22h ago
Has TikTok finally been sold, episode number 47… The Pennsylvania supreme court says police don’t need a warrant to read your search history. YouTube terminates some big accounts over AI usage. A new League of Legends is coming. And in the longreads, and in the show, a look at how Zuck’s big bet on AI is coming along. Scoop: TikTok signs deal for U.S. unit after yearslong saga (Axios) TikTok U.S. Deal to Close Next Month: Oracle and Silver Lake Confirmed in Buyer Consortium (The Hollywood Reporter) Pa. high court rules that police can access Google searches without a warrant (The Record) Meta Is Developing a New AI Image and Video Model Code-Named ‘Mango’ (WSJ) YouTube Shuts Down Channels Using AI To Create Fake Movie Trailers Watched By Millions (Deadline) Riot Has a Secret Plan to Remake Its ‘League of Legends’ Game (Bloomberg) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: Inside Mark Zuckerberg’s turbulent bet on AI (FT) Economics of Orbital vs Terrestrial Data Centers (Andrew McCalip) Feeding the Machine (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
1d ago
Has China cracked a major puzzle for chip parity? Trump Media merges with a… Fusion Energy startup? Coinbase continues its efforts to let you trade everything. OpenAI is turning on the fundraising afterburners. And how to catch a North Korean IT infiltrator. China may have reverse engineered EUV lithography tool in covert lab, report claims — employees given fake IDs to avoid secret project being detected, prototypes expected in 2028 (Tom's Hardware) Trump media group agrees $6bn merger with Google-backed fusion energy company (FT) Coinbase adds prediction markets and stock trading in push to be one-stop trading app (CNBC) OpenAI Has Discussed Raising Tens of Billions at Valuation Around $750 Billion (The Information) Amazon Caught North Korean IT Worker By Tracing Keystroke Data (Bloomberg) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
2d ago
ChatGPT ups its image generation game. Now it’s Amazon’s turn to invest in OpenAI. WBD says it still wants to go with the Netflix offer. Waymo’s raising money again. And the new AI sort of newsletter Google wants to put in your inbox every morning. OpenAI’s ChatGPT Updated to Make Images Better and Faster (Bloomberg) ChatGPT Images just got a major upgrade — and it could change how we all create (TechRadar) OpenAI in Talks to Raise At Least $10 Billion From Amazon and Use Its AI Chips (The Information) Coursera to buy Udemy, creating $2.5 billion firm to target AI training (Reuters) Warner Rejects Paramount’s Hostile Bid, Saying Netflix Deal Still Superior (WSJ) Waymo Seeking Over $15 Billion Near $100 Billion Valuation (Bloomberg) Waymo in talks to raise funds at $100bn valuation (FT) U.S. Threatens Penalties Against European Tech Firms Amid Regulatory Fight (NYTimes) Google wants its AI assistant CC to replace your morning scroll (The Verge) Betting on prediction markets has exploded over past two years (FT) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
3d ago
Tech continues to be a major geopolitical stumbling block, this time with the UK. Are we currently in the midst of the second mini-tech recession of the year? If Ford can pivot from EV’s to servicing datacenters, maybe you can too. And the civil war lining up in Hollywood, over AI. U.S.-U.K. Trade Deal Hits Stumbling Block (NYTimes) AI infrastructure selloff continues on Wall Street as Broadcom, Oracle shares slide (CNBC) CoreWeave’s Staggering Fall From Market Grace Highlights AI Bubble Fears (WSJ) Ford is starting a battery storage business to power data centers and the grid (TechCrunch) AI has the entertainment industry torn between keeping up and keeping talent happy. (BloombergBusinessweek) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
4d ago
Your Roomba is circling the drain with iRobot filing for bankruptcy. Remember credit default swaps? Turns out they’re not just for hedging housing anymore. Nano Banana looks so realistic because it’s mimicking your sub-par smartphone camera output. And why can’t everybody participate in early stage startup investing? Roomba Maker iRobot Files for Bankruptcy and Will Go Private (Bloomberg) How iRobot lost its way home (TechCrunch) Investors seek protection from risk of AI debt bust (FT) Kindle’s New AI Feature Can Answer Questions About Your Books (Whether Authors Want It or Not) (PCMag) AI image generators are getting better by getting worse (The Verge) Inside the Invitation-Only Stock Market for the Wealthy (WSJ) 🎧 The Ride Home - 2025 Wrapped Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 12
Ok, fine, says Sam, here’s a new GPT model so you’ll hopefully stop saying we’re behind. Broadcom as another AI bellwether. Now that Disney is in bed with OpenAI, they’re ceasing and desisting Google. And, of course, The Weekend Longreads Suggestions. OpenAI Launches GPT-5.2 as It Navigates ‘Code Red’ (Wired) GPT-5.2 is OpenAI’s latest move in the agentic AI battle (The Verge) Trump threatens funding for states over AI regulations (Reuters) Broadcom beats on earnings and revenue, says AI chip sales will double in current quarter (CNBC) Disney Accuses Google of Using AI to Engage in Copyright Infringement on ‘Massive Scale’ (Variety) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: Want This Hearing Aid? Well, Who Do You Know? (Wired) Tech bros head to etiquette camp as Silicon Valley levels up its style (The Washington Post) Why AGI Will Not Happen (Tim Dettmer) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 11
Disney signs a blockbuster deal to license characters to OpenAI AND invest $1 billion dollars in the company. Oracle as the new bellwether for thinking about OpenAI’s prospects. More on the whole Data Centers In Space phenomenon. And let me introduce you to the Model Context Protocol to make the web safe for AI agents. Disney Inks Blockbuster OpenAI Deal to Bring More Than 200 Characters to Sora Video Platform, Will Invest $1 Billion in AI Company (Variety) Disney to Invest $1 Billion in OpenAI, License Suite of Characters for Sora in Landmark Deal (The Wrap) Oracle Can’t Escape OpenAI’s Shadow (WSJ) Spotify tests more personalized, AI-powered ‘Prompted Playlists’ (TechCrunch) Bezos and Musk Race to Bring Data Centers to Space (WSJ) MCP has already taken the industry by storm, and now Anthropic is giving it away. (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 10
Instagram is giving you some control over your algorithm. Is Instacart using algorithmic pricing? SpaceX thinks it will be worth $1.5 trillion. Has DeepSeek been smuggling chips? And what if your startup’s side-hustle can plug into the AI CAPEX bonanza? Instagram Will Start Letting You Pick What Shows Up in Your Reels (Wired) Same Product, Same Store, but on Instacart, Prices Might Differ (NYTimes) SpaceX to Pursue 2026 IPO Raising Far Above $30 Billion (Bloomberg) DeepSeek is Using Banned Nvidia Chips in Race to Build Next Model (The Information) Boom Supersonic raises $300M to build natural gas turbines for Crusoe data centers (TechCrunch) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 9
Trump says Nvidia and others can ship chips to China, but the question is, will China take delivery. OpenAI is ending the code red in about a month, after getting a new model out the door. Meta wants a new Llama model, maybe in a month. And a new smart ring that is pretty intriguing… Trump greenlights Nvidia H200 AI chip sales to China if U.S. gets 25% cut, says Xi responded positively (CNBC) China set to limit access to Nvidia’s H200 chips despite Trump export approval (FT) Sam Altman’s Sprint to Correct OpenAI’s Direction and Fend Off Google (WSJ) From Llamas to Avocados: Meta’s shifting AI strategy is causing internal confusion (CNBC) Pebble Is Making a $75 Smart Ring (Wired) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 8
Looks like that big Netflix bid for Warner Brothers isn’t gonna go smoothly as Paramount launching a hostile counter-bid. We’ve got a full-on executive suite crisis at Apple. SpaceX could IPO next year. And more data on how AI usage is evolving. Paramount Skydance launches hostile bid for WBD ‘to finish what we started,’ CEO Ellison tells CNBC (CNBC) Trump Warns Netflix-Warner Deal May Pose Antitrust ‘Problem’ (Bloomberg) Netflix and the Hollywood End Game (Stratechery) Apple Rocked by Executive Departures, With Chip Chief at Risk of Leaving Next (Bloomberg) Meta acquires AI-wearables startup Limitless (Reuters) SpaceX in Talks for $800 Billion Valuation Ahead of Potential 2026 IPO (WSJ) An Empirical 100 Trillion Token Study with OpenRouter (OpenRouter) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 5
Turns out the Albanian army was triumphant as Netflix is buying HBO (and WBD’s studios). The NYT is suing Perplexity. Man, everybody is heading for the exits at Apple at the same time. And get ready for a slew of insider trading controversies in our prediction market world. Netflix agrees $83bn takeover of Warner Bros Discovery (FT) New York Times Sues A.I. Start-Up Perplexity Over Use of Copyrighted Work (NYTimes) X hit with $140 million EU fine for breaching content rules, TikTok settles (Reuters) Apple Departures Point to Challenges for iPhone’s Dominance (WSJ) Chatbots are now rivaling social networks as a core layer of internet infrastructure (The Decoder) Alleged Insider Nets $1 Million On Polymarket In 24 Hours (Forbes) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: 18,000 Reasons It’s So Hard to Build a Chip Factory in America (NYTimes) In Arizona Desert, Taiwanese Families Create Community and Build a Factor (NYTimes) A Growing U.S. Tech Hub Needs Workers. Colleges Try to Keep Up. (NYTimes) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 4
On the one hand, Meta poached Apple’s design head in a major coup to make hardware and software for AI, but there are signs Zuck is souring on the Metaverse could even abandon it entirely. Is Amazon about to abandon your mailman? And why Dario Amodei is playing a blinder right now. Apple Design Executive Alan Dye Poached by Meta in Major Coup (Bloomberg) Meta’s Zuckerberg Plans Deep Cuts for Metaverse Efforts (Bloomberg) Amazon explores building its own delivery network to replace USPS deal (Washington Post) Anthropic CEO Says Some Tech Firms Too Risky With AI Spending (Bloomberg) Harvey, a Maker of A.I. Legal Software, Raises New Funds (NYTimes) Reddit’s CEO says r/popular ‘sucks,’ and it’s going away (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 3
We might soon have the first big IPO of the AI era, and it doesn’t look like it will be OpenAI. Amazon takes another few swings at Nvidia’s dominance. Proof positive that self driving cars really are significantly safer. And the disastrous 4k upscaling of Mad Men. Anthropic taps IPO lawyers as it races OpenAI to go public (FT) Amazon’s Custom Chips Pose Another Threat to Nvidia (WSJ) Amazon Has New Frontier AI Models—and a Way for Customers to Build Their Own (Wired) AWS puts Kiro and other AI agents to work on truly autonomous software development (SiliconANGLE) The Data on Self-Driving Cars Is Clear. We Have to Change Course. (NYTimes) Microsoft Lowers AI Software Growth Targets as Customers Resist Newer Products (The Information) The ‘Mad Men’ 4K Stream on HBO Max Had So Many Problems (Not All of Which Involved a Barf Machine) (THR) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 2
Sam Altman declares a “Code Red” for OpenAI. All hands on deck. Molly, you in danger, girl, to quote Oda Mae Brown from the movie Ghost. Long term, is Apple in trouble cause of Google’s ascendency in AI? Samsung announces but does not launch a tri-fold phone. And Ben Thompson weighs in on the obsession of the day. OpenAI CEO Declares ‘Code Red’ to Combat Threats to ChatGPT, Delays Ads Effort (The Information) Apple AI Chief John Giannandrea Retiring After Siri Delays (MacRumors) Samsung’s Z TriFold is official and it looks like a tablet with a phone attached (The Verge) Google, Nvidia, and OpenAI (Stratechery) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 1
While Runway releases a new video model, let me break down the big analysis piece that had everyone concern trolling about Nvidia over the weekend. Why doesn’t Netflix want you to cast to your tv anymore? And AI means less jobs in consulting, but more jobs in a specific type of construction. Runway rolls out new AI video model that beats Google, OpenAI in key benchmark (CNBC) TPUv7: Google Takes a Swing at the King (SemiAnalysis) Nvidia takes $2 billion stake in Synopsys with expanded computing power partnership (CNBC) OpenAI Takes Stake in Thrive Holdings, a Buyer of Services Firms (NYTimes) Netflix kills casting from phones (The Verge) Top consultancies freeze starting salaries as AI threatens ‘pyramid’ model (FT) Data Centers Are a ‘Gold Rush’ for Construction Workers (WSJ) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 28
We're back again with Susan Lyne, to talk about running Martha Stewart's company when Martha went to prison, her startup career with Gilt Groupe, and her investing career with BBG Ventures. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 27
I’ve maybe never interviewed anyone in my entire time as a historian and podcaster who has had a career as broad and varied as Susan Lyne. Yes, I obviously wanted to talk to Susan about her role helping startup Gilt Group, and her current role as the managing partner of the VC firm BBG Ventures. But, holy how. Susan also launched and oversaw the golden era of Premiere Magazine. She was the CEO of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia when Martha had to step away to, you know, go to prison. And she was the President of ABC Entertainment. She oversaw the development of shows like Grey’s Anatomy and Lost. So, like, yeah. We needed to do two episodes. So this is part one, with the great, Susan Lyne. Chapters 00:00 From Boston to Berkeley: A Transformative Journey 08:00 The Rise of Alternative Media: Village Voice Era 16:06 Hollywood Calling: The IPC Films Experience 23:12 Launching Premier Magazine: Inside Hollywood 36:14 Navigating the ABC Landscape: A New Era 40:28 Developing Grey's Anatomy And Lost Takeaways Susan's upbringing in Boston shaped her perspective on expectations and identity. Her time at UC Berkeley was transformative, exposing her to diverse ideas. Freelancing in journalism helped her develop a passion for storytelling. Working at City Magazine under Francis Ford Coppola was a unique experience. The Village Voice was a golden era for alternative media in New York. Susan's transition to Hollywood was driven by her love for storytelling. Premier Magazine aimed to provide in-depth insights into the film industry. At ABC, she focused on creating shows that appealed to women. Susan learned the importance of having a supportive partner in leadership. Her experience at ABC taught her valuable lessons about resilience and change. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 26
Trump has a plan to boost AI innovation. Polymarket is now street legal in the US. Google thinks it needs to double AI capacity every 6 months. Is Starlink about to face its first serious competition. And for reasons I’ll explain, the Weekend Longreads Suggestions. Trump aims to boost AI innovation, build platform to harness government data (Reuters) Polymarket Secures CFTC Approval for Regulated U.S. Return (CoinDesk) In Las Vegas, Kalshi Is King (The Information) Google must double AI serving capacity every 6 months to meet demand, AI infrastructure boss tells employees (CNBC) Amazon’s Starlink competitor is launching with ‘world’s fastest satellite internet antenna’ (The Verge) RAM prices are so out of control that stores are selling it like lobster (The Verge) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: Kicking Robots (Harper's Magazine) The Pentagon Can’t Trust GPS Anymore. Is Quantum Physics the Answer? (WSJ) I’m officially done with YouTube Kids (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 25
Now Anthropic says it’s leapfrogged OpenAI with its new model and is the AI horserace in play? OpenAI is still focusing on things like shopping. Nvidia answers a question people weren’t asking. And is Google soaring because they also might be able to go after Nvidia’s chip throne? Anthropic introduces cheaper, more powerful, more efficient Opus 4.5 model (Ars Technica) ChatGPT's new shopping research tool is fast, fun, and free - but can it out-shop me? (ZDNet) Nvidia’s ‘I’m Not Enron’ memo has people asking a lot of questions already answered by that memo (The Verge) Google Further Encroaches on Nvidia’s Turf With New AI Chip Push (The Information) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 24
What sort of a world do we live in if you can’t be sure where an X account comes from? Google isn’t out of the woods yet when it comes to antitrust. Insurers still don’t want to touch AI. Let me tell you about “AI grooming.” And we might be running out of capacity for specific types of chips. X’s messy About This Account rollout has caused utter chaos (The Verge) What OpenAI Did When ChatGPT Users Lost Touch With Reality (NYTimes) The Fate of Google’s Ad Tech Monopoly Is Now in a Judge’s Hands (NYTimes) Insurers retreat from AI cover as risk of multibillion-dollar claims mounts (Financial Times) Hundreds of English-language websites link to pro-Kremlin propaganda (The Guardian) AI boom is fueling a memory chip shortage that could hit cars and phones (CNBC) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 21
Google phone users can now work with Airdrop on the iPhone cause Google cleverly found a way. Google might have jumped ahead in the AI race and Sam Altman knows it. I’ve heard of quantum computing, but a quantum internet? The Weekend Longreads suggestions, and at the end, a long rant about my latest AI experiments. Google cracked Apple’s AirDrop and is adding it to Pixel phones (The Verge) Altman Memo Forecasts ‘Rough Vibes’ Due to Resurgent Google (The Information) Source: Kalshi’s valuation jumps to $11B after raising massive $1B round (TechCrunch) Americans' Social Media Use 2025 (Pew Research Center) IBM, Cisco outline plans for networks of quantum computers by early 2030s (Reuters) IBM, Cisco to collaborate on ‘internet’ of quantum computers (Silicon Republic) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: Google’s new AI image creator took my shirt off (The Verge) Google’s Nano Banana Pro generates excellent conspiracy fuel (The Verge) The new silicon valley (literally) (The Verge) How America’s Hottest Chicken Chain Keeps Its Secret Sauce a Secret (WSJ) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 20
Are we about to have a battle over who gets to regulate AI? Now there’s Nano Banana Pro. The creator ecosystem is exploding for advertisers. Battlefield did exactly what EA needed it to do. And I’m telling you, the consumer robots for your home… they’re actually starting to arrive. Here’s the Trump executive order that would ban state AI laws (The Verge) Google rolling out Gemini 3-powered ‘Nano Banana Pro’ image gen, editing (9to5Google) Ad Spend in the Creator Economy Expected to Hit $37 Billion in 2025 (The Wrap) Nintendo and ‘Battlefield 6’ Pushed US Game Sales Up in October (Bloomberg) This Home Robot Clears Tables and Loads the Dishwasher All by Itself (Wired) Bo Jackson AI Experiment Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 19
Tons of things today. Google’s new Gemini 3 model. Signs the “second tier” of AI startups is starting to get product market fit. The EU has announced that watering down of GDPR that was rumored. And will Meta’s big win against the government mean mergers and acquisitions are back on the tech menu? Google is launching Gemini 3, its ‘most intelligent’ AI model yet (The Verge) AI Music Platform Suno Valued at $2.45 Billion (WSJ) TikTok will let you choose how much AI-generated content you want to see (TechCrunch) Europe is scaling back its landmark privacy and AI laws (The Verge) Meta Did Not Violate Antitrust Law, Judge Rules (NYTimes) Meta’s Victory Opens the Way for Silicon Valley to Go Deal Shopping (NYTimes) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 18
What happened with Cloudflare this morning. Grok’s new model wants to be creative. Catching you up on the bloodbath in crypto if you were unaware. Databricks is 12 years old but it seems to be one of the big AI winners. And debt continues to pile in to the AI buildout. A massive Cloudflare outage brought down X, ChatGPT, and even Downdetector (The Verge) Grok 4.1 has arrived — and it's bringing the fight to ChatGPT with these new features (Tom's Guide) Crypto market sheds $1.2tn as traders shun speculative assets (Financial Times) Google boss says trillion-dollar AI investment boom has 'elements of irrationality' (BBC) Amazon Raises $15 Billion in First US Bond Sale in Three Years (Bloomberg) Databricks in Talks to Raise Capital at a Valuation Above $130 Billion (The Information) Roblox will require age estimation to chat starting next year (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 17
Jeff Bezos is going to be a CEO once again. Could Tim Cook step down from Apple’s CEO position in a matter of months? Maybe don’t buy an AI teddy bear. What big AI startup would you short, if you could? And data-centers in spaaaaaaacceee… Jeff Bezos Creates A.I. Start-Up Where He Will Be Co-Chief Executive (NYTimes) Apple intensifies succession planning for CEO Tim Cook (FT) Apple’s iPhone Overhaul Will Reduce Its Reliance on Annual Fall Spectacle (Bloomberg) Happy holidays: AI-enabled toys teach kids how to play with fire, sharp objects (The Register) At a major AI conference, one startup got voted most likely to flop (Business Insider) Now Tech Moguls Want to Build Data Centers in Outer Space (WSJ) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 15
A portfolio profile episode of Hypercubic.ai, a seed-stage company that wants to not only preserve knowledge in legacy code, but legacy knowledge in enterprises. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 14
OpenAI is testing out group chats as a sort of collaborative prompting experience. The hyperscalers are lining up against Nvidia in one specific arena. The Sam Altman Elon Musk feud isn’t over. Google knows who sent you that fake UPS shipment alert text. And, of course, the Weekend Longreads Suggestions. ChatGPT launches pilot group chats across Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, and Taiwan (TechCrunch) Amazon and Microsoft Back Effort That Would Restrict Nvidia’s Exports to China (WSJ) OpenAI, Apple Lose Bid to Toss Musk xAI Suit Over Competition (Bloomberg) AI startup Cursor raises $2.3 billion funding round at $29.3 billion valuation (CNBC) You know those fake USPS texts? Google says it's found who's behind them (Fast Company) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: Sundar Pichai Is Google’s AI ‘Wartime CEO’ After All (Bloomberg) CRYPTO: Realm of the Coin (Vanity Fair) I'm Going to Be a Dad. Here's Why I'm Not Posting About My Kid Online (CNET) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 13
Valve is taking on gaming consoles and creating a new type of VR headset, all at the same time. GPT-5 gets “warmer.” Cursor’s new raise means it has 10x’d its valuation in the span of a year. And we’re one step closer to your phone completely replacing your wallet. Valve brings back Steam Machine and Steam Controller — hands-on with Valve's new AMD-based living room gaming hardware (Tom's Hardware) The Steam Frame is a surprising new twist on VR (The Verge) Microsoft to Use OpenAI’s Custom Chip Work to Help In-House Effort (Bloomberg) OpenAI says the brand-new GPT-5.1 is ‘warmer’ and has more ‘personality’ options (The Verge) The AI Coding Startup Favored by Tech CEOs Is Now Worth $29.3 Billion (WSJ) Apple launches Digital ID, a way to carry your passport on your phone for use at TSA checkpoints (TechCrunch) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 12
Forget text-to-video AI, we’re rapidly moving into the text-to-world-generating AI models. What if you showed up to your Airbnb and the fridge was already fully stocked? It seems like there is NO uncanney valley when it comes to AI generated music. And does the Big Short guy have a point when he concern trolls about the AI CAPEX buildout? Fei-Fei Li’s World Labs speeds up the world model race with Marble, its first commercial product (TechCrunch) Airbnb Will Test Adding Instacart Grocery Delivery to Its App in Services Push (Bloomberg) Are you listening to bots? Survey shows AI music is virtually undetectable (Reuters) 50,000 AI tracks flood Deezer daily – as study shows 97% of listeners can’t tell the difference between human-made vs. fully AI-generated music (MusicBusinessWorldwide) The AI Bubble Is Ignoring Michael Burry’s Fears (Bloomberg) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 11
The iPhone Air isn’t selling, and it isn’t selling to the degree that Apple is delaying the next version. Yan LeCun is gonna strike out on his own. The big illegal streaming site takedown you might not have hear about. And Facebook doesn’t like likes anymore, at least not external likes. Apple Delays Release of Next iPhone Air Amid Weak Sales (The Information) Meta chief AI scientist Yann LeCun plans to exit and launch own start-up (FT) SoftBank sells Nvidia stake for $5.8bn as it prepares for AI investments (FT) Anthropic Is on Track to Turn a Profit Much Faster Than OpenAI (WSJ) Streameast: How the authorities took down the world’s largest illegal sports streaming platform (The Athletic) Meta is killing off the external Facebook Like button (Engadget) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 10
Is the EU about to pull back on tech regulation because they are feeling FOMO about AI? Is the whole initial COIN offering craze about to come back? Is Apple Music falling behind because they don’t have a free tier? And it turns out AI might not be that good at trading crypto. Brussels knifes privacy to feed the AI boom (Politico) Coinbase Launches Platform for Digital Token Offerings (WSJ) TSMC Posts Slowest Growth in 18 Months Amid AI Bubble Debate (Bloomberg) Apple Music Risks Losing the Next Generation of Listeners (Bloomberg) AI models given $10K to compete in first-of-its-kind crypto-trading competition — and most crashed and burned (NYPost) Clem Delangue IHP Episode Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 8
Here is how Wikipedia happened. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 7
Elon’s $1T payday… nice deal if you can get it. The lawsuits against OpenAI are exploding. The new Grand Theft Auto gets delayed (again). Now the Texas Attorney General is going after Roblox. And, of course, The Weekend Longreads Suggestions. Tesla Shareholders Approve Elon Musk’s $1 Trillion Pay Package (WSJ) Lawsuits Blame ChatGPT for Suicides and Harmful Delusions (NYTimes) ‘Grand Theft Auto VI’ Is Postponed Again — to November 2026 (Bloomberg) Alibaba-backed Moonshot releases its second AI update in four months as China’s AI race heats up (CNBC) Texas sues Roblox for 'putting paedophiles and profits' over safety (BBC) 'It's organized crime': TikTok Shop says it's fighting a new wave of AI scammers (Business Insider) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: How AGI became the most consequential conspiracy theory of our time (MIT Technology Review) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 6
Apple is probably going to let Gemini power the new Siri, at least for a while. Does OpenAI want the government to backstop its AI buildout? And two new AI products. How about an AI smart-ring to remember your shower-thoughts, and what if Foursquare, but for the AI era? Apple Nears $1 Billion-a Year Deal to Use Google AI for Siri (Bloomberg) OpenAI Isn’t Yet Working Toward an IPO, CFO Says (WSJ) Microsoft Lays Out Ambitious AI Vision, Free From OpenAI (WSJ) Google’s rolling out its most powerful AI chip, taking aim at Nvidia with custom silicon (CNBC) Whisper Into This AI-Powered Smart Ring to Organize Your Thoughts (Wired) The Foursquare founder's new app is an AI-powered 'DJ' for neighborhood updates (Engadget) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 5
Google and Epic Games settle their beef. Ripple wants to claim the stablecoin crown. Hyperscalers are about to claim the power generation equivalent to 40 million homes. And the wonkiest analysis I’ve seen in a while on whether or not AI can scale productivity in some sort of up and to the right way. Google proposes app store reforms in settlement with ‘Fortnite’ maker Epic Games (Reuters) Cloud streaming finally arrives on the PlayStation Portal (The Verge) Citadel Securities and Fortress take stakes in Ripple at $40bn valuation (FT) How many ‘bragawatts’ have the hyperscalers announced so far? (Financial Times) Amazon Sues to Stop Perplexity From Using AI Tool to Buy Stuff (Bloomberg) Thoughts by a non-economist on AI and economics (Windows On Theory) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 4
Apple brings the App Store to the web. When the cyber white hats turn black hat. Jensen didn’t get what he really wants from Trump. Coca-Cola says nobody cares if the commercials are AI. Is Common Crawl the secret AI infrastructure? And why Google Cloud is the thing sending Google stock to new all-time highs. Apple brings its App Store to the web (The Verge) Prosecutors allege incident response pros used ALPHV/BlackCat to commit string of ransomware attacks (Cyberscoop) Waymo’s robotaxis are coming to three new cities (The Verge) Trump Officials Torpedoed Nvidia’s Push to Export AI Chips to China (WSJ) Coca-Cola Injects ‘Holidays Are Coming’ Ads With an Upgraded Dose of AI (WSJ) The Nonprofit Doing the AI Industry’s Dirty Work (The Atlantic) AI turned Google Cloud from also-ran into Alphabet’s growth driver (Reuters) Steven Bartlett's Steve Jobs Cartoon Video Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 3
Well, another day, another OpenAI deal, but this is their big move to get in bed with AWS. More monitoring of the moment prediction markets are having. Is Big Tech’s dominance of the stock market getting even more extreme? And more speculation about AI and podcasting. OpenAI signs $38 billion compute deal with Amazon, partnering with cloud leader for first time (CNBC) How sports gambling took over prediction markets in the US (FT) Alphabet, Amazon Stakes in Anthropic Boost Profit by Billions (Bloomberg) Big Tech’s market dominance is becoming ever more extreme (FT) For Podcasters, a Voice Clone Is a Double-Edged Sword (NYTimes) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 1
Sanjay Poonen, CEO of Cohesity, discusses the strategic acquisition of Veritas' data protection business, emphasizing the benefits for customers and the company's growth trajectory. He highlights the importance of rapid recovery in cybersecurity, the integration of AI for enhanced data insights, and the company's aspirations for an IPO, positioning Cohesity as a leader in the data protection market. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 31
Amazon didn’t scare investors this Halloween. They’re quite pleased, actually. They’re not public but we now know how much money OpenAI lost this quarter. Nvidia’s generous investment strategy. And, of course, the Weekend Longreads Suggestions. Amazon cloud records 20% sales growth, topping estimates (CNBC) Microsoft seemingly just revealed that OpenAI lost $11.5B last quarter (The Register) Sora now lets you pay extra to make more AI videos (The Verge) Nvidia to Invest Up to $1 Billion in AI Startup Poolside (Bloomberg) Nvidia Is Accelerating Its Investing Spree in AI Startups (Bloomberg) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: Nike says its first ‘powered footwear’ is like an e-bike for your feet (The Verge) Some People Can’t See Mental Images. The Consequences Are Profound (The New Yorker) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 30
Three big tech earnings reports give a mixed message. Wall Street wants you to spend on the AI buildout, but not too much, and maybe not you, Meta. Sora already has some new features. More details on OpenAI’s IPO timeline. And maybe the AI agents are not yet ready for prime time. Big Tech tests investors’ patience with $80bn AI investment spree (FT) OpenAI adds reusable ‘characters’ and video stitching to Sora (The Verge) AI Coding Leader Cursor Says New Agent Fields Tougher Tasks (Bloomberg) Exclusive: OpenAI lays groundwork for juggernaut IPO at up to $1 trillion valuation (Reuters) AI Agents Are Terrible Freelance Workers (Wired) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 29
Nvidia announced a whole bunch of things yesterday and that sent their market cap above $5 trillion for the first time. Grammarly rebrands as Superhuman. Character.ai moves to banning kids outright. And is the first home robot actually here, or is this vaporware? Uber Eyes Fleet of 100,000 Nvidia-Based Robotaxis Beginning 2027 (Bloomberg) OpenAI’s Promise to Stay in California Helped Clear the Path for Its IPO (WSJ) Grammarly is changing its name to Superhuman (The Verge) AI start-up Character.ai bans teens from talking to chatbots (FT) Tens of Thousands of White-Collar Jobs Are Disappearing as AI Starts to Bite (WSJ) 1X Neo is a $20,000 home robot that will learn chores via teleoperation (Engadget) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 28
OpenAI has officially done its whole reorg to for-profit thing. Amazon is cutting a metric ton of employees and its blaming AI. Elon launches Grokpedia to take on Wikipedia. And does Anthropic’s success in the enterprise give it a leg up on OpenAI in the one metric that counts? Making money? OpenAI completed its for-profit restructuring — and struck a new deal with Microsoft (The Verge) Amazon to Cut 14,000 Jobs as Jassy Looks to Reduce Bureaucracy (Bloomberg) Elon Musk launches a Wikipedia rival that extols his own ‘vision’ (The Washington Post) Photoshop and Premiere Pro’s new AI tools can instantly edit more of your work (The Verge) OpenAI’s Less-Flashy Rival Might Have a Better Business Model (WSJ) Jimmy Wales on IHP Margit Wennmachers on IHP Fred Wilson on IHP Blog post to post on Hacker News Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 27
Did Microsoft use dark patterns to charge more for AI? The tech angle to that whole NBA gambling scandal. Forget the AI bubble, the Counter-Strike bubble definitely just burst. Halo is coming to PlayStation. And how AI is revolutionizing the old, faking your expense reports scam. Australia sues Microsoft over AI-linked subscription price hikes (Reuters) Using a Security Key on X? Re-Enroll Now or Your Account Will Be Locked (PC Mag) $10,000 Card Shufflers Hit the Spotlight After NBA Poker Scandal (Bloomberg) Market for ‘Counter-Strike’ Items Falls $3 Billion (Bloomberg) Xbox’s Prized Sci-Fi Franchise Is Heading to PlayStation (NYTimes) ‘Do not trust your eyes’: AI generates surge in expense fraud (FT) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 24
Baratunde Thurston shares his journey from a tech-savvy upbringing to becoming a prominent voice in comedy and digital media. Baratunde reflects on his time at The Onion and The Daily Show, emphasizing the importance of community and the intersection of technology and humor. He also shares his thoughts on the role of AI in society, advocating for a future where technology enhances human connections. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 23
Clem discusses his journey from early computing experiences to founding Hugging Face, emphasizing the importance of community, collaboration, and open-source technology in the AI landscape. He reflects on the evolution of technology, the significance of user feedback, and the need for a diverse range of AI models. Clem also shares insights on the startup ecosystem in Europe and the unique advantages of New York City for AI entrepreneurs. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 22
Just two stories. First, OpenAI launches a web browser, ChatGPT Atlas. What it does, and why are they doing it. Then, Samsung has made a cheaper Vision Pro. They call it the Galaxy XR headset. What IT does, and why are THEY doing it. OpenAI’s AI-powered browser, ChatGPT Atlas, is here (The Verge) Introducing ChatGPT Atlas (Simon Willison) Why OpenAI Needs Its Own ChatGPT-Enabled Browser, Atlas (Forbes) Samsung’s Galaxy XR Headset Debuts at Half the Price of Apple’s Vision Pro (Bloomberg) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 21
HBO Max might be on the market and I want Apple to buy it! Coinbase is on an acquisition tear. Is the Amazon job apocalypse nigh? Is OpenAI plotting to take over Wall Street in a literal sense? And a brain implant startup has leapfrogged Neuralink in terms of helping blind people see again. Warner Bros. Discovery says it’s open to a sale; shares jump 10% (CNBC) Coinbase Strikes Deal for Crypto-Investing Platform Echo (WSJ) Anthropic brings Claude Code to the web (TechCrunch) Amazon Plans to Replace More Than Half a Million Jobs With Robots (NYTimes) OpenAI Looks to Replace the Drudgery of Junior Bankers’ Workload (Bloomberg) This retina implant lets people with vision loss do a crossword puzzle (MIT Technology Review) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 20
Big AWS outage took down half the internet overnight. X wants you to be able to snap up dormant or desirable X handles. Blackwell chips look like they’ve hit volume production in the US. And you know who else is benefiting from the AI boom? Crypto miners and makers of plain old cables. Major AWS outage took down Fortnite, Alexa, Snapchat, and more (The Verge) OpenAI pauses Sora video generations of Martin Luther King Jr. (TechCrunch) X to launch marketplace for buying inactive handles (TechCrunch) Oura redesigns app with expanded stress tracking (The Verge) Exclusive: Nvidia and TSMC unveil first Blackwell chip wafer made in U.S. (Axios) $500 purple cables put this little-known company in the middle of the AI boom (CNBC) Crypto Miners Riding the AI Wave Are Leaving Bitcoin Behind (Bloomberg) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 17
Do Skills for Claude represent a new sort of user paradigm for AI? Battlefield 6 seems to be doing what EA needs it to do. Nintendo seems to be killing it. Is Wikipedia in trouble because it’s losing human users? Now Uber drivers can earn new money thanks to AI. And, of course, the Weekend Longreads Suggestions. Anthropic turns to ‘skills’ to make Claude more useful at work (The Verge) Claude Skills are awesome, maybe a bigger deal than MCP (Simon Willison) Steam just broke its concurrent user record with 41.6 million gamers (TweakTown) Nintendo Aims to Make 25 Million Switch 2s to Set Gaming History (Bloomberg) Wikipedia Says AI Is Causing a Dangerous Decline in Human Visitors (404media) Uber Launches Data Tasks as Option for Some US Drivers to Earn Money (Bloomberg) Apple and F1 reach 5-year media deal, bringing all races to Apple TV streaming in the U.S. (CNBC) Weekend Longreads Suggestions AI Data Centers, Desperate for Electricity, Are Building Their Own Power Plants (WSJ) Joshua Kushner, Thrive Capital, and the American dream (Colossus) How Sam Altman Played Hollywood (The Hollywood Reporter) TiVo Has Sold Its Last DVR. These People Refuse to Let Go. (WSJ) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 16
So, a huge, huge, like bigger than the entire world’s GDP fat finger episode in the world of stablecoins. Zuck has poached another one from Apple. Potentially huge state sponsored hack of a key infrastructure company. The most interesting new phone concept I’ve seen in a while. And are we in an AI bubble episode 72. Printing Money: Paxos Mints, Then Burns $300 Trillion in PayPal Stablecoins (Decrypt) Apple’s Head of ChatGPT-Like AI Search Effort to Leave for Meta (Bloomberg) F5 says hackers stole undisclosed BIG-IP flaws, source code (BleepingComputer) Anthropic launches new version of scaled-down ‘Haiku’ model (TechCrunch) Honor’s Robot Phone concept features a fold-out camera arm (The Verge) ‘Of course it’s a bubble’: AI start-up valuations soar in investor frenzy (FT) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 15
The new Apple M5 chips are here, and I’ll tell you what devices got them and what they can do. ChatGPT wants to allow you to have sexy time. Waymo is coming to London. Netflix wants to bring podcasts to your streaming diet. And its officially the end of the road for Windows 10. Apple’s 14-inch MacBook Pro gets an M5 chip bump and faster storage (The Verge) Sam Altman says ChatGPT will soon sext with verified adults (The Verge) Waymo’s robotaxis are coming to London (The Verge) Spotify partners with Netflix for video podcast distribution deal (TechCrunch) YouTube has a new video player (The Verge) OpenAI makes five-year business plan to meet $1tn spending pledges (FT) Windows 10 support “ends” today, but it’s just the first of many deaths (ArsTechnica) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 14
The Dutch government has taken control of a Dutch chipmaker that had Chinese owners. Yet another big OpenAI deal, this time with Broadcom. The first AI desktop workstations are arriving. And we check in with Matt Levine to get his take on what he says is Sam Altman’s genius for financial engineering. Dutch government takes control of Chinese-owned chipmaker Nexperia (FT) OpenAI, Broadcom Forge Multibillion-Dollar Chip-Development Deal (WSJ) Thinking Machines Lab Co-Founder Departs for Meta (WSJ) Nvidia to Start Selling $3,999 DGX Spark Mini PC This Week (PCMag) NotebookLM Video Overviews add Nano Banana visual styles, Brief or Explainer formats (9to5Google) OpenAI Keeps Doing Deals (Matt Levine) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 13
Jenn Hyman shares her journey from early influences of entrepreneurship to founding Rent the Runway. She discusses the impact of the internet on her career, the challenges of fundraising during a recession, and the importance of building relationships in the fashion industry. Hyman emphasizes the unique advantages of starting a business in New York City and the collaborative spirit of the startup ecosystem. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 10
China is stirring the pot on the tech trade wars once again. Sora has grown faster than even ChatGPT did. Is OpenAI now better at vibe coding than Anthropic is? How just a handful of malicious documents and poison an LLM. And in the longreads, the one game that has the fate of EA on its shoulders. China blacklists major chip research firm TechInsights following report on Huawei (CNBC) OpenAI’s Sora hit 1 million downloads in less than five days (CNBC) OpenAI Is Catching Up To Anthropic in AI Coding (The Information) Meta Tells Its Metaverse Workers to Use AI to ‘Go 5X Faster’ (Wired) It's trivially easy to poison LLMs into spitting out gibberish, says Anthropic (The Register) Kalshi, a Prediction Market, Raises Funds and Expands Overseas (NYTimes) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: Battlefield 6 is a pivotal moment for the series — and EA (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 9
Intel tries to punch its way back to relevancy with the release of Panther Lake, the first chip built on its 18A process. Is Cursor so successful it’s about to rocket to a $30 billion valuation? Big raise for a US Deep Seek competitor? And are we starting to get the first models moving beyond attention based architecture? Here is Panther Lake, Intel’s 2026 laptop chip with next-gen graphics (The Verge) Intel Debuts New Technology in Make-or-Break Moment for CEO’s Turnaround Bid (Bloomberg) Discord says 70,000 users may have had their government IDs leaked in breach (The Verge) Cursor-Maker Anysphere Considers Investment Offers at $30 Billion Valuation (The Information) Reflection AI, an A.I. Model Start-Up, Raises $2 Billion (NYTimes) Samsung AI researcher's new, open reasoning model TRM outperforms models 10,000X larger — on specific problems (VentureBeat) Microsoft Tries to Catch Up in AI With Healthcare Push, Harvard Deal (WSJ) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 8
More on the circular nature of the recent AI deals. AI now accounts for more debt issuance than US banks. AI companies consider using the billions they’ve raised to pay off lawsuits since they can’t get insurance. Another way OpenAI is the new Microsoft. And at the end? Look at that! A non-AI story! OpenAI, Nvidia Fuel $1 Trillion AI Market With Web of Circular Deals (Bloomberg) Nvidia’s Huang says he’s surprised AMD offered OpenAI 10% of company in ‘clever’ deal (CNBC) At $1.2 Trillion, More High-Grade Debt Now Tied to AI Than Banks (Bloomberg) Without data centers, GDP growth was 0.1% in the first half of 2025, Harvard economist says (Fortune) Insurers balk at multibillion-dollar claims faced by OpenAI and Anthropic (Financial Times) OpenAI Sneezes, and Software Firms Catch a Cold (Wired) Amazon Pharmacy introduces kiosks that can quickly dispense medications at the doctor’s office (GeekWire) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 7
Forget building apps on TOP of ChatGPT, now they’ve put the apps INSIDE of ChatGPT. Why this is a play for ChatGPT to become the Windows of the AI era. The prediction market market continues to explode. Turning down the volume on streaming ads. And why Mr. Beast is worried about AI social media. OpenAI announces Apps SDK allowing ChatGPT to launch and run third party apps like Zillow, Canva, Spotify (VentureBeat) OpenAI’s Windows Play (Stratechery) NYSE Owner to Invest Up to $2 Billion in Polymarket (WSJ) California law forces Netflix, Hulu to turn down ad volumes (Politico) MrBeast says AI could threaten creators’ livelihoods, calling it ‘scary times’ for the industry (TechCrunch) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 6
Another huge OpenAI deal, this time with AMD. The huge amount of chips Elon is buying for his Colossus II. It’s not just compute! How the AI boom is driving up prices for memory and storage chips. And does the math work out for those new fangled small nuclear reactors? AMD stock skyrockets 30% as OpenAI looks to take stake in AI chipmaker (CNBC) Elon Musk Gambles Billions in Memphis to Catch Up on AI (WSJ) AI data centers are swallowing the world's memory and storage supply, setting the stage for a pricing apocalypse that could last a decade (Tom's Hardware) OpenAI and Jony Ive grapple with technical issues on secretive AI device (FT) US and investors gambling on unproven nuclear technology, warn experts (FT) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 4
Make It Snow is Snowflake’s go-to-market playbook, told by longtime CRO Chris Degnan and CMO Denise Persson. The central idea: sales and marketing must operate as “one brain in two bodies.” The takeaways are practical and candid: embed with customers sooner than feels comfortable, pick a clear foil, design programs you can rerun, centralize data so sales and marketing act from one truth, and treat culture as GTM infrastructure. If you’re a founder, CRO, CMO, or operator trying to go from zero to billions without losing the plot, Make It Snow is a field manual for aligning people, narrative, and pipeline at every stage. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 3
Apple removes an app after the DOJ asked them to. People are using AI, but which AI are they actually paying for? Sora is now the number one app in all the land. And in the Longreads, now is it time to blame ChatGPT for breaking up marriages? Apple takes down ICE tracking apps after pressure from Bondi DOJ (Fox Business) A new a16z report looks at which AI companies startups are actually paying for (TechCrunch) AI is not killing jobs, US study finds (Financial Times) OpenAI wraps $6.6 billion share sale at $500 billion valuation (CNBC) OpenAI’s invite-only video generation app Sora tops Apple’s App Store (CNBC) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: Egon Durban’s $55bn buyout bet raises stakes for Silver Lake (Financial Times) Silver Lake Cements Power Broker Status With $55 Billion EA Deal (Bloomberg) ChatGPT Is Blowing Up Marriages as Spouses Use AI to Attack Their Partners (Futurism) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 2
More fallout from the Sora explosion, including my take on using it. OpenAI is now officially the biggest startup in the galaxy. We now know what Mira Murati’s new startup is building. The Brave browser is hitting some impressive user milestones. And why are young people flocking back to… checks notes… AOL? OpenAI’s Sora 2 Copyright Infringement Machine Features Nazi SpongeBobs and Criminal Pikachus (404Media) OpenAI Valuation Reaches $500 Billion, Topping Musk’s SpaceX (Bloomberg) Apple Shelves Vision Headset Revamp to Prioritize Meta-Like AI Glasses (Bloomberg) Mira Murati’s Stealth AI Lab Launches Its First Product (Wired) Google Translate Rival DeepL Explores US IPO (Bloomberg) Brave Now Has Over 100 Million Users (Thurott) Exclusive: Yahoo nears deal to sell AOL to Italy's Bending Spoons for $1.4 billion, sources say (Reuters) https://sora.chatgpt.com/profile/brianmccul Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 1
Why Sora is all anyone can talk about, both the new social network and the new AI model. Satya Nadella is still Microsoft’s CEO but he’s taken some things off his plate. Oura gets colorful, and a hardware company that we’ve not spoken about in years is back, with AI onboard. OpenAI's Sora app lets friends swap AI video cameos (Axios) OpenAI made a TikTok for deepfakes, and it’s getting hard to tell what’s real (The Verge) Satya Nadella appoints a new CEO to run Microsoft’s biggest businesses (The Verge) Oura adds colorful ceramic rings and charging case to lineup (The Verge) I got sweaty with Peloton's new Bike and Tread — but Peloton IQ is just as impressive (Tom's Guide) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 30
All the headline’s from Amazon’s fall hardware event. Daniel Ek is stepping back from Spotify. A new Claude model. ChatGPT gets into the shopping biz. And OpenAI is likely launching it’s own TikTok clone soon to feature AI videos. And new buzzword alert! Microsoft wants you to start “vibe working.” Amazon announces new Kindle Scribes, including one with a color screen (The Verge) Amazon Revamps Echo Speakers, Displays in Hardware Reboot (Bloomberg) Spotify Founder Daniel Ek Leaving CEO Job (WSJ) Anthropic launches Claude Sonnet 4.5, its best AI model for coding (TechCrunch) Etsy pops 16% as OpenAI announces ChatGPT Instant Checkout for the shopping site (CNBC) OpenAI Is Preparing to Launch a Social App for AI-Generated Videos (Wired) Microsoft launches ‘vibe working’ in Excel and Word (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 29
The biggest sign yet of the state of the gaming industry, EA is being taken private. DeepSeek’s new model might start a new AI price war. OpenAI announces their parental controls for teen users. And, the Wall Street Journal says debt financing is now playing an increasing role in AI CAPEX buildout. Electronic Arts Goes Private for $52.5 Billion in Largest LBO Ever (WSJ) EA Agrees to $55 Billion Sale in Largest Leveraged Buyout on Record (Bloomberg) EA Buyout Talk Highlights Gaming Struggles as Growth Slows (Bloomberg) DeepSeek Debuts ‘Sparse Attention’ Method in Next-Gen AI Model (Bloomberg) Jaguar Land Rover Gets Government Loan Guarantee to Support Supply Chain; Restarts Production (WSJ) OpenAI Adds Parental Safety Controls for Teen ChatGPT Users. Here’s What to Expect (Wired) Debt Is Fueling the Next Wave of the AI Boom (WSJ) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 27
One of the very first VCs of the Internet Era, and especially the NYC tech ecosystem, Jerry Colonna reflects on his journey from growing up in New York to becoming a successful journalist and venture capitalist. Jerry discusses his transition to venture capital, the founding of Flatiron with Fred Wilson, and the challenges faced during the dot-com bubble and 9/11. He emphasizes the importance of curiosity and the human experience in his coaching practice, aiming to alleviate suffering and transform lives. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 26
Maybe… the TikTok thing has finally reached a resolution. Again. Maybe Amazon owes us all some money. Maybe that Neon app from yesterday was a bad idea. OpenAI and Meta make some super interesting strategic AI moves. And, of course, The Weekend Longreads Suggestions. Trump signs executive order supporting proposed deal to put TikTok under US ownership (AP) TikTok Being Sold for a Song (Spyglass) Amazon agrees largest ever civil penalty in $2.5bn settlement with US regulators (Financial Times) Viral call-recording app Neon goes dark after exposing users’ phone numbers, call recordings, and transcripts (TechCrunch) OpenAI really, really wants you to start your day with ChatGPT Pulse (The Verge) Meta launches ‘Vibes,’ a short-form video feed of AI slop (TechCrunch) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: AI isn't replacing radiologists (Works In Progress) HSBC claims quantum trading breakthrough (FT) Jerry Colonna Interview On YouTube Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 25
Another lawsuit against OpenAI, this time from xAI. Intel approached Apple about bailing them out. What if crypto was reversable so you could recover fraud. Drama in open source land. And would you like to get paid to train AI on your phone calls? You’re in luck! Musk's xAI accuses rival OpenAI of stealing trade secrets (Reuters) Intel Is Seeking an Investment From Apple as Part of Its Comeback Bid (Bloomberg) Spotify to label AI music, filter spam and more in AI policy change (TechCrunch) Stablecoin issuer Circle examines ‘reversible’ transactions in departure for crypto (Financial Times) Microsoft embraces OpenAI rival Anthropic to improve Microsoft 365 apps (The Verge) Shopify, pulling strings at Ruby Central, forces Bundler and RubyGems takeover (Joel Drapper) Neon, the No. 2 social app on the Apple App Store, pays users to record their phone calls and sells data to AI firms (TechCrunch) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 24
Stargate gets off the ground, or at least, announces it is. What if OpenAI leases the chips from Nvidia instead of buying them. I go a bit deep in this episode in terms of the incentives behind all these AI moves. And what happens if AI makes translation as ubiquitous as spell check? OpenAI Teams Up With Oracle and SoftBank to Build 5 New Stargate Data Centers (Wired) In OpenAI Megadeal, Nvidia Discusses a New Business Model: Chip Leasing (The Information) Nvidia’s $100bn bet on ‘gigantic AI factories’ to power ChatGPT (FT) Alibaba Shares Soar After Hiking AI Budget Past $50 Billion (Bloomberg) VCs to AI Startups: Please Take Our Money (Bloomberg) Disney+, Hulu, ESPN to Hike Prices Again in October (The Wrap) WhatsApp adds built-in text translations on iPhone and Android (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 23
Nvidia is investing $100B in OpenAI, and there are a billion angles to that fact, so get ready to dive into it. Why were there giant sim farms popping up around NYC? The new AI to help you with Candy Crush, I guess. And new buzzword alert: say hello to “workslop.” Nvidia is partnering up with OpenAI to offer compute and cash (The Verge) Altman, Huang and the last-minute negotiations that sealed the $100 billion OpenAI-Nvidia deal (CNBC) Secret Service Thwarts Plot to Take Out Cell Service Near UN (Bloomberg) Play Games Sidekick is Gemini Live for Android games (9to5Google) AI Generated "Workslop" Is Destroying Productivity (Harvard Business Review) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 22
Once again, I THINK a TikTok deal is happening, so updates on that. Why lots of folk in the tech industry are worried about new H-1B visa rules. Might those annoying cookie consent checkboxes be going away? And why the real land grab in data center building is happening in Scandinavia. Inside Trump's deal to save TikTok (Axios) Startup leaders warn new $100K H-1B visa fee will hurt U.S. entrepreneurship and innovation (GeekWire) Big Tech companies, foreign governments scramble after Trump slaps $100,000 fee on H-1B visas (CNBC) Europe’s cookie law messed up the internet. Brussels wants to fix it. (Politico) Oura Ring Maker to Become $11 Billion Company With Latest Raise (Bloomberg) Coinbase CEO: We Want To Become A Super App (CoinDesk) Nordic Data Center Boom Fueled by Low Prices, Empty Land and Cool Weather (Bloomberg) My most recent AI content experiment Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 20
Today I’m joined by Olivier Pomel, cofounder/CEO of Datadog. We trace his path from French open-source tinkerer to NYC founder, the dev-vs-ops friction that sparked Datadog, finding product-market fit through integrations, and the choice to stay independent en route to a 2019 IPO and S&P 500. Olivier shares scaling war stories, culture and GTM lessons, and what observability means in an AI era. If you build software—or companies—this one’s packed with playbooks, from hiring to pricing to platform bets that work. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 19
(Sorry about the editing error earlier) Nvidia is investing in self-driving AI tech. Google has given up the ghost and is making Chrome a full AI tool. Would you tolerate advertisements on the screen of your smart refrigerator? And why Apple executives are growing worried about OpenAI’s hardware plans. Nvidia in talks for $500mn investment in UK self-driving start-up Wayve (FT) Google Injects Gemini Into Chrome as AI Browsers Go Mainstream (Wired) Software update shoves ads onto Samsung’s pricey fridges (ArsTechnica) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: Since Leaving Washington, Elon Musk Has Been All In on His A.I. Company (NYTimes) OpenAI Raids Apple for Hardware Talent, Manufacturing Partners (The Information) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 18
Has Intel found the big customer for its Foundry that it needs to survive? The big tie up with Nvidia announced this morning. All the announces from Meta’s event last night. Smartglasses and maybe the Metaverse is still a thing. And AI pattern matching might work as well for health prediction as it has proven to do with weather forecasting. Nvidia and Intel announce jointly developed 'Intel x86 RTX SOCs' for PCs with Nvidia graphics, also custom Nvidia data center x86 processors — Nvidia buys $5 billion in Intel stock in seismic deal (Tom's Hardware) Hands-on: Meta Ray-Ban Display Glasses & Neural Band Offer a Glimpse of Future AR Glasses (Road to VR) Meta is bringing an all-in-one movie and TV streaming hub to Quest headsets (The Verge) New AI model predicts susceptibility to over 1,000 diseases (FT) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 17
The framework of a TikTok deal is finally coming together. Nvidia suffers another major setback in China. Bunch of new AI stuff from YouTube. A coming MacBook with a touchscreen. And a roundup of the reviews of the iPhone Air. U.S. Investors, Trump Close In on TikTok Deal With China (WSJ) China bans tech companies from buying Nvidia’s AI chips (FT) YouTube to use AI to help podcasters promote themselves with clips and Shorts (TechCrunch) YouTube announces new generative AI tools for Shorts creators (TechCrunch) Kuo: OLED MacBook Pro to Feature Touch Screen Display (MacRumors) AI Chip Startup Groq Raises $750 Million at $6.9 Billion Valuation (Bloomberg) Apple iPhone Air review: statement piece (The Verge) Listener survey link: https://www.theverge.com/tech/779588/apple-iphone-air-review-battery-camera Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 16
Looks like we’re going to be getting new Meta smartglasses later this week. OpenAI wants to up its AI for coding game. Is the whole TikTok saga finally coming to a conclusion? Almost half a billion people use Spotify for free? And how to use the best feature of the new iOS. 'Meta Ray-Ban Display' Glasses Design & HUD Clips Leak Ahead Of Connect (Upload) OpenAI upgrades Codex with a new version of GPT-5 (TechCrunch) Beijing says TikTok’s US app will use Chinese algorithm (Financial Times) Spotify will now let free users pick and play tracks (TechCrunch) iOS 26 Review: A New Look I'll Be Happy With for the Next 12 Years (CNet) Podcast Listener Survey: https://www.morningbrewbreakroom.com/c/r/Tech-Brew-Ride-Home Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 15
Nano Banana is such a hit that Gemini is suddenly ahead of ChatGPT, at least if we’re measuring by the app store. Lots of interesting new data about how people are actually using AI. A new accelerator program from OpenAI itself, and is the AI boom like the dawn of the microprocessor or more like the dawn of containerization? Google Gemini is the top free iPhone app (9to5Google) Here’s what the data says people ask ChatGPT (Washington Post) Anthropic Finds Businesses Are Mainly Using AI to Automate Work (Bloomberg) China Targets Nvidia Over 2020 Deal, Straining Trade Talks (Bloomberg) PayPal Links lets you send and receive money much faster now - even crypto (ZDNet) OpenAI announces new mentorship program for budding tech founders (CNBC) AI Will Not Make You Rich (Colossus) Listener Survey: https://www.morningbrewbreakroom.com/c/r/Tech-Brew-Ride-Home Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 13
John Borthwick on Betaworks shares his journey from a tech-savvy youth to a prominent figure in the New York City tech scene. He discusses his early experiences with computers, the transformative impact of the World Wide Web, and the vibrant tech culture of the 90s. Borthwick reflects on his role in creating Total New York, the lessons learned from the AOL acquisition, and the challenges faced during the dot-com bubble burst. He also highlights the rise of social media platforms like Photolog and the evolution of BetaWorks as a hub for innovation, particularly in the AI space. Throughout the discussion, Borthwick emphasizes the importance of creativity, constraints, and the ever-changing landscape of technology. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 12
OpenAI and Microsoft say they have ironed out their differences… tentatively. Not officially. I’ll explain why that is interesting. With new FDA clearance for the Apple watch are millions of people about to discover they have hypertension? What if AI is less corrupt than humans? And, of course, the Weekend Longreads Suggestions. OpenAI and Microsoft reach tentative deal to revise partnership (Axios) OpenAI Takes Big Steps Toward Its Long-Planned Reorganization (NYTimes) OpenAI & Microsoft Agree to Agree, Tentatively (Spyglass) Apple Watch hypertension alerts feature receives FDA clearance (9to5Mac) Albania appoints AI bot as minister to tackle corruption (Reuters) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: Why is AI struggling to discover new drugs? (Financial Times) Online travel platforms prepare for rise of artificial intelligence ‘agents’ (Financial Times) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 11
Well we now know one of the big contracts that sent Oracle shares flying. OpenAI of course. We have another IPO pop. YouTube videos now have multilanguage dubbing. Is it risky to bet on just one version of AI? And a deep dive analysis of how Oracle got AI religion. Oracle, OpenAI Sign $300 Billion Cloud Deal (WSJ) Klarna Climbs 15% in Trading Debut After $1.37 Billion IPO (Bloomberg) Microsoft's first preview of Visual Studio 2026: Deeper AI and a design refresh (The Register) YouTube’s multi-language audio feature for dubbing videos rolls out to all creators (TechCrunch) AI’s $344 Billion ‘Language Model’ Bet Looks Fragile (Bloomberg) How Oracle’s Larry Ellison rode the AI ‘tsunami’ (Financial Times) Paris 1944: Occupation, Resistance, Liberation: A Social History Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 10
Larry Ellison becomes the richest person in all the land! Is Oracle the new Nvidia? Spotify finally delivers on lossless audio. Robinhood is going to roll out true social trading. Quantum computing continues to be hot. And the startup that’s taking my AI podcast experiment to the next, logical level. Oracle Is the New Nvidia, for Better or Worse (WSJ) Spotify adds lossless streaming after 8 years of teasing (The Verge) Apple says the iPhone 17 comes with a massive security upgrade (The Verge) Robinhood, a Broker Built for Social-Media Age, to Launch Its Own Social Network (WSJ) Quantum computing company raises a record $1bn (FT) 5,000 Podcasts. 3,000 Episodes a Week. $1 Cost Per Episode — Behind an AI Start Up’s Plan (The Hollywood Reporter) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 9
All the headlines from the iPhone event earlier today, including the new iPhone Air. The judge isn’t happy with Anthropic’s $1.5 B payday to authors. OpenAI isn’t happy with California and might leave. And despite what it’s said publicly, Google recently argued in court that the post-AI web is already dying. Links: Apple announces iPhone Air: the thinnest iPhone ever (9to5Mac) Apple’s iPhone 17 Pro has the biggest battery of any iPhone (The Verge) Anthropic Judge Blasts $1.5 Billion AI Copyright Settlement (2) (Bloomberg Law) Xbox is coming to cars thanks to an LG and Microsoft partnership (The Verge) OpenAI Executives Rattled by Campaigns to Derail For-Profit Restructuring (WSJ) Microsoft mandates a return to office (The Verge) New Google Court Doc: Open Web Is In Rapid Decline (Search Engine Roundtable) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 8
Anthropic has agreed to pay $1.5 billion dollars to authors of books that might have trained their AI. Would my book qualify for some of that money? Also, why this is interesting in general. OpenAI is making a movie. Tokenizing the stock market. Three interesting raises, and at the end of the show, let me tell you about my weekend experiment with AI. Links: Anthropic Reaches $1.5 Billion Author Copyright Settlement (Bloomberg) OpenAI Backs AI-Made Animated Feature Film (WSJ) Nasdaq makes push to launch trading of tokenized securities (Reuters) Mistral Set for $14 Billion Valuation With New Funding Round (Bloomberg) Databricks Crosses $4 Billion in Annual Revenue Rate (WSJ) ElevenLabs to Let Staff Sell Shares at $6.6 Billion Valuation (Bloomberg) AI Generated 'Boring History' Videos Are Flooding YouTube and Drowning Out Real History (404Media) My AI Experiment: The History of Amazon My AI Expeirment: The History of Google Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 6
Julie Samuels shares her journey from a journalism major to a prominent figure in the tech advocacy space, detailing her experiences at NCSA, her work with EFF, and her role in founding Tech NYC. She discusses the evolution of the internet, the cultural differences between Silicon Valley and New York City, and the importance of community engagement in shaping the future of technology. Julie emphasizes the need for tech companies to be involved in civic issues and how Tech NYC aims to support and represent the tech industry in New York. 00:00 Introduction and Early Internet Experiences 02:11 Career Beginnings at NCSA 05:08 Transitioning to Journalism and Early Online News 08:00 The Shift in Journalism and the Dot Com Bubble 10:53 The Evolving New York Tech Scene 13:54 Joining EFF and First Amendment Advocacy 16:55 Mainstreaming of Internet Issues 19:53 Reflections on the Impact of Technology 21:05 The Optimism of the Tech Boom 24:19 Contrasting Silicon Valley and New York Tech 32:25 The Birth of Tech NYC 42:34 Tech NYC's Role in Today's Landscape Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 5
From the, this wasn’t on my bingo card file, OpenAI has launched a sort of job board? Why Broadcom might become Nvidia’s big rival. Is AI image generation about to have its Napster moment? And in the Longread Suggestions, a deep-dive state of the job market in tech. 00:00 Intro 00:33 OpenAI Job Search 04:22 Broadcom Competes With Nvidia? 07:41 AI Image Napster Moment? 11:30 Nividia's "Self Dealing"? 15:35 Longreads Links: OpenAI Plans Jobs Platform, Certification Program for AI Roles (Bloomberg) OpenAI set to start mass production of its own AI chips with Broadcom (FT) Warner Bros. Discovery Sues AI Giant Midjourney for Copyright Infringement In Major Legal Battle (The Hollywood Reporter) Nvidia to Pay $1.5 Billion to Rent Back Its Own Chips From Cloud Startup (The Information) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: State of the software engineering job market in 2025 (The Pragmatic Engineer) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 4
Mark Gurman lays out how Apple intends to jump into AI search as soon as this Spring. You’ll never guess who’s one of the biggest players in quantum computing. The Browser Company gets a soft landing, and after a decade and a half of waiting, we finally have the iPad app for Instagram you say you always wanted. Links: Apple Plans AI-Powered Web Search Tool for Siri to Rival OpenAI, Perplexity (Bloomberg) Nvidia’s Venture Arm Invests in Honeywell’s Quantinuum (Bloomberg) Atlassian agrees to acquire The Browser Co. for $610 million (CNBC) Roblox expands use of age-estimation tech and introduces standardized ratings (TechCrunch) New AI model turns photos into explorable 3D worlds, with caveats (ArsTechnica) Instagram is coming to iPad, 15 years later (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 3
Google whistles past the graveyard with the remedy ruling on its antitrust case. OpenAI makes a big acquisition. Anthropic has a big new raise and a huge new valuation to boot. And why are AI companies finding it so hard to engineer safe interactions with Chatbots? Links: Google stock jumps 8% after search giant avoids worst-case penalties in antitrust case (CNBC) Google, Apple, and Mozilla Win in the Antitrust Case Google Lost (Spyglass) Google’s Big Win Is Even Bigger for Apple (WSJ) OpenAI starts building out its app team (The Verge) Anthropic’s $13bn Series F raise sees it triple in value to $183bn (SiliconRepublic) Acer Veriton GN100 is a mini AI workstation (VideoCardz) The problem of AI chatbots discussing suicide with teenagers (Financial Times) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 2
The Trump family’s big new crypto coin makes its debut. OpenAI outlines new safety guardrails. Dolby announces its biggest new TV tech in years. Say hello to Dolby Vision 2. Fintech seems to be back. And as the price per token for AI models has fallen, why are costs for developers rising? Links: Trump family’s World Liberty Financial token falls in trading debut (FT) Parental controls are coming to ChatGPT ‘within the next month,’ OpenAI says (CNNBusiness) Dolby Vision 2 goes beyond HDR with more AI and ‘authentic motion’ smoothing (The Verge) UK fintechs explore buying US banks to speed up push for licences (FT) Cutting-Edge AI Was Supposed to Get Cheaper. It’s More Expensive Than Ever. (WSJ) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 1
In this conversation, Bradley Tusk discusses his unique career at the intersection of politics and technology. He shares insights from his early experiences in New York City politics, his time working with Senator Schumer, and his role as Deputy Governor of Illinois. Tusk reflects on the Bloomberg campaign during the financial crisis and how he merged political strategies with business through Tusk Strategies. He highlights the regulatory challenges faced by Uber and the importance of understanding the political landscape for startups. Tusk also addresses the future of AI and the necessity of regulation to protect society while fostering innovation. 00:00 The Intersection of Tech and Politics 05:58 The Rise of Tech in New York City 12:08 Governance and the Role of a Deputy Governor 18:03 Tusk Strategies: Merging Politics with Tech 23:55 Navigating Regulatory Challenges in Startups 33:52 The Need for AI Regulation 40:06 Addressing the Challenges of Gambling Regulations Bradley Tusk identifies as a political junkie rather than a tech junkie. His early career choices were influenced by his experiences in politics and writing. Working under Henry Stern provided Tusk with a deep understanding of municipal politics. Tusk learned the importance of media and messaging while working for Senator Schumer. His role as Deputy Governor of Illinois involved managing a significant budget deficit. The Bloomberg campaign was marked by innovative use of technology and media. Tusk's strategies for Uber involved mobilizing customers to advocate for the service. He emphasizes the need for startups to recognize regulatory challenges early on. Tusk believes in the necessity of regulating AI to prevent societal harm. He advocates for a taxation structure to redistribute wealth generated by AI. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 29
China continues to show signs that it might not need American AI chips much longer. A weird story about that big recent Tesla trial ruling. Look, AI being too much of a sycophant is clearly becoming a big problem. And, of course, the Weekend Longreads Suggestions. Links: Alibaba Creates AI Chip to Help China Fill Nvidia Void (WSJ) Tesla said it didn’t have key data in a fatal crash. Then a hacker found it. (Washington Post) Intel gets $5.7 billion from Trump deal as White House says details are ‘being ironed out’ (CNBC) Zuckerberg’s AI hires disrupt Meta with swift exits and threats to leave (Financial Times) A Troubled Man, His Chatbot and a Murder-Suicide in Old Greenwich (WSJ) Weekend Longreads Suggestions AI Is Eliminating Jobs for Younger Workers (Wired) This Visiting Interstellar Comet Just Keeps Getting Weirder (Gizmodo) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 28
Nvidia’s earnings are ok, but maybe showing signs of normalizing. Copilot for your TV. A blockchain for your cloud. I catch you up on that whole Nano Banana image AI craze sweeping the internet. And a summary of the Pixel phone reviews. Links: Nvidia beats on top and bottom lines as company expects breakneck AI spend to continue (CNBC) Microsoft expands Xbox Cloud Gaming to Game Pass Core and Standard subscribers (The Verge) Microsoft’s Copilot AI is now inside Samsung TVs and monitors (The Verge) Google Cloud is developing its own blockchain for payments, currently in private testnet (The Block) Google Gemini’s AI image model gets a ‘bananas’ upgrade (TechCrunch) Nothing busted using professional photos as Phone 3 samples (The Verge) Google Pixel 10 Pro review: the best AI phone on the market (The Shortcut) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 27
A wrongful death lawsuit has been filed against OpenAI. The continuing saga of what the heck is going on over at Meta AI? Is “vibe hacking” the big new threat we need to be worried about? Anthropic had to settle because it was afraid it would be sued out of existence. And when the iPhone event is gonna happen. Links: OpenAI Plans to Update ChatGPT After Parents Sue Over Teen’s Suicide (Bloomberg) A Teen Was Suicidal. ChatGPT Was the Friend He Confided In. (NYTimes) Researchers Are Already Leaving Meta’s New Superintelligence Lab (Wired) ‘Vibe-hacking’ is now a top AI threat (The Verge) Anthropic Settles Major AI Copyright Suit Brought by Authors (3) (Bloomberg Law) Apple Makes Music Push in Radio After Losing Ground to Spotify (WSJ) Apple Event Announced for September 9: 'Awe Dropping' (MacRumors) Fantasy League Link: https://fantasy.premierleague.com/leagues/auto-join/poyeg1 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 26
Elon Musk is taking his beef with Sam Altman AND Tim Apple to court. The Trump administration could sanction EU officials over the Digital Services Act. Spotify has added DMs. And Ben Thompson’s deep analysis of the whole Intel situation. Links: Elon Musk's xAI sues Apple and OpenAI over AI competition, App Store rankings (Reuters) Exclusive: Trump administration weighs sanctions on officials implementing EU tech law, sources say (Reuters) Spotify is adding DMs (The Verge) Attorneys General To AI Chatbot Companies: You Will ‘Answer For It’ If You Harm Children (404Media) Intel says Trump deal has risks for shareholders, international sales (CNBC) U.S. Intel (Stratechery) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 25
The government has indeed taken a stake in Intel. Apple might turn to Google to save Siri. Meta turns to Midjourney. Perplexity wants to cut publishers in on the action. And how DHL is using AI to shore up a workforce that is aging out. Links: Trump, Intel Agree to 10% U.S. Stake as President Promises More Deals (NYTimes) Apple Explores Using Google Gemini AI to Power Revamped Siri (Bloomberg) Meta partners with Midjourney on AI image and video models (TechCrunch) Perplexity to Let Publishers Share in Revenue from AI Searches (Bloomberg) Netflix Sets Opening Dates for Permanent Entertainment and Shopping Venues in Philadelphia, Dallas (Variety) Inside DHL’s AI upgrade: ‘Love it or hate it, you have to work with it’ (FT) 8 Women, 4 Bedrooms and 1 Cause: Breaking A.I.’s Glass Ceiling (NYTimes) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 22
We talked recently about how Nvidia wasn’t home free in China just yet, and low and behold, they’re stopping H20 chip production over Chinese concerns. Did Elon Musk talk to Mark Zuckerberg about buying OpenAI together? And of course, the Weekend Longreads Suggestions. Links: Nvidia Orders Halt to H20 Production After China Directive Against Purchases (The Information) Meta Signs $10 Billion-Plus Cloud Deal With Google (The Information) Elon Musk tried to enlist Mark Zuckerberg in $100bn bid for OpenAI (Financial Times) OpenAI Is Challenging Google—While Using Its Search Data (The Information) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: He Sold His Likeness. Now His Avatar Is Shilling Supplements on TikTok. (NYTimes) Bill Gates meets Willy Wonka: How Epic’s 82-year-old billionaire CEO, Judy Faulkner, built her software factory (CNBC) Mutant Podcast Army Fantasy Football League Link poyeg1 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 21
What is going on at Meta AI story number 77. A deeper look at that new chip that Google unveiled with the Pixel phones yesterday and what that could suggest for Google’s hardware strategy. And an interesting startup that is making AI smartglasses happen now. Links: Meta Freezes AI Hiring After Blockbuster Spending Spree (WSJ) Suddenly, Silicon Valley Is Lowering AI Expectations (NYMag) Google did more than just switch to TSMC for Tensor G5 — This is what’s new (9to5Google) DeepSeek Touts Model That Outdoes Flagship in Agentic AI Step (Bloomberg) Sony is raising PS5 prices, starting tomorrow (The Verge) Harvard dropouts to launch ‘always on’ AI smart glasses that listen and record every conversation (TechCrunch) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 20
All the headlines from the Made By Google event where we saw the new Pixel 10 lineup and the 4th gen Pixel Watch. We have a release date for those new Xbox handhelds. More seeming chaos at Meta’s AI headquarters. And a report back from the first ever AI film festival. Links: The Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold is the first fully dust-resistant foldable (The Verge) Pixel 10 Pro and Pro XL are all about upgrades you can’t see, still starting at $999 [Hands-on] (9to5Google) Google debuts Pixel Watch 4 with domed display, emergency Satellite Communication (TechCrunch) Microsoft and Asus’ new Xbox Ally handhelds launch on October 16th (The Verge) Mark Zuckerberg Shakes Up Meta’s A.I. Efforts, Again (NYTimes) US tech stocks hit by concerns over future of AI boom (FT) I Saw the Future of AI Film and It Was Empty (Wired) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 19
Masa Son is investing $2B into Intel, and the Uncle Sam might join in as well. Small AI models continue to have a moment. Chamath is reentering the arena with a new SPAC. The Texas AG is investigating AI chatbots. And does GPT-5 prove that we’ve hit an AI ceiling, even if only temporarily? Links: Intel is getting a $2 billion investment from SoftBank (CNBC) Nvidia releases a new small, open model Nemotron-Nano-9B-v2 with toggle on/off reasoning (VentureBeat) ‘SPAC King’ Chamath Palihapitiya is back with a new one (Pitchbook) Texas attorney general accuses Meta, Character.AI of misleading kids with mental health claims (TechCrunch) Is AI hitting a wall? (FT) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 18
Meta is readying smartglasses with a display, but also, a look at their theoretical and prototype roadmap for the future of headware hardware generally. Is all the money in the world not actually going to get Zuck what he wants in AI? And is the acquihire in all but name trend of recent months breaking Silicon Valley’s fundamental business model? Links: Apple’s Vision Pro Is Suffering From a Lack of Immersive Video (Bloomberg) Meta Tiramisu "Hyperrealistic VR" Hands-On: A Stunning Window Into Another World (UploadVR) Meta Boba 3 Prototype Hands-On: Ultra-Wide Field Of View Without Compromise (UploadVR) Startup down rounds are at a 10 year high, according to PitchBook data (Fortune) Meta Plans Fourth Restructuring of AI Efforts in Six Months (The Information) Zuckerberg Squandered His AI Talent. Now He’s Spending Billions To Replace It. (Forbes) Big Tech Is Eating Itself in Talent War (WSJ) Enough is enough—I dumped Google’s worsening search for Kagi (ArsTechnica) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 15
Will the US government take a stake in Intel? Why was Meta letting spicy conversation happen with their AI bots? What does it mean if Foxconn’s AI business is now bigger than its gadget assembly business? And of course, the Weekend Longreads Suggestions. Links: Trump Administration Said to Discuss Taking Stake in Intel (Bloomberg) Meta’s AI rules have let bots hold ‘sensual’ chats with kids, offer false medical info (Reuters) Forget Foxconn the iPhone factory. AI’s made it a server-slinger first and foremost (The Register) Apple returns blood oxygen monitoring to the latest Apple Watches (The Verge) Whoop Refuses to Pull Blood Pressure Tool After FDA Warning (Bloomberg) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: Big Tech’s A.I. Data Centers Are Driving Up Electricity Bills for Everyone (NYTimes) Behind Wall Street’s Abrupt Flip on Crypto (NYTimes) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 14
New York is suing Zelle. Another IPO pop has me raising my eyebrows. Maybe Perplexity really was serious, at least about getting a browser. Does Apple want to make basically that Pixar lamp? And AI has so broken the hiring process that some companies are resorting again to in-person interviews. Links: New York sues Zelle, says security lapses led to $1 billion consumer fraud losses (Reuters) Crypto Firm Bullish Soars 84% in Debut After $1.1 Billion IPO (Bloomberg) Before Wild Chrome Bid, Perplexity Had Been Hunting for Browsers (The Information) Apple Plots Expansion Into AI Robots, Home Security and Smart Displays (Bloomberg) AI Is Forcing the Return of the In-Person Job Interview (WSJ) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 14
Perplexity offers to acquire Chrome, but how serious are they? Fine, says OpenAI, have your GPT-4o back. Are AI companions the next breakout AI business beyond coding help? And is GM getting back in the self-driving car business for real this time? Links: Perplexity Makes Longshot $34.5 Billion Offer for Chrome (WSJ) OpenAI brings GPT-4o back as a default for all paying ChatGPT users, Altman promises ‘plenty of notice’ if it leaves again (VentureBeat) OpenAI rolls out Gmail, Calendar, and Contacts integration in ChatGPT (BleepingComputer) UK porn site traffic plunges as age verification rules take effect (Financial Times) AI companion apps on track to pull in $120M in 2025 (TechCrunch) GM Plans Renewed Driverless-Car Push After Cruise Debacle (Bloomberg) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 12
Elon says he might take legal action against Apple, but it’s probably his beef with Sam Altman rearing its head once again. A long piece looking at how Jenson won in China, though also, HAS he won WITH China… yet? And is the race to the bottom in AI pricing happening already? Links: Musk says xAI to take legal action against Apple over App Store rankings (Reuters) Tech giants Apple and Google lose landmark court case as federal judge rules they engaged in anti-competitive conduct (ABC) China Urges Firms to Avoid Nvidia H20 Chips After Trump Resumes Sales (Bloomberg) With Billions at Risk, Nvidia CEO Buys His Way Out of the Trade Battle (WSJ) Anthropic offers Claude chatbot to US lawmakers for $1 (FT) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 11
Nvidia and AMD are paying the US government 15% of revenue to sell AI chips to China. Remember how with GPT-5, they took away the old models? Well, the old models are back. Some critical analysis of the whole GPT-5 moment. And you know what is finally never coming back? AOL dialup internet. Links: Nvidia and AMD to pay 15% of China chip sale revenues to US government (FT) Trump Bid for Cut of Chip Revenue Risks ‘Dangerous World’ (Bloomberg) Intel CEO Singled Out by Trump to Visit White House on Monday (WSJ) OpenAI Faces Backlash for Retiring Older Models With GPT-5 Launch (PCMag) GPT-5: Overdue, overhyped and underwhelming. And that’s not the worst of it. (Gary Marcus) A BEST CASE SCENARIO FOR AI? (David Sacks) AOL discontinues its dial-up internet, and we're just surprised they even offered it in 2025 (PCGamer) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 9
I spoke with the great Paul Kedrosky to discuss the significant impact of AI capital expenditure (CapEx) on the economy, exploring how it contributes to GDP growth and the implications of this spending. Qw delve into the rapid growth of AI-related investments, the short lifespan of data centers, and the potential risks associated with this economic phenomenon. 00:00 The Impact of AI Capital Expenditure on the Economy 09:34 The Dynamics of Data Center Investments 19:39 Debt Financing and Its Implications 30:09 Potential Risks and Future Outlook for AI Investments Articles mentioned on this episode: Paul Kedrosky: Honey AI Capex Ate The Economy Chris Mims in the WSJ Noah Smith Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 8
Tracking the fallout and implications from GPT-5’s rollout yesterday. Why is Google’s AI chatbot filled with self-loathing and recrimination? Are President Trump’s comments just the latest worry for the CEO of Intel? Are those AI coding companies actually making any money? And, of course, the Weekend Longreads Suggestions. Links: GPT-5: Key characteristics, pricing and model card (Simon Willison) GPT-5 Hands-On: Welcome to the Stone Age (Latent Space) Google says it's working on a fix for Gemini's self-loathing 'I am a failure' comments (Business Insider) Intel’s Chief Holds Firm After Trump Demands His Resignation (NYTimes) High costs and thin margins threatening AI coding startups (TechCrunch) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: AI Is Coming for the Consultants. Inside McKinsey, ‘This Is Existential.’ (WSJ) SEO Is Dead. Say Hello to GEO. (NYMag) Is Perrier as pure as it claims? The bottled water scandal gripping France (BBC) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 7
All the news around the big unveiling of GPT-5. President Trump calls on the CEO of Intel to “resign immediately.” Also, the threat of 100% tariffs on chips and semiconductors. But Apple gets a pass because they’re committing to building more in the US. Links: GPT-5 is being released to all ChatGPT users (The Verge) OpenAI Unveils GPT-5, Its Latest and Most Powerful Model, After Two-Year Wait (WSJ) OpenAI’s GPT-5 is here (TechCrunch) Trump Urges ‘Conflicted’ Intel CEO Tan to Resign Immediately (Bloomberg) Trump Eyes 100% Chips Tariff, Exempting Firms That Invest in US (Bloomberg) Apple Announces $100 Billion US Investment Ahead of Trump Event (Bloomberg) Could AI Datacenter Spending Blow Up The Economy? With Paul Kedrosky (YouTube) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 6
Disney is making big streaming moves with the new ESPN app and a revamp to Hulu. Then, it’s all basically AI announces. OpenAI’s new open-weight models. Grok’s new spiciness is already generating nudity. A new AI model to identify malicious software autonomously. And Nvidia wants you to know: no back-doors! Links: ESPN flagship streaming service to launch Aug. 21 (CNBC) Hulu App to Be Phased Out as Disney Is ‘Fully Integrating’ Service Into Disney+ (Variety) OpenAI Just Released Its First Open-Weight Models Since GPT-2 (Wired) Anthropic's powerful Opus 4.1 model is here - how to access it (and why you'll want to) (ZDNet) Qwen-Image is a powerful, open source new AI image generator with support for embedded text in English & Chinese (VentureBeat) Grok’s ‘spicy’ video setting instantly made me Taylor Swift nude deepfakes (The Verge) Microsoft’s new AI reverse-engineers malware autonomously, marking a shift in cybersecurity (GeekWire) Nvidia defiant over backdoors and kill switches in GPUs as U.S. mulls tracking requirements — calls them 'permanent flaws' that are 'a gift to hackers' (Tom's Hardware) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 5
TSMC has fired employees for allegedly attempting to pilfer information on their 2nm tech. Figma could have raised more money in its IPO but chose not to. Creating entire video game worlds with just a text prompt. And exactly how big Patreon has grown in the creator economy. 00:32 TSMC Spygate 02:50 Cloudflare V. Perplexity 04:52 Figma Followup 07:35 Music AI 09:53 New Google Models 14:58 Patreon Numbers Links: TSMC says employees tried to steal trade secrets on iPhone 18 chip process (9to5Mac) Cloudflare says Perplexity’s AI bots are ‘stealth crawling’ blocked sites (The Verge) Figma’s Pursuit of Long-Term Backers Kept IPO Price in Check (Bloomberg) Voice Startup ElevenLabs Launches AI Music Service (WSJ) Google’s new AI model creates video game worlds in real time (The Verge) Google’s Kaggle to host AI chess tournament to evaluate leading AI models’ reasoning skills (Silicon Angle) Exclusive: Patreon crosses $10 billion creator payment milestone (Axios) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 4
Robotaxies are coming to Europe. Apple wants Answers. Literally. The AI researcher who turned down a billion and a half dollars. How the vibe seems to have definitively shifted in Silicon Valley. And will rollable laptop screens become mainstream? 00:33 Robotaxis In Europe 02:12 Apple Wants Answers 03:57 Lina Khan 05:54 Billion Dollar Turn-Down 07:54 AI Trading Bots 10:25 The Silicon Valley Boom Is Back 14:23 A Rollable Laptop Links: Lyft Partners With Baidu on Robotaxis in European Expansion (Bloomberg) Apple’s New ‘Answers’ Team Eyes ChatGPT-Like Product in AI Push (Bloomberg) Lina Khan points to Figma IPO as vindication of M&A scrutiny (TechCrunch) Thanks for Your $1 Billion Job Offer, Mark Zuckerberg. I’m Gonna Pass. (WSJ) ‘Dumb’ AI Bots Collude to Rig Markets, Wharton Research Finds (Bloomberg) Silicon Valley Is in Its ‘Hard Tech’ Era (NYTimes) Lenovo’s rollable laptop is the coolest computer I’ve used all year (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 1
Well, it looks like Tech IPO’s might be back on the menu because Figma’s first day pop was like the good old days. Anthropic seems to be getting traction, OpenAI raises again. Earnings from Apple and Amazon, and of course, the Weekend Longreads Suggestions. Chapters: 00:33 Figma IPO 04:57 Anthropic And Open AI Numbers 08:45 New Deep Think Model 11:08 Tech Earnings Omnibus 14:35 Longreads Links: Figma more than triples in NYSE debut after selling shares at $33 (CNBC) Anthropic Revenue Pace Nears $5 Billion in Run-Up to Mega Round (The Information) Exclusive: OpenAI Secures Another Giant Funding Deal (NYTimes) Google rolls out Gemini Deep Think AI, a reasoning model that tests multiple ideas in parallel (TechCrunch) Reddit wants to be a search engine now (The Verge) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: The first commercial space station is nearly here. And it could change space forever (BBC Science Focus) A Deadly Fungus Killed 10 Scientists Working in a Tomb. It Could Be a Breakthrough in Curing Cancer. (Popular Mechanics) What happens once we spot the asteroid that will hit Earth? (FT) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 31
Microsoft and Meta earnings suggest AI is paying off so far, at least for the big guys. Has OpenAI’s revenues tripled so far in 2025? Devs are using AI more than ever, but that doesn’t mean they trust it. And at the end of the show, as promised, the huge podcast announcement. Links: Microsoft officially tops $4 trillion in market cap, joining Nvidia in exclusive club (CNBC) Investors Cheer an A.I. Spending Bonanza (NYTimes) Meta shares climb 10% on revenue beat, raised forecast (CNBC) Apple, Google, OpenAI to Work With Federal Agencies to Make Health Data Helpful (Bloomberg) OpenAI Hits $12 Billion in Annualized Revenue, Breaks 700 Million ChatGPT Weekly Active Users (The Information) Stack Overflow data reveals the hidden productivity tax of ‘almost right’ AI code (VentureBeat) Google DeepMind says its new AI can map the entire planet with unprecedented accuracy (VentureBeat) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 30
Age verification for web users is sweeping the globe. ChatGPT debuts a study mode for students. What, exactly is Zuckerberg trying to achieve by hiring everyone in AI? Maybe Cohere is the real dark horse in the AI model race. And what if the real money in AI video is in training robots? Links: YouTube rolls out age-estimation tech to identify US teens and apply additional protections (TechCrunch) ChatGPT’s Study Mode Is Here. It Won’t Fix Education’s AI Problems (Wired) Apple Loses Fourth AI Researcher in a Month to Meta’s Superintelligence Team (Bloomberg) Meta’s AI Recruiting Campaign Finds a New Target (Wired) AI Startup Cohere Projects $200 Million Revenue Pace as New Funding Nears (The Information) Runway, Luma Target Sales to Robotics Companies (The Information) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 29
Sony says Tencent has ripped off one of their biggest games. Microsoft wants to get ahead of the whole AI browser thing. Are rate limits coming for AI usage as some people are using AI too much? Waymo is coming to Dallas. And further proof of my thesis that smartglasses are the next big thing in tech hardware. Links: Sony sues Tencent for allegedly ripping off 'Horizon' video games (Reuters) Microsoft revolutionizes Edge as an AI-powered web browser with new experimental 'Copilot Mode' — here's how to enable it right now (Windows Central) Anthropic unveils new rate limits to curb Claude Code power users (TechCrunch) A Second Tea Breach Reveals Users’ DMs About Abortions and Cheating (404Media) Waymo, Avis Plan Dallas Robotaxi Launch in Multiyear Deal (Bloomberg) Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses revenue tripled over the year, EssilorLuxottica says (CNBC) Oakley Meta glasses review: A familiar formula with some upgrades (Engadget) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 28
Samsung’s foundry business gets a shot in the arm from Tesla. Zuck’s hiring spree nabs a Chat GPT creator. Anthropic is raising and leveling up in a big way. And no sooner did the hot new dating app Tea get hot, then it got hacked. Tea was spilt, if you will. Links: Samsung to Make Tesla AI Chips in Multiyear Texas Deal (Bloomberg) Donald Trump freezes export controls to secure trade deal with China (FT) Meta names Shengjia Zhao as chief scientist of AI superintelligence unit (TechCrunch) PayPal to Roll Out ‘Pay With Crypto’ Feature for Merchants (Bloomberg) AI start-up Anthropic open to Mideast funds in talks to double valuation to over $150bn (FT) Women are anonymously spilling tea about men in their cities on viral app (NBCNews) Hackers leak 13,000 user photos and IDs from the Tea app, designed as a women's safe space (NBCNews) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 25
Could Intel exit the high-end chip game entirely? Why are public companies loading up on crypto? GPT-5 is probably coming in a matter of weeks. What if it’s actually AI jobpocalypse… not now? And in the Longreads, the best explainer of those GLP-1 drugs I’ve read so far. Links: Intel beats on revenue, slashes foundry investments as CEO says ‘no more blank checks’ (CNBC) Google is testing a vibe-coding app called Opal (TechCrunch) Companies load up on niche crypto tokens to boost share prices (Financial Times) OpenAI prepares to launch GPT-5 in August (The Verge) Is AI killing graduate jobs? (FT) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: First Look: macOS Tahoe Public Beta (SixColors) If GLP-1 Drugs Are Good For Everything, Should We All Be on Them? (Derek Thompson) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 24
The White House has rolled out its big AI Action Plan. Google reported earnings but really wanted you to know about consumer adoption of its AI. A new Kindle Colorsoft. TMobile’s Starlink service is available to anyone, and the Switch 2 is now the fastest selling console in history. Links: Trump Signs AI Orders, Vows US Will Win Race Over New Technology (Bloomberg) Donald Trump blocks AI groups with ‘ideological bias’ from government work (FT) Google’s AI Overviews have 2B monthly users, AI Mode 100M in the US and India (TechCrunch) Google Photos adding free photo-to-video, Remix, and Create tab (9to5Google) Amazon is launching a cheaper color Kindle (The Verge) Starlink-powered ‘T-Satellite’ service is now live on T-Mobile (The Verge) The Nintendo Switch 2 Is the Fastest-Selling Gaming Hardware in U.S. History (IGN) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 23
Don’t sleep on that SharePoint exploit from earlier this week as it seems to have led to a ton of still active breaches. Apple has a new insurance plan for you. Elon wants even more money for xAI. The Chinese are still churning ahead with their AI models. And three different stories about AI and privacy. Links: Microsoft links Sharepoint ToolShell attacks to Chinese hackers (BleepingComputer) Apple Launches $20-a-Month AppleCare One Plan Covering Up to Three Devices (Bloomberg) Musk Allies to Raise Up to $12 Billion for xAI Chips as Startup Burns Through Cash (WSJ) Qwen3-Coder: Agentic Coding in the World (Simon Willison) Alibaba’s new open source Qwen3-235B-A22B-2507 beats Kimi-2 and offers low compute version (VentureBeat) Amazon buys Bee AI wearable that listens to everything you say (The Verge) Proton is launching a privacy-focused AI chatbot (The Verge) OpenAI CEO Sam Altman warns of an AI ‘fraud crisis’ (CNN) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 22
Well, just like that, AI’s winning the Math Olympiad is commonplace. Is Stargate struggling to get off the ground, or is Sam Altman just going to do Stargate on his own without Masa Son? The AI company who’s stated mission was to do AI ethically explains why it needs to get its hands dirty. And even if AI isn’t making scientific breakthroughs yet, there are early signs it is shaking things up nonetheless. Links: OpenAI and Google outdo the mathletes, but not each other (TechCrunch) SoftBank and OpenAI’s $500 Billion AI Project Struggles to Get Off Ground (WSJ) Oracle to Supply OpenAI With 2 Million AI Chips for Data Centers (Bloomberg) Leaked Memo: Anthropic CEO Says the Company Will Pursue Gulf State Investments After All (Wired) AI Comes Up with Bizarre Physics Experiments. But They Work. (Quanta Magazine) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 21
Serious zero-day has been uncovered that is affecting everybody all around the world. There is a patch tho. Mark Gurman dishes on the foldable iPhone. TSMC joins the Trillion-Dollar-Club. If you’re an expert in a given field you too can join the AI goldrush. And did we just take a big step toward AGI, or is this just the latest in the hype-cycle? Sponsors: AGNTCY.ORG Links: Hackers Exploit Microsoft SharePoint as Firm Works to Patch (Bloomberg) The First Foldable iPhone Will Arrive Next Year in Un-Apple-Like Fashion (Bloomberg) Nvidia's CUDA platform now supports RISC-V — support brings open source instruction set to AI platforms, joining x86 and Arm (Tom's Hardware) TSMC’s Taiwan Stock Value Surpasses $1 Trillion Amid AI Frenzy (Bloomberg) AI groups spend to replace low-cost ‘data labellers’ with high-paid experts (FT) OpenAI's experimental model achieved gold at the International Math Olympiad (Engadget) OpenAI's gold medal performance on the International Math Olympiad. (Simon Willison's Weblog) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 19
To find out more about Leap Labs go to Leap-Labs.com The white paper is here . Blog is here (with case studies). To get in touch with them: hello@leap-labs.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 18
OpenAI has a new agent that can control your entire computer. You might soon be able to put crypto in your 401k. Why is Apple suing a prominent YouTuber? And in the Weekend Longreads, the one article that has done the most to radicalize me, as an investor, in a long, long time. Links: OpenAI’s new ChatGPT Agent can control an entire computer and do tasks for you (The Verge) OpenAI ChatGPT Agent announcement LIVE — all the big news from today's livestream (Tom's Guide) Netflix says it’s streamed 95 billion hours in 2025, and a lot of ads too (The Verge) Donald Trump set to open US retirement market to crypto investments (Financial Times) AI start-up Perplexity’s valuation tops $18bn months after latest funding round (Financial Times) Apple Sues Jon Prosser Over iOS 26 Leaks (Macrumors) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: 4.6 Billion Years On, the Sun Is Having a Moment (The New Yorker) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 17
TSMC earnings suggest the AI buildout is continuing apace. Stablecoin regulation clears a major hurdle. Is Anthropic doing well growing revenue? Maybe not OpenAI well, but well enough? More signs Microsoft is struggling to sell its own branded AI. And how AI might be about to change how we pay for everything… forever. Links: TSMC Raises 2025 Outlook in a Big Boost for AI Demand Hopes (Bloomberg) US House agrees to consider crypto legislation in big win for the digital asset industry (Reuters) Investors Float Deal Valuing Anthropic at More Than $100 Billion (The Information) Microsoft's Copilot Is Getting Lapped by 900 Million ChatGPT Downloads (Bloomberg) Delta moves toward eliminating set prices in favor of AI that determines how much you personally will pay for a ticket (Fortune) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 16
Jensen is feeling his oats after the reprieve on China, spilling lots of tea about where he see the AI industry. OpenAI is going after the office and also the storefront, with interesting new integrations. Why is it so hard to create LLM’s in other languages? And a first person account of what its like to work at OpenAI, the culture, the pressure, etc. Links: Nvidia Boss Expects US to Move Fast on First H20 China Licenses (Bloomberg) OpenAI Preps ChatGPT Agents in Challenge to Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint (The Information) OpenAI to take cut of ChatGPT shopping sales in hunt for revenues (Financial Times) Fed up with ChatGPT, Latin America is building its own (Rest Of World) Reflections on OpenAI (Calvin French-Owen) Raiders, Rulers, and Traders: The Horse and the Rise of Empires Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 15
Has the US government suddenly allowed Nvidia back in business in China? A segment wherein I make the case the GW’s are the new metric that matters to the tech industry, over and above anything else. Windsurf finds a permanent home. And is China already producing the smartglasses Zuck wants to see next? Links: Nvidia, AMD to Resume AI Chip Sales to China in US Reversal (Bloomberg) Apple to Buy Rare Earths From Pentagon-Backed US Producer MP (Bloomberg) Zuckerberg Says Meta Will Build Gigawatt-Size Data Centers (Bloomberg) Meta’s New Superintelligence Lab Is Discussing Major A.I. Strategy Changes (NYTimes) Cognition AI Buys Windsurf as A.I. Frenzy Escalates (NYTimes) China’s AI glasses market takes shape as Xiaomi’s entry inspires early adopters (SCMP) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 14
Google snatched the Windsurf acquisition out from under OpenAI in a big new acquihire. SpaceX is investing in xAI. ChromeOS and Android to merge, but for real this time? Was there a new sort of DeepSeek moment over the weekend? And example number 74 of how YouTube is now the king of video entertainment. Links: Google to Pay $2.4 Billion for Windsurf Staff, IP After Startup Ends OpenAI Talks (The Information) Google Is Said to Pay $2.4 Billion for Windsurf Assets, Talent (Bloomberg) An OpenAI Acquisition Turns Into a Google 'Hackqusition'... (Spyglass) Elon Musk’s xAI seeks up to $200bn valuation in next fundraising (Financial Times) SpaceX to Invest $2 Billion Into Elon Musk’s xAI (WSJ) Google exec: ‘We’re going to be combining ChromeOS and Android’ (The Verge) 'I think you see the future first on Android' – Google's Android leader Sameer Samat (TechRadar) Moonshot AI’s Kimi K2 outperforms GPT-4 in key benchmarks — and it’s free (VentureBeat) Eight Things We’ve Learned About Hollywood This Year (Bloomberg) The Streaming Wars Come Down to 2: YouTube vs. Netflix (NYTimes) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 12
Mega Omnibus Episode Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 11
So, it sure looks like Grok tries to align some of its answers with the views of its maker, Elon Musk, but the question is why… Does AI have to align with political views more generally? New, tangible data suggests you actually might NOT be coding faster due to AI. It might just be in your head. And, of course, the Weekend Longreads Suggestions. Links: Grok: searching X for “from:elonmusk (Israel OR Palestine OR Hamas OR Gaza)” (Simon Willison's Blog) Grok 4 seems to consult Elon Musk to answer controversial questions (TechCrunch) A Republican state attorney general is formally investigating why AI chatbots don’t like Donald Trump (The Verge) Study: Apple’s newest AI model flags health conditions with up to 92% accuracy (9to5Mac) Not So Fast: AI Coding Tools Can Actually Reduce Productivity (Second Thoughts) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: The Grand Unified Theory of Rogue Waves (Quanta Magazine) This Breakthrough Sponge Could Change How the World Gets Clean Water (SciTechDaily) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 10
Grok 4 is out, plus Grok 4 Voice, Grok 4 Code, a bunch more. Ok we know Zuck wants to catch up on AI, but an insider explains why they think Meta fell behind in the first place. Are AI web browsers the next battlefield in the AI wars. And if your electricity bill goes up substantially, you’ll never guess what you can blame. Links: Grok 4 is live — here’s what makes it Elon Musk’s most advanced AI yet (Tom's Guide) Meta Poached Apple’s Pang With Pay Package Over $200 Million (Bloomberg) Zuckerberg’s $100 Million AI Job Offers Are Paying Off (Bloomberg) Exclusive: OpenAI to release web browser in challenge to Google Chrome (Reuters) Microsoft Touts $500 Million AI Savings While Slashing Jobs (Bloomberg) America's largest power grid is struggling to meet demand from AI (Reuters) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 9
All the of the headlines from the Galaxy Unpacked event that was mostly about really thin foldable phones. Big changing of the guard at Apple. What happens when you make a bet on a betting market, think you’ve won, but are then told you’re not. And a useful new feature of Gmail. Links: Galaxy Z Fold 7 goes official with drastically thinner design, but a $2,000 price tag (9to5Google) Samsung's Galaxy Z Flip 7 has a bigger battery and is still thinner than last year's model (Engadget) Samsung launches the more affordable Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE for $899 (9to5Google) Galaxy Z Fold 7 hands-on: Samsung finally made the foldables we’ve been asking for (The Verge) Apple COO Jeff Williams to Retire in Major Changing of Guard (Bloomberg) Elon Musk's AI chatbot churns out antisemitic posts days after update (NBCNews) Polymarket Rules 'No' on $237M Controversial Bet Over Zelenskyy's Suit (Decrypt) Gmail’s new tab is made for unsubscribing from emails (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 8
How much further behind can Apple get in AI now that Zuck is poaching from them as well? OpenAI has been forced to batten down the hatches, quite literally. A fully licensed AI video model. And back to Apple. They heard your complaints. They’re pumping the brakes on Liquid Glass a bit. Sponsors: AGNTCY.ORG Links: Apple Loses Top AI Models Executive to Meta’s Hiring Spree (Bloomberg) OpenAI’s Stock Compensation Reflect Steep Costs of Talent Wars (The Information) OpenAI clamps down on security after foreign spying threats (Financial Times) Bluesky can really keep up with the news now that it has activity notifications (The Verge) This New AI Tool Wants to Work With Filmmakers—Not Replace Them (Time) iOS 26 beta 3 dials back Liquid Glass (TechCrunch) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 7
Catching you up on the great Zuckerberg AI recruitment drive. Clueing you in to the great datacenter buildout goldrush that is, again, all about AI. TikTok is about to force everybody to use a new version of their app. And are the unicorns coming back? Links: Meta’s new hires offer a peek into superintelligence plans (Semafor) Zuck's Eleven (Spyglass) CoreWeave to Buy Core Scientific in $9 Billion Stock Deal (Bloomberg) US industrial groups pivot to data centres amid AI boom (FT) TikTok Building New Version of App Ahead of Expected U.S. Sale (The Information) As Trump pushes Apple to make iPhones in the U.S., Google’s brief effort building smartphones in Texas 12 years ago offers critical lessons (Fortune) At least 36 new tech unicorns were minted in 2025 so far (TechCrunch) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 2
More layoffs make me more concerned the AI jobpocalypse is coming to tech this summer. In the big Meta v. OpenAI talent battle, who is desperate and who is scared? We reframe the situation a bit. Figma files for an IPO. Chinese AI seems to be gain ground worldwide. And do universities need to fundamentally rethink teaching computer science? Links: Microsoft laying off about 9,000 employees in latest round of cuts (CNBC) Here’s What Mark Zuckerberg Is Offering Top AI Talent (Wired) Sam Altman Slams Meta’s AI Talent-Poaching Spree: ‘Missionaries Will Beat Mercenaries’ (Wired) Figma files for IPO on NYSE, plans to ‘take big swings’ with acquisitions (CNBC) China Is Quickly Eroding America’s Lead in the Global AI Race (WSJ) How Do You Teach Computer Science in the A.I. Era? (NYTimes) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 1
Meta Superintelligence Labs is official. Cloudflare’s tool to help websites fend off AI bots is official. Will Apple throw in the towel and just buy some AI off the shelf? Does Amazon now have more robots than human workers in its warehouses? And my hands-down can’t live without you app finds a home. Sponsors: CornbreadHemp.com/ride and code RIDE Links: Zuckerberg Debuts Meta ‘Superintelligence’ Group, More Hires (Bloomberg) Cloudflare launches a marketplace that lets websites charge AI bots for scraping (TechCrunch) Apple Weighs Using Anthropic or OpenAI to Power Siri in Major Reversal (Bloomberg) Amazon Is on the Cusp of Using More Robots Than Humans in Its Warehouses (WSJ) Musk’s X Hires Entrepreneur Nikita Bier as Head of Product (Bloomberg) Grammarly to acquire email startup Superhuman in AI platform push (Reuters) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 30
Weird beef between Nintendo and Amazon. Is Apple going to make a cheap Macbook with an iPhone chip inside? OpenAI claps back at Meta. The AI avatar startup. And for the first time in a decade, Spotify has changed up the Discover Weekly playlist. Links: Amazon Misses Out on Switch 2 Sales After Nintendo Pulled Products From US Site (Bloomberg) Kuo: Apple to release cheaper MacBook powered by iPhone processor (9to5Mac) ‘F1’ Revs To $144M Opening Weekend Around The World, Brad Pitt & Apple Original Films Records (Deadline) OpenAI Leadership Responds to Meta Offers: ‘Someone Has Broken Into Our Home’ (Wired) AI avatars are here in full force—and they’re serving some of the world’s biggest companies (Fortune) Spotify revamps its Discover Weekly playlist after 10 years (TechCrunch) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 27
Mark Zuckerberg’s big AI plan seems still to be such a work in progress, he’s even considering abandoning Llama. Apple attempts to comply with the EU’s DMA. Instagram and TikTok want to follow YouTube to your TV. The infamous Blue Screen of Death is dying. And, of course, the Weekend Longreads Suggestions. Links: In Pursuit of Godlike Technology, Mark Zuckerberg Amps Up the A.I. Race (NYTimes) Meta says it’s winning the talent war with OpenAI (The Verge) Apple announces sweeping App Store changes in the EU (9to5Mac) Google launches Doppl, a new app that lets you visualize how an outfit might look on you (TechCrunch) TikTok, Instagram Plot TV Apps Following YouTube’s Success (The Information) Windows is getting rid of the Blue Screen of Death after 40 years (The Verge) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: My Couples Retreat With 3 AI Chatbots and the Humans Who Love Them (Wired) AI is ruining houseplant communities online (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 26
The legal rulings on AI are finally coming in. The problem is, they’re contradictory, so we’re not getting any legal clarity yet. Creative Commons but for AI training data. Is DeepSeek’s R2 model being stymied by lack of access to Nvidia chips? And another deep look at the question of: is AI taking jobs at tech companies, right now? Links: Microsoft sued by authors over use of books in AI training (Reuters) Trump Mobile reiterates claims that new phones are 'made in America' (USAToday) Creative Commons debuts CC signals, a framework for an open AI ecosystem (TechCrunch) OpenAI, Microsoft Rift Hinges on How Smart AI Can Get (WSJ) DeepSeek’s Progress Stalled by U.S. Export Controls (The Information) Salesforce CEO Says 30% of Internal Work Is Being Handled by AI (Bloomberg) AI Killed My Job: Tech workers (Blood In The Machine) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 25
AI is transforming job search on both sides of the equation. A first court ruling on using copyrighted books to train AI. New AI releases from Google devs will want to know about. How your kids 3rd grade teacher is using AI. And why did Apple push an ad to everybody? Sponsors: Shopify.com/ride Links: Employers Are Buried in A.I.-Generated Résumés (NYTimes) CareerBuilder + Monster to Sell Businesses in Bankruptcy (WSJ) Exclusive: Uber and Palantir alums raise $35M to disrupt corporate recruitment with AI (Fortune) Anthropic wins a major fair use victory for AI — but it’s still in trouble for stealing books (The Verge) Google unveils Gemini CLI, an open-source AI tool for terminals (TechCrunch) How ChatGPT and other AI tools are changing the teaching profession (AP) iPhone customers upset by Apple Wallet ad pushing ‘F1’ movie (TechCrunch) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 24
A new Xbox branded Meta Quest. Amazon is expanding same day delivery even more. What does it mean for the AI race if ChatGPT seems to be outcompeting Microsoft’s Copilot offerings in the enterprise space? Why is Wall Street leading the way on AI adoption? And what exactly is Mira Murati’s big new AI startup going to do, exactly? Sponsors: Venice.ai/techmeme and code: techmeme Links: After a year of waiting, Microsoft's Meta Quest 3S "Xbox Edition" is here — our hands-on review of this (very) limited edition partnership (Windows Central) Amazon bringing same-day delivery to ‘millions’ of rural customers (The Verge) Tesla Robotaxi Incidents Draw Scrutiny From US Safety Agency (Bloomberg) Waymo’s robotaxis are now available on the Uber app in Atlanta (The Verge) ChatGPT's Enterprise Success Against Copilot Fuels OpenAI and Microsoft's Rivalry (Bloomberg) Goldman Sachs launches AI assistant firmwide, memo shows (Reuters) Thinking Machines Lab’s $2B Seed Round Is Biggest By A Long Shot (Crunchbase News) How Ex-OpenAI CTO Murati’s Startup Plans to Compete With OpenAI and Others (The Information) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 23
Tesla launches its robotaxi service in Austin. Apple is negotiating desperately to avoid an EU fine coming as soon as this week. Also, why doesn’t Apple do some acquihires to get back in the AI game? Maybe Perplexity would be attractive? The Music industry gathers tools to detect AI. And is there a global divide growing when it comes to AI access? Sponsors: 1Password.com/ride Links: Tesla launches robotaxi service in Austin (Financial Times) Jony Ive Deal Removed From OpenAI Site Over Trademark Suit (Bloomberg) Apple locked in last-minute App Store negotiations to avoid Brussels fines (Financial Times) Apple Will Need to Leave Its M&A Comfort Zone to Succeed in AI (Bloomberg) Apple Executives Have Held Internal Talks About Buying AI Startup Perplexity (Bloomberg) The music industry is building the tech to hunt down AI songs (The Verge) The Global A.I. Divide (NYTimes) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 20
Meta has some new smartglasses. How long can the TikTok groundhog day go on? Masa Son wants to create a Shenzhen-like production city here in the US. Are your smart cameras a national security threat to the home front in a war? And, of course, the Weekend Longreads Suggestions. Sponsors: Factor75.com/ride Links: Meta announces Oakley smart glasses (The Verge) Meta tried to buy Ilya Sutskever’s $32 billion AI startup, but is now planning to hire its CEO (CNBC) Trump extends TikTok ban deadline for a third time, without clear legal basis (AP) Publishers facing existential threat from AI, Cloudflare CEO says (Axios) Masa Son Pitches $1 Trillion US AI Hub to TSMC, Trump Team (Bloomberg) Israeli Officials Warn Iran Is Hijacking Security Cameras to Spy (Bloomberg) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: Scientists once hoarded pre-nuclear steel; now we’re hoarding pre-AI content (ArsTechnica) Why Everything in the Universe Turns More Complex (QuantaMagazine) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 19
Are we about to see a summer of layoffs in Silicon Valley? Midjourney’s new video model. Meta continues its acqu-hire spree with some folks we know. Microsoft has its own nuclear option with OpenAI, while OpenAI is starting to get worried about its models being nuclear dangerous? And what even IS AGI? Sponsors: CornbreadHemp.com/ride and code RIDE Links: Microsoft Planning Thousands More Job Cuts Aimed at Salespeople (Bloomberg) ‘Surpassing all my expectations’: Midjourney releases first AI video model amid Disney, Universal lawsuit (VentureBeat) Meta in Talks to Hire AI Investors Friedman and Gross, Partially Buy Out Their Venture Fund (The Information) Microsoft prepared to walk away from high-stakes OpenAI talks (FT) OpenAI warns models with higher bioweapons risk are imminent (Axios) Why Big Tech cannot agree on artificial general intelligence (FT) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 18
Remember how that TikTok ban or sale thing has never been resolved? Yeah. Sam Altman describes the money he says Meta is throwing at AI researchers. Is xAI the one with the real money crunch in the AI race? And a review of the first of this new wave of smartglasses. Sponsors: Quince.com/ridehome Links: Trump will grant TikTok another 90-day extension in enforcement of sale-or-ban law (CNNBusiness) Sam Altman says Meta tried and failed to poach OpenAI’s talent with $100M offers (TechCrunch) Musk’s xAI Burns Through $1 Billion a Month as Costs Pile Up (Bloomberg) YouTube to Add Google’s Veo 3 to Shorts in Move That Could Turbocharge AI on the Video Platform (The Hollywood Reporter) Amazon expects to cut corporate jobs as it relies more on AI (NBCNews) Xreal’s One Pro Are a Stopgap Ahead of True AR Smart Glasses (Bloomberg) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 17
Among the many snags to OpenAI shifting to for-profit, the Microsoft snag is still the biggest issue. More Intel job cuts coming. Would you believe a Roblox game involving gardening is maybe bigger than Fortnite? And two big firsts: most people get their news from social media, and streaming is now the king of all TV watching. Sponsors: MackWeldon.com promocode BRIAN Links: OpenAI Seeks New Financial Concessions From Microsoft, a Top Shareholder (The Information) OpenAI and Microsoft Tensions Are Reaching a Boiling Point (WSJ) OpenAI wins $200 million U.S. defense contract (CNBC) Intel will lay off 15% to 20% of its factory workers, memo says (The Oregonian) Amazon Prime Day stretches to four days of deals this year (The Verge) Generation Alpha’s FarmVille Is Growing Like Crazy in Roblox (NYTimes) For the first time, social media overtakes TV as Americans’ top news source (NiemanLab) It’s Official: Streaming Is Now the King of TV (NYTimes) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 16
Ads finally come to WhatsApp. Are we about to get a literal Trump phone? More ads on your TV. All ads are about to become AI. And at the end of the show, a bit of an essay from me about Google, AI, and what I think is about to happen to the larger web, literally right now. Sponsors: AGNTCY.ORG QualiaLife.com/ride and code ride Links: WhatsApp Introduces Ads in Its App (NYTimes) Trump Mobile: President’s Company Unveils Wireless Service Delivered via AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile, Plans to Launch a U.S.-Made ‘Sleek, Gold’ Android Smartphone (Variety) Amazon Ads & Roku Set Landmark Pact Giving Brands Access To 80% Of Connected-TV Households (Deadline) TikTok Pushes Deeper Into AI-Generated Video Ads With New Tools (Bloomberg) Google Search Is Fading. The Whole Internet Is At Risk. (Barron's) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 14
Omnibus Week Of 06/09 Sign up for the ad-free feed at tech.supercast.tech Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 13
Do people know when they’re using the MetaAI app, it’s public? Chime had a successful IPO so let me tell you about my IPO-meter. The financials behind that fully-AI commercial running during the NBA playoffs. More signs stablecoins are taking over, but in the Longreads, do stablecoins represent a unique danger to the global financial system? Sponsors: FactorMeals.com/ride50off and code ride50off For a limited time only, get 35% off plus an additional 50% off your first order when you head to Smalls.com and use code RIDE Links: The Meta AI app is a privacy disaster (TechCrunch) Meta Risks Regulatory Scrutiny in Pursuit of Scale AI (Bloomberg) Apple Targets Spring 2026 for Release of Delayed Siri AI Upgrade (Bloomberg) Chime pops 37% in Nasdaq debut after pricing IPO above expected range (CNBC) Walmart and Amazon Are Exploring Issuing Their Own Stablecoins (WSJ) Here’s the $2,000 fully AI-generated ad that aired during the NBA Finals (The Verge) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: Why we should worry about the rise of stablecoins (FT) Nintendo Switch 2 review: bigger, faster, and the best handheld since Game Boy (The Shortcut) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 12
I explain how and why exactly this big Meta investment in Scale AI came about. Hollywood sues AI in a big way for the first time. A look at how stablecoins have mainstreamed crypto at long last. And episode number 205 of the long running series: we blew up traditional TV just to rebuild it. Links: Meta to Pay Nearly $15 Billion for Scale AI Stake and Startup’s 28-Year-Old CEO (The Information) Disney, NBCU sue Midjourney over copyright infringement (Axios) Wikipedia Pauses AI-Generated Summaries After Editor Backlash (404Media) How stablecoins are entering the financial mainstream (Financial Times) EXCLUSIVE: Amazon Doubles Prime Video Ads to 6 Minutes Per Hour (AdWeek) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 11
OpenAI rolls out an o3-pro model. Android one-ups iOS with a quick release. So far so good for the launch of the Switch 2. What is Google doing with its headcount? And is essentially a giant hologram the future of video calling? Sponsors: Shopify.com/ride Links: OpenAI releases o3-pro, a souped-up version of its o3 AI reasoning model (TechCrunch) God is hungry for Context: First thoughts on o3 pro (Latent Space) Google Releases the Android 16 OS Months Earlier Than Expected (CNET) Nintendo Switch 2 Sets Sales Record in Boon for Games Sector (Bloomberg) Elon Musk says Tesla robotaxi rides in Austin ‘tentatively’ set to begin June 22 (CNBC) Google Offers Buyouts to Employees in Search and Ads, Other Units (The Information) HP reveals $24,999 hardware created just for Google Beam (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 10
Zuckerberg’s big ambitions for AI seem to be coming into focus. OpenAI is actively starting to play the field when it comes to compute. More signs AI is kneecapping web traffic. And what do we think? Is liquid glass a good design choice, or a cul-de-sac for Apple? Sponsors: LinkedIn.com/ride Links: Meta Is Creating a New A.I. Lab to Pursue ‘Superintelligence’ (NYTimes) Zuckerberg Is Personally Recruiting New ‘Superintelligence’ AI Team at Meta (Bloomberg) Exclusive: OpenAI taps Google in unprecedented cloud deal despite AI rivalry, sources say (Reuters) Waymo halts service in downtown Los Angeles amid ICE protests (LA Times) News Sites Are Getting Crushed by Google’s New AI Tools (WSJ) Apple will end support for Intel Macs next year, macOS 27 will require Apple Silicon (9to5Mac) ‘Beautiful’ and ‘Hard to Read’: Designers React to Apple’s Liquid Glass Update (Wired) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 9
All the headlines from WWDC. Microsoft unveils the first iteration of that handheld gaming strategy. Meta is considering its largest external AI investment yet. And did Apple researchers reveal that Large Language Model have a structural ceiling, and are we basically there? Sponsors: Acorns.com/ride Links: Hands-On With the Xbox Ally X, the New Gaming Handheld from Asus and Microsoft (IGN) Meta in Talks for Scale AI Investment That Could Top $10 Billion (Bloomberg) A knockout blow for LLMs? (Gary Marcus On AI) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 6
Circle had such a successful IPO, I’m wondering if IPO’s might finally be back on the menu. Turns out Anthropic cut off Windsurf for the most obvious reason. Maybe Manus really is stoking a new gold rush, at least in China. And in the Weekend Longreads Suggestions, the most consequential weather forecast of all time. Sponsors: Tonal.com Links: Stablecoin issuer Circle soars 168% in NYSE debut after pricing IPO above expected range (CNBC) Anthropic co-founder on cutting access to Windsurf: ‘It would be odd for us to sell Claude to OpenAI’ (TechCrunch) Anysphere, Hailed as Fastest Growing Startup Ever, Raises $900 Million (Bloomberg) Manus has kick-started an AI agent boom in China (MIT Technology Review) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: Runway CEO Cris Valenzuela wants Hollywood to embrace AI video (The Verge) The Man Whose Weather Forecast Saved the World (NYTimes) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 5
Reddit goes after Anthropic. Meta seems to be reading a much cheaper Vision Pro killer, while still moving forward with their ambitious smartglasses product. What if your Amazon delivery person was not a person at all, but a humanoid robot. And how, quietly, Hollywood studios are already deep into AI adoption. Sponsors: CornBreadHemp.com/ride and code ride Links: Reddit Sues Anthropic, Alleges Unauthorized Use of Site’s Data (WSJ) Meta Talks to Disney, A24 About Content for New VR Headset (WSJ) Here’s what’s inside Meta’s experimental new smart glasses (The Verge) OpenAI slams court order to save all ChatGPT logs, including deleted chats (ArsTechica) Amazon Prepares to Test Humanoid Robots for Delivering Packages (The Information) Everyone Is Already Using AI (And Hiding It) (Vulture) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 4
Windsurf accuses Anthropic of blocking it from AI models in a sign that competition in the AI coding space is fierce. But will the real battle happen when the likes of Microsoft and Google really go after the startups? NotebookLM is now sharable. Pump.fun is raising big money. And Nintendo didn’t send out any Switch 2 review units. What are they afraid of? Sponsors: 1Password.com/ride Links: Windsurf says Anthropic is limiting its direct access to Claude AI models (TechCrunch) AI startups revolutionize coding industry, leading to sky-high valuations (Reuters) Google’s NotebookLM now lets you share your notebook — and AI podcasts — publicly (The Verge) Pump.fun plans $1B token sale at $4B valuation: Sources (Blockworks) How Morgan Stanley Tackled One of Coding’s Toughest Problems (WSJ) It’s official: There are no Nintendo Switch 2 reviews. Here’s what that means for us, and you (VGC) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 3
Elon Musk is suddenly fundraising everywhere. An attempt to solve the nomenclature problem around hacking groups. Is the solution to more energy for data centers already hidden inside the grid? And the final two pieces today are two different takes on the great AI debate, our entire civilization is having right now. Sponsors: Oracle.com/techmeme Links: Musk Taps Investors for Billions Days After Washington Exit (Bloomberg) 'Forest Blizzard' vs 'Fancy Bear' - cyber companies hope to untangle weird hacker nicknames (Reuters) Gridcare thinks more than 100 GW of data center capacity is hiding in the grid (TechCrunch) Walmart is supercharging revenue — but with fewer workers (Financial Times) My AI Skeptic Friends Are All Nuts (Thomas Ptacek) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 2
We know WWDC might be underwhelming this year, but to what degree? Is Samsung about to pick Perplexity as its horse in the AI race? AI based acquisition and wrapups continue to be the new hotness in VC investing. And how DoorDash has quietly been killing it in the delivery space. Sponsors: AGNTCY.ORG QualiaLife.com/ride and code RIDE Links: Apple Developer Event Will Show It’s Still Far From Being an AI Leader (Bloomberg) Samsung Nears Wide-Ranging Deal With Perplexity for AI Features (Bloomberg) Google quietly released an app that lets you download and run AI models locally (TechCrunch) Early AI investor Elad Gil finds his next big bet: AI-powered rollups (TechCrunch) Meta Aims to Fully Automate Ad Creation Using AI (WSJ) DoorDash CEO Tony Xu is taking on the role of industry consolidator in food delivery (CNBC) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 30
Why Meta’s big deal with Anduril is a big deal for the entire tech industry. Microsoft is kinda not joining, but also kind of all in on the handheld gaming race. Count Hugging Face as someone else serious about AI robots. And in the longreads, more signs that the AI job apocalypse might already be upon us. Links: Meta Fired Palmer Luckey. Now, They’re Teaming Up on a Defense Contract. (WSJ) Mark Zuckerberg Finally Found a Use for His Metaverse — War (Bloomberg) EXCLUSIVE: Xbox's first-party handheld has been sidelined (for now), as Microsoft doubles down on 'Kennan' and Windows 11 PC gaming optimization (Windows Central) Black Forest Labs’ Kontext AI models can edit pics as well as generate them (TechCrunch) Hugging Face unveils two new humanoid robots (TechCrunch) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: For Some Recent Graduates, the A.I. Job Apocalypse May Already Be Here (NYTimes) How Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd & Jethro Tull Financed the Making Monty Python and the Holy Grail (OpenCulture) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 29
Nvidia had solid earnings, though they’re quite concerned about being boxed out of China. The apparent hack of Victoria’s Secret gave me a dad-joke-title for today’s episode. Why DeepSeek’s recent R1 update is a bigger deal than even they are letting on. And why the CEO of Anthropic says we should be more worried about the AI he’s unleashing than people are aware. Links: Nvidia beats on earnings and revenue as data center sales jump 73% (CNBC) Nvidia CEO Warns That Chinese AI Rivals Are Now ‘Formidable’ (Bloomberg) NVIDIA GeForce NOW launches a native Steam Deck app, unlocking 4K cloud gaming & extended battery life for Valve's handheld (Windows Central) Victoria’s Secret takes down website after security incident (BleepingComputer) Apple to Launch iOS 26, macOS 26 in Major Rebrand Tied to Software Redesigns (Bloomberg) DeepSeek Quietly Drops AI Update That Outperforms Google's Best (Implicator.ai) Behind the Curtain: A white-collar bloodbath (Axios) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 28
Apple is making noises in the gaming space once again, but I feel like we’ve heard this all before. Getty is still deadly serious about suing AI companies. Self driving trucks seem to be juuuust about to hit the roads. And a big piece about the enmity between Apple and Elon Musk. Sponsors: Shopify.com/ride Links: Apple acquires RAC7, its first-ever video game studio (Digital Trends) Apple to Debut Dedicated Gaming App Within Days of Switch 2’s Arrival (Bloomberg) Texas Adopts Online Child-Safety Bill Opposed by Apple’s CEO (Bloomberg) Getty Images spending millions to battle a ‘world of rhetoric’ in AI suit, CEO says (CNBC) Driverless Semi Trucks Are Here, With Little Regulation and Big Promises (NYTimes) Apple’s Satellite Ambitions Threatened by Elon Musk, Internal Resistance (The Information) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 27
Salesforce is back in the acquisition swing. Circle is going for an IPO. Is Netflix about to lose the streaming service crown? The Holy Grail of AI Models. And is your boss more demanding of your output now that you use AI? Links: Salesforce Agrees to Buy Informatica in Deal Worth $8 Billion (Bloomberg) Stablecoin Giant Circle File for IPO on NYSE (CoinDesk) The Browser Company mulls selling or open-sourcing Arc Browser amid AI-focused pivot (TechCrunch) Cricket gives Disney-Ambani unit in India almost as many users as Netflix (Financial Times) One of Europe’s top AI researchers raised a $13M seed to crack the ‘holy grail’ of models (TechCrunch) At Amazon, Some Coders Say Their Jobs Have Begun to Resemble Warehouse Work (NYTimes) Khosla Ventures among VCs experimenting with AI-infused roll-ups of mature companies (TechCrunch) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 26
Find out more about Calmwave at Calmwave.ai . The case study we mention is here: https://catalyst.wellstar.org/casestudies/calmwave/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 23
Tariff fun is back and this time there’s only one tech company in the crosshairs: Apple. Anthropic releases flagship new Claude models, and they seem to be impressive, but half the story here is how weird they behave. Like, ratting on users to authorities, blackmailing engineers and maybe creating biological weapons. And, of course, the Weekend Longreads Suggestions. Links: Trump says a 25% tariff ‘must be paid by Apple’ on iPhones not made in the U.S. (CNBC) Anthropic’s new Claude 4 AI models can reason over many steps (TechCrunch) Exclusive: New Claude Model Triggers Stricter Safeguards at Anthropic (Time) Anthropic’s new AI model turns to blackmail when engineers try to take it offline (TechCrunch) Anthropic faces backlash to Claude 4 Opus behavior that contacts authorities, press if it thinks you’re doing something ‘egregiously immoral’ (VentureBeat) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: Exclusive look at the creation of High NA, ASML’s new $400 million chipmaking colossus (CNBC) Is Mubi Really Worth $1 Billion? Inside Efe Cakarel’s Plan to Make the Global Streamer Cooler Than A24 (Variety) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 22
Is this is biggest acquihire of all time? Jony Ive is joining OpenAI to the tune of $6.5 billion dollars. And what is he going to do there? Create hardware devices that Sam Altman expects to ship 100 million of. Why Google has a unique advantage in the AI race. Why Signal is blocking Recall. And why is weather forecasting AI’s next big trick? Sponsors: CornbreadHemp.com/ride and code RIDE Links: Former Apple Design Guru Jony Ive to Take Expansive Role at OpenAI (WSJ) What Sam Altman Told OpenAI About the Secret Device He’s Making With Jony Ive (WSJ) Google has a big AI advantage: it already knows everything about you (The Verge) “Microsoft has simply given us no other option,” Signal says as it blocks Windows Recall (Ars Technica) A.I. Is Poised to Revolutionize Weather Forecasting. A New Tool Shows Promise. (NYTimes) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 21
It’s Google day. Everything Google, everywhere, all at once. All the headlines from IO and there were a ton. What even is Google search in the age of AI? Google’s big push into smartglasses, a wild new video model and a ton, ton more. Here’s what you missed, yesterday, mostly, I guess, in the world of tech. Sponsors: Venice.ai/techmeme and code techmeme Links: Google is rolling out AI Mode to everyone in the US (Engadget) Android XR is getting stylish partners in Warby Parker and Gentle Monster (The Verge) My demo with Google's AR glasses went better than the one on stage (AndroidCentral) Google launches Veo 3, an AI video generator that incorporates audio (CNBC) Watch Me Try Google’s Live Language Translator. It’s Wild. (WSJ) Google moves to reassure EU cloud users amid concern over Trump threat (Financial Times) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 20
He noted the firm has the OVX computer that is meant to do simulation and graphic simulation physics engine, and it is used to synthesize and generate data. And this data is consumed by the DGX computer, which are used to train foundation models. And then it is deployed to the HX computer, which is the runtime on the edge for platforms like humanoid robots. Sponsors: 1password.com/ride Links: GitHub’s new AI coding agent can fix bugs for you (The Verge) The new Microsoft Discovery agentic platform targets scientists and researchers (Neowin) Trump signs the Take It Down Act into law (The Verge) Stablecoin Bill Advances in US Senate in Big Win for Crypto (Bloomberg) EU to impose €2 tax on low-cost items in blow to Temu and Shein (FT) Nvidia charges ahead with humanoid robotics aided by the cloud (GamesBeat) Autonomous cars with ‘social sensitivity’ cut threat to road users, study finds (FT) Mountainhead Trailer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 19
The big, long saga of how Apple lost the AI race. Nvidia wants you to bring your own gear. 23andMe’s assets are acquired. Why are Apple and Epic still bickering? And why has kidnapping suddenly become a major issue for big crypto players? Sponsors: AGNTCY.org Qualialife.com/ride and code ride Links: Why Apple Still Hasn’t Cracked AI (Bloomberg) Nvidia Opens AI Ecosystem to Rival Chipmakers in Global Push (Bloomberg) Regeneron to Buy 23andMe Out of Bankruptcy for $256 Million (WSJ) Epic Asks Court to Force Apple to Approve Fortnite on US Store (Bloomberg) Epic asks court to compel Apple to reinstate Fortnite on the App Store (9to5Mac) Venture capital's series progression (Axios) Crypto High-Rollers Go Big on Bodyguards to Deter Kidnappers (Bloomberg) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 18
Who wins? Jobs? Gates? Musk? Bezos? Collison, even? The grand finale of our #WorldCupOfEntreprenurs. (Originally aired October of 2021) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 16
Epic Games and Apple are still having beef over app store rejections. Coinbase got hacked with the oldest attack vector there is: bribery. Meta’s having problems with its behemoth AI model. New Windsurf coding suite. New Apple Car Play. And, of course, the Weekend Longreads Suggestions. Sponsors: FactorMeals.com/ride50off and code RIDE50OFF Links: Apple blocks Fortnite’s App Store return as downloads fail in Europe (The Verge) Coinbase warns of up to $400 million hit from cyberattack (Reuters) Coinbase Hack Rocks Company That Led Crypto Into Mainstream (Bloomberg) Meta Is Delaying the Rollout of Its Flagship AI Model (WSJ) Vibe-coding startup Windsurf launches in-house AI models (TechCrunch) Next-gen CarPlay, branded CarPlay Ultra, starts rolling out today (9to5Mac) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: I let lasers power my smart home — and I don’t want to go back (The Verge) The Popular Alternative - The State of A24 (Dirt) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 15
Who is THE entrepreneur of the Internet Era? In this episode, we cover the round of 16 matchups as voted on by YOU. (Originally posted November 2021) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 14
The US still has it out for Huawei. Sony takes a hit from tariffs. TikTok is turning to AI and also messaging. And then, how Airbnb is either going through a midlife crisis, or else, it is trying to become the thing that Brian Chesky always hoped it would become. Sponsors: AGNTCY.ORG Shopify.com/ride Links: US warns against using Huawei chips ‘anywhere in the world’ (FT) Sony Sees $700 Million Tariff Hit on Underwhelming Outlook (Bloomberg) Microsoft extends Office app support on Windows 10 to 2028 (The Verge) TikTok launches TikTok AI Alive, a new image-to-video tool (TechCrunch) TikTok Working on Photo Messaging Feature Despite Employee Concerns Over Sextortion (The Information) You can now book a chef or personal trainer while traveling with Airbnb (CNN) Airbnb Is in Midlife Crisis Mode (Wired) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 13
The new thin phone era is definitively here with the Galaxy S25 Edge. Apple is working on a way to control your iPhone with your brain. For the first time a flagship DJI drone is NOT available in the US. And flying drones are cool, but you know what else is cool? Submarine drones. Sponsors: For 40% off your order, head to Udacity.com/RIDE and use code RIDE Links: Samsung Debuts $1,099 S25 Edge, Kicking Off Wave of Thin Phones (Bloomberg) Galaxy S25 Edge Hands-On: This Thin Phone Left a Deep Impression (CNET) Apple to Unveil New AI Tool to Increase iPhone Battery Life (Bloomberg) DJI is skipping the US with its most advanced drone yet (The Verge) German defence start-up plans underwater drones for naval surveillance (FT) Audible to Partner With Publishers to Create AI-Voiced Audiobooks (Bloomberg) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 12
Looks like China tariffs are back off, question mark? But not soon enough for some deals. OpenAI and Microsoft are trying to work out how to get to an IPO. Saudi Arabia, the country, makes a big AI play. Why you might want to take out AI insurance? And did the Pope choose his name because of the AI moment? Sponsors: Tonal.com MackWeldon.com promocode BRIAN Links: Apple Considers Raising iPhone Prices, Without Blaming Tariffs (WSJ) SoftBank Stargate Venture With OpenAI Snags on Tariff Fears (Bloomberg) OpenAI negotiates with Microsoft to unlock new funding and future IPO (FT) Saudi Arabia launches AI venture Humain ahead of Donald Trump visit (FT) Insurers launch cover for losses caused by AI chatbot errors (FT) Klarna Slows AI-Driven Job Cuts With Call for Real People (Bloomberg) Pope Leo signals he will closely follow Francis and says AI represents challenge for humanity (CNN) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 9
More signs that Apple is diversifying its smart headgear ambitions. Meta wants back in on the stablecoin game it arguably bailed on too early. The Celsius network CEO gets 12 years in prison. And, of course, the Weekend Longreads Suggestions. Sponsors: Quince.com/ridehome Links: Apple Is Developing Specialized Chips for Glasses, New Macs and AI Servers (Bloomberg) Meta Explores Stablecoin Integration as US Senate Blocks Key Crypto Bill (Coinpaper) Google rolls out AI tools to protect Chrome users against scams (TechCrunch) Celsius Founder Mashinsky Gets 12 Years for Crypto Fraud (Bloomberg) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: Can we make AI less power-hungry? These researchers are working on it. (ArsTechnica) Rejoice! Carmakers Are Embracing Physical Buttons Again (Wired) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 8
