Google reportedly prevented OnePlus from preinstalling the Epic Games app on its devices

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Epic Games just launched a lawsuit against Google and Apple, claiming the companies are engaging in anti-competitive behaviour. For Google's part, the lawsuit focuses on how Google makes it more challenging to sideload applications than installing them from the Play Store. A surprising claim in the filing describes how Google reportedly stopped OnePlus from preloading the Epic Games app.

Fortnite uses a launcher app called Epic Games to release updates for it when it's installed from the Samsung Galaxy Store or Epic's site. According to the developer, it struck a deal with OnePlus to preload the app on new devices, but Google struck down the agreement. Epic Games even reportedly designed a version of Fortnite for some OnePlus devices to take advantage of the state-of-the-art framerate. The deal was supposed to cover a worldwide release, but Google supposedly only allowed OnePlus to release the app in India.

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GM files new trademark, suggesting an electric Corvette is coming

General Motors' newest trademark filing suggests there might be an electric Corvette in our future. The automaker filed a trademark for a vehicle called "E-Ray" in the "motor land vehicle" category, which could be a play on the name "Stingray—a nameplate of several versions of the Corvette.

Over the last year, GM has announced 12 new electric vehicles across its brands, but a Corvette hasn't made that list yet. If this trademark application is anything to go by, we might hear something soon.

Source: Electrek

Apple reportedly plans to offer subscription bundles for its services

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Apple has numerous subscription services at this point: Apple Music, Apple Arcade, Apple TV+, Apple News+, iCloud, Apple Care, and an iPhone upgrade program. And now, the company is reportedly exploring bundles for these under the supposed name "Apple One, which offers multiple Apple services at a reduced monthly price. Bloomberg is confident that these packages will support Apple's Family Sharing system, too, allowing up to six people to use the same subscription.

The cheapest bundle reportedly available is Apple Music and Apple TV+ combo, followed by pricier options that add Apple Arcade, then Apple News+, and finally iCloud storage. An Apple One bundle will supposedly have a Peloton-like virtual fitness service, codenamed Seymour.

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'Fortnite' developer Epic Games files antitrust lawsuits against Apple, Google

The catalyst for Epic Games' lawsuit against Apple and Google started when the company released an update to 'Fortnite' offering their own payment option outside of Apple's and Google's app stores, which is against their policies.

After Apple and Google removed video game Fortnite from their respective app stores citing violations of their in-app payment guidelines, the game's developer Epic Games filed a federal antitrust lawsuit in the US against both companies. Epic Games isn't asking for money from the two tech giants. Instead, it wants injunctions to end their practices related to their app stores, notably the cut Apple and Google get from in-app purchases that reach as high as 30%.

The whole ordeal started when Epic Games pushed a server-side update for Fortnite that lets users bypass Apple's and Google's payment systems and choose Epic's option for in-app purchases. In return, players get a 20% discount for using Epic's payment option, which is against Apple's and Google's store policies. In response to that, both took out the game, and then Epic filed their lawsuit, which seems to be the company's intention right from the start.

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