Welcome to the TechMeme right home for Friday, March 7th, 2025. I'm Brian McCullough today.

Will Apple have to allow sideloading in Brazil? The U.S. Strategic Crypto Reserve becomes a reality.

Larry Page has a new startup. The concept of a startup being nothing more than an AI rapper

is no longer a pejorative,

and of course the weekend long-rey suggestions.

Here's what you miss today in the world of tech.

A Brazilian judge has given Apple 90 days to allow sideloding on iOS in Brazil, saying the

limitations imposed by Apple on developers could deter new competition. As ever with these things,

the question you have to ask is, is this a big enough market for Apple to feel compelled to comply?

Quoting 9 to 5 Mac. In November, 2024, the Brazilian antitrust regulator Cade ruled that Apple can no longer

prevent developers from selling content and distributing apps outside the App Store in Brazil.

The company would have 20 days to comply with Brazil's antitrust legislation, otherwise it would

be fined more than $40,000 a day. Unsurprisingly, Apple appealed the decision and a judge ruled

that the injunction was

unnecessary, giving the company more time to discuss the case. At the time, Apple said that the

request to implement changes to the app store wasn't urgent and that it would also affect

the company's business. Last month, Apple had to face a public hearing in Brazil concerning the case.

But now, Judge Pablo Zwinga has ordered that Apple will

have to implement the required changes in Brazil within the next three months. The judge states that

despite Apple's claim, the company has already complied with similar obligations in other countries

without demonstrating a significant impact or irreparable damage to its business model.

The antitrust investigation against Apple began after

...