Oregon to southern California.

Through his Twitter account recommended avoiding outdoor activities, report fire outbreaks to 911 and stay tuned to official reports, as well as heed the instructions of the authorities.

San Francisco Mayor London Breed tweeted, "Today's skies in SF are like nothing we've ever seen, we'll keep you updated throughout the day on air quality and the impact of smoke from the fires."

He urged his fellow citizens to stay informed by visiting sf72.org and to register with AlertSF by texting your zip code to 888-777."

Reddish sky in SF due to forest fires

Jojo Oconer / Peninsula 360 Press

The sky over the San Francisco Bay Area turned orange and reddish because of wildfires in the state, which have been called "unprecedented.

Proposition 15: more funding for community colleges in CA

Cañada College in Redwood City / Wikipedia

By Hans Leguízamo / Peninsula 360 Press

Redwood City. California's Proposition 15 to be voted on Nov. 3 and proposes to differentiate taxes on commercial and industrial properties from residential properties. Currently, all properties called "real property" (land and buildings added to it) pay the same taxes regardless of their productive role. This tax is 1% of the value of the property at the time of the last change of ownership, after which an annual adjustment for inflation is made up to a maximum of 2%. In other words, the taxes payable on a property are based on the value at which it was last sold and this will not change until it is sold again.

Under Proposition 15, properties with commercial and industrial uses (except those designated as commercial agriculture zones) would pay taxes based on their current market value. This means that the more the value of the property increases, the more the property taxes would increase, and this would be verified every three years, rather than every time the property changes ownership.

If approved, this proposal would take effect in tax year 2022-2023 and must be implemented in phases. Properties that have up to 50% of their square footage designated as small businesses will not be reassessed until tax year 2025-2026.

The exceptions to properties in this proposal are:

  • Residential Properties
  • Commercial Agriculture Properties
  • Small businesses of individuals whose aggregate holdings do not exceed $3 million.
  • Personal property for business.

It is estimated that if successfully implemented, Proposition 15 would raise between $8 billion and $12 billion annually. This money would be distributed to specific areas, first (a) to the state supplemental for the decrease in personal and business income tax revenue due to the increase in the tax deduction and (b) to counties to cover the cost of implementing this measure. Then, 60% of the excess funds would be distributed to local governments and special districts, and 40% would be distributed to schools and community colleges.

For supporters of this proposal, changing the way business taxes are levied means enforcing fairer revenue collection, where the corporations that benefit most from consumption in our communities cooperate in important ways, trying to protect local businesses. For many others, the taxes could jeopardize California businesses that are about to make the leap to a larger market.

We extend an invitation to all of our readers to participate in the November 3 vote on whether Proposition 15 will change the way Californians pay taxes for owning businesses.

Alert for high temperatures in the bay

Peninsula 360 Press

The National Weather Service (NWS) reports that very high temperatures are expected Saturday through Monday in the San Francisco Bay Area.

By Friday, temperatures around the Bay Area will be in the 80s, with inland locations in the 90s.

Warmer temperatures are provided over the weekend, which will be above normal.

Expect 70 and 80 degrees along the coast, 80 and 90 degrees around the Bay Area, with temperatures in excess of 100° in inland locations.

Also, low temperatures overnight will only cool to 60 degrees, which won't offer much relief.
Such high temperatures can affect people who are sensitive to heat. Sensitive populations, such as the elderly, infants, and people without access to air conditioning, are likely to be susceptible to heat-related illnesses.

It is recommended to drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, never leave children or pets in vehicles unattended, stay out of the sun.

More information: eather.gov/sanfrancisco/

Man pleads not guilty after pursuit in Porsche

Peninsula 360 Editor


Redwood City. A 25-year-old Hayward man pleaded not guilty Tuesday after stealing a Porsche vehicle from a dealership in Redwood City. Redwood City. Events that led to a chase through the Bay Area on Saturday, Bay Area authorities said. the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors.

Jeremy MortonThe suspect in question faces charges of robbery, unlawful possession of a vehicle, reckless endangerment, and threatening a police officer with a weapon. The incident took place at about 4:45 p.m. last Saturday at the Redwood City Porsche dealership on the Haven Avenue.

Apparently, Morton was loitering inside the agency while looking suspiciously at the opening mechanism of the vehicle doors, it was just then when one of the representatives approached him and asked him the reasons for his strange behavior.

After moving into the sales area of the agency, Morton took a seat in one of the luxury cars while pretending to carry a gun under his clothes; with no other choice, the sales executive gave Morton the keys to the Porsche and left the agency without paying or even know the financing plans, prosecutors said.

Unfortunately for Morton, his joy was short-lived when California Highway Patrol officers pulled him over as he headed north on U.S. 101, but not before testing the vehicle's speed, since the chase reached 115 mph (185 km/h), according to statements from the district attorney's office.

The persecution continued until the Bay Bridge where Morton allegedly tried to ram one of the California Highway Patrol officers' motorcycles; however, in Fremont, authorities were already waiting for him and were ready to stop the vehicle, terminate the pursuit and take the individual into police custody.

However, the investigation later showed that, in reality, it was a theft of a Toyota RAV-4. at a Hayward dealership and that he drove through Redwood City and later parked it at a Porsche dealership, prosecutors said.

Morton, therefore, pleaded not guilty when he was arraigned on all charges this past Tuesday. The case is expected to return to court on September 14 for a preliminary hearing. In the meantime, the driver will remain in the hands of police until he pays a bail in the amount of $250,000, according to statements from the district attorney's office.

[With BNC information]

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