The computers of the future have found an unexpected ally to store information: fungi

Bioelectronics has been studying for some time the possibility of taking advantage of living organisms in order to produce electrical activity and, in some way, take advantage of it to make our machines work. Although at first glance it could be a topic worthy of the Matrix script, the truth is that there is a whole fascinating world in that of the memristors based on organic elements. Some researchers have found the key to demonstrate how the mycelium of mushrooms such as shiitake can function as a memristor, an electrical component with the ability to ‘remember’ past states. This discovery could be the key to a new generation of sustainable and biodegradable electronic devices. What is a memristor and why does it matter? A memristor is an electronic component that combines the functions of memory and resistance, capable of “remembering” previous electrical states. They are currently manufactured with materials such as titanium dioxide between two metal electrodes, but their production requires scarce minerals and polluting and high-cost industrial processes. Hence the importance of looking for more sustainable alternatives through organic materials. How mycelium works as memory. John LaRocco’s team at Ohio State University grew shiitake mushrooms in Petri dishes until complete development. They then dehydrated them in the sun, turning them into rigid disc-shaped structures that can be rehydrated when necessary. By connecting electrodes to these samples and applying different voltages, discovered that the mycelium presents conductive structures similar to conventional ‘memristors’. According to LaRocco, “if we could develop a microchip that mimicked real neural activity, we could dramatically reduce the amount of energy consumed when the machine is not in use.” The results of the experiment. After two months of testing, the shiitake-based memristor demonstrated the ability to change electrical state up to 5,850 times per second with an accuracy close to 90%. When they applied a specific sine wave, the characteristic figure-eight curve of an ideal memristor appeared, confirming that the mycelium indeed remembers electrical flow. Although performance eventually decreased at higher frequencies, connecting multiple samples improved stability, something the researchers compared to the network effect of neural connections in the brain. Vadvantages over traditional semiconductors. The main attraction of these biological memristors is its sustainability. Mushrooms are developed from organic biomass, they are biodegradable and their environmental impact is minimal. Furthermore, growing them is economical and their production can be easily scalable, from small laboratory experiments to industrial manufacturing. Additionally, fungi have exceptional radiation resistance, which could also make them especially valuable for aerospace applications. Potential applications and pending challenges. The flexibility and scalability of these components opens up possibilities in fields from extreme environment computing and space exploration to autonomous systems and wearable devices. However, significant obstacles remain. And just as they count from Wired, current samples are too large and need to be miniaturized to compete with existing microchips. Furthermore, the electrical properties of mycelium vary between samples even grown in the same medium, which makes its stable industrial manufacture difficult. Next steps in the investigation. The team plans to develop techniques to grow mycelium and give it an ideal shape using 3D printing and methods for incorporating electrical contacts during cultivation. They are also exploring the optimal way to preserve it long-term, combining techniques such as freeze-drying and special coatings. “Society is increasingly aware of the need to protect our environment and preserve it for future generations, and that could be one of the driving factors for new biocompatible ideas like these,” pointed out Qudsia Tahmina, co-author of the study. Beyond mushrooms. This is not the only organic material that has demonstrated ‘memristive’ properties. Researchers from other universities They have experimented with honey and human bloodexploring their possibilities as biodegradable electronic components. Honey, for example, can change resistance in just 500 nanoseconds and is completely biodegradable. In the case of blood, scientists in India discovered in 2011 that it could function as a memristor by applying different voltages, keeping the resistance stable for at least 30 minutes. Cover image | Yuval Zukerman In Xataka | In the midst of the RAM memory crisis, Samsung takes a leap with its HBM4 memory. It does not imply good news for the pocket

I have been to the Xiaomi Store in Beijing. It is a glimpse of the future that awaits us in Spain

