Tate USA, Santa Monica, has signed directors Ted Pauly, Phil Brown and James Dodson for exclusive U.S. spot representation. Pauly retains his senior producer’s post at MTV while becoming available to direct commercial assignments via Tate USA. The Toronto-based Brown has successfully transitioned to director after first establishing himself as an agency creative. Dodson is a former VP production at 20th Century Fox and is slated to helm two feature films…. Bicoastal/international Believe Media has entered into an alliance with Alexandra, Va.-based agency Brand New World to create and produce long-form, brand-focused content for advertisers spanning such platforms as broadband, VOD, wireless and in-store retail networks…..Director Jon Gwyther has joined BeachHouse Films, Santa Monica, for U.S. representation. The international helmer recently wrapped a Shell Oil job for J. Walter Thompson, London, that was shot in Thailand with Plaza Films, which reps him in Australia….Director Mark Hamill–best know for playing the part of Luke Skywalker in the original Star Wars trilogy–is now available for helming and creative development assignments via Treehouse Animation, New York…..
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