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The day's tech news, every day at 5pm. From Techmeme.com, Silicon Valley's most-read news source. 15 minutes and you're up to date.
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2 hours ago
Tues. 04/13 - New Surface Laptop 4
Everyone announced something today. A new Surface Laptop 4. New Nvidia things. New Roku things. Something new from Spotify literally called Car Thing. Oculus is going to hold a product event. Siri leaked the next Apple event. And Grab is going public via a SPAC.
Sponsors:
* LinkedIn.com/ride
* Fundrise.com/techmeme
Links:
* Microsoft announces Surface Laptop 4 with choice of Intel or AMD processors (The Verge)
* Siri Reveals Apple Event Planned for Tuesday, April 20 (Mac Rumors)
* Facebook Announces Oculus Gaming Showcase For April 21 (Upload)
* Nvidia unveils rental model for DGX Station A100 mini supercomputers (Venture Beat)
* Roku’s latest streaming device gives 4K, HDR, and a voice remote for $40 (Ars Technica)
* Spotify’s Car Thing debuts as a limited release for selected US users (The Verge)
1 day ago
Mon. 04/12 – Microsoft Acquires Nuance
Microsoft acquires the biggest name in speech tech. Apple is maybe developing some home gadgets I feel like they should have done years ago. Might we see new iPads by the end of the month? Google wants to stop you from walking and texting. And a review of the new Mercedes-Benz entrant into the EV wars.
Sponsors:
* Skiff.org/ride
* Netgear.com/bestwifi and promocode:tech10
Links:
* Microsoft buys speech recognition firm Nuance in a $16 billion deal (CNBC)
* Apple Working on Combined TV Box, Speaker to Revive Home Efforts (Bloomberg)
* Apple Facing Supply Shortage of Upcoming High-End iPad Displays (Bloomberg)
* Ant to Be Financial Holding Firm in Overhaul Forced by China (Bloomberg)
* Alibaba’s rivals on alert after China’s regulators hand out record fine (FT)
* Google starts rolling out “Heads Up” in Digital Wellbeing to stop distracted walking (XDA Developers)
* THE 2022 MERCEDES-BENZ EQS IS A DECLARATION OF MAXIMUM ELECTRIC LUXURY (The Verge)
3 days ago
(TWTR SPACE) The Coinbase Moment For Crypto
Here was our Twitter Space from this week. We ended up talking all about Coinbase, helped by some great analysis from Romeen Sheth, who I think you’ll recall I quoted from when we talked about this on Wednesday. You can follow Romeen on twitter @RomeenSheth, link in the show notes. And also, he has a great podcast called Square One, where he interviews founders and investors, folks like Anthony Pompliano, Li Jin, David Sacks, even Andrew Yang. Give it a listen, search Square One on your podcast app of choice.
Sponsors:
* Today In Digital Marketing podcast
* GivingMultiplier.org/techmeme
4 days ago
Fri. 04/09 – Amazon Wins The Union Battle
The counting is finally happening, and not to be all Nate Silver, but it’s looking fairly certain that Amazon won its big union battle. Apple and Epic Games are making their first arguments in that big lawsuit. A big new scraping hack, this time for half a billion LinkedIn users. Neurolink shows a monkey playing Pong with its brain. And of course, the weekend longreads suggestions.
Sponsors:
* Blockchain.com
* FundRise.com/techmeme
Links:
* Partial tally in Amazon union drive favors ‘No’ votes. (NYTimes)
* Epic v. Apple discovery details ‘Project Liberty’ scheme to skirt App Store with Fortnite (9to5Mac)
* Apple Admits Purposely Keeping iMessage Off Android Helps Lock Users In (DroidLife)
* Hackers scraped data from 500 million LinkedIn users — about two-thirds of the platform's userbase — and have posted it for sale online (Insider)
* Neuralink's brain-computer interface demo shows a monkey playing Pong (Engadget)
Weekend Longreads Suggestions:
* Silicon Valley Is Flooding Into a Reluctant Austin (Bloomberg Businessweek)
* Don’t pick up! The rise and fall of a massive industry based on missed calls (Rest of World)
* DoorDash Drivers Game Algorithm to Increase Pay (Bloomberg Businessweek)
* Revenge Of The Winklevii (Forbes)
* Bill Hwang Had $20 Billion, Then Lost It All in Two Days (Bloomberg Businessweek)
5 days ago
Thu. 04/08 – Now The Chip Shortage Has Come For Apple?
If the chip shortage is now biting even Apple, things are getting real, y’all. Twitter apparently took a run at buying Clubhouse. Facebook has a new Clubhouse like product called Hotline. Lenovo’s new phone convinces me gaming phones are truly a thing. And are there signs we’re finally gonna see those Apple AirTags… or do the tea leaves reveal the exact opposite?
Sponsors:
* Calderalab.com code TECHMEME at checkout
* Blockchain.com
Links:
* MacBook and iPad production delayed as supply crunch hits Apple (NikkeiAsia)
* Apple MacBook and iPad production may be delayed over global chip shortage (AppleInsider)
* Twitter Held Discussions for $4 Billion Takeover of Clubhouse (Bloomberg)
* Facebook tests Hotline, a Q&A product that’s a mashup of Clubhouse and Instagram Live (TechCrunch)
* Lenovo’s Legion Phone Duel 2 has not one but two cooling fans (The Verge)
* YouTube is social media’s big winner during the pandemic (CNBC)
* Uber and Lyft ‘throwing money’ at US drivers to ease shortage (FT)
* Google I/O 2021 will be virtual and free to attend from May 18-20 (9to5Google)
* Apple Announces Find My Network With Support for Third-Party Devices (MacRumors)
6 days ago
Wed. 04/07 – TLDR: Coinbase Is A Helluva Business
Coinbase has revealed the number behind their business, and they are brain exploding emoji. A big Patreon raise shows the moneybags are serious about this creator economy thing. Nobody is crying at Plaid over that failed Visa merger. There’s a new king of the gaming laptop hill. And I try my best to unravel the twisted tale of the latest Facebook data scandal.
Sponsors:
* Kiwico.com, Promocode ride for 30 percent off
* Blockchain.com
Links:
* Coinbase Posts Blowout Q1 Profit of $730-$800 Million, Days Before Public Listing (Decrypt)
* Patreon’s Valuation Triples to $4 Billion as Platform Draws Creators, Fans (WSJ)
* Clubhouse Discusses Funding at About $4 Billion Value (Bloomberg)
* Plaid raises $425M Series D from Altimeter as it charts a post-Visa future (TechCrunch)
* Global Venture Funding Hits All-Time Record High $125B In Q1 2021 (Crunchbase News)
* Alienware’s M15 R5 is its first AMD-based gaming laptop in over a decade (The Verge)
* What Really Caused Facebook's 500M-User Data Leak? (Wired)
Apr 6, 2021
Tue. 04/06 – Clubhouse Turns On The Money Spigot Quickly
Clubhouse isn’t messing around when it comes to flipping the monetization switch. TikTok translation might make that platform even more global. Yahoo Answers circles the drain. Are NFT prices already dropping? And with the new digital Yuan, would the Chinese government be able to literally turn off the money in your wallet?
Sponsors:
* Today In Digital Marketing Podcast
* Kraken.com/techmeme
Links:
* Clubhouse’s new direct payments let you toss a coin to creators, and they get 100 percent (The Verge)
* TikTok adds automatic captions to videos in accessibility push (The Verge)
* Yahoo Answers will be shut down forever on May 4th (The Verge)
* The NFT bubble might be bursting already (CNN Business)
* China Creates Its Own Digital Currency, a First for Major Economy (WSJ)
* E3 2021 Will Take Place as a Free Virtual Conference, In-Person L.A. Event Targeted for Next Year (Variety)
* Streaming Services Have Finally Run Out of New Shows. Kind of. (Bloomberg)
Apr 5, 2021
Mon. 04/05 – SCOTUS Rules: APIs Not Copyrightable
The Supreme Court has ruled on APIs in a way that should make most developers happy. Though, the punted on the President blocking people on Twitter. LG is exiting the smartphone business. And we already knew half a billion people’s Facebook data was out in the wild, but now that we’ve SEEN it in the wild, I’ll tell you why you should take notice.
Sponsors:
* Blockchain.com
* NewYorker.com/techmeme promocode techmeme
Links:
* Supreme Court rules in Google’s favor in copyright dispute with Oracle over Android software (CNBC)
* Supreme Court vacates lower court decision on Trump blocking Twitter followers (Axios)
* LG Electronics to end loss-making smartphone business (NikkeiAsia)
* Amazon Illegally Fired Activist Workers, Labor Board Finds (NYTimes)
* 533 million Facebook users' phone numbers and personal data have been leaked online (Insider)
* Is Apple's Privacy Push Facebook's Existential Threat? (Kara Swisher's Sway Podcast)
* Sideloading Apps Would 'Break' the Security and Privacy of iPhone, Says Tim Cook (MacRumors)
* Tim Cook says Apple is committed to AR, TV+ and privacy but not to Apple Car (Cult of Mac)
Apr 3, 2021
(Bonus) Friday 04.02 Twitter Space
We didn’t go as long as last time because after about 45 minutes, somehow no one could hear me, even though I was the space commissar, or whatever they term it. Anyway, as you’ll hear, we ended up talking about that big AR story with Microsoft and the HoloLens and the Pentagon. Robert Scoble, who has been on this beat for years showed up serendipitously, to give us some schooling in the space. Enjoy…
Apr 2, 2021
Fri. 04/02 – Coinbase Going Public With A Confident Swagger
Coinbase is going public and sharing its numbers ahead of time, which is rare and probably a sign of confidence. The App Store has started rejecting apps ahead of that big new privacy change. Has Tencent’s gaming studio become the biggest in the world? Another Clubhouse clone, this time from Discord. And of course, the weekend longreads suggestions.
Sponsors:
* MasterWorks.io promocode ride
* GivingMultiplier.org/techmeme
Links:
* Coinbase To Go Public on April 14, Announce Q1 Earnings Beforehand (Decrypt)
* Apple Rejecting Apps With Fingerprinting Enabled As iOS 14 Privacy Enforcement Starts (Forbes)
* Apple knew it was selling defective MacBook displays, judge concludes (The Verge)
* Discord’s new Clubhouse-like feature, Stage Channels, is available now (The Verge)
* Exclusive: Tencent's Timi gaming studio generated $10 billion in 2020, sources say (Reuters)
Weekend Longreads Suggestions:
* People's Expensive NFTs Keep Vanishing. This Is Why (Motherboard)
* 5 Years After the Oculus Rift, Where Do VR and AR Go Next? (Wired)
* How a Chip Shortage Snarled Everything From Phones to Cars (Bloomberg)
* Why Computers Won’t Make Themselves Smarter (New Yorker)
* Graphene and Beyond: The Wonder Materials That Could Replace Silicon in Future Tech (WSJ)
* Turing Award Goes to Creators of Computer Programming Building Blocks (NYTimes)
Apr 1, 2021
Thu. 04/01 – Microsoft’s Pentagon Deal Validates The AR Industry
Microsoft’s big HoloLens deal with the Pentagon is maybe the big bang for the augmented reality industry. Amazon says their folks can come back to work soon, and in fact, they’d prefer if you did. Bearish signs for the work remotely movement? Why these are boom times for chip makers. And why Siri’s new voices think of gender as a spectrum.
Sponsors:
* Today In Digital Marketing Podcast
* AirMedCareNetwork.com/tech offer code TECH
Links:
* Microsoft wins U.S. Army contract for augmented reality headsets, worth up to $21.9 billion over 10 years (CNBC)
* Amazon says it expects some employees to return to the office this summer, most will return in fall (CNBC)
* TSMC to Spend $100 Billion Over Three Years to Grow Capacity (Bloomberg)
* Apple adds two brand new Siri voices and will no longer default to a female or male voice in iOS (TechCrunch)
* Comcast Weighs Pulling Universal’s Movies From HBO Max, Netflix (Bloomberg)
* Thrasio raises $100M for its Amazon roll-up play, appoints retail CFO for its next steps (TechCrunch)
Mar 31, 2021
Wed. 03/31 – Everything Old Is New Again In The News Feed
Facebook has announced News Feed changes to bring chronology back. LinkedIn is working on a Clubhouse rival and I think that makes total sense. Apple actually leads an interesting investment round. Deliveroo has a disastrous first day on the public markets. And how about Roblox, but inside the Unreal Engine?
Sponsors:
* PingIdentity.com
* TinyCapital.com
Links:
* Facebook Adds New 'Most Recent' Timeline to Switch to Chronological Posts (MacRumors)
* LinkedIn confirms it’s working on a Clubhouse rival, too (TechCrunch)
* Apple invests $50M into music distributor UnitedMasters alongside A16z and Alphabet (TechCrunch)
* Android sends 20x more data to Google than iOS sends to Apple, study says (ArsTechnica)
* Deliveroo drags on the LSE; closes down 44% on debut (TechCrunch)
* Maker of NBA Top Shot Scores $305 Million in New Funding (WSJ)
* ConsenSys Lines Up Damien Hirst to Launch New NFT Art Protocol (Decrypt)
* Manticore Games raises $100M for user-generated gam…
Mar 30, 2021
Tue. 03/30 – Spotify To Spin Up Clubhouse Competitor
It’s actually a nutso butso news day. Spotify is launching a Clubhouse competitor. Amazon is spinning up a new line of custom silicon. Big updates to Google Maps. We know the dates for WWDC. Amazon seems to be doing some Twitter sock puppetry. A bunch of new phones from Xiaomi. Substack is raising another big round. And that’s not all. There’s so much that happened today in the world of tech, that I can’t even promo it all, so let’s just get to it.
Sponsors:
* TinyCapital.com
* Metalab.com
Links:
* Spotify is launching its own Clubhouse competitor (The Verge)
* Spotify acquires Betty Labs, creator of live audio app Locker Room (Axios)
* Amazon Steps Up Silicon Ambitions With New Networking Chip (The Information)
* Google is making some big upgrades to directions in Google Maps (The Verge)
* Apple officially announces virtual WWDC 2021 for June, iOS 15 and more expected (9to5Mac)
* Amazon is sending employees into the trenches on Twitter as it battles its f…
Mar 29, 2021
Mon. 03/29 – Ok, Will Digital Vaccine Passports Work?
New York, Japan, China and the EU are all gonna try out digital vaccine passports. Visa is gonna try out a stablecoin to settle transactions. The official PHP Git repository was hacked. Boston Dynamics has a new robot that isn’t as scary… unless you’re a warehouse worker. And what is Amazon’s aggressive PR recently all about?
Sponsors:
* Fundrise.com/techmeme
* Grammarly.com/techmeme
Links:
* New York launches nation's first 'vaccine passports.' Others are working on similar ideas, but many details must be worked out. (USAToday)
* Exclusive: Visa moves to allow payment settlements using cryptocurrency (Reuters)
* PHP's Git server hacked to add backdoors to PHP source code (BleepingComputer)
* Boston Dynamics unveils Stretch: a new robot designed to move boxes in warehouses (The Verge)
* OpenAI’s text-generating system GPT-3 is now spewing out 4.5 billion words a day (The Verge)
* Amazon keeps trying to troll US Congress members in perplexing new PR strateg…
Mar 28, 2021
(Bonus) Monday 03.22 Clubhouse Room
This is the clubhouse room from Monday, March 22nd. Topics discussed here include the situation with the Dispo app. Zoom’s new SDK. The fate of the HomePod and that secret new gizmo inside the HomePod Mini, and a deep dive into two of the longreads from LAST week: Moore's Law for Everything post and Tim O’Reilly’s piece The End of Silicon Valley as We Know It?
Mar 27, 2021
(Bonus) Friday 03.26 Clubhouse Room
So, as I said, this is one of the clubhouse rooms we did this week. In fact, it’s the one from last night. Chris convinced me to split the two rooms into two episodes, so I’m releasing this one, from Friday first, and tomorrow I’ll post the one we did Monday night. Topics for this episode: Slack getting into social audio, Microsoft buying Discord, what the heck is BitClout! The great Brady Dale @BradyDale from Coindesk helped us out with that. And more explication of my rant concerning the whole Medium situation.
Mar 26, 2021
Fri. 03/26 – The House Tech Hearings Were… Whatever…
The House tech hearings were a nothing burger, but I’ll try to explain what that means for us. Apple is considering a more rugged Apple Watch. Slack is doing a Clubhouse clone and… stories. WeWork is back, with a SPAC. And of course, the weekend longreads suggestions.
Sponsors:
* EditorX.com
* ThoughtWorks Technology Podcast
Links:
* Yes or no: Are these tech hearings doing anything? (The Verge)
* Apple Considers Launching Rugged Watch for Extreme Sports (Bloomberg)
* Slack is getting new audio features (Protocol)
* WeWork Agrees to SPAC Deal That Would Take Startup Public (WSJ)
Weekend Longreads Suggestions:
* Intel Unleashed, Gelsinger on Intel, IDM 2.0 (Stratechery)
* The long, complicated, and extremely frustrating history of Medium, 2012–present (NeimanLab)
* Microsoft CEO Hunts Anew for Creator Hub After TikTok Bid Fails (Bloomberg)
* The fuss about BitClout (Axios)
* Crypto social network BitClout arrives with a bevy of high-profile investors…
Mar 25, 2021
Thu. 03/25 – DDR5 Arrives (F*** Everything, We're Doing Five Blades)
Remember that Onion headline, F- Everything, We’re Doing Five Blades? Well, Samsung says welcome to the DDR5 era. There’s more tech testimony on Capitol Hill today. That Arizona bill that would have regulated the App Store mysteriously disappears. Deliveroo is facing a full on revolt. And my wife covers the Chrissy Teigen twitter news.
Sponsors:
* Calderalab.com use code TECHMEME (all caps one word) at checkout
* Masterworks.io, promocode ride
Links:
* Samsung Announces 512GB DDR5 Memory That Is Twice As Fast As DDR4 (HotHardware)
* Zuckerberg suggests how to tweak tech's liability shield (Axios)
* Genshin Impact Races Past $1 Billion on Mobile in Less Than Six Months (SensorTower)
* Arizona Senate skips vote on controversial bill that would regulate Apple and Google app stores (The Verge)
* Independent cloud provider DigitalOcean drops in Wall Street debut (CNBC)
* Deliveroo Hit by Investor, Rider Revolt Ahead of London IPO (Bloomberg)
* Twitter’s ‘unoffi…
Mar 24, 2021
Wed. 03/24 – Buying Teslas With Bitcoin Is More Bullish For Whom?
You can now use Bitcoin to buy a Tesla. You can now DM anyone on Slack. Intel is now doing what Ben Thompson has been telling them to do for years. What Medium is doing to journalists is dumb. What Verizon is doing with Yahoo+ is dumb. And is the Chief Impact Officer title a real role, or is it… dumb?
Sponsors:
* The Hello, User Podcast From Ping Identity
* BuyRaycon.com/tech for 15% off
Links:
* Elon Musk says people can now buy a Tesla with bitcoin (CNBC)
* WhatsApp for work: Slack is turning into a full-on messaging app (Protocol)
* Trading App Robinhood Says It Filed Confidentially for IPO (Bloomberg)
* Intel invests $20 billion into new factories, will produce chips for other companies (The Verge)
* Exclusive: Qualcomm is planning an Android-powered Nintendo Switch knockoff (Android Police)
* Medium Tells Journalists to Feel Free to Quit After Busting Union Drive (Motherboard)
* Verizon to center media arm around new subscription platform Yahoo+ (Axios)
*…
Mar 23, 2021
Tue. 03/23 – Microsoft To Buy Discord?
Microsoft is reportedly in talks to buy Discord but Discord might just take itself public instead. A ton of video game news including an Xbox rebranding, a new Niantic partnership with Nintendo, and new rumors of that upgraded Nintendo switch. A new consortium wants to take the pain out of browser compatibility and Apple faces a class action lawsuit over the butterfly keyboards.
Links:
* Microsoft in Talks to Buy Discord for More Than $10 Billion (Bloomberg)
* Microsoft rebrands Xbox Live to Xbox network (The Verge)
* Pikmin is the next AR game from the makers of Pokémon Go (The Verge)
* Nintendo to Use New Nvidia Graphics Chip in 2021 Switch Upgrade (Bloomberg)
* Microsoft, Google, and others join forces to improve browser compatibility (Neowin)
* Facebook will bring back F8 on June 2 as a pared-back, single-day, virtual-only conference for developers (TechCrunch)
* Angry MacBook owners get class action status for butterfly keyboard suit (The Verge)
* Jack Dorsey’…
Mar 22, 2021
Mon. 03/22 – Unusual Trouble At Red-Hot Startup Dispo
Red hot app Dispo is losing some big name investors and the founder is leaving the startup’s board. As anticipated, Zoom goes platform. Microsoft is beginning a soft HQ reopening. The secret sensor found in the HomePod mini. And the smart startup that has cloned Amazon’s biggest competitive moats, to make them available to everybody.
Sponsors:
* Kiwico.com, promocode "ride" for 30 percent off!
* BuyRaycon.com/tech for 15% off
Links:
* David Dobrik, Losing Sponsors and Fans, Steps Down From App He Co-founded (NYTimes)
* Spark Capital decides to “sever all ties” with David Dobrik’s Dispo app weeks after leading deal (TechCrunch)
* Zoom introduces new SDK to help developers tap into video services (TechCrunch)
* Microsoft to start reopening headquarters on March 29th, with hybrid workplace focus (The Verge)
* Apple’s HomePod Mini Has a Secret Sensor Waiting to Be Switched On (BLoomberg)
* Inside the Democrats' strategy to bombard Big Tech (Axios)
* On-dem…
Mar 20, 2021
(Bonus) Are NFT's Bad For Artists? And An Interesting Raise Sampler
Last weekend a listener to this show, Ti Zhang, (@zero_chill_tea) tagged me on twitter around a conversation they were having about NFTs and the degree to which, lots of folks in the art world are not so thrilled with the advent of NFTs. They said, sure, we see all the headlines around famous artists and celebrities and all the money being made. But was I aware that artists were seeing their work stolen and sold as NFTs? That artists were taking their work down from the internet to make sure it wasn’t scraped and used on a blockchain somewhere? I was not. They started sending articles and links, some of which I posted in the show notes and I was like, hey, instead of just educating me about the NFT thing from the artist perspective, come on the show real quick and educate us all. So, the first half of the show is that. Thank you Ti, for being such a great resource.
Then, after a break, the second half of the show will be just some of the Interesting Raises from the Interesting Raise…
Mar 19, 2021
Fri. 03/19 – A Rebel Alliance, Led By Facebook, And Born In A Clubhouse Room?
It’s app platform product news day! Instagram is working on a version of the service suitable for kids. Twitter wants you to watch YouTube in-stream. Telegram is basically adding all the Clubhouse features I’ve been dreaming of. Was an anti-Apple rebel alliance born last night in a Clubhouse room? Why China is banning Tesla in some cases. And of course, the weekend longreads suggestions.
Sponsors:
* EditorX.com
* Molekule.com, code "techmeme" at checkout to save as much as $120!
Links:
* Facebook Is Building An Instagram For Kids Under The Age Of 13 (BuzzFeed News)
* Twitter begins testing a way to watch YouTube videos from the home timeline on iOS (TechCrunch)
* Telegram takes on Clubhouse with Voice Chat 2.0 (XDA Developers)
* Zuckerberg: Facebook may actually be in a ‘stronger position’ after Apple’s iOS 14 privacy changes (CNBC)
* China to Restrict Tesla Use by Military and State Employees (WSJ)
Weekend Longreads Suggestions:
* The End of Silicon Val…
Mar 18, 2021
Thu. 03/18 – An April Apple Event?
It’s an Apple rumor Thursday from both the boys, Gurman and Kuo. Sony is taking what it’s learned from the DualSense controllers and bringing that to VR. YouTube rolls out its TikTok rival. Spotify wants you to know it gets artists paid. And I do my best to explain the whole creator economy controversy that has sprung up over at Substack.
Sponsors:
* Tovala.com/ride
Links:
* Apple Nears Launch of New iPads After Stay-At-Home Sales Boost (Bloomberg)
* PS5's VR 2.0: First Look At New Controllers (GameSpot)
* YouTube Shorts arrives in the US to take on TikTok, but the beta is still half-baked (The Verge)
* Spotify says over 13,000 artists’ catalogs earned at least $50K in royalties last year (The Verge)
* Here's why Substack's scam worked so well (The Hypothesis)
* Substack is for independent writers (Substack Blog)
* Crypto marketplace OpenSea raises $23 million to be the ‘Amazon of NFTs’ (Fortune)
* Intel puts Apple’s ‘I’m a Mac’ guy into new ads…
Mar 17, 2021
Wed. 03/17 – Samsung’s 2nd Unpacked Brings New A-series Phones
Samsung’s second Unpacked event of the year brings new midrange phones. But are they really discontinuing the Galaxy Note, and are chip shortages the real reason why? Are reductions in app store fees really what they’re cracked up to be? Has Uber had a change of heart or just an acknowledgement of the inevitable? And the bear case for Clubhouse that everyone is talking about.
Sponsors:
* NewYorker.com/techmeme promocode techmeme
* Tovala.com/ride
Links:
* Samsung’s midrange phones now feature fast refresh rate screens, stabilized cameras (The Verge)
* Samsung Warns of Severe Chip Crunch While Delaying Key Phone (Bloomberg)
* Google cuts app store fees for developers on first million in annual sales (CNBC)
* Google and Apple are giving up less than 5% of their revenue from apps with payout changes, analytics firm estimates (CNBC)
* Uber grants UK drivers worker status after losing major labor battle (CNBC)
* Pinduoduo Founder Colin Huang Steps Down From Company…
Mar 16, 2021
Tue. 03/16 – The 2nd Gen Nest Hub Gets Sleep Tracking
Google’s 2nd gen Nest Hub gets sleep tracking thanks to the Soli chip. Intel’s 11th Gen desktop chips launch. Xi brings the hammer down on Chinese tech. And the craziest cellphone hack I’ve ever heard isn’t a hack at all, since it’s in a nutso-buttso unregulated grey area.
Sponsors:
* Fundrise.com/techmeme
* Tovala.com/ride
Links:
* Google announces 2nd-gen Nest Hub with Soli-powered ‘Sleep Sensing’ for $99 (9to5Google)
* Intel’s 11th Gen desktop chips are here with faster speeds but fewer cores (The Verge)
* Dropbox will have a free password manager in April — if you’ve got 50 or fewer passwords (The Verge)
* Xi Warns Against Tech Excess in Sign Crackdown Will Widen (Bloomberg)
* Alibaba browser pulled from Chinese app stores (FT)
* Exclusive: Investors value China's Ant Group at over $200 billion after IPO halt - sources (Reuters)
* A Hacker Got All My Texts for $16 (Motherboard)
Mar 15, 2021
Mon. 03/15 – Stripe The Most Successful (Private) SV Startup Ever?
Stripe, by some measures, has become the most successful Silicon Valley startup of all time, with their recent raise. Airtable too has an impressively interesting raise. Facebook wants to find you a vaccine appointment. The US is looking to overhaul its cybersecurity missile shield. And checking in on the whole Jack Ma situation.
Sponsors:
* MintMobile.com/ride
* ExpressVPN.com/techmeme
Links:
* Stripe valuation soars to $95bn after latest fundraising (Financial Times)
* Airtable Tops $5.7 Billion Valuation On Growing Enterprise Sales And A Soaring Cloud Market (Forbes)
* Facebook aims to get more people vaccinated against COVID-19 (CNET)
* Massive Facebook study on users’ doubt in vaccines finds a small group appears to play a big role in pushing the skepticism (Washington Post)
* White House Weighs New Cybersecurity Approach After Failure to Detect Hacks (NYTimes)
* China Lays Plans to Tame Tech Giant Alibaba (WSJ)
* Clubhouse announces accelerator program for…
Mar 12, 2021
Fri. 03/12 - Netflix Is Cracking Down On Password Sharing
Netflix is cracking down on password sharing. Apple sues a former employee for allegedly stealing trade secrets. Masa Son is back, baby! I guess we have to watch ads on our $1500 smart tvs now, and of course, the weekend longreads suggestions.
* EditorX.com
* ThoughtWorks Technology Podcast
Links:
* Netflix Begins Test to Crack Down on Password Sharing Outside Your Household (The Streamable)
* Apple sues former employee for stealing trade secrets, leaking information to the media (9to5Mac)
* SoftBank-Backed Coupang Prices U.S. IPO Above Target (Bloomberg)
* I guess I have to watch ads everywhere on my $1,500 LG TV now (The Verge)
Weekend Longread Suggestions:
* Interview: Patrick Collison, co-founder and CEO of Stripe (Noahpinion.substack.com)
* TWITTER IS REINVENTING ITSELF (The Verge)
* Excel Never Dies (Not Boring)
* How Facebook got addicted to spreading misinformation (MIT Technology Review)
* Bilibili: How a Chinese site dedicated to anime subculture gr…
Mar 11, 2021
Thu. 03/11 – The Roblox Debut
Roblox’s public market debut and why people are so excited about it. Twitter to open up spaces to everyone next month. An Apple silicon friendly version of Photoshop sports so eyebrow raising performance gains. Are iPhones about to get heavier? And the NFT sales record has been shattered thanks to Beeple.
Sponsors:
* StartMail.com/techmeme
Links:
* Roblox jumps to $38 billion market cap as public investors get their first crack at the popular kids game app (CNBC)
* Twitter plans to let anyone start hosting Twitter Spaces in April (The Verge)
* Verkada Workers Had Extensive Access to Private Customer Cameras (Bloomberg)
* Google paves way to monetize Pay users’ data in India (TechCrunch)
* Photoshop now runs natively on Apple’s M1 Macs (The Verge)
* iPhone 13 to Finally Feature Bigger Batteries (MacRumors)
* Oppo Find X3 Pro goes official w/ Snapdragon 888, 120Hz display, ‘microlens’ camera (9to5Google)
* Beeple sold an NFT for $69 million (The Verge)
Mar 10, 2021
Wed. 03/10 – Now The Hackers Are In The Security Cams
Hackers breached the security cameras used by everybody from prisons and hospitals to Tesla factories. Why you will no longer “subscribe” to this podcast, but will “follow” it. Why T-Mobile is signing everyone up to have their usage data tracked by advertisers. And Facebook’s 10 year roadmap for AR and VR.
Sponsors:
* CalderaLab.com use code TECHMEME (all caps one word) at checkout
* Uber.com/techmeme
Links:
* Hackers Breach Thousands of Security Cameras, Exposing Tesla, Jails, Hospitals (Bloomberg)
* Apple slashes planned iPhone 12 mini production for 1H (NikkeiAsia)
* Google links Android phones to Chromebooks with new Phone Hub feature (The Verge)
* TikTok adds new comment controls to discourage bullying (Engadget)
* 'Follow our podcast': Apple Podcasts to stop using 'subscribe' (Podnews)
* T-Mobile to Step Up Ad Targeting of Cellphone Customers (WSJ)
* Amazon has over 800 people working on its secretive 'Vesta' home robot — but insiders are worried…
Mar 9, 2021
Tue. 03/09 – An FTC Commissioner To Make Silicon Valley Cower?
Is Joe Biden about to name the architect of the current antitrust movement to a seat on the FTC? Are other bad actors swooping in to take advantage of the SolarWinds hack? Is Microsoft gonna play both sides of the fence with new Surface devices? And why popular YouTubers are suddenly building their own platforms.
Sponsors:
* EditorX.com
Links:
* POLITICO Playbook: Scoop: Biden taps another Big Tech trustbuster (Politico/Playbook)
* Amazon’s Antitrust Antagonist Has a Breakthrough Idea (NYTimes)
* Attacks on SolarWinds Servers Also Linked To Chinese Threat Actor (The Record)
* Microsoft Surface Laptop 4 will reportedly include both AMD and Intel configurations (The Verge)
* Apple releases iOS 14.4.1 and macOS 11.2.3 to address a WebKit vulnerability (Engadget)
* Why popular YouTubers are building their own sites (BBC News)
* LOGITECH’S CIRCLE VIEW DOORBELL IS THE CLOSEST THING WE HAVE TO AN APPLE-MADE DOORBELL (The Verge)
The Kottke Ride Home Podcast
Mar 8, 2021
Mon. 03/08 – Apple AR Contact Lenses As The Apple Rumor Singularity
Ming-Chi Kuo’s grand unified Apple rumor includes AR enabled contact lenses. Is the US about to retaliate in kind for the SolarWinds hack? Mobile World Congress is gonna go ahead and do it live! And in person. Why is Google making Google Pay worse? And do we need a new podcast wager about meaningful quantum computing by 2023?
Sponsors:
* Kiwico.com, promocode "ride" for 30% off
* BuyRaycon.com/tech for 15% off
Links:
* Kuo: Apple to Launch Mixed Reality Headset in Mid 2022 and Augmented Reality Glasses by 2025 (MacRumors)
* Preparing for Retaliation Against Russia, U.S. Confronts Hacking by China (NYTimes)
* Smartphone Lobby Wants Conference for 50,000 People in June (Bloomberg)
* The new Google Pay repeats all the same mistakes of Google Allo (Ars Technica)
* Quantum-Computing Startup IonQ Plans Public Debut in $2 Billion SPAC Merger (WSJ)
* Sidewalk robots get legal rights as "pedestrians" (Axios)
Mar 6, 2021
(Bonus) What Are NFTs? With CoinDesk's Brady Dale
I don’t think this one requires any in depth intro. The great Brady Dale of Coindesk, walks us though the whole NFT phenomenon. What are NFTs? How do they work? Why are people so crazed about them at the moment?
Mar 5, 2021
Fri. 03/05 – Eyes Emoji On Tim Wu Joining The Biden Administration
Tim Wu joined the Biden administration and that sound you hear is a big collective gulp from Silicon Valley. A tweet undo button has been unearthed. Turntable.fm has resurfaced. New data suggests the death of silicon valley has been exaggerated. And of course, the weekend longreads suggestions.
Sponsors:
* Audible.com/techmeme or text techmeme to 500-500
Links:
* A Leading Critic of Big Tech Will Join the White House (NYTimes)
* Here’s what Twitter’s rumored ‘undo send’ feature could look like (The Verge)
* Turntable.fm is back from the dead — and now there are two (The Verge)
* Survey finds that the reported exodus of tech companies from San Francisco's Bay Area is 'greatly exaggerated' (Insider)
Weekend Longreads Suggestions:
* The problem for Paramount+ (and every other streamer)? Everyone already has Netflix. (Recode)
* Who Really Writes Twitter’s ‘Trending’ Summaries (OneZero)
* Blockchain, QR codes and your phone: the race to build vaccine pa…
Mar 4, 2021
Thu. 03/04 – Is Square Buying Tidal A Watershed Moment For The Creator Economy?
Square is acquiring a majority stake in Tidal, and either this makes little sense, or it’s a watershed moment in this NFT/creator economy phenomenon that’s suddenly washing over all of us. Apple walks the walk in terms of data portability. But they’re facing serious new anti-trust scrutiny in the UK and Arizona. And our year of Covid, at least measured in internet traffic numbers.
Sponsors:
* Masterworks.io, promocode ride
* LinkedIn.com/ride
Links:
* Square acquires majority of Tidal, Jay-Z’s streaming service, in $297 million deal. (NYTimes)
* Apple Launches Service for Transferring iCloud Photos and Videos to Google Photos (MacRumors)
* Apple Probed by U.K. as App Store Payments Scrutiny Mounts (Bloomberg)
* Arizona App Store Bill (The Verge)
* Ethereum now an option on Amazon’s managed blockchain service (The Block)
* Comcast: Pandemic drove peak internet traffic up 32% in 2020 (VentureBeat)
Mar 3, 2021
Wed. 03/03 – Google (Sorta) Pivots To Privacy
Google says it’s getting out of the ad tracking game. Kinda. I’ll explain what’s really going on here. Headline wrapup from Microsoft’s Ignite conference includes AR excitement. Brave is launching a privacy search engine. And why Amazon’s app icon redesign reminded people of Hitler’s mustache.
Sponsors:
* PingIdentity.com
* NewYorker.com/techmeme, promocode: techmeme
Links:
* Google promises it won’t just keep tracking you after replacing cookies (The Verge)
* Google to Stop Selling Ads Based on Your Specific Web Browsing (WSJ)
* Microsoft says China-backed hackers are exploiting Exchange zero-days (TechCrunch)
* Recovering from the SolarWinds hack could take 18 months (MIT Technology Review)
* Microsoft launches Power Fx, a new open source low-code language (TechCrunch)
* Microsoft Mesh feels like the virtual future of Microsoft Teams meetings (The Verge)
* Brave is launching its own search engine with the help of ex-Cliqz devs and tech (TechCrunch)…
Mar 2, 2021
Tue. 03/02 – iPhone 13 To Go Notch-Less?