OpenAI has hired Instacart’s CEO to be a kind of CEO. Apple reveals the degree to which AI might be eating into Google Search. Why aren’t people seeing a return on their AI investments yet? And my dream grid gadget is finally coming to the US. Sponsors: Oracle.com/techmeme Links: OpenAI hires InstaCart CEO Fidji Simo for major leadership role (Fortune) Instacart CEO Fidji Simo is joining OpenAI (TechCrunch) Apple Eyes Move to AI Search, Ending Era Defined by Google (Bloomberg) Anthropic rolls out an API for AI-powered web search (TechCrunch) FYI: Most AI spending driven by FOMO, not ROI, CEOs tell IBM, LOL (The Register) Netflix debuts its generative AI-powered search tool (TechCrunch) EcoFlow brings its plug-in solar power plant to US homes (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 7
Meta wins a case against that NSO Group in spyware allegations. Netflix is completely revamping its design for the first time in years. Amazon has a new robot that can do 70% of the work in its warehouses. And a big chip breakthrough that can bring about the ChatGPT moment for quantum computing? Sponsors: CornBreadHemp.com/ride and code ride Acorns.com/ride Links: Meta wins $168 million in damages from Israeli cyberintel firm in Whatsapp spyware scandal (Courthouse News Service) Netflix Overhauls Its Home Screen for the First Time in 12 Years (NYTimes) Amazon makes ‘fundamental leap forward in robotics’ with device having sense of touch (The Guardian) Generative AI tops cybersecurity in 2025 tech budget priorities, new AWS study finds (GeekWire) Mistral claims its newest AI model delivers leading performance for the price (TechCrunch) Cisco says its new entanglement chip could speed up practical quantum computing by a decade (Fast Company) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 6
OpenAI backtracks in a major way, saying its nonprofit entity will remain in control of business operations. Huge consolidation happening all at once in the food delivery space. New Surface hardware from Microsoft. Huge investment in European defense tech startups. And Shein and Temu turn to Europe to stay afloat. Sponsors: LinkedIn.com/ride Links: OpenAI reverses course, says its nonprofit will remain in control of its business operations (TechCrunch) OpenAI Reaches Agreement to Buy Startup Windsurf for $3 Billion (Bloomberg) DoorDash strikes £2.9bn deal for Deliveroo (FT) Microsoft shrinks its Surface Laptop down to 13 inches, priced at $899 (The Verge) Microsoft’s smaller Surface Pro has a 12-inch display and starts at $799 (The Verge) Capital flies into Europe’s defence drone start-ups (FT) Exclusive: Shein, Temu ramp up advertising in UK and France as US tariffs hit (Reuters) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 5
The whole Telegram use by government officials story gets weirder as a Telegram clone has been hacked. Apple is thinking about REALLY shaking up its iPhone release schedule. Who put AI in my crypto? Deepfakes are being chased from the Internet. And the maker of Cursor closes its big round. Sponsors: Take control of your cellular health today. Go to qualialife.com/ride and save 15% to experience the science of feeling younger. Links: TeleMessage, a modified Signal clone used by US govt. officials, has been hacked (TechCrunch) Apple Plans iPhone Release Schedule Shakeup, New Styles (The Information) Tether CEO says the firm's AI product will enable peer-to-peer network of AI agents (The Block) Senate Democrats' reversal on US stablecoin bill throws future of legislation into doubt (The Block) Leading deepfake porn site is shut down for good (Engadget) Maker of AI ‘vibe coding’ app Cursor hits $9bn valuation (Financial Times) Reports: US losing edge in AI talent pool (Semafor) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 3
Omnibus Week Of 04/28 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 2
The big cultural event of maybe the decade is going to take a little while longer to get here. Earnings from Apple and Amazon. More signs of the impending death of the password. More signs of self-driving rapidly becoming reality. And in the longreads, what happens when AI completely changes your field? The AI researchers were the first to experience it. Links: Grand Theft Auto VI release delayed to May 2026 (The Verge) Amazon Says Operating Profits May Decline Amid Economic Uncertainty (NYTimes) Microsoft goes passwordless by default on new accounts (The Verge) Temu Blocks US Shoppers From Seeing Products Shipped From China (Wired) Aurora’s driverless trucks are making deliveries in Texas (The Verge) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: When ChatGPT Broke an Entire Field: An Oral History (Quanta Magazine) The Life of the Most-Used Citi Bike in New York City (Bloomberg) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 1
Apple basically got held in contempt of court in the Epic case. Rumors about Elon staying at Tesla. Meta and Microsoft earnings. Xbox price increases. Would you wear a smart ring that proves you’re not cheating on your significant other? Links: Apple Dealt Stinging Court Defeat on App Store Sales Commissions (Bloomberg) Tesla Board Opened Search for a CEO to Succeed Elon Musk (WSJ) Microsoft is raising prices on Xbox consoles, controllers, and games worldwide (The Verge) Meta tightens privacy policy around Ray-Ban glasses to boost AI training (The Verge) Would you wear a smart ring that proves you’re not a cheater? (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 30
Meta has launched a standalone competitor to ChatGPT. But is ChatGPT bending too far backwards in an attempt to please you? Even OpenAI thinks so. Waymo and Toyota cut a deal. And concerns about sovereign tech stacks rear their head again. Sponsors: Go to my sponsor https://venice.ai/techmeme and use code techmeme to enjoy private, uncensored AI. Using my code will get you 20% off a pro plan. Links: Meta’s ChatGPT competitor shows how your friends use AI (The Verge) Microsoft CEO says up to 30% of the company’s code was written by AI (TechCrunch) OpenAI rolls back update that made ChatGPT ‘too sycophant-y’ (TechCrunch) Waymo, Toyota strike partnership to bring self-driving tech to personal vehicles (CNBC) Google Play sees 47% decline in apps since start of last year (TechCrunch) EU views break from US as ‘unrealistic’ amid global tech race (Politico) Microsoft vows to protect European operations from Donald Trump (Financial Times) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 29
Is Amazon about to start showing tariff prices in listings? Armageddon has finally come for Temu and Shein. Is OpenAI getting into the shopping game because their web search usage is exploding? And Project Kuiper finally gets off the ground in a literal and meaningful way. Links: 042925 (PunchBowl News AM) Kickstarter Introduces ‘Tariff Manager Tool’ to Add Charges to Already Fully Funded Projects (404 Media) Temu adds ‘import charges’ of about 145% after Trump tariffs, more than doubling price of many items (CNBC) Congress passes bill to fight deepfake nudes, revenge porn (Washington Post) Alibaba unveils Qwen3, a family of ‘hybrid’ AI reasoning models (TechCrunch) OpenAI Adds Shopping to ChatGPT in a Challenge to Google (Wired) Duolingo will replace contract workers with AI (The Verge) Amazon launches first Kuiper internet satellites, taking on Starlink (Reuters) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 28
Is Apple’s 20th Anniversary iPhone the reason they can’t quit China just yet? That Chinese AI Manus just raised a big round. Is Prompt Engineer the job title that never was? And what really goes on in those powerful, behind the scenes Silicon Valley group chats? Sponsors: Freshbooks.com Links: Apple Begins Breaking Up Its AI Team With Robotics, Siri Changes (Bloomberg) Why Trump can’t build iPhones in the US (FT) The Future of Gadgets: Fewer Updates, More Subscriptions, Bigger Price Tags (WSJ) Google is killing software support for early Nest Thermostats (The Verge) Chinese AI Startup Manus Scores Funding at $500 Million Value (Bloomberg) The Hottest AI Job of 2023 Is Already Obsolete (WSJ) The group chats that changed America (Semafor) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 25
Alphabet earnings. Intel earnings. Apple is making moves to make sure all iPhones heading to the US are no longer manufactured in China. Zuck seems bound and determined to revive his original baby. Sexy looking new Motorola Razr phones. And, of course the Weekend Longreads Suggestions. Links: Alphabet shares rise on stronger-than-expected revenue growth (CNBC) Intel offers weak forecast amid trade tensions as CEO talks to TSMC (Reuters) Apple aims to source all US iPhones from India in pivot away from China (Financial Times) Publisher of PCMag and Mashable Sues OpenAI (NYTimes) Facebook cracks down on spammy content by cutting reach and monetization (TechCrunch) Mark Zuckerberg once considered deleting all your Facebook friends (TechCrunch) Motorola’s new Razr Ultra brings the wood back panel back (The Verge) Netflix rolls out dialogue-only subtitles (The Verge) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: The Apple Watch Just Turned 10. Here’s How Far It’s Come (Wired) The Race to Fix Aging Computer Systems Heats Up With AI’s Help (Bloomberg) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 24
More fallout from those EU fines yesterday. A whole slew of self driving car news. The AI Coding Wars have officially begun. The back to the office wars continue. Is Chrome worth $50 billion? And let me tell you about the AI app that wants to help you cheat at everything. Links: Apple and Meta Are First to Be Hit by E.U. Digital Competition Law (NYTimes) Uber, Volkswagen pair up to launch robotaxi service in US with self-driving, electric microbuses (TechCrunch) Windsurf slashes prices as competition with Cursor heats up (TechCrunch) Google Chrome Worth ‘Upwards of $50 Billion,’ Browser Rival Says (Bloomberg) Google forcing some remote workers to come back 3 days a week or lose their jobs (CNBC) Columbia student suspended over interview cheating tool raises $5.3M to ‘cheat on everything’ (TechCrunch) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 23
That delayed action from the European Commission finally came down on Apple and Meta. Would OpenAI be a logical home for the Chrome web browser? Massive layoffs coming to Intel. Anysphere turned down an acquisition offer from OpenAI. And are the tariff wars coming for Elon Musk’s robots? Sponsors: Shopify.com/ride Links: Apple, Meta Fined by EU, Ordered to Comply With Tech Competition Rules (WSJ) OpenAI Would Buy Google’s Chrome Browser, ChatGPT Chief Says (Bloomberg) Intel to Announce Plans This Week to Cut Over 20% of Staff (Bloomberg) A new, open source text-to-speech model called Dia has arrived to challenge ElevenLabs, OpenAI and more (VentureBeat) Why OpenAI wanted to buy Cursor but opted for the fast-growing Windsurf (TechCrunch) Ex-OpenAI staff and top AI experts seek to block proposed for-profit restructure (FT) Tesla Humanoid Robot Plan Hampered by China Rare Earth Curbs (Bloomberg) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 22
As the US v. Google remedy trial begins, the FTC also sues Uber and makes Airbnb disclose all fees. Looks like tech regulation is still very much a thing. Bluesky begins rolling out verification. Meta is using AI to find if kids are lying about their age on Instagram. And Microsoft is forging ahead with that Recall feature. Sponsors: Udacity.com/ride and code RIDE Links: Justice Dept. asks judge to ‘thaw’ Google’s search monopoly by forcing Chrome sale (Washington Post) FTC sues Uber, says company charged for Uber One without consent (CNBC) Airbnb to Show Fees in Price Display to Comply With FTC Rule (Bloomberg) Bluesky Is Rolling Out Official Verification (Wired) Google Messages Sensitive Content Warnings for nudity rolling out (9to5Google) Meta is ramping up its AI-driven age detection (The Verge) Microsoft Is Dedicated To Building A Dodgy New Database Of Every Windows 11 User’s Online Behaviors (TechDirt) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 21
Meta and Apple were about to go to the woodshed in Europe, but it looks like Trump’s tariffs have run interference for them. Everyone wants in on stablecoins, example number 23. Beware of phishing emails from Google.com. And are OpenAI’s latest models good, bad, or just “jagged”? Sponsors: QualiaLife.com/ride and code RIDE Links: EU Delayed Punishing Apple, Meta Just Before Trade Talks Started (WSJ) Crypto Knocks on the Door of a Banking World That Shut It Out (WSJ) Phishers abuse Google OAuth to spoof Google in DKIM replay attack (Bleeping Computer) Coinbase in hot water over $12 million ‘content coin’—but exec tells haters to lean in (Fortune Crypto) OpenAI’s new reasoning AI models hallucinate more (TechCrunch) On Jagged AGI: o3, Gemini 2.5, and everything after (Ethan Mollick) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 18
Google is ruled an illegal monopoly. Again. But for a different reason this time. Switch 2 pre-orders are back on. Americans are flocking to Temu and Shein alternatives. And in the Weekend Longreads Suggestions, what if I told you 25 percent of community college applicants are now AI bots? And not only that, the bots are now “attending classes” in quotes. Sponsors: FactorMeals.com/ride50off and code ride50off Links: Google Broke the Law to Keep Its Advertising Monopoly, a Judge Rules (NYTimes) Google loses online advertising monopoly case (Axios) Google Found GUILTY of Monopolization Again (The Big Newsletter) Nintendo Switch 2 preorders start April 24th and the price is still $449.99 (The Verge) The latest viral ChatGPT trend is doing ‘reverse location search’ from photos (TechCrunch) Chinese shopping app Taobao joins DHgate in Top 5 on US App Store (TechCrunch) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: As ‘Bot’ Students Continue to Flood In, Community Colleges Struggle to Respond (Voice Of San Diego) Astronomers Detect a Possible Signature of Life on a Distant Planet (NYTimes) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 17
OpenAI has a new reasoning model, and more lower cost models as well. Is OpenAI about to acquire a coding startup? Is Perplexity turning to Samsung for distribution and branding? A Neuralink rival gets FDA approval. And why is Jensen Huang on a code-red mission to China at the moment? Sponsors: 1Password.com/ride Links: OpenAI's new o3 and o4-mini models are all about 'thinking with images' (Engadget) OpenAI debuts Codex CLI, an open source coding tool for terminals (TechCrunch) Vibe Check: o3 Is Here—And It’s Great (Every) OpenAI In Talks to Buy Windsurf for About $3 Billion (Bloomberg) Perplexity AI in Talks to Integrate Assistant Into Samsung, Motorola Phones (Bloomberg) Neuralink Rival Gets FDA Clearance in Path to Less Invasive Brain Implants (Bloomberg) Nvidia chief Jensen Huang flies to Beijing for talks (FT) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 16
Well, it looks like DOGE has finally come for cybersecurity. It sounds like the tariff stuff is already biting Nvidia to the tune of $5 billion. Why is OpenAI building a social network? The government would have settled the antitrust case with Meta to the tune of $30 billion. And why did Mark Zuckerberg consider spinning off Instagram voluntarily? Sponsors: SelectQuote.com/ride Links: Uncle Sam abruptly turns off funding for CVE program. Yes, that CVE program (The Register) Nvidia says it will record $5.5 billion charge tied to H20 processors exported to China (CNBC) OpenAI is building a social network (The Verge) Figma confidentially files for IPO more than a year after ditching Adobe deal (CNBC) Inside Mark Zuckerberg’s Failed Negotiations to End Antitrust Case (WSJ) Zuckerberg Says He Considered Spinning Off Instagram in 2018 (Bloomberg) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 15
OpenAI releases its latest next gen models but you wouldn’t know it by the nomenclature because the numbers are going backwards. What’s up with that? Apple is tying itself in a pretzel to train on user data but still stick to privacy. And a big rundown of the first day of the big Meta antitrust trial. Sponsors: MackWeldon.com promocode BRIAN Links: OpenAI’s new GPT-4.1 AI models focus on coding (TechCrunch) OpenAI launches another model before GPT 5 — here’s what this one can do (Tom's Guide) Nvidia says it plans to manufacture some AI chips in the US (TechCrunch) Apple to Analyze User Data on Devices to Bolster AI Technology (Bloomberg) Zuckerberg testifies as FTC, Meta trade opening salvos in antitrust trial (Politico) Mark Zuckerberg Takes Stand to Defend Meta Against Antitrust Suit (NYTimes) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 14
You know that meme of Ebenezer Scrooge shouting out the window? “Hey boy, what tariff regime is it today?” Sam Altman again implies ChatGPT usage has exploded. If you’re coding with AI, a big new vulnerability you need to know about. And is Apple pivoting the Vision Pro to the type of product I thought they should have done all along? Sponsor: Freshbooks.com Links: Apple, Nvidia Score Relief From US Tariffs With Exemptions (Bloomberg) Sony raises PlayStation 5 prices in Europe citing ‘challenging’ economic environment (CNBC) ChatGPT Hits 1 Billion Users? ‘Doubled In Just Weeks’ Says OpenAI CEO (Forbes) LLMs can't stop making up software dependencies and sabotaging everything (The Register) AI-hallucinated code dependencies become new supply chain risk (Bleeping Computer) Apple Readies Pair of Headsets While Still Looking Ahead to Glasses (Bloomberg) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 11
Europe says it could tax social media ads if the tariff wars get really nasty. Why COULDN’T Apple make an iPhone in the US as President Trump wants? Is OpenAI cutting corners on safety in order to stay ahead in the AI race? And as always, the Weekend Longreads Suggestions. Sponsors: Oracle.com/techmeme Links: EU could tax Big Tech if Trump trade talks fail, says von der Leyen (Financial Times) Why Trump’s Dream of Made-in-the-USA iPhones Isn’t Going to Happen (Bloomberg) OpenAI updates ChatGPT to reference your past chats (TechCrunch) OpenAI slashes AI model safety testing time (Financial Times) Mira Murati doubled the fundraising target for her new AI startup to $2 billion. It could be the largest seed round in history. (Business Insider) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: 12 Graphs That Explain the State of AI in 2025 (IEEE Spectrum) Generative AI is learning to spy for the US military (MIT Technology Review) How Apple Fumbled Siri’s AI Makeover (The Information) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 10
At the time of this writing, the tariffs are back off, but who know what will happen by the time you hear this. OpenAI sues back. Google wants a framework for AI agents to talk to each other. Oh, and how many iPhones can you pack in a jumbo jet? Sponsors: Acorns.com/ride Links: Trump temporarily drops tariffs to 10% for most countries, hits China harder with 125% (CNBC) Nintendo Gains Time to Prep Switch 2 Debut With Tariff Pause (Bloomberg) How Many New iPhones Can Fit on a Freight Plane? (Daring Fireball) Wall Street Consultant Paul Atkins Confirmed to Lead SEC (Bloomberg) OpenAI countersues Elon Musk, claims harassment (Reuters) Google launches Agent2Agent protocol to connect AI agents across platforms (Testing Catalog) OpenAI launches program to design new ‘domain-specific’ AI benchmarks (TechCrunch) AI is set to drive surging electricity demand from data centres while offering the potential to transform how the energy sector works (IEA) AI to double data centre energy demand by 2030 (Silicon Republic) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 9
Google unveils its new TPU’s, this time with inference! Temu and Shein officially get nuked from orbit. More signs of pullback in AI datacenter buildout. Are we actually, for real, about to get an iPad Instagram app? And a cute little home robot from ages ago, looks like it’s finally coming to a house near you this summer. Sponsors: Shopify.com/ride Links: Ironwood is Google’s newest AI accelerator chip (TechCrunch) Google announces ‘Workspace Flows’ automation with Gems, audio in Docs, and more Gemini (9to5Google) US Raises Charges on Small Parcels, Targeting Chinese Retailers (Bloomberg) Microsoft pauses $1bn data center plans in Licking County, Ohio (Data Center Dynamics) Instagram’s Mosseri Positions App for TikTok Turmoil (The Information) Amazon Seeks Partners for $15 Billion Warehouse Expansion Plan (Bloomberg) Google Maps is launching tools to help cities analyze infrastructure and traffic (The Verge) Samsung Taps Google AI to Launch Long-Promised Ballie Robot With Video Projector (Bloomberg) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 8
Uh oh, it looks like the tech price hikes are already starting! People are accusing Meta of doing some weird things with those latest AI models. Shopify tells workers that they need to embrace AI for everything. Is AI killing web traffic? And how AI is being used to automatically create sequels for books. Sponsors: Kinsta.com/brian LinkedIn.com/ride Links: Framework “temporarily pausing” some laptop sales because of new tariffs (ArsTechnica) Exclusive: Micron to impose tariff-related surcharge on some products from April 9, sources say (Reuters) Apple Plans to Source More iPhones From India as Potential Tariff Fix (WSJ) Apple Customers Dash to Stores to Buy iPhones Ahead of Tariffs (Bloomberg) Meta got caught gaming AI benchmarks (The Verge) Shopify CEO says staffers need to prove jobs can’t be done by AI before asking for more headcount (CNBC) Google AI Search Shift Leaves Website Makers Feeling ‘Betrayed’ (Bloomberg) THE A.I. ROMANCE FACTORY (Bloomberg Businessweek) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 7
TikTok lives! Again. Again. At least for another 75 days. Meta’s big new Llama models are out. AI coding assistant Cursor has become the big breakout hit of the AI moment. And then yes, we get into the tariff situation, including, me polling tech execs who make consumer facing gadgets: do you plan to raise prices? Here’s what they told me. Sponsors: Robinhood.com/gold Qualialife.com/ride and code RIDE Links: Trump extends TikTok deadline for the second time (CNBC) Meta releases two Llama 4 AI models (The Verge) AI Coding Assistant Cursor Draws a Million Users Without Even Trying (Bloomberg) Tariffs are tanking tech stocks, so why is Microsoft escaping the worst of the bloodbath? (Fortune) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 5
Is what happened with the Studio Ghibli ChatGPT image generation stuff even legal? I spoke with AI lawyer Rob Rosenberg, former general counsel at Showtime Networks and founder and principal of Telluride Legal Strategies about it, and what he told me was very interesting. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 4
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Apr 3
Well we gotta talk about this tariff thing because the early indications are this could impact almost every nook and cranny of the tech industry. Could we get an announcement about TikTok within days? I think I figured out why CoreWeave’s stock popped back up. And how Nintendo plans to fight the scalpers. Links: Trump’s New Tariffs Test Apple’s Global Supply Chain (NYTimes) Trump to Outline TikTok Deal Proposal, With ByteDance Retaining Stake (The Information) Google in Advanced Talks to Rent Nvidia AI Servers From CoreWeave (The Information) AI Video Startup Runway Valued at $3 Billion in Funding Round (Bloomberg) Amazon targets April 9 launch of first Kuiper internet satellites (Reuters) Nintendo’s Switch 2 preorder process has strict requirements to thwart scalpers (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 2
All the details from the big Nintendo Switch 2 reveal this morning. Wikimedia says AI bots are increasing its costs by 50%. North Korean IT workers allegedy continue to go after remote IT jobs worldwide. Meta is reading its more ambitious, more expensive smartglasses for maybe later this year. And maybe the CoreWeave IPO wasn’t a bust? Sponsors: Udacity.com/ride and promocode RIDE Links: Amazon Said to Make a Bid to Buy TikTok in the U.S. (NYTimes) Everything announced at Nintendo’s Switch 2 Direct (Polygon) AI crawlers cause Wikimedia Commons bandwidth demands to surge 50% (TechCrunch) North Korean IT worker army expands operations in Europe (BleepingComputer) How Meta’s Upcoming $1,000+ Smart Glasses With a Screen Will Work (Bloomberg) Stablecoin issuer Circle files for IPO as public markets open to crypto (CNBC) CoreWeave shares rip nearly 42% higher, rising above IPO price (CNBC) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 1
Masa Son came through for OpenAI, to the tune of a $40 billion dollar round at a $300 billion-dollar post-money valuation. Sam Altman says OpenAI is going back to open weights. A new encryption model for Gmail. A new movie strategy for Amazon. And why the Switch 2 represents a new revenue strategy for Nintendo. Sponsors: FreshBooks.com Links: OpenAI closes $40 billion funding round, largest private tech deal on record (CNBC) OpenAI Finalizes $40 Billion Funding at $300 Billion Value (Bloomberg) OpenAI plans to release a new ‘open’ AI language model in the coming months (TechCrunch) Gmail is making it easier for businesses to send encrypted emails to anyone (The Verge) Amazon’s New Movie Strategy Starts With Theaters (NYTimes) Nintendo Departs From Its Founding Philosophy With Switch 2 (Bloomberg) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 31
Over the weekend Elon said that xAI has acquired X. Elon does love to blend his companies together. Tensions between SpaceX and Apple. Apple is working on a major Health app overhaul. And in this era of crypto ascendency, is Ethereum being left behind? Links: Elon Musk says xAI has acquired X in deal that values social media site at $33 billion (CNBC) Musk’s xAI Startup Swallows Up X Social Network in Surprise Deal (Bloomberg) Amazon unveils Nova Act, an AI agent that can control a web browser (TechCrunch) Apple and Musk Clash Over Satellite Expansion Plans (WSJ) Apple Readies Its Biggest Push Into Health Yet With New AI Doctor (Bloomberg) Crypto’s Trumpian Embrace Is Leaving Bitcoin’s Big Rival Behind (Bloomberg) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 30
Me On The Big Technology Podcast Talking This Week In Tech Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 29
Silicon Valley is in more trouble than I think people are talking about... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 28
Move big moves in the gaming space. But we need to talk about that CoreWeave IPO. It. Didn’t. Go. Well. Facebook has a shocking idea: what if you could see what your friends were up to? Anthropic says it’s getting close to understanding how LLM’s actually work. And, of course, the Weekend Longreads Suggestions. Sponsors: LinkedIn.com/ride Links: ‘Assassin’s Creed’ Maker Ubisoft Jumps After Games Carve Out (Bloomberg) CoreWeave prices IPO at $40 a share, below expected range (CNBC) CoreWeave’s Shaky IPO Signal (The Information) Facebook Returns to Its Roots: Showing Posts From Friends and Family (NYTimes) Thoughts on setting policy for new AI capabilities (Joanne Jang) Anthropic makes a breakthrough in opening AI’s ‘black box’ (Fortune) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: Yahoo Is Still Here—and It Has Big Plans for AI (Wired) Inside arXiv—the Most Transformative Platform in All of Science (Wired) YouTube Video Of My Essay Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 27
Everyone is using that new ChatGPT image generator to make Miyazaki memes. Google is taking Android development private. Are we seeing signs of an AI datacenter pullback? Now even you can do extra gig work for Instacart. And quantum computers seem to have cracked truly random random number generators. Sponsors: Get the right life insurance for YOU, for LESS, at SELECTQUOTE.COM/RIDE Shopify.com/ride Links: OpenAI’s viral Studio Ghibli moment highlights AI copyright concerns (TechCrunch) OpenAI CEO Responds to ChatGPT Users Creating Studio Ghibli-Style AI Images (Variety) Exclusive: Google will develop the Android OS fully in private, and here's why (AndroidAuthority) Microsoft Abandons Data Center Projects, TD Cowen Says (Bloomberg) China built hundreds of AI data centers to catch the AI boom. Now many stand unused. (MIT Technology Review) Apple chips will be made in US at faster pace, says TSMC (9to5Mac) Instacart will pay shoppers to take videos of store shelves (The Verge) JPMorgan Says Quantum Experiment Generated Truly Random Numbers (Bloomberg) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 26
It’s all AI today basically. New Gemini “thinking” models. New “deep reasoning” agents for Copilot. But the really big news is the new image generator from OpenAI. Fidelity wants to get in the stablecoin business. And if Europe wants to create its own Starlink, it’s got some serious hurdles to overcome. Links: OpenAI rolls out image generation powered by GPT-4o to ChatGPT (The Verge) Gemini 2.5 Pro is Google’s ‘most intelligent AI model’ with thinking built-in (9to5Google) Microsoft adds ‘deep reasoning’ Copilot AI for research and data analysis (The Verge) Fidelity plans to launch stablecoin in digital assets push (FT) ‘No substitute’: Europe’s battle to break Elon Musk’s stranglehold on the skies (FT) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 25
Looks like the EU is bringing down the hammer on Meta. Waymo’s next city is Washington DC. Napster continues to live! And it has a new owner! Maybe domestic chip production can be cost competitive? And what happens if Europe decouples from Silicon Valley? Sponsors: Tonal.com promocode RIDE for $200 off Links: European Union to slap Meta with fine up to $1B or more for breaching strict antitrust rules: sources (NYPost) EToro Files for IPO Showing Commissions Jumped 46% Last Year (Bloomberg) Waymo plans robotaxi launch in Washington, DC in 2026 (The Verge) Napster pioneered music sharing over 25 years ago. It just got bought for $207 million (CNBC) Producing wafers at TSMC Arizona is only 10% more expensive than in Taiwan: TechInsights (Toms Hardware) Trump’s Aggression Sours Europe on US Cloud Giants (Wired) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 24
23andMe files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Are mergers and acquisitions officially back on the menu of Silicon Valley? Are cameras coming to the Apple Watch? Devs, does your AI experience line up with your peers? And how Broadway is using AI live translation to reach new audiences. Sponsors: Timeline.com/ride Links: DNA Tester 23andMe Files Bankruptcy to Sell Firm, CEO Quits (Bloomberg) Big Startup Deals Soar to $55 Billion, Passing Quarterly Record (Bloomberg) Ticket reseller StubHub files for an IPO (Axios) AI Chip Startup FuriosaAI Rejects Meta’s $800 Million Offer (Bloomberg) Google is rolling out Gemini’s real-time AI video features (The Verge) Apple Working on Turning Watches Into AI Devices With Cameras (Bloomberg) How Software Engineers Actually Use AI (Wired) New York’s longest-running play offers AI-powered live translations to attract new audiences (Semafor) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 21
That whole thing with Meta allegedly scraping all the world’s books using LibGen is back in the news. Cloudflare is fighting AI scraping with AI slop. A super interesting executive shakeup at Apple. And, of course, the Weekend Longreads Suggestions. Sponsors: FreshBooks.com Links: The Unbelievable Scale of AI’s Pirated-Books Problem (The Atlantic) Cloudflare builds an AI to lead AI scraper bots into a horrible maze of junk content (The Register) Apple Shuffles AI Executive Ranks in Bid to Turn Around Siri (Bloomberg) Gmail rolling out AI-powered ‘Most relevant’ search update (9to5Google) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: How the AI Boom Created the Most Valuable Monopolies in History (Bloomberg) One Man’s Crypto Windfall Is Funding a $1 Billion Space Station Dream (Bloomberg) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 20
SoftBank acquires a chip making startup. Nvidia says it hasn’t been approached to help save Intel. OpenAI announces another expensive AI tier. Apple TV+ is losing more than a billion dollars a year. And do Apple’s recent stumbles indicate their where Microsoft was in the Windows Vista era? Sponsors: Incogni.com/ridehome and code ridehome Links: SoftBank Seals $6.5 Billion Deal for Chip Designer Ampere (Bloomberg) Nvidia CEO says company has not been asked to buy a stake in Intel (Reuters) Nvidia to spend hundreds of billions on US supply chain, says chief (FT) A First Look at How Apple’s C1 Modem Performs With Early Adopters (Ookla) OpenAI’s o1-pro is the company’s most expensive AI model yet (TechCrunch) Apple Streaming Losses Top $1 Billion a Year (The Information) Apple innovation and execution (Benedict Evans) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 19
The EU Commission has brought the hammer down on Apple and Google at the same time. All the big news from Nvidia’s big event yesterday. More details on that Google/Wiz deal. Two new Pebble smartwatches and Google’s new entry-level Pixel… that you can’t preorder yet. Sponsors: MackWeldon.com and promocode BRIAN Links: EU sends Apple first DMA interoperability instructions for apps and connected devices (TechCrunch) Google Search charged with breaking EU antitrust rules (The Verge) Nvidia announces Blackwell Ultra and Rubin AI chips (CNBC) The key takeaways from Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang’s GTC keynote (SiliconAngle) NVIDIA GTC 2025 – Built For Reasoning, Vera Rubin, Kyber, CPO, Dynamo Inference, Jensen Math, Feynman (SemiAnalysis) Google's $32 billion deal for Wiz accelerated under Trump, sources say (Reuters) The first new Pebble smartwatches are coming later this year (The Verge) The Pixel 9A is a midrange phone that actually looks like a good deal (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 18
We get that first big test of M&A I was looking for as Alphabet acquires Wiz. Is Roku going to force us to watch ads just to turn on our TVs? The AI coding assistant space continues to be hot. The breakthrough in electric vehicle charging that could really change the game. And what exactly does Lumon Industries do? Sponsors: Robinhood.com/gold Links: Google Strikes $32 Billion Deal for Cybersecurity Startup Wiz (WSJ) “Awful”: Roku tests autoplaying ads loading before the home screen (Ars Technica) Critical RCE flaw in Apache Tomcat actively exploited in attacks (Bleeping Computer) Cognition AI Hits $4 Billion Valuation in Deal Led by Lonsdale’s Firm (Bloomberg) BYD Shares Jump to Record on Five-Minute EV Battery Charging (Bloomberg) They Named Their Companies Lumon. Then ‘Severance’ Aired. (WSJ) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 17
Europe wants to ween itself off of foreign big tech. Could this be the sign of a future rift with Silicon Valley? The weird case of Rippling versus Deel. Klarna lands a big fish. What the Coreweave IPO could mean for tech. And how the new iPhone Air signals a big hardware design change at Apple. Sponsors: QualiaLife.com/ride and promocode RIDE Links: European tech industry coalition calls for ‘radical action’ on digital sovereignty — starting with buying local (TechCrunch) Accusations of Corporate Espionage Shake a Software Rivalry (NYTimes) Klarna, nearing IPO, plucks lucrative Walmart fintech partnership from rival Affirm (CNBC) CoreWeave serves as bellwether for AI in soft IPO market (Semafor) Apple’s iPhone 17 ‘Air’ Is a Step Toward a Slimmer, Port-Free Era (Bloomberg) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 14
The new RCS messaging standard makes encryption universal, and even Apple is getting on the bandwagon. OpenAI calls for a US ban of DeepSeek. Is Apple about to turn your AirPods into the Universal Translator from Star Trek? And, of course, The Weekend Longreads Suggestions. Sponsors: FactorMeals.com/factorpodcast and code FACTORPODCAST Links: Apple will soon support encrypted RCS messaging with Android users (The Verge) OpenAI calls DeepSeek ‘state-controlled,’ calls for bans on ‘PRC-produced’ models (TechCrunch) Apple Plans AirPods Feature That Can Live-Translate Conversations (Bloomberg) Gemini can now personalize its answers based on your search history (The Verge) Sony’s new RGB backlight tech absolutely smokes regular Mini LED TVs (The Verge) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: ‘Ne Zha 2’s $2B+ Box Office Run: How It Happened And What Does Blockbuster Behemoth Mean For China & Hollywood Ahead (Deadline) The End Of Children (The New Yorker) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 13
Intel has a new boss and they seem to want to double down on the Foundry strategy. Meta is testing community notes. Sonos is abandoning its big streaming video hardware project. Is Adobe falling behind in AI? Is Oracle the leader to take over TikTok US? And why is John Gruber so mad at Apple? Sponsors: Shopify.com/ride Links: Intel appoints chip industry veteran Lip-Bu Tan as CEO (Reuters) Intel CEO Signals That He’ll Stick With Contentious Foundry Plan (Bloomberg) Meta unveils new community notes program; will not apply distribution penalties nor limit flow of information (Fox News) Sonos has canceled its streaming video player (The Verge) Microsoft’s new Xbox Copilot will act as an AI gaming coach (The Verge) Adobe shares drop 13% as concerns about AI growth overshadow better-than-expected results (CNBC) Oracle Is Leading Contender to Help Run TikTok in New Deal (The Information) Something Is Rotten in the State of Cupertino (Daring Fireball) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 12
Niantic officially sells to that Saudi-owned game developer. iRobot says it might not be alive in about 12 months time. Sam Altman believes he has an AI that can write believable fiction. Is the cavalry coming to save Intel? And why can’t we create a true AI Einstein in a data center? Sponsors: Acorns.com/ride Links: Pokémon Go developer Niantic to sell gaming business to Saudi group (The Verge) Saudi-owned Scopely buys Pokémon Go in $3.5bn gaming deal (FT) One-Time Amazon Takeover Target iRobot Warns Doubt on Future (Bloomberg) Google calls Gemma 3 the most powerful AI model you can run on one GPU (TheVerge) Sam Altman says OpenAI has trained a fiction writing AI model that’s actually decent (SiliconAngle) Google changes Chrome extension policies following the Honey link scandal (TheVerge) Exclusive: TSMC pitched Intel foundry JV to Nvidia, AMD and Broadcom, sources say (Reuters) Hugging Face’s chief science officer worries AI is becoming ‘yes-men on servers’ (TheVerge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 11
Are we about to get the biggest overhaul of iOS since 2013? Is inference the way that everybody is going to eat Nvidia’s lunch? Exactly how much to AI search engines get it wrong? Why is the global smartwatch market shrinking? And apparently the new Mac Studios are the thing you want to get, if you can afford it! Sponsors: Take your personal data back with Incogni! Use code RIDEHOME at the link below and get 60% off an annual plan: http://incogni.com/ridehome 1password.com/ride Links: Apple Readies Dramatic Software Overhaul for iPhone, iPad and Mac (Bloomberg) Exclusive: Meta begins testing its first in-house AI training chip (Reuters) How ‘inference’ is driving competition to Nvidia’s AI chip dominance (FT) Sony is experimenting with AI-powered PlayStation characters (The Verge) AI Search Has A Citation Problem (CJR) Global Smartwatch Shipments in 2024: Market Declines for First Time, China Leads for First Time (Counterpoint Research) Apple Mac Studio (Early 2025) Review: Renewed vigor with M4 Max and M3 Ultra (Tom's Hardware) Apple Mac Studio (M3 Ultra) first look: a weekend with an $8,000 powerhouse (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 10
Well, do we have another DeepSeek moment on our hands? I tell you about Manus, which had some people losing their minds over the weekend. Now do we have the first signs of the AI M&A I’ve been looking for? Absolutely everybody wants to get in on the Stablecoin business. And the AI crisis at Apple delayed a product we might have seen this month. Sponsors: Kinsta.com/brian Timeline.com/ride Links: China’s Autonomous Agent, Manus, Changes Everything (Forbes) Manus probably isn’t China’s second ‘DeepSeek moment’ (TechCrunch) Undocumented commands found in Bluetooth chip used by a billion devices (BleepingComputer) ServiceNow Nears Deal to Buy AI Assistant Maker Moveworks (Bloomberg) Banks and fintechs join ‘stablecoin gold rush’ (Financial Times) Apple Clears the Decks With Rare Early-Year Product Frenzy (Bloomberg) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 8
(Omnibus) Week Of 03/03/2025 Subscribe to get this every week AD-FREE at tech.supercast.tech Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 7
Will Apple have to allow side loading in Brazil? The US Strategic Crypto Reserve becomes a reality. Larry Page has a new startup. The concept of a startup being nothing more than an “AI Wrapper” is no longer a pejorative. And, of course, the Weekend Longreads Suggestions. Sponsors: Tonal.com Promocode RIDE for $200 off Links: Brazilian court gives Apple 90 days to allow sideloading on iOS (9to5Mac) Donald Trump signs executive order for Strategic Bitcoin Reserve (CoinTelegraph) Drone Defense Startup Shield AI Lands $5.3 Billion Valuation (Bloomberg) Larry Page Has a New AI Startup (The Information) The Hottest AI Companies Right Now Are ‘Apps’ (Bloomberg) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: McDonald’s Gives Its Restaurants an AI Makeover (WSJ) YouTube at 20: How the Video Colossus Launched the Creator Economy and Turned From Hollywood Foe to Friend (Variety) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 6
More signs the tech IPO logjam is breaking. Another cheap new AI model from China. Would you pay 20 THOUSAND dollars a month to use an OpenAI agent? The umpteenth foldable iPhone rumor, though this time with dates. And let me introduce you to YouTube Premium Lite. Sponsors: LinkedIn.com/ride Links: Klarna to File for $1 Billion-Plus IPO as Soon as Next Week (Bloomberg) Discord in Early Talks With Bankers for Potential I.P.O. (NYTimes) Alibaba’s new open source model QwQ-32B matches DeepSeek-R1 with way smaller compute requirements (VentureBeat) OpenAI Plots Charging $20,000 a Month For PhD-Level Agents (The Information) Google Search’s new ‘AI Mode’ lets users ask complex, multi-part questions (TechCrunch) Kuo: Apple's First Foldable iPhone to Feature Book-Style Design, Sell for Over $2,000 (MacRumors) New M4 MacBook Air fixes the line's biggest problem (Apple Insider) YouTube launches a $7.99 per month, ad-free Premium Lite subscription (TechCrunch) YouTube Music hits 125 million subscribers, adding 2m subs per month on average over the past year (Music Business Worldwide) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 5
Elon can’t stop OpenAI, but the case will go on. Trump wants to stop the Chips Act immediately. Apple released more new Macs today. If you can believe it, Digg is back! They’re coming for Reddit! And the AI chatbot that might have passed the uncanny valley when it comes to AI generated speech. Sponsors: Oracle.com/techmeme Links: Musk’s Fight With OpenAI Set for Expedited Trial This Year (Bloomberg) Trump Calls for End to $52 Billion Chips Act Subsidy Program (Bloomberg) Apple launches new Mac Studios with M4 Max and M3 Ultra chips (The Verge) Digg is coming back, thanks to its founder — and Reddit’s (The Verge) Bored Ape Creator Yuga Labs Says SEC Closing Investigation in 'Huge Win' for NFT Sector (Decrypt) Google Urges Trump DOJ to Reverse Course on Breaking Up Company (Bloomberg) Eerily realistic AI voice demo sparks amazement and discomfort online (ArsTechnica) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 4
We have our first official IPO of the AI Era coming. Anthropic has a big new round. New iPads from Apple. New phones from Nothing. Waymo rolls out in Austin, Texas. And how the Kinnect technology lives on, as a tool for Ghostbusters. Sponsors: FreshBooks.com IQBar : Text TECHMEME to 64000 Links: AI cloud provider CoreWeave files for IPO (CNBC) Anthropic Finalizes Megaround at $61.5 Billion Valuation (Bloomberg) Apple launches a new M3-powered iPad Air (The Verge) Waymo is now available exclusively on Uber in Austin (The Verge) Nothing’s Phone 3A and 3A Pro use AI to organize all your stuff (The Verge) Ghost hunting, pornography and interactive art: the weird afterlife of Xbox Kinect (The Guardian) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 3
Maybe we really will be getting that national crypto reserve after all. TSMC doubles down on manufacturing in the US. Return to the office is one thing, but Sergey Brin things RTO could lead to AGI, at least at Google. And Mark Gurman says there is an AI crisis inside Apple. Sponsors: Take your personal data back with Incogni! Use code RIDEHOME at the link below and get 60% off an annual plan: http://incogni.com/ridehome QualiaLife.com/ride Links: Donald Trump Names Components Of Crypto Reserve (CoinDesk) Trump, Chip Maker TSMC Expected to Announce $100 Billion Investment in U.S. (WSJ) Google’s Gemini now lets you ask questions using videos and what’s on your screen (TechCrunch) Google’s Sergey Brin Urges Workers to the Office ‘at Least’ Every Weekday (NYTimes) Peter Thiel-backed fintech Ramp nearly doubles valuation to $13bn (Financial Times) Apple’s Artificial Intelligence Efforts Reach a Make-or-Break Point (Bloomberg) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 28
OpenAI has launched GPT-4.5, but they want you to know, this is not a frontier model, it’s a stepping stone. Skype enters the Deadpool. Memecoins are ok by the SEC. Most criminality in crypto is now done with stablecoins. And in the Weekend Longreads Suggestions, how the MTA is using Pixel phones to do subway maintenance. Links: OpenAI announces GPT-4.5, warns it’s not a frontier AI model (The Verge) OpenAI CEO Sam Altman says the company is ‘out of GPUs’ (TechCrunch) Microsoft hangs up on Skype: service to shut down May 5, 2025 (TechCrunch) Microsoft is killing Skype after 14 years of neglect (Windows Central) Meta plans to release standalone Meta AI app in effort to compete with OpenAI’s ChatGPT (CNBC) SEC says most meme coins are not securities (CNBC) Illicit Crypto Volume in 2024 Hit a Record $40B in 2024 (CoinDesk) Meta is firing about 20 employees for leaking information (The Verge) Weekend Longreads Suggestrions: The New York City Subway Is Using Google Pixels to Listen for Track Defects (Wired) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 27
Nvidia’s first earnings are out after the whole DeepSeek thing. Do they seem nervous or no? A pretty big price cut for the PlayStation VR2. Huge outflows from bitcoin ETFs. Can insecure code somehow make AI homicidal? And is the iPhone 16e worth your money? Links: Nvidia sales grow 78% on AI demand, company gives strong guidance (CNBC) Sony drops PlayStation VR 2 price to $399 (The Verge) Bitcoin ETFs Are Hit by a Record $1 Billion Outflow in One Day (Bloomberg) FAA targeting Verizon contract in favor of Musk’s Starlink, sources say (Washington Post) Researchers puzzled by AI that praises Nazis after training on insecure code (Ars Technica) iPhone 16E review: Eh, it’s alright (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 26
Amazon finally updated Alexa with generative AI. It’s called Alexa+ and it can do plenty of neat things, but unless you’re a Prime subscriber, it’s gonna cost ya. DeepSeek is rushing its next AI model to press its momentum. Zuck wants to build a $200B AI datacenter. And how the SteamDeck has created a whole new category in gaming. Sponsors: shopify.com/ride Links: Amazon announces AI-powered Alexa Plus (The Verge) Amazon unveils a new and improved Alexa, Alexa+ (TechCrunch) DeepSeek rushes to launch new AI model as China goes all in (Reuters) Meta Discusses AI Data Center Project That Could Cost $200 Billion (The Information) How North Korea pulled off a $1.5 billion crypto heist—the biggest in history (ArsTechnica) Three years later, the Steam Deck has dominated handheld PC gaming (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 25
Anthropic releases its latest cutting-edge model, Claude 3.7 Sonnet. Would you tolerate ads inside your Excel spreadsheet if you could use Excel for free? Why some journalists are joining AI companies. And let me introduce you to “tiny teams” the new startup meme in Silicon Valley. Links: Anthropic launches a new AI model that ‘thinks’ as long as you want (TechCrunch) AI Startup Anthropic Finalizing $3.5 Billion Funding Round (WSJ) Microsoft Quietly Launched a Free Ad-Supported Office App, and No One Noticed (Beebom) Apple’s $500 Billion U.S. Investment Is Mostly Already in the Books (WSJ) Meet the journalists training AI models for Meta and OpenAI (NeimanLab) A.I. Is Changing How Silicon Valley Builds Start-Ups (NYTimes) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 24
Apple makes a huge investment in US manufacturing and hiring. Are SMS messages as 2-factor authentication on the way out? The biggest crypto theft of all time happened over the last few days. And why some school districts are turning to AI counseling for students. Sponsors: RobinHood.com/gold Links: Apple Will Add 20,000 US Jobs Amid Threat from Trump Tariffs (Bloomberg) Apple Abandons Budget Smartphone Market With the iPhone 16e (Bloomberg) Google Confirms Gmail To Ditch SMS Code Authentication (Forbes) Bybit Hit by Crypto’s Worst Hack With Almost $1.5 Billion Stolen (Bloomberg) Bybit Hack (CoinDesk) Microsoft Dropped Some AI Data Center Leases, TD Cowen Says (Bloomberg) When There’s No School Counselor, There’s a Bot (WSJ) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 21
Well, kinda... But we do talk about how the show started, get a bit into the process of what I do every day. But mostly we get deep into where AI is going, my fears for silicon valley if the M&A activity doesn't pick up, why I got into investing, what it means if Silicon Valley is bigger than the government (maybe?) what it's like when that weird dude you talk to at a tech meetup becomes a billionaire, and why this is still the greatest job I've ever had. Thank you all for listening. Here's to 2,000 more episodes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 20
Microsoft is claiming a historical quantum breakthrough with its first quantum processor, the Majorana 1. Google is going all in on the Gemini brand. The world’s thinnest foldable phone. Rabbit releases a demo it probably should have led with. And James Bond now works for Amazon. Sponsors: Freshbooks.com/pricing-offer Take your personal data back with Incogni! Use code RIDEHOME at the link below and get 60% off an annual plan: Incogni.com/ridehome Links: Microsoft announces quantum computing breakthrough with new Majorana 1 chip (The Verge) Microsoft’s Xbox AI era starts with a model that can generate gameplay (The Verge) Google app on iOS removing Gemini as it pushes users to full app (9to5Google) The world’s thinnest foldable phone doesn’t come cheap (The Verge) Rabbit shows off the AI agent it should have launched with (The Verge) 'Bond' Producers Stepping Back From Iconic Franchise As Amazon MGM Studios Takes Creative Control (Deadline) Join us for the livestream tonight here: https://riverside.fm/studio/2000th-episode Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 19
Apple has announced the new iPhone 16e. I’ve got all the details for you. The Humane AI Pin is definitively dead, and HP is acquiring the ashes. Yet ANOTHER potentially big new AI player. And why some Bytedance investors kind of don’t care if TikTok US gets split off. In fact, they might even prefer it. Links: Apple launches new iPhone 16e: Here’s everything you need to know (9to5Mac) All of Humane's AI pins will stop working in 10 days (Engadget) ‘Pokémon Go’ Maker Nears $3.5 Billion Deal to Sell Games Unit (Bloomberg) Mira Murati debuts Thinking Machines Lab, her AI startup (Axios) ByteDance's US Backers Say China Growth to Counter Any TikTok Ban Damage (Bloomberg) Can AI Predict the Next Big IPO? Crunchbase Thinks So. (WSJ) 2000th episode livestream link: https://riverside.fm/studio/2000th-episode AI Engineer Summit Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 18
xAI and Elon Musk have launched Grok-3, their cutting-edge AI model. Is it really a step forward? It’s really the cutting-edge? Andrej Karpathy is gonna tell us. The first tri-foldable phone is here. Is there a new huge AI player? And how Apple’s move to manufacture in India is going. Sponsors: MackWeldon.com Promocode: BRIAN Links: Elon Musk’s xAI releases its latest flagship model, Grok 3 (TechCrunch) Impressions of Grok-3 (@karpathy) Huawei’s trifold phone launches outside of China (The Verge) Trump tariffs result in 10% laptop price hike in U.S. says Acer CEO (Tom's Hardware) OpenAI Co-Founder Sutskever’s Startup Is Fundraising at $30 Billion-Plus Valuation (Bloomberg) Apple’s quiet pivot to India (FT) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 17
The vultures are circling Intel, if that’s not too aggressive an analogy. OpenAI’s board officially rejects Elon’s bid. Zelle is quietly the biggest player in P2P payments. Everybody wants to go after robotics as the next big thing. And why over a thousand tech unicorns are in trouble. Sponsors: QualiaLife.com/ride and code RIDE at checkout Links: TSMC Considers Running Intel’s US Factories After Trump Team Request (Bloomberg) Broadcom, TSMC Weigh Possible Intel Deals That Would Split Storied Chip Maker (WSJ) OpenAI Rejects Elon Musk’s $97.4 Billion Bid for Control of the Company (NYTimes) Zelle payments top $1 trillion in 2024 as network’s growth outpaces rivals including PayPal (CNBC) TikTok Grabs Market Share From Shein Despite Looming Risks (Bloomberg) Meta Plans Major Investment Into AI-Powered Humanoid Robots (Bloomberg) Apple and Meta Are Set to Battle Over Humanoid Robots (Bloomberg) The Unicorn Boom Is Over, and Startups Are Getting Desperate (Bloomberg) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 14
TikTok is back in the app stores. But the biggest news is that Arm is going to make its own chips, thereby upending how the entire semiconductor industry has been constituted. Why Reddit has been killing it lately. And in the Weekend Longreads Suggestions, what if TikTok, but for Wikipedia? Sponsors: Tonal.com promocode RIDE for $200 off Links: Apple, Google Restore TikTok App After Assurances From Trump (Bloomberg) Arm to launch its own chip in move that could upend semiconductor industry (Financial Times) Shein IPO plans hit by Trump’s low-cost parcels crackdown (Financial Times) AI Licensing Deals With Google and OpenAI Make Up 10% of Reddit's Revenue (AdWeek) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: Forget DeepSeek. Large language models are getting cheaper still (The Economist) How a resurgent Walmart saw off the Amazon threat (Financial Times) Developer creates endless Wikipedia feed to fight algorithm addiction (Ars Technica) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 13
We maybe have a roadmap for GPT-5, but also, is it not really GPT-5 just a renaming of what they already have in the pipeline? It’s kind of weird. Elon gives his conditions for dropping his takeover bid. Utility companies say the AI hype is real, but what if, in the end, the end users don’t actually show up? Sponsors: Shopify.com/ride Links: OpenAI postpones its o3 AI model in favor of a ‘unified’ next-gen release (TechCrunch) Elon Musk will withdraw bid for OpenAI’s nonprofit if its board agrees to terms (TechCrunch) Musk, Altman Spar Over $97.4 Billion OpenAI Bid in Court Filings (Bloomberg) The Apple TV app is now available on Android: watch Apple TV+ and MLS Season Pass (9to5Mac) Meta Opens Facebook Marketplace to Rivals in EU Antitrust Clash (Bloomberg) Data Center Power Demand Almost Doubled in Virginia, Utility Says (Bloomberg) AI Agents Are Everywhere…and Nowhere (WSJ) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 12
The first big AI legal ruling has come down, and it might not be good news for AI startups. Apple launches its biggest health study yet. This one weird trick that tech companies are using to make their AI spending seem not so expensive. And Matt Levine on the whole Elon buying OpenAI thing. Sponsors: Kinsta.com/brian FactorMeals.com/ride50off Links: Thomson Reuters Wins First Major AI Copyright Case in the US (Wired) Apple Plans to Learn More About Your Holistic Health With Its New Apple Health Study. You Can Enroll Now (CNET) Meta In Talks To Buy Korean AI Chip Startup Founded By Samsung Engineer (Forbes) Meta Accounting Move on AI Servers to Boost Profit This Year (Bloomberg) Sam Altman Dismisses Elon Musk’s Bid to Buy OpenAI in Letter to Staff (Wired) Sure Elon Musk Might Buy OpenAI (Matt Levine/Bloomberg) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 11
Elon makes an unsolicited bid to buy OpenAI, or at least the non-profit that controls it, and maybe he doesn’t really want to own it, it’s complicated. I’ll explain. YouTube continues to be the biggest thing in media. Forget smartwatches, get ready for smart earbuds. And the crazy cheap Chinese EVs can now do crazy cheap self-driving too! Sponsors: 1Password.com/ride Links: Elon Musk-Led Group Makes $97.4 Billion Bid for Control of OpenAI (WSJ) Exclusive: OpenAI is not for sale, CEO Sam Altman says (Axios) Musk’s $97.4 Billion OpenAI Bid Piles Pressure on Sam Altman (WSJ) YouTube Surprise: CEO Says TV Overtakes Mobile as “Primary Device” for Viewing (THR) Google Calendar removed events like Pride and BHM because its holiday list wasn’t ‘sustainable’ (The Verge) Powerbeats Pro 2 Debut With Heart Rate Monitoring, H2 Chip, Active Noise Cancellation, and More (MacRumors) Chinese EV leader BYD to offer ‘God’s Eye’ self-driving system on all models (FT) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 10
According to the Super Bowl ad I saw last night, anyone can use Starlink on their phone soon, not just T-Mobile users. Was this the Super Bowl of crypto-betting? Are we seeing the first signs that AI is stealing jobs from tech workers? And a behind the scenes tale of how Sam Altman outflanked Elon Musk. Sponsors: Timeline.com/ride Links: T-Mobile to Charge $15 Per Month for Starlink Satellite Texting Feature (Bloomberg) Polymarket Bettors Punt $1.1B on Superbowl Results, Despite Regulatory Overhang (CoinDesk) Exclusive: OpenAI set to finalize first custom chip design this year (Reuters) IT Unemployment Rises to 5.7% as AI Hits Tech Jobs (WSJ) Exclusive: Anthropic's "index" tracks AI economy (Axios) Christie’s announces AI art auction, and not everyone is pleased (TechCrunch) How Sam Altman Sidestepped Elon Musk to Win Over Donald Trump (NYTimes) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 8
(Omnibus) Week Of 02/03/2025 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 7
Is the UK government about to force Apple to put backdoors into all of our iPhones? Tallying up the Tech Earnings week of CAPEX announcements. We might get a new iPhone next week. The Weekend Longreads suggestions. And listen to the end of the show cause I’m running an experiment. Sponsors: IQBar . Text TECHMEME to 64000 Links: U.K. orders Apple to let it spy on users’ encrypted accounts (Washington Post) Amazon plans to spend $100 billion this year to capture ‘once in a lifetime opportunity’ in AI (CNBC) Tech Giants Double Down on Their Massive AI Spending (WSJ) Apple’s Long-Awaited Overhaul of iPhone SE Nears Release (Bloomberg) Softbank set to invest $40 billion in OpenAI at $260 billion valuation, sources say (CNBC) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: How is Fortnite's Attempt to Become the YouTube of Gaming Going? (Posting Nexus) The Sims Turned Players Into Gods. And Farmers. And Vampires. And Landlords. (NYTimes) Signup to the Premium Feed at tech.supercast.tech Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 6
Now researchers say they have trained a cutting edge AI model for… checks notes… $50. Not $50 million dollars. $50. Dollars. Get ready for the superbowl of AI ads. Amazon has scheduled an Alexa AI event. And also, why does Amazon fail so hard when it comes to physical retail? Sponsors: Oracle.com/techmeme Links: Researchers created an open rival to OpenAI’s o1 ‘reasoning’ model for under $50 (TechCrunch) Google Kills Diversity Hiring Targets (WSJ) Google Unwinds Employee Diversity Goals, Citing Trump’s D.E.I. Orders (NYTimes) OpenAI Set to Make Super Bowl Ad Debut (WSJ) OpenAI to Air Its First Super Bowl Ad (AdWeek) Amazon's AI revamp of Alexa assistant nears unveiling (Reuters) Bill banning social media for youngsters advances (Politico) Trump's de minimis cancellation is bad news for Temu, but worse for Shein (Reuters) Amazon, King of Online Retail, Can’t Seem to Make Its Physical Stores Work (WSJ) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 5
Temu And Shein got a reprieve from the USPS, but they are still in deep, deep trouble. I’ll explain why. Alphabet earnings disappoint their investors but cheer investors of Nvidia. Google and Meta going in different directions when it comes to AI. And why are people increasingly refusing to pay ransomware? Sponsors: Acorns.com/ride Links: USPS Resumes Accepting Packages From China After Unexpected Suspension (Wired) Google expects to spend $75 billion this year on the AI race (The Verge) Google drops pledge not to use AI for weapons or surveillance (The Washington Post) Meta says it may stop development of AI systems it deems too risky (TechCrunch) After a bruising year, Sonos readies its next big thing: a streaming box (The Verge) 35% Year-over-Year Decrease in Ransomware Payments, Less than Half of Recorded Incidents Resulted in Victim Payments (Chainalysis) Apple Launches New 'Invites' App (MacRumors) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 4
Is the US government about to get into, or at least, heavily impact the VC investing business? Apparently, the trade war with China is still on. The resurrection of Twitterific. And how Spotify has quietly stopped investing, and started getting real about profitability. Sponsors: LinkedIn.com/ride Links: Trump Signs Executive Action to Create Sovereign Wealth Fund (Bloomberg) China Hits Back Against Trump’s Tariffs With Targeted Actions (Bloomberg) China targets Google, Nvidia and Intel as Trump tariffs bite (Financial Times) Twitterrific team launches new ‘Tapestry’ iPhone app for Bluesky, Mastodon, RSS, more (9to5Mac) Opera’s new browser might save you from doomscrolling (The Verge) Spotify Reports First Full-Year Profit (WSJ) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 3
OpenAI unveils Deep Research, an AI agent just for that. I’ll explain. Are Shein and Temu first up to feel the brunt of the new Trump tariffs? Apple canceled the AR project I assumed they would be pivoting toward. And the Beatles won a Grammy last night with the first AI augmented song to ever win a Grammy. Sponsors: QualiaLife.com/ride and code RIDE Links: OpenAI unveils a new ChatGPT agent for ‘deep research’ (TechCrunch) Trump Targets Loophole Temu, Shein Used to Take On Amazon (Bloomberg) Shein to Face EU Consumer Law Probe Under E-Commerce Crackdown (Bloomberg) Apple Scraps Work on Mac-Connected Augmented Reality Glasses (Bloomberg) Stablecoins are finding product-market fit in emerging markets (TechCrunch) That AI-restored Beatles song won Grammy for Best Rock Performance (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 1
If the entire world shifts after you launch your startup, what do you do? Terra Trust founder Mike DiPetrillo tells you how to do it. What was our original use-case? DOUBLE DOWN on what you do well. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 31
Apple’s earnings are decidedly mixed. Mark Zuckerberg’s complaints about everything he says leaking… leaked, and there are a lot of interesting details in those leaks. Looks like the SoftBank and OpenAI courtship is a serious one, and if the marriage happens, looks like Arm Holdings can be leveraged for the dowery. And, of course, the Weekend Longreads Suggestions. Links: Apple shares rise 3% as boost in services revenue overshadows iPhone miss (CNBC) Mark Zuckerberg said that Meta missed TikTok's rise because it didn't seem 'social' enough, leaked recording reveals (Business Insider) OpenAI in Talks for Huge Investment Round Valuing It at Up to $300 Billion (WSJ) OpenAI’s Sam Altman and SoftBank’s Masayoshi Son Are AI’s New Power Couple (WSJ) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: DeepSeek Chief’s Journey From Math Geek to Global Disruptor (WSJ) Chinese Quant Whiz Built DeepSeek In The Shadow Of a Hedge Fund Rout (Bloomberg) DeepSeek Debates: Chinese Leadership On Cost, True Training Cost, Closed Model Margin Impacts (SemiAnalysis) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 30
Meta and Microsoft reported earnings, but all Wall Street cared about was getting Capex updates. Meta settles with… the President. Waymo’s expansion continues apace. Why Masa Son is the perfect white knight for OpenAI. And AI IS copyrightable. Sponsors: Shopify.com/ride Links: Microsoft shares slide as cloud forecast, AI spending disappoint (Reuters) Meta’s Reality Labs posts $5 billion loss in fourth quarter (CNBC) Zuck shrugs off DeepSeek, vows to spend hundreds of billions on AI (TechCrunch) Meta to Pay $25 Million to Settle 2021 Trump Lawsuit (WSJ) Waymo to test in 10 new cities in 2025, starting with Las Vegas and San Diego (The Verge) SoftBank in talks to invest up to $25bn in OpenAI (FT) Copyright Office Offers Assurances on AI Filmmaking Tools (Variety) Authors Guild sets up ‘Human Author’ portal to certify books come from ‘human intellect’ (AP) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 29
Essentially, OpenAI suspects that DeekSeek might have copied them. I’ll explain the term, “distillation.” Could you soon be able to connect to Starlink on your iPhone? Is Comcast about to make the Internet… better? And the hopeful return of commercial supersonic flight. Links: OpenAI says it has evidence China’s DeepSeek used its model to train competitor (Financial Times) Microsoft Probing If DeepSeek-Linked Group Improperly Obtained OpenAI Data (Bloomberg) Alibaba releases AI model it says surpasses DeepSeek (Reuters) Alibaba Announces AI Model That ‘Outperforms ChatGPT & DeepSeek’ (Tech.co) Alibaba’s Qwen 2.5 surpasses DeepSeek as China’s AI race heats up (BGR) Apple and SpaceX Link Up to Support Starlink Satellite Network on iPhones (Bloomberg) Comcast is rolling out ‘ultra-low lag’ tech that could fix the internet (The Verge) Streaming prices climb in 2025 after already surpassing inflation rates (ArsTechnica) Netflix won the streaming wars, and we’re all about to pay for it (The Verge) Civilian jet breaks sound barrier during historic test flight over Mojave Desert (CBSNews) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 28
More fallout from the DeepSeek realignment of everybody’s thinking about AI. Could this be a signal that the large model business model is over and value is going to be in the application layer? Pebble lives! Spotify says it pays out tons, but does it really? And the network of AI local news newsletters. Sponsors: Robinhood.com/gold Links: Viral AI company DeepSeek releases new image model family (TechCrunch) Smartwatch pioneer and Kickstarter darling Pebble is returning in a new form (TechCrunch) OpenAI launches ChatGPT Gov for U.S. government agencies (CNBC) Spotify Paid Out $10 Billion to the Music Industry in 2024 — $1 Billion More Than Last Year — and $60 Billion Total (Variety) Inside a network of AI-generated newsletters targeting “small town America” (NiemanLab) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 27
It’s one of those days where there’s only one story. Maybe you saw that tech stocks got obliterated today. I’m here to tell you why. It’s solely because of DeepSeek and Chinese AI tech generally. How this tech is making people think twice about the AI boom, what DeepSeek did that is different and how this could affect all of Silicon Valley. Sponsors: TryJoyMode.com and use code RIDE Links: China’s DeepSeek Tops iPhone Downloads and Spurs AI Selloff (Bloomberg) The Short Case for Nvidia Stock (Jeffrey Emanuel) DeepSeek R1’s bold bet on reinforcement learning: How it outpaced OpenAI at 3% of the cost (VentureBeat) DeepSeek resets the board (Axios) 17 Thoughts About the Big DeepSeek Selloff (Bloomberg) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 24
OpenAI releases its agentic bot that can do things on your behalf on your computer. Has the Stargate controversy driven a rift between Musk and Trump? Will the US government create a strategic crypto stockpile? And, of course, the Weekend Longreads Suggestions. Sponsors: MackWeldon.com promocode: BRIAN Links: OpenAI’s new Operator AI agent can do things on the web for you (The Verge) We Tried OpenAI’s New Agent—Here’s What We Found (Every) Trump staff ‘furious’ after Musk trashes AI project (Politico) Stargate artificial intelligence project to exclusively serve OpenAI (FT) Trump signs executive order promoting crypto, paving way for digital asset stockpile (CNBC) Mark Zuckerberg's Post (Facebook) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: As Netflix stock surges, an ‘anti-ESPN’ sports strategy emerges (The Athletic) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 23
Ok, that whole AI datacenter joint venture thing seems to have gotten messy. A ByteDance board member thinks TikTok might have a way out without selling. Netflix rakes in a bunch of Oscar nominations. And humanity’s final exam has been formulated to see when AI has actually graduated to true intelligence. Sponsors: Qualialife.com/ride and code ride Links: OpenAI, SoftBank Each Commit $19 Billion to Stargate Data Center Venture (The Information) OpenAI’s Stargate Deal Heralds Shift Away From Microsoft (WSJ) TikTok’s parent company is in active discussions about a deal, board member says (CNN) Co-founder of French Crypto Startup Freed After Kidnapping (Bloomberg) Subaru Security Flaws Exposed Its System for Tracking Millions of Cars (Wired) Oscar Nomination Scorecard: Netflix Leads Among Studios With 16, A24 Close Behind With 14 (Variety) When A.I. Passes This Test, Look Out (NyTimes) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 22
All the headlines from today’s Samsung event, including the S25 lineup. The Silk Road creator gets a pardon. A huge joint venture for a new AI datacenter effort. Will Elon take half of TikTok and the US the other half? And guess what? Netflix is raising prices again. Sponsors: Timeline.com/ride Links: The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra smooths out some sharp edges (The Verge) Trump Pardons Creator of Silk Road Drug Marketplace (NYTimes) OpenAI teams up with SoftBank and Oracle on $500B data center project (TechCrunch) 'Stargate' Squares Some AI Circles (Spyglass/MG Siegler) Trump Says He’s Open to Elon Musk or Larry Ellison Purchasing TikTok (Bloomberg) Meta Plans Oakley-Branded Glasses, Explores Watches and Earbuds (Bloomberg) Meta will soon let you link your WhatsApp account with Instagram and Facebook (TechCrunch) Netflix Adds 19 Million Subscribers in Latest Quarter (NYTimes) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 21
Alright, I’ll sum up everything that happened this weekend with TikTik, but also get to all of the changes the new Trump administration has made, which is relating to tech, in just the past 24 hours. How folks are trying to eat TikTok’s lunch. Should Apple buy Sonos? And the IMDB loses its founder after 25 years. Sponsors: IQBar text TECHMEME to 64000 1Password.com/ride Links: Trump signs order refusing to enforce TikTok ban for 75 days (The Verge) Trump signs executive order to halt TikTok ban, risking legal showdown (Washington Post) President Trump signs exec order to make Musk’s DOGE commission more official (TechCrunch) Meta announces a new CapCut rival called Edits (TechCrunch) Bluesky adds TikTok mode while Elon mulls reviving Vine in the latest banning drama (Windows Central) Apple Is Unlikely to Buy Sonos, But Amazon or Spotify Might Consider It (Bloomberg) IMDb Founder Col Needham Steps Aside as CEO, COO Nikki Santoro Promoted to Chief Exec (Variety) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 18
I speak to Senator Ron Wyden about the TikTok ban, AI and regulation, tech regulation in general, and his new book: It Takes Chutzpah: How to Fight Fearlessly for Progressive Change Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 17
The Supreme Court rules against TikTok, but at this point, I think this is all kabuki theater. Somehow TikTok is going to survive. Bumble’s founder returns to the company. Is Apple Intelligence really working for anyone? Does anyone care that the Chinese have allegedly hacked everything at this point? And, of course, The Weekend Longreads suggestions. Sponsors: MackWeldon.com promocode BRIAN Links: Supreme Court Upholds Law That Threatens US TikTok Ban (Bloomberg) Bumble Founder Whitney Wolfe Herd to Return as CEO in March (Bloomberg) iOS 18.3 temporarily disables Apple Intelligence notification summaries for select apps, more (9to5Mac) General Motors Is Banned From Selling Driving Behavior Data for 5 Years (NYTimes) FBI Warned Agents It Believes Phone Logs Hacked Last Year (Bloomberg) Chinese Hackers Accessed Yellen's Computer in US Treasury Breach (Bloomberg) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: Charlwin Mao, the Chinese tech founder welcoming ‘TikTok refugees’ (Financial Times) Kids Turn to a Mental-Health Chatbot to Share Their Anxieties (WSJ) To release Animal Crossing in the West, Nintendo ‘had to change everything’ (Polygon) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 16
Nintendo finally takes the wraps off the Switch 2. Everybody seems to want to give TikTok more time, but can they find a way to do it? A big new AI research lab. A check in with Nothing. The company, I mean. And the weird story of when Walgreens tries to replace refrigerator doors with smartscreens. Sponsors: TryJoyMode.com and code RIDE at checkout Links: Here’s the Nintendo Switch 2 (The Verge) Trump considers executive order hoping to ‘save TikTok’ from ban or sale in U.S. law (Washington Post) Biden administration looks for ways to keep TikTok available in the U.S. (NBCNews) AI researcher François Chollet founds a new AI lab focused on AGI (TechCrunch) Phone Startup Nothing Raises Funding, Crosses $1 Billion in Lifetime Sales (Bloomberg) Walgreens Replaced Fridge Doors With Smart Screens. It’s Now a $200 Million Fiasco (Bloomberg) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 15
The SEC is suing Elon Musk. Big AI insertions in Microsoft Copilot, Google Workspace and even LinkedIn. How TikTok plans to handle the immediate aftermath of a shutdown. Another new Instagram alternative. And have your AirPods been misbehaving? Here’s what Apple did without telling anyone. Sponsors: Shopify.com/ride Links: Musk Accused by SEC of Cheating Twitter Investors Out of Millions (Bloomberg) Microsoft relaunches Copilot for business with free AI chat and pay-as-you-go agents (The Verge) Google Workspace business users getting full Gemini experience, price increasing (9to5Google) LinkedIn adds free AI tools for job hunters and recruiters (TechCrunch) TikTok Prepares for Immediate Shut-Off in the U.S. on Sunday (The Information) Decentralized Instagram alternative Pixelfed launches mobile apps (TechCrunch) Apple starts pushing AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods 4 owners into Transparency or Noise Cancellation modes repeatedly, without an easy opt out (Key Discussions) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 14
Break out your 2025 headline bingo cards. Did you have Elon Musk maybe buying TikTok on there? You’re a better bingo player than I am. Is the EU going to back off Tech in the Trump era? More layoffs come to Meta. The big streaming sports play that isn’t gonna happen now. And why is Barcelona a hub for spyware companies? Sponsors: LinkedIn.com/ride Links: China Weighs Sale of TikTok US to Musk as a Possible Option (Bloomberg) EU reassesses tech probes into Apple, Google and Meta (Financial Times) Meta to Cut Roughly 5% of Staff, Targeting Lowest Performers (Bloomberg) Databricks Inks $5 Billion of Private Credit, Bank Funding (Bloomberg) Disney, Warner Bros. Discovery and Fox Pull the Plug on Venu Sports Streaming Venture (THR) Disney, Fox and Warner Bros. Discovery call off plans to launch Venu sports streaming service (CNBC) How Barcelona became an unlikely hub for spyware startups (TechCrunch) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 13
The Biden administration unveils its long planned new chip export rules, and Nvidia isn’t happy. That whole botched Sonos app debacle has cost the CEO his job. Why we might not see blockbuster tech IPOs this year. Why some of Nvidia’s customers are returning Blackwell chips. And say hello to China’s answer to Instagram. Sponsors: Robinhood.com/gold Links: US imposes export controls on chips for AI to counter China (FT) Sonos CEO Leaving After Botched App Revamp Led to Customer Revolt (Bloomberg) Sonos CEO Patrick Spence steps down after disastrous app launch (The Verge) Silicon Valley’s largest start-ups to shun IPOs in 2025 (Financial Times) Nvidia’s Top Customers Face Delays From Glitchy AI Chip Racks (The Information) Xiaohongshu, China’s answer to Instagram, hits no. 1 on the App Store as TikTok faces US shutdown (TechCrunch) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 11
The great Simon Willison joins SWYX and I to talk about everything we learned about LLMs in 2024, and what the state of AI is generally, as we go into 2025. Here is Simon's blog post we keep referring to: https://simonwillison.net/2024/Dec/31... 00:00 The State of AI in 2025 10:05 The Evolution of AI Models 19:54 Challenges in AI Agents 30:07 The Future of AI in Creative Industries 38:29 The Rise of AI Influencers 40:54 Credibility in the Age of AI 43:15 The Future of User Interfaces for LLMs 51:17 Local LLMs and Desktop AI Applications 55:17 AI Tools and Applications for Everyday Use 01:01:26 The Future of OpenAI and AI Regulation 01:08:08 The Need for Better Criticism of LLMs 01:10:41 The Future of Wearables and AI Integration Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 10
All the controversies continue. I’ll update you on the Meta moderation controversy. The latest twist in the WordPress brouhaha. The TikTok thing is coming to a head right now as we speak, in the form of Supreme Court arguments. Asking again if the business model of Triple A gaming development is broken. And, of course, the Weekend Longreads Suggestions. Sponsors: Qualialife.com/ride and code ride Links: Mark Zuckerberg gave Meta’s Llama team the OK to train on copyrighted works, filing claims (TechCrunch) Automattic says it will reduce its contribution to WordPress core project to match WP Engine (TechCrunch) Billionaire Frank McCourt's Project Liberty proposes bid for TikTok's US assets (Reuters) Candy Crush, Tinder, MyFitnessPal: See the Thousands of Apps Hijacked to Spy on Your Location (Wired) Call of Duty's massive development budgets revealed: $700 million for Black Ops Cold War (Game File) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: The New $30,000 Side Hustle: Making Job Referrals for Strangers (Bloomberg) The smart glasses era is here — I got a first look (The Verge) The Anti-Social Century (The Atlantic) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 9
Big new zero day to tell you about. Apple says Siri is safe, honest. Google rolls out an AI Daily Listen audio feature. Looking at the next wave of wearable AI. And let me tell you about WatchDuty, the app everyone in LA was using overnight. Sponsors: Timeline.com/ride33 Links: Hackers are exploiting a new Ivanti VPN security bug to hack into company networks (TechCrunch) Apple says Siri isn’t sending your conversations to advertisers (The Verge) Google’s ‘Daily Listen’ lab is a personalized podcast based on your Discover feed (9to5Google) SoftBank’s Chip Designer Arm Considers Acquiring Ampere Computing (Bloomberg) Your Next AI Wearable Will Listen to Everything All the Time (Wired) With L.A. on alert, wildfire app Watch Duty adds 600,000 users overnight (Los Angeles Times) LA residents find a lifeline in this free wildfire-tracking app (The Verge) ‘It’s not just alerts, it’s a state of mind’: How a wildfire monitoring app became essential in the US west (The Guardian) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 8
Tons and tons of controversy and fallout from Meta’s announced content moderation changes yesterday. I’ve got I think a fair, comprehensive rundown of all the angles. Interesting new rounds for Bluesky and Anthropic. And the coolest stuff I’ve seen from CES thus far, including: are rollable laptop screens finally ready for prime time? Sponsors: Acorns.com/ride Links: Meta’s fact-checking changes are just what Trump’s FCC head asked for (The Verge) Social-Media Companies Decide Content Moderation Is Trending Down (WSJ) AI Startup Anthropic Raising Funds Valuing It at $60 Billion (WSJ) Lenovo’s Latest Laptop Has a Rollable OLED Screen (Wired) BMW’s new iDrive turns the whole windshield into a heads-up display (The Verge) New Nike Therapeutic Shoes at CES 2025 Look Like Nothing You've Ever Seen Before (CNET) EcoFlow’s Solar hat is better for the planet than your style (Engadget) Anker made a solar beach umbrella, because of course (Engadget) This Slim Little Battery I Saw at CES 2025 Is Like a Tesla Powerwall for Your Fridge (CNET) I Watched a Printer-Size Gadget Boost a Phone's Battery Life in Seconds (CNET) This toaster-looking gadget boosts your phone’s battery in seconds (The Verge) If you’re constantly losing cables, this could be your ideal charger (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 7
Meta is completely revamping its fact-checking program, going instead with a version of Community Notes. A new Tesla recall, but for a different reason. Dell is taking rebranding to new, Google-like lows. All the headlines from a jam-packed Nvidia keynote. And what about an AI copilot but for gaming? Sponsors: LinkedIn.com/ride Links: US opens probe into 2.6 million Tesla vehicles over remote driving feature (Reuters) Getty Images and Shutterstock agree to merge (Axios) Getty Images and Shutterstock to Merge in $3.7 Billion Deal (The Wrap) Dell kills the XPS brand (The Verge) Nvidia announces next-gen RTX 5090 and RTX 5080 GPUs (The Verge) Nvidia’s Project Digits is a ‘personal AI supercomputer’ (TechCrunch) Razer Project Ava: would you pay an AI to help you get good at games? (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 6
Sam Altman says AGI isn’t cool. You know what’s cool? Superintelligence. Why is nobody using Meta’s AI profiles? Keep an eye on Zuck, is my advice. The big trend at CES so far is AI inside smart TVs. And our first day wrap up of some of the cool things we’ve seen so far at CES. Sponsors: Oracle.com/techmeme Links: Reflections (Sam Altman's Blog) Meta's AI Profiles Are Indistinguishable From Terrible Spam That Took Over Facebook (404 Media) Samsung spreads Vision AI across its 2025 TV portfolio (VentureBeat) LG and Samsung are adding Microsoft’s Copilot AI assistant to their TVs (The Verge) LG’s 2025 OLED TVs are its best yet — but they risk going overboard with AI (The Verge) CES 2025: We Spent Hours Watching a Robot Vacuum Pick Up Socks. It's a Dream Come True (CNET) Stop Scalding Your Tongue: This $25 Cat Robot 'Blows' on Your Drink to Cool It (CNET) Elvie unveils an app-controlled smart bouncer that transforms into a bassinet at CES 2025 (TechCrunch) TiVo-powered TVs are coming to the US (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 3
Apple pays a fine cause Siri was listening in on what you said. Strava does a tie-in with Apple Fitness+. Net Neutrality is dead again, and it looks like for good this time. The nuclear winter in the VC space, CES is coming for us all, and a Weekend Longreads Suggestion. Links: Apple to pay $95 million to settle Siri privacy lawsuit (Reuters) Apple Fitness Plus and Strava are collaborating with a new integration (The Verge) US appeals court blocks Biden administration effort to restore net-neutrality rules (Reuters) AI-generated phishing scams target corporate executives (Financial Times) Number of US venture capital firms falls as cash flows to tech’s top investors (Financial Times) Asus, Samsung, and MSI announce world’s first 27-inch 4K OLED 240Hz monitors (The Verge) Weekend Longreads Suggestion: AI Needs So Much Power, It’s Making Yours Worse (Bloomberg) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 1
Among other things, learn how Miami Vice inspired the Golden Girls, how the Golden Girls helped finance the making of the movie Reservoir Dogs, whether or not Betty White and Bea Arthur hated each other, where the Golden Girls house was, and the real ages of the actresses when they were playing Golden Girls. Special guest, Christina Warren, @film_girl ! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 30, 2024
AT&T and Verizon say they’ve rooted out Salt Typhoon. Trump asks the Supreme Court to intervene in the TikTok situation. All the banks want to be like Tether. And as we slide into this new year, it’s a USB-C world now, we’re just living in it. Links: AT&T, Verizon Say Networks Now Clear After Salt Typhoon Hack (Bloomberg) Trump Asks Supreme Court to Pause Law Threatening TikTok Ban (Bloomberg) Biden administration proposes new cybersecurity rules to limit impact of healthcare data leaks (Reuters) Banks Want In on Tether’s Billions in Stablecoin Profits (Bloomberg) ‘Grand Theft Auto VI’ set to break records despite gaming slowdown (FT) The USB-C charging mandate arrives in the EU — here’s what that means (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 27, 2024
Microsoft and OpenAI are reportedly having problems deciding how make this whole, reclassifying as for-profit thing work. Oh, also, they secretly decided on a new definition of artificial general intelligence that is tied to tangible dollar value. At the tail end of the year, the most interesting new AI model of the year. And, of course, the Weekend Longreads Suggestions. Links: Microsoft and OpenAI Wrangle Over Terms of Their Blockbuster Partnership (The Information) Microsoft and OpenAI’s Secret AGI Definition (The Information) DeepSeek-V3, ultra-large open-source AI, outperforms Llama and Qwen on launch (VentureBeat) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: Video Games Can’t Afford to Look This Good (NYTimes) Hawk Tuah Wasn’t What It Seemed (The Atlantic) The Paper Passport Is Dying (Wired) You Need to Create a Secret Password With Your Family (Wired) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 25, 2024
Was Calvin And Hobbes the greatest comic strip ever? Or maybe a great work of art of the 20th Century? Why did Bill Watterson disappear? Was Calvin "good" (morally)? Was Hobbes "real"? Why were there never any toys? Would we ever really want Calvin and Hobbes to come back? With special guest @kibblesmith ! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 23, 2024
How about a Ring Doorbell, but from Apple? How about Meta Ray Ban’s but crossed with Google Glass? How everybody is combining forces to bid for defense contracts. How Tether won the crypto profitability wars. And how Britannica has not only survived the Internet era, but is actually thriving? Sponsors: 1Password.com/ride Links: Apple Explores a Face ID Doorbell and Lock Device in Smart Home Push (Bloomberg) Meta to add display to Ray-Bans as race over smart glasses intensifies (FT) Palantir and Anduril join forces with tech groups to bid for Pentagon contracts (FT) Tether Sees $10 Billion in Net Profits for 2024 (Bloomberg) Britannica Didn’t Just Survive. It’s an A.I. Company Now. (NYTimes) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 20, 2024
Gemini Flash Thinking a model making a serious run at “reasoning.” The FAA has had to ban drones in New Jersey cause of all those weird drone sightings. Self Driving technology continues to prove it is safer. An open source generative physics engine for robots. Sponsors: WashingtonPost.com/ride Links: Google reveals AI ‘reasoning’ model that ‘explicitly shows its thoughts’ (The Verge) FAA Bans Drone Flights in Parts of New Jersey (Bloomberg) Instagram teases AI editing tools that will completely reimagine your videos (The Verge) Waymo still doing better than humans at preventing injuries and property damage (The Verge) New physics sim trains robots 430,000 times faster than reality (ArsTechnica) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 19, 2024
Apple says Meta is getting annoying. You can now call 1800CHATGPT to, you know, talk to ChatGPT. Apple scraps plans for a hardware subscription package. Oura’s big new raise also indicates how well its smart-ring business is going. And has Bengaluru grown to quickly for its own good? Links: Apple hits out at Meta's numerous interoperability requests (Reuters) OpenAI makes ChatGPT available for phone calls and texts (CNBC) Apple Halts Effort to Build iPhone Hardware Subscription Service (Bloomberg) Smart ring start-up Ōura raises $200mn as valuation leaps to $5.2bn (Financial Times) Oura closes $200M round, bringing its valuation to $5.2B (TechCrunch) 3 Changes That Would Make Samsung's Galaxy Ring So Much Better (CNET) PS5 Pro deep dive reaction: GPU and RT improvements, PSSR and Sony's new AMD Amethyst partnership (EuroGamer) Inside India's 'Silicon Valley' (BusinessInsider) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 18, 2024
Is your home internet router about to be banned? The US has a new Chinese tech target. An AI dev kit from Nvidia. Who actually buys the most chips from Nvidia? Hollywood has flip-flopped on the whole theatrical release strategy. And why Instagram is officially king of the hill at Meta. Sponsors: Lumen.me/ride Links: U.S. Weighs Ban on Chinese-Made Router in Millions of American Homes (WSJ) Nvidia's new $249 AI development board promises 67 TOPS at half the price of the previous 40 TOPS model (TomsHardware) Nvidia’s $249 dev kit promises cheap, small AI power (The Verge) Microsoft acquires twice as many Nvidia AI chips as tech rivals (Financial Times) Grubhub to pay $25 million for misleading customers, restaurants, drivers (Reuters) ‘Red One’ Becomes Most-Watched Prime Video Film Debut Ever With 50 Million Viewers After Modest Theatrical Run (Variety) Here’s a Hollywood Twist: Streaming Success Runs Through Theaters (NYTimes) Instagram Expected to Generate 50% of Meta’s US Ad Sales in 2025 (Bloomberg) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 17, 2024
On the same day that ByteDance asks the US Supreme Court to intervene, the TikTok CEO meets with Donald Trump. DeepMind’s big new competitor to Sora called Veo 2. The FTC comes down against so called “junk fees.” And on their historic raise, a deep dive look at Databricks, one of the biggest private companies in the world. Sponsors: Miro.com Links: Trump meets with TikTok CEO as video app challenges potential ban (NBCNews) TikTok Asks Supreme Court to Block Law Banning Its U.S. Operations (NYTimes) Google DeepMind unveils a new video model to rival Sora (TechCrunch) FTC issues rules requiring hotels, ticket sellers to reveal ‘junk fees’ (WashingtonPost) Waymo to begin testing in Tokyo, its first international destination (CNBC) His Startup Is Now Worth $62 Billion. It Gave Away Its First Product Free. (WSJ) Google’s Whisk AI generator will ‘remix’ the pictures you plug in (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 16, 2024
I break down the coming battle of the titans that is going to likely play out in 2025 between Sam Altman and Elon Musk. Mark Gurman says Apple is finally going foldable. Oh, and that Magic Mouse is finally that sin against God charger design. Every country wants a Starlink. And the big legal battle happening this week. Links: Meta Urges California Attorney General to Stop OpenAI From Becoming For-Profit (WSJ) OpenAI hits back at Elon Musk's lawsuit in court filing (Axios) Sam Altman reckons with a growing threat to OpenAI: Elon Musk (Financial Times) Apple’s New Vision for Computing Is a Giant Foldable iPad (Bloomberg) Europe signs €10.6bn Iris² satellite deal in bid to rival Elon Musk’s Starlink (Financial Times) Chip groups Arm and Qualcomm square off in high-stakes US trial (Financial Times) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 14, 2024
Brian on The Newsworthy podcast with Erica Mandy. Find out more about the show here . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 13, 2024
Ok, what if AI models are really the new OS for… everything. But also: smartglasses and a Vision Pro competitor. I’ll explain. Could NotebookLM become a fully fledged product? Seemingly the leader in the clubhouse in the race to create the next AI paradigm beyond the transformer model. And, of course, the Weekend Longreads Suggestions. Links: I saw Google’s plan to put Android on your face (The Verge) Google’s NotebookLM AI podcast hosts can now talk to you, too (The Verge) Google says its breakthrough quantum chip can’t break modern cryptography (The Verge) Liquid Set to Raise $250 Million to Build AI Inspired by Tiny Worm Brains (Bloomberg) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: The Cult of Claude (NYTimes) How WhatsApp ate the world (Rest Of World) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 12, 2024
More fallout from the whole Cruise wind-down. What it’s like to use some of the new Gemini 2.0 features. Has Apple, quite belatedly, finally done a feature update that provides the Vision Pro with a “killer app?” An Instagram-like app from China I had never heard of. And one singular, eye-popping datapoint from the CHIPS Act. Links: The end of Cruise is the beginning of a risky new phase for autonomous vehicles (The Verge) Gemini 2.0 Flash: An outstanding multi-modal LLM with a sci-fi streaming model (Simon Willison's Blog) FCC Opens Entire 6-GHz Band to Very-Low-Power Device Operations (TV Tech) The Vision Pro’s ultrawide Mac display is very close to being a killer app (The Verge) China’s Instagram-Style Xiaohongshu Crosses $1 Billion in Profit (Bloomberg) Harvard Is Releasing a Massive Free AI Training Dataset Funded by OpenAI and Microsoft (Wired) US chipmaking boom in doubt after Biden’s defeat (Financial Times) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 11, 2024
GM shocked everybody by shutting down the Cruise robotaxi business. ChatGPT is finally on your iPhone once you update it. Could all Apple watches someday have satellite texting? And then, I guess Google wanted to pre-empt Santa Sam, because they released an absolute slew of AI products today. Links: GM to refocus autonomous driving development on personal vehicles (GM Investor Relations) GM Calls It Quits on Mary Barra’s $50 Billion Robotaxi Dream (Bloomberg) Apple’s Next Ultra Smartwatch Will Be Able to Send Texts Via Satellite (Bloomberg) Google Rolls Out Faster Gemini AI Model to Power Agents (Bloomberg) Google’s new Trillium AI chip delivers 4x speed and powers Gemini 2.0 (VentureBeat) Gemini 2.0, Google’s newest flagship AI, can generate text, images, and speech (TechCrunch) Google unveils AI coding assistant ‘Jules,’ promising autonomous bug fixes and faster development cycles (VentureBeat) Google unveils Project Mariner: AI agents to use the web for you (TechCrunch) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 10, 2024
You can now buy a car on Amazon. A new AI unicorn doing something with AI I hadn’t heard about before. New AI enhanced smartglasses. Microsoft says it has a new datacenter design that uses zero water. And if you were able to use Sora yesterday, what was that like? Sponsors: Shopify.com/ride Links: You Can Buy a Car on Amazon Now (Wired) US finalizes $6.1 bln Micron chip-making subsidy (Reuters) Memory chip maker Micron’s $6.1 billion grant confirmed by Commerce Dept. (Washington Post) OpenAI-Backed Language Tutor Startup Doubles Value to $1 Billion (Bloomberg) Solos challenges Meta’s Ray-Bans with $299 ChatGPT smart glasses (The Verge) Microsoft Unveils Zero-Water Data Centers to Reduce AI Climate Impac t (Bloomberg) Bluesky teases paid subscription, Bluesky+, in new mockup (TechCrunch) I just went hands-on with Sora — the good, the bad, and the wow (Tom's Guide) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 9, 2024
OpenAI’s Sora model is here! TikTok is still in trouble. China does more turnabouts is fair play, this time with Nvidia. I Apple, belatedly, getting serious about gaming on the Vision Pro? And did Google just make a huge, historic leap forward in quantum computing? Sponsors: 1Password.com/ride MackWeldon.com promocode: brian Links: Sora is here (OpenAI) OpenAI’s controversial Sora is finally launching today. Will it truly disrupt Hollywood? (LATimes) OpenAI releases Sora, its buzzy AI video-generation tool (CNBC) Appeals Court Upholds U.S. Ban of TikTok (WSJ) Nvidia Hit With China Probe in Global Tech War Escalation (Bloomberg) Apple, Sony Discuss Teaming Up on Gaming Controllers for Vision Pro (Blooomberg) Quantum Computing Inches Closer to Reality After Another Google Breakthrough (NYTimes) Google Debuts New Quantum Chip, Error Correction Breakthrough, and Roadmap Details (HPCWire) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 6, 2024
Santa Sam has made his first delivery of the promised 12 days of launches from OpenAI. David Sacks is named the AI and Crypto Czar. Samsung’s entire UI is getting a radical overhaul. OpenAI is seemingly about to restructure everything. No more Surface Studios? And, of course, the Weekend Longreads Suggestions. Links: OpenAI is charging $200 a month for an exclusive version of its o1 ‘reasoning’ model (The Verge) Trump Names David Sacks as White House AI and Crypto Czar (Bloomberg) Here’s everything new Samsung’s Android 15 update, One UI 7, and the full changelog [Gallery] (9to5Google) OpenAI seeks to unlock investment by ditching ‘AGI’ clause with Microsoft (Financial Times) The Surface Studio is dead? — Microsoft ends production on $4,500 Surface Studio 2+ as stock dwindles (Windows Central) Hawk Tuah memecoin dumps 90% amid backlash over controversial launch (Cointelegraph) What Pat Gelsinger’s exit means for Intel and the US Chips Act (Financial Times) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: He Was Going to Save Intel. He Destroyed $150 Billion of Value Instead. (WSJ) Friend or Faux (The Verge) When a Telescope Is a National-Security Risk (The Atlantic) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 5, 2024
Bitcoin crosses the big $100k mark for the first time. We now know who Trump wants to fill the roles Silicon Valley cares about the most. Is Amazon about to become a top tier AI model player? Two new models from Google DeepMind, one of them promises to revolutionize weather prediction. And Waymo says bienvenido a Miami. Sponsors: WashingtonPost.com/ride Links: Crypto Trading Volume Surged to $10 Trillion for the First Time in November (Bloomberg) Trump Picks Paul Atkins to Run the S.E.C. (NYTimes) Trump Taps Vance Aide Gail Slater as Top DOJ Antitrust Cop (Bloomberg) Amazon announces Nova, a new family of multimodal AI models (TechCrunch) First impressions of the new Amazon Nova LLMs (via a new llm-bedrock plugin) (Simon Willison's Blog) DeepMind’s Genie 2 can generate interactive worlds that look like video games (TechCrunch) Google Introduces A.I. Agent That Aces 15-Day Weather Forecasts (NYTimes) Key leaders behind Google’s viral NotebookLM are leaving to create their own startup (TechCrunch) Waymo to expand to Miami, aims to launch robotaxi service there in 2026 (CNBC) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 4, 2024
Amid the Salt Typhoon hack, the US government wants you and me to go encrypted. Ubisoft shuts down XDefiant. Spotify Wrapped 2024 has NotebookLM baked right into it. And Google’s text to video AI model has beaten Sora to market, but is Sam Altman about to get all Santa on us? Sponsors: Lumen.me/ride Links: U.S. officials urge Americans to use encrypted apps amid unprecedented cyberattack (NBCNews) Ubisoft shutting down XDefiant in 2025, laying off half of its team (Polygon) Spotify Wrapped 2024 adds an AI podcast powered by Google’s NotebookLM (TechCrunch) Smart Home Market Becomes Apple’s Next Strategic Target; New HomePod with Display Set to Be Key Product in Apple’s Smart Home Strategy (Ming-Chi Kuo) Google’s new generative AI video model is now available (The Verge) AWS announces Aurora DSQL, a new distributed SQL database that promises virtually unlimited scalability (TechCrunch) Kindle Scribe 2 review in progress: Is slightly useful AI worth the extra cash? (Engadget) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 3, 2024
The search for a new Intel CEO has begun in earnest, but a change in leadership probably makes a wholesale transformation of the company more likely. China goes tit for tat on banning things. Why ChatGPT can’t say certain names. And how is that shopping with AI agents thing going? Links: Exclusive: Intel's CEO-shortlist candidates include former board member Lip-Bu Tan, sources say (Reuters) Intel CEO Forced Out by Board Frustrated With Slow Progress (Bloomberg) China retaliates against latest US chip restrictions (Financial Times) Why does the name ‘David Mayer’ crash ChatGPT? Digital privacy requests may be at fault (TechCrunch) The race is on to make AI agents do your online shopping for you (TechCrunch) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 2, 2024
Pat Gelsinger is out at Intel. So where do they go from here? The first announces from the AWS re:Invent conference. More signs that crypto is in the ascendency. Elon files to block OpenAI from going for profit. Is he the greatest threat to that company? And a new startup taking on Nvidia. Links: Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger retires (TechCrunch) AWS opens physical outlets that let customers upload their data (TechCrunch) Ripple-Linked XRP Soars to Third-Largest Token After Trump Win (Bloomberg) Elon Musk files for injunction to halt OpenAI’s transition to a for-profit (TechCrunch) Musk’s Rivals Fear He Will Target Them With His New Power (WSJ) Bezos Backs AI Chipmaker Vying With Nvidia at $2.6 Billion Value (Bloomberg) Open-source OpenWrt One router released at $89 — 'hacker-friendly device' sports two Ethernet ports, three USB ports, with dual-band Wi-Fi 6 (Tom's Hardware) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 29, 2024
It is maybe the one moment of tragedy where most 80s kids remember where they were when it happened. Today, RAD! 80s90s History is looking at the Challenger disaster. Our guest is @fmanjoo Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 28, 2024
Did you know that we could have had the answering machine decades before we actually got to buy one? Why the 1980s and 90s was an unusual time for an innovation explosion in communications technology. The history of the whole AT&T/Ma Bell breakup by the government. And how much did YOU beg your parents to get your own phone line in your bedroom? The guest this episode is the actress Toni Trucks. @tonitrucks Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 27, 2024
OpenAI has suspended access to Sora after an activist stunt. Anyone can train AI on your Bluesky posts, but that is by design, in a way. Elon is readying a straight ChatGPT competitor. And, of course, the Weekend Longreads Suggestions. Links: OpenAI’s Sora video generator appears to have leaked (TechCrunch) OpenAI hits pause on video model Sora after artists leak access in protest (Washington Post) Someone Made a Dataset of One Million Bluesky Posts for 'Machine Learning Research' (404Media) Inside Elon Musk’s Quest to Beat OpenAI at Its Own Game (WSJ) Yes, That Viral LinkedIn Post You Read Was Probably AI-Generated (Wired) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: Should You Still Learn to Code in an A.I. World? (NYTimes) Bad influence (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 26, 2024
Intel does get its money. Threads continues to feel the heat from Bluesky, and responds by… giving people what they want. The new Mate 70 flagship smartphone from Huawei. Is Apple trying to make the iPhone so thin it can’t put a sim card in it? And yes, the whole Drake/Kendrick Lamar beef. Sponsors: LegalZoom.com promocode: techmeme Links: Intel Gets Up to $7.9 Billion Award for U.S. Chip-Plant Construction (WSJ) Threads is testing the option to choose your own default feed (The Verge) Elon Musk Admits X is Throttling Links — Effectively Limiting People From Reading News (Mediaite) Starbucks, Other Retailers Hit by Ransomware Attack on Tech Provider (WSJ) China’s Huawei Takes Aim at Apple With Latest Smartphone (NYTimes) Apple’s Thin iPhone Has No Physical SIMs—That Could Dampen China Sales (The Information) Drake Accuses UMG & Spotify of Scheme to ‘Artificially Inflate’ Kendrick Lamar’s ‘Not Like Us’ (Billboard) Link to AI avatar experiment Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 25, 2024
Is Sony about to get back into the mobile gaming hardware business? Is Bluesky in the dog house with the EU? Nvidia’s new AI model. Is Intel not going to get as much money as it hoped for? And the rise of AI superclusters. Sponsors: MackWeldon.com promocode BRIAN 1Password.com/ride Links: Sony Working on Handheld Console for PS5 Games to Rival Switch (Bloomberg) Bluesky breaching rules around disclosure of information, says EU (Financial Times) Nvidia shows AI model that can modify voices, generate novel sounds (Reuters) NVIDIA's new AI model Fugatto can create audio from text prompts (Engadget) Washington Curtails Intel’s Chip Grant After Company Stumbles (NYTimes) Klarna’s Planned IPO Sets the Stage for More Fintech Listings (Bloomberg) Exclusive: CoreWeave targets valuation of over $35 billion in 2025 US IPO, sources say (Reuters) AI’s Future and Nvidia’s Fortunes Ride on the Race to Pack More Chips Into One Place (WSJ) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 24, 2024
Brian's appearance on Daily Detroit talking about creating new tech hubs around the country. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 22, 2024
Wait, how long is it going to take Apple to make Siri behave like ChatGPT already does today? Maybe that talk of OpenAI buying the Chrome browser isn’t completely far fetched after all. Is Threads feeling the heat from Bluesky? Do I want to wear a watch on my finger? And, of course, the Weekend Longreads Suggestions. Links: Apple Readies More Conversational Siri in Bid to Catch Up in AI (Bloomberg) OpenAI Considers Taking on Google With Browser (The Information) Threads’ algorithm will focus more on the people you follow (The Verge) As Bluesky soars, Threads rolls out custom feeds globally (TechCrunch) Casio’s first smart ring has innovative features like a stopwatch and flashing alarm (The Verge) The Weekend Longreads Suggestions: Here’s some cool stuff you can do with Bluesky (The Verge) How Mark Zuckerberg has fully rebuilt Meta around Llama (Fortune) Are the robots finally coming? (FT) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 21, 2024
The DOJ has filed its “remedy” for Google but what would it mean for end users if their recommendations actually come to pass? Nvidia’s earnings continue to be historic but are they worried about current AI models hitting a wall? How AI might help make quantum computing become reality. And did a major new AI player just release its first product? Sponsors: Lumen.me/ride Links: US regulators seek to break up Google, forcing Chrome sale as part of monopoly punishment (Associated Press) Google could be forced to sell Chrome – here’s what it would mean for users (iNews) Apple Pay, Other Tech Firms Come Under CFPB Regulatory Oversight (Bloomberg) Nvidia’s CEO defends his moat as AI labs change how they improve their AI models (TechCrunch) AI Power For Quantum Errors: Google Develops AlphaQubit to Identify, Correct Quantum Errors (Quantum Insider) Elon Musk’s xAI Startup Is Valued at $50 Billion in New Funding Round (WSJ) H, the AI startup that raised $220M, launches its first product: Runner H for ‘agentic’ applications (TechCrunch) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 20, 2024
Now authors are being approached about training AI on their books, and some are not pleased. The new Android development cadence is here. More signs crypto is ascendant. More signs that Bluesky has taken off. And a case in point for why governments and militaries are worried about smartphone tracking. Links: Microsoft Signs AI-Learning Deal With News Corp.’s HarperCollins (Bloomberg) Penguin Random House underscores copyright protection in AI rebuff (The Bookseller) The first Android 16 developer preview just landed: Here’s what you need to know (Android Police) Sony’s new PlayStation Portal update lets you stream PS5 games from the cloud (The Verge) Howard Lutnick, Tether's Wall Street Banker, Is Trump's Pick for Commerce Chief, Not Treasury Secretary (CoinDesk) Bluesky tops 20M users, narrowing gap with Instagram Threads (TechCrunch) Anyone Can Buy Data Tracking US Soldiers and Spies to Nuclear Vaults and Brothels in Germany (Wired) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 19, 2024
We have an idea of how the DOJ wants to breakup Google, and it seems to hinge a lot on selling the Chrome web browser. Sony wants the Elden Ring franchise. The outgoing administration is racing to give out Chips Act money. And all the headlines from today’s Microsoft Ignite event. Sponsors: WashingtonPost.com/ride Take your personal data back with Incogni! Use code RIDEHOME at the link below and get 60% off an annual plan: http://incogni.com/ridehome Links: Google’s Chrome to Fetch Up to $20 Billion If Judge Orders Sale (Bloomberg) Source: Google is turning Chrome OS into Android to compete with the iPad (AndroidAuthority) Exclusive: Sony is in talks to buy media powerhouse behind 'Elden Ring' (Reuters) Two undersea cables in Baltic Sea disrupted, sparking warnings of possible ‘hybrid warfare’ (CNN) Windows 365 Link is a $349 mini PC that streams Windows from the cloud (The Verge) Windows comes to the Meta Quest (TechCrunch) Want to speak Italian? Microsoft AI can make it sound like you do. (Washington Post) Biden Team Races to Deliver Chip Grants Before Trump Takes Over (WSJ) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 18, 2024
We have the nomination for the next FCC chair. More hype around smartglasses. About that Jake Paul/Mike Tyson fight on Netflix. Is YouTube now the king of the podcast ecosystem? And a deeper dive on how AI is giving Wall Street a brand new window into the startup ecosystem. Sponsors: ArcticWolf.com/techmeme Ramp.com/techmeme Links: Trump Designates FCC Veteran Brendan Carr as Chair of Agency (Bloomberg) Report: Samsung XR glasses have Ray-Ban Meta specs with more features, seemingly no display (9to5Google) Netflix’s Tyson-Paul Boxing Bout Gets 65 Million Viewers at Peak (Bloomberg) Why Everyone Is Now Watching Podcasts on YouTube (WSJ) Nvidia Customers Worry About Snag With New AI Chip Servers (The Information) Wall Street's Elites Are Piling Into a Massive AI Gamble (Bloomberg) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 16, 2024
We talk to @cara_jacqueline about what its like when your startup dies. How do you know when it's over? What were the lessons she learned from her journey? One of my favorite episodes we've ever done. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 15, 2024
Eighteen states are suing the SEC over crypto regulation. The FTC might be going after Microsoft, but is this well timed or terribly timed? ChatGPT on Windows just got more available. NASA has created an AI Copilot for… Earth. And, of course, the Weekend Longreads Suggestions. Sponsors: Acorns.com/ride Links: SEC, Gary Gensler Sued by 18 States Over Biden’s Crypto Crackdown (Decrypt) US regulators plan to investigate Microsoft’s cloud business (Financial Times) ChatGPT App for Windows Now Available to Everyone (PCMag) NASA’s AI Earth Copilot will take your questions about our planet (The Verge) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: Not even Spotify is safe from AI slop (The Verge) Klarna’s Seb Siemiatkowski — from burger flipping to billionaire club (Financial Times) Inside the Billion-Dollar Startup Bringing AI Into the Physical World (Wired) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 14, 2024
Buckle up cause it’s going to be a regulation heavy day. Meta is served up its first big EU fine. The FBI is investigating Polymarket? The CFPB might require regular inspections of Google? A new AI agent from OpenAI in about a month? And forget the streaming wars, are we entering the age of the puzzle wars? Sponsors: Notion.com/ride Links: Meta fined nearly €800mn for breaking EU law over classified ads practices (FT) Polymarket Investigated by DOJ for Allegedly Letting US Users Bet on Platform (Bloomberg) CFPB looks to place Google under federal supervision, setting up clash (WashingtonPost) OpenAI Nears Launch of AI Agent Tool to Automate Tasks for Users (Bloomberg) Live Scam Detection in calls rolling out to Pixel 6-9 Phone app (9to5Google) Apple Releases Updates to Final Cut Pro and Logic Pro for the Mac and iPad (MacStories) Meta to Launch Ads on Threads in Early 2025 (The Information) Words With Friends takes on Wordle with new single-player daily puzzles (The Verge) AI Avatar YouTube Experiment Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 13, 2024
The guessing game on who the new tech regulators will be for the new administration. What is Amazon Haul? Why has Bluesky suddenly seen a flurry of activity? More on Apple’s smarthome ambitions. And more on why AI seems to be hitting a wall lately? Here’s what you missed today in the world of Tech. Sponsors: Take your personal data back with Incogni! Use code RIDEHOME at the link below and get 60% off an annual plan: Incogni.com/ridehome Links: Donald Trump’s potential antitrust enforcers may keep Big Tech in their sights (Financial Times) Amazon debuts discount store with everything under $20 to take on Temu and Shein (CNBC) With Surge in New Users, Bluesky Emerges as X Alternative (NYTimes) Apple’s Next Device Is an AI Wall Tablet for Home Control, Siri and Video Calls (Bloomberg) OpenAI, Google and Anthropic Are Struggling to Build More Advanced AI (Bloomberg) Bluesky Techmeme Starter Pack Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 12, 2024
Looks like Apple wants to get serious about smarthome tech. The EU gets Meta to change, but has another requested change from Apple. Signal has some new features. Netflix’s ad-tier continues to win. And a deeper dive into how AI can leap this scaling wall it seems to have run into. Here’s what you missed today in the world of tech. Sponsors: Shopify.com/ride Links: Kuo: Apple to release its own smart home camera in 2026, with AI features (9to5Mac) In Europe, Instagram Ads Are About to Get Less Personal (WSJ) Apple Gets EU Warning to Stop Geo-Blocking on App, ITunes Stores (Bloomberg) Nvidia’s new app replacement for GeForce Experience is now out of beta (The Verge) Signal calls now work a lot more like Meet and Zoom (The Verge) Netflix Says Ad Tier Reaches 70 Million Users Globally (Variety) OpenAI and others seek new path to smarter AI as current methods hit limitations (Reuters) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 11, 2024
FTX is suing basically anybody you can think of. Why will your iPhone now reboot itself if you don’t log into it for several days? Is OpenAI’s next flagship model underperforming what they were expecting? And I’ve found the one company most disrupted by AI. At least, so far. Sponsors: 1Password.com/ride Links: FTX Sues Binance, Ex-CEO Zhao Seeking $1.8 Billion Clawback (Bloomberg) FTX Sues Scaramucci to Recoup Money for Creditors (Bloomberg) Apple Quietly Introduced iPhone Reboot Code Which is Locking Out Cops (404Media) OpenAI Shifts Strategy as Rate of ‘GPT’ AI Improvements Slows (The Information) How ChatGPT Brought Down an Online Education Giant (WSJ) Painting by A.I.-Powered Robot Sells for $1.1 Million (NYTimes) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 9, 2024
Middle Mile is the next evolution of the gig economy. Make use of your spare garage/basement space to provide fullfillment for ecommerce brands. More here: GetMiddleMile.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 8, 2024
Some interesting moves over at Block. Share to TikTok could be something major for the music industry. Amazon’s offer to invest again in Anthropic comes with some interesting strings attached. More signs that the smartglasses category is coming now. And, of course, the Weekend Longreads Suggestions. Sponsors: LegalZoom.com promocode Techmeme Links: Block reports revenue miss but a slight beat on earnings (CNBC) Jack Dorsey's Square to Invest More in Bitcoin Mining and Shut Decentralized 'Web5' Venture (CoinDesk) TikTok’s latest feature lets music fans ‘Share to TikTok’ from Spotify and Apple Music (TechCrunch) Amazon Discussing New Multibillion-Dollar Investment in Anthropic (The Information) Baidu Readies AI Smart Glasses to Rival Meta’s Ray-Bans (Bloomberg) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: Your TV set has become a digital billboard. And it’s only getting worse. (ArsTechnica) What I Learned From Destroying Myself at the NYC Marathon (Intelligencer) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 7, 2024
More in depth analysis of what the Trump victory might mean for Silicon Valley, and Elon Musk’s companies in particular. Canadian regulators going after TikTok. Australia wants to make sure no one uses social media until they’re sixteen. France is “aware” of Polymarket. And the reviews of all the new Macs. Sponsors: Promevo.com/techmeme Links: Elon Musk Helped Elect Trump. What Does He Expect in Return? (NYTimes) Canada orders shutdown of TikTok's Canadian business, app access to continue (Reuters) Labor backs 16 as the minimum age to use social media ahead of national cabinet meeting (ABCNews) French Regulator Examines Polymarket After Bets on Trump (Bloomberg) Apple Mac mini review (M4 Pro, 2024): Shockingly small, incredibly powerful (Engadget) Apple MacBook Pro M4 review: the Pro for everyone (The Verge) Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch and 16-inch review (2024): Brace yourself for M4 speed (Engadget) Apple iMac M4 review: More power, same great looks (Tom's Guide) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 6, 2024
The tech angle to the election news yesterday, and interestingly a lot of it is crypto related. The EU Commission looks like it will fine Apple and has opened a case against Corning? Perplexity is raising another massive new round. And a pretty definitive piece about how drone tech has changed warfare. Sponsors: Head to Lumen.me/RIDE for 15% off your purchase. WashingtonPost.com/ride Links: Polymarket, Prediction Betting Markets Vindicated by Trump's Strong Showing (Coindesk) Apple to Face First EU Fine Under Bloc’s Digital Markets Act (Bloomberg) Corning Faces EU Probe Into Smartphone ‘Gorilla Glass’ (Bloomberg) How Lina Khan Became an Election Hot Topic (NYTimes) Mozilla Foundation lays off 30% staff, drops advocacy division (TechCrunch) AI Startup Perplexity to Triple Valuation to $9 Billion in New Funding Round (WSJ) Battles of Precise Mass (Foreign Affairs) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 5, 2024
Big hacking arrest in Canada. More evidence Apple is thinking: “You know, maybe smartglasses are the way to go…” More signs OpenAI is focusing on hardware. More signs they’re about to go for-profit. And what it’s actually like to use GPT Search? Is it a Google killer or no? Links: Canada Arrests Man Suspected of Hacks of Snowflake Customers (Bloomberg) Apple Explores Push Into Smart Glasses With ‘Atlas’ User Study (Bloomberg) Meta’s former hardware lead for Orion is joining OpenAI (TechCrunch) OpenAI in Regulator Talks to Become For-Profit Company (Bloomberg) Anthropic hikes the price of its Haiku model (TechCrunch) Uber’s Real Threat Isn’t From Robots (WSJ) ChatGPT Search is not OpenAI’s ‘Google killer’ yet (TechCrunch) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 4, 2024
Apple is investing more in Satellite technology, and also acquires Pixelmator. What does this all mean for them? Is the high end Vision Pro getting abandoned? What does it mean that Google Cloud is now growing faster than AWS? And how Coreweave and other “neocloud” startups are financing their crazy growth in a totally new way. Here’s what you missed today in the world of Tech. Sponsors: Miro.com MackWeldon.com promocode BRIAN Links: Apple expands iPhone satellite services deal, commits $1.1bn to expand capacity (9to5Mac) Apple is acquiring the popular image editing app Pixelmator (The Verge) Apple Finally Finds Its Gaming Console With the New Mac Mini (Bloomberg) Apple Vision Pro rumored to get M5 in 2025, but lower cost model is delayed (Apple Insider) X updates block feature, letting blocked users see your public posts (TechCrunch) Google’s cloud outpaces rivals in third quarter as AI battle heats up (CNBC) Early Apple M4 Pro and M4 Max benchmarks hint at a massive performance boost (Neowin) Wall Street frenzy creates $11bn debt market for AI groups buying Nvidia chips (Financial Times) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 1, 2024
OpenAI officially gets into the search game. Earnings from Apple and Amazon. Why Google is switching up how it does Android. And in the longreads, Meta to win AI even if doesn’t produce AGI, and how downsizing is helping game developers survive the jobspocalypse. Links: OpenAI Brings Search Features to ChatGPT in Challenge to Google (Bloomberg) China Ruins Apple's Quarter (24/7WallStreet) Amazon Surges Past Earnings Forecasts (The Motley Fool) Google confirms Android 16 is coming earlier than usual, developer preview begins soon (Android Authority) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: Meta’s AI Abundance (Stratechery) After Era of Bloat, Veteran Video-Game Developers Are Going Smaller (Bloomberg) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 31, 2024
We’ve got that day where all the tech earnings have come at once, but this time I’m gonna mention Uber too cause did you know they’re making bank these days? China says that two can play the sanctioning technology game. A niche little app from Nintendo. And a review of the Starlink Mini, which seems incredibly compelling for a specific type of user. Links: Meta AI has more than 500 million users (Engadget) Meta’s Next Llama AI Models Are Training on a GPU Cluster ‘Bigger Than Anything’ Else (Wired) Microsoft says AI is on pace to be a $10 billion-a-year business (Axios) Uber shares slide on slowing bookings growth (Financial Times) Chinese sanctions hit US drone maker supplying Ukraine (Financial Times) Nintendo made a music streaming app for Switch Online subscribers (The Verge) Starlink Mini review: space internet goes ultraportable (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 30, 2024
The Apple release week continues with new MacBook pros. GitHub goes multi-model. Alphabet earnings were good, but Reddit earnings were massive. Why Samsung is having such a hard time since the summer. And a summary of the color Kindle reviews. Here’s what you missed today in the world of Tech. Links: Apple updates the MacBook Pro with M4 Pro and M4 Max chips (The Verge) Every MacBook Air now starts with 16GB of RAM at no extra cost (Engadget) GitHub Copilot will support models from Anthropic, Google, and OpenAI (The Verge) PlayStation Shutters Studio Behind ‘Concord’ Video-Game Flop (Bloomberg) More than a quarter of new code at Google is generated by AI (The Verge) Reddit shares soar 22% on earnings beat and better-than-expected forecast (CNBC) Samsung’s Sudden $122 Billion Wipeout Shows the Cost of Sleeping on AI (Bloomberg) Russian Hackers Are Targeting US Officials, Microsoft Says (Bloomberg) Kindle Colorsoft review: The missing link in Amazon’s ereader lineup (Engadget) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 29, 2024
A whole bunch of new Macs plus the first dribbles of Apple Intelligence. Apple is taking a big step in weening itself off of China reliance for manufacturing. Microsoft accuses Google of astroturfing. And potentially the return of startups buying startups? Here’s what you missed today in the world of Tech. Links: Apple Announces iMac With M4 Chip, Upgraded Camera, Nano-Texture Display Option, and More (MacRumors) New Mac mini shrinks down, gains M4 and M4 Pro chips (SixColors) Apple Intelligence goes live with iOS 18.1 update (TechCrunch) Apple Taps India to Learn How to Build New iPhone (The Information) Microsoft says Google is running ‘shadow campaigns’ in Europe to influence regulators (CNBC) Sequoia to Rake in More Than $100 Million From Crypto Acquisition (Bloomberg) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 28, 2024
As Robinhood rolls out smart contract derivatives around the election, a look at how smart markets have seemed to have their mainstream breakthrough this year. TikTok now has a Fediverse, open-source competitor. AI now has an opensource definition, or something? And Meta opensourced their own AI podcast making tool. Here’s what you missed today in the world of tech. Sponsors: 1Password.com/ride Links: Robinhood jumps into election trading, giving users chance to buy Harris or Trump contracts (CNBC) Billions in election bets raise the stakes of the presidential race (Washington Post) Apple Blocked From Selling iPhone 16 Models in Indonesia (Bloomberg) The fediverse is getting its own TikTok competitor called Loops (TechCrunch) We finally have an ‘official’ definition for open source AI (TechCrunch) Even With Venture Slowdown, Megadeals Grow (CrunchBase) Netflix Adds ‘Moments’ Feature Allowing Users to Easily Share Favorite Scenes (EXCLUSIVE) (Variety) Meta Releases NotebookLlama, An Open-Source Podcast Generator (Techopedia) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 25, 2024
The Verge says we could get GPT-5 by December, but it might be called Orion. The biggest health care data breach in US history. Turns out Americans can actually produce high yield, quality silicon. Or, at least, Arizonans can. And, of course, the weekend longreads suggestions. Here’s what you missed today in the world of Tech. Sponsors: Acorns.com/ride Links: OpenAI plans to release its next big AI model by December (The Verge) UnitedHealth says data of 100 million stolen in Change Healthcare breach (BleepingComputer) TSMC’s Arizona Chip Production Yields Surpass Taiwan’s in Win for US Push (Bloomberg) Bluesky raises $15M Series A, plans to launch subscriptions (TechCrunch) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: The mystifying, acrimonious battle between Arm and Qualcomm (Financial Times) Who Gets the TikTok in the Divorce? The Messy Fight Over Valuable Social Media Accounts (WSJ) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 24, 2024
Raspberry PI does AI now too. Apple is cutting iPhone production orders. Microsoft says China, Russia and Iran are still doing the dirt as the election nears. What if Foxconn got into the business of manufacturing cars? And what if surge pricing, but for groceries? New electronic price tags could make that possible. Sponsors: Notion.com/ride Links: Raspberry Pi releases more AI-focused add-ons (TechCrunch) Raspberry Pi release higher performance AI HAT+ — 13 and 26 TOPS variants (TomsHardware) iPhone 16 orders cut by around 10 million units for 4Q24–1H25; no evidence yet that Apple Intelligence could boost iPhone shipments in the near term (Ming-Chi Kuo) Microsoft Warns Foreign Disinformation Is Hitting the US Election From All Directions (Wired) Roblox to Enact Child-Safety Changes Giving Parents More Control (Bloomberg) What if carmaking went the way of consumer electronics? (The Economist) Kroger and Walmart Deny ‘Surge Pricing’ After Adopting Digital Price Tags (NYTimes) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 23, 2024
A huge dispute in the semiconductor space has gone nuclear with implications that are crazy. Anthropic’s new AI app can control your computer for you. Runway’s new model lets you do your own motion capture. And farewell to Foursquare, the OG version at least. Links: Arm to Scrap Qualcomm Chip Design License in Feud Escalation (Bloomberg) Anthropic’s new AI can use computers like a human, redefining automation for enterprises (VentureBeat) Apple Sharply Scales Back Production of Vision Pro (The Information) Runway’s Act-One uses smartphone cameras to replicate facial expression motion capture (Silicon Angle) ‘This is a game changer’: Runway releases new AI facial expression motion capture feature Act-One (VentureBeat) Farewell to Foursquare’s app (TechCrunch) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 22, 2024
Qualcomm has unveiled its big, next gen Snapdragon SoC which will someday be in all the phones. Except iPhones, of course. Is Netflix pulling back on its gaming strategy? Why a new marketplace from Epic might actually point the way to the metaverse. And how are various people trying to get AI to have a better personality? Links: Snapdragon 8 Elite deep dive: A return to custom CPUs and much more (Android Authority) Scoop: Netflix shuts down 'AAA' Team Blue gaming studio, amid gaming shake-up (Game File) Netflix has closed its AAA gaming studio (Engadget) Hulu and Disney+ No Longer Support Signups and Payment Using App Store (MacRumors) Epic’s ambitious digital asset shop is now open (The Verge) Biden administration proposes new rules governing data transfers to adversarial nations (The Record) How AI groups are infusing their chatbots with personality (Financial Times) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 21, 2024
Google’s strategy of keeping it in the courts is already going to plan. New AI agents from Microsoft. New Open Source models from IBM. Perplexity is looking to raise again. How far behind Apple thinks it is in AI. And what it’s like to use your AirPods as hearing aids. Sponsors: Ramp.com/techmeme Miro.com Links: Epic judge lets Google keep its Android app store closed to competitors — for now (The Verge) Microsoft unveils new autonomous AI agents in advance of competing Salesforce rollout (GeekWire) AI Startup Perplexity in Funding Talks to More Than Double Valuation to $8 Billion (WSJ) IBM debuts open source Granite 3.0 LLMs for enterprise AI (VentureBeat) Apple’s New iPad Mini Highlights the Company’s Secret AI Advantage (Bloomberg) Apple’s AirPods Pro hearing health features are as good as they sound (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 19, 2024
Did Nintendo try to kill GoldenEye 007 before it was completed? Why did Shigeru Miyamoto keep telling the development team to tone down the violence. And why did the famous multiplayer aspect of the game almost didn’t happen? It’s slappers only on Rad History, because we’re diving into the history of THE game of the late 1990s, GoldenEye 007. With Special Guest: John Gruber Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 17, 2024
Now Amazon is building some modular nuclear reactors. TSMC’s results cheer up the chips industry. Uber but for buying plane tickets. No, I mean, really, use Uber to buy plane tickets. And the controversial reason Meta is reportedly laying off some folks. Sponsors: Lumen.me/ride Links: Amazon goes nuclear, to invest more than $500 million to develop small modular reactors (CNBC) TSMC Hikes Revenue Outlook in Show of Confidence in AI Boom (Bloomberg) The FTC is finally making it easier to cancel your gym membership (The Verge) Uber explored takeover bid for Expedia (FT) Meta is laying off employees at WhatsApp, Instagram, and more (The Verge) Meta fires staff for abusing $25 meal credits (FT) Analogue’s 4K Nintendo 64 launches next year for $249 (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 16, 2024
Kindles come roaring back, with significant updates to the Paperwhite and the Scribe, but also, for the first time ever, a Kindle with a color screen. Why has ASML suddenly plunged so much if chips are so hot right now? Android 15 is beginning to roll out. And Sonos is back to releasing new speakers again. Sponsors: Promevo.com/techmeme Links: Amazon’s new seven-inch Kindle Paperwhite is bigger and faster than ever (The Verge) Amazon’s new Kindle Scribe takes another step toward pen and paper (The Verge) Amazon finally has a color Kindle, and it looks pretty good (The Verge) Global Chip Stocks Erase $420 Billion After ASML Sales Warning (Bloomberg) YouTube takes a baby step toward labeling authentic video (The Verge) Android 15 is now available for Pixels (The Verge) Sonos announces ‘breakthrough’ Arc Ultra soundbar and Sub 4 (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 15, 2024
The Nuclear Energy sector is clearly getting back in business, thanks to big tech and their AI needs. The latest back and forth in the Wordpress brouhaha. The US is considering caps on the chips Nvidia can deliver to a bunch of countries worldwide. And is Tether getting deeper into the global finance game? Sponsors: 1Password.com/ride ArcticWolf.com/register Links: Google Backs New Nuclear Plants to Power AI (WSJ) DHH's Original Post Matt Mullenweg's Original Response Matt's 2nd Response Apple Unveils New iPad Mini With A17 Pro Chip and Apple Intelligence (MacRumors) US Weighs Capping Exports of AI Chips From Nvidia and AMD to Some Countries (Bloomberg) Crypto Company Tether Talking to Commodity Traders About Lending Them Its Billions (Bloomberg) The War on Passwords Is One Step Closer to Being Over (Wired) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 14, 2024
Adobe unleashes its Firefly AI video model broadly. Mark Gurman lays out Apple’s headset strategy going forward. What’s been going on with the Internet Archive. What the heck IS going on with WordPress? VC deals are dropping precipitously. And a review of the Meta Quest 3S. Sponsors: WashingtonPost.com/ride Shopify.com/ride Links: Adobe’s AI video model is here, and it’s already inside Premiere Pro (The Verge) Apple Has a New Smart Home Strategy: Screens Everywhere (Bloomberg) The Internet Archive is back as a read-only service after cyberattacks (The Verge) In latest move against WP Engine, WordPress takes control of ACF plugin (TechCrunch) Venture capital deal activity is slowing down (Axios) Meta Quest 3S review: Impressive VR for $300 (Engadget) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 12, 2024
Why was Blockbuster so successful? Was it the DVD that killed Blockbuster? What was the deal with late fees? Is there any way Blockbuster, not Netflix, could have won out in the end? Special guest: Venture Capitalist and Writer MG Siegler ! Subscribe to RAD! 80s90s History ! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 11, 2024
All the headlines from Tesla’s robotaxi event. AMD unveils the chip it wants to use to go toe to toe with Nvidia. Are people actually making money building GPTs or not so much? And in the longreads, rebuilding Notre Dame as period accurately as possible. Sponsors: Go to Hensonshaving.com/ride and enter RIDE at checkout to get 100 free blades with your purchase. (Note: you must add both the 100-blade pack and the razor for the discount to apply.) Links: Tesla reveals 20 Cybercabs at We, Robot event, says you’ll be able to buy one for less than $30,000 (TechCrunch) Tesla's Cybercab Is Here (Wired) Tesla Robovan has something the Cybertruck definitely does not (T3) AMD launches AI chip to rival Nvidia’s Blackwell (CNBC) Xbox will sell games directly in the Android app next month (The Verge) OpenAI’s GPT Store Has Left Some Developers in the Lurch (Wired) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: Google’s Nobel Haul Puts Spotlight on Changing Focus of Scientific Research (Bloomberg) The Miraculous Resurrection of Notre-Dame (GQ) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 10, 2024
Apple TV+ finally comes to Prime Video Channels. OpenAI says they’ve been disrupting AI election influence campaigns. But they won’t be profitable until when? How Google plans to beat the regulation rap. And a review of basically the highest end smartwatch you can buy. Sponsors: Notion.com/ride Links: Amazon Adds Apple TV+ to Its Channels Store for Streaming (Bloomberg) OpenAI says bad actors are using its platform to disrupt elections, but with little ‘viral engagement’ (CNBC) OpenAI Projections Imply Losses Tripling to $14 Billion in 2026 (The Information) Apple’s Dan Riccio, Key Executive in Both the Jobs and Cook Eras, to Retire (Bloomberg) Competition and the clock: how Google plans to deflect and delay a historic break-up threat (Financial Times) Garmin Fenix 8 review: only kind of smart (The Verge) RAD! 80s90s History on Apple Podcasts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 9, 2024
Subscribe to RAD! 80s90s History in your podcast app! Apple Podcasts Spotify Overcast The government says it does, in fact, want to break up Google. The Nobel Prize sure does love AI this year. Could Substack win by becoming the default way for creators to monetize? And listen to the end of the show today for a big announcement from me. Links: US Weighs Google Breakup in Historic Big Tech Antitrust Case (Bloomberg) Unmasking Bitcoin Creator Satoshi Nakamoto—Again (Wired) Google DeepMind Scientists Share Nobel for AI Protein Work (Bloomberg) X Cleared to Return in Brazil After Musk Bows to Judge’s Demands (Bloomberg) Substack wants to do more than just newsletters (Semafor) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 8, 2024
Crack… at least for the Google Play store. Two AI scientists have won the Nobel Prize for physics?! Samsung is in a similar boat to Intel, just not quite as severely. And an unfortunate reminder that government mandated back doors are bad doors. Sponsors: Dell.com/deals Links: Google must crack open Android for third-party stores, rules Epic judge (The Verge) Apple Potentially Facing Worst Leak Since iPhone 4 Was Left in a Bar (MacRumors) ‘Godfather of AI’ Geoffrey Hinton Among Nobel Prize Winners (Bloomberg) Samsung Electronics apologises for disappointing profit as it struggles in AI chips (Reuters) The 30-year-old internet backdoor law that came back to bite (TechCrunch) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 7, 2024
We finally have a date for Apple Intelligence. Meta has a new text to video AI model. Google could soon drop under 50% in the search ads market. More hope for level three automated driving. And how AI bots could revolutionize online dating. Sponsors: Miro.com Links: Apple Slowly Moves Away From Its Annual Product Release Strategy (Bloomberg) Meta Unveils AI Video Generator, Taking On OpenAI and Google (Bloomberg) Google’s Grip on Search Slips as TikTok and AI Startup Mount Challenge (WSJ) GM is working on an eyes-off, hands-off driving system (TechCrunch) Uber and Lyft drivers use Teslas as makeshift robotaxis, raising safety concerns (Reuters) Grindr Aims to Build the Dating World’s First AI ‘Wingman’ (WSJ) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 4, 2024
Google has updated Lens and is taking a page out of Perplexity’s book. OpenAI’s new canvas workspace. Why an upcoming iPhone SE might have some interesting internals. And, of course, the Weekend Longreads Suggestions. Links: Google Lens now lets you search with video (The Verge) Google brings ads to AI Overviews as it expands AI’s role in search (TechCrunch) OpenAI launches new ‘Canvas’ ChatGPT interface tailored to writing and coding projects (TechCrunch) iPhone SE 4 to feature Apple’s first 5G modem, A18 chip, same cameras as iPhone 15 (9to5Mac) 159 employees are leaving Automattic as CEO’s fight with WP Engine escalates (TechCrunch) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: Saving Cyberpunk 2077: How CD Projekt Red recovered from one of video games' most disastrous launches (EuroGamer) The Flying Car Is Finally Here. It’s Slightly Illegal. (Intelligencer) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 3, 2024
OpenAI raised their round, and it basically broke all the records. The whole Wordpress mess has gotten so crazy that WPEngine is suing. Using Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses to dox people in real time. And you’ll never guess the reason why you’re about to see more ads on streaming video. Hint: you’ll endure it. Sponsors: Lumen.me/ride Links: OpenAI raises $6.6 billion in largest VC round ever (Axios) OpenAI asks investors not to back rival start-ups such as Elon Musk’s xAI (Financial Times) OpenAI feels competitors breathing down its neck (Financial Times) WP Engine sues WordPress co-creator Mullenweg and Automattic, alleging abuse of power (TechCrunch) Someone Put Facial Recognition Tech onto Meta's Smart Glasses to Instantly Dox Strangers (404Media) Spotify adds a new, automatically updating playlist for offline listening (TechCrunch) Amazon to increase number of advertisements on Prime Video (Financial Times) Venture Dealmaking Reflects Selective Tastes of Investors (Bloomberg) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 2, 2024
Catching you up on a bunch of other Microsoft announcements we missed yesterday. Is Nvidia trying to break open the black box of AI? It’s absolutely wild that there’s still no viable YouTube app for the Vision Pro. And we were worried about disruption to the semiconductor industry if a typhoon hit Taiwan, but it turns out, a hurricane hitting North Carolina can be bad too. Links: Microsoft is using AI to improve Windows search (The Verge) Microsoft starts paying publishers for content surfaced by Copilot (TechCrunch) Telegram CEO Downplays Service Term Changes Amid French Probe (Bloomberg) Nvidia just dropped a bombshell: Its new AI model is open, massive, and ready to rival GPT-4 (VentureBeat) Threads users can now see who follows them from other fediverse servers (TechCrunch) Christian Selig’s unofficial YouTube app for the Vision Pro just got taken down (The Verge) Hurricane Helene Will Send Shockwaves Through the Semiconductor Industry (Wired) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 1, 2024
Do we have the first IPO of the AI era? Do we have the first AI model beyond the transformer architecture? Microsoft has a bunch of new AI tools inside Windows. We try to explain that whole controversy around PearAI. And what about that NotebookLM feature that lets you create a two-hander podcast out of any text. Links: AI chipmaker Cerebras files for IPO to take on Nvidia (CNBC) MIT spinoff Liquid debuts non-transformer AI models and they’re already state-of-the-art (VentureBeat) Microsoft Copilot can now read your screen, think deeply, and speak aloud to you (TechCrunch) Oura Nears $500 Million in Annual Revenue and Readies New Ring (Bloomberg) Y Combinator is being criticized after it backed an AI startup that admits it basically cloned another AI startup (TechCrunch) NotebookLM’s automatically generated podcasts are surprisingly effective (Simon Willison's Blog) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 30, 2024
That controversial AI bill in California has been vetoed by Governor Newsom. Is even Apple now thinking that its Vision Pro strategy might need a rethink? What really is OpenAI’s situation right now, and this time I’m talking money-wise? And the strange resurrection of the point and shoot camera. Links: California’s Gavin Newsom Vetoes Controversial AI Safety Bill (WSJ) California Passes Law Protecting Consumer Brain Data (NYTimes) Meta’s New Headsets Show Apple Has Lost Its Way With the Vision Pro (Bloomberg) OpenAI’s Complex Path to Becoming a For-Profit Company (WSJ) Songs by Adele, Bob Dylan, Green Day, Many More Blocked by YouTube in Legal Dispute (Variety) This Camera Went Viral Two Years Ago. You Still Can’t Buy One (Bloomberg) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 27, 2024
Founder Mode? Not for me, says Sam Altman, but we will see. A few new gadgets from Samsung. Maybe ARM should buy Intel. Are AI startups hitting revenue traction faster than SaaS startups did? And, of course, the Weekend Longreads Suggestions. Links: Sam Altman tells OpenAI staff there’s no plan for him to receive a ‘giant equity stake’ in company (CNBC) Samsung Galaxy S24 FE goes official starting at $649 – is it still a ‘Fan Edition?’ (9to5Google) Arm Is Rebuffed by Intel After Inquiring About Buying Product Unit (Bloomberg) Exponential growth brews 1 million AI models on Hugging Face (ArsTechnica) AI start-ups generate money faster than past hyped tech companies (FT) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: McDonald’s touchscreen kiosks were feared as job killers. Instead, something surprising happened (CNN) Apple Rolls Back Its Big Plans to Release Movies in Theaters (Bloomberg) The 27-Year-Old Economic Adviser for Gen Z (WSJ) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 26, 2024