Seven years ago we visited one of the Xiaomi stores in China. It was the My Home in Shanghaiand we found a space full of devices, without much glamor from the outside and full of ‘gadgets’ that we did not yet have in Spain. Things have changed a lot in these years. The Xiaomi store is now surgical, from the outside we see the company’s cars and the space is an ode to good taste. The most interesting thing is not that: it is that almost everything we see is going to reach Spain. Store/experience. In one of the shopping centers on Dongdan Avenue in Beijing, you will find one of the several Xiaomi Stores in the Chinese capital. If you have ever been in a Apple Storethe concept is the same: a neat space, employees who don’t harass you if you don’t ask for assistance, and a sea of ​​devices to fiddle with. Image | Xataka Image | Xataka For a technology lover, having the Xiaomi 17 Exposed there and within my reach, it was a joy. You can try any of the models, but you also have tablets, computers and even speakers. One of the employees told me I could connect my cell phone to see how they sounded. Image | Xataka They also have technology that we have not seen around here yet, such as Xiaomi AI Glasses that they go for the Meta models and that in person they are very discreet. Image | Xataka Home. But despite all the junk, what impressed me most was the catalog of home devices. Televisions, vacuum cleaners and even air conditioning we have already seen them herebut in China the catalog expands greatly. In a time when some They insist that we not cook at homethe range of gadgets The kitchen that Xiaomi has is unfathomable. Image | Xataka Again, we have many of them in the Spanish store, but for every rice cooker sold here, they have three other models there. And the same with devices such as the food processor, warming jugs of all kinds, mixers, thermoses, faucets, water (and air, many) purifiers… Image | Xataka It is a legion of devices for the home. And, sharing the same space, curiously there are two that will soon disembark in our country. If a few lines ago I was talking about air-conditioning that opened the gap, now I mention both the washing machine and the refrigerator. Image | Xataka a few months ago confirmed their arrival in the west with a single objective: that our entire home remains within its ecosystem. Pride. Because entering that store makes you realize that, while my house must be controlled with four or five different applications for different devices, in China you need… one. That of Xiaomi Home, in this case. But Huawei is working towards something similar, a sign that the ecosystem is what the Asian giant’s companies are taking most seriously. Image | Xataka And, within this strategy, is the pride of the store. In plural, better: cars. A couple of Xiaomi SU7 Ultra and two or three others Xiaomi YU7. The same thing: you can touch them, ride wherever you want, ask and an expert will appear to tell you the benefits. It’s a dealership experience. Image | Xataka Image | Xataka Image | Xataka Lifestyle. And if all the devices are within the same ecosystem (something that He has even fallen in love with the CEO of Ford), to round out the experience is the ‘Xiaomi Life’ wall. Here you already have “toys”, such as mugs with the colors of the cars, bags, amazing replicas of the cars, caps, t-shirts and a lot of other accessories for the vehicle. Image | Xataka It’s… another bummer, but if seven years ago we couldn’t even dream of the arrival of a quarter of what we saw in Shanghai, today we can say that, sooner or later, everything I saw will be here over the next few months. Xiaomi already has its first official store in Spaina first step for them to disembark cars that already have a launch segment. And once the most ambitious product in the company’s history is here, nothing prevents everything else from also appearing in the store. PS Sony. But hey, although I found the Xiaomi store amazing, I have to say that other stores in the shopping center (one of the shopping centers on the avenue) were just as impressive or more impressive. Sony’s thing is also impressive. Image | Xataka Huawei also had a car parked in its store, for example, and Sony has another megastore with movie theaters to take a look at its most cutting-edge TVs and speakers… and even miniatures so that customers can try out the benefits of their cameras. I can only say one thing: I left that street overwhelmed. And thinking that I should have bought the Xiaomi 17 Ultra because it was at a VERY good price. What I did want to buy is the Pixar-style lamp shown a while ago: the PIPI Lamp. After asking about her, no one knew how to answer me until another girl appeared who – sadly – cleared my doubts: it was an experiment and there is no evidence that it can even be ordered from stores. Images | Xataka In Xataka | I have asked for water from the first humanoid robot working in Beijing. It’s a weird vending machine.

