The first Mint Mobile deal mentioned here will get you any 3-month plan for just $15 per month ($45 in total). Naturally, since this deal applies to all plans, you’ll want to make sure you pick the priciest plan in the range – the unlimited plan.
This plan usually sets you back $30 per month on the cheapest rate so you’re essentially bagging a half-price deal here. Note that you can switch up your plan from the unlimited tier if you decide you’d prefer a cheaper option later on.
The second deal featured at Mint today is a super-rare buy-one-get-one-free promotion for new customers. This is the first time we’ve seen the carrier offer this kind of deal – although it’s specifically aimed at customers on the big rivals AT&T and Verizon. You have to be on one of those carriers to take advantage but it is stackable with the super-cheap 3-month deal that’s also available at Mint right now.
Today’s best Mint Mobile deals
Why switch to Mint Mobile?
(Image credit: Future)
Much cheaper plans than the big carriers
No contracts
5G data (but subject to deprioritization)
Mint Mobile currently offers some of the best prepaid plans on the market if you’re solely focused on value. In particular, its annual plans offer incredibly low prices (like $30/mo for the unlimited plan) but the carrier’s payment model does mean that you need to pay for a full year of service upfront for the best prices on average.
As a prepaid carrier, Mint Mobile is also subject to deprioritization, meaning the parent network T-Mobile may slow down network speeds if the local area is busy. This may or may not be an issue depending on where you live, but it’s something to be aware of if you’re going with Mint or any prepaid carrier.
The JLab Epic Lab Edition isn’t the cheapest of earbuds and when you pay a premium price for some headphones, you expect a base level of music quality – but it manages to buck that expectation. JLab charges you a princely sum for these top-end headphones, but I’ve heard better audio quality on cheap buds that cost a quarter of the price.
JLab’s earbud range almost entirely falls within the ‘best budget wireless earbuds’ bracket, with our ranking of the best earbuds flagging some of its offerings as worthy low-cost alternatives to premium options. Of its current selection, the Epic Lab Edition costs twice as much as its nearest siblings, the JLab Epic Air. If you didn’t tell me the price, though, I’d believe that the Epic Lab Edition was just another member of this busy market bracket, and it’s startling that JLab would sell these for more than the Apple AirPods.
The main problem with the Epic Lab Edition is the sound quality – something you’d hope expensive earbuds would crack. Sound has more peaks than a platter of meringues, with vocals, drums, guitars, all getting lost in a tinny buzzy haze that’ll have you wondering if you’re listening to a B-side or just a swarm of angry bees.
By default, the bass totally overpowers the mid and treble too. You’ll have to jump into the JLab app’s equalizer to try and regain some semblance of balance, though many of its presents are somehow even more off-kilter. Thankfully, a custom option exists.
The JLab Epic Lab Edition don’t look as premium as their price suggests. (Image credit: Future)
The buds fumble with their noise control modes, which fall under ‘Noise Cancelling’ or ‘Be Aware’ (or ‘off’), with the latter intended as an ambient noise awareness mode. You won’t need it, though, because the noise cancellation is so light-touch that you’ll be all-too-aware of surrounding sounds anyway. With this in mind, you might be querying our three-star verdict. That’s because JLab really picks up the ball in its design and features department.
The buds are nice and lightweight, despite packing a meaty battery life, and they feel comfortable when worn as a result. The case isn’t too big either, despite the fact it holds an extra USB-C dongle for quick and temporary connectivity to new devices. This is a really handy tool in theory, though in practice I found that it didn’t work all the time.
The JLab app is one of the more useful I’ve tried as it lets you get a lot more out of your buds, like letting you switch between modes for streaming music or videos, custom EQ or volume limiters to protect your hearing.
These useful features mean that this JLab Epic Lab Edition review can’t be wholly negative, but they’re still only appropriate for people who don’t mind spending $199.99 / £199.99 / AU$249.99 on buds solely for the feature set.
JLab Epic Lab Edition review: Price and release date
JLab says the Epic Lab Edition are its “most premium true wireless” earbuds. (Image credit: Future)
Went on sale November 2023
Premium price of $199.99 / £199.99 / AU$249.99
You can pick up the JLab Epic Lab Edition for $199.99 / £199.99 / AU$249.99, so these are distinctively premium earbuds from a brand that usually stays away from this market segment. The JLab Epic Air, some of its other ‘premium’ buds, are only half that cost.
