Mark Thomas, managing director of Area 51 Films, Santa Monica, has confirmed that he is in the process of leaving the company he’s been at the helm of for the past seven years. Thomas hopes to make an announcement shortly regarding his future plans….Noted still photographer Timothy White has signed with the recently launched Phil’s Films, Venice, Calif., for representation as a director. Phil’s Films is a division of Electric Avenue Films, Venice….Director Jean-Marc Piché and executive producer John Gilliland have joined Directorz, Dallas…Executive producer Gregg Stern has departed Santa Monica-headquartered M-80 Films. His future plans weren’t known at press time….Director Rodolfo Pagliere has come aboard the roster of Letca Films, Miami….Red Truck Films, a production company headquartered in Raleigh, N.C., has named Amy Diamond executive producer. She was formerly a producer at Raleigh ad agency McKinney & Silver. Red Truck represents directors Conrad Fink, Charlie Watson, Greg Hoey, Garye Kostner, Allen Weiss, Steve Murray, Kevin Bourland and C.B. Harding in the Southeast…. Editor Jim Ulbrich has joined 89 Editorial, New York. He was formerly an editor at Day For Night, the in-house editing arm of Berlin Cameron/Red Cell, New York.…Eric Silver, who left his post as executive VP/creative director at Cliff Freeman and Partners, New York, is joining Saatchi & Saatchi, New York, as executive VP/creative group head….
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