Well, I was dead sure this band was an English one! But alas: they're from the U.S.! Huh 😗... anyway...
... the weekend's gone and a new #Monday has arrived, so that sucks, right? Luckily #BlackMetalMonday's here for the rescue, delivering #Epic, #Melodic and heroic #Folk#Black#Metal (they do sound like they're from ye olde Engalonde, don't they???) to save us all! Have a #GoodMorning, cvties 🌞🌳🌈💐 ->
I should mention that if you are interested in Epic/Battletech/Ogre scale miniatures, SJ Games is doing a project for a new set of tanks that I’m of course getting two of.
Even though #Epic didn’t most of what it wanted (alternative payment buttons in-app), they did gain a victory, that #Apple needs to allow app makers to tell their customers that an alternative payment outside the app is available, which may be cheaper.
This seems like a big deal to me. There is now a way for app makers to offer lower prices outside the App Store. Maybe there are now ways to bundle apps and services in ways that Apple had not approved before. Maybe upgrade pricing will make a comeback. What’s clear is that Apple’s control of the US App Store economy is about to change. This change, plus the upcoming EU rules, are going to fundamentally change the way developers make money on the App Store.
“Supreme Court denies Epic v. Apple petitions, opening up iOS payment options”
@dkozlov Isn't there a live recording with the Calgary Symphony Orchestra? On the one I shared, the title included "live", but it sounds like a studio recording. Great tune! I got on a little Robin Trower set for a moment.
@wx1g I'll be the first to admit I'm no expert, more a fangeek with enough music experience to get me into trouble 🤣 but I'm pretty sure that is indeed a live performance there, Edmonton rather than Calgary Orchestra. It's just a miraculously awesome and well-captured live performance, is all, especially given how the recording came to be per this Allmusic link. https://www.allmusic.com/album/procol-harum-live-in-concert-with-the-edmonton-symphony-orchestra-mw0000767676 Wild, huh?
A jury just found Google guilty on all counts of #antitrust violations stemming from its dispute with #Epic, maker of #Fortnite, which brought a variety of claims related to how Google runs its app marketplace. This is huge:
If you'd like an essay-formatted version of this thread to read or share, here's a link to it on pluralistic.net, my surveillance-free, ad-free, tracker-free blog:
@pluralistic
"Unlike Apple's iOS, Android permit both #sideloading (installing an app directly without using an app store) and configuring your device to use a different app store."
Well, my device also has the Samsungs App store preinstalled and I can install from apk's directly. Probably because of EU regulations 🤷
@pluralistic Let’s see. ‘23 minus 40 equals Ronald Reagan! Are any of us surprised? I was actually practicing law back then (😧), and I remember that there was broad abandonment of antitrust regulation. DOJ just stopped enforcement. It was part of the whole package that turned its back on the American people.
Best moment of the Elon interview, besides the fuck you, was „…GO FUCK YOURSELF,
is that clear? I hope it is.
Hi Bob (Iger), he’s here in the audience.“
Another #BandcampFriday done, if you’re not aware already, it’s worth having a look at this petition asking #songtradr to recognise the union after their purchase of #bandcamp from #epic
In light of #Bandcamp being sold to #Songtradr, workers being locked out of internal systems by #Epic, and layoffs looming, @bandcampunited needs all our support.
Today's #BandcampFriday may possibly be the last, so if you have some disposable income now would be a great way to support independent artists that rely on the platform!
So it took them just over two weeks to sack half of the #Bandcamp staff - #Songtradr and #Epic aren't faffing about when it comes to their bottom line!
830 people confirmed to be losing their jobs and another 250 leaving the company as Epic is also selling SuperAwesome and Bandcamp.
A ridiculous number of talented people, including folks who worked on Fortnite, Fortnite: Save the World, and Fall Guys are out of work, because according to Epic's CEO, billionaire Tim Sweeney, "for a while now, we've been spending way more money than we earn".
To call this a terrible turn of events on multiple levels would be one massive understatement.
Whenever these big shitty corp things happen, eg layoffs, I kinda loose interest in buying AAA games in general. Which is inverse to what the devs themselves would need but that's how I feel.
Anyone else having that emotional response? #epic#layoffs#ea#gamedev
@Wortex17 Corporate doing corporate things. They don’t deserve my time & effort in keeping up to date with who to block this week.
That said I do have long-term blocks on companies like Amazon, Activision-Blizzard, Disney, Facebook, Twitter, and Ubisoft.
I guess I’m saying yes I understand the response, but I can’t be reactionary about it - preferring a more black & white complete block threshold. For my own sanity and time.
Yep, #Bandcamp is being Mooged. Exactly why I've been advocating an #independent & #decentralised alternative since the moment #Epic bought it. There has NEVER been an instance of a megacorp buying an ethical indie and not enshittifying it.