Is the iPhone about to lose the notch and join the hole-punch universe? Whole bunch of new features for Microsoft Teams, and also a new Microsoft smart-speaker. Instacart has a monster raise. Grimes has a monster NFT sale. Discovery+ is an interesting dark-horse in the streaming wars. Oh. And “fly” drones.
Sponsors:
* Fundrise.com/techmeme
* Grammarly.com/techmeme
Links:
* Kuo: iPhone 13 series to feature smaller notch, 120Hz display, larger batteries, more (9to5Mac)
* All 270 US Apple Stores are open for the first time since March 2020 (9to5Mac)
* Microsoft to add new shared channels, encryption for calls, webinar features to Teams (ZDNet)
* Microsoft’s new Intelligent Speakers deliver its promised meeting room of the future (The Verge)
* Instacart’s valuation doubles to $39 billion (CNBC)
* Grimes made $5.8 million in under 20 minutes selling crypto-based artwork (Insider)
* How a 10-second video clip sold for $6.6 million (Reuters)
* Forget ‘Success…
Mar 1, 2021
Mon. 03/01 – Instagram Launches Live Rooms For Group Broadcasts
Instagram launches Live Rooms for group broadcasts, which, depending on how you use it is either basically FaceTime for Instagram, or another shot across the Clubhouse bow. Is the micromobility space revving up to roar back to health? Are US-based drone makers about to step into the void left by DJI? And Chris Dixon tries to contextualize NFTs for us.
Sponsors:
* SmartAsset.com/techmeme
* TinyCapital.com
Links:
* Instagram launches ‘Live Rooms’ for live broadcasts with up to four creators (TechCrunch)
* Verizon support says you should turn off 5G to save your phone’s battery (The Verge)
* Lime says it will spend $50 million on a huge e-bike expansion (The Verge)
* Skydio valuation raises American hopes in drone war with China (Financial Times)
* Klarna Valued at $31 Billion After U.S. Growth Stoked Investors (Bloomberg)
* As BNPL startups raise, a look at Klarna, Affirm and Afterpay earnings (TechCrunch Extra)
* NFTs and a Thousand True Fans (Chris Dixon/And…
Feb 27, 2021
(Bonus) Techmeme Experience On Clubhouse
Chris Messina and I go deeper on some of the news of the week.
Feb 26, 2021
Fri. 02/26 – Twitter Does ALL The Things (Even $$$ For Tweets)
Twitter just wants to give us everything all of the sudden, including charging for tweets, sort of groups based on interests, and even blocking and muting accounts. Google gives devs a Sleep API. Why has LastPass decided to piss everyone off all of the sudden? Why Xiaomi is the up-and-comer to keep your eye on. And of course, the weekend longreads suggestions.
Sponsors:
* CalderaLab.com use code TECHMEME (all caps one word) at checkout
Links:
* Twitter announces paid Super Follows to let you charge for tweets (The Verge)
* Twitter planning a feature to let you auto-block and mute abusive accounts (The Verge)
* Google launches Android Sleep API to detect snoozing, waking up; available to apps now (9to5Google)
* 1Password has none, KeePass has none... So why are there seven embedded trackers in the LastPass Android app? (The Register)
* European Smartphone Market Down 14% YoY in 2020; Xiaomi gains while Huawei and Samsung Lose (Counterpoint Research)
Weekend Longreads Su…
Feb 25, 2021
Thu. 02/25 – The Biden Administration Addressed The Chip Shortage
The Biden administration signs an executive order addressing the chip shortage. I’ll tell you why this is evolving into a big deal. Coinbase files its S-1 so we get to look under the hood of their business for the first time. Paramount+ reveals pricing and content details for the first time. And timely interesting raises in the Ethereum space which means: NFTs.
Sponsors:
* Oracle.com/goto/ride
* FlatFile.io
Links:
* Biden Orders Broad Supply-Chain Review Amid Chip Shortages (WSJ)
* Coinbase Reveals $322M in Profit For 2020 Ahead of Landmark Public Debut (Decrypt)
* ViacomCBS bets you will subscribe to 5 or more streaming services, leaving plenty of room for Paramount+ (CNBC)
* Verizon Leads 5G Airwave Bidding With Record $45 Billion Splurge (Bloomberg)
* NFT marketplace Sorare raises $50 million in Series A led by Benchmark (The Block)
* Ethereum scaling startup Optimism raises $25 million Series A led by a16z (The Block)
* Otter.ai raises $50 million for AI tra…
Feb 24, 2021
Wed. 02/24 - Facebook Defends Its Stance In Australia
Facebook defends its stance in Australia. MicroStrategy doubles down on its stance vis-à-vis bitcoin. Is “Sign In With Apple” the new stick the antitrust folks might use to beat Apple with? But conversely, have you noticed that social networking has gotten hella competitive lately? What does that mean for anti-trust arguements vis-à-vis Facebook. Oh, and a skateboard for AR glasses.
* Flatfile.io
* AirMedCareNetwork.com/tech offer code: TECH
Links:
* The Real Story of What Happened With News on Facebook in Australia (Facebook Newsroom)
* Facebook got everything it wanted out of Australia by being willing to do what the other guy wouldn’t (Nieman Lab)
* MicroStrategy Buys $1 Billion More Bitcoin, Totalling $4.5 Billion (Decrypt)
* HP is buying gaming accessory brand HyperX for $425 million (The Verge)
* Apple’s App Sign-in Button Becomes Hot-Button Issue in U.S. Antitrust Probe (The Information)
* How social networks got competitive again (Casey Newton's Pla…
Feb 23, 2021
Tue. 02/23 – Australia Caves To Facebook
Australia caves in to Facebook. PlayStation is planning a big new push in VR. The Mate X2 keeps the foldable dream alive. The weird new malware infecting Apple Silicon Macs. And let’s use NBA Top Shot as a lens to explain NFTs.
Sponsors:
* Kiwico.com promocode: ride
* EditorX.com
Links:
* Facebook to reverse news ban on Australian sites, government to make amendments to media bargaining code (ABC.net.au)
* PlayStation CEO says PS5 will get its own VR headset, explains console supply chain shortfall (Washington Post)
* Huawei’s Mate X2 foldable adopts Samsung’s dual-screen design (The Verge)
* Kuo: New MacBook Pro Models With HDMI Port and SD Card Reader to Launch Later This Year (MacRumors)
* New malware found on 30,000 Macs has security pros stumped (ArsTechnica)
* Inside 'NBA Top Shot,' the Digital Highlights Marketplace Worth Millions (Bleacher Report)
Feb 22, 2021
Mon. 02/22 – Spotify’s New “HiFi” Subscription Tier
Spotify’s new HiFi subscription tier. Clubhouse has security concerns. Apple is king of the smartphone hill once again. Maybe the biggest survival story of the Covid-19 era is about the IPO. And is the Facebook news ban pushing Australians into the arms of the news publishers themselves?
Sponsors:
* ManlyBands.com/techmeme code: techmeme for 20%
* NewYorker.com/techmeme promocode: techmeme
Links:
* Spotify HiFi is a lossless streaming tier coming later this year (The Verge)
* Clubhouse Chats Are Breached, Raising Concerns Over Security (Bloomberg)
* Apple Surpassed Samsung as World's Largest Smartphone Maker in Fourth Quarter (MacRumors)
* Restaurant-Software Provider Toast Prepares for IPO (WSJ)
* Google fires another AI ethics leader (Axios)
* Australia’s ABC News shot to the top of the App Store charts following Facebook’s news ban (The Verge)
Feb 20, 2021
(Bonus) The State Of VR Right Now
As mentioned, for my birthday this year I got my first VR rig, an Occulus Quest 2 because if an Apple AR/VR thingy is coming, if Facebook continues to invest in VR, then I figured it was time to, you know, not be functionally inexperienced with the space. I have a little bit of crypto to understand the space. Looking to get my hands on some NFTs to understand the space. I’ve got an onlyfans account to understand the dynamics of what works in the creator economy. And that’s the only reason, I swear. Anyway, in this episode we’re going to talk about some of the things I’ve learned and to do so, we’re going to talk to two folks. First, some of you might know Kyle Hilliard, he was for a long time the host of our Gaming Ride Home podcast, before the pandemic put paid to that show. He’s a veteran games journalist, and actually, you can still hear Kyle talk gaming on the MinnMax podcast. Link in the show notes. Kyle helps me understand the state of the industry from a developer an…
Feb 19, 2021
Fri. 02/19 – UK Supreme Court Officially Smacks Down Uber
Uber has lost one of its most significant independent contractor battles, in this case, in the UK. The Android 12 Developer Preview is here. Office 2021 is coming. And of course, the weekend longreads suggestions.
Sponsors:
* AirMedCareNetwork.com/tech offer code: TECH
* Tovala.com/ride
Links:
* Uber loses a major employment rights case as the UK’s top court rules its drivers are workers (CNBC)
* Android 12 developer preview is available now with many under-the-hood updates (The Verge)
* Apple Is Working on Magnetic Battery Pack Attachment for IPhones (Bloomberg)
* Microsoft announces Office 2021, available for Windows and macOS later this year (The Verge)
Weekend Longreads Suggestions:
* The Bizarre Reaction To Facebook's Decision To Get Out Of The News Business In Australia (TechDirt)
* Why did I leave Google or, why did I stay so long? (Noam Bardin)
* Why the three biggest vaccine makers failed on Covid-19 (Financial Times)
* Citibank just got a $500 mill…
Feb 18, 2021
Thu – 02/18 – Facebook Calls Australia’s Bluff; Google Pays Off Murdoch
I’ll do my best to explain this Australia situation with Facebook and Google. SpaceX is our interesting raise today. Nvidia unveils a line of chips just for crypto. Does Apple want to set the standards for 6G? And if remote work is the future, why is Big Tech still building so much office space?
Sponsors:
* Uber.com/techmeme
* Tovala.com/ride
Links:
* Facebook restricts users, publishers from sharing news content in Australia (AP)
* Facebook calls Australia's bluff (Platformer)
* SpaceX Funding Round at $74 Billion Valuation Was Led by Sequoia (Bloomberg)
* NVIDIA Annoucnes CMP 30HX, 40HX, 50HX and 90HX GPUs For Mining, Cripples Hash Rate Of RTX 3060 (WCCFTech)
* Apple Hiring Engineers to Develop 6G Wireless (Bloomberg)
* If Work Is Going Remote, Why Is Big Tech Still Building? (Wired)
Feb 17, 2021
Wed. 02/17 - Epic Games Takes Its War With Apple To Europe
Epic Games takes its war with Apple to Europe. But Apple wins a skirmish in North Dakota of all places. New York sues Amazon over worker issues. Google maps will now let you pay for parking. Some tangible numbers about the recent NFT explosion. And why the new headphone emoji look suspiciously like AirPods Max.
Sponsors:
* Tovala.com/ride
* PingIdentity.com
Links:
* Epic Games files EU antitrust complaint against Apple (FT)
* Apple wins victory as North Dakota votes down bill that would regulate app stores (CNBC)
* New York Sues Amazon, Saying It Inadequately Protected Workers From Covid-19 (NYTimes)
* Amazon won’t build this Alexa cuckoo clock unless it hits a preorder goal (The Verge)
* Google Maps will now let you pay for public transportation and parking through its app (The Verge)
* Chromebooks outsold Macs worldwide in 2020, cutting into Windows market share (GeekWire)
* Ethereum NFT Market Primed for Explosive Growth in 2021 (Decrypt)
* First Look: 217…
Feb 16, 2021
Tue. 02/16 – Bitcoin Crosses $50k
Bitcoin hits its latest, biggest milestone. A OnePlus cofounder’s latest startup is: Nothing. But it bought something: Essential. I’ll explain why this “who’s on first” routine might be interesting. Why government antitrust action has a tendency to open the litigation floodgates. And if you’ve been hearing about that new app Dispo, I’ve got an explainer for you. Cause that’s what I’m here for.
Sponsors:
* Fundrise.com/techmeme
* Tovala.com/ride
Links:
* Bitcoin Jumps to $50,000 as Record-Breaking Rally Accelerates (Bloomberg)
* Essential is now officially owned by Carl Pei’s Nothing Technologies (9to5Google)
* Microsoft’s new Office app now available on iPad (The Verge)
* New Samsung laptops rumored to include OLED screens and S Pen support (The Verge)
* Big Tech’s Next Big Problem Could Come From People Like ‘Mr. Sweepy’ (NYTimes)
* Retro photo app is winning buzz (Axios)
* The bull case for Dispo (Justin Potts)
Feb 15, 2021
Mon. 02/15 – First Look At xCloud Via Browser
We’ve got our first look at how Microsoft plans to bring xCloud to every device, even iOS. Is Facebook building a smartwatch? Maybe because they’re so pissed at Apple? Is everyone trying to scupper the Nvidia/ARM deal? And why I failed to mention that Paramount+ is the new entrant in the streaming wars.
Sponsors:
* ExpressVPN.com/techmeme
* MintMobile.com/ride
Links:
* Here’s a first look at Microsoft’s xCloud for the web (The Verge)
* Facebook Plans Smartwatch With Focus on Messaging, Health (The Information)
* Facebook Meets Apple in Clash of the Tech Titans—‘We Need to Inflict Pain’ (WSJ)
* Google, Microsoft, Qualcomm Protest Nvidia’s Acquisition of Arm Ltd. (Bloomberg)
* Microsoft’s Big Win in Quantum Computing Was an ‘Error’ After All (Wired)
* ViacomCBS Goes ‘All-In’ on Streaming, But Without Many of Its Top Shows (Bloomberg)
Feb 13, 2021
(Bonus) Is Silicon Valley "Over?" With Bloomberg's @noahpinion
If you want the single best person in economics twitter to follow, it’s Noah Smith, Bloomberg’s Economics Opinion Columnist. If you want to him, its @noahpinion, by the way. If you want a great substack to sign up to, try noahpinion.substack.com… the free article this week is called Triumph of the HODler’s… I hope I remember to link to it in the show notes. It’s the best summation I’ve read of what’s going on with Bitcoin at the moment. But also, as you’ll hear, he has a great new podcast with another economist I respect, Brad Delong. Noah is just a smart, smart guy. If you want a smart economics angle to anything happening in the world right now, he’s just the best. Noah and I have been friendly on Twitter over the years, occasionally exchanging DMs about obscure details about the Holy Roman Empire, but this is the first time I “met” him if you will. It’s been a while since I was sort of starstruck to interview someone, but here you go. The great Noah Smith…
Feb 12, 2021
Fri. 02/12 – Google Adds Pixel-Exclusive Photo Editing Features To Google Photos
Google adds some photo editing features to Google Photos that maybe points to a larger subscription play. Is Apple’s new AR app for TV+ a sign of things to come? Disney+ numbers are amazing. Apple Watch estimated numbers are impressive. And of course, the weekend longreads suggestions.
Sponsors:
* Oracle.com/goto/ride
* TinyCapital.com
Links:
* Google Photos gets new paywalled editing features for Google One subscribers (The Verge)
* First Apple TV+ AR app launches with ‘For All Mankind’ backstory through mixed reality (9to5Mac)
* Disney says it now has 94.9 million Disney+ subscribers (CNBC)
* Apple Watch Is Now Worn on 100 Million Wrists (Above Avalon)
* Bumble stock closes up 63% after soaring in market debut (CNBC)
Weekend Longreads Suggestions:
* Non-Fungible Tokens (NFT): Beginner's Guide (Decrypt)
* 20 years of orange cones: The history of VLC (Protocol)
* N.Y.’s Vaccine Websites Weren’t Working. He Built a New One for $50. (NYTimes)
* Cadil…
Feb 11, 2021
Thu. 02/11 - Facebook Wants To Copy Clubhouse Too.
Facebook wants to copy Clubhouse too, and meanwhile I got to try out Twitter Spaces last night. Did Microsoft make a run at acquiring Pinterest, and would the government let that happen? Is Peacock the sick man of the streaming wars? And an interesting raise around the creator economy.
Sponsors:
* CalderaLab.com code TECHMEME at checkout
* AirMedCareNetwork.com/tech offer code TECH
Links:
* Facebook Is Said to Be Building a Product to Compete With Clubhouse (NYTimes)
* Microsoft approached Pinterest about a takeover (Financial Times)
* iOS 14.5 Beta Directs 'Safe Browsing' Traffic in Safari Through Apple Server Instead of Google to Protect Personal User Data (MacRumors)
* Bumble makes Wall Street debut in a milestone moment for female founders (CNN Business)
* NBCUniversal’s Streaming Strategy Raises Prospect of WarnerMedia Merger (The Information)
* Andreessen Horowitz Wins Deal for Creator Economy Startup Stir at $100 Million Valuation (The Information)
* Mach…
Feb 10, 2021
Wed. 02/10 – TikTok Pardoned By Biden?
Maybe… the whole TikTok kabuki theater is at its endpoint. Salesforce thinks the whole concept of the “9-to-5 workday” is at its endpoint. More smoke around the Apple Goggles fire. Why you need to get hip to the concept of non-fungible tokens. And why cops have gotten hip to playing Sublime songs to prevent you from filming them.
Sponsors:
* EditorX.com
* TinyCapital.com
Links:
* TikTok Sale to Oracle, Walmart Is Shelved as Biden Reviews Security (WSJ)
* Salesforce declares the 9-to-5 workday dead, will let some employees work remotely from now on (The Verge)
* Apple reportedly developing next-gen ultra-thin displays for AR devices with TSMC (The Verge)
* How Did A LeBron James Video Highlight Sell For $71,455? A Look At A Burgeoning Product Called NBA Top Shot. (Forbes)
* Biggest Ever NFT Sale Made as 'Axie Land’ Goes for $1.5 Million (Decrypt)
* Microsoft launches Bulletins and Milestones apps for Teams (Windows Central)
* Apple Maps Adds Waze-Like Featu…
Feb 9, 2021
Tue. 02/09 – Amazon To Release An Alexa ‘Command Center?’
Amazon is ginning up a new Echo device that’s like a dashboard for your household. Big changes to Android leaked to the internet. Reddit raises a big round. Mark Cuban is gunning for Clubhouse. And I’ve been warning y’all of industrial hacking. We almost had a big disaster down in Tampa Bay.
Sponsors:
* NewYorker.com/techmeme, promocode: techmeme
* AirMedCareNetwork.com/tech offer code TECH
Links:
* Amazon Plans Wall-Mounted Echo as Smart Home Command Center (Bloomberg)
* This may be our first look at Android 12, Google’s next Android OS (XDA)
* Reddit’s Valuation Doubles to $6 Billion After Funding Round (WSJ)
* Mark Cuban is co-founding a podcast app where hosts can talk to fans live and monetize their conversations (The Verge)
* Qualcomm's new X65 5G modem downloads data at lightning-fast 10Gbps speeds (CNet)
* The Rust programming language just took a huge step forwards (ZDNet)
* Hacker Tried to Poison Florida City's Water Supply, Police Say (Motherb…
Feb 8, 2021
Mon. 02/08 – Tesla Buys Bitcoin While Elon Sends Dogecoin To The Moon!
The singularity is near, cause all our meme stories are colliding. Tesla has bought a ton of Bitcoin while Elon is tweet-pumping Dogecoin. Clubhouse is blocked in China. Cold water on the Apple Car story from Hyundai itself. TikTok is skipping directly to an ecommerce buildout. And Xiaomi’s big new global flagship phone.
Sponsors:
* Kiwico.com promocode: ride
* BuyRaycon.com/tech
Links:
* Tesla buys $1.5 billion in bitcoin, plans to accept it as payment (CNBC)
* Clubhouse is now blocked in China after a brief uncensored period (TechCrunch)
* Apple Car Talks Aren’t Happening, Say Automakers Hyundai, Kia (Bloomberg)
* Twitter Considers Subscription Fee for Tweetdeck, Unique Content (Bloomberg)
* TikTok takes on Facebook with US ecommerce push (FT)
* Follow the CAPEX: Cloud Table Stakes 2020 Retrospective (Platformonomics)
* Xiaomi’s global Mi 11 has a Snapdragon 888 for €749 (The Verge)
RideHome+ feed at: tech.supercast.tech
Feb 6, 2021
(Bonus) Office Hours With Garry Tan
This is Garry's YouTube channel.
Subscribe to RideHome+ at tech.supercast.tech
Or, watch the full video on YouTube Here.
Feb 5, 2021
Fri. 02/05 – An Apple Ad-pocalypse For Everyone?
Are Apple’s coming IDFA changes going to have a bigger ripple effect across the entire tech industry than we’re even anticipating? Chinese users are flocking to Clubhouse which… probably means the end of Clubhouse in China. Why a shortage of silicon is causing automakers to cut vehicle production. And, of course, the weekend longreads suggestions.
Sponsors:
* Audible.com/techmeme or text "techmeme" to 500-500
* Metalab.com
Links:
* Facebook’s not the only one worried about Apple’s privacy change — Snap and Unity both just warned investors about it (CNBC)
* An Interview with Eric Seufert about Apple, Facebook, and Mobile Advertising (Stratechery)
* Google taps your phone cameras to measure your heart rate (Engadget)
* Chinese flock to freewheeling US chat app Clubhouse (Nikkei Asia)
* Ford says ‘millions’ of its vehicles will run on Google’s Android starting in 2023 (The Verge)
* Car manufacturing hit by global semiconductor shortage (FT)
Weekend L…
Feb 4, 2021
Thu. 02/04 – The Most Details On Apple’s AR/VR Headset Yet
Whole bunch of Apple rumors today. The most details yet on the Apple headset. Will the Apple car be an AV first, and does that just mean it will be for delivering things? Is the iPhone 13 getting better cameras? And also, Amazon is deploying cameras on its trucks. And Senator Klobuchar wants to put the burden of proof on the acquirers, when it comes to tech mergers.
Sponsors:
* AirMedCareNetwork.com/tech offer code: TECH
* LinkedIn.com/ride
Links:
* New Apple Mixed-Reality Headset Details: Swappable Headbands, Eye-Tracking (The Information)
* Apple and Hyundai-Kia pushing toward deal on Apple Car (CNBC)
* Kuo: iPhone 13 Now More Likely to Get Upgraded Ultra Wide Camera With Improved Low-Light Performance (MacRumors)
* Amazon is using AI-equipped cameras in delivery vans and some drivers are concerned about privacy (CNBC)
* Klobuchar to Introduce Antitrust Bill Raising Bar for Technology Deals (WSJ)
* The Technology 202: Klobuchar's new antitrust bill may hit Big Tec…
Feb 3, 2021
Wed. 02/03 – Bezos Drops Mic
Jeff Bezos is stepping down as Amazon CEO, to be replaced by Andy Jassy. Google is losing a ton of money on its Cloud, but YouTube is finally hitting its stride. Apple might formally do an Apple Car-related tie-up with Kia in a matter of weeks. And why I finally got off the fence and decided to investigate the AR/VR space.
Sponsors:
* Oracle.com/goto/ride
* Metalab.com
Links:
* Email from Jeff Bezos to employees (Amazon)
* Amazon’s next CEO, Andy Jassy, transformed e-commerce company into a cloud computing giant (CNBC)
* Amazon.com Announces Financial Results and CEO Transition (Amazon Investor Relations)
* Alphabet Announces Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year 2020 Results (Alphabet Investor Relations)
* Kia Motors Shares Jump After Report Apple to Invest $3.6 Billion (Bloomberg)
* Facebook starts rolling out Messenger on Oculus headsets (Engadget)
* 60+ Oculus Quest Apps Made More Than $1 Million (UploadVR)
* Google Meet’s new ‘green room’ lets you do an au…
Feb 2, 2021
Tue. 02/02 – Ok, But Is Stadia Long For This World?
Google is getting out of the game development business, but is it getting out of the Stadia business or just pivoting to infrastructure? Apple acknowledges that Covid has basically hobbled Face ID. Uber gets into the liquor delivery business. And Amazon’s plans for its HQ2 architecture shows at least somebody in Silicon Valley is not buying the remote work hype.
Sponsors:
* Fundrise.com/techmeme
* AirMedcareNetwork.com/tech offer code: TECH
Links:
* Google Stadia Shuts Down Internal Studios, Changing Business Focus (Kotaku)
* Google now gives you more information about the sites in your search results (TechCrunch)
* iOS 14.5 will let Apple Watch owners unlock iPhones while wearing a mask (Engadget)
* Uber buying booze delivery company Drizly for $1.1 billion (Axios)
* Kuo: 'Apple Car' to use Hyundai's E-GMP platform, GM and PSA partnerships possible (Apple Insider)
* Robinhood Raises Another $2.4 Billion From Shareholders (WSJ)
* Amazon Unveils Outdoorsy New HQ2…
Feb 1, 2021
Mon. 02/01 – Google Deadpools The Pixel Slate
It’s a day ending in -a-y, so that must mean Google discontinued another flagship product. Microsoft reports that its next growth industry is cybersecurity. Ring has basically doubled the amount of police and fire departments that can request access your doorbell videos. And what happened when Elon Musk showed up in Clubhouse last night.
Sponsors:
* SmartAsset.com/techmeme
* Metalab.co
Links:
* [Update: Final] Pixel Slate discontinued and removed from Google Store (9to5Google)
* Apple’s iCloud Passwords extension for Chrome on Windows is now available (9to5Google)
* Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella: There is ‘a big crisis right now’ for cybersecurity (Yahoo Finance)
* Facebook Knew Calls for Violence Plagued ‘Groups,’ Now Plans Overhaul (WSJ)
* US police and fire departments partnering with Amazon’s Ring passes 2,000 (Financial Times)
* New Linux SUDO flaw lets local users gain root privileges (Bleeping Computer)
* Augmented Reality Gets Pandemic Boost (W…
Jan 30, 2021
(Bonus) The First Gadgets Episode
Sponsor:
* Grammarly.com/techmeme
If you want to hear the 2nd half of this episode, subscribe to the RideHome+ feed by tapping here: tech.supercast.tech
Links:
* This Nifty Strap Lets You Control the Apple Watch With Gestures (Gizmodo)
* Sony reveals full details on its upcoming 360 Reality Audio speakers (Engadget)
* Sony's new premium speaker looks like a giant electric razor (Android Police)
* LG TO REINFORCE INDUSTRY DOMINANCE WITH ULTIMATE TV TECHNOLOGY (LG Newsroom)
* LG’s 2021 TV lineup includes its brightest OLED ever (The Verge)
* This new module keeps Philips Hue bulbs connected even when the wall switch gets flipped (TechCrunch)
* Asus’ new Chromebook CX9 offers military-grade durability (The Verge)
* Asus ZenBeam Latte projector is as portable as a cup of coffee (SlashGear)
* Razer Unveils RGB Face Mask and Immersive Gaming Chair Concepts (IGN)
* Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Gen 2 i bakes a bigger, better e-ink touchscreen into the lid (SlashGear)…
Jan 29, 2021
Fri. 01/29 – Robinhood Is Now The Crazy Stock Story
What once was a story about Game Stop and Reddit, has suddenly become a story about Robinhood. I’ll catch you up. Everybody wants in on the newsletter game all the sudden. Hyundai is having second thoughts about building an Apple Car, and a special stonks themed edition of the weekend longreads suggestions.
Sponsors:
* WeWorkRemotely.com code TECHMEME15 at checkout
* ManlyBands.com/techmeme
Links:
* Robinhood, in Need of Cash, Raises $1 Billion From Its Investors (NYTimes)
* Facebook is said to be planning newsletter tools to court independent writers. (NYTimes)
* Hyundai wrestles with the risks of embracing Apple (Reuters)
* SEC scrutiny delays Roblox stock market listing (CNBC)
Weekend Longreads Suggestion:
* Inside the Reddit army that's crushing Wall Street (CNN Business)
* The Big Short SQUEEZE from $5 to $50? Could GameStop stock (GME) explode higher?? Value investing! (Roaring Kitty)
* How a Penny Stock Explodes From Obscurity to 451% Gains Via Chat For…
Jan 28, 2021
Thu. 01/28 – Robinhood Freezes Stonks!
We finally get to the whole GameStop story cause Robinhood has frozen trading for some folks looking for fresh “tendies.” Apple and Facebook release absolutely killer earnings. As expected. But are they about to go to world war in court? Tesla’s earnings disappoint. And Facebook’s Oversight Board issues its first rulings.
Sponsors:
* Netgear.com/bestwifi
* TinyCapital.com
Links:
* Robinhood restricts trading in GameStop, other names involved in frenzy (CNBC)
* How WallStreetBets Pushed GameStop Shares to the Moon (Bloomberg)
* WallStreetBets Founder Reckons With Legacy Amid Stock-Market Frenzy (WSJ)
* 'Smack It Like E. Honda': Buying NFTs for Pleasure and Profit (CoinTalk)
* Mark Zuckerberg says Apple is now one of Facebook’s biggest competitors (CNBC)
* Facebook Preps Antitrust Lawsuit Against Apple (The Information)
* Apple's App Tracking Transparency Feature will be enabled by default and arrive in 'early spring' on iOS (TechCrunch)
* Tesla di…
Jan 27, 2021
Wed. 01/27 – Introducing The Ride Home+ Premium Feed
Microsoft earnings are insane, as expected. Wonder Woman might have made HBOMax a contender. YouTube is still the king of getting creators paid. What if I told you Atari doesn’t want to be left out of the game streaming wars. And listen to the end of this episode for the big podcast announcement I’ve been promising.
Sponsors:
* Oracle.com/goto/ride
Links:
* Microsoft profits jump 33 percent as pandemic continues shift to cloud computing. (NYTimes)
* AT&T Q4: HBO Max Activations Double to 17.2 Million, Warner Bros. Revenue Declines 21% (Variety)
* Apple fixes another three iOS zero-days exploited in the wild (ZDNet)
* Apple just had its best quarter in India (TechCrunch)
* YouTube has paid more than $30 billion to creators, artists, and others over the last three years (The Verge)
* Plex is launching a game subscription service filled with Atari games (The Verge)
* Google open sources Tilt Brush VR software as it shuts down internal development (TechCrunch)
!!!…
Jan 26, 2021
Tue. 01/26 – Twitter Acquires Revue
Twitter acquires a Substack competitor. It’s also iterating product in terms of… check’s notes: content moderation? The black hats are targeting the white hats in infosec. Interesting executive shuffle at Apple. A $2500 smartphone from Sony that really might be a “pro” device. And would you let me put a 5G gear box in your front lawn? You might not have a choice.
Sponsors:
* NewYorker.com/techmeme promocode: techmeme
* Jamf.it/techmeme
Links:
* Twitter acquiring newsletter publishing company Revue (Axios)
* Twitter launches 'Birdwatch,' a forum to combat misinformation (NBC News)
* Google warns of ‘novel social engineering method’ used to hack security researchers (The Verge)
* Dan Riccio Transitioning to New Project, John Ternus to Lead Apple's Hardware Engineering Team (MacRumors)
* Sony’s creator-focused Xperia Pro arrives in the US priced at $2,499 (The Verge)
* Americans spend average of $47 a month on streaming services (The Desk)
* 5G…
Jan 25, 2021
Mon. 01/25 – Clubhouse Raises A New Round At $1B Valuation
Clubhouse has become a unicorn in, what… nine months? Google is making its facilities available as vaccine centers, while its workers are union organizing globally. Apple wants you to get up and walk. And why the SPAC frenzy could potentially transform the startup ecosystem over the coming months.
Sponsors:
* Uber.com/techmeme
* Kiwico.com promocode: ride
Links:
* Clubhouse announces plans for creator payments and raises new funding led by Andreessen Horowitz (TechCrunch)
* Big Revolution - Inside the Clubhouse (Big Revolution)
* Google will turn some of its offices into COVID-19 vaccination sites (Engadget)
* Google Maps and Search to show COVID-19 vaccination locations (LaptopMag)
* Exclusive: Google workers across the globe announce international union alliance to hold Alphabet accountable (The Verge)
* Apple officially launches new ‘Time to Walk’ feature for Apple Watch and Fitness+ (9to5Mac)
* Apple warns iPhone 12 and MagSafe accessories can int…
Jan 23, 2021
(Bonus) Harvard's Top Astronomer Avi Loeb On Oumuamua
In 2017, scientists sighted the first interstellar object, the first thing we definitively know came from outside our solar system… something that was not bound to the gravity pull of our sun. But that was just the beginning of the oddness exhibited by the object known as Oumuamua. It didn’t behave like a comet. It didn’t seem to be made of materials we expect. It was shaped in a way that nothing in nature should be shaped like. And as it curved around our sun, it actually accelerated in a way that we couldn’t account for by the laws of physics. In his new book, Extraterrestrial: The First Sign of Intelligent Life Beyond Earth, which comes out Avi Loeb, Harvard’s top Astronomer, argues that Oumuamua was most likely an alien craft, or artifact of some kind. It likely had some sort of solar sail mechanism, and actually, suggests it might be functioning as some sort of interstellar buoy. We’re going to get into that in this episode, but stay to the end, because forget small sa…
Jan 22, 2021
Fri. 01/22 – Alphabet Sends Loon To The Deadpool
What does it mean for Alphabet if it’s starting to cut bait on its “moonshots?” Is Google going to cut bait entirely, on the entire country of Australia? More signs that Apple is atoning for their laptop design sins. Looks like we were right, Plaid is very much, no Visa, no cry. And of course, the weekend longreads suggestions.
Sponsors:
* Tovala.com/ride
* Metalab.com
Links:
* Alphabet Pops Loon’s Balloons—but Won't Call It a Failure (Wired)
* Google threatens to shut down search in Australia if digital news code goes ahead (The Guardian)
* Apple Plans Thinner MacBook Air With Magnetic Charger in Mac Lineup Reboot (Bloomberg)
* Plaid Shareholders Field Offers at $15 Billion After Merger Collapse (The Information)
Weekend Longreads Suggestions:
* Biden picks Jessica Rosenworcel as acting FCC chief (NBC News)
* The Inside Story of How the Lowly PDF Played the Longest Game in Tech (Marker)
* The Moderation War Is Coming to Spotify, Substack, and C…
Jan 21, 2021
Thu. 01/21 – Mark Gurman Dishes On The Apple VR Headset
Apple’s first foray into VR is coming next year, says Mark Gurman, but the real game is in AR and that’s a ways down the road. Amazon wants to help roll out the vaccines. Are laptops getting taller? One chat app to unify them all? And everybody wants a dark mode, even the White House.
Sponsors:
* NewYorker.com/techmeme promocode: techmeme
* Tovala.com/ride
Links:
* Apple’s First Headset to Be Niche Precursor to Eventual AR Glasses (Bloomberg)
* LG considers exiting smartphones in 2021 (The Verge)
* Amazon sends letter to President Biden, says it is ‘ready to assist’ with U.S. vaccination efforts (GeekWire)
* Facebook refers Trump ban to independent Oversight Board for review (Axios)
* Goodbye and good riddance to the 16:9 aspect ratio (The Verge)
* Pebble founder promises iMessage on Android and Windows with universal chat app (The Verge)
* WhiteHouse.gov now has dark mode (The Verge)
Jan 20, 2021
Wed. 01/20 – A16Z To Get Into The Media Business?
Is Andreessen Horowitz about to spin up its own media platform? Anthony Levandowski gets a pardon and Jack Ma resurfaces. Netflix is about to start printing money, and they’re about to give you a “shuffle play” button. And why Ben Thompson thinks Intel is in even more trouble than everybody thinks.
Sponsors:
* Grammarly.com/techmeme
* Tovala.com/ride
Links:
* Andreessen Horowitz Looks to Launch Opinion Publication as Its Media Ambition Grows (The Information)
* The Unauthorized Story of Andreessen Horowitz (Newcomer)
* Donald Trump pardons ex-Waymo, Uber engineer Anthony Levandowski (Engadget)
* Jack Ma Emerges for First Time Since Ant, Alibaba Crackdown (Bloomberg)
* Brave becomes first browser to add native support for the IPFS protocol (ZDNet)
* Netflix shares rise on strong subscriber growth, considers share buybacks (CNBC)
* Netflix’s ‘Shuffle Play’ feature will roll out to all users worldwide this year (TechCrunch)
* Intel Problems (Strat…
Jan 19, 2021
Tue. 01/19 – Qualcomm’s New Snapdragon 870
Qualcomm unveils the Snapdragon 870. Cruise, Microsoft and GM all get together in a beautiful marriage that is just as much about cloud computing as it is self-driving. Has the policy controversy endangered WhatsApp in India? And why the whole Smart Home and Internet of Things industry might be taking a breather.
Sponsors:
* Fundrise.com/techmeme
* MintMobile.com/ride
Links:
* Qualcomm’s new Snapdragon 870 reheats the Snapdragon 865 for 2021 phones (The Verge)
* Microsoft invests in Cruise in new $2 billion round (TechCrunch)
* India asks WhatsApp to withdraw new privacy policy over ‘grave concerns’ (TechCrunch)
* 5G Rivals Face an $81 Billion Tab After Spectrum Buying Spree (WSJ)
* DuckDuckGo surpasses 100 million daily search queries for the first time (ZDNet)
* Electric car batteries with five-minute charging times produced (The Guardian)
* CES 2021: A deep breath for the smart home to determine its future (Stacey On IOT)
Jan 16, 2021
(Bonus) Interesting Raise Episode 1!