There’s only two stories really. If you can believe it, more executive departures at OpenAI, as it looks like they’re serious about going for profit. And yes, Meta announced a new Quest headset, but the real headlines are the Orion smartglasses, which you can’t actually buy. What? I’ll explain. Sponsors: Thorne.fit/ridehome Links: OpenAI considering restructuring to for-profit, CTO Mira Murati and two top research execs depart (CNBC) Exclusive: OpenAI to remove non-profit control and give Sam Altman equity (Reuters) Meta’s cheaper Quest 3S might just be an upgrade (The Verge) A Few Brief Thoughts on Meta Connect 2024 (Daring Fireball) Meta pitches VR to mobile developers with new support for Android apps on Quest (TechCrunch) Meta’s big tease (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 25, 2024
Caroline Ellison benefits from being cooperative. Has your company unknowingly hired remote workers from North Korea? What is going on with this WordPress back and forth? Why OpenAI has to let people look at their training data. And why is everyone upset at Marquess Brownlee? Sponsors: Hims.com/ride Links: Caroline Ellison sentenced to two years in prison for her role in FTX scandal (Axios) Dozens of Fortune 100 companies have unwittingly hired North Korean IT workers, according to report (The Record) The DOJ sues Visa for locking out rival payment platforms (The Verge) Automattic sends WP Engine its own cease-and-desist over WordPress trademark infringement (TechCrunch) OpenAI Training Data to Be Inspected in Authors’ Copyright Cases (The Hollywood Reporter) Marques Brownlee says ‘I hear you’ after fans criticize his new wallpaper app (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 24, 2024
Sam Altman has a manifesto. Kinda. Telegram is beginning to walk things back a bit. Cloudflare wants to help you block the AI bots. New streaming device from Roku. And I guess TikTok can’t win at everything. Sponsors: Lumen.me/ride Links: The Intelligence Age (Sam Altman) Sam Altman catapults past founder mode into ‘god mode’ with latest AI post (TechCrunch) OpenAI CEO: We may have AI superintelligence in “a few thousand days” (ArsTechnica) Some Kaspersky customers receive surprise forced-update to new antivirus software (TechCrunch) Telegram CEO Durov Says App to Provide More Data to Governments (Bloomberg) New Cloudflare Tools Let Sites Detect and Block AI Bots for Free (Wired) The new Roku Ultra is faster, has better Wi-Fi, and comes with a backlit remote (The Verge) Spotify’s AI playlist builder is now available in the US (The Verge) TikTok to Shut Down its Music Streaming Business in November (Bloomberg) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 23, 2024
Qualcomm as a white knight to save Intel? A huge bitcoin heist gets busted for the usual reasons. What if the US bans imports of all cars from China? And why can’t US car makers keep up when it comes, simply, to software? Sponsors: Timeline.com/ride Links: Qualcomm Approached Intel About a Takeover in Recent Days (WSJ) Intel Gets Multibillion-Dollar Apollo Offer as Qualcomm Circles (Bloomberg) Chip Giants TSMC and Samsung Discuss Building Middle Eastern Megafactories (WSJ) Suspects behind $230 million cryptocurrency theft arrested in Miami (BleepingComputer) US proposes banning Chinese software and components in vehicles (FT) Israel’s Pager Attacks Have Changed the World (NYTimes) Toyota and VW fall further behind in the software race (FT) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 20, 2024
You might want to hold off on updating to macOS 15 Sequoia. What, exactly, is Europe trying to get Apple to do? The AI energy crunch means they’re turning Three Mile Island back on. Could AI usage mean we use up all our 5G capacity? And, of course, the Weekend Longreads Suggestions. Sponsors: 1password.com/ride QualiaLife.com/ride and code ride Links: Apple’s new macOS Sequoia update is breaking some cybersecurity tools (TechCrunch) EU to tell Apple how to do interoperability, DMA style (TechCrunch) Microsoft AI Needs So Much Power It's Restarting Site of US Nuclear Meltdown (Bloomberg) AI is stressing networks out - Nvidia thinks AI can help (Fierce Network) Huawei 'super fans' fuming as left empty handed by $2,800 phone launch (Reuters) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: American Vulcan - Palmer Luckey (TabletMag) The Death of the Minivan (The Atlantic) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 19, 2024
Looks like they finally got around to suing that Palworld game. Google volunteered to break up some of its businesses but the EU said no. AI is coming to YouTube in a big way. A new social media platform that is ENTIRELY AI. And Amazon wants to get into the Shark Tank business. Sponsors: LinkedIn.com/ride Links: Nintendo and Pokémon are suing Palworld maker Pocketpair (The Verge) Exclusive: Google offered to sell part of ad tech business, not enough for EU publishers (Reuters) YouTube will use AI to generate ideas, titles, and even full videos (The Verge) Apple Gets EU Warning to Open Up iPhone Operating System (Bloomberg) Musk's satellites 'blocking' view of the universe (BBC) SocialAI offers a Twitter-like diary where AI bots respond to your posts (TechCrunch) Amazon’s New ‘Shark Tank’-Style Show Gives Winners Top Billing in Its Store (WSJ) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 18, 2024
Messages between Android and iOS are about to be encrypted. A new XR headset from HTC and new Spectacles from Snap. A big movie studio has signed up to use AI. Neuralink has implants for blindness. And why I’m kinda NOT gonna do a review roundup of the new iPhones. Sponsors: Ramp.com/techmeme Links: RCS texts on the iPhone aren’t encrypted now, but that could change (The Verge) Here’s how green bubbles are getting upgraded in iOS (The Verge) HTC Vive's Focus Vision is a $999 stab at high-end VR and mixed reality (Engadget) Snap’s new Spectacles inch closer to compelling AR (The Verge) Instagram, Facing Pressure Over Child Safety Online, Unveils Sweeping Changes (NYTimes) Lionsgate, Studio Behind ‘John Wick,’ Signs Deal With AI Startup Runway (WSJ) Musk's Neuralink gets FDA's breakthrough device tag for 'Blindsight' implant (Reuters) Apple iPhone 16 Pro review: small camera update, big difference (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 17, 2024
Intel announces a bunch of ways its hoping to turn its business around sooner rather than later. Is OpenAI about to have its chat bots query you? The whole TikTok divestment case is coming to a head right now. And speaking of turn arounds, darn if Netflix didn’t pull ITS turnaround off perfectly. Hollywood, not so much. Sponsors: Shopify.com/ride Links: Intel stock jumps on plan to turn foundry business into subsidiary and allow for outside funding (CNBC) Intel to Make Custom AI Chip for Amazon, Delay German Plant (Bloomberg) EssilorLuxottica extends smart glasses partnership with Meta (Reuters) OpenAI Says It's Fixed Issue Where ChatGPT Appeared to Be Messaging Users Unprompted (Futurism) TikTok is about to get its day in court (The Verge) Judges Show Some Skepticism of TikTok’s Fight Against Potential U.S. Ban (NYTimes) How Netflix won the streaming wars (FT) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 16, 2024
A bunch of Apple stories today. FDA approval for sleep apnea detection for the watch. Signs of poor pre-order sales for the phone. And a quick review of the new Airpods. Also, how did Intel lose out on making the chips for the next gen Playstation. And are dating apps responsible for income inequality? Sponsors: ArcticWolf.com/register Links: Apple Watch sleep apnea detection gets FDA approval (TechCrunch) iPhone 16 first weekend pre-order analysis: estimated total sales of about 37 million units; Pro series demand lower than expected (Ming-Chi Kuo) France picks Sejourne as nominee for EU Commission after Breton clash (Reuters) Slack now lets users add AI agents from Asana, Cohere, Adobe, Workday and more (VentureBeat) Exclusive: How Intel lost the Sony PlayStation business (Reuters) Apple AirPods 4 review: defying expectations (The Verge) Online Dating Caused a Rise in US Income Inequality, Research Paper Shows (Bloomberg) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 13, 2024
The first of the Strawberry models is here. YC plans to have four cohorts a year, but each one is getting smaller. Waymo is already ready to expand to more pretty big markets. And in the long reads, a deep dive look into the options Intel has at this point in time. Sponsors: HensonShaving.com/ride code ride Links: OpenAI releases o1, its first model with ‘reasoning’ abilities (The Verge) Notes on OpenAI’s new o1 chain-of-thought models (Simon Willison's Weblog) OpenAI's new models 'instrumentally faked alignment' (TransformerNews) Apple AirPods Pro granted FDA approval to serve as hearing aids (TechCrunch) Silicon Valley’s Y Combinator to Double Number of Cohorts Per Year (Bloomberg) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: Intel Has Only Tough Options After Its Long and Stinging Fall From Grace (Bloomberg) Link to the twitter poll about ads Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 12, 2024
As expected, OpenAI is in talks for a new capital raise at a $150B valuation. More layoffs in Microsoft’s gaming division. More holes poked in our creaking internet infrastructure. The tiny SpaceX competitor who’s stock has been soaring lately. And a look at what Apple’s recent AirPods announcement could do to the hearing aid industry. Links: OpenAI Fundraising Set to Vault Startup’s Valuation to $150 Billion (Bloomberg) The AI Spending Spree, in Charts (WSJ) Microsoft Lays Off Another 650 Staff From Its Video Game Workforce, Xbox Boss Phil Spencer Sends Memo to Staff (IGN) Rogue WHOIS server gives researcher superpowers no one should ever have (ArsTechnica) Adam Neumann’s Climate Company Is Issuing Refunds After Failing To Launch Crypto Token (Forbes) SpaceX’s Tiny Rival Soars 1,300%. Now Comes the Satellite Launch (Bloomberg) Apple turning AirPods into hearing aids underscores effort to crack massive health market (CNBC) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 11, 2024
Mistral goes multimodal for the first time. Meta admits to scraping the data of every adult Australian. The details on the new PS5 Pro. Wouldn’t it be wild if, through stablecoins, crypto BECOMES the banking system instead of replacing it. And a weird mystery in AI land. Sponsors: Promevo.com/techmeme Links: Mistral releases Pixtral 12B, its first multimodal model (TechCrunch) Facebook admits to scraping every Australian adult user's public photos and posts to train AI, with no opt-out option (ABC News) The $700 PS5 Pro doesn’t come with a disc drive (The Verge) Exclusive Hands-On: I Played Sony's All-New PS5 Pro (CNET) Americans used record 100 trillion megabytes of wireless data in 2023 (Reuters) Payments in Singapore With Stablecoins Rise to Almost $1 Billion (Bloomberg) Reflection 70B model maker breaks silence amid fraud accusations (VentureBeat) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 10, 2024
Apple loses its longest standing regulatory battle in the EU. Some drips and drabs from yesterday’s iPhone event. Would a phone you can fold three times be more enticing than a phone that folds two times? And are we about to see that new Strawberry AI model from OpenAI by the end of the month? Sponsors: Timeline.com/ride Links: Apple must pay 13 billion euros in back taxes, EU’s top court rules (CNBC) iPhone 16 battery life: How much better is it? (9to5Mac) Huawei launches $2,800 trifold phone hours after Apple debuts iPhone 16 (CNBC) Oracle’s Missteps in Cloud Computing Are Paying Dividends in AI (WSJ) New Details on OpenAI’s Strawberry; Apple’s Siri Makeover; Larry Ellison Doubles Down on Data Centers (The Information) Audible to Start Generating AI Voice Replicas of Select Audiobook Narrators (Bloomberg) JPMorgan Plans to Report Customers Who Exploited TikTok ‘Glitch’ to Authorities (WSJ) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 9, 2024
All the headlines from today’s iPhone event. It IS interesting the degree to which Elon’s various businesses have potential synergy. The Times digs into the content on Telegram and says, it ain’t pretty. And e-bikes seem to be back. In London, at least, anyway. Links: Apple Announces iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max with Larger Displays, New Camera Control, and More (MacRumors) Apple announces iPhone 16: camera button, new colors, AI features (9to5Mac) AirPods Pro 2 adds ‘clinical grade’ hearing aid feature (9to5Mac) Musk’s xAI Has Discussed Deal for Share of Future Tesla Revenue (WSJ) How Telegram Became a Playground for Criminals, Extremists and Terrorists (NYTimes) London e-bike boom leads to clashes with councils (Financial Times) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 6, 2024
Pavel Durov speaks, and Telegram blinks, both for the first time since the French arrest. Are XR glasses tethered to smartphones the next big product category? What if your smartphone could cure your vision problems? And in the longreads, if Waymo is about to scale, what, exactly, is the business model, long-term? Links: Pavel Durov: Telegram founder says France arrest is ‘misguided’ (The Guardian) Exclusive: Qualcomm explores acquiring pieces of Intel chip-design business (Reuters) Qualcomm says it’s working on mixed reality smart glasses with Samsung and Google (CNBC) Review: Honor Magic V3 (Wired) Exclusive: Honor's latest devices use AI to try to reverse nearsightedness (Android Central) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: Waymo’s Robot Taxis Are Almost Mainstream. Can They Now Turn a Profit? (NYTimes) When the Bitcoin Scammers Came for Me (The Atlantic) Among the Idlers (Curbed) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 5, 2024
The DOJ says it has taken down a big election influence campaign allegedly directed by Russia. The Internet Archive loses a big case. Android 15 is here. And two really interesting new gadgets, one I probably need to buy and one I want to buy but probably won’t. Sponsors: LinkedIn.com/ride Links: Biden administration announces major actions to tackle Russian efforts to influence 2024 election (CNN) The Internet Archive Loses Its Appeal of a Major Copyright Case (Wired) Android 15 will be available on supported Pixel devices in the coming weeks (TechCrunch) DJI Neo hands-on: A powerful and lightweight $200 drone (Engadget) The Remarkable Paper Pro is as outrageous as it is luxurious (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 4, 2024
SpaceX has agreed to block access to X, in Brazil, on Starlink. Looks like YubiKeys are hackable. Who is the mystery platform looking to expand AI datacenters at an historic scale? And the Catch 22 that Intel is in. They need CHIPS Act money, but can their troubles mean the CHIPS Act money shouldn’t be spent on them? Sponsors: Ramp.com/techmeme Lumen.me/ride Links: Starlink backtracks, complies with order blocking X in Brazil, says regulator (Reuters) No X in Brazil? No problem, Brazilians say. (Washington Post) Microsoft to announce ‘next phase of Copilot’ on September 16th (The Verge) YubiKeys are vulnerable to cloning attacks thanks to newly discovered side channel (ArsTechnica) Nvidia Gets DOJ Subpoena in Escalating Antitrust Probe (Bloomberg) Two AI Developers Are Plotting $125 Billion Supercomputers (The Information) Exclusive: Intel manufacturing business suffers setback as Broadcom tests disappoint (Reuters) Intel’s Money Woes Throw Biden Team’s Chip Strategy Into Turmoil (Bloomberg) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 3, 2024
We missed a pretty big story this weekend. X getting banned in Brazil. I’ll try to catch you up on all the contours of this. Canva’s raising prices and it’s pissing people off because, I mean, they are REALLY raising prices. And the two pretty big success stories in crypto this year that we haven’t spoken about yet. Sponsors: DataTribe.com/challenge Hims.com/ride Links: Brazil’s Most Powerful Judge Is in the Spotlight—Again (Americas Quarterly) How Brazil’s Experiment Fighting Fake News Led to a Ban on X (NYTimes) Canva says its AI features are worth the 300 percent price increase (The Verge) HP to Pursue $4 Billion Damages After Mike Lynch Yacht Death (Bloomberg) Pump.fun surpasses $100 million in revenue as Polymarket outshines NFTs in August (The Block) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 30, 2024
At this point it would be quicker to name the big tech company that’s NOT investing in OpenAI’s latest round. Amazon’s new Alexa service is just going to be Anthropic’s Claude in drag disguise I guess. I’m starting to get really worried about Intel y’all. And, of course, The Weekend Longreads Suggestions. Links: OpenAI Funding Round Tempts Nvidia as Big Tech Leans on ChatGPT (Bloomberg) Apple, Nvidia Are in Talks to Invest in OpenAI (WSJ) Ask Claude: Amazon turns to Anthropic's AI for Alexa revamp (Reuters) ChatGPT’s weekly users have doubled in less than a year (The Verge) Intel Weighs Options Including Foundry Split to Stem Losses (Bloomberg) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: Sunk cost (the Open Sea story) (The Verge) The secret inside One Million Checkboxes (eieio.games) I Watched Footage of Jerry Lewis’s Unreleased 1972 Holocaust Film (The New Republic) End of the Road: An AnandTech Farewell (AnandTech) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 29, 2024
Nvidia’s earnings were huge but because they didn’t manage to beat the biggest expectations out there, it’s kind of a miss? Pavel Durov has been formally charged by France. Does TikTok fall outside of Section 230 protection? And it seems like the effort by the car companies to wean themselves off of smartphone tech is… not going great. Links: Nvidia’s CEO Says New Chip Will Have ‘Lots and Lots’ of Supply (Bloomberg) Telegram CEO Charged in France for Crimes Committed on His App (Bloomberg) TikTok must face lawsuit over 10-year-old girl's death, US court rules (Reuters) OpenAI in Talks for Funding Round Valuing It Above $100 Billion (WSJ) Top Movie Piracy Ring Taken Down, Major Studios’ Enforcement Group Claims (The Hollywood Reporter) GM's 'Google Built-In' Is Glitchy, Requires A Subscription To Use Google Maps (Jalopnik) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 28, 2024
I explain why everyone has been posting strawberries in AI circles. It’s cause of a potential new breakthrough at OpenAI. Cerebras launches the first new AI chip competition to Nvidia. China has reportedly burrowed into US ISPs. And continuing interesting details pouring out of that Pavel Durov situation. Sponsors: Timeline.com/ride Links: OpenAI Shows ‘Strawberry’ AI to the Feds and Uses It to Develop ‘Orion’ (The Information) OpenAI Races to Launch ‘Strawberry’ Reasoning AI to Boost Chatbot Business (The Information) Cerebras Systems throws down gauntlet to Nvidia with launch of ‘world’s fastest’ AI inference service (SiliconAngle) Chinese government hackers penetrate U.S. internet providers to spy (Washington Post) Google Meet’s automatic AI note-taking is here (The Verge) Instagram adds what photos have always needed: words (The Verge) Telegram Founder Was Wooed and Targeted by Governments (WSJ) Can Tech Executives Be Held Responsible for What Happens on Their Platforms? (NYTimes) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 27, 2024
As more details come out about the arrest of the founder of Telegram, a deeper look at Pavel Durov himself. We have the date of the iPhone event. We have a new record gaming number from Steam. And are Apple’s experiment with big budget Hollywood movies losing them bucket loads of money? Sponsors: DataTribe.com/challenge Thorne.fit/ridehome Links: Telegram Founder’s Arrest Part of Broad Investigation, French Prosecutors Say (NYTimes) Macron loves Telegram. French judges hate it. (Politico) How Telegram’s Founder Went From Russia’s Mark Zuckerberg to Wanted Man (NYTimes) Steam surpasses 37 million concurrent users for the first time ever thanks to Black Myth: Wukong (PC Gamer) Anthropic publishes the ‘system prompts’ that make Claude tick (TechCrunch) Apple Rethinks Its Movie Strategy After a String of Misses (NYTimes) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 26, 2024
French authorities have arrested Telegram CEO Pavel Durov. Chinese tech companies are spending like crazy on AI too, btw. What are the smart glasses and VR gear Meta is poised to give us next month? And Nvidia might make you rich, but it still seems like a bear of a place to work at. Sponsors: Lumen.me/ride Links: Telegram CEO Held Over Alleged Child Protection Failures on App (Bloomberg) Telegram messaging app CEO Durov arrested in France (Reuters) Is Telegram really an encrypted messaging app? (Matthew Green) China’s tech giants splash out on AI despite US restrictions (Financial Times) Apple Explores Robotics in Search of Life Beyond the iPhone (Bloomberg) Nvidia Rally Mints Millionaires Too Busy to Bask in New Wealth (Bloomberg) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 24, 2024
Breaking down the Crowdstrike outage with Overmind.tech Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 23, 2024
Microsoft deprecating a feature that it launched back in 1985. There’s a pretty big loophole that is still letting China use H100 chips. The weird saga evolving over at Bolt. And, of course, the Weekend Longreads Suggestions. Links: Microsoft finally officially confirms it's killing Windows Control Panel sometime soon (Neowin) Exclusive: Chinese entities turn to Amazon cloud and its rivals to access high-end US chips, AI (Reuters) AI-powered coding pulls in almost $1bn of funding to claim ‘killer app’ status (Financial Times) Bolt investors baffled by massive new deal proposal (Axios) Ryan Breslow’s ‘Lead Investor’ Blindsided By $450 Million Bolt Fundraise: ‘We Were Never In This Deal’ (Forbes) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: New Breed of EV Promises 700 Miles per Charge (Just Add Gas) (Bloomberg) Popping the Bubble of Noise-Cancelling Headphones (The New Yorker) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 22, 2024
As Mike Lynch’s body is recovered off Sicily, a deeper look at what was a roller coaster of a life. More cross posting for Meta’s apps. We have a date for the re-release of Recall. Interesting executive shuffle at Apple. And more data showing the degree to which free streaming is upending the Streaming Wars. Sponsors: QualiaLife.com/ride Links: Bodies of Mike Lynch and four yacht guests pulled from Bayesian wreck (Financial Times) Mike Lynch’s journey from tech founder to long legal battle (Financial Times) Meta lets you cross-post from Instagram and Facebook to Threads. Here’s how to do it. (TechCrunch) Microsoft’s Recall AI feature won’t be available for Windows testers until October (The Verge) Neuralink Says Second Brain Device Implant ‘Went Well’ (Bloomberg) Apple’s App Store Head to Leave in Reorganization Amid Global Scrutiny (Bloomberg) Report: “FAST correcting issues that VoD created” (Advanced Television) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 21, 2024
AI news has been a bit quiet for a little while now, but the headlines came roaring back today. More evidence Waymo might be having some sort of tipping point. Can we really get 3D without the need to wear glasses? And the the interesting raise startup that is actually, literally, going to the moon, not in a figurative sense. Sponsors: LinkedIn.com/ride Links: Gemini in Gmail can now help polish up your drafts (The Verge) Microsoft releases powerful new Phi-3.5 models, beating Google, OpenAI and more (VentureBeat) OpenAI makes fine-tuning for GPT-4o customization generally available (SiliconAngle) Waymo says it has doubled its weekly paid robotaxi trips to 100,000 since May (CNBC) Samsung’s new Odyssey monitor lets you play games in glasses-free 3D (The Verge) Microsoft Teams’ new single app for personal and work is now available (The Verge) Big Tech’s bid to rewrite the rules on net zero (Financial Times) Starpath accelerates moon water mining plans with $12M in funding (TechCrunch) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 20, 2024
New Raspberry Pi 5. Waymo’s rolling out its new self-driving tech. A major developer draws plaudits for going anti-AI. The tragic and odd story of that tech exec who is missing after his yacht sank. And after six months, how is the Apple Vision Pro evolving? What if it kind of isn’t? Sponsors: TakeThesis.com code RIDE Links: Raspberry Pi 5’s new 2GB model benchmarked: Do you need 2, 4 or 8GB? : We test against the 4 and 8GB versions (Tom's Hardware) Waymo is developing a roomier robotaxi with less-expensive tech (CNBC) Procreate’s anti-AI pledge attracts praise from digital creatives (The Verge) Search continues for British tech magnate and 5 others after luxury superyacht sinks off Sicily (AP) Apple Vision Pro review: six month stasis (Apple Insider) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 19, 2024
Is X closing up shop in Brazil? Remember how Apple is trying to make their own modems? How’s that going? Why is the online dating sector suddenly struggling? And could the next big advertising platform actually be Walmart? Sponsors: ArcticWolf.com/techmeme Links: X says it’s closing operations in Brazil (TechCrunch) AMD Buys AI Equipment Maker for Nearly $5 Billion, Escalating Battle With Nvidia (WSJ) Apple Is Playing the Long Game With Switch From Qualcomm Modems (Bloomberg) ‘Bumble fumble’: online dating apps struggle as people swear off swiping (The Guardian) How Walmart became a force in a $54bn retail advertising industry (Financial Times) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 16, 2024
The Epic saga has reached a sort of conclusion. Epic saga. See what I did there? That California AI safety bill has been pruned a bit. You can now add you California drivers license to your smartphone wallet. And, of course, the Weekend Longreads Suggestions. Links: Fortnite Maker Epic Games Challenges Apple’s Dominance With New iOS App Store (Wired) California weakens bill to prevent AI disasters before final vote, taking advice from Anthropic (TechCrunch) Exclusive: Apple, Google wallets to carry California driver's licenses (Axios) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: Inside the Snowflake-Databricks Rivalry, and Why Both Fear Microsoft (Bloomberg) The Little Streamer That Could (NYTimes) Your Air Conditioner Is Lying to You (The Atlantic) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 15, 2024
The new version of Grok will pretty much let you make an AI image of anything or anyone. More rumors of an iPad/robot/smart home hybrid from Apple. Masa Son wanted Intel to spin up a competitor to Nvidia, but Intel reportedly couldn’t hack it. And is Sonos going to just say, heck with it, and re-release their old app that actually worked? Sponsors: Acorns.com/ride Links: X’s new AI image generator will make anything from Taylor Swift in lingerie to Kamala Harris with a gun (The Verge) Apple Pushes Ahead With Tabletop Robot in Search of New Revenue (Bloomberg) Apple is finally going to open up iPhone tap-to-pay (The Verge) The FTC finalizes its rules clamping down on fake online reviews (Engadget) SoftBank discussed AI chips tie-up with Intel to rival Nvidia (Financial Times) Sonos considers relaunching its old app (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 14, 2024
All the details from yesterday’s pixel event, but especially the AI features that show how far ahead Google is. At least when it comes to putting AI on phones. We have official post quantum computing cryptography standards. And why they’re using iPhones to make offsides calls in soccer this season. Sponsors: DataTribe.com/challenge Hims.com/ride Links: The Google Pixel 9’s AI Camera Features Let You Reshape Reality (Wired) Google Gemini’s voice chat mode is here (The Verge) Apple relents and approves Spotify app with EU pricing (The Verge) The first post-quantum cryptography standards are here (TechCrunch) The English Premier League Will Ditch Its Hated VAR Offside Tech for a Fleet of iPhones (Wired) Fantasy League Links: https://fantasy.premierleague.com/leagues/auto-join/s5r9c8 Code: s5r9c8 https://fplchallenge.premierleague.com/leagues/auto-join/8znkcc Code: 8znkcc Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 13, 2024
Patreon is forced to change how it does things because Apple finally came to claim their vig. Have basically all our social security numbers been leaked? Crowdstrike owns its mistakes in person. And even if you build it, the chip factories might not come if nobody shows up to work. Sponsors: HensonShaving.com/ride and code ride Shopify.com/ride Links: Apple says Patreon must switch to its billing system or risk removal from App Store (TechCrunch) ‘Apple’s Requirements to Hit Creators and Fans on Patreon’ (Daring Fireball) Hackers leak 2.7 billion data records with Social Security numbers (BleepingComputer) FBI probing alleged Iran hack attempts targeting Trump, Biden camps (Washington Post) CrowdStrike Exec Shows Up to Accept 'Most Epic Fail' Award in Person (PCMag) TikTok comes for messaging apps with the addition of group chats (TechCrunch) Chipmakers face a labour crisis (Financial Times) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 12, 2024
Hey, want to know the iPhone product road map for the next year or so? I wonder why that’s coming out today? Instagram is copying something it forgot to copy from Snapchat. Celsius wants a ton of bitcoin back from Tether. Flux continues to wow, and is Iran the biggest cyber threat of this election year. Sponsors: Ramp.com/techmeme WashingtonPost.com/ride Links: Apple’s iPhone 16 Will Keep Sales Stable Until Bigger Changes Arrive (Bloomberg) Instagram is testing its own take on Snap Map (The Verge) Amid Layoffs and CPU Controversy, Intel Postpones Innovation Event (PCMag) Celsius targets Tether, Badger DAO, Compound, and Netanyahu's niece and nephew in lawsuits (The Block) Forget Midjourney — Flux is the new king of AI image generation and here’s how to get access (Tom's Guide) Iran Emerges as the Most Aggressive Foreign Threat to U.S. Election (WSJ) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 9, 2024
Apple’s new EU rules still aren’t acceptable to Spotify and Epic. Could we be getting a new, smaller Mac Mini this year? Perplexity AI is showing some real numbers in its effort to unseat Google Search. And, of course, the weekend longreads suggestions. Links: Apple announces new fee structure for apps in the EU that link out to the web for purchases (9to5Mac) Spotify and Epic Games call Apple’s revised DMA compliance plan ‘confusing,’ ‘illegal’ and ‘unacceptable’ (TechCrunch) Apple’s Mac Mini With M4 Chip Will Be Its Smallest Computer Ever (Bloomberg) ChatGPT now lets free users generate up to two images per day made by DALL-E 3 (The Verge) Perplexity’s popularity surges as AI search start-up takes on Google (Financial Times) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: Why are so many car YouTubers quitting? (The Verge) Moscow’s Spies Were Stealing US Tech — Until the FBI Started a Sabotage Campaign (Politico Magazine) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 8, 2024
TikTok launches Spotlight. Meta’s budget kills a VR studio. Why did everyone think Logitech was going to create a mouse you had to pay a subscription to use? And did you know how big Anime is? I did not. Links: TikTok adds in-app hubs for videos about movies and TV shows (The Verge) Exclusive: Meta is closing a beloved first-party Quest studio (AndroidConnect) UK regulator launches formal probe into Amazon’s $4bn Anthropic deal (Financial Times) Humane’s daily returns are outpacing sales (The Verge) Logitech Insists It’s Not Making a Mouse With a Subscription Fee (Gizmodo) Anduril now valued at $14 billion, set to build autonomous weapons factories (Axios) Crunchyroll Passes 15 Million Monthly Paid Subscribers (The Wrap) Crunchyroll Is Thriving Thanks to Gen Z and Appointment Anime Viewing, COO Says (The Wrap) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 7, 2024
Google’s new TV streaming appliance, plus lots of lot of Gemini stuff is coming to Google Home and Nest and such. Elon tries to get advertisers to come back to X by… suing them. That time Intel had a chance to invest in OpenAI. And what new products can Airbnb dream up to make more money? Links: The Google TV Streamer might be the Apple TV 4K rival we’ve been waiting for (The Verge) Gemini intelligence is coming to Google Home (The Verge) Scoop: X sues major brands, ad industry group for antitrust (Axios) ‘There’s no price’ Microsoft could pay Apple to use Bing: all the spiciest parts of the Google antitrust ruling (The Verge) How chip giant Intel spurned OpenAI and fell behind the times (Reuters) The limited edition OnePlus Open is the most striking foldable phone yet (The Verge) Airbnb details plans to expand beyond short-term rentals, including co-hosting and relaunching ‘experiences’ (TechCrunch) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 6, 2024
Three big stories to catch you up on. A federal judge has ruled Google is an illegal monopoly. The Game Of Thrones style drama at OpenAI is just getting weirder. And what if all those weird acquihires in all but name are actually mercy killings? Sponsors: Lumen.me/ride Links: Google Monopolized Search Through Illegal Deals, Judge Rules (Bloomberg) Forget Apple, the biggest loser in the Google search ruling could be Mozilla and its Firefox web browser (Fortune) How the Google Antitrust Ruling May Influence Tech Competition (NYTimes) OpenAI co-founder Schulman leaves for Anthropic, Brockman takes extended leave (TechCrunch) Struggling AI Startups Look for a Bailout from Big Tech (WSJ) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 5, 2024
Why is OpenAI sitting on technology that could detect AI cheating? Why is Bitcoin so correlated to the stock market? Why is Elon restarting his lawsuit against OpenAI? Why are the Chinese launching a Starlink competitor? And are the go-go days for music streaming over? Sponsors: Dell.com/deals HelloMood.com code RIDE Links: There’s a Tool to Catch Students Cheating With ChatGPT. OpenAI Hasn’t Released It. (WSJ) Bitcoin tumbles below $50,000 for the first time since February (CNBC) Elon Musk Revives Lawsuit Against OpenAI and Sam Altman (NYTimes) China launches first satellites of constellation to rival Starlink, newspaper reports (Reuters) AI Chip Startup Groq Gets $2.8 Billion Valuation in New Funding Round (Bloomberg) Is the Music Industry Slowdown a Crisis or a Blip? (Bloomberg) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 2, 2024
So, tech earnings continued to be boring. Apple was fine. Amazon was not quite so fine. And then someone we don’t cover closely really messed the bed. I’ll tell you who. Are we starting to see the first next-generation AI startups? I’ll tell you about an interesting new model. And, of course, the Weekend Longreads Suggestions. Links: Amazon Beats On Earnings, Revenue Comes In Light Despite Strong Cloud Performance (Investor's Business Daily) Intel is laying off over 15,000 employees and will stop ‘non-essential work’ (The Verge) 23andMe Board Committee ‘Disappointed’ in CEO Anne Wojcicki’s Take-Private Proposal (Bloomberg) Stable Diffusion creators launch Black Forest Labs, secure $31M for FLUX.1 AI image generator (VentureBeat) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: A $500 Open Source Tool Lets Anyone Hack Computer Chips With Lasers (Wired) The AI Keeps Score (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 1, 2024
So I guess Zuck has convinced Wall Street that all the capex spending on AI is fine. How good a business is Tether? A gooooood business. The first arrival of Apple Intelligence is sort of a ho-hum for now. And how sports is completely transforming the streaming wars battlefield. Links: Meta’s Lesson in Allaying Wall Street’s A.I. Fears (Dealbook/NYT) Meta’s AI Costs Surge as Digital Advertising Revenue Grows (WSJ) Reddit CEO says Microsoft needs to pay to search the site (The Verge) Tether Nets $5B Profits This Year, Says Its US Debt Holdings Surpassed Germany's (CoinDesk) A first look at Apple Intelligence and its (slightly) smarter Siri (The Verge) Disney, Fox and Warner Bros. Discovery’s Sports Streamer Venu to Launch at $42.99 per Month (Variety) How the NBA’s Slam-Dunk Deals Will Reshape TV (The Hollywood Reporter) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 31, 2024
Another big pullback of a major AI tool. Microsoft earnings. How CapCut is taking over the creator tools space. Amazon speedy delivery is rolling out to the nooks and crannies of North America. And the startup taking a new run at AI wearable hardware. Links: Meta Scraps Celebrity AI Chatbots That Fell Flat With Users (The Information) The Rise of ByteDance’s CapCut Threatens Adobe and Canva (Bloomberg) Amazon Pushes Fast Delivery Into Rural Areas in Challenge to Post Office (WSJ) Wear This AI Friend Around Your Neck (Wired) Video Announcing the Friend AI device Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 30, 2024
Perplexity wants to share ad revenue with publishers. But lots of AI companies are continuing to gamble with scraping. Meta’s new Segment Anything 2 model. AI influencers on Instagram. Canva makes an AI acquisition. And in non-AI news, Meta makes a huge settlement with Texas. Links: Perplexity is cutting checks to publishers following plagiarism accusations (The Verge) Websites are Blocking the Wrong AI Scrapers (Because AI Companies Keep Making New Ones) (404Media) Zuckerberg touts Meta’s latest video vision AI with Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang (TechCrunch) Instagram creators can now make AI doppelgangers to chat with their followers (Engadget) Canva acquires Leonardo.ai to boost its generative AI efforts (TechCrunch) Meta to pay $1.4 billion to settle Texas facial recognition data lawsuit (Reuters) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 29, 2024
Apple Intelligence might be coming sooner than we dared hope. Might want to check your settings on X. The universe of alt coins is back. A big tech IPO coming from an unexpected source. And is that Galaxy Ring a thing or no? Links: Apple's AI Features Rollout Will Miss Upcoming iPhone Software Overhaul (Bloomberg) Elon Musk calls Grok 'the most powerful AI by every metric' but 'secretly' trains the new model with your X data by default (WindowsCentral) A Digital Coin Based on Baby Trump? Yup. (NYTimes) Honeywell Weighs Quantinuum IPO at $10 Billion Valuation (Bloomberg) Amazon Paid Almost $1 Billion for Twitch in 2014. It’s Still Losing Money. (WSJ) The Galaxy Ring keeps you in Samsung’s orbit (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 26, 2024
OpenAI takes on Google search directly. Another Hollywood strike with the same underlying causes. We know absolutely everything about the new Pixel 9 series already. Is WhatsApp finally catching on in the US? And, of course, the Weekend Longreads Suggestions. Sponsors: Thorne.fit/ridehome , promocode: ridehome. Links: OpenAI announces SearchGPT, its AI-powered search engine (The Verge) Video game performers will go on strike over artificial intelligence concerns (AP) [Exclusive] Google Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro Fold promo material reveals design, specs, AI, and other features (91Mobiles) Uber, Lyft, DoorDash Prevail in California Gig-Worker Ruling (Bloomberg) Mark Zuckerberg says WhatsApp has 100M monthly active users in the US (TechCrunch) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: Airbnb Hosts Want Guests to Come to Them Directly (Bloomberg) Physicists may now have a way to make element 120 – the heaviest ever (New Scientist) He says he invented Flamin’ Hot Cheetos. He didn’t, said Frito-Lay. Now he’s suing (LATimes) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 25, 2024
Once again, Reddit looks like it’s not worried about upsetting people. New generative search on Bing, new models from Mistral and a new video model from Stability. But did Runway train it’s video models on YouTube videos? We might have a smoking gun. But what if the dream of synthetic data for AI training is a mirage? Sponsors: Lumen.me/ride Links: Google's Exclusive Reddit Access (404Media) Microsoft unveils Bing Generative Search — enhanced with AI, it's a complete overhaul of traditional search (WindowsCentral) Mistral shocks with new open model Mistral Large 2, taking on Llama 3.1 (VentureBeat) Stability AI steps into a new gen AI dimension with Stable Video 4D (VentureBeat) Runway Ripped Off YouTube Creators (404Media) The problem of ‘model collapse’: how a lack of human data limits AI progress (Financial Times) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 24, 2024
Meta’s Llama 3.1 shows that open models can at least go toe to toe with proprietary AI models. Why did the Google-Wiz deal fall apart? Was the CrowdStrike outage a part of it? Kamala Harris, AI czar? And what do the reviews of the recent Samsung foldable phones say to us about those Apple foldable phone rumors? Links: Meta puts open source AI on the podium. (Ben's Bites) The first GPT-4-class AI model anyone can download has arrived: Llama 405B (ArsTechnica) Google’s Aborted Deals Show Antitrust’s Long Shadow Over Tech (Bloomberg) Google’s $23 Billion Snub From Wiz Will Sting Them Both (Bloomberg) A Kamala Harris Presidency Could Mean More of the Same on A.I. Regulation (NYTimes) Apple Moves Forward With Foldable iPhone (The Information) The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 is a great phone that’s out of ideas (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 23, 2024
I try to get my head around the whole Google and third-party cookies thing. Wiz turns down Google’s big money acquisition offer. Spot ether ETFs can begin trading. And why weather prediction might be the first big scientific breakthrough of this AI era. Links: After years of uncertainty, Google says it won’t be ‘deprecating third-party cookies’ in Chrome (Digiday) Wiz walks away from $23 billion deal with Google, will pursue IPO (CNBC) This ‘Google TV Streamer’ set-top box is what comes after Chromecast [Gallery] (9to5Google) Spot Ethereum ETFs get final sign off to begin trading Tuesday (The Block) Delta CEO sees flight disruptions lasting for another couple of days (Reuters) Alexa Is in Millions of Households—and Amazon Is Losing Billions (WSJ) AI helps to produce breakthrough in weather and climate forecasting (Financial Times) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 22, 2024
Wait, did any news happen this weekend? IT people don’t know about it cause they’re still digging out from the CrowdStrike thing. But why is everybody pointing fingers at Microsoft? Samsung jumps on the Google Messages bandwagon. Japan wants AI startups. And what do you do when you need 22 thousand football player avatars real quick? AI of course! Links: CrowdStrike's Falcon Sensor also linked to Linux kernel panics and crashes (The Register) Microsoft’s global sprawl comes under fire after historic outage (Washington Post) Blue Screens Everywhere Are Latest Tech Woe for Microsoft (WSJ) Samsung going all in on Google Messages in US, stops pre-installing Samsung Messages on Galaxy phones (9to5Google) Japan’s copyright rules draw AI groups — and alarm from creators (FT) How AI Brought 11,000 College Football Players to Digital Life in Three Months (WSJ) Review: CMF Phone 1 (Wired) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 19, 2024
The big tech outage caused by a single software update that even my mom is texting me about. The new mini AI models are bring prices down as we hoped. How Netflix completely righted its ship. And, of course, the weekend longreads suggestions. Sponsors: Miro.com The Next Wave Podcast Links: Major Windows BSOD issue takes banks, airlines, and broadcasters offline (The Verge) Global IT Collapse Puts Cyber Firm CrowdStrike in Spotlight (Bloomberg) Samsung halts Galaxy Buds 3 Pro shipments over quality issues (The Verge) OpenAI debuts mini version of its most powerful model yet (CNBC) OpenAI's 4o-mini brings big brains on a budget. (Ben's Bites) Netflix Q2 Profits Surge 44% to $2.15 Billion As Streamer Adds 8 Million Subscribers (The Wrap) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: A One-Man Telemundo on TikTok (NYTimes) Pooping on the Moon Is a Messy Business (Wired) Interesting Raise Story About San Francisco Compute Co. (Bloomberg) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 18, 2024
It looks like crypto exchange hacks are back. And so are the North Koreans, I guess. Are the Meta Ray-Bans selling so well Zuck might invest in the Ray-Ban maker? The continuing trend of tech companies withholding products from Europe. And the state of play in terms of whether or not the cops can get into your phone. Links: WazirX Hacked for $230M, Largely in SHIB, as Elliptic Says North Korea Behind Attack (CoinDesk) $235 million lost by WazirX in North Korea-linked breach (Elliptic) Meta explores stake in Ray-Ban maker EssilorLuxottica (FT) Reality Comes to Meta’s Reality Labs (The Information) Scoop: Meta won't offer future multimodal AI models in EU (Axios) Apple says its OpenELM model doesn’t power Apple Intelligence amid YouTube controversy (9to5Mac) Apple, Nvidia, Anthropic Used Thousands of Swiped YouTube Videos to Train AI (Proof) Leaked Docs Show What Phones Cellebrite Can (and Can’t) Unlock (404 Media) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 17, 2024
Sorry, we gotta do more politics. Can’t avoid it cause now Trump likes TikTok and seemingly hates Mark Zuckerberg. Mistrals two new models. A big Pixel phone leak. And the interesting new “sketch to image” AI tool on the new Galaxy phones. Sponsors: CleanMyMac X with promocode: techmeme Links: Trump on Taxes, Tariffs, Jerome Powell and More (Bloomberg) Exclusive: Google-backed software developer GitLab explores sale, sources say (Reuters) Mistral releases Codestral Mamba for faster, longer code generation (VentureBeat) Giant Pixel 9 leak gives us our first real-world look at the Fold, faster charging specs, and more (AndroidAuthority) Samsung’s new image-generating AI tool is a little too good (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 16, 2024
JD Vance becomes the first Tech industry player, and especially Venture Capitalist, to ever be on a major presidential ticket. It’s never been easier for the cops to break into your phone. Why are the major record labels suing Verizon? And why an AI innovation around spreadsheets could be a big deal. Sponsors: Vanta.com/ride for $1000 off CleanMyMac X with promocode: techmeme Links: J.D. Vance Is Trump’s Pick for Vice President (Wired) It’s never been easier for the cops to break into your phone (The Verge) Microsoft Investigated by UK Over Ex-Inflection Staff Hires (Bloomberg) Record labels sue Verizon for not disconnecting pirates’ Internet service (ArsTechnica) Microsoft’s new AI system ‘SpreadsheetLLM’ unlocks insights from spreadsheets, boosting enterprise productivity (VentureBeat) Apple releases public betas for iOS 18, macOS, and more (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 15, 2024
The biggest tech exit in years might be in the offing as Alphabet eyes scooping up Wiz. The weird story of that huge AT&T hack. A new ARM-powered CoPilot+ PC is maybe the most powerful yet. And is India the reason Apple’s stock has been on the rise lately? Sponsors: ArcticWolf.com/techmeme Shopify.com/ride Links: Google Near $23 Billion Deal for Cybersecurity Startup Wiz (WSJ) Zero to Billions: The Startup on the Verge of the Biggest Tech Exit in Years (WSJ) AT&T says criminals stole phone records of ‘nearly all’ customers in new data breach (TechCrunch) AT&T Paid a Hacker $370,000 to Delete Stolen Phone Records (Wired) HP's new OmniBook Ultra beats every single Copilot+ PC on the market in TOPS, and it runs on an AMD Ryzen AI 300 processor (Windows Central) Apple’s India Sales Surge 33% to Record in Shift From China (Bloomberg) India clings to cheap feature phones as brands struggle to tap new smartphone buyers (TechCrunch) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 12, 2024
More about Josh Wolfe and Lux Capital here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 11, 2024
All the headlines from what was largely a foldable phone event from Samsung yesterday. Apple has settled with the EU. More numbers on Apple Vision Pro sales. Why the sparkle emoji is the defacto symbol of AI. And, of course, the Weekend Longread Suggestions. Sponsors: Lumen.me/ride Links: Galaxy Z Fold 6 goes official with 7 years of updates, wider displays, starting at $1,899 (9to5Google) Galaxy Z Flip 6 starts at $1,099 with battery, cover display, and camera upgrades (9to5Google) Apple Avoids EU Antitrust Threat With Tap-and-Pay Probe Settlement (Bloomberg) Apple’s Vision Pro Won’t Cross 500,000 Sales This Year, IDC Says (Bloomberg) Has Artificial Intelligence Co-opted the Sparkle Emoji? (Bloomberg) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: Defeated by A.I., a Legend in the Board Game Go Warns: Get Ready for What’s Next (NYTimes) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 10, 2024
Suddenly nobody wants to be on OpenAI’s board, even as observers. I’ll tell you why. More on how AI has thrown everybody’s carbon neutral plans into chaos. A monster raise in the AI and robotics space. And a16z has found a way to get chips into the hands of their AI startups. Links: Microsoft and Apple drop OpenAI seats amid antitrust scrutiny (FT) Microsoft gives up observer seat on OpenAI board (Axios) Google Is No Longer Claiming to Be Carbon Neutral (Bloomberg) Amazon Says It Reached a Climate Goal Seven Years Early (NYTimes) Microsoft is hiking the price of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and launching a new ‘Standard’ tier (The Verge) This $1.5 Billion AI Company Is Building A ‘General Purpose Brain’ For Robots (Forbes) Andreessen Horowitz Is Building a Stash of More Than 20,000 GPUs to Win AI Deals (The Information) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 9, 2024
The new nothing phone costs almost nothing. I’m not punning. Sam Altman has founded yet another AI startup. Is the hype around AI PCs underdelivering? And two other back the future stories about updating Notepad in Windows, and abandoning floppy disks in Japan. Sponsors: Dragon Ball Legends Links: Nothing’s CMF Devices Prove Yet Again Cheap Doesn't Have to Mean Boring (Wired) Amazon announces new $79 Echo Spot alarm clock (CNBC) OpenAI and Arianna Huffington are working together on an ‘AI health coach’ (The Verge) Spotify is going to let you leave comments on podcast episodes (The Verge) Qualcomm, Microsoft Lean on AI Hype to Spur PC Market Revival (Bloomberg) After 41 years Microsoft quietly adds spellchecking and autocorrect to Windows Notepad (Tom Hardware) Japan declares victory in effort to end government use of floppy disks (Reuters) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 8, 2024
Ok, fine. Give me a thinner watch if it’ll also somehow have a bigger screen. Apple and Epic are just petty, squabbling children at this point. What if AI as it currently exists, is simply too expensive to be profitable? And a new social network is sort of back to the future. Sponsors: Ramp.com/techmeme Miro.com Links: What’s Next for the Apple Watch: Bigger Screens But a Similar Look (Bloomberg) Apple okays Epic Games marketplace app in Europe (Reuters) In a major update, Proton adds privacy-safe document collaboration to Drive, its freemium E2EE cloud storage service (TechCrunch) AI industry needs to earn $600 billion per year to pay for massive hardware spend — fears of an AI bubble intensify in wake of Sequoia report (Tom's Hardware) noplace, a mashup of Twitter and Myspace for Gen Z, hits No. 1 on the App Store (TechCrunch) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 5, 2024
This about the man who invented the modern disc operating system (the OS) and the concept of the software platform. That man was Gary Kildall. And the question we examine in this episode is, why is Bill Gates the richest man in the world, and not Gary Kildall? Could things have turned out differently? In this episode we use audio from the following documentaries: Triumph of the Nerds and Computer Chronicles Special thanks to Justin Schwinghamer for the original score and the voice acting. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 4, 2024
This about the man who invented the modern disc operating system (the OS) and the concept of the software platform. That man was Gary Kildall. And the question we examine in this episode is, why is Bill Gates the richest man in the world, and not Gary Kildall? Could things have turned out differently? In this episode we use audio from the following documentaries: Triumph of the Nerds and Computer Chronicles Special thanks to Justin Schwinghamer for the original score and the voice acting. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 3, 2024
The deploying and then walking back of AI products and features is becoming something of a routine at this point. Apple is joining OpenAI’s board, kinda-sorta. Meta outlines 3D Gen. Proof that VC funding is coming back, baby. And, of course, the Weekend Longreads Suggestions. Sponsors: A Better Paradise Podcast Links: Figma Disables AI App Design Tool After It Copied Apple’s Weather App (404 Media) Figma pulls AI tool after criticism that it ripped off Apple’s design (The Verge) Apple Poised to Get OpenAI Board Observer Role as Part of AI Pact (Bloomberg) Meta drops ‘3D Gen’ bomb: AI-powered 3D asset creation at lightning speed (VentureBeat) Investors Pour $27.1 Billion Into A.I. Start-Ups, Defying a Downturn (NYTimes) Weekend Longreads Suggestions Internet Browsers Are Getting a Makeover for the Workplace (WSJ) A.I. Begins Ushering In an Age of Killer Robots (NYTimes) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 2, 2024
A recent Evolve Bank and Trust cyberattack might impact a lot of tech customers. Why single points of failure impact cyberattacks. YouTube will soon let you take down videos like you’re a Hollywood studio. And big tech’s playbook for AI acquisitions that the regulators can’t frown at. Sponsors: CleanMyMac X Promocode: techmeme Links: Fintech company Wise says some customers affected by Evolve Bank data breach (TechCrunch) CDK Global Hack Shows Risk of One Software Vendor Dominating an Industry (WSJ) Supreme Court orders new look at social media laws in Texas and Florida (CBSNews) Exclusive: Nvidia set to face French antitrust charges, sources say (Reuters) YouTube now lets you request removal of AI-generated content that simulates your face or voice (TechCrunch) This is Big Tech’s playbook for swallowing the AI industry (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 1, 2024
Meta’s turn to be accused of breaching the DMA. Smarter AirPods as part of an AR/VR strategy. Better AI leaderboards. And is the Surface Laptop finally a true MacBook Air killer? Sponsors: Dragon Ball Legends Links: Meta's pay or consent model in crosshairs for breaching EU tech rules (Reuters) Kuo: Apple to begin mass production of AirPods with cameras by 2026 (9to5Mac) ‘Boring’ Bitcoin Sends Weekend Trading Volume to All-Time Lows (Bloomberg) Amazon’s Bargain Store Would Use Same Trade ‘Loophole’ as Temu, Shein (The Information) Chinese AI models storm Hugging Face's LLM chatbot benchmark leaderboard — Alibaba runs the board as major US competitors have worsened (Tom's Hardware) Surface Laptop review: Microsoft’s best MacBook Air competitor yet (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 29, 2024
Find out more about Casemark at Casemark.ai. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 28, 2024
The growing backlash over Perplexity is getting interesting. OpenAI possibly exiting China will be interesting in terms of a massive land grab. AI Al Michaels will deliver personalized Olympics updates for you. And in the Longreads: is the real King of All Media… YouTube? Sponsors: ConstantContact.com Links: Amazon Is Investigating Perplexity Over Claims of Scraping Abuse (Wired) OpenAI’s China Block to Reshape AI Scene as Big Players Pounce (Bloomberg) OpenAI Wants AI to Help Humans Train AI (Wired) An AI version of Al Michaels will deliver Olympic recaps on Peacock (The Verge) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: YouTube dominates streaming, forcing media companies to decide whether it’s friend or foe (CNBC) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 27, 2024
Is Uncle Sam about to unload a ton of Bitcoin? AI has helped Google Translate almost double the number of languages it supports. No surprise, but Amazon is gonna take a page out of Temu’s book. Figma’s big redesign. And another way the AI era is rhyming with the DotCom era: the consultants are back. Sponsors: Miro.com Links: Bitcoin Falls After U.S. Sends $240M Worth of Silk Road-Related BTC to Coinbase (Coindesk) Google Translate is getting support for more than 110 new languages (The Verge) Amazon To Launch Temu-Like Discount Section With Direct Shipping From China (The Information) Amazon Hits $2 Trillion in Value as AI Frenzy Fuels Rally (Bloomberg) Figma announces big redesign with AI (The Verge) Webtoon Entertainment to debut on Nasdaq as latest Korean cultural export success (Financial Times) The A.I. Boom Has an Unlikely Early Winner: Wonky Consultants (NYTimes) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 26, 2024
The ChatGPT macOS app is now available for everybody. Google drops continuous scroll for search. Waymo drops the waitlist in San Francisco. Are the AI characters on Character.ai somehow… changed? And is there an eInk phone that I might actually have to try out? Sponsors: Lumen.me/ride Links: OpenAI’s ChatGPT for Mac app is now available to everyone (9to5Mac) Google dropping continuous scroll in search results (Search Engine Land) Waymo ditches the waitlist and opens up its robotaxis to everyone in San Francisco (The Verge) Tech Investor Sean Parker Leads Rescue of Struggling AI Startup (WSJ) ‘No Bot is Themselves Anymore:’ Character.ai Users Report Sudden Personality Changes to Chatbots (404 Media) The Boox Palma is an amazing gadget I didn’t even know I wanted (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 25, 2024
History is rhyming today as AI music startups get the Napster treatment and Microsoft gets dinged for product bundling. Google wants you to build your own AI celebrity. Amazon wants to go at ChatGPT directly. And two hella-interesting and hella-big AI raises. Sponsors: Miro.com Links: Major record labels sue AI company behind ‘BBL Drizzy’ (The Verge) EU charges Microsoft with antitrust violations over Teams (FT) Apple Spurned Idea of iPhone AI Partnership With Meta Months Ago (Bloomberg) Uber Is Locking Out NYC Drivers Mid-Shift to Lower Minimum Pay (Bloomberg) Google Develops Challenger to Meta’s Chatbots and Character.AI (The Information) Amazon is secretly working on a ChatGPT killer (Business Insider) Etched is building an AI chip that only runs one type of model (TechCrunch) EvolutionaryScale lands $142 mln to advance AI in biology (Reuters) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 24, 2024
Could Apple soon owe Europe a ton of money as they are the first to run afoul of the DMA? Could Meta soon join OpenAI as part of Apple Intelligence. Why food delivery apps are seeing plunging usage in NYC and Seattle. And a big new AI focused bill in California that AI startups are worried about. Sponsors: 1password.com/ride WashingtonPost.com/ride Links: Brussels accuses Apple of breaking EU ‘gatekeeper’ rules (FT) Apple is first company charged with violating EU’s DMA rules (The Verge) Apple Won’t Roll Out AI Tech In EU Market Over Regulatory Concerns (Bloomberg) Apple, Meta Have Discussed an AI Partnership (WSJ) Delivery Drivers Got Higher Wages. Now They’re Getting Fewer Orders. (WSJ) AI Doesn’t Kill Jobs? Tell That to Freelancers (WSJ) ‘Little Tech’ brings a big flex to Sacramento (Politico) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 21, 2024
The government has banned Kaspersky antivirus sales in the US. People are losing their minds over Claude 3.5 Sonnet from Anthropic. Soon all devices can pair to your iPhone as easily as AirPods do. And, of course, the Weekend Longreads Suggestions. Links: US bans sale of Kaspersky software citing security risk from Russia (TechCrunch) Anthropic claims its latest model is best-in-class (TechCrunch) Anthropic’s Claude 3.5 Sonnet wows AI power users: ‘this is wild’ (VentureBeat) New iOS 18 API brings AirPods setup experience to third-party accessories (9to5Mac) SpaceX unveils backpack-sized ‘Starlink Mini’ satellite internet antenna for $599 (CNBC) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: Why are mobile game ads so weird and bad? (Sherwood) From Infocom to 80 Days: An oral history of text games and interactive fiction (ArsTechnica) The song Stevie Nicks wrote to “haunt” Lindsey Buckingham (Far Out) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 20, 2024
Ilya Sutskever wants to go straight to Safe Superintelligence, do not pass go, but do probably collect hundreds of millions of dollars. Is Perplexity ignoring robots.txt files? Xreal’s hybrid AR glasses play. And how many apps did Apple sherlock at WWDC last week? Links: Ilya Sutskever Has a New Plan for Safe Superintelligence (Bloomberg) Perplexity Is a Bullshit Machine (Wired) For Apple’s AI Push, China Is a Missing Piece (WSJ) Xreal’s new gadget is a phone-sized Android tablet just for your AR glasses (The Verge) iOS 18 could ‘sherlock’ $400M in app revenue (TechCrunch) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 19, 2024
Does Apple pumping the breaks on the Vision Pro indicate problems for the category, or was this always the plan? What if AI means bots do the social media-ing for you? Actual RISC-V PCs coming to market. And a review of the new slate of CoPilot+ PCs that are available now. Links: Apple Suspends Work on Next Vision Pro, Focused on Releasing Cheaper Model in Late 2025 (The Information) Former Snap engineer launches Butterflies, a social network where AIs and humans coexist (TechCrunch) The Framework Laptop 13 is about to become one of the world’s first RISC-V laptops (The Verge) Here are all of the Copilot+ PCs with Snapdragon X chips that were released today (Engadget) ASUS VivoBook S 15 Copilot+ PC Review: Is the Snapdragon X Elite hype real? (Windows Central) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 18, 2024
The regulators have come for adobe and their alleged subscription shenanigans. Apple might settle with the EU. But it’s also shutting down its BNPL service. The Threads API is here. Tether is making bank. Uber might be having a breakthrough moment. And back to using Reddit for search. Sponsors: A Better Paradise Podcast Links: US sues Adobe for ‘deceiving’ subscriptions that are too hard to cancel (The Verge) Apple to settle ‘tap-and-go’ payments probe with EU (FT) Apple discontinuing Apple Pay Later, ahead of new features launching this fall (9to5Mac) Threads finally launches its API for developers (TechCrunch) Tether Announces a New Synthetic Dollar That Is Backed by Gold (Bloomberg) A Robotaxi Business Is A Dream For Elon Musk–But Already A Reality For Waymo (Forbes) Can You Replace Google Search With Reddit? I Tried It for a Week (WSJ) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 17, 2024
Mark Gurman says Apple is going to go all in on making the thinnest and lightest devices in the industry. Though the Apple Watch is probably going to get a bigger screen. McDonalds pumps the breaks on AI in the drive through. And two contradictory anecdotal stories about what happens when AI comes for your job. Sponsors: ArcticWolf.com/techmeme Miro.com Links: Apple’s Slow Rollout of Intelligence Features Will Stretch Into 2025 (Bloomberg) Kuo: Apple Watch Series 10 to Get Larger Screen and Thinner Design (MacRumors) Privacy app maker Proton transitions to non-profit foundation structure (TechCrunch) McDonald's is ending its drive-thru AI test (Restaurant Business Online) AI took their jobs. Now they get paid to make it sound human (BBC) AI in finance is like ‘moving from typewriters to word processors’ (Financial Times) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 14, 2024
The recall of some Microsoft AI products continues as literally Recall gets delayed. Another deep dive into how Apple’s AI actually works. Dream Machine is an open source AI video generator you can use this weekend. And in the Weekend Longreads Suggestions, the people who have found everyday use cases for the Apple Vision Pro. Links: Microsoft’s all-knowing Recall AI feature is being delayed (The Verge) Here’s how Apple’s AI model tries to keep your data private (The Verge) Luma AI debuts ‘Dream Machine’ for realistic video generation, heating up AI media race (VentureBeat) As streaming becomes more expensive, Tubi cashes in on the value of free (Los Angeles Times) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: I Know What the Apple Vision Pro Is For (Intelligencer) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 13, 2024
Apple isn’t paying OpenAI anything for their partnership. Guess they’ll make it up on volume. More details on how much money OpenAI IS making. The surprise Galaxy Watch FE. And do you think you’d have the skills to compete in the Excel World Championships? Links: Apple to ‘Pay’ OpenAI for ChatGPT Through Distribution, Not Cash (Bloomberg) OpenAI’s Annualized Revenue Doubles to $3.4 Billion Since Late 2023 (The Information) Perplexity was planning revenue-sharing deals with publishers when it came under media fire (Semafor) You’ll soon be able to join Discord calls directly from your PS5 (The Verge) Nintendo Switch Update 18.1.0 Pulls X/Twitter Support, Bringing It In-Line With PlayStation and Xbox (IGN) Samsung’s Galaxy Watch FE is its new entry-level smartwatch (The Verge) Spreadsheet Superstars (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 12, 2024
Elon Musk has withdrawn his lawsuit against Sam Altman and OpenAI. I guess Wall Street likes Apple’s AI strategy. But why is Microsoft already putting the brakes on some of its AI features? BeReal gets acquired. What does the word “slop” mean when it comes to AI? And what happens when you add modern technology to the humble walkie talkie? Links: Elon Musk drops suit against OpenAI and Sam Altman (CNBC) X is officially making likes (mostly) private for everyone (Engadget) Apple quietly improves Mac virtualization in macOS 15 Sequoia (ArsTechnica) Microsoft is killing off GPT Builder in Copilot Pro for consumers, just three months after broad availability (XDA Developers) OpenAI ex-employees worry about company’s control over their millions of dollars in shares (CNBC) Photo-sharing app BeReal acquired by Voodoo for €500mn (FT) First Came ‘Spam.’ Now, With A.I., We’ve Got ‘Slop’ (NYTimes) Raleigh smart walkie-talkie startup Relay raises $35M from investors (Axios) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 11, 2024
All of the drips and drabs details from yesterday’s WWDC keynote. Spotify is about to announce a higher tier of membership with some perks. Mistral raises a big new round. The Raspberry Pi IPO is a success. And what if AI could actually make every stoplight in the country more intelligent in real time? Sponsors: Vanta.com/ride Lumen.me/ride Links: Apple’s AI promise: “Your data is never stored or made accessible to Apple” (ArsTechnica) How will Apple’s new AI change your phone? I asked Tim Cook. (Washington Post) Thoughts on #WWDC24 (Chris Messina) Apple’s Push to Infuse Devices With AI Will Take Years to Pay Off (Bloomberg) Spotify to Introduce More Expensive Subscription Tier for Music Lovers (Bloomberg) Mistral secures €600mn funding as valuation soars to almost €6bn (Financial Times) Raspberry Pi shares jump more than a third on first day of trading (Financial Times) The Smart, Cheap Fix for Slow, Dumb Traffic Lights (WSJ) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 10, 2024
All the headlines from WWDC. All the AI goodness, even if Apple spent half the time not even mentioning the words Artificial Intelligence. Also, what if the audio quality of cell phones didn’t have to suck? And what if AI could actually make every stoplight in the country more intelligent in real time? Sponsors: Miro.com Shopify.com/ride Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 9, 2024
Get observability for your LLM application at TraceLoop.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 7, 2024
As we prep for WWDC on Monday, word of a completely new Passwords app from Apple. Also, it’s a day of backlashes. The backlash against Adobe’s terms of service. The backlash against Windows Recall. The new social media app that is riding the backlash against AI. And, of course, the Weekend Longread Suggestions. Sponsors: get.StoryBlok.com/ridehome Links: Here’s Everything Apple Plans to Show at Its AI-Focused WWDC Event (Bloomberg) Apple to Debut Passwords App in Challenge to 1Password, LastPass (Bloomberg) Adobe responds to vocal uproar over new Terms of Service language (VentureBeat) Adobe terms clarified: Will never own your work, or use it for AI training (9to5Mac) A PR disaster: Microsoft has lost trust with its users, and Windows Recall is the straw that broke the camel's back (WindowsCentral) A social app for creatives, Cara grew from 40k to 650k users in a week because artists are fed up with Meta’s AI policies (TechCrunch) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: Behind ‘Suicide Squad,’ the Year’s Biggest Video-Game Flop (Bloomberg) The Unistellar Odyssey smart telescope made me question what stargazing means (ArsTechnica) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 6, 2024
Nvidia hits $3T. US regulators aren’t sleeping on the AI market, including Nvidia itself. Humane tells users of the AI Pin to stop using the charging case “immediately.” Google is gonna store your Maps data on device. And would you take a job at Ikea... but in the Metaverse? Sponsors: get.StoryBlok.com/ridehome Kolide.com/ride Links: U.S. Clears Way for Antitrust Inquiries of Nvidia, Microsoft and OpenAI (NYTimes) FTC Opens Antitrust Probe of Microsoft AI Deal (WSJ) US antitrust enforcer says ‘urgent’ scrutiny needed over Big Tech’s control of AI (Financial Times) Humane warns AI Pin owners to ‘immediately’ stop using its charging case (The Verge) ‘This Is Going to Be Painful’: How a Bold A.I. Device Flopped (NYTimes) Google Maps is making a big privacy change to protect your location history (The Verge) Stability AI releases a sound generator (TechCrunch) Ikea Is Hiring Roblox Players To Run Its Virtual Store (The Gamer) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 5, 2024
As I said on that bonus episode with Alex Kantrowitz, the research side of OpenAI isn’t happy, and they’re starting to speak out. More details on AI at WWDC next week. More price hikes in digital media. Palmer Luckey can’t stop; won’t stop. And how CoreWeave became one of the biggest winners of the AI era. Links: OpenAI Insiders Warn of a ‘Reckless’ Race for Dominance (NYTimes) Apple Made Once-Unlikely Deal With Sam Altman to Catch Up in AI (Bloomberg) Twitch is raising US subscription prices for the first time (Engadget) Quest v66 Update "Significantly" Reduces Quest 3 Passthrough Distortion & Warping (UploadVR) How an upstart is using its Nvidia ties to challenge cloud computing giants (Financial Times) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 4, 2024
More headlines from Computex. More layoffs at Microsoft, but why? Instagram is copying YouTube’s unskippable ads. Why Samsung is pre-emptively suing Oura. And Palmer Lucky is personally bankrolling a modern-day Gameboy. Sponsors: CrunchLabs.com/ride Links: Intel CEO Takes Aim at Nvidia in Fight for AI Chip Dominance (Bloomberg) E*Trade Considers Kicking Meme-Stock Leader Keith Gill Off Platform (WSJ) Microsoft is laying off hundreds in its Azure cloud business, sources say (BusinessInsider) Microsoft cuts jobs in Azure, HoloLens, and other units in latest move to control costs (GeekWire) Instagram confirms test of ‘unskippable’ ads (TechCrunch) Samsung sues Oura preemptively to block smart ring patent claims (The Verge) Palmer Luckey is now selling pixel-perfect ultrabright magnesium Game Boys for $199 (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 3, 2024
Computex brings a slew of announcements from AMD and Nvidia, including an AI bot to help you with your gaming. Another price hike from Spotify. Perplexity launches Pages. X is now officially NSFW. And a look at Sam Altman’s investment portfolio. Sponsors: WashingtonPost.com/ride MackWeldon.com code: BRIAN Links: Nvidia’s G-Assist is an AI chatbot that guides you through games and optimizes your PC (The Verge) Spotify is increasing US prices again (The Verge) Perplexity will research and write reports (The Verge) X tweaks rules to formally allow adult content (TechCrunch) The Opaque Investment Empire Making OpenAI’s Sam Altman Rich (WSJ) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 1, 2024
OpenAI Teases GPT-5, Musk Raises $6B for xAI, Loneliness in Remote Work Era. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 31, 2024
OpenAI has a new “affordable” version of ChatGPT for universities and schools. They also are planning to get back into robotics in a big way. Behind the scenes, TikTok is forking its algorithm just in case. Why doesn’t Apple just euthanize the Siri brand? And, of course, the Weekend Longreads Suggestions. Links: OpenAI has a has a new version of ChatGPT just for universities (Engadget) OpenAI Is Rebooting Its Robotics Team (Forbes) OpenAI finds Russian and Chinese groups used its tech for propaganda campaigns (Washington Post) Apple Plans AI-Based Siri Overhaul to Control Individual App Functions (Bloomberg) Exclusive: TikTok preparing a US copy of the app’s core algorithm, sources say (Reuters) Spotify offers Car Thing refunds as it faces lawsuit over bricking the streaming device (TechCrunch) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: Disney Is Banking On Sequels to Help Get Pixar Back on Track (Bloomberg Businessweek) They Built a $100 Million Watch Empire. Then the Market Tanked. (WSJ) The Creator Of ‘Magic: The Gathering’ Knows Exactly Where It All Went Wrong (Defector) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 30, 2024
Global authorities take down what they say is the biggest botnet of all time. More big AI deals for big media. More on the delicate dance between OpenAI and Microsoft. Why aren’t there more smartwatches for tweens? And the AR laptop that might give the Apple Vision Pro a run for its money. Links: US dismantles 911 S5 botnet used for cyberattacks, arrests admin (BleepingComputer) Exclusive: The Atlantic, Vox Media ink licensing, product deals with OpenAI (Axios) OpenAI CEO Cements Control as He Secures Apple Deal (The Information) Internal divisions linger at OpenAI after November’s attempted coup (Financial Times) Amazon to Expand US Drone Service After Getting Regulator’s Nod (Bloomberg) Apple Signals That It’s Working on TV+ App for Android Phones (Bloomberg) Google announces Fitbit Ace LTE for kids with Wear OS, Pixel Watch 2 specs (9to5Google) The Spacetop G1 Arrives This Fall. We Try the AR Laptop With No Screen (Wired) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 29, 2024
A big leak at Google might be the tech equivalent of the secret formula for Coca-Cola being revealed for the first time. The ex-OpenAI board members are starting to explain why they tried to fire Sam Altman. Did the Biden administration pass on TikTok’s concessions to avoid a ban? And remember delivery apps? How they doin’ these days? Sponsors: Lumen.me code: RIDE Links: An Anonymous Source Shared Thousands of Leaked Google Search API Documents with Me; Everyone in SEO Should See Them (SparkToro.com) Ex-OpenAI Director Says Board Learned of ChatGPT Launch on Twitter (Bloomberg) Anthropic hires former OpenAI safety lead to head up new team (TechCrunch) YouTube’s free games catalog ‘Playables’ rolls out to all users (TechCrunch) How the U.S. ignored a chance to make TikTok safer (Washington Post) Food delivery apps rack up $20bn in losses in fierce battle for diners (Financial Times) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 28, 2024
We have a rough timeline of when we can expect GPT5 and it looks like it won’t be this summer. xAI has a big raise. Another in-depth look at Apple’s AI strategy. The surprising old school companies getting boosted by the AI boom. And more data on how popular ad-supported streaming is becoming. Sponsors: YahooFinance.com 1Password.com/ride Links: OpenAI Says It Has Begun Training a New Flagship A.I. Model (NYTimes) Elon Musk’s xAI raises $6 billion to fund its race against ChatGPT and all the rest (The Verge) Apple Bets That Its Giant User Base Will Help It Win in AI (Bloomberg) Google adds AI-powered features to Chromebook (TechCrunch) The future of financial analysis: How GPT-4 is disrupting the industry, according to new research (VentureBeat) AI Is Driving ‘the Next Industrial Revolution.’ Wall Street Is Cashing In. (WSJ) What Happened to Our Ad-Free TV? (NYTimes) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 24, 2024
Out of nowhere, the SEC has approved spot ETFs for ether. Spotify is killing its Car Thing. Google’s AI Overview is giving crazy answers all over the place. But Meta already wants to charge more for their AI bots. And, of course, the Weekend Longreads Suggestions. Sponsors: Miro.com Links: US SEC approves exchange applications to list spot ether ETFs (Reuters) Spotify is going to break every Car Thing gadget it ever sold (The Verge) Google's AI search feature suggested using glue to keep cheese sticking to a pizza (Business Insider) Save $200+ on your upgrade to The Information Pro (The Information) The Daylight DC1 is a $729 attempt to build a calmer computer (The Verge) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: VCs and the military are fueling self-driving startups that don’t need roads (TechCrunch) Two students find security bug that could let millions do laundry for free (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 23, 2024
Nvidia’s earnings are still historic, but what could upset their apple cart? A few things, actually. I think we know the truth or at least the timeline of JohanssonGate. Big new media deal for OpenAI. Likes are going private on X. And would you clone your voice to answer the phone on your behalf? Sponsors: Vanta.com/ride Links: Nvidia shares pass $1,000 for first time on AI-driven sales surge (CNBC) Nvidia’s Business Is Booming. Here’s What Could Slow It Down. (WSJ) OpenAI didn’t copy Scarlett Johansson’s voice for ChatGPT, records show (Washington Post) OpenAI, WSJ Owner News Corp Strike Content Deal Valued at Over $250 Million (WSJ) Crypto Lobby Wins: House Passes FIT21 as Democrats Deride Historic Regulatory Framework (Decrypt) Elon Musk Wants to Make X's Likes Private to Hide Your Favorite 'Edgy' Content (Gizmodo) Truecaller and Microsoft will let users make an AI voice to answer calls (The Verge) The story about my wife's theater project (NYTimes) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 22, 2024
All the AI announcements from Microsoft Build. I know it’s only been a minute, but is Humane already circling the Deadpool? They’re supposedly shopping themselves, but at a valuation that seems… shall we say, on brand for them? Don’t forget Alexa needs an AI upgrade. And the efforts to peek inside the black box that is the Large Language Model. Links: Microsoft’s new Copilot AI agents act like virtual employees to automate tasks (The Verge) Microsoft is bringing ‘Windows Volumetric Apps’ to Meta Quest headsets (The Verge) Wearable AI Startup Humane Explores Potential Sale, Sources Say (Bloomberg) Google Search’s New AI Overviews Will Soon Have Ads (Wired) Amazon plans to give Alexa an AI overhaul — and a monthly subscription price (CNBC) AI Is a Black Box. Anthropic Figured Out a Way to Look Inside (Wired) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 21, 2024
There are only 2 stories today, but they’re big ones. First, at an event yesterday, Microsoft showed off what they want the PC to look like in the AI era. Plus, this Recall app is super interesting. Then, look, it’s the Scarlett Johansson/OpenAI thing. It’s gotten weird. And more importantly, it’s continuing to highlight how OpenAI itself is… weird. Sponsors: Miro.com for 3 free boards! Links: The new, faster Surface Pro is Microsoft’s all-purpose AI PC (The Verge) Microsoft announces an Arm-powered Surface Laptop (The Verge) Microsoft unveils Copilot+ PCs with generative AI capabilities baked in (Engadget) Recall is Microsoft’s key to unlocking the future of PCs (The Verge) Scarlett Johansson says she was 'shocked, angered' when she heard OpenAI's voice that sounded like her (NBCNews) Midler v. Ford Motor Co. (Wikipedia) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 20, 2024
No, that ChatGPT voice is not Scarlett Johansson, stop asking. In fact, that voice is going away. What does it mean if OpenAI’s entire superalignment team has gone away? Is Apple News+ the partner publishers have been waiting for? And if you want to be a digital nomad, you’ve got a lot of options these days. Sponsors: Pivotal Podcast To access The Washington Post for just 50 cents per week, head to WashingtonPost.com/ride Links: OpenAI to Pull Johansson Soundalike Sky’s Voice From ChatGPT (Bloomberg) What We Lose When ChatGPT Sounds Like Scarlett Johansson (NYTimes) Apple Needs to Evolve to Compete in the Artificial Intelligence Era (Bloomberg) OpenAI’s Long-Term AI Risk Team Has Disbanded (Wired) As clicks dry up for news sites, could Apple’s news app be a lifeline? (Semafor) Countries wooing corporate digital nomads hope to make them stay (FT) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 17, 2024
As telegraphed for the last year, Reddit is going all in on being an all you can eat buffet for AI companies. Will new batteries give iPhones longer battery life like I want, or will they just make the phones thinner? A subtle but important improvement to ChatGPT and in the Longreads, a deep dive into what happened at Cruise. Links: OpenAI strikes deal to bring Reddit content to ChatGPT (Reuters) OpenAI strikes Reddit deal to train its AI on your posts (The Verge) Grand Theft Auto VI is launching in fall 2025 (The Verge) iPhone 16 Pro Max to get new battery that could last longer (AppleInsider) ChatGPT now lets you import files directly from Google Drive, Microsoft OneDrive (VentureBeat) Twitter is officially X.com now (The Verge) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: In a single night, self-driving startup Cruise went from sizzling startup to cautionary tale. Here’s what really happened—and how GM is scrambling to save its $10B bet (Fortune) How cuddly robots could change dementia care (MIT Technology Review) Where Did All The Stocks Go? (Sherwood) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 16, 2024
Some AI companies want to go after web search. But by hiring an Instagram founder, is Anthropic going in a social or app direction? Will AI kill the carbon neutral ambitions of the major tech players? Will tech companies now have to onshore EMPLOYEES from China? And Netflix with ads? Definitely working. Links: EU launches probe into Meta over social media addiction in children (Financial Times) Instagram’s co-founder is Anthropic’s new chief product officer (The Verge) Android will be able to detect if your phone has been snatched (The Verge) Microsoft’s AI Push Imperils Climate Goal as Carbon Emissions Jump 30% (Bloomberg) Microsoft Asks Hundreds of China-Based AI Staff to Consider Relocating Amid U.S.-China Tensions (WSJ) Stability AI, Facing Cash Crunch, Discusses Sale (The Information) Netflix ad-supported tier has 40 million monthly users, nearly double previous count (CNBC) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 15, 2024
All the announces from Google’s massive I/O event yesterday, including, yes, generative AI summaries are fully coming to Google Search. Plus, the camera-based AI system they teased that looks really cool. Ilya Sutskever officially leaves OpenAI. And is crypto the only place left where you can raise a billion-dollar seed round? Sponsors: Lumen.me code RIDE for $100 off Links: Google rolls out AI Overviews in US with more countries coming soon (SearchEngineLand) Can Google Give A.I. Answers Without Breaking the Web? (NYTimes) Google's Project Astra uses your phone's camera and AI to find noise makers, misplaced items and more. (Engadget) OpenAI co-founder Ilya Sutskever says he will leave the startup (CNBC) TikTok creators sue U.S. government over potential ban (Washington Post) Humanity Protocol Becomes Crypto’s New Digital Identity Unicorn (Bloomberg) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 14, 2024
OpenAI unveils GPT-4o which makes Siri look like the technical cul-de-sac it very much is. But what does it mean that this was NOT GPT-5? What does it mean for the gaming industry that the PS5 might be underperforming? More streaming bundles. And the 2024 iPad refresh reviews. Sponsors: YahooFinance.com ConstantContact.com Links: OpenAI debuts GPT-4o ‘omni’ model now powering ChatGPT (TechCrunch) OpenAI debuts new model with enhanced real-time voice abilities (Axios) Tom Warren's PS5 sales Tweet Comcast to Launch Peacock, Netflix and Apple TV+ Bundle at a ‘Vastly Reduced Price’ (Variety) The new Apple iPad Air is great — but it’s not the one to get (The Verge) Apple iPad Pro (2024) review: the best kind of overkill (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 13, 2024
Well, looks like my worries about solar weather being a threat to technology wasn’t just in my head. Ask farmers. Squarespace to go private. Raspberry Pi to go public? Waymo is setting some impressive records. And the new type of deal Apple and the other streamers want to offer Hollywood. Sponsors: ArcticWolf.com/techmeme Shopify.com/ride Links: Solar Storm Knocks Out Farmers' Tractor GPS Systems During Peak Planting Season (404Media) Website-design firm Squarespace to go private in $6.9 billion deal with Permira (Reuters) British tech firm Raspberry Pi lines up £500m float (The Times) Microsoft set to face EU competition charges over Teams software (Financial Times) Google’s Waymo Crosses 50,000 Paid Driverless Rides Per Week (The Information) Apple Nears Deal With OpenAI to Put ChatGPT on iPhone (Bloomberg) Apple, Netflix Amazon Want to Change How They Pay Hollywood Stars (Bloomberg) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 10, 2024
Well that was fast. Apple apologized for the “Crush” Ad, saying they missed the mark on that one. Microsoft is launching a mobile game app store. Elevenlabs is getting into the music generating game. And of course, the Weekend Longreads Suggestions. Links: Apple apologizes for iPad ‘Crush’ ad that ‘missed the mark’ (The Verge) Apple doesn’t understand why you use technology (The Verge) Microsoft Plans Mobile-Game Store, Vying With Apple, Google (Bloomberg) Apple to Power AI Tools With In-House Server Chips This Year (Bloomberg) ElevenLabs previews music-generating AI model (VentureBeat) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: Tim Cook Can’t Run Apple Forever. Who’s Next? (Bloomberg) World’s Biggest Construction Project Gets a Reality Check (WSJ) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 9, 2024
AlphaFold 3 is a new AI model to predict interactions and structures of proteins, the better to cure diseases and create medicine with. More cuts in Microsoft gaming. The community backlash erupting over at Stack Overflow. And that really weirdly tone deaf Apple commercial that has everyone so upset. Links: Google DeepMind unveils AI model for living cells (FT) Microsoft’s Xbox Is Planning More Cuts After Studio Closings (Bloomberg) Stack Overflow bans users en masse for rebelling against OpenAI partnership — users banned for deleting answers to prevent them being used to train ChatGPT (TomsHardware) Alphabet Progressing in Talks to Buy HubSpot, Sources Say (Bloomberg) That Weird Apple Ad "Crush!" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 8, 2024
Multiple Bethesda studios are being shut down by Xbox and gamers are worried. The new Pixel phone announcement yesterday that probably nobody heard about. What if OpenAI decides to go after web search? And the surprising fact that FTX investors could be made whole, and then some. With interest! Links: Microsoft Closes Redfall Developer Arkane Austin, Hi-Fi Rush Developer Tango Gameworks, and More in Devastating Cuts at Bethesda (IGN) US revokes licences for supply of chips to China’s Huawei (Financial Times) Exclusive: In Tesla Autopilot probe, US prosecutors focus on securities, wire fraud (Reuters) Google’s New $500 Pixel 8A Smartphone Will Get 7 Years of Software Updates (Wired) OpenAI Is Readying a Search Product to Rival Google, Perplexity (Bloomberg) TikTok Sues U.S. Government Over Law Forcing Sale or Ban (NYTimes) FTX Has Billions More Than Needed to Pay Bankruptcy Victims (Bloomberg) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 7, 2024
All the headlines from today’s Spring Apple event. New iPads? M4 chip? I don’t actually know cause I’m recording this bit beforehand. I can tell you Apple might make its own server chips tho. Nintendo has outlined plans to replace the Switch. And Microsoft is training its own high-end LLM, separate from OpenAI. Links: Apple Is Developing AI Chips for Data Centers, Seeking Edge in Arms Race (WSJ) Nintendo Teases Long-Awaited Switch Successor as Profit Slides (Bloomberg) Meet MAI-1: Microsoft Readies New AI Model to Compete With Google, OpenAI (The Information) Amazon’s Delivery Drones Won’t Fly in Arizona’s Summer Heat (Wired) China hacked Ministry of Defence, Sky News learns (SkyNews) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 6, 2024
Jack Dorsey abandoned Twitter and now he’s abandoned Bluesky as well. YouTube rolls out Jump Ahead. Threads launches post quote controls. More than 40 thousand books on Audible are now voiced by AI. The Air Force is planning more than a thousand AI fighter jets by the end of the decade. And if you’re listening to this on Apple Podcasts, please listen to the end for an important announcement. Sponsors: 1Password.com/ride MackWeldon.com promocode: ride Links: Jack Dorsey departs Bluesky board (TechCrunch) YouTube's AI-powered 'Jump Ahead' feature rolling out widely to Premium users (AndroidAuthority) Farewell, dunks? Threads launches quote controls for all users (TechCrunch) AI-Voiced Audiobooks Top 40,000 Titles on Audible (Bloomberg) An AI-controlled fighter jet took the Air Force leader for a historic ride. What that means for war (AP) Hugging Face launches LeRobot open source robotics code library (VentureBeat) Washed Out’s new music video was created with AI. Is it a watershed moment for Sora? (LATimes) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 3, 2024
Apple earnings are out and revenue was down almost everywhere. Boy, AI can’t come fast enough for them. Did you know you can send Bluetooth signals to satellites in space? The full Rabbit R1 reviews turned out exactly how we expected. And, of course, the Weekend Longreads suggestions. Links: Apple Sales Fall as iPhone, China Businesses Remain Sluggish (WSJ) FDA Qualifies Apple’s AFib History feature as an MDDT (MyHealthyApple) Hubble Network makes Bluetooth connection with a satellite for the first time (TechCrunch) Coinbase’s First-Quarter Profit, Revenue Top Forecasts (Bloomberg) Rabbit R1 review: nothing to see here (The Verge) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: The Revenge of the Home Page (The New Yorker) Nick Bostrom Made the World Fear AI. Now He Asks: What if It Fixes Everything? (Wired) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 2, 2024
The music is back on TikTok with a new deal struck. Maybe a third of Americans were affected by that Change Healthcare hack. Why are companies suddenly cutting teams you’d think would be sacred cows? Airbnb wants you to stay in the house from the movie Up. And we finally know just how much Google pays Apple for the search default in iOS. Sponsors: Kolide.com/ride Links: TikTok and Universal Music Group Settle Royalty Dispute With New Licensing Agreement (Variety) UnitedHealthcare CEO says ‘maybe a third’ of US citizens were affected by recent hack (TechCrunch) UnitedHealth CEO tells lawmakers the company paid hackers a $22 million ransom (CNBC) Google lays off hundreds of ‘Core’ employees, moves some positions to India and Mexico (CNBC) Amazon-backed Anthropic launches iPhone app and business tier to compete with OpenAI’s ChatGPT (CNBC) In Latest Stunt, Airbnb Lists the ‘Up’ House. It Floats. (NYTimes) Google’s Payments to Apple Reached $20 Billion in 2022, Antitrust Court Documents Show (Bloomberg) Microsoft Concern Over Google’s Lead Drove OpenAI Investment (Bloomberg) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 1, 2024
Binance founder CZ looks like he’s heading to jail too, but for way less time than SBF. Is the Rabbit R1 just a fancy device for a glorified Android app? Has OpenAI floated a secret pre-release of GPT5? And finally, so much has happened, I decided we had to do an omnibus catch up with what’s going on in the world of Elon. Links: Binance founder Changpeng Zhao sentenced to four months in prison (The Verge) Rabbit R1, a thing that should just be an app, actually is just an Android app (Updated) (Android Authority) Powerful New Chatbot Disappears as Mysteriously as It Arrived (Gizmodo) Tesla conducting more layoffs, including entire Supercharger team (Electrek) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 30, 2024
The FCC has fined all the major telecom companies. You’ll never guess why. Why the DMA actions from the EU might be a constant thing. Devs, how about an AI-powered IDE? You’ll never guess why Peacock thinks it can raise prices again. And is Marquess Brownlee right about underbaked hardware releases? Sponsors: ZocDoc.com/techmeme ConstantContact.com Links: FCC fines AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, and Verizon nearly $200 million for illegally sharing location data (The Verge) Meta Risks EU Fines Over Kremlin Lies on Facebook, Instagram (Bloomberg) How an empty S3 bucket can make your AWS bill explode (Maciej Pocwierz) Copilot Workspace is GitHub’s take on AI-powered software engineering (TechCrunch) Peacock Hikes Subscription Prices Ahead of 2024 Paris Olympics (The Hollywood Reporter) Rabbit R1 Review (MKBHD) Marques Brownlee slams another AI product as “barely reviewable” after Humane AI Pin controversy (Dexerto) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 29, 2024
Apple continues discussions with folks to partner for AI product. Will the upcoming iPad event kick off Apple’s AI strategy? Why does spending on AI seem to work for Google and Microsoft but not for Meta? Why were a bunch of Apple users signed out of their accounts this weekend? And has AI already ruined Meta’s family of apps? Sponsors: CutsClothing.com/RIDE , promocode RIDE for 20% off YahooFinance.com Links: Apple Intensifies Talks With OpenAI for iPhone Generative AI Features (Bloomberg) Apple Rivals Retool to Challenge the iPhone and Vision Pro (Bloomberg) Investors Cheer AI Spending Boom in Big Tech—Just Not at Meta (WSJ) The Financial Times and OpenAI strike content licensing deal (Financial Times) Apple users are being locked out of their Apple IDs with no explanation (9to5Mac) AI is making Meta's apps basically unusable (Fast Company) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 26, 2024
Net Neutrality has been voted back into existence. Earnings from Microsoft and Google, but it’s the YouTube numbers that continue to impress me. ByteDance claims it would rather be banned than sell US TikTok. The Onion finds a benevolent billionaire. And, of course, the Weekend Longreads Suggestions. Links: F.C.C. Votes to Restore Net Neutrality Rules (NYTimes) Google parent announces first-ever dividend; beats on sales, profit; shares soar (Reuters) OpenAI’s Sam Altman and Other Tech Leaders to Serve on AI Safety Board (WSJ) Exclusive: ByteDance prefers TikTok shutdown in US if legal options fail, sources say (Reuters) The Onion Is Sold by G/O Media (NYTimes) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: The Chips Act has been surprisingly successful so far (Financial Times) Why You Can’t Get a Restaurant Reservation (The New Yorker) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 25, 2024
Meta’s earnings were fine, but it’s what Zuck warned about spending that has Wall Street nervous. Sub 2nm chips are on their way. An AI startup has a big new raise after its big raise just a month ago. Google Meet lets you jump devices. And the first reviews of the Rabbit R1 are out. Links: Zuckerberg Asks for Patience as Meta’s AI Push Spooks Market (Bloomberg) Zuckerberg says it will take Meta years to make money from generative AI (The Verge) TSMC aims to produce ultra-advanced 1.6-nm chips by 2026 (NikkeiAsia) Six-Month-Old AI Coding Startup Valued at $2 Billion by Founders Fund (The Information) Google Meet will let you transfer calls between web and phone with ‘Switch here’ (9to5Google) A morning with the Rabbit R1: a fun, funky, unfinished AI gadget (The Verge) Rabbit R1 hands-on: Already more fun and accessible than the Humane AI Pin (Engadget) Rabbit’s R1 is a little AI gadget that grows on you (TechCrunch) First Ones videos on YouTube Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 24, 2024
The TikTok divestment bill has probably already been signed into law. What happens now? What are the legal arguments that this thing can stick? What about things like, you know, the First Amendment? Also, ads in Windows? Time to take Meta’s RayBan smartglasses seriously? And what it’s like to use AI inside of Instagram. Links: Senate passes TikTok ban bill, sending it to President Biden’s desk (The Verge) TikTok Ban Looms With Biden Poised to Start 270-Day Countdown (Bloomberg) How the TikTok ban could survive a court challenge (Platformer) Windows 11 Start menu ads are now rolling out to everyone (The Verge) The Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses get video calling, Apple Music, and a new style (The Verge) Meta’s A.I. Assistant Is Fun to Use, but It Can’t Be Trusted (NYTimes) "First Ones" YouTube Videos Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 23, 2024
Microsoft has launched new lightweight AI models. Perplexity has a big new raise. Meta wants other people to build Quest headsets. Another reason Apple needs to find new revenue. And if Congress really is going to ban TikTok, are they ever going to tell us exactly why? Links: Microsoft launches Phi-3, its smallest AI model yet (The Verge) Meta Expands Its Mixed Reality Beyond the Quest Headsets (CNET) Meta wants to be the Microsoft of headsets (The Verge) China Smartphone Sales Remain in Black on Huawei, HONOR, Xiaomi Outperformance (Counterpoint) AI Search Startup Perplexity Valued at $1 Billion in Funding Round (Bloomberg) Adobe’s new Firefly model makes it easier to use Photoshop’s AI tools (The Verge) If TikTok Is Such a Threat, Show Us the Receipts (Bloomberg) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 22, 2024
I know we’ve said this before, but TikTok really seems on the brink this time. What the heck is going on with Tesla? Tinder wants you to share your date. Streamers want you to stop dating around and playing the field. An open-source smarthome standard. And again, do we really need standalone AI devices when we already have smartphones? Links: TikTok ‘ban’ passes in the House again, moving to the Senate in foreign aid package (The Verge) Tesla lowers price of ‘Full Self-Driving’ to $8,000, down from $12,000 (Electrek) Tinder gets a ‘Share My Date’ feature for users to send date plans to their curious friends (TechCrunch) Americans’ New TV Habit: Subscribe. Watch. Cancel. Repeat. (NYTimes) The little smart home platform that could (The Verge) The future of AI gadgets is just phones (The Verge) Space Ghost Coast To Coast Marathon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 19, 2024
Meta released Llama 3 yesterday, and some of the moves they made have made be consider if Zuck could win these first AI wars. Is Zuck also getting aggressive in VR? Why Apple had to take down the WhatsApp and Threads apps in China. And, of course, the weekend longreads suggestions. Links: Meta’s battle with ChatGPT begins now (The Verge) Meta, in Its Biggest A.I. Push, Places Smart Assistants Across Its Apps (NYTimes) Meta gives the Quest 2 its second permanent price cut in four months (Engadget) Cool or creepy? Microsoft's VASA-1 is a new AI model that turns photos into 'talking faces' (Tom's Guide) China Orders Apple to Remove Popular Messaging Apps (WSJ) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: How Perfectly Can Reality Be Simulated? (The New Yorker) The Life and Death of Hollywood (Harper's Magazine) How Neopets’ nostalgic revival tripled users in six months (The Guardian) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 18, 2024
Google has fired 28 employees for political protests yesterday. A well-known coding school has been fined by the CFPB. Game emulators come to the iPhone. TikTok’s Instagram clone is rolling out. Has Sony perfecting Mini LED TVs? And the Atlas robot has been reborn in a new body! Links: Google fires 28 employees after sit-in protest over Israel cloud contract (The Verge) Consumer Financial Protection Bureau fines BloomTech for false claims (TechCrunch) Third-party iPhone app store AltStore PAL is now live in Europe (The Verge) TikTok Notes starts rolling out as a new rival to Instagram (The Verge) US Air Force confirms first successful AI dogfight (The Verge) Sony might have perfected Mini LED TVs with its new 2024 lineup (The Verge) Boston Dynamics’ Atlas humanoid robot goes electric (TechCrunch) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 17, 2024
T-Mobile and Verizon employees are being offered bribes for SIM swaps. How much coding copilots have taken over. How much would you value Mistral or Cohere in the LLM race? How popular has Airchat gotten? How big has Amazon Prime gotten? And one of the original modern robots is being retired. Links: T-Mobile, Verizon workers get texts offering $300 for SIM swaps (BleepingComputer) Microsoft’s AI Copilot Is Starting to Automate the Coding Industry (Bloomberg) Mistral, an OpenAI Rival in Europe, in Talks to Raise Capital at a $5 Billion Valuation (The Information) Invitation-Only Audio Social Network Is the Hot New App in Tech Circles (Bloomberg) Musk’s Starlink Cracks Down on Growing Black Market (WSJ) Amazon Prime Memberships in US Gain 8% to New High After Lull (Bloomberg) Atlas shrugged: Boston Dynamics retires its hydraulic humanoid robot (TechCrunch) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 16, 2024
Microsoft continues to spread its AI bets. Disney wants to bring back tv channels. YouTube is not gonna let you block ads. What did Humane get wrong with the AI Pin? And can Limitless do any better with its AI Pendant? Sponsors: MackWeldon.com , promocode ride YahooFinance.com Links: Microsoft to invest $1.5bn in Abu Dhabi AI group G42 (Financial Times) To Keep Viewers, Disney Plans a New Streaming Concept: Old-Style TV Channels (The Information) YouTube cracking down on third-party apps that block ads (9to5Google) YouTube Accounted for Nearly 10% of All TV Viewing in March, Nielsen Says (TheWrap) Oh the Humanity (Sandofsky.com) Limitless is a new AI tool for your meetings — and an all-hearing wearable gadget (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 15, 2024
Really looks like high-end re-shoring of chip tech is happening, and happening soon. What if satellite telephony becomes a table-stakes smartphone feature? Get ready for the bitcoin halving. Does anyone have invites to Airchat? And get ready for 4TB, yes, TB, SD cards. Sponsors: Shopify.com/ride ArcticWolf.com/techmeme Links: Samsung boosts Joe Biden’s chipmaking ambitions with Texas plant upgrade (Financial Times) Exclusive: Google Pixel 9 series to get emergency satellite connectivity, new modem (Android Authority) Bitcoin ‘Halving’ Will Deal a $10 Billion Blow to Crypto Miners (Bloomberg) ChatGPT essay cheats are a menace to us all (Financial Times) Naval Ravikant’s Airchat is a social app built around talk, not text (TechCrunch) 4TB SD cards are arriving in 2025 for your cameras and laptops (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 12, 2024
Now a big business intelligence company has been breached. Do you get the sense that people are laying the groundwork for something? Google discontinues a product, but this time, its probably our fault. M4 chips are coming from Apple. OpenAI continues to be the drama queen of Silicon Valley. And, of course, the Weekend Longreads Suggestions. Links: US government urges Sisense customers to reset credentials after hack (TechCrunch) Google One VPN will be discontinued, Pixel VPN remains with upgrade coming (9to5Google) X’s Premium users can no longer hide their blue checks (The Verge) Apple Plans to Overhaul Entire Mac Line With AI-Focused M4 Chips (Bloomberg) OpenAI Researchers, Including Ally of Sutskever, Fired for Alleged Leaking (The Information) Is Google's AI Actually Discovering 'Millions of New Materials?' (404 Media) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: AI-Music Arms Race: Meet Udio, the Other ChatGPT for Music (RollingStone) How Bluey Became a $2 Billion Smash Hit—With an Uncertain Future (Bloomberg) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 11, 2024
Apple is notifying people their iPhones may have been compromised. Spotify wants you to mix up your music. Adobe is paying handsomely for videos. And the biggest new gadget review event in a long time. Link: Apple alerts users in 92 nations to mercenary spyware attacks (TechCrunch) Spotify Plans New Remixing Tools for the TikTok Generation (WSJ) Adobe Is Buying Videos for $3 Per Minute to Build AI Model (Bloomberg) Humane AI Pin review: not even close (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 10, 2024
More AI announces from Google. More hints on how Apple will bring AI to iPhones. And a bunch of interesting datapoints: how much Apple has moved away from manufacturing in China, how much money TikTok’s parent company is making, are kids warming up to VR and are alternative browsers benefitting from the DMA? Links: Google Launches Coding AIs That Could Rival Microsoft's Github Copilot (PCMag) Apple's new AI model could help Siri see how iOS apps work (AppleInsider) Apple’s India iPhone Output Hits $14 Billion in China Shift (Bloomberg) ByteDance Profit Jumps 60%, Taking It Past Archrival Tencent (Bloomberg) Exclusive: EU's new tech laws are working; small browsers gain market share (Reuters) Survey shows that teenagers are using more VR devices in the US (9to5Mac) Kobo announces its first color e-readers (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 9, 2024
Google has a ton of AI announces, including new Arm-based AI chips, utilizing Google search in Gemini, and more. They also released their own Find My network. Microsoft is confident they can release chips that can best Apple Silicon. And maybe OpenAI DID train on YouTube videos after all. Everybody is desperate for data right now. Sponsors: 1Password.com/ride Links: Google Expands In-House Chip Efforts in Costly AI Battle (WSJ) Google Shows AI Model Is Enterprise-Ready After Gemini Mishaps (Bloomberg) Gmail adding voice input, Gemini for Google Chat, Meet ‘Translate for me,’ & more (9to5Google) Google rolling out Find My Device network for Android (9to5Google) Microsoft is confident Windows on Arm could finally beat Apple (The Verge) Spotify launches personalized AI playlists that you can build using prompts (TechCrunch) How Tech Giants Cut Corners to Harvest Data for A.I. (NYTimes) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 8, 2024
David Marcus comes on the pod to discuss what he's been working on since leaving Meta. Specificially: Lightspark, and efforts to expand the Lighting Network and bitcoin. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 5, 2024
Apple joins the tech layoff club. Microsoft warns China is planning to disrupt elections using AI. Disney+ is joining Netflix in cracking down on password sharing. How much is the going rate to buy pictures or videos to train AI models on? And, of course, the Weekend Longreads suggestions. Links: Apple Cut at Least 600 Workers When Car, Screen Projects Stopped (Bloomberg) China will use AI to disrupt elections in the US, South Korea and India, Microsoft warns (The Guardian) Disney+ will crack down on password sharing in June (CNN) Inside Big Tech's underground race to buy AI training data (Reuters) YouTube Says OpenAI Training Sora With Its Videos Would Break Rules (Bloomberg) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: How One Tech Skeptic Decided A.I. Might Benefit the Middle Class (NYTimes) How WhatsApp became the world’s default communication app (Engadget) The 18 most interesting startups from YC’s Demo Day show we’re in an AI bubble (TechCrunch) YC’s latest Demo Day shows fascinating wagers on healthcare, chip design, AI and more (TechCrunch) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 4, 2024
Is Apple pivoting to home robotics now that the Apple Car project is dead? Is Google about to pivot to subscription based search? Why is X handing back blue checkmarks whether people want them or not? Why Amazon merchants are upset over return scams. And why the band Kiss might live forever. Sponsors: Kolide.com/ride Links: Apple Explores Home Robotics as Potential ‘Next Big Thing’ After Car Fizzles (Bloomberg) Google considers charging for AI-powered search in big change to business model (FT) X’s ‘complimentary’ Premium push gives people blue checks they didn’t ask for (The Verge) Washington state judge blocks use of AI-enhanced video as evidence in possible first-of-its-kind ruling (NBCNews) Amazon Sellers Plagued by Surge in Scam Returns (WSJ) Business Schools Are Going All In on AI (WSJ) Rock band Kiss sells rights for $300mn to firm behind Abba hologram show (FT) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 3, 2024
Have we just had a major breakthrough in Quantum Computing? The earthquake in Taiwan might lead to some chip issues. We don’t quite know yet. Amazon is retooling it’s Just Walk Out technology. Venture capitalists are having a hard time raising money. And in the last segment of the show, I actually break some news about Coinbase. Links: Microsoft and Quantinuum say they’ve ushered in the next era of quantum computing (TechCrunch) AI-generated songs are getting longer, not necessarily better (The Verge) Top musicians among hundreds warning against replacing human artists with AI (Axios) TSMC Facilities to Resume Production Overnight After Quake (Bloomberg) Amazon’s Grocery Stores to Drop Just Walk Out Checkout Tech (The Information) Venture capital reckons with the end of ‘megafund’ era (Financial Times) YouTube Of Our Interview With David Marcus Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 2, 2024
Big trove of AT&T customer data dumped online. Microsoft is unbundling Teams. Amazon is readying its own big LLM. We should probably assume Section 230 does not cover AI. And what do you name an AI supercomputer? Stargate, apparently. Links: AT&T resets account passcodes after millions of customer records leak online (TechCrunch) Exclusive: Microsoft to separate Teams and Office globally amid antitrust scrutiny (Reuters) Amazon scrambles for its place in the AI race (The Verge) Gen-AI Search Engine Perplexity Has a Plan to Sell Ads (Adweek) The AI Industry Is Steaming Toward A Legal Iceberg (WSJ) Microsoft and OpenAI Plot $100 Billion Stargate AI Supercomputer (The Information) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 1, 2024
What prolific AI investor Nat Friedman expects from GPT-5, Microsoft's general strategy in AI, how he invests in startups, and his background an philosophy when it comes to investing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 29, 2024
SBF gets 25 years. X is maybe about to NSFW. Apple’s new OLED iPads should be coming in May. I can’t cram another acronym in here to tell you about Apple suing an employee for leaking. And, of course, the WLS… Weekend Longreads Suggestions. Links: Bankman-Fried sentenced to 25 years for multi-billion dollar FTX fraud (Reuters) Elon Musk’s X Is Testing ‘Adult Content’ Groups for Users (Bloomberg) Apple Sues Former Employee for Leaking iPhone's Journal App and More (MacRumors) Apple Plans New iPad Pro for May as Production Ramps Up Overseas (Bloomberg) Reddit shares plunge almost 25% in two days, finish the week below first day close (CNBC) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: How We’ll Reach a 1 Trillion Transistor GPU (IEEE Spectrum) How Jesse Plemons Came to Star in, Well, Pretty Much Everything (Texas Monthly) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 28, 2024
There’s a new king of the AI hill as Anthropic bests OpenAI for the first time. Amazon invests more in Anthropic and is investing a TON more in datacenters. Is that GPT sort of App Store not exactly catching fire? A big acquisition in gaming. And the tiny Caribbean island nation that is one of the biggest winners of the AI moment so far. Links: “The king is dead”—Claude 3 surpasses GPT-4 on Chatbot Arena for the first time (ArsTechnica) Amazon spends $2.75 billion on AI startup Anthropic in its largest venture investment yet (CNBC) Amazon Bets $150 Billion on Data Centers Required for AI Boom (Bloomberg) OpenAI’s app store draws investors and students seeking artificial aids (FT) Oregon’s governor signs right-to-repair law that bans ‘parts pairing’ (The Verge) Take-Two Buys Gearbox From Embracer, Confirms Development on New Borderlands Game (IGN) The A.I. Boom Makes Millions for an Unlikely Industry Player: Anguilla (NYTimes) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 27, 2024
Disney launches Hulu on Disney+. Apple schedules WWDC. Some Apple users report being victims of MFA bombing attacks. What it will mean to be certified as an AI PC. And more crazy data on the hunt for talent in the AI Wars. Links: Hulu on Disney+ Launches Out of Beta With Marketing Push to Grow Subscribers (The Hollywood Reporter) The Disney Plus-Hulu merger is way more than a streaming bundle (The Verge) Apple Announces WWDC 2024 Event for June 10 to 14 (MacRumors) Recent ‘MFA Bombing’ Attacks Targeting Apple Users (KrebsonSecurity) Databricks launches DBRX, challenging Big Tech in the open source AI race (VentureBeat) Databricks open-sources its own large language model, DBRX (SiliconAngle) Databricks spent $10M on new DBRX generative AI model, but it can’t beat GPT-4 (TechCrunch) Intel shares Microsoft's new AI PC definition, launches AI PC Acceleration Programs and Core Ultra Meteor Lake NUC developer kits at AI conference (Tom's Hardware) The Fight for AI Talent: Pay Million-Dollar Packages and Buy Whole Teams (WSJ) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 26, 2024
Executive shuffling indicates that Microsoft is serious about reorganizing itself around AI. The US and UK move against those alleged Chinese infrastructure hackers. OpenAI seems to be courting Hollywood for its Sora tool. And is the IPO window finally open for tech companies? Links: Microsoft has a new Windows and Surface chief (The Verge) Canva Strikes Biggest Acquisition Yet in Chase to Take on Adobe (Bloomberg) US sanctions APT31 hackers behind critical infrastructure attacks (BleepingComputer) OpenAI shows off first examples of third-party creators using Sora (VentureBeat) OpenAI Courts Hollywood in Meetings With Film Studios, Directors (Bloomberg) Reddit options launch draws bulls, as shares soar (Reuters) IPO Window Cracks Open and Silicon Valley Sees Some Daylight (Bloomberg) Meta’s new opt-out setting limits visibility of politics on Instagram and Threads (The Verge) Elon Musk’s Starlink Terminals Are Falling Into the Wrong Hands (Bloomberg) Nat Friedman YouTube Video Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 25, 2024
They said this law would be one that was capable of moving fast. The EU has already opened formal DMA investigations into Apple and Google. Stability AI seems to be circling the Deadpool. Checking in on the health of X. Greater homescreen control coming to iPhones? And what should we make of tech insiders selling massive amounts of shares? Sponsors: MackWeldon.com promocode RIDE Links: EU probes Apple, Meta and Alphabet under landmark new law (Financial Times) Stability AI Founder Emad Mostaque Plans To Resign As CEO, Sources Say (Forbes) Fewer people are using Elon Musk’s X as the platform struggles to attract and keep users, according to analysts (NBCNews) Spotify adds video learning courses in latest experiment (The Verge) Sources: iOS 18 Lets Apps Be Placed Anywhere on Home Screen Grid (MacRumors) Justice Department Risks Picking the Wrong Fight With Apple (Bloomberg) Thiel, Bezos and Zuckerberg join parade of insiders selling tech stocks (Financial Times) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 22, 2024
Everyone is analyzing the DOJ’s case against Apple. An unpatchable vulnerability in Apple Silicon has been uncovered. Threads joins the Fediverse. How that whole Microsoft hiring the Inflection AI team actually maths out. And, of course, the Weekend Longreads Suggestions. Links: Apple CarPlay is anticompetitive, too, US lawsuit alleges (The Verge) U.S. versus Apple: A first reaction (Six Colors) Unpatchable vulnerability in Apple chip leaks secret encryption keys (ArsTechnica) Threads’ fediverse beta opens to share your posts on Mastodon, too (The Verge) Microsoft Agreed to Pay Inflection $650 Million While Hiring Its Staff (The Information) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: 8 Google Employees Invented Modern AI. Here’s the Inside Story (Wired) China’s Super-Cheap EVs Offer Hope for Average American Buyers (Bloomberg Businessweek) Indie, rocked (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 21, 2024
The DOJ opened a lawsuit against Apple. Reddit’s IPO should be happening today. An Epic Games Store on iOS should be coming later this year. Carvana is a Covid-times high-flier that has actually recovered. And Neuralink’s first human patient reveals himself to the world. Links: U.S. Sues Apple, Alleges Tech Giant Exploits Illegal Monopoly (WSJ) Reddit prices IPO at $34 per share in first major social media offering since 2019 (CNBC) The Epic Games Store is coming to Android (9to5Google) Apple Faces Legal Protest From Meta, Microsoft, X, Spotify and Match (WSJ) Carvana makes U-turn away from financial abyss (Financial Times) Amazon’s New Focus: Fending Off Rivals Temu and Shein (WSJ) Watch Neuralink’s First Human Subject Demonstrate His Brain-Computer Interface (Wired) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 20, 2024
Microsoft hiring DeepMind co-founder Mustafa Suleyman to run their new AI division might sound like boring c-suite musical chairs, but it’s actually super interesting. Intel gets the first huge check from the CHIPS Act. Stardew Valley is breaking gaming records. And the interesting startup that does AI music. Links: Microsoft Hires DeepMind Co-Founder Suleyman to Run Consumer AI (Bloomberg) Microsoft bets on start-ups to extend AI lead with hiring of Inflection chief (Financial Times) Intel to receive $8.5bn in US funding for high-end chip manufacturing (Financial Times) Stardew Valley’s 1.6 update smashes its Steam player record (The Verge) A ChatGPT for Music Is Here. Inside Suno, the Startup Changing Everything (Rolling Stone) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 19, 2024
Nvidia announced… well, a ton of things. Two new AI tools show that video is having an AI moment. An update on how TikTok is faring in the Senate. And an interesting raise from a startup that wants to become a major new platform player in Gaming. Sponsors: FactorMeals.com/ride50 and code ride50 Links: Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang announces new AI chips: ‘We need bigger GPUs’ (CNBC) Nvidia launches NIM to make it smoother to deploy AI models into production (TechCrunch) Nvidia enlists humanoid robotics’ biggest names for new AI platform, GR00T (TechCrunch) Nvidia announces Earth-2 digital twin to forecast planet’s climate change (VentureBeat) Google researchers unveil ‘VLOGGER’, an AI that can bring still photos to life (VentureBeat) Stability AI brings a new dimension to video with Stable Video 3D (VentureBeat) DOJ to Push for TikTok Divestiture in Senate Briefings (Bloomberg) Playtron: the startup hoping to Steam Deck-ify the world (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 18, 2024
I did NOT have on my bingo card Apple turning to Google to power its first big foray into modern AI on its hardware. Even while a new Apple AI model might be pointing to breakthroughs in AI reasoning. One of the biggest e-sports competitions in the world has been hacked by cheaters. And some pretty bearish news for the VR industry. Links: Apple Is in Talks to Let Google Gemini Power iPhone AI Features (Bloomberg) Apple researchers achieve breakthroughs in multimodal AI as company ramps up investments (VentureBeat) xAI open-sources base model of Grok, but without any training code (TechCrunch) Musk’s Grok AI goes open source (VentureBeat) Massive ‘Apex Legends’ Hack Disrupts NA Finals, Raises Serious Security Concerns (Forbes) Sony Hits Pause on PSVR2 Production as Unsold Inventory Piles Up (Bloomberg) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 16, 2024
Perplexity CEO Aravind Srinivas tell Chris and I to expect more partnerships like the recent one with Yelp; how Perplexity thinks of search differently than Google does; and the competition Perplexity fears beyond Google. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 15, 2024
Remember that Apple has quietly made more AI acquisitions than anyone else? They quietly made another one. The FCC has a new definition for broadband. Looks like everybody knows the EU is a stick they can beat Apple with now. And, of course, the Weekend Longreads Suggestions. Sponsors: Robinhood.com/boost Links: Apple Buys Canadian AI Startup as It Races to Add Features (Bloomberg) FCC scraps old speed benchmark, says broadband should be at least 100Mbps (ArsTechnica) Spotify says its iPhone app updates in the EU are getting held up by Apple (The Verge) Pornhub Disables Website in Texas Over Age-Verification Law (Variety) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: Can Reddit Survive Its Own IPO? (Wired) One Big Reason Gen Z Is Still on Facebook: To Save Money (NYTimes) How Nvidia beat everyone else in the AI race (Vox) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 14, 2024
If this TikTok bill is actually going to become law, who would actually be in the running to take it over? A bunch of announcements from Microsoft. Hard data on how we listen to music these days. And estimates for how much AI could cut into the traditional web search business. Sponsors: Ramp.com/techmeme Links: House passes TikTok bill that could ban app in the U.S., spawning Senate support (The Washington Post) Microsoft has added the GPT-4 Turbo LLM to the free version of Copilot (Neowin) Microsoft says new AI security chatbot pricing model lets customers ‘buy what they need’ (CNBC) Microsoft Teams is finally moving to a single app for personal and work (The Verge) Anthropic releases Claude 3 Haiku, an AI model built for speed and affordability (VentureBeat) MusicWatch Reports Results of 2023 Annual Music Study: Record Numbers of Music Streamers and Paid Subscribers (Music Watch) Google's Gen AI Search Threatens Publishers With $2B Annual Ad Revenue Loss (AdWeek) YouTube Video Of The Perplexity CEO Interview Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 13, 2024
The TikTok legislation has passed the House, but it’s path through the Senate is uncertain to say the least. The first real AI regulation has passed, in Europe, of course. Arm’s new chips for self-driving cars. Did Cerebras just break Moore’s Law with its new AI chips? Spotify has music videos. And Perplexity continues to try to become Google Search faster than Google search can become them. Sponsors: Shopify.com/ride Nutrafol.com/men code: RIDEHOME Links: TikTok bill, racing toward House passage, faces a minefield in the Senate (Washington Post) How TikTok Was Blindsided by U.S. Bill That Could Ban It (WSJ) World’s first major act to regulate AI passed by European lawmakers (CNBC) Stripe in ‘no rush’ to go public as cash flow turns positive (FT) Arm unveils first chip design to power self-driving cars (FT) AI startup Cerebras unveils the WSE-3, the largest chip yet for generative AI (ZDNet) Spotify adds music videos in some countries (TechCrunch) Perplexity brings Yelp data to its chatbot (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 12, 2024
More App Store changes from Apple will allow developers to offer apps via their website. In Europe only, of course. Some of you can file your taxes online, for free, starting today. Why bitcoin has been breaking records. An interesting AI raise. Is TikTok about to launch an Instagram competitor? Though maybe the reason they need to is their user numbers are flatlining. Sponsors: Shopify.com/ride Links: Apple will allow users to download apps directly from a developer’s website, in latest EU App Store rule change (9to5Mac) The IRS launches Direct File, a pilot program for free online tax filing available in 12 states (AP) Crypto Product Inflows Soar to Record High, CoinShares Says (Bloomberg) Airbnb is banning indoor security cameras (The Verge) Gold-Medalist Coders Build an AI That Can Do Their Job for Them (Bloomberg) Exclusive: Tiktok is working on a new Photo Sharing platform to compete with Instagram (The SpAndroid) TikTok's growth rate has collapsed. 'Life' may be getting in the way for its younger users. (Business Insider) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 11, 2024
Epic got Apple to blink! Sam Altman got back on OpenAI’s board of directors. Reddit finally gets to IPO. Elon Musk says X.ai is going open source. And once again, you won’t believe the degree to which your car and your driving is the new data treasure trove for companies to monetize. Sponsors: 1password.com/ride ArcticWolf.com/techmeme Links: Epic says Apple will reinstate developer account, clearing path for Epic Games Store on iPhone (9to5Mac) Sam Altman returns to OpenAI's board (Axios) Sam Altman rejoins OpenAI’s board after investigation into sudden firing (The Verge) OpenAI’s Sam Altman Returns to Board After Probe Clears Him (Bloomberg) Elon Musk says xAI will open-source Grok this week (TechCrunch) Reddit to raise nearly $750 million in upcoming IPO (CNBC) Telegram hits 900mn users and nears profitability as founder considers IPO (Financial Times) Automakers Are Sharing Consumers’ Driving Behavior With Insurance Companies (NYTimes) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 9, 2024
Guy Kawasaki shares key insights on how to have a successful career, found in his new book: Think Remarkable. Also, some fun Apple and Steve Jobs story, such as: what kind of a***ole boss WAS Steve Jobs, exactly. The kind you want, Guy says. Buy the book: Think Remarkable Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 8, 2024
Did TikTok overplay its hand yesterday? The potential legislation against them is suddenly moving quickly. How Temu might be single handedly responsible for the tech advertising turnaround. More drama behind the whole Sam Altman ouster business. And, of course, the weekend longreads suggestions. Links: Furious Congress plows forward with TikTok bill after user revolt (Axios) China Readies $27 Billion Chip Fund to Counter Growing US Curbs (Bloomberg) Temu’s Push Into America Pays Off Big Time for Meta and Google (WSJ) Key OpenAI Executive Played a Pivotal Role in Sam Altman’s Ouster (NYTimes) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: The Nvidia Chips Inside Powerful AI Supercomputers (WSJ) Amid explosive demand, America is running out of power (Washington Post) How Netflix’s Massive Paydays, COVID and TikTok Caused ‘Explosion of Comedians’ (Variety) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 7, 2024
On the first day of the DMA regime, the whole battle between Apple and Epic Games has gotten hella weird. Rumors of the US government going after TikTok again are swirling, again. What if we see a foldable Macbook before a foldable iPhone? And why the job of AI Prompt Engineer might be made redundant by… AI. Sponsors: Kolide.com/ride Links: Apple kills Epic’s iOS game store plans over App Store criticism (The Verge) Apple Set to Be Quizzed by EU Over ‘Fortnite’ Maker Shutout (Bloomberg) Big Tech howled over E.U. antitrust law. The White House declined a rescue. (The Washington Post) W.H. works with Hill to ban TikTok (Punchbowl News) Kuo: Apple actively working on 20.3-inch foldable MacBook (9to5Mac) AI Prompt Engineering Is Dead Long live AI prompt engineering (IEEE Spectrum) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 6, 2024
Apple shows how it is complying with the DMA. We’ve got a Microsoft hardware event coming up. I wonder if they’ll mention AI? Has BlackCat been defeated, or is this a clever ruse to rebrand? And OpenAI has clapped back at Elon’s lawsuit. Links: Apple Releases iOS and iPadOS 17.4 with Major Safari and App Store Changes in the EU, Transcripts for Podcasts, New Emoji, and More (MacStories) EXCLUSIVE: Microsoft will unveil OLED Surface Pro 10 and Arm Surface Laptop 6 this spring ahead of major Windows 11 AI update (Windows Central) 'Exit scam' - hackers that hit UnitedHealth pull disappearing act (Reuters) OpenAI Fires Back at Musk Allegations With Trove of Emails (Bloomberg) Sam Altman tells staff OpenAI investigation will 'soon' close, as employees brace for more surprises (Business Insider) YouTube Video Of The Guy Kawasaki Interview Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 5, 2024
The big DMA deadline is mere hours away. A big Twitter related lawsuit has arrived that I kind of can’t believe took this long. Nothing releases a pretty compelling cheap phone. Waymo is bringing its driverless taxi service to Los Angeles. And is Linux quietly having a moment? Links: Google rolls out changes for users, apps developers as EU tech rules loom (Reuters) Instagram now lets you edit DMs up to 15 mins after sending them (TechCrunch) M3 MacBook Pro will gain multi-display support in software update (9to5Mac) Former Twitter Executives Sue Musk Over Unpaid Severance (WSJ) The Nothing Phone 2A proves thoughtful design can come at a budget price (The Verge) Waymo can now charge for robotaxi rides in LA and on San Francisco freeways (TechCrunch) Linux Crosses 4% Market Share Worldwide (Linuxiac) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 4, 2024
The EU Commission has fined Apple for stifling music streaming competition. New Macbook Airs with the M3 chip. Why the Apple Car was doomed from day one. Anthropic releases Claude 3 in three different flavors. And if 5G isn’t floating your boat, can I interest you in 5G Advanced? Links: Apple hit with €1.8bn fine for breaking EU law over music streaming (Financial Times) Apple launches new 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Air with M3 chip, support for two external displays, faster Wi-Fi (9to5Mac) Apple’s Car Was Doomed by Its Lofty Ambitions to Outdo Tesla (Bloomberg) Anthropic unveils Claude 3, surpassing GPT-4 and Gemini Ultra in benchmark tests (VentureBeat) Google-backed Anthropic debuts its most powerful chatbot yet, as generative AI battle heats up (CNBC) Telcos are barely done rolling out 5G networks — and they’re already talking about ‘5.5G’ (CNBC) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 1, 2024
Elon is suing Sam Altman and OpenAI. Meta continues to get out of the news business, especially when it’s being pushed. A new AI deepfake supertool. And, of course, the Weekend Longreads Suggestions. Links: Elon Musk sues OpenAI over AI threat (Courthouse News Service) Meta to Wind Down Its News Feature in the US and Australia (Bloomberg) Microsoft introduces Copilot AI chatbot for finance workers in Excel and Outlook (CNBC) Alibaba’s new AI system ‘EMO’ creates realistic talking and singing videos from photos (VentureBeat) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: Wait. Why is Reddit losing so much money? (Business Insider) The 9-Month-Old AI Startup Challenging Silicon Valley’s Giants (WSJ) What a Major Solar Storm Could Do to Our Planet (The New Yorker) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 29, 2024
The SEC has subpoenaed OpenAI. What if the Vision Pro is selling better than even Apple thought? Beware of the repo attack affecting GitHub. Beware of the video doorbells that are ridiculously easy to take over. And is robotics the next big tech industry we need to be paying attention to? Links: SEC Investigating Whether OpenAI Investors Were Misled (WSJ) EA to lay off 5% of workforce, or about 670 employees (CNBC) Vision Pro demand higher than expected; returns down to 1% – Kuo (9to5Mac) Kuo: Apple Vision Pro on Track to Launch in More Countries Before WWDC in June (MacRumors) Apple Vision Pro return rate is about the same as the iPhone 15 Pro (Apple Insider) StarCoder 2 is a code-generating AI that runs on most GPUs (TechCrunch) GitHub besieged by millions of malicious repositories in ongoing attack (ArsTechnica) These Video Doorbells Have Terrible Security. Amazon Sells Them Anyway. (Consumer Reports) Humanoid robot startup Figure AI valued at $2.6 billion as Bezos, OpenAI, Nvidia join funding (CNBC) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 28, 2024
The Apple car project is dead. Really, this time. We think. Google is working to fix Gemini. If you’re using Tumblr, your posts might soon be training OpenAI’s models. Klarna’s AI is doing the work of hundreds of humans. And another fever dream of the most recent boom years might be over. Links: Apple to Wind Down Electric Car Effort After Decadelong Odyssey (Bloomberg) Apple's Scrapped Car Project Means AI and Headset Bets Are More Urgent (Bloomberg) Google CEO calls AI tool’s controversial responses ‘completely unacceptable’ (Semafor) Tumblr and WordPress to Sell Users’ Data to Train AI Tools (404 Media) Klarna says its AI assistant does the work of 700 people after it laid off 700 people (FastCompany) Thrasio, once king of e-commerce aggregation, files for Ch.11 (TechCrunch) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 27, 2024
If you can believe it, MOAR layoffs in gaming. Big layoffs at Sony. We might see Meta’s first AR glasses later this year. The big hack affecting US pharmacies. Hopin enters the Deadpool. And yet another startup takes at swing at the delayed gratification gimmick for social media. Sponsors: Hims.com/ride Links: Sony is laying off 900 PlayStation employees (The Verge) Microsoft’s Mistral AI Investment to Be Examined by EU Watchdog (Bloomberg) Meta aims to reveal and demo Orion, its first true AR glasses, during its fall developer conference (Business Insider) US pharmacy outage triggered by 'Blackcat' ransomware at UnitedHealth unit, sources say (Reuters) Netflix confirms it’s cutting off Apple billing for legacy subscribers (The Verge) Hopin's UK business enters liquidation as it transfers HQ to the US (Sifted) The Supreme Court is about to decide the future of online speech (The Verge) Supreme Court Fears ‘Land Mines’ in Social Media Debate Over Free Speech (Bloomberg) Lapse, the app turning your phone into an old-school camera, snaps up $30M (TechCrunch) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 26, 2024
Mobile World Congress kicks off this week, and I bet you can guess what the big theme this year is. All the hardware that is being announced to allow you to do AI on your existing devices. Samsung unveiled its Galaxy Ring, but Apple wants you to know it could do a ring too if it wanted to. And Lenovo’s see-through laptop is cool looking, but also, looking for a use case. Links: Samsung unveils the Galaxy Ring as a way to 'simplify everyday wellness' (Engadget) Apple Ponders Whether to Develop Smart Glasses, Fitness Ring (Bloomberg) Here’s why the $3,500 Apple Vision Pro headset is so expensive (CNBC) Au Large (Mistral.ai) Nvidia launches RTX 500 and 1000 Ada Generation laptop GPUs for AI on the go (VentureBeat) Lenovo’s laptop concept is fully transparent, but the point isn’t entirely clear (TechCrunch) Peering through Lenovo’s transparent laptop into a sci-fi future (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 24, 2024
Catching you up on the great Substack controversy and who is winning the race to be the new Twitter? Ed's new podcast is called Better Offline , which you can find wherever fine podcasts are found. And his newsletter is called: Where's Your Ed At? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 23, 2024
We have all the details of the Reddit IPO. And Sam Altman of all people makes an appearance in the S1! What that big cell phone outage yesterday was all about. Can Mark Zuckerberg be held personally liable in some of these Meta lawsuits? And given this weeks’ news, in the longreads, a long interview with Nvidia’s CEO predicting the future of computing. Sponsors: Robinhood.com/boost Links: Reddit files to list IPO on NYSE under the ticker RDDT (CNBC) Reddit is going public and inviting power users to invest (The Verge) AT&T outage caused by software update, company says (ABCNews) Meta’s Zuckerberg Seeks Out of Lawsuits Blaming Him for Instagram Addiction (Bloomberg) Bluesky opens up federation, letting anyone run their own server (TechCrunch) OnlyFans is the most lucrative side hustle, tax service shows (Mashable) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: Tech Job Interviews Are Out of Control (Wired) Nvidia Hardware Is Eating the World (Wired) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 22, 2024
The most important tech company in the world right now reported earnings yesterday, and they were historic. Stability AI is previewing Stable Diffusion 3.0. Google has to fix some if its AI image generation details. Amazon is getting aggressive about bringing sports to streaming. And has a startup we’ve never mentioned made a big AI breakthrough? Sponsors: Nutrafol.com/men and promocode RIDEHOME Links: Nvidia posts revenue up 265% on booming AI business (CNBC) Stable Diffusion 3.0 debuts new diffusion transformation architecture to reinvent text-to-image gen AI (VentureBeat) Google Pauses Gemini's Image Generation of People to Fix Historical Inaccuracies (PC Mag) Google pauses Gemini’s ability to generate AI images of people after diversity errors (The Verge) Tuned In: Amazon Said To Be Paying Record $120M To Stream NFL Playoff Game (Front Office Sports) Exclusive: Reddit in AI content licensing deal with Google (Reuters) The ‘Magic’ Breakthrough That Got Friedman and Gross to Bet $100 Million on a Coding Startup (The Information) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 21, 2024
Signal finally rolls out usernames, but Apple goes one better security-wise, by quantum encrypting iMessage. Weirdly, Apple also launched a standalone sports scores app. Gemma is an open-source flavor of Gemini from Google. And Reddit wants to reserve some IPO shares for its users. Links: Signal Finally Rolls Out Usernames, So You Can Keep Your Phone Number Private (Wired) Apple is hardening iMessage encryption now to protect it from a threat that doesn't exist yet (Apple Insider) Apple’s iMessage Is Getting Post-Quantum Encryption (Wired) Apple Sports: New Free App Provides Real-Time Scores and Stats, Designed to Drive Apple TV Tune-In (Variety) Apple launches Apple Sports app with scores and betting odds (The Verge) Apple says iPhone 15 batteries have a longer lifespan than initially thought (9to5Mac) Apple retroactively doubles the iPhone 15 and 15 Pro’s battery lifespan (Macworld) Google Gemma: because Google doesn’t want to give away Gemini yet (The Verge) Meet 'Groq,' the AI Chip That Leaves Elon Musk’s Grok in the Dust (Gizmodo) Reddit Plans to Sell Stock to Loyal Users in Unusual IPO Wager (WSJ) Ed Zitron YouTube Bonus Episode Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 20, 2024
Perhaps the biggest law enforcement action against a ransomware gang ever. Once again, you could view other people’s cameras on your Wyze camera. How Anthropic is raising to do battle with OpenAI. Are the VCs flocking back to San Francisco? And comprehensive proof that defense tech is the new VC hotness. Links: FBI Seizes LockBit Hacking Websites in Ransomware Disruption (Bloomberg) Wyze outage led to the cameras of 13,000 customers being shown to other users (9to5Google) Reddit Signs AI Content Licensing Deal Ahead of IPO (Bloomberg) Inside the Funding Frenzy at Anthropic, One of A.I.’s Hottest Start-Ups (NYTimes) Tech Leaders Fled San Francisco During the Pandemic. Now, They’re Coming Back. (WSJ) UK, Allies Look to Arm Ukraine With AI-Enabled Swarm Drones (Bloomberg) How Silicon Valley learned to love America, drones and glory (Washington Post) Pursuing ‘American Dynamism,’ Andreessen Horowitz Ups Its Game in DC (Bloomberg) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 19, 2024
An interview with Bluesky CEO Jay Graber about the future of social media. Sponsors: FactorMeals.com/ride50 and code ride50 for 50% off Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 16, 2024
Huge watershed reveal of OpenAI’s Sora, its first text-to-video model, which can create up to a minute of 1080p video. We used to have a Today In Elon segment. We’re close to needing a Today In Sam Altman one. Increasing signs the Crypto winter is ending. And, of course, the Weekend Longreads Suggestions. Links: OpenAI introduces Sora, its text-to-video AI model (The Verge) OpenAI’s Sora Turns AI Prompts Into Photorealistic Videos (Wired) OpenAI’s newest model Sora can generate videos — and they look decent (TechCrunch) OpenAI’s Sam Altman Seeks US Blessing to Raise Billions for AI Chips (Bloomberg) Sam Altman owns OpenAI's venture capital fund (Axios) Crypto exits remain low but investors remain unfazed (TechCrunch) Crypto venture funding climbs for first time in nearly 2 years after bitcoin’s stellar run (CNBC) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: The fediverse, explained (The Verge) How an African streaming service dethroned Netflix (RestOfWorld) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 15, 2024
Google’s moving fast. They’ve already launched Gemini 1.5. An EU court rules breaking encryption violates human rights. Why social media is flooded with posts of users returning their Apple Vision Pros. And more proof that the AI moment is making Nvidia one of the most powerful tech companies in the world. Links: Gemini 1.5 is Google’s next-gen AI model — and it’s already almost ready (The Verge) Google’s new Gemini model can analyze an hour-long video — but few people can use it (TechCrunch) Backdoors that let cops decrypt messages violate human rights, EU court says (Ars Technica) People are returning Vision Pro in droves … or are they? (Cult of Mac) OpenAI Develops Web Search Product in Challenge to Google (The Information) ChatGPT is getting ‘memory’ to remember who you are and what you like (The Verge) What comes after Stable Diffusion? Stable Cascade could be Stability AI’s future text-to-image generative AI model (VentureBeat) Nvidia Overtakes Alphabet, One Day After Eclipsing Amazon (Bloomberg) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 14, 2024
Even Mark Zuckerberg is posting about the Apple Vision Pro. In short: he’s not impressed. Walmart might buy a smart TV maker for the ads. Y Combinator has a new list of the type of startups it wants to see. Maybe don’t give all your secrets to those AI “girlfriend” bots. And why you might have a hard time getting an Uber after your Valentine’s Day dinner tonight. Links: After trying the Vision Pro, Mark Zuckerberg says Quest 3 ‘is the better product, period’ (The Verge) Walmart in Talks to Buy TV Maker Vizio (WSJ) Walmart Eyeing Deal to Buy Vizio for More Than $2 Billion: Report (Variety) Y Combinator Seeks Startups in Robotics, Space and Defense (Bloomberg) OpenAI Researcher Andrej Karpathy Departs (The Information) Apple’s Longest-Serving Designer to Depart Company, Adding to Exodus (Bloomberg) Your AI Girlfriend Is a Data-Harvesting Horror Show (Gizmodo) Uber, Lyft drivers to strike on Valentine’s Day over pay (Washington Post) YouTube Of Bluesky CEO Interview Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 13, 2024
Threads gets “today’s topics.” iMessage and Bing dodge EU DMA regulation. Why Temu bought a bunch of SuperBowl ads. Nvidia’s Chat with RTX lets you run your own ChatGPT right on your Windows machine. And why Microsoft’s forthcoming Xbox strategy shift is potentially such a big deal. Sponsors: ArcticWolf.com/techmeme Shopify.com/ride Links: In battle with X, Threads gets trending topics where politics will be allowed (TechCrunch) Apple iMessage, Microsoft Bing Dodge EU’s Big Tech Crackdown (Bloomberg) Temu Spent Millions on Six Super Bowl Ads as It Tries to Win Back US Shoppers (Bloomberg) The unsettling scourge of obituary spam (The Verge) Chat With RTX brings custom local chatbots to Nvidia AI PCs (VentureBeat) NVIDIA's New AI Chatbot Relies On Local Files, Not the Cloud (HowToGeek) Nvidia’s Chat with RTX is a promising AI chatbot that runs locally on your PC (The Verge) Microsoft prepares to take Xbox everywhere (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 12, 2024