At that price, these cost even more than Apple AirPods, which go for $179 / £169 / AU$279. However most of the best earbuds overall do outprice the JLabs with the Sony WF-1000XM4, Apple AirPods Pro and Technics EAH-AZ80 all launching for more than $200 / £200 / AU$250.
The buds were announced in November 2023 and went on sale straight away.
JLab Epic Lab Edition review: Specs
Swipe to scroll horizontally
Drivers
10mm & Knowles Balance Armature Driver
Active noise cancellation
Yes
Battery life
13 hours (buds) 56 hours (case)
Weight
5.35g (buds) 63.5g (case)
Connectivity
Bluetooth 5.3
Frequency response
20-40kHz
Waterproofing
IP55
JLab Epic Lab Edition review: Features
A USB-C dongle allows you to access Bluetooth LE Audio but only on compatible devices. (Image credit: Future)
Total battery life of up to 56 hours, though lower with ANC
App offers lots of extra features
USB-C connectivity dongle is great in theory, iffy in practice
The JLab Epic Lab Edition has, to its credit, a feature set that’s pretty decent for its price.
The battery life of the buds clocks in at 13 hours (or 9 hours with ANC turned on), and when you factor in the charging case, that total life span rockets up to a whopping 56 hours (or 36 with ANC on). That’s a fantastic amount of power, which means you’ll barely need to power up the device.
When you do power it up, the JLab benefits from dual charging: you can power it up using a USB-C cable or wirelessly on a charging pad (though you can’t use both at the same time). It takes two hours to charge the case from full to empty, and that’s also how long it takes to power up the buds when they’re in the case. JLab estimates that 10 minutes of charging will give you an hour and 45 minutes of listening time.
The buds can use Bluetooth Multipoint, which basically lets them connect to multiple oft-used devices and automatically pair with whichever you’re using. This worked well in testing, with the Epic Lab jumping between the various phones I’d paired it with as soon as I unlocked them.
You can pair the JLabs to your phone without needing to use any kind of app, but if you want you can download the JLab app to get some extra tools. This includes the ability to tweak the noise cancellation (off, standard and Be Aware), an optional volume limit to protect your hearing, an equalizer with some presets and also a custom control mode, and a few other small tools.
The app is a handy way to get the most out of the earbuds and also to keep tabs on their battery power. When you’re listening to music, the app displays the remaining power of each bud and the case, though on my phone this was bugged and cut off half-way through, over the actual battery percentages.
The JLab Epic Lab Edition has one extra neat feature that’d easily score it an extra star in this review… if it worked properly. Included in the case is a little USB-C dongle and, if you plug this into another device, it’ll override the buds’ Bluetooth connection to instead pair to this new device, thereby saving you having to go through the entire pairing process for a device you’ll only use temporarily.
This sounds really handy, but in practice, it didn’t always work. When I plugged the dongle into my custom-build PC it just didn’t register them, and when I plugged the dongle into my iPad Pro, I could listen to music, but it’d repeatedly drop individual earbuds before re-pairing them several seconds later – not a great listening experience.
JLab Epic Lab Edition review: Design
Out of the six ear tips provided in the box, three are foam and three are silicone. (Image credit: Future)
Lightweight and comfortable buds
Touch controls work well
IP55 rating and six pairs of in-box tips
The JLab Epic Lab Edition don’t exactly re-invent the wheel when it comes to wireless earbud design: they consist of two small earbuds and a charging case (and the aforementioned dongle which is housed in the buds).
The case weighs in at 63.5g (when the dongle and buds are removed), with dimensions of 6.9 x 2.7 x 4.1 cm – it’s pretty much average size for an earbud charging case, with the dongle not adding that much heft.
On the front are three LED lights, a simple but effective indicator of how much charge is left in the case. The rear has a USB-C port for charging, as described already. One small but handy design feature is that the underside of the case has a rubbery layer, unlike the metal of the rest of the body, and this small amount of added traction means the case stays still on tables and uneven surfaces instead of wobbling about.
The buds themselves measure 2.3 x 2.7 x 1.9 cm and measure 5.35g each – very lightweight as far as buds go. The main discerning feature of the buds is a large JLab logo on each, which doubles as the button for touch controls – these were responsive to the touch and easy to use. So is the wear detection, which was incredibly quick to recognize when I’d removed the buds or replaced them in my ear.