The first ever interesting raise omnibus episode!
Links:
* Hipcamp, ‘Airbnb of the Outdoors,’ Raises $57 Million (The Information)
* Local news app News Break raises $115M (TechCrunch)
* Perfect Corp., developer of virtual beauty app YouCam Makeup, closes $50 million Series C led by Goldman Sachs (TechCrunch)
* Veo raises $25M for AI-based cameras that record and analyze football and other team sports (TechCrunch)
* Graphcore raises $222M for its ultrafast AI chips (SiliconAngle)
* AI chipmaker Graphcore raises $22M at a $2.77B valuation and puts an IPO in its sights (TechCrunch)
* Fintech startup Oxygen raises $17M in Series A round (SiliconAngle)
* AMP Robotics raises $55 million for AI that picks and sorts recyclables (VentureBeat)
* WeLink raises $185M to deliver high-bandwidth wireless internet to the home using 5G (TechCrunch)
Jan 15, 2021
Fri. 01/15 – Are We Really Getting the MacBook of My Dreams?
Is Apple finally throwing in the towel and giving us the sort of laptops we actually want? With these IPO first-day pops, forget banks screwing startups, are VC’s also undervaluing companies right now in a way that is unfair? Amazon wants to do in cars what it’s done successfully in homes. And, of course, the weekend longreads suggestions.
Sponsors:
* Oracle For Startups - oracle.com/goto/ride
* Metalab.co
Links:
* Kuo details 2021 MacBook Pro: new design with squared-off sides, MagSafe connector and IO return, Touch Bar removed (9to5Mac)
* Apple Plans Upgraded MacBook Pros With Return of Magnetic Charging (Bloomberg)
* Online clothing reseller Poshmark closes up more than 140% on first day of trading (CNBC)
* Amazon opens Alexa AI tech for the first time so car makers can build custom assistants (The Verge)
* Galaxy Book Flex2: Samsung’s first 5G laptop has an 11th-gen Intel Processor (Digital Trends)
* Shares in China’s Xiaomi tumble after US investme…
Jan 14, 2021
Thu. 01/14 – Samsung Unpacked Brings The New Galaxy S21 Lineup
All the news from the Galaxy Unpacked event. The tech stock IPO first day pop bubble continues. Asus persists with that dual screen laptop thing. BMW has a new way to unlock your car with your phone. And Google absolutely swears it won’t use your fitbit data against you. Swears.
Sponsors:
* Metalab.co
* TinyCapital.com
Links:
* SAMSUNG GALAXY S21, S21 PLUS, AND S21 ULTRA FIRST LOOK: POLISHED DESIGN (AND PRICES) (The Verge)
* The Galaxy S21 Ultra packs two telephoto lenses and supports the S Pen (Engadget)
* Samsung’s Galaxy SmartTag is a $29.99 Tile competitor (The Verge)
* Max Levchin’s Affirm pops nearly 100% in market debut (CNBC)
* Asus’ 2021 laptop line includes two new dual-screen ZenBooks (The Verge)
* BMW’s Digital Key Plus will let iPhones unlock the iX from a pocket or bag (The Verge)
* Google's Fitbit acquisition is official (TechCrunch)
Jan 13, 2021
Wed. 01/13 – The Visa/Plaid Merger Is Called Off
The Visa/Plaid merger is called off, and I’ll tell you why I think this is a sign of the current situation for tech. More tectonic shifts in the chip industry including Qualcomm acquiring a startup and Intel losing its CEO. More smoke around the fire story of an Apple Car. And Facebook has noticed you downloaded Signal.
Sponsors:
* Netgear.com/bestwifi
* Metalab.co
Links:
* Visa Abandons Planned Acquisition of Plaid After DOJ Challenge (WSJ)
* Qualcomm eyes challenge to Apple, Intel with $1.4 billion deal for chip startup (Reuters)
* Intel CEO Bob Swan to step down, VMware CEO Pat Gelsinger to replace him (CNBC)
* AMD CEO Dr. Lisa Su: Interview on 2021 Demand, Supply, Tariffs, Xilinix and EPYC (AnandTech)
* Every Deleted Parler Post, Many With Users' Location Data, Has Been Archived (Gizmodo)
* Parler Users Breached Deep Inside U.S. Capitol Building, GPS Data Shows (Gizmodo)
* Exclusive: Apple held talks with EV startup Canoo in 2020 (The Verge)
* Whats…
Jan 12, 2021
Tue. 01/12 – Intel Unveils New Core i9-11900K Flagship Chip
Intel’s new flagship chips are here. Lenovo’s new laptop lineup is here. Walmart wants in on the fintech startup game. GM is spinning off a new electric delivery truck startup. And I know foldable phones haven’t exactly taken over the world, but could I interest you in a rollable phone?
Sponsors:
* NewYorker.com/techmeme
* BuyRaycon.com/tech
Links:
* Intel Previews 11th Gen Core Rocket Lake: Core i9-11900K and Z590, Coming Q1 (AnandTech)
* Lenovo’s new ThinkPad X1 Titanium Yoga is less than half an inch thick (The Verge)
* Walmart to create fintech start-up with investment firm behind Robinhood (CNBC)
* Aptiv unveils new self-driving platform with wireless upgrades (Reuters)
* GM unveils electric delivery van with 250 miles of range as part of new spinoff business (The Verge)
* Parler sues Amazon, leveling far-fetched antitrust allegations (The Verge)
* Following Trump Ban, Facebook Tells Employees to Avoid Wearing Company-Branded Apparel (The Inf…
Jan 11, 2021
Mon. 01/11 – All Of Tech Kills Parler
Once again, did some things happen since we last spoke? A run-down of, especially, the Parler situation. And it’s the first day of CES. Here’s what we’re missing in terms of gadget announcements, cool gadgets we’d love to get hands-on time with and the weird gadgets that make CES so fun.
Sponsors:
* KiwiCo.com promocode: ride
* ExpressVPN.com/techmeme
Links:
* Amazon Is Booting Parler Off Of Its Web Hosting Service (Buzzfeed)
* Parler CEO Says Service Dropped By “Every Vendor” And Could End His Business (Deadline)
* San Francisco police are prepping for a pro-Trump rally at Twitter headquarters (TechCrunch)
* HP launches new Envy 14 laptop, Elite Folio 2-in1 tablet, and new… earbuds? (Android Authority)
* Lenovo's ThinkReality A3 Smart Glasses can show up to five virtual displays (Engadget)
* HyperX made its first 60-percent mechanical gaming keyboard (The Verge)
* WHY CHAMBERLAIN BUILT A $3,000 AUTOMATIC GARAGE DOOR FOR YOUR DOG (The Verge)
Jan 8, 2021
Fri. 01/08 – An Apple/Hyundai Car?
Interesting new Apple Car rumors, including how they’ve basically raided Tesla for talent, apparently. Alex Stamos and Chris Krebs have formed the security Avengers. People do seem to be jumping ship from WhatsApp. Why Roku is maybe the dark horse of the Streaming Wars. And, of course, the weekend longreads suggestions.
Sponsors:
* TinyCapital.com
* DoubleUp.agency
Links:
* Hyundai Motor says it’s in early talks with Apple to develop a car, sends shares soaring 19% (CNBC)
* SolarWinds hires former Trump cyber security chief Chris Krebs (Financial Times)
* Encrypted Messaging App Signal Sees Surge in Popularity Following WhatsApp Privacy Policy Update (MacRumors)
* Roku TV Was the Top Selling Smart TV OS in 2020 (The Streamable)
* A New Service Seeks to Streamline Your Streaming (WSJ)
* ‘TV Remote’ is an app that turns your iPhone into a universal control for your TV (9to5Mac)
Weekend Longreads Suggestions:
* Xbox: The Oral History of an American Vi…
Jan 7, 2021
Thu. 01/07 – Yes, There’s A Tech Angle To Yesterday’s Events…
Some stuff happened yesterday at the US Capital, and there’s a tech angle to it. Is SolarWinds just the beginning of the supply chain compromises? There’s new wi-fi coming that is faster and broader. Did the Georgia runoff mean the floodgates are now open for tech antitrust? And what the final segment pre-supposes is: putting a 55 inch display inside a car is a good idea.
Sponsors:
* TinyCapital.com
* Liftoff.to
Links:
* Twitter and Facebook Lock Trump’s Accounts After Violence on Capitol Hill (NYTimes)
* Widely Used Software Company May Be Entry Point for Huge U.S. Hacking (NYTimes)
* SuperData: Games grew 12% to $139.9 billion in 2020 amid pandemic (VentureBeat)
* Wi-Fi industry launches next-gen 6E certification, and new devices are up next (CNET)
* Democrats have won the Senate. Here’s what it means for tech. (Protocol)
* Mercedes-Benz unveils its absolutely massive 56-inch ‘Hyperscreen’ display (The Verge)
Jan 6, 2021
Wed. 01/06 – New GPT-3 Models Can Generate Images From Text
There are two new GPT-3 models and now the robots have come for the graphic artists. Trump continues his tech cold war against China, but the question is, will Biden? WhatsApp is further absorbed into the Facebook mothership. Eve Online players broke the game by playing it so hard. And Cameo wants you to know there’s money in the banana stand—I mean... paying Tom Arnold to record a video for you.
Sponsors:
* Audible.com/techmeme or text techmeme to 500-500 for a free 30-day trial
Links:
* This avocado armchair could be the future of AI (MIT Technology Review)
* DALL·E: Creating Images from Text (OpenAI Blog)
* Trump bars U.S. transactions with eight Chinese apps including Alipay (Reuters)
* WhatsApp updates its Terms and Privacy Policy to mandate data-sharing with Facebook (XDA-Developers)
* CIRP: iPhone 12 sales strong at launch, but iPhone 12 mini ‘likely disappointed Apple’ (9to5Mac)
* Players in Eve Online broke a world record — and then the game i…
Jan 5, 2021
Tue. 01/05 – US Banks Can Now Issue Stablecoins
The OCC clears US banks to run crypto nodes and issue stablecoins. Microsoft wants to make One Outlook to rule all your email and calendar apps. Looks like Haven couldn’t solve healthcare. Why haven’t we seen Jack Ma in public for going on two months now? And Singapore says SYKE on that whole, not using Covid tracking data to keep track of citizens.
Sponsors:
* SmartAsset.com/techmeme
Links:
* US regulator: Federally chartered banks can facilitate stablecoin payments, issue their own (The Block)
* Twitter acquires social podcasting app Breaker, team to help build Twitter Spaces (TechCrunch)
* Microsoft’s new ‘One Outlook’ app leaks online (The Verge)
* Haven, the Amazon-Berkshire-JPMorgan venture to disrupt health care, is disbanding after 3 years (CNBC)
* Kuo: Apple to Unveil AirTags, Augmented Reality Device, and More in 2021 (MacRumors)
* Alibaba Founder Jack Ma Has Been Missing For 2 Months (ZeroHedge)
* Singapore police can access COVID-19 cont…
Jan 4, 2021
Mon. 01/04 – Some Google Workers Say Union YES!
Google/Alphabet workers launch an official union drive. We’ve got a date for the Galaxy Unpacked event. Microsoft wants to give Windows a good scrubbing this year. Everyone wants a piece of ShareChat. Gazelle is getting out of the trade-in business. And LG doesn’t want to give up on tv screens you can hide away when not in use.
Sponsors:
* Fundrise.com/techmeme
* LinkedIn.com/ride
Links:
* Google, Alphabet employees seek to form a union (TechCrunch)
* Samsung officially confirms Galaxy S21 event for January 14th (The Verge)
* Microsoft planning ‘sweeping visual rejuvenation of Windows’ (The Verge)
* Google and Snap in talks to invest in India's ShareChat (TechCrunch)
* Trade-in site Gazelle is ending trade-ins (The Verge)
* Apple will let Amphetamine app stay in the App Store after wrongly telling developer it violated App Store rules (The Verge)
* This LG display transforms from flat to curved for immersive gaming (The Verge)
Dec 30, 2020
Wed. 12/30 – Apple Loses A Copyright Lawsuit
Apple loses an interesting copyright law case. Get ready to see TikToks in your Google searches. Amazon’s “other” business unit is becoming a monster. The tech consumers did, and did not AS MUCH partake in over the holidays. And of course, the weekend longreads suggestions. For the final time in 2020, here’s what you missed in the world of tech.
Sponsors:
* Tovala.com/ride
* DoubleUp.Agency
Links:
* Apple loses copyright battle against security start-up Corellium (Washington Post)
* Google pilots a search feature that aggregates short-form videos from TikTok and Instagram (TechCrunch)
* Amazon’s advertising business booms in pandemic (Financial Times)
* Apple iPhone Devices Sweep 9 of Top 10 Devices on Christmas 2020 (Flurry)
Weekend Longreads Suggestions:
* The Turing Test is obsolete. It’s time to build a new barometer for AI (Fast Company)
* Tech Choices Dictate Teen Friendships During Pandemic (WSJ)
* Ambani Sold a Tech Dream for $27 Billio…
Dec 29, 2020
Tue. 12/29 – Coinbase To Suspend Trading of XRP
Coinbase is suspending trading of XRP. Ant Group tries to appease the CCP. Will we soon see immunity passports on our phones? We now know the identity of the first tech IPO of the new year. And why, if you’re doing to do some dirt, you might want to know that your car is probably going to bust your alibi.
Sponsors:
* CalderaLab.com code: TECHMEME (all caps, one word)
* Tovala.com/ride
Links:
* Coinbase to Suspend XRP Trading Following SEC Suit Against Ripple (CoinDesk)
* Ant Considers Holding Company With Regulation Similar to Bank, Sources Say (Bloomberg)
* Los Angeles Vaccine Recipients Can Put the Proof in Apple Wallet (Bloomberg)
* Qualtrics Files for U.S. IPO Two Years After Sale to SAP (Bloomberg)
* Insecure wheels: Police turn to car data to destroy suspects' alibis (NBC News)
* TV Ratings: First Streaming-Only NFL Game Scores Solid Numbers for Amazon (Variety)
Link to the AMA Auction with Andrew Wilkinson and Chris Sparling:
* https://lu.ma/tiny…
Dec 28, 2020
Mon. 12/28 – After Jack Ma, Is China Freezing Its Entire Tech Sector?
The Chinese Communist Party is throwing serious cold water on its entire tech sector by continuing to target Jack Ma. Did Elon Musk once try to sell Tesla to Apple? Drones are getting digital license plates, of a sort. And a look at the generation of search engine startups hoping to, you know, maybe strike at Google while the antitrust iron is hot.
Sponsors:
* Tovala.com/ride
* GetRoman.com/techmeme
Links:
* Beijing launches antitrust investigation into Alibaba (Financial Times)
* China Tells Ant to Return to Its Payment Roots, Places Curbs (Bloomberg)
* Alibaba Probe Stirs Global Worry on What’s Next for Chinese Tech (Bloomberg)
* Kuo: Apple Car Still in Early Stages, Unlikely to Launch Until 2025-2027 at Earliest (MacRumors)
* Drone-Crowded Skies Get One Step Closer With U.S. Security Rules (Bloomberg)
* Search engine start-ups try to take on Google (Financial Times)
* Covid-19 Propelled Businesses Into the Future. Ready or Not. (WSJ)
Dec 23, 2020
Wed. 12/23 – XRP, The 3rd Biggest Cryptocurrency Might Be In Big Trouble
The SEC does indeed sue Ripple, and that could be a bigger deal than I thought. Twitter won’t hand over the @Potus Twitter followers to Biden. What Zoom wants to do for its next act beyond video. Controlling your AirPods with your teeth. And, special for this week, a Long Holiday Weekend edition of the Longreads Suggestions.
Sponsors:
* Hawthorne.co, promocode: techmeme
* Tovala.com/ride
Links:
* SEC Sues Ripple Over 7-Year, $1.3B ‘Ongoing’ XRP Sale (CoinDesk)
* Biden @POTUS Account Reset to Zero With Trump Followers Out (Bloomberg)
* Telegram, nearing 500 million users, to begin monetizing the app (TechCrunch)
* Buoyed by Video Success, Zoom Explores Email, Calendar Services (The Information)
* Apple Patent reveals new Through-Body' input for AirPods allowing users to control functionality by touching their face, clicking their teeth & more (Patently Apple)
Weekend Longreads Suggestions:
* Our Digital Lives Drive a Brick-and-Mortar Boom in Data Center…
Dec 22, 2020
Tue. 12/22 – Why I Think The Apple Car Is For Real
See… I had a feeling. Reuters says Apple really is revealing an Apple Car in the coming years. More details on that suit charging Facebook and Google allegedly agreed to divvy up the ad market. The third biggest cryptocurrency says the SEC is coming after it. And the crazy story behind those sexy butt-flap pajama ads you’ve seen all over the internet.
Sponsors:
* CalderaLab.com, promocode TECHMEME (all caps, one word) at checkout for 20% off.
* Hawthorne.co promocode: techmeme
Links:
* Exclusive: Apple targets car production by 2024 and eyes 'next level' battery technology - sources (Reuters)
* Google, Facebook Agreed to Team Up Against Possible Antitrust Action, Draft Lawsuit Says (WSJ)
* U.S. vs. Facebook: Inside the tech giant’s behind-the-scenes campaign to battle back antitrust lawsuits (Washington Post)
* Ripple says it will be sued by the SEC, in what the company calls a parting shot at the crypto industry (Fortune)
* Dailyhunt is India's latest unic…
Dec 21, 2020
Mon. 12/21 – Big Day For Real Estate Tech
Huge day for Real Estate tech with Opendoor going public to a soaring valuation and RealPage getting bought for a ton of money. Microsoft might design its own custom silicon, cause, why not (to quote Vincent Hanna)? Is the first under the display selfie camera basically a fail? And could we actually see the Apple Car debut as soon as next year?
Sponsors:
* GetArmorLock.com
* Hawthorne.co promocode: techmeme
Links:
* Opendoor Rides SPAC Deal to Lofty $18 Billion Valuation at Market Debut (The Information)
* Real estate software and data analytics company RealPage to be acquired for $10.2 billion (VentureBeat)
* Russia’s Hacking Frenzy Is a Reckoning (Wired)
* Microsoft Designing Its Own Chips for Servers, Surface PCs (Bloomberg)
* U.S. States Weighs New Google Suit Over App Store Fees (Bloomberg)
* THE WORLD’S FIRST UNDER-DISPLAY SELFIE CAMERA ISN’T VERY GOOD (The Verge)
* Sketchy Report Says Apple Car is Years Ahead of Schedule, Will Debut Next Year (M…
Dec 18, 2020
Fri. 12/18 – Chinese Drone Maker DJI Blacklisted By The US
Drone maker DJI is blacklisted by the commerce department. Group video comes to Echo devices. Twitter launches Spaces. Sony offers refunds for Cyberpunk 2077. Coinbase files to go public. And, of course, the weekend longreads suggestions.
Sponsors:
* Masterworks.io, promocode RIDE to skip the waitlist
* Calderalab.com use code TECHMEME (all one word, all caps) at checkout
Links:
* US government adds DJI to Commerce blacklist over ties to Chinese government (The Verge)
* Amazon launches group video and audio calling for Echo devices (The Verge)
* Twitter launches its voice-based ‘Spaces’ social networking feature into beta testing (TechCrunch)
* Sony is pulling Cyberpunk 2077 from the PlayStation Store and offering full refunds (The Verge)
* Source Code newsletter
* A moment of reckoning: the need for a strong and global cybersecurity response (Microsoft Blog)
* Coinbase announces IPO in a milestone for the crypto industry (Fortune)
Weekend Longreads…
Dec 17, 2020
Thu. 12/17 – The Apple-Facebook Cold War Is Getting Hot
Mommy and Daddy are fighting. This time it’s Apple and Facebook and it’s getting pretty heated. The EU okays Google’s acquisition of Fitbit. Substack has resurrected Google Reader, in spirit at least. And why the new antitrust lawsuit against Google is maybe the most serious yet, because we’re talking about actual felonies here. Potentially. Allegedly.
Sponsors:
* OurCrowd.com/ride
* JoinFightCamp.com/techmeme
Links:
* Apple’s seismic change to the mobile ad industry is drawing near, and it’s rocking the ecosystem (CNBC)
* Facebook Attacks Apple Software Changes in Newspaper Ads (Bloomberg)
* Apple Responds to Facebook's Anti-Tracking Criticism, Says Users Deserve Control and Transparency (MacRumors)
* Facebook Wades Into ‘Fortnite’ Maker’s Dispute With Apple (WSJ)
* Facebook criticizes Apple as it welcomes Europe’s new tech rules (CNBC)
* EU approves Google’s $2.1 billion acquisition of Fitbit, subject to conditions (CNBC)
* HBO Max I…
Dec 16, 2020
Wed. 12/16 – Google’s Stadia Arrives on iOS and iPadOS In Beta
Day three of the SolarWinds hack fallout sees major investors unloading stock at a suspicious time. M1 chip support comes to some major apps. Periscope joins the Deadpool. Bitcoin crosses $20k. An AirPods Max review. And what if you could make a digital platform for board games?
Sponsors:
* OurCrowd.com/ride
* VistaPrint.com/techmeme
Links:
* Stadia comes to the iPhone and iPad with new iOS beta (The Verge)
* Investors in breached software firm SolarWinds traded $280 million in stock days before hack was revealed (The Washington Post)
* Microsoft starts rolling out native Microsoft 365 for Mac apps for Macs with M1 (ZDNet)
* Firefox Updated With Native Support for M1 Macs, Mozilla Touts 'Dramatic Performance Improvements' (MacRumors)
* Exclusive: States close to filing new Google antitrust suit (Politico)
* Bitcoin Hits Record Above $20K as Analysts Remain Confident of Future (Coindesk)
* APPLE AIRPODS MAX REVIEW: LUXURIOUS SOUND FOR A LUXURY PRICE (The Verg…
Dec 15, 2020
Tue. 12/15 – Europe’s Big New Rules for Big Tech
Europe’s big new regulatory regime for big tech. More fallout from what looks like the biggest hack our government has ever seen. The FTC asks basically everyone in tech how they get their data. A ‘faraday fabric’ that can serve as an invisibility cloak for radio waves. An interesting raise to make exoskeletons. And a review of the new all electric Ford Mustang.
Sponsors:
* Grammarly.com/techmeme
* VistaPrint.com/techmeme
Links:
* Tech Giants Face New Rules in Europe, Backed by Huge Fines (WSJ)
* FTC orders Amazon, Facebook and others to explain how they collect and use personal data (CNBC)
* U.S. Homeland Security, thousands of businesses scramble after suspected Russian hack (Reuters)
* Experimental "Faraday fabric" blocks almost all electromagnetic waves (New Atlas)
* German Bionic raises $20M led by Samsung for exoskeleton tech to supercharge human labor (TechCrunch)
* Ford’s New Mustang Mach-E Owes a Lot to Tesla (Debugger)
Dec 14, 2020
Mon. 12/14 – The “10-out-of-10” US Treasury/SolarWinds Hack
Hackers attack the US Treasury in an attack so severe one person called it a 10 out of 10. Pornhub has removed millions of videos. Amazon’s Zoox has a robo electric taxi. Are the recent IPO pops sign of a bubble? And could Jony Ive’s next job be as the head of luxury automaker Ferrari?
Sponsors:
* GetArmorLock.com
* Amazon.com/ridehome
Links:
* Suspected Russian hackers spied on U.S. Treasury emails - sources (Reuters)
* U.S. Agencies Hacked in Foreign Cyber Espionage Campaign Linked to Russia (WSJ)
* Pornhub Just Purged All Unverified Content From the Platform (Vice)
* Amazon’s Zoox Unveils Robotaxi for Future Ride-Hailing Service (Bloomberg)
* Google Delays Return to Office and Eyes ‘Flexible Work Week’ (NYTimes)
* Sizzling Tech IPO Market Leaves Investors Befuddled (WSJ)
* Jony Ive is reportedly in the running to take the driver’s seat at Ferrari (Cult of Mac)
* Ferrari's Camilleri will be a hard act to follow (Reuters)
Dec 12, 2020
(Bonus) - The Future of Video With A16Z's Connie Chan
Connie Chan, from Andreessen Horowitz, talking about: Live, Social, and Shoppable: The Future of Video
Sponsors:
* VistaPrint.com/techmeme
* TinyCapital.com
Dec 11, 2020
Fri. 12/11 - Disney+ Is About to Get a Bit More Expensive
Disney+ is about to get a bit more expensive, but you’re also gonna get a lot more stuff to watch. Are we in a tech IPO bubble? X64 emulation comes to Windows. Apple whispers that it will likely be dropping Qualcomm like it dropped Intel. And of course, the weekend longreads suggestions.
Sponsors:
* Amazon.com/ridehome
* Tinycapital.com
Links:
* Disney Plus is increasing its price to $8 a month starting in March 2021 (The Verge)
* ‘Star Wars,’ ‘Pinocchio’ and More as Disney Leans Sharply Into Streaming (NYTimes)
* Airbnb skyrockets 112% in public market debut, giving it a market cap of $86.5 billion (CNBC)
* x64 emulation has come to Windows on ARM (The Verge)
* Apple Starts Work on Its Own Cellular Modem, Chip Chief Says (Bloomberg)
Weekend Longreads Suggestions:
* Social Strikes Back (A16Z)
* “A damn stupid thing to do”—the origins of C (Ars Technica)
* 7 Rejections (Brian Chesky)
* Facebook Sees WhatsApp As Its Future, Antitrust Sui…
Dec 10, 2020
Thu. 12/10 – The Big Facebook Antitrust Cases, Explained
I try to give you the outlines of the Facebook antitrust thing, and what it might mean for tech. Airbnb makes its market debut. Crunchyroll finds a safe home away from AT&T. I bet folks at HBO are jealous. Boston Dynamics finds a new guardian as well, that hopefully can find something useful for it to do. And it really is, finally, the end of the road for Flash.
Sponsors:
* Amazon.com/ridehome
* Tinycapital.com
Links:
* The FTC is suing Facebook to unwind its acquisitions of Instagram and WhatsApp (The Verge)
* Lawsuits Filed by the FTC and the State Attorneys General Are Revisionist History (Facebook Newsroom)
* Airbnb shares set to double in IPO — likely to be worth nearly $93 billion (CNBC)
* Sony’s Funimation acquires anime streaming service Crunchyroll for $1.175 billion (Polygon)
* Hyundai Motors Reportedly Bought Boston Dynamics For Almost $1 Billion (Gizmodo)
* Adobe to block Flash content from running on January 12, 2021 (ZDNet)
Subscribe to the…
Dec 9, 2020
Wed. 12/09 – FireEye Says It Got Hacked By A Nation State
FireEye says it got hacked by a nation state. Microsoft’s cloud gaming is coming to iOS in the spring. Samsung’s unpacked event is coming in about a month, and we already got plenty of leaks about the phones we expect to see. Is Apple’s self-driving project still on track? And if you feel like you’ve been getting more spam calls this year, while rents in San Francisco have been plummeting, I’m here to tell you, neither of those trends seem to be imaginary.
Sponsors:
* MasterWorks.io to skip the waitlist, promocode: RIDE
* Amazon.com/ridehome
Links:
* U.S. Cyber Firm FireEye Says It Was Breached by Nation-State Hackers (WSJ)
* Microsoft confirms Xbox cloud gaming is coming to iOS in spring 2021 (9to5Mac)
* Google is opening Fuchsia OS development to the public (9to5Google)
* Here are the official Galaxy S21, S21+, and S21 Ultra teasers (Android Police)
* DoorDash skyrockets 80% in market debut, opening at $182 per share (CNBC)
* Apple Shifts Leadership…
Dec 8, 2020
Tue. 12/08 – Apple’s $549 AirPods Max
Say hello to AirPods Max. Cloudflare and Apple have developed a new internet privacy protocol. Google’s Stadia is finally flipping the switch on one of its biggest selling points. Uber is exiting the self-driving sweepstakes, but what does that mean for its future? And more fallout from that Warner Media streaming decision.
Sponsors:
* Amazon.com/ridehome
* Wipers123.com promocode: ride
Links:
* Apple introduces AirPods Max, the magic of AirPods in a stunning over-ear design (Apple Newsroom)
* Cloudflare and Apple design a new privacy-friendly internet protocol (TechCrunch)
* Google Stadia will let all users livestream games directly to YouTube tomorrow (The Verge)
* Samsung’s SmartThings can finally control your Google Nest devices (The Verge)
* SpaceX’s Starlink satellite network wins $885M in federal aid for rural broadband (GeekWire)
* Uber sells its self-driving unit to Aurora (CNBC)
* Christopher Nolan Rips HBO Max as "Worst Streaming Service,"…
Dec 7, 2020
Mon. 12/7 – ARMpocalypse Soon For The Entire Mac Lineup?
Apple isn’t wasting any time when it comes to ARM-ing up its entire Mac lineup, according to Mark Gurman. Wish is about to go public too. Airbnb and DoorDash are lifting their ranges. Is email signatures a bigger market than I ever imagined? And how drone deliveries might change how we design or homes and neighborhoods.
Sponsors:
* BuyRaycon.com/tech
* Kiwico.com promocode RIDE for 50% first month!
Links:
* Apple Preps Next Mac Chips With Aim to Outclass Top-End PCs (Bloomberg)
* Wish plans to price between $22 and $24 per share at up to $14 billion valuation (CNBC)
* Airbnb Boosts IPO Price Range to Between $56 and $60 a Share (WSJ)
* Sequoia Capital Warned of a ‘Black Swan.’ Instead, 2020 Is One of Its Best Years Ever (Bloomberg)
* Exclaimer raises $133 million to help companies manage email signatures (VentureBeat)
* DRONES ARE POISED TO RESHAPE HOME DESIGN (WSJ)
* Disney faces digital dilemma despite streaming success (Financial Times)
Dec 5, 2020
(Bonus) Peter Kafka on Media, Hollywood, Substack and TikTok
As promised, here’s Recode’s Peter Kafka, the dean of the media reporters, someone we should have had on the podcast a long time before this. Do checkout his podcast, Recode Media with Peter Kafka.
Sponsors:
* ProtonMail.com/techmeme
* VistaPrint.com/techmeme
* DoubleUp.agency
Dec 4, 2020
Fri. 12/04 – CRACK! Warners Blows Up The (Traditional) Hollywood Business Model
Another monumental crack across the land as Warner Brothers has maybe signaled the death of the business model Hollywood has relied on for 100 years. Is Stripe signaling it wants to completely rewire the global monetary system? Have Chinese scientists achieved Quantum Supremacy? Would you be interested in deep sea tourism? And of course, the weekend longreads suggestions.
Sponsors:
* Fundrise.com/techmeme
* VistaPrint.com/techmeme
Links:
* Warner Bros. will release all of its new 2021 movies simultaneously on HBO Max (The Verge)
* WarnerMedia’s CEO explains why he’s blowing up the movie business (Recode)
* Stripe to Offer Banking Services in Deal With Goldman Sachs, Citigroup (WSJ)
* Stripe: Platform of Platforms (Stratechery)
* China Stakes Its Claim to Quantum Supremacy (Wired)
* Triton's latest submarine puts six people in a bubble, 3,300 feet under (New Atlas)
Weekend Longreads Suggestions:
* Hollywood’s Obituary, the Sequel. Now Streaming. (NYTim…
Dec 3, 2020
Thu. 12/03 – A Law To Turn Crypto Basic?
A new bill could regulate crypto in a way that crypto folks say would defeat the point of decentralization. Facebook antitrust could be coming next week. Loon is the first to turn the skies over to artificial intelligence. Hackers are targeting the vaccine rollout. And now, you too can contribute to Street View on Google Maps.
Sponsors:
* Impartner.com/ridehomedemo
* Liftoff.to
Links:
* US Lawmakers Introduce Bill That Would Require Stablecoin Issuers to Obtain Bank Charters (Coindesk)
* PhonePe raises $700 million, becomes a separate entity (TechCrunch)
* FedEx to Buy ShopRunner in Quest for Closer E-Commerce Ties (Bloomberg)
* U.S. states plan to sue Facebook next week: sources (Reuters)
* Alphabet’s Loon hands the reins of its internet air balloons to self-learning AI (The Verge)
* Hackers Are Targeting the Covid-19 Vaccine ‘Cold Chain’ (Wired)
* Hulu’s Watch Party feature is now available to all subscribers (The Verge)
* Google Maps now lets…
Dec 2, 2020
Wed. 12/2 – A Salesforce/Slack Deal Analysis
A full analysis of the huge Salesforce/Slack deal. What HPE leaving Silicon Valley means, even if only symbolically. Qualcomm’s new flagship Snapdragon chip. All the announcements from AWS re:Invent. A smartwatch with a 9 day battery life and putting holograms right on your mantle might finally be getting practical.
Sponsors:
* ImPartner.com/ridehomedemo
* GetRoman.com/techmeme
Links:
* Salesforce buys Slack in a $27.7B megadeal (TechCrunch)
* Why Salesforce bought Slack (Divinations)
* Hewlett Packard Enterprise is the latest tech company to leave Silicon Valley, and is moving to Houston (CNBC)
* Qualcomm's Snapdragon 888 is a glimpse into how much better your next Android phone will be (CNET)
* Amazon to roll out tools to monitor factory workers and machines (Financial Times)
* Techmeme Snapshot of re:Invent headlines
* Wyze announces $20 smartwatch with nine-day battery life (The Verge)
* Looking Glass’s next product is a holographic digital photo fr…
Dec 1, 2020
Tue. 12/01 - Amazon Launches EC2 Mac Instances
Amazon launches EC2 Mac instances. Don’t call it Libra. At least, not the Libra Association. Is Samsung thinking about discontinuing the Galaxy Note line? Why DeepMind solving the protein folding problem is such a big deal. Are VR and AR about to blend? And the interesting case surrounding our main computer hacking law that was argued before the US Supreme Court yesterday.
Sponsors:
* IMpartner.com/ridehomedemo
* Vistaprint.com/techmeme
Links:
* AWS brings the Mac mini to its cloud (TechCrunch)
* Libra Rebrands to ‘Diem’ in Anticipation of 2021 Launch (CoinDesk)
* Airbnb seeks valuation of up to $35 billion in its IPO (CNBC)
* Samsung may discontinue high-end Galaxy Note smartphones - sources (Reuters)
* Reddit Claims 52 Million Daily Users, Revealing a Key Figure for Social-Media Platforms (WSJ)
* London A.I. Lab Claims Breakthrough That Could Accelerate Drug Discovery (NYTimes)
* AI Protein Breakthrough Tweetstorm (@adamRutherford)
* Varjo's lidar-…
Nov 30, 2020
Mon. 11/30 – DoorDash’s IPO Seems To Be Cresting The Wave
DoorDash lines up for its IPO and seems to be cresting the wave perfectly. Airbnb is right behind it, swelling a bit as well. Salesforce looks like it will be buying Slack as soon as tomorrow. The UK finally, officially bans Huawei. The monster computer display I want very badly. And remembrances Tony Hsieh, gone, tragically, way too soon.
Sponsors:
* MasterWorks.io promocode: ride
* MintMobile.com/ride
Links:
* DoorDash seeks valuation of up to $32 billion in IPO, double what it was in June (CNBC)
* Airbnb, DoorDash Aim for Higher-Than-Expected Valuations Ahead of Debuts (WSJ)
* Salesforce deal to buy Slack expected to be announced Tuesday after market close (CNBC)
* U.K. Bans Installation of Huawei 5G Gear From September (Bloomberg)
* Bitcoin Hits New Record, This Time With Less Talk of a Bubble (NYTimes)
* SAMSUNG’S ODYSSEY G9 DOES THE WORK OF THREE MONITORS (The Verge)
* Apple Suppliers’ Exodus From China Won’t Slow Down Under Biden (Bloomberg)…
Nov 25, 2020
Wed. 11/25 – The Blue Checkmarks Are Returning To Twitter
Twitter is revving the little blue checkmark engine back up, but it will work slightly differently than before. Stripe is either already impossibly big, or not nearly as big as it should be, depending on your point of view. Are you ready to speculate about the next generation of Apple Silicon chips? And, uniquely for this week, the week… end longreads suggestions.
Sponsors:
* VistaPrint.com/techmeme
* Tovala.com for $200 off the oven!
Links:
* Twitter to relaunch account verifications in early 2021, asks for feedback on policy (TechCrunch)
* Payments Startup Stripe in Talks for Funding at $70 Billion Valuation or More (Bloomberg)
* MacBook Pro 16-inch M1X chip just leaked — and it's game over for Intel (Tom's Guide)
* Kuo: iPhone 12 demand strong, new form factor Apple Watch and MacBooks in late 2021 (9to5Mac)
* Ethereum 2.0’s Genesis Day Is Officially Set for Dec. 1 (Coindesk)
Week-end Longread Suggestions:
* Can Shopify Compete With Amazon Without Bec…
Nov 24, 2020
Tue. 11/24 – Apple’s Head Of Global Security Indicted On Bribery Charges
Apple’s head of global security is indicted on bribery charges. But… it’s a little nuanced. Facebook turned back the dial on divisive news stories after the election. Forget Substack; why OnlyFans might be the biggest story in terms of creator platforms right now. How Elon Musk became the second richest man in the world, and why Werner Herzog is mad at him.