Fortnite returns to the Android store

‘Fortnite’ has had to wait a few months, but it is now available for Android users (at the moment in the United States, and in other countries, irregularly, if the game is installed with the Epic Games app) as a download from the Store. A true triumph for Epic that comes in handy to inaugurate season 7 of the game. What has happened? ‘Fortnite’ has returned to the Android Store American after Google has complied with the court order that forced it to open its ecosystem to competition. The return of popular battle royale by Epic Games culminates a legal battle against Google’s monopoly that has spanned more than four years and ended with a historic defeat for the technology giant. As confirmed by Epic Gamesinitial availability is limited to the United States while negotiations continue to obtain judicial approval of the final agreement that would allow its expansion to the rest of the world. It is the direct result compliance with a court order, which found Google guilty of illegal monopolistic practices. The verdict. On December 11, 2023, a jury in California unanimously ruled in favor of Epic Games on all eleven charges brought against Google. The decision established that the company had operated an illegal monopoly both in the distribution of Android applications and in the payment system within the apps. The judge imposed an injunction requiring the Play Store to distribute alternative app stores. During the trial, Epic exposed what Google internally called “Project Hug,” an initiative in which Google spent hundreds of millions of dollars in secret settlements with more than twenty core developers. According to became documentedbeneficiaries included Activision Blizzard, Nintendo, Riot Games, Square Enix, Tencent and Ubisoft, among others. Google offered to Epic a deal valued at $208 million to keep Fortnite on the Play Store, an offer that Epic rejected, unleashing what Google saw as a “risk of contagion.” Opposite verdicts. The curious thing is that Epic Games lost decisively against Apple in a practically identical case. a judge dismissed nine of the ten lawsuits Epic antitrust case against the iOS App Store in 2021. The fundamental difference was who decided each case. While Apple opted for a trial before a judge, Epic demanded jury to confront Google. Apple managed at the time to defend its “walled garden” model by arguing that full control over iOS guaranteed security and privacy. Epic’s own CEO, Tim Sweeney, admitted during trial to use iPhone personally for these reasons. Android, on the other hand, presents itself as an open platform that allows multiple stores, which made its restrictive practices more difficult to justify. The case against Apple, however, is still ongoing, and includes perjury allegations against Apple. The agreement. Epic and Google have presented a proposed agreement that, if approved, would end five years of legal confrontation. The agreement drastically reduces commissions that Google can charge: between 9% and 20% depending on the type of transaction and the date of installation of the app, figures well below the historical 30% that motivated the original conflict. The agreement maintains the restrictions of the original court order, permanently prohibiting Google from paying manufacturers, operators or developers for exclusivity agreements that favor the Play Store. The agreement between both companies would go beyond the application of the judicial decision: it would be global and would remain in force until June 2032, making it one of the most important antitrust pacts ever assumed by a platform. Significantly, the judge questioned that two “mortal enemies” who fought “ruthlessly” for years suddenly reached an agreement, suggesting that Google may be trying to water down remedies after losing all its appeals, and has scheduled an additional hearing for December or January to clarify whether the agreement genuinely addresses the Google Play monopoly. In Xataka | How ‘Fortnite’ is creating its particular “Fortniteverse” thanks to LEGO, with which it is reformulating its foundations

Europe was happy with the changes in the App Store, but not with those in Google Play. There is a historic fine at stake

