Google makes an Epic Compromise - DTNS 5140

Google opens up its version of Android worldwide, and AI beats the world at forecasting hurricanes this season.

Starring Tom Merritt and Sarah Lane.

TOM: This is the Daily Tech News for Wednesday, November 5, 2025. We tell you what you need to know, give you the important context, and help each other understand.

SARAH: Today, Epic and Google agree to open up Android worldwide.

I’m Tom Merritt,

I’m Sarah Lane

TOM: Let’s start with what you need to know with the big story.

[[BIG STORY]]
[[SOLO story of the day. Basic details, monitor commentary and sound when possible.]]

Epic and Google Agree to Settle Antitrust Case - Thurrott.com
Epic - Google settlement 20251104.pdf
Google settlement with Epic caps Play Store fees, boosts other Android app stores - Ars Technica

TOM: Epic Games and Google have agreed to settle their five-year-old antitrust case over the Google app store. The settlement includes the remedies ordered by Judge James Donato in his ruling from October 2024.

• Google will allow third-party app stores and in-app payment systems on its version of Android, without additional fees or unnecessary impediments.
  

• Google will not use revenue sharing as a way to stop a company from making its own app store, or enter into exclusivity agreements or OEMs and carriers regarding preinstallation and placement of stores.
  

• A three-member dispute panel with members approved by Epic and Google will resolve disputes.
  

The settlement goes beyond the judges' ruling in the following ways

• This will apply worldwide, not just in the US
  

• It will last for 6.5 years, not the three required by the Judge
  

• Google will lower its fee structure from 30 or 15% to 20 or 9% for purchases made using the Play Store or Google's in-app payments system.
  

• Google will certify makers of alternative app stores and payment systems for safety
  

And differs from the original order in a couple places

• Google can require that devs include them as an option alongside third-party payment methods. Apps can still set their own prices and offer lower prices if you skip Google’s system.
  

• “Registered App Stores” will be installable from websites with a single click and without the alarming warnings that accompany traditional sideloads. (Replaces Google being required to distribute third-party app stores)
  
  

US District Court Judge James Donato must review the settlement and sign off before it can go into effect.

[[DISCUSS]]

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TOM: There’s more we need to know today, let’s get to the briefs.

[[BRIEFS]]
[[3-5 more solo reads with sound to complete the day in tech news. These are informational with minor commentary.]]

Sony's PlayStation Portal gets PS5 game Cloud Streaming, officially

SARAH: Sony's PlayStation Portal handheld was released in 2023 for $200, supporting Remote Play of games on your PS5. But your PS5 had to be on, and connected to the internet, and that connection had to be good enough to stream your game. Not anymore. The PlayStation Portal now supports cloud streaming of games directly from Sony's servers, as long as you subscribe to PlayStation Plus Premium, which costs $18 a month. This lets you game side by side with someone using your PS5 under another account, or lets someone watch a movie on your PS5, while you use the Portal to play a game.

Google’s new hurricane model was breathtakingly good this season - Ars Technica

TOM: We mentioned back in June that Google DeepMind's Weather Lab had begun releasing forecasts for hurricanes, cyclones, and typhoons. There were high expectations for the model, but now that the Atlantic hurricane season is winding down, we can see the results. The official numbers will come from the US National Hurricane Center in a few months, but senior researcher Brian McNoldy at the University of Miami crunched the numbers early to give folks a preview. Out of 11 forecast models, the US National Weather Service's Global Forecast Model had the most track forecast errors across the 13 named storms this season. Google DeepMind performed the best. The difference between the two was significant, with DeepMind almost twice as good at 5 days out. However, the official forecast from the National Hurricane Center, or OFCL, is the one to beat. It's made by human experts consulting data from multiple models. The two were almost identical for the first 12 hours. Google DeepMind did slightly better, until 4 days, when the two converged. The gold standard of these models is the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts, which was not included in this analysis, but it typically does about the same as the OFCL. Google DeepMind also performed well at predicting intensity changes. Ars Technica quoted hurricane specialist Michael Lowry noting "how much more quickly they produce a forecast compared to their traditional physics-based counterparts that require some of the most expensive and advanced supercomputers in the world." He also pointed out that neural networks have the ability to learn and improve on the fly.

Amazon Sues to Stop Perplexity From Using AI Tool to Buy Stuff - Bloomberg
Perplexity AI accuses Amazon of bullying with Comet legal threat

SARAH: Amazon is suing Perplexity for computer fraud. The retailer alleges that Perplexity's Comet browser doesn’t disclose when it’s shopping on a person's behalf, which is a violation of Amazon's terms of service. Amazon terms prohibit “any use of data mining, robots, or similar data gathering and extraction tools.” Perplexity agreed in November 2024 not to let its agent shop on Amazon sites, but this August, the Comet browser started accessing Amazon, identifying itself as a Chrome browser user. Amazon sent a cease-and-desist letter on Friday and filed the lawsuit on Tuesday. Amazon offers its own automated shopping, including "Buy for Me," which can shop brand sites within Amazon, and "Rufus," an assistant that can find and recommend items and put them in the cart. But likely more of a concern is that users don't see ads when they let an agent do the shopping.