Sponsors:
* Tovala.com for $200 off the oven!
* VistaPrint.com/techmeme
Links:
* Undersheriff, Apple security chief, businessman indicted in bribery schemes (PaloAltoOnline)
* Roiled by Election, Facebook Struggles to Balance Civility and Growth (NYTimes)
* OnlyFans Chief Talks Sports Ambitions and Role of Adult Content in Site (The Information)
* Elon Musk overtakes Bill Gates to become world’s second richest person behind Jeff Bezos (The Verge)
* SPACEX MARS CITY: WERNER HERZOG ISSUES A STARK WARNING TO ELON MUSK (Inverse)
Nov 23, 2020
Mon. 11/23 - Snapchat Launches Spotlight, A TikTok Clone
Cloning Snapchat isn’t cool. You know what’s cool? Cloning TikTok. Even Snapchat has joined the bandwagon with Spotlight. Are people fleeing ads in feeds because the market is saturated? I break down all of last week’s big moves in Digital Media. And why the Covid Tracking Project deserves a friggin Nobel Prize.
Sponsors:
* ProtonMail.com/techmeme
* Amazon.com/ridehome
Links:
* Snapchat launches a TikTok-like feed called Spotlight, kick-started by paying creators (TechCrunch)
* Facebook Ads Could Be Reaching Saturation Point (WSJ)
* BuzzFeed to Acquire HuffPost in Stock Deal With Verizon Media (WSJ)
* Why the Success of The New York Times May Be Bad News for Journalism (NYTimes)
* Bots Grade Your Kids’ Schoolwork—and They’re Often Wrong (WSJ)
* Data Heroes of Covid Tracking Project Are Still Filling U.S. Government Void (Bloomberg Businessweek)
Nov 21, 2020
(Bonus) Office Hours With Chris Messina
A deep-dive conversation with hashtag inventor Chris Messina about what makes good product design, how to Product Hunt effectively, and his unique advice about finding success in the Tech Industry.
Sponsors:
* VistaPrint.com/techmeme
* Netgear.com/bestwifi
Watch this episode on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vekRLZcnfpU
Nov 20, 2020
Fri. 11/20 – Facebook And Apple Trade Schoolyard Taunts
Facebook and Apple are calling each other names again. “Privacy Thief!” “Monopolist!” And why we might see more of this in the coming years. Roblox files maybe the most exciting S-1 of this IPO batch. Stadia is going to work around the App Store too. Another big milestone crossed for self-driving cars. And, of course, the weekend longreads suggestions.
Sponsors:
* Netgear.com/bestwifi
* Amazon.com/techmeme
Links:
* Apple doubles down on upcoming iOS 14 privacy features, slams Facebook for collecting ‘as much data as possible’ (9to5Mac)
* Roblox files for its IPO (Axios)
* Stadia will be playable on iOS via Safari in the coming ‘weeks’ (9to5Google)
* Robotaxi companies get the green light to charge for rides in California (TechCrunch)
Weekend Longreads Suggestions
* ‘An overnight success 10 years in the making’: Atlanta is the future for Black leaders in tech (Protocol)
* Huawei, 5G, and the Man Who Conquered Noise (Wired)
* The Substacke…
Nov 19, 2020
Thu. 11/19 – Google Pay Pivots In An Interesting Way
A major strategy shift for Google Pay might be a big deal. But a minor shift in YouTube monetization is the same old, same old. Apple pays to settle an investigation into iPhone throttling. Affirm files for its IPO. Apple Silicon continues to absolutely wow people, and by the way, the iPhone 12 Pro Max camera is wowing professional photographers.
Sponsors:
* MailmanHQ.com
* Amazon.com/ridehome
Links:
* Google Pay gets a major redesign with a new emphasis on personal finance (TechCrunch)
* YouTube will run ads on some creator videos, but it won’t give them any of the revenue (The Verge)
* Affirm drops S-1, revealing sharply rising revenue on a narrower net loss (FinLedger.com)
* Apple to pay $113 million to settle state investigation into iPhone ‘batterygate’ (The Washington Post)
* Nvidia’s GeForce Now cloud gaming service launches on iOS as a web app (The Verge)
* Pixelmator Pro gets update for M1 Macs (The Verge)
* Apple releases forked version of…
Nov 18, 2020
Wed. 11/18 – Crack! Apple Cuts Its App Store Vig In Half
The App Store has cracked open a bit. Apple will cut its vigorish in half, for most developers, but not the ones that make them the most money. Robinhood is probably gonna join the cavalcade of IPOs. Marissa Mayer is back. And the biggest social network you’ve probably never heard of is coming from France.
Sponsors:
* Amazon.com/ridehome
* Netgear.com/bestwifi
Links:
* Apple will reduce App Store cut to 15 percent for most developers starting January 1st (The Verge)
* 'Fortnite' now offers Houseparty video calls on PC, PS4 and PS5 (Engadget)
* Robinhood Seeks Advisers for Potential IPO Next Year (Bloomberg)
* Marissa Mayer wants to clean up your contacts, and that’s just for starters (Fast Company)
* Beats debuts new glow-in-the-dark Powerbeats, available from Apple starting tomorrow (9to5Mac)
* Beats launches a glow-in-the-dark pair of Powerbeats for $200 (The Verge)
* Yubo could be the next big social app as it raises $47.5 million (TechCrunch)
* No…
Nov 17, 2020
Tue. 11/17 – Amazon Pharmacy Aims To Conquer Another Huge Retail Sector
Amazon launches Amazon Pharmacy. Twitter launches Fleets, but the real news is they’re testing a Clubhouse clone with audio rooms. Airbnb finally files to go public. And running through the flood of reviews for the new Macs with Apple Silicon, I’m starting to become a believer. Apple might be able to revolutionize—and run away with—mobile computing with these chips.
Sponsors:
* Amazon.com/ridehome
* Netgear.com/bestwifi
Links:
* Amazon jumps into the pharmacy business with online prescription fulfillment, free delivery for Prime members (CNBC)
* Twitter rolls out Stories, aka ‘Fleets,’ to all users; will also test a Clubhouse rival (TechCrunch)
* Airbnb files to go public, turned a profit last quarter (CNBC)
* Adobe releases Arm beta version of Photoshop for Windows and macOS (The Verge)
* APPLE MAC MINI WITH M1 REVIEW: OVER-PERFORMER (The Verge)
* APPLE MACBOOK PRO WITH M1 REVIEW: FLEXING ARM (The Verge)
* MacBook Air M1 review: Faster than most…
Nov 16, 2020
Mon. 11/16 – Is Big Sur Apple’s Vista?
Continued problems with Big Sur have some people wondering if this is Apple’s version of Windows Vista. But actual benchmarks continue to show Apple Silicon is probably a big win. All the details of the Galaxy S21 lineup have leaked. A monster new GPU for supercomputers. And a PC monitor that can actually double as a modern smart tv.
Sponsors:
* MasterWorks.io: code RIDE to skip the waitlist
* BuyRaycon.com/tech
Links:
* macOS Big Sur Update Bricking Some Older MacBook Pro Models (MacRumors)
* Apple Silicon M1 Emulating x86 is Still Faster Than Every Other Mac in Single Core Benchmark (MacRumors)
* Exclusive: Specs and features of Samsung's Galaxy S21 smartphones (Android Police)
* Nvidia launches A100 80GB GPU for supercomputers (VentureBeat)
* Samsung’s new Smart Monitor is like a TV for your PC (The Verge)
* HBO Max Is Finally Coming to Amazon Fire TV (Variety)
* 'Godspeed': 4 astronauts make history as SpaceX's 'Resilience' launches for Internationa…
Nov 13, 2020
Fri. 11/13 – The DoorDash S-1 Is Surprisingly Good
DoorDash files its S-1, and has a surprisingly good business, it looks like. The US backs down on TikTok. Is the whole Ant IPO thing, not business but personal? Why you should probably wait to download macOS Big Sur. How much Disney+ continues to kill it. And of course, the weekend longreads suggestions.
Sponsors:
* Calm.com/techmeme
* TinyCapital.com
Links:
* DoorDash files to go public (TechCrunch)
* U.S. Backs Down on TikTok (WSJ)
* China’s President Xi Jinping Personally Scuttled Jack Ma’s Ant IPO (WSJ)
* macOS Big Sur launch appears to cause temporary slowdown in even non-Big Sur Macs (Ars Technica)
* Disney Plus Hits 73.7 Million Subscribers As They Reach Their One-Year Anniversary (The Streamable)
Weekend Longreads Suggestions:
* Twitter Thread on ARM history (@kenfhirriff)
* China Has Caught Up To U.S. In AI, Says AI Expert Kai-Fu Lee (Forbes)
* Welcome Back to the Office. Please Wear This Tracking Device. (OneZero)
* Students Have To Jump…
Nov 12, 2020
Thu. 11/12 – The Google Photos Free-For-All Is Over
Why Google sunsetting the free version of its Photos service has so many people riled up. Apple’s TestFlight update should make beta testing apps easier. Amazon’s Alexa Care Hub should make caring for elderly relatives easier. A “bank on rails” is an interesting raise. And is the HomePod mini worth buying?
Sponsors:
* TinyCapital.com
* VistaPrint.com/techmeme
Links:
* Google Photos will end its free unlimited storage on June 1st, 2021 (The Verge)
* Google warns Google Drive users: Use it, or lose your files (Mashable)
* Google Photos Just Made the Case for Breaking Up Big Tech (OneZero)
* Apple updates TestFlight beta testing app with support for automatic updates (9to5Mac)
* Amazon Alexa Care Hub update will make it easier to help aging family members (CNBC)
* Railsbank, the Banking-as-a-Service, raises $37M in growth funding (TechCrunch)
* APPLE HOMEPOD MINI REVIEW: PLAYING SMALL BALL (The Verge)
Nov 11, 2020
Wed. 11/11 – Groundhog Day! Is TikTok Going Dark Tomorrow?
So wait, is TikTok facing shutdown again, as soon as tomorrow or… what? Some analysis on how well those M1 chips might actually perform. Ring doorbells are catching fire. The Hyperloop takes its first passengers for a ride. And does China now ALSO think that big tech has gotten too big?
Sponsors:
* VistaPrint.com/techmeme
* TinyCapital.com
Links:
* TikTok hasn’t heard from the Trump administration in weeks, prompting latest CFIUS petition (CNBC)
* Apple Announces The Apple Silicon M1: Ditching x86 - What to Expect, Based on A14 (AnAndTech)
* Samsung tops U.S. smartphone market in Q3: report (Yonhap News Agency)
* Roku Adds Apple AirPlay to 4K Devices, Which Gives Users New Workaround to Stream HBO Max and Other Mobile Apps (Variety)
* Ring recalls 350,000 smart doorbells after some of them caught fire (CNN Business)
* VIRGIN HYPERLOOP HITS AN IMPORTANT MILESTONE: THE FIRST HUMAN PASSENGER TEST (The Verge)
* China drafts new antitrust guideline to rein in…
Nov 10, 2020
Tue. 11/10 – The Apple Silicon Macs Are Here
Apple’s One More Thing Mac Event. The EU sues Amazon for antitrust. The Slingbox is no more. And, apparently, the MagSafe Duo charger is no good.
Sponsors:
* TinyCapital.com
* Wipers123.com, promocode: ride
Links:
* EU accuses Amazon of breaching antitrust rules (FT)
* Slingbox discontinued, services sunsetting (SlashGear)
* Walmart and Cruise launch pilot to deliver orders via self-driving cars (Venture Beat)
* Apple MagSafe Duo Charger Review: Useful, but expensive and underwhelming (TechCrunch)
Nov 9, 2020
Mon. 11/09 – Apple Mad At Pegatron
Apple is not happy with a key parts supplier. If you’re running an old version of android, you might be shut out of some important websites soon. Is SoftBank’s Vision Fund, back, baby? Is the Raspberry Pi 400 any good to use? And what can Silicon Valley expect from a Biden administration.
Sponsors:
* KiwiCo.com promocode: "ride" for 50% your first month
* TinyCapital.com
Links:
* Apple Freezes New Business for Pegatron on China Labor Abuse (Bloomberg)
* Zoom and other ‘stay-at-home’ stocks are getting crushed on the positive vaccine news (CNBC)
* Many websites will stop working on older Android versions in 2021 (Android Police)
* SoftBank Recovery Gains Ground With Vision Fund’s Record Profit (Bloomberg)
* Raspberry Pi 400 review—the under-$100 desktop PC you didn’t know you needed (Ars Technica)
* 'Awakened a sleeping giant': Parler jumps to most popular app as conservatives rally support to leave Twitter and Facebook (Washington Examiner)
* B…
Nov 7, 2020
(Bonus) Listener Call In III - Son Of The Call-in-a-ning
You know the drill...
Sponsors:
* Canva.me/ride
* Metalab.co
Nov 6, 2020
11/06 – Is It Too Soon To Start Talking About iPhone 13?
Is it too soon to start talking about the iPhone 13? It’s review day. Reviews of the iPhone 12 Mini, iPhone 12 Pro Max, and the PlayStation 5. Why I think the DOJ suing to block the Plaid acquisition is such a big deal. And of course, the weekend longreads suggestions.
Sponsors:
* Masterworks.io, promocode ride
* Metalab.co
Links:
* Kuo: iPhone 13 to Come in Same Four Model Sizes As iPhone 12, Pro Models to Feature Major Upgrade to Ultra Wide Camera (MacRumors)
* Sizing up the iPhone 12 mini and 12 Pro Max (The Verge)
* DOJ files antitrust lawsuit challenging Visa’s $5.3 billion acquisition of Plaid (TechCrunch)
* PLAYSTATION 5 REVIEW: A BIG, CONFIDENT STEP INTO NEXT GEN (The Verge)
Weekend Longreads Suggestions:
* Ben Thompson’s Stratechery, Part 2 (Tim Wu)
* The Xenobot Future Is Coming—Start Planning Now (Wired)
* 'This is revolutionary’: new online bookshop unites indies to rival Amazon (The Guardian)
* How a not-yet-mature web covered the…
Nov 5, 2020
Thu. 11/05 - WhatsApp Gets Disappearing Messages Ten Years After Snapchat!
WhatsApp gets disappearing messages ten years after Snapchat! A new entry-level, ultra-lightweight drone from DJI. Productivity laptops are getting interesting designs, ala gaming laptops. Ethereum 2.0 is coming. How and why Jack Ma pissed off the Chinese government. The Xbox Series X reviews are in. And Justice Department just sued to block Visa from buying Plaid. But that just broke, so I’m telling you it happened now. We’ll analyze it tomorrow.
Sponsors:
* Fundrise.com/techmeme
* Canva.me/ride
Links:
* WhatsApp now lets you post ephemeral messages that disappear after 7 days (TechCrunch)
* DJI Mini 2 drone arrives with 4K camera and ultra-portable design (SlashGear)
* Fortnite set to return to iPhones via Nvidia cloud gaming service (BBCNews)
* Ethereum 2.0 Set to Launch on December 1 (Decrypt)
* ‘The party is pushing back’: why Beijing reined in Jack Ma and Ant (Financial Times)
* TikTok Parent ByteDance Seeks to Raise Cash at $180 Billion Valuation (B…
Nov 4, 2020
Wed. 11/04 – Uber, Lyft, DoorDash, et al Win In California
Californians pass Proposition 22, and voters in Massachusetts strike a blow for the right to repair. You no longer need a phone to listen to Spotify on your watch. And why Walmart might partner with Comcast to make TVs, countries might force Netflix to produce content inside their own borders, and Hollywood is losing visual effects talent to Silicon Valley.
Sponsors:
* Canva.me/ride
* Metalab.co
Links:
* Uber, Lyft Win California Bid to Keep Drivers as Contractors (Bloomberg)
* Massachusetts voters pass right-to-repair expansion opening up car data (Engadget)
* Wish Spotify streamed on Apple Watch? The time has arrived for many (9to5Mac)
* China Tells Ant It Can’t Go Public Until Capital Shortfall Fixed (Bloomberg)
* Comcast, Walmart in Talks to Develop and Distribute Smart TVs (WSJ)
* Canada to Force Netflix, Amazon Prime to Pay for Local Content (The Hollywood Reporter)
* Big Tech Snags Hollywood Talent to Pursue Enhanced Reality (WSJ)
Link for tomorr…
Nov 3, 2020
Tue. 11/03 – Apple Silicon Coming To MacBook Pros Already?
So, that November 10th Apple event might see a full slate of Mac laptops with Apple Silicon inside. Why has Ant Group’s IPOs been called off? Why has Walmart called off plans to allow robots to roam its store aisles? And someone explain to me why Spotify’s proposed new algorithm changes aren’t a modern form of Payola?
Sponsors:
* Cava.me/ride
* CuriosityStream.com/ride promocode: ride
Links:
* Apple to Launch MacBooks With Own Chips Next Week (Bloomberg)
* China Halts Ant Group’s Blockbuster I.P.O. (NYTimes)
* China Halts Ant’s Record IPO, Throwing Ma’s Empire Into Turmoil (Bloomberg)
* AWS launches its next-gen GPU instances (TechCrunch)
* Walmart Scraps Plan to Have Robots Scan Shelves (WSJ)
* NASA objects to new mega-constellation, citing risk of “catastrophic collision” (ArsTechnica)
* Spotify will now allow artists and labels to promote tracks in your recommendations (TechCrunch)
Nov 2, 2020
Mon. 11/02 - Raspberry Pi Launches the Raspberry Pi 400
Raspberry Pi launches the Raspberry Pi 400. All the big platforms’ plans for election day and beyond. Huawei is gonna make its own chips because it has to. Gaming continues to lead the way into the future in so many ways. And the Kafkaesque nightmare of Google locking you out of all your accounts.
Sponsors:
* MintMobile.com/ride
* Metalab.co
Links:
* The Raspberry Pi 400 is a compact keyboard with a built-in computer (The Verge)
* What to Expect From Facebook, Twitter and YouTube on Election Day (NYTimes)
* Huawei develops plan for chip plant to help beat US sanctions (Financial Times)
* Tencent claims record 100M daily users on mobile game Honor of Kings (TechCrunch)
* What it's like to get locked out of Google indefinitely (Business Insider)
Oct 30, 2020
Fri. 10/30 – Netflix Raises Prices
Netflix raises prices. Because they can—and maybe because they should. Google wants to give you a free VPN. Samsung helps you find your galaxy of Galaxy things. A rundown of yesterday’s big day of tech earnings. And, of course, the weekend longreads suggestions.
Sponsors:
* Monday.com/ride
* Mailmanhq.com
Links:
* Netflix is raising the price of its most popular plan to $14 today, premium tier increasing to $18 (The Verge)
* Google One’s 2TB+ plans adding Android VPN, coming to iOS & Mac/Windows soon (9to5Google)
* SmartThings Find app can track down lost Samsung Galaxy devices (Engadget)
* Apple Reports Fourth Quarter Results (Apple Newsroom)
Weekend Longreads Suggestions:
* The 100X Club: Software Startup Valuations Skyrocket Despite Small Revenue (The Information)
* How Discord (somewhat accidentally) invented the future of the internet (Protocol)
* The Tech Antitrust Problem No One Is Talking About (Wired)
* Streaming was part of the future —…
Oct 29, 2020
Thu. 10/29 – Troubling Ransomware Attacks On Hospitals
Major warnings about a rash of ransomware attacks on US hospitals. The new AMD chips. MOAAR consolidation in the chip industry. Can I introduce you to Quantum Computing as a Service? And a reminder that as Hollywood moves to streaming first, you don’t own anything. Seriously. You’re just renting.
Sponsors:
* GetRoman.com/techmeme
* MailmanHQ.com
Links:
* Building wave of ransomware attacks strike U.S. hospitals (Reuters)
* AMD’s new Radeon RX 6800 XT promises to go head to head with Nvidia’s RTX 3080 (The Verge)
* It’s Official- Marvell Acquiring Inphi For $10B That Boosts Its Cloud And 5G Opportunities (Forbes)
* Honeywell announces its H1 quantum computer with 10 qubits (TechCrunch)
* Honeywell introduces quantum computing as a service with subscription offering (ZDNet)
* Microsoft plans big Windows 10 UI refresh in 2021 codenamed 'Sun Valley' (Windows Central)
* Samsung posts highest-ever quarterly revenue as demand roars back (CNET)
* Kuo:…
Oct 28, 2020
Wed. 10/28 – Does The iPhone 12 Have A Secret Reverse Wireless Charging Feature?
Does the iPhone 12 have secret reverse wireless charging just waiting to be turned on? More signs Apple might be building its own search engine. The headlines from today’s Section 230 Senate hearing. Is the DOJ gonna prevent Visa from acquiring Plaid? And how much would you pay Elon Musk to beam you internet from Space?
Sponsors:
* Calm.com/techmeme
* MailmanHQ.com
Links:
* Apple’s iPhone 12 seems to have a secret reverse wireless charging feature (The Verge)
* Apple develops alternative to Google search (Financial Times)
* Microsoft Q1 Earnings Release
* Republicans Accuse Zuckerberg and Dorsey of Censorship: Live Updates (NYTimes)
* Visa’s Planned Purchase of Plaid Faces Antitrust Scrutiny at the Justice Department (WSJ)
* SpaceX prices Starlink satellite internet service at $99 per month, according to e-mail (CNBC)
* Whoop Valued at $1.2 Billion With IVP, SoftBank, Eli Manning Backing (Bloomberg)
Oct 27, 2020
Tue. 10/27 – AMD Buys Xilinx for $35 Billion
AMD does indeed buy Xilinx for $35 billion dollars. The UK bans locked phones. Tinder rolls out video dating. Zoom finally rolls out encryption. A major breakthrough in OLED technology has major implications for VR and for porn. And why the no-code movement might actually usher in the true computing revolution we were promised all along.
Sponsors:
* MailmanHQ.com
* Monday.com/ride
Links:
* AMD Acquiring Xilinx In Bold, $35B Semiconductor Mega-Deal (Forbes)
* UK announces ban on sale of network-locked phones (Android Authority)
* Face to Face, Tinder's opt-in video chat feature, is now rolling out globally (TechCrunch)
* Zoom’s end-to-end encryption has arrived (The Verge)
* Porn is about to get uncomfortably high-res thanks to new OLED tech (Input)
* The No-Code Generation is arriving (TechCrunch)
Oct 26, 2020
Mon. 10/26 – New AirPods And AirPods Pro This Spring?
New AirPods and AirPods pro coming as soon as the spring? Facebook launches streaming gaming everywhere but guess where? Ant is the biggest IPO in history. SAP seems to be having Covid issues. And are you still working from home? Well, maybe keep an eye on your ISP’s data caps.
Sponsors:
* MailmanHQ.com
* Metalab.co
Links:
* Apple Developing Smaller AirPods Pro, Revamped Entry-Level Model (Bloomberg)
* Facebook launches cloud games but says Apple won’t allow it on iOS (CNBC)
* Ant Group to raise $34.5 billion, valuing it at over $313 billion, in biggest IPO of all time (CNBC)
* Ant Group Set to Raise $34 Billion in World’s Biggest I.P.O. (NYTimes)
* SAP Shares Collapse After Lockdowns Force Cuts to Revenue (Bloomberg)
* Fix, or Toss? The ‘Right to Repair’ Movement Gains Ground (NYTimes)
* Deleting Facebook Also Deletes Oculus Purchases And Account Information (UploadVR)
* Facebook Prepares Measures for Possible Election Unrest (WSJ)
* American…
Oct 24, 2020
(Bonus) Joshua Schachter And The del.icio.us Story
Joshua Schachter is mostly known these days as a prominent angel investor, but his claim to fame is as the founder of del.icio.us, one of THE sites and startups that convinced me and a lot of other people that the internet space wasn’t dead, in the wake of the dotcom bubble. So, consider this in the spirt of the longreads. A profile of a key startup and entrepreneur, that got the web and the world to where we are today.
Sponsors:
* BitTrustIRA.com/techmeme
* Monday.com/ride
* NewYorker.com/techmeme
Oct 23, 2020
Fri. 10/23 – What If PayPal Goes Big In Crypto?
Is PayPal making moves to become a major player in Crypto? A look at the two big ballot initiatives in California that Silicon Valley cares about and which the rest of the country might be affected by. Why YouTube is this election’s go-to place for campaigns to run ads, and of course, the weekend longreads suggestions.
Sponsors:
* Masterworks.io Promocode: ride
* Monday.com/ride
Links:
* PayPal in Talks to Buy Crypto Firms Including BitGo (Bloomberg)
* Uber, Lyft likely violated California labor law, appeals court finds (NBCNews)
* Google and Facebook hate a proposed privacy law. News publishers should embrace it. (Recode)
* YouTube Is So Flooded With Political Ads It Can’t Place Them All (Bloomberg)
Weekend Longreads:
* The Network: How a Secretive Phone Company Helped the Crime World Go Dark (Motherboard)
* Cloud gaming’s history of false starts and promising reboots (Polygon)
* 'Virtual' studios could offer a real alternative to green screen s…
Oct 22, 2020
Thu. 10/22 – Quibi QUIckly BItes The Dust
Quibi’s dead baby. Quibi’s dead. Jony Ive is going to design stuff for… Airbnb? The Mate 40 Pro is the best flagship smartphone you’ll probably never want to buy. What if Snapchat conquers India? The Bahamas launches the first official cryptocurrency for an entire country. And look out cause Tesla is turning on the self-driving beta starting now…
Sponsors:
* Monday.com/ride
* NewYorker.com/techmeme
Links:
* Quibi's Open Letter
* Quibi Is Shutting Down Barely Six Months After Going Live (WSJ)
* In defense of Quibi (Recode)
* Airbnb announces multi-year partnership with Jony Ive, a year after leaving Apple (9to5Mac)
* Huawei’s Mate 40 Pro is another powerful flagship that you won't buy (Engadget)
* Snapchat doubles down on India with new original series, games (The Economic Times)
* Central Bank of Bahamas Launches Landmark ‘Sand Dollar’ Digital Currency (Coindesk)
* Tesla is putting ‘self-driving’ in the hands of drivers amid criticism t…
Oct 21, 2020
Wed. 10/21 – PayPal Adds Crypto
Big news for crypto as PayPal adopts it, both for users to buy, but also, crucially, for them to spend. Facebook is testing a Nextdoor killer. Update on the Quibi deathwatch. Tech earnings snuck up on me and Evan Spiegel had a good night. And let’s end today with another review roundup. This time of the new iPad Air.
Sponsors:
* KiwiCo.com/ride
* Monday.com/ride
Links:
* PayPal to allow cryptocurrency buying, selling and shopping on its network (Reuters)
* Dropbox's family plan offers a shared 2TB for $17 per month (Engadget)
* Facebook Building Neighborhood Feature as Nextdoor Eyes IPO (Bloomberg)
* Katzenberg May Shut Down Quibi as Options Run Short (The Information)
* Netflix misses on subscriber additions and EPS (CNBC)
* Snap stock rockets up after surprise earnings beat (CNBC)
* APPLE IPAD AIR (2020) REVIEW: TAKE IT FROM THE PRO (The Verge)
* Apple iPad Air (2020) review: Who needs the iPad Pro? (Engadget)
* Review: iPad Air, smooth criminal (Te…
Oct 20, 2020
Tue. 10/20 – The DOJ Antitrust Suit Against Google
The Feds have finally thrown the book at Google. But the DOJ has also targeted the infamous Sandworm hackers. Intel sells its NAND memory unit as consolidation in chips continues. Microsoft partners with Elon Musk to take its battle with AWS to space. What product is Google abandoning today? And the iPhone 12 and 12 Pro reviews are here. Which one should you get?
* NewYorker.com/techmeme
* Monday.com/ride
Links:
* The DOJ sues Google for monopoly practices – and says there’s more to come (Protocol)
* Justice Department Files Antitrust Lawsuit Against Google (WSJ)
* U.S. Accuses Google of Illegally Protecting Monopoly (NYTimes)
* US charges Russian hackers behind NotPetya, KillDisk, OlympicDestroyer attacks (ZDNet)
* Intel Agrees to Sell Storage Unit to SK Hynix for $9 Billion (Bloomberg)
* Google confirms the Nest Secure has been discontinued (Android Police)
* Google discontinues its Google Nest Secure alarm system (The Verge)
* Microsoft launches Az…
Oct 19, 2020
Mon. 10/19 – Apple Launches Apple Music TV (A-MTV? iMTV?)
Apple wants to you to want your A-MTV. iMTV? I dunno. Apple has launched a music videos channel. The new Samsung Galaxies might be coming sooner than ever. The company bringing AR to car windshields. And why Japan saying it’s getting on the regulate tech bandwagon might be the tipping point for the entire sector.
Sponsors:
* ExtraHop.com/techmeme
* Monday.com/ride
Links:
* Apple Launches ‘Apple Music TV,’ a 24-Hour Music Video Livestream (Variety)
* iPhone 12 mini has 2,227 mAh battery, new models will likely be assembled in Brazil and India [U] (9to5Mac)
* Samsung Galaxy S21 and S21 Ultra leaked in full, confirms January 2021 launch (AndroidCentral)
* The British Company That’s Bringing Augmented Reality to Your Windshield (Bloomberg)
* Facebook’s and YouTube’s algorithms might soon be a bit less mysterious (Fast Company)
* Japan to join forces with U.S., Europe in regulating Big Tech firms: antitrust watchdog head (Reuters)
* Tech’s Influenc…
Oct 17, 2020
(Bonus) What Is DeFi? With CoinDesk's Brady Dale
I don’t think I’ve made any bones about the fact that I blow hot and cold on crypto. Sometimes I grow frustrated that it always seems to be a lot of sound and fury, ultimately signifying nothing. Or at least, not amounting to much that touches normal people’s lives. I dunno if that’s a fair way to look at crypto or not. But at the same time, there is no single corner of tech that has more activity, that has more passion and energy and, just pure, crazy creativity. Lots of people in crypto have adopted my book about the first half of the Internet Era because they hope it’s a guide for how, just when everyone has written off a movement, that’s when it finally breaks through. And I’ll admit, that’s why I keep my eye on a space. That’s why the activity around DeFi has caught my eye. By some measurements, this is crypto actually being USED, in a tangible real world way, and in volumes of activity we’ve never seen before. Is DeFi actually fulfilling the original economic…
Oct 16, 2020
Fri. 10/16 – You Can Now Hum To Search Music On Google
Google now lets you whistle or hum to search, which sounds crazy I know, or crazy cool. Are we due for one more Apple event this year? The FCC wants to kill section 230 but actually can’t. Could you do machine learning with practically no data to learn off of? And of course, the weekend longreads suggestions.
Sponsors:
* NewYorker.com/techmeme
* TinyCapital.com
Links:
* Google’s new ‘hum to search’ feature can figure out the song that’s stuck in your head (The Verge)
* Apple might hold another event on November 17 to introduce first Apple Silicon Mac (9to5Mac)
* Trump Foes Fume Over FCC’s Efforts to Rein In Twitter (Bloomberg)
* A radical new technique lets AI learn with practically no data (MIT Technology Review)
Weekend Longreads Suggestions:
* Lidar used to cost $75,000—here’s how Apple brought it to the iPhone (Ars Technica)
* Car design is about to change forever. This video encapsulates how (Fast Company)
* Clear Conquered U.S. Airpo…
Oct 15, 2020
Thu. 10/15 – Xbox Series X Preview
It’s hardware review Thursday! Reviews of the Xbox Series X, Google Pixel 5 AND 4a 5G. SOME of the new iPhones are getting extra RAM. Room-temperature superconductivity has been achieved for the first time and what that could mean. Landscape is an interesting raise. And Adam Neumann is back… and so is WeWork.
Sponsors:
* NewYorker.com/techmeme
* TinyCapital.com
Links:
* XBOX SERIES X PREVIEW: THE NEXT GEN FEELS LIKE A PC (The Verge)
* GOOGLE PIXEL 4A 5G REVIEW: MORE THAN JUST A BIGGER BUDGET PHONE (The Verge)
* Google Pixel 5 review: An off year for Pixel fans (Engadget)
* iPhone 12 Pro Models Have 6GB of RAM, iPhone 12 and 12 Mini Remain at 4GB (MacRumors)
* Room-temperature superconductivity has been achieved for the first time (MIT Technology Review)
* WeWork’s Adam Neumann Returns to Real Estate With Startup Investment (Bloomberg)
* Landscape site launches with the aim of becoming the 'Glassdoor for VC' (TechCrunch)
Oct 14, 2020
Wed. 10/14 – iPhone 12 Pricing and Availability Surprises
Picking up some odds and ends from yesterday’s iPhone event, including some eyebrow raising clarifications on price and availability. Zoom is indeed trying to be a platform by bringing apps to your calls. You know DeFi is hot when everyone is suddenly rebranding themselves as DeFi. And is Dropbox leading the way to a virtual work future?
Sponsors:
* BlueNile.com, code RIDE for $50 off your purchase of over $750.
* ForHims.com/tech
Links:
* The iPhone 12’s mysterious groove is a 5G mmWave antenna window — and it’s exclusive to the US (The Verge)
* iPhone 12 actually costs $829, advertised $799 price includes ‘carrier special offers’ (9to5Mac)
* Snapchat among first to leverage iPhone 12 Pro’s LiDAR Scanner for AR (TechCrunch)
* Zoom launches its events platform and marketplace, brings apps to your calls (TechCrunch)
* ‘DeFi’ Replaces ‘Blockchain’ as the Must-Have Crypto Moniker (Bloomberg)
* Dropbox is the latest San Francisco tech company…
Oct 13, 2020
Tue. 10/13 – The iPhone 12 Event: All The Deets
All the details from the iPhone 12 event. PC shipments go into the category of “doing well in covid times.” Disney announces a reorg to emphasize its streaming strategy. And following up on that whole Foxconn factory in Wisconsin promise. Hint: it looks like vaporware.
Sponsors:
* BuyRaycon.com/tech
* ForHims.com/tech
Links:
* Techmeme Headline Cluster About the iPhone 12 Pro
* Techmeme Headline Cluster About the iPhone 12
* Techmeme Headline Cluster About the iPhone 12 mini
* PC shipments climb in Q3, Gartner and IDC report(ZDNet)
* The Digital Divide Starts With a Laptop Shortage (NYTimes)
* Disney says its ‘primary focus’ for entertainment is streaming — announces a major reorg (CNBC)
* Wisconsin denies Foxconn tax subsidies after contract negotiations fail (The Verge)
Oct 12, 2020
Mon. 10/12 – Nest’s New Smart Thermostat Ditches the Rotating Dial
Google’s Nest thermostat is ditching the iconic dial design. Will regulators first ask Google to divest itself of Chrome? A big takedown of a botnet that could have influenced the election. Update on Quibi’s shopping itself around. And why Covid has made Caterpillar hit the gas on robo-construction machines.
Sponsors:
* Masterworks.io, select PODCAST, then promocode: RIDE
* ForHims.com/tech
Links:
* Google’s Nest announces new smart thermostat with simpler design, lower price (The Verge)
* Feds may target Google’s Chrome browser for breakup (Politico)
* Microsoft and others orchestrate takedown of TrickBot botnet (ZDNet)
* Microsoft takes down massive hacking operation that could have affected the election (CNN Business)
* Katzenberg Strikes Out on Quibi Sale Efforts, So Far (The Information)
* Twilio confirms it is buying Segment for $3.2B in an all-stock deal (TechCrunch)
* On Facebook, Misinformation Is More Popular Now Than in 2016 (NYTimes)
*…
Oct 9, 2020
Fri. 10/09 – Microsoft Game Pass To Do An App Store End-run?
Again, could Gaming, and Microsoft specifically, be the thing that cracks the App Store open? More hints of consolidation in the semiconductor industry that is massively in flux. A major milestone in self-driving cars has been passed. Could hybrid cable-fiber networks compete with 5G. And in the weekend longreads suggestions, what operating systems do NASA’s spacecraft actually run on?
Sponsors:
* ForHims.com/tech
* Monday.com/ride
Links:
* Microsoft told employees it plans to release a browser-based app for the Xbox Game Pass streaming service next year that will get around Apple App Store rules: 'We absolutely will end up on iOS' (BusinessInsider)
* Microsoft app store playbook swipes at Apple, Google (Axios)
* AMD Is in Advanced Talks to Buy Xilinx (WSJ)
* Waymo Begins Fully Driverless Rides for All Arizona Customers (Bloomberg)
* Google Assistant finally works with some third-party apps (Engadget)
* Comcast says gigabit downloads and uploads are now poss…
Oct 8, 2020
Thu. 10/08 – AMD Zen 3 Ryzen 5000 CPUs Announced
Bunch of new chip announcements from AMD. Facebook is pausing all political ads… after the election. Square puts its money where its mouth is when it comes to bitcoin. Triller is an interesting TikTok competitor. And what is it with photo startups always wanting to go all nostalgic and analog?