Is actual neo-ludditeism going to become a thing, as some people have predicted? Google reveals the strength of its subscription businesses. A review of Google’s Gemini. Bluesky is open and doing some interesting things. And what about the strategic position Snap suddenly finds itself in? Sponsors: ArcticWolf.com/techmeme Links: A crowd destroyed a driverless Waymo car in San Francisco (The Verge) Google One hits 100 million subscribers (The Verge) Google’s Gemini assistant is a fantastic and frustrating glimpse of the AI future (The Verge) ASML's next chip challenge: rollout of its new $350 mln 'High NA EUV' machine (Reuters) Meta turns its back on politics again, angering some news creators (Washington Post) Bluesky Opens Up (TechDirt) It’s Snap versus the world (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 9, 2024
Sam Altman wants to raise more money for his chip ambitions than the entire semiconductor industry. The Feds might put the breaks on Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision… again. Is Ring raising its subscription doorbell prices too much? And, of course, the weekend longreads suggestions. Sponsors: Robinhood.com/boost Links: Sam Altman Seeks Trillions of Dollars to Reshape Business of Chips and AI (WSJ) Exclusive: Nvidia chases $30 billion custom chip market with new unit -sources (Reuters) Disney’s Epic Deal Values Fortnite Maker at $22.5 Billion, a Sharp Cut (The Information) Activision Had Planned Layoffs Before Merger, Microsoft Says (Bloomberg) Ring video doorbell customers angry at 43% price hike (BBC) Ring is raising the price of its cheapest subscription plan by 25 percent (The Verge) Arm shares surge 48% after SoftBank-controlled chip designer issues strong forecast (CNBC) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: Can AI Unlock the Secrets of the Ancient World? (Bloomberg Businessweek) AI Just Discovered 'Unreadable' Ancient Scrolls (National Geographic) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 8, 2024
Google has released Gemini Ultra 1.0, renamed Bard as Gemini and looks to be replacing Google Assistant with Gemini. Disney has invested in a big stake of Epic Games to get at Fortnite IP. Leaked images of the Pixel Fold 2. And what if OpenAI is facing the same strategic dilemma that Mark Zuckerberg was never able to overcome? Sponsors: Robinhood.com/boost Links: Google’s AI now goes by a new name: Gemini (The Verge) Google Assistant Just Got Supercharged With AI. It Might Be the Biggest Update in Google's History. (Gizmodo) Google Prepares for a Future Where Search Isn’t King (Wired) Google Joins Effort to Help Spot Content Made With A.I. (NYTimes) Disney to take $1.5 billion stake in Epic Games, work with Fortnite maker on new content (CNBC) China had "persistent" access to U.S. critical infrastructure (Axios) Exclusive: This could be the Google Pixel Fold 2 (Android Authority) OpenAI Shifts AI Battleground to Software That Operates Devices, Automates Tasks (The Information) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 7, 2024
OpenAI is adding watermarks to Dall-E 3 images. A new AI model from Apple. A new open source model that is king of the LLM hill. More rumors of a foldable iPhone. A new streaming service that will be like Hulu but for sports. And the specific words and phrases that will get your college application essay flagged as being AI-generated. Sponsors: TryFum.com/ride to save 10% off the Journey Pack today. Links: OpenAI is adding new watermarks to DALL-E 3 (The Verge) Apple Develops a Foldable Clamshell iPhone (The Information) ESPN, Fox and Warner Team Up to Create Sports Streaming Platform (WSJ) Apple releases ‘MGIE’, a revolutionary AI model for instruction-based image editing (VentureBeat) Meet ‘Smaug-72B’: The new king of open-source AI (VentureBeat) Did You Use ChatGPT On Your School Applications? These Words May Tip Off Admissions (Forbes) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 6, 2024
Don’t forget your Vision Pro password, or else you’re going to have to return it to the Apple Store to use it again. Why are the gaming platforms willing to play nice all of the sudden? The AI that can spit out fake IDs in seconds. Does Google owe you yet more money? And more signs the tech recession is over. Sponsors: Miro.com/podcast Hims.com/ride Links: Forgot Your Apple Vision Pro’s Passcode? You May Have to Take It Back to Store (Bloomberg) YouTube says a Vision Pro app is ‘on the roadmap’ (The Verge) Microsoft to share details on bringing Xbox games to PlayStation next week (The Verge) Roblox rolls out real-time AI translation for all users — is this the start of true global multiplayer? (Tom's Guide) Inside the Underground Site Where ‘Neural Networks’ Churn Out Fake IDs (404Media) Google agrees to pay $350 million settlement in data privacy case (Washington Post) Digital ad market shows signs of sharp rebound as Meta, Amazon point to growth (CNBC) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 5, 2024
Let me tell you the story of the most shocking AI deepfake scam we’ve heard yet, because it’s a warning to all of us going forward. An Apple Vision Pro teardown explains why EyeSight looks so blurry. Another sign that Google is losing interest in the web. And an interesting peek behind the curtain revealing the economics and motivation of tech media. Sponsors: ShipStation.com/ride code: ride Links: Finance worker pays out $25 million after video call with deepfake ‘chief financial officer’ (CNN) Vision Pro Teardown—Why Those Fake Eyes Look So Weird (iFixIt) Google Search’s cache links are officially being retired (The Verge) TECHCRUNCH+ TERMINATION ("Securities") YouTube Video Of Vision Pro Demos Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 3, 2024
Our friend Chris Dixon is back to talk about his new book: Read Write Own ! How Web3 and the blockchain can save the web as we know it! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 2, 2024
A run down of some interesting details from Tech’s big earnings day yesterday. Rufus is Amazon’s AI-powered shopping assistant. The Browser Company continues to be the catalyst for me thinking about how AI is going to change the web. And, of course, the Weekend Longreads Suggestions. Sponsors: Nutrafol.com/men code: RIDEHOME Links: Amazon debuts ‘Rufus,’ an AI shopping assistant in its mobile app (TechCrunch) Cloudflare hacked using auth tokens stolen in Okta attack (BleepingComputer) The Browser Company Announces Act II for Arc: ‘The Browser That Browses For You’ (MacStories) The Arc browser is getting better bookmarks and search results, all thanks to AI (The Verge) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: AI Can Speed Drug Discovery. But Is It Really Better Than a Human? (Bloomberg) The scariest sound on TikTok (The Verge) The 150 Greatest Science Fiction Movies of All Time (Rolling Stone) LATE BLOOMER (Vanity Fair) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 1, 2024
Why I think yesterday’s Congressional hearings might actually be a tipping point for tech regulation. What would a Kids Online Safety Act actually mean? More proof of YouTube’s dominance. Celsius and FTX customers are about to get some money back. And Google’s new text to image AI processor. Sponsors: Kolide.com/ride Links: Microsoft, X throw their weight behind KOSA, the controversial kids online safety bill (TechCrunch) Americans’ Social Media Use (Pew Research Center) Celsius to Distribute $3B Crypto to Creditors as Firm Emerges From Bankruptcy (CoinDesk) Google launches an AI-powered image generator (TechCrunch) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 31, 2024
The tech execs have been called before Congress once again. Universal Music Group pulls its songs from TikTok. Is 23andMe in danger of going out of business? Figure is an AI robotics company that Microsoft and OpenAI might be about to invest in. And say hello to the Chief AI Officer job title. Sponsors: Kolide.com/ride Links: Social media chiefs on defensive at US online child protection hearing (FT) TikTok CEO Pledges $2 Billion to Protect 170 Million US Users (Bloomberg) Child Safety Hearing (NYTimes) Universal Music Group Warns It Will Pull Songs From TikTok After Deal Expiration (Variety) 23andMe’s Fall From $6 Billion to Nearly $0 (WSJ) Humanoid Robot Startup Figure AI in Funding Talks With Microsoft, OpenAI (Bloomberg) Figure AI in talks with Microsoft and OpenAI for funding (ReadWrite) Figure-01: AI learns how to make coffee like a human (ReadWrite) Microsoft and OpenAI are in talks to inject $500 million into humanoid robotics startup Figure AI, report says (Business Insider) Hottest Job in Corporate America? The Executive in Charge of A.I. (NYTimes) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 30, 2024
Elon Musk says Neuralink implanted its device into a human for the first time. You can search for Taylor Swift X again, but was a Microsoft tool to blame for the deepfakes? Better AI coding from Meta. And I read all the Apple Vision Pro reviews so you don’t have to. Sponsors: Notion.com/ride Links: Elon Musk’s Neuralink implants brain tech in human patient for the first time (CNBC) Microsoft Closes Loophole That Created AI Porn of Taylor Swift (404 Media) Meta releases ‘Code Llama 70B’, an open-source behemoth to rival private AI development (VentureBeat) Apple Vision Pro review: magic, until it’s not (The Verge) Apple Vision Pro review: A revolution in progress (Tom's Guide) Apple Vision Pro Review: The Best Headset Yet Is Just a Glimpse of the Future (WSJ) Apple’s Vision Pro is nearly here. But what can you do with it? (Washington Post) Apple Vision Pro Review: A Mind-Blowing Look at an Unfinished Future (CNET) YouTube Video Of My Interview With Chris Dixon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 29, 2024
Amazon calls off its iRobot acquisition. Is Arc Search the future of search we were talking to Baratunde about this weekend? Why you can’t search for Taylor Swift on X at the moment. How many ads will be in streaming? And who is quietly killing it in subscription gaming? The answer may surprise you. Links: Amazon Drops $1.4 Billion iRobot Deal; Vacuum Maker Cuts Jobs (Bloomberg) Arc Search combines browser, search engine, and AI into something new and different (The Verge) Arc’s new iPhone browser wants to be your search companion (TechCrunch) X Halts Taylor Swift Searches After Explicit AI Images Spread (WSJ) Chinese AR Glasses Maker Raises $60 Million to Compete With Apple (Bloomberg) Amazon Is Now Charging Prime Members Extra for Ad-Free Streaming. For Some, That’s a Deal Breaker. (WSJ) Games are helping the New York Times thrive amid media chaos (Axios) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 27, 2024
The great Baratunde Thurston join Chris and Brian to talk about his hour-long in-person demo with the Apple Vision Pro. In the second half, we discuss the idea of whether or not Google Search (and maybe the web) is doomed in the era of AI. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 26, 2024
Apple has announced major changes to the App Store. In the EU, alternative app marketplaces, but does the new Core Technology Fee mean it’s still a shell game? Also in Europe, alternative default browsers. And for everyone, game streaming apps are now permissible. Also, cheaper GPT from OpenAI. And is Cruise in trouble with the Feds? Links: iOS 17.4 Introduces Alternative App Marketplaces With No Commission in EU (MacRumors) Apple will prompt users to set default browsers and allow third-party web engines on iPhone in the EU (9to5Mac) Apple opens App Store to game streaming services (The Verge) Apple's EU Core Technology Fee Could Bankrupt Freemium App Developers (MacRumors) OpenAI drops prices and fixes ‘lazy’ GPT-4 that refused to work (TechCrunch) DOJ and SEC investigate GM-owned self-driving car company Cruise (WashingtonPost) Baratrunde Thurston Bonus Episode Video On YouTube Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 25, 2024
As Palworld surpasses 8 million in sales, The Pokemon Company says it will “investigate and take appropriate measures” with regards to those IP infringement allegations. Layoffs at Activision Blizzard and Xbox. Google’s Lumiere is a text to video AI generator. And how the rising prices of streaming services are fueling a resurgence in piracy. Links: Inquiries Regarding Other Companies’ Games (The Pokemon Company) Microsoft lays off 1,900 Activision Blizzard and Xbox employees (The Verge) Google’s latest AI video generator can render cute animals in implausible situations (ArsTechnica) Pixel facing new storage issue, likely tied to January Google Play system update (9to5Google) Microsoft Teams now supports 3D and VR meetings (The Verge) Microsoft Closes at Record, Ends Just Shy of $3 Trillion Value (Bloomberg) Streaming Pirates Are Hollywood’s New Villains (Bloomberg) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 24, 2024
Netflix kicks off Tech Earnings Season, and suggests it’s taking it’s cheapest ad-free plan away. The one chart that shows why Netflix is winning the streaming wars. Spotify demos how it plans to break out of Apple’s App Store. Renders of the Pixel 9 have already leaked. Apple scales back its EV car plans. And an interesting raise to help you pay your rent. Sponsors: Notion.com/ride Links: Netflix is going to take away its cheapest ad-free plan (The Verge) The secret to Netflix's total dominance (Business Insider) Spotify plans to launch in-app purchases, if Apple gets out of the way (The Verge) [Exclusive] Pixel 9 Pro 5K Renders and 360 Degree Video Provide First Look At Google’s Flagship Ahead of Launch (MySmartPrice) EBay to eliminate about 1,000 jobs, or 9% of full-time workforce (CNBC) Apple Dials Back Car’s Self-Driving Features and Delays Launch to 2028 (Bloomberg) Apple boosts plans to bring generative AI to iPhones (FT) Bilt Nabs $3.1 Billion Valuation, Ken Chenault Joins as Chairman (Bloomberg) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 23, 2024
Netflix is getting into the live event business in a big way by buying the rights to WWE wrestling. We have the first political ad incident of the AI era. Who’s really doing all the buying on apps like Shein and Temu? OpenAI struggles to fend of an army of girlfriend bots. And let me introduce you to Palworld. Sponsors: Notion.com/ride TryFum.com/ride and code ride Links: Netflix Pays $5 Billion for ‘Raw’ in Bet on Live Events (Bloomberg) Fake Joe Biden robocall tells New Hampshire Democrats not to vote Tuesday (NBCNews) iOS 17.3 is out, adding Stolen Device Protection for your iPhone (The Verge) Temu’s Most Loyal Shoppers Are Actually Boomers and Gen Xers (Bloomberg) OPENAI STRUGGLING TO DESTROY ONSLAUGHT OF AI GIRLFRIENDS (The Byte) AI girlfriend bots are already flooding OpenAI’s GPT store (QZ) The Rise of Palworld: How ‘Pokémon With Guns’ Became an Overnight Hit (Wired) Palworld is a hit, and it’s easy to see why (The Verge) Video of me flirting with an AI "girlfriend" bot YouTube of Saturday's Bonus Episode with Baratunde Thurston Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 22, 2024
Just what the title says. How many Vision Pros do we think Apple sold this weekend? And Mark Gurman has some ideas for why developers are so lukewarm on the product. Eleven Labs is an interesting raise. Sam Altman seems serious about making his own AI chips. And the breakthrough in VR from Disney Imagineers that would allow you to literally walk through the Metaverse. Sponsors: FactorMeals.com/ride50 and code ride50 for 50% off MindBloom.com/techmeme and code techmeme for $100 off Links: Vision Pro sales estimated at 160k to 180k over first three days (9to5Mac) Apple’s Testy Developer Relationships Threaten to Hamper Vision Pro (Bloomberg) Meta will let EU users unlink their Instagram, Facebook, and Messenger info ahead of DMA (The Verge) Voice cloning startup ElevenLabs lands $80M, achieves unicorn status (TechCrunch) Altman Seeks to Raise Billions for Network of AI Chip Factories (Bloomberg) Nightshade, the free tool that ‘poisons’ AI models, is now available for artists to use (VentureBeat) YouTube Video Of The Holotiles From Disney Imagineering Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 19, 2024
Preorders for the Vision Pro begin, but huge new questions about partner support have arisen. Zuckerberg says he wants to open source AGI. You’re going to have to pay for those Galaxy AI features. Perplexity will power the rabbit r1. And, of course, the Weekend Longreads Suggestions. Sponsors: Nutrafol.com/men and promocode Ridehome Links: YouTube and Spotify Won’t Launch Apple Vision Pro Apps, Joining Netflix (Bloomberg) A Survey of Popular Apps Currently Compatible With Apple Vision Pro (MacStories) Mark Zuckerberg’s new goal is creating artificial general intelligence (The Verge) EU Commission Intends to Block Amazon’s iRobot Acquisition (WSJ) Samsung says Galaxy AI features will only be free ‘until the end of 2025’ (9to5Google) The rabbit r1 will use Perplexity AI’s tech to answer your queries (TechCrunch) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: How Twitch lost its way (Fast Company) Astronomers spotted something perplexing near the beginning of time (Vox) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 18, 2024
Google signals more layoffs are in the mail, but what’s interesting is what that says about Google specifically. Reddit is probably going to IPO in a few months. How did tying itself to ChatGPT work out for Bing? Why is Netflix not on the Vision Pro? And the fun parlor game that suggests AI spam is a human centipede situation. Sponsors: Robinhood.com/ride Notion.com/ride Links: Google CEO tells employees to expect more job cuts this year (The Verge) YouTube is restructuring creator management teams (TubeFilter) Exclusive: Reddit seeks to launch IPO in March (Reuters) Microsoft’s Bing Market Share Barely Budged With ChatGPT Add-On (Bloomberg) Apple's Vision Pro Won't Launch With Netflix App (Bloomberg) Startup Investors Have Fled The Metaverse (CrunchBaseNews) I’m sorry, but I cannot fulfill this request as it goes against OpenAI use policy (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 17, 2024
All the headlines from the Galaxy Unpacked event earlier today. Apple revises its App Store rules but in a way that seems to a lot of people to be in “bad faith.” The big, and big-money talent war going on between Google and OpenAI. And Tesla and Uber are working together to make Uber completely emissions-free. Sponsors: ArcticWolf.com/techmeme Hims.com/ride Links: The Galaxy S24 Ultra is smarter, pricier, and just as big as ever (The Verge) Apple revises US App Store rules to let developers link to outside payment methods, but it will still charge a commission (9to5Mac) Apple allows devs to promote subscriptions on the web with a 27% cut (TechCrunch) Google updates Chrome Incognito disclaimer amid $5 billion lawsuit settlement (MSPowerUser) Google’s Defense Against OpenAI Talent Grab: Special Stock (The Information) Exclusive: Uber steps up efforts to get drivers into Teslas (Axios) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 16, 2024
The app that was supposed to be TikTok but for news is shutting down. Apple tops global smartphone sales for the first time ever. Microsoft debuts Copilot Pro. How the Apple Vision Pro demos are actually going to work. And about that weekend streaming NFL playoff game. Sponsors: Shopify.com/ride Ramp.com/techmeme Links: Instagram co-founders’ news aggregation startup Artifact to shut down (TechCrunch) Apple Grabs the Top Spot in the Smartphone Market in 2023 (IDC) Bringing the full power of Copilot to more people and businesses (Microsoft) Apple readies Apple Watch Series 9 ban workaround by disabling blood oxygen functionality [U] (9to5Mac) Apple Vision Pro’s Lengthy Sales Pitch Will Include 25-Minute Demo (Bloomberg) The NFL and Taylor Swift surprisingly aren’t enough to crash Peacock (The Verge) ‘Peacock Game’: The NFL’s Digital Buttfumble (WSJ) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 15, 2024
Just what the title says. All my faves from CES this year. If you want to SEE what I'm talking about, here's the YouTube playlist . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 13, 2024
John Gruber joins Chris and I to talk about AI Hardware, Apple's AI strategy and Apple's Vision Pro launch. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 12, 2024
How did bitcoin do on its first day of ETF trading? Where are all these tech layoffs coming from? The weird case of eBay executives allegedly harassing people. A look at the AI company taking direct aim at Google Search. And, of course, the Weekend Longreads Suggestions. Sponsors: Miro.com/podcast Links: US bitcoin ETFs see $4.6 billion in volume in first day of trading (Reuters) Discord is laying off 17 percent of employees (The Verge) U.S. Criminally Charges EBay in Cyberstalking Case (NYTimes) This One-Year-Old Startup Is Hoping to be the Next Google—Can It Succeed? (The Information) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: How AI Replaced the Metaverse as Zuckerberg’s Top Priority (Bloomberg Businessweek) Avi Schiffmann’s Tab AI necklace has raised $1.9 million to replace God (Fast Company) How much detail is too much? Midjourney v6 attempts to find out (ArsTechnica) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 11, 2024
The Bitcoin ETFs are here. For real, this time. OpenAI’s GPT store is here. Surprising new layoffs at Google. Netflix continues to show signs that ads are working for them. The Rabbit R1 continues to be a shocking success. And say hello to an AI George Carlin. Sponsors: Miro.com/podcast Links: US SEC approves bitcoin ETFs in watershed for crypto market (Reuters) Gary Gensler's Begrudging Bitcoin ETF Concession: 'We Did Not Approve or Endorse Bitcoin' (CoinDesk) Google lays off hundreds working on its voice-activated assistant (Semafor) Google reorganizing Pixel hardware: Fitbit’s James Park leaving, layoffs hit AR team (9to5Google) Google Cuts Hundreds of Jobs in Engineering and Other Divisions (NYTimes) OpenAI Launches New Store For Users to Share Custom Chatbots (Bloomberg) Netflix’s Ad Tier Now Has More Than 23 Million Monthly Active Users, Advertising Chief Says (Variety) X removes support for NFT profile pictures (TechCrunch) AI-Generated ‘George Carlin’ Comedy Special Blasted by Comedian’s Daughter (RollingStone) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 10, 2024
The SEC’s X account was compromised by somebody jumping the gun on that Bitcoin ETF thing. Layoffs are back, even at companies that are about to ship their first, high profile products. The hardware AI device at CES that everybody was talking about yesterday. And what AI could do for medical drug discovery, like, right now. Sponsors: Shipstation.com , Promocode: Ride Miro.com/podcast Links: SEC Has Not Approved Bitcoin ETFs, but Its Hacked X Account Briefly Said Otherwise (CoinDesk) Amazon’s Twitch to Cut 500 Employees, About 35% of Staff (Bloomberg) Humane lays off 4 percent of employees before releasing its AI Pin (The Verge) Rabbit’s Little Walkie-Talkie Learns Tasks That Stump Siri and Alexa (Wired) SAG-AFTRA Signs Deal With Voiceover Studio for AI Use in Video Games (Variety) Quora raised $75M from a16z to grow Poe, its AI chat bot platform (Quora) DeepMind spin-off aims to halve drug discovery times following Big Pharma deals (Financial Times) CES Videos YouTube Channel Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 9, 2024
OpenAI responds to the lawsuit from the NYTimes. Do you need ChatGPT in your car? VW thinks you do. Sony teases a “spatial” VR headset. Apple only wants you to call the Vision Pro “spatial computing.” And how you too can sign up to get a demo of the Vision Pro in a couple of weeks. Sponsors: Miro.com/podcast Links: OpenAI and journalism (OpenAI Blog) Amazon Debuts Video-Streaming Feature That Rivals Apple AirPlay (Bloomberg) Volkswagen says it’s putting ChatGPT in its cars for ‘enriching conversations’ (The Verge) Sony teased a ‘spatial’ VR headset with a smart control ring (The Verge) Instagram and Facebook Will Stop Treating Teens Like Adults (WSJ) Apple Vision Pro demos in retail stores will begin on February 2 (9to5Mac) Apple asks developers not to refer to their visionOS apps as ‘AR’ or ‘VR’ (9to5Mac) Luma raises $43M to build AI that crafts 3D models (TechCrunch) Hewlett Packard Enterprise Near Deal to Buy Juniper Networks (WSJ) CES Videos YouTube Channel Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 8, 2024
We now know when the Vision Pro is coming. February 2nd. But you can pre-order on January 19. Xreal’s new Vision Pro competitor. New Wifi announcements from CES. That big Elon possibly using drugs story from the Journal this weekend. And for the first time ever, Netflix is cutting back on producing new shows. Sponsors: Miro.com/podcast Links: The Apple Vision Pro will launch in February (The Verge) Apple’s Biggest Challenges in 2024 Have Little to Do With the iPhone (Bloomberg) Wi-Fi’s next big upgrade is officially here (The Verge) Xreal’s new AR glasses are aimed at the Apple Vision Pro (The Verge) Elon Musk Has Used Illegal Drugs, Worrying Leaders at Tesla and SpaceX (WSJ) Netflix Cuts Over 100 Shows In Major Programming Shift (Bloomberg) The CES YouTube Playlist Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 5, 2024
Another big Tesla recall, this time in China, this time, all of them. Every car they ever sold. BNPL is… not dead? Not if holiday shopping data is to be believed. That Blackberry-style iPhone keyboard case that everybody is talking about. And, of course, the Weekend Longreads Suggestions. Links: Tesla Recalls 1.6 Million Cars in China Due to Autopilot Crash Risk (Bloomberg) Adobe: Online Holiday Sales Reached Record $222 Billion in 2023 (PMNTS) Amazon Captured 29% of Online Orders Before Christmas (Bloomberg) Netflix Considers Ways to Make Money From Videogames in Possible Pivot (WSJ) OpenAI Offers Publishers as Little as $1 Million a Year (The Information) Clicks is a BlackBerry-style iPhone keyboard case designed for creators (The Verge) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: A New Kind of AI Copy Can Fully Replicate Famous People. The Law Is Powerless. (Politico) New Spin on a Revolving Door: Pentagon Officials Turned Venture Capitalists (NYTimes) Boy, 13, Is Believed to Be the First to ‘Beat’ Tetris (NYTimes) Full game of Tetris beaten for the first time by 13-year-old Willis Gibson AKA 'Blue Scuti' (YouTube) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 4, 2024
Your Windows keyboard is getting its first new key in 30 years. Elon might offer you a cellular plan someday. Is 23andMe blaming the victims of that big data breach? Roku is going high end. XPS laptops are getting bigger. And yes, 2023 was a bad year for all sides of the Venture Capital game. Sponsors: Kolide.com/ride Links: Microsoft’s new Copilot key is the first big change to Windows keyboards in 30 years (The Verge) SpaceX Launches First Cell Service Satellites With T-Mobile (Bloomberg) LastPass now requires 12-character master passwords for better security (BleepingComputer) 23andMe tells victims it’s their fault that their data was breached (TechCrunch) Roku Launches First High-End TVs in Search of Revenue Growth (Bloomberg) Dell’s XPS laptop lineup is about to look very different (The Verge) Silicon Valley Startups Had Their Worst Funding Year Since 2019 (Bloomberg) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 3, 2024
Facebook has a new feature, Link History, but why are they doing this and why now? I’m asking. A look at those jockeying to get ahead of a bitcoin ETF. The next Galaxy event is official. A look at the big AI player we seldom talk about. And a look at the AI influencers who are flooding social media. Links: Meet ‘Link History,’ Facebook’s New Way to Track the Websites You Visit (Gizmodo) Fidelity sets Bitcoin ETF fee at 0.39% ahead of expected SEC approvals (Fortune) Samsung Galaxy S24 Unpacked Event Set for Jan. 17 (PCMag) Can Midjourney’s CEO Stop a Storm of Fake Election Images? (Bloomberg) How AI-created fakes are taking business from online influencers (Financial Times) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 2, 2024
Telegram has completely redesigned its app. Microsoft has brought Copilot to iOS. Camera makers are remaking their hardware for the age of AI. There’s the premium smartphone market, and then there’s the premium premium market segment, and those are the only parts of the smartphone market you want to be in. And will 2024 be the year the Internet gets weird again? Links: Telegram rolls out revamped voice and video calls, new delete animation on Android (9to5Google) Bitcoin climbs above $45,000 to 21-month peak as new year kicks off (Reuters) Global Premium Smartphone Market Continues to See Record Sales in 2023 (Counterpoint) Smartphone makers bet on foldables to revive lacklustre market (Financial Times) Nikon, Sony and Canon fight AI fakes with new camera tech (Nikkei Asia) Microsoft’s Copilot app is now available on iOS (The Verge) The Internet Is About to Get Weird Again (Rolling Stone) Link to the YouTube version of the smartphone segment Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 1, 2024
Part three of our epic conversation with Stephan Paternot. Here's what happens when you've been through the wringer. When you've been to the top of the rollercoaster and also down to the bottom. Here's how you take stock of your life, how you reinvent yourself, re-find you entrepreneurial spirit... I feel like there are so many lessons in these three episodes. Lessons for entrepreneurs today. Lesson for... I dunno. People in the crypto space? My thanks to Stephan Paternot for an insanely great conversation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 31, 2023
Ok, part 2 of the Stephan Paternot mega-episode right now. This is where we get into the meat of it, the good stuff, the whole crazy roller coaster ride of being the hottest startup of the dotcom era. And I was going to make this the last episode, but as I was editing this, I realized that after we get done with this story, Stephan talks a lot about what happens after... what happens after you've been on a crazy ride like this. How you have to reinvent yourself, and your life, and your career. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 30, 2023
The story of the quintessential dotcom company. Also, if you squint, you can see the birth of social media. I said in the book, I think TheGlobe.com was the quintessential dot-com company. We spoke to one of the cofounders previously, Todd Krizelman . Todd was great, but he was time constrained and he didn’t quite get as personal about the story as I would have hoped. Well, I finally got to talk to the other founder of TheGlobe, Stephan Paternot. And Stephan was… AMAZING. He shared the whole story, the whole wild ride, from a historical angle, from a business angle, from an entrepreneurial angle and also, from a very personal angle. THIS the dot-com era story I’ve been looking for for years. It’s also the story of probably the most important pioneer of social media before there was even a term for such a thing. And by the way… that TV Show that just came out on NAT GEO, Valley of the Boom? THIS IS THAT STORY. Stephan just re-released his book, A Very Public Offering: The Story of theglobe.com and the First Internet Revolution . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 29, 2023
OpenAI has been talking to everybody in media, it turns out. But how would a partnership turn out for media? Google settles another big lawsuit. The first of the gadget announces for CES season have begun. Can Xiaomi do with cars what it did with cellphones? And the Weekend Longreads Suggestions. Sponsors: Robinhood.com/ride Links: Inside the News Industry’s Uneasy Negotiations With OpenAI (NYTimes) Google agrees to settle Chrome incognito mode class action lawsuit (ArsTechnica) LG’s new ultra-lightweight Gram laptops include some OLED screens and AI Boost (The Verge) EXCLUSIVE: Microsoft readies 'next-gen' AI-focused Surface Pro 10 and Surface Laptop 6 with Arm chips and design upgrades for 2024 (Windows Central) Xiaomi Unveils Its First EV, With Ambition to Be China’s Porsche or Tesla (Bloomberg) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: The Most Secretive Longevity Lab Finally Opens Its Doors (Bloomberg Businessweek) Lab-grown diamonds go luxury — and rock the industry (Axios) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 28, 2023
Researchers have found a gnarly zero-click, zero-day iMessage hack that has been exploited. Apple can sell watches again! What was the best performing tech stock of 2023? Will 2024 be the climax of the streaming wars? And will 2024 be the year Apple finally gets serious about gaming on the Mac? Links: 4-year campaign backdoored iPhones using possibly the most advanced exploit ever (ArsTechnica) Apple can temporarily sell smartwatches after US appeals court win (Reuters) The Late-Night Email to Tim Cook That Set the Apple Watch Saga in Motion (Bloomberg) Seattle’s Zulily will ‘wind down’ its business and liquidate its assets (Seattle Times) Affirm’s stock quintupled this year, beating all tech peers, on buy now, pay later boom (CNBC) ‘Shakeout has begun’ after $5bn streaming loss for Netflix rivals (FT) Inside Apple's Massive Push To Transform The Mac Into A Gaming Paradise (Inverse) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 27, 2023
The NYT has broken the seal and sued OpenAI and Microsoft. Ads are coming to Prime Video in mere days. More rumors about Jony Ive founding an AI hardware startup with Sam Altman. Anthropic seems to be provide OpenAI isn’t the only one that can make money in the AI space. And when chips go beyond the 1 kilowatt barrier, you need to liquid cool them. Sponsors: NakedWines.com/ride use code AND password ride Notion.com/ride Links: The Times Sues OpenAI and Microsoft Over A.I. Use of Copyrighted Work (NYTimes) Amazon Prime Video will start showing ads on January 29th (The Verge) Apple’s iPhone Design Chief Enlisted by Jony Ive, Sam Altman to Work on AI Devices (Bloomberg) Big Tech outspends venture capital firms in AI investment frenzy (Financial Times) Anthropic Projects At Least $850 Million in Annualized Revenue Rate Next Year (The Information) Microsoft’s game changer feature reinstalls Windows 11 directly via Windows Update (Windows Latest) GM stops Chevy Blazer EV sales after early software problems (TechCrunch) How thermal management is changing in the age of the kilowatt chip (The Register) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 26, 2023
Apple’s whole AI strategy has been coming into focus these last couple of weeks. Two stories on this, including Apple’s first announced LLM. OpenAI is fundraising again. Hackers are targeting gaming studios again. And as President Biden didn’t deliver the pardon, what is this patent case against the Apple Watch? I’ll explain. Links: Apple quietly released an open source multimodal LLM in October (VentureBeat) Apple Explores A.I. Deals With News Publishers (NYTimes) OpenAI Is in Talks to Raise New Funding at Valuation of $100 Billion or More (Bloomberg) Ubisoft says it's investigating reports of a new security breach (BleepingComputer) GTA 5 source code reportedly leaked online a year after RockStar hack (BleepingComputer) Puzzle game ‘Royal Match’ dethrones ‘Candy Crush’ from top of app store (Financial Times) Apple Watch battle heralds further patent wrangles (Financial Times) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 25, 2023
This time we talk about the AOL/Time Warner Merger Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 24, 2023
The first time I went on the Acquired Podcast, back in March of 2017 . We talked about Yahoo's acquisition of Overture. I know you probably haven't heard of either of those names, but in a roundabout way, this is the story of how Google makes so much money. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 23, 2023
Me on The Newsworthy Podcast talking the tech trends of 2023. Alliterative! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 22, 2023
The Hyperloop dream is dead. The attempt to bridge the iMessage divide is dead. China’s gaming industry isn’t dead, but it’s pretty wounded. The crazy story of that teenage hacker who leaked the GTA VI stuff. The weekend longreads suggestions, and at the very end, a unique look back at the evolution of the AI moment. Sponsors: Nutrafol.com/men code ridehome Links: The hyperloop is dead for real this time (The Verge) Beeper is giving up on its iMessage dream (The Verge) Apple’s Newest Headache: An App That Upended Its Control Over Messaging (NYTimes) Tencent Leads $80 Billion Rout as China Rekindles Crackdown Fear (Bloomberg) Lapsus$: GTA 6 hacker handed indefinite hospital order (BBC) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: The Race to Fill Crypto’s FTX-Shaped Hole (Wired) As the AI era begins, Reddit is leaning into its humanity (Fast Company) Tolkien Estate Wins Court Order to Destroy Fan’s ‘Lord of the Rings’ Sequel (NYTimes) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 21, 2023
The Galaxy S24 lineup had a big spec leak. So what do the new phones have and what is Galaxy AI? Get ready cause the Apple Vision Pro hype tsunami is about to wash over us. A big merger might happen soon to confirm the consolidation phase of the Streaming Wars is upon us. Waymo has data that says its robot drivers are safer. And Apple doesn’t do the little things anymore? How about making a version of Car Play just for two specific car brands? Links: Leaked Samsung S24 spec sheet offers complete picture of the upcoming lineup (The Verge) Apple Ramps Up Vision Pro Production, Aiming for Launch by February (Bloomberg) Apple loses attempt to halt Apple Watch sales ban (The Verge) Scoop: Warner Bros. Discovery in talks to merge with Paramount Global (Axios) Waymo has 7.1 million driverless miles — how does its driving compare to humans? (The Verge) Aston Martin, Porsche Preview Bespoke Apple CarPlay Interfaces (Car And Driver) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 20, 2023
Rite Aid was apparently doing some crazy stuff with facial recognition software. Sony says the PS5 is killing it. ByteDance is definitely killing it. Microsoft CoPilot can now compose songs. And maybe the real reason OpenAI is making deals with publishers. Links: Rite Aid Banned From AI Facial Recognition by FTC After Misuse (Bloomberg) PlayStation sales and blockbuster games propel console market back to growth (FT) ByteDance’s Sales Break $110 Billion to Pass Tencent This Year (ByteDance) SSH protects the world’s most sensitive networks. It just got a lot weaker (ArsTechnica) Microsoft Copilot gets a music creation feature via Suno integration (TechCrunch) Scooter Company Bird Global Files Bankruptcy to Sell Itself (Bloomberg) What Do AI Companies Want With the Media? (NYMag) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 19, 2023
Google has settled lawsuits from the states, has agreed to offer new billing tools, and may owe YOU some money as they’ve agreed to pay $700 million dollars in restitution. What happens to adobe and Figma now that they’ve got to go their own ways? Why do hackers love targeting game developers? And game preservationist have uncovered a gold mine. Sponsors: EarIn App (Enter code techmeme to give us credit) Links: Google to Pay $700 Million in Play Store Settlement (WSJ) 102 million people eligible for Google’s $630M lawsuit settlement (Washington Post) Figma Grew Fast Even as Executives Failed to Clinch Adobe Deal (The Information) Adobe Has $6 Billion for AI and Buybacks After Figma Deal Collapses (Bloomberg) TikTok rolls out an enhanced app experience for tablets and foldables (TickTok) Xfinity discloses data breach affecting over 35 million people (Bleeping Computer) OpenAI Says Board Can Overrule CEO on Safety of New AI Releases (Bloomberg) Game preservationists dig for lost apps in TestFlight ‘teraleak’ (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 18, 2023
Big news Monday. Adobe and Figma have called off their wedding. Apple might stop selling its top-of-the-line Apple Watches, in the US, this week. I’ll tell you why. The EU has formally opened an investigation into X. And why are all of the Hollywood studios suddenly willing to sell their content to Netflix again? Sponsors: Shipstation.com , code ride Links: Adobe, Figma shelve $20 bln deal after hitting regulatory roadblocks (Reuters) Apple to halt Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 sales in the US this week (9to5Mac) EU opens formal DSA investigation into X in wake of Israel-Hamas war (The Verge) Adam Mosseri spells out Threads’ plans for the fediverse (The Verge) He’s Wanted for Wirecard’s Missing $2 Billion. He’s Now Suspected of Being a Russian Spy. (WSJ) In Search of Cash, Studios Send Old Shows Back to Netflix (NYTimes) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 16, 2023
You can learn more about AdHawk Microsystems . But especially learn more about the MindLink Air . And the link to the YouTube version of this interview is here if you want to watch the demo. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 15, 2023
Did Google just kill geofence warrants? Intel wants you to know it’s in the AI game. Could we get a foldable iPad before we get a foldable iPhone? Soon, maybe your tv really will be spying on you to deliver ads. The AI stuffed toy that Grimes has partnered with. And, of course, The Weekend Longreads Suggestions. Sponsors: Miro.com/podcast Planet Money Podcast Links: Is This the End of Geofence Warrants? (The EFF) Intel unveils new AI chip to compete with Nvidia and AMD (CNBC) Report: Apple has ‘no concrete timeline’ for a foldable iPad, focused on OLED displays instead (9to5Mac) Marketing Company Claims That It Actually Is Listening to Your Phone and Smart Speakers to Target Ads (404Media) Cruise slashes 24% of self-driving car workforce in sweeping layoffs (TechCrunch) Grimes is working on an interactive AI toy for kids. Meet Grok. (Washington Post) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: OpenAI’s Ilya Sutskever Has a Plan for Keeping Super-Intelligent AI in Check (Wired) Tesla Autopilot Recall Threatens Its Defense in Lawsuits Over Crashes (Bloomberg) Microsoft’s Digital Crime Unit Goes Deep on How It Disrupts Cybercrime (Wired) https://www.instagram.com/techmemeridehomepod/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 14, 2023
The gates have been opened for Europeans on Threads, and it looks like Meta’s serious about tying Threads into to Fediverse. I argue that the release of a new charging case for the AirPods Pro is kinda a big deal. Wait until you hear this wild story about hackers versus a train. And maybe ChatGPT DIDN’T turn students into cheaters afterall. Sponsors: Miro.com/podcast Links: Meta starts testing Threads integration with ActivityPub (TechCrunch) Threads launches for nearly half a billion more users in Europe (The Verge) Apple now sells the AirPods Pro USB-C case by itself — for $99 (The Verge) Xbox Cloud Gaming is now available on Meta’s Quest VR headsets (The Verge) Etsy Cuts 11% of Headcount as Competition From Shein and Temu Mounts (The Information) Polish Hackers Repaired Trains the Manufacturer Artificially Bricked. Now The Train Company Is Threatening Them (404 Media) Cheating Fears Over Chatbots Were Overblown, New Research Suggests (NYTimes) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 13, 2023
Apple has a new tool to help you if your iPhone gets stolen. There’s a huge Tesla recall related to Autopilot. More AI tools from Google. How is X doing, you know, financially speaking? And Netflix’s first ever What We Watched report. Sponsors: Miro.com/podcast Mindbloom.com/techmeme100 and code techmeme100 Links: Apple Makes Security Changes to Protect Users From iPhone Thefts (WSJ) Google Offers Enhanced Generative AI Features for Cloud Customers (Bloomberg) Tesla Recalls 2 Million Cars to Fix Autopilot Safety Flaws (Bloomberg) FCC issues final denial of $885M Starlink subsidy (TechCrunch) Musk’s X 2023 Ad Sales Projected to Slump to About $2.5 Billion (Bloomberg) EU Deal to Force Uber, Deliveroo Treat Some Drivers as Employees (Bloomberg) OpenAI to Pay Politico Parent Axel Springer for Using Its Content (WSJ) Netflix reveals how many hours we spent watching The Night Agent and Queen Charlotte (The Verge) Follow the podcast on TikTok: @techmemeridehomepodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 12, 2023
Epic Games has won its case against Google’s app store, but why was this case different than the one they lost to Apple? The sort of big changes to Apple TV. BeReal is still around and still… being real. But E3 is not. It’s officially over as a conference. Sponsors: Shopify.com/ride Miro.com/podcast Links: Epic win: Jury decides Google has illegal monopoly in app store fight (The Verge) Google’s Epic Legal Defeat Threatens $200 Billion App Store Industry (Bloomberg) Exclusive: Apple offers to let rivals access tap-and-go tech in EU antitrust case (Reuters) Apple iTunes Will Now Redirect Users to Redesigned Apple TV App for Movies, Series (Variety) BeReal adds private groups and Live Photo-like features; Pew estimates 13% of US teens use app (TechCrunch) E3, once gaming’s biggest expo, is officially dead (Washington Post) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 11, 2023
I told you the open-source AI startups were coming, and a big one is making waves today. Apple’s iPad lineup is hella confusing, but Mark Gurman says Apple is working to streamline that in the coming year. And let me give you the background on that whole Effective Accelerationist movement you might have been hearing about online. Sponsors: Miro.com/podcast CrashPlan.com/ridehome Links: Mistral, French A.I. Start-Up, Is Valued at $2 Billion in Funding Round (NYTimes) Nvidia Sees Vietnam as Potential Second Home, Reports Say (Bloomberg) Apple Is Working on Cleaning Up Its Confusing iPad Lineup (Bloomberg) China’s cyber army is invading critical U.S. services (Washington Post) This A.I. Subculture’s Motto: Go, Go, Go (NYTimes) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 8, 2023
People across the Internet are accusing Google of faking that Gemini AI video demo that everyone was wowed by. Apple seems to be diversifying out of China for manufacturing at pace now. Might the UK’s CMA have an issue with Microsoft’s relationship with OpenAI? And, of course, the Weekend Longreads Suggestions. Sponsors: ShopBeam.com/ride Links: Google’s Gemini Looks Remarkable, But It’s Still Behind OpenAI (Bloomberg) Early impressions of Google’s Gemini aren’t great (TechCrunch) Apple to move key iPad engineering resources to Vietnam (NikkeiAsia) Microsoft, OpenAI Are Facing a Potential Antitrust Probe in UK (Bloomberg) Google launches NotebookLM powered by Gemini Pro, drops waitlist (9to5Google) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: The real research behind the wild rumors about OpenAI’s Q* project (ArsTechnica) AI and Mass Spying (Schneier On Security) The race to 5G is over — now it’s time to pay the bill (The Verge) In the Hall v. Oates legal feud, fans don’t want to play favorites (NBCNews) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 7, 2023
Meta has kept a longstanding promise to encrypt Messenger by default. Apple is coming clean about the notifications spying thing. AMD’s answer to Nvidia. We know when the next major version of Windows is coming and, surprise, it’s got AI all over it. And Apple releases its first little AI hint. Sponsor: Dragonball Legends Links: Messenger is finally getting end-to-end encryption by default (The Verge) Federal government is using data from push notifications to track contacts (Washington Post) AMD unveils Instinct MI300X GPU and MI300A APU, claims up to 1.6X lead over Nvidia’s competing GPUs (Tom's Hardware) Meta launches a standalone AI-powered image generator (TechCrunch) PlayStation keeps reminding us why digital ownership sucks (The Verge) EXCLUSIVE: Microsoft readies 'groundbreaking' AI-focused Windows release as new leadership takes the helm (Windows Central) Apple launches MLX machine-learning framework for Apple Silicon (ComputerWorld) Is Elon's AI Copying Me? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 7, 2023
Say hello to Gemini, Google’s new AI model designed to go head to head with OpenAI. Governments have been spying on your phone’s notifications, but Apple couldn’t tell you about that until now. Why is Twitch shutting down service in what is one of the biggest markets in the world for esports? And another way to hide your green bubbles in iMessage. Sponsors: CrashPlan.com/ridehome The Traceroute Podcast Links: Meet Gemini, the AI That Google Says Is Way, Way Better Than ChatGPT (Gizmodo) Google’s Gemini AI model is coming to the Pixel 8 Pro — and eventually to Android (The Verge) Google announces the Cloud TPU v5p, its most powerful AI accelerator yet (TechCrunch) Governments spying on Apple, Google users through push notifications - US senator (Reuters) Twitch plans to shut down in South Korea on February 27, 2024 (VentureBeat) There’s a new iMessage for Android app — and it actually works (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 5, 2023
The 23andMe hack just keeps getting worse. A new phone! The OnePlus 12. A new AI Alliance. New, upgraded spam filters. And all you need to know about the big Grand Theft Auto VI news. Sponsors: Notion.com/ride Nuts.com/ride Links: 23andMe confirms hackers stole ancestry data on 6.9 million users (TechCrunch) A detailed look at the OnePlus 12 ahead of its global launch (The Verge) Instagram and Facebook Messenger chats are being disconnected this month (9to5Google) Meta, IBM Create Industrywide AI Alliance to Share Technology (Bloomberg) Amazon Fails To Renew Live UK Premier League Rights As Sky & TNT Maintain Grip On Games (Deadline) Gmail’s AI-powered spam detection is its biggest security upgrade in years (ArsTechnica) ChatGPT will no longer comply if you ask it to repeat a word 'forever'— after a recent prompt revealed training data and personal info (Business Insider) ‘Grand Theft Auto VI’ Coming in 2025, Rockstar Says After Trailer Leak (Bloomberg) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 4, 2023
I guess Spotify missed the memo about the tech turnaround cause they had monster layoffs today. Google has delayed its big OpenAI competitor. Why does AI have a tendency to do evil unless you really tell it not to? And the band Kiss is retiring from touring, but Kiss the band has the potential to tour forever, thanks to digital avatars. Sponsors: Collective.com/ride Kolide.com/ride Links: Spotify cuts 17% jobs amid rising capital costs (TechCrunch) Google Postpones Big AI Launch as OpenAI Zooms Ahead (The Information) OpenAI Agreed to Buy $51 Million of AI Chips From a Startup Backed by CEO Sam Altman (Wired) The Robots Will Insider Trade (Bloomberg) Kiss say farewell to live touring, become first US band to go virtual and become digital avatars (AP) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 2, 2023
Here is how it all went down with the Sam Altman saga, day by day, hour by hour. With @alexkonrad of Forbes. This is the story we talk about toward the end: A Secretive $10 Billion Firm Backed By WhatsApp Billionaire Jan Koum Is Quietly Building A Startup Portfolio (Forbes) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 1, 2023
The action button is coming to all the iPhones with increased functionality. Reconstituting the cable bundle example #972. Microsoft wants to create a mobile gaming app store sometime soon. And, of course, the Weekend Longreads Suggestions. Sponsors: Miro.com/podcast Nutrafol.com/men code ridehome Links: iPhone 16 to Include Action Button Across Entire Lineup (MacRumors) Apple and Paramount Discuss Bundling Their Streaming Services (WSJ) Apple fixes two new iOS zero-days in emergency updates (Bleeping Computer) US judge blocks Montana from banning TikTok use in state (Reuters) Tiger Global’s Biggest Venture Fund Has 18% Loss After Markdowns (Bloomberg) Xbox Talking to Partners for Mobile Store, CEO Spencer Says (Bloomberg) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: ChatGPT is winning the future — but what future is that? (The Verge) This Nvidia Cofounder Could Have Been Worth $70 Billion. Instead He Lives Off The Grid (Forbes) Anduril Builds a Tiny, Reusable Fighter Jet That Blows Up Drones (Bloomberg) The Real Story Behind Shane MacGowan’s ‘Boys of the N.Y.P.D. Choir’ (NYTimes) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 30, 2023
Sam Altman is officially back at work as OpenAI CEO. Meta is about to launch Threads in Europe, but their plan to offer ad free subscription tiers for their services has hit a speed bump. You can trick LLMs into revealing their training data. And I warned you before, but if you have any dormant Google accounts, better see to them toot suite. Sponsors: Crashplan.com/ridehome Miro.com/podcast Links: OpenAI Will Add Microsoft as Board Observer, Plans Governance Changes (Bloomberg) Interview: Sam Altman on being fired and rehired by OpenAI (The Verge) Meta’s Threads to Launch in Europe in App’s Biggest Expansion Since Debut (WSJ) Meta Platforms' ad-free service targeted in EU consumer complaint (Reuters) It’s not just electricity — Bitcoin mines burn through a lot of water, too (The Verge) ChatGPT's training data can be exposed via a "divergence attack" (StackDiary) Your Unused Gmail Account May Be Permanently Deleted Friday (WSJ) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 29, 2023
Apple and Goldman are ending their partnership, so what does that mean for the Apple Credit Card? Stability AI is so unstable, it might be looking to sell itself. GM is pumping the breaks on its Cruise rollout. All the headlines from the big AWS conference yesterday. And it’s that time of year: what won your Spotify Wrapped listening charts? Sponsors: DragonBall Legends Miro.com/podcast Links: Apple Pulls Plug on Goldman Credit-Card Partnership (WSJ) Unity Software with a ‘company reset’ walks away from film VFX and the Wētā Deal. (FXGuide) Stability AI Has Explored Sale as Investor Urges CEO to Resign (Bloomberg) G.M. to Cut Spending on Cruise Self-Driving Unit (NYTimes) Amazon Introduces Q, an A.I. Chatbot for Companies (NYTimes) Inside Spotify Wrapped, an Annual Song of Ourselves (WSJ) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 28, 2023
AI foundation models are coming to more AWS products. Why are police departments scaremongering about that NameDrop feature on iPhones? Why is Google Drive losing peoples’ files? And Ikea’s new super cheap smart-home starter devices. Sponsors: Miro.com/podcast Traceroute Podcast Links: AWS enhances AI services with foundation model capabilities for improved performance (SiliconAngle) Amazon wants businesses to use its palm-scanning tech to let employees into the office (CNBC) US Thanksgiving weekend sales hit record on big discounts, online boost (Reuters) NameDrop is safe. The fearmongering about it is not. (Washington Post) Google investigating missing files on Drive, caused by desktop app (9to5Google) OpenAI Is Still an $86 Billion Nonprofit (Matt Levine/Bloomberg) Ikea debuts a trio of affordable smart home sensors (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 27, 2023
A thin client from AWS. More bad news for gaming as ByteDance pulls back from its gaming ambitions in a major way. Governments have more new joint guidelines for AI development. And Amazon now delivers more packages than either FedEx OR UPS. Sponsors: Miro.com/podcast NPR Planet Money Links: AWS debuts Amazon WorkSpaces Thin Client device for virtual desktop access (SiliconAngle) Salesforce Inks Deal to Sell on Amazon Web Services’ Marketplace (Bloomberg) TikTok parent ByteDance to cut 1,000 gaming jobs in strategic shift (NikkeiAsia) US, Britain, other countries ink agreement to make AI 'secure by design' (Reuters) Instagram’s Algorithm Delivers Toxic Video Mix to Adults Who Follow Children (WSJ) The Biggest Delivery Business in the U.S. Is No Longer UPS or FedEx (WSJ) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 26, 2023
A lot of people give credit to Justin Hall for being, if not the first, then spiritually, at least, the “first” blogger. Since early 1994, first as Justin’s Homepage and at various points, as Justin’s Links from the Underground and Links.net, Justin Hall has been writing online and sharing online—especially, sharing himself online—longer than almost anyone else on the planet. Hear his story today, and watch his documentary at: http://overshare.links.net/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 25, 2023
This about the man who invented the modern disc operating system (the OS) and the concept of the software platform. That man was Gary Kildall. And the question we examine in this episode is, why is Bill Gates the richest man in the world, and not Gary Kildall? Could things have turned out differently? In this episode we use audio from the following documentaries: Triumph of the Nerds and Computer Chronicles Special thanks to Justin Schwinghamer for the original score and the voice acting. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 24, 2023
This about the man who invented the modern disc operating system (the OS) and the concept of the software platform. That man was Gary Kildall. And the question we examine in this episode is, why is Bill Gates the richest man in the world, and not Gary Kildall? Could things have turned out differently? In this episode we use audio from the following documentaries: Triumph of the Nerds and Computer Chronicles Special thanks to Justin Schwinghamer for the original score and the voice acting. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 23, 2023
From the Internet History Podcast, the background, root causes and rough outline of the dotcom bubble. How it happened, why it happened... and why it's unlikely to happen again anytime soon. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 22, 2023
Find out more at SFCompute.com . But also, to cut the line and get your hands on some time with some chips, email: ridehome@sfcompute.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 21, 2023
The Sam Altman thing is nowhere near resolved, and what does that mean, especially for Microsoft? Elon sues Media Matters. And if your YouTube videos have been behaving strangely of late, I think I can tell you why. Sponsors: Earin App (enter code techmeme) Traceroute Podcast Links: Sam Altman is still trying to return as OpenAI CEO (The Verge) OpenAI’s Board Approached Anthropic About Merger (The Information) @eastdakota's Tweet Thread on Microsoft and OpenAI Elon Musk Sues Media Matters for ‘Knowingly and Maliciously’ Misrepresenting Amount of Antisemitic Content on X (TheWrap) YouTube is reportedly slowing down videos for Firefox users (Update: Statement) (AndroidAuthority) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 20, 2023
There’s really only one story today, the whole, Sam Altman got fired by OpenAI’s board but then they tried to get him back, but then Microsoft hired him, and now OpenAI employees are threatening to quit en masse, story. But also, the CEO of Cruise has stepped down. And Linda Yaccarino’s friends are suggesting she should step down as CEO of X. Sponsors: DraftKings code Techmeme DrinkTrade.com/ride Links: Inside the Chaos at OpenAI (The Atlantic) Cruise co-founder and CEO Kyle Vogt resigns (TechCrunch) GM boss Mary Barra’s high-tech bet unraveling after Kyle Vogt departs as CEO of embattled Cruise robotaxi unit (Fortune) Yaccarino On Hot Seat As Ad Execs Urge Twitter CEO To Resign (Forbes) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 19, 2023
Find out more at Freeplay.ai . And find out more about the Ride Home Fund at RideHomeFund.com . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 18, 2023
Links: "Securities" newsletter "Securities" podcast Danny 's twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 17, 2023
Surprising almost everyone, Apple is adopting the Google-led RCS messaging standard. IBM suspends its advertising on X. Amazon is selling new cars on Amazon.com. A rebirth of Quibi? The surprising biggest mobile game of the year? And, of course, the Weekend Longreads suggestions. Sponsors: Miro.com/podcast Nuts.com/ride Links: Apple announces that RCS support is coming to iPhone next year (9to5Mac) What color bubbles will RCS messages be? Apple confirms the answer (9to5Mac) IBM pulls adverts from X after report finding they ran next to Nazi content (Financial Times) Hyundai to Be First Automaker to Sell New Cars on Amazon (WSJ) A Quibi-like app called ReelShort hit record downloads and revenue this month (TechCrunch) 2023's Apparent Biggest Mobile Game Launch Is Not What You Expect (GameSpot) Weekend Longreads Suggestion: Inside Marques Brownlee’s tech review studio: The YouTube star on gadgets, growth, and staying chill (Fast Company) A Coder Considers the Waning Days of the Craft (New Yorker) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 16, 2023
All of the big announcements from Microsoft’s development conference yesterday, including the debut of their own AI chips. YouTube is bringing AI to Shorts. Threads is kinda doing hashtags, though Chris Messina has thoughts. And the new UPS warehouse where the robots way outnumber the humans. Sponsors: Miro.com/podcast notion.com/ride Links: Microsoft rebrands Bing Chat to Copilot, to better compete with ChatGPT (The Verge) Microsoft officially launches Loop, its Notion competitor (The Verge) Microsoft Unveils Its First Custom-Designed AI, Cloud Chips (Bloomberg) YouTube Shorts Challenges TikTok With Music-Making AI for Creators (Wired) Threads starts testing hashtags…without the hash (TechCrunch) Robots to Outnumber People at UPS’s Massive New Warehouse (Bloomberg) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 15, 2023
Nothing has come up with the first large scale way to send iMessages even if you’re on Android. Those new OpenAI products are so popular, they’re actually pausing your ability to use them. DeepMind has a model that can predict the weather more accurately than humans. And the Cadillac of web cameras has a new model. Sponsors: Miro.com/podcast Mindbloom.com/techmeme and code techmeme Links: Coming soon: A fix for the Android green-bubble problem (Washington Post) Intel fixes high-severity CPU bug that causes “very strange behavior” (ArsTechnica) OpenAI Pauses New ChatGPT Plus Subscriptions Due To Surge In Demand (Search Engine Journal) Apple extends free period for iPhone 14 satellite features (9to5Mac) AI outperforms conventional weather forecasting methods for first time (Financial Times) Opal’s second camera is the Tadpole, a tiny webcam for laptops (The Verge) Ride Home AI Fund Syndicate Signup: https://venture.angellist.com/ride-home-ai-fund/syndicate?utm_campaign=syndicate_direct_link Ride Home Fund (Rolling Fund) Syndicate Signup: https://venture.angellist.com/ride-home-fund/syndicate?utm_campaign=syndicate_direct_link Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 14, 2023
Two different trials reveal some details of Google’s various deals with various platforms that they probably wish didn’t become public. Why aren’t the Fed’s arresting those casino hackers? Two interesting new initiatives from Uber. And OpenAI has an independent board that gets to decide when AGI has been achieved (and maybe x’s Microsoft out). Sponsors: Shopify.com/ride Miro.com/podcast Links: Apple Gets 36% of Google Revenue in Search Deal, Expert Says (Bloomberg) For Google Play, Dominating Android World Was ‘Existential’ (Bloomberg) Amazon Lays Off 180 Employees In Its Games Division (Aftermath) FBI struggled to disrupt dangerous casino hacking gang, cyber responders say (Reuters) Uber to Test TaskRabbit-Like Service in Florida and Alberta (Bloomberg) Uber takes steps to combat unfair driver deactivations (TechCrunch) OpenAI’s six-member board will decide ‘when we’ve attained AGI’ (VentureBeat) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 13, 2023
OpenAI is probably going to raise a ton more money to attempt to stay at the top of the AI heap. You might get your money back if you get scammed on Zelle all of the sudden. Would you trust ex-FTX executives to launch a new crypto exchange? And why did Apple pause all OS development for a week recently? Sponsors: Collective.com/ride and tell them ride sent you Miro.com/podcast Links: OpenAI chief seeks new Microsoft funds to build ‘superintelligence’ (Financial Times) Exclusive: Google in talks to invest in AI startup Character.AI (Reuters) Payments app Zelle begins refunds for imposter scams after Washington pressure (Reuters) Key Witness at Sam Bankman-Fried Trial to Launch New Crypto Exchange (WSJ) Apple Is Taking Extra Care With ‘Ambitious’ iOS 18 Update (Bloomberg) Sony PlayStation Portal Review (PCMag) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 13, 2023
Our first Ride Home AI Fund Portfolio Profile Episode: Automated Data Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 10, 2023
More details on that whole Humane Ai Pin device cause whatever you think about it, it’s the first radically new take on computing that we’ve seen since the smartphone. The first company to do carbon capture in the US is operational. I’ll tell you how it works. And, of course, the weekend longreads suggestions. Sponsors: Nutrafol.com/men and promocode ridehome Links: Humane’s Ai Pin is a $700 Smartphone Alternative You Wear All Day (Wired) Introducing Humane Ai Pin (The Humane Launch Video) In a U.S. First, a Commercial Plant Starts Pulling Carbon From the Air (NYTimes) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: AI is about to completely change how you use computers (GatesNotes) Elon Musk’s Brain Implant Startup Is Ready to Start Surgery (Bloomberg) Inside an OnlyFans empire: Sex, influence and the new American Dream (Washington Post) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 9, 2023
We’re getting our first look at the first ever AI hardware product from Humane today. Once Disney swallows Hulu it’s going to create one app to stream them all. Samsung joins the AI race. The Esports world continues to blow up. And a judge has ruled that your car can continue reading your text messages legally. Sponsors: Nutrisense.com/ride and code ride Links: Exclusive leak: all the details about Humane’s AI Pin, which costs $699 and has OpenAI integration (The Verge) Disney+, Hulu Merged App to Launch Next Month for Bundle Subscribers, Bob Iger Says (Variety) No More Phone Number Swaps: Signal Messaging App Now Testing Usernames (PCMag) The Overwatch League is officially dead: Activision Blizzard is 'transitioning' away from its groundbreaking esports league as teams reportedly vote to withdraw (PC Gamer) Court rules automakers can record and intercept owner text messages (The Record) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 8, 2023
Big tech platforms are preparing for the first big election of the AI era. Why even Microsoft is so desperate to get its hands on AI chips. Some incredibly bearish signs from crypto. But could we actually see a crypto IPO happen soon? Don’t sleep on Amazon’s healthcare ambitions. And never underestimate the power of timing nostalgia correctly. Links: Meta to Require Campaigns to Disclose AI-Altered Political Ads (WSJ) Microsoft Is Offering to Help US Politicians Crack Down on Deepfakes (Bloomberg) Bing Chat so hungry for GPUs, Microsoft will rent them from Oracle (The Register) Coatue Cuts Value of OpenSea Stake by 90% as Fund’s Returns Sag (The Information) Stablecoin Issuer Circle Internet Considering 2024 IPO (Bloomberg) Amazon links One Medical primary care to Prime memberships (Washington Post) Fortnite just had its biggest day ever, 6 years in (Polygon) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 7, 2023
OpenAI wants to open an App Store where everyone can build their own GPTs. There’s also a new GPT-4 that has gotten significantly cheaper. Did Cruise know its cars were underperforming even before the DMV shut them down? WeWork is officially dead, but are we seeing green shoots… evidence that the tech recession might be ending? Links: OpenAI Launches GPT-4 Turbo (TechCrunch) OpenAI is letting anyone create their own version of ChatGPT (The Verge) CRUISE KNEW ITS SELF-DRIVING CARS HAD PROBLEMS RECOGNIZING CHILDREN — AND KEPT THEM ON THE STREETS (The Intercept) WeWork, once valued at $47 billion, files for bankruptcy (CNBC) Shein Targets Up to $90 Billion Valuation in US IPO, Sources Say (Bloomberg) Klarna’s financial glow-up is my favorite story in tech right now (TechCrunch) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 6, 2023
Elon releases his AI model. The Chinese AI startup that has hit unicorn status in just 8 months by going the open source route. The reviews of the new Mac with M3 chips are out, and they’re generally good. But if you’ve been pining for a new 27 inch iMac, I’ve got some very bad news for you. Sponsors: Traceroute Podcast Kolide.com/ride ipn.ibotta.com/ride Links: Elon Musk debuts ‘Grok’ AI bot to rival ChatGPT, others (CNBC) AI Pioneer Kai-Fu Lee Builds $1 Billion Startup in Eight Months (Bloomberg) Bumble CEO Whitney Wolfe Herd Steps Down (WSJ) Review: Apple’s 16-inch M3 Max MacBook Pro crams Ultra-level speed into a laptop (ArsTechnica) Apple has no plans to make a 27-inch iMac with Apple Silicon (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 3, 2023
Sam Bankman Fried has been found guilty. The FTC alleges Jeff Bezos ordered Amazon to boost junk ads. Elon Musk says Starlink is almost profitable. He also says he’s about to release his own AI model. And in the Weekend Longreads Suggestions, is Elon about to give Joe Rogan a new lily pad to take his podcast to? Sponsors: Traceroute Podcast ShopBeam.com/ride and code ride for up to 40% off Links: Sam Bankman-Fried found guilty of fraud (The Verge) Sam Bankman-Fried Was a Grown Up Criminal, Not an Impulsive Man-Child (NYTimes) Starlink achieves cash-flow breakeven, says SpaceX CEO Musk (Reuters) Musk's xAI set to launch first AI model to select group (Reuters) Amazon Boosted Junk Ads, Deleted Messages to Thwart Antitrust Probe, FTC Says (Bloomberg) Google AdSense moving to per-impression payments in 2024 (9to5Google) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: The EV transition trips over its own cord (The Verge) Joe Rogan’s big decision (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 2, 2023
Looks like Disney is finally going to swallow Hulu. One more time we’re going to look at the AI regulation debate, this time noting that governments are regulating tech ahead of time for the first time in a while. You might want to tip your DoorDasher ahead of time. And can I coin a term? Arizona is becoming Silicon Mesa? Sponsors: Nutrisense.com/ride and code ride Links: Disney Says It Will Take Full Control of Hulu (NYTimes) Joe Biden Wants US Government Algorithms Tested for Potential Harm Against Citizens (Wired) Attenuating Innovation (AI) (Stratechery) DoorDash now warns you that your food might get cold if you don’t tip (The Verge) ‘Our secret weapon’: how a university bolstered Phoenix’s rise as US chip capital (Financial Times) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 1, 2023
LinkedIn has an AI job coach for you. Netflix’s ad tier is doing well. But is it doing well enough. You might have thought this already happened, but WeWork seems to be seriously circling the deadpool. A potentially big breakthrough for medicinal discovery via AI. And more on the evolving AI debate around open source and regulatory capture. Links: LinkedIn’s new AI chatbot wants to help you get a job (CNBC) Netflix, Pushing Into AVOD Fray, Plans New Ad Formats, ‘Crown’ Sponsorship Deals (Variety) WeWork Plans to File for Bankruptcy as Early as Next Week (WSJ) DeepMind’s latest AlphaFold model is more useful for drug discovery (TechCrunch) Google DeepMind boss hits back at Meta AI chief over ‘fearmongering’ claim (CNBC) What the executive order means for openness in AI (AI Snake Oil) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 31, 2023
All the headlines for last night’s Apple event, including interesting details about the new M3 chips. One year on from Elon purchasing it, what is X worth now? Is Nvidia gonna have to cancel all those chip orders from China? And are people crying chicken little about the threat of AI in order to do some regulatory capture? Links: Apple ‘Scary Fast’ Mac launch event: the 4 biggest announcements (The Verge) Apple officially unveils M3, M3 Pro, and M3 Max: 3 nanometer, Dynamic Caching GPU, more (9to5Mac) Apple M3 Pro Chip Has 25% Less Memory Bandwidth Than M1/M2 Pro (MacRumors) Nvidia’s $5 Billion of China Orders in Limbo After Latest U.S. Curbs (WSJ) X Says It Is Worth $19 Billion, Down From $44 Billion Last Year (NYTimes) Artists Lose First Round of Copyright Infringement Case Against AI Art Generators (TRH) Google Brain cofounder says Big Tech companies are lying about the risks of AI wiping out humanity because they want to dominate the market (Insider) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 30, 2023
Governments around the world announce guardrails for AI… or, at least, suggest some. OpenAI takes steps to keep you from going to plugins. Meta seems serious about offering a subscription option to Europeans. Your earbuds are about to get smarter. And how AI might finally give us useful robots. Sponsors: Collective.com/ride NPR's Planet Money Links: Biden releases AI executive order directing agencies to develop safety guidelines (The Verge) Exclusive: G7 to agree AI code of conduct for companies (Reuters) New Version Of ChatGPT Gives Access To All GPT-4 Tools At Once (Search Engine Journal) Google Commits $2 Billion in Funding to AI Startup Anthropic (WSJ) Meta to Offer Ad-Free Facebook, Instagram Subscriptions in Europe (Bloomberg) Google can turn ANC earbuds into a heart rate monitor with no extra hardware (9to5Google) Stacking Boxes? Treating Cancer? AI Needs to Learn Physics First (WSJ) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 28, 2023
We started this year with layoffs and the whole "Tech Recession" narrative. So, as we wind up the year, did tech recover this year, and if so, how? Also, self-driving cars and speculation on Monday's Apple event. Check out Big Technology here ! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 27, 2023
Amazon wraps up tech earnings week. Microsoft raises the alarm about a really sophisticate new hacking group. SBF actually takes the stand. OpenAI sets up a system to keep their AI from, you know, blowing up the world. And, of course, the weekend longreads suggestions. Sponsors: Miro.com/podcast ShopBeam.com/ride and use code ride for 40% off Links: Microsoft: Octo Tempest is one of the most dangerous financial hacking groups (BleepingComputer) FTX’s Sam Bankman-Fried previews legal defence at fraud trial (FT) Cruise pauses all driverless robotaxi operations to ‘rebuild public trust’ (TechCrunch) OpenAI forms team to study ‘catastrophic’ AI risks, including nuclear threats (TechCrunch) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: They Cracked the Code to a Locked USB Drive Worth $235 Million in Bitcoin. Then It Got Weird (Wired) “Math is hard” — if you are an LLM – and why that matters (Gary Marcus Blog) The poster’s guide to the internet of the future (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 26, 2023
Meta earnings from yesterday. Apple seems to be planning a complete revamp of the AirPods lineup. Spotify plans major changes to how it does royalties. X rolls out video and audio calls. And a look at how those new gesture controls work on the Apple Watch. Sponsors: Masterworks.art/techmeme Miro.com/podcast Links: Zuckerberg says Threads has almost 100 million monthly users (The Verge) Apple Plans AirPods Overhaul With New Low- and High-End Models, USB-C Headphones (Bloomberg) Apple TV+, Apple Arcade, and Apple News+ Receiving Price Increases (MacRumors) SPOTIFY IS CHANGING ITS ROYALTY MODEL TO CRUSH STREAMING FRAUD AND INTRODUCE A MINIMUM PAYMENT THRESHOLD. ITS PLAN? TO SHIFT $1 BILLION IN PAYOUTS TOWARDS ‘WORKING ARTISTS’ OVER THE NEXT 5 YEARS. (MusicBusinessWorldwide) X is officially rolling out audio and video calls (The Verge) The Apple Watch’s double tap gesture points at a new way to use wearables (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 25, 2023
Meta got sued by most the States. California has forced Cruise to stop its autonomous vehicle testing. Will earbuds be key in any AI future? Tech earnings season snuck up on me at least. And is Sam Bankman Fried going to have to take the stand in order to keep himself out of prison? Sponsors: Nuts.com/ride Miro.com/podcast Links: Meta sued by 42 attorneys general alleging Facebook, Instagram features are addictive and target kids (CNBC) California DMV immediately suspends Cruise’s robotaxi permit (TechCrunch) Qualcomm turns to Wi-Fi to take wireless earbuds and headphones to the next level (The Verge) Controversial Chip in Huawei Phone Produced on ASML Machine (Bloomberg) Can Sam Bankman-Fried argue his way out of trouble? (FT) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 24, 2023
Nvidia wants to get into the ARM CPU game. Somebody is taking a run at some high value targets via Okta. A new version of maybe the most advanced smart glasses out there. Are you seeing ads when you press pause on streaming? And what is it like to have a robot lawnmower that actually works? Sponsors: Notion.com/ride Miro.com/podcast Links: Exclusive: Nvidia to make Arm-based PC chips in major new challenge to Intel (Reuters) 1Password detects “suspicious activity” in its internal Okta account (ArsTechnica) Xreal’s Air 2 glasses put a big screen on your face and ship in the US next month (The Verge) ‘Pause Ads’ Creep Onto Hulu, Peacock and Max as Streamers Seek New Revenue (Variety) Matter 1.2 is a big move for the smart home standard (The Verge) I tested a $6,000 automower for four months. Here's why I'm fully invested (ZDNet) Life360 Sued for Selling Location Data (The Markup) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 23, 2023
Mark Gurman suggests Apple is scrambling to go all in on Generative AI. Also, will there be a mini Mac event by the end of this month? Okta had a breach. Worldcoin is dogfooding its own token. Would you let your family pick your Tinder matches? And do your kids like telling you where they are at all times? Sponsors: Miro.com/podcast Links: Inside Apple’s Big Plan to Bring Generative AI to All Its Devices (Bloomberg) Okta shares fall 11% after company says client files were accessed by hackers via its support system (CNBC) Web Summit CEO Cosgrave Quits After Israel Controversy (Bloomberg) China launches investigation into iPhone maker Foxconn, says state media (Financial Times) Worldcoin to pay orb operators in WLD rather than USDC (The Block) Worldcoin to cease paying Orb operators in USDC as early as November (CoinTelegraph) Tinder now lets mom pick your next date (The Verge) Teens Want Parents to Track Their Phones and Monitor Their Every Move (WSJ) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 21, 2023
Remember, the order of the languages is Spanish, Arabic, Hindi, Chinese and German. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 20, 2023
More on the crypto/terrorism allegations. The FCC is freeing up spectrum for use by AR and VR devices. They’re also laying the groundwork to bring net neutrality back. AMD’s latest chips designed to rival Nvidia. And, of course, the Weekend Longreads Suggestions. Sponsors: TryFum.com and code ride Links: U.S. Treasury Seeks to Name Crypto Mixers as 'Money Laundering Concern' (CoinDesk) SEC Drops Charges Against Ripple CEO Garlinghouse, Chairman Larsen (CoinDesk) FCC greenlights superfast Wi-Fi tethering for AR and VR headsets (The Verge) FCC begins second quest for net neutrality (TechCrunch) AMD challenges Nvidia’s RTX 4080 with its new RX 7900M laptop GPU (PCWorld) FaZe Clan acquired by GameSquare (Digiday) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: An Industry Insider Drives an Open Alternative to Big Tech’s A.I. (NYTimes) ‘Oof’: Sam Bankman-Fried’s Trial Reveals Inside Details of How FTX Died (NYTimes) Computers Are Learning to Smell (The Atlantic) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 19, 2023
Is crypto being used for terrorism in the current war? Netflix has good earnings and raises prices. Again. Again I ask why tech layoffs have returned. What does it mean if OpenAI had to completely scrap a new AI model? And if those FaceTime video reactions are annoying you, I’ll tell you how to turn them off. Sponsors: Nutrafol.com/men promocode: ridehome Links: Chainalysis says some reports might be overestimating crypto's role in terrorist financing (The Block) NY Attorney General sues Gemini, Genesis and DCG for allegedly defrauding crypto investors of over $1B (TechCrunch) WhatsApp will soon let you stay logged in to two accounts at once (The Verge) Netflix Plans Price Increase as Password-Sharing Crackdown Boosts Subscriber Growth (WSJ) Nokia to cut up to 14,000 jobs after 69% profit plunge (CNBC) Authors sue Meta, Microsoft, Bloomberg in latest AI copyright clash (Reuters) OpenAI Dropped Work on New ‘Arrakis’ AI Model in Rare Setback (The Information) How to turn off FaceTime video reactions in iOS 17 and macOS Sonoma (AppleInsider) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 18, 2023
Elon has a fresh idea for fighting bots and maybe making some money. The IRS is finally moving ahead of cheap online tax filing. What are the odds Netflix can muscle its way into the gaming industry. And should I release this podcast in different languages? Sponsors: Earnin App Links: X will start charging new users in two countries $1 per year (The Verge) Xbox chief says Activision Blizzard games aren’t coming to Xbox Game Pass until 2024 (The Verge) IRS Will Offer Free (But Limited) Direct E-Filing Next Year (PCMag) Microsoft is preparing to bring on Amazon as a customer of its 365 cloud tools in a $1 billion megadeal, according to an internal document (Insider) Amazon says it has 10,000 Rivian electric vans in its delivery fleet (Reuters) ‘Wait, Netflix Has Games?’ Streaming Giant Plans New Videogames Based on Its Hit Shows (WSJ) Tongue Twisted: Adams Taps AI to Make City Robocalls in Languages He Doesn’t Speak (The City) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 17, 2023
A new “affordable” Apple Pencil. Several “fog of war” stories surrounding major tech players. Why are tech layoffs suddenly back? Are Meta’s Ray-Ban glasses good? And is LinkedIn actually the social network you should be investing more energy in? Sponsors: Hatch.co/ride Mindbloom.com/techmeme , promocode Techmeme Links: Apple unveils brand new 'affordable' Apple Pencil that costs $79 and has a USB-C port (iMore) Actively exploited Cisco 0-day with maximum 10 severity gives full network control (ArsTechnica) Social Media Users Accuse Facebook and Instagram of Suppressing Pro-Palestinian Posts (NyTimes) Israel orders freeze on crypto accounts in bid to block funding for Hamas (FinancialTimes) Web Summit derailed by founder’s public fight with those supporting Israel in Hamas war (TechCrunch) Microsoft-owned LinkedIn lays off nearly 700 employees — read the memo here (CNBC) Twitch launches stories for streamers (TechCrunch) Influencers and CEOs take their brands to LinkedIn (FT) Meta's $299 Ray-Ban smart glasses may be the most useful gadget I've tested all year (ZDNet) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 17, 2023
Mark Gurman already has details on a cheaper Vision Pro. Minecraft passes 300 million units sold. Why prompt injection is THE security issue of the AI era. And what if Nikola Tesla’s dream of sending electrical energy over distance without any wires is slowly becoming a thing? Sponsors: Collective.com/ride CrucibleMoments.com Links: Apple Renews Top Ranks With Wave of Executive Promotions (Bloomberg) A New Protocol Vulnerability Will Haunt the Web for Years (Wired) Goldman Sachs Wants Out of Consumer Lending. Employees Say It Can’t Happen Fast Enough. (WSJ) Multi-modal prompt injection image attacks against GPT-4V (Simon Willison's Blog) Minecraft has sold over 300 million copies (The Verge) Microsoft’s Activision Buy Extends Nadella’s Decade of Deals (WSJ) I’m Charging My Toothbrush With Wireless Power Over Distance—and It’s a Trip (Wired) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 14, 2023
If my reviews don't float your boat, here are some more detailed ones: Pixel 8 and 8 Pro review: in Google we trust? (The Verge) Google Pixel Watch 2 review: better battery, better watch (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 13, 2023
Microsoft wins its big prize. The EU officially opens and X investigation. VC investment activity has reached its lowest level in years. Netflix dips its toe into the IRL experience business. And, of course, the weekend longreads suggestions. Links: Microsoft's purchase of Activision Blizzard for Xbox has been fully APPROVED by the UK regulator (Windows Central) EU opens probe into Elon Musk’s X over Israel-Hamas war misinformation (Financial Times) U.S. VC funding hit lowest level in 6 years in Q3 | A story told in charts (VentureBeat) Netflix to Open Stores Where Fans Can Play, Shop and Eat in 2025 (Bloomberg) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: Adobe Is Focused on AI Rather Than Figma With Acquisition in Limbo (Bloomberg) Can EA’s FIFA-Free Soccer Game Win Fans? (Bloomberg) Has Bob Iger Lost the Magic? (Bloomberg) Why Dizziness Is Still a Mystery (The New Yorker) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 12, 2023
That thing where the IRS says you’ve underpaid your taxes to the tune of almost $30 billion dollars. Adam Mosseri says Threads is NOT coming for the breaking news crown. Those kids today, they love YouTube and they REALLY love iPhones. And forget social chat with your friends. How about social chat with your friends, and your AI bot, and their AI bots? Sponsors: DrinkTrade.com/ride Links: IRS says Microsoft owes an additional $29 billion in back taxes (CNBC) Linda Yaccarino responds to EU: 700 Community Notes, 5K+ images shared on Israel-Hamas war, ‘thousands’ of pieces of content removed (TechCrunch) Instagram head says Threads is ‘not going to amplify news on the platform’ (TechCrunch) Google pays Apple $18B to $20B a year to keep its search in iPhone (The Register) PlayStation 5 cloud streaming launches this month (VGC) YouTube passes Netflix as top video source for teens (CNBC) iPhone Continues to Be Most Popular Smartphone Among Teens, Apple Watch Ownership Growing (MacRumors) Character.AI introduces group chats where people and multiple AIs can talk to each other (TechCrunch) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 11, 2023
The EU is warning Elon Musk over X content related to the Israel-Hamas war. The biggest DDoS attack of all time, by, like, 8x. New image models from Adobe. New PS5s from Sony. New rules from the FTC to help you avoid hidden fees. And checking in with the Sam Bankman Fried trial. Sponsors: Shopify.com/ride Links: EU warns Elon Musk of ‘penalties’ for disinformation circulating on X amid Israel-Hamas war (CNN) New technique leads to largest DDoS attacks ever, Google and Amazon say (The Record) Adobe Firefly can now generate more realistic images (TechCrunch) Sony’s new PS5 with a removable disc drive launches in November (The Verge) The End of Junk Fees? FTC Proposes New Rule (The Hollywood Reporter) Caroline Ellison, Adviser to Sam Bankman-Fried, Says He ‘Directed’ Her to Commit Crimes (NYTimes) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 10, 2023
That whole bungled pricing thing has cost the Unity CEO his job. The big 23andMe breach is a different kind of hack. And it turns out if you fall victim to a scam, it’s probably because you were online. Can you charge enough to cover the costs of AI products? And is the Pixel brand finally having a moment. Sponsors: ipn.ibotta.com/ride TryFum.com code ride Links: John Riccitiello steps down as CEO of Unity after pricing battle (GamesBeat) 23andMe says private user data is up for sale after being scraped (ArsTechnica) Social media scams are costing Americans more than ever (TechRadar) Big Tech Struggles to Turn AI Hype Into Profits (WSJ) Google has shipped almost 40 million Pixel phones since 2016, 10 million last year (9to5Google) Elon Musk’s X Cut Disinformation-Fighting Tool Ahead of Israel-Hamas Conflict (The Information) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 10, 2023
Holy crap! Anyone coming to the listener meetup tonight, I hope you see this! Turns out Johnny Foley's is closed on Mondays! We will instead try to meet at the Kan Pai lounge in the Hotel Nikko! It's on the 2nd floor. Go up the escalators! Sorry for my error and this late notice! 222 Mason St. Right across the st! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 8, 2023
Find out more at Mimoto.ai Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 6, 2023
Looks like Microsoft is inches away from getting the Activision acquisition over the line. Hardware ambitions are one thing, but OpenAI might also design its own silicon. Microsoft’s new version of Teams is finally not the most resource hungry piece of software on your computer. And, of course, the Weekend Longreads Suggestions. Links: Microsoft eyes closing its giant Activision Blizzard deal next week (The Verge) Exclusive: ChatGPT-owner OpenAI is exploring making its own AI chips (Reuters) Microsoft’s faster and redesigned Teams app now available for Windows and Mac (The Verge) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: How Will A.I. Learn Next? (The New Yorker) How Bandcamp makes more money than Spotify (Fast Company) Long gone, DEC is still powering the world of computing (ArsTechnica) The Genius Behind Hollywood’s Most Indelible Sets (NYTimes Magazine) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 5, 2023
A new front in the regulation battle is opening up for major cloud platforms. What is the point of removing article headlines in X posts? Amazon’s Project Kuiper is launching… literally. And is the new camera on the iPhone 15 Max the biggest smartphone camera upgrade ever? Sponsors: Netsuite.com/ride Links: Microsoft and Amazon face UK regulator investigation over cloud services (The Verge) Elon Musk Starts Stripping Headlines From Links Shared to X (The Wrap) Galaxy SmartTag 2 launches next week for $30, still only works with Samsung devices (9to5Google) Android 14 is now available for Pixel phones (The Verge) Amazon Prepares to Challenge SpaceX’s Starlink With Maiden Satellite Launch (Gizmodo) Apple Considered, Rejected Switch to DuckDuckGo From Google (Bloomberg) iPhone 15 Pro Max Camera Review: Depth and Reach (Lux) Vera wants to use AI to cull generative models’ worst behaviors (TechCrunch) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 4, 2023
All the headlines from the Made By Google event this morning. Samsung also announced their low end lineup of phones. Gmail is taking some big new steps to combat spam. And what if I told you Netflix is about to raise prices. Again. Sponsors: DomainMoney.com Links: Google’s Pixel Watch 2 brings new sensors for improved health tracking (TechCrunch) Google’s Pixel 8 brings new camera tricks, better display and a thermometer (TechCrunch) The Pixel 8 Pro has better cameras, a brighter screen, and a lot of new AI tricks (The Verge) Google announces AI-powered photo-editing features for new Pixel phones (TechCrunch) The Galaxy S23 FE, Tab S9 FE, and Buds FE get you flagship specs at way lower prices (XDADevelopers) Google is making big changes to prevent Gmail spam (CNBC) Anthropic in Talks to Raise $2 Billion From Google and Others Just Days After Amazon Investment (The Information) Netflix Plans to Raise Prices After Actors Strike Ends (WSJ) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 3, 2023
Snapchat has led the way, but are we going to see everybody in social media offering subscription plans? An interesting raise for AI investing. Satya Nadella was on the stand yesterday at the Google trial. And what’s up with Threads? Has it missed its moment? Sponsors: Nutrisense.com/ride code ride Links: Meta Plans to Charge $14 a Month for Ad-Free Instagram or Facebook (WSJ) TikTok Confirms It Is Testing an Ad-Free Subscription Tier (Variety) Frec steps out of stealth with $26M in funding, aiming to democratize sophisticated investing with AI (VentureBeat) Microsoft CEO Says Google’s Agreements With Apple Unfairly Harmed Bing (WSJ) US issues first ever fine for space junk to Dish Network (BBCNews) Instagram Looks for Ways to Revive Interest in Threads (The Information) The official podcast development partner! Uptech.team ! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 2, 2023
Apple says your iPhone might be heating up because of… Instagram? Rumors suggest Apple has a search engine in its back pocket if it ever wants one. Chromebook Plus is the moniker for high end Chromebooks. And we have our first glimpse of that Humane wearable AI device. Sponsors: Collective.com/ride Kolide.com/ride Links: Apple Says iPhone 15 Pro Overheating Due to iOS 17 Bug, Not Hardware Design (CNET) Apple Has What It Needs to Launch Its Own Google Replacement (Bloomberg) Chromebook Plus is Google’s new certification for premium Chromebooks (The Verge) The synthetic social network is coming (Platformer) Humane shows off its wearable AI pin at Paris Fashion Week (Apple Insider) The official podcast development partner! Uptech.team ! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 30, 2023
Check out what we came up with at ResumeWriting.com . And check out Uptech.team . They can help you with any project! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 29, 2023
What if Apple had bought Bing and turned it into its own search engine? Why did France’s competition authority raid, we believe, Nvidia’s offices? Big layoffs and peel offs from Epic shows that the gaming industry is still hurting. And of course, the Weekend Longreads Suggestions. Sponsors: EarnIn App , enter Techmeme under podcast Nutrafol.com/men enter code ridehome Links: Microsoft Discussed Selling Bing to Apple as Google Replacement (Bloomberg) Google adds a switch for publishers to opt out of becoming AI training data (The Verge) Nvidia’s French Offices Raided in Cloud-Computing Antitrust Inquiry (WSJ) Epic Games cuts around 830 jobs (The Verge) Weekend Longreads Suggestions The new phone call etiquette: Text first and never leave a voice mail (Washington Post) Can FTX Be Revived—Without Sam Bankman-Fried? (Wired) Could ‘The Terminator’ really happen? Experts assess Hollywood’s visions of AI. (Washington Post) ‘Nerfball’ introduces Nerf’s smartest foam yet — it detects dart impacts (The Verge) Netflix Prepares to Send Its Final Red Envelope (NYTimes) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 28, 2023
The Meta Connect keynote was yesterday and they announced a bunch of stuff including AI chatbots, a new Quest 3, and the continuation of those Ray-Ban smart glasses that are actually getting kind of interesting. Looks like OpenAI is serious about working with Jony Ive. A big new open-source LLM available to download now. And the new Raspberry Pi 5. Sponsors: ShopBeam.com/ride and code RIDE for up to 40% off TryFum.com and use code ride for 10% off Links: Facebook and Instagram will soon get a slew of AI-powered creator tools (The Verge) Meta is putting AI chatbots everywhere (The Verge) Meta Rolls Out Higher-Priced Quest 3 Headset, Just Ahead of Apple’s Vision Pro (Bloomberg) Meta’s smart glasses can take calls, play music, and livestream from your face (The Verge) OpenAI and Jony Ive in talks to raise $1bn from SoftBank for AI device venture (FT) Mistral AI makes its first large language model free for everyone (TechCrunch) Elon Musk Wins US Space Force Contract for Starshield (Bloomberg) The Raspberry Pi 5 is finally here (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 27, 2023
The big FTC-led lawsuit against Amazon is live. Is Jony Ive working with OpenAI to create an AI hardware product? OpenAI might soon be 3x-ing its private valuation. What the writers won from Hollywood. And what it’s actually like to ride in the only street-legal Level 3 autonomous car. Sponsors: Mindbloom.com/techmeme and promocode techmeme CrucibleMoments.com Links: FTC and 17 states sue Amazon on antitrust charges (CNBC) Designer Jony Ive and OpenAI’s Sam Altman Discuss AI Hardware Project (The Information) OpenAI Seeks New Valuation of Up to $90 Billion in Sale of Existing Shares (WSJ) The iPhone 15 Pro series overheating issues are unrelated to TSMC’s advanced 3nm node / iPhone 15 Pro (Ming-Chi Kuo) The new WGA contract will change how Hollywood works (The Verge) Hollywood Studios Can Train AI Models on Writers’ Work Under Tentative Deal (WSJ) We put our blind faith in Mercedes-Benz’s first-of-its-kind autonomous Drive Pilot feature (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 26, 2023
Spotify’s new Jam product is kind of the coolest new feature I’ve heard in a while. Looks like the FCC is bringing net neutrality back. Google discontinues some products. New drone reviews and a new drone that either will eliminate police chases… or bring on the panopticon. Sponsors: Skip the waitlist and invest in blue-chip art for the very first time by signing up for Masterworks: https://www.masterworks.art/techmeme .Purchase shares in great masterpieces from artists like Pablo Picasso, Banksy, Andy Warhol, and more. See important Masterworks disclosures: https://www.masterworks.com/cd Hatch.co/ride Links: Spotify launches Jam, a real-time collaborative playlist controlled by up to 32 people (TechCrunch) Coinbase Role in Crypto Firm Celsius’s Bankruptcy Plan Questioned by SEC (Bloomberg) FCC Aims to Reinstate Net Neutrality Rules After US Democrats Gain Control of Panel (Bloomberg) Google killing Basic HTML version of Gmail In January 2024 (The Register) Not just a Pixel thing: iPhone 15 series users are also reporting heating issues (Android Authority) DJI Mini 4 Pro review: The best lightweight drone gains more power and smarts (Engadget) This New Autonomous Drone for Cops Can Track You in the Dark (Wired) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 25, 2023
Amazon makes a big bet on Anthropic. A big DeFi hack. The US government is weighing a sort of “know your customer” rule for big cloud providers. OpenAI has rolled out some cool new ways to interact with their AI. And why the number of smartphone brands around the world has basically collapsed. Sponsored: NPR Planet Money Zbiotics.com/ride and code: ride Links: Amazon to invest up to $4bn in AI start-up Anthropic (Financial Times) Defi Project Mixin Network Suspends Services After $200 Million Crypto Hack (Bloomberg) Booking to appeal after EU vetoes $1.7 bln ETraveli deal (Reuters) White House could force cloud companies to disclose AI customers (Semafor) You can now prompt ChatGPT with pictures and voice commands (The Verge) WGA and the studios reach tentative deal to end writers’ strike (Los Angeles Times) Nearly 500 Brands Exited Smartphone Market During 2017-2023 (Counterpoint) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 23, 2023
Find out more about Play at CreateWithPlay.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 22, 2023
The UK CMA looks like it’s folding, so the Microsoft/Activision acquisition can go through now? YouTube unveils some cool AI tools. Amazon is adding ads to Prime Video and raising the price. And, of course, the weekend longreads suggestions. Sponsors: Miro.com/podcast Nutrisense.com/ride and code ride Links: Microsoft’s Activision Deal Set to Clear Final UK Hurdle (Bloomberg) Apple emergency updates fix 3 new zero-days exploited in attacks (BleepingComputer) YouTube to add AI creator tools to find music for videos, add dubs (TechCrunch) YouTube Shorts to gain a generative AI feature called Dream Screen (TechCrunch) Amazon to Run Ads on Prime Video in Key Markets Starting in 2024 (Bloomberg) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: Amazon’s rumored home projector can turn anything into a screen (The Verge) The Physical Process That Powers a New Type of Generative AI (Quanta) Unraveling The AI-Generated Spiral Art Phenomenon (NFTNow) The Early Days of American English (Lapham's Quarterly) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 21, 2023
All the headlines from the Microsoft Fall event. The Amazon Fall event. OpenAI teasing DALL-E 3. And one more review of a recent Apple product, and for the first time in a long time, the consensus seems to be it’s hot garbage. Sponsors: Rocketcard.com/ride Miro.com/podcast Links: Microsoft unveils unified Copilot that extends across Bing, Edge, and Windows (Windows Central) The Surface Laptop Go 3 starts at $799 and arrives on October 3 (Engadget) Microsoft announces the Surface Laptop Studio 2 with upgraded chips and ports (The Verge) The Surface Go 4 comes with a much-needed performance boost (The Verge) All the biggest announcements from Amazon’s September 2023 product launch event (The Verge) Amazon brings generative AI to Alexa (TechCrunch) OpenAI releases third version of DALL-E (The Verge) The new FineWoven iPhone cases are very bad (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 20, 2023
The UK looks like it’s going to make that Online Safety Bill into law. Instacart closed up, but Arm has been trending down on the markets. Could Apple really have considered getting into the stock trading game? Is the iPad finally getting a WhatsApp app? And what if you could get AI to perform better simply by giving it gentle words of encouragement. Sponsors: Miro.com/podcast Links: UK opens new chapter in digital regulation as parliament passes Online Safety Bill (TechCrunch) Instacart closes up 12% in Nasdaq debut, after first-day rally sputters (CNBC) Apple and Goldman were planning stock-trading feature for iPhones until markets turned last year (CNBC) WhatsApp appears to be about to launch its long-overdue iPad app (The Verge) Musk's Neuralink to start human trial of brain implant for paralysis patients (Reuters) Telling AI model to “take a deep breath” causes math scores to soar in study (ArsTechnica) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 19, 2023
Bunch of internal Microsoft documents have leaked, so now we know the new Xbox that is coming next year, and their full gaming roadmap which includes “convergence” by 2028. Microsoft’s Chief Product Officer looks like he might take over Alexa. Google sets Bard loose on your Gmail. And what’s new in those new OS releases from Apple. Sponsors: IPN.Ibotta.com/ride Miro.com/podcast Links: Microsoft's Xbox plans revealed in emails tied to FTC case (NBCNews) Microsoft’s next Xbox, coming 2028, envisions hybrid computing (The Verge) Amazon Is Poised to Hire Departing Microsoft Product Chief (Bloomberg) Google’s Bard chatbot can now find answers in your Gmail, Docs, Drive (The Verge) iOS 17 is a lot of little updates that make a big impact (The Verge) watchOS 10 preview: widgets all the way down (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 18, 2023
Google won’t support screen repairs on your watch but will extend support of Chromebooks. How Spotify and other streamers have changed the way music sounds. And the software update coming to AirPods that might change the way you listen. Sponsors: Miro.com/podcast Collective.com/ride Links: Google won’t repair cracked Pixel Watch screens (The Verge) Google Extends Lifespan of Chromebooks With 10-Year Update Policy (WSJ) How the Lazarus Group is stepping up crypto hacks and changing its tactics (Elliptic) AI Startup Writer Raises $100 Million to Pen Corporate Content (Bloomberg) Streaming Is Changing the Sound of Music (WSJ) Apple’s AirPods Pro just got much better — no matter what port is on the case (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 15, 2023
Big fine in Europe of TikTok. Apple thinks it can fix that iPhone radiation issue with a software update. The whole Unity controversy has gotten crazy. Maybe it’s a bad idea to have AI write obituaries. And, of course, the Weekend Longreads Suggestions. Links: TikTok fined $379M in EU for failing to keep kids’ data safe (TechCrunch) Apple moves to defuse French iPhone 12 dispute as EU scrutiny steps up (Reuters) MGM hack followed failed bid to rig slot machines, ‘Scattered Spider’ group claims (Financial Times) Video-Game Company Unity Closes Offices Following Death Threat (Bloomberg) Microsoft Publishes Garbled AI Article Calling Tragically Deceased NBA Player "Useless" (Futurism) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: Startup That Lets You Instantly Talk in Foreign Language Targets a Nasdaq IPO at $1 Billion Value (Bloomberg) From $1 Billion to Almost Worthless: FaZe Clan Runs Out of Hype (Bloomberg) The Pumpkin Spice Latte just turned 20. This is how we got here. (Washington Post) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 14, 2023
Arm’s IPO is happening as I record these words. Vegas and the casino industry in general seem to be the target of some widescale cyberattacks. Unity acknowledges people’s ire about their proposed pricing change. And the wildest new laptop design you can buy, but you’re gonna need a bigger wallet. Links: Chip giant Arm raises nearly $5 billion in year's largest IPO (Axios) Inside The Ransomware Attack That Shut Down MGM Resorts (Forbes) Caesars Entertainment Paid Millions to Hackers in Attack (Bloomberg) Judge Allows Bankrupt FTX to Sell Its Crypto Holdings, Including BTC and SOL (CoinDesk) Unity Acknowledges 'Confusion and Frustration' Among Developers But Won't Walk Back Install Fee Plan (IGN) The HP Spectre Fold is the world’s thinnest 17-inch foldable PC (The Verge) HP's $5,000 Spectre Fold might be the best flexible-screen laptop yet (Engadget) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 13, 2023
Unity has upset game developers across the world with new pricing changes. France has ordered Apple to stop selling the iPhone 12 over radiation concerns. Lots of extra drips and drabs from yesterday’s iPhone event. And Stability AI gets into the generative music generation game. Sponsors: Shopify.com/ride Links: Unity has introduced new fees that could have dire effects on the entire game industry, from indies to Xbox Game Pass (UPDATE) (Windows Central) Sony has launched a major PlayStation 5 system update (VGC) Apple disputes French findings, says iPhone 12 meets radiation rules (Reuters) Apple’s iPhone 15 Pro Max Pushes Up the Price (WSJ) iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max hands-on (The Verge) Adobe’s Firefly generative AI models are now generally available, get pricing plans (TechCrunch) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 12, 2023
All the headlines from the iPhone event today at Apple HQ. Why is Meta blocking some basic terms on their new Threads search feature? TikTok Shop is rolling out broadly. And the US Copyright Office keeps knocking down copyright claims for AI generated Art. Sponsors: TryNom.com/ride Links: Apple Watch Series 9 Unveiled With S9 Chip, 'Double Tap' Gesture, and More (MacRumors) Apple announces new Apple Watch Ultra 2 (9to5Mac) Apple announces iPhone 15 with USB-C, a camera upgrade, and the Dynamic Island (The Verge) Apple iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max announced with titanium bodies and an Action Button (The Verge) Thunderbolt 5 offers up to 3x the speed over Thunderbolt 4 (VideoCardz) Threads blocks searches related to covid and vaccines as cases rise (Washington Post) TikTok Popularizes Products. Can It Sell Them, Too? (NYTimes) US Copyright Office denies protection for another AI-created image (Reuters) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 11, 2023
The Instacart IPO is coming with a helluva haircut. Meta is planning a big new LLM trained on its own stuff. Some eye-watering details on how much water ChatGPT uses. If you don’t do that AI tech, that doesn’t mean someone else won’t. And what tomorrow’s iPhone event says as about Apple’s high-end strategy. Sponsors: Collective.com/ride DraftKings Sportsbook with code TECHMEME for $200 in bonus bets Links: Instacart targets up to $9.3 bln valuation for much-awaited US IPO (Reuters) Meta Is Developing a New, More Powerful AI System as Technology Race Escalates (WSJ) Roblox’s new AI chatbot will help you build virtual worlds (The Verge) Artificial intelligence technology behind ChatGPT was built in Iowa — with a lot of water (AP) The Technology Facebook and Google Didn’t Dare Release (NYTimes) Apple Renews Qualcomm Deal in Sign Its Own Modem Chip Isn’t Ready (Bloomberg) Apple Bets on Titanium and Cameras to Nudge Buyers Toward Pricier iPhones (Bloomberg) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 8, 2023
You really need to update your Apple devices. Today. Here come the AI generated misinformation campaigns. Microsoft will defend you from lawsuits if you use their AI. And in the Weekend Longreads Suggestions, might AI finally give us a real life Doctor Dolittle? Sponsors: CrucibleMoments.com Nutrafol.com/men promocode: ridehome Links: Apple discloses zero-days linked to NSO Group spyware (The Record) Ex-FTX Executive Ryan Salame Could Forfeit $1.5B as Part of Guilty Plea (CoinDesk) China turns to AI in hopes of creating viral online propaganda, Microsoft researchers say (Cyberscoop) Microsoft Says It Will Protect Customers from AI Copyright Lawsuits (Bloomberg) Exclusive: ChatGPT traffic slips again for third month in a row (Reuters) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: The Decomposition of Rotten Tomatoes (Vulture) What OpenAI Really Wants (Wired) How artificial intelligence could help us talk to animals (ScienceNewsExplores) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 7, 2023
Chrome is getting a new coat of paint. China is increasingly banning iPhones. Are drones about to have a breakthrough moment just like self-driving cars? Apple is increasingly serious about AI. And in a way, are we seeing the first major musical artist of the AI era emerging? Sponsors: Netsuite.com/ride Links: Chrome is about to look a bit different (The Verge) China Seeks to Broaden iPhone Ban to State Firms, Agencies (Bloomberg) FAA Clears Drones for Longer Flights, Opening Door to Deliveries (Bloomberg) Apple Boosts Spending to Develop Conversational AI (The Information) Vitalik Buterin co-authors paper on regulation-friendly Tornado Cash alternative (The Block) OpenAI to Host First Developer Conference in San Francisco (Bloomberg) Ghostwriter Returns With an A.I. Travis Scott Song, and Industry Allies (NYTimes) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 6, 2023
The EU has listed 22 services falling under its Digital Markets Act. Britain pulls back from an encryption law. And if that’s not enough, the Google antitrust trial begins next week so the modern antitrust era is officially here. Which cars are spying on us? Maybe all of them. Who has all the money in crypto? And the new law here in NYC that could change Airbnb forever. Sponsors: Hatch.co/ride Links: EU Challenges Apple, Microsoft in New Push to Rein in Big Tech Dominance (Bloomberg) UK pulls back from clash with Big Tech over private messaging (Financial Times) In Its First Monopoly Trial of Modern Internet Era, U.S. Sets Sights on Google (NYTimes) There are just six bitcoin billionaires in the world, new crypto super-rich report says (CNBC) If You’ve Got a New Car, It’s a Data Privacy Nightmare (Gizmodo) The End of Airbnb in New York (Wired) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 5, 2023
Some more controversies surrounding Elon Musk and X. China looks like it is managing its chip situation better than the US might have hoped. Is Spotify’s podcasting bet officially a failure? Is Apple’s Lionel Messi bet already a winner? And will getting rid of Books 3 only help the AI incumbents? Sponsors: DraftKings.com code techmeme Kolide.com/ride Links: Elon Musk to sue ADL for accusing him, X of antisemitism (TechCrunch) Huawei Teardown Shows Chip Breakthrough in Blow to US Sanctions (Bloomberg) Meta Reportedly Partnering With LG For 2025 Quest Pro Successor (UploadVR) Exclusive: Arm signs up big tech firms for IPO at $50 billion-$55 billion valuation (Reuters) Spotify’s $1 Billion Podcast Bet Turns Into a Serial Drama (WSJ) Messi Drives Jump in Apple TV+ and MLS Subscriptions (WSJ) The Battle Over Books3 Could Change AI Forever (Wired) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 31, 2023
Microsoft unbundles Teams to stay ahead of EU antitrust action. But is that actually good for European consumers? Elon wants to collect your biometric data. Can AI police online smack talking in games? Lessons from the grocery delivery bubble. And, surprise, the Weekend Longreads Suggestions. Links: Microsoft Fends Off EU Antitrust Probe With Teams Deal (Bloomberg) Microsoft is unbundling Teams from Office in Europe to address regulator concerns (The Verge) X Plans to Collect Biometric Data, Job and School History (Bloomberg) Call of Duty enlists AI to eavesdrop on voice chat and help ban toxic players starting today (PCGamer) Bonfire of the groceries (FT) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: Despite Cheating Fears, Schools Repeal ChatGPT Bans (NYTimes) A Startup in the New Jersey Suburbs Is Battling the Giants of Silicon Valley (WSJ) Where do fonts come from? This one business, mostly (The Hustle) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 30, 2023
The FBI took down a huge botnet. OpenAI is apparently ahead of schedule in terms of making a ton of revenue. Why Samsung wants to apply AI to your refrigerator. Why OnStar is doubling down on AI. And we officially have the deets on the iPhone event scheduled for next month. Links: Qakbot botnet dismantled after infecting over 700,000 computers (BleepingComputer) UAE launches Arabic large language model in Gulf push into generative AI (FT) OpenAI Passes $1 Billion Revenue Pace as Big Companies Boost AI Spending (The Information) Samsung debuts its own 'AI-powered' smart recipe app (Engadget) GM is using Google’s AI chatbot to handle simple OnStar calls (The Verge) Apple Announces 'Wonderlust' Event Expected to Feature iPhone 15, Apple Watch Series 9 and More (MacRumors) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 29, 2023
Google’s Cloud Next conference drops a ton of AI announces. OpenAI releases a business-oriented version of ChatGPT. The regulators have come for NFTs and now the question is, are all NFTs securities, or just the ones they just fined? And let me introduce you to Twitch’s big new competitor. But are they really eating their lunch or just a front for gambling related streaming? Sponsors: Notion.com/ride Links: Google to Add AI Models from Meta, Anthropic to Its Cloud Platform (Bloomberg) The new Google Chat borrows from Slack, Teams, Discord, and even ChatGPT (The Verge) Google Meet’s new AI will be able to go to meetings for you (The Verge) OpenAI launches a ChatGPT plan for enterprise customers (TechCrunch) Musk, tech CEOs to attend Schumer’s AI Senate forum (The Hill) SEC takes first action against an NFT project as an unregistered security (The Verge) Twitch competitor Kick is dividing the internet's top streamers (NBCNews) Robotaxis hit the accelerator in growing list of cities nationwide (Axios) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 28, 2023
Apple looks to refresh the iPad to reinvigorate sales. Huge network crash is grounding planes in the UK. Some tentative sign that the Tech IPO window might be creaking open. Do you need a 100 year domain renewal? And the Silicon Valley bigwigs who are investing big money to build a new Bay Area city from scratch. Links: Apple Bets on Revamped iPad Pro to Reignite Sluggish Tablet Sales (Bloomberg) China’s BYD to Pay $2.2B to Expand Business With Apple (The Information) UK air traffic control hit by network-wide failure (The Guardian) Klaviyo files to go public in latest sign of life for IPO market (CNBC) WordPress Announces 100-Year Domain Name Registrations (Search Engine Journal) The Silicon Valley Elite Who Want to Build a City From Scratch (NYTimes) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 25, 2023
Amazon has apparently held talks with Disney about maybe teaming up for a streaming ESPN partnership. Dropbox ends its unlimited storage option. Shein takes over Forever21. A product release so star-crossed, it’s being recalled after just 3 months. And, of course, The Weekend Longreads Suggestions. Links: Amazon in Talks With Disney About ESPN Streaming Partnership (The Information) Dropbox Ends Unlimited Cloud Storage Following Google Change (Bloomberg) Shein Strikes Deal With Forever 21 (WSJ) Citizen Is Suspending Sales of Its New Wear OS Smartwatch (Wired) Threads on the web widely rolling out (9to5Google) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: What Happened to Wirecutter? (The Atlantic) Michael Mann Fulfills a 30-Year Journey Directing the Operatic, Thrilling ‘Ferrari’ — And Teases ‘Heat 2’: ‘I Don’t Think About Mortality. I’m Busy’ (Variety) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 24, 2023
Nvidia gives new meaning to the words “earnings beat.” Meta announces Code Llama. TikTok might start banning links to Amazon. SpaceX wants Starlink to be viable in cities too. And turning thoughts into speech via an AI interface becomes real. Links: Nvidia tops estimates and says sales will jump 170% this quarter, driven by demand for AI chips (CNBC) Meta launches own AI code-writing tool: Code Llama (The Verge) TikTok Shop on Track to Lose More Than $500 Million in U.S. This Year (The Information) Epic offers devs 100 percent of net revenue for six months of EGS exclusivity (Engadget) SpaceX Working with Cloudflare to Speed Up Starlink Service (The Information) Brain implants give a voice to people who cannot speak (FT) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 23, 2023
Sony announces the PlayStation Portal handheld device. IBM announces an AI model to translate code from one type to another. OpenAI lets anyone fine tune. Is LinkedIn the big winner in social media right now? And what happens when you 3d printer comes alive like a zombie in the middle of the night. Sponsors: Skip the waitlist and invest in blue-chip art for the very first time by signing up for Masterworks: https://www.masterworks.art/techmeme Purchase shares in great masterpieces from artists like Pablo Picasso, Banksy, Andy Warhol, and more. See important Masterworks disclosures: https://www.masterworks.com/cd Links: Sony’s portable PlayStation Portal launches later this year for $199.99 (The Verge) PlayStation Portal: Hands On With Sony's New Remote Play Handheld (IGN) IBM taps AI to translate COBOL code to Java (TechCrunch) OpenAI brings fine-tuning to GPT-3.5 Turbo (TechCrunch) Sorry, But LinkedIn Is Cool Now (Bloomberg) Salesforce Leads Financing of AI Startup at More Than $4 Billion Valuation (The Information) Tiger Global Nears Deal to Sell Slice of Cohere Stake at $3 Billion Valuation (The Information) 3D printers printing without consent is a cautionary tale on cloud reliance (ArsTechnica) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 22, 2023
Microsoft tries to appease His Majesty’s Regulators. The Arm IPO is a go. Why Nvidia continues to be huge even in China. A new AI translation model from Meta. I continue to wonder if Elon is tanking things on purpose. And a new social media platform built on top of X? Links: Microsoft to sell off Activision cloud gaming rights to Ubisoft in bid for UK approval (The Verge) Arm files for Nasdaq listing, as SoftBank aims to sell shares in chip designer it bought for $32 billion (CNBC) Why China remains hungry for AI chips despite US restrictions (FT) Meta releases an AI model that can transcribe and translate close to 100 languages (TechCrunch) X is planning to hide headlines from news links for ‘improved aesthetics’ (TechCrunch) Social Platform Friend.tech Gains 100K Users in Days Even in Depths of a Bear Market (CoinDesk) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 21, 2023
More X shenanigans over the weekend. Some solid evidence that some major LLMs have in fact been trained on copyrighted material. A ton of it, in fact. As Arm prepares to IPO, who might join them, depending on how things go? Bad news for Adyen is probably bad news for Stripe. And the rise of high tech sailing ships. Sponsors: Collective.com/ride TryNom.com/ride Links: Twitter Deletes All User Photos And Links From 2011-2014 (Forbes) REVEALED: THE AUTHORS WHOSE PIRATED BOOKS ARE POWERING GENERATIVE AI (The Atlantic) Silicon Valley start-ups revive listing plans as Arm reignites IPO market (Financial Times) Europe’s Stripe rival Adyen saw $20 billion wiped off its value in a single day. Here’s what’s going on (CNBC) UK to spend £100m in global race to produce AI chips (The Guardian) A cargo ship that harnesses wind power has set sail on its maiden journey (Quartz) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 18, 2023
More drips and drabs Threads feature releases. Meta is readying a “Code Llama.” Throwback Friday with Uber and Lyft threatening to leave a major municipality. Our first fall hardware event is on the calendar. And, of course, the Weekend Longreads Suggestions. Sponsors: Nutrafol.com/men code ridehome Links: Threads gets retweets — sorry, reposts — in the reverse-chronological feed (The Verge) Meta’s Next AI Attack on OpenAI: Free Code-Generating Software (The Information) Lyft and Uber say they will leave Minneapolis if the mayor signs a minimum wage bill for drivers (CNN) Microsoft to hold ‘special event’ in New York City on September 21st (The Verge) Spotify Looked to Ban White Noise Podcasts to Become More Profitable (Bloomberg) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: A Rare Look Into the Finances of Elon Musk’s Secretive SpaceX (WSJ) How the iMac saved Apple (The Verge) A Living History of The Humble Paper Airplane (Popular Mechanics) A New Role for Werner Herzog: The Voice of A.I. Poetry (NYTimes) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 17, 2023
OpenAI makes its first acquisition. Has AI really done anything for Bing marketshare? A really cool looking new gaming handheld. The most recent tally of tech industry layoff numbers. And Eric Schmidt says he wants to pull a Sam Altman. Sponsors: Zbiotics.com/ride code ride Links: OpenAI acquires AI design studio Global Illumination (TechCrunch) Microsoft Struggles to Gain on Google Despite Its Head Start in AI Search (WSJ) Exclusive Images: This is the Lenovo Legion Go Gaming Handheld (WindowsReport) Cyber security researchers become target of criminal hackers (FT) Tech Firms Are Slowing Layoffs But Still Not Yet Resuming Hiring (Bloomberg) Ex-Google CEO Eric Schmidt to launch AI-science moonshot (Semafor) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 16, 2023
By the time you hear these words, I guess I’ll be a blue subscriber cause I’m locked out of Tweetdeck otherwise. Coinbase gets regulatory approval from one agency, while another is suing them. Generative AI in Google search, while Google DeepMind is contemplating doing it for everything. And I guess we’ve entered the true first self-driving car test phase. Hold on to your hats. Sponsors: Shopify.com/ride Mindbloom.com/techmeme code techmeme Links: TweetDeck is officially becoming a paid service (The Verge) Elon Musk’s X is throttling traffic to websites he dislikes (The Washington Post) Coinbase obtains regulatory approval to offer crypto futures trading to eligible clients (The Block) Google’s AI search experience adds AI-powered summaries, definitions and coding improvements (TechCrunch) Google Tests an A.I. Assistant That Offers Life Advice (NYTimes) Robotaxis are driving on thin ice (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 15, 2023
Very interesting executive departure at Amazon. A popular Mac service is gonna launch an alternative iOS app store. Now nation states are trying to stockpile Nvidia chips, not just tech companies. And what is the maximum capacity of your iPhone’s battery, and should you check on it? Links: Amazon’s Leader on Alexa, Echo and Other Devices Plans to Leave (WSJ) Scoop: X shuts down $100M promoted accounts ad business (Axios) Setapp plans to launch EU-only alternative iOS App Store (Apple Insider) Saudi Arabia and UAE race to buy Nvidia chips to power AI ambitions (FT) Linear TV Falls Below 50 Percent of Viewing for First Time (The Hollywood Reporter) iPhone 14 Pro users complain of major drops in battery health and capacity after less than a year (9to5Mac) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 14, 2023
Apple is planning a huge revamp for the Apple Watch in honor of it’s 10th birthday. Amazon is using generative AI to summarize product reviews. It’s finally official. Paying for all the big streaming services is now more expensive than just paying for cable. And if that self driving car is rocking, maybe don’t go a-knocking. Sponsors: Hillsdale.edu/ride Links: Apple Plans Major ‘Watch X’ Overhaul for Device’s 10-Year Anniversary (Bloomberg) Amazon taps generative AI to enhance product reviews (TechCrunch) Google-backed Anthropic raises $100 mln from South Korea's SK Telecom (Reuters) Hollywood calls time on golden era of cheap streaming (FT) Could a True Streaming Bundle Be Upon Us? (Vulture) San Franciscans Are Having Sex in Robotaxis, and Nobody Is Talking About It (The San Francisco Standard) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 11, 2023
A major regulatory breakthrough is going to open the floodgates for self-driving taxis in California. Two different stories about dealing with the China restrictions, including one US company that is directly benefiting, and Meta’s AR ambitions, which are not. And, of course, the Weekend Longreads Suggestions. Links: Robotaxis score a huge victory in California with approval to operate 24/7 (The Verge) Skydio closing consumer drone business (TechCrunch) Behind Meta’s ‘Made in USA’ AR Glasses: a Military-Grade Material (The Information) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: Where have all the fitness bands gone? (The Verge) 4 Actual Use Cases for Blockchain and AI That Are More Than Just Hype (CoinDesk) The Looming Catalog Crisis (Vulture) Paul F. Tompkins Is Getting Back Into It (Vulture) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 10, 2023
Oh why not? Disney+ is raising prices too. A new executive order targeting Chinese tech. New features in Threads, but not the ones they need. Are the robot card shufflers in Vegas easily hackable? And we did the Flip. Now the Galaxy Z Fold 5 review. Links: Prices of Disney+, Hulu Premium Plans to Get Jacked Up but New Duo Bundle Will Offer Deep Discount (Variety) Biden Restricts U.S. Investment in China (WSJ) You can now verify your Threads profile on Mastodon (The Verge) Apple Can Keep App Store Rules for Now as Top Court Spurns Epic (Bloomberg) Hackers Rig Casino Card-Shuffling Machines for ‘Full Control’ Cheating (Wired) Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 review: a little better is just good enough (The Verge) Messina joins Ride Home Fund’s new $15M AI vehicle, backed by Andreessen, Dixon, Crowley (TechCrunch) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 9, 2023
Slack announces its biggest ever redesign. Sony signals that the smartphone recession is real and is not getting better anytime soon. Is WeWork circling the drain? Why a Gizmodo editor is suing Apple over Tetris. And guess what? The bots are better at solving CAPTCHAs than you are. Something something, Turing Test. Sponsors: Zbiotics.com/ride and code ride for 15% off Links: Slack’s biggest redesign ever tries to tame the chaos of your workday (The Verge) Netflix launches a game controller app for playing games on your TV (TechCrunch) Sony Expects Smartphone Rebound Only in 2024 After China Fizzles (Bloomberg) WeWork Tumbles After Raising ‘Substantial Doubt’ About Future (Bloomberg) Apple's 'Tetris' movie ripped off tech writer's book, lawsuit says (Reuters) New ‘Downfall’ Flaw Exposes Valuable Data in Generations of Intel Chips (Wired) Bots are better than humans at cracking ‘Are you a robot?’ Captcha tests, study finds (The Independent) Podcast fantasy league: https://fantasy.premierleague.com/leagues/auto-join/9jpcof Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 8, 2023
Hackers accessed the UK Electoral Commission, so how worried should we be? Apple, Samsung and others can’t wait to buy Arm stock. OpenAI explains how its bot is crawling the web. More details on the new M3 chips Apple is testing. And Apple Music finally edges closer to the one thing Spotify still does so much better. Sponsors: Notion.com/ride Links: Millions of UK voters’ data accessible in cyber-attack, says Electoral Commission (The Guardian) Apple, Samsung to invest in Arm as it eyes September IPO (NikkeiAsia) OpenAI Launches GPTBot With Details On How To Restrict Access (SearchEngineJournal) Zoom can now train its A.I. using some customer data, according to updated terms (CNBC) Even Zoom Is Making People Return to the Office (NYTimes) Apple Tests M3 Max Chip, Setting Stage for Most Powerful MacBook Pro Yet (Bloomberg) Apple Music debuts new algorithmic Discovery Station radio (AppleInsider) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 7, 2023
In earnings last week, Apple was forced to admit softness in iPhone sales. But the big question is, will the iPhone 15 be enough to turn things around? A stablecoin from PayPal. What the world being flooded with cheap AI-produced content already means in the real world. And a review of the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5. Sponsors: Kolide.com/ride Collective.com/ride Links: Apple Admits There Is a Smartphone Slowdown Ahead of iPhone 15 Debut (Bloomberg) PayPal Launches a Stablecoin in Latest Crypto Payments Push (Bloomberg) New acoustic attack steals data from keystrokes with 95% accuracy (BleepingComputer) A New Frontier for Travel Scammers: A.I.-Generated Guidebooks (NyTimes) Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 review: the flip phone we’ve been waiting for (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 5, 2023
Check out more about the Ride Home AI Fund at RideHomeFund.com . And subscribe to the Big Technology Podcast . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 4, 2023
Apple and Amazon earnings make me wonder if the law of large numbers is dead. Coinbase is willing to argue over what the definition of is is. Threads continues its precipitous decline. The Weekend Longreads Suggestions. And be sure to listen to the end of the show for some big, big show news. Biggest news in a while. Among other things, why haven’t there been bonus episodes for a while? Where has Chris been? Listen to the end! All will be revealed. Links: Apple reports third quarter results (BusinessWire) Amazon.com Announces Second Quarter Results (BusinessWire) Coinbase argues it doesn’t trade securities, so the SEC’s lawsuit should be dismissed (The Verge) Bitcoin launderer pleads guilty, admits to massive Bitfinex hack (CNBC) Threads user count falls to new lows, highlighting retention challenges (CNN) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: The Chip Titan Whose Life’s Work Is at the Center of a Tech Cold War (NYTimes) When AI Is Trained on AI-Generated Data, Strange Things Start to Happen (Futurism) How “windfall profits” from AI companies could fund a universal basic income (Vox) How Modelo became America’s new favorite beer (Vox) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 3, 2023
Two stories today of startups who flew high during the pandemic, but have crashed down to earth in meaningful ways. NFT trading volumes might be sinking, but developers continue to flood into the space. And does Goldman Sachs want out of the whole Apple Card partnership? Links: Johnny Boufarhat steps down as CEO of Hopin (Sifted) ‘A Nice Bike, When It Works’: Riders Fret After E-Bike Maker Goes Bust (NYTimes) IRS expects faster refunds in 2024 for people who stop using paper (Washington Post) NFT Trading Volume Is Sinking, But It’s Not Stopping Developers From Entering Web3 (Coindesk) Kenya suspends Worldcoin's crypto project over safety concerns (Reuters) Why are people lining up for Worldcoin eyeball scans? “Easy $50” (Rest of World) How the Partnership Between Apple and Goldman Sachs Soured (The Information) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 2, 2023
Seems like I’ll have to be paying up for an X Blue subscription any day now. Meta releases a new AI music generator. We might actually be getting a big tech IPO in a matter of weeks. Amazon is readying an aggressive new push into groceries. And what happens when an online creator replaces themselves with an AI bot? Links: X, formerly Twitter, now lets paid users hide their checkmarks (TechCrunch) TweetDeck is now called ‘XPro’ (9to5Google) Meta’s AI music generator could be the new synthesizer — or just muzak (The Verge) SoftBank’s Arm Targets $60 Billion Value in September IPO (Bloomberg) Microsoft Teams adds spatial audio for more immersive conference calls (The Verge) Amazon Unveils Biggest Grocery Overhaul Since Buying Whole Foods (Bloomberg) One of Gaming’s Biggest YouTubers Wants to Replace Himself With AI (Wired) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 1, 2023
Uber reports meaningful, not gimmicky profitability for the first time ever. Meta’s gonna give you AI chatbots with personality. Google is overhauling Assistant with AI stuff. Even Pierson is getting ahead of the whole, let AI tutor you on stuff, stuff. Nintendo is probably giving us a new console next year. And the prisoner’s dilemma that is fueling quantum computing development, but heck, let’s be honest, fueling AI development as well. Links: Uber Delivers First-Ever Operating Profit in Drive to Curb Losses (WSJ) Meta prepares chatbots with personas to try to retain users (FT) Scoop: Google Assistant to get an AI makeover (Axios) Amazon wants Alexa to bring AI into the home (Axios) Pearson Offers New AI Study Tools in Time for Back-to-School (Bloomberg) Sources: Nintendo targets 2024 with next-gen console (VCG) Quantum Tech Will Transform National Security. It’s Testing U.S. Alliances Now. (NYTimes) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 31, 2023
Brian Armstrong strongly hints that US regulators believe only Bitcoin is legal. A deep dive into what we can expect from this year’s iPhones. Is the US crackdown on tech to China having a real impact? And the artist that tried to take his art out of Stable Diffusion, only to have the community pull him back in. Sponsors: TryNom.com/ride CalderaLab.com code ride for 20% off Links: SEC asked Coinbase to halt trading in everything except bitcoin, CEO says (FT) The iPhone 15 Pro Will Have Thinner Bezels in Step Toward Apple’s Dream (Bloomberg) U.S. Hunts Chinese Malware That Could Disrupt American Military Operations (NYTimes) China’s Tech Distress Grows as U.S. Chip Sanctions Bite (WSJ) An Internet Veteran’s Guide to Not Being Scared of Technology (NYTimes) Greg Rutkowski Was Removed From Stable Diffusion, But AI Artists Brought Him Back (Decrypt) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 28, 2023
The whole Threads saga has been a whirlwind. At the beginning of the month I asked if Threads had already won. At the end of the month, I’m wondering if the clock is ticking in terms of their chances of survival. Generative AI but for robots. Again. Real robots. Are VCs pulling back from the crypto space? And, of course, the Weekend Longreads suggestions. Sponsors: Nutrafol.com/men code ridehome Crashplan.com code techmeme Links: Meta plans retention 'hooks' for Threads as more than half of users leave app (Reuters) Aided by A.I. Language Models, Google’s Robots Are Getting Smart (NYTimes) App Store to require developers to describe why their apps use certain APIs (9to5Mac) Sequoia Capital Slashes Crypto Fund as It Downsizes Amid Startup Crunch (WSJ) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: Large language models, explained with a minimum of math and jargon (UnderstandingAI.org) The making of ‘Acquired,’ the No. 1 tech podcast sensation (Fast Company) Internet cafes introduced Uganda to the internet (Rest of World) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 27, 2023
Meta’s earnings say, hey, let’s just forget the last two years even happened. Is the next iPhone about to get an “action” button? What does it mean if Waymo is basically hitting pause on self driving trucks? Checking in on SBF. And a super fast new version of 5G. Sponsors: Crashplan.com code techmeme Links: Meta’s Improved Ad Sales Buy Time for Zuckerberg’s Metaverse (Bloomberg) Microsoft Faces European Antitrust Investigation Over Bundling of Teams Software (WSJ) iPhone 15 Pro Action Button Options Potentially Revealed in iOS 17 Code: Flashlight, Shortcuts, Voice Memos, and More (MacRumors) Alphabet’s Waymo Self-Driving Unit Slows Autonomous Trucking (Bloomberg) Sony has sold 40 million PS5s (The Verge) Prosecutors want Sam Bankman-Fried sent to jail after witness-tampering allegations. Judge issues gag order (CNN) T-Mobile says its ultrafast 5G capable of up to 3.3Gbps is rolling out now (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 26, 2023
All the headlines from the big Galaxy Unpacked event today. This was the foldable event, but there were interesting watch announces too. Quick earnings roundup. Threads gets a follower tab. And the group that wants to battle Apple and Google in maps dominance has released their first product. Sponsors: Crashplan.com code techmeme Mindbloom.com/techmeme and promocode techmeme Links: The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 gets a big little screen upgrade (The Verge) Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 hands-on: Is Samsung squandering its head start? (Engadget) The Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 series is all about the bezels (The Verge) Meta’s Threads app is rolling out a Following feed (TechCrunch) OpenAI Quietly Shuts Down Its AI Detection Tool (Decrypt) Meta, Microsoft and Amazon team up on maps project to crack Apple-Google duopoly (CNBC) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 25, 2023
Big potential vulnerability in AMD chips. Fallout from the whole X re-branding continues. Now TikTok is cloning Twitter. The Arc Browser is now available for anyone to try out. And if you think Elon likes to have his hand in a lot of pies, a look at the increasing, and increasingly ambitious portfolio of Sam Altman-related companies. Links: AMD 'Zenbleed' Bug Leaks Data From Ryzen, EPYC CPUs: Most Patches Coming Q4 (Updated) (TomsHardware) Musk Explains Why He’s Axing Twitter Name, Iconic Bird Logo (Bloomberg) TikTok is adding support for text posts (TechCrunch) The excellent Arc browser is now available for anyone to download (The Verge) Spotify now has 220 million paying subscribers (The Verge) Sam Altman’s vision for AI puts him on collision course with regulators (Financial Times) Sam Altman explains why he’s helping to take nuclear microreactor company Oklo public via SPAC (CNBC) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 24, 2023
Elon makes good on his promise to rebrand Twitter as… X. Moar price hikes in streaming! Worldcoin has officially rolled out its token, so long as you’ve scanned your eyeball. Let me introduce you to the Flipper Zero. And should it be titled: Hollywood Strike: Rise Of The TikTok Stars? Sponsors: Collective.com/ride startups.tech/techmeme Links: Twitter is being rebranded as X (The Verge) Twitter has officially changed its logo to ‘X’ (TechCrunch) It’s Spotify’s turn to increase prices (The Verge) Peer-to-Peer Crypto Exchanges Lose Ground in Shrunken Market (Bloomberg) Sam Altman’s Worldcoin crypto project begins international rollout (FT) The Flipper Zero is a Swiss Army knife of antennas (The Verge) The Flipper Zero has an app store now (The Verge) The creator economy was already exploding. Then Hollywood went on strike. (Washington Post) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 21, 2023
Reddit is choosing violence with their biggest holdouts. More data on the ebbing of Threads usage. AI seems to be bringing Sergey Brin back into the office. Why you should be getting your paycheck quicker. And an Oppenheimer-themed Weekend Longreads Suggestions. Sponsors: ZBiotics.com/ride and code ride for 15% off Links: Reddit takes over one of the biggest protesting subreddits (The Verge) Threads Is Already Losing Its Allure for Users, Adding Urgency for New Features (WSJ) Meta, Google, and OpenAI promise the White House they’ll develop AI responsibly (The Verge) The Federal Reserve’s 24/7 payment system could deposit your paycheck instantly (The Verge) Sergey Brin Is Back in the Trenches at Google (WSJ) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: A $25,000 Prize Still Sits in the Maine Woods. Meteorite Hunters Aren’t Giving Up. (WSJ) Fable unveils Showrunner AI to create South Park-like TV shows with you as the star (VentureBeat) The Airstocracy: Six things to know about flying with the superrich. (NYMag) THE REAL LESSON FROM THE MAKING OF THE ATOMIC BOMB (The Atlantic) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 20, 2023
Rumors that Apple already has an LLM framework and their own generative chatbot. Google is shopping an AI bot that can write news stories to various journalism outlets. Has GPT-4 actually gotten dumber of late? More streaming price raises. And it’s the last chance saloon for Microsoft’s AR headset for the US Military. Sponsors: BirdDogs.com/ride notion.com/ride Links: Apple Tests ‘Apple GPT,’ Develops Generative AI Tools to Catch OpenAI (Bloomberg) Google Tests A.I. Tool That Is Able to Write News Articles (NYTimes) Study claims ChatGPT is losing capability, but some experts aren’t convinced (ArsTechnica) Meta open-sources Llama 2, but with strings attached (MoneyControl) Apple slams UK surveillance-bill proposals (BBC News) Google raising price of YouTube Premium to $13.99 per month (9to5Google) Microsoft Poised to Deliver Improved Combat Goggles, US Army Says (Bloomberg) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 19, 2023
Microsoft announced aggressive pricing for their AI products and got rewarded with an all-time high stock market valuation. More price aggression in the streaming wars. Meta released Llama 2. Google is asking for employees to voluntarily work on air gapped machines. And let me introduce you to the concept of “synthetic data” for LLMs. Links: Microsoft and Activision Blizzard extend merger agreement to October (The Verge) Microsoft will charge businesses $30 per user for its 365 AI Copilot (Engadget) Microsoft closes at record after revealing pricing for new A.I. subscription (CNBC) Netflix Shakes Up Pricing: ‘Basic’ Tier Axed in UK, US (Cord Busters) Meta launches Llama 2, an open source AI model that allows commercial applications (Ars Technica) Google restricting internet access to some employees to reduce cyberattack risk (CNBC) Why computer-made data is being used to train AI models (FT) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 18, 2023
It’s been… two weeks. Let’s check in on how Threads is doing. Streaming players continue to raise prices. Microsoft still plans on fighting for its prize. Are the incumbents winning the AI race? And the interesting startup that wants to use light instead of electricity in computer chips. Sponsors: Notion.com/ride Links: The spam bots have now found Threads, as company announces its own ‘rate limits’ (TechCrunch) Five reasons Threads could still go the distance (Platformer) Peacock to raise its subscription prices on August 17 (TechCrunch) Microsoft-Activision Deal Poised to Close Later Than Planned (Bloomberg) Wix’s new tool can create entire websites from prompts (TechCrunch) UK chip designer raises millions from Agnelli fund (FT) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 17, 2023
Sony and Microsoft have made nice. Bitcoin ETFs continue to look like a possibility. How the Vision Pro is shaking up Apple’s org structure in a meaningful way for the first time since the Steve Jobs Era. And why Netflix’s recent turnaround have rekindled those perpetual rumors that Apple is gonna end up buying Disney some day. Sponsors: CalderaLab.com code RIDE for 20% off Hillsdale.edu/ride Links: Sony agrees to 10-year Call of Duty deal with Microsoft (The Verge) SEC accepts BlackRock’s Bitcoin ETF application, signaling regulatory review (CoinTelegraph) The shady world of Brave selling copyrighted data for AI training (StackDiary) Hacker News Thread On The Brave Thing Typo leaks millions of US military emails to Mali web operator (Financial Times) Apple’s New Vision Group Reflects Shift Away From Steve Jobs Approach (Bloomberg) Bob Iger Shifts From Building an Empire to a Disney Yard Sale (Bloomberg) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 14, 2023
