Month: August 2024
Justice Department Sues RealPage, Alleging It Enabled Price-Fixing On Rents
The Justice Department on Friday filed an antitrust lawsuit against RealPage, a property management software provider, alleging it enabled a collusion among landlords to inflate rents for millions of Americans. From a report: The complaint claims the Richardson, Texas-based company and its competitors engaged in a price-fixing scheme by sharing nonpublic, sensitive information, which RealPage’s algorithmic pricing software used to generate pricing recommendations. The company replaced competition with rent coordination to the detriment of renters across the U.S., according to the suit, monopolizing the market through its revenue management software which was used by landlords to maximize rent costs.
The DOJ is joined by the attorneys general of California, Colorado, Connecticut, Minnesota, North Carolina, Oregon, Tennessee and Washington. The complaint alleges that RealPage violated sections 1 and 2 of the Sherman Act, an antitrust law. “Americans should not have to pay more in rent because a company has found a new way to scheme with landlords to break the law,” Attorney General Merrick B. Garland said in a statement Friday.
“We allege that RealPage’s pricing algorithm enables landlords to share confidential, competitively sensitive information and align their rents. Using software as the sharing mechanism does not immunize this scheme from Sherman Act liability, and the Justice Department will continue to aggressively enforce the antitrust laws and protect the American people from those who violate them.” Further reading:
Can the US Regulate Algorithm-Based Price Fixing on Rental Housing?;
Are We Entering an AI Price-Fixing Dystopia?;
Accused of Using Algorithms To Fix Rental Prices, RealPage Goes on Offensive;
Rent Going Up? One Company’s Algorithm Could Be Why.
Read more of this story at Slashdot.
The Justice Department on Friday filed an antitrust lawsuit against RealPage, a property management software provider, alleging it enabled a collusion among landlords to inflate rents for millions of Americans. From a report: The complaint claims the Richardson, Texas-based company and its competitors engaged in a price-fixing scheme by sharing nonpublic, sensitive information, which RealPage’s algorithmic pricing software used to generate pricing recommendations. The company replaced competition with rent coordination to the detriment of renters across the U.S., according to the suit, monopolizing the market through its revenue management software which was used by landlords to maximize rent costs.
The DOJ is joined by the attorneys general of California, Colorado, Connecticut, Minnesota, North Carolina, Oregon, Tennessee and Washington. The complaint alleges that RealPage violated sections 1 and 2 of the Sherman Act, an antitrust law. “Americans should not have to pay more in rent because a company has found a new way to scheme with landlords to break the law,” Attorney General Merrick B. Garland said in a statement Friday.
“We allege that RealPage’s pricing algorithm enables landlords to share confidential, competitively sensitive information and align their rents. Using software as the sharing mechanism does not immunize this scheme from Sherman Act liability, and the Justice Department will continue to aggressively enforce the antitrust laws and protect the American people from those who violate them.” Further reading:
Can the US Regulate Algorithm-Based Price Fixing on Rental Housing?;
Are We Entering an AI Price-Fixing Dystopia?;
Accused of Using Algorithms To Fix Rental Prices, RealPage Goes on Offensive;
Rent Going Up? One Company’s Algorithm Could Be Why.
Read more of this story at Slashdot.
MacRumors Giveaway: Win an Apple Watch Series 9 From Southern Straps
For this week’s giveaway, we’ve teamed up with Southern Straps to offer MacRumors readers a chance to win an Apple Watch Series 9. Southern Straps has been making high-quality bands for the Apple Watch for almost a decade now, and the company’s selection of bands offer a great alternative to Apple’s own bands, in styles that Apple does not offer.
Southern Straps has a wide selection of nylon bands that pair a comfortable design with a classic watch band style. After the Apple Watch came out in 2015, Southern Straps was the first company to make nylon Apple Watch bands, and with so many years of experience, it has had time to perfect the band design and construction.
Priced at $29, each Apple Watch band is made from a single piece of nylon that is doubled over, heat sealed, and stitched together for durability. The multi-step process makes sure that every band is going to hold up for multiple years to come, and there is a five-year warranty on bands.
There are 11 color options, ranging from solid colors in green, black, and sand, to striped options in aesthetic color combinations like blue and green, blue and orange, khaki and red, blue and white, black and gray, and the classic red, white, and blue.
Bands can be ordered with custom hardware in black, silver, or gold to match different Apple Watch models. There are two sizes: one that is compatible with 42mm to 49mm Apple Watch models, and one that is compatible with smaller 38mm to 41mm models. The bands are compatible with every Apple Watch model from the original Apple Watch to the Apple Watch Ultra 2.