Sponsors:
* ForHims.com/tech
* Monday.com/ride
Links:
* AMD reveals its new Zen 3 Ryzen 5000 processors, including the ‘world’s best gaming CPU’ (The Verge)
* Facebook to temporarily halt political ads in U.S. after polls close Nov. 3, broadening earlier restrictions (The Washington Post)
* Google is adding cross-app account security alerts on iOS (The Verge)
* Jack Dorsey’s Square purchases $50 million worth of bitcoin (The Block)
* Airbnb Burned Through $1.2 Billion as IPO Loomed (The Information)
* Fancy Cars, Fine Dining, Creator Mansions, Cash: Triller Is Shelling Out for Talent (NYTimes)
* Reddit Co-founder Alexis Ohanian’s New Venture Fund Invests in…
Oct 7, 2020
Wed 10/07 – The House Antitrust Report
The House has released its big antitrust report on big tech. Facebook has banned Qanon everywhere it can. DDR5 chips are finally here. Shogun is an interesting raise. And could a VR infinity treadmill be the next home workout hit, AND the first step to Star Trek’s holodeck?
Sponsors:
* Monday.com/ride
* Wipers123.com Promocode: RIDE
Links:
* House Democrats say Facebook, Amazon, Alphabet, Apple enjoy ‘monopoly power’ and recommend big changes (CNBC)
* House Lawmakers Condemn Big Tech’s ‘Monopoly Power’ and Urge Their Breakups (NYTimes)
* Facebook completely bans QAnon and labels it a ‘militarized social movement’ (The Verge)
* SK Hynix Launches World's First DDR5 DRAM Modules Rated At 4.8 Gbps And Beyond (HotHardware)
* Shogun raises $35M to help brands take on Amazon with faster and better sites of their own (TechCrunch)
* This extremely slippery VR treadmill could be your next home gym (The Verge)
Oct 6, 2020
Tue. 10/06 - G Suite Is No More! (But Don’t Worry)
G Suite is no more! But don’t worry. It’s just a name change. Apple is removing non-Apple headphones from its stores. And AT&T is killing DSL. Why that’s a problem for a lot of people. Putting interactive advertising on convenience store coolers is sort of obvious. But why it SHOULD be obvious that an internet connected chastity belt is a bad idea.
Sponsors:
* Monday.com/ride
* Fundrise.com/techmeme
Links:
* G Suite is now Google Workspace (TechCrunch)
* Apple Stops Selling Rival Earphones, Speakers Ahead of Launches (Bloomberg)
* Facebook's Portal adds support for Netflix, Zoom and other features (TechCrunch)
* AT&T kills DSL, leaves tens of millions of homes without fiber Internet (Ars Technica)
* Cooler Screens raises $80M to bring interactive screens into cooler aisles (TechCrunch)
* Security flaw left ‘smart’ chastity sex toy users at risk of permanent lock-in (TechCrunch)
Oct 5, 2020
Mon. 10/05 – Nvidia’s Zoom-Killer, “Maxine”
Nvidia’s new platform to fix video calls. Surprisingly, Facebook says breaking up Facebook is impossible. Google slow rolls enforcement of the 30% take on the Play Store in India. A couple of direct Covid-related tech stories. And I catch you up on the whole DeFi phenomenon in crypto that has made transaction volume on the Ethereum blockchain skyrocket 1200% in just three months.
Sponsors:
* WeWorkRemotely.com
* MintMobile.com/ride
Links:
* Nvidia unveils Maxine, a managed cloud AI videoconferencing service (VentureBeat)
* Nvidia says its AI can fix some of the biggest problems in video calls (The Verge)
* Facebook Says Government Breakup of Instagram, WhatsApp Would Be ‘Complete Nonstarter’ (WSJ)
* Google defers 30% in-app commission in India to April 2022 after protests (The Economic Times India)
* Google delays mandating Play Store payments rule in India to April 2022 (TechCrunch)
* Ethereum Dapp Volumes Hit $120 Billion in Third Quarter (Decrypt)
*…
Oct 3, 2020
(Bonus) The Creator Economy Opportunity With @JoshConstine
For years, I quoted Josh Constine on this show because he was one of the breaking news-iest folks over at TechCrunch for years. Well, now he’s gone the well worn TC to VC route, and is a principal at SignalFire. I noticed Josh had his name on a SignalFire report looking at the creator ecosystem, not as some sort of weird outlier, but as an actual, mature economy. It’s the best breakdown I’ve seen of the creator economy overall… as we say extensively, currently the fastest growing category of startup business. So, I called up Josh to discuss the report. It’s linked in the show notes if you want to read it for yourself, but listen to this episode. If you’re not taking creators seriously as entrepreneurs and a category of startups, you’re missing the boat on something big. Enjoy.
SignalFire’s Creator Economy Market Map
Sponsors:
* BuyRaycon.com/tech
* Metalab.co
* TinyCapital.com
Oct 2, 2020
Fri. 10/02 – Tesla Smashes Its Previous Delivery Record
Tesla continues to smash records. Facebook has announced big changes for Groups, and folks are concerned it will smash the platform further. A new startup claims to have smashed quantum computing records. And of course, we’ll smash the weekend longreads suggestions. Here’s what you missed today in the world of tech. Smash.
Sponsors:
* Metalab.co
* Liftoff.to
* MarketingPlay.com; email info@marketingplay.com
Links:
* Tesla delivered 139,300 vehicles in the third quarter, smashing its previous record (The Verge)
* HP’s new Spectre x360 14 laptop has a 3:2 aspect ratio plus a Thunderbolt 4 port hiding in the corner (The Verge)
* Facebook will start surfacing some public group discussions in people’s News Feeds and search results (The Verge)
* Startup IonQ drastically ups the quantum computing ante (Fortune)
Weekend Longreads Suggestions:
* What Opening Day for Asana and Palantir Says About Private Tech Stock Values (The Information)
* Techie Software…
Oct 1, 2020
Thu. 10/01 – New Surface Laptop Go: Smaller Display, $549
New Surface Laptop Go and Surface Pro X from Microsoft. Google is going to pay $1 billion dollars to support journalism. Google has a Photos update, but why is Stadia already looking shaky? And a textbook example of a developer’s dream of overnight success that was actually years in the making.
Sponsors:
* MasterWorks.io: Promocode RIDE to skip the waiting list!
* Metalab.co
Links:
* Microsoft’s new $549 Surface Laptop Go aims to compete with Chromebooks (The Verge)
* Microsoft updates the Surface Pro X with a new processor option (Engadget)
* Google will spend $1 billion to pay publishers for news showcase (Axios)
* Improved Google Photos editor is rolling out now on Android (The Verge)
* The new Chromecast with Google TV won’t officially support Stadia at launch (The Verge)
* Palantir closes below first trade after NYSE debut (CNBC)
* Six Figures in 6 days (tr.af)
Sep 30, 2020
Wed. 09/30 – The New Pixel Phones, Chromecast and More From Today’s Google Event
All the news from the Google Launch Night. Say hello to Google TV. Say hello to a new Chromecast and the new Nest Audio smartspeaker. Say hello to the Pixel 4a 5G and the new Pixel 5. But is this a new pivot to midmarket for the Pixel line, or is it the end of the road? The grand unification of Facebook apps continues. And Rally is an interesting raise that lets you invest in… baseball cards?
Sponsors:
* Liftoff.to
* Calm.com/techmeme
* Metalab.co
Links:
* Here’s what the new Chromecast’s Google TV software looks like (The Verge)
* Google launches Nest Audio speaker, successor to Google Home, available Oct. 5 for $99 (9to5Google)
* Google's Pixel 5 includes 5G and an ultrawide camera for $699 (Engadget)
* Facebook introduces cross-app communication between Messenger and Instagram, plus other features (TechCrunch)
* Microsoft’s Bing Will Have Key Slot on Some New Android Phones (Bloomberg)
* Rally raises $17M to expand a platform that lets you invest i…
Sep 29, 2020
Tue. 09/29 - With Amazon One, Amazon Wants You To Pay With Your Palm
With Amazon One, Amazon wants you to pay with your palm. Google is trying the carrot and the stick approach with its App Store controversies. What if Zoom was redesigned specifically for remote learning? The world’s first foldable PC is here. And why another Netflix price hike is likely coming soon.
Sponsors:
* Metalab.co
* LinkedIn.com/ride
* Datatribe.com/challenge
Links:
* Amazon will now let you pay with your palm in its stores (Recode)
* Google Demands 30% Cut From App Developers in Its Play Store (NYTimes)
* Judge suggests Apple vs Epic should go to jury, trial expected in July 2021 (Apple Insider)
* Google Meet brings noise cancellation to Android and iOS, adds attendance reports for schools (9to5Google)
* Zoom's earliest investors are betting millions on a better Zoom for schools (TechCrunch)
* The world’s first foldable PC is now available to order from Lenovo (The Verge)
* Disney+ now lets you binge watch with friends, even when you're not t…
Sep 28, 2020
Mon. 09/28 – Roku’s New $130 Streambar and Updated $100 Roku Ultra
Roku launches a Streambar and an Ultra with Dolby Vision. Dell updates the XPS 13 lineup. TikTok is still ticking, as of this moment. Will we see the return of the mini moniker, with an iPhone 12 Mini that might not actually be that small? Amazon Prime day lives again, but the days are numbered for the original Farmville.
Sponsors:
* Metalab.co
* Liftoff.to
Links:
* Roku’s Streambar is a compact soundbar with built-in streaming smarts (The Verge)
* Roku Unveils Redesigned $100 Ultra Streaming Box, Will Add Ability to Stream HBO Max via Apple AirPlay (Variety)
* Dell updated its 13-inch XPS laptops with 11th-gen Intel CPUs (Engadget)
* TikTok Wins Reprieve From U.S. Ban (NYTimes)
* Prepare for the ‘iPhone 12 mini,’ suggest recent leaks (The Verge)
* LinkedIn launches Stories, plus Zoom, BlueJeans and Teams video integrations as part of wider redesign (TechCrunch)
* SpaceX’s Starlink satellites could make US Army navigation hard to jam (MIT Technology…
Sep 26, 2020
(Bonus) TikTok's Secret Sauce With Eugene Wei and A16Z's 16 Minutes Podcast
Eugene Wei and Sonal Chokshi explain plainly how and why TikTok is an evolutionary (and algorithmic) step beyond the social graph.
* Eugene's original essay, TikTok and the Sorting Hat
* Subscribe to 16 Minutes News by a16z (podcast)
Sep 25, 2020
Fri. 09/25 – Amazon Announces The Luna Cloud Gaming Service
All the headlines from Amazon’s hardware event. New Echo devices. Amazon is getting into cloud gaming with Luna. And ring has a literal drone that will fly around the inside of your house for the purposes of sentry duty. Interesting acquisition from Apple continues to point to them doing something big in podcasts. And of course, the weekend longreads suggestions.
Sponsors:
* PayPal App
* Amazon.com/techmeme
Links:
* A closer look at Luna, Amazon's cloud gaming service (Engadget)
* Amazon announces all-new Echo, Echo Dot, Echo Dot with Clock (CNBC)
* AMAZON’S NEW ECHO SHOW 10 MOVES TO LOOK AT YOU (The Verge)
* Ring’s latest security camera is a drone that flies around inside your house (The Verge)
* Amazon’s Bizarre Home Drone Flies Around Inside Your House (Wired)
* Apple Buys Startup That Creates Radio-Like Stations for Podcasts (Bloomberg)
Weekend Longreads Suggestions:
* Huang’s Law Is the New Moore’s Law, and Explains Why Nvidia Wants Arm (…
Sep 24, 2020
Thu. 09/24 – The Rebel Alliance Forming To Battle App Stores
The Rebel Alliance has a name: The Coalition for App Fairness. Microsoft will make office available without a subscription. Software as a purchase, if you will, instead of a subscription. Radical. Say hello to the Galaxy S20 FE. And does the gaming industry make pre-orders and console launches so messy on purpose?
Sponsors:
* Amazon.com/techmeme
* PayPal App
Links:
* Epic, Spotify and others ally against Apple and Google app policies (Engadget)
* New Microsoft Office on the way for people who don't want a subscription (Windows Central)
* The Samsung Galaxy S20 FE brings some flagship specs at a $699 price (The Verge)
* Google Maps gets a COVID-19 layer (TechCrunch)
* Sneaker Platform Goat Group Raises $100 Million to Fund Expansion Plans (WSJ)
* How a marked-up term sheet and messy rollout threw TikTok deal into disarray (Reuters)
* THE GAMING INDUSTRY KEEPS FAILING MISERABLY AT SELLING ITS MOST IMPORTANT PRODUCTS (The Verge)
Sep 23, 2020
Wed. 09/23 – Microsoft “Exclusively” Licenses GPT-3
All the announcements and headlines from Microsoft’s Ignite 2020. Microsoft is exclusively licensing Open AI’s GPT-3. Google has debuted an Airtable rival called Tables. Ming-Chi Kuo thinks we’ll see an iPad with mini-LED by the end of the year. What happened during Tesla’s “battery day.” Pinterest has launched Story Pins and how Spotify is enabling SEO spam in audio form.
Sponsors:
* Amazon.com/techmeme
* PayPal App
* JoinFightCamp.com/techmeme
Links:
* Microsoft challenges Twilio with the launch of Azure Communications Services (TechCrunch)
* Azure Orbital launches Microsoft into cloud-based space race with Amazon (GeekWire)
* Microsoft Teams is getting virtual commutes and Headspace meditation (VentureBeat)
* Google launches a work-tracking tool and Airtable rival, Tables (TechCrunch)
* Swift language tools now available for Windows 10 (iMore)
* Kuo: Mini-LED Displays to Debut in Apple's Next iPad Pro (MacRumors)
* Tesla CEO Elon Musk says…
Sep 22, 2020
Tue. 09/22 – Quibi Is “Exploring Options”
Quibi is exploring its options, as they say. The Google Antitrust suit could come next week. Why do you have to return the entire Apple Watch if your wristband doesn’t fit? The CIA has a new plan to compete with Silicon Valley for talent. The SEC and OCC sign off on stablecoins. And the strategy behind Microsoft’s big play for Bethesda.
Sponsors:
* Amazon.com/techmeme
* PayPal App
Links:
* Quibi Explores Strategic Options Including Possible Sale (WSJ)
* Justice Department expected to brief state attorneys general this week on imminent Google antitrust lawsuit (Washington Post)
* PSA: New Apple Watch Owners Have to Return Entire Device for Ill-Fitting Solo Loop or Braided Solo Loop (MacRumors)
* A $50 Phone is Ambani's Weapon to Dominate India Telecom Market (Bloomberg)
* SEC, OCC Issue First Regulatory Clarifications for Stablecoins (CoinDesk)
* CIA’s new tech recruiting pitch: More patents, more profits (MIT Technology Review)
* You can now stream yo…
Sep 21, 2020
Mon. 09/21 – ByteDance Says It Won. Trump Says Not So Fast. TikTok Continues… For Now.
It looked like we had a TikTok deal the president liked. Then ByteDance went and pointed out they still had control. Now, I dunno where we’re at. Microsoft buys Bethesda. The founder of Nikola steps down in murky circumstances. And Amazon wants to use your Echo and Tile devices for a true Internet of Things network.
Sponsors:
* Amazon.com/techmeme
* PayPal App
Links:
* Trump Blesses Oracle’s TikTok Deal, Delays App Store Ban (Bloomberg)
* TikTok deal hit by confusion over who will own and control the app (FT)
* Judge halts Trump administration order banning WeChat from Apple and Google app stores (CNBC)
* Microsoft purchases Bethesda Softworks in industry-changing acquisition [Updated] (ArsTechnica)
* With $100M in funding, Playco is already a mobile gaming unicorn (TechCrunch)
* Nikola Founder Trevor Milton Resigns as Executive Chairman Amid Fraud Allegations (WSJ)
* Nikola’s chairman steps down, stock crashes following allegations of fraud (TechCrunc…
Sep 18, 2020
Fri. 09/18 – WeChat Officially Banned On Sunday. TikTok Only Kinda Banned.
The Commerce Department officially has brought the hammer down. WeChat is banned on Sunday. TikTok banned on Sunday too, but it’s complicated. PayTM is banned from the Google Play Store in India. Facebook decides that Facebook is too toxic for its own workers to use. And of course, the weekend longreads suggestions.
Sponsors:
* Fundrise.com/techmeme
* PayPal App
Links:
* Trump to block downloads of TikTok, WeChat on Sunday (CNBC)
* Google pulls India's Paytm app from Play Store for repeat policy violations (TechCrunch)
* iOS 14 default app settings automatically reset to Mail and Safari after reboot (9to5Mac)
* Apple is making Shazam a bigger part of your iPhone (The Verge)
* Facebook is cracking down on groups that give health advice and promote violence (CNBC)
Weekend Longreads Suggestions:
* Exclusive: The Billionaire Who Wanted To Die Broke . . . Is Now Officially Broke (Forbes)
* ‘Interactive entertainment is the standard bearer of the entertainme…
Sep 17, 2020
Thu. 09/17 – PS5 Details Revealed. But Good Luck Pre-Ordering!
We have the launch date and price for the Playstation 5. An update on the TikTok and WeChat situations. Why the Snowflake IPO was such a big deal, and such a big success. Red Ventures is affiliate marketing on steroids. And what if I told you the coolest new bit of gear that people got turned on to during the last Apple event was an office chair. But it is Jony Ive’s favorite office chair.
Sponsors:
* Liftoff.to
* PayPal App
* MarketingPlay.com; email info@marketingplay.com
Links:
* PlayStation 5 preorders: Sony reveals release date and price (VentureBeat)
* The PS5 will launch on November 12th for $499.99 (The Verge)
* Sony confirms PS5’s first-party launch lineup and free game upgrade plans for PS4 titles (The Verge)
* Oracle’s TikTok Bid Leaves Open Some U.S. Security Concerns (Bloomberg)
* Pro Rata Newsletter (Dan Primack/Axios)
* Snowflake IPO Spurs Flood of Wealth for Silicon Valley Elite (Bloomberg)
* ‘Helping people discover information’…
Sep 16, 2020
Wed. 09/16 – Facebook Unveils The Oculus Quest 2
Facebook unveils the Oculus Quest 2, as a part of its Facebook Connect (formerly Oculus Connect) event. Amazon Music gets podcasts. Spotify puts the Apple One bundle on blast. Developers have found yet another reason to get pissed at Apple. And AT&T is not only bringing advertising to HBO, they want to add ads to you phone as well.
Sponsors:
* PayPal App
* ExtraHop.com/techmeme
Links:
* Oculus Quest 2 delivers standalone VR with sharper 90Hz screens for $299 (Engadget)
* OCULUS QUEST 2 REVIEW: BETTER, CHEAPER VR (The Verge)
* Snowflake is largest software IPO ever (Axios)
* Amazon Music Joins Podcasting Fray (WSJ)
* Driver Charged in Uber’s Fatal 2018 Autonomous Car Crash (NYTimes)
* Spotify says Apple One bundle is a 'threat to collective freedom' (Apple Insider)
* Apple accuses Epic of ‘starting a fire and pouring gasoline on it’ in new Fortnite filing (The Verge)
* Apple surprised iPhone users with a next-day iOS 14 release. App developers are p…
Sep 15, 2020
Tue. 09/15 – The Apple “Time Flies” Event
A full rundown of the Time Flies event from Apple. New Apple Watches, including an Apple Watch SE. Refreshed iPad, but redesigned iPad Air that is giving the iPad Pro a run for its money. An Apple Fitness+ subscription program. An Apple One subscription bundle. And meanwhile, Sony cuts PlayStation 5 production, we have a date for Google’s Pixel 5 launch and why it might actually be a good idea to put your data center at the bottom of the ocean.
Sponsors:
* LiftOff.to
* PayPal App
Links:
* Techmeme Headline Rundown of the Apple Event
* Sony Cuts PlayStation 5 Forecast by 4 Million Due to Chip Woes (Bloomberg)
* Sen. Hawley calls for US to reject Oracle’s TikTok deal (The Verge)
* We’re Heading Toward the Worst Possible Outcome on TikTok (Intelligencer)
* Google to launch Pixel 5, new Chromecast, and smart speaker on September 30th (The Verge)
* Microsoft pulls underwater data center back to the surface to assess benefits of deep-sea cloud (GeekWire)
Sep 14, 2020
Mon. 09/14 – Has Oracle Saved TikTok (In The US)?
Has Oracle saved TikTok, in the US at least? Let me explain why it’s not actually buying anything, probably isn’t solving the security problem Microsoft says it would have, and China is keeping its hands on the algorithm. On a normal day, news of Nvidia buying ARM would have been the headline. Airtable is an interesting raise. And who has more pie on their face: OnePlus or US Customs agents?
Sponsors:
* PayPal App
* BuyRaycon.com/tech
Links:
* Oracle Wins Bid for TikTok in U.S., Beating Microsoft (WSJ)
* It’s Official- NVIDIA Acquires Arm For $40 Billion To Create What Could Be A Computing Juggernaut (Forbes)
* Verizon to Buy TracFone in Deal Valued at Up to $7 Billion (WSJ)
* Airtable raises $185M and launches new low-code and automation features (TechCrunch)
* Feds proudly announce seizure of ‘counterfeit Apple AirPods’ that are actually OnePlus Buds (The Verge)
* The LG Wing’s twisting screen offers a new spin on the dual-screen smartphone (The…
Sep 12, 2020
(Bonus) The TikTok Sales Saga With @Kantrowitz
The TikTok saga. It’s gonna end. Or it’s gonna happen. Or it’s gonna… something in the next few days. Will it be sold? Will it not be? Will it be banned in the US. There are so many angles here. So many interesting ways to tease out something that is unprecedented in the world of Tech. Alex Kantrowitz pinged me to talk about it and he’s a good dude to do so because he wrote a book about the big tech platforms, and, as we get into… this is so rare. A big up and coming platform that is just, for weird a-historical reasons, being offered up on a platter for the other powers that be to… maybe take over? I quoted Alex when he was at Buzzfeed for years. But as we discuss at the end, Alex has gone solo! Check out his newsletter Big Technology. Check out his podcast, Big Technology.
Sep 11, 2020
Fri. 09/11 – Microsoft Says The Hackers Are Coming For The Election
Microsoft warns that hackers working for Russia, China and Iran are escalating their attacks surrounding the upcoming US Presidential election. I lied…. Apple has blinked in the Epic Games/App Store battle, at least a little bit. A profile of everyone’s favorite note taking startup, Roam. And, of course, the weekend longreads suggestions.
Sponsors:
* DoubleUp.agency
* Today In Digital Marketing Podcast
Links:
* Russia, China and Iran launched cyberattacks on presidential campaigns, Microsoft says (NBC News)
* Epic says that Sign in with Apple for Fortnite will still work after all (iMore)
* ‘Apple One’ subscription bundle confirmed by Apple Music for Android ahead of Sept. 15 event (9to5Google)
* A $200 Million Seed Valuation for Roam Shows Investor Frenzy for Note-Taking Apps (The Information)
Weekend Longreads Suggestions:
* Apple's Rising Class of Leaders Will Shape a Post-Tim Cook Era (Bloomberg)
* Your Phone Wasn’t Built for the Apocalypse (Th…
Sep 10, 2020
Thu. 09/10 – “Campus” Is Facebook, But For College Kids (Insert Joke Here)
Facebook goes back to its roots by going back to school with Campus. The Long-Term Stock Exchange is ready for its closeup. The former head of the NSA is joining Amazon’s board. The second-gen Motorola Razr is here. And an in-depth review and assessment of whether or not Microsoft’s Surface Duo knows what it wants to be.
Sponsors:
* Doubleup.agency
* Today In Digital Marketing Podcast
Links:
* Facebook reinvents Facebook with the launch of Campus for college students (The Verge)
* Former NSA chief Keith Alexander has joined Amazon’s board of directors (The Verge)
* Former NSA chief Keith Alexander has joined Amazon’s board of directors (The Verge)
* Motorola’s second-gen foldable Razr adds 5G, better cameras, and a chance at redemption (The Verge)
* Bose announces $279 QuietComfort Earbuds and $179 Sport Earbuds (The Verge)
* MICROSOFT SURFACE DUO REVIEW: DOUBLE TROUBLES (The Verge)
* TikTok, U.S. Discuss Ways to Avoid Sale (WSJ)
Sep 9, 2020
Wed. 09/09 – Clarifications And Follow-Ups
Clarifying the news on the new Xbox consoles, as well as next week’s Apple event. Apple sues Epic Games for breach of contract. Android 11 is here if you can get it. A new Yubikey now has USB-C goodness. And more indications that 5G is going to continue to be super, annoyingly disappointing.
Sponsors:
* DoubleUp.agency
* JoinFightCamp.com/techmeme
Links:
* Xbox Series X launches on November 10th for $499 (The Verge)
* Microsoft is adding EA Play to Xbox Game Pass (Engadget)
* Nintendo Boosts Switch Production by Another 20% (Bloomberg)
* Apple to Hold Sept. 15 Online Launch Event to Reveal New Watch (Bloomberg)
* Apple doubles down in fight with Fortnite creator Epic Games, seeks damages for breach of contract (CNBC)
* Fortnite is launching a concert series it hopes will become a ‘tour stop’ for artists (The Verge)
* Google’s new ‘Verified Calls’ feature will tell you why a business is calling you (TechCrunch)
* Taboola and Outbrain end talks…
Sep 8, 2020
Tue. 09/08 – Xbox Series X and (Series S!) Details Revealed
The details around the new Xbox’s have been revealed. China wants to draw definitive global lines in the tech cold war. Google makes a big bet on the “no code” movement. Content pirates have suffered a historic setback. Was Masa Son pumping up the entire stock market. And we know when the iPhone event will be.
Sponsors:
* MintMobile.com/ride
* DoubleUp.agency
Links:
* Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S release date and price finally revealed (WindowsCentral)
* Leaked Xbox Series S commercial reveals 1440p, ray tracing, and 512GB SSD (The Verge)
* China Launches Initiative to Set Global Data-Security Rules (WSJ)
* Google binds no-code tools, API management and serverless computing into new development platform (Silicon Angle)
* Scene Bust Triggered Historic Drop in ‘Pirate’ Releases (Torrent Freak)
* SoftBank’s Bet on Tech Giants Fueled Powerful Market Rally (WSJ)
* SoftBank, Robinhood and a Margins Singularity (Margins Newsletter)
Sep 5, 2020
(Bonus) The WHOLE EV Space With EV News Daily Podcast
As I said on Friday, my goal this week was I wanted to learn more about the EV space. Yes, there’s Tesla, but we only talk about Tesla. And remember, I got turned on to the whole SPAC phenomenon because a lot of EV startups were going the SPAC route to get themselves publicly traded stocks that they hope will go hockey stick like Tesla stock. So, I reached out to Martyn Lee of the EV News Daily podcast. If you’re into the whole EV space, check out the EV News Daily podcast. As mentioned, it’s a daily just like this podcast is, but if you’re into the EV space, Martyn has you covered absolutely comprehensively. My thanks to Martyn for this great chat.
Subscribe to the EV News Daily Podcast!
Sponsors:
* Wipers123.com code RIDE
* Metalab.co
* TinyCapital.com
Sep 4, 2020
Fri. 09/04 – Ad-Pocalypse (Not) Now
The Attorney General seems to want an antitrust case against Google within weeks. Apple has delayed the Ad-pocalypse. Why the games industry is where Epic has all the leverage against Apple. Will a new display tech bridge the gap between e-ink and traditional displays? And of course, the weekend longreads suggestions.
Sponsors:
* Metalab.co
* Today In Digital Marketing Podcast
Links:
* Justice Dept. Plans to File Antitrust Charges Against Google in Coming Weeks (NYTimes)
* Apple to Delay iOS Change Roiling Mobile Ad Market (The Information)
* Apple App Store Draws New Scrutiny in Japan, Epicenter of Gaming (Bloomberg)
* Oculus halts headset sales in Germany (GamesIndustry.biz)
* TCL's new paper-like display can also play videos (Engadget)
Weekend Longreads:
* Cash App’s Surge During Covid-19 Pandemic Fuels Square Stock (WSJ)
* The Digital Future of Tabletop Games (A16Z)
* Robot Boats Leave Autonomous Cars in Their Wake (WSJ)
* Tech Startup, Trying…
Sep 3, 2020
Thu. 09/03 – Will Only One iPhone (The Expensive One) Get The Fastest 5G?
Will only one iPhone get the fastest version of 5G? Facebook moves into an election posture. Do Geofencing warrants violate the 4th Amendment? New Intel chips. New Snapdragon chips. Have you noticed we’ve been talking about the chip industry a lot lately? Today I’ll explain why. Also, a fully-functional Game Boy without a battery. Powered only by the sun and the energy of your button presses.
Sponsors:
* Metalab.co
* Today In Digital Marketing Podcast
Links:
* Source: Only one of Apple’s new iPhones supports the fastest 5G (Fast Company)
* Facebook will stop accepting new political ads a week before the US presidential election (The Verge)
* Facebook Moves to Limit Election Chaos in November (NYTimes)
* Court rules NSA phone snooping illegal — after 7-year delay (Politico)
* Feds can’t ask Google for every phone in a 100-meter radius, court says (ArsTechnica)
* Intel announces its new 11th Gen Tiger Lake CPUs, available on laptops this fall (The Verg…
Sep 2, 2020
Wed. 09/02 – Nvidia’s New GPU Powerhouse, the RTX 3090
Nividia’s new GPU powerhouse, the RTX 3090. Apple makes the case that the App Store is a jobs powerhouse. Patreon is an interesting and monster new raise. Why Amazon delivery drivers are hanging their phones from trees. And the story behind the new gaming phenomenon known as Fall Guys.
Sponsors:
* Fundrise.com/techmeme
* Metalab.co
Links:
* Nvidia announces new RTX 3080 GPU, priced at $699 and launching September 17th (The Verge)
* Nvidia’s new RTX 3090 is a $1,499 monster GPU designed for 8K gaming (The Verge)
* iOS app economy creates 300,000 new US jobs as developers adapt during pandemic (Apple Newsroom)
* TikTok Deal Talks Are Snarled Over Fate of App’s Algorithms (WSJ)
* Patreon Tops $1 Billion Valuation as Pandemic Brings a Surge in Creators to Platform (WSJ)
* Twitch's Prime Video watch parties are now available to everyone (Engadget)
* Amazon Is Openly Hiring Union-Busters (Gizmodo)
* Amazon Drivers Are Hanging Smartphones in Trees to Get…
Sep 1, 2020
Tue. 09/01 – Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 Released; All The Details
It’s Phone Day! The Galaxy Z Fold 2 is unveiled. The world’s first smartphone with an under-display camera is unveiled (it’s the ZTE Axon 20 5G if you’re following along). Mark Gurman tells us everything we can expect from Apple through the end of the year. Walmart takes aim at Prime with Walmart+. Oh, and Zoom had quite the earnings report.
Sponsors:
* Metalab.co
* Liftoff.to
Links:
* Samsung's new Galaxy Z Fold2 packs a bigger 120Hz folding glass screen, Snapdragon 865+, and more (Android Police)
* ZTE unveils the Axon 20 5G, the first phone with an under-display camera (Engadget)
* Apple Preparing 75 Million 5G iPhones Alongside New Watches and iPad (Bloomberg)
* Kuo: mmWave 5G iPhone Shipments Likely to Be Weaker Than Expected in 2020-21 (MacRumors)
* Facebook Could Block Sharing of News Stories in Australia (NYTimes)
* Walmart+ launches Sept 15, offering same-day delivery, gas discounts and cashierless checkout for $98/yr (TechCrunch)
* Zoom sha…
Aug 31, 2020
Mon. 08/31 – TikTok Has A Buyer?
Has TikTok found its buyer? Lenovo launches its flagship laptop. Netflix is offering free access to some of its originals. Amazon can officially start drone delivery. But drug cartels are already using drones for assassinations. And the billion dollar black market for stolen video game accounts for games like Fortnite and Roblox.
Sponsors:
* Metalab.co
* BlueNile.com code RIDE
* GetSideQuest.app/ride
Links:
* TikTok deal to sell U.S. business could be announced as soon as Tuesday (CNBC)
* The Yoga 9i is Lenovo’s new flagship convertible laptop (The Verge)
* Samsung says its latest mobile memory is a production breakthrough (Engadget)
* Qualcomm announces Snapdragon 732G, a follow-up to the Pixel 4a’s chipset (9to5Google)
* Netflix Is Offering Free Access to Select Original Movies and Series, Even Without an Account (Gadgets360)
* Amazon wins FAA approval for Prime Air drone delivery fleet (CNBC)
* Drug Cartel Now Assassinates Its Enemies With Bomb-Toting Dro…
Aug 28, 2020
Fri. 08/28 – Ok, So… How About Walmart Owning TikTok?
Ok, if things couldn’t get any weirder, what if I told you Walmart really wants to buy TikTok. Has anyone noticed that Facebook is actively working to keep the App Store controversies in the news? I say thumbs down to a sidekick inspired smartphone, but thumbs up to completely under the screen selfie cameras. And of course, the weekend longreads suggestions.
Sponsors:
* TinyCapital.com
* Masterworks.io, select PODCAST, then enter: RIDE
* GetSideQuest.app/ride
Links:
* Walmart wanted to be majority owner of TikTok, and was teamed up with Alphabet and SoftBank before Microsoft (CNBC)
* Walmart is teaming up with Microsoft on TikTok bid (CNBC)
* Exclusive: Facebook says Apple rejected its attempt to tell users about App Store fees (Reuters)
* Exclusive: First look at the LG Wing with its twisty dual display (Update) (Android Authority)
* Xiaomi will launch a phone with an invisible under-display camera in 2021 (Android Central)
The Weekend Longreads Suggestions…
Aug 27, 2020
Thu. 08/27 – Halo, Amazon’s New Fitness Wearable
Amazon announces Halo, a weird and ambitious new fitness wearable. Facebook warns of an ad-apocalypse. TikTok’s CEO abruptly resigns, for: reasons. The reMarkable 2 e-ink tablet. Intel is causing the US to fall behind in supercomputing. And the first big podcaster to sign exclusively with Spotify is leaving the platform and burning his bridges.
Sponsors:
* Masterworks.io, select PODCAST, then enter: RIDE
* TinyCapital.com
Links:
* AMAZON ANNOUNCES HALO, A FITNESS BAND AND APP THAT SCANS YOUR BODY AND VOICE (The Verge)
* Facebook Says Apple’s Changes to iOS Will Dramatically Hurt Ads (Bloomberg)
* Kevin Mayer calls it quits (Source Code Newsletter)
* Intel Slips, and a High-Profile Supercomputer Is Delayed (NYTimes)
* Opensignal: U.S. 5G speeds slump as other countries leap ahead (VentureBeat)
* The reMarkable 2 is the latest attempt to turn your paper notepad digital (The Verge)
* Joe Budden is taking his podcast off Spotify because the company ‘is pi…
Aug 26, 2020
Wed. 08/26 – Palantir’s S-1 Takes A Swipe At Silicon Valley
Palantir’s S-1 filing gives us our first look under the hood of their business. Apple is bringing AR content to Apple TV+. A big name in 3D printing is going public… and guess how? A new digital networking speed record. And Elon Musk is going to demo his brain/computer interface technology on Friday.
Sponsors:
* Masterworks.io, select PODCAST, then enter: RIDE
* TinyCapital.com
Links:
* Palantir files to go public, lost about $580 million last year (CNBC)
* Apple Plans Augmented Reality Content to Boost TV+ Video Service (Bloomberg)
* Facebook changes name of its annual VR event and its overall AR/VR organization (TechCrunch)
* White House announces creation of AI and quantum research institutes (VentureBeat)
* Desktop Metal going public in SPAC-led deal that could value 3D printer company at $2.5B (TechCrunch)
* Researchers at University College London Set a New World Record for Fastest Internet (Gizmodo)
* Elon Musk promises demo of a working Neuralin…
Aug 25, 2020
Tue. 08/25 – Fitbit’s Sense Smartwatch and Versa 3
A whole bunch of new hardware gadgetry today. New Fitbits. New smart locks. New Roomba capabilities. Also, rumors of a new Nintendo Switch console with serious spec upgrades. A judge hands a lifeline to the Unreal Engine. 3nm Silicon is coming fast. And Bill Gurley gives us a timely background on SPACs.