Elon has made good on his promise to share ad revenue with some big Tweeters. The fact that you can’t use Threads in Europe continues to be weird. Meta unveils a new AI image generator that they say is significantly smaller and better. Why AI is at the center of the Hollywood strike part eleven. And one choice Weekend Longreads Suggestion. Links: Twitter starts sharing ad revenue with verified creators (TechCrunch) Musk's Twitter sues four Texas entities for data scraping, seeks damages (Reuters) Meta confirms it is blocking EU-based users from accessing Threads via VPN (TechCrunch) Meta claims its new art-generating model is best-in-class (TechCrunch) Exclusive: AP strikes news-sharing and tech deal with OpenAI (Axios) Actors say Hollywood studios want their AI replicas — for free, forever (The Verge) Here’s the new default font for Microsoft Outlook and Word: Aptos (CNBC) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: Apple, Lionel Messi and the $2.5bn question: What’s next? (The Athletic) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 13, 2023
Elon has launched his own AI company with some pretty big names involved. The FTC will appeal! Roblox is coming to Zuckerberg’s metaverse. Meta does plan to commercialize LLaMA. And a cool new “do a napkin sketch and have AI turn it into an actual work of art” tool. Links: Musk Unveils xAI in New Bid to Rival Startup OpenAI (Bloomberg) FTC appeals its loss to Microsoft in Activision Blizzard case (The Verge) Ex-Celsius CEO Mashinsky Charged in Latest DOJ Crypto Case (Bloomberg) Roblox is coming to Meta’s Quest VR headsets (The Verge) macOS Sonoma Brings Apple Password Manager to Third-Party Browsers (MacRumors) Meta to release commercial AI model in effort to catch rivals (FT) Stability AI releases Stable Doodle, a sketch-to-image tool (TechCrunch) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 12, 2023
A big win for Microsoft leads critics of FTC chair Lina Khan to come out of the woodwork. Anthropic has released its Claude 2 chatbot. Say hello to the Nothing Phone (2). And while the market caps of the big players might have been boosted by AI, might the need for on premises AI lead to a unique opening for the likes of Dell and Hewlett Packard Enterprise? Links: Microsoft-Activision deal moves closer as judge denies FTC injunction request (CNBC) Microsoft and UK regulators agree to pause their Activision battle to negotiate (The Verge) FTC would face tough appeal of Microsoft-Activision order, experts say (Reuters) F.T.C.’s Court Loss Raises Fresh Questions About Its Chair’s Strategy (NYTimes) AI Startup Anthropic Releases a New Version of Its ChatGPT Rival, Claude (Bloomberg) Why SUSE is forking Red Hat Enterprise Linux (TechCrunch) Bigger, Brighter, More Expensive: Nothing Reveals the Phone (2) (Gizmodo) The AI Boom Is Here. The Cloud May Not Be Ready. (WSJ) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 11, 2023
Could Massachusetts pass the first meaningful anti-tracking law in the country? With social media in transition, what’s the lane for someone like Tumblr? Instagram is going after Twitter, but is someone coming for Instagram at the exact same time? And the sad state of affairs for video game history. Sponsors: https://www.birddogs.com/RIDE SwissAmerica.com/ride Links: Selling Your Cellphone Location Data Might Soon Be Banned in U.S. for First Time (WSJ) Tumblr says it’s going to ‘fix’ its ‘core experience’ to appeal to new users (The Verge) HCA Healthcare patient data stolen and for sale by hackers (CNBC) A New VC-Beloved Startup Rips a Page From Meta’s Playbook (The Information) THE GAME AVAILABILITY STUDY, EXPLAINED (Video Game History Foundation) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 10, 2023
Time to get worried about your Evernote files. Looks like Meta won’t have to leave the EU. OpenAI has a new product that people are raving about. More analysis of if AI can be useful to doctors. And I’ll tell you the one simple reason Threads has hit 100 million users so fast. The answer is right in front of us. Sponsors: startups.tech/techmeme ZocDoc.com/techmeme Links: Bay Area tech company Evernote lays off most staff, relocating to Europe (SFGate) EU Seals New Transatlantic Data-Transfer Pact With US in Third Attempt (Bloomberg) Code Interpreter comes to all ChatGPT Plus users — ‘anyone can be a data analyst now’ (VentureBeat) Sarah Silverman is suing OpenAI and Meta for copyright infringement (The Verge) In Battle With Microsoft, Google Bets on Medical AI Program to Crack Healthcare Industry (WSJ) Snap’s Push to Tempt Creators Seems to Be Working (WSJ) Instagram’s Threads app reaches 100 million users within just five days (TechCrunch) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 7, 2023
It’s been my job for over a decade now to analyze the competitive landscape of the tech industry, and I’ve simply never seen anything like what Threads has achieved in less than 48 hours. Though, Elon is threatening to sue. Uber, DoorDash and GrubHub are suing NYC. Volkswagen is rolling out its self-driving cars. And, of course, The Weekend Longreads Suggestions. Sponsors: Earnin App (type in Techmeme under PODCAST when you sign up) Links: Threads Becomes Most Rapidly Downloaded App, Raising Twitter’s Ire (NYTimes) Zuck's Threads halo (Axios) Twitter is threatening to sue Meta over Threads (Semafor) OpenAI makes GPT-4 generally available (TechCrunch) Food-Delivery Companies Sue New York City Over Minimum Pay Law (NYTimes) Volkswagen's Self-Driving Cars Begin Testing In Texas (Jalopnik) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: What Did People Do Before Smartphones? (The Atlantic) The Man Who Broke Bowling (GQ) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 6, 2023
There’s only one story today. Threads. Threads. Threads. Has Threads already won? Links: Meta launches Instagram Threads in a direct challenge to Twitter (CNBC) Threads profile can only be deleted by deleting Instagram account, Meta says (TechCrunch) Instagram Threads works, but it’s sterile, dull and worst of all – it’s still run by Mark Zuckerberg (iNews) Meta unspools Threads (Platformer) So where are we all supposed to go now? (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 5, 2023
Chaos at Twitter emphatically did NOT take the 4th of July weekend off. Instagram’s Twitter clone looks like it’s going to take advantage of this chaos to launch now. The Reddit app apocalypse has happened. Oh, and the mods for Reddit AMA’s have downed tools. And how drone technology is disrupting the traditional Fireworks industry. Sponsors: Kolide.com/ride Notion.com/ride Links: Instagram’s Twitter competitor, Threads, briefly went live on the web (The Verge) The Reddit app-pocalyse is here: Apollo, Sync, and BaconReader go dark (The Verge) The Reddit moderators who coordinate many celebrity AMAs will no longer do so (The Verge) Fireworks Have a New Competitor: Drones (NYTimes) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 4, 2023
Originally published April 2015 It’s part two of our Amazon founding story. How did Amazon come to completely dominate e-commerce? How did Jeff Bezos’ “Get Big Fast” strategy evolve? How and why did Amazon become the quintessential “dot com” and dot-com-era stock? The answers are within. Bibliography: The Everything Store: Jeff Bezos and the Age of Amazon The Playboy Interview: Moguls Amazon.com: Get Big Fast One Click: Jeff Bezos and the Rise of Amazon.com http://jimromenesko.com/2013/08/11/i-interviewed-jeff-bezos-when-amazon-was-an-insignificant-speck-in-the-book-selling-universe/#more-49306 http://archive.wired.com/wired/archive/7.03/bezos_pr.html http://www.fastcompany.com/50541/inside-mind-jeff-bezos http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB832204437381952500 http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052702303339904576405922077032468 http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?p=irol-corporateTimeline_pf&c=176060 http://content.time.com/time/subscriber/article/0,33009,992927-2,00.html http://www.vox.com/2015/1/4/7490013/ecommerce-shopping-mall http://mashable.com/2014/05/08/amazon-sales-chart/ http://www.statista.com/statistics/185283/total-and-e-commerce-us-retail-trade-sales-since-2000/ http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2013-01-07/amazon-surges-to-record-high-on-global-e-commerce-growth http://www.thewire.com/business/2014/05/amazon-has-basically-no-competition-among-online-booksellers/371917/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 3, 2023
Originally published February 2015. Finally, the long-promised foray into e-commerce, starting with… not the first… but practically the first… player in the space… and ironically enough, the 800 pound gorilla in the space to this day . Amazon. Dot com. We examine Jeff Bezos, the man. We consider Amazon, the idea. We look at e-commerce, the concept. It’s interesting. It’s groundbreaking. It’s available with free 2-day shipping for Prime members. Just kidding. Bibliography: The Everything Store: Jeff Bezos and the Age of Amazon The Playboy Interview: Moguls Amazon.com: Get Big Fast One Click: Jeff Bezos and the Rise of Amazon.com http://archive.wired.com/wired/archive/7.03/bezos_pr.html http://archive.fortune.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/1999/01/11/253770/index.htm http://partners.nytimes.com/library/tech/99/03/biztech/articles/14amazon.html http://www.retireat21.com/blog/10-companies-started-garages http://davidsheff.com/article/jeff-bezos/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 30, 2023
Second time the charm for Apple to close above $3 trillion? Google says it will remove news links in Canada. Meta will allow you to download apps directly from Ads. Self driving cars are giving cops more surveillance tape. And, of course, the Weekend Longreads Suggestions. Links: Apple’s market cap tops $3 trillion (CNBC) Canada’s ‘link tax’ law could break how the web works, says Google (Android Police) Meta is planning to let people in the EU download apps through Facebook (The Verge) Fidelity Joins Spot-Bitcoin ETF Race With Fresh SEC Filing (Bloomberg) Police Are Requesting Self-Driving Car Footage For Video Evidence (Bloomberg) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: When Will AI Generate a Hollywood Blockbuster? “Give It About Three Years.” (Inverse) These Tech Companies Think They Can ‘Solve’ the Wildfire Crisis (Motherboard) Who killed Google Reader? (The Verge) Mixtape Sites Like DatPiff Propelled Rap. Can They Be Preserved? (NYTimes) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 29, 2023
Satya Nadella had his day in court. Looks like the FTC is finalizing its big case against Amazon. YouTube has advertisers asking for refunds. Big new interesting raises in the AI space. And ahead of the Fourth of July travel weekend, we may not have the autonomous driving we want, but maybe we can get the autonomous rental car delivery we deserve. Links: Microsoft and Activision Chiefs Testify Merger Will Benefit Consumers (NYTimes) Lina Khan Is Coming for Amazon, Armed With an FTC Antitrust Suit (Bloomberg) Advertising industry seeks refunds over YouTube skippable ads (FT) ChatGPT maker OpenAI faces a lawsuit over how it used people’s data (Washington Post) Inflection AI Raises $1 Billion (Forbes) Halo Car launches remotely piloted rental car deliveries in Las Vegas (TechCrunch) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 28, 2023
Even in bankruptcy, even FTX is like, maybe we’ll hold on to these AI investments. Could Windows itself become a fully cloud product? Has Google canceled its AR project? How AI is making even Billy Bean look like old school baseball. And who needs a Mac Pro when you’ve got a perfectly good Mac Studio or even Mac Book? Links: FTX Halts Sale of Its $500 Million Stake in AI Startup Anthropic (Bloomberg) AI Frenzy Draws Hordes to Private Markets in Industry Gold Rush (Bloomberg) Microsoft wants to move Windows fully to the cloud (The Verge) Google killed its Iris augmented-reality smart glasses as it shifts attention to building AR software (Insider) DoorDash launches hourly rates and location sharing for couriers (The Verge) Baseball Scouts Call In Artificial Intelligence Help From the Bullpen (WSJ) The Mac Pro’s biggest problem is the MacBook (The Verge) Eat Your Heart Out, Tesla. Mercedes-Benz May Have the Fastest EV Yet. (Barron's) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 27, 2023
Checking in with the FTC vs. Microsoft case. Checking in with the effort to recover funds from FTX. What if OpenAI did its own Copilot? Would Microsoft be pissed? And reviews of the Pixel Fold include one reviewer’s unit dying after a mere few days. Sponsors: stpp.co/techmeme ZocDoc.com/techmeme Links: Microsoft exec was ready to ‘go spend Sony out of business’ to strengthen Xbox (The Verge) FTX Bankruptcy Team Says the Exchange Owed Customers $8.7B (CoinDesk) Thomson Reuters buys Casetext, an AI legal tech startup, for $650M in cash (TechCrunch) OpenAI Plans ChatGPT ‘Personal Assistant for Work,’ Setting Up Microsoft Rivalry (The Information) RIP to my Pixel Fold: Dead after four days (ArsTechnica) Google Pixel Fold review: closing the gap (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 26, 2023
Well, this AI moment is only about 6 months old, but it looks like the mergers and acquisitions are beginning in earnest. Wait, we’re still worried about 5G interfering with airplanes? Amazon wants your local florist to deliver your packages. An Amazon/FTC kerfuffle we missed. And what are the OTHER Apple products we can expect in the next year or so? Sponsors: JoinDeleteMe.com/techmeme The Traceroute Podcast Links: Databricks Strikes $1.3 Billion Deal for Generative AI Startup MosaicML (WSJ) Pete Buttigieg Warns of Flight Delays as 5G Deadline Looms (WSJ) Exclusive: Amazon launches local business delivery network (Axios) FTC sues Amazon over ‘deceptive’ Prime sign-up and cancellation process (CNBC) Amazon, Friction, and the FTC (Stratechery) Apple Has Finally Unveiled the Vision Pro. Here’s What It’s Launching Next (Bloomberg) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 24, 2023
Find out more at ThePlayerslounge.io Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 23, 2023
Are Canadians about to lose their access to news on Instagram and maybe Google too? More details about what that Apple headset will actually be like to use. The newest claimant to the supercomputer crown is about to come online. And, of course, the Weekend Longreads Suggestions. Sponsors: Grammarly.com/go Collective.com Links: Meta says it's blocking news on Facebook, Instagram after government passes online news bill (National Post) Apple Vision Pro has a speed limit, Travel Mode required for use on flights (9to5Mac) The Aurora Supercomputer Is Installed (AnandTech) Randomly received a smartwatch? Don’t turn it on, investigators warn. (ArmyTimes) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: Dolby Atmos Wants You to Listen Up. (And Down. And Sideways.) (NYTimes) The hottest new perk in tech is freedom (Vox) This Bay Area woman is on a crusade to prove Yelp reviews can’t be trusted (SFGate) Meet the Vocal Coach Who’s Helping Timothée Chalamet Sound Like Bob Dylan (GQ) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 22, 2023
Well, I guess Elon and Zuck are gonna fight? Literally? New Stability AI. Xbox prices are going up. The visionOS SDK is out. A Motorola Razr Plus review. And why celebrities are racing to duplicate themselves using AI. Sponsors: JoinDeleteMe.com/techmeme Grammarly.com/go Links: Mark Zuckerberg is ready to fight Elon Musk in a cage match (The Verge) Startup Stability Debuts a New AI Model For Stable Diffusion (Bloomberg) Microsoft is hiking the price of Xbox Series X and Xbox Game Pass (The Verge) Apple releases visionOS SDK for creating Vision Pro apps, dev kit applications opening soon (9to5Mac) Motorola Razr Plus review: the right moves (The Verge) Celebrities Use AI to Take Control of Their Own Images (WSJ) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 21, 2023
Dropbox joins the AI bandwagon. Lots of news from Twitch. Netflix changes how it calculates its top 10. Mark your calendars for Prime Day. And what all the things Apple DIDN’T demo for their new headset might reveal about the directions in which the product could evolve. Sponsors: Grammarly.com/go NewtonX.com/techmeme Links: Dropbox’s AI tools can help you find your stuff — from everywhere on the internet (The Verge) Twitch will require new labels for streams with sexual themes, gambling and M-rated games (TechCrunch) Netflix Tweaks Its Top 10 Rankings, Adds View Count (THR) Amazon will hold Prime Day 2023 on July 11-12, adding invite-only deals and ‘Buy with Prime’ sites (GeekWire) What Apple Didn’t Reveal About the Vision Pro (The Information) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 20, 2023
Spotify is thinking of bucking the “max” and “ultra” naming convention and might introduce “supremium.” What if FTX, the exchange, makes a comeback? One of the hottest sectors in VC right now is defense. And the story of how Meta is playing catchup when it comes to AI. Sponsors: Grammarly.com/go go.tech/tm Links: Spotify Plans New Premium Tier, Expected to Include HiFi Audio (Bloomberg) FTX paid over $120 million in advisor fees between February 1 and April 30 (The Block) Masayoshi Son Ends Seven-Month Silence to Make Case for SoftBank’s Future (Bloomberg) Silicon Valley VCs rush into defence technology start-ups (FT) Mark Zuckerberg Was Early in AI. Now Meta Is Trying to Catch Up. (WSJ) When AI Overrules the Nurses Caring for You (WSJ) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 18, 2023
No joke, this is one of my favorite episodes we've ever done. Eugene Wei was an early employee at Hulu, so we get some details on that company for the first time, and he also worked at Flipboard and Oculus, so we get some important context especially on the future of VR and the like. But the most fascinating stories you'll hear will be about Amazon, where Eugene was the first analyst in the strategic planning department. As you'll hear, Eugene had a unique perspective on Amazon's early strategy and business structure, almost a historically unique perspective... he could see month to month, how Amazon was built, what Amazon was trying to do, and why. This is such an amazing perspective on such an important company. Sponsors: Grammarly.com/go Hillsdale.edu/ride Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 16, 2023
Google does it again. For like the 10th time just since I’ve been doing this podcast. What is “it?” You’ll hear in a second. The whole Reddit thing is simultaneously seeming to calm down, AND heat up, largely thanks to Reddit’s CEO. Will we finally get a bitcoin ETF this time? And, of course, the weekend longreads suggestions. Sponsors: TryNom.com/ride CrashPlan.com Links: Alphabet Selling Google Domains Assets to Squarespace (Bloomberg) Reddit says it won’t force subreddits back open (but will it?) (The Verge) Reddit CEO slams protest leaders, saying he'll change rules that favor ‘landed gentry’ (NCBNews) AI and media companies negotiate landmark deals over news content (Financial Times) BlackRock files for bitcoin ETF in push into crypto (Reuters) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: Microsoft’s Sudden AI Dominance Is Scrambling Silicon Valley’s Power Structure (Bloomberg Businessweek) How Nvidia Became ChatGPT’s Brain and Joined the $1 Trillion Club (Bloomberg Businessweek) How MrBeast Became the Willy Wonka of YouTube (NYTimes Magazine) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 15, 2023
The every platform can be an ad platform too march continues. This time, it’s Uber. Intel drops the “I.” Google lens can check your skin condition. Another breakthrough in quantum computing. And why Apple bringing back the answering machine is a feature lots of folks, including me, are actually happy about. Sponsors: CrashPlan.com Links: Video Ads Are Coming to All Your Uber Apps (The Wall Street Journal) Intel To Launch New Core Processor Branding: Drop the i, Add Ultra Tier (AnandTech) Google Lens can now identify rashes and other skin conditions (9to5Google) Mechanical Turk workers are using AI to automate being human (TechCrunch) Fake zero-day PoC exploits on GitHub push Windows, Linux malware (BleepingComputer) Quantum Computing Advance Begins New Era, IBM Says (NYTimes) iOS 17 Live Voicemail will return the glory of the answering machine to your iPhone (TechRadar) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 14, 2023
The European Commission might have just taken the first steps toward separating Google from its cash cow. Reddit’s CEO keeps saying not so soothing things. New Open AI and Meta releases for… AI stuff. Cybersecurity premiums are skyrocketing. Spotify has fully shifted its podcast strategy. And a look at the tech job market as AI takes over. Sponsors: NewtonX.com/techmeme CrashPlan.com Links: EU suggests breaking up Google’s ad business in preliminary antitrust ruling (The Verge) Reddit CEO tells employees that subreddit blackout ‘will pass' (The Verge) Google is getting a lot worse because of the Reddit blackouts (The Verge) OpenAI intros new generative text features while reducing pricing (TechCrunch) Cyber Insurance Premiums Surge by 50% as Ransomware Attacks Increase (Bloomberg) Spotify Takes a Sharp Turn With Its $1 Billion Podcast Division (Bloomberg) Meta AI researchers unveil I-JEPA, a computer vision model that learns more like humans do (SiliconAngle) Layoffs and AI Are Changing Tech’s Once-Invincible Job Market (Bloomberg) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 13, 2023
The FTC has filed an injunction to block the Microsoft/Activision tie-up. Netflix is dipping its toe into live sports. Why Larry Ellison is thankful AI showed up on the scene. The whole Reddit situation came to a head partially cause of AI. And one guess why we’re about to get a new Beatles song. Sponsors: CrashPlan.com notion.com/ride Links: FTC files to block Microsoft-Activision as deadline approaches (CNBC) Netflix to Enter Live-Streamed Sports With Celebrity Golf Event (WSJ) Reddit goes dark (Platformer) Larry Ellison Rides AI Boom to Highest Wealth Ranking Ever (Bloomberg)\ Sir Paul McCartney says artificial intelligence has enabled a 'final' Beatles song (BBC) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 12, 2023
Why your favorite subreddit might be going dark. Why a16z opened an office in the UK. Why AI seems to be recycling the same few dozen jokes when you ask it to be funny. A new AI music generation tool. And the first reviews of the 15-inch Macbook Air. Sponsors: CrashPlan.com go.tech/tm Links: Thousands of subreddits pledge to go dark after the Reddit CEO’s recent remarks (The Verge) Andreessen Horowitz believes that crypto's future may be in the U.K. (Axios) Meta's open source AI MusicGen turns text and melody into new songs (The Decoder) Researchers discover that ChatGPT prefers repeating 25 jokes over and over (ArsTechnica) How AI art killed an indie book cover contest (The Verge) Apple MacBook Air 15-inch review: exactly what was asked for (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 10, 2023
Kevin Scott is the current Chief Technology Officer of Microsoft. We talk about his entire career, how being an academic seemed to be his path before he transformed the ads system at Google. Then he revolutionized the entire advertising industry at AdMob; is credited by some people by saving LinkedIn from technical rot; and now, today, oversees Microsoft's efforts in AI, VR/AR all the future things. Fantastic conversation. Kevin's podcast is: Behind the Tech Originally Aired: May 2019 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 9, 2023
Lots of juicy nuggets from a recent all hands over at Meta. Binance.US looks like it’s on the road to shutting down. The first trials of AI tutors for kids are happening. The self-driving revolution I’ve been waiting for seems to be happening. And the Weekend Longreads are happening. As always. Links: Here’s what Mark Zuckerberg thinks about Apple’s Vision Pro (The Verge) This is what Instagram’s upcoming Twitter competitor looks like (The Verge) Meta plans to put AI everywhere on its platforms (Axios) Binance.US Set to Be Cut Off From Banking System After SEC Lawsuit (Bloomberg) Spotify says it’s testing an ‘offline mix’ for when your connection’s patchy (The Verge) New A.I. Chatbot Tutors Could Upend Student Learning (NYTimes) Netflix Subscriptions Jump as U.S. Password-Sharing Crackdown Begins (WSJ) Mercedes first to sell vehicles in California with hands-free, eyes-off automated driving (TechCrunch) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: The Binge Purge TV’s streaming model is broken. It’s also not going away. For Hollywood, figuring that out will be a horror show. (Vulture) The Simpsons Is Good Again After 34 seasons, 750 episodes, and a decades-long funk, the show innovated its way back to popularity and relevance. (Vulture) First Impressions of Vision Pro and VisionOS (Daring Fireball) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 8, 2023
So, the Binance case is already getting testy with some wild accusations flying in both directions. Twitch walks back some ad guidelines after only two days. WhatsApp is adding channels. Prime Video is probably about to add ads. Adobe will protect you from lawsuits if you use their AI tools. And how AI might have just extended Moore’s Law a bit. Sponsors: EarnIn App (type in techmeme under PODCAST when you sign up) Links: Binance lawyers allege SEC Chair Gensler offered to serve as advisor to crypto company in 2019 (CNBC) SEC says Binance and US affiliate redirected billions in customer assets to Zhao's funds (The Block) Twitch walks back controversial ad rules policy (The Verge) WhatsApp’s new Channels feature brings social media to your messaging app (The Verge) Amazon Plans Ad Tier for Prime Video Streaming Service (WSJ) Adobe is so confident its Firefly generative AI won’t breach copyright that it’ll cover your legal bills (Fast Company) Google claims that Bard is improving at math and programming (TechCrunch) Google DeepMind’s game-playing AI just found another way to make code faster (MIT Technology Review) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 7, 2023
Maybe I was wrong. Maybe Apple does want to get serious about gaming on the Mac after all. Maybe I was right. Sequoia splitting in three IS about China after all. Samsung is holding an event at home for the first time in forever. And Matt Levine answers my questions about what now for Coinbase? Back to just trading bitcoin and ether? Sponsors: NewtonX.com/techmeme Links: macOS Sonoma lets developers port Windows games to the Mac; here’s how it works (9to5Mac) Apple makes iOS 17 developer beta free for registered developers (9to5Mac) Sequoia’s Split Sends Warning to US Companies Doing Business in China (Bloomberg) Samsung officially confirms first Unpacked event in Korea for new foldables (9to5Google) The SEC Comes for Crypto (Matt Levine/Bloomberg) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 6, 2023
The SEC has officially sued Coinbase. Sequoia plans to split into 3 separate VC firms. Why did Apple announce a bunch of AI features yesterday but shy away from name dropping AI? And all anyone really cares about right now: two different hands on experiences with the Apple Vision Pro. What is this thing like to actually use? Sponsors: Collective.com Links: US Crypto Crackdown Reaches Fever Pitch as SEC Sues Coinbase (Bloomberg) Sequoia Is Splitting Into Three VC Firms (Forbes) Apple avoids “AI” hype at WWDC keynote by baking ML into products (ArsTechnica) First impressions: Yes, Apple Vision Pro works and yes, it’s good (TechCrunch) I wore the Apple Vision Pro. It’s the best headset demo ever. (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 5, 2023
The Apple headset is called the Apple Vision Pro. It’s more expensive than people thought, but it was maybe more impressive than I expected. Oh, also, a new 15-inch MacBook Air. New OS versions and features. And the SEC is officially suing CZ and Binance. Sponsors: Ramp.com/techmeme Links: Apple Vision Pro is Apple’s new $3,499 AR headset (The Verge) The Apple Vision Pro features an M2 chip, a ton of sensors and a new R1 chip (TechCrunch) Apple announces visionOS, the operating system for its Vision Pro headset (The Verge) Apple announces iOS 17 with Journal, Standby, FaceTime voicemail, more (9to5Mac) Apple Announces iOS 17 With 'Standby' View, Journal App, Siri Changes, and More (MacRumors) Apple unveils new Mac Studio and brings Apple silicon to Mac Pro (Apple Newsroom) Apple’s new 15-inch MacBook Air is the ‘world’s thinnest’ (The Verge) Mac Studio gets its first hardware update with M2 Max and the new M2 Ultra chip (9to5Mac) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 3, 2023
Originally published August 2014 Jan Brandt is a legend in the world of marketing. She singlehandedly led the famous AOL "carpet-bombing" campaign that put millions of AOL trial discs and CDs in everything from magazines to popcorn boxes to banks. AOL was able to leap to the front of the online pack, over competitors like CompuServe and Prodigy largely on the success of this campaign. Jan tells us how this strategy developed, the thinking that went into it and goes into great detail about what worked and what didn't. But she was also a very early AOL executive, so she is able to give us some fantastic background about AOL the company: its culture, its people and its visionaries–people like Steve Case. She takes us from AOL's beginnings, through its considerable growing pains (remember "America On Hold?") its rise to dominance in the dot-com era, and even gives us her perspective on the legacy of the AOL/Time Warner merger. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 2, 2023
A check-in with Elon and Twitter sees things pretty much as they’ve been for about a year now. Is Amazon about to release a low-cost cell phone plan for Prime members? Airbnb is suing New York City over a new law it sees as an existential threat. And, of course, the weekend longreads suggestions. Sponsors: The Traceroute Podcast Links: Twitter's head of trust and safety says she has resigned (Reuters) Elon 'The Dogefather' Musk Accused of Insider Trading (Gizmodo) Russia accuses US of hacking thousands of Apple devices to spy on diplomats (The Record) Amazon Is in Talks to Offer Free Mobile Service to US Prime Members (Bloomberg) Airbnb sues NYC over new rules requiring hosts to register their homes as short-term rentals (Gothamist) Planned Layoffs Have Quadrupled So Far This Year in the US (Bloomberg) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: How a $13 Billion Fintech That Angered Jamie Dimon Won Over Banks (Bloomberg) A Week With the Wild Children of the A.I. Boom (NYTimes Magazine) China Is Drilling a 10,000-Meter-Deep Hole Into the Earth (Bloomberg) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 1, 2023
Zuck tried to front-run the Apple headset announcement this morning. Amazon pays some fines. Apple is testing two new high-end Macs. Microsoft actually seems to be struggling when it comes to game development. And what happens to your crypto project, if you can’t get in touch with the one person in the project who has control of the keys? Sponsors: SwissAmerica.com/ride Links: Zuck's Meta Quest 3 Announce Amazon to Pay $25 Million to Settle Children’s Privacy Charges (NYTimes) Amazon to Pay $30.8 Million to Settle FTC Privacy Claims (Bloomberg) Apple Tests New High-End Macs With M2 Max and M2 Ultra Chips Ahead of WWDC (Bloomberg) Instagram tests new user control for recommended posts, transparency tool for creators (TechCrunch) Inside the Making of Redfall, Xbox’s Latest Misfire (Bloomberg) Multichain team says it can't contact CEO amid protocol problems (The Block) Wall Street Banks Are Using AI to Rewire the World of Finance (Bloomberg) Apple touts $1.1 trillion in App Store commerce in 2022, with $104B in digital sales (TechCrunch) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 31, 2023
Big names in the AI industry are basically begging governments to regulate AI. But some people are wondering about their motives. The considerations the Biden administration is taking into account vis-à-vis AI regulation. New Garmin smartwatches. And why the Lovecraftian Shoggoth is the meme of the AI moment. Sponsors: NewtonX.com/techmeme Links: A.I. Poses ‘Risk of Extinction,’ Industry Leaders Warn (NYTimes) ChatGPT Risks Divide Biden Administration Over EU’s AI Rules (Bloomberg) Garmin’s Epix 2 and Fenix 7 lineups go ‘Pro’ (The Verge) The Race to Make A.I. Smaller (and Smarter) (NYTimes) Why an Octopus-like Creature Has Come to Symbolize the State of A.I. (NYTimes) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 30, 2023
As Nvidia joins the rarified trillion dollar market cap club, their recent announcements highlight why they’re truly the center of the current AI moment. ARM transitions to a comprehensive 64-bit platform. Hands-on with Meta's Quest 3 prototype. And those weird new CAPTCHA’s you’ve been seeing? Yes, AI is responsible. Sponsors: SwissAmerica.com/ride Bloomberg.com/careers Links: How Nvidia created the chip powering the generative AI boom (Financial Times) World’s Most Valuable Chipmaker Nvidia Unveils More AI Products After $184 Billion Rally (Bloomberg) Video of the NPC character demo Arm Unveils 2023 Mobile CPU Core Designs (AnandTech) A First Look at the Headset That Could Be Apple’s Biggest Competition (Bloomberg) Captcha Is Asking Users to Identify Objects That Don't Exist (Motherboard) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 29, 2023
(Originally aired February 2017) Gary Flake has been involved with search technology ever since he got turned on to this particular field in college. In this wide-ranging discussion, Gary lays out for us, basically, the history of search technology before Google, the impact of Google, and then, since he lived it, the notion of competing with Google. The reason why Gary can talk so in depth about all of this is that he was Yahoo’s Chief Science Officer in the early 2000s, when Yahoo, via the infamous project Panama, and other initiatives, attempted to keep Google from taking over the entire search market. And because, prior to that, Gary was at Goto/Overture, he gives us basically the entire story of the birth of paid search as an industry. The story of Google is about two miracles. The first miracle is the Google algorithm that essentially solved search. And the second miracle is paid search… AdWords, AdSense, all of that… which is essentially the greatest advertising machine ever invented. But, not a lot of people remember: paid search was actually invented, not by Google, but by Goto/Overture. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 28, 2023
When Larry and Sergey first met, they didn’t like each other much... (Originally aired April 2017 in two parts) BIBLIOGRAPHY: In The Plex: How Google Thinks, Works, and Shapes Our Lives The Google Story How Google Works The Search: How Google and Its Rivals Rewrote the Rules of Business and Transformed Our Culture Googled: The End of the World As We Know It The Google Guys: Inside the Brilliant Minds of Google Founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin I’m Feeling Lucky: The Confessions of Google Employee Number 59 http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2000/05/29/search-and-deploy http://archive.fortune.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/1999/11/08/268521/index.htm Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 27, 2023
(Originally published 01/04/2015) So, I ran across this quote from Star Trek television producer Rick Berman. He said, “Without porn and Star Trek, there would be no Internet.” That’s a notion that I have to say really kind of rang true to me, in a tonge and cheek sort of way. I mean, it’s something you hear all the time. The idea that pornography leads the way with any new technological innovation. That Porn is some x-large percentage of the overall internet Do you ever wonder how much of the internet is actually porn? If it’s such a large amount then wouldn’t it be worth investigating how porn has shaped the web and the internet generally? That’s sort of the thinking that led me to begin thinking about this episode. Bibliography: The Erotic Engine: How Pornography has Powered Mass Communication, from Gutenberg to Google Obscene Profits: The Entrepreneurs of Pornography in the Cyber Age EroticaBiz: How Sex Shaped the Internet The Unsexpected Story http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_Relay_Chat https://tidbits.com/article/5833 http://internetlaw.uslegal.com/pornography/ http://www.internetworldstats.com/emarketing.htm http://www.internetworldstats.com/stats.htm http://www.itworld.com/article/2729780/enterprise-software/10-fascinating-facts-about-internet-porn.html http://blog.cytalk.com/2010/01/web-porn-revenue/ http://metro.co.uk/2013/07/21/david-cameron-online-porn-will-be-blocked-by-default-3891620/ http://nymag.com/news/features/70985/ http://kernelmag.dailydot.com/issue-sections/features-issue-sections/10471/siri-piracy-pay-for-your-porn/ http://www.thewrap.com/media/article/internet-piracy-killing-porns-profits-1394/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 26, 2023
We get our first look at how Google is integrating AI into search. You heard me warn you, but the most concrete example yet that Crypto VCs might be turning their attention to AI. WhatsApp is probably moving to usernames. The Weekend Longreads Suggestions. And, for this long weekend, Brian’s Book Recommendations. Sponsors: Miro.com/podcast Bloomberg.com/careers Links: Google starts rolling out Search Generative Experience (SGE) in preview (9to5Google) Paradigm broadening crypto-only focus to areas including AI (The Block) WhatsApp beta for Android 2.23.11.15: what’s new? (WABetaInfo) The FDA will apparently let Elon Musk put a computer in a human’s brain (The Verge) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: Meta's ‘Efficiency’ Layoffs Take a Toll on Employee Productivity (Bloomberg) Sergey Brin Has a Secret Plan to Put Airships Back in the Skies (BusinessWeek) Some Neural Networks Learn Language Like Humans (QuantaMagazine) A husband hid $500,000 in bitcoin during a divorce — and got busted by a crypto hunter (CNBC) Going for a walk with Shift’s Moonwalker electric shoe-skates (TechCrunch) Brian's Summer Book Recommendations: The Making of the Atomic Bomb: 25th Anniversary Edition Postwar: A History of Europe Since 1945 Americana: A 400-Year History of American Capitalism Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 25, 2023
The whole Twitter Space presidential announce did not go well. Microsoft says Chinese hackers have burrowed into critical US infrastructure. Sony has a handheld gaming device, but a true descendent of the PlayStation Vita it is not. Quite. Has AI allowed a paralyzed man to walk again? And the world’s newest unicorn is maybe the most delightful interesting raise of the year. Sponsors: Miro.com/podcast Links: Twitter glitches plague Ron DeSantis’ much-hyped presidential announcement with Elon Musk (CNBC) Microsoft warns that China hackers attacked U.S. infrastructure (CNBC) Chinese Malware Hits Systems on Guam. Is Taiwan the Real Target? (NYTimes) OpenAI warns over split with Europe as regulation advances (Financial Times) Sony’s new Q handheld is official: 8-inch screen, streams PS5 games (The Verge) Apple Plans to Turn Locked iPhones Into Smart Displays With iOS 17 (Bloomberg) A Paralyzed Man Can Walk Naturally Again With Brain and Spine Implants (NYTimes) Indonesian agritech firm eFishery hits unicorn status with $108m series D (TechInAsia) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 24, 2023
All the headlines from yesterday’s Build conference. The big Netflix password crackdown has begun. Did Elon buy Twitter to dethrone Fox News? Is an Uber/Waymo partnership the start of a beautiful relationship? And is Final Cut Pro on the iPad actually what everyone wanted? Sponsors: Miro.com/podcast OregonState.edu Links: Microsoft’s Azure AI Studio lets developers build their own AI ‘copilots’ (TechCrunch) Microsoft’s Copilot and Bing AI plug-ins will be interoperable with ChatGPT (The Verge) Netflix’s password-sharing crackdown is here — and it costs $7.99 per month (The Verge) Elon Musk’s right-wing media venture scores another big win (WashingtonPost) Uber teams up with Waymo to add robotaxis to its app (The Verge) PSVR2’s early sales beat the original, Sony claims (VideoGamesChronicle) That podcast ad you're listening to may soon be AI. Spotify is reportedly developing bots to mimic your favorite hosts. (Insider) Final Cut Pro for the iPad is slick but limited (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 23, 2023
Apple continues to play nice with Broadcom despite hoping to drop them someday. The thing people warned about with these bluechecks happened yesterday. HBOMax isn’t cool. You know what is cool, according to David Zaslov? Max. And how Shareit became the world’s favorite file sharing app. Sponsors: Miro.com/podcast ZocDoc.com/techmeme Links: Apple expands US investment with new multibillion-dollar Broadcom deal for 5G tech (9to5Mac) Verified Twitter Accounts Spread AI-Generated Hoax of Pentagon Explosion (Motherboard) Following UK antitrust order, Meta sells Giphy to Shutterstock for $53M after buying it for $400M (TechCrunch) Max will stream over 1,000 movies and TV episodes in 4K at launch (The Verge) Meta’s new AI models can recognize and produce speech for more than 1,000 languages (MIT Technology Review) Adobe is adding AI image generator Firefly to Photoshop (The Verge) Anthropic raises $450M to build next-gen AI assistants (TechCrunch) How China’s ShareIt became the world’s go-to file-transfer app (Rest of World) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 22, 2023
Meta got hit by the biggest ever GDPR fine in Europe. A crypto project got taken over by hackers who voted themselves into power. The startup that wanted to dethrone Google is shutting down. The E-sports bubble seems to be popping. And what is it actually like to try to use Google’s new AI tools? Sponsors: Nutrafol.com/men promocode ride Miro.com/podcast Links: Meta Fined $1.3 Billion Over Data Transfers to U.S. (WSJ) Sanctioned Crypto Mixer Tornado Cash Hijacked by Hackers (Bloomberg) Neeva, the would-be Google competitor, is shutting down its search engine (The Verge) The E-Sports World Is Starting to Teeter (NYTimes) Facebook parent in talks with Magic Leap over augmented reality deal (Financial Times) We Put Google’s New AI Writing Assistant to the Test (Wired) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 22, 2023
Re-releasing this one, hopefully with improved sound quality! The earliest days of Amazon with its earliest hire: Shel Kaphan. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 20, 2023
I didn't know the whole story of Sam Bankman-Fried. This book will do that for you. From our very good friend of the show Brady Dale: SBF: How the FTX Bankruptcy Unwound Crypto's Very Bad Good Guy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 19, 2023
OpenAI has launched an official ChatGPT app for iPhones and iPads. Android coming soon. The Supreme Court actually propped up Section 230, allowing it to live another day. Apple as an example of why companies are looking to keep the AI in house. And, of course, the weekend longreads suggestions. Sponsors: Mimecast.com TryNom.com/ride Links: AI in your pocket: ChatGPT officially comes to iPhone with new app (ArsTechnica) Link to the official ChatGPT App in the App Store Supreme Court shields Twitter from liability for terror-related content and leaves Section 230 untouched (CNN) Supreme Court Leaves 230 Alone For Now, But Justice Thomas Gives A Pretty Good Explanation For Why It Exists In The First Place (TechDirt) Apple Restricts Employee Use of ChatGPT, Joining Other Companies Wary of Leaks (WSJ) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: In Battle Over A.I., Meta Decides to Give Away Its Crown Jewels (NYTimes) This Is Catfishing on an Industrial Scale (Wired) Cheesier, Saucier, and Drowning in Caviar; How TikTok took over the menu. (GrubStreet) Japan’s sleepy tech scene is ready for a comeback (Rest of World) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 18, 2023
The first official ban of TikTok by a US state is here. Unskippable tv-like ads are coming to YouTube when you’re watching on your TV. How much can be recovered when a crypto project blows up? Why is Amazon so far behind in drone delivery? And how Apple’s forthcoming headset got developed. Sponsors: Traceroute Podcast Bloomberg.com/careers Links: TikTok Ban Signed in Montana, Paving Way for First Amendment Legal Battle (WSJ) YouTube 2023 Upfront: Platform to Launch Unskippable 30-Second Ads on TVs, Roger Goodell on Hand to Tout NFL Sunday Ticket Pact (Variety) Netflix Advertising Tier Now Has “Nearly Five Million” Monthly Active Users (The Hollywood Reporter) Bankrupt crypto lender Voyager Digital predicts 35% customer payout (Reuters) Amazon’s 100 drone deliveries puts Prime Air far behind Alphabet’s Wing and Walmart partner Zipline (CNBC) Apple’s New Headset Meets Reality (Bloomberg Businessweek) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 17, 2023
If you’ve been letting some of your Google accounts sit fallow, you better look into that cause Google is gonna start deleting things. Why some new top level domains have people concerned. Why tech companies are racing to put generative AI on your phone. And part two of the open source vs. centralized AI debate. Sponsors: OregonState.edu Links: Google will delete accounts, including Gmail & Photos, that haven’t logged on in 2 years (9to5Google) New ZIP domains spark debate among cybersecurity experts (BleepingComputer) StableStudio is Stability AI’s latest commitment to open-source AI (The Verge) The race to bring generative AI to mobile devices (Financial Times) Google I/O and the Coming AI Battles (Stratechery) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 16, 2023
The EU actually approved the Microsoft Activision acquisition so… what now? The IRS might finally allow us to file our taxes online for free. The EU passes the first crypto regulatory regime, but questions are being asked of their forthcoming digital Euro experiment. And an interesting raise allows us to take our first look at the Open Source vs. Centralized debate when it comes to AI. Sponsors: Collective.com Links: E.U. Approves Microsoft’s $69 Billion Deal for Activision (NYTimes) IRS tests free e-filing system that could compete with tax-prep giants (Washington Post) Windows 11 users can now link their iPhones and use iMessage from a PC (The Verge) Ransomware gang steals data of 5.8 million PharMerica patients (BleepingComputer) Twitter makes its first acquisition with a recruiting startup (Axios) EU’s Crypto Legal Framework Inches Towards Law With Finance Ministers’ Sign-Off (CoinDesk) The digital euro: a solution seeking a problem? (Financial Times) AI startup Together raises funding for open-source AI and cloud platform (VentureBeat) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 15, 2023
After some news about Apple testing M3 chips, it’s media day on the podcast. Wither Motherboard, as Vice declares bankruptcy. Netflix is cutting spending on its originals. Is the pivot to ads going to define the next stage of the streaming wars. And ad supported television is one thing, but what if we took that literally? Would you want a tv that has a second screen to show you ads all the time? Sponsors: Ramp.com/techmeme go.tech/tm Links: Apple Begins Testing Speedy M3 Chips as It Pursues Mac Comeback (Bloomberg) Vice Media files for bankruptcy as ad business suffers (Reuters) Netflix Plans to Cut Spending by $300 Million in 2023 (WSJ) A Growing Number of Streaming Video Customers Watch Ads (Bloomberg) Telly’s wild idea: Free TVs with inescapable ads (Fast Company) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 15, 2023
Marc Tarpenning, along with Martin Eberhard, was the cofounder of Tesla Motors back in 2003. But before that, Tarpenning and Eberhard were also the cofounders of NuvoMedia, which produced one of the world's first ebook devices, the rocket eBook. So, for the first part of the episode, Mark recounts the story of NuvoMedia and then about 25 minutes in we begin the founding of Tesla, in my opinion, perhaps the most amazing startup story of the last 20 years. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 13, 2023
Yes, the Apple II is maybe more historically important than the Macintosh, at least for Apple as a company. I agree with the argument my friend Laine Nooney makes in their book: The Apple II Age: How the Computer Became Personal . Enjoy this deep dive into early Apple and PC history and then, BUY THE BOOK! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 12, 2023
Elon says he’s hired a new CEO for Twitter, and folks think they know who this person will be. The Claude chatbot has expanded so much you can now write entire novels with it. Seeing what Meta is doing with AI in ads makes me wonder about the future of all media. And, of course, the weekend longreads suggestions. Sponsors: Grammarly.com/go GetSunday.com/ride Links: Elon Musk says he has found a new CEO for Twitter (TechCrunch) Linda Yaccarino Leaves NBCUniversal Amid Talks to Become Twitter CEO (WSJ) Anthropic’s latest model can take ‘The Great Gatsby’ as input (TechCrunch) Meta announces generative AI features for advertisers (TechCrunch) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: End of the Billable Hour? Law Firms Get On Board With Artificial Intelligence (WSJ) “We Were Always Playing An Entirely Different Game”: The Ultimate Oral History Of BuzzFeed News (BuzzFeed News) Taiwan Is Running Low on a Strategic Asset: Engineers (NYTimes) The Plot to Steal the Other Secret Inside a Can of Coca-Cola (Bloomberg) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 11, 2023
Twitter finally rolled out encrypted DMs… or did they? More drips and drabs from yesterday’s Google event including an AI music generating tool that sounds pretty wild. Even the crypto miners are pivoting to AI. And why tech has warmed up to the concept of nearshoring. Sponsors: Grammarly.com/go Bloomberg.com/careers Links: Twitter's encrypted DMs are here — but only for verified users (Engadget) Join the waitlist for Google's generative AI tools, including search, Project Tailwind, & MusicLM (XDA Developers) Google makes its text-to-music AI public (TechCrunch) Google Cloud announces new A3 supercomputer VMs built to power LLMs (TechCrunch) AI Needs Specialized Processors. Crypto Miners Say They Have Them (Bloomberg) ‘Nearshoring’ Push Is Fueling Tech Job Demand in Latin America (Bloomberg) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 10, 2023
I’m writing this this morning before Google’s I/O, so I’m assuming that’s going to be the entirety of this episode. But who knows. Maybe I’ll be able to squeeze something non-Google stuff at the end. Join me in the time machine, won’t you, and find out. In the meantime, here’s what Sundar had to share with us today. Sponsors: Leadership.OregonState.edu/cic Grammarly.com/go Links: Google Photos to gain a new ‘Magic Editor’ feature powered by generative AI (TechCrunch) Google launches PaLM 2, its next-gen large language model (TechCrunch) Google rebrands AI tools for Docs and Gmail as Duet AI — its answer to Microsoft’s Copilot (The Verge) The AI takeover of Google Search starts now (The Verge) Review: Pixel 7a affordably delivers on every promise of the Pixel series (9to5Google) Pixel Tablet Hands-On: Google's Return of the Tablet and More (CNET) Google Pixel Fold hands-on: Finally, a real rival for Samsung’s foldables (Engadget) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 9, 2023
More roiling questions about crypto and regulator enforcement. Nintendo’s Switch is getting long in the tooth. AI’s are coming to the Wendy’s drive through lane. An AI startup to protect against AI. And more of what we can expect from Google’s big day tomorrow. Sponsors: Grammarly.com/go Notion.com/ride Links: Coinbase CEO says SEC is on ‘lone crusade,’ dials back on suggestion exchange may relocate (CNBC) Ripple will have spent $200 million fighting SEC lawsuit, CEO says (CNBC) U.S. Crypto Exchange Bittrex Files for Bankruptcy in Delaware (CoinDesk) Nintendo Warns of Big Slowdown in Switch Console Sales (Bloomberg) Apple announces Final Cut Pro and Logic Pro coming to iPad (9to5Mac) Wendy’s, Google Train Next-Generation Order Taker: an AI Chatbot (WSJ) GPTZero App Seeks to Thwart AI Plagiarism in Schools, Online Media (Bloomberg) Alphabet to unveil A.I. updates at Google I/O, showing off creative writing and coding capabilities (CNBC) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 8, 2023
What to expect from Google IO. The big discord username switch. Sam Altman’s side hustle is launching a thing. But also a look at the regulatory issues his OpenAI is facing in Europe. And what if I told you an Ikea chair can short out your monitor. It’s weird, but it can. Sponsors: ZocDoc.com/techmeme Grammarly.com/go Links: Google Plans to Make Search More ‘Personal’ with AI Chat and Video Clips (WSJ) Discord’s username change is causing discord (The Verge) Sam Altman’s Worldcoin rolls out app as token launch looms (The Block) OpenAI’s regulatory troubles are only just beginning (The Verge) Popular IKEA Chair Turns Computer Monitor Off, Baffling Everyone (Motherboard) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 7, 2023
This is the crossover episode of when I went on the Big Technology podcast on Friday. We ask where the moat is in AI? And we celebrate Ed Sheeran if you can believe it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 6, 2023
This is the book I've been dying for someone to write! This is how digital media happened for 20 years! Traffic: Genius, Rivalry, and Delusion in the Billion-Dollar Race to Go Viral . Yay to finally having Ben Smith on the pod! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 5, 2023
Apple earnings recap. A new, free code generating AI tool. Which, actually, lots of people are starting to ask the question: will open source AI actually come out on top in the AI revolution? And, of course, the weekend longreads suggestions. Sponsors: Mindbloom.com/techmeme and promocode techmeme OregonState.edu/believe-it Links: Apple CEO Tim Cook says AI is "huge," but care is needed (Axios) Hugging Face and ServiceNow release a free code-generating model (TechCrunch) Google Is Falling Behind in AI Arms Race, Senior Engineer Warns (Bloomberg) OpenAI’s Losses Doubled to $540 Million as It Developed ChatGPT (The Information) Weekend Longreads Suggestions AI Singers Are Unnervingly Good and Already Ubiquitous (Vulture) Is the Federal Government Trying to Kill Off Crypto? (Intelligencer/NYMag) Why Chatbots Are Not the Future (Amelia Wattenberger) ESPN’s Jimmy Pitaro Will Decide the Fate of Cable Television (Bloomberg) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 4, 2023
The regulators have not been sleeping on the AI revolution. Everybody wants to get in on the blue checkmark game. But this time, with actual utility. Airbnb now offers to rent out single rooms. Can ChatGPT out invest professional money managers? And the return of the flip phone. No, not a foldable phone. The flip phone from your youth. Sponsors: Bloomberg.com/careers The Traceroute Podcast Links: “We must regulate AI,” FTC Chair Khan says (ArsTechnica) UK competition watchdog launches review of AI market (Financial Times) Microsoft’s Bing chatbot gets smarter with restaurant bookings, image results, and more (The Verge) Gmail is adding a blue checkmark to better verify senders (9to5Google) Airbnb Revamps Site to Ease Tensions Between Guests, Hosts (Bloomberg) ChatGPT ‘portfolio’ outperforms leading UK funds (Financial Times) Gen Zers Are Snapping Up Flip Phones. They Might Be Onto Something. (WSJ) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 3, 2023
Google releases a new feature to put another nail in the password coffin. Malware merchants are using generative AI. A deep dive into what Bluesky is like right now. The best explainer of quantum computing I’ve ever seen. And how a Pixies song is breaking Google assistant and making people miss their wakeup alarms in the morning. Sponsors: Nutrafol.com/men promocode ride OregonState.edu Links: You no longer need a password to sign in to your Google account (The Verge) Twitter restores free API access for emergency, weather and transportation alerts (Engadget) TSMC Plans for First German Chip Fab With Cost Up to €10 Billion (Bloomberg) Meta Is Trying to Push Attackers to the Brink (Wired) Bluesky showed everyone’s ass (The Verge) Quantum computing could break the internet. This is how (Financial Times) You can blame this Pixies song for Assistant canceling your alarm (AndroidPolice) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 2, 2023
Looks like that Hollywood strike inspired by AI fears is a go. Apple and Google want to set a new standard to prevent modern digital stalking. Pornhub is boycotting Utah. Mastodon is trying to make it less confusing to give them a try. And what is one of the biggest reasons companies are wary of giving generative AI a try? Sponsors: Mimecast.com Bloomberg.com/careers Links: Hollywood Writers Strike Over Pay Disputes with Streaming Giants and AI Concerns (Gizmodo) Apple and Google team up to stop unwanted AirTag tracking (CNBC) Apple uses iOS and macOS Rapid Security Response feature for the first time (ArsTechnica) Pornhub Blocks All of Utah From Its Site (Motherboard) It’s getting easier to make an account on Mastodon (The Verge) WordPress drops Twitter social sharing due to API price hike (Mashable) BeReal's latest feature is a curated timeline of high-profile users (Engadget) Scared of Leaking Data to ChatGPT? Microsoft Tests a Private Alternative (The Information) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 1, 2023
Gurman says the big Apple Watch OS overhaul is nigh. I can already tell you what the biggest tech IPO of 2023 is going to be. Are there signs tech earnings have turned or a corner, or, at least, have bottomed out? And why the AI revolution is behind the potential of a major labor strike in Hollywood. Sponsors: Ramp.com/techmeme This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/techmeme and get on your way to being your best self. Links: Apple to Upgrade Its Watch Operating System With New Focus on Widgets (Bloomberg) SoftBank's Arm registers for blockbuster U.S. IPO (Reuters) Microsoft makes its AI-powered Designer tool available in preview (TechCrunch) Big Tech Earnings Spark Hope That Worst Is Over (WSJ) ChatGPT Will See You Now: Doctors Using AI to Answer Patient Questions (WSJ) Will a Chatbot Write the Next ‘Succession’? (NYTimes) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 30, 2023
Another bonus episode from the Internet History Podcast. As promised, Mike Slade is back to tell stories from the period 1998 through 2004, when he was Special Assistant to Steve Jobs. Background details on the iMac, the iPod and the iPhone and more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 29, 2023
Another bonus episode from the Internet History Podcast. I originally wanted to talk to Mike Slade about Starwave, the innovative company that launched some major names onto the web, including ESPN.com, ABCNews.com, MrShowbiz.com, and after an eventual sale to Disney, put together the pieces that eventually became the Go.com portal play. But Mike is one of those guys who has had such a varied and interesting career, I couldn't help but go into other eras of his career. The dude worked at Microsoft in the early 1980s. He worked at NeXT in the early 90s. And from 1998 through 2004 he was Special Assistant to Steve Jobs as he saved Apple as a company, launched the iPod and kicked into motion the modern gadget era. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 28, 2023
More signs that vital communications infrastructure is abandoning Twitter. Reddit is testing Discord-like chat channels. Big layoffs at Clubhouse. Microsoft exits the peripherals business after 40 years. And, of course, the Weekend Longreads suggestions. Sponsors: Bloomberg.com/careers Miro.com/podcast Links: New York City Subway Ends Twitter Service Alerts After Musk Raises Price (Bloomberg) Reddit is testing Discord-like channels for community chat (TechCrunch) Once-Hot Chat Startup Clubhouse Is Cutting Half of Staff (Bloomberg) Pinterest announces multiyear ads partnership with Amazon alongside earnings beat (TechCrunch) Microsoft’s mice, keyboards, and webcams are being discontinued in favor of Surface accessories (The Verge) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: Apple’s Siri Chief Struggles With Turf Wars as New AI Era Begins (The Information) ASML, Europe’s Most Valuable Tech Firm, Is at the Heart of the US-China Chip War (Bloomberg) The Unexpected Reason Apple Is Dominating the U.S. Smartphone Market (WSJ) 35 Ways Real People Are Using A.I. Right Now (NYTimes) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 27, 2023
Meta reported earnings that surprised investors in the good way. But that doesn’t mean they’re backing off the Metaverse. Global smartphone shipments continue to plummet. Might congress ban children from social media? Amazon gets out of the health tracker business. And the interesting way that rejection of the Microsoft Activision deal is using a somewhat novel argument. Sponsors: Miro.com/podcast Shopify.com/ride Links: Facebook Parent Meta Platforms Sees First Sales Increase in Nearly a Year (WSJ) Meta beats revenue expectations, remains committed to metaverse (TechCrunch) Smartphone Market woes continue with 14.6% Drop in first quarter this year, According to IDC Tracker (IDC) Senators unveil bipartisan legislation to ban kids under 13 from joining social media platforms (CNN Business) Amazon shuts down Halo division and discontinues all devices (The Verge) Google on why Authenticator sync isn’t E2E encrypted, but option coming later (9to5Google) Microsoft’s $69 Billion Deal Tripped Up by Niche Gaming Market (Bloomberg) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 26, 2023
The UK is blocking Microsoft’s Activision Acquisition. A quick rundown of Microsoft and Alphabet earnings. The new Mavic drone is a beast. Cruise has actually expanded its self-driving taxi service. And a look at the mounting pressure on Binance and CZ. Sponsors: Mindbloom.com/techmeme and promocode: techmeme Miro.com/podcast Links: UK Blocks Microsoft’s $69 Billion Activision Deal (Bloomberg) Microsoft Q3 2023: Windows, devices, and Xbox down again (The Verge) Google’s cloud business turns profitable for the first time on record (CNBC) Apple Plans AI-Powered Health Coaching Service, Mood Tracker and iPad Health App (Bloomberg) DJI’s latest Mavic drone is a beast (TechCrunch) Cruise continues to burn GM’s cash as robotaxis expand to daylight hours (The Verge) OpenAI Offers New Privacy Options for ChatGPT (Bloomberg) Binance Faces Mounting Pressure as U.S. Crypto Crackdown Intensifies (NYTimes) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 25, 2023
Methinks Coinbase is orchestrating laying the groundwork for a showdown with US regulators. Slack rolls out Canvas, which seems pretty cool. AI Guardrails from Nvidia. A browser built for AI tools from Opera. And I delve into the whole story about that AI generated Drake song that has gone viral. OregonState.edu/believe-it Miro.com/podcast Links: Coinbase Asks Court to Force SEC to Clarify Crypto Regulations (Decrypt) Slack launches Canvas, a docs app that lives inside your chat app (The Verge) Google Authenticator now syncs 2FA with your Google Account, gets new icon (9to5Google) Nvidia releases a toolkit to make text-generating AI ‘safer’ (TechCrunch) Opera One is a browser designed for generative AI features (Engadget) An A.I. Hit of Fake ‘Drake’ and ‘The Weeknd’ Rattles the Music World (NYTimes) Grimes Tells Fans To Deepfake Her Music, Will Split 50% Royalties With AI (Forbes) Sol Reader E Ink headset for hands-free e-reading makes CES debut (GoodEReader) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 24, 2023
Would you believe me if I told you there was more Twitter chaos over the weekend. More details on the Apple headset. Is ARM about to abandon its Switzerland strategy? Interesting data about how Netflix dominates TV watching. And sad data about the down rounds we can expect for the foreseeable future. Sponsors: Miro.com/podcast Links: Elon Caves, Gives Blue Checks Back to Twitter’s Biggest Celebs (Daily Beast) Apple Will Take Scattershot Approach to Pitching AR/VR Headset (Bloomberg) Chip designer Arm makes its own advanced prototype semiconductor (Financial Times) These Are The Most Popular TV Shows on the Internet (Bloomberg) Silicon Valley Startups Brace for a Summer of Pain (Bloomberg) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 23, 2023
Again, my Internet History Podcast interview with Chamath Palihapitiya of the All In podcast from 2016. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 22, 2023
Again, this is a republishing of my Jason Calacanis interview from the Internet History Podcast. Sponsors: Bloomberg.com/careers Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 21, 2023
More… I dunno… Twitter things are happening. Google is consolidating its AI efforts. We now have a hint about what that startup Humane might be creating. The US wants to get a jump start on 6G technology. And pour one out for BuzzFeed News. Sponsors: Grammarly.com/techmeme Headspace.com/ride30day Links: Twitter seemingly now requires all advertisers to have a verified checkmark (TechCrunch) Google Looks to Turbocharge AI Efforts With Combined Brain, DeepMind Unit (WSJ) Google gives Bard the ability to generate and debug code (Engadget) Watch the first demo of buzzy startup Humane’s wearable AI assistant in leaked clips (The Verge) U.S. Begins Planning for 6G Wireless Communications (WSJ) The Internet of the 2010s Ended Today (The Atlantic) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 20, 2023
Are Elon and Microsoft fully at war at this point? Does Coinbase already have one foot out the country at this point? Is OpenAI careening toward a run-in with GDPR? And, Stability AI’s big play to compete with Chat GPT. Sponsors: Leadership.OregonState.edu/cic Grammarly.com/techmeme Links: Microsoft drops Twitter from its advertising platform (Mashable) Elon Musk Threatens to Sue Microsoft After it Drops Twitter From Ad Platform (PCMag) Coinbase gets Bermuda license, plans to launch offshore exchange in coming weeks (FortuneCrypto) First EU-Wide Crypto Regulations Clear Final Parliament Vote (Bloomberg) OpenAI’s hunger for data is coming back to bite it (MIT Technology Review) Google to deploy generative AI to create sophisticated ad campaigns (Financial Times) Stability AI releases ChatGPT-like language models (TechCrunch) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 19, 2023
That Netflix ad tier seems to be paying off. But it’s also the end of the road for those famous red envelopes. We’re about to see a foldable Pixel phone. More layoffs from Meta. More links in bio for Instagram. And forget data being the new oil. What if data was the new fertile farmland to be rented out to LLMs for harvesting? Sponsors: Grammarly.com/techmeme leadership.oregonstate.edu/cic Links: Netflix Adds 1.75 Million Customers in Q1 2023; Grows to 232.5M Globally (The Streamable) Netflix Gains 1.75 Million Subscribers, Axes DVD-Rental Business (WSJ) Google to launch its first foldable phone, the ‘Pixel Fold,’ in June (CNBC) Meta has started its latest round of layoffs, focusing on technical employees (CNBC) Instagram takes on Linktree and others with support for up to 5 ‘links in bio’ (TechCrunch) Reddit Wants to Get Paid for Helping to Teach Big A.I. Systems (NYTimes) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 18, 2023
Is the AI revolution going to kick of a silicon revolution with a whole new generation of chips? Coinbase would consider leaving the US if it can’t get clarity from regulators. Is the Apple savings account the savings account for you? A look at Twitter competitor Bluesky. And what happens if you take GPT-4 and feed it back on itself? Sponsors: Notion.com/ride Grammarly.com/techmeme Links: Microsoft Readies AI Chip as Machine Learning Costs Surge (The Information) Coinbase Could Move Away From U.S. if No Regulatory Clarity: CEO Brian Armstrong (CoinDesk) Major Photography Prize Winner Reveals Image Is AI-Generated, Rejects Award (Motherboard) Apple finally launches high-yield Apple Savings account (Apple Insider) Bluesky’s CEO wants to build a Musk-proof, decentralized version of Twitter (The Verge) Hype grows over “autonomous” AI agents that loop GPT-4 outputs (ArsTechnica) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 17, 2023
Hey everybody, back from Ireland, and man, the universe dumped all the news on me this morning. Google is rushing to add AI to search because they’re afraid Samsung is about to jump ship to Bing. More chaos at Twitter. Meta has to make nice with advertisers. Spotify seems to be abandoning it’s paywall podcast strategy. And is Apple’s Watch OS about to get its biggest overhaul ever? Sponsors: Grammarly.com/techmeme GetSunday.com/ride Links: Google Devising Radical Search Changes to Beat Back A.I. Rivals (NYTimes) Sega to acquire Angry Birds maker Rovio for $776 million (CNBC) U.S. House Committee Publishes Draft Stablecoin Bill (CoinDesk) Elon Musk just shut down automation for important public safety account s (Mashable) Is Twitter finally dying? (Vox) Meta Tries to Lure Advertisers With Reels Discounts, AI Tools (The Information) Spotify will drop paywall for Gimlet podcasts (Semafor) Apple Plans to Launch More Than Just Its New Headset at WWDC (Bloomberg) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 14, 2023
AWS has begun offering customers access to LLMs made by Anthropic, Stability AI, and AI21 Labs, as they look to be a neutral platform for generative AI features. WhatsApp is rolling out new verification and protection features, including defenses against SIM jacking and social engineering attacks. Twitter has just increased the character limit to 10,000 for Blue subscribers. And your weekend longreads suggestions. Sponsors: Ramp.com/techmeme Bloomberg.com/careers Links: Amazon Joins Microsoft, Google in AI Race Spurred by ChatGPT (Wall Street Journal) Amazon Is Joining the Generative AI Race (WIRED) WhatsApp makes it harder for scammers to steal your account (Engadget) Key transparency explainer (Matthew Green, Twitter) Twitter Blue’s new 10,000 character limit turns tweets into essays (The Verge) Dril Is Everyone. More Specifically, He’s a Guy Named Paul. (The Ringer) With a wave of new LLMs, open-source AI is having a moment — and a red-hot debate (VentureBeat) Is ‘The Economist’ Making the Best News Podcasts Right Now? (Vulture) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 13, 2023
The stocks of Apple suppliers Cirrus Logic and AAC are down after reporting that iPhone 15 Pro models won’t have solid-state buttons after all. IBM is reportedly looking into selling The Weather Company, for quite a bit less than they paid for it in 2015. LinkedIn has new identity verification via the airport and stadium security service CLEAR. Ethereum has successfully completed its Shanghai, or Shapella, upgrade, letting users withdraw staked ether. And Warner Bros. Discovery has officially renamed HBO Max to just… Max. Sponsors: Nutrafol.com/men , promo code RIDE Links: Apple reportedly nixes iPhone 15 button upgrade, sending supplier stock down 12% (CNBC) iPhone 15 Pro may not have new solid-state volume buttons after all (9to5 Mac) IBM Explores Sale of Weather Business (Wall Street Journal) IBM Mulling Sale of Weather Technology Assets (The Information) LinkedIn rolls out ways to verify your identity and employment, without a price tag (TechCrunch) LinkedIn Verification Now Lets You Verify Your Job and Account (WIRED) Ethereum’s (ETH) Shanghai, Shapella Upgrade Looks ‘Stable,’ Developer Beiko Says (Bloomberg) Ethereum Unstaking Requests Pile Up After Shanghai Upgrade, Now at 2-Week Wait (CoinDesk) 'The Penguin' Trailer: Colin Farrell Returns to Gotham as 'The Batman' Spinoff Series Confirms 2024 Release (Variety) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 12, 2023
Elon Musk did a big spontaneous interview with the BBC last night on Twitter Spaces, but here’s two things that didn’t make the interview: Twitter appears to be working on generative AI for reasons yet unknown and Twitter Inc. doesn’t exist as a company anymore. Global VC funding for crypto startups fell to $2.4 billion in the first quarter of 2023, down 80% from an all-time high in 2022. Video game illustrators in China say AI image generators are causing them to lose their jobs. And Reddit moderators saying AI-generated spam is rapidly mounting as they brace themselves for a spam apocalypse. Links: Elon Musk is moving forward with a new generative-AI project at Twitter after purchasing thousands of GPUs (Insider) Twitter Inc. has been merged with X Corp. and “no longer exists,” Elon Musk’s company says in a court filing. (Slate) Six things we learned from Elon Musk interview (BBC) Crypto VC Funding Plunges by 80% in Dire Quarter for Startups (Bloomberg) AI is already taking video game illustrators' jobs in China (Rest of World) Reddit Moderators Brace for a ChatGPT Spam Apocalypse (VICE) NPR to Suspend Twitter Use After ‘Government-Funded’ Label (NY Times) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 11, 2023
Alibaba revealed its ChatGPT-style bot, and mere hours later the Cyberspace Administration of China announced plans to require security reviews of generative AI tools before they’re released. The Winklevoss twins made a $100 million loan to their crypto exchange, Gemini Trust, after it failed to raise enough from outside investors. The FBI has warned against using any public USB charging ports. And YouTube has announced new Premium features and also announced the pricing for their NFL Sunday Ticket packagers and they’re not cheap. Sponsors: Bloomberg.com/careers go.tech/tm Links: China slaps security reviews on AI products as Alibaba unveils ChatGPT challenger (Ars Technica) China proposes measures to manage generative AI services (Reuters) Winklevoss Twins Lend $100 Million to Their Gemini Crypto Platform (Bloomberg) Juice jacking rising, FBI says don't use airport USB outlets (Android Authority) YouTube Premium adds more perks with SharePlay support, higher quality video and more (TechCrunch) NFL Sunday Ticket on YouTube starts at $249 for the 2023 season (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 10, 2023
Twitter has stopped throttling tweets with Substack links in them, but only after Elon Musk denied they were ever blocked. About 270 US Apple Stores have held staff meetings about unionization risks in the past two weeks. A New York Times article about the environmental and economic impact of bitcoin mines has some crypto proponents up in arms. And the 2023 Dell XPS 13 is… fine. Just fine. Sponsors: OregonState.edu Links: Twitter stops throttling tweets with Substack links (Engadget) Elon Musk Denies Substack Links Are Blocked On Twitter, A Claim That’s Very Misleading (Forbes) Apple (AAPL) Continues Efforts to Keep Retail Stores From Unionizing (Bloomberg) The Real-World Costs of the Digital Race for Bitcoin (NY Times) Crypto enthusiasts go after New York Times for its BTC mining report (Cryptopolitan) Rebuttal to the NYT article (Daniel Batten, Twitter) Dell XPS 13 review: Dell is coasting (and that’s fine) (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 8, 2023
Check out David Auerbach's books: Meganets: How Digital Forces Beyond Our Control Commandeer Our Daily Lives and Inner Realities Bitwise: A Life in Code Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 7, 2023
Shenanigans from some Elon companies. Twitter looks like it’s blocking Substack. Not just links to Substack but even mentioning the name, the word Substack, in some cases. Oh, and Tesla employees apparently liked to view videos from your car and share them with each other internally. Last quarter was epically bad when it came to venture investing. And, of course, the Weekend Longreads Suggestions. Links: Twitter now disables likes, replies, and retweets if a tweet has Substack links (The Verge) Special Report: Tesla workers shared sensitive images recorded by customer cars (Reuters) A third of organizations admit to covering up data breaches (VentureBeat) Global VC Funding Falls Dramatically Across All Stages In Rocky Q1, Despite Massive OpenAI And Stripe Deals (CrunchBase News) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: Behind the curtain: what it feels like to work in AI right now (Democratizing Automation) Think of language models like ChatGPT as a “calculator for words” (Simon Willison's Blog) Anthropic’s $5B, 4-year plan to take on OpenAI (TechCrunch) Blockbuster pushed HBO to start investing in original content, cable giant’s ex-chief says (CNBC) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 6, 2023
More examples of chatbots hallucinating might lead to the first lawsuits. Did you know that you have a copy of the bitcoin white paper on your Mac right now? You don’t know it, but you do. I’ll tell you why. Substack is the latest to launch a Twitter clone. And why E3 had to die. It’s called direct to consumer, or, I guess, gamer. Sponsors: Mimecast.com OregonState.edu Links: ChatGPT invented a sexual harassment scandal and named a real law prof as the accused (Washington Post) The Bitcoin Whitepaper Is Hidden in Every Modern Copy of macOS (Waxy.org) Google CEO Sundar Pichai Says Search to Include Chat AI (WSJ) Google to prohibit personal loan apps from accessing user photos, contacts (TechCrunch) Substack’s new short-form ‘Notes’ feed looks a lot like Twitter (TechCrunch) Streaming Killed E3 (Wired) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 5, 2023
Sony might be developing a sort of PS Vita mark 2. Sad news of the death of a well-known silicon valley luminary. Meta says its not going to be left behind in the AI race. What happens if the kids aren’t keen on the Metaverse. And I sketch out an example of our grand theory of AI varietals. Sponsors: Bloomberg.com/careers Links: EXCLUSIVE – SONY’S NEXT PLAYSTATION HANDHELD (Insider Gaming) Bob Lee, creator of Cash App and former CTO of Square, stabbed to death (TechCrunch) Google says its AI supercomputer is faster, greener than Nvidia A100 chip (Reuters) Meta to debut ad-creating generative AI this year, CTO says (NikkeiAsia) American teens aren’t excited about virtual reality, with only 4% using it daily (CNBC) What if ChatGPT was trained on decades of financial news and data? BloombergGPT aims to be a domain-specific AI for business news (NeimanLab) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 4, 2023
We’ve said before that Elon owns Twitter, so if he decides to change the logo to a Shiba Inu, you know, why not? Apple kinda sorta bites the bullet on layoffs. What’s going on with the Apple Weather app? Do we want universities to call the use of ChatGPT plagiarism? And data on the corporate takeover of AI development. Sponsors: OregonState.edu ZocDoc.com/techmeme Links: Twitter’s new dog icon is sending dogecoin — sigh — to the moon (TechCrunch) Spotify shuts down its Clubhouse-style audio app Spotify Live (Musically) Google to cut down on employee laptops, services and staplers for ‘multi-year’ savings (CNBC) Apple to Cut Jobs in Some Corporate Retail Teams in First Known Layoffs (Bloomberg) Apple Weather forecasts suffer rare outage (AppleInsider) Universities express doubt over tool to detect AI-powered plagiarism (Financial Times) AI is entering an era of corporate control (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 3, 2023
The blue checks went away on Twitter over the weekend. Or did they? More interesting details on those Pinduoduo app allegations. In a headline from 2019, Paris says no to e-scooters. And what does the recent move by GM say about the relationship between the car companies and the tech platforms? Sponsors: Ramp.com/techmeme This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/techmeme and get on your way to being your best self.” Links: Twitter had a very messy weekend (The Verge) Twitter’s blue check mark was loved and loathed. Now it’s pay for play. (Washington Post) ‘I’ve never seen anything like this:’ One of China’s most popular apps has the ability to spy on its users, say experts (CNN Business) Paris votes overwhelmingly to ban shared e-scooters (TechCrunch) GM is cutting off access to Apple CarPlay and Android Auto for its future EVs (The Verge) The rest of the auto industry still loves CarPlay and Android Auto (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 31, 2023
I can tell you E3 is officially cancelled this year, but I’m kinda thinking it might be dead for good. Bunch of stuff about Twitter and checkmarks. Italy has temporarily banned ChatGPT. Some of the signatories of that AI letter are having second thoughts. And, of course, the weekend longreads suggestions. Sponsors: Miro.com/podcast LInks: E3 Has Been Canceled (IGN) Elon Musk Tried to Meet With F.T.C. Chair About Twitter but Was Rebuffed (NYTimes) Japan restricts chipmaking equipment exports as it aligns with US China curbs (Reuters) Italian privacy regulator bans ChatGPT (Politico) The Open Letter to Stop 'Dangerous' AI Race Is a Huge Mess (Motherboard) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: Fitbit’s attempt to disappear the button proved why they matter (The Verge) The influencers getting rich by teaching you how to get rich (Vox) “I’LL WALK AWAY FROM ANYTHING”: KARA SWISHER CALLS THE SHOTS (Vanity Fair) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 30, 2023
Wait, are we NOT going to see the new Apple headset at WWDC? Twitter’s new API tiers? Ads are coming to Bing Chat. Is Elon Musk guilty of laundering his grudge against OpenAI through AI concern trolling? And is TikTok creating more one hit wonders? Sponsors: Shopify.com/ride Miro.com/podcast Links: Kuo: Apple Mixed-Reality Headset May Not Appear at WWDC as Mass Production Pushed Back Yet Again (MacRumors) Twitter announces new API pricing, including a limited free tier for bots (Engadget) Microsoft’s Bing chatbot is getting more ads (The Verge) Alphabet’s Google and DeepMind Pause Grudges, Join Forces to Chase OpenAI (The Information) Elon Musk's AI History May Be Behind His Call To Pause Development (Forbes) Is TikTok Actually Creating More One-Hit Wonders? (Billboard) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 29, 2023
Over 1,000 big names sign a petition urging a pause on AI development. What analysts think AI could to for or to the economy. North Korean hackers allegedly have a new trick. And did you know ByteDance has an Instagram rival? Well, it looks like they’re putting the pedal to the metal on that. Sponsors: Miro.com/podcast go.tech/tm Links: Elon Musk and top AI researchers call for pause on ‘giant AI experiments’ (The Verge) Generative AI set to affect 300mn jobs across major economies (Financial Times) North Korea Is Now Mining Crypto to Launder Its Stolen Loot (Wired) Google Search is adding new ‘Perspectives’ and ‘About this author’ features to help users verify info (TechCrunch) TikTok ban backup plan? ByteDance-owned Instagram rival Lemon8 hits the US App Store’s Top 10 (TechCrunch) Cerebras releases seven large language models for generative AI, trained on its specialized hardware (SiliconAngle) Google Partners with AI Startup Replit to Take on Microsoft’s GitHub (Bloomberg) Microsoft Security Copilot is a new GPT-4 AI assistant for cybersecurity (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 28, 2023
I titled an episode last week “Twilight Of The Blue Checks.” Well, today is the sequel, “Rise Of The Blue Checks” cause starting April 15, you’ll have to be a blue check to appear on Twitter’s For You tab. Also: the feds go after Binance. Disney cuts its entire metaverse unit. And the UK cancels its NFT. Sponsors: Miro.com/podcast Notion.com/ride Links: Elon Musk says Twitter’s For You page will only recommend verified accounts (The Verge) The secret list of Twitter VIPs getting boosted over everyone else (Platformer) Binance and founder Changpeng Zhao violated compliance rules to attract U.S. users, CFTC alleges (CNBC) Disney Eliminates Its Metaverse Division as Part of Company’s Layoffs Plan (WSJ) NFT: Plans for Royal Mint produced token dropped (BBC News) Lyft CEO and president to step down, former Amazon exec David Risher named as replacement (CNBC) Amazon just opened up its Sidewalk network for anyone to build connected gadgets on (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 27, 2023
Looks like the short, sharp, SVB saga has reached the beginning of a conclusion. Twitter source code has been leaked. The doubts inside Apple about the upcoming mixed reality headset. Why has no one presented any evidence for why TikTok might need to be banned? And, again, will generative AI lead to a physical robot revolution? Sponsors: Miro.com/podcast GetSunday.com/ride for 20% off Links: First Citizens to Buy SVB After Biggest Failure Since 2008 (Bloomberg) Twitter Says Parts of Its Source Code Were Leaked Online (NYTimes) Apple’s Best Hope for New Headset: a Smartwatch-Like Trajectory (Bloomberg) France bans all recreational apps – including TikTok – from government devices (The Register) Pinduoduo App Malware Detailed by Cybersecurity Researchers (Bloomberg) Tech’s AI Armies Are Huge, Yet Struggling to Innovate (Bloomberg) For Smarter Robots, Just Add Humans (Wired) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 25, 2023
Robert from Rownd shares his most recent investor update live and in real time, so you can hear how these things go. Also, want to learn more about Rownd? From Robert: Demo site: https://demo.rownd.com . Try out Rownd! We put Rownd into a webflow site to show how easy it works! Sign in with google or email, add biometrics (if you choose), create a wallet, and get an NFT! Do you have a mobile app or eCommerce company? Reach out at robert@rownd.io or sign up at https://app.rownd.io . We offer all podcast listeners 2 months free + 50% off for a year! Just email me! Have some feedback? Grab some time with Rob: https://calendly.com/rob-rownd/mutant-podcast-army . Try a few Rownd customer sites to see the experience! https://stardust.app (mobile experience) https://masrefund.com (web + mobile) https://nextbigideaclub.com (e-commerce + web + mobile) https://spouse-ly.com (e-commerce) SMS Fraud link: https://interactive.twilio.com/sms-traffic-pumping-calculator Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 24, 2023
Twitter is finally sunsetting its legacy verified program. OpenAI rolls out ChatGPT plugins. Do Kwan has been detained and is facing formal charges here in the US. The FTC’s “click to cancel” proposal. And, of course, the weekend longreads suggestions. Sponsors: Headspace.com/RIDE30DAY Links: Twitter to Revoke ‘Legacy’ Verified Badges in April, Leaving Only Paying Subscribers With Blue Check-Marks (Variety) OpenAI is massively expanding ChatGPT’s capabilities to let it browse the web and more (The Verge) Do Kwon Charged With Fraud by US Prosecutors in New York (Bloomberg) The FTC wants to ban those tough-to-cancel gym and cable subscriptions (The Verge) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: Cheating is All You Need (Sourcegraph Blog) The Age of AI has begun (GatesNotes/Bill Gates) The secret history of Elon Musk, Sam Altman, and OpenAI (Semafor) The case for slowing down AI (Vox) Epic’s new motion-capture animation tech has to be seen to be believed (ArsTechnica) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 23, 2023
Coinbase got a Wells Notice, which is not good. Hindenburg research has a new note out and is making short run on Block, which is not good. Apple might expand its sports streaming and release more things in actual theaters. And the space startup that 3d prints its own rockets. Sponsors: Thuma.co/techmeme for a $25 credit Links: Coinbase warned by SEC of potential securities charges (CNBC) SEC charges Tron founder Justin Sun, celebrities Lindsay Lohan, Jake Paul with crypto violations (CNBC) Jack Dorsey’s Block Falls After Hindenburg Says It’s Short the Stock (Bloomberg) Hindenburg takes aim at Dorsey's payments firm Block; shares plunge (Reuters) Apple Considers Bidding for English Football Streaming Rights (Bloomberg) Apple to Spend $1 Billion a Year on Films to Break Into Cinemas (Bloomberg) Canva Launches ‘Magic’ AI Tools For Its Design Software’s 125 Million Users (Forbes) Chatbot Start-Up Character.AI Valued at $1 Billion in New Funding Round (NYTimes) Relativity Space’s first launch fails to reach orbit, but proves its 3D-printing rocket tech works (TechCrunch) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 22, 2023
Well, we’ve got Google Bard. We’ve got a new Copilot from GitHub. Bing Image Creator is rolling out. Mozilla AI launches. The low hanging fruit that is plugging AI into NPCs to make games more realistic. And at the very end, some actual non AI news! Links: Google opens early access to its ChatGPT rival Bard — here are our first impressions (The Verge) Microsoft’s GitHub to Add OpenAI Chat Functions to Coding Tool (Bloomberg) Microsoft brings OpenAI’s DALL-E image creator to the new Bing (TechCrunch) Mozilla launches a new startup focused on ‘trustworthy’ AI (TechCrunch) Ubisoft’s new AI tool automatically generates dialogue for non-playable game characters (TechCrunch) GPT-4 and professional benchmarks: the wrong answer to the wrong question (AI Snake Oil) Amazon is flooding the zone with new TVs as it crosses 200 million Fire TV devices sold (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 21, 2023
Ahead of a major showdown in Congress this week, TikTok wants the US to know exactly how popular it is. Why ChatGPT was shut down for a while yesterday. Why Google is suspending PinDuoDuo from the play store. The AI powered doctor’s office of the future. And is Andy Jassy the David Moyes of Amazon? If you get that reference, congratulations. Down Round Podcast (Listener Ad!) Links: TikTok says it now has 150m monthly active users in the US (MusicAlly) TikTok bans deepfakes of nonpublic figures and fake endorsements in rule refresh (The Verge) Google flags apps made by popular Chinese e-commerce giant as malware (TechCrunch) OpenAI Shut Down ChatGPT to Fix Bug Exposing User Chat Titles (Bloomberg) Amazon’s post-Bezos experiment hasn’t gone exactly as planned (CNBC) OpenAI-powered app from Microsoft will instantly transcribe patient notes during doctor visits (CNBC) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 20, 2023
New bots to make video from text prompts. Fending off the bots from biting your style. Falling in love with the bots. In the streaming wars, the ad supported experiments are working, and pricing power is a thing. And the startup that says it’s about to introduce humanoid bots. Real, definitional robots. Sponsors: Dot Tech Domains: Go.tech/tm Links: Generative AI’s Next Frontier Is Video (Bloomberg) Glaze protects art from prying AIs (TechCrunch) AI love: What happens when your chatbot stops loving you back (Reuters) Netflix’s Ad Tier Hits 1 Million Users. Is That Good or Bad? (Bloomberg) Disney+ Users Paid Up When the Price Rose (WSJ) Humanoid robots are coming (Axios) Figure Promises First General-Purpose Humanoid Robot (IEEE Spectrum) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 17, 2023
Amazon Kindle gets out of the magazine business. An ironically named PE firm is buying Porn Hub. Midjourney v5 is really mind blowing. And, of course, the Weekend Longreads Suggestions. Sponsors: RelationshipHero.com/techmeme Links: Amazon will discontinue newspaper and magazine subscriptions in September (GoodEReader) SVB Financial files for Ch. 11 bankruptcy protection, says it has $2.2B in liquidity (TechCrunch) Pornhub owner sold to Canadian private equity firm Ethical Capital (Financial Times) AI-imager Midjourney v5 stuns with photorealistic images—and 5-fingered hands (ArsTechnica) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: The Guardians (Meteor) The Future Smartphone: More Folds, Less Phone, a Whole Lot of AI (Wired) LinkedIn turns 20: An oral history of an unlikely champion (Fast Company) ‘It changed the world’: 50 years on, the story of Pong's Bay Area origins (SFGate) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 16, 2023
For the first time ever, I had to delay producing this show so I could watch and cover and AI product announcement. Let me tell you about how Microsoft is bringing GPT-4, to basically all their most famous apps with Copilot. Looks like the potential for a TikTok ban is getting really real. And why folks are suddenly turning on OpenAI. Sponsors: Overtired Podcast Links: Introducing Microsoft 365 Copilot — your copilot for work (Microsoft) Microsoft 365 gets a host of new AI-powered features (TechCrunch) U.S. Threatens Ban if TikTok’s Chinese Owners Don’t Sell Stakes (WSJ) OpenAI co-founder on company’s past approach to openly sharing research: ‘We were wrong’ (TheVerge) Payments giant Stripe raises $6.5 billion at a $50 billion valuation (Axios) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 15, 2023
GPT-4 is unveiled and it’s multimodal, and man, is everybody rushing to make use of this stuff. Alleged renders of Google's Pixel 8 Pro appear to show a mysterious new sensor. The state of the music industry in the streaming era. And Deadpool sells his phone company to another phone company. Links: OpenAI unveils GPT-4 with multimodal input and more creative and complex capabilities (Windows Central) 10 Ways GPT-4 Is Impressive but Still Flawed (NYTimes) With Evals, OpenAI hopes to crowdsource AI model testing (TechCrunch) Duolingo launches new subscription tier with access to AI tutor powered by GPT-4 (TechCrunch) GPT-4’s new capabilities power a ‘virtual volunteer’ for the visually impaired (TechCrunch) TikTok Considers Splitting From ByteDance If Deal With US Fails (Bloomberg) Google Pixel 8 Pro adds a mysterious new sensor, flat display in first leaked renders (9to5Google) Apple Music boosts streaming music revenue to record $13.3 billion in 2022; vinyl outpaces CDs for first since 1987 (9to5Mac) Ryan Reynolds-Backed Mint Is Bought by T-Mobile for $1.35 Billion (Bloomberg) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 14, 2023
Those expected layoffs have come to Meta. AI tools come to Google Workspace and an API for Google’s PaLM language model. Seems like things have generally worked out with this Silicon Valley Bank aftermath. Microsoft laid off its AI risk team. Layoffs at Y Combinator. And a look at the standard that’s trying to keep over the air broadcast television relevant. Sponsors: Notion.com/ride Links: Meta to cut another 10,000 jobs and cancel ‘low priority projects’ (TechCrunch) Google announces AI features in Gmail, Docs, and more to rival Microsoft (The Verge) Google opens up its AI language model PaLM to challenge OpenAI and GPT-3 (The Verge) FDIC Planning Another Silicon Valley Bank Auction (WSJ) Venture capitalists weigh Silicon Valley Bank salvage operation (FT) Microsoft just laid off one of its responsible AI teams (Platformer) Y Combinator to End Late-Stage Startup Fund, Lays Off Staff (The Information) The future of TV is up in the air (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 13, 2023
Unless it affected you, you might have missed a huge tech story this weekend. But now that depositors to Silicon Valley Bank are being made whole, is the whole crisis averted? Tim Cook is pressing ahead with the Apple headset over the objections of Apple’s design team. And the varied and complex dilemmas of this new AI reality in two, somewhat oppositional segments. Sponsors: RelationshipHero.com/techmeme ZocDoc.com/techmeme Links: SVB’s tech failings were a problem long before the bank run that led to its demise, critics say (CNBC) SVB provided for tech when everyone else ignored us (FT) Regulators close crypto-focused Signature Bank, citing systemic risk (CNBC) Tim Cook bets on Apple’s mixed-reality headset to secure his legacy (FT) Microsoft Strung Together Tens of Thousands of Chips in a Pricey Supercomputer for OpenAI (Bloomberg) Large language models are having their Stable Diffusion moment (Simon Willison's Blog) Self Radicalization with open sourced AI-Systems (Good Internet) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 12, 2023
Cadre.com is revolutionizing commercial real estate investing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 10, 2023
There’s really only one story right now. The troubles at Silicon Valley Bank and how it has literally everyone in the startup ecosystem worried right now. It’s a classic bank run, people. Plus, Meta is developing a Twitter clone. And, of course, the weekend longreads suggestions. Links: This just broke, FYI: Silicon Valley Bank is shut down by regulators, FDIC to protect insured deposits (CNBC) Meta is building a decentralized, text-based social network (Platformer) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: In AI, is bigger always better? (Nature) Can Xerox reinvent itself for another 100 years? (The Verge) Why Are So Many Guys Obsessed With Master and Commander? (GQ) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 9, 2023
Silvergate Capital is shutting down, so the crypto winter just got colder. Microsoft says the new Bing has crossed 100 million daily active users. Why TikTok is responsible for the new Spotify redesign. Can police grab your Ring camera footage without your permission, even if you’re not the target of an investigation? And looks like Stripe won’t be going public this year after all. Sponsors: Thuma.co/techmeme Links: Silvergate will liquidate bank, wind down operations (The Block) Microsoft details how it could get Call of Duty: Warzone running on Switch (The Verge) Microsoft’s AI-Powered Bing Search Engine Surpasses 100 Million Daily Active Users (Gizmodo) Spotify’s new design is part TikTok, part Instagram, and part YouTube (The Verge) The privacy loophole in your doorbell (Politico) SCOOP: Stripe Is Raising $6 Billion to Resolve Taxes & Expiring Employee Shares, Delaying Public Listing (Newcomer) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 8, 2023
Today, you might have heard about the latest Elon controversy where he criticized an employee, and then walked it all back. We’ll get into that. DuckDuckGo melds two AI tools together. A Large Visual Language Model that will help robots move around in the real world. I explain why I’m telling you about every new Generative AI advance seemingly every single day. And with Google officially announcing the date for I/O, is their headlong rush to release AI products the waking of a sleeping giant, or the second coming of Google+? Sponsors: RelationshipHero.com/techmeme Links: FTC Twitter Investigation Sought Elon Musk’s Internal Communications, Journalist Names (WSJ) Twitter just let its privacy- and security-protecting Tor service expire (The Verge) Elon Musk apologizes after mocking disabled Twitter employee (AP) DuckDuckGo Releases Its Own ChatGPT-Powered Search Engine, DuckAssist (Gizmodo) Google’s PaLM-E is a generalist robot brain that takes commands (ArsTechnica) Google’s Plan to Catch ChatGPT Is to Stuff AI Into Everything (Bloomberg) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 7, 2023
TikTok launches a paywall, but it’s all about the creators. Salesforce has its own generative AI product. More layoffs coming for Meta. Another autonomous driving startup bites the dust. Why Twitter broke yesterday, and new speakers from Sonos. Sponsors: This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/techmeme and get on your way to being your best self. Links: TikTok Launches ‘Series’ Feature, Which Lets Creators Sell Premium Episodes Up to 20 Minutes Each (Variety) Apple reveals a yellow iPhone 14 and 14 Plus (The Verge) Salesforce follows Microsoft in launching A.I. tools for salespeople with help from OpenAI (CNBC) Meta Plans Thousands More Layoffs as Soon as This Week (Bloomberg) Embark Trucks lays off workers, explores liquidation of self-driving truck assets (TechCrunch) How a single engineer brought down Twitter on Monday (Platformer) Apple First to Capture 8 Spots in List for Global Top 10 Smartphones (Counterpoint) Sonos Era 300 and Era 100 first look: you’re gonna want to hear these speakers (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 6, 2023
As Microsoft begins to integrate AI into its core enterprise and productivity products, are we ready for the scamming that AI is going to be able to produce? Details on forthcoming new iMacs. A checkin on Twitter. And why does Meta seem hellbent on ignoring what most people use VR for in the first place? Sponsors: ZocDoc.com/techmeme RelationshipHero.com/techmeme Links: Microsoft’s Latest AI Assistant Is Meant for Marketers, Customer Reps and Work Apps (Bloomberg) They thought loved ones were calling for help. It was an AI scam. (WashingtonPost) OpenAI Rival Stable Diffusion Maker Seeks to Raise Funds at $4 Billion Valuation (Bloomberg) Multicoin Capital’s Hedge Fund Lost 91.4% Last Year, Investor Letter Reveals (CoinDesk) Apple Readies Its Next Range of Macs, Including — Finally — a New iMac (Bloomberg) Musk Delayed Paying Twitter’s Amazon Cloud Bill, Sparking Ad Threat (The Information) Twitter’s Revenue, Adjusted Earnings Fell About 40% in Month of December (WSJ) I don’t think Meta knows it’s a game company (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 4, 2023
Checking in on the state of the tech job market with Grupa.io. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 3, 2023
Everyone in crypto stops doing business with Silvergate. Brave search launches an AI summarizer. A look at TikTok's AI Bold Glamour filter. Maybe the Activision acquisition is going to skate through the regulators. And, of course, the weekend longreads suggestions. Sponsors: RelationshipHero.com/Techmeme Links: Silvergate Stock Drops Over 50% as Crypto Clients Flee Beleaguered Bank (CoinDesk) Brave Search launches an AI-powered summarization feature (TechCrunch) Why won’t TikTok confirm the Bold Glamour filter is AI? (The Verge) Microsoft’s Activision deal likely to be approved by EU regulators, says Reuters (The Verge) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: Alexa, what happened? (Margins) The Satellite Hack Everyone Is Finally Talking About (Bloomberg) The next big threat to AI might already be lurking on the web (ZDNet) 50 YEARS LATER, WE’RE STILL LIVING IN THE XEROX ALTO’S WORLD (IEEE Spectrum) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 2, 2023
A ChatGPT API for business is here. Microsoft gives Bing those nobs and dials that I’ve been talking about. What are multimodal LLMs? New turmoil in crypto, this time around one of the big crypto friendly banks. How is it going in terms of social platforms diversifying into subscription revenue? And why the FDA has rejected Neuralink’s applications to begin human testing of brain implants. Links: OpenAI launches an API for ChatGPT, plus dedicated capacity for enterprise customers (TechCrunch) Microsoft now lets you change Bing’s chatbot personality to be more entertaining (The Verge) Microsoft unveils AI model that understands image content, solves visual puzzles (ArsTechnica) Apple Blocks Update of ChatGPT-Powered App, as Concerns Grow Over AI’s Potential Harm (WSJ) Coinbase is no longer accepting, initiating payments with Silvergate (The Block) Snapchat will now let you pause your Snap Streaks (TechCrunch) TikTok Earned $205 Million More Than Facebook, Twitter, Snap And Instagram Combined On In-App Purchases In 2023 (Forbes) U.S. regulators rejected Elon Musk’s bid to test brain chips in humans, citing safety risks (Reuters) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 1, 2023
Decentralized social network Bluesky launches in the iOS App Store. TikTok adds wellbeing feature for families and kids. You know about eSIMs but say hello to iSIMs. Meta's entire four-year AR/VR roadmap. And I’m still banging the drum on laptops and smartphones where you can unroll the screen for more real estate. Sponsors: RelationshipHero.com/techmeme Links: Jack Dorsey-backed Twitter alternative Bluesky hits the App Store as an invite-only app (TechCrunch) Republican Bill That Gives Biden Power to Completely Ban TikTok Passes House Committee Super Fast (Gizmodo) TikTok rolls out new screen time controls, adds new default settings for teens and expands Family Pairing (TechCrunch) Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 phones are the first to support built-in 'iSIMs' (Engadget) This is Meta’s AR/VR hardware roadmap for the next four years (The Verge) Lenovo’s rollable laptop and smartphone are a compelling, unfinished pitch for the future (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 28, 2023
AI-powered Bing is now integrated into Windows. Elon wants to compete with OpenAI, a company he co-founded. Major financial institutions continue to back away from crypto while NFTs on the bitcoin blockchain are on the rise. The iPhone SE might not be dead. And how the LastPass debacle happened. Links: Microsoft brings its new AI-powered Bing to the Windows 11 taskbar (The Verge) Fighting ‘Woke AI,’ Musk Recruits Team to Develop OpenAI Rival (The Information) Meta revamps AI unit to get generative tech into products (Axios) Visa, Mastercard pause crypto push in wake of industry meltdown - sources (Reuters) Kuo: New iPhone SE With 6.1-Inch OLED Display and Apple's 5G Chip Planned (MacRumors) Bored Ape Yacht Club Creator Yuga Labs Reveals First Bitcoin NFT Project (Decrypt) LastPass: DevOps engineer hacked to steal password vault data in 2022 breach (BleepingComputer) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 27, 2023
Snap wants to go the route of the movie Her, with a personified chatbot inside of Snapchat. Interesting layoffs at Twitter. Yes. More. Inside Apple's Exploratory Design Group. The best AR glasses we’ve seen yet. And, right on schedule, here come the prompt engineers. Sponsors: This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/techmeme and get on your way to being your best self. Links: Snapchat is releasing its own AI chatbot powered by ChatGPT (The Verge) Twitter Blue head Esther Crawford is out at Twitter (The Verge) Google announces new features for Android and Wear OS (TechCrunch) Apple’s Secret ‘XDG’ Team Is Working on More Than Just a Glucose Monitor (Bloomberg) Exclusive: These are Xiaomi's new Wireless AR Smart Glasses, and they look like they're from the future (XDA Developers) Tech’s hottest new job: AI whisperer. No coding required. (Washington Post) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 25, 2023
Find out more and see demos at Nanome.ai Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 24, 2023
Is the DOJ about to sue to stop of Adobe’s acquisition of Figma? Confirmation of the lower end mixed reality headset from Apple due next year. A reporter used an AI-generated replica of a voice to bypass the voice verification system of a major bank. And, of course, the Weekend Longreads Suggestions. Sponsors: HelloFresh.com/techmeme65 and code techmeme65 for 65% off Links: DOJ Preps Antitrust Suit to Block Adobe’s $20 Billion Figma Deal (Bloomberg) Kuo: Apple to Launch High-End and Low-End Versions of Second-Generation Headset in 2025 (MacRumors) How I Broke Into a Bank Account With an AI-Generated Voice (Motherboard) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: What Is ChatGPT Doing … and Why Does It Work? (Stephen Wolfram) Getting My ChatGPT Plus Subscription Is an Inflection Point (HackerNoon) Why China Didn’t Invent ChatGPT (NYTimes) Meet the $10,000 Nvidia chip powering the race for A.I. (CNBC) Inside Meta’s Push to Solve the Noisy Office (WSJ) Are bioinspired drones the next big thing in unmanned flight? (TNW) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 23, 2023
Coinbase wants to let a thousand Web3 flowers bloom by launching its own Layer 2 network. The new iPhone specs have leaked. Apple might have made a breakthrough in blood glucose monitoring. Satellite telephony continues to be a busy space, weirdly enough. And reviews of the Galaxy S23 lineup. Links: Coinbase Launches Layer 2 Blockchain Base to Provide On-Ramp for Ethereum, Solana and Others (CoinDesk) Exclusive: iPhone 15 CADs reveal larger 6.2-inch display, Dynamic Island, and more (9to5Mac) Apple Makes Major Progress on No-Prick Blood Glucose Tracking for Its Watch (Bloomberg) AI-created images lose U.S. copyrights in test for new technology (Reuters) Spotify Is Testing Token-Enabled Music Playlists (CoinDesk) Samsung is readying its own smartphone-to-satellite communication platform (Engadget) Samsung S23 and S23 Plus review: say ‘yes’ to the S (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 22, 2023
This chatbot AI revolution has hit a major roadblock in China. What does it mean if science fiction publications are up in arms about AI generated content? Spotify has a new AI powered DJ. Uber has a redesigned version of its App. And why is Microsoft showing you ads for its products on other people’s websites? Links: China tells big tech companies not to offer ChatGPT services (NikkeiAsia) ChatGPT launches boom in AI-written e-books on Amazon (Reuters) Sci-Fi Mag Pauses Submissions Amid Flood of AI-Generated Short Stories (PCMag) Spotify launches ‘DJ,’ a new feature offering personalized music with AI-powered commentary (TechCrunch) Uber redesigns app for simpler, more personalized experience (TechCrunch) Microsoft aggressively trying to keep Chrome downloaders using Edge (9to5Google) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 21, 2023
Microsoft tries again to convince people it won’t hoard Call of Duty as an Xbox exclusive. Linux now plays nice with Apple Silicon. Chrome swears it will play nicer with your battery life. Verified everything is officially now a trend. And does Apple have a strangle hold on Gen Z? Links: Microsoft inks binding contract with Nintendo for ‘Call of Duty’ as it defends Activision deal (GeekWire) Linux 6.2: The first mainstream Linux kernel for Apple M1 chips arrives (ZDNet) Google Chrome rolls out long awaited battery saving features (AndroidPolice) Facebook and Instagram are testing selling you blue checks for $12 a month (The Verge) Official: Twitter will now charge for SMS two-factor authentication (The Verge) Almost-unbeatable AI comes to Gran Turismo 7 (ArsTechnica) How Apple captured Gen Z in the US — and changed their social circles (Financial Times) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 17, 2023
The US is suing Terraform Labs and Do Kwon. The UK is investigating rumors that Google paid Apple NOT to spin up its own search engine. Susan Wojcicki stepping down as YouTube CEO is a major end of an era. And, of course, the weekend longreads suggestions. Links: SEC Sues Over TerraUSD Stablecoin That Rocked Crypto (Bloomberg) What Brit watchdog redacted: Google gives Apple cut of Chrome iOS search revenue (The Register) TikTok is launching a $500,000 live trivia contest (The Verge) YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki is stepping down (Vox) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: It’s Always Sunny Inside a Generative AI Conference (Wired) Billionaire Kuok Family-Backed Music App BandLab Taps Into AI For TikTok’s Breakout Stars (Forbes) PlayStation VR2 is exciting, exhausting and a new standard for VR (Launcher) How Rust went from a side project to the world’s most-loved programming language (MIT Technology Review) I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream (Wikipedia) Roko's basilisk (Wikipedia) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 16, 2023
Microsoft is revealing what it’s learned from us poking around on the new Bing. It seems that once developers begin using generative AI to code, they DO keep using it. Apple has postponed its headset announce to WWDC. Banks are shying away from crypto exposure. And after 16 years, border control is finally making use of NFC technology in passports. Sponsors: ZocDoc.com/techmeme Links: Microsoft explains Bing's bizarre AI chat behavior (Engadget) GitHub Copilot update stops AI model from revealing secrets (BleepingComputer) SEC Proposal Could Bar Investment Advisers From Keeping Assets at Crypto Firms (CoinDesk) Banks Are Breaking Up With Crypto During Regulatory Crackdown (WSJ) Apple Pushes Back Mixed-Reality Headset Debut Two Months to June (Bloomberg) Whatever happened to the metaverse? (FT) US Border Patrol Is Finally Able to Check E-Passport Data (Wired) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 15, 2023
More signs the chat bots are maybe a little undercooked, and whooo doggy. Wait until you hear what I mean. Some datapoints suggesting the faddish nature of these new tools. And wait until you hear the possible reason you’re seeing Elon’s tweets all of the sudden. This is maybe the pinnacle story of the whole Elon/Twitter saga. Sponsors: Podcast Guru App (Listener Ad!) Links: Microsoft’s new ChatGPT AI starts sending ‘unhinged’ messages to people (The Independent) The AI photo app trend has already fizzled, new data shows (TechCrunch) GitHub’s Copilot for Business is now generally available (TechCrunch) Adobe’s $20 Billion Figma Deal Faces EU Antitrust Probe (Bloomberg) Yes, Elon Musk created a special system for showing you all his tweets first (Platformer) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 14, 2023
People are saying Elon is showing you his tweets whether you asked to see them or not. More fodder for the charge that these chat bots are being rolled out quick and dirty. More fodder for the charge that US regulators are fencing in crypto. TikTok is trying to court the olds. And Amazon’s autonomous shuttle service his hit real world roads. Sponsors: RelationshipHero.com/techmeme Links: Twitter is just showing everyone all of Elon Musk’s tweets now (The Verge) Twitter delays new paid API launch by 'a few more days' (AppleInsider) Microsoft’s Bing AI, like Google’s, also made dumb mistakes during first demo (The Verge) US Crackdown Seeks to Push Crypto Back to the Fringes of Finance (Bloomberg) TikTok Turns to New Tactics to Spur Growth as Boom Times End (The Information) Amazon chief vows to ‘go big’ on physical stores (FT) TikTok’s Parent Takes On Meta in Battle for Virtual-Reality Market (WSJ) Amazon’s Self-Driving Car Shuttles People on Public Roads for the First Time (Bloomberg) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 13, 2023
Binance’s stablecoin seems to be dead, but with regulatory questions swirling around Paxos, I’m wondering if all stablecoins might about to see a rug pull. Tons of uncertainty swirling around the metaverse all the sudden. Can the metaverse still happen if all of its funding get pulled? And are all of these AI tools being rushed to market in embarrassing ways? Sponsors: MeetFabric.com/ride RelationshipHero.com/techmeme Links: Regulator Orders Crypto Firm Paxos to Stop Issuing Binance Stablecoin (WSJ) PayPal Pauses Stablecoin Work Amid Regulatory Scrutiny of Crypto (Bloomberg) Meta delays setting team budgets as it plans fresh round of job cuts (FT) Microsoft Kills Its Industrial Metaverse Team After 4 Months (The Information) AI-powered Bing Chat spills its secrets via prompt injection attack (ArsTechnica) Apple Reportedly Planning to Limit iPhone 15's USB-C Port in the Same Way as Lightning (MacRumors) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 10, 2023
More job cuts at Microsoft make me wonder if the HoloLens is still a thing. But also, we have data to explain why Apple hasn’t done layoffs yet. More AI chatbot announces coming fast and furious. But the other kind of bots, actual mechanical robots had their biggest year ever last year. And of course, the Weekend Longreads Suggestions. Sponsors: RelationshipHero.com/techmeme Links: Apple Avoids Job Cuts Because It Didn’t Overhire Like Google and Amazon (Bloomberg) Microsoft to demo its new ChatGPT-like AI in Word, PowerPoint, and Outlook soon (The Verge) Chinese e-commerce giant JD.com to launch ChatGPT-style product (CNBC) North American companies notch another record year for robot orders (Reuters) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: ‘Disrespectful to the Craft:’ Actors Say They’re Being Asked to Sign Away Their Voice to AI (Motherboard) ChatGPT Can Be Broken by Entering These Strange Words, And Nobody Is Sure Why (Motherboard) ChatGPT Is a Blurry JPEG of the Web (The New Yorker) The Inference Cost Of Search Disruption – Large Language Model Cost Analysis (SemiAnalysis) Stripe Can’t Lose (Every) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 9, 2023
Feel free to tweet your manifestos now as Twitter Blue subscribers can tweet up to 4,000 characters. Is the Fediverse failing or doing just fine, thank you very much? Is the SEC about to put the kibosh on crypto staking? Forget eggs, the real inflation is in triple A video game titles. And if the whole web becomes bot content, what do we train the bots on? Sponsors: Podcast Guru App (Listener Ad!) Links: Now Twitter Blue subscribers can write 4,000-character tweets (The Verge) Watch out, TweetDeck users—Elon Musk is about to ruin your Twitter experience (TechRadar) Lazy Reporters Claiming Fediverse Is ‘Slumping,’ Despite Massive Increase In Usage (TechDirt) Coinbase CEO Armstrong Decries Rumors of Possible US SEC Ban on Crypto Staking (Bloomberg) Meta Completes Acquisition of VR Fitness Company Within (CNET) Nintendo’s Zelda Price Hike Opens Door for More Expensive Games (Bloomberg) Google Stadia had less than 10% market share among cloud gaming services (9to5Google) Google confirms AI-generated content isn’t against Search guidelines (9to5Google) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 8, 2023
Microsoft unveils a new Bing search that basically moves the yardsticks down the field in terms of what chat can do. But Google continues to drip-feed new tools as well. Also, some more traditional but useful additions to Google Maps. The UK might force the divestiture of Call of Duty to allow Microsoft to buy Activision. And if the Bank of England does a digital pound, it signals it might not do it on the blockchain. Sponsors: The Business of Tech (Listener ad!) Links: Microsoft announces new Bing and Edge browser powered by upgraded ChatGPT AI (The Verge) I Tried Microsoft’s New AI-Powered Bing. Search Will Never Be the Same. (WSJ) Google is still drip-feeding AI into search, Maps, and Translate (The Verge) Google Maps launches Immersive View in five cities, will roll out ‘glanceable directions’ soon (TechCrunch) Microsoft’s $69 Billion Activision Deal Could Harm UK Gamers, Watchdog Finds (Bloomberg) Digital Pound Holdings Could Be Limited to 10K, Central Bank Says (CoinDesk) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 7, 2023
Bored of phone and gadget launches, well prepare yourself for AI product launches, cause we’re getting a bunch of them starting now, this week. Meta is trying to revamp Horizon Worlds. Twitter is struggling to get people to pay up. But that doesn’t mean Mastadon is continuing to grow. And can you trick ChatGPT to do things it doesn’t want to do by threatening to kill it? Say hello to AI “jailbreaking.” Sponsors: RefundsPro.com Links: Google announces ChatGPT rival Bard, with wider availability in ‘coming weeks’ (The Verge) Baidu Surges as Hope Mounts over Chinese Answer to ChatGPT (Bloomberg) Getty Images sues AI art generator Stable Diffusion in the US for copyright infringement (The Verge) Meta Targets Teen Users in Broader Horizon Metaverse App Revamp (WSJ) Musk’s Twitter Has Just 180,000 U.S. Subscribers, Two Months After Launch (The Information) The Mastodon Bump Is Now a Slump (Wired) ChatGPT’s ‘jailbreak’ tries to make the A.I. break its own rules, or die (CNBC) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 6, 2023
Is Apple considering launching an “Ultra” version of the iPhone as soon as this year? Have the good Twitter bots gotten a reprieve from Elon Musk? Is the Microsoft/Activision merger toast because global regulators are coordinating? And might regulators look askance at all these generative AI investments from the big cloud computing platforms? Sponsors: ZocDoc.com/techmeme Bombas.com/techmeme Links: Apple Talks Up High-End iPhones in Sign Ultra Model May Be Coming (Bloomberg) Elon Musk says Twitter will provide a free write-only API to bots providing ‘good’ content (TechCrunch) Microsoft’s Activision Deal Tests a New Global Alignment on Antitrust (NYTimes) Big Tech companies use cloud computing arms to pursue alliances with AI groups (FT) A16z votes against proposal to deploy latest Uniswap iteration on BNB Chain (The Block) Pre-order Brady Dale's SBF Book! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 3, 2023
Earnings wrapups from Alphabet: investors just want to know when the AI is coming. From Apple: they’re still not planning any layoffs. From Amazon: Look, AWS is still a beast. And in the Weekend Longreads suggestions: the startup that wants to bring back the Dodo, Jurassic Park style. Links: AI will help Google parent Alphabet navigate a challenging macro environment, say analysts (MarketWatch) Google Shares Slip after Sales Miss as Advertising Demand Slows (Bloomberg) Apple Sales Shrink as Pandemic Rally Ends for iPhone Maker, Other Tech Giants (WSJ) Amazon stock falls as least profitable holiday quarter since 2014 leads to its worst annual loss on record (MarketWatch) Google invests $300mn in artificial intelligence start-up Anthropic (Financial Times) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: The generative AI revolution has begun—how did we get here? (ArsTechnica) Who will compete with ChatGPT? Meet the contenders | The AI Beat (VentureBeat) The Difference Between Speaking and Thinking (The Atlantic) A de-extinction company is trying to resurrect the dodo (MIT Technology Review) A Calculated Move: Calculators Now Emulated at Internet Archive (Internet Archive Blogs) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 2, 2023
Meta singlehandedly bucks the narrative that it’s the sick man of Silicon Valley. Twitter is cutting off free access to its API. ChatGPT launches a product, and is Bing search getting GPT4 in like, a matter of weeks? Discord is coming to Playstation and the wrapup of yesterday’s Samsung event. Sponsors: Upside App promocode ridehome Links: Meta stock perks up as the company promises a ‘year of efficiency’ (TechCrunch) 2 reasons Meta stock is exploding 20% after a whopper earnings miss (Yahoo Finance) Twitter to end free access to its API in Elon Musk’s latest monetization push (TechCrunch) OpenAI launches ChatGPT Plus, starting at $20 per month (TechCrunch) ChatGPT is about to get even better and Microsoft's Bing could win big (Semafor) Discord arrives on PS5 for beta testers today (The Verge) Netflix hasn’t confirmed its plans to stop password sharing just yet (The Verge) Amazon’s No-Fly Zone: Drone Delivery Largely Grounded Despite Splashy Launch (The Information) The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is a minor update to a spec monster (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 1, 2023
You think things are bad in your corner of the tech sector? Wait until I tell you about the memory chip industry. OpenAI releases a tool to let you check if something was created by OpenAI. Netflix might be going a tad overboard on this password sharing crackdown. Meta wins round one against the FTC. And the interesting new app from the founders of Instagram. Sponsors: Portant.co code techmeme (Listener!) Podcast Guru App (Listener!) Links: Hynix Posts Record Loss on Slump in Memory-Chip Prices (Bloomberg) Historic Crash for Memory Chips Threatens to Wipe Out Earnings (Bloomberg) OpenAI releases tool to detect machine-written text (Axios) Google is asking employees to test potential ChatGPT competitors, including a chatbot called ‘Apprentice Bard’ (CNBC) Confirmed: Netflix Unveils First Details of New Anti-Password Sharing Measures (The Streamable) Meta Wins Court Nod to Buy Virtual Reality Startup in Loss for Khan’s FTC (Bloomberg) Meta Plans to Shut Down One of Its Most Popular and Long-standing Multiplayer VR Games (Road To VR) Instagram's co-founders are mounting a comeback (Platformer) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 31, 2023
Today, some weird headlines from the world of gaming. Is VR gaming a big nothingburger for gamers themselves? Is E3 dead as a gaming industry event? Stripe is apparently raising a pretty significant down round. And the first Level 3 autonomous driving platform to receive regulatory approval belongs to Mercedes-Benz. Sponsors: Radial.llc/ride (Listener Ad!) Links: Sony Slashes PlayStation VR2 Headset Output After Pre-Orders Disappoint (Bloomberg) Exclusive: Xbox, Nintendo, and Sony Won't Be Part of E3 2023 (IGN) Showtime to Be Rebranded ‘Paramount+ with Showtime,’ Added to Paramount+ Premium Tier (The Streamable) Thrive Capital Said to Lead Potential Investment in Stripe (NYTimes) Twitter Makes First Interest Payment on Musk Buyout Debt (Bloomberg) Mercedes-Benz is the first to bring Level 3 automated driving to the US (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 30, 2023
Après ChatGPT, prepare yourself for the generative AI deluge. Amazon says the free lunch for grocery delivery is over. More speculation about foldable iPads. San Francisco wants Waymo and Cruise to pump the breaks on their self-driving car experiments because the actual cars have been literally pumping the breaks too much. And my wager on whether or not 2023 will actually go down as the year that AI breaks through. Sponsors: The Business of Tech (Listener ad!) RelationshipHero.com/techmeme (Listener ad!) Links: Chinese Search Giant Baidu to Launch ChatGPT-Style Bot (Bloomberg) Amazon adding new fees for grocery delivery (GeekWire) Apple Supplier in India Begins Making Components for AirPods (Bloomberg) Foldable iPad could arrive as early as next year, claims noted Apple analyst (The Verge) Two companies race to deploy robotaxis in San Francisco. The city wants them to hit the brakes. (NBCNews) Scientists at Salesforce develop proteins with AI that can eat trash (NeoWin) AI has designed bacteria-killing proteins from scratch – and they work (New Scientist) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 27, 2023
What can make Buzzfeed hit our headlines two days in a row? How about jumping on the ChatGPT bandwagon? Amazon is apparently launching a major NFT project, like it’s 2021 or something. Is Stripe going to be our big tech IPO savior? And of course, the weekend longreads suggestions. Sponsors: NFTTallinn.com and code RIDE for 10% of all tickets (Listener ad!) Radial.llc/ride (Listener ad!) Links: BuzzFeed to Use ChatGPT Creator OpenAI to Help Create Quizzes and Other Content (WSJ) Amazon NFT Initiative Coming Soon: Exclusive (Blockworks) Stripe Sets One-Year Timetable to Decide on Going Public (WSJ) Longreads The ‘Enshittification’ of TikTok (Wired) The Chess World’s New Villain: A Cat Named Mittens (WSJ) Welcome to the Shoppy Shop (Grub Street) The Disappearance of the Ashtray (Clive Thompson) Why Not Mars (Idle Words) RSVP For The Listener Meetup Tickets For The Comedy Show Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 26, 2023
I get all metaphysical about where the tech industry is going right now with a record slowdown in smartphone shipments, Masa Son seemingly misplacing his investing shoes, Meta and Buzzfeed joining forces to stave off irrelevancy, and universities offering degrees in AI for the first time. Oh, and are you SURE you want to spin up that Mastadon server? Sponsors: Instafloss.com (Listener!) RocketMoney.com/ride Links: Smartphone Shipments Suffer the Largest-Ever Decline with 18.3% Drop in the Holiday Quarter and a 11.3% Decline in 2022, According to IDC Tracker (IDC) SoftBank Deals Hit Record Low, Sapping Funding for Startups (Bloomberg) Meta Pays BuzzFeed Millions to Generate Creator Content for Facebook and Instagram (WSJ) University of Texas Will Offer Large-Scale Online Master’s Degree in A.I. (NYTimes) We tried to run a social media site and it was awful (Financial Times) RSVP For The Listener Meetup! Buy Tickets for the Comedy Show! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 25, 2023
I’m gonna tell you why I think the latest antitrust suit against Google might be the most important one in terms of the overall tech ecosystem. And maybe the biggest threat Google is facing. Twitter reverses another thing they shouldn’t have broken in the first place. Why aren’t folks paying ransomware ransom as much anymore? And why are consumers not keeping their smart clothes dryers connected? Sponsors: Upside App and use promocode ridehome How To Fix The Internet podcast eff.org/podcast Links: US Sues Google to Break Up Ad Unit in Heated Antitrust Fight (Bloomberg) DOJ's new suit puts Google's ad business at risk (Axios) Google's most serious antitrust challenge to date (Platformer) Microsoft Cloud Strength Drives Second Quarter Results (Microsoft Investor Relations) Twitter for web will now stay on your preferred timeline (The Verge) Riot Games receives ‘ransom email’ for stolen source code following social engineering attack (The Record) Ransomware Revenue Down As More Victims Refuse to Pay (Chainalysis) LG, Whirlpool Target Customers Disconnected From ‘Smart’ Appliances (WSJ) After inking its OpenAI deal, Shutterstock rolls out a generative AI toolkit to create images based on text prompts (TechCrunch) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 24, 2023
Alright. It’s on. Mark Gurman has literally all the details on Apple’s forthcoming mixed reality headset. The DOJ might already have sued Google by the time you hear this. Amazon adds subscription prescriptions as a service. And it turns out that AI CNET used was good at… plagiarizing. Sponsors: HopelessMope.com code: ridehome (Listener ad!) The Business Of Tech (Listener ad!) Links: How Apple’s Upcoming Mixed-Reality Headset Will Work (Bloomberg) DOJ Poised to Sue Google Over Digital Ad Market Dominance (Bloomberg) Amazon launches RxPass, a $5/month Prime add-on for all-you-need generic drugs covering 80 conditions (TechCrunch) CNET's AI Journalist Appears to Have Committed Extensive Plagiarism (Futurism.com) RSVP For The Listener Meetup This Saturday: https://lu.ma/tx4vez9x Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 23, 2023
More tech layoffs, and why I’m suggesting we might only be in the early innings of this tech retrenchment. Big Wall Street banks are coming for PayPal and Apple Pay. TikTok might be putting it’s thumb on the scales to favor certain content. Would you pay $42 a month for a ChatGPT Pro plan? And how far has Apple Silicon come, exactly. Sponsors: Radial.llc/ride (Listener!) MeetFabric.com/ride Links: Spotify to trim 6% of workforce in latest tech layoffs (Reuters) Elliott Management Takes Big Stake in Salesforce (WSJ) Banks Plan Payment Wallet to Compete With PayPal, Apple Pay (WSJ) TikTok’s Secret ‘Heating’ Button Can Make Anyone Go Viral (Forbes) ChatGPT users report $42 a month pricing for ‘pro’ access but no official announcement yet (The Verge) Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2023) review: the core count grows (The Verge) Buy tickets for the comedy show! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 20, 2023
Now Alphabet has monster layoffs to announce. How much of it is about getting Google ready to battle OpenAI? More Twitter bans, but this time, the bans are for all 3rd party clients. The big executive shakeup at Netflix. Genesis officially files for bankruptcy, and in the Weekend Longreads Suggestions, the reasons why the humble pizza box is one of the worst designed products in existence. Sponsors: The Pegasus Investment Round! Email sam@thepegasus.app (Listener ad!) NFTTallinn.com and code RIDE for 10% of all tickets! (Listener ad!) Links: Google to Cut 12,000 Jobs in 6% Reduction of Global Workforce (Bloomberg) Twitter’s new developer terms ban third-party clients (Engadget) Netflix co-founder Reed Hastings to step down as chief executive (FT) Crypto Lender Genesis Files for Bankruptcy as Crisis Spreads (Bloomberg) Google Calls In Help From Larry Page and Sergey Brin for A.I. Fight (NYTimes) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: How Amazon Became Ordinary (Ritholtz.com) Who Owns the Generative AI Platform? (a16z) The Steam Deck wasn’t born ready, but it’s ready now (The Verge) A WIRED compendium (The Future, Now and Then) You Don’t Know How Bad the Pizza Box Is (The Atlantic) Brian's Episode on the Metacast podcast! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 19, 2023
Is Genesis finally on the verge of bankruptcy? Instagram wants you to take a break… from Instagram… and they’re even giving you tools to do so. Frowny-face for Amazon for shutting down the AmazonSmile program. Wikipedia gets a big redesign. Some numbers on where the investor dollars are going right now, and is San Francisco back, baby? Maybe cause I’m coming to visit. Sponsors: LayerDesks.com/ride , code ride for 10% off (listener sponsor!) Links: Genesis creditors negotiating prepackaged bankruptcy: Sources (The Block) Crypto Media Outlet CoinDesk Taps Bankers for Potential Sale (WSJ) Instagram’s new ‘Quiet Mode’ helps you take a break from the app (TechCrunch) Amazon to close charitable program AmazonSmile (The Hill) Wikipedia gets its first makeover in over a decade… and it’s fairly subtle (TechCrunch) Apple to Expand Smart-Home Lineup, Taking On Amazon and Google (Bloomberg) Web 3 Startup Funding Q4 Drop (Crunchbase) New AngelList Data Shows Startup Fundraising Pain in Second Half of 2022 (Newcomer) It looks like people are actually moving back to San Francisco (really) (Vox) Tweet on LA startup investment numbers (@emollick) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 18, 2023
The original HomePod is basically back, even though it’s not the original cause it’s been updated. Apple’s AR/VR plans continue to be maddeningly confusing, at least to me. Microsoft has announced huge layoffs. Does even the AI revolution require human moderators working in boiler-room like conditions? And I guess we have all the specs for those new Galaxy phones about to be announced. Links: Apple announces revamped full-size HomePod two years after discontinuing original (The Verge) Apple Delays AR Glasses, Plans Cheaper Mixed-Reality Headset (Bloomberg) Full memo: Microsoft to cut 10k jobs, about 5% of workforce, and take $1.2B restructuring charge (GeekWire) Exclusive: OpenAI Used Kenyan Workers on Less Than $2 Per Hour to Make ChatGPT Less Toxic (Time) Galaxy S23 spec leak leaves few surprises ahead of February launch (The Verge) Twitter Manager: Daily Revenue Has Dropped 40%, 500 Top Advertisers Have Left (The Information) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 17, 2023
New Macs and New M2 chips from Santa Tim this morning. Microsoft has made its Azure OpenAI Service generally available. But will lawsuits slow down the AI revolution? Is Google about to reveal its own AirTag-like product? And the law of if it’s too good to be true, it probably is, continues to hold, at least when it comes to hard drives for sale on Amazon. Sponsors: ZocDoc.com/techmeme Links: Apple Announces New MacBook Pros With M2 Pro and M2 Max Chips, Up to 96GB RAM, 8K HDMI, Wi-Fi 6E, and More (MacRumors) Apple Unveils M2 Pro and M2 Max Chips With 20% Faster CPU and More (MacRumors) Microsoft to Add ChatGPT to Azure Cloud Services ‘Soon’ (Bloomberg) Microsoft Plans to Build OpenAI Capabilities Into All Products (WSJ) Getty Images is suing the creators of AI art tool Stable Diffusion for scraping its content (The Verge) AI art tools Stable Diffusion and Midjourney targeted with copyright lawsuit (The Verge) Google reportedly working on AirTag-like location trackers (The Verge) Why the Heck Is Amazon Selling These Fake 16 Terabyte Portable SSD Drives? (ReviewGeek) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 16, 2023
Our big AI discussion with @ReamBraden and @swyx . Shawn just posted this new essay drawing on what we discussed here: Every Google vs OpenAI Argument, Dissected Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 13, 2023
The SEC just officially labeled two crypto lending programs as unregistered securities? Is the regulatory tsunami beginning? Did Tim Cook actually ask Apple to cut his pay? Did the nascent industry of carbon capture just take its first steps? And in the longreads, I go in depth to explain that weird OpenAI/Microsoft deal. It’s complicated. Links: SEC charges Gemini and Genesis with unregistered securities offering (The Block) Apple’s Tim Cook Takes Rare CEO Pay Cut After Pushback (Bloomberg) Climate Startup Removes Carbon From Open Air in Industry First (WSJ) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: Microsoft + OpenAI: Inside Tech’s Hottest Romance (The Information) Is Microsoft about to get the deal of the century? Or is Sam Altman unloading OpenAI at just the right time? (Gary Marcus) Robert Tinney’s Visions Of The Future (DocPop) Dungeons & Dragons content creators are fighting to protect their livelihoods (TechCrunch) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 12, 2023
Is Apple finally ready to bring touchscreens to Macs? Sam Bankman Fried has a Substack. Apple Maps courts businesses. Is Twitter going to auction off user handles? And what tech publication that I quote from all the time has been using AI to write entire articles for months now? Links: Apple Is Working on Adding Touch Screens to Macs in Major Turnabout (Bloomberg) Sam Bankman-Fried sticks to his script (Axios) Apple Maps’ business listings are about to get more detailed with launch of ‘Apple Business Connect’ (TechCrunch) Twitter Said to Consider Selling User Names to Boost Revenue (NYTimes) Carta lays off 10% as CTO lawsuit looms (TechCrunch) CNET IS QUIETLY PUBLISHING ENTIRE ARTICLES GENERATED BY AI (The Byte/Futurism) OpenAI begins piloting ChatGPT Professional, a premium version of its viral chatbot (TechCrunch) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 11, 2023
Yet another software snafu with the airlines this morning. Apple’s about to do its own screens, its own modems, what is left? Twitter makes a change that they’ve tried to make several times before. Why all the interesting raises are in AI right now. And what to expect from the Surface Duo 3. Sponsors: Zocdoc.com/techmeme Links: U.S. air travel rumbles back to life after FAA computer outage (Reuters) Apple to Begin Making In-House Screens in 2024 in Shift Away From Samsung (Bloomberg) Twitter defaults to a For You page now, just like TikTok (The Verge) DeepL, the AI-based language translator, raises over $100M at a $1B+ valuation (TechCrunch) Microsoft scraps plans for dual-screen Surface Duo 3, pivots to new foldable screen design (Windows Central) Samsung confirms February 1st Unpacked, its first in-person event in three years (The Verge) Tickets to the comedy show at SF Sketchfest Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 10, 2023
Well, now there’s VALL-E, a text to speech technology that could fully replace me as this podcast narrator. It looks like Microsoft wants to do everything just short of buying OpenAI entirely. More layoffs at Coinbase. Why the whole 5G interfering with airplanes thing still isn’t resolved. And not everything that says it’s ChatGPT, is really ChatGPT. Sponsors: RefundsPro.com Links: Microsoft’s new AI can simulate anyone’s voice with 3 seconds of audio (ArsTechnica) Microsoft eyes $10 billion bet on ChatGPT (Semafor) Buy with Prime, which brings Prime to third-party sites, officially launches in U.S. on Jan. 31 (TechCrunch) Coinbase to slash 20% of workforce in second major round of job cuts (CNBC) FAA giving airlines another year to fix altimeters that can’t handle 5G signals (Ars Technica) Sketchy ChatGPT App Soars Up App Store Charts, Charges $7.99 Weekly Subscription (MacRumors) YouTube Experiment 1 YouTube Experiment 2 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 9, 2023
Mark Gurman tells us when Apple’s “Reality Pro” headset will be announced, made available to developers, and made available to consumers. Valve’s Steam gaming platform is breaking records. John Deere will let you repair your hundred-thousand-dollar smart tractor. A literal ThinkPad for smartphones. And why one big buzzword was largely missing from CES this year. Sponsors: Bombas.com/techmeme , code techmeme at checkout Zocdoc.com/techmeme Links: Apple Will Talk Up Its Mixed-Reality Headset in 2023 But Not Much Else (Bloomberg) Steam hits 10 million concurrent in-game players in record-breaking weekend (The Verge) Deere & Co. will allow farmers to repair their own equipment (Reuters) Insurer Beazley launches first catastrophe bond for cyber threats (FT) The Lenovo ThinkPhone by Motorola is a ThinkPad owner’s dream (The Verge) Where was 5G at CES? (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 6, 2023
OpenAI is raising more money. Apple’s headset launch might be delayed to the summer. But no worries, cause HTC unveiled their 099 Vive XR Elite headset to beat them to the punch. And that leads us into the CES wrapup for day two, including, the most interesting two laptops I’ve seen in a very long time. A true smarthome solution if you care about power. And the new electric trucks that have turned my head. Sponsors: RefundsPro.com Links: ChatGPT Creator in Investor Talks at $29 Billion Valuation (WSJ) Kuo: Apple's Mixed-Reality Headset Likely to Debut at Spring Media Event or WWDC (MacRumors) HTC Vive XR Elite: Another Mixed-Reality Headset Arriving Ahead of Apple (CNET) Lenovo’s new Yoga Book 9i laptop has a second screen above its screen (The Verge) OLED plus E Ink: Lenovo’s ThinkBook Twist is halfway to my dream laptop (The Verge) Coming soon: smart homes where the electricity isn’t so dumb (The Verge) Ram 1500 Revolution brings muscle car energy — and tons of gimmicks — to EV truck race (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 5, 2023
Amazon’s layoffs are bigger than we thought. Meta’s new fines in Europe could be a way, way bigger deal than you might think. Apple is brining AI narrators to audiobooks. And a roundup of cool CES stuff. Sony and Honda have a new electric car brand. The first truly wireless TV. And a solar powered watch band means you might never need to charge it. Links: Amazon Layoffs to Hit Over 18,000 Workers, the Most in Recent Tech Wave (WSJ) €390M fine strikes blow to Meta’s ad-fueled business model (Politico) Death of the narrator? Apple unveils suite of AI-voiced audiobooks (The Guardian) Bankruptcy judge rules that Earn account assets belong to Celsius (Axios) CES Roundup: Sony and Honda just announced their new electric car brand, Afeela (The Verge) iOttie Velox Elite is an actively cooled MagSafe car charger to prevent overheating (Apple Insider) LG’s latest Signature OLED TV receives all of its audio and video wirelessly (The Verge) I'm thinking of ditching my Apple Watch for this solar and body heat-powered band (TechRadar) Shower pods are here to turn your bathroom into a spa (The Verge) Samsung Display’s latest foldable concept can both slide and fold (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 4, 2023
Is Microsoft gonna steal one on Google by bring ChatGPT to Bing search? What is Bonk, the new crypto coin posting monster gains this week? Is Apple bringing MagSafe charging to everyone, even Android users? Roku is launching its own TV sets. And how you could get a check in the mail from Tim Apple for those wonky keyboards. Sponsors: Upside App and promocode RIDEHOME Links: Microsoft and OpenAI Working on ChatGPT-Powered Bing in Challenge to Google (The Information) Salesforce to cut 10% of workforce in latest tech layoffs (Reuters) Sam Bankman-Fried Pleads ‘Not Guilty’ to Fraud, Conspiracy Charges (CoinDesk) Shiba Inu-Themed BONK Tokens Are Yielding Nearly 1,000% for Solana Liquidity Providers (CoinDesk) Nvidia upgrades GeForce Now with RTX 4080 performance for premium users (TechCrunch) Wireless Power Consortium works with Apple on next generation ‘Qi2’ standard based on MagSafe (9to5Mac) Qi2: How Apple might finally harness MagSafe by giving it away (The Verge) Roku does the obvious thing and announces its own TV line (The Verge) MacBook owners have two months to claim up to $395 over butterfly keyboard woes (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 3, 2023