In the box you get six total sets of earbud tips, three of foam and three silicone, which I found handy as the default tips caused the buds to keep falling out. You also get a USB-C to USB-C charging cable.
The buds have an IP55 rating which means they’re protected form dust and also against jets of water (like rain) but they won’t survive submersion in water. Some earbud tips struggle to stick in your ear in rainy conditions though, so keep them dry.
JLab Epic Lab Edition review: Sound quality
(Image credit: Future)
Oft-distorted audio
Very limited sound stage
Noise cancellation doesn’t do much
I was disappointed by the JLab Epic Lab Edition’s sound quality, which should be no surprise if you read the first 500 words of this review. JLab touts features like hi-res audio, “hybrid dual drivers”, spatial audio and an LDAC, but at the end of the day, they still don’t sound great.
The main issue is that music sounds tinny, owing to how distorted sounds could be on a regular basis. In certain songs, drum tracks sounded like they were drilling into my head, and rhythm guitars and vocal lines could have the same effect too.
Music also suffered from a lack of sound stage, with mid, treble and bass all blended into one mush of noise. Bass also overwhelmed other sounds, even in non-bassy songs; while treble could occasionally hold its own, mid parts were often completely lost in the mix. Rock music became 60% bass guitar, 30% vocals and 10% ‘everything else’.
I tested the EQ function of the JLab app but the other presets somehow emphasized the bass even more, making the custom mode the only way I could try to balance the music. It’s hard to recommend earbuds if you need to turn sound engineer to make them sound good.
Another problem is the ANC, or ambient noise cancellation. When switched on, it doesn’t ‘cancel’ sound, as much as put it through a filter to make it sound as tinny as the music. You can still hear background audio, it just sounds even more annoying than usual.
Should I buy the JLab Epic Lab Edition?
(Image credit: Future)
Swipe to scroll horizontally
JLab Epic Lab Edition score card
Attributes
Notes
Rating
Features
JLab packs the Epic Lab Edition with useful features, a handy app and long battery life.
4/5
Design
These are lightweight buds that tick all the design boxes.
3.5/5
Sound quality
The JLab Epic Lab Edition offer disappointing and mushy sound.
2/5
Buy it if…
Don’t buy it if…
JLab Epic Lab Edition review: Also consider
Swipe to scroll horizontally
JLab Epic Lab Edition
JLab Go Air Pop
Sony WF-1000XM4
Drivers
10mm & Knowles Balance Armature Driver
6mm
6mm
Active noise cancellation
Yes
No
No
Battery life
13 hours (buds) 56 hours (case)
8 hours (buds) 32 hours total (with case)
8 hours (buds) 16 hours total (with case)
Weight
5.35g (buds) 63.5g (case)
36.3g total
7.3g per earbud
Connectivity
Bluetooth 5.3
Bluetooth 5.1
Bluetooth 5.2
20-40kHz
20-40kHz
20-20kHz
20-40kHz
Waterproofing
IP55
IPX4
IPX4
How I tested the JLab Epic Lab Edition
(Image credit: Future)
Tested for 10 days
Tested at home, in the office and on walks
I tested the JLab Epic Lab Edition for a week and a half to write this review, which doesn’t include testing done during the writing process of the review.
The majority of the testing was done with the earbuds connected to my Xiaomi Mi Note 10 smartphone, as well as an Vivo X100 Pro which I was testing concurrently. To trial the connectivity dongle I plugged it into my PC, an iPad Pro and a Windows laptop, but the majority of the bud testing was not done with the dongle.
I’ve been testing tech gadgets for TechRadar for over five years now, for various sections of the site. This is currently done on a freelance basis however I spent several years as part of the full team.
Epic Games in February said that it would launch an Epic Games Store on the iPhone in the European Union, and today the company held an event at the Game Developers Conference (GDC) to provide additional information on the upcoming store debut and the fees that it will charge for apps distributed through its marketplace (via 9to5Mac).
For games distributed through the Epic Games Store, Epic will collect a 12 percent share of revenue, which is the same fee that it charges on Windows and Mac machines. Apps will get 100 percent of the revenue they earn for the first six months, with Epic taking no cut, and there are no fees for apps that offer in-game purchases and use their own payment processing method.