Sponsors:
* ExtraHop.com/techmeme
* TinyCapital.com
Links:
* Fitbit unveils Sense and Versa 3 smartwatches with Google Assistant (VentureBeat)
* Level’s latest smart lock can be unlocked with a touch (The Verge)
* Nintendo Plans Upgraded Switch Console and Major Games for 2021 (Bloomberg)
* Nintendo reportedly releasing upgraded Switch next year (The Verge)
* Epic judge will protect Unreal Engine — but not Fortnite (The Verge)
* iRobot is giving its vacuum cleaners a new AI-powered brain (The Verge)
* TSMC Details 3nm Process Technology: Full Node Scaling for 2H22 Volume Production (AnandTech)
* Going Public Circa 2020; Door #3: The SPAC (Above The Cr…
Aug 24, 2020
Mon. 08/24 – Is Apple Evil Now?
Is Apple evil now? Another App Store kerfluffle, this time involving WordPress of all things. Also, more fallout from the Apple/Epic Games/Fortnite battle. Lawsuits flying in the WeChat/TikTok controversies. And let me introduce you to SPAC’s, otherwise known as blank-check companies.
Sponsors:
* TinyCapital.com
* Grammarly.com/techmeme
Links:
* WordPress founder claims Apple cut off updates to his completely free app because it wants 30 percent (The Verge)
* Apple apologizes to WordPress, won’t force the free app to add purchases after all (The Verge)
* Apple PE Ratio 2006-2020 | AAPL (Macrotrends)
* Apple is holding the Unreal Engine hostage, Epic says in new motion (The Verge)
* Lawsuit Claims U.S. WeChat Ban Is Unconstitutional (WSJ)
* Zoom is working again, even if you’re not (The Verge)
* Peter Thiel-Backed Startup Luminar to Go Public in $3.4 Billion Merger (Bloomberg)
Introducing the Kottke Ride Home
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Aug 23, 2020
Introducing the Kottke Ride Home
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Aug 21, 2020
Fri. 08/21 - Uber’s Former CSO Charged With Obstruction of Justice
Uber’s former CSO charged with obstruction of justice, becoming the first tech executive ever charged for a security incident. A legend of the Amazon C suite is leaving next year. Epic Games continues to gleefully poke Apple in the eye. How Apple is cutting 5G costs in the iPhone 12. And of course, the weekend longreads suggestions.
Sponsors:
* Metalab.co
* Today In Digital Marketing Podcast
Links:
* Former Uber Security Chief Charged With Concealing Hack (NYTimes)
* Uber and Lyft Get Reprieve After Threatening to Shut Down (NYTimes)
* Jeff Wilke, Amazon’s consumer boss and a top lieutenant to Bezos, will step down in 2021 (CNBC)
* Epic to host a #FreeFortnite tournament with anti-Apple prizes (The Verge)
* Apple secretly acquired Israeli photography startup Camerai (CalcalisTech)
* Kuo: Apple Looking to Save on Costs in iPhone 12 With Simpler Battery Board Design (MacRumors)
Weekend Longreads
* MONUMENTAL FAILURE - How Tulsa, Oklahoma, almost won El…
Aug 20, 2020
Thu. 08/20 – Lyft Ends Service In California At Midnight
Facebook has removed tons of stuff from what it calls US-based militia organizations. Airbnb has filed for its IPO. Cobalt is an interesting raise. But also, some new tech might remove cobalt for better batteries. DoorDash launches grocery delivery. And is Palantir the first high profile company to flee Silicon Valley?
Sponsors:
* Metalab.co
* BuyRaycon.com/tech
Links:
* Facebook Removes 790 QAnon Groups to Fight Conspiracy Theory (NYTimes)
* Facebook restricts more than 10,000 QAnon and US militia groups (The Guardian)
* Airbnb files confidential IPO paperwork (CNBC)
* Airbnb Files Confidentially for IPO With SEC (WSJ)
* Online Thrift Shop ThredUp Plans IPO Early Next Year (Bloomberg)
* Cobalt.io grabs $29M Series B to continue building out pentesting platform (TechCrunch)
* This Cobalt-Free Battery Is Good for the Planet—and It Actually Works (Wired)
* DoorDash launches grocery delivery to compete with Amazon and Instacart (The Verge)
* Data-analy…
Aug 19, 2020
Wed. 08/19 – You Won’t Be Able To Use An Oculus Without A Facebook Account
Soon you can only use an Oculus if you have a Facebook account. But bizarrely, the Facebook Portal (along with the Echo Show and Google Nest Hub Max) is opening up to Zoom. Netflix is testing a “shuffle play” feature. Blackberry phones are coming back. And Apple hits a $2 trillion market cap.
Sponsors:
* BlueNile.com code: RIDE
* Metalab.co
Links:
* You’ll need a Facebook account to use future Oculus headsets (The Verge)
* Zoom is coming to Google Nest, Amazon Echo, and Facebook Portal smart displays (The Verge)
* Trump Expresses Support for Oracle to Buy TikTok (WSJ)
* Netflix test puts a ‘Shuffle Play’ button right on your home screen (TechCrunch)
* New BlackBerry-branded devices w/ QWERTY keyboards set to come in 2021 (9to5Google)
* A TikTok Ban Is Overdue (NYTimes)
* The ecommerce surge (Benedict Evans)
* Big Tech’s Domination of Business Reaches New Heights (NYTimes)
Aug 18, 2020
Tue. 08/18 – Apple Goes Nuclear Against Epic Games
Apple has chosen the tactical nuclear option in its fight with Epic Games. But Epic might rally a rebel alliance. Would Oracle buying TikTok make any sense to anyone? Uber and Lyft consider reverting to the business model they claimed the operated all along. And algorithms CAN be good for humanity.
Sponsors:
* Metalab.co
* Discover.bot/podcast
Links:
* Epic says Apple threatens ‘catastrophic’ response in two weeks if Fortnite doesn’t comply with rules (The Verge)
* Oracle enters race to buy TikTok’s US operations (Financial Times)
* Apple Gives Users More Time to Buy AppleCare After Sales Slow (Bloomberg)
* Amazon Bets on Office-Based Work With Expansion in Major Cities (WSJ)
* Uber and Lyft Consider Franchise-Like Model in California (NYTimes)
* Facebook and NYU use artificial intelligence to make MRI scans four times faster (The Verge)
tech.supercast.tech
Aug 17, 2020
Mon. 08/17 – Why Regulatory Change For Big Tech Is Maybe Inevitable
Why I think regulatory impact for Big Tech is maybe inevitable. Amazon seems to be sniffing around Rackspace. The first “mass produced” smartphone with a camera underneath the display? An ex-Googler says Google Cloud’s deprecation policy is maddening. And why you can’t watch the movie Cocoon, even if you want to.
Sponsors:
* ExtraHop.com/techmeme
* Metalab.co
Links:
* Google says Australian news rule threatens free search services (Financial Times)
* Exclusive: Amazon in talks to invest in cloud services company Rackspace, say sources (Reuters)
* ZTE's Axon 20 5G smartphone will have the first under-display camera (Engadget)
* Dear Google Cloud: Your Deprecation Policy is Killing You (Steve Yegge)
* Results day is a diversity disaster. Here’s all the proof you need (Wired)
* Our Long, Arduous Attempt To Watch ‘Cocoon,’ And Why Some Classic Movies Seemingly Just Vanish (UpRoxx)
Aug 15, 2020
(Bonus) The Reliance Jio Story With The Diff Newsletter
The whole story of Reliance and Reliance Jio with Bryne Hobart, author of the excellent newsletter The Diff. Subscribe at: diff.substack.com
Also, the book about Dhirubhai Ambani we discuss at the beginning is this one: The Polyester Prince.
Aug 14, 2020
Fri. 08/14 – Fortnite Banned! The Epic/Apple/Google Battle Royale
What do you think we’re going to talk about? Apple and Google ban Fortnite. Epic Games turns around and sues Apple and Google for antitrust. Also: Adobe commits to fighting Deepfakes, Streaming is now a quarter of all tv viewing, and, of course, the weekend longreads suggestions.
Sponsors:
* LiftOff.to
* JoinFightCamp.com/techmeme
Links:
* Fortnite for Android has also been kicked off the Google Play Store (The Verge)
* Epic is suing Google over Fortnite’s removal from the Google Play Store (The Verge)
* Epic rallies Fortnite players against Apple with a warning that they’ll miss the next season (The Verge)
* Epic's 1984 Parody Video
* Photoshop Will Help ID Images That Have Been … Photoshopped (Wired)
* Disney+ Gains Foothold in Streaming Battlefield, Nielsen Says (The Hollywood Reporter)
Weekend Longreads Suggestions
* The Secret SIMs Used By Criminals to Spoof Any Number (Motherboard)
* How We Got the Favicon (The History of the Web)
* The B…
Aug 13, 2020
Thu. 08/13 – Apple Subscription Bundles By October?
Apple subscription bundles coming as soon as October according to Gurman. Epic is straight out thumbing its nose at the App Stores. What could render iPhones as “electronic trash” in China. And why are people sniffing around Dubsmash for a possible acquisition?
Sponsors:
* Liftoff.to
* BuyRaycon.com/tech
Links:
* Apple Readies Subscription Bundles to Boost Digital Services (Bloomberg)
* Epic offers new direct payment in Fortnite on iOS and Android to get around app store fees (The Verge)
* Twitter launches new API as it tries to make amends with third-party developers (The Verge)
* Intel offers a first look at its next-gen Tiger Lake processors and Xe graphics (The Verge)
* Corporate America Worries WeChat Ban Could Be Bad for Business (WSJ)
* Facebook, Snap Held Talks to Buy TikTok Rival Dubsmash (The Information)
Aug 12, 2020
Wed. 08/12 – Microsoft Launches Surface Duo!
Microsoft’s dual screen Surface Duo is here! Microsoft’s commits to November as a launch month for the Xbox Series X. Foxconn wants to pull back from China itself. Mozilla is in trouble. Silicon Valley and Kamala Harris are quite close, by the way. And why I think a see-through tv is actually a pretty good idea, thank you very much.
Sponsors:
* Fundrise.com/techmeme
* Liftoff.to
Links:
* MICROSOFT’S SURFACE DUO ARRIVES ON SEPTEMBER 10TH FOR $1,399 (The Verge)
* Microsoft Surface Duo's dual-screen hinge design is already winning me over (CNET)
* Microsoft to launch Xbox Series X in November (The Verge)
* Uber CEO says its service will probably shut down temporarily in California if it’s forced to classify drivers as employees (CNBC)
* Apple supplier Foxconn's profit beats view, sees smartphone demand off lows (Reuters)
* Kamala Harris is the choice Joe Biden needed to win over Silicon Valley (Recode)
* Mozilla Corporation to Lay Off 250 Staff (Motherb…
Aug 11, 2020
Tue. 08/11 – Google To Create A Global Android-Powered Earthquake Alert System
Android is becoming a worldwide earthquake detection network. Major legal setback for Uber and Lyft in California. Businesses using Bitcoin as their capital reserve. Parallels Desktop supports Big Sur. Nreal still believes in consumer AR glasses. And we try my deepfake audio experiment.
Sponsors:
* LiftOff.to
* LinkedIn.com/ride
Links:
* ANDROID IS BECOMING A WORLDWIDE EARTHQUAKE DETECTION NETWORK (The Verge)
* California Wins Preliminary Injunction Against Uber, Lyft (Bloomberg)
* MicroStrategy becomes first listed company to buy bitcoin as part of its capital allocation strategy (The Block)
* Parallels Desktop 16 adds Big Sur support, 3D Metal support, and more (Ars Technica)
* Nreal’s augmented reality glasses are shipping this month in Korea (The Verge)
* Airbnb Plans to File Confidentially for IPO in August (WSJ)
* SpaceX is manufacturing 120 Starlink internet satellites per month (CNBC)
* Tesla is involved in the development of a smartwatch, but w…
Aug 10, 2020
Mon. 08/10 – Amazon to Turn Malls Into Fulfillment Centers?
Amazon wants to literally take over Malls. How exposed to China is Apple at the moment? Apple is literally doing legal battle with a pear. An app to help guide you on your psychedelic trips. And why I would personally be in the market for a foldable e-ink notebook.
Sponsors:
* MintMobile.com/ride
* Wipers123.com promocode: ride
Links:
* Amazon and Mall Operator Look at Turning Sears, J.C. Penney Stores Into Fulfillment Centers (WSJ)
* TikTok To Sue Trump Administration Over Ban, As Soon As Tuesday (NPR)
* Twitter, TikTok Have Held Preliminary Talks About Possible Combination (WSJ)
* Google gives Android TV developers instant apps, speech-to-text, and predictive typing (VentureBeat)
* Apple Takes Legal Action Against This Small Company’s Pear Logo [Update] (iPhone In Canada)
* On Your Next Psychedelic Journey, Let an App Be Your Guide (Wired)
* E Ink demos a folding e-reader that can also take notes (The Verge)
Aug 7, 2020
Fri. 08/07 – The Executive Order To Ban TikTok and WeChat
The President officially signs an order to block ByteDance AND Tencent. Apple confirms the reasons why xCloud and Stadia aren’t coming to iOS any time soon. Uber is now, officially, more burrito delivery company than taxi company. And of course, the weekend longreads suggestions.
Sponsors:
* Today In Digital Marketing Podcast
* DoubleUp.Agency
Links:
* Trump will prohibit transactions with ByteDance beginning September 20th in apparent TikTok ban (The Verge)
* Mark Zuckerberg Says A Ban On TikTok Would Set “A Really Bad Long-Term Precedent” (BuzzFeed.news)
* Apple confirms cloud gaming services like xCloud and Stadia violate App Store guidelines (The Verge)
* I'm Open Sourcing the Have I Been Pwned Code Base (TroyHunt.com)
Weekend Longreads Suggestions:
* Pinduoduo: Vertically Integrated Social Commerce (Turner Novak's Substack)
* The New Network (The Bulwark)
* The Vigilante Hunting Down Cheaters in Video Games (Motherboard)
* The Next 'Mafia'?…
Aug 6, 2020
Thu. 08/06 – Will The US’s “Clean Network” Plan Break The Internet?
Will the US Government’s “Clean Network” plan lead to the definitive fracturing of the Internet we’ve all feared? Nintendo is killing it thanks to Covid and Animal Crossing. Are Samsung’s new earbuds actually Cool Beans? You no longer have to pay Apple $700 to put wheels on your Mac Pro. And why wireless charging could be a global environmental disaster waiting to happen.
Sponsors:
* DoubleUp.agency
* BlueNile.com code: RIDE
Links:
* Trump administration wants to see ‘untrusted’ Chinese apps like TikTok and WeChat removed from U.S. app stores, Pompeo says (CNBC)
* The US is building a new Great Firewall (Quartz)
* TikTok to Spend $500 Million on First EU Data Center in Ireland (Bloomberg)
* TikTok announces first data center in Europe (TechCrunch)
* Animal Crossing outsells Breath of the Wild in mere months (Polygon)
* SAMSUNG GALAXY BUDS LIVE REVIEW: COOL BEANS (The Verge)
* OWC undercuts Apple's $699 Mac Pro wheels with $199 conversion kit…
Aug 5, 2020
Wed. 08/05 – Samsung’s Unpacked Event And The New Galaxy Note 20s
All of the headlines from the Samsung Unpacked event: new Galaxy Note 20s, New Galaxy Buds, New Galaxy Watch and more. Disney has already hit its goal for Disney+. ByteDance remains defiant even as Facebook launches Instagram Reels. And Anthony Levandowski remains defiant, even as he is sentenced.
Sponsors:
* DoubleUp.agency
* Harrys.com/techmeme
Links:
* Samsung Galaxy Note 20, Note 20 Ultra go official from $999 w/ Snapdragon 865+ (9to5Google)
* Samsung announces the Galaxy Z Fold 2 with bigger screens and better cameras (The Verge)
* Disney+ grows to more than 60.5M subscribers (TechCrunch)
* Instagram Reels launches globally in over 50 countries, including US (TechCrunch)
* ByteDance CEO Says Trump’s Real Goal Is to Kill Off TikTok (Bloomberg)
* Anthony Levandowski sentenced to 18 months in prison as new $4B lawsuit against Uber is filed (TechCrunch)
* Files by Google adds PIN protection for your most sensitive files on Android (The Verge)
Aug 4, 2020
Tue. 08/04 – Last Hurrah? iMacs Get A Major Update
Last hurrah? Intel iMacs get a major update. The TikTok, Microsoft, Trump situation can only be described as nuts-o-butts-o. Looks like Garmin paid the ransom. Why xCloud is launching soon on Android but not on iOS. And get ready for games to get more expensive with the next generation consoles.
Sponsors:
* DoubleUp.agency
* Discover.bot/podcast
Links:
* Apple updates the iMac with new Intel processors and a better webcam (The Verge)
* Trump calls TikTok a hot brand, demands a chunk of its sale price (TechCrunch)
* Microsoft Should Refuse Trump’s TikTok Payoff (WSJ)
* Microsoft’s Talks to Buy TikTok’s U.S. Operations Raise Ire in China (WSJ)
* China Brands Trump’s Demands on TikTok Sale a ‘Smash and Grab’ (Bloomberg)
* Garmin reportedly paid multimillion-dollar ransom after suffering cyberattack (The Verge)
* Mergers: Commission opens in-depth investigation into the proposed acquisition of Fitbit by Google (EU Commission)
* Microsoft’s xClou…
Aug 3, 2020
Mon. 08/03 – The TikTok, Microsoft, Trump Ban Saga Explained
TikTok has not been banned by Trump, but it came close this weekend. Microsoft almost walked away from buying TikTok this weekend, but it looks like it’s back on board and might buy non-Chinese TikTok operations soon. Google invests in ADT. The new Pixel 4As are here. And a profile of the alleged teenaged Twitter hack mastermind who has now been arrested.
Sponsors:
* DoubleUp.agency
* Kiwico.com/ride
Links:
* Inside the Microsoft Talks to Buy TikTok’s U.S. Business (WSJ)
* Microsoft to continue discussions on potential TikTok purchase in the United States (Official Microsoft Blog)
* Exclusive: Trump gives Microsoft 45 days to clinch TikTok deal (Reuters)
* Google to invest $450M in smart home security solutions provider ADT (TechCrunch)
* GOOGLE ANNOUNCES PIXEL 5, PIXEL 4A 5G, AND PIXEL 4A ALL AT ONCE (The Verge)
* GOOGLE PIXEL 4A REVIEW: BACK TO BASICS FOR $349 (The Verge)
* System for thwarting deepfakes unveiled (Axios)
* From Minecraft Tricks to…
Jul 31, 2020
Fri. 07/31 – Nvidia In Talks To Buy Arm?
Sources say Nvidia is in talks to buy Arm. Music Videos are coming to Facebook in a bigger way. The iPhone is delayed a tiny bit. A run-down of the earnings reports: TLDR: Apple made a ton of money when people thought they wouldn’t but Alphabet shrunk for the first time ever. And of course, the weekend longreads suggestions.
Sponsors:
* Metalab.co
* JoinFightCamp.com/techmeme
Links:
* Nvidia in talks to buy Arm from SoftBank for more than $32bn (Financial Times)
* Facebook Is Set to Finally Get the Rights to Show Music Videos (Bloomberg)
* Apple confirms short release delay for this year's iPhones (Axios)
* Comment: Analysts half-right about AAPL’s Q3 … but so wrong! (9to5Mac)
Weekend Longreads Suggestions
* Philosophers On GPT-3 (updated with replies by GPT-3) (Daily Nous)
* Independence, autonomy, and too many small teams (Kislay Verma)
* Tech Sector Feeling COVID-19’s Economic Pain (Indeed Hiring Lab)
* The Gig Economy Is Failing. Say Hello to t…
Jul 30, 2020
Thu. 07/30 – A Comprehensive (8-Minute) Rundown of the Big Tech Congressional Testimony
A comprehensive rundown of the big tech testimony in Congress yesterday. Don’t worry. I tried to keep it brief. Are seller fees quietly twice as big a business for Amazon as AWS is? There’s a new king of the smartphone hill as Huawei surpasses Samsung. And I think we can officially say that the Peacock launch has been a success.
Sponsors:
* Today In Digital Marketing podcast
* Metalab.co
Links:
* ‘INSTAGRAM CAN HURT US’: MARK ZUCKERBERG EMAILS OUTLINE PLAN TO NEUTRALIZE COMPETITORS (The Verge)
* Report: Amazon’s Monopoly Tollbooth (ILSR.org)
* Encrypted Messaging App Telegram Files Antitrust Complaint Against Apple With EU (MacRumors)
* Google's $2.1 billion Fitbit deal faces EU antitrust probe: sources (Reuters)
* Canalys: Huawei trumps Samsung for first time in worldwide smartphone market in Q2 2020 (Canalys)
* TikTok says it will pay creators a total of $2 billion in the next 3 years (Digital Trends)
Jul 29, 2020
Wed. 07/29 – Big Tech CEO’s Testimony Before Congress
A rundown of what the big tech CEO’s told Congress this afternoon. Are Samsung and Google about to get a lot more integrated? The biggest news in the ongoing streaming media transformation of Hollywood. Buying out TikTok is going to be pretty expensive. And Shopify’s earnings blow the roof off the place.
Sponsors:
* Metalab.co
* MintMobile.com/ride
Links:
* Watch Cook, Bezos, Pichai and Zuckerberg testify in Big Tech antitrust hearing — live updates and analysis (CNBC)
* Google in Talks to Take Over More Search Tasks on Samsung Phones (Bloomberg)
* AMC and Universal agree to let movies go from theaters to digital rentals much sooner (The Verge)
* Exclusive: ByteDance investors value TikTok at $50 billion in takeover bid - sources (Reuters)
* Shopify shares jump 7% after hot e-commerce company says second-quarter revenue increased 97% (CNBC)
Jul 28, 2020
Tue. 07/28 – Instagram Is Making TikTok-ers An Offer (They Hope) They Can’t Refuse
What to expect from tomorrow’s Big Tech Congressional testimony. Instagram is trying to woo TikTok stars. Qualcomm has some amazing new quick charge tech. Roblox continues to look like the next big thing. And Deadspin—the true Deadspin—lives to fight another day.
Sponsors:
* Metalab.co
* Harrys.com/techmeme
Links:
* Their Businesses Went Virtual. Then Apple Wanted a Cut. (NYTimes)
* Google’s Top Search Result? Surprise! It’s Google (The Markup)
* Congress has battled airlines, banks, tobacco and baseball. Now it’s preparing to clash with Big Tech. (Washington Post)
* Facebook Offers Money to Reel In TikTok Creators (WSJ)
* Qualcomm’s Quick Charge 5 refuels phones 50% in 5 minutes, 100% in 15 (VentureBeat)
* Roblox jumps to over 150M monthly users, will pay out $250M to developers in 2020 (TechCrunch)
* After Quitting Deadspin in Protest, They’re Starting a New Site (NYTimes)
Jul 27, 2020
Mon. 07/27 – Googlers May Not Return To The Office Until NEXT July
Google’s offices might remain closed due to Covid for another full year. Australia has sued Google on competition and consumer grounds. Looks like Garmin is being ransomed. A handheld device to replace guide dogs for the blind. And you know Software as a Service, but get ready for Hardware as a Service.
Sponsors:
* Today In Digital Marketing podcast
* Metalab.co
Links:
* Google to Keep Employees Home Until Summer 2021 Amid Coronavirus Pandemic (WSJ)
* ACCC takes second swing at Google for allegedly misleading customers (ITNews)
* Samsung Galaxy Unpacked trailer teases five new devices to be unveiled on August 5th (The Verge)
* Garmin outage caused by confirmed WastedLocker ransomware attack (Bleeping Computer)
* VCs and startups consider HaaS model for consumer devices (TechCrunch)
* Mobility device for the blind works like a handheld robotic guide dog (New Atlas)
Jul 24, 2020
Fri. 07/24 – The US Has A Quantum Internet Plan
Might Twitter have too many cooks in the kitchen to have decent op-sec? Intel has to delay its next gen chip process. Again. The US unveiled official plans for a quantum internet. AT&T announced its nationwide 5G network is operational. And of course, the weekend longreads suggestions.
Sponsors:
* Tovala.com/ride
* Metalab.co
Links:
* Exclusive: More than 1,000 people at Twitter had ability to aid hack of accounts (Reuters)
* Intel's 7nm is Broken, Company Announces Delay Until 2022, 2023 (Tom's Hardware)
* Big Tech CEO hearing is 'likely' to be postponed (Protocol)
* U.S. hatches plan to build a quantum Internet that might be unhackable (Washington Post)
* AT&T's low-band 5G network is now available nationwide (CNET)
Weekend Longreads Suggestions:
* Robinhood Has Lured Young Traders, Sometimes With Devastating Results (NYTimes)
* Robinhood and How to Lose Money (The Margins)
* Want to buy a parrot? Please login via Facebook. (Rest Of World)
* The I…
Jul 23, 2020
Thu. 07/23 – Corning Introduces A New Gorilla Glass: Victus!
Corning has introduced what it is calling it’s best Gorilla Glass ever, with a tough new name: Victus! HBO Max already has more than 4 million customers. It was Nvidia that was inquiring about buying ARM. And more on the whole ad supported free streaming tv angle.
Sponsors:
* Metalab.co
* Tovala.com/ride
Links:
* Corning’s new Gorilla Glass Victus could let your phone survive a six-foot drop, plus scratch resistance (The Verge)
* Plex launches a live TV service with over 80 free channels, most available worldwide (TechCrunch)
* HBO Max has more than 4 million subscribers, AT&T says (The Verge)
* Twitter admits hackers accessed DMs of dozens of high-profile accounts (TechCrunch)
* Nvidia Eyes Biggest-Ever Chip Deal in Pursuit of SoftBank’s Arm (Bloomberg)
* Hundreds Of Thousands Of Instacart Customers’ Personal Data Is Being Sold Online (BuzzFeed.News)
* Tesla reports fourth straight quarter of profits (CNBC)
Jul 22, 2020
Wed. 07/22 - Samsung Announces the Galaxy Z Flip 5G
Samsung announces the Galaxy Z Flip 5G! TikTok’s US-based investors are considering buying it out as a last resort. Slack files an antitrust complaint against Microsoft. Fiat Chrysler signs a deal with Waymo that points to that pivot we were just talking about. And an interesting raise involving ugly fruit.
Sponsors:
* Tovala.com/ride
* Metalab.co
Links:
* Samsung announces Galaxy Z Flip 5G for $1,449.99 (The Verge)
* Twitter bans 7,000 QAnon accounts, limits 150,000 others as part of broad crackdown (NBC News)
* ByteDance Investors Discuss TikTok Purchase (The Information)
* Slack Accuses Microsoft of Illegally Crushing Competition (NYTimes)
* Waymo and Fiat Chrysler's next big project is to develop self-driving Ram vans (TechCrunch)
* Misfits Market raises $85 million Series B to send you 'ugly' fruits and veggies (TechCrunch)
* Apple Lining up Periscope Telephoto Lens Suppliers for 2022 iPhone (MacRumors)
* Jeff Bezos hated ads — now Amazon is Ame…
Jul 21, 2020
Tue. 07/21 – Apple Pledges 100% Carbon Neutrality by 2030
Apple says it will be 100% carbon neutral by 2030. Microsoft has been talking to Congress ahead of next week’s hearings. LinkedIn is cutting jobs cause of Covid. Smartphone sales took a hit last quarter for the same reason. Coinbase kept its customers from sending BTC to those Twitter hackers. And might the entire autonomous driving industry be pivoting to less autonomy?
Sponsors:
* Tovala.com/ride
* Discover.bot/podcast
Links:
* Apple commits to be 100 percent carbon neutral for its supply chain and products by 2030 (Apple Newsroom)
* Microsoft President Met With House Antitrust Committee (The Information)
* LinkedIn cuts 960 jobs as pandemic puts the brakes on corporate hiring (Reuters)
* iPhone SE attracting Android switchers, unlikely to cannibalize iPhone 12 sales (9to5Mac)
* Coinbase says it prevented over 1,000 customers from sending $280,000 worth of bitcoin to Twitter hackers (The Block)
* AMD’s first 7nm Ryzen 4000 desktop chips bring the fight to…
Jul 20, 2020
Mon. 07/20 – eBay to Sell Its Classified Ads Business?
eBay seems to be selling every last thing it can before all it's left with is its marketplace and its pride. Disney has quietly cut its Facebook advertising too. When might we actually seen Windows 10x? And what is GPT-3 and why was everyone freaking out about it over the weekend?
Sponsors:
* Tovala.com/ride
* Metalab.co
Links:
* EBay Nears Deal to Sell Classified-Ad Unit to Adevinta (WSJ)
* Reliance Jio: World’s First ‘Super Operator’? (Counterpoint)
* Disney Slashed Ad Spending on Facebook Amid Growing Boycott (WSJ)
* The easiest way to start meditating is now in... Snapchat? (Mashable)
* Microsoft plans for single-screen Windows 10X rollout in spring 2021; dual-screen in spring 2022 (ZDNet)
* Quick thoughts on GPT3 (Operators & Delian's Ramblings)
* Giving GPT-3 a Turing Test (Kevin Lacker's Blog)
* Video Example 1
* Video Example 2
Jul 18, 2020
(Bonus) Listener Call-In 2- The Revenge!
The Twitter hack! Can Apple REALLY buy Arm? The Ad-tier being key to Peacock's strategy. Will open standards ever make a comeback? And much more!
Jul 17, 2020
Fri. 07/17 – Is A 21-Year-Old British Hacker Behind The Great Twitter Hijacking?
Brian Krebs has a theory of who specifically he thinks was behind the Twitter hijack, but other people have theories too. Netflix kicks off tech earnings season, but also makes a pretty interesting executive move. And of course, the weekend longreads suggestions.
Sponsors:
* TinyCapital.com
* Discover.bot/podcast
Links:
* Who’s Behind Wednesday’s Epic Twitter Hack? (Krebs on Security)
* 130 high-profile Twitter accounts targeted in hacking attack (The Guardian)
* Netflix shares fall after earnings miss, weak subscriber guidance for third quarter (CNBC)
Weekend Longreads Suggestions
* Some of Reddit's Wildest Relationship Stories Are Lies. I'd Know – I Wrote Them (Motherboard)
* Google’s secretive ATAP lab is imagining the future of smart devices (Fast Company)
* Inside Peacock’s Ambitious Plan to Crash a Crowded Streaming Field (Variety)
* Everything you need to know about Palantir, the secretive company coming for all your data (Recode)
* Sa…
Jul 16, 2020
Thu. 07/16 – The Great Twitter Hijack of 2020
I run down the whole mess of the great twitter hijacking from last night. Facebook is rolling out more labels for politicians. Facebook might also be positioning itself for a TikTok diaspora. Amazon now lets influencers run home shopping-network-style shows on the website. And Apple officially has a podcast.
Sponsors:
* JoinFightCamp.com/techmeme
* TinyCapital.com
Links:
* Apple, Biden, Musk and other high-profile Twitter accounts hacked in crypto scam (TechCrunch)
* A hacker used Twitter’s own ‘admin’ tool to spread cryptocurrency scam (TechCrunch)
* Hackers Convinced Twitter Employee to Help Them Hijack Accounts (Motherboard)
* The Interface (Casey Newton)
* Facebook to label posts about voting from presidential candidates (Axios)
* Facebook readies global launch of its TikTok competitor (NBC News)
* Amazon Influence Program opens to live streamers for broadcasting Amazon Life (TechCrunch)
* How to subscribe to Apple’s free daily news podcast (9t…
Jul 15, 2020
Wed. 07/15 – Is It Too Early To Start Talking About 6G?
Apple wins its big tax fight with the EU. Sony is doubling PlayStation 5 production because: Covid. Zoom has its own hardware device. An early review of the new Peacock streaming service. And forget 5G. Is it too early to talk about what to expect from 6G?
Sponsors:
* TinyCapital.com
* BuyRaycon.com/tech
Links:
* Apple Wins Fight Over $14.9 Billion Tax Bill in Blow to EU (Bloomberg)
* Sony Boosting Output of PlayStation 5 to Meet Surge in Demand (Bloomberg)
* Google invest $4.5 billion in India's Reliance Jio Platforms (TechCrunch)
* Zoom introduces all-in-one home communications appliance for $599 (TechCrunch)
* Samsung: Expect 6G in 2028, enabling mobile holograms and digital twins (VentureBeat)
* Peacock’s interface aims to recreate the feeling of live TV, but it comes up short (The Verge)
* Peacock is live: Prices, free trials, devices, shows and movies (CNET)
Jul 14, 2020
Tue. 07/14 – What If Apple Bought Arm?
Softbank looks like it might want to unload Arm, so let me blow your mind for a second: what if Apple bought Arm? The UK has completely flip flopped on Huawei, now going the full ban route. Is Google the next to line up an investment in Reliance Jio? And Amazon has unveiled a cashier negating shopping cart.
Sponsors:
* TinyCapital.com
* KiwiCo.com/ride
Links:
* SoftBank Explores Sale or IPO for Chip Designer Arm Holdings (WSJ)
* SoftBank hires Goldman Sachs to explore sale options for chip designer Arm after getting inbound interest, sources say (CNBC)
* U.K. to Ban Huawei From Its 5G Networks Amid China-U.S. Tensions (WSJ)
* Huawei posts revenue growth in H1 despite sanctions and pandemic (TechCrunch)
* Google Is in Advanced Talks to Invest $4 Billion in Jio Platforms (Bloomberg)
* Walmart leads $1.2 billion investment in India's Flipkart (TechCrunch)
* Amazon’s new smart shopping cart lets you check out without a cashier (The Verge)
* Google Cloud ste…
Jul 13, 2020
Mon. 07/13 – SiriusXM Makes the Biggest Podcast Acquisition Yet
SiriusXM looks like it is stepping up to be the big competitor to Spotify in the podcasting space by lining up Podcasting’s biggest ever acquisition. More worrying signs if you’re a regular user of TikTok. Again, everyone wants a piece of Reliance Jio and a piece of the Indian market. And why Apple is warning people about covering the camera on your laptop.
Sponsors:
* TinyCapital.com
* BuyRaycon.com/tech
Links:
* SiriusXM Is Buying Stitcher in Deal Worth Up to $325 Million (Variety)
* Amazon says it will not ban TikTok from employee phones (The Verge)
* For TikTok, an Amazon Ban That Wasn’t, a Wells Fargo Ban That Was (The Information)
* DNC and RNC warn campaigns about using TikTok (CNN Politics)
* Google to invest $10 billion in India (TechCrunch)
* Autonomous drone startup Skydio rises $100 million and launches the X2 commercial drone (TechCrunch)
* The real reason Apple is warning users about MacBook camera covers (ZDNet)
Jul 10, 2020
Fri. 07/10 – Kuo: Apple Silicon Macs Coming THIS Year
We could get our first Apple Silicon Macs as soon as this year. Apple Glasses are still a ways away, but Foxconn is already making the lenses. Feverish last minute negotiations ahead of Peacock’s arrival next week. The PC market is definitively not shrinking, thanks to Covid. And as always on Fridays, the weekend longreads suggestions.
Sponsors:
* CodeWizardsHQ.com offer code RIDE
* DoubleUp.agency
Links:
* Kuo: Apple Silicon Macs to Include 13-inch MacBook Pro and MacBook Air This Year, 14.1-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro Models Next Year (MacRumors)
* Apple Reaches New Stage in Development of AR Devices (The Information)
* NBCUniversal’s Peacock is unlikely to reach deals with Amazon and Roku by July 15 launch (CNBC)
* PC shipments grew 3-11% in Q2 2020 despite coronavirus (VentureBeat)
Weekend Longreads Suggestions:
* How Prosperity Transformed the Falklands (The New Yorker)
* Our Ghost-Kitchen Future (The New Yorker)
* Is Anyone Watching Quibi? (Vult…
Jul 9, 2020
Thu. 07/09 – Apple’s Not Gonna Abandon Thunderbolt
Coinbase might be the most important IPO of the next several years. More bad numbers from Quibi. Apple wants you to know it is not abandoning Thunderbolt. Elon Musk says he’s gonna win my self-driving by 2020 wager. And I explain my whole Clubhouse versus Twitter analogy from yesterday.
Sponsors:
* DoubleUp.agency
* CodeWizardsHQ.com offer code RIDE
Links:
* Exclusive: Crypto exchange Coinbase readies landmark stock market listing, sources say (Reuters)
* Quibi reportedly lost 90 percent of early users after their free trials expired (The Verge)
* Apple promises to support Thunderbolt on its new ARM Macs (The Verge)
* Nvidia eclipses Intel as most valuable U.S. chipmaker (Reuters)
* Google launches Android 11 Beta 2 with final APIs and behaviors (VentureBeat)
* Musk Says Tesla Is ‘Very Close’ to Developing Fully Autonomous Vehicles (Bloomberg)
* Microsoft's plan to make video calls less miserable (Axios)
Jul 8, 2020
Wed. 07/08 – Facebook Fails Its Own Audit
Facebook fails its own civil rights audit. Details of the new Thunderbolt 4 standard. Details on the new Snapdragon chip. Unpacking what might be in store for the newly announced Samsung Unpacked event. And not an interesting raise, so much as a hella interesting product launch.