CES kicks off with Intel detailing it’s new 13th gen chips for laptops. A big PyTorch warning. Why that whole Southwest Airlines mess happened. Layoffs are a problem for tech startups, but the number of tech workers is still growing in a healthy way. And pour one out for 3G technology. Sponsors: MeetFabric.com/ride RocketMoney.com/ride Links: Intel’s 13th Gen mobile processors include the first 24-core laptop CPU (The Verge) PyTorch discloses malicious dependency chain compromise over holidays (BleepingComputer) Southwest Meltdown Shows Airlines Need Tighter Software Integration (WSJ) Gemini’s Cameron Winklevoss Slams Crypto Exec Barry Silbert Over Frozen Funds (Bloomberg) Tech Layoffs Are Happening Faster Than at Any Time During the Pandemic (WSJ) As Silicon Valley Retrenches, a Tech Talent Shift Accelerates (NYTimes) Startups End a Bruising 2022, Stare Down Another Challenging Year (WSJ) Farewell to 3G (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 29, 2022
Wait, why are Alameda-linked wallets coming back to life all of the sudden? If you do things with a DAO that are technically allowed by the DAO, can that still be market manipulation? What if Amazon or somebody else created an ESPN for the streaming era? The most successful publicly traded tech stock of this miserable year. And somebody tell Mark Zuckerberg about what you can really do with modern avatar technology. Links: Alameda Research wallets swap several crypto tokens for bitcoin (The Block) U.S. charges fraud in Mango crypto manipulation case (Reuters) Crypto Trader’s Fraud Charges Show DeFi Isn’t Outside the Law (Bloomberg) Amazon Has Discussed a Stand-Alone Sports App as Andy Jassy Doubles Down on Prime Video (The Information) Tech stocks got whacked in 2022 — but one server maker soared almost 90%, beating all its peers (CNBC) ABBA’s successful avatar show in London offers a glimpse at a daring new direction for live music (CNBC) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 27, 2022
Not an exchange blowing up, but is one of the biggest crypto projects in recent years losing developers and maybe entering a death spiral? More supply chain worries for Apple in China. More concerns about the accuracy and efficacy of our new AI bot overlords. And heads up about the new tech hotness from China. Say hello to Temu. It might be responsible for some of the presents you unwrapped recently. Sponsors: Storyblok.com/ridehome Links: Solana’s Top NFT Projects DeGods and Y00ts to Migrate Chains (CoinDesk) Apple’s business under growing threat from China’s Covid wave (Financial Times) Study finds AI assistants help developers produce code that's more likely to be buggy (The Register) IRS Delays $600 Tax Reporting Rule for Venmo, Etsy Sellers (Bloomberg) American Bargain Hunters Flock to a New Online Platform Forged in China (WSJ) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 22, 2022
SBF is in the US just in time to see two of his lieutenants have flipped on him to the Feds. Twitter rolls out Cashtags that are actually useful. ChatGPT lead to a “code red” at Google. Justice is coming for those expiring car warranty robo callers. And, surprise, the weekend longreads suggestions. Links: Two Bankman-Fried colleagues plead guilty to fraud (Washington Post) Twitter adds BTC and ETH price indexes to search function (CoinTelegraph) A New Chat Bot Is a ‘Code Red’ for Google’s Search Business (NYTimes) YouTube Paying Roughly $2 Billion a Year for NFL Sunday Ticket (WSJ) FCC proposes record $300 million fine against auto warranty robocall campaign (CyberScoop) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: How TikTok Became a Diplomatic Crisis (NYTimes) How the algorithm tipped the balance in Ukraine (Washington Post) Bob Gottlieb Is the Last of the Publishing Giants The 91-year-old editor waits for his 87-year-old star writer, Robert Caro, to turn in his book. (Vulture) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 21, 2022
A new prediction for 2023, the sports streaming wars. What’s with all the weirdness going on with Anker’s security cameras? Is Apple going to cancel the iPhone SE? Is the Google/Facebook ad duopoly over? And an interesting raise for a deepfake startup. Sponsors: Storyblok.com/ridehome InternetSociety.org/techmeme Links: Google’s YouTube in Talks for Rights to NFL Sunday Ticket (WSJ) Anker’s Eufy breaks its silence on security cam security (The Verge) Kuo: Apple to Cancel or Postpone 2024 iPhone SE 4 (MacRumors) Slow fade for Google and Meta's ad dominance (Axios) OpenAI releases Point-E, an AI that generates 3D models (TechCrunch) ‘South Park’ Creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone Land $20 Million in Funding for Their Deepfake VFX Studio (Variety) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 20, 2022
Amazon settles two EU antitrust cases. An old crypto mystery resurfaces and dormant wallets spring back to life. TikTok will tell you why they recommended that video. Is growth at Mastadon a flood or a trickle? And Coinbase is now worth less than Doge. Sponsors: Storyblok.com/ridehome Microsoft's Worklab Podcast Links: Amazon Agrees to Settle EU Antitrust Cases, Avoiding Fines (WSJ) Bitcoin Addresses Tied to Defunct Canadian Crypto Exchange QuadrigaCX Wake Up (CoinDesk) TikTok’s new feature will tell you why a particular video appeared in your For You feed (TechCrunch) Apple to start making MacBooks in Vietnam by mid-2023 (NikkeiAsia) Netflix’s Ad-Supported Tier Was Its Least Popular Plan, Analytics Firm Estimates (WSJ) More than two million users have flocked to Mastodon since Elon Musk took over Twitter (The Verge) Magna to Buy Veoneer Vehicle Safety Unit for $1.5 Billion (Bloomberg) Silicon Valley start-ups race for debt deals in funding crunch (FT) Coinbase’s Value Is $1 Billion Below ‘Joke’ Token Dogecoin’s (Bloomberg) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 19, 2022
I dunno. Is Elon not the head of Twitter anymore? He posted a poll, people voted for him to step down. Who knows? I’ll give you the tick tock of what went down this weekend. ? Apple has canceled work on an M2 “extreme” chip. Google goes all in on encrypting Gmail. Why is everyone all in on encryption all of the sudden? And don’t worry, Meta is still all in on the metaverse. Sponsors: Masterclass.com/ride ZocDoc.com/techmeme Links: Twitter abruptly bans all links to Instagram, Mastodon, and other competitors (The Verge) Google is letting businesses try out client-side encryption for Gmail (The Verge) Binance.US to Buy Voyager Assets in $1.022 Billion Deal (Bloomberg) Bankman-Fried is ready to ‘face the music,’ prison official says (Washington Post) Apple Scales Back High-End Mac Pro Plans, Weighs Production Move to Asia (Bloomberg) Facebook’s Meta Will Devote 20% of Costs to Metaverse Next Year (Bloomberg) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 17, 2022
Emergency bonus episode! Is this the moment for Twitter alternatives? T2.social is one of them and the founder of that project, @gabor , joins us to kick it all around. So does our friend Alex Kantrowitz from @BigTechnology . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 16, 2022
Elon Musk has once again proven that the flesh is weak because there’s a new Twitter controversy and I can’t help but tell you about it. Is it a good look when the accounting firm writing reports to prove crypto companies are solvent says it will no longer work with crypto companies? Is Netflix’s ad-supported tier not signing up as many eyeballs as advertisers hoped? And, of course, the Weekend Longreads Suggestions. Sponsors: InternetSociety.org/techmeme Storyblok.com/ridehome Links: Twitter suspends Mastodon’s account and bans links to Mastodon servers (TechCrunch) Twitter suspends journalists who have been covering Elon Musk and the company (NBCNews) Accountant That Vetted Binance Reserves Halts Crypto Work (Bloomberg) Netflix lets advertisers take their money back after missing viewership targets (Digiday) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: Spotify’s grand plan to monetize developers via its open source Backstage project (TechCrunch) YouTube Stars Cash In Video Rights for Millions of Dollars (WSJ) ChatGPT and the Imagenet moment (Ben Evans) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 15, 2022
I’ll get into the whole Twitter banning private jet tracking accounts thing, but use that to explain how and even if we’re going to cover this whole Elon/Twitter story going forward. Is mobile gaming the latest domino to fall in this year of “line also goes down?” A new consortium hopes to make mapping data better. And let me introduce you to the Battery Belt, every bit as important as the whole onshoring the chip industry trend. Links: Twitter Suspends the Accounts Tracking Musk’s Jet and The Man Behind It (Bloomberg) Twitter Suspends Over 25 Accounts That Track Billionaires’ Private Planes (NYTimes) Elon Musk offloads another $3.6bn of Tesla stock (FT) FTX Investor Impact: Timeline of Realized Cryptocurrency Gains and Losses Shows FTX Hit Investor Wallets Less Than Previous Crises (Chainalysis) 2022 will go down as the worst year for U.S. IPOs since 1990. (Axios Pro Rata) Mobile games market to decline for first time in over a decade (FT) Creating the ultimate smart map with new map data initiative launched by Linux Foundation (VentureBeat) 1 big thing: The "battery belt" widens (Axios) The electric car Battery Belt is reshaping America’s heartland (Axios) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 14, 2022
Apple is going to allow third-party app stores, but only in Europe for now. Your Tesla is now a full-fledged gaming rig. Instagram is testing a full-fledged BeReal clone. Has Twitter stopped paying its bills? And there is now actual US legislation to ban TikTok. Sponsors: Storyblok.com/ridehome Links: Apple to Allow Outside App Stores in Overhaul Spurred by EU Laws (Bloomberg) Tesla’s latest update adds Steam games and Apple Music (The Verge) Musk Shakes Up Twitter’s Legal Team as He Looks to Cut More Costs (NYTimes) Twitter is considering forcing users to let the company sell their data and phone numbers to advertisers, in potential breach of Apple rules (Insider) Binance CEO Zhao Warns Bumpy Road Ahead in Message to His Staff (Bloomberg) Instagram Challenges BeReal and Adds Notes Short-Message Feature (WSJ) Lawmakers unveil bipartisan bill that aims to ban TikTok in the U.S. (CNBC) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 13, 2022
SBF is under arrest. The Feds have charged him. The SEC has charged him. The CFTC has charged him. CZ continues to try to reassure Binance users over withdrawals. I think it’s time I update you on the health I’m seeing of the Twitter platform. And what is “open source” intelligence and why is the US behind in this modern type of spycraft? Sponsors: InternetSociety.org/techmeme Storyblok.com/ridehome Links: Federal prosecutors, SEC unveil charges against Sam Bankman-Fried (Washington Post) FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried arrested in the Bahamas after U.S. files criminal charges (CNBC) Jim Edwards thread summarizing the SEC complaint Binance CEO addresses USDC outflows: 'feel free to withdraw any other stablecoin' (The Block) AI art apps are cluttering the App Store’s Top Charts following Lensa AI’s success (TechCrunch) Elon says Twitter will remove all legacy verifications ‘in a few months’ (TechCrunch) Radeon 7900 XTX and XT review: Faster, hotter, and cheaper than the RTX 4080 (ArsTechnica) Rise of Open-Source Intelligence Tests U.S. Spies (WSJ) Tickets to my comedy show at the end of January in San Francisco Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 12, 2022
Xiaomi has released its newest flagship smartphones. A bunch of worrying headlines surrounding Binance. Twitter Blue is back. Have scientists finally made a major breakthrough in fusion energy tech? And why Google is hesitant to release its answer to ChatGPT. Masterclass.com/ride Links: The Xiaomi 13 series launches as true Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 darling (Android Police) Binance Is Trying to Calm Investors, but Its Finances Remain a Mystery (WSJ) 'Abnormal' Altcoin Trading on Binance 'Just Market Behavior,' Says CEO (Decrypt) US Prosecutors Look to Charge Binance, Executives on Possible Money Laundering Violations: Reuters (Coindesk) Twitter Blue to Relaunch Monday, With Blue Check Mark, Higher iOS Price, Company Says (CNET) US Says Scientists Make Breakthrough in Nuclear Fusion Energy (Bloomberg) The New Chatbots Could Change the World. Can You Trust Them? (NYTimes) Why Google Missed ChatGPT (Big Technology) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 10, 2022
What were the biggest stories of 2022? What will be the biggest tech stories of 2023? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 9, 2022
This is going to make the situation in the gaming industry downright chaotic. The FTC has sued to block Microsoft's $69B Activision Blizzard acquisition. Sam Bankman Fried says he’s going to testify, under oath, before Congress. Why the salute emoji is hands down the symbol of the year 2022. And, of course, the Weekend Longreads Suggestions. Sponsors: InternetSociety.org/techmeme Links: Twin complaints signal new FTC strategy to rein in tech industry (Washington Post) FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried agrees to testify at U.S. House hearing on Tuesday (CNBC) We Couldn’t Have Made It Through This Year Without the Saluting Emoji (Rolling Stone) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: How AI That Powers Chatbots and Search Queries Could Discover New Drugs (WSJ) The Hype Around Esports Is Fading as Investors and Sponsors Dry Up (Bloomberg) Programmable Ink (InkAndSwitch) How CoinDesk’s FTX scoop left a hole in its corporate overlord (The Verge) Enter the wind tunnel (Driving Conformity) 36 Hours - Wellington, New Zealand (NYTimes) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 8, 2022
Apple is going back all in on privacy in a big way with Advanced Data Protection. I’ll explain. Did Sam Bankman-Fried also kill Terra and Luna? A look at those magic avatars from Lensa that everyone is using for their profile picture all of the sudden. And the winner for the most post-pandemic product goes to Dyson. Sponsors: Cyborg.co/ride Get 90% off RexMD with our exclusive link -> RexMD.com/ride Links: Apple Plans New Encryption System to Ward Off Hackers and Protect iCloud Data (WSJ) @matthew_d_green's twitter thread on Apple's new encryption push FTX Founder Sam Bankman-Fried Is Said to Face Market Manipulation Inquiry (NYTimes) Coinbase CEO Sees Revenue Falling 50% or More on Crypto Rout (Bloomberg) AI selfies — and their critics — are taking the internet by storm (Washington Post) Ask these questions before you make your Lensa Magic Avatars (TechRadar) Dyson's Air Purifying Headphones Will Cost $949 (Gizmodo) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 7, 2022
In an attempt to keep their acquisition of Activision… active, Microsoft wants to bring Call of Duty to the Nintendo Switch. That time SBF tried to give Taylor Swift $100M. She said no, apparently. You don’t have to give Telegram your phone number anymore. Mark Gurman rumor dump about the scaled back ambitions of the Apple Car. And yes. ChatGPT probably has Google over the classic innovator’s dilemma barrel. Sponsors: InternetSociety.org/techmeme Storyblok.com/ridehome Links: Microsoft says it will bring Call of Duty to Nintendo (Washington Post) FTX held talks with Taylor Swift over $100mn sponsorship deal (FT) Tim Cook says Apple will use chips built in the U.S. at Arizona factory (CNBC) Telegram drops SIM requirement for sign-ups, adds Global Auto-Delete timers (9to5Google) SpaceX unveils ‘Starshield,’ a military variation of Starlink satellites (CNBC) Twitter’s Rivals Try to Capitalize on Musk-Induced Chaos (NYTimes) Apple Scales Back Self-Driving Car and Delays Debut Until 2026 (Bloomberg) Google Faces a Serious Threat From ChatGPT (Bloomberg) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 6, 2022
Is the government investigating Neuralink for animal cruelty? Why is Microsoft increasing prices for Xbox games? How much does it cost every time you ask ChatGPT a question? Is Meta really going to stop allowing you to post news links, or is this a bluff? And is that Arizona chip plant becoming a bigger deal every day? Sponsors: Masterworks.com/ride * Storyblok.com/ridehome Links: Elon Musk’s Neuralink is reportedly facing a federal probe on animal welfare grounds (The Verge) Exclusive: Musk’s Neuralink faces federal probe, employee backlash over animal tests (Reuters) Google Pixel 7 just got a bunch of exciting features — here’s what’s new (Tom's Guide) Microsoft Raising Prices on New, First-Party Games Built for Xbox Series X|S to $70 in 2023 (IGN) @sama's Tweets about ChatGPT Google Search brings continuous scrolling to desktop (The Verge) Facebook threatens to ban news from platform if U.S. bill passes (MarketWatch) TSMC triples Arizona chip investment to $40bn (FT) Our podcast TikTok account: techmeme_ride_home * “net returns” refers to the annualized internal rate of return net of all fees and costs, calculated from the offering closing date to the sale date. IRR may not be indicative of Masterworks paintings not yet sold and past performance is not indicative of future results. See important Reg A disclosures: Masterworks.com/cd Masterworks’ offerings are filed with the SEC, view all past and current offerings here : https://www.sec.gov/cgi-bin/browse-edgar?company=masterworks&match=&filenum=&State=&Country=&SIC=&myowner=exclude&action=getcompany Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 5, 2022
Maybe put the breaks on an early release of that Apple AR/VR headset. And maybe pump the breaks on the AI excitement as Stack Overflow temporarily bans users from sharing responses generated by ChatGPT. A security issue at Rackspace. Are the Winkivii in trouble? And why has Sam Bankman Fried not been arrested yet? Sponsors: LetsTalkInTouch.com Hover.com/ride for 10% off Links: Kuo: Apple Headset Shipments Potentially Delayed Until Second Half of 2023 (MacRumors) Foxconn sees COVID-hit China plant back at full output in late Dec-early Jan -source (Reuters) Rackspace rocked by ‘security incident’ that has taken out hosted Exchange services (The Register) AI-generated answers temporarily banned on coding Q&A site Stack Overflow (The Verge) Crypto broker Genesis owes Winklevoss exchange’s customers $900mn (Financial Times) Why Hasn’t Sam Bankman-Fried Been Arrested Yet? (Intelligencer) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 2, 2022
Mark Gurman has details on Apple ramping up development of its mixed-reality headset, targeting a launch next year. Elon has had to block his friend Ye from Twitter. Future is shutting down. Airplane mode might be a thing of the past soon. Is Nikola Tesla’s dream of wireless electrical transmission about to be a reality? And of course, the weekend longreads suggestions. Sponsors: InternetSociety.org/techmeme Storyblok.com/ridehome Links: Apple Renames Mixed-Reality Software ‘xrOS’ in Sign Headset Is Approaching (Bloomberg) Kanye West isn’t buying Parler after all (TechCrunch) Andreessen Horowitz's buzzy tech publication Future is shutting down (Insider) Payments giant Stripe jumps into Web3 with tool that helps companies turn cash to crypto (Fortune Crypto) AWS launches Application Composer, a low-code tool for building serverless apps (TechCrunch) No more airplane mode? EU to allow calls on flights (BBC News) Silicon Valley startup beaming electricity wirelessly raises $30 million (Reuters) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: Generative AI: autocomplete for everything (Noahpinion) Your Creativity Won’t Save Your Job From AI (The Atlantic) The Grown-Up Art of Andor (The New Republic) A French Village’s Radical Vision of a Good Life with Alzheimer’s (New Yorker) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 1, 2022
A summary of last night’s Sam Bankman Fried show. Elon visits Tim Cook and maybe they buried the hatchet? Now OpenAI has released a chat bot. Neuralink says it’s going to start implanting into humans very soon. And Arizona is gonna get the good stuff when it comes to chips. Sponsors: Storyblok.com/ridehome Links: FTX Missing Billions Remain Mystery After Bankman-Fried Grilling (Bloomberg) Elon Musk Meets With Apple CEO Tim Cook Amid Claims of Twitter App Store Dispute [Updated] (MacRumors) Musk at Twitter has 'huge work' ahead to comply with EU rules, warns bloc (TechCrunch) While everyone waits for GPT-4, OpenAI is still fixing its predecessor (MIT Technology Review) Musk’s Neuralink Hopes to Implant Computer in Human Brain in Six Months (Bloomberg) Disney Made a Movie Quality AI Tool That Automatically Makes Actors Look Younger (or Older) (Gizmodo) TSMC Plans to Make More Advanced Chips in US at Urging of Apple (Bloomberg) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 30, 2022
The Covid lockdown at that Foxconn factory has lifted. The surprising strength of the smartwatch sector. The surprising failure of the Kindle Scribe. Gorilla Glass Victus 2. And Sony has an actual new idea for the Metaverse. Sponsors: InternetSociety.org/techmeme Links: China’s Zhengzhou, home to world’s largest iPhone factory, ends Covid lockdown. Other cities do the same (CNN Business) India Becomes Biggest Smartwatch Market in Q3 2022 (Counterpoint) Amazon Security Lake is a standards-based data lake for security data (TechCrunch) Amazon Kindle Scribe review: absolutely adequate (The Verge) Apple Music reveals top music in 2022 and listener charts (AP News) Gorilla Glass Victus 2 could save your big phone from disastrous falls on concrete (TechRadar) Sony is getting into the metaverse with a new motion-tracking system (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 29, 2022
Elon says he’s willing to go to war with Apple. Why now? Is Apple really threatening Twitter’s status in the App Store, as he claims? Where, exactly, is the money for Binance’s crypto recovery fund coming from? Amazon wants kids to get in on the generative AI game. And with all the explosion of AI tools, why aren’t we seeing more adoption of AI for the very tangible and very important use case of medical imaging? Sponsors: ZenGo.com/ride and code: ride Links: Elon Musk Claims Apple Has 'Mostly Stopped' Offering Ads on Twitter and Is Making Moderation Demands (MacRumors) Why some tech CEOs are rooting for Musk (Platformer) Twitter’s $5bn-a-year business hit as Elon Musk clashes with advertisers (Financial Times) Binance clarifies initial $1 billion recovery fund deposit came from own assets (The Block) Amazon’s Create With Alexa generates unique animated children’s stories on Echo Show (Engadget) Google partners with med tech company to develop AI breast cancer screening tools (The Verge) Special Series Part 3: AI Could Transform Medical Imaging — So Why Don’t We See It More? (Crunchbase News) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 28, 2022
All of the protests erupting in China have, not only a definite tech angle, but might have been triggered by those lockdowns at that Foxconn factory. BlockFi officially files for bankruptcy. Binance attempts to prove its reserves. How to message yourself on WhatsApp. And how Minecraft might have led to a major new breakthrough in AI. Sponsors: LetsTalkInTouch.com Storyblok.com/ridehome Links: Twitter grapples with Chinese spam obscuring news of protests (Washington Post) US Bans Huawei, ZTE Telecom Equipment on Data-Security Risk (Bloomberg) Crypto Lender BlockFi Filing for Bankruptcy and Conducting Major Layoffs as FTX Contagion Claims Another: Source (Decrypt) Binance releases proof-of-reserves system, starting with bitcoin (The Block) WhatsApp rolls out a feature that makes it easier to message yourself (WhatsApp) A bot that watched 70,000 hours of Minecraft could unlock AI’s next big thing (MIT Technology Review) Special Series Launch: The Promises And Perils Of A Decade Of AI Funding (Crunchbase News) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 24, 2022
Check out the extensive paper on LEO satellites and Internet from space at InternetSociety.org/techmeme Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 23, 2022
Actual rioting happening at the major Foxconn factory that produces iPhones. Microsoft fully embraces Linux. Advertisers continue to flee from Twitter. What if your wifi router and mesh network was actually a fashionable home décor choice? And surprise! The weekend longreads suggestions. Sponsors: InternetSociety.org/techmeme Storyblok.com/ridehome Links: Violent Protests Erupt at Apple’s Main iPhone Plant in China (Bloomberg) Windows Subsystem for Linux generally available via Microsoft Store (BleepingComputer) Advertisers are dropping Twitter. Musk can’t afford to lose any more. (Washington Post) Nest Wifi Pro review: better, faster, shinier (The Verge) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: The Tiny and Nightmarishly Efficient Future of Drone Warfare (The Atlantic) Robert Iger Returns to Disney Facing Radically Different Streaming Landscape (WSJ) America has an earthquake early-warning system now — on your phone (Washington Post) The Weird-Looking, Fuel-Efficient Planes You Could Be Flying in One Day (WSJ) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 22, 2022
The contagion in crypto continues to teeter on a knife’s edge. Why were Sam Bankman Fried’s parents allegedly buying property in the Bahamas? Elon says Twitter is hiring again. Turns out the Alexa deathwatch is very real. And is Apple really the privacy company, or just like everybody else when it comes to ads? Sponsors: InternetSociety.org/techmeme RocketMoney.com/ride Links: Crypto Brokerage Genesis Is Said to Warn of Bankruptcy Without Funding (Bloomberg) Hedge funds left with billions stranded on FTX (FT) Exclusive: Bankman-Fried's FTX, parents bought Bahamas property worth $121 million (Reuters) Elon Musk says Twitter is done with layoffs and ready to hire again (The Verge) Amazon is gutting its voice assistant, Alexa. Employees describe a division in crisis and huge losses on 'a wasted opportunity.' (Insider) Apple Says Your iPhone's Usage Data is Anonymous, but New Tests Say That's Not True (Gizmodo) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 21, 2022
Ruh roh. Storm clouds gathering in crypto land again. This time it’s DCG and Genesis. The shocking CEO revolving door over at Disney. The surprising return of SwiftKey. What you missed this weekend in Twitter. And you’ve heard of Stable Diffusion; let me introduce you to Unstable Diffusion. Stable Diffusion but for porn. Sponsors: LetsTalkInTouch.com Masterclass.com/ride ZocDoc.com/techmeme Links: Grayscale won’t share proof of reserves, citing ‘security concerns’ (The Block) Grayscale refuses to share proof of reserves due to ‘security concerns’ as shares trade at a 45% discount to bitcoin (CNBC) Disney Shocker: Bob Iger Returning as CEO, Bob Chapek Exits (The Hollywood Reporter) SwiftKey is unexpectedly back on iOS (The Verge) Twitter’s Broken Its Copyright Strike System, Users Are Uploading Full Movies (Forbes) Kite is saying farewell (Kite.com) Meet Unstable Diffusion, the group trying to monetize AI porn generators (TechCrunch) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 20, 2022
The great Anil Dash joined us to talk about... well, what do you think we talked about? But also, a broader discussion about the crazy year that the tech industry has had. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 18, 2022
I’m here with you all as we wait for the end of Twitter together. Unless it doesn’t die. In which case, I dunno. Masa Son is actually personally in hock to the Vision Fund now that all its investments have gone pear shaped. A weird end of an era for Facebook. It’s not about status updates anymore. And, of course, the Weekend Longreads Suggestions. Sponsors: Storyblok.com/ridehome Links: Hundreds of employees say no to being part of Elon Musk’s ‘extremely hardcore’ Twitter (The Verge) Tweet thread on why @peterclowes left Twitter Masayoshi Son owes $4.7bn to SoftBank following tech rout (FT) End of an Era: Facebook Takes Sexuality, Religion, Address, and Politics Off of Your Profile (Gizmodo) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: Tweet thread from @MosquitoCapital on the many ways Twitter could break Nvidia RTX 4080 review: performance, for a price (The Verge) 1Password wants to ditch passwords without locking you in to one platform (Fast Company) Why Big Tech Is Throwing $1 Billion at Sucking CO2 From the Air (CNET) My Mastodon handle: @ridehome@toot.community Sign up for Post: https://post.news/?r=zXrzh Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 17, 2022
The guy who handled the Enron bankruptcy says FTX is the worst he’s ever seen. Xbox gets full Discord integration. Apple’s plans for Major League Soccer are revealed. Evernote finds a forever home. A new Deepfake detector from Intel and supercomputing in the cloud from Microsoft and Nvidia. Sponsors: Storyblok.com/ridehome Medcline.com/techmeme Links: New FTX Boss Condemns Management of the Crypto Exchange During Sam Bankman-Fried's Tenure (CoinDesk) Built-in Discord voice chat is now rolling out to all Xbox users (Engadget) Apple Kicks Off Major League Soccer Plans With Pricing & Launch Details (Deadline) Bending Spoons acquires Evernote, marking the end of an era (TechCrunch) Google rolls out new features across Maps, Search and Shopping (TechCrunch) Intel unveils real-time deepfake detector, claims 96% accuracy rate (VentureBeat) Cloud computing: Microsoft and Nvidia are building a 'massive' AI supercomputer. Here's why (ZDNet) Microsoft and Nvidia team up to build massive cloud AI supercomputer (SiliconRepublic) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 16, 2022
Qualcomm’s new Snapdragon chip. DuckDuckGo’s App Tracking blocker but for Android, the latest headlines from the two stories you know we have to hit, and what if I told you there’s a new startup that wants to do for home appliances, what Tesla did for automobiles? Sponsors: Akamai.com/techmeme Kinsta.com Links: Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 gives us a glimpse of 2023’s Android flagships (The Verge) DuckDuckGo’s App Tracking Protection beta is now available to all Android users (The Verge) Netflix's new feature lets subscribers kick devices off their accounts (TechCrunch) Musk issues ultimatum to staff: Commit to ‘hardcore’ Twitter or take severance (Washington Post) Induction cooking heats up with a $20M cash injection for Impulse (TechCrunch) Protocol, the tech-news focused website, will shutter and lay off its entire staff (CNN Business) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 15, 2022
If you tell Elon he doesn’t know what he’s doing, you could get fired. Matt Levine looks into the abyss of the FTX balance sheet and finds the abyss staring back at him. Is the Alexa platform in danger? Nike still believes in NFTs. And what it’s actually like to use Apple’s Emergency SOS feature. Sponsors: Hover.com/ride for 10% off Split.io/techmeme Links: Musk Publicly Punishes Twitter Engineers Who Call Him Out Online (Bloomberg) Is Elon Musk’s Twitter about to fall out of the GDPR’s one-stop shop? (TechCrunch) FTX’s Balance Sheet Was Bad (Bloomberg) Amazon Is Said to Plan to Lay Off Thousands of Employees (NYTimes) Nike to Open Its Own Virtual Sneaker Store and Trading Platform (Bloomberg) Nike Launches Web3 Platform Offering Virtual Apparel and Other NFT-Based Products (CryptoNews) Here’s what it’s like to use Apple’s Emergency SOS via satellite (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 14, 2022
Twitter still lives, at least at the time of this writing. But thousands more contractors have been laid off. CZ wants to start a fund to save crypto projects. Paging Jonah Hill to play SBF in the movie that Michael Lewis is shopping around Hollywood. Meta is exiting the Portal business. And a big review of the Meta Quest Pro is just downright befuddling. Sponsors: LadderLife.com/ride Storyblok.com/ridehome Links: Twitter reportedly cut thousands of contractors without warning (The Verge) SpaceX just bought a big ad campaign on Twitter for Starlink (CNBC) Binance Starts Recovery Fund for Crypto Projects Facing Liquidity Crisis (CoinDesk) Exclusive: Jeff Bezos says he will give most of his money to charity (CNN Business) Nearly half of Meta job cuts were in tech, reorg underway - execs say (Reuters) Meta Quest Pro review: get me out of here (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 11, 2022
Just two big stories, as it’s been all week, but instead of ONLY giving you the latest, I want to try to sum up where I think we’re at as this week ends. What, I think, in the end, actually happened with FTX. And are we SURE Elon isn’t trying to tank Twitter on purpose? And, of course, the weekend longreads suggestions. Sponsors: Storyblok.com/ridehome Links: Sam Bankman-Fried steps down as FTX CEO as his crypto exchange files for bankruptcy (CNBC) FTX US Warns of Trading Halt Hours After Bankman-Fried Says It's '100% Liquid' (CoinDesk) Crypto Lender BlockFi Pauses Withdrawals in Wake of FTX Collapse (CoinDesk) Does Twitter Have Any Employees Left Who Remember That The Company Is Under A Strict Consent Decree With The FTC? (TechDirt) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: Basically everything on Amazon has become an ad (Vox) Can Crypto’s Richest Man Stand the Cold? (Bloomberg) Matter is here, but it’s still a long road to the simple smart home (The Verge) Twitter alternative: how Mastodon is designed to be “antiviral” (UXCollective) Unfollow? Block? And who gets custody of the WhatsApp groups? How to break up in the digital age (The Guardian) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 10, 2022
More twists and turns in the FTX, SBF, CZ saga as the entire crypto sector continues to get rocked. I’d love to tell you what is going on with Twitter’s whole checkmark saga, but I don’t know, Elon doesn’t know, and frankly, by the time you hear this, it’s likely to have changed anyway. GitHub is getting into the voice assistant game. And Amazon becomes the first company to LOSE a Trillion dollars in valuation. Sponsors: Akamai.com/techmeme Storyblok.com/ridehome Links: Binance Walks Away From Deal to Rescue FTX (WSJ) SBF Tweet Storm This Morning FTX’s Collapse Spurs $10 Billion Drop in Decentralized Finance (Bloomberg) Twitter begins to roll out, then kills, grey checkmarks for high-profile accounts (TechCrunch) Apple will spend $450 million with Globalstar and others to enable emergency satellite texting (CNBC) ‘Hey, GitHub!’ will let programmers code with just their voice (The Verge) Amazon Becomes World’s First Public Company to Lose $1 Trillion in Market Value (Bloomberg) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 9, 2022
The Meta layoffs are here and they’re brutal. But rumors are, TikTok is cutting back also. What even is the new Twitter subscription product at this point? Does anybody know? And if you look at today’s show title, and it’s just a bunch of gibberish, hopefully I can explain the big crypto blowup from yesterday. Sources: Kinsta.com Storyblok.com Links: Meta confirms 11,000 layoffs, amounting to 13% of its workforce (TechCrunch) TikTok slashes global revenue targets by at least $2bn (Financial Times) Twitter’s solution for ruining verification is another check mark (The Verge) Disney+ reaches 164.2M subscribers as it prepares for ad-supported tier launch (TechCrunch) The Story of Sam Bankman-Fried’s Backroom Deal With Binance’s CZ (CoinDesk) Lucas Nuzzi (Twitter Thread) FTX Venture Investors Fear Total Wipeout in Binance Rescue Deal (The Information) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 8, 2022
Why has FTX appeared to have halted withdrawals? Innocent explanation, or could we have another big crypto blowup brewing? What if Elon just says, screw it, and puts all of Twitter behind a paywall? What happens if NFT marketplaces stop honoring royalties? And why is Apple having a hard time with its design team? Sponsors: Masterworks.com/ride Links: Binance to Sell Rest of FTX Token Holdings as Alameda CEO Defends Firm's Financial Condition (CoinDesk) Musk discusses putting all of Twitter behind a paywall (Platformer) Mysterious company with government ties plays key internet role (Washington Post) OpenSea Breaks Silence on NFT Royalties, But Creators Don't Like What They Hear (Decrypt) Apple’s Brain Drain Hinders Efforts to Pick Its Next Jony Ive (Bloomberg) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 7, 2022
Looks like those rumors of massive Meta layoffs might be coming true this week. Covid has led to brand new iPhone shortage worries. Is Apple about to make it easier to invoke Siri? Airbnb has made it easier to understand the true cost of a rental. And this weekend in the Twitter Clown Car. Sponsors: Storyblok.com/ridehome Links: Facebook Parent Meta Is Preparing to Notify Employees of Large-Scale Layoffs This Week (WSJ) Apple Issues iPhone 14 Pro Shipment Warning Ahead of Holiday Shopping Season (MacRumors) Apple’s Next Change for Siri: Dropping ‘Hey’ From ‘Hey Siri’ Trigger (Bloomberg) Airbnb to Make Cleaning Fees Clearer on Searches After Customer Complaints (WSJ) Elon Musk Appears To Threaten Advertisers Wary Of His Twitter Takeover (HuffingtonPost) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 4, 2022
The layoffs have begun at Twitter. And while Twitter might shutter its Substack competitor, Substack has moved into Twitter’s turf by launching a sort of discussion platform. DALL-E API’s are now available for you to use. What it’s like to use Netflix’s new ad-supported tier. And, of course, The Weekend Longreads Suggestions. Sponsors: hiddenheroes.netguru.com Links: Elon Musk’s Twitter layoffs are starting (The Verge) Substack targets Twitter with launch of discussions feature, Substack Chat (TechCrunch) Amazon pauses hiring for corporate workforce (CNBC) DALL-E API released by OpenAI in public beta, potential boon for app builders (VentureBeat) With Netflix’s ads tier, you never know what you’re going to get (The Verge) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: Bored Ape Yacht Club tell all: The untold story of the $4 billion crypto startup (FastCompany) The ‘Viral’ Secure Programming Language That’s Taking Over Tech (Wired) The Race to Be Figma for Devs: CodeSandbox vs. StackBlitz (TheNewStack) The Most Vulnerable Place on the Internet (Wired) Inside the weirdly competitive industry of robots writing letters in human handwriting (FastCompany) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 3, 2022
Is TikTok still in danger of running afoul of government bans? WhatsApp gets Groups. Gmail gets package tracking. Instagram gets NFT minting. Patreon gets video hosting. Layoffs come for Stripe. Yes, there was some Twitter news too. And is the Adobe/Figma deal in trouble? Sponsors: hiddenheroes.netguru.com Split.io/techmeme Links: TikTok tells European users its staff in China get access to their data (The Guardian) WhatsApp officially launches its new discussion group feature, Communities (TechCrunch) Gmail to add a new package tracking feature ahead of holiday shopping season (TechCrunch) Meta’s Instagram Plans NFT Minting, Trading Tools (Decrypt) Patreon’s long-awaited video hosting feature is finally rolling out to creators (The Verge) Elon Musk Aims to Start Charging for Twitter Verification Next Week (Bloomberg) Stripe Cuts Headcount by 14%, Prepares for ‘Leaner Times’ (Bloomberg) DOJ takes aim at Adobe's $20 billion deal (Politico) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 2, 2022
We know when the PlayStation VR2 is coming, when you can pre-order it, and how much it’s gonna cost. What do you know? A bunch of news in the whole Twitter saga. The reality of the ransomware industrial complex. And an interesting new Mac app to help you remember everything you’ve ever done on your computer. Sponsors: Akamai.com/techmeme Links: PlayStation VR2 launches on February 22nd for $549.99 (The Verge) Elon Musk to charge verified Twitter users to give ‘power to the people’ (SiliconRepublic) Elon Musk’s Twitter is working on paid-video feature with ‘high’ risk (Washington Post) Tumblr will now allow nudity but not explicit sex (The Verge) Twitch opens Guest Star up so anyone can run their own talk show not (TechCrunch) U.S. banks processed roughly $1.2 billion in ransomware payments in 2021, according to federal report (CNBC) Rewind wants to revamp how you remember, with millions from a16z (TechCrunch) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 1, 2022
Will charging for blue checks actually help Twitter monetarily or… frankly, any way, at all? Amazon has expanded ad-free Music. YouTube is bundling streaming services. Why Uber Eats is interesting inside of Uber earnings. And is it time to start worrying about Sony’s strategy with the Playstation? Sponsors: Medcline.com/techmeme Links: Scoop: Musk team working to reboot Vine this year (Axios) Jack Dorsey just saved Elon Musk about $1 billion by rolling over his shares of Twitter into a stake in the new private company (Insider) YouTube’s Primetime Channels bring streaming movies and TV into the YouTube app (The Verge) Amazon Prime now comes with a full music catalog of 100 million songs and ad-free podcasts (TechCrunch) Uber Shares Jump as Strong Ridership Eases Inflation Worries (Bloomberg) PlayStation Plus has lost nearly 2 million subscribers since its revamp (VGC) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 31, 2022
Just, massive wholesale changes at Twitter, including possibly making folks pay up for features. Pitty the poor tech billionaires who have collectively lost half a trillion in wealth this year. When the M2 MacBook Pros should be showing up. And what colors might you be blocked from using on Adobe products? Sponsors: RocketMoney.com/ride Links: Elon Musk wastes no time changing Twitter (The Verge) Twitter is planning to start charging $20 per month for verification (The Verge) The 20 Richest Tech Billionaires Have Lost Nearly Half a Trillion Dollars This Year (WSJ) Apple Gears Up to Launch Its Next Crop of Macs Early Next Year (Bloomberg) India's Central Bank to Start Wholesale CBDC Pilot Nov. 1 (CoinDesk) You’re Going To Have To Pay To Use Some Fancy Colors In Photoshop Now (Kotaku) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 29, 2022
Readocracy is restoring sanity to the world by making how you inform yourself count for something. Troll-free, bot-free, ad-free. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 28, 2022
Area man completes acquisition of social media platform. And now the fun begins? Amazon had bad earnings, but Apple mostly didn’t. YouTube is trying to be like TikTok too, but they’re giving their users options. And of course, the weekend longreads suggestions. Sponsors: Wealthfront.com/techmeme Links: How Twitter Will Change as a Private Company (NYTimes) Amazon stock sinks 13% on weak fourth-quarter guidance (CNBC) Apple reports strong quarter but expects sales slump (Silicon Republic) YouTube redesign gives long-form videos, Shorts and Live videos their own tabs on channel pages (TechCrunch) Weekend Longreads Suggestions Smartphone Storage Space Is the New Turf War for Game Makers (Bloomberg) The First Minute of Every Phone Call Is Torture Now (The Atlantic) The Try Guys and the Prison of Online Fame (NYTimes Magazine) The Crypto Story (Matt Levine/Bloomberg Businessweek) Which AI Creates the Best (and Most Terrifying) Art? (PC Mag) The Fantasy of Instant Delivery Is Imploding (Bloomberg) The beginning of the monster Game of Thrones Twitter Thread (Ben Schwartz) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 27, 2022
(BOMB SOUND). That’s the sound of Meta’s disastrous earnings announcement yesterday. That’s the sort of insightful analysis you come to this podcast for. But also, Argo AI is shutting down. Google Cloud has a new blockchain tool for developers. And the Elon Twitter thing is happening. It’s really happening, people. Behave accordingly. Sponsors: ZocDoc.com/techmeme Links: Meta Tumbles as Sales Forecast Shows Depth of Ad-Market Weakness (Bloomberg) Meta Plummets 25% as Zuckerberg’s Plea for ‘Patience’ Falls Flat (Bloomberg) It’s Official: Meta Is a Disaster (Intelligencer) Mark Zuckerberg Is Going To Kill His Company (Ed Zitron's Where's Your Ed At) Ford, VW-backed Argo AI is shutting down (TechCrunch) Samsung's Third-Quarter Profit Plunges Amid Chip Market Woes (CNET) Google's new service helps Web3 developers build for blockchain-based platforms (ZDNet) Elon Musk Is In Twitter’s Office and Will Address Staff Friday (Bloomberg) Elon Musk, on Eve of Twitter Deal Close, Promises Advertisers It Won’t Become a ‘Free-for-All Hellscape’ (Variety) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 26, 2022
Meta and Spotify both call Apple out on their recent App Store aggressiveness. Soft earnings from Microsoft and worrying earnings from Alphabet. Twitter seems to already be hemorrhaging its power users. LinkedIn fights its own bot war. And are unicorns back to becoming a rare thing? Sponsors: Akamai.com Links: Apple’s new App Store tax on ads is a direct shot at Meta (The Verge) Spotify says Apple is ‘choking competition’ and ruining its audiobook store (The Verge) Spotify Boosts Subscribers and Revenue, Says 2023 Price Increases Likely (WSJ) Microsoft Plunges on Forecast for Lackluster Azure Growth (Bloomberg) Twitter Asks: Where Have All the Tweeters Gone? (Gizmodo) Alphabet misses on earnings as YouTube shrinks; company will cut headcount growth by half in Q4 (CNBC) Intel unit Mobileye prices IPO above range to raise $861 mln (Reuters) Developers Complain About Gambling Ads Appearing in Their App Store Listings (MacRumors) First on CNN: LinkedIn knows there are fake accounts on its site. Now it wants to help users spot them (CNN Business) The billion-dollar tech unicorn is becoming rare again (The Washington Post) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 25, 2022
Apple tries to wedge the App Store vig into another market. Prices are going up for your favorite Apple services. Shutterstock is partnering with OpenAI cause if you can’t something them, join them! And what is the deal with Stage Manager on the iPad? Sponsors: Hover.com/ride for 10% off Links: App Store guidelines updated with new rules for apps with NFT and ad managers (9to5Mac) Apple is raising the price of Apple Music, Apple TV+ and Apple One from today (9to5Mac) Project Volterra launches today as the 'Windows Dev Kit 2023' with 32GB RAM and costs less than a Mac mini (Windows Central) Meta shareholder writes critical open letter saying company needs to slash headcount and stop spending so much money on ‘metaverse’ (CNBC) Shutterstock will start selling AI-generated stock imagery with help from OpenAI (The Verge) Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 (13.5-inch) review: a few steps forward and one big step back (The Verge) Microsoft Surface Pro 9 (SQ3) review: Windows on Arm is not ready (The Verge) iPadOS 16’s Stage Manager is not the future of multitasking you were hoping for (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 24, 2022
Did investing in Chinese tech become a fool’s errand over the weekend? A deep dive on how TSMC is caught in the middle of all the things. Is Elon’s Twitter deal presenting systemic risk to corporate finance? Are M2 Mac Pro and Macbook Pro’s still coming soon? And Bono tries to justify putting that U2 album on your iphone. Sponsors: Masterclass.com/ride for 15% off Links: China Stocks Crater in US as Alibaba Leads $130 Billion Wipeout (Bloomberg) TSMC: the Taiwanese chipmaker caught up in the tech cold war (Financial Times) Elon Musk’s Twitter Takeover Debt to Be Held by Banks Amid Turbulent Markets (WSJ) These artists found out their work was used to train AI. Now they’re furious (CNN Business) The iPad Lineup Is Perplexing — Here’s How Apple Could Fix It (Bloomberg) Bono on the birth of U2, that iTunes album and Live Aid: ‘There’s only one thing I can see when I watch it: the mullet’ (The Guardian) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 22, 2022
Talking this week's big week for AI, with Parker Thompson ( @pt ) plus @miguelisolano & @mignano Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 21, 2022
I said Elon’s name five times in front of a mirror and the whole Elon/Twitter headlines came flooding back into our lives. Forbes alleges that they’ve caught TikTok doing the thing that everybody fears. What if I told you there was a third huge AI raise story to round out this week? And of course, the weekend longreads suggestions. Links: Documents detail plans to gut Twitter’s workforce (Washington Post) Twitter Tumbles as US Weighs Security Reviews for Musk Deals (Bloomberg) TikTok Parent ByteDance Planned To Use TikTok To Monitor The Physical Location Of Specific American Citizens (Forbes) OpenAI, Valued at Nearly $20 Billion, in Advanced Talks with Microsoft For More Funding (The Information) Snap plunges more than 25% on third-quarter revenue miss (CNBC) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: Technology that lets us “speak” to our dead relatives has arrived. Are we ready? (MIT Technology Review) How Gamers Beat NFTs (Bloomberg) The Hottest App Right Now? One Where Teens Have to Say Nice Things About Each Other (WSJ) I Turned My Home Into a Fortress of Surveillance (The Atlantic) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 20, 2022
The big Solana challenger had a terrible first day of trading. Previews of the new Thunderbolt standard. Reviews of the new Raptor Lake chips. Uber takes a page out of the New York City taxi playbook. And the first hands-on, quasi-review of Meta’s high end VR headset. Sponsors: Zengo.com/ride and code ride Split.io/techmeme Links: Aptos Token Plummets 40% After APT Airdrop for 'Early Network Participants' (Decrypt) Android 13 (Go edition) announced with Material You, Google Play System Updates, and more (9to5Google) The next generation of Thunderbolt seems nice but less necessary than ever (The Verge) Intel Core i9-13900K review: an AMD Zen 4 beater (The Verge) Uber rolls out ad business to reach more riders (FT) I Tried the $1,500 Quest Pro and Saw the Best of the Metaverse (NYTimes) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 19, 2022
Netflix actually beat on earnings and customer additions. Why their pivot to ads might actually be in line with their long-term strategy. Yesterday’s iPad releases were even more complicated, and stranger, frankly, than I told you. Bluesky is still plugging away on decentralized social media. And another monster interesting raise in the AI space. Links: Netflix adds more than 2.4 million subscribers, reveals details about password-sharing crackdown (CNBC) The New Netflix Age Has Arrived (Puck/Julia Alexander) The iPad’s erratic odyssey continues (Jason Snell/Six Colors) Jack Dorsey-Founded Bluesky Unveils Roadmap for Decentralized Social Networks (Decrypt) AI content platform Jasper raises $125M at a $1.5B valuation (TechCrunch) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 18, 2022
New iPad Pros and new Apple TV 4ks. Meta walks away from the Giphy acquisition. Layoffs at Microsoft. High attrition at Amazon. Mobileye is probably going to IPO at a significant discount than people hoped? And why I’ve been telling you that the energy in Silicon Valley is switching to AI startups. Sponsors: Merge Conflict Podcast Links: Apple introduces next-generation iPad Pro, supercharged by the M2 chip (Apple Newsroom) Apple announces new 11-inch and 12.9-inch iPad Pro with M2 chip, Apple Pencil hover feature (9to5Mac) Apple Announces 10th-Generation iPad With Complete Redesign, 10.9-Inch Display, USB-C, and More (MacRumors) Meta gets final order to sell Giphy from UK antitrust watchdog (TechCrunch) Microsoft becomes latest tech firm to cut staff (Axios) Exclusive: Amazon’s attrition costs $8 billion annually according to leaked documents. And it gets worse. (Engadget) Intel Eyes Significantly Lower Valuation in IPO of Mobileye Unit (WSJ) Stability AI Raises Seed Round at $1 Billion Value (Bloomberg) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 17, 2022
Looks like Ye, née Kanye West, is going to try to buy the social network Parler. A look at the Chinese export controls that could potentially force American executives to choose between their jobs and their American citizenship. Wait until you hear about the Mango Markets exploit. And what do you think is the global population of robots, right now? Today? Sponsors: RocketMoney.com/ride Links: Kanye West is buying ‘free speech platform’ Parler (The Verge) Kanye West to buy social media app Parler (The Verge) Decentralized Solana-based trading platform Mango reportedly hit by $100 million exploit (Fortune) Biden declares economic war on the Chinese semiconductor industry (Noahpinion) With New Crackdown, Biden Wages Global Campaign on Chinese Technology (NYTimes) American Executives in Limbo at Chinese Chip Companies After U.S. Ban (WSJ) Meet the Army of Robots Coming to Fill In for Scarce Workers (WSJ) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 14, 2022
We now know how much Netflix with Ads will cost; we think we know how many ads they have to show us to make up for the lost revenue. What is unclear is if people will watch that many ads. It looks like Zuck lied to us about having legs in the Metaverse. Something something, eventually every company becomes a bank. I’m talking about the Apple savings account. And, of course, the weekend longreads suggestions. Sponsors: See NordPass Business in action now with a 3-month free trial here nordpass.com/techmeme with code TECHMEME Links: Netflix’s ad tier will cost $6.99 a month and launch in November (The Verge) Meta Avatar Legs Demo ‘Created By Motion Capture’, Not Live VR (UploadVR) Facebook's Legs Video Was A Lie (Kotaku) Apple Card to Offer Savings Account for Daily Cash (MacRumors) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: WhatsApp is now a spammers’ paradise in India (Rest of World) The GIF Is on Its Deathbed (The Atlantic) Can Kickstarter’s new CEO help the company get its mojo back? (Fast Company) The computer errors from outer space (BBC Future) How the Glengarry Glen Ross “Coffee Is for Closers” Scene Got Made (Vanity Fair) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 13, 2022
Signal is phasing out SMS and MMS. Microsoft is sunsetting Microsoft Office branding. The SEC is poised to officially ban some Chinese hardware. Is AR not living up to its promise as a tool for soldiers on the battlefield? And would you ghostwrite tweets for prominent venture capitalists? There’s good money in it. Sponsors: Merge Conflict Podcast Links: Signal will remove support for SMS text messages on Android (BleepingComputer) Microsoft Office will become Microsoft 365 in major brand overhaul (The Verge) FCC poised to ban all U.S. sales of new Huawei and ZTE equipment (Axios) Microsoft’s Army Goggles Left US Soldiers With Nausea, Headaches in Test (Bloomberg) TikTok Parent ByteDance Sets Sights on Spotify With Music-Streaming Expansion (WSJ) I made $200,000 last year ghostwriting tweets for superstar VCs. It takes me 5 hours a week. Here's how I found my clients and built a booming side hustle from scratch. (Insider) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 12, 2022
Only two big stories really. We break down yesterday’s Meta VR event, including the new high end Quest Pro. But did Zuck show us anything that will get anyone excited about the Metaverse yet? And Microsoft’s Surface event had a lot of Surface refreshes, but was the big news actually their integration of DALL-E 2 with a new Designer app? The productivity space is hot… Sponsors: TED Tech Podcast Links: The Meta Quest Pro costs $1,499 and ships October 25th (The Verge) What happened to the virtual reality gaming revolution? (Ars Technica) It’s painful how hellbent Mark Zuckerberg is on convincing us that VR is a thing (TechCrunch) Zuckerberg’s $1,499 Headsets Won’t Help Meta (Bloomberg) Surface Pro 9 lets you pick between Intel or Arm 5G and new color options (The Verge) Microsoft's (barely) refreshed Surface Laptop 5 starts at $1,000 (Engadget) Microsoft’s Surface Studio 2 Plus ships with an RTX 3060 for $4,299 (The Verge) Microsoft brings DALL-E 2 to the masses with Designer and Image Creator (TechCrunch) Microsoft’s Adaptive Accessories finally have a release date (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 11, 2022
A whole bunch of things, including a major US bank getting into crypto custody, paying for Google cloud with crypto, Chromebooks made for gaming, the lack of anyone in the current slate of virtual worlds, the return of the cable bundle example 100, and did you know your Apple AirTags only last a year? Sponsors: Masterworks.com/ride Medcline.com/techmeme Links: America’s Oldest Bank, BNY Mellon, Will Hold That Crypto Now (WSJ) Google selects Coinbase to take cloud payments with cryptocurrencies and will use its custody tool (CNBC) Chips, canvases, and chats: Google Workspace’s plan to crush Office (The Verge) Google is trying to make Chromebooks built for cloud gaming (Engadget) It's Lonely in the Metaverse: DappRadar Data Suggests Decentraland Has 38 ‘Daily Active’ Users in $1.3B Ecosystem (CoinDesk) You Hated Your Cable Package. Your Streaming Services Are Bringing It Back. (WSJ) ‘The Owner of This iPhone Was in a Severe Car Crash’—or Just on a Roller Coaster (WSJ) How to change the AirTags battery (AppleInsider) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 7, 2022
There’s another huge crypto hack and I’ll give you two guesses as to what folks think the culprit is. The Twitter/Elon trial is officially paused. Meta can’t get its own developers to use their metaverse products. Maybe my dream of Death Star style anklebots is over. And, of course, the weekend longreads suggestions. Sponsors: Wealthfront.com/techmeme Links: Binance-linked blockchain hit by $570 million crypto hack (Reuters) The Elon Musk vs. Twitter trial is on hold until October 28th (The Verge) Meta’s flagship metaverse app is too buggy and employees are barely using it, says exec in charge (The Verge) Amazon Abandons Home Delivery Robot Tests in Latest Cost Cuts (Bloomberg) Samsung Details GDDR7 and 1,000-Layer V-NAND Plans (Tom's Hardware) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: Even After $100 Billion, Self-Driving Cars Are Going Nowhere (Bloomberg) The Illustrated Stable Diffusion (Jay Alammar) Swiss Dropout Worth $14 Billion Moves Startup Away From Porn (Bloomberg) The Next Big Battle Between Google and Apple Is for the Soul of Your Car (WSJ) How To Download All of Wikipedia onto a USB Flash Drive in 2022 (Planet of the Paul) A Canticle for Leibowitz (Wikipedia) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 6, 2022
All the headlines from the Made By Google event. Elon sure wants to avoid being deposed. Why a guilty verdict for Uber’s former Chief Security Officer could have broader ramifications in the tech world. And the new text to video AI systems, this time, from Google. Sponsors: Titan.com/ride Ted Tech Podcast Links: Google unveils Pixel 7 Pro with Tensor G2 processor, 5x telephoto, starts at $899 (9to5Google) Google gets serious about wearables with the Pixel Watch (TechCrunch) Elon Musk’s deposition delayed as he wrangles with Twitter over deal (Financial Times) Former Uber Security Chief Found Guilty of Hiding Hack From Authorities (NYTimes) Former Uber security chief convicted of covering up 2016 data breach (Washington Post) Google answers Meta’s video-generating AI with its own, dubbed Imagen Video (TechCrunch) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 5, 2022
Yes, we’ll get into the whole Twitter/Elon thing. Seems he wants the original deal again… or does he? Tesla is removing more sensors from their cars. The hugely problematic launch of Overwatch 2. And the tech angle to that whole Chess cheating scandal. Links: Musk Revives $44 Billion Twitter Bid, Aiming to Avoid Trial (Bloomberg) Elon Musk says Twitter will eventually be part of ‘X, the everything app’ (MarketWatch) Musk offers to proceed with Twitter deal (Axios) Lawyers Lose Out on Millions in Twitter-Musk Legal Fees (Bloomberg) Tesla is now building Model 3 and Model Y vehicles without ultrasonic sensors (TechCrunch) DDoS attack on 'Overwatch 2' servers prevents fans from playing the game on launch day (Engadget) Chess Investigation Finds That U.S. Grandmaster ‘Likely Cheated’ More Than 100 Times (WSJ) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 4, 2022
The EU has made USB-C the charging port law of the land. Xiaomi’s new flagship smartphone with a 200MP camera. New Google Nest things. Is YouTube trying new ways to get you to pay up for Premium. And the big new robotics push in the world of… checks notes… retail pharmacy. Links: EU Passes Law to Switch iPhone to USB-C by End of 2024 (MacRumors) Xiaomi’s 12T Pro launches with high-resolution 200-megapixel camera (The Verge) Google debuts new Nest Doorbell Wired, Nest Wifi Pro and launches fully new Google Home app preview (ZDNet) YouTube is asking some users to purchase a Premium subscription to watch in 4K (TechCrunch) Meta launches AI software tools to ease switching between Nvidia, AMD chips (Reuters) Walgreens Turns to Prescription-Filling Robots to Free Up Pharmacists (WSJ) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 3, 2022
Kim Kardashian has settled with the SEC over crypto promotion on social media. I continue to Wonder if, aside from TikTok, the biggest threat to Zuckerberg’s metaverse plans is actually Sony. The Supreme Court is gonna hear cases that could pierce the veil of Section 230. And the other social media law from Texas that Silicon Valley is fighting tooth and nail. Links: Kim Kardashian pays over $1 million to settle SEC charges linked to a crypto promo on her Instagram (CNBC) Celsius Network founder withdrew $10mn ahead of bankruptcy (FT) Sony Betting Big on Next VR Headset With Increased Production Plan (Bloomberg) Social Media Company Liability Draws Supreme Court Scrutiny (Bloomberg) Texas Social-Media Law on Web Censorship Upheld by Federal Appeals Court (Bloomberg) Tech companies are gaming out responses to the Texas social media law (Washington Post) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 1, 2022
NFT Struggles, Google Stadia And New Kindles with @aidanfitzryan and @ArtSabintsev Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 30, 2022
Stop me if you’ve heard this one before, but Google is abandoning a major project, maybe it’s biggest cancellation ever. More cutbacks at Meta. Though one tech company is gonna test the IPO waters soon. Be a fly on the wall as Elon talks to everyone in Silicon Valley about maybe buying Twitter. And, of course, the Weekend Longreads Suggestions. Links: Google is shutting down Stadia (The Verge) Meta to Cut Headcount for First Time, Slash Budgets Across Teams (Bloomberg) TripActions reportedly files to go public at $12 billion valuation (TechCrunch) Jack Dorsey tried to get Elon Musk on Twitter’s board but directors were too ‘risk averse,’ texts reveal (CNBC) Elon Musk’s Text Exchanges Show Twitter Deal Going Off The Rails (Big Technology) How Elon Musk, Jack Dorsey, and Parag Agrawal cratered the Twitter deal, in texts (The Verge) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: Google is trying to reinvent search — by being more than a search engine (The Verge) Twitter Is in This Mess Because Jack Dorsey Was Too Busy Being a Bitcoin Influencer (Bloomberg) Here's Why Movie Dialogue Has Gotten More Difficult To Understand (And Three Ways To Fix It) (SlashFilm) Someone is pretending to be me. (Connor Tumbleson) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 29, 2022
Meta takes down an app that tried to strip out the cruft from Instagram (but also the ads). Bunch of new Maps features from Google. All the headlines from yesterday’s Amazon event, including a Kindle you can write on. And text to image generators are cool. But you know what’s really cool, text to video generators. Sponsors: Titan.com/ride Links: The OG App promised an ad-free Instagram feed then got pulled from App Store (TechCrunch) The 11 biggest announcements at Amazon’s hardware launch event (The Verge) Amazon’s Kindle Scribe is an E Ink tablet for reading and writing (The Verge) Here are all of the new features and updates coming to Google Maps (TechCrunch) SWIFT Partners With Crypto Data Provider Chainlink on Cross-Chain Protocol in TradFi Play (CoinDesk) Meta’s new text-to-video AI generator is like DALL-E for video (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 28, 2022
On second thought, Apple is pulling back on iPhone production which suggests demand is not what they anticipated. Intel’s new 13th-Gen chips and new low-end GPU. Checking on the Elon/Twitter trial and the NFT market. And what to expect from this week’s Tesla AI event. Links: Apple Ditches iPhone Production Increase After Demand Falters (Bloomberg) The latest iPadOS 16 beta brings Stage Manager to older iPad Pro models (Engadget) Intel’s 13th Gen processors arrive October 20th with $589 flagship Core i9-13900K (The Verge) Intel Arc A770 graphics card to launch October 12 for $329 (PCGamer) NFT Trading Volumes Collapse 97% From January Peak (Bloomberg) Twitter says Elon Musk’s own data scientists did not back up bots claims (Financial Times) Turnstile is Cloudflare’s latest attempt to rid the web of CAPTCHAs (The Verge) How To Watch Tesla’s AI Day (Forbes) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 27, 2022
Sam Bankman-Fried finally scoops up Voyager’s assets. Meta says Russia has launched the biggest disinformation campaign of the war. Nreal has finally brough the first real contender for the AR wars to American shores for the first time. And would you consider a Metaverse white paper from the sci-fi writer than inspired the very notion of a Metaverse? Sponsors: Online.UC.edu Masterworks.com/ride ** Links: Crypto Exchange FTX Wins Bankrupt Firm Voyager’s Assets (Bloomberg) ‘Smash and grab’: Meta uncovers Russia's ‘largest and most complex’ info op since the war began (Protocol) Meta makes it easier to switch between Facebook and Instagram accounts (CNBC) Nreal’s $379 AR glasses launch in the US today (The Verge) If you still miss Google Reader, Substack has a new web-based RSS client (The Verge) Walmart enters the metaverse with Roblox experiences aimed at younger shoppers (CNBC) Neal Stephenson’s Lamina1 drops white paper on building the open metaverse (GamesBeat) **Net est. returns for all realized and unrealized offerings is 15.3%, from inception through 6/30/22. See important Reg A and performance disclosures at masterworks.io/cd Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 26, 2022
UK police make an arrest many believe is related to those recent Uber and Rockstar hacks. Will the iPhone get a design overhaul next year? Cloudflare’s interesting new Zero Trust SIM. Maybe the first copyright for that new AI Art stuff? And why AI is allowing Darth Vader’s voice to live on forever. Sponsors: Medcline.com/techmeme ZocDoc.com/techmeme Links: UK Police arrests teen believed to be behind Uber, Rockstar hacks (BleepingComputer) One Week with the iPhone 14 Pro Max: Apple’s Not-So-Dynamic Island (Bloomberg) Cloudflare launches an eSIM to secure mobile devices (TechCrunch) TikTok Seen Moving Toward U.S. Security Deal, but Hurdles Remain (NYTimes) Artist receives first known US copyright registration for latent diffusion AI art (ArsTechnica) James Earl Jones Steps Back From Voicing Darth Vader, Signs Off on Using Archived Recordings to Recreate Voice With A.I. (Variety) Darth Vader’s Voice Emanated From War-Torn Ukraine (Variety) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 24, 2022
Argyle is a BIM to Augmented Reality app for Heavy Construction. More at Argyle.Build Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 23, 2022
If DAO’s are a modern, blockchain take on the corporation, I’ve got a big, worrying thing to tell you about them. Apple looks to cozy up to the NFL as Amazon seems to have found immediate success with Thursday Night Football. Fitbit takes a page out of the Oculus playbook, post-acquisition. And, of course, the weekend longreads suggestions. Links: CFTC Penalizes Blockchain Protocol $250K, Files Action Against Successor DAO (CoinDesk) Apple to Sponsor the Super Bowl Halftime Show (NYTimes) Amazon Scores Big With First ‘Thursday Night Football’ Game (The Hollywood Reporter) Fitbit will require a Google Account to use new devices and features from 2023 onward (9to5Google) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: The Sneaky Genius of Apple’s AirPods Empire (Bloomberg) How a Quebec Lithium Mine May Help Make Electric Cars Affordable (NYTimes) Unauthorized Shein boutiques are popping up across Mexico (Rest of World) College Dropout Turns Thiel Fellowship Into a $2 Billion Figma Fortune (Bloomberg) Why Do All These 20-Somethings Have Closed Captions Turned On? (WSJ) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 22, 2022
More gaming hacks. Instagram wants to stop unsolicited sending of nudes. Layoffs come for Meta in all but name. The end-run Google wants to do around Dolby. Getty Images bans AI art. Larry Page’s flying car startup is shutting down. And a review of the new Apple Watch Ultra. Links: 2K Games says hacked help desk targeted players with malware (BleepingComputer) Instagram’s finally working on protecting users from unsolicited nude photos (The Verge) Meta Quietly Reduces Staff in Cost-Cutting Push (WSJ) Google wants to take on Dolby with new open media formats (Protocol) Getty Images bans AI-generated content over fears of legal challenges (The Verge) TikTok’s BeReal clone app is gaining traction outside the US (The Verge) Google co-founder’s flying car startup is winding down (CNBC) Apple Watch Ultra review: an aspirational debut (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 21, 2022
Twitch is the main character of the show today, for good and bad reasons. YouTube takes a serious swing at TikTok. Microsoft releases Windows 11's first major update. Nividia outlines its next gen GPUs. Can Helium make it as an MVNO? And Google does Google things! Sponsors: Split.io/techmeme Links: Twitch to ban Stake.com streams and other unlicensed gambling content (The Verge) Child Predators Use Twitch to Systematically Track Kids Livestreaming (Bloomberg) YouTube will share ad revenue with Shorts creators (Engadget) Windows 11’s 2022 Update has something new for everyone (The Verge) Nvidia announces next-gen RTX 4090 and RTX 4080 GPUs (The Verge) Helium Founders, T-Mobile Launch Crypto-Powered 5G Mobile Service (Decrypt) Google is finally making its to-do list and reminder tools work together (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 20, 2022
Now the hackers have come for the crypto market makers. Spotify gets into the Audiobooks game. Slack gets in on the whole productivity apps renaissance. Actual inflation is coming to the app store and 1 Euro apps will soon be no more. And the chat room that only opens its doors when your phone’s battery is about to die. Sponsors: Online.UC.edu Links: Crypto market maker Wintermute hacked for $160 million (The Block) Uber links breach to Lapsus$ group, blames contractor for hack (BleepingComputer) Rockstar comments on GTA 6 leak and claims project won’t be delayed (VideoGameChronicle) Nasdaq is preparing to launch an institutional crypto custody service (The Block) Spotify Launches Audiobooks Business With A La Carte Pricing, No Discounts for Subscribers (The Hollywood Reporter) Slack’s new Canvas feature puts a document editor in your chat window (The Verge) Apple to raise App Store prices in multiple countries next month (9to5Mac) Apple says software update coming next week to fix iPhone 14 Pro camera shake issue (9to5Mac) This Chatroom Only Opens When Your Phone’s About to Die (Motherboard) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 19, 2022
Did the same kid who allegedly hacked Uber allegedly leak GTA VI gameplay over the weekend? Interpol drops a red ball on Do Kwan. iPhone 14 Pro users report their cameras literally shake when they try to take pictures. Instacart wants to break the tech IPO hex. And the bull and bear case for the Figma acquisition. Links: GTA 6 gameplay leaks online in 90 videos (The Verge) South Korean prosecutors ask Interpol to issue red notice for Do Kwon (Financial Times) iPhone 14 Pro camera shaking and rattling in TikTok, Snapchat, and other apps (9to5Mac) 'No One Is Profitable': GPU Mining Faces Dark Days After Ethereum Merge (PCMag) Instacart Plans to Focus IPO on Selling Employee Shares (WSJ) The Adobe-Figma deal is historic for tech startups — if it goes through (Protocol) Why Figma is Worth $20B And Other Observations From The Adobe Acquisition (Hunter Walk) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 17, 2022
Building the fundamental assets for the metaverse, with Treasury. If you want to learn more, contact me, or check out Treasury.space . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 16, 2022
Uber is investigating a breach of its systems that has caused it to take some of its most important systems offline. The White House has finally delivered that big “comprehensive framework” for crypto regulation. How did Amazon do with its NFL broadcast last night? And, of course, the Weekend Longreads Suggestions. Links: Uber Investigating Breach of Its Computer Systems (NYTimes) Uber suffers computer system breach, alerts authorities (Washington Post) White House Releases ‘Comprehensive Framework’ for Crypto Regulation and Development (Decrypt) The Amazon Experience Comes to the NFL (The Ringer) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: The AI Unbundling (Stratechery) Deere Invests Billions in Self-Driving Tractors, Smart Crop Sprayers (WSJ) The Collectors Who Save Video-Game History from Oblivion (The New Yorker) The Enduring Allure of Choose Your Own Adventure Books (The New Yorker) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 15, 2022
Adobe plans to acquire Figma for the biggest ever private software company acquisition. Is this a sign of things to come in the productivity space? Happy The Merge Day for Ethereum. TikTok just copies and pastes a BeReal clone. And California launches the first lawsuit against Amazon that might have real consequences. Links: Adobe Tumbles After Agreeing to Buy Figma for About $20 Billion (Bloomberg) Canva moves beyond graphic design to launch a visual worksuite (TechCrunch) Zoom Readies Email and Calendar Products to Defend Itself Against Microsoft, Google (The Information) Ethereum activates The Merge as it shifts to proof of stake (The Block) TikTok just launched a BeReal clone called TikTok Now (TechCrunch) California Files Antitrust Lawsuit Against Amazon (NYTimes) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 14, 2022
Arrest warrants for those behind LUNA and UST. Anti-cheating technology comes to video games. Apple is going all in on 3nm chips and soon. Mudge’s testimony before Congress yesterday. A first hands-on with the new Playstation VR thingy. And the reviews for the iPhone 14 are out. Sponsors: LadderLife.com/ride Links: Terra Co-Founder Do Kwon Faces Arrest Warrant in South Korea (Bloomberg) U.S. Treasury Department releases Tornado Cash guidance (Axios) Google Suffers Setback in Court Fight to Topple Record EU Fine (Bloomberg) EA will debut new anti-cheat tech with 'FIFA 23' on PC (Engadget) Apple to use TSMC's next 3-nm chip tech in iPhones, Macs next year (NikkeiAsia) We finally got our hands and eyes on the PlayStation VR2 (The Verge) What we learned when Twitter whistleblower Mudge testified to Congress (TechCrunch) Apple iPhone 14 review: meet the iPhone 13S (The Verge) Apple iPhone 14 Pro review: early adopter island (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 13, 2022
Google does what it does best. Kills a product line. As the Twitter whistleblower testifies before congress, did extreme heat in California almost bring Twitter down recently? Amazon has updated the entry-level Kindle. And a review of the recently released iOS 16. Sponsors: Masterworks.com/ride Online.UC.edu Links: Google canceled its next Pixelbook and shut down the team building it (The Verge) Twitter starts rolling out podcasts to Blue subscribers (Engadget) Extreme California heat knocks key Twitter data center offline (CNN) Splatoon 3 has smashed Switch launch records in Japan (VideoGamesChronicle) The Cheapest Kindle Is Now Less Cheap, but It’s Got a Better Screen (Gizmodo) Intel just leaked its 13th Gen processor specs (The Verge) iOS 16 review: unlocking the lock screen (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 12, 2022
One of those new Meta Quest headsets just happens to have been found in the wild. New Roku gear. Starbucks announces an NFT project. A spinoff Google Moonshot that might be the next generation networking gear. And is TikTok in the crosshairs again, and this time, not just for the US government? Sponsors: Zengo.com/ride code: ride Medcline.com/techmeme Links: ‘Quest Pro’ video shows Meta’s next VR headset a month before its launch event (The Verge) New Linux malware combines unusual stealth with a full suite of capabilities (ArsTechnica) Starbucks details its blockchain-based loyalty platform and NFT community, Starbucks Odyssey (TechCrunch) Roku to Launch ‘The Buzz’ Short-Form Content Hub on Home Screen, Refreshes $30 Streaming Device (Variety) Google’s Loon Project Gets Resurrected. Without Google. Or Balloons (Bloomberg) TikTok’s Secret To Explosive Growth? ‘Billions And Billions Of Dollars’ Says Snap CEO Evan Spiegel (Forbes) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 9, 2022
Is the US government about to legally curtail proof of work crypto projects? Intel’s big new GPU specs. Uber Eats signs a deal to get into the ankle bots business. What I believe is the oldest startup ever to be acquired by a tech giant. And, of course, the weekend longreads suggestions. Sponsors: DataTribe.com , enter by Sept. 23 Ramp.com/techmeme Links: White House report proposes possible restrictions on proof-of-work crypto mining (The Block) Intel Reveals Specifications For Arc Alchemist Desktop GPUs (Tom's Hardware) Uber Eats and Nuro sign a 10-year deal to do robot food delivery in California and Texas (The Verge) Amazon is buying Cloostermans, a mechatronics specialist in Belgium, to ramp up its robotics operations (The Verge) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: With Stable Diffusion, you may never believe what you see online again (ArsTechnica) They built a Minecraft crypto empire. Then it all came crashing down (Rest of World) Inside the World's First No-Coiner Conference (Decrypt) Just a Few People Crowned Some of YouTube’s Earliest Hits (The Atlantic) The super-rich ‘preppers’ planning to save themselves from the apocalypse (The Guardian) Apple's features graveyard: Once heavily marketed, now gone (Apple Insider) The ‘deaditors’ of Wikipedia (HayKranen.nl) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 8, 2022
Disney’s former CEO throws another lifeline to Elon Musk in his Twitter suit. Crypto folks are suing the US Treasury over an important crypto precedent. Why the current YC batch is still crypto heavy. A very interesting crypto raise. And a deeper look at the iPhone 14 Pro's Dynamic Island. Sponsors: Split.io/techmeme Links: Why Disney didn’t buy Twitter (Vox) Coinbase employees and Ethereum backers sue U.S. Treasury over Tornado Cash sanctions (Fortune) Legendary China Bets Unwind as Buffett, SoftBank Sell (Bloomberg) Y Combinator is doubling down on crypto founders despite market volatility (TechCrunch) Mysten Labs, creator of the Sui blockchain, closes $300 million raise led by FTX Ventures (The Block) How the iPhone 14 Pro Transforms Blank Screen Space Into Something Actually Useful (CNET) Apple might have fixed the notch by putting it on an island (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 7, 2022
All the headlines from Apple’s Far Out iPhone event. Not to be outdone, details on the next Google Pixel event and Meta Quest Pro events. Ring brings end to end encryption to all its hardware. And for the first time in history, an alleged cyberattack has led to a severing of diplomatic ties. Sponsors: Go.Factor75.com/techmeme130 and code techmeme130 for $130 off CyberSecurityInside.com/ride Links: The iPhone 14 and 14 Plus are official with satellite-based Emergency SOS (The Verge) iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max announced with animated notches and always-on displays (The Verge) The Apple Watch Ultra is finally here (The Verge) Apple’s new AirPods Pro can cancel twice as much noise (The Verge) Google confirms Pixel 7 series will run on new ‘Tensor G2’ chip (9to5Google) Meta Connect Is A One-Day Virtual Event On October 11th (UploadVR) Ring finally brings end-to-end encryption to its flagship video doorbells (The Verge) Albania cuts diplomatic ties with Iran over July cyberattack (APNews) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 6, 2022
Pretty high priority zero-day to tell you about. Is Binance about to upend the stablecoin market with its muscle? When your electrical utility takes over your smart thermostat. And how that rumored always on iPhone display might work in practice. Sponsors: Online.UC.edu Babbel.com/ride Links: Google Chrome emergency update fixes new zero-day used in attacks (BleepingComputer) Binance, Issuer of Third-Biggest Stablecoin, to Stop Supporting Larger Rival USDC (CoinDesk) CVS Makes $8 Billion Bet on the Return of the House Call (NYTimes) Thousands of Xcel customers locked out of thermostats during 'energy emergency' (Denver7) Ahead of iPhone 14 event, Brazil suspends iPhone sales without power brick and fines Apple (9to5Mac) iPhone 14 Pro's Always-On Display Behavior in iOS 16 Allegedly Revealed Days Ahead of Unveiling (MacRumors) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 3, 2022
Talking the state of Snap, Substack, and the creator economy generally, with @kyurieff , @simonowens , @MattNavarra , @corinne_podger & @BullishStudio ! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 2, 2022
The iPhone install base has surpassed the Android install base in the US for the first time basically since Android began. Apple settled with a developer for the first time any of us can remember. Meta signs a VR chip deal with Qualcomm. The really good and really annoying bits of the new USB standard. And, of course, the Weekend Longreads Suggestions. Links: Apple overtakes Android to pass 50% share of smartphones used in US (Financial Times) Apple settles lawsuit with developer over App Store rejections and scams (TechCrunch) Meta, Qualcomm sign pact on custom virtual reality chips (Reuters) Next-gen USB promises to be twice as fast, using cables you may already own (The Verge) More USB-C speed won't fix users' problems with cables (Apple Insider) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: An Apple Watch for Your 5-Year-Old? More Parents Say Yes. (NYTimes) Interview: Vitalik Buterin, creator of Ethereum (Noahpinion) Exploring 12 Million of the 2.3 Billion Images Used to Train Stable Diffusion’s Image Generator (Waxy.org) The Rise of Tech Blogs in the Mid-2000s (Nirit Weiss-Blatt) Kids Yell “Poop” At Alexa, And These Musicians Profit (BuzzFeed) AMAZON’S THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE RINGS OF POWER IS SMALL-SCREEN HIGH FANTASY DONE RIGHT (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 1, 2022
At long last, an edit button has come to Twitter. Nvidia and AMD say the US has imposed restrictions on exporting chips for AI-related applications to Russia and China. How Apple is gonna handle its new holepunch configuration. Disney wants its own Prime. And an AI art-creation bot you can try, right now, for free. Links: Twitter starts testing an edit button, but you have to pay for it (The Verge) Nvidia, AMD warned of new US export restrictions on AI chips (Protocol) Source: iPhone 14 Pro display cutout to show camera plus microphone privacy indicators; redesigned Camera app also coming (9to5Mac) Disney Explores Membership Program Like Amazon Prime to Offer Discounts and Perks (WSJ) Lenovo’s ThinkPad X1 Fold Gen 2 is bigger, better, and way more powerful (XDA Developers) An AI-Generated Artwork Won First Place at a State Fair Fine Arts Competition, and Artists Are Pissed (Motherboard) Stable Diffusion is a really big deal (Simon Willison's Weblog) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 31, 2022
Huge, huge layoffs at Snap. Say hello to Apple Xcode Cloud Subscriptions. Say hello to “can’t be evil” NFT licenses. Forget foldable phones, I have a very interesting foldable laptop to tell you about. And if your crypto exchange fat fingered you $10 million dollars as a mistake, what would you buy? Sponsors: Split.io/techmeme Storyblok.com/ridehome Links: Snap plans to lay off 20 percent of employees (The Verge) Xcode Cloud Subscriptions Now Available for Developers (MacRumors) A16z Wants to Standardize NFTs by Giving You a License for Your Token (CoinDesk) Ticketmaster taps the Flow blockchain to let event organizers issue NFTs tied to tickets (TechCrunch) Comcast and Charter face a grim new reality: actual competition (Fast Company) ASUS ZENBOOK 17 FOLD OLED REVIEW: THE BEST FOLDABLE YET (The Verge) Crypto.com Sues Woman After Sending Her $10 Million by Mistake: Report (Decrypt) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 30, 2022
Elon looks like he’s grabbing onto the Twitter whistleblower as a new argumentative lifeline. The big new CPU lineup from AMD. Gopuff is borrowing money to buy some time. Why did Twitter shelve plans for an OnlyFans clone? And is AI about to unlock our ability to understand what animals are saying? Sponsors: TrueClassic.com code Ride for 25% off Storyblok.com/ridehome Links: Elon Musk Attacks Twitter Deal Over Whistle-Blower as Feud Escalates (Bloomberg) Musk Tries a New Way Out of Twitter (Matt Levine/Bloomberg) Twitter is launching its ‘Close Friends’ feature Circle globally (TechCrunch) HOW TWITTER’S CHILD PORN PROBLEM RUINED ITS PLANS FOR AN ONLYFANS COMPETITOR (The Verge) AMD Details Ryzen 7000 Launch (AnandTech) Gopuff Tries to Raise Money Again (WSJ) The Animal Translators (NYTimes) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 29, 2022
Really, Apple? THAT is what you’re going to call your AR/VR glasses? I tell you what “that” is. A look at the passkeys Apple is bringing us soon. More deets on the Netflix ad-supported tier. WhatsApp’s super-app ambitions seem to be bearing fruit in India. And is it too late for Eminem and Snoop Dogg to save the NFT market? Sponsors: Kolide.com/ride Links: Trademark Filings Suggest Apple May Be Securing ‘Reality’ Names for AR/VR Headset (Bloomberg) Apple says 95% of iCloud users already have 2FA enabled ahead of Passkeys launch (9to5Mac) Snapchat brings 'Dual Camera' recording to in-app camera (Engadget) Netflix Eyes $7-to-$9 Price for Its New Ad-Supported Plan (Bloomberg) Meta and Jio launch grocery shopping on WhatsApp in India (TechCrunch) WhatsApp’s super app ambitions are starting to come true in India (The Verge) MTV VMAs: Eminem and Snoop Dogg Perform as Bored Apes in the Metaverse (CNET) Looks bare: OpenSea turns into NFT ghost-town after volume plunges 99% in 90 days (CoinTelegraph) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 27, 2022
First up, we have @KevinTDugan to give us deeper insight into the whole Twitter whistleblower situation. And then, @KylanGibbs of @inworld_ai convinces me we are maybe closer to the Metaverse than I ever thought possible. TLDR: AI might really be at a tipping point. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 26, 2022
Forget 5G, T-Mobile and SpaceX are teaming up to offer Zero-G Services. LastPass has gotten hacked, but we think your passwords are safe. When we can expect the new VR headset from Meta to be revealed. Twitter puts podcasts in your feed. And of course, the weekend longreads suggestions. Sponsors: Storyblok.com/ridehome Links: T-Mobile and SpaceX Starlink say your 5G phone will connect to satellites next year (The Verge) LastPass developer systems hacked to steal source code (BleepingComputer) Twilio hackers breached over 130 organizations during months-long hacking spree (TechCrunch) Meta to debut new VR headset in October, Mark Zuckerberg tells Joe Rogan (CNBC) Twitter is becoming a podcast app (The Verge) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: The Crypto World Can’t Wait for ‘the Merge’ (NYTimes) Ethereum Overhaul Risks Creating a New Class of Kingpins (Bloomberg) TikTok, Hospitals And Tutoring Apps: The Many Tentacles Of Chinese Tech Giant ByteDance (Forbes) After the Zodiac Killer's '340' Cipher Stumped the FBI, Three Amateurs Made a Breakthrough (Popular Mechanics) ‘BlackBerry’: Story of Doomed Smartphone Company Casts Jay Baruchel & Glenn Howerton, XYZ Films Boards Sales for TIFF (EXCLUSIVE) (Variety) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 25, 2022
The Twitter Whistleblower is a big concern for Twitter, no matter what happens with the Elon stuff. Amazon zags slightly in its healthcare march. iPhone even official announcement. Ethereum merge dates officially solidified. Some new PCs from HP and what to expect from Nvidia’s next generation GPUs. Sponsors: Storyblok.com/ridehome Links: Twitter whistleblower to testify in Congress about security failures (Washington Post) Twitter executives face questions from employees after whistleblower claims (CNN Business) Internal memo: Amazon Care to shut down, ‘not a complete enough offering’ for corporate customers (GeekWire) What Apple's September Event Invite May Tell Us About the iPhone 14 (CNET) Ethereum Foundation confirms September dates for the Merge (The Block) Crypto’s massive marketing efforts have drawn few new investors (Washington Post) HP's new PCs include its first Dragonfly Folio and a 34-inch all-in-one (Engadget) Nvidia to announce next-gen GPU architecture in September amid RTX 4090 rumors (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 24, 2022
A deep dive into that Twitter whistleblower, because the allegations are getting pretty interesting, and it turns out he’s a bigger deal than I knew. Apple is breaking it’s iPadOS release cadence. Fitbit has unveiled three new wearables. And why just deciding to bring the silicon industry back onshore is not as easy as just passing billions in subsidies. Sponsors: Split.io/techmeme Links: India forced Twitter to put agent on payroll, whistleblower says (Reuters) Former security chief claims Twitter buried ‘egregious deficiencies’ (Washington Post) Twitter whistleblower won hacker acclaim for exposing software flaws (Washington Post) Apple delivers iPadOS 16.1 beta ahead of iOS 16 fall release (TechCrunch) Plex tells users to reset their passwords after potential data breach (Engadget) Fitbit Drops 3 New Fitness Trackers—and None Have Wear OS 3 (Wired) Wanted: 7,000 construction workers for Intel chip plants (AP) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 23, 2022
The former head of security at Twitter has blown the whistle on the company saying it was… crap at security. Instagram wants to clone Be Real. More details on the new Sony VR headset. Some eth here, some eth there, eventually brands are making real money on NFTs. And get ready for the biggest leap in smartphone camera tech we’ve seen in a while. Sponsors: CyberSecurityInside.com/ride Links: Former security chief claims Twitter buried ‘egregious deficiencies’ (Washington Post) Instagram's next feature might be a copy of BeReal (Engadget) Apple’s New iPhone 14 to Show India Closing Tech Gap With China (Bloomberg) Sony says the PlayStation VR2 is coming in early 2023 (The Verge) Microsoft is putting more ads in Outlook on iOS and Android (The Verge) NFTs Turn Out to Be a Great Channel of Revenue for Businesses, Ask Nike (NFT Gators) The high-resolution smartphone sensors are coming (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 22, 2022
Amazon continues to be serious about becoming your healthcare provider. Elon Musk is raising prices, I guess cause he can. Confirmation that Sam Bankman-Fried does indeed have a mountain of money. I continue to worry about stablecoins and contagion. And the kids are using FindMy as a new sort of social network. Sponsors: DraftKings Daily Fantasy App Promocode- Techmeme Links: Amazon Among Bidders for Signify Health (WSJ) Elon Musk says Tesla will hike the price of FSD driver assistance software by 25% in September (CNBC) FTX grew revenue 1,000% during the crypto craze, leaked financials show (CNBC) Stablecoin issuers hold $80bn of short-dated US government debt (Financial Times) How the Find My App Became an Accidental Friendship Fixture (NYTimes) A Dad Took Photos of His Naked Toddler for the Doctor. Google Flagged Him as a Criminal. (NYTimes) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 19, 2022
Looks like Evan Spiegel is retrenching in his dreams of making Snap primarily a camera company. Are we about to see the biggest Google Search algorithm change in years? Does TikTok effectively have a keystroke logger, and will this lead to more calls to crack down on them? And of course, the weekend longreads suggestions. Links: Snap Scraps Development on Flying Selfie Pixy Drone (WSJ) Google search updates will prioritize real reviews over clickbait (The Verge) New Google Helpful Content Update To Change SEO Much Like Panda Did (Search Engine Roundtable) TikTok’s in-app browser could be keylogging, privacy analysis warns (TechCrunch) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: Browser Startups Take Aim at Google Chrome, Apple Safari (WSJ) The Crypto Geniuses Who Vaporized a Trillion Dollars (Intelligencer) Streaming Is Starting to Look A Lot Like Cable TV (Lucas Shaw/Bloomberg) Woman Pictured In The Viral 'Girl Explaining' Meme Explains The Origins And Her Reaction To Sudden Internet Fame (Know Your Meme News) How Nokia Ringtones Became The First Viral Earworms (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 18, 2022
Why the date of Apple’s iPhone event is interesting. Why Netflix will take away downloads for its ad-tier. Is the VPN built into iOS a lie? Streaming has finally slain linear television. Cameo will let you actually call celebrities. And does Mark Zuckerberg have no aesthetic taste? Sponsors: Zengo.com/ride code: ride Sponsors: Apple Targets Sept. 7 for iPhone 14 Launch in Flurry of New Devices (Bloomberg) Netflix’s Ad-Supported Plan Will Block Downloads of Shows, Films (Bloomberg) VPNs on iOS are a scam (Michael Horowitz) U.S. Streaming Tops Cable TV Viewing for First Time, Nielsen Says (Variety) Windows 11’s widgets can now trigger notifications on your taskbar (The Verge) Cameo Now Lets You Have 10-Minute Calls With Celebs (Gizmodo) Does Mark Zuckerberg Not Understand How Bad His Metaverse Looks? (Forbes) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 17, 2022
Cracking down on house parties as a service. Apple makes moves to diversify the supply chain. Another worrying datapoint from the semiconductor industry. Have the banks been using WhatsApp to avoid scrutiny from regulators? And can large language models make our dreams of robot butlers a reality? Sponsors: KeeperSecurity.com/techmeme Manscaped.com code RIDE for 20% off Links: Exclusive: Airbnb rolls out new anti-party tech to prevent unapproved gatherings (Fast Company) MacBook design changes enable Vietnamese production for the first time; Apple Watch too (9to5Mac) Chipmakers Are Flashing More Warnings on the Global Economy (Bloomberg) Wall Street's Record Fines Over WhatsApp Use Were Years in the Making (Bloomberg) Amazon is raising seller fees for the holidays to manage through surging inflation (CNBC) Mid-year Crypto Crime Update: Illicit Activity Falls With Rest of Market, With Some Notable Exceptions (Chainalysis) Google invested a whopping $1.5B into blockchain companies since September (CoinTelegraph) Google’s New Robot Learned to Take Orders by Scraping the Web (Wired) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 16, 2022
Was the Twilio breach really about hacking into Signal users? Apple’s serious about returning to the office. Tired: a global chip shortage. Wired: a global chip glut? Amazon says the FTC is harassing its executives. And how far can Uber go to raise prices? Sponsors: DraftKings Daily Fantasy App; Promocode: Techmeme Storyblok.com/ridehome Links: Signal says 1,900 users’ phone numbers exposed by Twilio breach (TechCrunch) Apple Sets Return-to-Office Deadline of Sept. 5 After Covid Delays (Bloomberg) Chipmakers’ Pandemic Boom Turns to Bust as Recession Looms (Bloomberg) Twitter Has to Give Musk Only One Bot Checker's Data: Its Ex-Product Head (Bloomberg) Amazon accuses FTC of harassing executives including Jeff Bezos and Andy Jassy (FT) Walmart+ members will soon get Paramount+ streaming as part of their subscription (Engadget) Uber Raises Prices by About 5% in London to Attract More Drivers (Bloomberg) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 15, 2022
Galaxy Digital shows Elon Musk real reasons to terminate an acquisition deal. a16z is making its biggest ever single investment. You’ll never guess with whom. Snap has more than a million paying subscribers. Cable Internet is losing subscribers for the first time ever. And that time Apple tried to talk Facebook into creating a subscription version of its services. Sponsors: Kolide.com/ride Storyblok.com/ridehome Links: Galaxy Digital terminates its acquisition of BitGo (The Block) Unity rejects AppLovin's takeover bid, to go ahead with ironSource buyout (Reuters) Adam Neumann Gets a New Backer (NYTimes/DealBook) Court Documents Confirm Xbox One Sold Less Than Half PS4 Numbers (GameLuster) Snapchat+ Tops 1 Million Paying Customers, Adds Four New Features (Variety) Cable Finally Loses Broadband Market Share in Q2 with First Negative Growth Quarter Ever (NextTV) The Secret Talks That Could Have Prevented the Apple vs. Facebook War (WSJ) The job openings at Sensel: https://www.indeed.com/cmp/Sensel/jobs Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 14, 2022
Smart money management for web3 organizations. Find out more at Mesha.club . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 13, 2022
We speak today with Bloomberg Economics columnist Noah Smith. Are we in a recession? Are we in store for an actual shooting war with China? Is bitcoin due for one more big pump? Come for all of that, and stick around for Chris and I to hit some stories that fell through the cracks this week, like Google’s ad campaign against iMessage. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 12, 2022
Dutch authorities have arrested a developer related to Tornado Cash. But is there a grey area here that is a bit messy? LinkedIn seems ready to go all in on the creator and influencer economy. Apple seems to have confidence that there’s not going to be a slowdown in iPhone sales. And of course, the weekend Longreads suggestions. Sponsors: Masterworks.com/ride Links: Suspected Tornado Cash developer arrested in Amsterdam (The Block) LinkedIn rolls out new tools to give creators more ways to share visual content (TechCrunch) Apple Expects to Sustain iPhone Sales in 2022 as Market Slows (Bloomberg) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: How Did Two Unknown Latin Music Operators Make $23 Million From YouTube? The IRS Says They Stole It (Billboard) Tornado Cash Crackdown Shows Limits of Regulating Cryptocurrency Services (WSJ) Man who built ISP instead of paying Comcast $50K expands to hundreds of homes (ArsTechnica) New – AWS Private 5G – Build Your Own Private Mobile Network (AWS Blog) The High-Stakes Race to Engineer New Psychedelic Drugs (Wired) The End of Manual Transmission (The Atlantic) The job openings at Sensel: https://www.indeed.com/cmp/Sensel/jobs Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 11, 2022
Disney embraces inflation because it kind of has to. How Facebook and Instagram are sneakily still tracking you, even after Apple’s ATT changes. The FCC has rejected SpaceX for a big rural broadband deal. And where the teens are hanging out online, these days. You kind of know the answer, but the data is still interesting. Sponsors: MacGeekGab.com Storyblok.com/ridehome Links: Disney+ Ad Plan Price and Launch Date Set — Along With Fee Hikes for Disney+ Premium, Hulu (Variety) Cisco hacked by Yanluowang ransomware gang, 2.8GB allegedly stolen (BleepingComputer) CISA warns of Windows and UnRAR flaws exploited in the wild (BleepingComputer) iOS Privacy: Instagram and Facebook can track anything you do on any website in their in-app browser (Felix Krause) FCC denies Starlink’s application for $885M subsidy (TechCrunch) Ethereum's final proof-of-stake 'test merge' is live on Goerli (The Block) Teens, Social Media and Technology 2022 (PEW Research Center) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 10, 2022
All the headlines from this morning’s Galaxy Unpacked event. Walmart wants to ad video to keep up with Prime. Spotify quietly begins selling tickets. And if someone sends you some dirty ETH, and you can’t block receipt of it, are you in trouble? Sponsors: Storyblok.com/ridehome Links: The new Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 is a little better and still too expensive (The Verge) Samsung's Galaxy Z Flip 4 lets you do more while it's closed (Engadget) Samsung goes big on battery with the Galaxy Watch 5 series (The Verge) Walmart Ponders Streaming Deal With Paramount, Disney and Comcast (NYTimes) Spotify starts selling live music tickets to fans directly (TechCrunch) Someone Is Trolling Celebs by Sending ETH From Tornado Cash (CoinDesk) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 9, 2022
WhatsApp rolls out privacy features. The battery icon returns to the iPhone. China is growing restless over its silicon industry. HBOMax will stop getting Warner Movies automatically. The really rugged smartwatch from Garmin. And the real reason Amazon is buying One Medical and iRobot. Sponsors: Ramp.com/techmeme KeeperSecurity.com/techmeme Links: WhatsApp’s new update makes it easier to avoid your friends (The Verge) WhatsApp now lets users delete messages up to two days after they were sent (9to5Mac) iOS 16 beta 5 finally adds the battery percentage to the status bar (9to5Mac) China Graft Probes Stem From Anger Over Failed Chip Plans (Bloomberg) Warner Bros. Movies Are No Longer Guaranteed To Arrive On HBO Max After A 45-Day Theatrical Window: Source (Decider) Garmin adds another bright spot to its line of multisport watches (Android Authority) What Amazon's Roomba and One Medical Deals Have in Common (Bloomberg) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 8, 2022
Masa Son takes another one on the chin, another record loss. The US Treasury is sanctioning a major crypto mixing service. Netflix Gaming is off to a good start or a terrible one, I can’t tell. One of the streaming services is biting the dust. And since we’re aware of the car industry data tracking issue, how much data is Tesla already tracking about your driving? Sponsors: Gusto.com/ride CyberSecurityInside.com/ride Links: SoftBank plans Vision Fund job cuts after record net loss (Reuters) US Treasury sanctions cryptocurrency mixer Tornado Cash (The Block) Twilio hacked by phishing campaign targeting internet companies (TechCrunch) Nvidia warns on second-quarter revenue, shares dip (CNBC) Netflix is expanding its push into video games, but few subscribers are playing along (CNBC) HBO Max, Discovery+ to Merge Into Single Streaming Platform Starting in Summer 2023 (Variety) The Radical Scope of Tesla’s Data Hoard (IEEE Spectrum) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 7, 2022
Stashpad is the developer notepad. Devs! Download the app at Stashpad.com and help us finalize everything before the big launch! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 6, 2022
Our friend Alex Kantrowitz returns to my kitchen table for a crossover episode with Big Technology Podcast ( subscribe here ) to discuss whether or not Meta is going to see its promise land Metaverse? And are we in a recession or just a tech recession? Oh. And tips to survive plane travel. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 5, 2022
Amazon wants to acquire the company that makes the Roomba robot, or as it’s known in my family, Vrrrrooom. We finally know the legal arguments both sides are making in the Elon/Twitter case. Does crashing semiconductor demand prove we’re in a recession or not? And of course, the Weekend Longreads Suggestions. Links: Amazon is buying iRobot for $1.7B (TechCrunch) Twitter slams Elon Musk's response to its lawsuit (Axios) Cooling Semiconductor Sales Heighten Fears of a Global Recession (Bloomberg) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: The endless search for a crypto use case (Networked substack) It’s paintbrushes at dawn as artists feel the pressure of AI-generated art (TechCrunch) CNN Exclusive: FBI investigation determined Chinese-made Huawei equipment could disrupt US nuclear arsenal communications (CNN) THE UNSUNG INVENTOR WHO CHASED THE LED RAINBOW (ieee Spectrum) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 4, 2022
Apple is delaying releasing iPadOS 16 just because it’s trying to make Stage Manager not suck. I wasn’t imagining it… the majority of the crypto hacks this year have been because of bridges. Would you pay $50k to be a guest on this show? The new OnePlus smartphone. And I’m gonna let you guess what Google did. Again. Sponsors: Storyblok.com/ridehome Links: Apple Plans to Delay Launch of iPadOS 16 Update by About a Month (Bloomberg) Solana Hack Blamed on Slope Mobile Wallet Exploit (Decrypt) Vulnerabilities in Cross-chain Bridge Protocols Emerge as Top Security Risk (Chainalysis) Twitter to revamp Spaces, tests themed stations and a daily digest (TechCrunch) Podcast Guests Are Paying Up to $50,000 to Appear on Popular Shows (Bloomberg) OnePlus 10T review: Speed above all (Engadget) Google Meet meets Duo Meet, with Meet in Duo but Duo isn’t going into Meet (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 3, 2022
Now the hackers are stealing crypto from individual wallets at scale. Robinhood makes a massive layoff announcement. Y Combinator is shrinking its summer cohort. I’ve found an actual use case for NFT’s and it is college textbooks. And, you know, an actual flying car you could buy right now. Sponsors: Storyblok.com/ridehome Links: Solana, USDC Drained From Wallets in Attack (Decrypt) Robinhood Lays Off 23% of Staff as Retail Investors Fade From Platform (WSJ) Michael Saylor to step down as MicroStrategy CEO, shift to executive chairman role (The Block) Y Combinator narrows current cohort size by 40%, citing downturn and funding environment (TechCrunch) UK regulator makes U-turn on Avast-Norton cyber security deal (Financial Times) Pearson plans to sell its textbooks as NFTs (The Guardian) Samson Switchblade flying car is finally ready for takeoff (New Atlas) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 2, 2022
Seriously, what is it with crypto bridges? Why are they seemingly so easy to hack? New York cracks down on Robinhood. A bunch of Silicon Valley boldfaced names are going to be swept up into the Twitter/Elon trial. And if Chromebooks and gaming are suffering post-Covid hangovers, is Uber a post-covid Phoenix? Sponsors: Babbel.com/ride for 60% off go.factor75.com/techmeme130 and code techmeme130 to get $130 off Links: Nomad token bridge drained of $190M in funds in security exploit (CoinTelegraph) Robinhood’s Crypto Unit Fined $30 Million by New York’s Top Financial Regulator (WSJ) Twitter is probing Elon Musk’s social circle in broad legal requests (Washington Post) As worldwide tablet shipments grow, Chromebooks face a different reality (ZDNet) Activision Blizzard Sales Fall on Weak Call of Duty Release (Bloomberg) The Morning After: Did Microsoft just neg Activision Blizzard? (Engadget) Uber reports another big loss but beats on revenue, shares pop 14% (CNBC) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 1, 2022
Apple opens up Apple Pay a tiny bit. But again, from pressure from the Europeans. Meta is accused of abetting sectarian violence in another developing nation. A deep dive into the seeming demise of the entire e-scooter industry. How much good will the CHIPS Act actually do? And a review of the new Dell XPS 13 Plus. Sponsors: KeeperSecurity.com/techmeme Links: Apple Pay may finally work on Chrome, Edge, and Firefox in iOS 16 (The Verge) Why dangerous content thrives on Facebook and TikTok in Kenya (Washington Post) Bolt Mobility has vanished, leaving e-bikes, unanswered calls behind in several US cities (TechCrunch) Japan, U.S. to launch R&D for 2-nm chip mass production (NikkeiAsia) Chipmakers battle for slice of US government support (Financial Times) DELL XPS 13 PLUS REVIEW: XPS PLUS, BATTERY MINUS (The Verge) Join the Mutant Podcast Army Fantasy League: https://fantasy.premierleague.com/leagues/auto-join/i8t2k1 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 31, 2022
Check out Cognitive Talent Solutions here , or get in touch with me to put you in touch with them. And if you'd like to invest in CTS, subscribe and invest to the Ride Home Fund by August 30th here . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 30, 2022
Matthew Ball comes on to talk about his new book: The Metaverse: And How it Will Revolutionize Everything . Then, Jason Del Rey @DelRey talks to us about how Amazon has been faring in the post-Jeff Bezos era. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 29, 2022
Even a weak earnings report from Apple can still break records. Instagram’s been in a stare down with the Kardashians, and Adam Mosseri just blinked. Congress just passed a ton of money to jump start domestic chip production. And, of course, the Weekend Longreads Suggestions. Sponsors: KeeperSecurity.com/techmeme Kolide.com/ride Links: Apple iPhone Sales Remain Resilient as Company Reports 11% Decline in Profit (WSJ) Instagram walks back its changes (Platformer) CHIPS Act clears Congress, ensuring $52 billion boost to US foundries (The Verge) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: The Buy Now, Pay Later Juggernaut Is About to Be Tested (Bloomberg) F.T.C. Chair Upends Antitrust Standards With Meta Lawsuit (NYTimes) Who Is Collecting Data from Your Car? (The Markup) TikTok and the Fall of the Social-Media Giants (The New Yorker) RollerCoaster Tycoon taught me to be a ruthless capitalist (Polygon) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 28, 2022
Meta has reported its first-ever YoY quarterly revenue decline. The FTC has moved to block a Meta acquisition, the first big regulatory move of the Lina Khan era. Google delays it’s cookie cleanup. Again. You’re not seeing things. There’s been a Gmail redesign. And DeepMind has solved one of the oldest problems in biology. Sponsors: StitchFix.com/ride for $20 off Storyblok.com/ridehome Links: Facebook Parent Meta Platforms Reports First Ever Revenue Drop (WSJ) F.T.C. Sues to Block Meta’s Virtual Reality Deal as It Confronts Big Tech (NYTimes) Jack Ma Plans to Cede Control of Ant Group (WSJ) Google delays when Chrome will phase out third-party cookies to 2024 (9to5Google) Gmail’s new look is now rolling out to everyone (The Verge) DeepMind's protein-folding AI cracks biology's biggest problem (NewScientist) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 27, 2022
I’ll wrap up the earnings from Microsoft, Alphabet, Spotify and Shopify. Proof that the cost of a data breach for companies is skyrocketing. What ever happened to the legislative crackdown on Big Tech? Inflation comes to the Metaverse as Meta is jacking up the prices on Quest headsets. And a big update to Google Maps. Sponsors: Storyblok.com/ridehome Links: Techmeme headlines from this morning running down earnings (Techmeme, 8:25am eastern today) IBM Security report finds data breaches are costlier than ever before (SiliconAngle) Discovery of new UEFI rootkit exposes an ugly truth: The attacks are invisible to us (ArsTechnica) Senate’s Antitrust Crackdown Sputters as Schumer Signals Doubts (Bloomberg) Quest 2 Price Jumps To $399 As Meta Costs Rise (UploadVR) Google Maps rolls out location sharing notifications, immersive views and better bike navigation (TechCrunch) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 26, 2022
Is the SEC about to crack down on Coinbase? Why is Kylie Jenner mad at Instagram? Why are all the big tech companies mad at the leap second, of all things? And a deep dive look at what Amazon probably wants to do with its big healthcare acquisition. Sponsors: Storyblok.com/ridehome Cybersecurityinside.com/RIDE Links: Coinbase Faces SEC Probe on Crypto Listings; Shares Tumble (Bloomberg) Kylie Jenner and Kim Kardashian tell Instagram to 'stop trying to be TikTok,' which could spell major trouble for the platform (Insider) Creators on Facebook can now earn money through videos that use licensed music (TechCrunch) Shopify to Lay Off 10% of Workers in Broad Shake-Up (WSJ) Why One Critical Second Can Wreak Havoc on the Internet (CNET) The Amazon + One Medical Post (Out Of Pocket) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 25, 2022
NFL+ arrives, and at the end of the show, we’ll take a deep dive into sports rights as the great free radical in the streaming wars and the evolution in sports in general. In between that, people accuse Sam Bankman-Fried of lowballing them. More details on the so-called Apple Watch Pro. And if I told you there’s a global shortage of fiber optic cable, would you be surprised? Sponsors: Ramp.com/techmeme ZocDoc.com/techmeme Links: NFL+ Enters Sports Streaming Wars As League Launches New Service (The Hollywood Reporter) Voyager Responds to FTX’s Offer, Calling It a ‘Low-Ball’ Bid (Bloomberg) Apple Begins to Show Rare Vulnerability Ahead of Economic Slowdown (Bloomberg) Intel bags deal to make chips for MediaTek, that other Android processor designer (The Register) Global shortage of fibre optic cable threatens digital growth (FT) Why Big Tech Is Making a Big Play for Live Sports (NYTimes) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 23, 2022
Saoud Kalifah of FakeSpot.com joins us to discuss what I guess we could call, the fake review economy. Chris made a compelling case for the new Browser Company browser Arc. I try to find my way to a Brian’s Unified Theory of what makes new social networks succeed. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 22, 2022
Well, things weren’t so rosy with Twitter earnings, and downright abysmal over at Snap. The Feds bring the first ever case for insider trading in the crypto space. Your next smart lock might draw its power from your phone as you use it. And, of course, the weekend longreads suggestions. Sponsors: Storyblok.com/ridehome Work Check podcast Links: Twitter misses earnings expectations, partially blames revenue drop on Elon Musk takeover bid (CNBC) Snap shares dive 35% following poor earnings report (CNBC) Ex-Coinbase Manager Arrested in US Crypto Insider-Trading Case (Bloomberg) Your next smart lock could ditch the battery by harvesting energy from your phone (The Verge) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: Chiplets helped save AMD. They might also help save Moore’s law and head off an energy crisis. (Protocol) Meta’s next big bet: The ‘metaversity’ (Protocol) Amazon C.E.O. Andy Jassy Breaks From the Bezos Way (NYTimes) The Great Fiction of AI (The Verge) The Re-Reinvention of the Travel Agent (Skift) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 21, 2022
Amazon is acquiring actual doctors offices. Facebook splits the newsfeed to make it more TikTok-y. Minecraft foreswears NFTs. The big tech platforms are pausing hiring now too. Did Tesla cause the crypto crash? And DALL-E 2 is now more widely available. Sponsors: Storyblok.com/ridehome KeeperSecurity.com/techmeme Links: Amazon is buying primary care tech provider One Medical for $3.9B (TechCrunch) Facebook doubles down on algorithms in the main feed (The Verge) Minecraft team says NFTs and blockchain are, well, blocked (Polygon) Microsoft Cuts Many Open Job Listings in Weakening Economy (Bloomberg) Google Announces Hiring Pause (The Information) Elon Musk’s Tesla Has Sold 75% of Its Bitcoin Holdings (Decrypt) @CryptoKaleo Tweet TextExpander, which lets users build shortcuts to speed up business communications, raises $41.4M, its first-ever funding (TechCrunch) OpenAI expands access to DALL-E 2, its powerful image-generating AI system (TechCrunch) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 20, 2022
Netflix reported earnings that weren’t as bad as even they had been telegraphing. So that’s something. The court case is already going against how Elon Musk hoped it would go. What’s up with everyone leaving Neuralink? And a deep-dive look at BeReal. Is it the next big thing or just the latest fad? Sponsors: Storyblok.com/ridehome AthleticGreens.com/ride Links: Netflix loses fewer subscribers than expected and says cheaper ad tier is coming in early 2023 (CNBC) Twitter-Musk trial on $44 billion deal set to begin in October after Musk loses effort to delay (CNBC) A Neuralink cofounder left Elon Musk's brain-chip company, leaving it with just 2 of its 8 founding members (Insider) Google Begins Publicly Testing Its AR Glasses (CNET) Fad or frenzy, BeReal is having a real moment right now (FastCompany) Why BeReal is breaking out (Platformer) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 19, 2022
Amazon is stepping up its war against bogus product reviews. Netflix is testing more crackdowns on password sharing. Slack is raising prices. ESPN+ is raising prices. But one streaming service is actually LOWERING prices? And mark your calendars, cause the Fall product launch season is upon us. Sponsors: Storyblok.com/ridehome Links: Amazon sues admins from 10,000 Facebook groups over fake reviews (TechCrunch) Netflix Tests Another Way to Charge for Password Sharing (Bloomberg) Apple Sued Over Apple Pay, Accused of Antitrust Violations (Bloomberg) Slack is increasing prices and changing the way its free plan works (TechCrunch) ESPN+ Monthly Subscription to Rise $3 as Disney Strives for Streaming Profits (Variety) Crunchyroll is lowering monthly subscription fees in almost 100 regions (Engadget) Samsung confirms August 10th Unpacked event date with ‘cryptic’ puzzle (The Verge) WD begins shipping 22TB Red Pro, Purple Pro and Gold HDDs (Club386) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 18, 2022
Everything we cover is in a full vibe shift of… pulling back. Coinbase sent some eyebrows up over the weekend, but insolvency is off the table. Right? Right? Adam Newmann’s crypto startup is hitting the pause button. All the rapid delivery startups that flooded New York City last year seem to be done. Poof. And is Silicon Valley itself definitively shrinking? Sponsors: Zapier.com/ride Gusto.com/ride Links: Snap launches Snapchat for Web to bring the app's core features to desktop (TechCrunch) Leaked emails: Crypto exchange Coinbase is 'temporarily shutting down' its US affiliate-marketing program (Insider) Coinbase stirs rumors of liquidity woes as it halts affiliate-marketing program (Insider Bitcoins) Crypto Crash Stalls WeWork Founder Adam Neumann’s Climate Venture (WSJ) The Speedy Downfall of Rapid Delivery Startups (Wired) Tiger Global-backed Missfresh faces fight for survival (FT) 71 Cities and Towns Are Paying Tech Workers to Abandon Silicon Valley. It’s Working. (WSJ) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 16, 2022
Ride Home Fund's latest investment: the smart ring/device controller ArcX! More at https://arcx.fit/ Invest in ArcX via the Ride Home Fund here . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 15, 2022
Now the haircuts have come for Stripe, but they took theirs voluntarily. Who’s responsible for the big hole on Celsius’ balance sheet? Twitter wants to let devs make their own timelines. Will Amazon voluntarily exit the white label business. And, of course, the Weekend Longreads Suggestions. Sponsors: Manscaped.com code RIDE for 20% off Kolide.com/ride Links: Stripe Cuts Internal Valuation by 28% (WSJ) Celsius Discloses $1.19 Billion Deficit in Bankruptcy Filing (Bloomberg) Twitter is testing custom timelines, and first one is about The Bachelorette (TechCrunch) Amazon Has Been Slashing Private-Label Selection Amid Weak Sales (WSJ) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: How Three Arrows Capital Blew Up and Set Off a Crypto Contagion (Bloomberg) The Standards Innovation Paradox (Michael Mignano Medium) S iberia or Japan? Expert Google Maps Players Can Tell at a Glimpse. (NYTimes) Advanced E.V. Batteries Move From Labs to Mass Production (NYTimes) How the Webb sends its hundred-megapixel images a million miles back to Earth (TechCrunch) The Webb Space Telescope’s Profound Data Challenges (iee Spectrum) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 14, 2022
Celsius files for bankruptcy. Tesla loses a key Autopilot exec. Netflix chooses Microsoft for it’s ads partnership. Could TikTok be a long-term problem for Google Search? And the reviews are in for the new Macbook Airs with M2 chips. Sponsors: Ahead Of Its Time podcast WorkCheck Podcast Links: Embattled crypto lender Celsius files for bankruptcy protection (CNBC) Inside Celsius: how one of crypto’s biggest lenders ground to a halt (Financial Times) Tesla AI leader Andrej Karpathy announces he’s leaving the company (CNBC) Netflix is partnering with Microsoft for its new ad-supported tier (The Verge) Google Cloud launches its first Arm-based VMs (TechCrunch) Google exec suggests Instagram and TikTok are eating into Google’s core products, Search and Maps (TechCrunch) APPLE’S NEW MACBOOK AIR M2 IS THE START OF A WHOLE NEW AIR-A (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 13, 2022
Twitter officially sues Elon Musk and by the sound of things, has decided to go to the mattresses. Has Apple officially cut ties with Jony Ive? Here come the tech mergers and acquisitions. How streaming has officially killed traditional tv by at least one measure. And an interesting new gadget. Nothing. I’ll explain. Sponsors: StoryBlok.com/ridehome KeeperSecurity.com/techmeme Links: Twitter Sues Musk After He Tries Backing Out of $44 Billion Deal (NYTimes) 15 Revelations in Twitter’s Suit Against Elon Musk (Intelligencer) Apple Ends Consulting Agreement With Jony Ive, Its Former Design Leader (NYTimes) Unity is merging with Ironsource in an all-stock deal valuing Ironsource at $4.4B in a big consolidation play for gaming (TechCrunch) Read the memo Google’s CEO sent employees about a hiring slowdown (The Verge) Nothing officially announces flashy Phone 1, starting at £399 (The Verge) HBO & HBO Max Smash Past Netflix In Total Emmy Nominations As Hulu & Apple Score Strong Showings (Deadline) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 12, 2022
Liquidators say they can't find the Three Arrows Capital founders. The FTC will crack down on data-anonymization claims. Another smart home company decides to brick some of the hardware that people paid good money for. Hopin is the latest highflyer to fall to earth with layoffs. And what it’s like to work at Twitter right now. Sponsors: Storyblok.com/ridehome Links: Three Arrows Founders’ Whereabouts Unknown, Liquidators Say (Bloomberg) FTC to Crack Down on Sites That Claim Your Data Is 'Anonymized' When It's Not (PCMag) Hive’s abandoned smart home devices will cease operation starting in 2023 (The Verge) Live events startup Hopin, valued at $7.8 billion, is laying off 29% of staff in its second wave of job cuts in 2022 (Insider) Twitter Lawyers Call Musk’s Deal Termination ‘Wrongful’ (Bloomberg) As Elon Musk Walks, Twitter Workers Say No One’s in Charge (Wired) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 11, 2022
The famous stock market player Bernard Baruch once said, paraphrasing: Whatever men attempt, they seem driven to overdo. When hopes are soaring, I always repeat to myself that two and two still make four. The main purpose of the market is to make fools of as many people as possible. Today, stories of this lesson being learned by both major VC firms and Elon Musk. Oh, and how North Korean hackers infiltrate companies. Sponsors: OurCrowd.com/ride Cybersecurityinside.com/RIDE Links: Uber broke laws, duped police and secretly lobbied governments, leak reveals (The Guradian) Here’s how North Korean operatives are trying to infiltrate US crypto firms (CNN) Andreessen Horowitz, Thrive Go Bargain Hunting for Beaten-Down Tech Stocks (The Information) Elon’s Out (Matt Levine/Bloomberg) Tweet Storm #1 Tweet Storm #2 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 8, 2022
Part 2 of the eBay story from the Internet History podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 7, 2022
Apple has a new lockdown mode to triage a whole range of cyberattacks. Also, Mark Gurman has some details on that new, expected, “rugged” Apple Watch. Twitter is testing co-tweets. More details on the new version of Meta’s VR headset. And the weekend longreads suggestions. I’ll explain. Sponsors: StitchFix.com/ride for $20 off Work Check podcast Links: Apple Announces New Lockdown Mode on iOS 16 With 'Extreme' Level of Security (MacRumors) Apple Plans Extreme Sports Watch With Larger Screen, Metal Case (Bloomberg) Heads of FBI, MI5 Issue Joint Warning on Chinese Spying (WSJ) Reddit is launching a new NFT avatar marketplace (TechCrunch) Twitter starts testing new CoTweets feature that lets two accounts co-author a tweet (The Verge) Meta Plans to Call New Virtual Reality Headset the ‘Quest Pro’ (Bloomberg) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: Keeping Phones Running in Wartime Pushes Kyivstar to the Limit (Bloomberg) The Metaverse in 2040 (Pew Research Center) Not Just a Tennis Podcast, but Rather ‘The’ Tennis Podcast (NYTimes) Inside a Superfan's Secret Friendship With Eddie Van Halen (Rolling Stone) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 6, 2022
Will regulators wreck the great gaming consolidation? Can the US bully it’s way to blocking China’s chip development? Are Dilithium crystals the key to saving crypto from quantum computing? And why the crypto crash has been a footnote for Wall Street. At least, so far. Sponsors: AthleticGreens.com/ride Links: Microsoft’s $69 billion Activision takeover faces competition probe in the UK (CNBC) US Wants Dutch Supplier to Stop Selling Chipmaking Gear to China (Bloomberg) NIST unveils four algorithms that will underpin new ‘quantum-proof’ cryptography standards (SC Media) Amazon takes a Prime step back into restaurant delivery in the US with big Grubhub investment and partnership (TechCrunch) Voyager Seeks Bankruptcy Protection Amid Crypto Credit Crisis (CoinDesk) Crypto Mining Giant Dumped Most of Its Bitcoin Holdings in June (Bloomberg) How Wall Street Escaped the Crypto Meltdown (NYTimes) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 5, 2022
The Crypto Crash goes ever onward. Klarna is going on a realty tv show called, Now That’s what I Call A Haircut! The hackers have come for the Chinese surveillance state. The World Cup is going to have the robots call offsides. And Steve Jobs is getting the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Sponsors: StoryBlok.com/ridehome KeeperSecurity.com/techmeme Links: Crypto platform Vauld suspends withdrawls, trading and deposits amid financial challenges. (TechCrunch) Number Three (Entrepreneurs Handbook) Meta to Shut Down Novi Service in September in Crypto Winter (Bloomberg) Klarna in Talks to Raise Fresh Cash at Slashed $6.5 Billion Valuation (WSJ) Hackers Claim Theft of Police Info in China’s Largest Data Leak (Bloomberg) AI-powered technology will be used to speed up VAR offside calls at World Cup (The Guardian) Google patches new Chrome zero-day flaw exploited in attacks (Bleeping Computer) President Biden to award Steve Jobs with posthumous Medal of Freedom (9to5Mac) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 4, 2022
From my original Internet History Podcast, the first of my two episodes outlining the story of eBay, in-depth, as I make the strong case that it was maybe the most important and overlooked startup of the Web 1.0 era. Part 2 of this story coming on Friday. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 2, 2022
Time for some deep analysis of the podcast industry. Is Spotify gonna take over all of audio? Is the blockchain useful for podcasting? What is the great Michael Mignano doing next, after leaving Spotify and Anchor? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 1, 2022
While I'm away briefly for vacation, here's a talk I gave at Google in December 2018 around the time my book came out. Just a condensed dose of my entire thesis of the technology industry's history from 1994-2006. Nothing much new if you've read my book, but if you want the cliff's notes version, here it is. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 30, 2022
One good thing about the crypto crash is you can get affordable graphics cards again. Layoffs come to the Metaverse. Samsung is producing the first 3nm chips. Apple wants you to pay for your gas without getting out of your car. Though, you’d still have to get out to pump, I suppose. And, bit of a surprise, the Weekend Longreads Suggestions. Sponsors: Kolide.com/ride KeeperSecurity.com/techmeme Links: Genesis Faces ‘Hundreds of Millions’ in Losses as 3AC Exposure Swamps Crypto Lenders: Sources (CoinDesk) Nvidia Game Card Prices Fall Along With Crypto Mining Demand (Bloomberg) Sources: Unity Laying Off Hundreds Of Staffers [Update] (Kotaku) Samsung Electronics starts 3-nanometer chip production ahead of TSMC (TechCrunch) Fuel Purchases Directly Within Apple CarPlay to Be Available This Fall (MacRumors) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: Did Razzlekhan and Dutch Pull Off History’s Biggest Crypto Heist? (Bloomberg) Cyber Pirates Prowling Ship Controls Threaten Another Big Shock (Bloomberg) The Accidental Media Critics of YouTube (NYTimes Magazine) HOW ONE OF GAMING’S MOST INTIMIDATING GENRES SPAWNED A LEGION OF HITS (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 29, 2022
I joke its Groundhog Day, but if you’re a crypto billionaire, you probably want the repetition to end as much as anyone. Wait, is TikTok suddenly in trouble with the US government again? A new line of chips from Arm. Sony wants to play to PC gamers. And why Netflix doling out Stranger Things in portions is one of the biggest experiments being run in Hollywood right now. Links: Crypto Crash Widens a Divide: ‘Those With Money Will End Up Being Fine’ (NYTimes) Crypto crash threatens North Korea's stolen funds as it ramps up weapons tests (Reuters) U.S. FCC commissioner wants Apple and Google to remove TikTok from their app stores (CNBC) Ray tracing and 64-bit only: What you should know about Arm's 2023 CPUs and GPUs (Android Authority) Sony targets PC gamers with new hardware brand, Inzone (Washington Post) Here’s why Netflix made you wait a month to watch the rest of Stranger Things (Recode) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 28, 2022
Why there’s a HUGE tech angle to the whole Roe V. Wade controversy. Google’s shutting down one of their chat apps, but even I can’t be bothered to figure out which one or why. Airbnb is permanently putting the kibosh on parties. And will StarlinkRV allow all of us to take off into the wild and still do our work? Sponsors: ZocDoc.com/techmeme Links: Without Roe, data will become a company headache and a user nightmare (Axios) Period tracker Stardust surges following Roe reversal, but its privacy claims aren’t airtight (TechCrunch) Google Hangouts is shutting down in November (The Verge) Elon Musk Has Twitter’s Data, but Getting Answers on Spam Accounts May Be Tougher (WSJ) Amazon plans two Prime shopping events this year, with second one in Q4 (CNBC) Airbnb’s party ban is now permanent (The Verge) STARLINK RV REVIEW: THE DAWN OF SPACE INTERNET TO GO (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 27, 2022
Are we in for the biggest deluge in new Apple products, maybe ever? Why, though, are the new MacBook Pros with M2 chips sporting slower SSD drives? Is your phone plan about to get more expensive? Is VC activity actually going down? How much should we worry about Tether? And something something, are DAO’s really that decentralized? Sponsors: KeeperSecurity.com/techmeme Gusto.com/ride Links: Apple Readies iPhone 14 and HomePod Upgrade in Flood of New Products (Bloomberg) Base 13-Inch MacBook Pro With M2 Chip Has Significantly Slower SSD Speeds (MacRumors) AT&T, Verizon Raise Prices and Test Consumer Budgets (WSJ) Venture Funding Set to Hit Lowest Level Since 2020 (Bloomberg) More Hedge Funds Are Betting Against Tether as Crypto Melts Down (WSJ) Dissecting the DAO: Web3 Ownership is Surprisingly Concentrated (Chainalysis) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 25, 2022
No guest this week (though the great @EvanKirstel does show up at one point) but we covered a wide range of topic, mostly ones that have been under-discussed lately on the show... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 24, 2022
The fire sale on tech companies has begun. More big important hacks to be aware of. Another crypto bridge has been compromised. Amazon wants you to know about their AI coding tool. TikTok turns on the money spigot. And, of course, the weekend longreads suggestions. Sponsors: Setapp Playlists on Spotify KeeperSecurity.com/techmeme Links: Zendesk to be acquired by investor group for $10.2 billion (CNBC) Google is notifying Android users targeted by Hermit government-grade spyware (TechCrunch) CISA, US Coast Guard warn of Log4Shell attacks after 130GB data breach in May (The Record) Breaking: Harmony’s Horizon Bridge hacked for $100M (CoinTelegraph) Amazon launches CodeWhisperer, a GitHub Copilot-like AI pair programming tool (TechCrunch) TikTok Turns On the Money Machine (Bloomberg) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: Web3 Use Cases: Today (Not Boring) Where are all the crypto use cases? (Evan Conrad) How Russia’s vaunted cyber capabilities were frustrated in Ukraine (Washington Post) Self-Driving Big Rigs Are Coming. Is America Ready? (WSJ) How Townscaper Works: A Story Four Games in the Making (Game Developer) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 23, 2022
Would you want my voice to be the voice of your Alexa? An interesting raise that can change people’s vocal accents in real time. Instagram rolls out a comprehensive system to check ages on their platform. And is that new Brave search engine becoming a contender? Sponsors: HubSpot.com WorkCheck Podcast Links: Alexa will soon be able to read stories as your dead grandma (TechCrunch) That agent who sounds like they’re from Paris, Texas? Try Paris, France (TechCrunch) Cerebras Slays GPUs, Breaks Record for Largest AI Models Trained on a Single Device (Tom's Hardware) Instagram Tests Child Age Verification, but Falls Short of Full ID Checks (WSJ) Privacy-focused Brave Search grew by 5,000% in a year (Bleeping Computer) NBCUniversal, Google Compete to Help Netflix Develop Ad-Backed Tier (WSJ) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 22, 2022
News is new again, after Google does a size-able redesign. Copilot AI is available on GitHub, but is it worth paying for? Amazon unveiled some new warehouse robots, but is this partially because they fear running out of workers? The new Twitter Notes feature and why it’s increasingly likely that you’ll buy your next car online, even if you don’t buy it from Telsa. Sponsors: Linkedin.com/ride Athleticgreens.com/ride Links: Google News gets desktop redesign with focus on customization (9to5Google) GitHub’s AI-powered Copilot will help you write code for $10 a month (The Verge) Twitter to expand into long-form content with upcoming Twitter Notes feature (TechCrunch) Amazon announces its first fully autonomous mobile warehouse robot (The Verge) Leaked Amazon memo warns the company is running out of people to hire (Recode/Vox) Why You Might Buy Your Next Car Online (NYTimes) Announcing StackHawk’s $20.7 Million in Series B Funding to Drive Developer-First Security (StackHawk) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 21, 2022
Did something happen while I was away? Sort of like everything crashing in crypto? Apple wants to kill the CAPTCHA for you. The first Apple Store has unionized. Is it fair that G Suite is no longer free? And is the Microsoft Surface Duo 2 actually… good now? Sponsors: Zapier.com/ride Links: Crypto lender Babel Finance announces steps to improve its liquidity situation (The Block) New Solend vote invalidates governance decision to take over whale account (The Block) iOS 16 Will Let iPhone Users Bypass CAPTCHAs in Supported Apps and Websites (MacRumors) Apple Workers at Maryland Store Vote to Unionize, a First in the U.S. (NYTimes) Google Says It’s Time for Longtime Small-Business Users to Pay Up (NYTimes) MICROSOFT’S WEIRD SURFACE DUO 2 HAS SURPRISINGLY BECOME MY FAVORITE DEVICE OF THE YEAR (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 20, 2022
Juna ( heyjuna.com ) replaces awkward lab visits with at-home STI testing and treatment. Another proud investment of the RideHomeFund . As ever, get in touch with Brian if you'd like to work with Juna directly. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 18, 2022
Some thoughts on what startup workers can do with their stock options (in this economy!?). DALL·E blows our collective minds. Considering the legacy of Internet Explorer. Thanks to @adam_keesling and @jnack . What Should You Do With Your Options During a Downturn? manual.withcompound.com New podcast: DALL•E & You & Me Sponsors: LinkedIn.com/techmeme Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 17, 2022
Elon Musk speaks to his soon to be employees for the first time at Twitter. Snap is testing a new subscription Snapchat. Microsoft debuts Defender for Individuals. Klarna is thinking about raising a massively down round. And of course, the Weekend Longreads Suggestions. Sponsors: StitchFix.com/ride for $20 off DragonballZ Kakarot Links: Elon Musk Tells Staff Twitter Should Allow ‘Pretty Outrageous’ Tweets (Bloomberg) SpaceX Said to Fire Employees Involved in Letter Rebuking Elon Musk (NYTimes) Snap is working on a paid subscription called Snapchat Plus (The Verge) Microsoft launches Defender for Individuals for Microsoft 365 Personal and Family subscribers (ZDNet) Fintech Giant Klarna Slashes Fundraising Ambition (WSJ) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: What Should You Do With Your Options During a Downturn? (Every) ‘Wallets and eyeballs’: how eBay turned the internet into a marketplace (The Guardian) A Billion-Dollar Crypto Gaming Startup Promised Riches and Delivered Disaster (Bloomberg) Proton Is Trying to Become Google—Without Your Data (Wired) What Is Quantum Entanglement? Skip the heady and abstract physics lectures. Let’s talk about socks (IEEE Spectrum) The Best Sci Fi Books for Beginners (FiveBooks.com) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 16, 2022
Google says YouTube Shorts is keeping pace with TikTok. Meta plans to make Facebook more like TikTok in order to keep pace themselves. That new Sonos Voice Control assistant sounds pretty good to me. Why a bunch of folks are going to string internet cables under the shrinking polar ice. And why the Japanese are freaked out about Internet Explorer going away. Sponsors: HubSpot.com Kolide.com/ride Links: YouTube Says It Is Gaining on TikTok in Short-Video Race (WSJ) FACEBOOK IS CHANGING ITS ALGORITHM TO TAKE ON TIKTOK, LEAKED MEMO REVEALS (The Verge) Samsung Wallet is back to organize your ID, keys, and crypto (The Verge) SONOS VOICE CONTROL REVIEW: A SPEEDY, PRIVATE, MUSIC-FOCUSED ASSISTANT (The Verge) A Warming Arctic Emerges as a Route for Subsea Cables (WSJ) Internet Explorer shutdown to cause Japan headaches 'for months' (NikkeiAsia) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 15, 2022
Is a major crypto hedge fund about to blow up? How the Celsius network got in such hot water. YouTube lets you make corrections. Why Apple’s deal for Major League Soccer is such a big deal. And pour one out, definitively, for Internet Explorer. Sponsors: LinkedIn.com/techmeme LCX.com/ride Links: After facing hundreds of millions of dollars in liquidations, Three Arrows Capital's future is uncertain (The Block) Crypto Lender Celsius Hires Restructuring Lawyers After Account Freeze (WSJ) Celsius bid to rival Wall St with crypto lending scuppered by risky bets (FT) YouTube’s new corrections feature lets creators fix the record more easily (The Verge) Nothing reveals Phone 1 design a month early (The Verge) Exclusive: New entry-level iPad to pack A14 chip, 5G, and USB-C connectivity (9to5Mac) Apple, Major League Soccer Strike 10-Year Streaming Deal for All MLS Games (WSJ) Microsoft to retire Internet Explorer browser and redirect users to Edge (The Guardian) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 14, 2022
Adobe and Photoshop are leaning into freemium. Massive and controversial layoffs at Coinbase. Firefox is blocking stuff by default now. Meta announces more tools to make the Metaverse safe from trolls and worse. And why those pro features in iPadOS are only for iPads with M1 chips and above. Sponsors: KeeperSecurity.com/techmeme Links: Adobe plans to make Photoshop on the web free to everyone (The Verge) Coinbase is laying off 1,100 employees as Bitcoin prices continue to fall (The Verge) Firefox enables its anti-tracking feature by default (Engadget) Meta adds voice controls for Horizon Worlds, which defaults to live chat with strangers (TechCrunch) Apple Lets You Move WhatsApp Chats From Android to iPhone (CNET) Apple resized the iPad's workflow with Stage Manager (TechCrunch) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 13, 2022
All the crypt is down bad. Is DeFi lending platform Celsius to blame? More importantly, are margin calls coming for big Bitcoin bag holders, including Tesla? Jack Dorsey’s plan to leapfrog to Web5. Leaked images of the Galaxy Z Flip 4. Is your smart TV committing ad fraud? And why I’m pretty sure that Google AI bot did NOT become sentient. Sponsors: Dragon Ball Z Kakarot! AltoIRA.com/techmeme Links: Celsius Tanks 70% in 1 Hour After Company Pauses Withdrawals to 'Stabilize Liquidity' (Decrypt) Jack Dorsey's Bitcoin venture TBD unveils proposal for decentralized Web platform (The Block) Jack Dorsey’s TBD Announces Web 3 Competitor: Web 5 (CoinDesk) Galaxy Z Flip 4 leaks in real-life shots with much smaller display crease (9to5Google) Apple Goes Deeper Into Finance With Buy Now, Pay Later Offering (WSJ) Some Ads Play on Streaming Services Even When the TV Is Off, Study Finds (WSJ) The Google engineer who thinks the company’s AI has come to life (Washington Post) Nonsense on Stilts (Gary Marcus) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 11, 2022
WWDC wrap up, @chrismaddern on @floornfts , and Brian talks about his Mac Studio experience. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 10, 2022
Time to refresh those Yao Ming and Verne Troyer Powerbook ads from the early ‘aughts. Could Meta not release its big metaverse hardware play for years? The NHTSA’s investigation into Tesla’s Autopilot seems to be getting serious. Speaking of Austin Powers actors, Seth Green ransomed his Ape. And, of course, the weekend longreads suggestions. Sponsors: LCX.com/ride Links: 14-Inch iPad Pro With Mini-LED Display Rumored to Launch in Early 2023 (MacRumors) Apple Plans 15-Inch MacBook Air for 2023 and New 12-Inch Laptop (Bloomberg) Meta Scales Back AR Glasses Plan Amid Reality Labs Shakeup (The Information) AMD Zen Architecture Roadmap: Zen 5 in 2024 With All-New Microarchitecture (AnandTech) The federal government’s Tesla Autopilot investigation is moving into a new phase (The Verge) Seth Green's Stolen Bored Ape Is Back Home (BuzzFeed News) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: These Drones Could Bring You 5G Networking After a Hurricane (CNET) Facebook Made This 29-Year-Old Rich; War Made Him A Billionaire (Forbes) The Surreal Case of a C.I.A. Hacker’s Revenge (New Yorker) Nintendo's Big Piracy Case Is A Very Sad Story (Kotaku) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 9, 2022
Who needs a gaming console? Not Xbox, not anymore. Twitter is gonna give Elon the firehose treatment. Dell unveils some new XPS goodness. Apple does its own banking. More signs of the NFT market cooling off. And a popular developer tool is riding off into the sunset. Sponsors: LCX.com/ride Work Check Links: Microsoft’s new Xbox TV app streams games without a console later this month (The Verge) The Xbox game streaming TV app feels almost like the real thing (The Verge) Xbox Project Moorcroft will bring early game demos to Xbox Game Pass (The Verge) In reversal, Twitter plans to comply with Musk’s demands for data (Washington Post) Dell unveils a slimmer XPS 13 and a detachable 2-in-1 (Engadget) Apple Will Handle Lending Itself With New Pay Later Service (Bloomberg) Ethereum’s Merge Upgrade Goes Live Today on Ropsten Testnet (Decrypt) ApeCoin Owners Vote Against Leaving the Ethereum Blockchain (Bloomberg) The NFT slump is real (TechCrunch) GitHub sunsets Atom, the software dev environment it launched in 2011 (TechCrunch) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 8, 2022
