Apple is a cult, Android may be a monopoly, Facebook cares about refugees, Netflix knows when you get hooked, Mighty No. 9 has a new release date, and the 4K documentary shot on an iPhone 6s Plus.

Apple Is a Cult, According to Historian

In April, as part of the special April Fools' Day edition of Tech News Digest, we joked that Apple had started its own religion. And it turns out we weren't that wide of the mark. At least according to one cultural historian, university professor, and intellectual.

According to Atlas Obscura, Erica Robles-Anderson said of Apple, “They feel iconic, like an emblem of the personal. And yet it's a cult. Right? It's so obviously a cult.” She's particularly intrigued by the styling of the Apple Stores, which she sees as modern-day temples.

Visiting the Apple Store in SoHo, New York, Robles-Anderson remarks, "The oversized doors are fantastic, there’s no reason for them.” She continues, “They have this beautiful, excessive use of clear surfaces. You’re always seeing others and being seen by others. And the ways that any employee can serve you feels personal, but it’s going on all around you, in a cacophony of like-mindedness".

Robles-Anderson has much more to say, and it all suggests that, in the mind of this cultural historian, Apple has intentionally built its stores to give visitors an almost religious experience. An awakening. A feeling of belonging. Which is all well and good until you realize that, just like other cults, the ultimate goal is to persuade you to hand over all of your money.

Is Google Android a Monopoly?

Is Android a monopoly? This is the question being asked by antitrust authorities in the United States.

According to Bloomberg, the Federal Trade Commission and the Justice Department will be launching an investigation into Google's mobile operating system. The reason being that representatives from other companies have accused Google of giving "priority to its own services on the Android platform, while restricting others".

Android certainly enjoys a dominant position in the U.S, with a 59 percent share of the market. Apple's iOS is in second with a 38 percent share, while Microsoft is a dim and distant third with just 2 percent.

These figures suggest the current market is a duopoly rather than a monopoly, with consumers having a choice. It's a tough choice too, as the many Android vs. iOS debates constantly raging across the Internets make clear.

Facebook Brings the Internet to Refugees

Mark Zuckerberg is committed to bringing Internet access to the growing number of refugee camps around the world. According to The New York Times, this is because he views access to the Internet as "an enabler of human rights" and a "force for peace".

The promise to bring Internet access to refugees is just the latest push from Internet.org, which has the ultimate goal of bringing the Internet to everybody in the world. Right now, there are around 4 billion people for whom access to the Internet simply isn't an option.

Zuckerberg should be applauded for these efforts, but let's not forget who stands to gain from getting the whole world online sooner rather than later. That's right, Zuckerberg himself. As the Facebook CEO later admitted, "It's not all altruism. We all benefit when we are more connected." For "all," read, "Facebook and its shareholders".

Netflix Knows When You Got Hooked

According to Variety, Netflix thinks it knows exactly when you got hooked on your favorite show, and it's never the pilot episode. The streaming media company pinpointed the episode of television shows after which at least 70 percent of viewers went onto watch the whole of the first season.

Breaking Bad and The Walking Dead are the fastest out of the door, with episode 2 being the key episode. At the other end of the scale are Arrow and How I Met Your Mother, both of which only grabbed viewers after 8 episodes. Do you agree with this data?

Mighty No. 9 Gets a New Release Date

Mighty No. 9 should be released in the U.S. on Feb. 9, 2016, and everywhere else around the world on Feb. 12, 2016. That is if this release date, the third to be announced, sticks. This new game from Mega Man creator Keiji Inafune was originally scheduled to be released in April, which then slipped to September. Now, it's February. Fingers crossed.

The Painter of Jalouzi Documentary

And finally, you can now watch the first 4K documentary film shot entirely on an iPhone 6s Plus. It's titled The Painter of Jalouzi, and it tells the tale of a man named Duval, who has dedicated his life to bringing color to his community in Jalouzi, Haiti.

While most people won't ever shoot 4K video on their iPhone 6s or iPhone 6s Plus, it does give filmmakers a new option when shooting footage. This documentary looks divine too, with the vibrant colors really benefiting from being captured in high-resolution.

Your Views on Today’s Tech News

Do you view Apple as a cult? And if so, do you see that as a problem? Do you feel Android is a monopoly? And if so, what should be done about it? Is the Internet a necessity for refugees? Did Netflix nail which episode got you hooked on your favorite show? Are you excited about Mighty No. 9?

Let us know your thoughts on the Tech News of the day by posting to the comments section below. Because a healthy discussion is always welcome.

Image Credits: Andrew via Flickr