Pegged spring bars are included with each band so that you’re able to change the hardware if you get an Apple Watch in a new size or a new color. Southern Straps bands can be used on a daily basis for everything from work to working out.
Southern Straps is offering an Apple Watch Series 9 for one lucky MacRumors reader. To enter to win, use the widget below and enter an email address. Email addresses will be used solely for contact purposes to reach the winner(s) and send the prize(s). You can earn additional entries by subscribing to our weekly newsletter, subscribing to our YouTube channel, following us on Twitter, following us on Instagram, following us on Threads, or visiting the MacRumors Facebook page.
Due to the complexities of international laws regarding giveaways, only U.S. residents who are 18 years or older, UK residents who are 18 years or older, and Canadian residents who have reached the age of majority in their province or territory are eligible to enter. All federal, state, provincial, and/or local taxes, fees, and surcharges are the sole responsibility of the prize winner. To offer feedback or get more information on the giveaway restrictions, please refer to our Site Feedback section, as that is where discussion of the rules will be redirected.
Southern Straps Giveaway
The contest will run from today (August 23) at 9:00 a.m. Pacific Time through 9:00 a.m. Pacific Time on August 30. The winner will be chosen randomly on or shortly after August 30 and will be contacted by email. The winner will have 48 hours to respond and provide a shipping address before a new winner is chosen.Tag: GiveawayThis article, “MacRumors Giveaway: Win an Apple Watch Series 9 From Southern Straps” first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums
For this week’s giveaway, we’ve teamed up with Southern Straps to offer MacRumors readers a chance to win an Apple Watch Series 9. Southern Straps has been making high-quality bands for the Apple Watch for almost a decade now, and the company’s selection of bands offer a great alternative to Apple’s own bands, in styles that Apple does not offer.
Southern Straps has a wide selection of nylon bands that pair a comfortable design with a classic watch band style. After the Apple Watch came out in 2015, Southern Straps was the first company to make nylon Apple Watch bands, and with so many years of experience, it has had time to perfect the band design and construction.
Priced at $29, each Apple Watch band is made from a single piece of nylon that is doubled over, heat sealed, and stitched together for durability. The multi-step process makes sure that every band is going to hold up for multiple years to come, and there is a five-year warranty on bands.
There are 11 color options, ranging from solid colors in green, black, and sand, to striped options in aesthetic color combinations like blue and green, blue and orange, khaki and red, blue and white, black and gray, and the classic red, white, and blue.
Bands can be ordered with custom hardware in black, silver, or gold to match different Apple Watch models. There are two sizes: one that is compatible with 42mm to 49mm Apple Watch models, and one that is compatible with smaller 38mm to 41mm models. The bands are compatible with every Apple Watch model from the original Apple Watch to the Apple Watch Ultra 2.
Pegged spring bars are included with each band so that you’re able to change the hardware if you get an Apple Watch in a new size or a new color. Southern Straps bands can be used on a daily basis for everything from work to working out.
Southern Straps is offering an Apple Watch Series 9 for one lucky MacRumors reader. To enter to win, use the widget below and enter an email address. Email addresses will be used solely for contact purposes to reach the winner(s) and send the prize(s). You can earn additional entries by subscribing to our weekly newsletter, subscribing to our YouTube channel, following us on Twitter, following us on Instagram, following us on Threads, or visiting the MacRumors Facebook page.
Due to the complexities of international laws regarding giveaways, only U.S. residents who are 18 years or older, UK residents who are 18 years or older, and Canadian residents who have reached the age of majority in their province or territory are eligible to enter. All federal, state, provincial, and/or local taxes, fees, and surcharges are the sole responsibility of the prize winner. To offer feedback or get more information on the giveaway restrictions, please refer to our Site Feedback section, as that is where discussion of the rules will be redirected.
The contest will run from today (August 23) at 9:00 a.m. Pacific Time through 9:00 a.m. Pacific Time on August 30. The winner will be chosen randomly on or shortly after August 30 and will be contacted by email. The winner will have 48 hours to respond and provide a shipping address before a new winner is chosen.
This article, “MacRumors Giveaway: Win an Apple Watch Series 9 From Southern Straps” first appeared on MacRumors.com
Discuss this article in our forums
Meta pulls plug on plans for high-end Vision Pro competitor
RIP La Jolla. | Photo by David Pierce / The Verge
Meta is calling it quits on making a high-end mixed reality headset to compete with the Apple Vision Pro, The Information reports. This is despite recent news that the headset, codenamed La Jolla, would arrive sometime in 2027.
