The directing collective Pleix has joined Stink for worldwide representation except for North America and France. Pleix continues to be handled in the U.S. by MJZ. Pleix is a virtual community of seven digital artists (graphic designers, directors, 3D artists, musicians) formed in 2001 and based in Paris. Last year Pleix directed one of the awards season's most lauded spots, Amnesty International's “Death Penalty” out of TBWA Paris. “Death Penalty” earned such honors as a Bronze Lion at Cannes, a Grand Prix for Film Craft and a Silver for Film at Eurobest, Silver at the London International Awards and Silver at the Epica Awards…..Greg Scruton has become a full fledged editor at Arcade Edit, coming up the ranks as an assistant editor. He recently cut the NFL on Fox “Dr. Phil” campaign. Scruton's other credits as an editor include campaigns for Volkswagen, Drivetime, PlayStation, Acura, Nike and Burger King. Arcade is a partnership among managing partner Damian Stevens and editors Kim Bica, Geoff Hounsell and Paul Martinez. Arcade's roster also includes editors Scruton, Patrick Griffin, Christjan Jordan and Stewart Reeves….
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