The crypto world’s greatest supervillain looks like he’s joining the crypto bandwagon. Salesforce… (Salesforce?!) has jumped on the NFT bandwagon. Could Netflix buy Roku? How many layoffs has Silicon Valley seen thusfar? And a look at Apple’s big push into the passwordless future. Sponsors: HubSpot.com AthleticGreens.com/ride Links: Citadel Securities Is Building a Crypto Trading Marketplace With Virtu Financial: Sources (CoinDesk) Salesforce takes crypto plunge with new NFT cloud (TechCrunch) US: Chinese govt hackers breached telcos to snoop on network traffic (BleepingComputer) Tech Layoffs In 2022: The U.S. Companies That Have Cut Jobs (CrunchBase News) Inside Roku, talk is heating up about an acquisition by Netflix (Insider) Apple Just Killed the Password—for Real This Time (Wired) Classified: collaborate@axoncollective.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 7, 2022
TikTok now has avatars, to keep up with Bitmoji and Memoji. The SEC seems to be seriously probing Binance. The death of the lighting port really might be nigh. Bits and pieces that fell through the cracks from WWDC. And potentially a huge breakthrough in keeping your data encrypted and secure, but still usable and searchable. Sponsors: KeeperSecurity.com/techmeme Links: TikTok’s new Bitmoji-like Avatars feature lets you record videos as an animated version of yourself (TechCrunch) US Probes Binance Over Token That Is Now World’s Fifth Largest (Bloomberg) USB-C will be mandatory for phones sold in the EU ‘by autumn 2024’ (The Verge) Security Fixes Won't Require Full iOS Update in iOS 16, Will Be Installed Automatically (MacRumors) Apple Announces M2 SoC: Apple Silicon for Macs Updated For 2022 (AnandTech) A Long-Awaited Defense Against Data Leaks May Have Just Arrived (Wired) Classified: collaborate@axoncollective.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 6, 2022
All the headlines from WWDC. All the new OS’s and a new MacBook Air with a new M2 chip, but I’ll save you the speculation. Nothing on the AR/VR front. More Bored Apes stolen. More posturing from Elon Musk that he might walk away from the Twitter deal. And is Netflix about to get into live sports? Sponsors: ConstantContact.com WWDC Links: Apple debuts iOS 16 with customizable lock screen, Messages updates, much more (9to5Mac) Apple brings ‘undo send’ to iMessage (TechCrunch) Live Activities is a new iOS 16 feature meant to improve notifications (The Verge) Apple announces in-camera translations and improves dictation (TechCrunch) Apple Pay Later lets you split up purchases into four payments at no interest (TechCrunch) Apple Maps to get multistop routing and more in iOS 16 (TechCrunch) watchOS 9 introduces new running metrics and medication reminders (The Verge) Apple Announces Multi-Display CarPlay With Integrated Speedometer, Climate Controls, and More (MacRumors) Apple announces new flagship M2 processor (The Verge) Apple unveils new MacBook Air: M2 chip, case redesign, new midnight blue color, display notch (MacBook Air) Apple slaps new M2 processor into 13-inch MacBook Pro (TechCrunch) Apple announces macOS 13 Ventura, the next major software update for the Mac (ArsTechnica) Apple unveils iPadOS 16 with beefed up multitasking features (TechCrunch) Apple Previews New 'Freeform' App to Work Collaboratively (MacRumors) Non-WWDC Links: Yuga Labs Confirms Discord Server Hack; 200 ETH Worth of NFTs Stolen (CoinDesk) Musk accuses Twitter of ‘resisting and thwarting’ his right to information on fake accounts (CNBC) Netflix, ESPN, NBCUniversal, and Amazon are racing to win US Formula 1 rights as the global auto sport booms in popularity (Insider) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 3, 2022
It’s increasingly looking like we might be approaching a tipping point in terms of driverless ride hailing becoming a reality. Twitter will let you set alerts for your name, among other things. Did Elon Musk order everyone back to the office to encourage some people to quit? What to expect from Monday’s WWDC kickoff. And, of course, the weekend longreads suggestions. Links: Cruise can finally charge for driverless robotaxi rides in San Francisco (TechCrunch) Twitter is building a tool for keyword alerts, in case you need more Twitter notifications (The Verge) Elon Musk asks Tesla execs to ‘pause all hiring,’ cut 10% of staff, amid ‘super bad feeling about economy’ (Electrek) Apple Plans to Make the iPad More Like a Laptop and Less Like a Phone (Bloomberg) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: Record Labels Dig Their Own Grave. And the Shovel is Called TikTok. (The Honest Broker) Columbus, Ohio is quickly becoming the Midwest’s tech hub (TechCrunch) The Internet Encyclopedia of Memes (Every.to) Looking Glass might have just invented the GIF’s 3D successor (The Verge) Does a Comedian Really Need an Audience? (NYTimes) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 2, 2022
Sheryl Sandberg is leaving Meta after 14 years. Who is Javier Olivan, who is replacing her as Meta’s COO? I’ll let you know. Why the feds cracking down on NFT fraud could have big implications. And Google’s doing that thing Google loves to do with its messaging apps. Again. Sponsors: ClickUp.com promocode ride for 15% off Links: Facebook parent Meta COO Sheryl Sandberg is stepping down (CNBC) Sandberg’s Advertising Empire Leaves a Complicated Legacy (Bloomberg) Javier Olivan, who’s replacing Sheryl Sandberg at Meta, built his career on international expansion (CNBC) US Charges Ex-OpenSea Exec With NFT Insider Trading (CoinDesk) Google is combining Meet and Duo into a single app for voice and video calls (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 1, 2022
The Surface Laptop Go gets a refresh. The Supreme Court has blocked that Texas social media law. For now. Twitter is really gonna take TweetDeck away from us? Really? And the really interesting new Android phone that attempts to strip every Googly thing it can, out of the Android experience. Sponsors: Work Check Podcast Links: Microsoft’s compact Surface Laptop Go updated with 11th Gen Intel processor (The Verge) High Court Halts Texas Law Targeting Social Media Platforms (2) (Bloomberg Law) Twitter shutting down TweetDeck for Mac on July 1, here are alternatives to the web (9to5Mac) TikTok is testing a ‘clear mode’ for a distraction-free scrolling experience (TechCrunch) Fidelity Slashes Reddit, Stripe Valuations After Tech Rout (Bloomberg) The Murena One shows exactly how hard it is to de-Google your smartphone (The Verge) Apple’s Safari browser now has more than 1 billion users (AtlasVPN) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 31, 2022
The new fastest computer in the world sees the crown return to the US. Will we not see Sony’s next-gen VR rig until next year? Ride hailing fares are reaching record highs as the players attempt to pivot to profitability. A new ride hailing entrant that lets you haggle on price. And a look at how Paramount is trying to go it alone in the streaming wars. Sponsors: AltoIRA.com/techmeme Links: AMD-Powered Frontier Supercomputer Breaks the Exascale Barrier, Now Fastest in the World (Tom's Hardware) Kuo: PlayStation VR2 Mass Production To Start H2 2022 (UploadVR) China Is Leading the Global Decline in Venture Capital Deals (Bloomberg) Uber and Lyft’s New Road: Fewer Drivers, Thrifty Riders and Jittery Investors (WSJ) Nothing could slow inDriver’s rise from Siberian startup to global Uber competitor. Then Russia invaded Ukraine (Rest Of World) Can Paramount Go It Alone? (NYTimes) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 30, 2022
A checkin with Rownd about what it's like to close a round right now, and what actually being on stage at YC Demo Day is like. To book at meeting with Robert at Rownd: https://calendly.com/rob-rownd/mutant-podcast-army Rownd helps companies register and retain more users through frictionless sign-in across all of their websites and apps, with a simple code snippet. We let our customers choose how and where authentication happens, killing the static login page forever. Rownd link: https://rownd.io Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 27, 2022
Microsoft is creating an HDMI dongle to turn any tv or monitor into an Xbox gaming console. Now the lawsuits are popping off in the whole Elon/Twitter thing. If even high profile startups like Substack are having trouble raising rounds, what does that mean for run of the mill startups? And, of course, the weekend longreads suggestions. Sponsors: HubSpot.com Masterworks.io/ride Links: Exclusive: Microsoft continues to iterate on an Xbox cloud streaming device codenamed 'Keystone' (Windows Central) Twitter shareholders sue Elon Musk and Twitter over chaotic deal (CNBC) Twitter director Egon Durban won’t leave the board after shareholders voted to boot him (CNBC) Substack Drops Fund-Raising Efforts as Market Sours (NYTimes) Weekend Longreads Suggestions The big new idea for making self-driving cars that can go anywhere (MIT Technology Review) In India’s Mobile-Payments Boom, Even Beggars Get QR Codes (WSJ) The Collison Brothers Built Stripe Into A $95 Billion Unicorn With Eye-Popping Financials. Inside Their Plan To Stay On Top (Forbes) THE UNSTOPPABLE MACHINES BEHIND THE GAME CONSOLE SHORTAGE (The Verge) Made to measure: why we can’t stop quantifying our lives (The Guardian) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 26, 2022
Apple is attempting to fend off a unionization movement by… paying people more. That Broadcom/VMware deal is real. You can now pay close to $1000 for a Gucci Oura Ring. After a decade of declines, EV battery prices are going up. And the last payphone in New York City is gone. Sponsors: AltoIRA.com/techmeme Smith.ai promocode techmeme for $100 off signup Links: Apple Boosting Pay Budget for Workers Amid Tight Labor Market (WSJ) Leaked Audio: Apple VP Gives Apple Store Workers Anti-Union Speech (Motherboard) Broadcom is acquiring VMware for $61 billion (The Verge) Oura collaborated with Gucci to make an 18 carat gold smart ring (Engadget) Apple to Keep iPhone Production Flat as Market Grows Tougher (Bloomberg) Snowflake stock falls as executives forecast a narrower margin than expected (CNBC) Twitter jumps after Musk increases commitment in takeover bid to $33.5 billion, in talks for other funding (CNBC) After a Decade of Declines, EV Battery Costs Are To Rise 14% This Year (The Electric/The Information) The Trouble With Lithium (Bloomberg) NYC's 'last' payphone will be displayed at the Museum of the City of New York (TimeOut New York) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 25, 2022
Seth Green has lost a film role… for his Ape. Cause he lost his Ape to a fishing scam. a16z launches their biggest ever crypto fund. Headlines from Microsoft’s Build conference. The e-bike that helps Ukraine take out Russian tanks. And a desktop grade Windows PC you could put in your pocket. Sponsors: Linkedin.com/ride Composer.trade/ride Links: Someone Stole Seth Green's Bored Ape, Which Was Supposed To Star In His New Show (Buzzfeed News) Andreessen Horowitz bets on crypto ‘golden era’ with new $4.5bn fund (FT) Microsoft’s Power Platform can now build websites and turn images into apps (XDA Developers) Microsoft brings support for Arm-based AI chips to Windows (TechCrunch) Microsoft Dev Box is a cloud-powered developer workstation (The Verge) DuckDuckGo browser allows Microsoft trackers due to search agreement (Bleeping Computer) Do Kwon's plan to rebirth the Terra blockchain gets approved (The Block) Terra Collapse Triggers $83 Billion Decentralized Finance Slump (Bloomberg) Ukraine Is Using Quiet Electric Bikes to Haul Anti-Tank Weapons (Motherboard/Vice) Zotac's minuscule Windows 11 Pro desktop PC is only slightly bigger than your phone (TechSpot) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 24, 2022
Google Research says to Open AI: “Hold my beer.” They’ve announced a new AI-based text-to-image generator to rival DALL-E 2. Is the shocking earnings warning from Snap a result of Apple’s ATT changes or is this indicative of the broader tech slowdown? Google’s street view turns 15 with some new bells and whistles. And does Apple REALLY want you to repair your own iPhone, or no? Sponsors: CreditKarma.com Work Check Podcast Links: OpenAI: Look at our awesome image generator! Google: Hold my Shiba Inu (TechCrunch) Zoom pops 16% on first-quarter earnings beat and strong guidance (CNBC) Snap plunges 30% after CEO warns company will miss revenue and earnings estimates, slow hiring (CNBC) Google is testing a smaller, modular Street View camera system (Engadget) APPLE SHIPPED ME A 79-POUND IPHONE REPAIR KIT TO FIX A 1.1-OUNCE BATTERY (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 23, 2022
Is a big mergers and acquisition wave about to hit the tech industry. I make the case from several different angles. AMD releases its next generation Ryzen chips. And a super interesting new startup in the Web 3 space. Is it game? Is it a fitness app? Can you earn money for moving? Yes. Sponsors: Zapier.com/ride LCX.com/ride Links: Broadcom in Talks to Acquire Cloud Company VMware (Bloomberg) Report: EA Looking To Sell Or Merge (Kotaku) Big Tech Is Getting Clobbered on Wall Street. It’s a Good Time for Them. (NYTimes) AMD Ryzen 7000 Announced (AnandTech) 'Move-to-earn' Solana app StepN is latest crypto gaming craze (TechCrunch) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 21, 2022
Friend of the show, Chris Dixon ( @cdixon ) of a16z's crypto and web3 investing initiatives comes on to talk about the recent report: 2022 State of Crypto . We got into all the things, using our favorite lens of tech history. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 20, 2022
A new high end Snapdragon chip. The Apple AR/VR headset has been demoed, but only 9 people got to see it in action. A YC backed startup is facing lawsuits related to the whole UST blowup. The feds will no longer go after good faith, white hat hackers. And, of course, the weekend longreads suggestions. Sponsors: Composer.trade/ride AthleticGreens.com/ride Links: Qualcomm announces Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1, for when flagship isn’t flagship enough (The Verge) Apple Shows AR/VR Headset to Board in Sign of Progress on Key Project (Bloomberg) Stablegains Faces Lawsuit After Losing $44M on UST (CryptoBriefing) Coinbase Slashes Costs, Freezes Hiring Amid Crypto Crash (The Information) A SpaceX flight attendant said Elon Musk exposed himself and propositioned her for sex, documents show. The company paid $250,000 for her silence. (Insider) Elon Musk’s Twitter Deal Is Proceeding, Not ‘On Hold,’ Executives Tell Staff (Bloomberg) DOJ Announces It Won’t Prosecute White Hat Security Researchers (Motherboard) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: Cyber Insurers Raise Rates Amid a Surge in Costly Hacks (WSJ) The Decade of Cheap Rides Is Over (Slate) The ‘E-Pimps’ of OnlyFans (NYTimes Magazine) Where Do Space, Time and Gravity Come From? (Quanta) Star Wars: The Rebellion Will Be Televised (Vanity Fair) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 19, 2022
A code red alert about vulnerabilities in VMware products. TikTok has a clever new program to crowdsource ad content from TikTok users. Oh, and they’re getting into games. FTX gets into regular old stock trading. The dreaded down rounds have arrived. And are there more Airbnb’s available in NYC right now, than there are apartments for rent? Sponsors: Policygenius.com Superside.com/techmeme Links: 2 vulnerabilities with 9.8 severity ratings are under exploit. A 3rd looms (ArsTechnica) TikTok’s new ad product gives creators a chance to partner with marketers on branded content (TechCrunch) EXCLUSIVE TikTok plans big push into gaming, conducting tests in Vietnam -sources (Reuters) FTX US launching zero-commission stock trading (The Block) Defiant Chinese netizens skirt lockdown censorship using blockchain (Financial Times) SoftBank-Backed Fintech Giant Klarna Looks for New Funds at Lower Valuation (WSJ) New York Now Has More Airbnb Listings Than Apartments for Rent (Curbed) Link to tomorrow's twitter space with Chris Dixon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 18, 2022
Apple is delaying its recent return to work policy indefinitely. If crypto mining is banned in China, how come it still the second biggest contributor to the global hashrate? Twitter’s board says it’s going to hold Elon’s feet to the fire. And the interesting raise for a startup looking to save encryption from quantum computing? Sponsors: LiveOuter.com/techmeme LCX.com/ride Links: Apple Delays Plan to Have Staff in Office Three Days a Week (Bloomberg) Apple Executive Who Left Over Return-to-Office Policy Joins Google AI Unit (Bloomberg) China Makes a Comeback in Bitcoin Mining Despite Government Ban (Bloomberg) Netflix Hit By Layoffs; About 150 Mostly U.S.-Based Employees Affected (Deadline) Acer Just Revealed External Monitors With Stereoscopic 3D, and I'm Dying to Try Them (Gizmodo) As Musk Tweets, Advisers Labor to Keep Twitter Deal on Track (Bloomberg) Elon Musk Does Not Care About Spam Bots (Matt Levine/Bloomberg) Cornami raises $68M to support quantum encryption (VentureBeat) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 17, 2022
Now Elon says he can’t move forward with the deal until he gets solid answers from Twitter about the bot issue, even though, we have the paperwork of his original offer and there were no contingencies about bot numbers, and he totally could have written that into the deal. Will Apple use E Ink on their foldable device? Coinbase is slowing hiring, while Microsoft is boosting pay. And a big test of driver assist systems says they’re still not as reliable as we all hope they are. Sponsors: LCX.com/ride Links: Elon Musk Says Twitter Must Prove Bot Claims for $44 Billion Deal to Proceed (Bloomberg) Apple ‘testing’ foldable with secondary E Ink display, says analyst (The Verge) Apple Now Letting Developers Automatically Charge for Some Subscription Price Increases (MacRumors) Coinbase Expands Features, Allowing Some App Users to Access Ethereum-Based Dapps (CoinDesk) Coinbase slows hiring to help weather market downturn (The Block) Satya Nadella details Microsoft plan for ‘significant additional investment’ in employee compensation (GeekWire) Report spotlights vast scale of adtech's 'biggest data breach' (TechCrunch) Cars in driver-assist mode hit a third of cyclists, all oncoming cars in tests (The Register) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 16, 2022
Is Netflix about to experiment with actual live broadcasts? Where did all the bitcoin go in the whole Luna/UST backstop debacle? Spotify is testing NFTs. Uber Eats gets into the ankle robot delivery game. And the Texas law that has all of big social media platforms worried. Sponsors: AltoIRA.com/techmeme Superside.com/techmeme Links: Netflix Exploring Live Streaming For First Time; Plans To Roll Out For Unscripted Series & Stand-Up Specials (Deadline) LFG Reserves Dwindle to Just 313 Bitcoins From 80K After UST Crash (CoinDesk) Exclusive: Spotify tests letting artists promote NFTs on their profiles (MusicAlly) OpenSea is adding NFT copy detection and verification features (The Verge) Uber Eats pilots autonomous delivery with Serve Robotics, Motional (TechCrunch) Tech groups ask Supreme Court to block Texas social media law (Washington Post) Just How Incredibly Fucked Up Is Texas’ Social Media Content Moderation Law? (TechDirt) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 14, 2022
Techpocalypse Now! W/ @EricNewcomer @loganbartlett & @alexrkonrad How bad is it? How bad can it get? How do we get out of this? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 13, 2022
Ok. Are you sitting down? Would you believe me if I told you Elon Musk is giving signals that the Twitter deal might be off? Could we fix the whole stablecoin mess if we just turn it off and turn it back on again? The refugees from Meta’s failed crypto project have a new startup to call home. And, of course, the Weekend Longreads Suggestions™. Sponsors: Superside.com/techmeme Masterworks.io/ride Sponsors: Elon Musk says Twitter deal ‘on hold’ after spam / fake account report (The Verge) Terraform Again Halts Blockchain Behind UST Stablecoin, Luna (Bloomberg) Ex-Meta crypto chief David Marcus launches Bitcoin payments startup backed by a16z and Paradigm (TechCrunch) Weekend Longreads Suggestions™: Terra: To the Moon and Back (Not Boring) Why financial engineering has gone full circle with Terra (The Blind Spot) Tech workers in Latin America want to make Spanish the primary language of programming (Rest of World) The Thing That Makes It Work Means It Doesn’t (Garbage Day) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 12, 2022
Other algorithmic stablecoins are teetering. Meta is cutting back, even when it comes to the Metaverse. Could an Instacart IPO lead us out of this darkness? Disney’s streaming business is holding up. For now. And the AR demo that was the most exciting thing from the I/O keynote yesterday. Sponsors: Ortto.com Links: Terra Crunch Shakes Foundations of Crypto Stablecoin Complex (Bloomberg) Exclusive: Facebook-owner Meta tells hardware staffers to prepare for cutbacks (Reuters) SoftBank Reports Its Biggest-Ever Full-Year Loss (WSJ) Instacart Files Confidentially for an IPO That Could Happen This Year (Bloomberg) Senate confirms Bedoya to FTC, establishing Democratic majority (The Verge) Disney+ Hits 137.7M Subscribers, Beating Wall Street Expectations in Streaming (The Hollywood Reporter) Google releases Android 13 beta 2 with finer privacy controls and improved Material You (Neowin) Google Glass’s successor teased at I/O (TechCrunch) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 11, 2022
All the headlines from Google’s I/O keynote this afternoon. The stablecoin fiasco has gotten rapidly worse. More carnage in tech stocks. Is Apple shifting to USB C for the iPhone at long last? And pour one out for the iPod, the product and brand that very much kicked off our modern era of gadgetry. Sponsors: Superside.com/techmeme HubSpot.com Links: Google Maps bringing a new ‘immersive view’ of select cities, Live View’s AR for other apps (9to5Google) Google’s new ‘multisearch’ features hint towards an AR glasses future (TechCrunch) Google will let you talk to Assistant on the Nest Hub Max just by looking at the screen (The Verge) Google announces Pixel 6a powered by Tensor processor for $449 (9to5Google) Google gives us our first glimpse of the Pixel 7 (Android Police) Google unveils the Pixel Buds Pro (9to5Google) Google previews the Pixel Watch, coming this fall with Pixel 7 (9to5Google) Google will release a Pixel Tablet… in 2023 (TechCrunch) As Luna holders watch the token slide, many won’t be able to cash out for weeks (The Block) Coinbase revenue drops 27% from a year ago, stock slides (CryptoWorld) Kuo: iPhone 15 to Switch From Lightning to USB-C in 2023 (MacRumors) The iPod is dead (TechCrunch) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 10, 2022
A major algorithmic stablecoin has lost its peg to the dollar. More concerns of a slowdown as Tiger Global has racked up massive paper losses. Match Group sues Google. Has GDPR crushed the European app economy? Amazon engages mom and pop stores to deliver packages. And an interesting raise that is building the GitHub of machine learning. Sponsors: ConstantContact.com Links: UST Stablecoin Loses Dollar Peg for Second Time in 48 Hours, LUNA Market Cap Falls Below UST's (CoinDesk) Crypto’s Audacious Algorithmic Stablecoin Experiment Crumbles (Bloomberg) Tiger Global hit by $17bn losses in tech rout (FT) Europe's GDPR coincides with dramatic drop in Android apps (The Register) Match Sues Google Over App Store Billing Rules (Bloomberg) Amazon’s surprising new delivery partners: Rural mom-and-pop shops (Recode) Hugging Face reaches $2 billion valuation to build the GitHub of machine learning (TechCrunch) Watch iconic Broadway theatre rise 30 feet above the ground (Borat voice: MY WIFE!) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 9, 2022
Everything is down, not just tech stocks, but now crypto too. More signs of belt tightening and possible hiring freezes, this time from Uber. Twitter has avoided the overall market route thanks to Elon’s bid, but could the downturn effect that as well? Instagram launches an NFT pilot. And what to expect from Google’s I/O later this week. Sponsors: OurCrowd.com/ride Links: Bitcoin’s Unraveling Hits 50% From Peak With Drop Below $33,000 (Bloomberg) Uber CEO tells staff company will cut down on costs, treat hiring as a ‘privilege’ (CNBC) Why Musk’s Twitter Bid Has Shaken Tesla Investors (NYTimes) Meta to start testing digital collectibles on Instagram (The Block) Costa Rica declares national emergency after Conti ransomware attacks (BleepingComputer) What to expect from Google I/O 2022 (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 6, 2022
With Apple, Google and Microsoft all signed up to offer FIDO Alliance technology, are we about to hear about some big passwordless tech at all the developers conferences this summer? China wants the whole country to turn in their foreign made laptops. Fortnite is available everywhere, including iOS, thanks to Microsoft. And, of course, the weekend longreads suggestions. Sponsors: HubSpot.com Ortto.com Links: Apple, Google, Microsoft Back 'FIDO' Tech to Dump Passwords on Websites and Apps (CNET) China Orders Government, State Firms to Dump Foreign PCs (Bloomberg) Epic's Fortnite Now Free to Play on Microsoft's Xbox Cloud Gaming for Mobile, Desktop, Console (CNET) Exclusive: Crypto.com passes the 50 million user mark (Axios) Weekend Longreads Suggestions ™ Fast, Cheap, and Out of Control: Inside Shein’s Sudden Rise (Wired) Elon Musk’s Fixer Is Quietly Tending the World’s Biggest Fortune (Bloomberg) Russians plunder $5M farm vehicles from Ukraine – to find they’ve been remotely disabled (CNN) A VISIT TO THE HUMAN FACTORY (The Verge) The Endgame (Newcomer) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 5, 2022
Elon gets some friends to join his Twitter deal. And does he expect to be Twitter CEO soon? A Google acquisition shows their metaverse aspirations. Sonos to launch a voice assistant. A hiring slowdown at Meta. How can there be need for layoffs at Cameo? And is anyone other than me and the US Government concerned about quantum computing breaking encryption? Sponsors: HubSpot.com Links: Ellison, Binance and Sequoia back Musk’s $44bn bid for Twitter (FT) Google bought a MicroLED display company that could help make AR headsets better and cheaper (The Verge) Exclusive: Sonos is about to introduce its own voice assistant (The Verge) Facebook plans to reduce hiring as revenue growth slows and inflation concerns increase (CNBC) Cameo lays off close to 90, including senior executives (Protocol) Stripe flexes its fintech muscle with Financial Connections to pull banking data automatically (TechCrunch) White House wants nation to prepare for cryptography-breaking quantum computers (The Record) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 4, 2022
Uber is seeing rider usage return to pre-Covid levels. New, better flash storage. Twitter tests the ability to only tweet to certain circles. An interesting laptop and an interesting raise. And Spotify wants you to hang out, in Roblox. Sponsors: AthleticGreens.com/ride Links: Uber reports surging revenue as drivers return, but posts massive loss on investments (CNBC) NFT Sales Are Flatlining (WSJ) Samsung's UFS 4.0 flash storage is a major upgrade, especially for 5G phones (Android Authority) Twitter Testing New 'Twitter Circle' Feature for Sharing Tweets With a Smaller Number of People (MacRumors) Meta has built a massive new language AI—and it’s giving it away for free (MIT Technology Review) Razer’s Blade 15 is the first laptop with a 240Hz OLED display, but you’ll have to wait a while (The Verge) Larry Ellison leads $21.5 million Series A in cancer treatment startup Imagene AI (CTech) Spotify becomes first music streamer to launch on Roblox (TechCrunch) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 3, 2022
What do you know? Facebook got bored of something and left the market in a bit of a mess. The SEC seems to be staffing up to get serious about crypto. Apple accuses a rival of stealing trade secrets. And it seems like Meta wants to start getting those Metaverse enabling headsets in our hands sooner rather than later. Sponsors: Smith.ai promocode techmeme for $100 off signup CreditKarma.com Links: Facebook Pulls the Plug on Podcast Business After a Year (Bloomberg) SEC to Hire More Crypto Cops to Fight Digital Frauds (WSJ) PayPal Helped Spur EU Antitrust Complaint Against Apple Payments (Bloomberg) UK ministers ditch plans to empower tech regulator (FT) Apple accuses engineers of stealing chip secrets with AirDrop and Time Machine (9to5Mac) Meta Plots Ambitious VR Release Schedule of Four Headsets by 2024 (The Information) Rocket Lab captures booster in mid-air with a helicopter for the first time (Engadget) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 2, 2022
The expected EU hammer is coming down on Apple. Yuga Labs’ latest project didn’t bring down Ethereum, but made it hella expensive. Bots DID bring down Solana. Again. A new book looks at why Jony Ive left Apple. And what the heck is going on with Google and it’s AI researchers? Sponsors: Traceroute Podcast ( Origins.dev for more info) Links: Apple charged by Brussels with abusing its market power in mobile payments (Financial Times) Bored Ape Metaverse Frenzy Raises Millions, Crashes Ethereum (Bloomberg) Bored Ape Yacht Club creator’s metaverse mint rocks the Ethereum blockchain (The Verge) Solana Goes Dark for 7 Hours as Bots Swarm ‘Candy Machine’ NFT Minting Tool (CoinDesk) Grindr User Data Has Been for Sale for Years (WSJ) How Technocrats Triumphed at Apple (NYTimes) Another Firing Among Google’s A.I. Brain Trust, and More Discord (NYTimes) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 1, 2022
(The audio has been fixed in this version) How was the web won and lost? If you had to do Web2.0 over again, what would you do differently? What is the future of Twitter under Elon Musk. All this and more from a huge crew of web 2.0 OGs. Check them out from 15 years ago on YouTube . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 29, 2022
Snap’s Pixy, is a new sort of done/camera hybrid. We wrap up tech earnings week with Apple and Amazon. I continue to wonder if the one click checkout space is all it’s cracked up to be. And of course, the Weekend Longreads Suggestions. Sponsors: Ortto.com Masterworks.io/ride Links: Snap announces a mini drone called Pixy (TechCrunch) Snap Pixy Review: Don’t Call It a Drone or a Selfie Stick—Even Though It’s Both (WSJ) Apple Reports Second Quarter Results (BusinessWire) The Twitter Thread With The Charts On Amazon (@juokaz) Bolt, a Checkout Startup Worth $11 Billion, Lost Customers as Revenue Stalled (The Information) The Weekend Longreads Suggestions ™ Elon's Giant Package (Margins Substack) Weather Prediction Startups Grow as More Volatile Storms Loom (Bloomberg) As Polaroid’s SX-70 turns 50, instant photography is booming (Fast Company) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 28, 2022
Twitter reports earnings, for maybe the last time, publicly. Meta’s earnings weren’t THAT bad but that’s mostly because the set the table for it. Apple faces antitrust charges in the EU as soon as next week. Another country adopts bitcoin as currency. And would you like a dedicated metaverse room in your next house? Sponsors: Ortto.com Composer.trade/ride Links: Twitter reports user bump, revenue miss for Q1, days after accepting Musk’s takeover bid (CNBC) Twitter miscounted its daily users for three years straight (The Verge) Meta's Bleak Q1; Spotify's Netflix Moment (The Information) Apple to face fresh antitrust charges in Brussels (FT) Google may now remove search results that dox you (The Verge) Bitcoin becomes official currency in Central African Republic (BBCNews) NSA Re-awards Secret $10 Billion Contract to Amazon (NextGov) How the pandemic is changing home design (Axios) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 27, 2022
Quick summation of Alphabet and Microsoft earnings. DJI is trying to prevent its drones from being used in the Ukraine war. Google has released tools to make it easier to spin up your own YouTube. Apple wants you to repair your iPhone yourself. And a deep dive into why autocorrect can’t ducking get it right sometimes. Ducking. I said ducking, which is the iPhone autocorrect version of that word. Sponsors: HubSpot.com discover.upland.me/techmeme Links: Alphabet Announces First Quarter 2022 Results (Alphabet) Earnings Release FY22 Q3 (Microsoft) Robinhood lays off nine percent of its full-time employees (Engadget) DJI Becomes Most Prominent Chinese Firm to Halt Russia Business (Bloomberg) Google launches Media CDN to compete on content delivery (TechCrunch) Apple Launches Do-It-Yourself Repairs For iPhone 13, iPhone 12 and iPhone SE (CNET) A pple’s Studio Display’s poor webcam quality is not a software bug after all (9to5Mac) Autocorrect Explained: Why Your iPhone Adds Annoying Typos While Fixing Others (WSJ) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 26, 2022
You did it, you crazy son of a bitch, you did it. You know what that’s referring to, of course. Fidelity lets you allocate some of your 401(k) to bitcoin. More Bored Apes got swiped. And with the F-150 Lightning actually shipping today, another glimpse at the precarious reality of the electric car revolution. Links: Twitter accepts Elon Musk’s buyout deal (CNBC) Elon Musk buys Twitter (Platformer/Casey Newton) From punchline to deal in under 2 weeks: how Elon Musk won his Twitter prize (Financial Times) Fidelity to Allow Retirement Savers to Put Bitcoin in 401(k) Accounts (WSJ) Bored Ape Instagram account hacked: NFTs worth $2.8 million stolen (The Block) SoftBank Cuts Back Spending, Leaving Startups Desperate for Cash (Bloomberg) THE F-150 LIGHTNING IS FINALLY SHIPPING — IS FORD READY? (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 25, 2022
By the time you hear these words, Elon Musk might already own Twitter. A big Java vulnerability. All of Mark Gurman’s expectations for the iPhone 14. Where and by how much, tech worker salaries are rising. And why the struggles at Netflix might lead to worse television across the board. Sponsors: HubSpot.com discover.upland.me/techmeme Links: Twitter Eyes Deal With Musk as Soon as Monday (Bloomberg) Analysis: Musk tears up buyout playbook with $46.5 billion Twitter financing (Reuters) Major cryptography blunder in Java enables “psychic paper” forgeries (ArsTechnica) The iPhone 14 Is Less Than Six Months Away. Here’s What to Expect (Bloomberg) Tech Wage Inflation Puts Pressure on Companies (WSJ) Netflix and Facebook have given up most of the last few years’ gains since tech’s November peak (CNBC) The Netflix Nightmare: What Happens When an Industry Becomes a Squid Game (Vanity Fair) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 24, 2022
Founder Alex Damianou tells us about OpenAxis , which tells stories with data. If a picture tells a thousand words, how many does a chart tell? Easily and beautifully visualize data with an accessible point-and-click, no-code, no-pivot-table tool. Learn more about the Ride Home Fund . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 23, 2022
The great Julia Alexander ( @loudmouthjulia ) joins us to talk about Netflix's big earnings bomb, CNN+ biting the big one, and the state of the streaming wars. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 22, 2022
CNN+ only made it, what, 1/8th of a Quibi? There’s blood on the streaming wars dance floor. a16z’s new crypto research lab makes me feel like I have to start covering them like a startup or a conglomerate. More bad news for Meta: they’re way behind in the payments race in India. And of course, the weekend longreads suggestions. Sponsors: discover.upland.me/techmeme Links: CNN+ Streaming Service Will Shut Down Weeks After Its Start (NYTimes) a16z Crypto is launching an academic research lab focused on web3 (The Block) How Meta Platforms Fell Behind in Indian Mobile Payments (WSJ) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: ApeCoin & the death of staking (Cobie Substack) Cutting-Edge Crypto Coins Tout Stability. Critics Call Them Dangerous. (WSJ) Rivian CEO Warns of Looming Electric-Vehicle Battery Shortage (WSJ) Video Game Junkie Quietly Builds $3 Billion Payments Powerhouse (Bloomberg) The Sidekick Was the Best Smartphone Ever (Debugger) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 21, 2022
Ok. Funding actually secured, Elon? For real this time? A look at Tesla’s good earnings and monster margins. Unions are coming for big tech, it seems. A reckoning is coming for the lightning cable, it seems. And advertising in your console games is inevitable, it seems. Sponsors: Composer.trade/ride Policygenius.com Links: Twitter Has a Poison Pill Now (Matt Levine/Bloomberg) Elon Musk Says He Has Commitments for $46.5 Billion in Financing for Twitter Deal (WSJ) Elon Musk lays out funding for ambitious Twitter takeover (The Verge) Tesla record profit blows away estimates (CNN Business) Tesla reports $18.76 billion in revenue and record margins in Q1 (CNBC) Apple Store workers in Atlanta are the first to formally seek a union. (NYTimes) Amazon opens up Prime delivery service to other retailers in its latest move to compete with FedEx and UPS (CNBC) PlayStation Wants Ads In Its Games, Too (IGN) MEPs vote to expand scope of common charger rules (TechCrunch) Zoom’s thumbs-up and raise-hand gesture recognition now works in its desktop apps (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 20, 2022
Netflix shares crater after earnings, and the company might be turning to ad-supported streaming to eke out some growth. Coinbase’s NFT marketplace is live. Why crypto stocks are uncoupled from the underlying crypto market. Why the surge in zero days might actually be good news. And the tech bubble that would never burst. So far. Sponsors: Linkedin.com/ride Hapbee.com/techmeme Links: Netflix Q1 net subscribers unexpectedly decline, revenue misses expectations (Yahoo!Finance) Netflix Plans to Launch Cheaper Ad-Supported Plans (The Hollywood Reporter) Just Eat Weighs Grubhub Sale in Tough Food Delivery Market (Bloomberg) Coinbase NFT marketplace goes live in beta for select customers (The Block) Crypto Stocks Perform Worse Than Cryptocurrencies (WSJ) Google: 2021 was a Banner Year for Exploited 0-Day Bugs (ThreatPost) Brave is bypassing Google AMP pages because they’re ‘harmful to users’ (The Verge) The Tech Bubble That Never Burst (NYTimes) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 19, 2022
Courts have reaffirmed the right to scrape the public facing web. We have some hints about how the Twitter edit button might work. Updates on the whole Twitter/Elon situation. Microsoft wants to bring in-game ads to Xbox. And a new startup accelerator you’re gonna want to put on your radar. Sponsors: OurCrowd.com/ride Links: Web scraping is legal, US appeals court reaffirms (TechCrunch) Twitter's in-development Edit button offers hints as to how the feature could work (TechCrunch) Apollo Global Considers Participating in a Bid for Twitter (WSJ) Insteon is down and may not be coming back (Stacey On IOT) Microsoft reportedly wants to bring ads to free-to-play Xbox games (The Verge) Andreessen Horowitz unveils piloted program for early-stage entrepreneurs (TechCrunch) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 16, 2022
Gergely Orosz of The Pragmatic Engineer helps us figure out the strategy and expectations of joining a high profile startup, vs. the expectations and reality of joining a FAANG company. Also: the perils and promise and best practices of joining a startup, vs. the perils and promise and best practices of joining a big tech company. Hopefully, if you are a tech worker, an engineer, a designer, what have you, there will be some valuable learnings for you. Oh, and Chris and I try our hand at Elon punditry. Sponsors: Composer.trade/ride Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 15, 2022
Twitter’s board is contemplating a poison pill to ward off Elon Musk. The US said North Korean hackers were behind that big Axie Infinity theft. Mark Gurman lists the Macs that are in line to get the M2 chips. And, of course, the weekend longreads suggestions. Sponsors: AltoIRA.com/techmeme Links: Twitter Is Weighing a Poison Pill Defense to Thwart Elon Musk’s Takeover Bid (Bloomberg) Twitter Board Expected To Fight Musk Offer (The Information) US Officials Tie North Korea’s ‘Lazarus’ Hackers to $625M Crypto Theft (CoinDesk) Apple Readies Several New Macs With Next-Generation M2 Chips (Bloomberg) In latest gaming crackdown, China bans livestreaming of unauthorised titles (Reuters) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: The Talent Vortex: Mafias and Magnets (Investing 101) Musk Needs ‘Massive Loan’ or Big Tesla Sale to Buy Twitter (Bloomberg) Blind Ambition (Cybernaut/Every.to) Stablecoins Are in a War for Dominance and It’s Getting Ugly (Motherboard/Vice) How Chris Dixon’s Dive Down The Crypto Rabbit Hole Made Him The World’s Top Venture Capitalist (Forbes) AMONG EUROPE’S EX-ROYALS (The Atlantic) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 14, 2022
Well, he went and did it. Elon Musk told Twitter’s board he wants to buy the whole company. The bids for a Jack Dorsey NFT are anemic. A warning from the US government about industrial cyber-attacks. Meta’s entire metaverse product roadmap. And say hello to the new hottest social network among the kids. Sponsors: CodeCademy.com promocode ride LiveOuter.com/techmeme Links: Elon Musk Makes $43 Billion Unsolicited Bid to Take Twitter Private (Bloomberg) US agencies warn of custom-made hacking tools targeting energy sector systems (The Record) ‘Jack Dorsey’s First Tweet’ NFT Went on Sale for $48M. It Ended With a Top Bid of Just $280 (CoinDesk) MARK ZUCKERBERG’S AUGMENTED REALITY (The Verge) Gen Z’s new favorite app (Axios) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 13, 2022
ESET and Microsoft helped Ukraine stop an attack on a power plant. Might CNN+ become a high profile casualty of the streaming wars? Elon Musk is facing a Twitter shareholder lawsuit. People aren’t happy that Meta’s metaverse vig is higher than even Apple dares charge. And, the new privacy-focused browser from Duck Duck Go. Sponsors: Smith.ai promocode techmeme for $100 off signup Links: Researchers find new malware variant after stopping attack on Ukrainian energy provider (The Record) Former Ethereum Developer Virgil Griffith Sentenced to 5+ Years in Prison for North Korea Trip (CoinDesk) CNN+ struggles to lure viewers in its early days, drawing fewer than 10,000 daily users (CNBC) Big cuts coming for CNN+ after slow start (Axios) Elon Musk Sued Over Delay in Disclosing Twitter Stake (Bloomberg) Meta's New 47.5% Fee on Metaverse Items Has NFT Twitter Pissed (CNET) Meta: 124 Quest Apps Have Earned More Than $1M, 8 Have Earned More Than $20M (RoadToVR) DuckDuckGo’s Privacy Browser Finally Lands on Desktop (Wired) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 12, 2022
Meta rolls out a test to sell virtual items in Horizon Worlds. Ethereum takes a major step toward its proof-of-stake upgrade. Would you watch a Bored Ape movie? Apple has delayed a major feature for the Watch. Etsy sellers are on strike. And Netflix’s new two-thumbs-up button. Sponsors: CreditKarma.com Links: Meta will let Horizon creators sell virtual items (The Verge) Ethereum Undergoes Another Stress Test Ahead of Software Change (Bloomberg) Bored Apes Go Hollywood With Coinbase-Produced Movie Trilogy (CoinDesk) Apple Targets Watch Blood-Pressure Tool for 2024 After Snags (Bloomberg) Over 14,000 Etsy sellers are going on strike to protest increased transaction fees (TechCrunch) Digital Ad Revenue Jumped 35% in the U.S. Last Year, Biggest Gain Since 2006 (WSJ) TikTok Ad Revenue Set To Triple in 2022 (The Information) How Netflix tests Netflix: The story behind the service’s new two-thumbs-up feature (Protocol) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 11, 2022
By declining a seat on Twitter’s board, does that mean Elon has chosen violence? Plenty of signs of a mixed reality headset in the code of the next version of iOS. Meta tried and failed to design its own chip. China has decided to let some new games launch. And even if drone delivery is moving forward, is Amazon being left behind? Sponsors: ConstantContact.com MasterWorks.io Links: Elon has decided not to join our board. I sent a brief note to the company, sharing with you all here. (Parag Agrawal) China Ends Game Freeze by Approving First Titles Since July (Bloomberg) Apple Sets the Date for Another Virtual WWDC—Here’s What to Expect (Bloomberg) Meta Platforms is Struggling to Develop Its Own Device Chips (The Information) Amazon Drone Crashes Hit Jeff Bezos' Delivery Dreams (Bloomberg) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 9, 2022
MRGN.ai is all about intelligent budgeting for small businesses. Founder Yoni Rubin joins me to discuss the realities of founding a SaaS company in 2022, and much more. Another great company joining the Ride Home Fund portfolio! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 8, 2022
Some folks at Twitter are nervous about Elon Musk’s arrival, so he’s going to do an AMA to rally the troops. Twitter is testing unmentioning. Robinhood is fully rolling out that promise wallet feature. The increasing lexicon of euphemisms people have to use to speak freely on sites like TikTok. And, of course, the weekend longreads suggestions. Sponsors: Smith.ai promocode techmeme for $100 off signup Links: Elon Musk to address Twitter staff after internal outcry (Washington Post) Twitter test lets you 'unmention' yourself in tweets (Engadget) Robinhood widens user access for crypto wallet transfers, unveils plan to support Lightning payments for bitcoin (The Block) Gartner forecasts global tech spending to hit $4.4 trillion this year, up 4% (Silicon Angle) Internet ‘algospeak’ is changing our language in real time, from ‘nip nobs’ to ‘le dollar bean’ (Washington Post) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: The Scoop: Inside Fast’s Rapid Collapse (The Pragmatic Engineer) Millennial Billionaire Ryan Breslow Created Buzz, And Enemies, Attacking Stripe And Shopify. He’s Just Getting Started. (Forbes) SCOOP: Crypto Fund Paradigm's Assets Under Management Climb 343% to $13.2 Billion (Newcomer) The Metaverse Has Bosses Too. Meet the ‘Managers’ of Axie Infinity (Motherboard/Vice) This Startup Promised People Free Crypto If They Scanned Their Eyeballs. Now People Feel They've Been Scammed. (BuzzFeed) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 7, 2022
The crypto dream might have died, but Meta still thinks the metaverse will need some for of currency. Maybe Zuck Bucks? OpenSea adds Solana NFTs. Shein is the world’s latest mega unicorn. Is Bolt pivoting from one-click checkouts to crypto payments instead? Legos in the metaverse. And DALL-E 2. Sponsors: Rocketlawyer.com/workconfidently Links: Facebook owner Meta targets finance with ‘Zuck Bucks’ and creator coins (FT) Google Play will hide and block downloads for outdated apps starting later this year (TechCrunch) Solana NFTs Can Now Be Traded on OpenSea (Decrypt) Facebook won’t hold its F8 developer conference this year after pivoting to Meta (The Verge) Shein Valued at $100 Billion in Funding Round (WSJ) Crypto Startup Wyre Being Acquired by Payments Company Bolt for $1.5 Billion (WSJ) Lego and Epic Games partnership aims for a kid-friendly metaverse (Washington Post) OpenAI’s DALL-E AI image generator can now edit pictures, too (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 6, 2022
I told you Elon had no intention of being a passive investor. Twitter says an edit button is probably coming soon. So, you know, that Elon, he gets things done. One-click checkout startup Fast is shutting down completely. A deep dive into how the new Unreal Engine 5 fits into Hollywood, fits into gaming, fits into the metaverse. And beware: “Will Smith” might come into your Elden Ring game and slap you. Sponsors: Witful.com Links: Musk Refiles Twitter Disclosure to Show He’s an Active Investor (Bloomberg) Twitter is adding an edit button (The Verge) Sky Mavis raises $150 million to reimburse Ronin hack victims (The Block) Fast, the Troubled Fintech Startup, Is Shutting Down (The Information) MicroStrategy Funds Latest Purchase With Bitcoin-Backed Loan (Bloomberg) Inside Epic's Unreal Engine 5—and What It Means for the Future of Gaming, Movies, and the Metaverse (Time) How Epic Games is changing gaming—and maybe the metaverse (Fast Company) Elden Ring players called Will Smith keep invading and slapping people (TechRadar) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 5, 2022
So much for that “passive” stake. Twitter has appointed Elon Musk to its board of directors. Amazon is gunning for SpaceX in the race to deliver internet from space. Some datapoints around the whole question of wash trading in the NFT market. And what if I told you there was ANOTHER wildly popular thing from the creator of Wordle? Links: Elon Musk to join Twitter’s board of directors, teases ‘significant improvements’ (CNBC) Elon Musk Bought Some Twitter (Bloomberg/Matt Levine) Amazon’s Project Kuiper books up to 83 rockets to launch its internet-beaming satellites (The Verge) Microsoft brings Arm support to Azure virtual machines (ZDNet) Axie Infinity Was Losing Gamers Even Before Record Crypto Hack (Bloomberg) The Hottest NFT Marketplace is Mostly Users Selling to Themselves (Bloomberg) Hackers breach MailChimp's internal tools to target crypto customers (BleepingComputer) Internet communities are battling over pixels (The Washington Post) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 4, 2022
So, Elon Musk has taken a 9.2% stake in Twitter. I’d point out that the last time Twitter had an activist investor, it led to Jack Dorsey stepping down as CEO. Is drone delivery suddenly, and rapidly, becoming a reality? The nation of the United Kingdom is going to issue an NFT. And Mark Gurman’s math on how an Apple subscription would work. Sponsors: Grammarly.com/techmeme Links: Elon Musk Takes 9.2% Stake in Twitter After Hinting at Shake-Up (Bloomberg) Alphabet's Wing will begin drone deliveries in Dallas-Fort Worth on April 7th (Engadget) AMD Returns to Deal Making with $1.9 Billion Purchase of Chip Specialist Pensando (WSJ) NFTs to be launched by the Treasury later this year in crypto push (City AM) It’s a big day at the State Department for U.S. cyberdiplomacy (Washington Post) Why Apple Is Preparing to Let You Subscribe to Your iPhone (Bloomberg) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 2, 2022
Justin Santamaria was once an Apple lead engineer on iPhone, where he created iMessage, FaceTime, the blue/green text bubbles and even unlocked emojis so people outside Japan could use them. Now, as cofounder of Future , he’s using text communication to pair people with a world-class trainer for unlimited coaching through their phone. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 1, 2022
E3 is officially cancelled this year, which is making people wonder if it’s officially dead and we just don’t know it yet. More signs of serious trouble in the food delivery space. Facebook has fixed a bug that let harmful content into the news feed for six months. And of course, the weekend longreads suggestions. Sponsors: Wealthfront.com/techmeme Links: E3 2022 - Digital and Physical - Has Officially Been Canceled (IGN) Food Delivery Stocks Lose $24 Billion in Just Three Months (Bloomberg) A FACEBOOK BUG LED TO INCREASED VIEWS OF HARMFUL CONTENT OVER SIX MONTHS (The Verge) Apple emergency update fixes zero-days used to hack iPhones, Macs (BleepingComputer) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: Online shopping in the middle of the ocean (RestOfWorld) Want to See the Weirdest of Wikipedia? Look No Further. (NYTimes) Why Moderating Content Actually Does More To Support The Principles Of Free Speech (TechDirt) A History of Hup, the Jump Sound of Shooting Games (Wired) In the Shadow of the Star Wars Kid (Waxy.org) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 31, 2022
Another day of all the hacking news. Now the hackers are forging Emergency Data Requests. Apparently there have been vulnerabilities in Wyze security cameras that no one bothered to fix. TSMC warns of a tech slowdown. Masa Son orders his lieutenants to slow down investing just a bit. And yes, burrito delivery by drone, but probably more impressive is FedEx getting into the drone game. Sponsors: Linode.com/techmeme Links: Apple and Meta Gave User Data to Hackers Who Used Forged Legal Requests (Bloomberg) Wyze Cam flaw lets hackers remotely access your saved videos (BleepingComputer) Google Search’s new highly cited label helps you get to the source of a story (The Verge) TSMC says demand for smartphones, PCs starting to slow (Nikkei Asia) SoftBank to slow investments following crash in tech holdings (FT) Look up: Your burrito is arriving by drone (Axios) FedEx will test autonomous cargo flights next year (Engadget) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 30, 2022
I explain the (latest) biggest crypto hack of all time, this time affecting Axie Infinity. Meta is paying to dish dirt on TikTok. Changes to Google Calendar could kneecap a bunch of startups, while the DOJ is investigating Google Maps. And signs of difficulty in two red-hot startup sectors, the instant delivery sector, and the fast checkout sector. Sponsors: AltoIRA.com/techmeme Links: Axie Infinity’s Ronin Network Suffers $625M Exploit (CoinDesk) Axie Infinity Owner ‘Fully Committed’ to Reimbursing Players After Hack (Bloomberg) Facebook paid GOP firm to malign TikTok (Washington Post) Messenger gets new shortcuts that let you send silent replies (The Verge) New Google Calendar feature takes the back-and-forth out of scheduling (Ars Technica) EXCLUSIVE-U.S. probe of Google Maps picks up speed -sources (Reuters) Gopuff Plans Hundreds of Layoffs to Cut $40 Million in Costs (The Information) Why Stripe’s ‘Fast’ Horse Is Losing the One-Click Checkout Race (The Information) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 29, 2022
Sony’s answer to Xbox Game Pass is here. Spotify wants to TikTok-up your podcast listening. Have you ever gotten a spam text from your own phone number? Okta still has some ‘splaining to do. And forget AppleTV+, Disney+, I dunno… BobRoss+, how about NFL+? Isn’t it inevitable? Sponsors: Linode.com/techmeme Masterworks.io/ride Links: Sony merges PS Now and PS Plus to create three-tier subscription service (GamesIndustry.biz) Sony announces new PlayStation Plus subscriptions, its answer to Xbox Game Pass (The Verge) Spotify puts its Podz acquisition to use with test of new podcast discovery feature (TechCrunch) My own phone number is now spam texting me (The Verge) Leaked Details of the Lapsus$ Hack Make Okta’s Slow Response Look More Bizarre (Wired) NFL considers creating a streaming service of its own (The Athletic) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 28, 2022
Apple wins a best picture Oscar. Bigger camaras mean bigger bumps in upcoming iPhones. Urgent Chrome update you need to be aware of. You probably guessed that that person bugging you on LinkedIn might be faked. And Fashion Week, but in the Metaverse. Sponsors: OurCrowd.com/ride Priceline.com Links: Apple Is First Streamer to Win Best Picture Oscar for ‘CODA’ (Variety) Kuo: iPhone 14 Pro's Larger Camera Bump Due to New 48MP Camera System (MacRumors) Apple to cut iPhone, AirPods output amid Ukraine war uncertainty (NikkeiAsia) HP buys Poly for $3.3 billion to ride hybrid work boom (TechStartups) Emergency Google Chrome update fixes zero-day used in attacks (BleepingComputer) That smiling LinkedIn profile face might be a computer-generated fake (WNYC/NPR) NFT Collection Failures Begin to Mount in Flashback to ICO Bust (Bloomberg) Metaverse Fashion Week Draws Big Brands, Startups (WSJ) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 26, 2022
Bloomberg's Mark Gurman comes on to dissuade us of our Apple delusions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 25, 2022
Listeners from Ukraine got in touch to tell us what it has been like for one particular tech startup in Ukraine these last few weeks. From the founder of the company: Lemon.io , Alekskandr Volodarsky, @volodarik these are the charities he recommends: https://bank.gov.ua/en/about/support-the-armed-forces https://www.1kproject.org/ https://savelife.in.ua/en/donate/ (including crypto donations) https://koloua.com/ https://novaukraine.org/donate/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 25, 2022
Will the new EU Digital Markets Act mean that all messaging could soon become as interoperable as email? Some serious smoke around the whole grand unifying Apple subscription fire. Why Instacart is voluntarily lowing its valuation. And, of course, the weekend longreads suggestions. Sponsors: Codecademy.com promocode ride Links: EU negotiators agree new rules to rein in tech giants (Politico) Apple Is Working on a Hardware Subscription Service for iPhones (Bloomberg) Lapsus$: Oxford teen accused of being multi-millionaire cyber-criminal (BBC News) Instacart Slashes Its Valuation by Almost 40% to $24 Billion (Bloomberg) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: LAPSUS$: How a Sloppy Extortion Gang Became One of the Most Prolific Hacking Groups (Motherboard/Vice) The Man Behind Ethereum Is Worried About Crypto's Future (Time) There's something off about ApeCoin (Platformer) Of Course We’re Living in a Simulation (Wired) Nicolas Cage Can Explain It All (GQ) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 24, 2022
Have we uncovered the hackers behind Lapsus$, that crazy new hacker group? Another crack in the App Store wall as Google unilaterally decides to test alternative payment systems? Uber is actually teaming up with the Taxi drivers here in New York City. And would you buy a 15 inch MacBook Air? Sponsors: Policygenius.com NewRelic.com/techmeme Links: Teen Suspected by Cyber Researchers of Being Lapsus$ Mastermind (Bloomberg) A Closer Look at the LAPSUS$ Data Extortion Group (KrebsonSecurity) Google Play to pilot third-party billing option, starting with Spotify (TechCrunch) Twitter’s DM search will finally actually help you find conversations (The Verge) Uber Reaches Deal to List All New York City Taxis on Its App (WSJ) Report: Apple developing new 15-inch MacBook Air that could come in 2023 (9to5Mac) YouTube is taking on over-the-air TV with nearly 4,000 free episodes of TV (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 23, 2022
Customers are getting frustrated with Okta over that potential Lapsus$ hack. Apple’s acquisition of an open banking startup is interesting. Yuga Labs is the (forgive me) 800lb gorilla of the NFT space. And why Zuckerberg’s personal remote work regimen might explain why he’s so obsessed with having meetings in VR. Links: Linkedin.com/ride Links: The Third-Party Okta Hack Leaves Customers Scrambling (Wired) Apple acquires UK open banking startup Credit Kudos (The Block) Apple Buys UK Fintech Start-Up Credit Kudos (CNBC) El Salvador postpones bitcoin bond issue, expects better conditions (Reuters) Bored Ape Yacht Club creator raises $450 million to build an NFT metaverse (The Verge) Crypto investor Katie Haun raises $1.5 billion, the largest debut fund ever by a female VC (CNBC) Mark Zuckerberg and Meta’s Leadership Take Remote Work to the Extreme (WSJ) Zoom’s new virtual avatars let you show up to your next meeting as a dog (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 22, 2022
When it rains, it pours cybersecurity news. The White House warns that Russian hacks may be incoming. Lapsus$ has now allegedly hit Okta and Microsoft. A big alleged hack to HubSpot might hurt a bunch of crypto companies. And why does that Apple Studio display have 64GB of storage it’s (mostly) not using? Sponsors: RocketLawyer.com/workconfidently Links: Statement by President Biden on our Nation’s Cybersecurity (WhiteHouse.gov) Is Russia exploring cyberattacks against U.S. in response to hacktivists? (VentureBeat) Okta hack puts thousands of businesses on high alert (The Verge) Lapsus$ hackers leak 37GB of Microsoft's alleged source code (BleepingComputer) Hacker Steals Customer Data From Circle, BlockFi, Other Big Crypto Firms (Decrypt) Alphabet’s quantum tech group Sandbox spins off into an independent company (CNBC) Apple Studio Display Contains 64GB of Storage, But Only 2GB Used (MacRumors) Roku OS 11 will let you set your own photos as a screensaver (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 21, 2022
An alternative title to today’s show could be Schrödinger’s Brazilian Telegram Ban. I’ll explain. Ukrainians say Elon Musk’s Starlink donation is proving quite useful. Toronto has become the third-largest tech hub in North America. Should Apple make routers again? And where will the advertising dollars go in 2022? Sponsors: Hapbee.com/techmeme do.co/trh Links: Telegram forgot to check its email and now it’s banned in Brazil (The Verge) Brazil Lifts Its Ban on Telegram After Two Days (NYTimes) Elon Musk’s Starlink is keeping Ukrainians online when traditional Internet fails (Washington Post) Chipmakers face two-year shortage of critical equipment (FT) Toronto, the Quietly Booming Tech Town (NYTimes) Apple Should Make Home Wi-Fi Routers Again as Part of Mac Reboot (Bloomberg) TV, merchant media and the unbundling of advertising (Ben-Evans.com) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 19, 2022
We talked to Nathan Baschez and Dan Shipper, the founders of the media startup Every.to . We talked to them about the realities of being two years in as a modern, from the ground up media company, the shifting landscape in the “creator economy” (remember that?) And a lot about Substack and its business model and philosophy. Around the hour mark, Chris and I have a lengthy conversation about the Mac Studio, my purchasing of one, my cancelling of my order for a Studio Display. And also, Chris has a very interesting 8 dimensional chess theory about where Apple is headed as a company. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 18, 2022
Australia sues Meta for alleged cryptocurrency scam ads. Bored Apes Yacht Club had, what we might call a busted IPO, if that was term we were using. Amazon is now officially the proud owner of James Bond. And, of course, the weekend longreads suggestions. Sponsors: GetVultr.com/techmeme or promocode 150OFFER30 LiveOuter.com/techmeme Links: Australian watchdog sues Facebook-owner Meta over scam advertisements (Reuters) Bored Ape Yacht Club Ethereum NFT Sales Surge as ApeCoin Price Pops, Then Drops (Decrypt) U.S. antitrust enforcers won't challenge Amazon's MGM deal, dashing hopes of monopoly critics (Politico) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: Substack’s Ideology (Divinations) A Big Bet to Kill the Password for Good (Wired) Razzlekhan: The Untold Story Of How A YouTube Rapper Became A Suspect In A $4 Billion Bitcoin Fraud (Forbes) Six months in, El Salvador’s bitcoin gamble is crumbling (Rest Of World) The neon shortage is a bad sign (Recode) Beating Japan at Its Own (Video) Game: A Smash Hit From China (NYTimes) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 17, 2022
Google kind of returns to an in person I/O but just a little bit. The harsh new British law that could put tech executives behind bars. Netflix says the free ride of password sharing is over. Though, the gravy train of subsidized 15 minute delivery seems to be back on. Oh, and the rave reviews of the new Mac Studio. Sponsors: Codecademy.com promocode ride for 15% off Codecademy Pro What's Your Problem podcast Links: Google I/O takes place May 11th and 12th, and it will be fully available online (The Verge) Tech Executives Threatened With Jail Time Under Proposed U.K. Law (The Information) Netflix Will Prompt Subscribers to Pay for Users Outside Their Households in New Test to Address Unauthorized Password Sharing (EXCLUSIVE) (Variety) Bored Apes NFT project gets official 'ApeCoin' token (TechCrunch) APPLE MAC STUDIO REVIEW: FINALLY (The Verge) Two ultra-fast delivery startups shut down in one week (CBS58) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 16, 2022
Meta has a new Family Center to keep kids monitored. Zuck says NFTs are coming to Instagram “soon.” Google’s Stadia strategy is coming into focus, and it’s interesting. Is Vimeo threatening longtime users to pay up? And a review of the latest iPad Air iteration. Sponsors: RocketLawyer.com/workconfidently IPVanish.com/techmeme and promocode techmeme for 70% savings Links: Instagram rolls out new safety tools for parents (TechCrunch) Mark Zuckerberg confirms NFTs are coming to Instagram (Engadget) Google casually announces Steam for Chrome OS is coming in alpha for select Chromebooks (9to5Google) Google Stadia is subtly reinventing itself to attract new games and gamers (The Verge) Microsoft says Windows 11 File Explorer ads were ‘not intended to be published externally’ (The Verge) Vimeo is telling creators to suddenly pay thousands of dollars — or leave the platform (The Verge) APPLE IPAD AIR (2022) REVIEW: IT’S THE NICE ONE (The Verge) FC Barcelona agree to sponsorship deal with Spotify, will rebrand stadium as 'Spotify Camp Nou' (CBS Sports) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 15, 2022
Layoffs at Arm signal the IPO is nigh. Microsoft has brought that fast loading games technology from Xbox to Windows. Twitter heard you were made and has backed down. Crypto dodges another bullet in the EU. And some solid, tangible numbers to prove that streaming has taken over Hollywood. Sponsors: do.co/ridehome2022 Priceline.com Links: UK chipmaker Arm to cut up to 1,000 jobs after $40bn sale collapses (The Guardian) Get Ready for Faster Game Load Times With DirectStorage for Windows (PC Mag) Twitter rolls back its decision to force you into the out-of-order timeline (The Verge) iOS 15.4 now live as Universal Control comes to iPads and Macs (The Verge) Apple releases macOS 12.3 with Universal Control, new emoji, head tracking for Spatial Audio, more (9to5Mac) Proposal Limiting Proof-of-Work Is Rejected in EU Parliament Committee Vote (CoinDesk) HBO Max, Discovery+ to Combine for “Blowout” Product, CFO Says (The Hollywood Reporter) Streaming boom propels film industry's pandemic recovery (Axios) Global Entertainment Industry Revenue Rebounds From Pandemic, Thanks to Streaming Boom (Variety) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 14, 2022
Well, what can I tell you? Foxconn is shutting factories in China again cause of the new Omicron outbreak there. Will Apple only give new chips it its pro phones going forward? Why people are mad at Twitter now. How people actually watch Netflix. And… checks notes... A robot goat. Sponsors: shop.SiempreTequila.com Promo Code RIDE The Traceroute Podcast Links: Foxconn Halts iPhone Shenzhen Site Due to Covid Lockdown (Bloomberg) Kuo: Only iPhone 14 Pro Models to Get 'A16' Chip, Standard Models to Retain A15 (MacRumors) Twitter makes it harder to choose the old reverse-chronological feed (The Verge) Using a New Cyber Tool, Westerners Have Been Texting Russians About the War in Ukraine (WSJ) These are Netflix's Most Popular Shows (According to Netflix) (Bloomberg) APPLE’S NEW IPHONE SE IS A MODERN PHONE STUCK IN YESTERDAY’S DESIGN (The Verge) Kawasaki's Rideable Robotic Goat Is the Electric Car for Wandering Cowpokes (Gizmodo) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 12, 2022
As I said on Friday's show, I figured that since Chris Messina has been co-hosting with me for about a year, maybe it's time to republish the Internet History Podcast episode I did with him. After all, many of you might know him as the inventor of the hashtag, but did you know about all of the early Web 2.0 stuff he did? It might help you better understand the perspective Chris brings to our interview episodes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 11, 2022
Russia moves to ban Instagram and designate Meta as an “extremist organization.” The EU and UK open an antitrust probe into Google and Meta about ads collusion. Stripe now supports crypto. And, of course, the weekend longreads suggestions. Sponsors: WealthFront.com/techmeme Links: Russia Asks Court to Label Facebook, Instagram as ‘Extremist’ (Bloomberg) DuckDuckGo reverses course, will demote Russian propaganda in search results (Engadget) EU and UK open antitrust probe into Google and Meta over online ads (FT) Stripe launches payments support for crypto businesses, partners with FTX (The Block) The great NFT sell-off: has the digital collectibles craze hit its peak? (FT) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: The Great Tech Hub Exodus Didn't Quite Happen (Wired) Deep Learning Is Hitting a Wall (Nautilus) Will Transformers Take Over Artificial Intelligence? (Quanta Magazine) The rise of Canva, the $40 billion design juggernaut (Fast Company) AngelList: A Venture Constellation (The Generalist) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 10, 2022
Apple hasn’t forgotten about the Mac Mini. Amazon’s first stock split since the dotcom era. Tinder leans into background checks as a service. Hands on with the new Magic Leap 2 AR glasses. And forget about delivery by drone, now imagine getting packages delivered to you from space. The wildest startup I’ve heard about in a while. Sponsors: Masterworks.io/ride Workable.com Links: Exclusive: Updated Mac mini to have versions with M2 and M2 Pro chip (9to5Mac) 27-Inch 'Studio Display Pro' With Mini-LED and ProMotion Could Launch in June (MacRumors) Amazon announces 20-for-1 stock split, $10 billion buyback (CNBC) Tinder rolls out in-app access to background checks, powered by nonprofit Garbo (TechCrunch) Magic Leap 2 Hands-On: AR Glasses That Can Dim The Real World (CNET) Dreaming of Suitcases in Space (NYTimes) The a16z Episode With Myself And Chris Dixon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 9, 2022
That telegraphed Executive Order for Crypto is being signed, probably as we speak. Is Congress pressing criminal charges against Amazon? LimeWire is back, but for the NFT era. And a deep dive look at that mind boggling new M1 Ultra chip that Apple announced yesterday. Sponsors: Composer.trade Smith.ai promocode techmeme for $100 off signup Links: Biden Orders Study of Cryptocurrency Risk, Creation of U.S. Digital Currency (WSJ) Amazon Flagged to Justice Department for Possible Criminal Obstruction of Congress (WSJ) Twitter Launches Tor Onion Service Making Site Easier to Access in Russia (Motherboard) Lumen, a second major American Internet carrier, pulling out of Russia (Washington Post) EU Says Russia, Belarus Sanctions Extend to Crypto (CoinDesk) LimeWire Is Making a Comeback, But Not As You Know It (Bloomberg) Apple Announces M1 Ultra (AnandTech) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 8, 2022
All the news from the Spring Apple event this afternoon. Google is buying a cybersecurity company. A bunch of cybersecurity companies band together to protect critical infrastructure. Amazon launches an app to allow anyone to be a DJ. And the arrival of Android 12L. Sponsors: do.co/trh Traceroute Podcast Origins.dev Links: Apple’s Mac Studio is a new desktop for creative professionals (The Verge) Apple unveils the M1 Ultra, its most powerful chip yet (Engadget) Apple unveils iPhone SE 3 with A15 chip, same home button design (9to5Mac) Google is buying the cybersecurity company that uncovered the SolarWinds hack (The Verge) Cloudflare, CrowdStrike and Ping Identity to provide free cybersecurity to vulnerable industries (Silicon Angle) Amazon launches a ‘live radio’ app, Amp, which lets you play DJ with music and call-ins (TechCrunch) Android 12L will come to Samsung, Lenovo, and Microsoft devices (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 7, 2022
The evolving hack story involving Nvidia has now hit Samsung as the same hackers apparently have some of their source code. Are the iMac updates I’m really hungry for getting pushed all the way back to next year? The real reason why brands are leaving Russia. And consumer beware: scams seem to be rampant on Zelle, and your bank might not be willing to help you. Sponsors: Grammarly.com/techmeme IPVanish.com/techmeme and promocode techmeme for 70% savings Links: Cybercriminals who breached Nvidia issue one of the most unusual demands ever (ArsTechnica) Malware now using NVIDIA's stolen code signing certificates (Bleeping Computer) Hackers leak 190GB of alleged Samsung data, source code (Bleeping Computer) Kuo: 27-inch Apple external display coming this year, new iMac Pro and Mac Pro in 2023 (9to5Mac) TikTok Suspends Livestreaming in Russia on ‘Fake News’ Law (Bloomberg) How are the Big Sanctions hurting Russia so far? (NoahPinion Substack) Fraud Is Flourishing on Zelle. The Banks Say It’s Not Their Problem. (NYTimes) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 6, 2022
Chris was in town again! So we asked the great Charlie O'Donnell of Brooklyn Bridge Ventures to come over to my kitchen to talk about the tech news of the week. But Charlie also gives us his analysis and history of the New York Tech scene, and the state of venture and tech generally, coming out of these Covid years. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 5, 2022
Check out Rownd.io ! Get involved yourself: rownd.io/techmeme Or book a time with the founder: https://calendly.com/rob-rownd/mutant-podcast-army Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 4, 2022
Twitter’s return to the office is a real covid era milestone. Ok, how about Disney+ but with ads? Is crypto usage in Russia actually falling? Something something, wasn’t this the original use case for crypto? Are NFT prices falling? And of course, the weekend longreads suggestions. Links: Twitter to reopen offices March 15, though remote work remains an option (CNBC) Disney+ to launch cheaper ad-supported tier later this year (CNBC) Ethereum Companies Suddenly Ban Users In Certain Countries (Motherboard) SpaceX sent Starlink internet terminals to Ukraine. They could paint a ‘giant target’ on users’ backs, experts say (CNN Business) NFT Mania Show Signs of Cooling as Average Price and Sales Decline (Bloomberg) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: How shunning Russia could offer the U.S. tech giants an easy win (Politico) Tech Companies Are Reopening Their Offices, but Tech Work Has Changed Forever (WSJ) The Role Of Turkish Drones In Ukraine's War (NDTV) These women are staking their claim to Web3 and the metaverse (Fast Company) The ‘Incredible Treasure Chest’ of Homestar Runner (Vulture) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 3, 2022
The story of the young Ukrainian Minister who has bent the conscience of western tech companies, and coordinated the reachout to crypto. Is regulation coming for NFTs? Epic Games acquired Bandcamp. Amazon pulls back from its IRL retail experiments. And a big update on the return to the office watch. Links: Ukraine cancels crypto airdrop, plans to sell NFTs instead (The Block) The Ukrainian leader who is pushing Silicon Valley to stand up to Russia (Washington Post) Crypto Powerhouse ConsenSys Faces Action by Former Employees (Bloomberg) SEC Scrutinizes NFT Market Over Illegal Crypto Token Offerings (Bloomberg) Epic Games Acquires Bandcamp as ‘Fortnite’ Maker Expands Into Music (Variety) Amazon is shutting 68 retail stores, ending Amazon Books, 4-star and Pop Up shops (CNBC) Apple Event Announced for March 8: 'Peek Performance' (MacRumors) Google tells employees in Bay Area and other U.S. locations to return to offices in April (CNBC) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 2, 2022
As of right now, you can no longer buy an iPhone in Russia. Big recall from Fitbit because their smartwatches might burn you. Meta tries to be transparent in a very Meta way, by redacting a key detail from a transparency report. And could poker be the killer app the Metaverse has been waiting for? Sponsors: Workable.com Links: Apple Halts All Sales From Online Store in Russia [Updated] (MacRumors) H ow the Russian Invasion of Ukraine Is Playing Out on English, Ukrainian, and Russian Wikipedia (Slate) Prominent tech companies that originated from Ukraine (Analytics India) Fitbit recall confirms its Ionic smartwatch could overheat and burn you (Engadget) New UCIe Chiplet Standard Supported by Intel, AMD, and Arm (Tom's Hardware) Meta Releases New 'Widely Viewed Content' Report for Facebook, Which Continues to be a Baffling Overview (SocialMediaToday) Netflix to buy mobile game developer Next Games to strengthen its games business (Money Control) The Metaverse Finally Has a Killer App: Poker (Bloomberg Businessweek) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 1, 2022
Crypto exchanges stick to their crypto ethos over the Ukraine War situation. A new, super crazy alleged Chinese backdoor hack. Uber adds new ways to buy concert tickets and book restaurants in its app. Amazon launches its Luna game streaming service in the US. An a review of the Galaxy S22 and S22+ Sponsors: do.co/ridehome2022 Traceroute Podcast (more info at Origins.dev ) Links: Netflix Won’t Add Russian Broadcasters to Service, Defying New Regulation (WSJ) Crypto Exchanges Refuse to Freeze All Russian Accounts (Motherboard) Chinese cyberspies target govts with their ‘most advanced’ backdoor (BleepingComputer) Uber adds new ways to buy concert tickets and book restaurants in its app (The Verge) Amazon Luna launches for anyone in the US, adds free games for Prime members and Twitch integration (The Verge) BitConnect’s Indicted Founder Kumbhani Vanished, SEC Says (Bloomberg) SAMSUNG’S GALAXY S22 AND S22 PLUS ARE THE DEFAULT ANDROID PHONES TO BUY (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 28, 2022
I’ll try to run down everything I can about the tech world and the Ukraine situation. There is a ton to talk about. Qualcomm’s new 5G modem. TikTok’s new 10 minute videos. Lenovo’s new laptops. And should Apple release a $200 iPhone? Sponsors: Priceline.com Links: Customers of banks targeted by Russia sanctions are unable to use Apple Pay or Google Pay (Insider) Google blocks RT, other Russian channels from earning ad dollars (Reuters) Meta to bar Russian state media from running ads, monetizing on platform (Reuters) Facebook, Twitter remove disinformation accounts targeting Ukrainians (NBCNews) Russia demands Google restore access to its media YouTube channels in Ukraine (Reuters) Crypto Donations to Ukraine Jump to $20M (CoinDesk) Computer chip industry begins halting deliveries to Russia in response to U.S. sanctions (Washington Post) Airbnb to Provide Housing for 100,000 Ukrainian Refugees (Bloomberg) Google Maps temporarily disables live traffic data in Ukraine (Axios) Facebook, Apple and Other Tech Giants Face Rising Pressure Over Ukraine (WSJ) TikTok is taking aim at YouTube with longer 10-minute video uploads (AndroidCentral) Qualcomm's X70 5G modem has an AI processor to improve signal strength (Engadget) Lenovo announces new IdeaPads and tablets with 12th-gen Intel CPUs (XDA Developers) Dutch App Store change complies with law, says Apple, as antitrust regulator rejects proposal (9to5Mac) Apple Has a Chance to Launch an iPhone Costing Just $199 (Bloomberg) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 26, 2022
We check in with Rob Maurer who hosts the Tesla Daily podcast. All things Tesla and Elon on this episode! Check out the Tesla Daily podcast Check out the Tesla Daily YouTube Channel . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 25, 2022
Ukraine is seeking to raise its own hacker army. New export controls affect tech products. Why mobile subscriptions being a growth industry is more bad news for the App Store status quo. And, of course, the weekend longreads suggestions. Sponsors: Masterworks.io/ride Links: Social media platforms on the defensive as Russian-based disinformation about Ukraine spreads (Politico) Google Faces Sanctions Dilemma With Pro-Russia YouTube Channels (Bloomberg) Ukraine war flashes neon warning lights for chips (Reuters) Biden hits Russia with tough export curbs, slashing access to global tech (Reuters) Top subscription app revenue grew 41% in 2021 to reach $18.3 billion (TechCrunch) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: A moment of clarity (Noapinion Substack) Web3 Developers Have Found a Functioning Metaverse. It’s ‘Minecraft’. (Vice) CAN THE LAW KEEP UP WITH CRYPTO? (The Verge) Crypto Scammers’ New Target: Dating Apps (NYTimes) Amazon’s sprawling grocery business has become an ‘expensive hobby’ with a cloudy future (CNBC) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 24, 2022
There actually IS a tech angle to what is going on in Ukraine, though for all of our sakes, let’s just hope there’s not TOO much of one. Stablecoins are where it’s at in crypto at the moment. Not one, but two new flagship phones to tell you about. And the interesting AI details behind Zuck’s latest Metaverse presentation. Sponsors: NewRelic.com/techmeme Links: Ukrainian gov't sites disrupted by DDoS, wiper malware discovered (ZDNet) Stablecoins Soar in Value as Everything Else in Crypto Shrinks (Bloomberg) Oppo’s Find X5 Pro flagship is finally official (The Verge) The Motorola Edge Plus aims for full flagship status — with a price to match (The Verge) A Meta prototype lets you build virtual worlds by describing them (The Verge) Mark Zuckerberg wants to build a voice assistant that blows Alexa and Siri away (Recode) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 23, 2022
Former President Trump’s new social network is number one on the app store, but has had a bunch of issues too. The politics leading to a surge in searches for DuckDuckGo. What ever happened to Amazon’s home robot? And Waymo successfully sues to keeps its failures secret. Sponsors: Napjitsu.com/techmeme Linkedin.com/ride Links: Trump’s Truth Social’s disastrous launch raises doubts about its long-term viability (Washington Post) Fed Up With Google, Conspiracy Theorists Turn to DuckDuckGo (NYTimes) OpenSea NFT Heist Likely Triggers Drop in Activity (Bloomberg) Amazon sues two companies that allegedly help fill the site with fake reviews (CNBC) Amazon’s Astro Home Robot Remains Elusive Six Months After Debut (Bloomberg) Waymo to keep robotaxi safety details secret, court rules (TechCrunch) Gaming Company Backbone Reveals Series A Funding Backed by Ashton Kutcher, The Weeknd, Kevin Hart, Post Malone and More (The Hollywood Reporter) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 22, 2022
Has the mystery of the original The DAO controversy been solved? We finally have Sony’s new PlayStation VR2 design. Crypto exchange FTX makes a big move into gaming. Datapoints suggesting remote work is here to stay. And a review of the Galaxy S22 Ultra. Sponsors: do.co/ridehome2022 IPVanish.com/techmeme and promocode techmeme for 70% savings Links: Exclusive: Austrian Programmer And Ex Crypto CEO Likely Stole $11 Billion Of Ether (Forbes) Sony finally reveals the PlayStation VR2’s design (The Verge) FTX Enters Gaming as Backlash Grows Against Crypto’s Incursion (Bloomberg) Over 40% of West Coast Tech Job Listings Are Outside West Coast (Bloomberg) Spotify's Car Thing Is About to Face the Music (CNET) SAMSUNG GALAXY S22 ULTRA REVIEW: NOTABLY UNIQUE (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 21, 2022
OpenSea says 32 users had NFTs stolen when they were scammed into signing malicious smart contracts. Mark Gurman tells us every Mac he expects to be released this year. Is a new crackdown coming for Chinese tech? And Ford is revving up its attempts to unseat Tesla at the top of the EV mountain. Sponsors: Smith.ai promocode techmeme for $100 off signup Links: OpenSea Investigating ‘Exploit Rumors’ as Users Complain of Missing NFTs (CoinDesk) $1.7 million in NFTs stolen in apparent phishing attack on OpenSea users (The Verge) Apple Readies New MacBooks and iMacs for Part Three of Overhaul (Bloomberg) The Apple M2 could launch alongside up to seven new Mac models this year (TechRadar) Gurman: Apple to Launch New Macs Next Month, With More to Come Around May or June (MacRumors) Tencent Leads China Tech Selloff Amid Fears of Further Crackdown (Bloomberg) PrimaryBid raises $190M to double down on making it easier for ordinary people to invest in IPOs and follow-on fundraises (TechCrunch) Ford Mustang Mach-E usurps Tesla Model 3 as Consumer Reports top EV pick of the year (The Verge) Vote for Grupa on Product Hunt! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 19, 2022
Check out Grupa.io and look for their launch on Product Hunt this Monday! Upvote! And subscribe to the Ride Home Fund at RideHomeFund.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 18, 2022
Windows 11 now requires a Microsoft account just to load. Intel’s roadmap comes into view. Is Meta’s metaverse play already getting traction? Next week might be the biggest regulatory week for Crypto ever. And, of course, the Weekend Longreads Suggestions. Sponsors: WealthFront.com/techmeme Links: You’ll need a Microsoft account to set up future versions of Windows 11 Pro (ArsTechnica) Intel Discloses Multi-Generation Xeon Scalable Roadmap (AnandTech) Meta’s social VR platform Horizon hits 300,000 users (The Verge) Biden seen issuing crypto oversight exec order next week (Yahoo!Finance) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: The World Needs What Intel Makes. Can It Make a Comeback? (NYTimes) Free your mind: Meditation could be VR's next killer app (Protocol) No one cares about your redesign (Garbage Day) If Russia Invades Ukraine, TikTok Will See It Up Close (Wired) Francis Ford Coppola’s $100 Million Bet (GQ) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 17, 2022
Why a dumb agent string bug may break some big named websites soon. Is Circle about to become the biggest pure play crypto company to hit public markets? Spotify buys basically the only remaining pieces of the podcast puzzle missing from their toolbelt. And the interesting raise from a company buying up YouTube back catalogs. Sponsors: RealVision.com/techmeme Links: Mozilla warns Chrome, Firefox ‘100’ user agents may break sites (BleepingComputer) Meta’s Clegg Promoted as Zuckerberg Steps Back From Policy (Bloomberg) Circle valued at $9 billion under revamped SPAC deal terms (The Block) Spotify is acquiring two major podcast tech platforms (The Verge) Sequoia Capital launches crypto token fund (Axios) Sequoia Capital is launching a $500-600 million crypto fund to invest in tokens (The Block) Spotter raises $200M to invest $1 billion into YouTubers’ back catalogs (TechCrunch) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 16, 2022
Forget how’s my driving, Uber lets you know how you’re riding. Meta workers are now formally known as Metamates. Is Paramount quietly doing better in the streaming wars than we thought? So much so, as to warrant a name change too? And what happens when your bionic eye implants are no longer supported by the manufacturer? Sponsors: shop.SiempreTequila.com Promo Code RIDE Links: U ber will now let you see how many one-star ratings you got from drivers (The Verge) Move fast, rename things: Facebook tries to boost morale with new slogans (Washington Post) Facebook rebrands News Feed after more than 15 years (The Verge) ViacomCBS rebrands to Paramount in focus on streaming (The Verge) Coalition of US crypto firms unveils travel rule compliance platform, TRUST (The Block) Google Plans Privacy Changes, but Promises to Not Be Disruptive (NYTimes) THEIR BIONIC EYES ARE NOW OBSOLETE AND UNSUPPORTED (IEEE Spectrum) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 15, 2022
Is the great Returning To The Office beginning with the Tech Industry? Really cool new way to use your Android apps on your Windows or Chromebook devices. Instagram lets you send private likes. The tech cold war between India and China claims another victim. And what did the NYTimes do to Wordle this morning? Sponsors: do.co/ridehome2022 Links: Microsoft and Expedia announce next phases in office reopenings, finally emerging from pandemic (GeekWire) Exclusive: Pixel will be able to stream Android apps to your Chromebook/PC, here’s how it works [Video] (9to5Google) Intel to Buy Israel’s Tower Semiconductor for $5.4 Billion (Bloomberg) Instagram now lets you send private Story likes (Engadget) Sea’s $16 Billion Crash Signals Trouble Beyond India Shutout (Bloomberg) Texas Sues Meta Over Facebook’s Facial-Recognition Practices (WSJ) Google Messages, with RCS in tow, is now Samsung’s default messaging app in the US (9to5Google) The New York Times has changed Wordle’s solutions (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 14, 2022
Turns out Super Bowl ads really do move the needle. Another day, another crypto bug, this one could have let you create unlimited ether from thin air. See what I did there? Could we see a digital Euro by the end of next year? A couple of super interesting raises. And the curious case of the missing Nvidia graphics card. Sponsors: MagicMind.co/ride and code ride at checkout for 20% off OurCrowd.com/ride Links: Crypto apps soar in popularity after Super Bowl splurge (The Block) iOS jailbreak dev wins $2M bounty for finding critical Optimism bug (CoinTelegraph) HMRC seizes NFT for first time in £1.4m fraud case (BBCNews) Digital euro bill due early 2023 (Politico) Viam closes $30 Million Series A funding round (The Robot Report) Jio Platforms invests $200 million in Google-backed Glance (TechCrunch) Nvidia’s RTX 3090 Ti is still missing, and the company refuses to say what’s going on (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 12, 2022
What is a DAO? How do they function? What is the history of this idea? Why have DAO's become so popular all of the sudden, and what are some examples of successful DAOs? The great Brady Dale from @DefiantNews joins Chris and Brian to explain. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 11, 2022
Allegations of a new, widespread bulk surveillance program being run on American citizens by the CIA. Apple is planning AirTag updates to curb their use for stalking people. The first Android 13 developer preview is out. And of course, the weekend longreads suggestions. Sponsors: Masterworks.io RocketLawyer.com/workconfidently Links: Secret CIA Bulk Surveillance Program Includes Some Americans’ Records, Senators Say (WSJ) Apple Announces AirTag Updates to Address Unwanted Tracking (MacRumors) The first developer preview of Android 13 has arrived (TechCrunch) Weekend Longreads Suggestions Flexport Is Silicon Valley’s Solution To The Supply Chain Mess—Why Do Insiders Hope It Sinks? (Forbes) How Telegram Became the Anti-Facebook (Wired) Sony's AI Drives a Race Car Like a Champ (Wired) Russia’s drone army contains heaps of Western electronics. Can the U.S. cut them off? (Washington Post) The Little Streaming Comedy Platform That Couldn’t (Vulture) Amazon’s Lord of the Rings Series Rises: Inside The Rings of Power (Vanity Fair) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 10, 2022
Not just rumors of an Apple AR headset, but actual code mentions of a “realityOS” are showing up now. Microsoft hopes to head off the regulators with some app store rules. Now Flash storage chips might be in for a supply crunch. And why static video memes are all over Instagram all of the sudden. Sponsors: Workable.com Links: Is ‘realityOS’ Apple’s newest operating system? (The Verge) In a bid to appease regulators, Microsoft announces new app store principles (The Washington Post) Western Digital, Kioxia Lose 'At Least' 6.5 Exabytes of 3D NAND Due to Contamination (Updated) (Tom's Hardware) Why Static Video Memes Are All Over Instagram (The Information) Gopuff stocks its warehouses with items purchased from Instacart, spending tens of thousands per month on the service (Insider) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 9, 2022
All the headlines from the Samsung event, including the new S22 lineup and some massive new tablets. Can Meta’s stock crash so much that it would become immune to antitrust liability? And, look, the alleged Bonnie and Clyde for our times, the whole saga of that husband and wife arrested here in NYC yesterday, allegedly related to the big Bitfinex hack. Sponsors: IPVanish.com/techmeme and promocode: techmeme for 70% savings Smith.ai promocode techmeme for $100 off signup Links: SAMSUNG’S GALAXY S22 AND S22 PLUS PUT IMPROVED CAMERAS AND PERFORMANCE IN A SAMEY DESIGN (The Verge) SAMSUNG’S GALAXY S22 ULTRA IS A NOTE BY ANOTHER NAME (The Verge) Samsung’s new tablets go bigger than ever (The Verge) Facebook market cap falls below $600 billion — which could actually help it dodge new antitrust scrutiny (CNBC) Justice Department Says It Seized $3.6 Billion Worth of Bitcoin Stolen in 2016 Hack (WSJ) Woman Who Allegedly Laundered $1B in Bitcoin Was Cringe YouTube Rapper (Motherboard) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 8, 2022
It’s a day of retrenchment. Nvidia and Arm are off. Peter Thiel is leaving the Meta board. Peloton loses its CEO ahead of what is likely to be disastrous earnings. The IRS backs down from the whole facial recognition thing. And Tinder stops charging you more if you’re old. Sponsors: Do.co/trh Links: SoftBank’s $66bn sale of chip group Arm to Nvidia collapses (THE (?) Financial Times) Peter Thiel to Exit Meta’s Board to Support Trump-Aligned Candidates (NYTimes) Peloton CEO John Foley to Step Down, Firm to Cut 2,800 Jobs (WSJ) I.R.S. to End Use of Facial Recognition for Identity Verification (NYTimes) Apple Buys Startup That Makes Music With Artificial Intelligence (Bloomberg) Apple announces new Tap to Pay feature that turns iPhones into contactless payment terminals (9to5Mac) Signal now allows you to keep messages and groups after changing phone numbers (ZDNet) Tinder will stop charging older users more for premium features (Engadget) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 7, 2022
Rogangate rolls on. Why a controversy in the Ethereum Name Service community might be even more interesting, because of what it might teach us about the viability of DAOs. Twitter is, oddly, testing ways to make it easier for folks to DM you. And rumors of a new entry level MacBook Pro. Sponsors: Workable.com Grammarly.com/techmeme Links: Spotify CEO Addresses Joe Rogan’s N-Word Use, Doubles Down on Keeping Podcaster on Platform (The Hollywood Reporter) Spotify CEO defends Joe Rogan deal in tense company town hall (The Verge) Ethereum Name Service Removes Core Team Member Brantly Millegan Over 2016 Tweet (CoinDesk) Twitter’s direct DM test is a terrible idea (The Verge) Gurman: New entry-level MacBook Pro with M2 chip coming this year, but no ProMotion (9to5Mac) Gurman: Apple Event on March 8, At Least Four M2 Macs to Launch Later This Year (MacRumors) Mapping the celebrity NFT complex (Read Max) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 4, 2022
That crack you felt in your spine was just the whiplash from the craziest 24 hours in tech earnings I’ve ever seen. Amazon has created a bigger advertising business than the entire newspaper industry. Apple once again shows it can adjust the App Store vig when it has to. And of course, the weekend longreads suggestions. Sponsors: TodayInDigital.com Links: Snap shares rocket as much as 62% on first-ever quarterly net profit (CNBC) Amazon Flexes Its Pricing Muscles (WSJ) Amazon Profit Shows Resilience Even as Labor, Supply Crunch Weigh on Results (WSJ) Apple will charge 27% commission for app purchases made using alternative payment systems in the Netherlands (9to5Mac) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: HOW ONE COMPANY TOOK OVER THE NFT TRADE (The Verge) The Unnerving Rise of Video Games that Spy on You (Wired) North Korea Hacked Him. So He Took Down Its Internet (Wired) Startup Investors Cut Valuations Amid Tech Stock Rout, Dismal IPOs (WSJ) How IBM’s Watson Went From the Future of Health Care to Sold Off for Parts (Slate) Don’t forget Microsoft (Luttig's Learnings) (TWTR SPC) The Tools Episode! Recommended Apps List Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 3, 2022
Meta really steps in it with earnings that send the stock down fully 25%. The plague of hacks hitting crypto startups. The ransomware attack causing a snacks crisis in Britain. Bored Apes Yacht Club is an interesting raise. And why we might not see a HoloLens 3. Sponsors: TodayInDigital.com Priceline.com Smith.ai promocode techmeme for $100 off signup Links: Meta estimates Apple's iOS changes will cost it $10B in 2022 (ZDNet) Facebook and Google’s Ad Addiction Can’t Last Forever (Bloomberg Opinion) Cryptocurrency platform Wormhole hacked for an estimated $322 million (The Record) KP Snacks giant hit by Conti ransomware, deliveries disrupted (BleepingComputer) Bored Ape start-up in investment talks with Andreessen Horowitz (FT) Inside Microsoft's mixed reality mess, where confusion, rivalries, and canceled projects have roiled the company's metaverse strategy (Insider) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 2, 2022
Alphabet gives a new meaning to the term blowout quarter. Cruise is getting ready to launch its robotaxi business in San Francisco. A GDPR issue that might have huge implications. Starlink has a new premium tier. And what happens if someone buys your house, your IRL house, but in the metaverse? I’m not kidding. Sponsors: TodayInDigital.com Napjitsu.com/techmeme Devry.edu/future Links: Google parent Alphabet announces 20-for-1 stock split (CNBC) Cruise, loaded with another $1.35B from SoftBank, opens up driverless ride-hailing to the public (TechCrunch) SpaceX’s new Starlink Premium tier promises up to 500Mbps for $500 a month (The Verge) European Ad Group Hit With Sanctions Over Privacy Lapses (Bloomberg) Who owns your address in AR? Probably not you. (Protocol) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 1, 2022
The year of gaming consolidation is upon us, with Sony snapping up Bungie. Not EXACTLY related, but the NYTimes has acquired Wordle. Did the CEO of Bolt’s tweets lose him the top job at the company he founded? You can no longer roll through stop signs in your Tesla. And the best use of augmented reality I’ve heard in a while. Sponsors: Do.co/trh TodayInDigital.com Links: Sony buying Bungie for $3.6 billion (GamesIndustry.biz) SONY’S BUNGIE ACQUISITION IS ALL ABOUT FORTNITE (The Verge) Microsoft Deal for Activision to Be Reviewed by FTC in U.S. (Bloomberg) Pinterest Adds Augmented Reality Feature for Home Decor (WSJ) Wordle has been bought by The New York Times, will ‘initially’ remain free for everyone to play (The Verge) Following his fiery Twitter tirades, Bolt founder Ryan Breslow is no longer CEO — and he says it’s his choice (TechCrunch) Tesla recall: ‘Full Self-Driving’ software runs stop signs (AP) Pinterest Adds Augmented Reality Feature for Home Decor (WSJ) World Cup of Entrepreneurs On YouTube Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 31, 2022
Summing up the whole Joe Rogan brouhaha from over the weekend. Meta joins a crypto legal alliance and takes a page out of Alphabets book by planning to break out reporting of its metaverse business. And the dotcom bubble called and wants its headlines back: wash trading might be rampant on NFT marketplaces, and a look at the six startups trying to succeed, where Kozmo.com failed. Sponsors: Devry.edu/future Links: Spotify finally responds to Joe Rogan controversy with a plan to label podcasts that discuss COVID-19 (The Verge) Joe Rogan defends podcast and apologizes to Spotify for backlash (The Verge) Spotify’s big Rogan mistake (Protocol) Facebook parent Meta joins crypto group promoting open patents (The Block) Facebook's metaverse efforts are already generating close to $3 billion a year in revenue, analysts estimate. (Insider) LooksRare Has Reportedly Generated $8B in Ethereum NFT Wash Trading (Decrypt) Losses Mount for Startups Racing to Deliver Groceries Fast and Cheap (WSJ) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 29, 2022
The great Katie Roof, Natasha Mascarenhas and Christine Hall come on to talk more about the craziness in the stock market and what it might mean for tech startups. Then Chris and I debate The Great Debate surrounding Web3. Shoutout to @randras_ for giving us context, even in the podcast space! Sponsors: Wix.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 28, 2022
Ho hum. Apple reports its most revenue and profit in history. You’ll soon be able to unlock your iPhone while masked, even without the Apple Watch. The White House is readying a huge executive order on Crypto. The new version of GPT-3 is less error-prone, and less prone to say bad stuff. And of course, the weekend longreads suggestions. Sponsors: EditorX.com Wealthfront.com/techmeme Links: Apple CEO: ‘We Don’t Make Purely Financial Decisions’ About Apple TV Plus Content (Variety) iOS 15.4 Beta Lets You Use Face ID With a Mask On (MacRumors) White House reportedly preparing executive order on crypto (CoinTelegraph) The new version of GPT-3 is much better behaved (and should be less toxic) (Technology Review) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: Line Goes Up – The Problem With NFTs (Folding Ideas on YouTube) Three things web3 should fix in 2022 (Platformer) The NFT Art World Wouldn’t Be the Same Without This Woman’s ‘Wide-Awake Hallucinations’ (RollingStone) Nothing Sacred: These Apps Reserve The Right To Sell Your Prayers (Buzzfeed News) Your Hotel Concierge Is Probably a Texting Robot. Srsly. (WSJ) Why Netflix Just Had Its Worst Day in A Decade (Bloomberg) Netflix stock market woe is warning to Hollywood (Financial Times) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 27, 2022
Apple is coming for Block’s Square dongle with a new ability to accept payments just using your iPhone. The dilemma that is the Spotify/Neil Young situation. OpenAI is an interesting raise. Fireblocks is an interesting raise. And why has the r/antiwork subreddit suddenly gone private? Sponsors: Smith.ai promocode techmeme for $100 off signup Linkedin.com/ride Links: Apple to Rival Square by Turning iPhones Into Payment Terminals (Bloomberg) Spotify Takes Down Neil Young’s Music After His Joe Rogan Ultimatum (WSJ) Facebook’s Cryptocurrency Venture to Wind Down, Sell Assets (WSJ) OpenAI co-founder Sam Altman ridicules start-up fundraising process (CNBC) Fireblocks raises $550 million in Series E funding, now valued at $8 billion (The Block) Anti-Work Subreddit Suddenly Goes Private to Clean Up After ‘Brigading’ (Bloomberg) Anti-work subreddit implodes after rough Fox News interview (Mashable) Valve will start selling the Steam Deck on February 25th (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 26, 2022
Is Mark Zuckerberg abandoning his crypto dreams and looking to sell off Diem? The IMF is subtly suggesting El Salvador abandon bitcoin. Microsoft is gonna play nice with Activision exclusives. For now. Mark your calendars for the next Samsung event. And has YouTube figured out how to beat TikTok at its own game? Sponsors: Masterworks.io/ride EditorX.com Links: Mark Zuckerberg’s Stablecoin Ambitions Unravel With Diem Sale Talks (Bloomberg) Ditch Bitcoin: IMF Urges El Salvador to Rethink Crypto (Bloomberg) Activision’s Next Three Call of Duty Games Will Be on PlayStation and Xbox (Bloomberg) Samsung's first Unpacked of 2022 will take place February 9th (Engadget) Log4Shell: No Mass Abuse, But No Respite, What Happened? (Sophos News) YouTube Shorts Tops 5 Trillion Views to Date, Platform to Test Shopping and Branded Content for TikTok-Style Videos (Variety) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 25, 2022
That already fraught tie-up between Nvidia and Arm increasingly looks like it’s running out of time. Google kills its cookie-killer. Twitter is developing a close friends feature. Meta’s new Machine Learning supercomputer. And why the situation in Ukraine might be a black swan event that is nigh. Sponsors: Do.co/trh Wix.com Links: Nvidia Quietly Prepares to Abandon $40 Billion Arm Bid (Bloomberg) Google kills off FLoC, replaces it with Topics (TechCrunch) Twitter's new Flock feature takes aim at Instagram Close Friends (Input) Meta has built an AI supercomputer it says will be world’s fastest by end of 2022 (The Verge) Hactivists say they hacked Belarus rail system to stop Russian military buildup (ArsTechnica) DHS warns of Russian cyberattack on US if it responds to Ukraine invasion (ABCNews) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 24, 2022
States sue Google for data shenanigans. Europe passes a landmark ad targeting and data law. Apple’s 2022 lineup according to Mark Gurman. A look at the state of the crypto crash, and to what degree it is affecting NFTs. And all this talk of metaverses led to record VC investment in AR and VR startups, but what some folks are starting to ask is, even if we build it, do we have the infrastructure that will even allow the people to come? Sponsors: OurCrowd.com/ride EditorX.com Links: Google deceived consumers about how it profits from their location data, attorneys general allege in lawsuits (Washington Post) MEPs adopt Digital Services Act with significant last-minute changes (Euractiv) European Parliament approves initial proposal to ban some targeted ads (The Verge) Apple Nears First Product Launch of 2022, With 5G iPhone SE and New iPad on Tap (Bloomberg) Solana Slides 17% to Lead Losses Amid Crypto Market Plunge (CoinDesk) Despite the Drop in Crypto Prices, Weekly NFT Sales Reach $4.7 Billion, Increasing 81% (Bitcoin.com) VR/AR Investments Increase Just As Metaverse Talk Heats Up—But That May Not Be The Only Reason (Crunchbase News) The titans of the metaverse have a bandwidth issue (Financial Times) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 22, 2022
Weirdly, this turned into a sort of education on VC and startup investing episode? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Sponsors: Wix.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 21, 2022
The trend of re-onshoring silicon production domestically and Intel’s turnaround plans collide in a way that is very good for Ohio. Twitter will let you NFT-up your profile picture. Google’s doing the AR headset thing too. That Apple education discount has gotten harder to spoof. And of course, the weekend longreads suggestions. Sponsors: DeVry.edu/engineering EditorX.com Links: Exclusive: Intel Reveals Plans for Massive New Ohio Factory, Fighting the Chip Shortage Stateside (Time) Twitter Embraces NFTs With New Profile-Picture Feature (WSJ) GOOGLE IS BUILDING AN AR HEADSET (The Verge) Netflix Falls Short of Q4 Subscriber Target, Stock Tumbles on Weak Forecast (Variety) We regret to inform you that Apple now verifies anyone asking for educational discounts (The Verge) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: How Did ID.me Get Between You and Your Identity? (Bloomberg Businessweek) The SPAC Ship Is Sinking. Investors Want Their Money Back. (WSJ) THE INSIDE STORY OF IBEER, THE UNDERDOG BEER APP THAT MADE MILLIONS (MelMagazine) The Rise of A.I. Fighter Pilots (The New Yorker) How Tumblr Became Popular for Being Obsolete (The New Yorker) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 20, 2022
Meta is working on NFTs for Instagram and Facebook while Google is starting a blockchain team. Instagram Subscriptions launches. Google Play Games launches on Windows. Amazon launches its first physical fashion store. And why, by this summer, you will only be able to pay the IRS your taxes online by doxing yourself? Sponsors: NewRelic.com/techmeme Wix.com Links: Facebook owner Meta dives into NFT digital collectibles craze (FT) Google Forms Blockchain Group Under Newly Appointed Executive (Bloomberg) Instagram launches early test of creator subscriptions in the US (TechCrunch) Google Play Games for PC starts limited beta for Android games on Windows, sharing system requirements (Android Police) Amazon to try another tech-infused retail concept with ‘Amazon Style,’ its first physical fashion store (GeekWire) Crypto.com Says Regulators Haven’t Reached Out After Hack (Bloomberg) Web3 ‘Proof of attendance’ startup raises $10M to mint shared memories as NFTs (TechCrunch) IRS Will Require Facial Recognition Scans to Access Your Taxes Online (Gizmodo) IRS Will Soon Require Selfies for Online Access (KrebsonSecurity) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 19, 2022
Today is the big day for the showdown between 5G and the airlines. Nobody’s blinked yet, but both sides have sort of blinked. An interesting raise in the NFT space. And I’ve heard of autonomous road cars, but autonomous rail cars? More fallout from the Activision/Microsoft tie-up, and how literally fallout from that undersea volcano may have knocked Tonga off the internet. Sponsors: EditorX.com do.co/trh Links: Airlines Cancel Some Flights Ahead of U.S. 5G Wireless Launch (WSJ) Major airlines cancel, change flights to US over 5G dispute (AP) Coinbase NFT Marketplace Will Enable Purchases With Mastercard (Decrypt) OpenSea confirms acquisition of Dharma, sets sights on fiat onramps (The Block) Michael Jordan, Multicoin Back Solana NFT Firm Metaplex in $46M Round (Decrypt) Former SpaceX engineers bring autonomous, electric rail vehicle startup out of stealth (TechCrunch) Activision Blizzard’s Workplace Problems Spurred $75 Billion Microsoft Deal (WSJ) Microsoft is buying one of the biggest names in games — if Washington lets it (Recode) Tonga’s volcano blast cut it off from the world. Here’s what it will take to get it reconnected. (MIT Technology Review) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 18, 2022
Microsoft is buying Activision Blizzard in the biggest gaming acquisition of all time. Partially this is a metaverse play, but meanwhile, Meta is quietly locking down all the metaverse patents. Crypto.com halts withdrawals on its platform but insists it hasn’t been hacked. And why are countries encouraging their athletes to use burner phones when they attend the upcoming Olympics? Sponsors: Streak.com/techmeme EditorX.com Links: Microsoft to buy Activision in $68.7 billion all-cash deal (CNBC) Activision Blizzard Games Will Come To Xbox Game Pass As Part Of Acquisition (PureXbox) Facebook patents reveal how it intends to cash in on metaverse (Financial Times) Crypto.com Suffers Hack for At Least $15M in Ethereum (Decrypt) Samsung begins mass production of Exynos 2200 smartphone processor (ZDNet) Cross-country Exposure - Analysis of the MY2022 Olympics app (Citizenlab.ca) Olympic burner phones? Athletes warned about bringing personal devices to China for 2022 Beijing Games (USAToday) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 15, 2022
... and I'm not just talking about the hosts! Myself, Chris, and about a dozen listeners kick around the latest apps, tools, platforms and other things we use to GTD. Sponsors: Wix.com Some of the books I mention at the end: A Short History Of Nearly Everything The Infinite Machine: How an Army of Crypto-hackers Is Building the Next Internet with Ethereum Rocket Billionaires: Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, and the New Space Race Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 14, 2022
Russia has cracked down on REvil? Question-mark? Investing in crypto is so hot, FTX has launched its own monster venture fund. Why has the Android 12 rollout been such a disaster so far? How long is the Cybertruck going to be delayed? And, of course, the weekend longreads suggestions. Sponsors: EditorX.com Napjitsu.com/techmeme Links: Russia takes down REvil hacking group at U.S. request - FSB (Reuters) Crypto Exchange FTX Sets Up $2 Billion Venture Fund (WSJ) "You Don't Own Web3": A Coinbase Curse and How VCs Sell Crypto to Retail (Startups And Econ) GOOGLE’S ANDROID 12 UPDATE HAS BEEN THE ROCKIEST IN YEARS (The Verge) Tesla delays Cybertruck to early 2023, says reportTesla delays Cybertruck to early 2023, says report (The Verge) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: Remembering VRML: The Metaverse of 1995 (How To Geek) After the Beanie Baby bubble burst (Vox) Crypto Firms Gear Up for Battles Over New Rules in Washington (Bloomberg) Xbox players are fed up with forced crossplay against PC gamers (The Verge) Academics want to preserve video games. The game industry is fighting them in court. (The Washington Post) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 13, 2022
Apple indeed is removing Wordle clones, but PUBG sues them for NOT removing what they allege are clones of their game. Does Google Analytics run afoul of GDPR? China is going to do NFTs, NOT on the blockchain. And will the new Nuro bot bring me my burrito? Sponsors: RealVision.com/techmeme DeVry.edu/engineering Links: Apple Removes Wordle Apps Fueled by Confused Users (Bloomberg) Game maker says Apple, Google selling rip-offs in new lawsuit (Reuters) In bad news for US cloud services, Austrian website’s use of Google Analytics found to breach GDPR (TechCrunch) Canalys: Worldwide PC shipments soared in 2021 to 341 million units (TechCrunch) Instagram, still benefiting from TikTok’s ban in India, again became the top app by downloads in Q4 (TechCrunch) China to create own NFT industry based on state-backed blockchain infrastructure, main developer says (South China Morning Post) Nuro’s newest autonomous delivery bot is designed for the masses (TechCrunch) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 12, 2022
The FTC gets a second shot at Meta, after a judge okays their lawsuit edit. Samsung ghost on its own event. The state of the mobile app economy. Is cloning Wordle to release an app ok or not? And the new app at the top of the App Store that definitely comes from the, why didn’t I think of that file. Sponsors: EditorX.com Links: ‘Second time lucky?’ FTC’s case against Facebook can move forward, federal judge rules. (Washington Post) Samsung no-showed on its major Exynos 2200 launch [Update: Samsung speaks] (Ars Technica) Samsung Electronics to Unveil Exynos 2200 AP on Launch Day of Galaxy 22 (BusinessKorea) App Annie: Global app stores’ consumer spend up 19% to $170B in 2021, downloads grew 5% to 230B (TechCrunch) The Wordle clones have disappeared from the App Store (The Verge) Locket, an app for sharing photos to friends’ homescreens, hits the top of the App Store (TechCrunch) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 11, 2022
Moxie Marlinspike is stepping down as CEO of Signal, and Brian Acton is stepping up. For now. Y Combinator is getting more generous with the investment it makes in its cohort companies. Carriers aren’t pleased with Apple’s iCloud Private Relay service. And another day, another headline like: the Associated Press is getting into NFTs. Sponsors: do.co/trh Wix.com Links: Moxie Marlinspike has stepped down as CEO of Signal (The Verge) Y Combinator’s New Deal Sparks Fear in Seed Investors (The Information) T-Mobile begins blocking iPhone users from enabling iCloud Private Relay in the US [U] (9to5Mac) Apple Highlights Services in 2021, Recaps Upcoming Features Like IDs on iPhone (MacRumors) The Associated Press is starting its own NFT marketplace for photojournalism (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 10, 2022
Take-Two takes out Zynga for $12.7 billion dollars. The SEC wants private unicorn companies to report more financial details. The open source developer who borked a bunch of projects to protest working for the man, I guess. And the weekend Web3 debate between Moxie Marlinspike and Vitalic Buterin. Sponsors: Grammarly.com/techmeme EditorX.com Links: Take-Two to acquire mobile gaming giant Zynga for $12.7B (TechCrunch) SEC Pushes for More Transparency From Private Companies (WSJ) Matter was a major star at CES 2022, but can it maintain its shine? (The Verge) Dev corrupts NPM libs 'colors' and 'faker' breaking thousands of apps (BleepingComputer) My first impressions of web3 (Moxie.org) Response From Vitalic Buterin on Reddit Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 8, 2022
Our first ever Portfolio Profile, of the first investment the Ride Home Fund ever made! Sensel! As you’ll hear, touch technology as a key layer in computing interface and interaction is about to undergo a major generational leap forward, and Sensel is at the bleeding edge of this transformation. Not only is there a good chance that the next laptop you buy will have Sensel technology inside, but you’ll hear how Sensel’s tech could come to smartphones soon, to medical devices, to automobiles. In essence, Senel’s tech has the potential to radically transform how we interact with computers all across the real world, and even provide a key foundational layer as we build out the metaverse. Sponsors: My First Million Podcast Wix.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 7, 2022
Sonos beats Google in trade court. E3 is going remote again this year. Mozilla is the latest company to suffer crypto backlash. Are foldable laptops the future? And of course, the weekend longreads suggestions, this week with a profile of the programmer behind Wordle. Sponsors: Wealthfront.com/techmeme EditorX.com Links: Google Infringed on Sonos Speaker Technology, Trade Court Rules (NYTimes) E3 shifts to online-only event because of Omicron concerns (GamesBeat) Mozilla pauses accepting crypto donations following backlash (The Verge) Asus will release a 17-inch foldable OLED laptop this year (The Verge) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: CES 2022 was the best auto show in years (CNET) Can You Really Tell the Difference Between 4K and 8K? (Gizmodo) The Pixel Art Revolution Will Be Televised (Wired) Banks Tiptoe Toward Their Cloud-Based Future (NYTimes) The Danger of Leaving Weather Prediction to AI (Wired) Wordle Is a Love Story (NYTimes) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 6, 2022
Google’s big announce at CES is better syncing and interoperability with everything. Instagram is launching their feed experiment. IBM might be looking to dump Watson. Ethereum has the most developers in crypto. And you know startups have been awash in money lately, here’s exactly how much. Sponsors: Masterworks.io/ride Coinbase.com/techmeme Links: Google is working to improve Windows and Android integration (Engadget) Google will spend 2022 trying to match Apple’s ecosystem integrations (The Verge) Instagram testing three new feed sorting choices, including chronological options (9to5Mac) HTC is launching a VR wrist tracker for its Vive Focus 3 headset (The Verge) Scoop: IBM tries to sell Watson Health again (Axios) Electric Capital Developer Report (2021) (Electric Capital) Crypto Crime Trends for 2022: Illicit Transaction Activity Reaches All-Time High in Value, All-Time Low in Share of All Cryptocurrency Activity (Chainalysis) US start-ups raise record $330bn as venture investors vie for stakes (FT) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 5, 2022
Let’s stand in front of the firehose of CES news. Sony details its new VR headset for PlayStations. Chip news from Intel, from Nvidia, from AMD, from Microsoft and Qualcomm. Two really big interesting raises, and a new autonomous tractor allows us to talk about John Deere, for the first time ever, I believe. Sponsors: RealVision.com/techmeme EditorX.com Links: Sony confirms PlayStation VR2’s specs, first official game (ArsTechnica) Intel Says New Core i9 Processor for Laptops is Faster Than Apple's M1 Max Chip (MacRumors) Nvidia unveils GeForce RTX 3050, 3070 Ti, 3080 Ti, and 3090 Ti graphics cards (GamesBeat) Nvidia still has no idea how to pronounce the name of its best gaming GPU (The Verge) AMD unveils Ryzen 6000 Series processors for laptops (GamesBeat) Qualcomm and Microsoft are partnering on chips for future AR glasses (CNET) John Deere's Self-Driving Tractor Stirs Debate on AI in Farming (Wired) OpenSea valued at $13.3 billion in new round of venture funding. (NYTimes) Visual collaboration company Miro valued at $17.5B following $400M in new funding (TechCrunch) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 4, 2022
Apple becomes the world’s first $3 Trillion dollar company. Samsung unveils its latest budget flagship smartphone. AT&T and Verizon delay their controversial 5G rollout while Verizon and T-Mobile end their controversial Apple rebate program. And a trip down the aisles at CES, including a smart collar for your dog and a gadget to bring home hair coloring into the 21st century. Sponsors: Do.co/trh Wix.com Links: Apple becomes first U.S. company to reach $3 trillion market cap (CNBC) The Galaxy S21 FE officially joins Samsung’s crowded midrange lineup (The Verge) Verizon, AT&T agree to FAA's request for a two-week delay on 5G expansion plans (CNET) Verizon and T-Mobile Discontinue iPad Rebate Program Following Widespread Customer Complaints [Updated] (MacRumors) Version two of TCL’s wearable display glasses are lighter and less dorky-looking (The Verge) Are we ready for the smart front door? Masonite thinks so (The Verge) This smart collar wants to be an Apple Watch for your dog (The Verge) L’Oreal's precision hair coloring device is the end of home dye job disasters (Input) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 3, 2022
CES kicks off with some major Samsung TV announcements, as per usual. Are we about to get the biggest MacBook Air redesign in history? Did Oculus (and VR generally) have a big holiday season? And does OpenSea helping folks get back their stolen NFTs point to the reality of decentralization in the NFT market? Sponsors: OurCrowd.com/ride Editor-X.com Links: Samsung’s new 2022 TVs bring Nvidia GeForce Now and Google Stadia gaming (The Verge) Samsung promises ‘groundbreaking’ new TV feature: NFT support (The Verge) Samsung shows off new monitors - including world's first 4K 240Hz gaming monitor (TechRadar) Kuo: AirPods Pro 2 to Feature Lossless Support and Sound-Emitting Charging Case (MacRumors) Apple Set to Step Up Product Launches in 2022 After Modest 2021 (Bloomberg) Metaverse Needs More Than VR Christmas Bump (WSJ) China gaming crackdown: freeze on new video game licences extends into 2022 as 14,000 gaming-related firms shut down (SCMP) Airlines Warn of Flight Delays as AT&T, Verizon Balk at 5G Delay (Bloomberg) OpenSea freezes $2.2M of stolen Bored Apes (CoinTelegraph) How NFTs became a $40bn market in 2021 (FT) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 29, 2021
Might want to doublecheck if your LastPass master password is safe. Apple has issued stock to try to retain a bunch of their key talent. Google is dangling investments in front of startups to try to win their cloud business. And, of course, the weekend longreads suggestions. Sponsors: DTCnewsletter.co enterprise.spectrum.com/techmeme Links: LastPass users warned their master passwords are compromised (BleepingComputer) Apple Aims to Prevent Defections to Meta With Rare $180,000 Bonuses for Top Talent (Bloomberg) Google and Tech Rivals Tap Cash Reserves to Realize Cloud Ambitions (WSJ) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: How Discord, Born From an Obscure Game, Became a Social Hub for Young People (NYTimes) Here’s why streaming services are always duking it out over channels (The Verge) How Shopify Outfoxed Amazon to Become the Everywhere Store (Bloomberg Businessweek) We Are at the Dawn of the Age of Physics-Supplied Energy (Wired) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 28, 2021
China is pissed at Elon Musk cause of his Starlink satellites. Xiaomi’s new smartphones. The delivery robots taking over college campuses. The three fund companies that made fully 12% of all venture investments this year. And why cybersecurity companies are the hot startup sector as we head into the new year. Sponsors: Coinbase.com/techmeme Schwab.com/plan Links: China berates US after ‘close encounters’ with Elon Musk satellites (The Guardian) Xiaomi 12 and 12 Pro debut with Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipsets, Xiaomi 12X comes with SD870 (GSMArena) Sidewalk Robots Find Foothold on College Campuses (Bloomberg Businessweek) How Tiger Global, SoftBank Vision Fund And Insight Partners Changed The Venture Landscape In 2021 (Crunchbase News) Truly Terrible Performers Multiply Among Startups Taking SPAC Route To Market (Crunchbase News) Record Number Of VC-Backed Cyber Companies Acquired in 2021, Even As Venture Funding Hits New Highs (Crunchbase News) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 27, 2021
Gibraltar wants to add crypto to its stock exchange. The complicated truth about how successful Alexa has been as a product for Amazon. It was a big year for decentralized exchanges, but an even bigger one for centralized ones. And the story behind that SOS token drop that happened on Christmas Day. Sponsors: RadPowerBikes.com DTCNewsletter.co Links: ‘Blockchain Rock’: Gibraltar moves to become world’s first cryptocurrency hub (The Guardian) Amazon’s Alexa Stalled With Users as Interest Faded, Documents Show (Bloomberg) Decentralized exchanges saw over $1 trillion in trading volume this year (The Block) Centralized crypto exchanges saw over $14 trillion in trading volume this year (The Block) Everything You Need to Know About OpenDAO’s SOS Token Airdrop for OpenSea Users (Decrypt) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 23, 2021
First we talk to the Spatial folks about pivoting in Web3. Then, the top tech stories of the year, as picked by you. Sponsors: Dataiku.com FindYourFidelity.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 22, 2021
Some big names pull out of CES at the last minute. TikTok is now the most popular destination in all the Internet. Justin Kan’s new NFT platform got hacked before even launching. Why my beloved Arsenal is in trouble for offering tokens. And Elon Musk comes out swinging against Web3 and the Metaverse. Sponsors: DTCNewsletter.co Streak.com/techmeme Links: Amazon, Meta Scrap CES Plans in Las Vegas After Covid Surge (Bloomberg) In 2021, the Internet went for TikTok, space and beyond (CloudFlare Blog) Americans widely distrust Facebook, TikTok and Instagram with their data, poll finds (Washington Post) Justin Kan’s NFT platform suffers rocky debut as scammer makes off with $150K in user funds (TechCrunch) Arsenal fan token posts broke advertising rules, says watchdog (BBCNews) Elon Musk: metaverse isn’t ‘compelling’ and Web3 ‘more marketing than reality’ (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 21, 2021
I do my best to give you all the angles on the cold tech civil war concerning Web3 that has been bubbling under the surface for a while now but burst out in the open overnight. Interesting raises in the crypto space and interesting data on investment in the space. An interesting CEO departure and a CEO who maybe never really stepped down. And a look at satellite internet speeds. Sponsors: Schwab.com/plan Directtoconsumer.co Links: Jack Dorsey Stirs Uproar by Dismissing Web3 as a Venture Capitalists’ Plaything (Bloomberg) The New Get-Rich-Faster Job in Silicon Valley: Crypto Start-Ups (NYTimes) OnlyFans Names Marketing Chief Ami Gan as CEO; Founder Steps Down (Bloomberg) Zhang Yiming Still Oversees ByteDance, Despite Stepping Back (The Information) Starlink Expands but Q3 2021 Performance Flattens in Some Areas (SpeedTest.net) The article featuring Chris and I talking about the Twitter Spaces: How the Copycats Came for Clubhouse (NYTimes) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 20, 2021
Could a new 5G system lead the FCC to ground flights around some major metropolitan areas? Chipmakers are busting a gut to try to build out capacity. To what degree is Siri holding back Apple? A longtime Metaverse startup you should maybe have your eyes on. And is Microsoft best positioned to realize the Metaverse? Sponsors: RadPowerBikes.com Coinbase.com/techmeme Links: Airlines Brace for Flight Restrictions in 5G Standoff (WSJ) Semi CapEx to Hit $152 Billion in 2021 (AnandTech) A pple Should Make a Giant iPad as Its Smart Home Portal (Bloomberg) Rec Room raises $145M at a $3.5B valuation for its user-generated, immersive gaming platform (TechCrunch) Why Xbox's Phil Spencer thinks Minecraft is a blueprint for the metaverse (Protocol) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 17, 2021
Apple really is going to try to make all its gadget components itself, isn’t it? The deeper reason why the Biden administration doesn’t want you investing in Chinese tech. More on the brewing war between the gamers and the NFTers. And, of course, the weekend longreads suggestions. Sponsors: VPLS.com/goit Streak.com/techmeme Links: Apple Builds New Team in Southern California to Bring More Wireless Chips In-House (Bloomberg) Biden administration concerned about U.S. investments in Chinese tech companies with military or surveillance ties (Washington Post) FTC Slows Meta Platforms’ Metaverse Strategy By Extending Antitrust Probe of VR Deal (The Information) Players invest $54M in Molyneux’s NFT game Legacy in hopes of earning even more (ArsTechnica) S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 will no longer have NFTs after fan outcry (The Verge) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: THE METAVERSE IS ALREADY HERE — AND IT’S FULL OF POKEMON, SAYS NIANTIC CEO JOHN HANKE (The Verge) The ‘To the Moon’ Crash Is Coming (Motherboard) Strange, horny game ads are flooding social media. I accidentally became obsessed (The Guardian) MATTER’S PLAN TO SAVE THE SMART HOME (The Verge) Computers Revolutionized Chess. Magnus Carlsen Wins by Being Human (WSJ) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 16, 2021
Reddit finally files to go public. Is Apple once again the canary in the coal mine, this time for Omicron? HR Block sues Square cause Square is now Block. Get it? The biggest investing star of Web3 is starting her own fund. And a look at the battery technology breakthrough the could transform all our lives. Sponsors: HeyLaika.com/techmeme Dataiku.com Links: Reddit Files Confidentially for IPO (WSJ) Apple Scraps Office-Return Deadline Without Setting New Date (Bloomberg) H&R Block Sues Block, Formerly Square, for Trademark Infringement (WSJ) Adidas Originals launches NFTs and buys a plot in the Sandbox metaverse (VentureBeat) Scoop: Crypto investor Katie Haun leaving Andreessen Horowitz (Axios) Solid-State Batteries Are Here and They're Going to Change How We Live (Popular Mechanics) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 15, 2021
Is Google the first Silicon Valley company to adopt a vaccine mandate? A new foldable phone from Oppo. Why the US might ban you from investing in DJI. Twitter gets auto captions. And a look at the up and coming Chinese ecommerce giant that you might have already heard of, but definitely need to be aware of going forward. Sponsors: Masterworks.io/ride Findyourfidelity.com Links: Google tells employees they’ll lose pay and will eventually be fired if they don’t follow vaccination rules (CNBC) Oppo’s Find N is an impressive first folding phone (The Verge) Twitter adds auto captions feature to make videos more accessible (TechCrunch) Apple and Google's mobile duopoly likely to face UK antitrust action (TechCrunch) US to blacklist eight more Chinese companies including dronemaker DJI (Financial Times) How Shein beat Amazon at its own game — and reinvented fast fashion (Rest of World) Submit top stories of the year to us! https://chrismessina.me/topstories Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 14, 2021
More fallout from what is now being called potentially the worst bug of all time. Apple helps Android users discover if they’re being tracked by AirTags. A new entrant into the AR and VR product category that I guess we’re going to be covering going forward. Amazon is coming for DoorDash and Instacart. And how much did Meta have to pay to become Meta? Sponsors: Tovala.com/ride FirstRepublic.com Links: CISA warns 'most serious' Log4j vulnerability likely to affect hundreds of millions of devices (CyberScoop) The numbers behind a cyber pandemic – detailed dive (Check Point) Apple launches AirTags and Find My detector app for Android, in effort to boost privacy (CNET) Oppo announces Air Glass ‘assisted reality’ device (The Verge) Amazon Ramps Up Plans for Instacart-Like Service in U.S., Europe (The Information) Nike acquires NFT collectibles studio RTFKT (TechCrunch) Facebook Owner Is Involved in $60M Deal Over Meta Trademark Assets (Coinspeaker) Send us your nomination for the top tech stories of the year: chrismessina.me/topstories Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 13, 2021
A huge bug in Apache servers is causing chaos around the Internet. What to expect, and what we’re still waiting on from iOS 15.2. Why did Instagram steal the @metaverse handle from a woman in Australia, and the story of the fat finger fire sale of a Board Ape Yacht Club NFT. Sponsors: Grammarly.com/techmeme Tovala.com/ride Links: Zero-day in ubiquitous Log4j tool poses a grave threat to the Internet (ArsTechnica) The Internet’s biggest players are all affected by critical Log4Shell 0-day (ArsTechnica) PROFESSIONAL MAINTAINERS: A WAKE-UP CALL (Filippo.io) Apple Set to Release Nudity Detection in Texting, But Other Features Remain on Hold (Bloomberg) Her Instagram Handle Was ‘Metaverse.’ Last Month, It Vanished. (NYTimes) Bored Ape Yacht Club: Someone accidentally sold a $300,000 NFT for $3,000 (CNET) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 11, 2021
The great Andrew Chen of a16z joins us to discuss his new book: The Cold Start Problem: How to Start and Scale Network Effects . This an indispensable guide to get that "rocket-ship" action going for whatever product or company you're working with. Sponsors: RadPowerBikes.com AltoIra.com/techmeme Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 10, 2021
Google Play games are coming to Windows, while Microsoft was apparently willing to bend over backwards if Apple had let xCloud games into the iOS app store. Meta’s first tangible foray into the Metaverse. The English Football punters buying into NFTs. And, of course, the weekend longreads suggestions. Sponsors: Tovala.com/ride My First Million Podcast Links: Google is bringing Android games to Windows in 2022 (The Verge) MICROSOFT QUIETLY TOLD APPLE IT WAS WILLING TO TURN BIG XBOX-EXCLUSIVE GAMES INTO IPHONE APPS (The Verge) Meta opens up access to its VR social platform Horizon Worlds (The Verge) Football fans spending millions on club crypto-tokens (BBC News) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: Pokémon and the First Wave of Digital Nostalgia (The New Yorker) Half a Billion in Bitcoin, Lost in the Dump (The New Yorker) Amazon is making its own containers and bypassing supply chain chaos with chartered ships and long-haul planes (CNBC) HOW AN EXCEL TIKTOKER MANIFESTED HER WAY TO MAKING SIX FIGURES A DAY (The Verge) Three Steps To The Future (Ben Evans' 2022 Slide Deck) On “Succession,” Jeremy Strong Doesn’t Get the Joke (The New Yorker) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 9, 2021
Instagram is going to bring back a version of its chronological feed, sort of. The congressional hearings about Instagram, but also crypto. I was wrong: we are seeing Novi in the wild as WhatsApp starts testing it in the US. Deep Mind unveils its language model, and say goodbye to… checks notes… Alexa? Sponsors: Schwab.com/plan Dataiku.com Links: Instagram Chief and Lawmakers Clash Over App’s Real World Harms (Bloomberg) Instagram will bring back a chronological feed in 2022 (Engadget) What we learned at Congress' much-anticipated summit of crypto execs (The Block) Epic v. Apple ruling put on hold after appeals court grants a stay (The Verge) Italy fines Amazon €1.13B for abusing market dominance (Politico.eu) WhatsApp launches cryptocurrency payment in the US with Novi (9to5Mac) Kickstarter Will Move Its Crowdfunding Platform to Blockchain (Bloomberg) DeepMind says its new language model can beat others 25 times its size (MIT Technology Review) Amazon is shutting down web ranking site Alexa.com (BleepingComputer) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 8, 2021
That AWS outage yesterday disrupted Amazon’s own delivery efforts. When we might see the AirPods Pro 2. More specific details on the Apple AR thingy. Ubisoft is the first major player to bring NFTs to games. And a look at the records being set in the African startup investment scene. Sponsors: WealthFront.com/techmeme FindYourFidelity.com Links: An Amazon server outage caused problems for Alexa, Ring, Disney Plus, and deliveries (The Verge) AWS Outage Grinds Amazon Warehouses and Deliveries to a Halt (Motherboard) Kuo: AirPods Pro 2 With New Design and Improved Chip to Launch in Late 2022 (Macrumors) Kuo: Second-Generation Apple AR Headset to Launch in 2024 With Lighter Design, Redesigned Battery System, and More (Macrumors) Ubisoft Becomes First Major Gaming Company to Launch In-Game NFTs (Decrypt) Roku, Google settle messy battle over YouTube distribution (Axios) Facebook's new website lets fans buy 'Stars' without paying the app stores' commissions (TechCrunch) African Startup Inflows Seen Hitting Record $5 Billion This Yea r (Bloomberg) Twitter’s New CEO Agrawal Got Early Nod From Dorsey a Year Ago (Bloomberg) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 7, 2021
The Information has a story about a secret deal Apple struck that really solidifies Tim Cook as the China whisperer. Intel proves itself to be an astute investor as it weighs a public spinoff of Mobileye. European tech startups raise all-time record amounts. Quantifying this year’s emerging NFT market. And the first ever marketable quantum computing product? Sponsors: Detectify.com/techmeme ARM Viewpoints Podcast Links: Facing Hostile Chinese Authorities, Apple CEO Signed $275 Billion Deal With Them (The Information) Samsung's mobile and consumer electronic divisions merge into one in exec reshuffle (ZDNet) Intel to List Shares in Mobileye Unit (WSJ) The Popular Family Safety App Life360 Is Selling Precise Location Data on Its Tens of Millions of Users (The Markup) Microsoft Office prices going up 20% for some business clients unless they move from monthly to annual subscriptions (CNBC) European start-up funding triples to a new record above $100 billion this year (CNBC) [Report Preview] The 2021 NFT Market Explained (Chainalysis) Honeywell Unit Offers First-Ever Quantum-Created Encryption Key (Bloomberg) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 6, 2021
DoorDash tests a wildly new business model: employees! Apple launches a Winter War in Russia. Two stories of US telecom companies doing what US telecom companies do: act shady. And Buzzfeed finally hits the public markets. Sponsors: FirstRepublic.com Enterprise.Spectrum.com Links: DoorDash breaks gig worker model to hire couriers as employees in New York trial (Financial Times) Apple Attempts to Stop Developers Promoting Alternative Payment Options for In-App Purchases in Russia (MacRumors) Crypto exchange BitMart confirms hack resulting in loss of $150 million in crypto (The Block) The Verizon app might be collecting your browsing history and more (The Verge) Apple iPhone 13 Rebates Fail to Deliver for Some Buyers (Bloomberg) BuzzFeed Tumbles in Turbulent Debut for Digital Media (Bloomberg) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 4, 2021
Mulling over the whole legacy of Jack Dorsey and name changes for tech companies in general. The weird way gaming is changing right now (see: Halo Infinite). And are foldable phones ready for the big time? With Bloomberg's @vladsavov Sponsors: AltoIra.com/techmeme RadPowerBikes.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 3, 2021
Another tech deal goes on a deathwatch, but this time it’s Nvidia and Arm, and this time I think it’s for real. Google is probably working on its own smartwatch. Didi is the first Chinese stock to delist in the west. Instagram is ENCOURAGING you to create a Finsta. And, of course, the Weekend Longreads Suggestions. Sponsors: MasterWorks.io/ride Links: FTC Challenges Nvidia’s Deal for Arm Holdings (WSJ) EXCLUSIVE: Google readies 'Pixel Watch' for 2022 launch as it renews ambitions in wearable tech (Insider) Didi bows to China regulatory pressure, will delist from NYSE (Reuters) Why Instagram Asks Users to Create Second Accounts (WSJ) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: Can a Digital Reality Be Jacked Directly Into Your Brain? (Wired) Metaverse Real Estate Piles Up Record Sales in Sandbox and Other Virtual Realms (WSJ) World's first living robots can now reproduce, scientists say (CNN) Planetary scientists are starting to get stirred up by Starship’s potential (ArsTechnica) ‘Oregon Trail’ at 50: How Three Teachers Created the Computer Game That Inspired — and Diverted — Generations of Students (the74million.org) Why the Beatles’ ‘Get Back’ May Stand as the Best Rock Doc Ever (Column) (Variety) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 2, 2021
Square changes its name to Block. Apple is hinting at unexpectedly weak iPhone demand. TikTok adds monetization tools. How many people have never used the Internet? And the story behind that whole Spotify Unwrapped thing. Sponsors: FindYourFidelity.com Dataiku.com Links: Jack Dorsey’s Square changes corporate name to Block (CNBC) Apple Tells Suppliers iPhone Demand Has Slowed as Holidays Near (Bloomberg) Instacart Plans 15-Minute Delivery Trial as Rival Startups Grow (The Information) Microsoft Teams Essentials is a new standalone version for small businesses (The Verge) TikTok adds creator monetization features, including tips and video gifts (TechCrunch) 37 Percent of the World's Population Has Never Been Online, U.N. Report Finds (Gizmodo) The art and science of Spotify Wrapped (Protocol) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 1, 2021
Twitter bans “private” sharing, but there’s some confusion about what that actually means. A big executive departure throws more doubt on Meta’s crypto ambitions. There’s a new Snapdragon flagship chip and I’ve got the specs. And we get some raw data to answer the question: are foldable phones actually a thing or not? Sponsors: BoxOfAwesome.com , code techmeme for 20% off your first box FirstRepublic.com Links: Twitter bans sharing 'private' images and videos without consent (Engadget) Meta’s David Marcus, Creator of Embattled Diem Project, to Leave Company (Bloomberg) Quest v35 Update To Add iPhone Mixed Reality Capture, Messenger Calling (UploadVR) China to Close Loophole Used by Tech Firms for Foreign IPOs (Bloomberg) Qualcomm’s new Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chip is here to power the Android flagships of 2022 (The Verge) Q3’21 Was a Record Quarter for Foldable Smartphones, Samsung Enjoys a 93% Share per DSCC Report (DSCC) Dorsey’s Twitter Departure Hints at Tech Moguls’ Restlessness (NYTimes) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 30, 2021
Tue. 11/30 – Meta Might Do The Giphy Deal Anyway The UK quashes the Giphy acquisition, but is it actually dead? Maybe not. Was Cyber Monday a bit of a disappointment this year? Why your Pixel phone might reject your cheap charging cable. AWS’s new tools to help you build robots. And a profile of Twitter’s new CEO. Sponsors: FirstRepublic.com Detectify.com/techmeme Links: Meta ordered to sell Giphy by UK regulator (The Verge) Finland Battles ‘Exceptional’ Malware Attack Spread by Phones (Bloomberg) Cyber Monday Sales Flat as Smaller Savings Curb Incentive to Spend (WSJ) The Google Pixel 6 will refuse to charge if you use a low-quality USB-C cable or charger (AndroidPolice) Amazon launches AWS RoboRunner to support robotics apps (Venture Beat) Who Is Parag Agrawal, Twitter’s New C.E.O.? (NYTimes) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 29, 2021
Jack Dorsey is reportedly about to be a one company CEO if he steps down from Twitter. The acquisition of Giphy is on life support. Folks remember Microsoft could be an antitrust target too. Will Apple’s AR headset not need to be tethered to an iPhone? And a look at just how much Amazon has increased its delivery capacity. Sponsors: Napjitsu.com/techmeme OurCrowd.com/ride Links: Twitter CTO Parag Agrawal will replace Jack Dorsey as CEO (CNBC) Twitter CTO Parag Agrawal replaces Jack Dorsey as CEO (The Verge) UK regulator expected to block Meta’s Giphy deal (Financial Times) Social media companies could be forced to give out names and contact details, under new anti-troll laws (ABC News) EU companies issue formal complaint against Microsoft OneDrive Windows integration (ZDNet) Report: Apple still working on multi-device charger, a future where all devices ‘can charge each other’ (9to5Mac) Kuo: Apple AR Headset Coming in Late 2022 With Mac-Level Computing Power (MacRumors) Amazon Builds Out Network to Speed Delivery, Handle Holiday Crunch (WSJ) Amazon poised to pass UPS and FedEx to become largest U.S. delivery service by early 2022, exec says (CNBC) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 24, 2021