According to The Information, Meta had already started developing the La Jolla headset in November but told employees to stop working on the device this past week. The decision was due in part to the fact that the La Jolla headset would’ve used pricey MicroOLED displays. The Verge reached out to Meta for comment but did not receive an immediate response.
The move suggests that Meta as a whole may be souring on the idea of premium VR. Purportedly, the goal was to keep the cost of the headset under $1,000, which was looking increasingly difficult given how expensive MicroOLED can be to produce. Compounding matters, the $3,500 Vision Pro has struggled to make an impact with customers and developers, raising questions as to whether there’s even appetite for a high-end competitor. It also doesn’t help that the Quest Pro, which launched at $1,499, was poorly reviewed and quickly faded from the spotlight.
Despite that, Meta still has plans for more headsets and mixed reality tech in the near future. The Verge has previously reported that a more affordable Quest headset, codenamed Ventura, may be coming out later this year. In a similar vein, Meta will reportedly show off some new AR glasses next month at its Meta Connect event. Likewise, the Quest 4 is rumored to have a standard and premium version arriving sometime in 2026.
RIP La Jolla. | Photo by David Pierce / The Verge
Meta is calling it quits on making a high-end mixed reality headset to compete with the Apple Vision Pro, The Information reports. This is despite recent news that the headset, codenamed La Jolla, would arrive sometime in 2027.
According to The Information, Meta had already started developing the La Jolla headset in November but told employees to stop working on the device this past week. The decision was due in part to the fact that the La Jolla headset would’ve used pricey MicroOLED displays. The Verge reached out to Meta for comment but did not receive an immediate response.
The move suggests that Meta as a whole may be souring on the idea of premium VR. Purportedly, the goal was to keep the cost of the headset under $1,000, which was looking increasingly difficult given how expensive MicroOLED can be to produce. Compounding matters, the $3,500 Vision Pro has struggled to make an impact with customers and developers, raising questions as to whether there’s even appetite for a high-end competitor. It also doesn’t help that the Quest Pro, which launched at $1,499, was poorly reviewed and quickly faded from the spotlight.
Despite that, Meta still has plans for more headsets and mixed reality tech in the near future. The Verge has previously reported that a more affordable Quest headset, codenamed Ventura, may be coming out later this year. In a similar vein, Meta will reportedly show off some new AR glasses next month at its Meta Connect event. Likewise, the Quest 4 is rumored to have a standard and premium version arriving sometime in 2026.
4 great new wireless earbuds for all budgets arrived this week – here’s what you can’t miss
It’s been a big week for big-name earbuds and banging bargains too.
What’s better than one exciting new pair of earbuds? That’s right. Four exciting new pairs of earbuds.
This has been an unusually good week for anyone looking for the best true wireless earbuds, because we’ve had some important new releases from some of the most important brands.
Whether you’re looking for cheap and cheerful budget buds or the ultimate earbuds for audio excellence, there’s been some really interesting new launches this week. Audio-Technica has updated its brilliant affordable buds that were a staple of our list of the best budget earbuds, Bowers & Wilkins has launched some hi-res buds with clever additional features and (most importantly) a vastly better design, JBL has stuck added both a screen and unique broadcasting feature to its latest buds’ case, and after weeks of leaks the OnePlus Buds Pro 3 are finally official.
Here are the essentials about these releases.
Big sound on a budget from Audio-Technica
(Image credit: Audio-Technica)
The Audio-Technica ATH-SQ1TW2 are the successors to the firm’s brilliant budget buds, the Audio-Technica ATH-SQ1TW, and they’re cheaper too: just £49 in the UK, although as yet there’s no US or Australian launch.
As we reported, new versions are even lighter and smaller than before, so they should deliver improved comfort, in the same super-cool squared design. Battery life is a claimed 6.5 hours and an additional 13.5 hours from the charging case, and the water and dust resistance has been upgraded. There’s a low-latency mode for gaming and movies, and there’s Google Fast Pair as well as multi-point pairing. Despite their small size the buds have built-in mics for calls, and they’ve been designed to reduce wind noise and ambient audio during conversations.
There are four colors to choose from: Jet Black, Pure White, Navy/Red and Forest Green.