A game sold through the Epic Games Store will need to pay both Epic’s 12 percent fee, and Apple’s 0.50 euro Core Technology Fee (CTF) for each “first annual” install after one million installs. Apps distributed through the App Store under Apple’s updated EU business terms will pay the CTF and a commission of 10 to 17 percent, down from the standard 15 to 30 percent cut that Apple takes.
App Store apps making under $1 million annually will pay 10 percent under the App Store Small Business Program, and that’s also the fee that Apple charges for subscriptions that customers keep for over a year. More successful apps earning over $1 million and new subscriptions are subject to a 17 percent fee. Note that Apple also charges an additional three percent fee for using the in-app purchase payment system, so developers who distribute through the App Store and use in-app purchases will pay 13 to 20 percent.
As an example, an app with fewer than one million downloads that is distributed through the App Store under the new business terms would pay the CTF and 10 percent fee, a total ultimately lower than the CTF + 12 percent fee that the Epic Games Store would collect.
Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney has called Apple’s EU changes and fees a “devious new instance of Malicious Compliance” and has promised that Epic Games will continue to “argue to the courts and regulators that Apple is breaking the law” even as it prepares to launch the Epic Games Store.
The Epic Games Store is set to come to the iPhone in the European Union before the end of 2024. It will not be available in the United States and other countries.
Apple is widely expected to release new iPad Air and OLED iPad Pro models in the next few weeks. According to new rumors coming out of Asia, the company will announce its new iPads on Tuesday, March 26. Chinese leaker Instant Digital on Weibo this morning 日发布%23″>claimed that the date will see some sort of announcement from Apple related to new iPads, but stopped short of calling it an…
Apple’s iPhone development roadmap runs several years into the future and the company is continually working with suppliers on several successive iPhone models concurrently, which is why we sometimes get rumored feature leaks so far ahead of launch. The iPhone 17 series is no different, and already we have some idea of what to expect from Apple’s 2025 smartphone lineup. If you plan to skip…
Apple’s new iPad Pro models with OLED displays will likely begin shipping to customers in April, according to information shared today by Ross Young, CEO of display industry research firm Display Supply Chain Consultants. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman also said the new iPad Pro models might not ship until “deeper” into April in his Power On newsletter on Sunday:I’ve repeatedly said that new…
The next-generation iPad Air is now reportedly shipping to the United States and other countries in preparation for launch. The rumor comes from the leaker known as “Instant Digital,” who claims that manufacturers in China are now shipping the 2024 iPad Air in two sizes to overseas locations. “Everything is ready” for launch, the Weibo user says. The sixth-generation iPad Air is rumored…
iOS 17.4.1 and iPadOS 17.4.1 should be released within the next few days, with a build number of 21E235, according to a source with a proven track record. MacRumors previously reported that Apple was internally testing iOS 17.4.1. As a minor update for the iPhone, it will likely address software bugs and/or security vulnerabilities. It is unclear if the update will include any other changes. …
Since Apple unveiled macOS Sonoma 14.4 on March 7, the transition to the latest software update has not been entirely smooth for everyone, and a number of issues have been reported by users that significantly impact their daily workflow. This article lists the most prominent challenges users have faced since updating to macOS Sonoma 14.4, and offers potential solutions where available. USB…
Apple suppliers will begin production of two new fourth-generation AirPods models in May, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman. Based on this production timeframe, he expects the headphones to be released in September or October. Gurman expects both fourth-generation AirPods models to feature a new design with better fit, improved sound quality, and an updated charging case with a USB-C…
Meta, Microsoft, X, and Match today joined Epic Games to protest the way Apple complied with a court ruling requiring it to walk back its anti-steering rules. In an amicus brief in support of Epic Games (via The Wall Street Journal), the four companies said that the fees Apple is charging are too high, and that there are too many restrictions on how developers link to their websites. “The Apple Plan comports with neither the letter nor the spirit of this Court’s mandate,” reads the brief.
For context, Apple was ordered to change its App Store rules in 2021 as part of the decision in the Epic Games case. The judge took issue with the anti-steering guidelines that kept apps from directing consumers to lower prices available outside of the App Store. Apple delayed implementing the changes while it attempted to appeal the ruling, but the appeal was not successful and Apple had to update its rules in January.