Sponsors:
* CodeWizardsHQ.com offer code RIDE
* DoubleUp.agency
Links:
* Facebook Fails to Appease Organizers of Ad Boycott (NYTimes)
* Facebook Decisions Were ‘Setbacks for Civil Rights,’ Audit Finds (NYTimes)
* Exclusive: Apple is working on QR Code payments for Apple Pay, iOS 14 code reveals (9to5Mac)
* Thunderbolt 4: A supercharged port upgrade with 8K monitor support (Digital Trends)
* Qualcomm’s new Snapdragon 865 Plus is its most powerful mobile chip, designed for gaming (The Verge)
* Samsung’s Galaxy Note 20 event confirmed for August 5th (The Verge)
* Twitter is working on a new subscription platform, hints job listing (The Verge)
* Android 11's official launch a…
Jul 7, 2020
Tue. 07/07 – Will The US Government Ban TikTok?
TikTok pulls it’s app completely for the Hong Kong market. But could the US ban TikTok in the US market? And India shows us what happens when TikTok gets banned. Palantir is about to IPO. A new video compression standard is actually a big deal. And Alphabet’s Loon “moonshot” hits a major milestone.
Sponsors:
* Doubleup.agency
* LinkedIn.com/ride
Links:
* TikTok to pull out of Hong Kong (Axios)
* U.S. is ‘looking at’ banning TikTok and Chinese social media apps, Pompeo says (CNBC)
* India’s TikTok shutdown has left careers and fortunes in tatters (Wired)
* Secretive data startup Palantir has confidentially filed for an IPO (TechCrunch)
* Palantir Technologies Files to Go Public (NYTimes)
* Fraunhofer’s VVC promises to reduce video file sizes by 50% to improve mobile network efficiency (VentureBeat)
* 73. "Father" of the MP3, Karlheinz Brandenburg (Internet History Podcast)
* U.S. tech chiefs to testify before House antitrust panel on July 2…
Jul 6, 2020
Mon. 07/06 – Uber Buys Postmates
Uber buys Postmates for $2.65 billion dollars. There’s an Xbox Series X event coming later this month. An algorithm that could PREDICT Covid-19 outbreaks. Florida becomes the first to enact a DNA privacy law. And Sony’s new, wearable air conditioner, the Reon Pocket.
Sponsors:
* Grammarly.com/techmeme
* Wipers123.com offer code RIDE
Links:
* Uber agrees to buy food-delivery service Postmates for $2.65 billion in stock (CNBC)
* Uber acquires meal delivery service Postmates for $2.65 billion (The Verge)
* Facebook, WhatsApp, Twitter Suspend Review of Hong Kong Requests for User Data (WSJ)
* Microsoft announces Xbox Series X games event for July 23rd (The Verge)
* iOS 14: iCloud Keychain now alerts users about leaked passwords, more (9to5Mac)
* Can an Algorithm Predict the Pandemic’s Next Moves? (NYTimes)
* Florida becomes first state to enact DNA privacy law, blocking insurers from genetic data (Washington Examiner)
* SONY’S WEARABLE, POCKET-SIZED…
Jul 2, 2020
Thu. 07/02 – ALL of Silicon Valley (kinda) Has A Date With Washington
Zuckerberg has told Facebook staff he’s not overly worried about the boycotts. The Fab 4 CEOs of the biggest tech companies (minus Microsoft) all have a date to testify before Congress later this month. Police hacked an encrypted phone network popular with mafia types and the results won’t surprise you. And also, the weekend longreads suggestions.
Sponsors:
* Metalab.co
* The Jordan Harbinger Show
Links:
* Zuckerberg Tells Facebook Staff He Expects Advertisers to Return ‘Soon Enough’ (The Information)
* Apple CEO Tim Cook agrees to testify in House antitrust investigation (Apple Insider)
* Facebook is shutting down Lasso, its TikTok clone (TechCrunch)
* How Police Secretly Took Over a Global Phone Network for Organized Crime (Motherboard)
Weekend Longreads Suggestions:
* Mirror Wanted to Be the Next iPhone. Instead, It’s Selling to Lululemon. (Marker)
* There are more streaming choices than ever — why are prices going up? (The Verge)
* Apple…
Jul 1, 2020
Wed. 07/01 – YouTube TV Has Recreated The TV Bundle At Essentially The Same Price Point
The reckoning for social media ad spend might be hitting critical mass. Spotify gets more affordable for couples. YouTube TV gets more expensive for everyone. Apple IS struggling with iPhone 5G delays, but it SHOULDN’T delay things into 2021. And when will Silicon Valley offices reopen? Not anytime soon, it sounds like.
Sponsors:
* Metalab.co
* ApolloNeuro.com/ride
Links:
* Facebook frustrates advertisers as boycott over hate speech kicks off (Reuters)
* Third of top brands likely to suspend social media spending, survey finds (Financial Times)
* Spotify brings its Premium Duo plan to the US, UK and dozens more countries (updated) (Engadget)
* YouTube TV hikes price to $64.99 per month following new channel additions (TechCrunch)
* Apple races to push ahead with 5G iPhone mass production (Nikkei Asian Review)
* Apple Cancels Some Arcade Games in Strategy Shift To Keep Subscribers (Bloomberg)
* Google Pushes Back U.S. Office Reopening Plan After Virus Surge…
Jun 30, 2020
Tue. 06/30 – Amazon Prime Video Launches Watch Party
Lululemon wants to buy Mirror. We think Uber is thinking about buying Postmates. Amazon Prime Video launches Watch Party. Android’s AirDrop competitor is rolling out. And why cloud gaming is the impetus for a new data center race.
Sponsors:
* Tovala.com/ride
* Metalab.co
Links:
* Lululemon set to acquire home fitness startup Mirror for $500M (TechCrunch)
* Uber in Talks to Buy Postmates for About $2.6 Billion (WSJ)
* Amazon Prime Video introduces 'Watch Party,' a social co-viewing experience included with Prime (TechCrunch)
* Nearby Sharing — Android's AirDrop competitor — is rolling out now in beta (Android Police)
* CodeGuru, AWS's AI code reviewer and performance profiles, is now generally available (TechCrunch)
* Exclusive: Facebook changes algorithm to boost original reporting (Axios)
* An Infrastructure Arms Race Is Fueling the Future of Gaming (Wired)
Jun 29, 2020
Mon. 06/29 – Reddit Bans r/The_Donald and The Facebook Ad Boycott, Explained
Reddit bans r/The_Donald and I try to break down the almost hour by hour, day by day timeline of the whole Facebook/social media ad boycott situation. Apple might not include a charger (!) in the iPhone 12 box, much less earbuds. Amazon cuts back on waste in India. India cuts off Tik Tok completely. And some news you can use if you need to recover lost files in Windows.
Sponsors:
* Metalab.co
* Tovala.com/ride
Links:
* Reddit bans r/The_Donald and r/ChapoTrapHouse as part of a major expansion of its rules (The Verge)
* Exclusive: Facebook ad boycott campaign to go global, organizers say (Reuters)
* The hard truth about the Facebook ad boycott: Nothing matters but Zuckerberg (CNN Business)
* Kuo: Apple will not include earbuds or charger in iPhone 12 box (9to5Mac)
* Amazon eliminates single-use plastic in packaging in India (TechCrunch)
* Govt bans 59 Chinese apps including TikTok as border tensions simmer in Ladakh (India Today)
* Microsoft’s new Windows Fil…
Jun 27, 2020
(Bonus) WWDC Wrap Up With Rene Ritchie @reneritchie
This is a really simple one. WWDC happened this week. Rene Ritchie has been attending it, virtually, of course. So he’s here to break down the keynote, which we all saw, but also to let us know what’s been going on in the developer sessions which have been going on all week. Rene is of course a long time prominent Apple watcher and journalist, who actually just struck out on his own with his own YouTube channel. So search YouTube for Rene Ritchie and subscribe to his channel.
Sponsors:
* TinyCapital.com
* ApolloNeuro.com/ride
Jun 26, 2020
Fri. 06/26 - Amazon Buys Self-Driving Startup Zoox
Amazon is officially in the self-driving car game. Microsoft is officially keeping its retail stores closed… forever. Verizon had joined the Facebook ad boycott. And of course, the weekend longreads suggestions.
Links:
* TinyCapital.com
* Tovala.com/ride
Links:
* Amazon to buy self-driving technology company Zoox (CNBC)
* Microsoft is permanently closing its retail stores (CNBC)
* Verizon is pulling advertising from Facebook and Instagram (CNBC)
* TikTok says it will stop accessing clipboard content on iOS devices (The Verge)
Weekend Longread Suggestions:
* How India’s Jio Won Facebook’s Heart (The Information)
* How a “crazy Dutch guy” won the online food delivery war (Silicon Canals)
* How Uber Turned a Promising Bikeshare Company Into Literal Garbage (Vice)
* The Credit-Card Fees Merchants Hate, Banks Love and Consumers Pay (WSJ)
* Top composers used to head to Hollywood. Now they’re into games (Wired)
* Reddit turns 15: The dramatic…
Jun 25, 2020
Thu. 06/25 – Amazon Has A Counterfeit Crimes Unit (Sounds Like An NBC TV Show)
Wirecard is wiped out. Amazon has its own Counterfeit Crimes Unit. Apple quietly made a change that will make things pretty tough on advertisers. Google won’t keep your data forever anymore and Hey basically wins.
Sponsors:
* Tovala.com/ride
* TinyCapital.com
Links:
* 'The money's gone': Wirecard collapses owing $4 billion (Reuters)
* Google will start paying publishers to license content (Axios)
* Google will now auto-delete location and search history by default for new users (The Verge)
* Amazon forms ‘Counterfeit Crimes Unit,’ under pressure to escalate fight against fake products (GeekWire)
* Apple Just Crippled IDFA, Sending An $80 Billion Industry Into Upheaval (Forbes)
* SoftBank’s Masayoshi Son and Alibaba’s Jack Ma Part Ways (Bloomberg)
* Amazon launches cloud service to help non-coders build apps (CNBC)
* Hey opens its email service to everyone as Apple approves its app for good (The Verge)
* Michael Hawley, Programmer, Professor…
Jun 24, 2020
Wed. 06/24 – Oculus Go and Olympus (and Force Touch?) Go Bye Bye
Brazil puts the breaks on payments via WhatsApp. Advertisers apply pressure on Facebook via a boycott. Oculus is putting an end to the Oculus Go. Olympus is existing the camera business after 80 years. And what might be the first case of a person wrongfully arrested thanks to facial recognition.
Sponsors:
* Tovala.com/ride
* TinyCapital.com
Links:
* Brazilian Authorities Suspend WhatsApp Payments (Bloomberg)
* Ad Boycott of Facebook Keeps Growing (NYTimes)
* Facebook To Stop Selling Oculus Go, Vows No More 3DOF Headsets (UploadVR)
* Olympus to Exit Camera Business After 84 Years (WSJ)
* watchOS 7 drops Force Touch support, likely ahead of Apple Watch Series 6 hardware changes (9to5Mac)
* Wrongfully Accused by an Algorithm (NYTimes)
* Over 1,000 AI Experts Condemn Racist Algorithms That Claim to Predict Crime (Motherboard)
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Jun 23, 2020
Tue. 06/23 – Zoom is No Longer The King of the Work-From-Home Era
Wirecard’s former CEO has been arrested. Microsoft pulls out of the other streaming wars by shutting down Mixer. Some analysis and additional details about yesterday’s WWDC news. There’s a new king of the supercomputers. And there’s also a new king of tech companies winning in the post Covid-19 era.
Sponsors:
* TinyCapital.com
* ExpressVPN.com/techmeme
Links:
* Wirecard’s Former CEO Markus Braun Is Arrested (WSJ)
* Microsoft is shutting down Mixer and partnering with Facebook Gaming (The Verge)
* Japanese Supercomputer Is Crowned World’s Speediest (The Verge)
* Zoom is no longer the best-performing work-from-home stock (CNBC)
* China launches its final satellite to complete its rival to the US-owned GPS system (CNBC)
* Apple update to allow iPhone users to choose default apps (The Guardian)
* Thoughts on WWDC 2020 Day One (Six Colors)
* The iPadification of the Mac is coming, no touchscreen required (The Verge)
Jun 22, 2020
Mon. 06/22 – WWDC 2020 (Virtually)
All of the headlines I can manage to cram in from today’s World Wide Developer Conference from Apple. Hey gets approved, by the way. Google’s ad revenue will decline for the first time probably in, well, ever. And why Animal Crossing might have shied Nintendo away from mobile gaming. Again.
Sponsors:
* Kiwico.com/ride
* GetRaycon.com/techmeme
Links:
* Apple approves Hey email app, but the fight’s not over (The Verge)
* TikTok Teens and K-Pop Stans Say They Sank Trump Rally (NYTimes)
* Google's U.S. Ad Revenue Is Expected to Decline in 2020, eMarketer Says (WSJ)
* Nintendo Chills Mobile Ambitions After Animal Crossing Success (Bloomberg)
Jun 19, 2020
Fri. 06/19 – It’s Gonna Be An Interesting WWDC…
Apple officially says no to HEY and people are pissed, kind of just about the WAY they said it. A look at the internal divisions inside Apple over those rumored Apple Glasses. Twitch is growing as a platform for live music. And, of course, the weekend longreads suggestions.
Sponsors:
* DoubleUp.agency
Links:
* Interview: Apple's Schiller says position on Hey App is unchanged and no rules changes are imminent (TechCrunch)
* Apple’s Secretive AR and VR Headset Plans Altered by Internal Differences (Bloomberg Businessweek)
* Exclusive: Massive spying on users of Google's Chrome shows new security weakness (Reuters)
* Facebook Removes Trump Ads With Symbol Used By Nazis. Campaign Calls It An 'Emoji' (NPR)
* Wirecard chief quits as crisis deepens (Financial Times)
* Japanese insurer Sompo investing $500 million in data analytics firm Palantir (Reuters)
* Twitch’s Streaming Boom Is Jolting the Music Industry (Bloomberg)
Weekend Longreads Suggestions:
* Why…
Jun 18, 2020
Thu. 06/18 – Audio Comes To Tweets
Apple has rejected a Facebook app five times, so back to that debate again. Twitter lets you add audio to tweets. Door Dash raises a round. Surprise! Reliance Jio raises another monster round. And stick around for the last segment because I’ve got the single weirdest tech story that I think we’ve ever done on this show.
Sponsor:
* DoubleUp.agency
Links:
* Apple Rejects Facebook’s Gaming App, for at Least the Fifth Time (NYTimes)
* Twitter starts rolling out audio tweets on iOS (The Verge)
* UK virus-tracing app switches to Apple-Google model (BBC News)
* Zoom to Offer All Users Full Encryption, Bending to Pressure (Bloomberg)
* Exclusive: DoorDash valued at $16 billion after new funding round (Axios)
* India's Reliance Jio Platforms to sell $1.5 billion stake to Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (TechCrunch)
* Wirecard says €1.9bn of cash is missing (Financial Times)
* 6 eBay Executives And Employees Charged With Sending Threats, Bloody Pig Mask…
Jun 17, 2020
Wed. 06/17 – HEY! The Whole Brouhaha Between Apple And Basecamp
We dive deep into the whole HEY brouhaha and wonder if this is the best time for Apple to draw attention to App Store policies. Uber is getting into the software business. TikTok’s business is a pretty good one, it seems like. And the most reliable web business remains the first web business.
Sponsors:
* DoubleUp.agency
* CognitoHQ.com/techmeme
Links:
* A new email startup says Apple’s shaking it down for a cut of its subscriptions (Protocol)
* BASECAMP’S NEW APP, HEY, FLAGGED IN APP STORE LIMBO FOR NOT USING IN-APP PURCHASE (Daring Fireball)
* Hey.com exec says Apple is acting like ‘gangsters,’ rejecting App Store updates and demanding cut of sales (The Verge)
* Apple’s App Store policies are bad, but its interpretation and enforcement are worse (The Verge)
* Mark Zuckerberg: Historic Facebook campaign will boost voter registration, turnout and voices (USA Today)
* Uber to Sell Software, Starting With Four-Van Transit Service (Bloomberg)
* TikTo…
Jun 16, 2020
Tue. 06/16 – Apple’s Turn in The EU Antitrust Toolshed
The EU is investigating Apple for antitrust. Is Instagram surpassing Twitter as a news source? A look at that new Hey email service. A look at a whole slew of new services from Dropbox. And if you wanted to get your hands on one of those Boston Dynamics four-legged robots, today is your lucky day.
Links:
* DoubleUp.agency
* BuyRaycon.com/techmeme
Links:
* EU opens Apple antitrust investigations into App Store and Apple Pay practices (The Verge)
* Apple says its App Store facilitated $519B in commerce in 2019 (TechCrunch)
* Instagram 'will overtake Twitter as a news source' (BBC News)
* Basecamp’s founders are trying to start an email rebellion (Protocol)
* Hey YouTube WalkThrough
* Dropbox officially launches its own password manager and a secure vault for your files (The Verge)
* Boston Dynamics will now sell any business its own Spot robot for $74,500 (The Verge)
Jun 15, 2020
Mon. 06/15 – People Are Actually MORE Honest On Their Cellphones
The zero interest Mac financing is here. Shopify and Walmart team up, as they probably should. Is Mr. Bezos about to go to Washington? Interesting checkins with Quibi and Softbank. And why researchers think people are more honest when responding on their smartphones than on their PCs.
Sponsors:
* DoubleUp.agency
* MintMobile.com/ride
Links:
* Apple launches new 0% Apple Card financing for iPad, Mac, AirPods, and more (9to5Mac)
* Shopify Advances After Deal With Walmart Expands Its Reach (Bloomberg)
* Amazon Says Jeff Bezos Is Willing to Testify Before Congress (NYTimes)
* Why People Are More Honest When Writing on Their Smartphones (WSJ)
* Coronavirus contact tracing apps were tech's chance to step up. They haven't. (NBC News)
* Jeffrey Katzenberg and Meg Whitman Struggle With Their Startup—and Each Other (WSJ)
* SoftBank invests in Credit Suisse funds that finance its technology bets (Financial Times)
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Jun 12, 2020
Fri. 06/12 – Why Chris Cox Returning to Facebook is Such A Big Deal
Twitter takes down a bunch of accounts it says are government propaganda. UK regulators are gonna take a hard look at Facebook’s Giphy acquisition. I explain, in depth, why Chris Cox returning to Facebook is such a big deal. The big PlayStation 5 reveal, and of course, the weekend longreads suggestions.
Sponsors:
* ApolloNeuro.com/ride
* Metalab.co
Links:
* Twitter deletes China-linked accounts that spread false information about Hong Kong and Covid-19 (CNN Business)
* UK competition watchdog launches investigation into Facebook's $400M acquisition of Giphy (TechCrunch)
* Chris Cox is returning to Facebook as chief product officer (The Verge)
* Zuckerberg Lieutenant Returns to Facebook, a Year After Departure (WSJ)
* This is the PlayStation 5 (The Verge)
The Weekend Longread Suggestions:
* With Real-Life Games Halted, Betting World Puts Action on E-Sports (NYTimes)
* Advertisers eye in-game ads as audiences swell in lockdown (Digiday)
* This Is How M…
Jun 11, 2020
Thu. 06/11 – Regulation News Thursday
It’s regulation news day. The EU might be about to file antitrust charges against Amazon and California officially labeled Uber and Lyft workers as employees. Amazon also hit pause on its facial recognition tech as it waits for Congress to set some ground rules. Photoshop Camera is an interesting app, and Postman is an interesting raise.
Sponsors:
* Go.Rims.org/ridehome
* Metlab.co
* CognitoHQ.com/techmeme
Links:
* Amazon to Face Antitrust Charges From EU Over Treatment of Third-Party Sellers (WSJ)
* Amazon bans police use of facial recognition technology for one year (CNBC)
* Uber and Lyft drivers are employees, California regulatory agency finds (NBC News)
* Just Eat Takeaway to Buy Grubhub for $7.3 Billion to Enter U.S. (Bloomberg)
* 'Master' and 'slave': Tech terms face scrutiny amid anti-racism efforts (CNET)
* Adobe launches Photoshop Camera, a free app with tons of elaborate face filters (The Verge)
* API development platform Postman nabs $150 million a…
Jun 10, 2020
Wed. 06/10 – Robocallers Face The Music
Another day, another flaw in Intel chips discovered. More analysis of Apple’s presumed move away from Intel chips for Macs. Is Just Eat Takeaway about to swallow up Grubhub? What happened to Zynn on the Play Store? And an interesting new interactive story startup.
Sponsors:
* Metalab.co
* Grammarly.com/techmeme
Links:
* Plundering of crypto keys from ultrasecure SGX sends Intel scrambling again (Ars Technica)
* TSMC on schedule for 3nm Apple 'A16' iPhone and iPad chip in 2022 (Apple Insider)
* On Apple Announcing the ARM Mac Transition at WWDC This Month (Daring Fireball)
* Robocallers face $225M fine from FCC and lawsuits from multiple states (TechCrunch)
* Reddit names Y Combinator CEO Michael Seibel as Alexis Ohanian’s replacement (The Verge)
* Just Eat Takeaway.com Nears All-Stock Deal for Grubhub (WSJ)
* Zynn, the Hot New Video App, Is Full of Stolen Content (Wired)
* Interactive Storytelling App Whatifi Launches With $10 Million in Funding (The…
Jun 9, 2020
Tue. 06/09 – Apple Could Announce Arm Chips For Macs at WWDC In A Matter Of Days
The shift to Arm-based chips for Macs might be announced in a matter of days. IBM says it is straight out exiting the facial recognition business. Google Maps will help you avoid Covid-crowding. A deep dive into Nextdoor’s “Karen” problem. And the issue of non-competes in tech rears its head once again.
Sponsors:
* Wipers123.com promocode "ride" at checkout
* Harrys.com/techmeme
Links:
* Apple Plans to Announce Move to Its Own Mac Chips at WWDC (Bloomberg)
* IBM is exiting the face recognition business (Axios)
* New York-Based Wahed Raises $25M For Islamic Investment Platform (Crunchbase News)
* Didi Chuxing CEO says ride sharing orders recover to pre-pandemic levels (Reuters)
* Get around safely with these new Google Maps features (The Keyword)
* INSIDE NEXTDOOR’S ‘KAREN PROBLEM’ (The Verge)
* Amazon sues former AWS marketing VP Brian Hall after he takes Google Cloud job (GeekWire)
Jun 8, 2020
Mon. 06/08 – Airbnb Is Suddenly Seeing More Travel Bookings Than It Did This Time Last Year
Might we see a V-shaped recovery after all? Airbnb says there IS a lot of pent-up demand out there. Brave got caught doing basically the shadiest thing a web browser can do. Proof that YouTube owns the kids. And soon you might be able to buy anything you want from Apple, interest-free, on the Apple Card.
Sponsors:
* Metalab.co
* Wipers123.com promocode "ride" at checkout
Links:
* Airbnb Joins Vacation-Rental Sites Seeing Surge in Demand (Bloomberg)
* Privacy browser Brave under fire for violating users’ trust (Decrypt)
* Kids now spend nearly as much time watching TikTok as YouTube in US, UK and Spain (TechCrunch)
* Apple Preparing Monthly iPad, Mac Payment Plans for Apple Card (Bloomberg)
* Scientists funded by Zuckerberg sent him a letter calling Facebook’s practices ‘antithetical’ to his philanthropic mission (Washington Post)
Jun 5, 2020
Fri. 06/05 - What If Self-Driving Cars Won’t Prevent As Many Accidents As We Hoped?
Amazon and Slack form an interesting alliance. Google outlines evidence hackers are already attacking the Presidential campaigns. What if self-driving cars won’t prevent as many accidents as we hoped? And, of course, the weekend longreads suggestions.
Sponsors:
* Go.Rims.org/ridehome
* TinyCapital
Links:
* Amazon licenses Slack for all employees, while Slack adopts AWS video-calling tech (CNBC)
* Google says Iranian, Chinese hackers targeted Trump, Biden campaigns (TechCrunch)
* Twitter has a record-breaking week as users looked for news of protests and COVID-19 (TechCrunch)
* Study: Autonomous vehicles won’t make roads completely safe (Associated Press)
Weekend Longreads Suggestions:
* Worst. Deal. Ever. (Forbes)
* The Font That Solves The Big Problem With Dark Mode (Forbes)
* Indie history: How shareware helped build Epic Games (Engadget)
* Charli D’Amelio is TikTok’s biggest star. She has no idea why. (Washington Post)
* From RealPlayer to…
Jun 4, 2020
Thu. 06/04 – A Class-Action Lawsuit Around Incognito Mode
The whole land-grab in the Indian telecom market continues to blow my hair back. A class-action lawsuit around Incognito Mode. More hints at an Apple Prime subscription. CES refuses to give up the ghost, while Kitty Hawk seems to have given up on its Flyer.
Sponsors:
* TinyCapital.com
* CognitoHQ.com/techmeme
Links:
* Speaking up on racism (Tim Cook/Apple.com)
* Early Facebook Employees Disavow Zuckerberg’s Stance on Trump Posts (NYTimes)
* Snap will stop promoting Trump’s account after concluding his tweets incited violence (The Verge)
* Exclusive: Amazon in talks to buy $2 billion stake in Indian telco Bharti Airtel - sources (Reuters)
* Google faces $5 billion lawsuit in U.S. for tracking 'private' internet use (Reuters)
* Suit Claims Google’s Tracking Violates Federal Wiretap Law (NYTimes)
* iOS 13.5.5 code provides evidence of future Apple services bundle in development (9to5Mac)
* CES will be held in-person in Las Vegas next year (The Verge)…
Jun 3, 2020
Wed. 06/03 - Is On-Device Translation Coming to iOS?
Zoom is the new tech earnings report worth covering. Is on-device translation coming to iOS? Google is blocking a Remove China Apps app. The Brave browser is growing. Zuckerberg tries to calm his restless troops. And is FC Barcelona again leading the way for modern sports teams?
Sponsors:
* Go.Rims.org/ridehome
* TinyCapital
Links:
* Zoom revenue grew 169% during the quarter, and the company doubled its revenue guidance for the year (CNBC)
* Zoom won’t encrypt free calls because it wants to comply with law enforcement (TNW)
* iOS 14 to include built-in translator in Safari, full Apple Pencil support on websites (9to5Mac)
* Google takes down ‘Remove China Apps’ from the Play Store (9to5Google)
* Brave passes 15 million monthly active users and 5 million daily active users, showing 2.25x MAU growth in the past year (Brave Browser)
* Zuckerberg Defends Hands-Off Approach to Trump’s Posts (NYTimes)
* FC Barcelona Soccer Team Launches Digital Subscription…
Jun 2, 2020
Tue. 06/02 – Everything is Postponed
Facebook finally lets you clean out your old crap from your basement (I mean, past). AT&T won’t count HBO Max against your mobile data cap. Every tech event is postponed again. A whole bunch of OS update news, and a time capsule from another era.
Sponsors:
* Tiny Capital
* ExpressVPN.com/techmeme
Links:
* Facebook finally makes it way easier to trash your old posts (TechCrunch)
* HBO Max won’t hit AT&T data caps, but Netflix and Disney Plus will (The Verge)
* White nationalist group posing as antifa called for violence on Twitter (NBC News)
* Twitter takes action against Rep. Matt Gaetz for glorifying violence (The Verge)
* Cisco, Sony postpone events amid continued protests (Axios)
* Third Pixel feature drop improves AI-powered Adaptive Battery, integrates Recorder and Google Assistant (VentureBeat)
* Android update delivers new 'Bedtime' features focused on improving sleep (TechCrunch)
* Apple releases iOS 13.5.1 and watchOS 6.2.6 with ‘important…
Jun 1, 2020
Mon. 06/01 – The Facebook Walkout
What I believe is the first ever walkout in Facebook history, the biggest acquisition in Zynga history, Samsung Access is an interesting ARR play to get ahead of an Apple Prime subscription, and an Android event this week was cancelled, but a PlayStation one was announced.
Sponsors:
* DoubleUp.agency
* Kiwico.com/ride
Links:
* Facebook Employees Stage Virtual Walkout to Protest Trump Posts (NYTimes)
* Facebook, Snapchat join chorus of companies condemning George Floyd death, racism (Reuters)
* Twilio, Box, Spotify, and Other Tech CEOs Speak Out Against Racism and Police Brutality; Others Stay Silent (The Plug)
* Facebook staff angry with Zuckerberg for leaving up Trump’s ‘looting ... shooting’ post (CNBC)
* Zynga to Buy Peak for $1.8 Billion in Its Largest Deal Ever (Bloomberg)
* Samsung Access launches in the US w/ extended warranties, Microsoft 365, more (9to5Google)
* Eye-catching advances in some AI fields are not real (Science)
* Google delays…
May 29, 2020
Fri. 05/29 – The Best Summary of the Executive Order I Can Muster (Replacement)
I do my best to breakdown the who Twitter/executive order situation, at least at the time of this recording. Hall of Fame fundraiser drops mic and rides off into the sunset. TikTok has an interesting new rival. And, of course, the weekend longreads suggestions.
Sponsors:
* DoubleUp.agency
* Tovala.com/ride
Links:
* Trump signs executive order targeting protections for social media platforms (Axios)
* ‘Rammed it through’: Trump's Twitter order riles staffers and tech reformers (Protocol)
* Trump’s Order on Social Media Could Harm One Person in Particular: Donald Trump (NYTimes)
* The Two Things To Understand About Trump's Executive Order On Social Media: (1) It's A Distraction (2) It's Legally Meaningless (TechDirt)
* Trump Executive Order Misreads Key Law Promoting Free Expression Online and Violates the First Amendment (The EFF)
* Scheduled tweets and tweet drafts are now available on Twitter's website (Neowin)
* Magic Leap CEO Rony Abovitz is steppin…
May 28, 2020
Thu. 05/28 – The Most Consequential Tweets For Silicon Valley of All Time?
Is the Trump administration finally willing to go to war with big tech? Another Apple startup acquisition, but also why Fraggle Rock might indicate a strategy shift for Apple TV+. Remember 4k TV’s? And the microcredit app that will threaten to shame you if you fall behind on your payments.
Sponsors:
* DoubleUp.Agency
* Tovala.com/ride
Links:
* Trump expected to sign executive order that could threaten punishment against Facebook, Google and Twitter over allegations of political bias (Washington Post)
* Zuckerberg knocks Twitter for fact-checking Trump, says private companies shouldn't be 'the arbiter of truth' (Fox News)
* Apple Buys Machine-Learning Startup to Improve Data Used in Siri (Bloomberg)
* Apple TV Plus acquires past Fraggle Rock seasons ahead of reboot (The Verge)
* What developers want, what they don't, and what you can do to attract top talent (TechRepublic)
* LG's $1,500 48-inch 4K OLED TV goes on sale next month (Engadget)
* This lending app…
May 27, 2020
Wed. 05/27 – Amazon Joins The Self-Driving Race
Amazon joins the self-driving race, and actually, why haven’t they before? Google’s plans to get back to the office. HBO Max debuts, but with one major handicap. Facebook faces a novel whistleblower complaint and looking back on 2 years of GDPR.
Sponsors:
* Go.rims.org/ridehome
* Tovala.com/ride
* DoubleUp.agency
Links:
* Amazon in Advanced Talks to Buy Self-Driving-Car Tech Company Zoox (WSJ)
* Google to begin reopening offices July 6, will let workers expense $1,000 for equipment while telecommuting (CNET)
* Advertisers Seek to Revise Deal Terms With Streamer Quibi (WSJ)
* HBO Max debuts without the two most popular streaming platforms, Roku or Amazon (USAToday)
* ByteDance Hit $3 Billion in Net Profit Last Year (Bloomberg)
* Whistleblowers say Facebook has not warned investors about illegal activity, in new SEC complaint (Washington Post)
* Twitter labels Trump’s tweets with a fact check for the first time (Washington Post)
* Facebook Executiv…
May 26, 2020
Tue. 05/26 – What Does A 3-Day Weekend Even Mean Anymore?
The ARM chips for the next several years are here. End-to-end encryption might be coming to RCS. Jailbreaking might be returning to iPhones. JioMart’s big play arrives and more on the remote work conversation.
Sponsor:
* Tovala.com/ride
Links:
* ARM’s Cortex-A78 CPU and Mali-G78 GPU will power 2021’s best Android phones (The Verge)
* Google Messages preparing end-to-end encryption for RCS messages (9to5Google)
* There's a Jailbreak Out for the Current Version of iOS (Wired)
* JioMart, the e-commerce venture from India's richest man, launches in 200 cities and towns (TechCrunch)
* Run The World raises $10.8 million to bring live events online (VentureBeat)
* Why Facebook’s Plan to Tie Remote Pay to Location Will Probably Fail (Intelligencer)
https://www.youtube.com/techmemepodcast
May 23, 2020
(Bonus) Bryan Salesky, CEO of Argo
The founder and CEO of a company we talk about all the time: Bryan Salesky of Argo AI. Bryan tells us more about the unique Silicon Valley/Detroit hybrid that Argo represents, we discuss the unique business model strategy they’re exploring, and we find out, where the self-driving space is now that Covid-19 has basically put everything on pause.
May 22, 2020
Fri. 05/22 – I Do A Complete 180 on WFH
Yeah, mea culpa on my whole work-from-home/remote work skepticism. Also, I was wrong about Magic Leap being a goner. But that subscription aggregator we’ve all been anticipating is showing up right on time, and in the weekend longreads, let me introduce you to the two men who are about to become nerd superstars.
Sponsors:
* Metalab.co
* Tovala.com/ride
Links:
* MARK ZUCKERBERG ON TAKING HIS MASSIVE WORKFORCE REMOTE (The Verge)
* Zuckerberg says employees moving out of Silicon Valley may face pay cuts (CNBC)
* IBM Is Latest Tech Giant to Cut Jobs in Midst of Pandemic (Bloomberg)
* Magic Leap Raises $350 Million, Withdraws Layoff Notices (The Information)
* Just turning your phone on qualifies as searching it, court rules (Ars Technica)
* ScreenHits TV to Launch Streaming Aggregator to Combat "Subscription Fatigue" (The Hollywood Reporter)
Weekend Longreads Suggestions:
* A Case for Cooperation Between Machines and Humans (NYTimes)
* Copyright bots and…
May 21, 2020
Thu. 05/21 – The Galaxy S20 Tactical Edition
Twitter is testing another new feature to limit trolls and give users greater control of their threads, the Google and Apple contact tracing API is here, what is the Tactical Edition of a Galaxy phone and why might you need one, and some interesting raises this Thursday.
Sponsors:
* Tovala.com/ride
* Metalab.co
Links:
* Twitter is testing a feature that limits who can reply to your tweets (TechCrunch)
* Three US states have signed on to Apple and Google’s exposure notification system (The Verge)
* Apple releases final iOS 13.5 with coronavirus exposure alert support (VentureBeat)
* Coinbase to Make Working From Home Permanent (The Information)
* Samsung launches Galaxy S20 Tactical Edition for Department of Defense (ZDNet)
* How a 20-year-old convinced Facebook’s former security chief to invest in his data privacy start-up (CNBC)
* Autonomous aviation startup Xwing raises $10M to scale its software for pilotless flights (TechCrunch)
* How a 20-year-old convi…
May 20, 2020
Wed. 05/20 – Joe Rogan is Podcasting’s Howard Stern Moment
Facebook takes another major run at cracking ecommerce. And why this might be a highly opportune moment to do so. In short: the corona moment might be the moment ecommerce finally wins. Also, will Apple ship iPhones without any EarPods? And why the big Joe Rogan to Spotify news is podcasting’s Howard Stern moment.
Sponsors:
* Tovala.com/ride
* Metalab.co
Links:
* Mark Zuckerberg announces Facebook Shops, making it easier for businesses to list products for sale (CNBC)
* Ecommerce penetration graph (Dennis Hong)
* Is the e-commerce shift going to last? (TechCrunch)
* A City Locks Down to Fight Coronavirus, but Robots Come and Go (NYTimes)
* 'iPhone 12' predicted to ship without EarPods, will boost AirPods sales (Apple Insider)
* Spotify signs 'The Joe Rogan Experience" to an exclusive multi-year deal (TechCrunch)
* Bill Simmons Just Wants to Win (Vulture)
* With its Joe Rogan exclusive, Spotify’s new podcast strategy is to kill podcasts (Digital Trends…
May 19, 2020
Tues. 05/19 - If You Virtual Build It, They Will Come
Microsoft’s virtual version of its Build conference unleashes an array of news, including Microsoft Cloud for Healthcare, a new component system for live document editing, a collaboration with Sony on embedded AI in camera sensors, a super-fast OpenAI supercomputer built on Azure, and better Linux support in Windows 10? Also, new leaks about Apple’s AR glasses, the Department of Justice slams Apple on phone encryption, Apple in negotiations to buoy Apple+ with a back catalog of programming, Walmart puts Jet.com to bed among a huge sales increase, and finally, a massive database of medical equipment service manuals comes online.