Google is in the crosshairs of the European Commission. A few days ago they announced a new investigation into monopolistic practices with AI summaries, but it is not the only front they have open. The company has already paid historical fines and you face a new one if you don’t make changes to Google Play, your app store. what has happened. They tell it in Reuters. The European Commission is not satisfied with the changes that Google has made to its app store to comply with the Digital Markets Act or DMA. Regulators consider that there are two points that do not comply with the standards: There are technical restrictions that make it difficult for developers to direct users to external channels with better prices. Google continues to charge a commission to the developer even if the user buys the app from its website, with the excuse that they have “facilitated” the purchase. Why is it important. If Google does not make the necessary changes to comply with the DMA, it faces a fine that could amount to 10% of its total revenue. In 2024 they will invoice 350,000 million dollarsso the maximum fine would amount to 35,000 million, the highest to date. Google can still offer to apply changes to avoid paying the fine. The Apple case. The one the Commission is satisfied with is Apple. In fact, they are using your case as an example of what needs to be done. It was not a bed of roses and Apple was fined 500 million euros for not complying with the DMA. Apple had to remove restrictions that prevented redirection to alternative offers. The Epic trial. The European Commission is not the only one that has Google Play in its sights. In the United States, the judge of the Epic vs Google case made a historic decision: Google would have to allow rival stores within the Play Store. Recently Google and Epic reached an agreement through which Google undertakes not to charge commissions of more than 20% on purchases’in-game’ and 9% for the rest. In addition, developers will be able to showcase other payment systems through Play Billing. The agreement must still be approved by the judge, but it seems that Google will have no options but to comply with what both the judge and the EU ask of it. What Google says. The company announced changes in Google Play last August to avoid the fine, is what the Commission now considers insufficient. Google competition lawyer Clare Kelly said the company was “concerned that these could expose Android users to harmful content.” This is the usual position of American companies that are under the scrutiny of the European Commission. Mark Zuckerberg called the DMA “censorship” and there has also been harsh criticism and tariff threats since the Trump administration. Recently, a national security strategy document He claimed that European laws could mean an “erasure of American civilization.” The fruits of the DMA. He overregulation of the European Union is subject to criticism, but It also has a good side. Thanks to the DMA has made USB-C mandatory for all manufacturers, forcing Apple to abandon its proprietary connector. It has also brought us the Universal AirDrop and the changes in the app stores so that we have more freedom when it comes to where to download our apps. Image | Xataka, Pexels In Xataka | Europe wants to protect itself against Huawei, but the energy sector knows something uncomfortable: it cannot move forward without it

This is Flexispot’s Black Friday for the fastest. There are also discounts for your entire store

This Black Friday We are seeing many powerful offers to renew a mobile phone, console or television, among other things. Now, it is also an ideal time to find deals on lift-up chairs or desks, possibly being Flexispot who has the most powerful promotion: if we are fast, we can take a 100% refund of our orderalthough it is a promo that has much more. We tell you everything about her. Refunds for the fastest and discounts for the entire website As we say, we have a very good opportunity to take home a lift-up desk or a chair completely free (among other things). Flexispot returns once again with one of its best promos, thanks to which we can get a 100% refund on our order (maximum order of 1,000 euros). Of course: not everyone can access it, since it is available only for the fastest. This promo will only be active for 4 days, although it will not be identical in all of them. We will have the first opportunity on Friday, November 28 at 00:00, at which time The first 40 orders will benefit from a 100% refund. On the 29th and 30th, starting at 9 in the morning, there will only be the first 5 orders. On the last day, December 1st starting at 9 in the morning, there will be an opportunity for the first 20 orders. What if all these days get ahead of us? Just because we can’t access this promo doesn’t mean we can’t save at Flexispot. In fact, we have a 10% discount code available that we can use throughout the website. If we use the same one, the code FSBF10we can receive a good discount no matter what we buy. 300 euros discount on the new Flexispot elevating desk In addition to all of the above, it should be noted that, if we are looking for a new elevating desk, we cannot lose sight of the new member of the Flexispot family. We are referring to the E7 Flow, a comfortable desk, with a good system for collecting cables and that fits perfectly in any type of room. Its starting price is 799.99 euros, but by registering with our email we will obtain a discount of 300 eurosso you are left alone 499.99 euros. E7 Flow Lifting Desk The price could vary. We earn commission from these links What does the E7 Flow offer? It is one of the best options in the entire Flexispot catalog. It’s your strongest desk eversince it is capable of supporting up to 180 kg, a figure more than enough even if we want to mount several monitors. In addition, it has improved dual motors, offering a lifting speed of 50 millimeters per second. Another interesting point about it is that its legs are C-shaped, an arrangement that increases its stability. This way, even if our setup is bulky, we won’t suffer those annoying shakes that can appear on this type of desk. All without forgetting that its panel has a beveled edge, ideal for not hurting our wrists. To all of the above we must add its cable management system, which allows you to hide them to have a clean and safer setup (something vital if, for example, we have pets at home). In fact, includes an integrated power strip with 6 portswhich makes this management much easier. For all the above, at the price of 499.99 eurosan excellent option to renew our setup with a large elevating desk. We can’t lose sight of the E7 and E7 Pro desktops As an alternative to the previous one, we have the E7 2026 and E7 Pro 2026 desktops. These improve the performance of the previous models, but they do so at exactly the same cost as the previous ones. As the main novelty, both models come with an improved maximum load, as well as a higher ascent/descent speed. We have the E7 version available for 299 euros only for a few days (its original price is 429.99 euros). The price could vary. We earn commission from these links If we look a little more, we have its Pro version. With it we will take a leap in quality, since it has a greater maximum load and speed, although it is not the only difference. It also has a “C” shaped leg designwhich gives us more space between our legs. This has a launch price of 499.99 euros, but we can get it for 319.99 euros between November 28 and December 1 with the discount code FSBFE7P. Some of the links in this article are affiliated and may provide a benefit to Xataka. In case of non-availability, offers may vary. Images | Flexispot In Xataka | Best lift-up desks. Which one to buy and six recommended models from 195 euros In Xataka | This is the office chair I would buy. Tips and models recommended by ergonomics experts for teleworking and studying