Developers are now allowed to include a single link in their app, with that link going to a website where customers can make a purchase without using the in-app purchase system. Apple is still collecting commission for purchases made this way, requiring developers to pay between 12 and 27 percent (three percent lower than the standard 15/30 fee).
Epic Games last week told the court that Apple has not complied with the order, and that the Cupertino company should be held in contempt of court. Epic Games said that Apple’s implementation makes links “commercially unusable” due to the fee and the “accompanying web of restrictions.”
Microsoft, Meta, X, and Match further complained that Apple is not allowing apps to include “even the most basic information” about alternative purchase options. Apple does not allow apps to let customers know about how to receive a discount by purchasing directly from a website, for example.
Meta said that it should be able to direct users to the web to pay for boosted posts to avoid Apple’s fee, and Microsoft complained that Apple’s rules limit options for providing subscriptions and discounts. X, formerly Twitter, said that Apple’s 27 percent fee eliminates incentives to include an external link, while Match claimed that the rules prevent price competition for digital transactions.
Apple in January claimed that it was in full compliance with the injunction, and that it has given developers a way to inform customers about alternative purchase mechanisms both in their apps and outside of their apps.
The amicus brief filed today supports Epic Games’ recent filing. Epic Games has asked the court to force Apple to bring its policies into compliance with the injunction, so it will be up to the court to decide whether Apple’s rule change does enough to satisfy the requirements of the initial judgment.
Epic Games is once again after Apple, this time accusing the Cupertino company of violating a court ruling that requires Apple to allow developers to offer in-app links to direct customers to third-party purchase options on the web.
Apple tweaked its U.S. App Store policies back in January, and developers are permitted to put one link in their apps that leads to a website where customers can make a purchase without using the in-app purchase system. Apple is still charging commission for these purchases, requiring developers to pay between 12 and 27 percent (three percent lower than the 15/30 standard fee).
Epic Games is unhappy with the fee that Apple continues to charge, today telling the court that Apple has not complied with the order, and asking that Apple be held in contempt of court. Epic Games claims that the fees make the links “commercially unusable,” thereby subverting the injunction.
Apple violates the Injunction in three ways. First, with respect to External Links, Apple has imposed new fees and enacted a slew of new rules that work together to make the links commercially unusable. This new fee and accompanying web of restrictions subverts the purpose of the Injunction, allowing Apple to continue extracting its excessive commissions and making it effectively impossible for a developer to inform users about, and direct users toward, an alternative platform for making a purchase.
Second, Apple continues to categorically prohibit any steering using “buttons” or “other calls to action”. Specifically, Apple does not allow External Links that resemble a “button” in any way.
Third, Apple’s Guideline 3.1.3 still prohibits certain apps, including all multiplatform services (i.e., apps that operate across multiple platforms and allow users to access the same content across these platforms, including popular games such as Minecraft), from “within the app, encourag[ing] users to use a purchasing method other than in-app purchase”. This language expressly contravenes the Injunction by prohibiting any steering to alternative purchasing methods.
Epic Games collected statements from other developers that have spoken out against Apple’s App Store fees, including Paddle CEO Christian Owens and Down Dog CEO Benjamin Simon.
Apple was initially ordered to make the App Store changes in 2021 as part of its court battle with Epic Games. Judge Yvonne Gonzalez-Rogers, who oversaw the case, took issue with Apple’s anti-steering rules. Apple was able to delay implementing the App Store changes for a few years while it appealed, but none of the courts decided to change the verdict. Apple ultimately took it to the Supreme Court, but the court declined to hear the case, so Apple had to comply immediately at the beginning of the year.
Epic Games claims that the fee Apple charges for the link is “financially unattractive” for developers who want to choose another payment solution, and it “prevents any meaningful competition between payment solutions.” The company wants the court to require Apple to bring its policies into compliance with the injunction.
The film Dune: Part Two might feature human actors Timothée Chalamet and Zendaya, but the biggest stars — at least literally — are the sandworms. The sandworms are central to the desert ecosystem of the fictional planet Arrakis, the film’s main setting, and to the culture of its inhabitants, the Fremen. Sandworms live underground and excrete a substance that becomes the all-important drug called the spice, and the Fremen ride them like giant sandy freight trains. In the film’s first glamour shot of a sandworm, a house-sized mouth ringed with teeth erupts out of the sand to swallow a whole platoon of soldiers.