Screen-age kicks from JBL
(Image credit: JBL)
The JBL Tour Pro 3 are screen-toting earbuds with an important new feature: Auracast, which turns the charging case into a Bluetooth audio transmitter for dozens of other Auracast headphones. That means you can use the case on a plane to connect not just your buds to the entertainment system, but anyone else sitting nearbly… or to transmit to other devices from a work laptop so you can all hear the same call, or any other occasion where you want to beam from one device to many. There’s Spatial Audio 360, lots of sound optimization and impressive noise cancelation.
Battery life promises up to 44 hours of music playback, 11 from the buds’ own batteries and a three more charges from the case. That’s with ANC off; expect eight hours from the buds alone and 32 hours in total with ANC on.
Price-wise you’re looking at £279.99 / €299.99 (which is around $365 or AU$540). We haven’t reviewed these buds just yet – the linked article is to our first impressions – but we like what we’ve heard so far.
Incredible audio from B&W
(Image credit: Bowers & Wilkins)
The new B&W Pi8 and Pi6 promise incredible audio, with the flagship Pi8 delivering CD-quality 16-bit 44.1kHz lossless audio quality over Bluetooth and a case that, similarly to JBL’s, can transmit the audio from a cabled sound source to your Bluetooth buds. They’ve been significantly redesigned for improved comfort and sound reproduction, which was really their only major flaw previously, and the top of each earbud is now a large capacitive touch sensor.
We think that the Pi8 are “undoubtedly the most comfortable earbuds the brand has ever made”, which is handy because you’re likely to be listening for long periods due to that superb sound quality. Both sets have Bluetooth 5.4 with multipoint, IP54 dust and water resistance, impressive ANC and significantly improved battery life: 24 hours total for the Pi6 and 20 for the more complex Pi8s.
The Pi8 is available now with a price of $399 / £349 / AU$599. The Pi6 will be available from September 15, priced $249 / £219 / AU$449.
OnePlus Buds Pro 3 emerge from leak-o-land
(Image credit: OnePlus)
After what seemed to be weeks of detailed leaks, the OnePlus Buds Pro 3 are finally official. The big upgrade here is to the audio performance, thanks to dual 11mm and 6mm drivers and, in a first for OnePlus, two digital to analog converters (DACs) per earbud: one for each tweeter and one for each woofer. There are new Dynaudio EQ presets and a promised 50dB of noise cancellation – OnePlus’s best ANC yet – along with Apple-esque environmental awareness to adjust the ANC as your environment gets louder or quieter.
OnePlus promises up to 43 hours of playback with ANC off, and the charging case has been redesigned along with the buds to make everything look a bit more modern.
There are two colors here with the obligatory fancy names: Midnight Opus and Lunar Radiance, which are a kinda beige and a black color respectively. Both versions are available now for £199 (about $250 / AU$380).
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The DOJ files an antitrust suit against a software company for allegedly manipulating rent prices
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Amazon is bricking primary feature on $160 Echo device after 1 year
Smart display will soon default to showing ads after three hours.
In September of 2023, Amazon announced the Echo Show 8 Photos Edition. It looked just like the regular Echo Show 8 smart display/speaker but cost $10 more. Why? Because of its ability to show photos on the home screen for as long as you want—if you signed up for a $2 monthly subscription to Amazon’s PhotosPlus. Now, about a year after releasing the Echo Show 8 Photos Edition, Amazon is announcing that it’s discontinuing PhotosPlus. That means Echo Show 8 Photos Edition users will be forced to see ads instead of their beloved pics.
As per The Verge yesterday, Amazon started sending PhotosPlus subscribers emails saying that it will automatically cancel all PhotosPlus subscriptions on September 12 and will stop supporting PhotosPlus as of September 23. PhotosPlus, per Amazon’s message, “makes photos the primary home screen content you see on your Echo Show 8 and includes 25 GB of storage with Amazon Photos,” Amazon’s online photo storage offering. Users can continue using the 25GB of Amazon Photos storage after September.
However, users will no longer be able to make photos the indefinite home screen on the Alexa gadget. After September, their devices will no longer have the “photo-forward mode” that Amazon advertised for the Echo Show 8 Photos Edition. The photo-forward mode, per Amazon, let people make “selected personal photos the primary rotating content on the ambient screen” (photos rotated every 30 seconds). Now, Echo Show 8 Photo Editions will work like a regular Echo Show 8 and default to showing ads and promotions after three hours.
Premier League Soccer: Livestream Aston Villa vs. Arsenal From Anywhere
The pick of the weekend’s EPL matches sees Unai Emery face his former club.
The pick of the weekend’s EPL matches sees Unai Emery face his former club.