Shein has opened its first store in Europe in Paris. Paris has reacted as always: staging a revolt

The heart of Le Marais The morning of November 5th was troubled. In front of the old Bazar de l’Hôtel de Ville (BHV), that art deco building that overlooks the City Hall, Shein opened its first physical store in Europe. But consumer enthusiasm soon mixed with cries of indignation. French-style protests. At the doors of the BHV, the tension was immediate. A group of protesters shouted “C’est honteux!” (“This is a shame!”) and carried signs with slogans such as “Protégez les enfants, pas Shein” (“Protect the children, not Shein”). Both unions and environmental associations joined the protest denouncing the chain’s working conditions and its environmental impact, according to France24. Outside, slogans were chanted; Inside, lines snaked between shelves. Riot police guarded the entrances while the smell of a stinking aerosol – released by a protester – permeated the air. The rest of the day, the store continued to operate normally. Thousands of consumers lined up in front of the fitting rooms. The Observer estimated that more than 50,000 people They visited the new premises in its first days, and Le Monde It is estimated that about 8,000 people They passed only during the inauguration. In the words of the British newspaper, “behind the protesters who shouted shame, lines of shoppers stretched out with bags full of polyester.” Why so much fuss? The Parisian revolt was not born out of nowhere, nor is it just an environmental problem. Days before, the General Directorate of Competition, Consumption and Fraud Repression (DGCCRF) had revealed that Shein France sold child-like sex dolls, as revealed by Le Parisien. The institution stated that the descriptions “left little doubt about the pedopornographic nature” of the product. The discovery led to the opening of four judicial investigations by the Paris prosecutor’s office against Shein, AliExpress, Temu and Wish, for the dissemination of violent or pornographic content accessible to minors. In parallel, the conservative deputy Antoine Vermorel-Marques reported that on the platform Machetes and brass knuckles, category A weapons, prohibited in France, were also sold. Under pressure, Shein reacted. According to BBCone day before the opening, the company announced a global ban on all sales of sex dolls, the closure of the accounts of the sellers involved and the elimination of the adult products category. “The fight against child exploitation is non-negotiable,” CEO Donald Tang told Time. Shein spokesperson in France, Quentin Ruffat, stated exclusively for French radio RMC: “What happened is serious, unacceptable and intolerable. It was an internal failure in our processes. We will cooperate 100% with justice and we will reveal the identity of the buyers.” Two days later, according to Reutersthe Ministry of Finance temporarily stopped the suspension procedure, upon verifying that Shein had removed all illicit products, but stressed that “the company will remain under close surveillance.” The French crusade against fast-fashion. The Executive’s offensive is not only moral: it is also legal and economic. According to Politicothe French Government has activated two parallel procedures to suspend the Shein website. The first, based on the Consumer Code, would allow the domain to be blocked if the company disobeys an order to remove illegal content. The second, protected by the Digital Economy Trust Act of 2004, seeks to demonstrate that there is a risk of recidivism. Both processes could lead to a ban on access to the site and its applications in France. Le Parisien announced that a court hearing will be held on November 26, where a judge will decide the future of the platform. Meanwhile, the Minister of Public Finance, Amélie de Montchalin, led an unprecedented operation at Charles de Gaulle airport: more than 200,000 Shein packages from China were inspected in a single day. According to the ministrythree out of four did not comply with European regulations. But the pulse goes beyond customs. As The Guardian recallsFrance has been questioning the ultra-fast fashion model for years: in 2023 and 2024 it approved laws and fines of almost 200 million euros against Shein for misleading advertising and environmental violations. The arrival of the brand at BHV, details Times“contradicts the ecological and high-end vision that Paris wants to project.” Even iconic designers, such as Agnès B, announced their withdrawal from BHV. “I am completely against this fast fashion, there are jobs in danger,” told BBC. Despite the scandal, Shein has not stepped on the brakes. According to Le Mondethe company will open new stores in Dijon and Reims on November 18, and in Grenoble on the 21st, with additional plans in Angers and Limoges. Frédéric Merlin, president of the Société des Grands Magasins (SGM) – owner of BHV – defended his alliance with Shein in statements to Le Monde: “The products we sell here do not exploit workers or children. We are convinced of their quality.” However, parent Galeries Lafayette broke ties with SGM over “strategic divergence,” according to Timesrefusing to associate his name with the Chinese brand. Meanwhile, more than 100,000 French people have signed a petition against Shein’s expansion, according to The Guardianand numerous brands have left BHV in protest. Despite this, the plans continue. The battle for the soul of fashion. The story of Shein in France is no longer just that of an investigated company, but that of a country that refuses to surrender to the dizzying pace of global consumption. However, it opens up a paradox: while the authorities are preparing laws and blockades, thousands of young people are lining up to buy 5-euro t-shirts. France is waging a symbolic — and perhaps lost — war against fast fashion: that of the country that invented haute couture facing the phenomenon that turns it into waste. On November 26, French justice will speak. But fast fashion has already won a part of the most difficult trial: that of consumption. Image | Flickr and DMCGN Xataka | Years ago buying “white label” was synonymous with poor quality: today it is the number one priority of Spaniards