To find out whether the fictional worms in Dune have anything in common with real worms, Nature spoke to palaeontologist Luke Parry at the University of Oxford, UK. He studies worms from the Cambrian and Ordovician periods, which together lasted from roughly 540 million to 444 million years ago.
Dune’s sandworms can grow to at least 450 metres long, about 15 times the size of the longest blue whale. How big do real-life worms get?
There are annelid worms that get up to several metres in length called eunicid worms, a type of bristle worm. They’re pretty gnarly — they have big jaws, they look a bit like Graboids from the 1990 film Tremors. Some of them are ambush predators. They eat octopuses, squid, vertebrates.
There are some earthworms that get really big, as well. Megascolides reaches up to 2 metres. The biggest ones are from Australia.
The ambush predator called the bobbit worm (Eunice aphroditois) can reach 3 metres long.Credit: Constantinos Petrinos/Nature Picture Library
Do any of them have teeth?
The worms in Dune have lots of teeth around their mouths, and that’s what the Fremen use to make their crysknives. There are worms like that, called priapulids. These are the sorts that were making the first complex burrows in the early Cambrian. They use all of these teeth, called scalids, on a proboscis to drag themselves through burrows. Alitta worms — sandworms — and ragworms have teeth for catching prey. Some leeches have teeth.
The sandworms in Dune have totally changed their planet by excreting the valuable drug called the spice, making the weird blue liquid called the Water of Life and more. Have worms on Earth changed our planet?
Worms on Earth were responsible for burrowing into sediments over half a billion years ago and changing marine ecosystems forever. It’s part of what we call the Cambrian explosion, one of the most profound changes on the planet.
Before the advent of worms, the sea floor would have been smothered with what are called microbial mats. All the sediment would have been anoxic, without oxygen. If you’ve ever gone swimming in a river or a lake and it’s muddy and you plunge your foot into it, and it’s smelly and anoxic, that’s basically what the entire sea-floor environment would have been around the world.
Then, all of a sudden, some animals evolve a wormy body plan that allows them to move in three dimensions. They start burrowing into sediments, and that means that oxygen can get into the sediments and complex animal life can live there. It opens up new ways of making a living. Worms are part of this fundamental restructuring of the world.
When the Fremen in Dune want to ride a sandworm, they summon one with a device called a thumper that drums the ground. Do real worms sense vibrations?
Yeah, a common thing that birds do for catching earthworms is drumming on the ground, to bring them to the surface of the soil. Seagulls do it. Unfortunately, I don’t think the seagulls ride around on them.
If you were the right size to ride on a worm, do you think it would be similar to riding a sandworm in Dune?
It depends what sort of worm it was and where it was going. There are lots that crawl around on the surface of sediments — maybe you could ride those around. For worms that burrow, I think you’d find it quite uncomfortable and confining.
Any other favourite worm facts?
There are about 30 animal body plans — what we call the animal phyla, the big groups that we chop up animal diversity into — and more than half of them are worms. It’s a really good, versatile way of making a living. Lots of things that didn’t start off as worms just become worms. There are groups of lizards that lose their limbs, like snakes and amphisbaenians, worm lizards. There are worms that live in hydrothermal vents in the deep sea.
How do you feel about having the organisms you study portrayed on screen?
I think it’s awesome. Although there’s nothing like the worm in Dune that’s alive today, some of the things that it does, or some of the ways it looks, are actually like some of these really unfamiliar organisms that we find in the ocean. If a handful of people find out about those animals as a result of watching Dune, I think that’s awesome, because these things are — life is — amazing and diverse.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Epic Games can release Fortnite in the EU and open an App Store rival after Apple restored the company’s developer account. This came as the European Commission was starting an inquiry into why the account had been cancelled.
Apple called Epic Games “untrustworthy” when it pulled the account.
Epic Games will be able to release Fortnite in EU after all
Apple and Epic Games have been embroiled in legal fights for years. In a dispute over Apple’s requirement that it receive a share of the game developer’s revenue from iPhone users, Fortnite and other titles were kicked out of the App Store and all Epic’s developer accounts were suspended in 2020.
Then the EU passed the Digital Markets Act to, among other things, allow increased competition with Apple’s iPhone App Store. Under the aegis of the new legislation, Epic Games Sweden got an Apple developer account earlier this year and announced a plan to open an Epic Games Store in Europe.