Google has a ‘moonshot’ plan for AI data centers in space | The Verge
Google wants to build solar-powered data centers — in space | Semafor

TOM: Google announced a research effort called "Project Suncatcher," which will explore the possibility of launching a cluster of satellites to act as a data center in space. Google would put its Tensor Processing Units on satellites outfitted with solar panels that could generate electricity almost continuously. That would make them an estimated 8 times as productive as solar panels on the surface. The satellites would have to stay within a kilometer or two of each other to support the tens of terabits per second links needed. And the TPU chips need to be hardened against radiation. Trillium TPUs have so far survived a dose equivalent to five years in space, without permanent failures. The cost of the launch would be prohibitive now, but is expected to get cheap enough by 2030 to mean the energy savings would make the effort about the same as a data center on Earth. The CO2 emissions, however, would be more on current rockets, though rockets like SpaceX's Starship with lower emissions might make it even there as well. Google plans to launch a prototype in collaboration with a company called Planet by 2027.

DJI's Osmo Mobile 8 gimbal adds pet tracking and Apple DockKit support

SARAH: China's Osmo Mobile 8 gimbal is now available outside of China. It has multifunctional tracking and a built-in light as well as Apple DockKit support, 260-degree panning, and pet tracking. A Multifunctional Module lets you track subjects with any camera app, but the AppleDockKit is nice because you don't need the attachment if you're using iOS and a compatible app. It also has an integrated tripod, easy switching between front and rear cameras and a built-in extension rod. The DJI Osmo Mobile 8 gimbal is 159 Euros or $159 available now.

TOM: And finally, some quick headlines that are just good to know if you want to understand the news in the future.

[[IF necessary. One sentence each]]

Former Meta employees launch Sandbar, a smart ring that takes voice notes and controls music | TechCrunch

SARAH: Two former Meta employees launched the Sandbar Stream smart ring with a mic and touchpad, which, in conjunction with an iOS app, lets you take notes and interact with an assistant by voice.

Google Maps bakes in Gemini to improve navigation and hands-free use | TechCrunch

TOM: Google has begun replacing Google Assistant with Gemini in Google Maps, meaning you can use natural language and ask multiple questions.

Exclusive | Motion Picture Association Pans Instagram’s Use of ‘PG-13’ With Cease and Desist - WSJ

SARAH: The Motion Picture Association sent a cease-and-desist to Meta ordering it to stop using the term PG-13 when describing its Instagram content ratings system.

China sentences infamous Myanmar scam mafia members to death

TOM: In a crackdown on one of the greatest sources of online scams, China has sentenced five members of a Myanmar scam organization to death for homicide, with 16 more convicted of fraud, injury and other crimes.

Reddit added to Australia's teen social media ban due to start next month

SARAH: Australia added Reddit and live-streaming platform Kick to the list of organizations that must restrict those younger than 16 from using their platform.

This refreshingly innovative smartphone brand has entered the US - Android Authority

TOM: Fairphone has launched its repairable Fairbuds Xl earbuds in the US and plans to launch its repairable phones there as well.

Apple Podcasts is generating automatic links and chapters | The Verge

SARAH: Apple Podcasts will soon automatically generate chapter markers, and links to related content, unless the podcast-maker opts out.

Sora is now available on Android in the US, Canada, and other regions | TechCrunch

TOM: OpenAI launched its Sora video-generation app on Android in Canada and the US.

Nintendo Store App Lets You Track Your Switch, 3DS And Even Wii U Gameplay Down to The Hour - IGN

SARAH: Nintendo launched a store app that lets you buy games, hardware, and merchandise as well as download demos, amiibo and track your game play hours.

XPeng Gears Up to Launch Robotaxis Next Year - WSJ

TOM: China's Xpeng plans to roll out three models of autonomous cars next year, made entirely with tech from within China.

France to Suspend Shein Sales After Finding Childlike Sex Dolls - WSJ

SARAH: Shein opened its first store in France while the French finance ministry announced it has begun the process to suspend Shein until it removes illegal products from its online platform.

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TOM: We do live streams! Catch them by becoming a subscriber at youtube.com/dailytechnewsshow.

[[BREAK]]
[[PAUSE]]

[[HELPING EACH OTHER UNDERSTAND]]
[[Short missives from people with experience. Could be written email or pre-recorded from the person.]]

SARAH: We end every episode of DTNS with some shared wisdom. Today, Richard explains why subscription gaming is just not worth it for him.

TOM: Richard Writes
G'day Guys,

You discussed these Xbox price changes. The issue is not the price change but the fact that none of the subscriptions match how most families use their Xbox as a shared resource.

I canceled my subscription at the last price hike and my kids and I are now not able to play couch co-op with the games that I actually own already and are not part of Game Pass. If I own it I should be able to play it in co-op on my couch with my kids without a game pass, especially when it's an offline game. The only feature I care about in Game Pass is the console multiplayer, however it's not worth the AU$15 just for that and a few extra games in Essential. MS needs to make local multiplayer part of the console, not the subscription.

[[DISCUSS]]

SARAH: What are you thinking about? Got some insight into a story? Share it with us feedback@dailytechnewsshow.com.

TOM: Thanks to Richard for contributing to today’s show. And thank YOU for being along for Daily Tech News Show. You can keep us in business by becoming a patron, atPatreon.com/dtns.