the main gay dating apps disappear from the App Store

China has a relentless censorship machinery. The one known as the ‘Great Firewall of China’ has been preventing its citizens from accessing certain services and websites for years. Its tentacles also reach the application stores, including Apple’s, which has just seen two apps disappear from its offering. And not just any two apps. What has happened? Blued and Finka are two dating apps aimed at the LGBTQ+ public and have just disappeared from the App Store in China, where they were the two most popular apps. According to Apple, the order came directly from the China Internet Network Information Center, also known as the Cyberspace Administration. This is Apple’s response to Wired: “We comply with the laws of the countries in which we operate. Pursuant to an order from the Cyberspace Administration of China, we have removed these two applications from the Chinese store” It’s not the first time. There have been other cases in which Apple has had to remove apps by order of the Chinese government, such as last year when removed WhatsApp, Telegram and others from his store “for reasons of national security.” The reasons they argued were the same: they have to comply with the laws of the countries in which they operate. They are not just any apps. The case of Blued and Finka is especially sensitive and it is not the first time that they have blocked applications used by the LGTBQ+ community. In 2022, the well-known app Grindr was also removed from the App Store in China. It happened during the Winter Olympic Games, although in this case it was the Grindr developer herself who removed the app at the request of the authorities. Homosexuality in China. Until 1997, being homosexual in China was a crime and until 2001 it was considered a mental disorder. Today it is not penalized, but the weather is anything but favorable for the community: same-sex marriage is not recognizednor can they adopt, conversion therapies remain legal and there are no laws against discrimination based on sexual orientation. Censorship. Homosexuality is considered prohibited content by regulators, who have edited numerous films to eliminate any reference to sexual diversity. The case of ‘Lightyear’ and the scene in which two women kiss It was one of the most popular, but it was not the only one. In September of this same year, They used AI to turn a gay couple into heterosexuals in the movie ‘Together’. Image | Wikipedia In Xataka | There is an underground movement of Chinese women reading homosexual erotic literature. And China is cracking down on it.

