Number 14. This week we look at Apple changing their App Store T’s & C’s, a new Fortnite integration, Nvidia Supercomputer GPU’s and exploding doorbells?!

Ring recalls 350,000 doorbells amid fire concern

You read that right! Ring, bought by Amazon in 2018, is recalling hundreds of thousands of their doorbells after they received reports of doorbells catching fire, and in some cases even causing minor burns. According to the recall notice, “The video doorbell’s battery can overheat when the incorrect screws are used for installation, posing fire and burn hazards.”

An expensive move, but the right one.

Nvidia launch 80GB GPU for Supercomputers

NVidia DGX A100

Nvidia have launched an 80GB version of their A100 Graphics Processing Unit, designed for Supercomputers. It delivers over 2 terabytes per second of memory bandwidth per second. The main application for a device like this would be for AI and vast data analysis.

The announcement was made at the SC20 Supercomputing conference held virtually this year. An Nvidia executive, Paresh Kharya, said that 90% of the world’s data was created in the last two years. How did they work that out? Not sure, yet interesting nonetheless should it be true!

But will it run Crysis…

Fortnite X Houseparty integration

Some of us might remember those first few weeks of lockdown here in the UK when Houseparty came out of nowhere to seemingly being the only way to communicate with your friends. It quickly faded into the obscurity from whence it came, but it may be making a resurgence.

In a partnership that nobody saw coming, Houseparty has added Fortnite integration to their app, meaning that if you link your accounts, you can use your mobile device as a webcam and see your friends faces on your TV screen/monitor as you play Fortnite.

HouseParty Fortnite

Apple to cut commission rate to 15% for most developers

Apple has announced that small businesses – those earning less than $1 million in revenues on the App Store – will have their commission cut to just 15%, down from the usual 30%. This change is to come in to place as of January 1st 2021.

“We’re launching this program to help small business owners write the next chapter of creativity and prosperity on the App Store, and to build the kind of quality apps our customers love,” said Tim Cook, CEO of Apple, “The App Store has been an engine of economic growth like none other, creating millions of new jobs and a pathway to entrepreneurship accessible to anyone with a great idea. Our new program carries that progress forward — helping developers fund their small businesses.”

The change comes off the back of numerous controversies, including a European antitrust investigation in to the App Store and Apple Pay, as well as a legal battle with Epic Games over their introduction of a new way to buy in game credit in Fortnite. Is this a move by Apple to assuage the fears of some shareholders following on from recent events? Perhaps. Regardless of motive, many an Indie developer will welcome this news.

Check out other articles in the Can Factory blog.

Start typing and press Enter to search

Newspaper signs Photo by Flipboard on Unsplash - Cat on comics Photo by Vania Rivalta on Unsplash -