But Apple quickly terminated the account after accusing Epic CEO Tim Sweeney of “public attacks on Apple’s policies,” and called his company “verifiably untrustworthy.”
But Sweeney took to X (formerly Twitter) on Friday to announce:
“Following a swift inquiry by the European Commission, Apple notified the Commission and Epic that it would relent and restore our access to bring back Fortnite and launch Epic Games Store in Europe under the DMA law.”
Ina statement given to Bloomberg, Apple said:
“Following conversations with Epic, they have committed to follow the rules, including our DMA policies. As a result, Epic Sweden AB has been permitted to re-sign the developer agreement and accepted into the Apple Developer Program.”
Epic Games declared victory in its own statement:
“This sends a strong signal to developers that the European Commission will act swiftly to enforce the Digital Markets Act and hold gatekeepers accountable. We are moving forward as planned to launch the Epic Games Store and bring Fortnite back to iOS in Europe.”
When the popular game will be available for European iPhone users is unknown. It’ll require the opening of the aforementioned Epic Games Store but the company hasn’t given a timetable for this either.
To be clear, this is relevant only to residents of the European Union. Everyone else must get their iPhone software from the App Store and Epic remains banned from there.
Apple today reversed a decision to shut down Epic Games’ developer account in the European Union, and the account has now been reinstated. In a statement to MacRumors, Apple said that Epic Games has committed to following the rules, allowing Epic Sweden to be reaccepted into the Apple Developer Program.
Following conversations with Epic, they have committed to follow the rules, including our DMA policies. As a result, Epic Sweden AB has been permitted to re-sign the developer agreement and accepted into the Apple Developer Program.
When Apple terminated the Epic Games Sweden developer account earlier this week, it effectively prevented Epic Games from developing an alternative app marketplace for iPhone users in the European Union. Apple claimed that the account had been terminated because Epic Games had previously breached its contractual obligations, and that the court decision in the Epic Games v. Apple legal battle gave it the right to shut down any Epic Games account at any time.
Apple’s Phil Schiller engaged in a conversation with Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney where he asked Sweeney for written assurance that Epic Games would adhere to the new rules for alternative app marketplaces, but Apple did not feel that Sweeney’s response was thorough enough. Apple claimed that Epic is “verifiably untrustworthy,” with the Cupertino company also citing negative comments from Tim Sweeney about Apple’s Digital Marketplace Act (DMA) compliance.
There was immediate public blowback from Apple’s decision to kill the account, especially because the emails from Apple made it look like the Epic Games account was terminated because of Sweeney’s criticism. From Schiller’s email:
In the past, Epic has entered into agreements with Apple and then broken them. For example, you testified that Epic Games, Inc. entered into the Developer Program with full understanding of its terms, and then chose to intentionally breach the agreement with Apple. You also testified that Epic deliberately violated Apple’s rules, to make a point and forfinancial gain. More recently, you have described our DMA compliance plan as “hot garbage,” a “horror show,” and a “devious new instance of Malicious Compliance.” And you have complained about what you called “Junk Fees” and “Apple taxes.”
Your colorful criticism of our DMA compliance plan, coupled with Epic’s past practice of intentionally violating contractual provisions with which it disagrees, strongly suggest that Epic Sweden does not intend to follow the rules.
The European Union quickly stepped in and asked Apple for “further explanations” on why it had shut down the EU Epic Games developer account, a move that likely led Apple to reconsider its decision. Epic Games in a statement to MacRumors said that Apple’s response demonstrates that the European Commission plans to act swiftly to enforce the DMA, and that the Epic Games store is coming to Europe.
Apple has told us and committed to the European Commission that they will reinstate our developer account. This sends a strong signal to developers that the European Commission will act swiftly to enforce the Digital Markets Act and hold gatekeepers accountable. We are moving forward as planned to launch the Epic Games Store and bring Fortnite back to iOS in Europe. Onward!
Epic Games announced plans for an alternative app marketplace shortly after Apple introduced support for alternative app stores in the iOS 17.4 beta. Epic Games has pledged to bring Fortnite and other games to the iPhone through its own dedicated storefront, but specific timing for the launch of the Epic Games Store for iOS has not yet been provided.