Google and Epic Games propose a historic agreement that is an earthquake for the Play Store

The long and costly legal war between Epic Games and Googlewhich began in 2020, is about to end. Both companies have jointly submitted an agreement proposal and a modified court order which, if approved, not only resolves all its disputes, but also redraws the rules of the Android app store for the coming years. Chronology. To understand why Google has agreed, you have to rewind. After a long trial, a jury ruled in favor of Epic in 2023, declaring that Google’s Play Store operated as an illegal monopoly. Based on that verdict, Judge Donato issued a harsh court order a year later. This forced Google to open its ecosystem and included allowing third-party stores within the Play Store itself. In addition, it prohibited Google from tying its billing system to the store, and allowing developers to link to external payments. Braking attempt. Google immediately appealed, warning that the changes would harm the “security and privacy” of users. On October 18, 2024, the judge granted the Mountain View giant a temporary suspension while the appeal was being resolved. It was just a momentary respite. Surrender. After losing appeals, the US Supreme Court rejected Google’s latest request for a suspension. This reactivated the original court ordergiving the company an imminent deadline that ended on October 22. It had to start dismantling its control over the Android software store. Image by Official GDC on Flickr New agreement. Faced with the obligation to comply with a sentence that it hated, Google has negotiated a lesser evil. This new agreement, which was presented yesterday, replaces the original order with agreed rules that will be in force until June 30, 2032. Tim Sweeney himself, CEO of Epic, rated it X as an “impressive” and “comprehensive solution.” These were the words of Sameer Samat, the president of Android, who also reacted to the news: Together with Epic Games, we have proposed changes for Android and Google Play that focus on expanding developer choice and flexibility, reducing fees, and encouraging greater competition, all while ensuring user safety. If approved, this would resolve our disputes. We hope to continue discussing the issue with the judge on Thursday. The agreement details a new maximum commission structure. Google will not be able to charge more than 20% for in-game purchases that offer advantages (such as loot boxes or improvements). For everything else, the maximum commission will be 9%. On the other hand, the developers they win the right to display their own payment systems with Play Billing. Additionally, they will be able to show different (i.e. cheaper) prices if the user chooses the alternative payment. However, the Big Tech will continue to charge your “service fee”– Even if a developer uses its payment platform, Google reserves the right to charge the service fee (the 20% or 9% mentioned). According to media such as The Vergea Google spokesperson clarified that the developer saves the billing fee (cost of processing the payment), but not the service fee. Global impact. Although the court order is limited to the US, this change to the Android operating system will have a global impact. This opens the door for third-party stores—such as the one that Epic announced with Telefónica— can be installed without any friction. Without forgetting that this pact also prohibits Google (for three years) from making payments to manufacturers or operators to pre-install competing stores or to not place them in specific places on the device. What’s coming now. The agreement is not final: it must be approved by the judge. Both parties have a hearing scheduled for this Thursday, November 6, to discuss the proposal. We’ll see how it ends, but it seems that the final agreement will not be very different from this one. Cover image | Composition with images of Sergey Galyonkin for Flickr and Xataka Android In Xataka | Google has put AI summaries where there used to be links to news. And the media is bleeding

The largest Primark store in Spain is a money-making machine. It is so profitable that even Amancio Ortega makes money with it