Sponsors
* Tiny Capital
* MetaLab
Links:
* Microsoft’s new PowerToys Run launcher for Windows 10 is now available to download (The Verge)
* Microsoft is bringing Linux GUI apps to Windows 10 (The Verge)
* Microsoft to adapt its cloud software for healthcare industry (Reuters)
* Deliver better experiences, insights, and care with Microsof…
May 18, 2020
Mon. 05/18 – Pizza Arbitrage Shows How The Food Delivery Space Is Broken
The tech trade war is really heating up again, in case you missed it. What if Coronavirus is what helps Google win at messaging? Clubhouse is an interesting raise raising eyebrows. And why Pizza arbitrage shows that the food delivery space is not only broken, but basically spits in the face of efficient market theory.
Sponsors:
* Metalab.co
* Mintmobile.com/ride
Links:
* TSMC halts new Huawei orders after US tightens restrictions (Nikkei Asian Review)
* China Injects $2.2 Billion Into Local Chip Firm (Bloomberg)
* General Atlantic to invest $870M in India's Reliance Jio Platforms (TechCrunch)
* Google Meet surpasses 50 million downloads on the Google Play Store (9to5Google)
* Andreessen Horowitz Wins VC Sweepstakes To Back Clubhouse, Voice App Still In Beta, At $100 Million Valuation (Forbes)
* London-based Fly Now Pay Later raises £35 million Series A to provide flexible financing to travellers (Tech.eu)
* Austin-Based Real Estate Startup Homeward Secures…
May 16, 2020
(Bonus) Listener Call in I - The "Call-in-an-ing"
Questions about: tech in the time of coronavirus, podcasting in the time of coronavirus, WeWork and co-working spaces after the coronavirus, Netflix's position among the competition right now, are subscriptions the future of podcasting, how I source news, and what are my biases, among other questions and answers....
May 15, 2020
Fri. 05/15 – Facebook Buys GIPHY
The US strikes at Huawei again. Apple acquires a VR startup and there’s conflicting rumors on those AR glasses. Is Silicon Valley really about to become a ghost town? And, of course, the weekend longreads suggestions.
Sponsors:
* TinyCapital.com
Classified Ad:
IbisWritingAcademy.com
Links:
* U.S. moves to cut Huawei off from global chip suppliers as China eyes retaliation (Reuters)
* Scoop: Facebook to buy Giphy for $400 million (Axios)
* Apple Acquires Startup NextVR that Broadcasts VR Content (Bloomberg)
* Apple’s computerized glasses won’t be ready until 2022 ‘at the earliest,’ top analyst says (Bloomberg)
* Latest leak has "sleek" Apple Glasses coming out in 2021 instead of 2022 (Apple Insider)
* Uber’s CEO, a Seasoned Dealmaker, Pursues His Biggest One Yet (Bloomberg)
* Chrome will start blocking resource-heavy ads in August (VentureBeat)
* Tech Workers Consider Escaping Silicon Valley’s Sky-High Rents (Bloomberg Businessweek)
Weeke…
May 14, 2020
Thu. 05/14 – “Monstrous” Chip News
There is "monstrous" chip news from Nvidia, the world’s first camera sensor with AI built-in, a crypto experiment on Reddit that I feel like might actually have a shot at working, how long will Google stick with hardware, and new members of the $100MM ARR club.
Sponsors:
* TinyCapital.com
* ExpressVPN.com/techmeme
Links:
* Nvidia unveils monstrous A100 AI chip with 54 billion transistors and 5 petaflops of performance (VentureBeat)
* Nvidia’s first Ampere GPU is designed for data centers and AI, not your PC (The Verge)
* Sony Says It Created World’s First Image Sensor With Built-in AI (Bloomberg)
* Reddit to launch Ethereum-based tokens for cryptocurrency and Fortnite subreddits (The Block)
* Chrome will soon group tabs together to save pack rats from themselves (Engadget)
* The mastermind behind the Pixel's camera has left Google (AndroidCentral)
* Adding three more companies to the $100M ARR club (TechCrunch)
Submit questions for the Zoom call thi…
May 13, 2020
Wed. 05/13 – What If We Never Go Back To The Office?
New XPS laptops, new Fire HD tablets, Facebook is compensating content moderators, how the pandemic has affected clothes shopping, and how the aftermath of the pandemic might affect offices in the sense of: will we actually ever go back to them?
Sponsors:
* TinyCapital.com
* BuyRaycon.com/tech
Links:
* Dell launches new XPS 17 and redesigned XPS 15 with 16:10 edge-to-edge displays (The Verge)
* Amazon updates the Fire HD 8 with a faster processor, more RAM, and USB-C (The Verge)
* Facebook will pay $52 million in settlement with moderators who developed PTSD on the job (The Verge)
* Apple plans to add audio versions of publisher articles to Apple News+ (Digiday)
* US e-commerce sales jump 49% in April, led by online grocery (TechCrunch)
* Twitter Will Allow Employees To Work At Home Forever (Buzzfeed News)
* Apple Plans to Return More Staff to Offices in Break From Rivals (Bloomberg)
Subscribe to the ad free feed in 60 seconds, right here inside your podca…
May 12, 2020
Tue. 05/12 - Quibbling With Quibi
Is Uber about to gobble Grubhub? Twitter does something Facebook and YouTube did a long time ago. Details on Apple’s forthcoming over the ears headphones. New releases for developers and music producers. And look, let’s have a conversation about Quibi.
Sponsors:
* TinyCapital.com
* Rhone.com/ridehome promo code: ridehome
Links:
* Twitter launches labels, warnings on misleading COVID-19 information (Reuters)
* Exclusive: AirPods Studio to feature head and neck detection, custom equalizer settings, more (9to5Mac)
* Apple releases 'major' update to Logic Pro X (AppleInsider)
* Microsoft's VS Code 1.45 is out: GitHub integration plus JavaScript debugger update (ZDNet)
* Jeffrey Katzenberg Blames Pandemic for Quibi’s Rough Start (NYTimes)
May 11, 2020
Mon. 05/11 – Why Call it “Thunderspy” and not “Thunderstruck” or “Thunderstorm?”
A flaw in Thunderbolt basically means no computers are secure. Qualcomm’s new flagship chip. Eric Schmidt has finally left the Googleplex. Detecting malware via grayscale images. Apple is reopening stores, and we might have a new tech IPO as soon as next month.
Sponsors:
* Tinycapital.com
Links:
* Thunderbolt Flaws Expose Millions of PCs to Hands-On Hacking (Wired)
* Qualcomm's latest mobile gaming chip packs faster graphics and global 5G (Engadget)
* Eric Schmidt, who led Google's transformation into a tech giant, has left the company (CNET)
* Microsoft and Intel project converts malware into images before analyzing it (ZDNET)
* Microsoft adds protection against Reply-All email storms in Office 365 (ZDNET)
* Apple plans gradual reopening of US retail stores beginning next week (9to5Mac)
* Apple to reopen stores in US starting next week (CNBC)
* Online Car Seller Vroom Files Confidentially for IPO (WSJ)
Book mentioned: Atrocities by Matthew White
May 9, 2020
(Bonus) Did Al Gore Invent The Internet?
Of course not. But also: it's more nuanced than you might think...
May 8, 2020
Fri. 05/08 – How Good Can an $18 Apple Watch Knock-Off Really Be?
Uber continues the things-could-be-worse tech earnings parade, Google is consolidating all of its messaging efforts under one team, this whole Reliance Jio Platforms story really has me intrigued, a semi-decent $18 Apple watch ripoff, and, of course, the weekend longreads suggestions.
Sponsors:
* Caramba.store
* Tibco.com/ride
Links:
* Uber shares shoot up after CEO says ride volume is increasing again after April bottom (CNBC)
* UK may ditch NHS contact-tracing app for Apple and Google model (The Guardian)
* Google unifies all of its messaging and communication apps into a single team (The Verge)
* Vista Equity Partners to invest $1.5B in India's Reliance Jio Partners (TechCrunch)
* Developers say Google's Go is 'most sought after' programming language of 2020 (ZDNET)
* This Apple Watch copycat is surprisingly good for just $18 (CNET)
Weekend Longreads Suggestions:
* The System That Actually Worked (The Atlantic)
* THE WORLD’S BIGGEST PC GAMES ARE FI…
May 7, 2020
Thu. 05/07 – Do Lyft Earnings Mean Ride Hailing As An Industry Might Survive?
Zoom makes its first acquisition, Google Authenticator now makes it easier to switch phones, Lyft earnings gives hopes to the ride hailing industry, new Sonos gear and a deep dive into Facebook’s new Oversight Board.
Sponsors:
* Tibco.com/ride
* ExpressVPN.com/techmeme
Links:
* Zoom buys Keybase — its first acquisition — as part of 90-day plan to fix security flaws (CNBC)
* Google releases unscheduled Android 11 DP4 as first beta pushed back to next month (9to5Google)
* Google Authenticator app update finally lets you transfer two-factor codes between devices (AndroidCentral)
* Lyft shares jump 15% as company reports more riders than last year despite coronavirus (CNBC)
* How Lyft intends to navigate and survive Covid-19 (TechCrunch)
* Sonos debuts new Arc soundbar, next-generation Sonos Sub, and Sonos Five speaker (TechCrunch)
* How Facebook’s oversight board could rewrite the rules of the entire internet (Protocol)
* Facebook Names the 20 People…
May 6, 2020
Wed. 05/06 – Disney+ Is Saving Mickey’s Bacon At The Moment
New Surface Gos, New Surface Books, New Surface Headphones and the Surface Buds finally arrive. The rumored layoffs come to Uber and Airbnb. Disney+ is saving Disney’s bacon at the moment. And why Peloton is one of those companies having a positive Corona moment.
Sponsors:
* Tibco.com/ride
* Caramba.store, code BRIAN50 at checkout
Links:
* Microsoft’s new Surface Go 2 has a bigger display and better Intel processor (The Verge)
* Microsoft's Surface Book 3 has 10th-gen Intel CPUs and new NVIDIA GPUs (Engadget)
* Uber to lay off 3,700 employees, about 14% of workforce (CNBC)
* The layoffs at Airbnb cast a dark shadow over Silicon Valley (Recode)
* Magic Leap is turning to a major health care company to save its future, potentially raising as much as $100 million (Business Insider)
* Disney says it now has 54.5 million Disney+ subscribers (CNBC)
* People Are Panic-Buying Meat, Toilet Paper … and Pelotons? (NYTimes)
* Bitcoin Is Staging a Comeback Remi…
May 5, 2020
Tue. 05/05 – UK’s Contact Tracing App Won’t Work In the Background
The virtual WWDC begins June 22! The UK hasn’t played by Google and Apple’s rules and it seems like their contact tracing app is failing because of that. And yet, are Google and Apple making decisions above their station? Uber might be bailing out Lime. Microsoft is reconsidering its Windows X strategy. And Sensor Tower is the interesting raise of the day.
Sponsors:
* Tibco.com/ride
* DoubleUp.agency
Links:
* Apple kicking off week of virtual WWDC on June 22, jackets and pins for Swift Challenge winners (9to5Mac)
* UK finds itself almost alone with centralized virus contact-tracing app that probably won't work well, asks for your location, may be illegal (The Register)
* The U.K.’s Coronavirus Contact Tracing App Is a Complete Mess (Vice)
* Apple, Google ban use of location tracking in contact tracing apps (Reuters)
* Uber in Talks to Lead $170 Million Lime Investment at Lower Valuation (The Information)
* Confirmed: Intel is buying urban mobility platfor…
May 4, 2020
Mon. 05/04 - Usable Keyboards Return to the 13-inch MacBook Pro
Usable keyboards return to the 13-inch MacBook Pro. What is going on at Amazon? Jio Platforms gets another huge investment. Another potential blockbuster acquisition in the Israeli transport-tech space. And can the Apple watch help with Covid-19? Sort of. Let me explain.
Sponsors:
* DoubleUp.agency
* Kiwico.com/ride
Links:
* Apple announces new 13-inch MacBook Pro with Magic Keyboard (The Verge)
* Amazon VP Resigns, Calls Company ‘Chickenshit’ for Firing Protesting Workers (Vice)
* Bye, Amazon (Tim Bray)
* Silver Lake to invest $747M in India's Jio Platforms (TechCrunch)
* Exclusive: Uber will soon require drivers and riders to wear face coverings in the US (CNN Business)
* Intel set to buy Israeli co Moovit for $1b (Globes)
* European Heart Journal: Apple Watch ECG detects signs of coronary ischemia missed by hospital ECG (9to5Mac)
* Apple Watch blood oxygen detection feature found in iOS 14 code snippet (9to5Mac)
May 1, 2020
Fri. 05/01 - Sometime Sanity Wins (ICANN Edition)
ICANN finally does the right thing on the whole .org mess. Earnings from Apple and Amazon. Could Amazon face actual perjury charges? Reddit walks back those chat rooms. And, of course, the weekend longreads suggestions.
Sponsors:
* MintMobile.com/ride
Links:
* A Private Equity Firm Is Blocked From Buying .Org (NYTimes)
* Amazon says it’ll spend $4 billion or more dealing with COVID-19 (The Verge)
* House lawmakers demand Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos testify in antitrust probe, threatening potential subpoena (Washington Post)
* Reddit removes chat room feature after one day due to site-wide bug (The Verge)
Weekend Longreads Suggestions:
* Common Sense Comes Closer to Computers (Quanta)
* The challenges of developing autonomous vehicles during a pandemic (VentureBeat)
* This Should Be V.R.’s Moment. Why Is It Still So Niche? (NYTimes)
* Apple still depends on traditional American engineers, and is slowly losing them (Apple Insider)
* How Well Can Algorithms…
Apr 30, 2020
Thu. 04/30 – Don’t Fight The Tape (Tech Earnings Edition)
Four big earnings reports for four big tech companies, but we’ll leave that to the end. Intel launches a new flagship clip line, Andreessen Horowitz launches a new crypto fund, Zoom fesses up on MAUs, and Reddit goes old school with chat rooms.
Sponsors:
* Tovala (text TOVALARIDE to 710-23)
* Metalab.co
Links:
* Intel's 10th Gen Comet Lake for Desktops: Skylake-S Hits 10 Cores and 5.3 GHz (AnAndTech)
* Andreessen Horowitz raises $515 million for second crypto fund (Axios)
* Zoom admits it doesn’t have 300 million users, corrects misleading claims (The Verge)
* Reddit adds chat rooms for subreddits (Engadget)
* Smartphone Production to Drop by 16.5% YoY in 2Q20, Setting Historical Record in YoY Decline, Says TrendForce (TrendForce)
* Lyft lays off 17% of workforce, furloughs hundreds more (CNBC)
* Facebook soars after reporting ‘stability’ in ad revenue after fall in March (CNBC)
* Press Release & Webcast (Microsoft Investor Relations)
* Twitte…
Apr 29, 2020
Wed. 04/29 – Here Come the Tech Earnings…
The biggest tech earnings season in a while kicks off and so far, it’s so good for Alphabet. Spotify says its holding up as well. Though Uber might lay off 20% of its workforce, Ford is delaying its self-driving road map, and that has me asking again, why isn’t this the perfect moment for self-driving tech?
Sponsors:
* Tovala (text TOVALARIDE to 710-23)
* Metalab.co
Links:
* Alphabet earnings hit by ‘significant slowdown’ in ad sales, but revenue boosts stock (Marketwatch)
* Google Meet video conferencing is now free for anybody (The Verge)
* Spotify Q1 beats on sales of $2B with monthly active users up 31% to 286M (TechCrunch)
* Uber Discusses Plan to Lay Off About 20% of Employees (The Information)
* Ford postpones autonomous vehicle service until 2022 (TechCrunch)
* How a handful of Apple and Google employees came together to help health officials trace coronavirus (CNBC)
Apr 28, 2020
Tue. 04/28 – Deepfakes As A Killer (Advertising) App
Shopify unveils its own shopping app. DJI unveils the Mavic Air 2. The Pixel Buds 2 finally arrive. Tesla pushes out a new auto driving update. What really accounts for Magic Leap’s crash and burn? And why deepfakes are probably going to be in a bunch of commercials soon.
Sponsors:
* Metalab.co
* Plume.com/techmeme
Links:
* Shopify launches Shop, a new mobile app (TechCrunch)
* NHS rejects Apple-Google coronavirus app plan (BBC News)
* DJI’s new Mavic Air 2 has an upgraded camera and much longer flying time (The Verge)
* GOOGLE PIXEL BUDS REVIEW: SECOND TIME’S THE CHARM (The Verge)
* Tesla says cars can automatically stop for traffic lights (Associated Press)
* Magic Leap's $2.6 billion bait and switch (TechCrunch)
* Magic Leap is a Tragic Heap (The Blog of Palmer Luckey)
* An ESPN Commercial Hints at Advertising’s Deepfake Future (NYTimes)
Apr 27, 2020
Mon. 04/27 – It’s Always A Good Day When Your Starship Doesn’t Explode
iPhone production might be delayed, but the launch might not be, and actually, that might bounce in Apple’s favor. Autocomplete for coding. A little more background on John Stankey. Progress on my robot burrito delivery. And a crucial SpaceX rocket passes a key test by finally not blowing up.
Sponsors:
* Sanebox.com/techmeme
* F5.com/ride
Links:
* Apple Delays Mass Production of 2020 Flagship iPhones (WSJ)
* Two Million Australians Download Coronavirus Contact-Tracing App (Bloomberg)
* Germany flips to Apple-Google approach on smartphone contact tracing (Reuters)
* Codota picks up $12M for an AI platform that auto-completes developers' code (TechCrunch)
* Blunt New CEO Inherits Challenge of Turning AT&T Into Media Star (Bloomberg)
* John Stankey’s challenge: Making AT&T’s $100 billion bet on Time Warner pay off (CNBC)
* The pandemic is bringing us closer to our robot takeout future (Ars Technica)
* SpaceX’s future deep-space rocket passes key tes…
Apr 26, 2020
(Bonus Bonus) The Alfred P. Sloan Era of the Internet Era
This piece: John Luttig's When Tailwinds Vanish caused me to go on a random jag this afternoon. Since I had nothing better to do than post it to Medium, I read it into the microphone too...
PS: the medium piece I wrote up is here.
Apr 25, 2020
(Bonus) Why Shopify Is #Winning With James McLeod
As you’re about to hear, I’ve wanted to do a deep dive episode discussion on Shopify and how they’re suddenly the big up and coming, potential tech behemoth… arguably the most successful tech IPO of the last five years; seemingly the only company that can challenge Amazon in ecommerce… so when James McLeod from the Financial Post got in touch wanting to talk about Shopify, it was like someone was reading my mind. You’ll see why I’ve found the Shopify story so interesting because… well, we get right into it…
Sponsors:
* ReadyCloud.com/pod
* TinyCapital.com
James’ recent reporting on Shopify and other tech stories: https://business.financialpost.com/author/jmcleodpostmedia
Apr 24, 2020
Fri. 04/24 - Google Battens Down The Hatches
AT&T’s CEO rides off into the sunset is both a surprise and not a surprise at all. Whole bunch of interesting Google news all at once. More on that iOS zero-day, more data on tech industry hiring and layoffs, and, of course, the weekend longreads suggestions.
Sponsors:
* TinyCapital.com
* CognitoHQ.com
Links:
* AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson to step down, COO Stankey to take over (CNBC)
* Google to cut marketing budgets by as much as half, directors warned of hiring freezes (CNBC)
* Google ditched tipping feature for donating money to sites (TechCrunch)
* Google will make all advertisers prove their identities, so people can see who they are and which country they’re in (CNBC)
* Apple Finds No Evidence Hackers Exploited iPhone, iPad Mail Flaw (Bloomberg)
* Tech companies pull back on hiring, flashing another grim warning sign for the U.S. economy (CNBC)
Weekend Longreads Suggestions:
* Silicon Valley balanced grueling schedules with workplace perks. Coro…
Apr 23, 2020
Thu. 04/23 – Privacy Hypocrisy From France?
Custom Mac chips by 2021? Robot nurses already in hospitals? Bill Gurley into the sunset? Why some people are accusing France of digital privacy hypocrisy, and an interesting raise in the remote work space. Specifically: remote whiteboarding.
Sponsors:
* F5.com/ride
* TinyCapital.com
Links:
* Apple Aims to Sell Macs With Its Own Chips Starting in 2021 (Bloomberg)
* Boston Dynamics’ Spot robot is helping hospitals remotely treat coronavirus patients (The Verge)
* Magic Leap Cuts Half of Jobs In Major Restructuring (Bloomberg)
* Worldwide Digital Video Game Spending Hits All-Time High of $10B in March (The Hollywood Reporter)
* Venture Capitalist Bill Gurley Isn’t Joining Benchmark’s Next Fund (WSJ)
* France urges Apple and Google to ease privacy rules on contact tracing (The Guardian)
* French Hypocrisy: Fines Google For Being Soft On Privacy; Now Angry That Google Won't Let It Spy On Users (TechDirt)
* Mire lands $50M Series B for digital whiteb…
Apr 22, 2020
Wed. 04/22 – Facebook’s Big Play In India
Huge Facebook investment in India. Tech earnings season is back, and this promises to be a super interesting one for all the reasons you can imagine. Two iPhone zero days found out in the wild. Patreon does do layoffs but says creator numbers are holding up. And a roundup of the iPhone SE reviews.
Sponsors:
* CognitoHQ.com
* Tinycapital.com
Links:
* Facebook invests $5.7B in India's Reliance Jio Partners (TechCrunch)
* Facebook Invests $5.7 Billion in Indian Internet Giant Jio (NYTimes)
* Netflix blows away new subscriber expectations (CNBC)
* Snap has the pieces in place to fight off the coronavirus downturn in advertising better than rivals, and the stock is soaring (CNBC)
* Researchers Say They Caught an iPhone Zero-Day Hack in the Wild (Vice)
* Patreon lays off 13% of workforce (TechCrunch)
* APPLE IPHONE SE REVIEW: EVERYTHING YOU NEED (The Verge)
* iPhone SE Review: An iPhone for People Who Don’t Like New iPhones (WSJ)
* Review: Apple iPhone SE (…
Apr 21, 2020
Tue. 04/21 – Sonos Radio
Sonos launches its own streaming radio service, huge trove of Facebook accounts purchased on the dark web, Google goes with free to compete with Amazon in product search, Kickstarter is seeing a huge drop in project launches and we finally have a date for the HBO Max launch.
Sponsors:
* TinyCapital.com
* Rhone.com/ridehome promocode ridehome for 20% off
Links:
* Sonos launches its own streaming radio service (The Verge)
* 267 million Facebook profiles sold for $600 on the dark web (BleepingComputer)
* Apple launches App Store, Music, Arcade, Podcasts, and iCloud in new countries (9to5Mac)
* In major shift, Google Shopping opens up to free product listings (Search Engine Land)
* Facebook removes some events calling for protests of stay-at-home orders (NBC News)
* Google's Head of Quantum Computing Hardware Resigns (Wired)
* WarnerMedia Sets Late May HBO Max Launch (The Hollywood Reporter)
* AT&T’s HBO Max Will Dive Into Crowded Streaming Market on May 2…
Apr 20, 2020
Mon. 04/20 – Well, Your iPad IS A Laptop Now, Which Means Bigger And Heavier
Paging Farmville: Facebook takes another stab at owning mobile gaming. Rupert Murdoch's longstanding wish is granted. Dropbox had longstanding doubts about its erstwhile partner Zoom. More data on the health of tech investing, and the first reviews of the iPad as laptop are… mixed.
Sponsors:
* Plume.com/techmeme
* Mintmobile.com/ride
Links:
* Facebook to Introduce an App for Gaming (NYTimes)
* Facebook and Google to face mandatory code of conduct to 'level playing field' with traditional news media (ABC News Australia)
* Zoom’s Security Woes Were No Secret to Business Partners Like Dropbox (NYTimes)
* With Shut-In Kids Flocking to Streaming, Disney Channel Retools (Bloomberg)
* The Q1 2020 Global VC Report: Funding Slowly Impacted By Coronavirus (Crunchbase News)
* Private Equity Sees $20 Billion of Tech Deals Shelved by Virus (Bloomberg)
* MAGIC KEYBOARD FOR THE IPAD PRO REVIEW: THE BEST WAY TO TURN AN IPAD INTO A LAPTOP (Bloomberg)
Apr 18, 2020
(Bonus) Who's Right About The Economy? Wall Street Or Silcon Valley? With Alex Wilhelm @alex
I wasn’t supposed to do a weekend episode this weekend. I’ve got one scheduled for next week that I still need to record. But a few days ago, I saw Alex Wilhelm at TechCrunch tweet that he was doing a piece about why everyone in Silicon Valley and the VC world and the startup world still seem to be preparing for a nuclear winter, while the stock market has been roaring back to life, and I was like YES! I need to talk about that with somebody right now! I’m asking myself that question every day. It’s not that I’m rooting for a crash, it’s not that I want the economy to suffer, but everyone I know in the Tech world thinks we're in for a bad recession and yet… well, we get into all this. I needed to have this discussion with somebody right away, so forgive me if this is a little self indulgent, but join Alex and I as we ask the question: who’s right about the economy right now? Silicon Valley, or Wall Street?
PS: This is Alex's piece I was referring to: As stocks recover…
Apr 17, 2020
Fri. 04/17 - Y Combinator Gets Picky
Microsoft has some AI tech that can catch bugs 99% of the time, Y Combinator is going to be more picky about who it invests in, macOS is getting a smarter battery management system for your laptop, and of course, the weekend longreads suggestions.
Sponsors:
* DoubleUp.agency
* CognitoHQ.com
Links:
* AI spots critical Microsoft security bugs 97% of the time (VentureBeat)
* Changing policy, Y Combinator cuts its pro rate stake and makes investments case-by-case (TechCrunch)
* Google's fast-growing Meet video tool getting Zoom-like layout, Gmail link (Reuters)
* Apple changes default MacBook charging behavior to improve battery health (Six Colors)
* Apple CEO Talks Covid-19 Crisis, Return to Work Plan at Company-Wide Meeting (Bloomberg)
* 'Needle in a haystack': Reborn tech offices may need distance and mass testing (Protocol)
* The coronavirus pandemic turned Folding@Home into an exaFLOP supercomputer (Ars Technica)
* Can Comic Books Survive the Coronaviru…
Apr 16, 2020
Thu. 04/16 - The Video Conferencing Space Is So Hot, We’re Getting Steamy M&A Action Now.
The video conferencing space is so hot, we’re getting steamy M&A action now. Apple wants to get stylish with over the ear headphones. Robinhood bucks a couple of trends with a new round. And is Facebook’s Libra just gonna drop like a stone?
Sponsors:
* Kiwico.com/ride
* DoubleUp.agency
Links:
* Verizon Buys Zoom Conferencing Rival BlueJeans (The Verge)
* Apple Developing High-End Headphones With Interchangeable Parts (Bloomberg)
* Sony Plans Limited PlayStation 5 Output in First Year (Bloomberg)
* Robinhood Is Raising New Funds at About $8 Billion Value, Sources Say (Bloomberg)
* Google to Slow Hiring for Rest of 2020, CEO Tells Staff (Bloomberg)
* Facebook-Backed Libra Cryptocurrency Project Is Scaled Back (NYTimes)
* Amazon Retools With Unusual Goal: Get Shoppers to Buy Less Amid Coronavirus Pandemic (WSJ)
* Amazon to close French warehouses until next week after court order (Reuters)
* TikTok now lets parents set restrictions on their kids’…
Apr 15, 2020
Wed. 04/15 – New iPhone SE!
Hellooooo new iPhone SE. Airbnb raises another debt round. Amazon kneecaps affiliate marketers. Now it’s Medium’s turn to face fake news (or, at least, fake experts) scrutiny. And why Houseparty is now, officially, another unlikely winner of the Coronavirus moment.
Sponsors:
* CognitoHQ.com
* BuyRaycon.com/tech
Podapalooza tickets at: PLZA.org
Links:
* Apple announces the new $399 iPhone SE for 2020 (The Verge)
* Airbnb raises another $1bn (Financial Times)
* Amazon slashes commission rates for program that gives publishers a cut of sales (CNBC)
* Github is now free for all teams (TechCrunch)
* Washington AG sues Facebook for violating state political ad law (GeekWire)
* How Medium became the best and worst place for coronavirus news (The Verge)
* Houseparty Vies With Zoom to Be Homebound Chatters’ App of Choice (Bloomberg)
Apr 14, 2020
Tue, 04/14 - Seems Like Old Times! An Actual Smartphone Launch Event!
We have an actual smartphone launch event to report on! Google is apparently close to powering it’s devices with its own custom-design silicon. Microsoft Teams is getting closer to Zoom in a good, feature-wise way. An update on the venture funding environment and new gaming ratings to alert people to loot boxes.
Sponsors:
* LinkedIN.com/ride
* Plume.com/techmeme
Links:
* OnePlus Announces OnePlus 8 & OnePlus 8 Pro: Step-Up 2020 Flagships (AnAndTech)
* ONEPLUS 8 PRO REVIEW: BIG LEAGUE (The Verge)
* Q&A: Apple and Google discuss their coronavirus tracing efforts (TechCrunch)
* iPhone China Shipments Rebound as Manufacturing Resumes (Bloomberg)
* Scoop: Google readies its own chip for future Pixels, Chromebooks (Axios)
* Zoom will let paying customers pick which data center their calls are routed from (The Verge)
* Over 500,000 Zoom accounts sold on hacker forums, the dark web (BleepingComputer)
* New Microsoft Teams features: Video to show 9 people on sc…
Apr 13, 2020
Mon. 04/13 – Back To The iPhone 5 Design Future?
Deeper dives into that Google/Apple contact tracing project, solid rumors about the new iPhone design, the telecom industry might lose $25 billion dollars this year and international roaming charges are to blame, and an open source live streaming and video streaming app that can help you Twitch and YouTube better, without being beholden to their tools.
Sponsors:
* Harrys.com/techmeme
* F5.com/ride
Links:
* @moxie Tweet Thread
* How Apple and Google are tackling one of the toughest parts about tracking COVID-19 exposures (The Verge)
* NHS phone app holds key to lifting UK’s coronavirus lockdown (The Times (UK))
* Apple Plans iPad-Like Design for Next iPhone, Smaller HomePod (Bloomberg)
* SoftBank Group forecasts $7-bn full-year net loss (Yahoo Finance)
* Son’s $2 Billion Guarantee at Risk as Virus Hits SoftBank Star (Bloomberg)
* Fall of the roaming empire: telecom groups face revenue loss as travel collapses (Financial Times)
* As YouTube Traffic Soars…
Apr 11, 2020
(Bonus) Tech Giant Psychoanalysis With Alex Kantrowitz
I couldn’t tell you the amount of times, over the last two years, I’ve quoted pieces from Alex Kantrowitz on this show. Hundreds of times? Easy? Alex is the senior tech reporter at Buzzfeed News, and, while I don’t have favorite people to quote from on this show (I shouldn’t anyway) the sheer number of times I quote from someone should tell you something about the amount of news they break. The insights they have. Alex has an amazing new book out called Always Day One- How the Tech Titans Plan to Stay On Top Forever. And as I said yesterday, it’s an amazing breakdown of not only the cultural DNA of each of the tech giants, but also a useful playbook to their success… a way to understand how they do what they do and why they win more often than not. Amazing book. Anyone who listens to this show every day will find it useful in informing the competitive analysis we always engage in.
Sponsor:
* Tovala.com/ride
Buy the book here! Always Day One - How the Tech Titans Plan t…
Apr 10, 2020
Fri. 04/10 – HUGE: Apple and Google Join Forces For Coronavirus Contact Tracing
Amazon is creating a system to test its own employees for Coronavirus, Google creates a system to help with unemployment claims, one more attempt to keep track of the Google messaging branding mess, more evidence Zuckerberg really is jealous of Instagram, and, of course, the weekend longreads suggestions.
Sponsors:
* Tovala.com/ride
* Caramba.store Code: Brian50
Links:
* Apple, Google debut major effort to help people track if they’ve come in contact with coronavirus (Washington Post)
* Amazon developing coronavirus testing lab for workers (Washington Post)
* The pandemic is playing to almost every one of Amazon's strengths (CNN Business)
* Google creates online unemployment application with state of New York (CNBC)
* Google is rebranding Hangouts Chat as just Google Chat (The Verge)
* Everyone can now access their Instagram DMs on the web (The Verge)
Weekend Longreads Suggestions:
* Can Airbnb Survive Coronavirus? (Citylab)
* Atlassian’s tools hel…
Apr 9, 2020
Thu. 04/09 – Why The Pandemic Might Be Long-Term Good For The Internet
Disney+ continues to blow the doors off the place. Good old phone calls are back, along with the Desktop web. Don’t expect to see new emoji for a while. Stadia is free for anyone with a Gmail account, COBAL skills are in high demand and why the pandemic might be a long-term good for Internet infrastructure.
Sponsors:
* Caramba.store
* CognitoHQ.com
* Plume.com/techmeme
Links:
* Disney+ Surpasses 50 Million Paid Subscribers After Launches in Europe & India (The Streamable)
* Zoom removes meeting IDs from client title bar to boost security (Bleeping Computer)
* MICROSOFT THINKS CORONAVIRUS WILL FOREVER CHANGE THE WAY WE WORK AND LEARN (The Verge)
* The Humble Phone Call Has Made a Comeback (NYTimes)
* Microsoft: Don't expect any Windows 10X devices this calendar year (ZDNet)
* No one’s getting new emoji in 2021 because of the pandemic (The Verge)
* Google Stadia now free to anyone with a Gmail address (Polygon)
* Now It’s Falling Apart (OneZero)…
Apr 8, 2020
Wed. 04/08 – The Desktop Web Is Back (for the time being…)
Jack Dorsey literally puts his money to work for Coronavirus relief. More details on that Airbnb lifeline raise. Details on an interesting telemedicine raise. Netflix has increased parental controls, Google is pushing a mandatory new setup for Android development and why the desktop web is back, for the time being anyway.
Sponsors:
* Caramba.store; promocode: BRIAN50
* CognitoHQ.com
Links:
* @jack's tweet storm
* Airbnb Paying More Than 10% Interest on $1 Billion Financing Announced Monday (WSJ)
* Airbnb In Talks To Raise More Debt (Bloomberg)
* Update on Zoom’s 90-Day Plan to Bolster Key Privacy and Security Initiatives (Zoom Blog)
* Netflix will allow parents to remove movies and shows, filter by rating in new update (The Verge)
* Google is requiring Virtual A/B on new Android 11 devices, paving the way for mandatory Seamless Updates (XDA Developers)
* Microsoft is freezing hiring except in some unspecified 'strategic areas' (Business Insider)
* All M…
Apr 7, 2020
Tue. 04/07 - The Latest Startup Gunning For Gmail
WhatsApp wants to make it harder for things to go viral. Airbnb buys some runway. Foursquare merges with another location data company. Checking in with Masa Son. And the latest startup to say it wants to blow up email and unseat Gmail.
Sponsors:
* Caramba.store code: Brian20
* F5.com/ride
Links:
* WhatsApp to impose new limit on forwarding to fight fake news (The Guardian)
* Airbnb is raising $1 billion amid fallout from coronanvirus (CNBC)
* Foursquare Merges With Factual, Another Location-Data Provider (WSJ)
* Masayoshi Son Talks WeWork, Vision Fund and Softbank Under Siege (Forbes)
* Pixel April updates land, bringing eyes-open face unlock setting to the Pixel 4 (Android Police)
* Microsoft Buys Corp.com So Bad Guys Can’t (KrebsonSecurity)
* This tiny startup thinks it can do email better than Google (Protocol)
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Apr 6, 2020
Mon. 04/06 – Happy Quibi Day!
Happy Quibi day everybody. Check out your Quick Bites for free while you can! Apparently the Samsung Galaxy Chromebook is a hella powerful laptop, but that’s apparently why the battery life sucks. And the Covid-related conspiracy theory inspiring people to set cellphone towers on fire in Britain.
Sponsors:
* MindSET Podcast - Leidos.com/podcast
* Caramba.store, code BRIAN20 for 20% your first order
Links:
* Quibi app review: shifting landscape (The Verge)
* How to stream Quibi (The Verge)
* SAMSUNG GALAXY CHROMEBOOK REVIEW: BEAUTIFUL TO A FAULT (The Verge)
* Samsung Galaxy Chromebook review: Great, until the battery runs out (Engadget)
* Tim Cook: Apple shipping custom face shields to medical workers as mask donations cross 20M (9to5Mac)
* Call for social media platforms to act on 5G mast conspiracy theory (The Guardian)
* Russian telco hijacks internet traffic for Google, AWS, Cloudflare, and others (ZDNet)
* Mic