Though Epic Games is working on an alternative app marketplace, the company has criticized Apple’s compliance with the DMA. Sweeney has called Apple’s plan a “devious new instance of Malicious Compliance” and has said that Epic Games will continue to “argue to the courts and regulators that Apple is breaking the law.”
Unlock the full potential of your iPhone’s camera with simple yet powerful techniques for capturing breathtaking landscape photographs. Whether you’re an amateur photographer or a seasoned pro, the art of landscape photography is within your grasp, especially when using the device that’s always with you: your iPhone. The video below from iPhone Photography School delves into essential tips and strategies, distilled from expert advice, to help you elevate your landscape images from good to epic.
The Golden Hour Glow: Harnessing Light and Time of Day
One of the most transformative elements in photography is light. The soft, warm glow during the golden hour—shortly after sunrise or before sunset—can turn an ordinary scene into a stunning photograph. This magical lighting condition enriches the colors and textures of the landscape, highlighting the beauty of nature in its purest form. By planning your photo sessions around these times, you can capture the landscape in a captivating array of colors and contrasts.
Mastering Composition and Perspective
Composition is more than just framing a beautiful scene; it’s about creating a visual narrative. To achieve depth and intrigue in your landscape photos, consider incorporating elements in the foreground, middle ground, and background. This technique draws the viewer’s eye through the image, creating a sense of immersion. Don’t hesitate to experiment with different vantage points. Sometimes, a slight change in perspective, such as kneeling down or climbing higher, can dramatically alter the impact of your photo.
Leveraging iPhone Camera Capabilities
The versatility of the iPhone’s camera, with its array of lenses from wide to telephoto, offers a plethora of creative possibilities. Each lens can frame the landscape in unique ways, allowing you to capture vast expanses or zoom in for detailed shots. Utilizing iPhone-specific features, such as tapping to adjust exposure or employing leading lines, can guide the viewer’s attention and enhance the overall composition of your photo.
Adapting to Environmental Variabilities
Nature is unpredictable, and its ever-changing conditions can be challenging yet rewarding to capture. Embrace the variability of light and shadow, and use it to your advantage by being flexible and creative. Moving around to explore different angles and compositions can uncover hidden photographic gems. Dynamic elements like moving clouds or changing shadows add drama and a sense of time to your photos, making them more compelling.
Capturing the Moment: Dynamic Scenes and Transient Light
The transient nature of landscape photography means that sometimes you have only a moment to capture the perfect shot. Be on the lookout for unique and dynamic scenes that can add a layer of interest to your photographs. The play of light and shadows, especially during the golden hour, can transform a landscape into a mesmerizing scene full of depth and emotion.
Photography is as much about seeing as it is about capturing, and with these techniques, you’re well on your way to taking epic landscape photos with your iPhone. Remember, the best camera is the one you have with you, and by mastering a few simple techniques, you can turn your iPhone into a powerful tool for landscape photography. Explore, experiment, and enjoy the process of capturing the beauty of the world around you.
Source & Image Credit: iPhone Photography School
Filed Under: Apple, Apple iPhone, Guides
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Disney has announced that it will be making an investment of $1.5 billion in Epic Games, the company behind the popular Fortnite game and Disney will acquire a stake in Epic Games.
The investment will also see a new collaborative partnership between the tywo companies and they will work together to develop new games and also new entertainment, you can see more details below.
“Our exciting new relationship with Epic Games will bring together Disney’s beloved brands and franchises with the hugely popular Fortnite in a transformational new games and entertainment universe,” said Robert A. Iger, Chief Executive Officer, The Walt Disney Company. “This marks Disney’s biggest entry ever into the world of games and offers significant opportunities for growth and expansion. We can’t wait for fans to experience the Disney stories and worlds they love in groundbreaking new ways.”
“Disney was one of the first companies to believe in the potential of bringing their worlds together with ours in Fortnite, and they use Unreal Engine across their portfolio,” said Tim Sweeney, CEO and Founder, Epic Games. “Now we’re collaborating on something entirely new to build a persistent, open and interoperable ecosystem that will bring together the Disney and Fortnite communities.”
You can see more details about the new partnership between Disney and Epic Games over at the Disney website at the link below, it will be interesting to see what new games and content are released with this new partnership.
Source The Walt Disney Company
Filed Under: Technology News, Top News
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