The Primark flagship store on Madrid’s Gran Vía is not only a place to buy cheap clothes, but it has become a monument in the city, both for its size and for the historic building that houses it. The flagship store of the Irish clothing brand has just completed its tenth anniversary active and leaves us with some really interesting figures and data. One of the most curious facts is who he is. really your home. It’s almost a cosmic joke. A historical and popular monument. According to data Provided by the brand itself, the Primark store on Gran Vía has a total area of ​​12,500 square meters, making it the largest of the group in Spain and possibly one of the largest in the world. With more than five million visitors a year, it is one of the most visited commercial spaces in Spain and a key point of Madrid commerce. It is located in the Paris Building, an emblematic building designed in 1924, notable not only for its architecture, but for its artistic decoration, represented by its majestic imperial staircase and its impressive glass dome. On their roofs it rages an epic battle between figures from Greek mythology: Diana the Huntress observes from the building opposite the fight to the death between the Phoenix sent by Zeus to punish Endymion, Diana’s lover. He testimony of that fight It is reflected in the form of two lost arrows of Diana, which from the sidewalk welcome visitors at the main entrance of the store. This combination of history, architecture and grandeur makes the store an authentic “monument” on Madrid’s Gran Vía. Official data and operating figures. According to the study data carried out by the consulting firm AFI on the occasion of the tenth anniversary of the storearound 1,000 people of 28 nationalities work there, generating 500 indirect jobs through suppliers and additional services. At an economic level, the store contributed 83 million euros in 2024 to the economy as a whole, of which 42 million euros corresponded to taxes and social contributions. To understand the economic dimension of this economic mastodon, it is enough to say that Primark’s enormous space contributes more than 10 million euros annually to the local Gross Domestic Product through its operations alone. The “unofficial data.” Jaime PlaCEO of SUOP, has started a series of videos in the TikTok profile of the teleco, which details data and figures of emblematic buildings such as the Bernabéu, the Madrid airport or, of course, the Primark megastore. Between data and estimates from the video that the businessman dedicates to this location, it is noted that the salaries of the employees who work in the store amount to approximately 2 million euros, while cleaning, security and insurance services represent a monthly expense of 100,000 euros. Added to this are 20,000 euros per month in electricity and water supplies. All this, together with the merchandise on display on its shelves adds up to an approximate cost of 11.7 million per month. The “cosmic joke”: rent. According to the data provided by Pla, among these monthly expenses, 1.8 million euros are allocated to pay the rent for the building. This point is especially striking because the building where the store is located is owned by Amancio Ortega. It is ironic that the founder from Inditex, is collecting rent of the most important store of its main rival in the sector of retail textile. Amancio Ortega, through Pontegadea, bought the Paris Building to Drago Real Estate Partners in 2015, just before the store opened to the public. It is not known exactly how much Pontegadea paid for him, but the starting price of the operation was 400 million euros. Pontegadea: the “premium” landlord. Amancio Ortega founded Pontegadea with the intention of turning into profitable investments the dividends that its founder receives each year for 59.294% of Inditex shares. with those billionaire annual dividendsPontegadea has become Amancio Ortega’s second empire Thanks to your strategic real estate investmentsOrtega has become in the home from companies like Amazon, Apple, Google, Spotify and, as if it were a cosmic joke, also from Primark, charging a millionaire rent to the main rival of the company that made him a millionaire. In Xataka | In his efforts to diversify investments, Amancio Ortega takes a new twist: becoming a port authority Image | Primark, GTRES

What is this Google Play Store error and install the app anyway

Let’s explain to you what it is and how to avoid the message Your device is not compatible with this versionwhich may appear in the Android application store. It may appear on some mobile phones very occasionally when you want to install an application that interests you. We are going to start the article by explaining what exactly this message is, so you can know what the error is due to. And then, we will tell you how to avoid this problem for be able to install the application as well. Why does this message appear? The applications on your mobile phone are like the programs on a computer, when a developer creates them, they establish a series of minimum requirements and compatibility. They do this to make sure that the application works as it should, and that the user experience is not good. The message that your device is not compatible with a version appears because the app is not optimized for your device or its featuressuch as your Android version or your hardware, such as RAM or other requirements. Sometimes it can also even be due to the type of device, when you want to install an app on your mobile that is only for Android TV or vice versa. Come on, your mobile phone does not meet what is necessary for the application to work correctly, and therefore you can’t install the app for not being suitable. As we have told you, sometimes it can be due to the requirements or the type of device, but it can also happen with apps that worked until now if your phone is old and the app has received an update that changes its minimum requirements. How to install unsupported applications When this message appears, there is no way to install the app from the official Android app store. However, you have an alternative using the files Android APK. These are executable files, just like Windows .exe files, and they help you install applications manually. Install an APK on Android it is relatively easy. First you have to download the application file from a repository trusted, which is what the pages that host these executables are called. One that I personally recommend is APKMirror. Once you have downloaded the file to your mobile, making sure it is the one aimed at the architecture of your processor, simply enter it to launch it. They will ask you for permissions to do it and that’s it. Here, you just have to keep in mind that when you install the APK of an unsupported app it may not work well on your mobile or it may not work at all, since in the end, it still does not meet the developer’s requirements. Of course, you can always try downloading an older version. In Xataka Basics | Gemini on your old Android: what you need and how to get the most out of it

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