Rep Report
Nikki Weiss of Nikki Weiss & Co., Chicago, has been named to handle the Midwest for bicoastal Sandwick Films. She continues to cover the Midwest for Sandwick sister shop The 5th Column, which handles select feature filmmakers for spots….Incubator Films, West Hollywood, has signed Marguerite Juliusson & Companies, Chicago, for exclusive representation of director Tom De Cerchio in the Midwest. Also, coming aboard Marguerite Juliusson & Companies is associate sales rep Jennifer Giles…. Rhinofx, New York, has secured Liz Laine of Chicago-based Liz Laine Reps to handle the Midwest….Washington Square Films, New York, is being represented exclusively in Canada by Spank Films, Toronto….Chuck Silverman, former national head of sales for Brass Knuckles Editorial, Venice, Calif., has joined R!OT Santa Monica as an account executive….Marshall Grupp Sound Design and Music, New York, has signed Maureen Butler of Mo Butler & Associates, Chicago, for Midwest sales….Cinematographer Robert Gantz has returned to Dattner Dispoto and Associates, Los Angeles. He comes off of his latest film, Assault on Precinct 13….DP Jonathan Taylor has finished principal photography on Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and is again available exclusively through the Lyons Sheldon Prosnit Agency, Los Angeles….DP Alik Sakharov has wrapped principal photography on Rome and can again take on spots via bicoastal Paradigm….DP Pheldon Papamichael is available through Innovative Artists, Santa Monica, for features, spots and music videos after completing principal photography on FOX 2000’s Walk The Line for director James Mangold and Paramount’s The Weather Man for helmer Gore Verbinski….Apple and Google Face UK Investigation Into Mobile Browser Dominance
Apple and Google aren't giving consumers a genuine choice of mobile web browsers, a British watchdog said Friday in a report that recommends they face an investigation under new U.K. digital rules taking effect next year.
The Competition and Markets Authority took aim at Apple, saying the iPhone maker's tactics hold back innovation by stopping rivals from giving users new features like faster webpage loading. Apple does this by restricting progressive web apps, which don't need to be downloaded from an app store and aren't subject to app store commissions, the report said.
"This technology is not able to fully take off on iOS devices," the watchdog said in a provisional report on its investigation into mobile browsers that it opened after an initial study concluded that Apple and Google effectively have a chokehold on "mobile ecosystems."
The CMA's report also found that Apple and Google manipulate the choices given to mobile phone users to make their own browsers "the clearest or easiest option."
And it said that the a revenue-sharing deal between the two U.S. Big Tech companies "significantly reduces their financial incentives" to compete in mobile browsers on Apple's iOS operating system for iPhones.
Both companies said they will "engage constructively" with the CMA.
Apple said it disagreed with the findings and said it was concerned that the recommendations would undermine user privacy and security.
Google said the openness of its Android mobile operating system "has helped to expand choice, reduce prices and democratize access to smartphones and apps" and that it's "committed to open platforms that empower consumers."
It's the latest move by regulators on both sides of the Atlantic to crack down on the... Read More