The legendary tech analyst and general deep-thinker @benedictevans comes on to discuss this essay about the state of the Metaverse right now. Then, several members of the ConstitutionDAO team come on to tell us the behind the scenes of all that historic event at Sotheby's all went down last week. Featuring: @sadlyoddisfying , @youfoundanisha , @julianweisser , @RobbieHeeger , @ciaomack , @kyle_billings Sponsors: FindYourFidelity.com ARM Viewpoints Podcast VPLS.com/goit Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 23, 2021
Italy has fined Amazon and Apple for alleged collusion. Tile taps out by getting acquired. Niantic is an interesting metaverse raise. Walmart is testing Twitter live shopping. And the story of the guy who automated his job so completely, he didn’t work for five years, but still got paid. Sponsors: MasterWorks.io/ride Detectify.com/techmeme Links: Amazon and Apple handed $225 million in Italian antitrust fines (Reuters) Samsung to Choose Taylor, Texas, for $17 Billion Chip-Making Factory (WSJ) AirTag Competitor Tile Getting Acquired by Location Sharing App Life360 (MacRumors) Niantic raises $300M at at $9B valuation to build the 'real-world metaverse' (TechCrunch) Walmart will be the first retailer to test Twitter’s new livestream shopping platform (TechCrunch) “You’ve Won The Game”: Employee Hacks His Job, Gets Paid To Do Nothing For 5 Years (BoredPanda) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 22, 2021
When Adele says jump, Spotify apparently says how high? Is Apple Watch slipping in market share? All the crypto miners who fled China have landed in Russia, Kazakhstan and… Texas? And an explanation for why buying bots will either ruin, or save your holiday gift buying. Sponsors: Betterhelp.com/ridehome Dataiku.com Links: Adele gets Spotify to take shuffle button off all album pages (BBC News) Meta delays encrypted messages on Facebook and Instagram to 2023 (The Guardian) Wear OS Share Surges on Samsung’s Highest Quarterly Smartwatch Shipments in Q3 2021 (CounterpointResearch) India’s Paytm Tumbles Another 13% After First-Day IPO Flop (Boomberg) China’s exiled crypto machines fuel global mining boom (Financial Times) Texas Plans to Become the Bitcoin Capital, Vulnerable Power Grid and All (Bloomberg) Desperate Parents Turn to Shopping Bots to Hunt for Hottest Christmas Gifts (WSJ) Sweden's Ericsson snaps up cloud firm Vonage in $6.2 bln deal (Reuters) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 19, 2021
ConstitutionDAO lost the auction for the Constitution. But it was really about the friends we made along the way, right? More Apple Car rumors. Xbox and PlayStation have harsh words for Activision Blizzard. Everyone wants in on crypto exchanges. And of course, the weekend longreads suggestions. Sponsors: Tovala.com/ride FindYourFidelity.com Links: Crypto Investors Lose Out In $43.2 Million Sale Of Rare Copy Of U.S. Constitution (Forbes) Apple Accelerates Work on Car Project, Aiming for Fully Autonomous Vehicle (Bloomberg) Xbox Chief Says He’s Evaluating Relationship With Activision (Bloomberg) Gemini Raises $400 Million To Build A Metaverse Outside Facebook’s Walled Garden (Forbes) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: The most influential man on the internet (ReadMax) Visions of a U.S. Computer Chip Boom Have Cities Hustling (NYTimes) The Video Game History Book I Mentioned GAMECUBE AT 20: NINTENDO INSIDERS ON THE FAILED CONSOLE THAT CHANGED THE INDUSTRY (Video Games Chronicle) How Xbox outgrew the console: inside Phil Spencer’s multi-billion dollar gamble (GQ) Who Knows Anthony Bourdain? (Eater) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 18, 2021
Paytm has a rough IPO. Nvidia has another in a long line of crushed earnings reports. Grammarly is an interesting raise. Twitter wants to take the pulse of the stock market. And if ConstitutionDAO wins its auction today, there are some practical questions to answer like, who actually goes and picks it up? Sponsors: Tovala.com/ride Dataiku.com Links: Paytm falls 27% on first trading day after India’s largest IPO (TechCrunch) Nvidia easily beats earnings expectations on strong gaming and data center sales (Yahoo!Finance) Grammarly raises $200M at a $13B valuation to make you an even better writer using AI (TechCrunch) AllTrails raises $150M after COVID accelerates people’s interest in exploring the outdoors (TechCrunch) Nreal’s $599 mixed reality glasses are launching in the US on Verizon (The Verge) Twitter partners with S&P 500 on stock index that crowdsources public opinion (CNET) Crypto Group’s Bid for Constitution Faces Real-World Snags—Who Picks It Up? (WSJ) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 17, 2021
Hell freezes slightly over. Apple is gonna let you repair your own devices, at home, yourself. The Staples Center goes crypto. Meta wants to bring touch to VR. Netflix now WANTS you to know which shows have been watched the most. And Miramax is suing Quentin Tarantino over NFT’s. Sponsors: Wealthfront.com/techmeme Tovala.com/ride Links: Beginning next year, Apple will send you parts and tools to fix your iPhone and Mac at home (TechCrunch) Activision CEO Bobby Kotick Knew for Years About Sexual-Misconduct Allegations at Videogame Giant (WSJ) Goodbye, Staples Center. Hello, Crypto.com Arena (LATimes) Meta’s sci-fi haptic glove prototype lets you feel VR objects using air pockets (The Verge) Microsoft states that x64 emulation is only available on Windows 11 on ARM PCs (Windows Central) Netflix’s Expanded Viewing Data Move Is Mainly a Flex (Variety) Miramax Sues Quentin Tarantino Over ‘Pulp Fiction’ NFT Auction (Variety) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 16, 2021
Twitter has followed through on its promise to decentralize and play nice with 3rd party developers. Will the Nvidia/ARM acquisition actually happen? Substack reaches a million subscribers. Apple defends buying Google Ads. And I get my answer about the whole civil war between Crypto and NFT folks and… furries? Sponsors: CometBackup.com promocode: ride FindYourFidelity.com Links: TWITTER MAKES BIG CHANGES FOR DEVS AS IT EYES DECENTRALIZED FUTURE (The Verge) Nvidia’s $40 billion takeover of chip designer Arm faces a UK national security probe (CNBC) Newsletter start-up Substack hits 1m subscribers (Financial Times) Apple Defends Its Ads for Third-Party Apps, Says It Regularly Communicates With Developers and Has Been Running Them for Five Years (MacRumors) Right-clickers vs. the monkey JPG owners (Garbage Day) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 15, 2021
Some app developers say Apple is buying Google ads to cut App Store work-arounds off at the pass. Huawei thinks it has an end run around US sanctions. The audacious hacker that managed to send fake emails from the FBI’s own servers. The story behind the big Taproot update to Bitcoin. And the DAO of crypto enthusiasts looking to buy a copy of the US Constitution. Sponsors: Betterhelp.com/ridehome HeyLaika.com/techmeme Links: Apple Quietly Buying Ads Via Google For High-Value Subscription Apps To Capture App Publisher Revenue (Fortune) Samsung releases Android 12-powered One UI 4 for Galaxy S21 phones (The Verge) Huawei Recruits Smartphone Partners to Sidestep U.S. Sanctions (Bloomberg) FBI system hacked to email 'urgent' warning about fake cyberattacks (Bleeping Computer) Hoax Email Blast Abused Poor Coding in FBI Website (KrebsOnSecurity) A major upgrade to bitcoin just activated — here’s what investors should know (CNBC Make It) A crypto group has raised nearly $3 million in Ether to bid on a rare copy of the U.S. Constitution (Fortune) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 13, 2021
Coming at the Metaverse from a different angle. If you're a dev or even just an enthusiast, how, from a technological perspective, will the Metaverse be built? Sponsors: FirstRepublic.com Streak.com/techmeme Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 12, 2021
Beware a watering hole, zero day attack that affected macOS. Spotify is getting into the audiobook game. MoviePass looks like it might be coming back from the dead, and of course, the weekend longreads suggestions. Sponsors: Detectify.com/techmeme FirstRepublic.com Links: Google Caught Hackers Using a Mac Zero-Day Against Hong Kong Users (Vice/Motherboard) Amazon will let you easily share clips from its Prime Video content (The Verge) Spotify expands into audiobooks with acquisition of Findaway (TechCrunch) MoviePass cofounder Stacy Spikes has bought the company back and is planning a relaunch (Insider) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: The 10,000 Faces That Launched an NFT Revolution (Wired) The Metaverse and (near-)infinite economic growth (Noahpinion) Chip Shortage Creates New Power Players (NYTimes) The Craziest Sports Story of 2021 Is FC Sheriff (Futbol With Grant Wahl) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 11, 2021
Discord floats the idea of incorporating crypto, but backs down after a vicious backlash. Apple wants to manage IT for small and medium businesses. YouTube is starting to hide the dislike option. Disney+ growth is suddenly anemic. And say hello to an NFT band. Like, literally, a Bored Ape Band. Sponsors: FindYourFidelity.com Dataiku.com Links: Discord pushes pause on exploring crypto and NFTs amidst user backlash (TechCrunch) Apple launches Apple Business Essentials: Device management, storage, onsite repairs, and more for one monthly price (9to5Mac) US sues Uber over 'wait time' fees for disabled passengers (Protocol) YouTube gives dislikes the thumbs-down, hides public counts (The Verge) Disney+ Subscriber Growth Slows, Company Misses Wall Street Expectations (The Hollywood Reporter) The World’s Largest Record Company Is Creating an NFT Super Group (Bloomberg) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 10, 2021
Apple and Alphabet suffer setbacks in court. More hardware moves in the great Metaverse realignment of the tech landscape. Unity buys Weta Digital. No word on if Andy Serkis is part of the package. And Twitter Blue is finally live. A reminder of what that actually is. Sponsors: Masterworks.io/ride Oracle.com/ride Links: Judge orders Apple to allow external payment options for App Store by December 9th, denying stay (The Verge) Google Loses Appeal of $2.8 Billion EU Shopping-Ads Fine (WSJ) Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Spaces try to make it easier to get apps ready for augmented reality (The Verge) Unity is buying Peter Jackson’s Weta Digital for over $1.6B (TechCrunch) Meta plans to remove thousands of sensitive ad-targeting categories. (NYTimes) Twitter will now let you pay to undo tweets and read ad-free news in the US (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 9, 2021
Robinhood has been compromised by some true brigands. If you’ve got a Robinhood account, double down on being wary of phishing attacks. Netflix takes a page out of the TikTok playbook. And whole bunch of announces about new DRAM chips, new AMD chips, new custom voicebot toolkits from Nvidia, and Niantic doesn’t want to get left behind in the Metaverse race it arguably helped set off. Sponsors: Enterprise.Spectrum.com/techmeme Napjitsu.com/techmeme Links: Robinhood says millions of customer names and email addresses taken in data breach (TechCrunch) US seizes $6 million in ransom payments and charges Ukrainian over major cyberattack (CNN) Netflix to Roll Out TikTok-Like Short Clip Feature Aimed at Kids (Bloomberg) Samsung’s new LPDDR5X DRAM is 1.3x faster and consumes 20% less power than LPDDR5 DRAM (XDA Developers) AMD lands Meta as customer and takes on Nvidia, sending shares up 11% (Reuters) Nvidia’s Riva Custom Voice lets companies create custom voices powered by AI (VentureBeat) Niantic launches platform to build ‘real-world metaverse’ apps (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 8, 2021
McAfee is taken private. The recently passed Infrastructure Bill complicates the tax picture for crypto. Also, playing NFT games could seriously complicate your tax bill. The latest installment of Today In Elon Musk, and since we’re hitting old features today, let’s check in with how Masa Son is doing. Sponsors: OurCrowd.com/ride Overland.com/techmeme Links: McAfee to Be Taken Private in $14 Billion Deal Including Debt (Bloomberg) House Sends Infrastructure Bill With Crypto Tax Provision to US President (CoinDesk) NFT games are fun. Filing taxes afterward is a nightmare. (Protocol) Elon Musk’s Twitter Poll Results Favor Tesla Stock Sale (WSJ) A Drone Tried to Disrupt the Power Grid. It Won't Be the Last (Wired) SoftBank Vision Fund Posts a Record Loss on Coupang’s Plunge (Bloomberg) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 6, 2021
Poking some holes in the Metaverse hype and also examining the financial realities of the Creator Economy. Simon Owen's Media Newsletter Zealous.app The Charlie Warzel leaving substack essay we discuss . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 5, 2021
Is Meta going to open actual physical retail stores to try to sell folks on the promise of the Metaverse? More tangible signs Apple’s silicon is leaving everyone, but especially Intel in the dust. The new Mavic 3 drone from DJI. And of course, the weekend longreads suggestions. Sponsors: GoTeleport.com/techmeme Links: To Build the Metaverse, Meta First Wants to Build Stores (NYTimes) Apple’s Road Map for Mac Chips Shows Likely Advantage Over Intel (The Information) DJI Launches New Mavic 3 Drone With Longer Flight Time, Improved Cameras and New Safety Features (MacRumors) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: Hackers are stealing data today so quantum computers can crack it in a decade (TechnologyReview.com) The Booming Underground Market for Bots That Steal Your 2FA Codes (Motherboard) Farewell Offshoring, Outsourcing. Pandemic Rewrites CEO Playbook. (WSJ) Silicon Valley wants to power the U.S. war machine (Fast Company) The Metaverse Takes Manhattan (NYTimes) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 4, 2021
Instagram is playing nice with Twitter all of the sudden. But Meta has some new creator tools that try once again to shiv the App Stores. That South Korean law is actively cracking open the App Stores in that country. Google might be back in the defense contract business. And why it MIGHT be worth paying $30 for a keyboard with only 3 keys. Sponsors: FindYourFidelity.com Dataiku.com Links: Instagram brings back Twitter Card preview support for posts (TechCrunch) Facebook skirts Apple’s App Store fees with custom subscription links for creators (The Verge) Facebook is backing away from facial recognition. Meta isn’t. (Recode) Google Allows Alternate In-App Payment Options in South Korea, Though Familiar Fees Remain (WSJ) Google Wants to Work With the Pentagon Again, Despite Employee Concerns (NYTimes) STACK OVERFLOW’S COPY / PASTE KEYBOARD IS NO JOKE (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 3, 2021
Facebook shuts down its decade-old face scanning and photo tagging feature. Zillow shuts down its house flipping business entirely. Netflix’s foray into games officially launches widely. And Microsoft says hey Zuckerberg, if you think the Metaverse is going to be about work meetings with cartoonish avatars and virtual whiteboards? Hold our beer! Sponsors: Tovala.com/ride TinyCapital.com Links: Facebook, Citing Societal Concerns, Plans to Shut Down Facial Recognition System (NYTimes) Zillow to shutter home buying business and lay off 2,000 employees as its big real estate bet falters (GeekWire) CISA creates catalog of known exploited vulnerabilities, orders agencies to patch (The Record) Netflix games are coming to all members on Android, starting this week (TechCrunch) Microsoft Teams enters the metaverse race with 3D avatars and immersive meetings (The Verge) Loop app from Microsoft keeps projects in sync across Microsoft 365 (VentureBeat) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 2, 2021
Apple is cutting iPad production in order to allocate more components to iPhone production. The Biden administration is getting serious about stablecoins. Zoom is going to start showing you ads unless you pay up. Zillow misjudged the housing market. And a security flaw has been found, inside, of all things: Unicode. Sponsors: BoxOfAwesome.com code "techmeme" for 20% off your first box Arm Viewpoints Podcast Links: Apple trims iPad production to feed chips to iPhone 13 (Nikkei Asia) Nintendo to make 20% fewer Switch consoles due to chip crunch (Nikkei Asia) Biden Administration to Congress: Put Stablecoins Under Federal Supervision – Or We Will (CoinDesk) Zoom is testing showing ads to free users (The Verge) ‘Trojan Source’ Bug Threatens the Security of All Code (KrebsonSecurity) Zillow Seeks to Sell 7,000 Homes for $2.8 Billion After Flipping Halt (Bloomberg) Yahoo Pulls Out of China, Ending Tumultuous Two-Decade Relationship (WSJ) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 1, 2021
How Much Money Is Apple’s ATT Costing Snap, Facebook, Twitter and the like? $10B or more? The chip shortage is hitting Apple at the Worst Time. But new iOS devices might have crash detection built in. Why was Roblox down for so long? And why Hollywood thinks there’s money in their old banana stands after all. Sponsors: HeyLaika.com/techmeme Links: Snap, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube lose nearly $10bn after iPhone privacy changes (Financial Times) The Chip Shortage Slams Into Apple at the Worst Possible Time (Bloomberg) Global Chip Shortage ‘Is Far From Over’ as Wait Times Get Longer (WSJ) Apple Wants iPhones to Detect Car Crashes, Auto-Dial 911 (WSJ) Roblox Servers Are Turning Back On (Slowly) After 60+ Hour Outage (Kotaku) 5D data storage technology offers 10,000 times the density of Blu-ray (New Atlas) Snapchat Inks Deal With NBCUniversal to Use Audio From ‘SNL,’ ‘The Office’ and More (Exclusive) (The Hollywood Reporter) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 29, 2021
Tons of meta commentary about the Meta move by Facebook, including the appearance of a Meta smartwatch. Small bit of earnings fallout for Apple and Amazon. Very important detail from the reviews of the new MacBook Pros involving battery life. And, of course, the weekend longreads suggestions. Sponsors: FindYourFidelity.com Dataiku.com Links: Leaked Photo Shows Meta’s Planned Competitor to Apple Watch (Bloomberg) Meta (Stratechery) The Metaverse Is Mark Zuckerberg’s Escape Hatch (NYTimes) APPLE MACBOOK PRO 14 AND 16 REVIEW: RETURN TO FORM (The Verge) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: MARK ZUCKERBERG ON WHY FACEBOOK IS REBRANDING TO META (The Verge) What the metaverse will (and won’t) be, according to 28 experts (Fast Company) Why Apple’s Privacy Changes Hurt Snap and Facebook but Benefited Google (WSJ) Why Your Group Chat Could Be Worth Millions (Intelligencer/NYMag) Life in the FAST Lane: Free Streaming, Big Money (Vulture/NYMag) A Very Big Little Country (Afar) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 28, 2021
Facebook’s new name is… Meta. All the headlines from Facebooks’ Connect event today. Also, is Copilot taking over Github? The new Raspberry Pi device. And how to handle the notch on the MacBook Pro if its driving you crazy. Sponsors: Wealthfront.com/techmeme Dataiku.com Links: Facebook unveils Horizon Home social VR, Messenger VR calls, and fitness VR on road to metaverse (VentureBeat) Slack is coming to the Oculus Quest (TechCrunch) Facebook says it doesn’t want to own the metaverse, just jumpstart it (Engadget) Facebook unveils Horizon Home social VR, Messenger VR calls, and fitness VR on road to metaverse (VentureBeat) Slack is coming to the Oculus Quest (TechCrunch) Facebook says it doesn’t want to own the metaverse, just jumpstart it (Engadget) Facebook tells employees to preserve all communications for legal reasons. (NYTimes) Nearly a third of new code on GitHub is written with AI help (Axios) The Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W is ideal for DIY projects (Wired) Apple Reveals 'Scale to Fit' Setting to Prevent a Mac App's Menu Bar Items From Being Hidden Under Notch (MacRumors) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 27, 2021
Microsoft and Google continued to report earnings that boggle the mind. Meanwhile, Robinhood discovered that if you live by crypto trading revenues, you can be wounded by them too. Will the Facebook Files force some sort of FTC action? AWS goes after Google’s tensor processing units. And do you think I could produce this show on MS-DOS? Probably not, but Dune was written on it. Sponsors: Masterworks.io/ride Tovala.com/ride Links: Microsoft beats revenue expectations, reporting 22% growth (CNBC) Robinhood shares tank as revenue falls way short of expectations on lighter crypto trading (CNBC) FCC kicks China Telecom Americas out of US, cites Chinese government control (ArsTechnica) Federal Trade Commission Scrutinizing Facebook Disclosures (WSJ) Amazon launches AWS instances powered by Habana’s AI accelerator chip (VentureBeat) Biden appoints Jessica Rosenworcel to lead the FCC (The Verge) The ‘Dune’ Screenplay Was Written in MS-DOS (Motherboard/Vice) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 26, 2021
Facebook whistles past the ATT graveyard, but Zuckerberg wants to target ‘da yoots.’ Adobe adds support for NFTs. Amazon is coming after Clubhouse, joining the Quantum Computing race, and lending Project Kuiper to Verizon. And the big review of Apple’s new chips calls their performance "downright absurd." Sponsors: Tovala.com/ride Stripe.com Links: Facebook delivers light Q4 revenue guidance, mixed Q3 results (ZDNet) Facebook says it’s refocusing company on ‘serving young adults’ (The Verge) Photoshop will get a ‘prepare as NFT’ option soon (The Verge) Amazon is building a Clubhouse competitor that turns hosts into DJs (The Verge) Amazon joins race for quantum computer with new Caltech center (The Washington Post) Amazon’s broadband satellite venture Kuiper teams up with Verizon to expand 5G coverage (The Verge) Blue Origin reveals plans for future commercial space station called Orbital Reef (The Verge) Apple's M1 Pro, M1 Max SoC's Investigated: New Performance and Efficiency Heights (AnandTech) Pixel 6 Pro Review: The flagship Google needs right now is the one buyers deserve (9to5Google) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 25, 2021
Running down the headlines from all of those Facebook stories that we were promised would land this week. PayPal backs away from Pinterest, Tesla rolls back Full Self Driving, Microsoft keeps its eye on the ransomware gangs and a listener gives us an explainer on why Worldcoin wants to scan your eyeball. Sponsors: Betterhelp.com/ridehome enterprise.spectrum.com/techmeme Links: Here are all the Facebook Papers stories (Protocol) The case against Mark Zuckerberg: Insiders say Facebook’s CEO chose growth over safety (Washington Post) P ayPal Says It’s Currently Not Pursuing Pinterest Deal (Bloomberg) Tesla pulled its latest ‘Full Self Driving’ beta after testers complained about false crash warnings and other bugs (The Verge) Hertz orders 100,000 Teslas in deal reportedly worth $4.2 billion (The Verge) Microsoft: Russian SVR hacked at least 14 IT supply chain firms since May (BleepingComputer) Privacy by Design (WorldCoin) How the Launch Works (Worldcoin) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 23, 2021
F*** it! We did it live! Chris and me and @Kantrowitz around my kitchen table! Are we in for the biggest week of Facebook's life? Check out Big Technology ! Sponsors: VPLS.com/goit Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 22, 2021
Snap’s earnings suggest Apple’s ATT bite is having an impact, and what might that mean for others like Facebook? Google lowers Play Store fees and piles pressure on Apple. Did law enforcement give REvil a taste of its own medicine? What the heck is Worldcoin, I still can’t figure it out. And, of course, the weekend longreads suggestions. Sponsors: Dataiku.com RealVision.com/techmeme Links: Snap plummets 22% after missing on revenue expectations (CNBC) Google lowers Play Store fees for subscriptions and music streaming apps (The Verge) Amazon launches in-store pickup option for items from local businesses (CNBC) Governments turn tables on ransomware gang REvil by pushing it offline (Reuters) Silicon Valley entrepreneur Sam Altman wants to scan your eyes in exchange for free cryptocurrency (CNBC) Weekend Longreads Suggestions The Metaverse Is Bad (The Atlantic) DeFi Is Like Nothing Regulators Have Seen Before. How Should They Tackle It? (CoinDesk) Inside Wheel of Time, Amazon’s Huge Gamble on the Next Game of Thrones (GQ) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 21, 2021
PayPal wants to buy Pinterest and everybody is trying to figure out why. Devs, you can now begin testing Android apps on Windows 11. Gamers, you can now do some powerful gaming for the low, low price of $100 a month. Some, just, spectacularly monster raises in the crypto space. And I get talked out of the Microsoft Surface Duo again. Sponsors: FindYourFidelity.com Dataiku.com Links: PayPal Is Exploring a Purchase of Pinterest (Bloomberg) Plaid Pushes Into Payments Business After Scuttled Visa Deal (WSJ) Microsoft now lets you test Android apps on Windows 11 (The Verge) A first look at Microsoft’s new Windows 11 Android apps support (The Verge) Nvidia Supercharges GeForce Now Cloud Gaming Service With RTX 3080 GPUs (Gizmodo) Sam Bankman-Fried’s FTX Crypto Exchange Adds $7 Billion of Value in Three Months (Bloomberg) Fanatics’ NFT company is worth $1.5 billion, and NFL legend Peyton Manning now owns a stake (CNBC) Meet the New Owners of the Wu-Tang Clan’s One-of-a-Kind Album (NYTimes) MICROSOFT SURFACE DUO 2 REVIEW: DUO-OVER OR STRIKE TWO? (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 20, 2021
Dropping the “the” from The Facebook isn’t cool. You know what’s cool? Dropping Facebook as a name entirely. All the news from today’s Samsung event. Spotify and Shopify finally team up in the greatest crossover event of tech naming confusion. And a first look at that Comcast branded smart TV. Sponsors: HeyLaika.com/techmeme Kiwico.com promocode ride Links: Facebook is planning to rebrand the company with a new name (The Verge) Galaxy Watch 4 gets its first major update w/ Fall Detection, new watchfaces, more (9to5Google) First Bitcoin Futures ETF Rises in Trading Debut (WSJ) Facebook Fined $69 Million by U.K. Authority for Breaching Order During Giphy Merger Investigation (Variety) Brave Removes Google as its Default Search Engine (Thurrott.com) Spotify Adds Virtual Merch Tables for Music Artists in Pact With Shopify (Variety) Comcast Launches XClass TV, Its First TV Sets in the U.S., Taking Streaming Platform Direct-to-Consumer (Variety) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 19, 2021
All the headlines from Google’s latest Pixel event with the new Pixel 6. Some odds and sods from yesterday’s Apple event. Maybe Facebook’s crypto project is about to debut. How much money can the delivery space attract or even support? And more signs that YouTube is becoming a monster business that is increasingly supporting all of Alphabet. Sponsors: FindYourFidelity.com CometBackup.com , Promocode: Ride Links: Android 12 is now rolling out to Pixel phones (Engadget) GOOGLE PIXEL 6 AND 6 PRO HAVE BIG SCREENS, BIG AMBITIONS, AND SMALL PRICES (The Verge) The “Google Silicon” team gives us a tour of the Pixel 6’s Tensor SoC (Ars Technica) Pixel Pass bundles a phone with Google services for $45 per month (Engadget) Facebook’s Novi Taps Paxos, Coinbase Ahead of Diem Rollout (CoinDesk) Delivery Hero Leads $1 Billion Funding Round for Gorillas (Bloomberg) Apple Selling New $49 Braided MagSafe Cable and $99 140W Power Adapter for 16-Inch MacBook Pro (MacRumors) Tweet I mentioned comparing the M1Max to the PS5 (@ZONEofTech) YouTube Has Surpassed $3 Billion in Consumer Spend on iOS — Giving The World Access to Tailored Quality Content (App Annie) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 18, 2021
All the headlines from Apple’s event today. The Bitcoin future’s ETF is real, as of tomorrow. Apple’s privacy changes have indeed upended the mobile advertising space… in Apple’s favor. Steam doesn’t want to play the NFT game. And putting a value on Squid Game’s impact for Netflix. Sponsors: Enterprise.Spectrum.com/TechmemeRideHome Napjitsu.com/techmeme Links: Apple unveils next-generation M1 Pro and M1 Max chips for new Macs (9to5Mac) Apple announces 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro: new design, display notch, 120Hz, M1 Pro chip, HDMI, MagSafe, more (9to5Mac) Bitcoin Comes to the Big Board (NYTimes) Apple’s privacy changes create windfall for its own advertising business (Financial Times) Valve bans blockchain games and NFTs on Steam, Epic will try to make it work (The Verge) Netflix Estimates ‘Squid Game’ Will Be Worth Almost $900 Million (Bloomberg) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 16, 2021
What is the Metaverse? Why is everyone talking about it? Why is Mark Zuckerberg talking SO MUCH about it lately? And come to think of it, what is Facebook's play for the future? Sponsors: Betterhelp.com/ridehome Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 15, 2021
The SEC is poised to let the first Bitcoin futures ETFs trade a soon as next week. Google finally does away with pagination on the mobile web. Why are Waymo autonomous taxis all piling up on one dead end street in San Francisco? And of course, the weekend longreads suggestions. Sponsors: Dataiku.com Links: SEC Set to Allow Bitcoin Futures ETFs as Deadline Looms (Bloomberg) Google modernizes US mobile search results with continuous scrolling (TechCrunch) Dead-End SF Street Plagued With Confused Waymo Cars Trying To Turn Around ‘Every 5 Minutes’ (KPIX CBS) Reliable Robotics lifts $100M to take autonomous cargo planes where none have gone before (TechCrunch) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: How Axie Infinity is turning gaming on its head (Platformer) Anyone Seen Tether’s Billions? (Bloomberg Businessweek) SLACKERS OF THE WORLD, UNITE! (The Atlantic) Starbucks Is 50 and Emboldening Its Rivals More Than Ever (Bloomberg Opinion) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 14, 2021
Microsoft is shutting down LinkedIn in China. The first major tech regulation bill of this wave is set to debut in the Senate today. TCL’s cheap smartphones sound pretty good, actually. The gaming industry is serious about combatting cheating. Instacart might be on strike this weekend, and Gitlab celebrates its IPO. Sponsors: FindYourFidelity.com Dataiku.com Links: Microsoft Folds LinkedIn Social-Media Service in China (WSJ) Effort to Bar Tech Companies From ‘Self-Preferencing’ Gains Traction (WSJ) Facebook is researching AI systems that see, hear, and remember everything you do (The Verge) Canadian Instacart workers to walk off job in bid to secure better working conditions (Toronto Star) TCL’S BUDGET 20S AND 20SE PHONES DEFY EXPECTATIONS (The Verge) Call of Duty’s new anti-cheat system includes a kernel-level driver to catch PC cheaters (The Verge) Joe Montana prepares for biggest windfall as a venture capitalist ahead of GitLab’s $10 billion IPO (CNBC) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 13, 2021
Apple is forced to cut iPhone 13 production due to lack of parts. Are health features coming to the AirPods? NFT’s are coming to Coinbase. Stripe is hiring for a big push into crypto. Would you like a laptop with a 3D screen? And G4 TV is back, everybody, to remind you how you fell in love with tech in the first place. Sponsors: Postie.com/techmeme UrbanCatalyst.com/techmeme Links: Apple Set to Cut iPhone Production Goals Due to Chip Crunch (Bloomberg) Apple Studying Potential of AirPods as Health Device (WSJ) Sony to join TSMC on new $7bn chip plant in Japan (Nikkei Asia) G4 TV returns November 16th with Attack of the Show, Xplay and more (The Verge) Coinbase Follows FTX.US Into NFT Trading (CoinDesk) Stripe Is Hiring a Crypto Team 3 Years After Ending Bitcoin Support (CoinDesk) Acer’s new ConceptD 7 SpatialLabs Edition laptop uses eye-tracking cameras for a glasses-free 3D display (The Verge) APPLE WATCH SERIES 7 REVIEW: TIME AND TIME AGAIN (The Verge) Samsung announces Unpacked 2 event for Wednesday Oct 20th, right after Apple and Google (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 12, 2021
Twitter lets you remove followers without having to block them. Magic Leap is back with a fresh $500 million dollars. Canva gets into video while 1Password wants to make it easier to share your password. Microsoft and Nvidia claim to have trained the largest AI language model yet. And when it comes to AI, is China about to dominate everyone else, or are they only focused on one thing? Sponsors: Masterworks.io/ride Gainful.com/techmeme Links: Twitter's tool for removing unwanted followers arrives for web users (Engadget) Facebook whistleblower to brief Facebook Oversight Board, U.K. parliament (Axios) A second Facebook whistleblower says she's willing to testify before Congress and that she's shared documents with a US law agency (Insider) Seven years after raising $542M at a $2B valuation, Magic Leap raises $500M at a $2B valuation (TechCrunch) Canva is getting into video (TechCrunch) 1Password's new feature lets you safely share passwords using just a link (Engadget) Microsoft said it mitigated a 2.4 Tbps DDoS attack, the largest ever (The Record) Microsoft and Nvidia team up to train one of the world’s largest language models (VentureBeat) US has already lost AI fight to China, says ex-Pentagon software chief (Financial Times) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 11, 2021
Is Google aiming to take back the smartphone camera crown with next week’s Pixel event? That Twitch leak reinforces the idea that on platform ecosystems, there very much is a 1%. The Chinese Tesla competitors that are hitting milestones faster than Tesla ever did. When and should Disney give ESPN streaming religion? And would you buy Squid Game merch? Sponsors: Oracle.com/goto/ride OurCrowd.com/ride Links: Google says Pixel 6 camera captures ‘150% more light,’ shows ‘Magic Eraser’ on leaked marketing site (9to5Google) Twitch Streamer Earnings Increase for Top Gamers, Data From Hack Shows (WSJ) EV Sales At BYD, XPeng Soar In Sept., Underscoring Strong China Demand (Forbes) China’s booming electric car industry is much bigger than just Nio and Xpeng (CNBC) Emerson Plans to Merge Industrial-Software Businesses With AspenTech (WSJ) Disney’s shift to streaming puts ESPN in awkward position of clinging to the past (CNBC) Netflix’s ‘Squid Game’ T-Shirts Are Coming to a Walmart Near You (Bloomberg) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 8, 2021
Tech real estate report. Tesla leaves for Texas, while Apple rocks up in Hollywood. YouTube is gonna stop doing those year-end Rewind videos. A developer says Facebook banned him for life cause they didn’t like his app. And of course, the Weekend Longreads Suggestions where we ask the question: is Google’s famous hiring gauntlet broken? Sponsors: FindYourFidelity.com RealVision.com/techmeme Links: Tesla to Move Headquarters From California to Texas, Elon Musk Says (WSJ) Apple Is Building a Massive New Campus Straddling L.A. and Culver City (Variety) YouTube To Stop Making Year-End ‘Rewind’ Videos (Exclusive) (TubeFilter) Facebook Banned Me for Life Because I Help People Use It Less (Slate) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: How WhatsApp Swallowed Half The World (Gizmodo) Brazil’s Central Bank Built a Mobile Payment System With 110 Million Users (Bloomberg Businessweek) WeBack (Ramp Recap) Google’s recruiting system is famously brutal. Many workers think it’s also failing. (Protocol) HEY SIRI, WHAT HAPPENED? (The Verge) Planet Squid Game (Vulture) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 7, 2021
Forget the iCar, Apple wants to take over your existing car. The first candidate to test the App Store cracks has stepped forward. AMD warns that if you install Windows 11, your computer could run slower. GM gets me closer to the self-driving future I want sooner rather than later. And a weird new NFT hybrid lets you play fantasy sports with startups. Sponsors: Wealthfront.com/techmeme Dataiku.com Links: Apple’s Plan for Cars: Using iPhone to Control A/C, Seats, Radio and More (Bloomberg) Paddle Plans to Launch Alternative In-App Purchase System on iOS That Circumvents Apple's Fees (MacRumors) AMD: Windows 11 Slows Our CPUs Up To 15%, Patch Coming (Tom's Hardware) Facebook Slows New Products for ‘Reputational Reviews’ (WSJ) GM reveals Ultra Cruise ‘hands-free’ system that covers ‘95 percent’ of driving scenarios (The Verge) ‘Fantasy equity’ NFT game wants you to spend real money buying fake shares of real startups (TechCrunch) ‘Fantasy startup investing’ NFT platform Visionrare shuts down paid marketplace after a day in open beta (TechCrunch) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 6, 2021
The entirety of Twitch has allegedly been leaked. Like, everything from the source code to a creator payout spreadsheet. Snap gears up in the creator economy platform wars. Some AirPods gain Find My Support. The SEC says it has no plans to ban crypto. But worrying stories of alleged fraud have started trickling out of the NFT space. Sponsors: UrbanCatalyst.com/techmeme Dataiku.com Links: The entirety of Twitch has reportedly been leaked (VideoGamesChronicle) Telegram says it added 70M users during day of Facebook and WhatsApp outage (TechCrunch) Snapchat Adding New Creator Monetization Programs, Including Spotlight Challenges (Variety) Apple rolling out new Find My features for AirPods Pro and AirPods Max (9to5Mac) EXCLUSIVE Apple to face EU antitrust charge over NFC chip - sources (Reuters) SEC Chair Gensler: A Ban on Crypto Would Be ‘Up to Congress’ (CoinDesk) Investors Spent Millions on ‘Evolved Apes’ NFTs. Then They Got Scammed. (Motherboard) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 5, 2021
About that Facebook outage yesterday… A Google moonshot project has a surprise profit. But only because its propping up other Alphabet bets. And then, it’s review day. What you can expect if you download Android 12. What you can expect if you download Windows 11. And what you’ll get if you buy one of those Microsoft Surface Laptop Studios. Sponsors: Grammarly.com/techmeme Stripe.com Links: PSA: Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, and WhatsApp went down for 6+ hours; here’s why [U] (9to5Mac) Gone in Minutes, Out for Hours: Outage Shakes Facebook (NYTimes) Google’s AI unit DeepMind makes first-ever profit (Financial Times) ANDROID 12 REVIEW: IT’S MOSTLY ABOUT THE LOOKS (The Verge) WINDOWS 11 REVIEW: A FAMILIAR HOME THAT’S STILL BEING RENOVATED (The Verge) Microsoft's Surface Laptop Studio Does It All (Gizmodo) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 4, 2021
The Facebook whistleblower reveals her identity on 60 Minutes. You can preorder the Apple Watch Series 7 this week. New MacBook Pros could still be coming “this month.” Apple is actually the biggest force in the gaming industry, by far. And signs of a product shipping renaissance at YouTube. Sponsors: Overland.com/techmeme KiwiCo.com promocode: ride Links: The Facebook Whistleblower, Frances Haugen, Says She Wants to Fix the Company, Not Harm It (WSJ) Facebook Is Weaker Than We Knew (NYTimes) Apple Watch Series 7 Pre-Orders to Start This Friday, Available on October 15 (MacRumors) Gurman: M1X MacBook Pro still on track for this year, likely ‘in the next month’ (9to5Mac) Apple Doesn’t Make Videogames. But It’s the Hottest Player in Gaming. (WSJ) Amazon Prime members can now send gifts with just a phone number or email address (The Verge) YouTube․com adds ‘Continue watching’ to resume unfinished videos on your phone (9to5Google) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 2, 2021
Who wins? Jobs? Gates? Musk? Bezos? Collison, even? The grand finale of our #WorldCupOfEntreprenurs. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 1, 2021
TikTok has joined the NFT craze, so the singularity must be nigh. USB-C tries to clear up its customer confusion problem. Zoom abandons a huge acquisition. And a crypto developer is begging users to give $90 million dollars in tokens back, after an all-time screw up. Sponsors: TinyCapital.com Links: TikTok announces NFT collection led by top creators (The Block) USB-C group hopes new logos will solve customer confusion (Apple Insider) Zoom and Five9 abandon $14.7 billion acquisition (CNBC) DeFi bug accidentally gives $90 million to users, founder begs them to return it (CNBC) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: How EA got into mobile — and figured out the future of gaming (Protocol) Toast built a $30 billion business by defying Silicon Valley and surviving a ‘suicide mission’ (CNBC) How Big Tech Runs Tech Projects and the Curious Absence of Scrum (The Pragmatic Engineer) APPLE’S FORTRESS OF SECRECY IS CRUMBLING FROM THE INSIDE (The Verge) Facebook's Latest Scandals: The Banality Of Hubris; The Messiness Of Humanity (TechDirt) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 30, 2021
Facebook finally releases the controversial slides to let them speak for themselves, but doesn’t actually let them speak for themselves. A 4K Nintendo Switch was apparently coming, but now is it never coming? Nreal has some AR glasses for binge watching. And Fairphone has released a smartphone that they want you to think of as your “forever phone.” At least, as far as these things go. Links: TinyCaptial.com Modern Finance Podcast Links: Facebook Downplays Internal Research Released on Eve of Hearing (NYTimes) Developers Are Making Games for a Nintendo 4K Console That Doesn’t Exist (Bloomberg) GM’s new software platform will enable over-the-air updates, in-car subscriptions, and maybe facial recognition (The Verge) Researchers find Apple Pay, Visa contactless hack (BBC News) Nreal’s new AR sunglasses are made for binge watching TV (The Verge) Fairphone’s latest sustainable smartphone comes with a five-year warranty (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 29, 2021
Amazon’s Astro Robot apparently has a tendency to throw itself down stairs. Netflix acquires its first game studio. The interesting company that acquired Genius and now Imgur. Explaining Facebook’s interest in the Tween audience. And Angellist wants to offer founders startup foundation as a service. Sponsors: BankNovo.com/ride TinyCapital.com Links: Leaked Documents Show How Amazon’s Astro Robot Tracks Everything You Do (Motherboard) Netflix acquires its first game studio in deal with Oxenfree creator Night School Studio (VentureBeat/GamesBeat) Imgur has been bought by the owner of Kik, Genius, and WorldStarHipHop (The Verge) Microsoft opens its Windows store up to third-party app stores (The Verge) Facebook’s Effort to Attract Preteens Goes Beyond Instagram Kids, Documents Show (WSJ) AngelList returns to its founder-focused roots, with a twist (TechCrunch) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 28, 2021
As many headlines from the Amazon hardware event as I can manage to squeeze in. Facebook defines the Metaverse as it sees it. Cloudflare wants to be the 4th big player in the cloud. And Satya Nadella himself dishes on that time Microsoft almost bought Tik Tok. His words, the “strangest thing I’ve ever sort of worked on.” Sponsors: Masterworks.io/ride TinyCapital.com Links: Amazon introduces Amazon Glow, an interactive, video calling device for kids and families (TechCrunch) SAY HELLO TO ASTRO, ALEXA ON WHEELS (The Verge) Astro Intro YouTube Video Cloudflare’s Matthew Prince: ‘We’re aiming to be the fourth major public cloud ’ (Protocol) Facebook will publish some of its research on teens and Instagram (Engadget) Coinbase dives deeper into banking by letting users deposit paychecks into their accounts (CNBC) 1Password can now randomly generate email addresses for logins (Engadget) Trump pushing Microsoft to buy TikTok was ‘strangest thing I’ve ever worked on,’ says Satya Nadella (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 27, 2021
Adam Mosseri pumps the breaks on Instagram Kids but still says it’s a good idea. Tesla is letting people into the “full self-driving” beta, and some folks think that’s a bad idea. Apple knows about that Apple Watch bug. What if the factories are the next worries in China. And Cloudflare wants to tackle email now. Sponsors: Kiwico.com promocode ride UrbanCatalyst.com/techmeme Links: Pausing “Instagram Kids” and Building Parental Supervision Tools (Instagram Blog) Facebook is ‘pausing’ work on Instagram kids app after widespread criticism (The Verge) Facebook Rebuts Report Calling Instagram ‘Toxic’ for Teen Girls (Bloomberg) Tesla owners can now request ‘Full Self-Driving’, prompting criticism from regulators and safety advocates (Washington Post) Apple to Fix Issue Preventing iPhone 13 Users From Unlocking With Apple Watch in Upcoming Software Update (MacRumors) Some Apple, Tesla suppliers suspend production in China amid power pinch (Reuters) Google is slashing the amount it keeps from sales on its cloud marketplace as pressure mounts on app stores (CNBC) Cloudflare Is Taking a Shot at Email Security (Wired) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 26, 2021
Send ideas, intros, pitch decks to: brian@ridehomefund.com More details on the fund at RideHomeFund.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 25, 2021
While I was off observing my wedding anniversary, your host @chrismessina spoke with @justinhendrix and @AuthorPMBarrett about Facebook's recent controversies as well as their own research into social media and political polarization. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 24, 2021
China really, really, really wants you to know it’s serious about its Crypto crackdown. Google brought some Pixel-only features to everybody. Leaks ahead of next week’s Amazon event. New York passes a law on gig worker pay. And of course, the weekend longreads suggestions. Sponsors: UrbanCatalyst.com/techmeme Blockchain.com Links: China’s central bank says all cryptocurrency-related activities are illegal, vows harsh crackdown (CNBC) Google Brings More Pixel-Exclusive Features to All Android Phones (Gizmodo) Amazon Working on Large Wall Echo, Sound Bar and New Auto Device (Bloomberg) New York City Council Passes Sweeping Food Delivery Protections (Bloomberg) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: Would-Be NFT Millionaires Throw Darts And Hit Duds (Bloomberg) FILE NOT FOUND (The Verge) How Apple built the iPhone 13’s Cinematic Mode (TechCrunch) How to move Google Authenticator to your new iPhone (Apple Insider) Nirvana in Bloom (The Ringer) Nirvana’s “Nevermind” (New Yorker) My Time with Kurt Cobain (New Yorker) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 23, 2021
We all sort of want the gadget world to move to USB-C, right? But do we want that to be government mandated? Very interesting executive departure from Facebook. Apple is telling leakers they don’t belong in Cupertino. Apple is still telling Fortnite to talk to the hand. And an interesting AR raise. Sponsors: UrbanCatalyst.com/techmeme Blockchain.com Links: One to charge them all: EU demands single plug for phones (AP) Facebook Chief Technology Officer Schroepfer to Step Down (Bloomberg) Tim Cook says employees who leak memos do not belong at Apple, according to leaked memo (The Verge) Apple won’t let Fortnite back on iOS until the Epic v. Apple verdict is final (The Verge) iPhone 13 and Apple Silicon (CreativeStrategies.com) YouTube gets official video downloads on the web, saving you from using some very sketchy sites (Android Police) Softorino YouTube Converter Chinese augmented reality glasses maker Nreal valued at $700 million after fresh funding (CNBC) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 22, 2021
All the headlines and releases from today’s Microsoft Surface Event. Robinhood wants to get in the crypto wallet game. Microsoft finds Phishing as a Service on the darker corners of the web. And a rundown of some new Facebook controversies. Sponsors: Blockchain.com UrbanCatalyst.com/techmeme Links: Microsoft announces Surface Pro 8 with bigger 13-inch 120Hz display and Thunderbolt (The Verge) The Surface Go 3 gets new Intel processors (The Verge) Microsoft’s new Surface Duo 2 has all the features that were missing the first time around (The Verge) Surface Laptop Studio is Microsoft’s new powerful flagship laptop (The Verge) Robinhood to launch cryptocurrency wallets as bitcoin becomes a bigger part of business (CNBC) Microsoft uncovers giant Phishing-as-a-Service operation (The Record) No More Apologies: Inside Facebook’s Push to Defend Its Image (NYTimes) The Oversight Board wants Facebook to explain its controversial rules for VIPs (Engadget) Facebook paid billions extra to the FTC to spare Zuckerberg in data suit, shareholders allege (Politico) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 21, 2021
HP refreshes its entire lineup. Those new Kindles are here. PayPal wants to super-app. Sorare is a very interesting raise. Coinbase backs down. Apple wants to detect cognitive decline. And the iPhone 13 and 13 Pro reviews are here. Sponsors: UrbanCatalyst.com/techmeme Blockchain.com Links: HP revamps consumer PC lineup with 16-inch Spectre x360, 34-inch Envy all-in-one PC (ZDNet) PayPal launches its ‘super app’ combining payments, savings, bill pay, crypto, shopping and more (TechCrunch) Fantasy soccer NFT platform Sorare scores $680 million raise led by SoftBank (The Block) Coinbase Drops Crypto Lending Program Plans After SEC Balks (Bloomberg Wealth) Amazon unveils three new Kindles with bigger screens, longer battery life (CNBC) Google to Buy New York City Office Building for $2.1 Billion (WSJ) Apple Is Working on iPhone Features to Help Detect Depression, Cognitive Decline (WSJ) IPHONE 13 REVIEW: YEP, BIGGER BATTERIES ARE BETTER (The Verge) IPHONE 13 PRO REVIEW: A BETTER DISPLAY, THE BEST CAMERA, AND INCREDIBLE BATTERY LIFE (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 20, 2021
Gadget news galore. New Roku Sticks officially announced. New Kindles officially leaked. New Surface Pro’s unofficially leaked ahead of this week’s event. Rumors of foldable Pixels. The NTSB wants Elon Musk to pump the breaks on Full Self-Driving. And why the Emmy’s last night was a milestone for streaming platforms generally. Sponsors: UrbanCatalyst.com/techmeme Blockchain.com Links: Roku debuts new Streaming Stick 4K bundles, software update with voice and mobile features (TechCrunch) Amazon is going to release Kindle Paperwhite 5 Signature Edition Soon (GoodEReader) Surface Pro 8 leaks with 120Hz display and Thunderbolt support (The Verge) Galaxy Fold-style Pixel foldable, ‘Jumbojack,’ spotted in Android 12.1 (9to5Google) Elon Musk’s Push to Expand Tesla’s Driver Assistance to Cities Rankles a Top Safety Authority (WSJ) The App Store is the Games Store. Apple should recognize this. (Mobile Dev Memo) Netflix and Apple TV+ clean up at the Emmys with 'The Crown' and 'Ted Lasso' (Engadget) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 18, 2021
Who is THE entrepreneur of the Internet Era? In this episode, we cover the round of 16 matchups as voted on by YOU. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 17, 2021
A deep dive summary of the rolling Facebook controversies this week from the ongoing Wall Street Journal reporting. Apple and Google remove an app from Russian opposition after their employees were threatened in that country? And of course, the Weekend Longreads Suggestions, this time with extra NFT goodness. Sponsors: Tovala.com/ride Links: Facebook Employees Flag Drug Cartels and Human Traffickers. The Company’s Response Is Weak, Documents Show. (WSJ) How Facebook Hobbled Mark Zuckerberg’s Bid to Get America Vaccinated (WSJ) The Algorithm Tweaks Won't Save Us (Galaxy Brain/Charlie Warzel) Google and Apple Remove App Aimed at Spurring Protest Voting in Russia (NYTimes) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: A Very, Very Crypto Insider-Trading Scandal (Intelligencer) What is Bored Ape Yacht Club? The Celebrity NFT of Choice (Decrypt) Jay-Z’s NFT Feud Spotlights Legal Peril in Hot Investment Trend (Bloomberg) THE PENTAGON’S ARMY OF NERDS (The Atlantic) Greg LeMond and the Amazing Candy-Colored Dream Bike (Wired) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 16, 2021
Alright, let’s settle this iPhone 13 chip specs debate. Walmart+ might quietly be competitive with Amazon Prime. The first electric car with a 500 mile range. China has succeeded in downsizing its biggest companies. And if you’ve got a spare $1.7 million dollars, I’ve got a 325 inch tv to sell you. Sponsors: Canva.me/techmeme Tovala.com/ride Links: The iPhone 13 is a pitch-perfect iPhone 12S (The Verge) Walmart+ is gaining momentum, hits 32 million members, Deutsche Bank estimates (CNBC) The Lucid Air is the first electric car with a 520-mile EPA-rated range (The Verge) No Chinese Stock Left Among Global Top 10 as Tencent Slides (Bloomberg) Chat App Discord Is Worth $15 Billion After New Funding (Bloomberg) Former Startup Darling Genius Sells to Media Lab for $80 Million (Bloomberg) LG now makes a 2,000 pound TV that costs $1.7 million (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 15, 2021
Xiaomi’s new flagship phone can apparently charge in just 17 minutes. Why Apple was so coy about the performance of its latest chips yesterday. The SEC has charged App Annie with securities fraud. And Canva is becoming a mega unicorn to watch, even as its founders are pledging to give a third of the company away. Sponsors: BankNovo.com/ride Postie.com/techmeme Links: Xiaomi announces 11T Pro with 120W fast charging (The Verge) Apple releasing iOS 15 and iPadOS 15 on September 20 (9to5Mac) iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Pro feature dual eSIM support for the first time (9to5Mac) Apple CPU Gains Grind To A Halt And The Future Looks Dim As The Impact From The CPU Engineer Exodus To Nuvia And Rivos Starts To Bleed In (SemiAnalysis.substack.com) Solana Has Been Down for Hours Due to ‘Resource Exhaustion’ (Decrypt) SEC charges App Annie with securities fraud in $10 million settlement (Protocol) Canva Raises At $40 Billion Valuation — Its Founders Are Pledging Away Most Of Their Wealth (Forbes) Microsoft accounts can now go fully passwordless (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 14, 2021
Happy iPhone day, you fanfolk, you. All the news from today’s Apple event. Facebook’s own research says Instagram is bad for girls. Facebook’s own documents show it gives VIP users the VIP treatment when it comes to enforcement policies. And you might want to quickly download that iOS update. Sponsors: Stripe.com Oracle.com/goto/ride Links: Facebook Knows Instagram Is Toxic for Teen Girls, Company Documents Show (WSJ) Facebook Says Its Rules Apply to All. Company Documents Reveal a Secret Elite That’s Exempt. (WSJ) Apple patches an NSO zero-day flaw affecting all devices (TechCrunch) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 13, 2021
Is China dismantling its super apps and selling the parts for scrap? Toast has officially become my favorite Covid-times survival story. What to expect from tomorrow’s iPhone event, including 1 TB iPhone storage tiers. And a full breakdown of the ruling in the Epic vs. Apple case. Has the app store officially been cracked open? It’s complicated. Sponsors: OurCrowd.com/ride Modern Finance Podcast Links: Beijing to break up Ant’s Alipay and force creation of separate loans app (Financial Times) Tencent and Alibaba pledge to open up apps to competitors (Financial Times) Commercetools raises $140M at a $1.9B valuation as 'headless' commerce continues to boom (TechCrunch) iPhone 13 Pro will get 1TB option & new 'AirPods 3' will not replace AirPods (AppleInsider) Apple must allow other forms of in-app purchase, rules judge in Epic v. Apple (The Verge) Apple Risks Losing Billions of Dollars Annually From Epic Games Ruling (Bloomberg) The future of the App Store depends on the difference between a ‘button’ and an ‘external link’ (The Verge) Apple Won a Battle to Lose the War (500ish.com) Today's podcast voting! Gates v. Jobs! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 11, 2021
Chris and I thought we had not guests lined up this week so we were going to just potpourri some topics. But then Keyvon Beykpour, who is heading the Twitter project revolution came on and talked to us longer than we had any right to ask for. It was a great conversation. Sponsor: Otter.ai , code RIDE Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 10, 2021
Even under pressure over the App Store, Apple is still willing to give Epic Games the finger. Also, Apple is putting the pedal to the metal in terms of new TV shows and original movies, while also attempting to solve the streaming industry’s problem with DJ Mixes. Food delivery platforms are suing NYC. And of course, the weekend longreads suggestions. Sponsors: Masterworks.io/ride Otter.ai code RIDE Links: Apple won’t let Epic bring Fortnite back to South Korea’s App Store (The Verge) Apple Music is using Shazam to solve the streaming industry's problem with DJ mixes (TechCrunch) Grubhub, DoorDash, Uber Eats Sue New York City Over Fee Caps (WSJ) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: The Screen in Your Car Is Beckoning (Slate) Russia Influences Hackers but Stops Short of Directing Them, Report Says (NYTimes) How Amazon’s cloud business generates billions in profit (CNBC) When the Techies Took Over Tahoe (Outside) Adult Swim: How an Animation Experiment Conquered Late-Night TV (NYTimes) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 9, 2021
Facebook launches some smart glasses. Amazon launches its own, branded smart tv. Soccer players are turning into NFTs. Twitter is turning into Reddit. And I still have questions about the whole Buy Now, Pay Later space. Sponsors: Otter.ai code ride Gainful.com/techmeme Links: FACEBOOK ON YOUR FACE (The Verge) Amazon Unveils First of Its Own Smart TVs, Will Bring TikTok to Fire TV in U.S. and Canada (Variety) Amazon’s new Fire TV Stick 4K Max adds Wi-Fi 6 and faster performance (The Verge) Spain’s Football League Seals Digital Player Card Deal With Sorare (Bloomberg) Twitter wants you to tweet to interest-based communities, not just followers (TechCrunch) BNPL platform Scalapay raises $155 million in Tiger Global led round (Tech.eu) (Today's twitter poll) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 8, 2021
Coinbase says the SEC threatened to sue it over a crypto lending product. The fallout from yesterday’s Bitcoin launch in El Salvador. Ford hires away one of the key executives on the Apple Car project. Microsoft and PayPal make some interesting acquisitions. And hey. Some new laptops! Sponsors: Otter.ai code: RIDE to test drive for free Grammarly.com/techmeme Links: Brian Armstrong responds to SEC threats to shut down Coinbase yield product (The Block) El Salvador Buys Its First 200 BTC a Day Before Its Bitcoin Law Becomes Effective (Coindesk) Ford poaches top tech executive Doug Field who helped lead Apple’s top-secret car project (CNBC) Apple Event Announced: 'California Streaming' on September 14 With iPhone 13, Apple Watch Series 7 Expected (Macrumors) Microsoft acquires video-editing software start-up Clipchamp (CNBC) PayPal Closes $2.7B Acquisition Deal For Japan’s Paidy (Pymnts.com) Amazon brings its cashierless tech to two Whole Foods stores (CNBC) Lenovo's new Windows 11 laptops could reinvent the IdeaPad brand — and take on the MacBook (Laptopmag.com) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 7, 2021
What does it mean if ProtonMail regularly discloses user data to certain authorities? How private is WhatsApp if Facebook has more than 1,000 contractors moderating your messages? Heck, how secure is Bluetooth? There’s a new vulnerability. Would you want the authorities monitoring your poop thanks to new smart toilets? And a quick word on Solana. Sponsors: UpStart.com/techmeme KiwiCo.com promocode Ride for 50% off your first month Links: ProtonMail logged IP address of French activist after order by Swiss authorities (TechCrunch) How Facebook Undermines Privacy Protections for Its 2 Billion WhatsApp Users (ProPublica) Billions of devices impacted by new BrakTooth Bluetooth vulnerabilities (The Record) TikTok reportedly overtakes YouTube in US average watch time (The Verge) SMARTWATCHES TRACK OUR HEALTH. SMART TOILETS AREN’T TOO FAR BEHIND. (WSJ) Ethereum Rival Solana Climbs to Seventh in Crypto Top 10 (Bloomberg) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 6, 2021
Serial entrepreneur Shirish Nadkarni came to the U.S. as a teenager with $25 in his pocket. After graduating from Harvard Business School, he worked at Microsoft where he engineered the $400 million acquisition of Hotmail and launched MSN.com, the world’s leading web portal. Striking out on his own in 1999 at the height of the dot-com boom, he founded TeamOn Systems, an early pioneer of mobile email that was later acquired by BlackBerry before becoming BlackBerry Internet Email servicing over 50 million users at its peak. His great new book is: From Startup to Exit: An Insider's Guide to Launching and Scaling Your Tech Business Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 5, 2021
If you're interested in investing in a Ride Home early stage investment fund, listen to this quick message, and then visit RideHomeFund.com to express your interest. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 4, 2021
Chris and I get deep in this week's NFT craziness with two folks who are actually working right now in the space, @jacksondame And @SHL0MS. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 3, 2021
It’s Rumor Friday! Are we getting an Alexa TV next month? Will Apple’s AR/VR headset need an Apple device to work? Is Reddit lining up an IPO? Also, Apple delays its controversial CSAM feature, the week in NFT madness, and, of course, The Weekend Longreads Suggestions. Sponsors: Metalab.com Links: EXCLUSIVE: Amazon is close to launching its own TV in the US (Insider) Apple’s AR/VR Headset Will Need Connection to Other Device Such as iPhone (The Information) Exclusive: Reddit seeks to hire advisers for U.S. IPO -sources (Reuters) Apple delays rollout of CSAM detection system and child safety features (9to5Mac) Record Doge NFT Sale Highlights Growing Demand for Fractionalization (CoinDesk) The Weekend Longreads Suggestions: The Latest NFT Fad Is a Text-Based Fantasy Game Building Block (Coindesk) Gimme the Loot! (Collisions) NFTs, DeFi Boost for Ethereum Dims Clamor of Bitcoin Maximalists (Bloomberg) Wall Street Is Looking to Reddit for Investment Advice (WSJ) Here are all the companies from Y Combinator’s Summer 2021 Demo Day, Part 1 (TechCrunch) Here are all the companies from Day 2 of Y Combinator’s Summer 2021 Demo Day (TechCrunch) Today's #WorldCupOfEntrepreneurs Matchup click here to vote! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 2, 2021
Apple will let “reader” apps link to websites to manage accounts. WhatsApp faces a record GDPR fine. Twitter continues to at least test all the products. And has YouTube Music quietly become a major threat to Spotify and Apple Music? Sponsors: Quantummetric.com/podoffer offer code Podcastcode Metalab.com Links: Apple will allow some media apps to link outside the App Store for payments (Engadget) Apple concedes to let apps like Netflix, Spotify, and Kindle link to the web to sign up (The Verge) Facebook’s WhatsApp Fined Around $270 Million for EU Privacy Violations (WSJ) U.S. DOJ Readying Google Antitrust Lawsuit Over Ad-Tech Business (Bloomberg) US asks Tesla how Autopilot responds to emergency vehicles (AP) Twitter launches Super Follows on iOS (The Verge) Twitter is testing a new anti-abuse feature called ‘Safety Mode’ (TechCrunch) Twitter Plans New Privacy Tools to Get More People Tweeting (Bloomberg) YouTube music services hit 50m subscribers in race to catch Spotify (Financial Times) Today's #WorldCupOfEntrepreneurs Matchup: Zuck v. Jack! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 1, 2021
Is the Apple Watch redesign causing supply issues? A larger roadmap for the health features Apple is looking to add to the Watch. Putting your driver’s license in your Apple Wallet is becoming a reality. LinkedIn abandons Stories. Facebook gets into Fantasy Sports and Wirecutter goes behind a paywall. Today's #WorldCupOfEntrepreneurs Matchup: Jack Ma v. Jeff Bezos ! Vote! Links: New Apple Watch With Larger Screen Suffers Production Snags (Bloomberg) Apple Plans Blood-Pressure Measure, Wrist Thermometer in Watch (WSJ) Apple secures first states to support digital driver's licenses, but privacy questions linger (TechCrunch) Apple just banned a pay equity Slack channel but lets fun dogs channel lie (The Verge) LinkedIn gives up on Stories (The Verge) Facebook enters the fantasy gaming market (TechCrunch) New York Times’ Wirecutter Product-Review Site Moves Behind Paywall (WSJ) Google developing own CPUs for Chromebook laptops (Nikkei Asia) Microsoft announces Surface event for September 22nd (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 31, 2021
Microsoft has missed the window for Windows 11 to support Android apps, at least at launch. Apple is getting into classical music and Amazon is going deeper into the red-hot audio space. Facebook turns the temperature down on politics. And a new initiative to get, especially younger technologists, to lend their expertise to the Federal Government. Sponsors: Metalab.com Vote for the first bracket in the World Cup of Entrepreneurs here Links: Windows 11 won’t include Android app support at launch (The Verge) Apple buys classical music streaming service Primephonic (The Verge) Scoop: Amazon quietly building live audio business (Axios) Scoop: Facebook's new moves to lower News Feed's political volume (Axios) Google, Apple Hit by First Law Threatening Dominance Over App-Store Payments (WSJ) Apple Plans to Add Satellite Features to iPhones for Emergencies (Bloomberg) White House launches US Digital Corps (FedScoop) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 30, 2021
It’s a day of wild rumors. Is Apple getting into the satellite networking game? Is the Apple Watch about to get its first meaningful design change? The rumors about a Chinese gaming crackdown just got real. Is South Korea about to meaningfully crack open the App Store? Why Apple and Google are fighting to keep the App Stores as they are. And the wild weekend in NFT-land. Sponsors: Ultimate Ears UE.com/fits promocode RIDE for 15% off TinyCapital.com Links: Kuo: iPhone 13 to Feature LEO Satellite Communications to Make Calls and Texts Without Cellular Coverage (MacRumors) Tim Cook’s Run as Apple CEO Could End as Early as 2025. Who Will Replace Him? (Bloomberg) China Slashes Kids’ Gaming Time to Just Three Hours a Week (Bloomberg) Apple, Google Mobile Dominance Faces Tough Test in South Korea (Bloomberg) Google allegedly offered Netflix a break on the usual Play Store commission (The Verge) TikTok owner ByteDance takes first step into virtual reality with latest acquisition (CNBC) CryptoPunks blasts past $1 billion in lifetime sales as NFT speculation surges (TechCrunch) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 28, 2021
Talkin' OnlyFans. The founding and engineering team from Otter.ai share some exciting product news. And Chris interviews me about doing 1000 TRH episodes and how I produce this show every day. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 27, 2021
Another brick is taken out of the App Store wall as Apple blinks on letting devs inform users of outside purchase options. Ticket spaces start rolling out on Twitter, Waymo is having second thoughts about business models, NFTs are cool, but what if you could earn royalties? And of course, the Weekend Longread Suggestions. Sponsors: TinyCapital.com Metalab.com Links: Apple will let developers email users about payments outside iOS (Protocol) Apple’s $100 million settlement agreement changes a key App Store rule for developers (The Verge) Twitter starts launching Ticketed Spaces for some iOS users (The Verge) Waymo will stop selling its self-driving LiDAR sensors to other companies (TechCrunch) Paradigm and Founders Fund lead $16 million investment in 3LAU's NFT music platform Royal (The Block) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: Netflix and Video Games (MatthewBall.vc) Turns Out The Hardest Part of Making a Game Is...Everything (IGN) Cryptocurrency Companies Are Leaving China in ‘Great Mining Migration’ (WSJ) El Salvador Gets Ready for a Risky Bitcoin Experiment (WSJ) A decade and a half of instability: The history of Google messaging apps (ArsTechnica) The Real C.E.O. of “Succession” (The New Yorker) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 26, 2021
Big tech offered some big cybersecurity commitments after that White House meetup. TSMC raising chip prices might mean gadget price increases across the board. Looks like everyone remembered they like PCs. Drone delivery hits a milestone in Australia. And another secretive startup that wants to create a battery revolution. Sponsors: Masterworks.io/ride Wealthfront.com/techmeme Links: Biden tells top CEOs at White House summit to step up on cybersecurity (Washington Post) World’s Largest Chip Maker to Raise Prices, Threatening Costlier Electronics (WSJ) Silicon Valley Exchange Lists First Two Companies in ESG Push (Bloomberg) Canalys: US PC sales up 17% YoY for quarter, even as tablet sales stagnate (TechCrunch) Wing approaches 100,000 drone deliveries two years after Logan, Australia launch (TechCrunch) Stealthy battery company backed by Bill Gates, Jeff Bezos has a lot to prove (CNBC) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 25, 2021
OnlyFans says it loves porn. Doesn’t want to ban porn from its platform after all. Says it wants to be an inclusive platform for all creators. Even the naked ones. The new Fitbit Charge 5. New Messenger features on the occasion of its 10th birthday. Is T-Mobile winning the 5G war? And I guess bigger really is better for neural networks. Sponsors: OurCrowd.com/ride KiwiCo.com promocode Ride for 50% off your first month Links: OnlyFans no longer plans to ban porn, saying in abrupt U-turn that it wants to be a 'home for all creators' (Insider) FITBIT’S NEW CHARGE 5 HAS A ROUNDED DESIGN AND A COLOR SCREEN (The Verge) Messenger celebrates its 10th anniversary with new features and a plan to become the ‘connective tissue’ for real-time experiences (TechCrunch) Microsoft to launch cloud gaming service on Xbox consoles (CNBC) Fastest Mobile Networks 2021 (PCMag) A New Chip Cluster Will Make Massive AI Models Possible (Wired) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 24, 2021
President Biden is gathering the tech five families to discuss cybersecurity. Instagram is retiring swipe up. Facebook is testing a rebundle of Messenger. Airbnb will house Afghan refugees. SpaceX hits some milestones and a Samsung review roundup. Sponsors: Voices.com Quantummetric.com/podoffer offer code Podcastcode Links: Apple’s Tim Cook, Microsoft’s Satya Nadella Plan to Visit White House (Bloomberg) Instagram is retiring the swipe up (The Verge) Facebook Retools Messaging Again by Adding Calling to Main App (Bloomberg) Airbnb says it will host 20,000 Afghan refugees (CNN Business) SpaceX ships 100,000 Starlink terminals to customers, eyes future launches using Starship (TechCrunch) Poly Network says it has recovered all $610 million it lost in cryptocurrency heist (Engadget) SAMSUNG GALAXY Z FOLD 3 REVIEW: NEARLY NORMAL (The Verge) SAMSUNG’S GALAXY Z FLIP 3 IS THE FIRST FOLDING PHONE FOR NORMAL PEOPLE (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 23, 2021
Mark Gurman says when a new high end M1X Mac mini might be coming. The USDC stablecoin looks to get right with the accounting Gods. Visa buys a CryptoPunk. Did Giphy pay dividend to lower its value for Facebook to acquire it? And do we now know the real reason why OnlyFans is attempting to abandon porn? Sponsors: Oracle.com/goto/ride Modern Finance Podcast Links: High-End 'M1X' Mac Mini With New Design and Additional Ports Expected to Launch in the 'Next Several Months' (MacRumors) The world’s second-largest stablecoin is undergoing a massive change (CNBC) Visa buys a CryptoPunk as it takes first steps into 'NFT commerce' (The Block) Razer bug lets you become a Windows 10 admin by plugging in a mouse (BleepingComputer) Facebook’s Stealth M&A Puts Focus on Deals Under Antitrust Radar (Bloomberg) Facebook says post that cast doubt on covid-19 vaccine was most popular on the platform from January through March (The Washington Post) Post-Culture Review Twitter Thread Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 21, 2021
Important news about changes to the RideHome+ program. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 20, 2021
OnlyFans wants to get out of the porn business, which makes sense to nobody on the Internet. Elon Musk says Tesla is building a humanoid robot, and I love you Elon, but you’ve really opened the door to your critics with this one. Microsoft is raising prices, and of course, the weekend longread suggestions. Sponsors: Postie.com/techmeme TinyCapital.com Links: OnlyFans has tons of users, but can't find investors (Axios) OnlyFans to Bar Sexually Explicit Videos Starting in October (Bloomberg) Microsoft will raise Office 365 business subscription prices in 2022 (CNBC) Elon Musk says Tesla is working on humanoid robots (The Verge) Elon Musk Unveils His Funniest Vaporware Yet (Gizmodo) The Weekend Longreads Suggestions: The FBI’s warning to Silicon Valley: China and Russia are trying to turn your employees into spies (Protocol) Electric cars and batteries: how will the world produce enough? (Nature) Waymo Is 99% of the Way to Self-Driving Cars. The Last 1% Is the Hardest (Bloomberg Businessweek) These People Who Work From Home Have a Secret: They Have Two Jobs (WSJ) Amazon Killed the Name Alexa (The Atlantic) Afghanistan - Part 1 (The Rest Is History Podcast) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 19, 2021
Headlines out of time: Amazon wants to do department stores. Google partners with GE Appliances. But Intel continues to look to the future with its new hybrid architecture chips. Facebook wants your next conference call to take place in VR. And has Robinhood put all its eggs in the Doge basket? Sponsors: Tovala.com/ride Canva.me/techmeme Links: Amazon Plans to Open Large Retail Locations Akin to Department Stores (WSJ) GE Appliances announces partnership with major cloud company to focus on data capabilities (Courier Journal) Intel previews its Alder Lake chip, promises hybrid CPUs for desktops and laptops (The Verge) FTC files renewed antitrust complaint against Facebook (CNBC) INSIDE FACEBOOK’S METAVERSE FOR WORK (The Verge) Facebook is sharing data to prove it’s not a political hellhole (Protocol) Robinhood says dogecoin accounted for 62% of crypto revenue in Q2 (CNBC) Venture Investment In Cryptosecurity Jumps 10x Over Last Year As Sector Hits Sweet Spot With Venture Capitalists (Crunchbase News) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 18, 2021
A look at how all the platforms are dealing with the Taliban being a modern social media enterprise. Amazon is bigger than Walmart for the first time. Samsung stops cluttering its phones with ads. Attempting to hire the hacker who hacked you. And I get my answer to why all the platforms want to protect kids all the sudden. Sponsors: Tovala.com/ride Quantummetric.com/podoffer offer code Podcastcode Sponsors: WhatsApp shuts down Taliban helpline in Kabul (Financial Times) Platforms struggle with Taliban policy amid chaotic US withdrawal (The Verge) People Now Spend More at Amazon Than at Walmart (NYTimes) Samsung confirms it’s removing ads from its stock apps later this year (The Verge) Victim of Major DeFi Cyberattack Offers Its Hacker a Job (Bloomberg) TechScape: How the UK forced global shift in child safety policies (The Guardian) Eve Online’s yearlong war ends with an epic retreat (Polygon) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 17, 2021
Yik Yak is back, but can it make it in a Tik Tok world? Concerns about how the Taliban are using WhatsApp. OnlyFans wants you to try out a new safe for work app. TikTok is distributing music via the blockchain. And will BlueSky ever see the light of day? Sponsors: Tovala.com/ride Upstart.com/techmeme Links: Remember Yik Yak? Well, it's back and still anonymous. (Mashable) T-Mobile Confirms It Was Hacked (Motherboard) WhatsApp Can’t Ban the Taliban Because It Can’t Read Their Texts (Motherboard) Facebook ‘Proactively’ Removing Taliban Content, Executive Says (Bloomberg) OnlyFans Creates Its First App With a Twist: No Nudity, No Cost (Bloomberg) And the First Streaming Service to Partner With TikTok Is… (Rolling Stone) Tinder will make its ID Verification option available to all users (The Verge) Salesforce introduces new Slack integrations post-acquisition (Venture Beat) Twitter taps crypto developer to lead decentralized social media initiative Bluesky (The Block) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 16, 2021
Now it’s T-Mobile investigating a data breach that may or may not affect more than 100 million people. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is investigating Tesla’s Autopilot. Everybody’s building undersea cables all at once. And new to me at least is the technology that can pull drinking water right from the hot, humid summer air. Sponsors: Streak.com/techmeme Voices.com Links: T-Mobile Investigating Claims of Massive Customer Data Breach (Motherboard) US probing Autopilot problems on 765,000 Tesla vehicles (Associated Press) Huawei Accused in Suit of Installing Data ‘Back Door’ in Pakistan Project (WSJ) Facebook, Amazon seek U.S. approval to operate undersea data cable (Reuters) This Solar Hydropanel Can Pull 10 Liters of Drinking Water Per Day Out of the Air (Brighter) Twitter’s web redesign isn’t as accessible as it should be, experts say (TechCrunch) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 14, 2021
Wrapping up the Samsung event with @samrutherford of Gizmodo, taking stock of the state of foldable phones, and the 1Password engineering and founding team joins for the entire second half! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 13, 2021
Disney reported some surprisingly strong streaming numbers. A recent Nvidia keynote included a virtual replica of its CEO. What if USDC becomes a stablecoin defacto backed by the US Fed. And in the weekend longreads suggestions, why stablecoins generally have become the lynchpin of the crypto universe. Sponsors: Gainful.com/techmeme Quantummetric.com/podoffer offer code Podcastcode Links: Disney+ beats expectations to reach 116 million subscribers in Q3 (TechCrunch) Nvidia Reveals Its CEO Was Computer Generated in Keynote Speech (Motherboard) How Circle could create a U.S.-backed digital currency (Axios) Crypto platform Poly Network rewards hacker with $500,000 'bug bounty' (Reuters) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: Why the Stablecoin Issuers Will Inherit the Earth (Bloomberg) I Joined a Penguin NFT Club Because Apparently That’s What We Do Now (NYTimes) Status Monkeys (Not Boring) How Figma Became Design’s Hottest Startup, Valued At $10 Billion (Forbes) Massachusetts Start-Up Hopes to Move a Step Closer to Commercial Fusion (NYTimes) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 12, 2021
There is officially a bill to crack open the App Store. DoorDash wanted to buy Instacart, but fear of regulators scuppered the deal. WhatsApp will let you migrate your chat history. Lionel Messi’s new club is paying him partially in crypto. And there’s still money in digital piracy. Sponsors: Calm.com/techmeme Metalab.co Links: App Store Competition Targeted by Bipartisan Senate Bill (WSJ) DoorDash Recently Held Talks to Buy Instacart (The Information) TikTok to add more privacy protections for teenaged users, limit push notifications (TechCrunch) WhatsApp will let you transfer your chat history between Android and iOS (Engadget) Researchers Create 'Master Faces' to Bypass Facial Recognition (Motherboard) Messi joins crypto craze as gets part of PSG fee in fan tokens (Reuters) Pirated-Entertainment Sites Are Making Billions From Ads (Bloomberg) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 11, 2021
All the flipping and folding phone news from today’s Samsung Galaxy Unpacked event. A big crypto crime in the DeFi space. Did AWS beat out Microsoft for a secret NSA contract? And why are all the major tech platforms so concerned about protecting kids all of the sudden? Not that that’s a bad thing! Sponsors: Quantummetric.com/podoffer offer code Podcastcode Metalab.co Links: Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 delivers S Pen, better screen durability, IPX8 for $1,799 (9to5Google) Samsung breaks the triple-digit barrier w/ Galaxy Z Flip 3 priced at $999 (9to5Google) THE GALAXY WATCH 4 INJECTS SAMSUNG’S CAPABLE HARDWARE WITH GOOGLE SOFTWARE (The Verge) At least $611 million stolen in massive cross-chain hack (The Block) Poly Network attacker returns $256 million of the stolen cryptocurrency (The Block) NSA Awards Secret $10 Billion Contract to Amazon (Nextgov) OpenAI launches Codex, an API for translating natural language into code (The Machine) Google restricts ad targeting of minors and will delist photos of kids at their request (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 10, 2021
Time for iPhone rumor season to hit fever pitch. Will the next iPhone take a page out of the Apple Watch’s book when it comes to screens? Has Apple run afoul of US labor law? The Crypto fix fails in the Senate, so now folks have to hope for reconciliation with the House. An interesting raise that is up 5X in 5 months. And a possible explanation for the Buy Now Pay Later craze. Sponsors: Quantummetric.com/podoffer offer code Podcastcode SetApp.com Links: Apple Readies New iPhones With Pro-Focused Camera, Video Updates (Bloomberg) APPLE KEEPS SHUTTING DOWN EMPLOYEE-RUN SURVEYS ON PAY EQUITY — AND LABOR LAWYERS SAY IT’S ILLEGAL (The Verge) Bitcoin Lobby Loses: Senate Rejects Revised Crypto Tax Provisions in Infrastructure Bill (Decrypt) Google’s new Titan security key lineup won’t make you choose between USB-C and NFC (The Verge) Crypto Platform FalconX Quintuples Valuation to $3.75 Billion (Bloomberg) Square's $29 billion deal for buy-now, pay-later player Afterpay is the starting gun for the race to build a money super app (Insider) Exclusive: Salesforce enters the streaming wars (Axios) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 9, 2021
Crypto flexes its lobby muscle in an attempt to craft that infrastructure bill. Apple tries to beat back the controversy around its photo scanning plans. The Cybertruck is delayed. And what if the whole democratization of investing thing moves beyond options and even NFTs into angel and venture investing. Sponsors: Kiwico.com/ride Voices.com Links: Senators Near Deal On Crypto Oversight, But May Be Too Late (Bloomberg) Apple CSAM FAQ addresses misconceptions and concerns about photo scanning (9to5Mac) Apple’s New ‘Child Safety’ Initiatives, and the Slippery Slope (Daring Fireball) An Unsurprising But Sad Update for Tesla Cybertruck Fans: Production Has Been Pushed to 2022 (Gizmodo) Google is planning a new Silicon Valley campus with hardware hub, plans show (CNBC) Uber, Lyft Prices at Records Even as Drivers Return (WSJ) Even Your Allergist Is Now Investing in Start-Ups (NYTimes) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 7, 2021
All things metaverse! Why is it on everybody's lips at the moment? When will it arrive? Is it already (kinda) here? With @janineyorio from Republic.co. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 6, 2021
I try to explain this whole controversy about Apple scanning your photos. Yelp will list business’ vaccination policies. I guess I’m bullish on autonomous tractors. And, of course, the weekend longreads suggestions. Sponsors: Quantummetric.com/podoffer offer code PODCASTCODE Metalab.com Links: Apple confirms it will begin scanning iCloud Photos for child abuse images (TechCrunch) Yelp will let businesses list their vaccination policies (The Verge) John Deere buys autonomous tractor startup Bear Flag Robotics (TechCrunch) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: The End of Venture Capital as We Know It (The Information) Deal Of The Century: How Michael Dell Turned His Declining PC Business Into A $40 Billion Windfall (Forbes) The Metaverse Has Always Been a Dystopian Idea (Vice) How Olympic Surfing Is Trying to Ride the Machine Learning Wave (WSJ) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 5, 2021
Google has refreshed the entire Nest lineup and I guess TPU’s will be a thing going forward. Ethereum’s latest hard fork is live and bringing big changes. There’s a new Joint Cyber Defense Collaborative with Amazon, Google, Microsoft, and the government all combatting cyberattacks. And if some companies are seeing a Covid Times hangover, nobody bothered to tell Hopin. Sponsors: WealthFront.com/techmeme Metalab.com Links: Google’s new Nest cameras and doorbell have lower prices and more smarts (The Verge) Ethereum just activated a major change called the ‘London hard fork’ — here’s why it’s a big deal (CNBC) Senators propose exclusion of miners, software developers in infrastructure bill's crypto 'broker' definition (The Block) U.S. Taps Amazon, Google, Microsoft, Others to Help Fight Ransomware, Cyber Threats (WSJ) Nintendo profits decline year-on-year as Switch hits 89 million sold (The Verge) Two-year-old events start-up Hopin boomed in the pandemic. Now it’s a $7.75 billion business (CNBC) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 4, 2021
Robinhood’s shares are up so much after that busted IPO that trading had to be halted today. What gives? Also, what’s up with the rush into Buy Now Pay Later all of the sudden? Vudo will become Roku’s official video store. Superhuman raises another round. And do you need a smart soap dispenser in your life? Probably not. Metalab.com TinyCaptial.com Links: Robinhood surges as much as 81% in second day of wild trading (CNBC) Apple, Affirm to Join on Buy Now, Pay Later for Canadian Purchases (Bloomberg) WhatsApp launches its ‘View Once’ disappearing photos and videos (The Verge) New ‘Google Identity Services’ consolidate sign-in for 3rd-party apps, includes ‘One Tap’ (9to5Google) FandangoNOW and Vudu merge into a new streaming service with titles to rent, buy or stream free (TechCrunch) Blizzard’s head of HR is out (The Verge) Superhuman Raises $75 Million For Its Waitlist-Only Email Productivity App (Forbes) This $55 Amazon Smart Soap Dispenser is dumb as dirt (The Verge) Smart homes and vegetable peelers (Benedict Evans) Link to the Twitter Space reminder! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 3, 2021
Google unveils the new Pixel 6 lineup, but the really interesting detail is the chip inside them. Apple makes Magic Keyboard with Touch ID available as a standalone product. Microsoft makes Windows as a service live. Now China says games are the opium of the spirit. And what if drone delivery is running into the same wall as self-driving cars? Sponsors: SetApp.com Metalab.com Links: THIS IS THE PIXEL 6, GOOGLE’S TAKE ON AN ‘ULTRA HIGH END’ PHONE (The Verge) Microsoft's Windows 365 Cloud PC service will range from $20 to $162 per user per month (ZDNet) Apple Makes Magic Keyboard With Touch ID Available for Separate Purchase (MacRumors) Tencent Sinks After China Denounces Online Gaming (WSJ) Xiaomi Tops European Smartphone Market in Q2 2021 (Strategy Analytics) The slow collapse of Amazon’s drone delivery dream (Wired UK) Spotify is testing a less restrictive ad-supported tier costing $0.99 a month (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 2, 2021
YouTube is demoing a diet version of YouTube. Square is paying a pretty penny to join the buy now, pay later sweepstakes. Did an Intel exec accidentally leak the specs for Thunderbolt 5? And did Google’s quantum computer create a perpetual motion machine? Sponsors: UE.com/fits , use promocode RIDE for 15% of Ultimate Ears FITS Grammarly.com/techmeme Links: YouTube ‘Premium Lite’ subscription offers ad-free viewing for less (The Verge) Twitter's Dorsey leads $29 bln buyout of lending pioneer Afterpay (Reuters) Intel Executive Posts Thunderbolt 5 Photo then Deletes It: 80Gbps and Pam-3 (AnandTech) Tech Startup Financing Hits Records as Giant Funds Dwarf Venture Capitalists (WSJ) Eternal Change for No Energy: A Time Crystal Finally Made Real (QuantaMagazine) Robinhood Sold IPO Shares to More Than 300,000 of Its Customers (WSJ) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 30, 2021
Are ads a bigger cash cow for Amazon than even AWS? Follow up on Robinhood’s trading debut. How the SEC is dealing with the Chinese tech stock problem. Gopuff indicates that grocery delivery is still white hot to investors. And, of course, the Weekend Longreads Suggestions. Sponsors: Voices.com Metalab.co Links: Amazon Gets Record $888 Million EU Fine Over Data Violations (Bloomberg) Robinhood falls in its public market debut, closes more than 8% lower at $34.82 per share (CNBC) U.S. SEC says Chinese IPO hopefuls must provide additional risk disclosures (Reuters) Gopuff confirms new $1B cash injection at a $15B valuation to expand its instant grocery delivery service (TechCrunch) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: Groceries in 10 Minutes: Delivery Start-Ups Crowd City Streets Across Globe (NYTimes) THE SUMMER INTEL FELL BEHIND (The Verge) Why the US can’t just beam internet into authoritarian states like Cuba (Quartz) Social-Media Manager, the Most Millennial Job, Comes of Age (WSJ) Hollywood Calls the Russo Brothers When It’s Time to Build a New Universe (Bloomberg Businessweek) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 29, 2021
Tech companies dip their toes into vaccine mandate waters. Facebook in so many words says Apple’s privacy changes are about to impact earnings. Will Didi take itself private again to please the Chinese government? Is Peacock doing better than I at least thought? And a crypto startup is sliding into the biggest growth market I’ve seen in this space yet. Sponsors: NordPass.com/techmeme or code techmeme for 50% off for 2 years Metalab.co Links: Most Apple Stores to Require Masks Again for Shoppers, Staff (Bloomberg) Facebook beats earnings expectations, but warns of significant growth slowdown (CNBC) Didi Global Considers Going Private to Placate China and Compensate Investors (WSJ) Robinhood CEO on the meme stock craze: ‘I think it’s a real thing’ (CNBC) Peacock Reaches 54M Sign-Ups Thanks to Olympics, 20M Monthly Active Users (The Streamable) OpenAI proposes open-source Triton language as an alternative to Nvidia's CUDA (ZDNet) Bitcoin Seized by DOJ Headed to Crypto Custodian Anchorage in $6.6 Million Deal (Decrypt) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 28, 2021
Apple reports earnings but warns of component shortages. Microsoft set profit records but noted shortage materially affected some divisions. Alphabet had good earnings too, but the real story there is YouTube. About the staff walkout at Activision Blizzard. Is Apple asking leakers to snitch on their sources? And an interesting raise to do next generation search on iOS. Sponsors: UpStart.com/techmeme Oracle.com/goto/ride Links: Apple’s iPhone hot streak is going to run into the global chip shortage (CNBC) Xbox hardware sales spike 172% as Microsoft reports $3.7B in quarterly gaming revenue (GeekWire) YouTube Q2 Ad Revenue Hits Record $7 Billion as Alphabet Trounces Estimates (Variety) Taiwan Greenlights TSMC's 2nm Fab: Coming Online in 2024 ~ 2025 (Tom's Hardware) Activision CEO Apologizes After Employees Threaten to Walk Out (Bloomberg) Apple Tells Leaker to Snitch on Sources or It Will Report Them to the Police (Motherboard) Brain Technologies raises $50M+ for the launch of Natural, a natural language search engine and 'super app' (TechCrunch) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 27, 2021
Tesla is profitable beyond all caveats and hedges. Intel continues to telegraph its turnaround plans. Tangible numbers of the Chinese tech carnage. Instagram changes the rules for teens on the platform. And what are Facebook’s ultimate designs on building a Metaverse? Sponsors: Metalab.co TinyCapital.com Links: Tesla finally made a profit without the help of emission credits (The Verge) Tesla records $23 million in bitcoin-related impairments after cryptocurrency’s second-quarter plunge (CNBC) Intel to build Qualcomm chips, aims to catch foundry rivals by 2025 (Reuters) Apple releases fix for iOS and macOS zero-day, 13th this year (The Record) China Crackdown Makes Hong Kong Index World’s Biggest Tech Loser (Bloomberg) Instagram's new protections for teens come as experts say tween venture poses big risks (NBC News) Facebook announces Metaverse product group headed by Instagram VP Vishal Shah (Protocol) Element bolsters decentralized team messaging with $30M raise (VentureBeat) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 26, 2021
Is the DOJ probing Tether for bank fraud? When might FaceID come to the Mac? What do leaked photos tell us about the next Surface Duo? And I will spend the entire second half of the show trying my best to explain the seeming tech apocalypse happening in China right now. Sponsors: KiwiCo.com/ride for first month free SetApp.com Links: Tether Executives Said to Face Criminal Probe Into Bank Fraud (Bloomberg) Leaders in Cryptocurrency Industry Move to Curb the Highest-Risk Trades (NYTimes) Gurman: Face ID on the Mac Coming Within a 'Couple of Years' (MacRumors) Leaked Surface Duo 2 photos reveal new triple camera system (The Verge) China Bans For-Profit School Tutoring in Sweeping Overhaul (Bloomberg) China’s education sector crackdown hits foreign investors (Financial Times) Why is China smashing its tech industry? (Noahpinion.substack.com) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 24, 2021
Plus, the Hyper fund from Product Hunt, Automattic's acquisition game, and Twitter tests downvotes? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 23, 2021
Alphabet has a new moonshot company. Existing Big Bet DeepMind might have had a big breakthrough. Why Snap and Twitter are sharing an earnings narrative right now. Hint: it’s cause they’re growing again. And, of course, the Weekend Longreads Suggestions. Sponsors: CreditKarma.com/podcast SetApp.com Links: Google parent Alphabet launches Intrinsic: a new company to build software for industrial robots (The Verge) DeepMind creates ‘transformative’ map of human proteins drawn by artificial intelligence (The Verge) Twitter posts fastest revenue growth since 2014 in pandemic rebound (CNBC) Snap pops more than 16% on earnings beat and user growth (CNBC) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: What Ever Happened to IBM’s Watson? (NYTimes) Startup Claims Breakthrough in Long-Duration Batteries (WSJ) The Novel Material That’s Shrinking Phone Chargers, Powering Up Electric Cars, and Making 5G Possible (WSJ) Robotaxis: have Google and Amazon backed the wrong technology? (Financial Times) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 22, 2021
Twitter is testing downvotes. Tumblr gets into the subscription game. Google unveils a unified backup service for Android. Is HBO Max leading the pack of followers in the musical chairs streaming wars contest? The FTC is getting serious about right to repair. And let me introduce you to the Airbnb for back yard swimming pools. Sponsors: Masterworks.io promocode RIDE TinyCapital.com Links: Twitter for iOS begins testing dislike button for some users (9to5Mac) Clubhouse is no longer invite-only (The Verge) Tumblr Introduces Paid Subscription Tool to Woo Younger Bloggers (WSJ) ‘Backup by Google One’ is Android’s new unified backup system (9to5Google) China Weighs Unprecedented Penalty for Didi After U.S. IPO (Bloomberg) HBO Max and HBO Gain 2.8 Million Subscribers in Q2, AT&T Raises Year-End Target for Streaming Service (Variety) FTC pledges to fight unlawful right to repair restrictions (The Verge) An ‘Airbnb for Pools’ Is Making a Splash This Summer (WSJ) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 21, 2021
Netflix’s growth has hit a wall, and so here come the games. What to do about a problem like those NSO hacks? Samsung’s next Unpacked event is announced. One of the biggest crypto raises of all time. And will Apple ever join the Android ecosystem and kill off SMS once and for all? Sponsors: Calm.com/techmeme TinyCapital.com Links: Netflix’s gaming expansion starts with mobile (The Verge) On the list: Ten prime ministers, three presidents and a king (Washington Post) A case against security nihilism (Matthew Green) Samsung will announce new foldables on August 11 (TechCrunch) Biden Names Tech Foe Jonathan Kanter as DOJ Antitrust Chief (Bloomberg) Zoom announces general availability of Zoom Apps and its new virtual events platform (ZDNet) Crypto Exchange FTX Valued at $18 Billion in Funding Round (WSJ) YouTube’s newest monetization tool lets viewers tip creators for their uploads (TechCrunch) Verizon is also switching to Android Messages as default for RCS (The Verge) Set a reminder for tonight's twitter space by clicking here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 20, 2021
Apple puts a pause on its return to the office plans. Rumors of a new iPad mini redesign. Product Hunt launches an investment fund. If you want a tool to see if you’ve been pwned by NSO’s Pegasus software, I’ve got you. And Bezos in space… Sponsors: TinyCapital.com Links: Apple Delays Office Return by At Least a Month as Covid Spikes (Bloomberg) Exclusive: Apple planning redesigned iPad mini with A15 processor, USB-C port, more (9to5Mac) Hyper is a new fund that offers $300k checks and promise of a media slingshot for founders (TechCrunch) DuckDuckGo launches new Email Protection service to remove trackers (The Verge) Edward Snowden calls for spyware trade ban amid Pegasus revelations (The Guardian) 'Best day ever': Jeff Bezos, Blue Origin rocket touch down after historic spaceflight (USAToday) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 19, 2021
The NSO Group is back in the headlines, and it’s maybe, the worst allegations of hacking for hire yet. The US and NATO blame China for the Exchange Server hacks. Does iOS now split the market with Android, at least in the US? And is Tesla charging customers for hardware they already paid for? Sponsors: Streak.com/techmeme TinyCapital.com Links: Private Israeli spyware used to hack cellphones journalists, activists worldwide (Washington Post) U.S. and key allies accuse China of Microsoft Exchange cyberattacks (Axios) Zoom is buying cloud contact center provider Five9 for $14.7 billion (CNBC) CIRP: iPhone catches up to Android, now accounts for 50% of new smartphone activations in the US (9to5Mac) Tesla is charging owners $1,500 for hardware they already paid for (Electrek) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 17, 2021
Bloomberg's @Lucas_Shaw comes on to explain the math of that Black Widow stream release story from Monday. Then @alexeheath from the Verge explains the death of Fleets, the creator thirst at Facebook and then we all get into the questioning the real value/process of Twitter verification. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 16, 2021
Intel is considering a major acquisition to leapfrog back into semi-conductor contention. Valve releases its long rumored hardware device. Why they were able to make a deep face of Anthony Bourdain’s voice. And of course, the weekend longread suggestions. Sponsors: CreditKarma.com/podcast Cybereason.com Links: Intel Is in Talks to Buy GlobalFoundries for About $30 Billion (WSJ) Valve’s gaming handheld is called the Steam Deck and it’s shipping in December (The Verge) New Anthony Bourdain documentary deepfakes his voice (The Verge) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: THE GAME MAKERS AND ARTISTS PUSHING ROBLOX TO ITS LIMITS (The Verge) Obscure Cyber Agency Becomes Nemesis of China's Tech Giants (Bloomberg) Tiger Global vs. SoftBank: Inside the investing playbooks that upended Silicon Valley (Protocol) Moderna’s Next Act Is Using mRNA vs. Flu, Zika, HIV, and Cancer (Bloomberg Businessweek) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 15, 2021
Netflix hires a big name gaming executive. Twitter retires Fleets. Facebook wants to make it rain for creators. TSMC says the chip shortage is starting to ease. Amazon launches serialized storytelling. And one of the biggest unicorns in the world, just 6x’d in less than a year. Sponsors: WealthFront.com/techmeme Canva.me/techmeme Links: Netflix Plans to Offer Video Games in Push Beyond Films, TV (Bloomberg) Twitter is shutting down Fleets, its expiring tweets feature (The Verge) Facebook plans to pay creators $1 billion to use its products. (NYTimes) TSMC Expects Auto-Chip Shortage to Abate This Quarter (WSJ) Amazon launches its mobile-first Kindle Vella serialized story platform (Engadget) Revolut confirms a fresh $800M in funding at a $33B valuation (TechCrunch) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 14, 2021
Bunch of Apple news. A new “buy now, pay later” service. A MagSafe battery pack. Is content moderation a hot new area for startups? Facebook groups can now get actual designated experts. REvil has suddenly gone dark. And why does iOS seemingly find 69 degrees Fahrenheit to be NOT nice! Sponsors: AwayTravel.com/techmeme KiwiCo.com/ride for first month free Links: Apple, Goldman Plan ‘Buy Now, Pay Later’ Service to Rival Affirm (Bloomberg) Apple Seeks Up to 20% Increase in New iPhone Production for 2021 (Bloomberg) Apple releases MagSafe Battery Pack for iPhone 12, available now for $99 (9to5Mac) Discord buys Sentropy, which makes AI software that fights online harassment (TechCrunch) Amazon Acquires Facebook’s Satellite Internet Group (The Information) Facebook's groups to highlight experts (CNET) REvil ransomware gang's web sites mysteriously shut dow n (BleepingComputer) Apple’s weather app won’t say it’s 69 degrees (The Verge) Link to today's Twitter space at 3pm eastern! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 13, 2021
If Twitter verification is now run by humans, how did so many obvious bot accounts get verified? Why you might start seeing brand logos in your emails, and why that’s actually a good thing. Biden's non-compete clause executive order is a big deal for Big Tech. And a look at the absurdity of the right to repair situation when it comes to gadgets you own. Links: Twitter verified a number of bot accounts—raising questions about security (updated) (DailyDot) Gmail deploys support BIMI security standard (The Record) Android 12 adds ‘Game dashboard’ and ‘Play as You Download’ in Google Play Store (9to5Google) Ring’s end-to-end encryption is rolling out globally (The Verge) Disney Plans to Raise ESPN Plus’ Monthly and Annual Subscription Costs (Variety) Biden's non-compete clause executive order is a big deal for Big Tech (Input Magazine) Biden Executive Order on Non-Competes Could Roil Tech (Bloomberg) Apple AirPod batteries are almost impossible to replace, showing the need for right-to-repair reform (CNBC) Tesla’s $16,000 Quote for a $700 Fix Is Why Right to Repair Matters (The Drive) Link to the Twitter space, tomorrow (07/14) at 4pm eastern Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 12, 2021
Is InfoSec the new Fintech when it comes to investor hotness? Did ByteDance make the right move by putting its IPO on ice? Why Amazon looks like it’s going heavy into the sleep gadget game. Why the EU is postponing its digital tax initiative. And why Black Widow’s release this weekend is giving Hollywood streaming hope. Sponsors: Gabi.com/techmeme Gainful.com/techmeme Links: Microsoft Agrees to Acquire Cybersecurity Company RiskIQ (Bloomberg) ByteDance Shelved IPO Intentions After Chinese Regulators Warned About Data Security (WSJ) Amazon.com Wants to Monitor You in Your Sleep, for Your Benefit (Bloomberg) Samsung’s next Galaxy Unpacked device lineup may have been entirely spoiled in huge new leak (The Verge) EU Delays Push for Digital Levy to Focus on Global Tax Deal (Bloomberg) Box Office: Marvel’s ‘Black Widow’ Debuts With Dazzling $80 Million in Theaters, $60 Million on Disney Plus (Variety) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 8, 2021
State Attorneys General file an antitrust suit against Google. But why them, first? Visa wants you to spend crypto via their platform. Fintech leads a record first half of the year for VC raises. And if payment for order flow were nixed by the SEC, what would that do to Robinhood? Sponsors: Tovala.com/ride Cybereason.com Links: 36 states, D.C. sue Google for alleged antitrust violations in its Android app store (Politico) Visa is partnering with over 50 crypto companies to allow clients to spend and convert digital currencies (Markets Insider) OnePlus confirms the OnePlus 9 and 9 Pro throttle many popular apps to improve battery life (XDA Developers) Global Venture Funding Hits All-Time High In First Half Of 2021, With $288B Invested (Crunchbase News) London fintech funding soars in first half of the year (Reuters) Twitter Pledges to ‘Fully Comply’ With India Internet Rules (Bloomberg) Robinhood’s Debut Is Clouded by SEC Scrutiny of Payment for Order Flow (Wall Street Journal) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: Mark Zuckerberg and Sheryl Sandberg’s Partnership Did Not Survive Trump (New York Times) The U.S. says humans will always be in control of AI weapons. But the age of autonomous war is already here. (Washington Post) GitHub Copilot is not infringing your copyright (Julia Reda) Ireland’s Days as a Tax Haven May Be Ending, but Not Without a Fight (New York Times) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 7, 2021
The Pentagon wants a do-over for that JEDI contract. YC wants to do Tinder but for founder matchmaking. Amazon open sources its gaming engine. How about NFT’s but for the stock market? And if you think China is cracking down on tech companies, wait till you hear how they want to regulate when and how kids can play videogames. Sponsors: Tovala.com/ride Cybereason.com Links: Pentagon cancels $10 billion JEDI cloud contract that Amazon and Microsoft were fighting over (CNBC) Biden Sets Up Tech Showdown With ‘Right-to-Repair’ Rules for FTC (Bloomberg) Y Combinator launches a new way for co-founders to find each other (Protocol) Amazon shifts Lumberyard to open source 3D game engine supported by 20 companies (Venture Beat) Fake Tesla, Apple Stocks Have Started Trading on Blockchains (Bloomberg) China's Tencent Says It'll Use Face Recognition to Keep Minors From Gaming at Night (Gizmodo) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 6, 2021
Nintendo finally announces the new Switch, but how new is it really? What the heck is happening with Didi and China? REvil strikes again, and what that might mean for the hacking situation going forward. And on a day of big geopolitical news, might big tech platforms be chased out of India and Hong Kong because their employees are in danger of being sent to jail? Sponsors: Tovala.com/ride Cybereason.com Links: Nintendo Switch OLED model will go on sale October 8th for $350 (The Verge) Chinese Regulators Suggested Didi Delay Its U.S. IPO (Wall Street Journal) Didi Shows China’s Tech Giants Must First Answer to Beijing (Bloomberg) China’s Big Tech Crackdown Puts Dozens of U.S. IPOs at Risk (Bloomberg) Hundreds of Businesses, From Sweden to U.S., Affected by Cyberattack (New York Times) REvil gang asks for $70 million to decrypt systems locked in Kaseya attack (The Record) Twitter has lost liability protection in India, government says (Tech Crunch) American Internet Giants Hit Back at Hong Kong Doxxing Law (New York Times) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 3, 2021
lex Kantrowitz of the Big Technology newsletter comes on to try to help us work out what happened with that Facebook Antitrust case blowup. Also, what does this mean for regulating other companies. Hosts: @chrismessina @brianmcc Check out Alex's Big Technology Newsletter Here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 2, 2021
Robinhood files for its long-awaited IPO. The Chinese government took the shine off of Didi’s recent IPO. More new features from Twitter. Is Apple the first to take advantage of 3nm chips? And, of course, the weekend longreads suggestions. Sponsors: CreditKarma.com/podcast Calm.com/techmeme Links: Robinhood files for long-awaited IPO (Axios) How Robinhood's explosive growth rate came to be (Tech Crunch) Didi shares fall after China announces cybersecurity review just days after IPO (CNBC) Twitter considers new features for tweeting only to friends, under different personas and more (Tech Crunch) Apple and Intel become first to adopt TSMC's latest chip tech (Nikkei Asia) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: Three Weeks with iOS and iPadOS 15: Foundational Updates (Mac Stories) Amazon Primed Andy Jassy to Be CEO. Can He Keep What Jeff Bezos Built? (Wall Street Journal) ROBBING THE XBOX VAULT: INSIDE A $10 MILLION GIFT CARD CHEAT (Bloomberg) ‘Time and space don’t exist in the spirit world’: How psychics are embracing remote work (Los Angeles Times) The Tin Man Gets His Heart: An Oral History of ‘Terminator 2: Judgment Day’ (The Ringer) Subscribe to SpaceCasts on Apple Podcasts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 1, 2021
Instagram and TikTok are on a collision course. Instagram wants to be more like TikTok, while TikTok hopes to move the goalposts first. Amazon wants Lina Khan to recuse herself. Big tech is not only taking over advertising, it’s consolidating it. And anyone can get their hands on Starlink next month, but not everyone might want to. Sponsors: Masterworks.io promocode RIDE Cybereason.com Links: Facebook is testing drastic changes to Instagram to make it more like TikTok (CNBC) TikTok is rolling out longer videos to everyone (The Verge) Federal judge puts Florida 'deplatforming' law on hold, citing First Amendment (NBC News) Amazon Wants FTC Chair Khan Recused Over Past Criticism (Bloomberg) Maine has strictly banned facial recognition from schools and policing (Input) The EU’s 'vaccine passport' and what it means for travel (BBC) Quintopoly? Five tech companies now earn 46% of global ad revenues as news media left behind (Press Gazette) Tim Berners-Lee sells web source code NFT for $5.4m (BBC) Starlink will be open to everyone in August — not that you'll want it (Input) SpaceX's Starlink may bring faster Wi-Fi to commercial planes (Input) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 30, 2021
Facebook launches its Substack clone. Emphasis on clone. Shopify joins the platform tax wars by going to zero. A truce between Microsoft and Google has just lapsed. A big raise in the drone space. And would you pay to get actual search results instead of ads? Sponsors: Cybereason.com Links: Facebook announces Bulletin, its Substack newsletter competitor (The Verge) Shopify drops its App Store commissions to 0% on developers’ first million in revenue (Tech Crunch) Google and Microsoft End Their Five-Year Cease-Fire (Bloomberg) T-Mobile is offering iPhone owners no-hassle network ‘test drives’ (The Verge) Alphabet’s Wing launches OpenSky drone airspace authorization app in US (Tech Crunch) Zipline raises $250M at $2.75B valuation to build out its instant logistics service (Tech Crunch) Inside Neeva, the ad-free, privacy-first search engine from ex-Googlers (Fast Company) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 29, 2021
A judge has completely thrown out the FTC’s antitrust lawsuit against Facebook and sent them back to the drawing board. Microsoft and OpenAI and Github have a tool that will suggest code to you as you code. And Sam Altman, as I understand this, wants to do Universal Basic Income on the blockchain. But first, he wants to scan your eyeball. Sponsors: Cybereason.com AirMedCareNetwork.com/tech offer code TECH Links: Judge dismisses FTC and state antitrust complaints against Facebook (CNBC) Microsoft Office is getting a new design and a native 64-bit Arm version for Windows 11 (The Verge) Microsoft and OpenAI have a new A.I. tool that will give coding suggestions to software developers (CNBC) YouTube TV Unveils Dolby Digital Support & Premium Add-on with 4K, Offline Downloads, and Unlimited Streams (The Streamable) Sam Altman Wants to Scan Your Eyeball in Exchange for Cryptocurrency (Bloomberg) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 28, 2021
The UK orders a halt to regulated activities by Binance, joining everybody, all the sudden. Qualcomm unveils the Snapdragon 888 Plus. Lenovo unveils an Android tablet that works as a portable monitor. And meet the activists perfecting the craft of anti-surveillance. Sponsors: Masterworks.io promocode RIDE AirMedCareNetwork.com/tech offer code TECH Links: Financial watchdog bans crypto exchange Binance from UK (Financial Times) The world’s biggest crypto exchange is running into trouble everywhere (Quartz) Qualcomm's Snapdragon 888 Plus will speed up gaming, AI in high-end 5G phones (Cnet) Lenovo announces $679 13-inch Android tablet that works as a portable monitor (The Verge) Apple Explores Bigger iPads and Reshuffles Its Car Team (Bloomberg) Microsoft admits to signing rootkit malware in supply chain fiasco (Bleeping Computer) Microsoft keeps hinting at an October release for Windows 11 (The Verge) Meet the activists perfecting the craft of anti-surveillance (Financial Times) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 26, 2021
We have two special guests this week! The first is Sonal Chokshi , Editor in Chief of a16z and showrunner of a16z podcasts. We’ll be getting her perspective on the launch of FUTURE , which we discussed last week. Second, as the major social platforms (save for YouTube!) have launched their social audio offerings, we’ll get the latest updates and analysis from Kaya Yurieff of The Information who recently published “The Week Social Audio Went Mainstream” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 25, 2021
Fri. 06/25 – Some Western Digital NAS Devices Are Getting Ill (matic?) Some Western Digital NAS devices are getting ill (matic). A breakdown of the 5 or 6 big tech antitrust bills that just passed House committees. Windows 11 is free, but what if your device can’t run it? Also, more on Microsoft’s anti-Apple posturing. And, of course, the weekend longreads suggestions. Sponsors: AirMedCareNetwork.com/tech offer code TECH Cybereason.com Links: WD My Book NAS devices are being remotely wiped clean worldwide (Bleeping Computer) Big Tech edges closer to break up after deeply unhinged markup (The Verge) Satya Nadella’s closing Windows 11 remarks were a direct shot across Apple’s bow (The Verge) Windows 11 is free, but your CPU might not be officially supported (The Verge) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: What Is Blue Box? A Vast Conspiracy Grips the Video Game World (Bloomberg) A very brief history of every Google messaging app (The Verge) The Boy Who Could DeFi: Meet the 13-Year-Old Who Built a $7M Money Manager on Ethereum (Decrypt) How Roku used the Netflix playbook to beat bigger players and rule streaming video (CNBC) Can a $110 Million Helmet Unlock the Secrets of the Mind? (Bloomberg) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 24, 2021
The new Windows is Windows 11. Google delays the Adpodcalypse. BuzzFeed finally to go public. Comcast is having issues with Peacock. Google and Jio’s cheap smartphone is announced. Is the biggest ever crypto crime story evolving right now in South Africa? And RIP John McAfee. Sponsors: RocketLawyer.com/workconfidently Cybereason.com Links: Microsoft announces Windows 11, with a new design, Start menu, and more (The Verge) Google delays Chrome's cookie-blocking privacy plan by nearly 2 years (Cnet) BuzzFeed announces plans to go public via SPAC, targets $1.5 billion valuation (CNBC) Inside Comcast’s Plan to Become a Streaming Giant (Wall Street Journal) Google and India’s Jio Platforms announce budget Android smartphone JioPhone Next (Tech Crunch) South African Brothers Vanish, and So Does $3.6 Billion in Bitcoin (Bloomberg) John McAfee, Software Pioneer Turned Fugitive, Dies in Spanish Prison (New York Times) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 23, 2021
Ticketed Space and Super Follows begin to roll out, and depending on how you slice it, folks stand to make a ton of money… or a ton of money for the app stores. Speaking of, Apple launches a PR campaign defending the App Store on security grounds. Microsoft becomes the second company to reach the $2 trillion dollar club. And you know about phishing scams, but let me introduce you to “brushing” scams. Sponsors: Kraken.com/techmeme or search Kraken in the app store Cybereason.com Links: Twitter is opening applications to test Ticketed Spaces and Super Follows (The Verge) Apple’s Fight for Control Over Apps Moves to Congress and EU (Wall Street Journal) Microsoft Rises to Join Apple in Exclusive $2 Trillion Club (Bloomberg) Vercel raises $102M Series C for its front-end development platform (Tech Crunch) Brave’s nontracking search engine is now in beta (Tech Crunch) What is the 'brushing' scam and how can you protect yourself? (Yahoo Life) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 22, 2021
Another antitrust investigation formally opened against Google in Europe. Facebook’s Oculus ad partner thinks better of the experiment. Stephen Spielberg decides that Netflix’s money is as green as anybody’s. Ransomware gangs are abandoning bitcoin. And Amazon, at least, still believes in autonomous vehicles. Sponsors: KiwiCo.com/ride for first month free NordVPN.com/ride coupon code ride Links: EU opens antitrust probe into Google’s advertising business (Financial Times) Resolution Games Pulls Blaston Out Of Facebook Ad Test (Upload) Entire London Underground to receive mobile coverage by end of 2024 (The Verge) Tinder lets people add videos to their dating profiles (Engadget) Epic Games releases free anti-cheat and voice chat services for developers (The Verge) Steven Spielberg’s Amblin Partners, Netflix Forge Film Deal in Sign of Changing Hollywood (Variety) Monero emerges as crypto of choice for cybercriminals (Financial Times) Amazon Snaps Up Option to Buy Stake in AI Truck-Driving Startup (Bloomberg) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 21, 2021
Facebook’s Clubhouse clone rolls out. Here’s how it works. China really does seem to be cracking down on Bitcoin mining. Here’s why that could be important. Some power companies in Texas are remotely adjusting the smart thermostats of users. Here’s why that’s likely the future of things. And had you heard of cyclic propulsion aircraft before? I hadn’t. Let me tell you about it. Sponsors: Skiff.org/ride Cybereason.com Links: Facebook officially launches Live Audio Rooms and podcasts in the US (Tech Crunch) China to shut down over 90% of its Bitcoin mining capacity after local bans (Global Times) Digital euro will protect consumer privacy, ECB executive pledges (Financial Times) 'Woke up sweating': Some Texans shocked to find their smart thermostats were raised remotely (KHOU) Apple Watch accessory maker Wristcam raises $25M (Tech Crunch) Russia has flown prototypes of its six-seat hybrid VTOL Cyclocar (New Atlas) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 18, 2021
Were some of the base encryption algorithms on cell networks deliberately nerfed? The first ever mass arrest of a ransomware gang? Proof that Google is working on a FindMy network rival? And, of course, the weekend longreads suggestions. Sponsors: Tovala.com/ride Cybereason.com Links: Bombshell Report Finds Phone Network Encryption Was Deliberately Weakened (Vice) Ukraine arrests ransomware gang in global cyber criminal crackdown (Financial Times) Google may be working on an Android version of Apple’s “Find My” network (XDA Developers) Gopuff to Buy Siemens-Backed RideOS in $100 Million-Plus Deal (Bloomberg) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: Ransomware claims are roiling an entire segment of the insurance industry (Washington Post) THE RISE AND FALL OF AN AMERICAN TECH GIANT (The Atlantic) Anatomy of a Seed Round During COVID-19 (Fresh Paint) Meet Wu Dao 2.0, the Chinese AI model making the West sweat (Politico) Tech Companies Are Training AI to Read Your Lips (Vice) How governments and spies text each other (Wired) Airbnb Is Spending Millions of Dollars to Make Nightmares Go Away (Bloomberg) Subscribe to the RideHome+ Feed at: tech.supercast.tech Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 17, 2021
Facebook is bringing ads to Virtual Reality cause, why not, right? Stories are coming to the Xbox. Why is Google downsizing it’s healthcare team? Why are music artists flooding to Twitch? And is Facebook cornering the VR market like it cornered social media? Sponsors: Tovala.com/ride Cybereason.com Links: Facebook to begin testing ads inside Oculus virtual reality headsets (CNBC) Xbox’s June update adds speech-to-text chat feature (Engadget) Podcasts start coming to Facebook next week (The Verge) Amazon Appstore will reduce developer revenue cut from 30% to 20% and give 10% in Free AWS Credit (AFTV News) EXCLUSIVE: Google is downsizing its health team and moving employees to Fitbit as part of a major reorganization (Insider) Can Streaming Pay? Musicians Are Pinning Fresh Hopes on Twitch. (New York Times) Is Facebook cornering the VR market? (Platformer) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 16, 2021
Lina Khan has not only been confirmed as FTC commissioner, she’s also been named FTC chair. Waymo raises a big new round, which is soops interesting. Spotify joins the audio rooms sweepstakes. A Windows 11 build leaks. And forget Apple Stores, would you visit an actual Apple Health Clinic? Sponsors: Tovala.com/ride Cybereason.com Links: Biden Names Lina Khan, a Big-Tech Critic, as F.T.C. Chair (New York Times) Alphabet’s self-driving car company Waymo announces $2.5 billion investment round (CNBC) GM ups spending on EVs and autonomous vehicles by 30% to $35 billion by 2025 on higher profits (CNBC) Spotify launches its live audio app and Clubhouse rival, Spotify Greenroom (Tech Crunch) Windows 11 leak reveals new UI, Start menu, and more (The Verge) Apple Struggles in Push to Make Healthcare Its Greatest Legacy (Wall Street Journal) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 15, 2021
Automattic acquires the popular iOS and iPad OS journaling app, Day One. Everybody wants a piece of Stripe. Stripe wants to be the “Stripe for Identity” all by itself. With HBO vanquished, now Netflix wants to become Disney faster than Disney can become Netflix. And could I interest you in an NFT of the entire World Wide Web? Sponsors: LinkedIn.com/ride Cybereason.com Links: WordPress.com owner Automattic acquires journaling app Day One (Tech Crunch) U.S. Supreme Court revives LinkedIn bid to shield personal data (Reuters) Investors Clamor for a Bigger Piece of Payments Company Stripe (Wall Street Journal) Stripe goes beyond payments with Stripe Identity to provide AI-based ID verification for transactions and much more (Tech Crunch) Amazon brings cashierless tech to full-size grocery store for first time at new Seattle-area location (Geek Wire) Netflix Has a Plan to Sell You Toys, T-Shirts and Concert Tickets (Bloomberg) Web inventor Berners-Lee to auction original code as NFT (Financial Times) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 14, 2021
Could we get an extreme sports Apple Watch soon? Google makes Workspace and Chat available to all. Bitcoin’s first major overhaul in four years is a go. TikTok has quickly become an advertising Monster. And I try to explain to you why everyone is suddenly so hype on Miami as a tech hub. Sponsors: KiwiCo.com/ride for your first month free Cybereason.com Links: Apple Plans Faster Watch, Future Temperature and Glucose Sensors (Bloomberg) Google Workspace and Google Chat are officially available to everybody (The Verge) Amazon’s game streaming service Luna is opening access to all Prime members June 21 and 22 (The Verge) Bitcoin just got its first makeover in four years (CNBC) TikTok Charges Up to $2 Million a Day for Top Advertising Spots (Bloomberg) Austin Is Biggest Winner From Tech Migration, LinkedIn Data Show (Bloomberg) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 11, 2021
Moar… hacking news. McDonalds. Electronic Arts. Le sigh. Apple wants to do away with passwords too. Elon Musk unveils the Model S Plaid. An interesting Apple Car hire. And of course, the weekend longreads suggestions. Sponsors: TheLogic.co/subscribe promo code RIDE for 50% off Cybereason.com Links: McDonald’s Hit by Data Breach (Wall Street Journal) Hackers Steal Wealth of Data from Game Giant EA (Vice) Apple says its new logon tech is as easy as passwords but far more secure (Cnet) Tesla begins deliveries of its new Model S Plaid (CNBC) Apple Hires Former BMW Executive for Its Rebooted Car Project (Bloomberg) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: The hard truth about ransomware: we aren’t prepared, it’s a battle with new rules, and it hasn’t near reached peak impact. (Double Pulsar) When ransomware strikes, this company helps victims make bitcoin payments (CNBC) APPLE ISN’T JUST A WALLED GARDEN, IT’S A CARRIER (The Verge) THE APP THAT MONETIZED DOING NOTHING (The Atlantic) Marcus Graham: Looking back on 10 years of Twitch’s experiment with livestreaming (Venture Beat) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 10, 2021
Another payoff to Ransomware hackers. Facebook to launch a smartwatch? Microsoft to launch a dedicated game streaming device? Samsung unveils a tiny, tiny camera sensor. Stripe wants to handle your sales tax headache. And can the creator economy take off in a world of App Stores with 30% rakes? Sponsors: Skiff.org/ride Cybereason.com Links: JBS Paid $11 Million to Resolve Ransomware Attack (Wall Street Journal) Facebook plans first smartwatch for next summer with two cameras, heart rate monitor (The Verge) Microsoft is building its own streaming devices as part of a major Xbox Game Pass expansion (Protocol) Samsung pushes pixel size even further with new camera sensor (The Verge) Payments giant Stripe launches Stripe Tax to integrate sales tax calculations for 30+ countries (Tech Crunch) The creator economy is running into the Apple Tax — this startup is fighting back (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 9, 2021
El Salvador becomes the first country to adopt bitcoin as legal tender. Biden reverses the TikTok and WeChat bans. Did one single customer cause that Fastly internet outage? Interesting raise for a faster Ethereum. Interesting new browser option. And maybe my favorite honey pot operation of all time. Sponsors: Masterworks.io promocode RIDE Cybereason.com Links: El Salvador becomes first country to adopt bitcoin as legal tender after passing law (CNBC) Biden revokes and replaces Trump orders banning TikTok and WeChat (The Verge) Fastly claims single customer responsible for widespread internet outage (The Verge) Solana Labs raises $314 million in new funding led by A16z and Polychain Capital (The Block) Vivaldi 4.0 launches with built-in email and calendar clients, RSS reader (Tech Crunch) FBI and Australian police ran an encrypted chat platform to catch criminal gangs (The Record) Encrypted messaging app used by criminals was actually an FBI honeypot (Input) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 8, 2021
Fastly takes down the internet, highlighting how the internet is still really centralized. The US seized most of the bitcoins those hackers got from the Colonial Pipeline hack, highlighting how Bitcoin is actually eminently traceable. Facebook pokes Apple in the eye on WWDC day, and I give you a wrap-up of the bits a pieces we missed from WWDC yesterday. Sponsors: Kraken.com/techmeme or search "Kraken" in the app store Cybereason.com Links: Twitch, Pinterest, Reddit and more go down in Fastly CDN outage (Tech Crunch) U.S. Retrieves Millions in Ransom Paid to Colonial Pipeline Hackers (Wall Street Journal) Facebook will show creators how much money Apple and Google take from them (The Verge) EXCLUSIVE Apple in talks with CATL, BYD over battery supplies for its electric car (Reuters) Adobe launches M1 Mac-native versions of Lightroom Classic and more (The Verge) iOS 15: Find My network can still find your iPhone when it is powered off, or factory reset (9to5 Mac) Apple adds digital legacy service so users can prepare for the inevitable (Cnet) Apple will let users stay on iOS 14 and receive security updates, even after iOS 15 is released (9to5 Mac) Apple’s iCloud Plus bundles a VPN, private email, and HomeKit camera storage (The Verge) Book Recommendation: Network Effect by Martha Wells Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 7, 2021
All the headlines from WWDC 2021. Bezos in space! France brings the first hammer down on this round of anti-competitive action, this time against Google. And Jane Manchun Wong has the details on the upcoming Twitter Super Followers thingy. Sponsors: Netgear.com/bestwifi promocode: tech10 Cybereason.com Links: Jeff Bezos and his brother will fly on Blue Origin's first human spaceflight with auction winner (TechCrunch) Google Settles Antitrust Case Over Advertising Practices (WSJ) Twitter may be close to launching Super Follows, as new research shows what it could look like (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 5, 2021
A sampler of four different spaces from our new feed SpaceCasts! Search your podcast app for SpaceCasts and subscribe ! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 4, 2021
Is MagSafe charging coming to iPads? Is the Biden administration actually cracking down harder on China than the Trump administration did? Is the recent slate of ransomware attacks the new normal or the sign of something bigger brewing? And, in the weekend longreads suggestions, we meet a guy who’s job is to negotiate with ransomware hackers. Sponsors: Cybereason.com Metalab.com Links: Apple Working on iPad Pro with Wireless Charging, New iPad Mini (Bloomberg) Facebook to end special treatment for politicians after Trump ban (The Verge) Biden Expands Trump-Era Ban on Investment in Chinese Firms Linked to Military (New York Times) Exclusive-U.S. to give ransomware hacks similar priority as terrorism, official says (Reuters) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: How to Negotiate with Ransomware Hackers (The New Yorker) Inside The ‘World’s Largest’ Video Game Cheating Empire (Motherboard) The NFT Market Has Collapsed, Oh No (Kotaku) Armed Low-Cost Drones, Made by Turkey, Reshape Battlefields and Geopolitics (Wall Street Journal) Developer relations (Marco Arment) Apple WWDC 2021: iOS 15, new MacBook Pros, and what else to expect (The Verge) Subscribe to Spacecasts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 3, 2021
Twitter takes the wrapping off its subscription product, Twitter Blue. Multi-device support hints at a future WhatsApp app for iPads. Stack Overflow is the latest part of the developer ecosystem to sell for big bucks. And taking the temperature of Google’s Ethical AI team. Sponsors: Metalab.com Cybereason.com Links: Twitter launches its first subscription service (CNBC) Apple asks staff to return to office three days a week starting in early September (The Verge) WhatsApp to Roll Out Multi-Device Support, Hints at Future iPad App (Mac Rumors) Cybersecurity firm NortonLifeLock will let customers mine crypto (CNN) Stack Overflow Sold to Tech Giant Prosus for $1.8 Billion (Wall Street Journal) Google says it’s committed to ethical AI research. Its ethical AI team isn’t so sure. (Recode) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 2, 2021
All the headlines from Facebook’s F8 Refresh. Etsy buys a used clothes marketplace. Another ransomware attack shutting down a major player in a vital industry, this time, literally in the meat-space. And you can start trading Dogecoin on Coinbase tomorrow. Sponsors: Cybereason.com Metalab.com Links: Facebook opens its Messenger API for Instagram to all (Tech Crunch) Microsoft to reveal its next generation of Windows on June 24th (The Verge) Amazon Prime Day set for June 21 and 22 (CNBC) Etsy is buying the fashion resale app Depop for $1.6 billion. (New York Times) U.S. says ransomware attack on meatpacker JBS likely from Russia; cattle slaughter resuming (CNBC) Meat Buyers Scramble After Cyberattack Hobbles JBS (Wall Street Journal) Coinbase Lists Dogecoin on Professional Trading Platform (Coindesk) Judge dismisses charges against Apple security chief in gun-permit probe (Reuters) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 1, 2021
Whole bunch of chip news from Computex. New Flagship Nvidia GPUs. New AMD graphics adapters. The thinnest gaming laptops in the realm? Twitter launches a weather news collective. Amazon is signing you up to Sidewalk whether you like or it not. And yeah, that Uber ride really has gotten more expensive. Here’s why. Sponsors: Grammarly.com/techmeme for 20% off Cybereason.com Links: Nvidia announces new RTX 3080 Ti, priced at $1,199 and launching June 3rd (The Verge) AMD Announces Radeon RX 6000M Series: RDNA2 Makes Its Laptop Debut (AnandTech) AMD and Samsung are collaborating on Exynos mobile chips capable of ray-tracing (Engadget) Alienware's New X-Series Laptops Are Its Thinnest Gaming Notebooks Yet (Gizmodo) Twitter teams with climate vet to launch local weather news service (Axios) Amazon devices will soon automatically share your Internet with neighbors (ArsTechnica) Prepare to Pay More for Uber and Lyft Rides (New York Times) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 31, 2021
Introducing our new Clubhouse Room/Twitter Spaces audio collective. Subscribe now: Subscribe on Apple Podcasts Subscribe on Spotify Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 28, 2021
The SolarWinds hackers are back, and I’m starting to fear the escalation of a cyber cold war here. Mark Gurman thinks we’ll see redesigned AirPods this year. Have I Been Pwned goes open source. And come for the longreads suggestions as always, but stay for my rant about that insane Citizen app story. Sponsors: Netgear.com/bestwifi Promocode: Tech10 Cybereason.com Links: Russia Appears to Carry Out Hack Through System Used by U.S. Aid Agency (New York Times) Apple Plans Redesigned AirPods for 2021, New AirPods Pro in 2022 (Bloomberg) Have I been Pwned goes open source (ZDnet) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: 'FIND THIS FUCK:' Inside Citizen’s Dangerous Effort to Cash In On Vigilantism (Vice) Own the Internet (Not Boring) A New Crop in Pennsylvania: Warehouses (New York Times) The Mystery of Magic’s Greatest Card Trick (New York Times) Subscribe to the RideHome+ Feed at: tech.supercast.tech Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 27, 2021
An upgraded Nintendo Switch is maybe days away from being announced. Twitter Spaces can now happen on the desktop. The behind the scenes details of the MGM buy. Snowflake has left Silicon Valley for… checks notes… Montana. And Clubhouse makes a high profile hire that shows they’re still full steam ahead. Sponsors: Skiff.org/ride Cybereason.com Links: Nintendo Plans Upgraded Switch Replacement as Soon as September (Bloomberg) You can join Twitter’s Clubhouse-like Spaces rooms from a browser starting Wednesday (The Verge) James Bond, Meet Jeff Bezos: Amazon Makes $8.45 Billion Deal for MGM (New York Times) Facebook to Limit Reach of Personal Accounts That Spread Misinformation (Bloomberg) PayPal to Let Users Send Bitcoin Off PayPal (Decrypt) App Store Scam App Required a Good Review to Function at All (Mac Rumors) Snowflake relocates executive office from California to Bozeman, Montana, as company goes distributed (CNBC) Stadia’s loss is Clubhouse’s gain: the social audio company has poached a longtime Google engineer (The Verge) Andy Jassy will become Amazon’s CEO on July 5th (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 26, 2021
Amazon buys James Bond. Is Valve working on a Nintendo Switch clone? Google’s new campus in San Jose will make the Googleplex look puny. Tesla is dropping radar. The new standard for USB is beefing up power-wise. And is Microsoft moving on from Windows 10 branding? Sponsors: Masterworks.io promocode RIDE Cybereason.com Links: Amazon to buy MGM Studios for $8.45 billion (CNBC) Exclusive: Valve is making a Switch-like portable gaming PC (Ars Technica) Google's San Jose mega-campus wins city approval. Will it change Bay Area development? (San Francisco Chronicle) Tesla is already shipping cars without radar sensors (The Verge) USB-C power upgrade delivers a whopping 240W for gaming laptops and other devices (CNET) Lightrun raises $23M for its debugging and observability platform (TechCrunch) Microsoft support for Linux GUI apps on Windows 10 coming later this year (ZDNet) Microsoft unveils developer-focused Teams, Outlook, and Search updates (VentureBeat) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 25, 2021
Google finally rolls out its Internet of Everything Else OS, Fuchsia. Arm unveils its first new v9 chips. Poparazzi might be the next big social app, and it debuted number one on the app store. And Noom has raised a hell of a lot of money, but that’s because, its making a ton of money helping people lose weight. Sponsors: Oracle.com/goto/ride Cybereason.com Links: Google is officially releasing its Fuchsia OS, starting w/ first-gen Nest Hub (9to5 Google) ARM's first v9 CPUs are built for computers, not just phones (Engadget) Florida, in a First, Will Fine Social Media Companies That Bar Candidates (New York Times) Apple Says iPad Pro's XDR Display Designed to Minimize Blooming, but Some Users Still Notice the Effect (Mac Rumors) Airbnb doubles down on flexible search, improves the host flow in preparation for summer 2021 (Tech Crunch) Poparazzi debuts at #1 on the App Store charts (Protocol) Weight-Loss App Noom Gets $540 Million in Silver Lake-Led Round (Bloomberg) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 24, 2021
After Tim Cook’s testimony, can the judge’s line of questioning give us a hint of how the trial might resolve as arguments close today? Citizen App is considering rent-a-cops as a service. The AI community wants to open source large language models to address recent controversies. And a computer chip that changes its structure to thwart hackers. Sponsors: PorkBun.com/tld/design Cybereason.com Links: Tim Cook plays innocent in Epic v Apple’s culminating testimony (Tech Crunch) Judge in Fortnite case holds Tim Cook's feet to the fire over App Store competition (Protocol) HomePod and HomePod mini to support Apple Music Lossless in a future software update (9to5 Mac) Leaked Emails Show Crime App Citizen Is Testing On-Demand Security Force (Vice) The race to understand the exhilarating, dangerous world of language AI (Technology Review) Morphing computer chip repels hundreds of professional DARPA hackers (New Atlas) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 22, 2021
Cybereason's CISO, Isreal Barak uses the recent Colonial Pipeline incident to give us a deep explainer on how Ransomware and Ransomware as a service works. Sponsors: Cybereason.com NordVPN.com/ride coupon code ride Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 21, 2021
Snap releases its first true AR glasses, and buys the company that helped make them a reality. Is Netflix going to get into gaming to help juice growth in North America? Is the IRS going to crack down ever harder on Crypto? Twitter’s newly revamped verification system. And, of course, the weekend longreads suggestions. Sponsors: Skiff.org/ride Tovala.com/ride Links: Snap’s new Spectacles let you see the world in augmented reality (The Verge) Snap is buying its AR display supplier for more than $500 million (The Verge) Spotify finally adds offline music downloads on Apple Watch (The Verge) Netflix Seeks Executive to Expand Game Efforts (The Information) U.S. Treasury calls for stricter cryptocurrency compliance with IRS, says they pose tax evasion risk (CNBC) Twitter is letting anyone apply for verification for the first time since 2017 (The Verge) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: Now that WarnerMedia and Discovery have tied the knot, the pressure’s on ViacomCBS and NBCUniversal (CNBC) $ASS Coin Billionaire: Tales From the Fringe of the Crypto Craze (Bloomberg) Can Sony reclaim its former glory? (Engadget) How to Make Carbon-Neutral Gasoline Out of Thin Air (Intelligencer) Twitter Thread About Shift+2 (@figmadesign) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 20, 2021
The newly announced electric F-150 is maybe the biggest EV effort since the launch of Tesla. Google is launching its first ever retail store. Internet Explorer is finally going to that great recycle bin in the sky. But could Google be breathing new life into RSS feeds in web browsers? Sponsors: Tovala.com/ride Kraken.com/techmeme Links: Ford’s Electric F-150 Pickup Aims to Be the Model T of E.V.s (New York Times) Ford unveils the F-150 Lightning, its all-electric pickup truck that will start under $40,000 (Tech Crunch) 'I'm not very social': ByteDance founder to hand CEO reins to college roommate (Reuters) Google is opening its first physical retail store this summer in NYC (The Verge) Apple cites 'significant' malware on Mac while defending iOS App Store in Fortnite trial (CNet) Microsoft is finally retiring Internet Explorer in 2022 (The Verge) Chrome testing RSS-powered ‘Follow’ button & feed that keeps the Google Reader dream alive (9to5 Google) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 19, 2021
Google I/O continues and continues to produce new headlines for us to cover. Nvidia is nerfing the ability to mine crypto. Ethereum says it’s going to go super energy efficient real soon. Microsoft10X is officially, no longer a thing. And reviews of the new iPad Pro reveal it to be… an iPad. Sponsors: Tovala.com/ride AirMedCareNetwork.com/tech offer code TECH Links: Helping all your devices work better together (Google) Google plans to build a commercial quantum computer by 2029 (Engadget) Google’s Project Starline Videoconference Tech Wants to Turn You Into a Hologram (Wired) Nvidia is nerfing new RTX 3080 and 3070 cards for Ethereum cryptocurrency mining (The Verge) Ethereum Staking Will Drop Power Consumption by 99% (Crypto Briefing) Microsoft officially acknowledges Windows 10X isn't happening (ZDNet) IPAD PRO (2021) REVIEW: DREAM SCREEN (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 18, 2021
All the headlines from Google I/O. Amazon is in talks to acquire MGM and James Bond. When we might expect those new MacBook Pros, the first reviews of the M1 iMacs and what’s the deal with the new lossless streaming not working with most of Apple’s hardware? Sponsors: Cybereason.com TinyCapital.com Links: ANDROID 12 PREVIEW: FIRST LOOK AT GOOGLE’S RADICAL NEW DESIGN (The Verge) Amazon Pondering Deal to Buy MGM (The Information) Apple Readies MacBook Pro, MacBook Air Revamps (Bloomberg) APPLE’S NEW IMAC BRINGS M1 GOODNESS TO THE DESKTOP (The Verge) Censorship, Surveillance and Profits: A Hard Bargain for Apple in China (NYTimes) Exclusive: These are Apple’s new truly wireless in-ear Beats Studio earbuds (9to5Mac) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 17, 2021
Apple Music and Amazon Music HD bring better audio quality to everyone. AT&T throws in the towel on Warner Media by doing a shotgun marriage with Discovery. GitHub now lets you add video. Jane Manchun Wong says the subscription service is going to be called Twitter Blue. And what we might be able to expect from Google’s I/O tomorrow. Sponsors: Kiwico.com promocode: ride Cybereason.com Links: Apple announces lossless Apple Music is coming in June at no added cost (The Verge) Amazon Music Drops HD Tier to $9.99, Shaking Up Hi-Fi Streaming Market (Billboard) AT&T to spin off and combine WarnerMedia with Discovery in deal that would create streaming giant (CNN Business) Microsoft Teams launches for friends and family with free all-day video calling (The Verge) GitHub now lets all developers upload videos to demo bugs and features (Venture Beat) ‘Twitter Blue’ subscription service to include undo tweets feature and ‘Collections,’ priced at $2.99 (9to5 Mac) Bill Gates Left Microsoft Board Amid Probe Into Prior Relationship With Staffer (Wall Street Journal) Google's Android 12 redesign leaks with theme support, new animations, more (Phone Arena) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 15, 2021
From Friday, May 14, 2021. A long discussion about tipping as the base unit (???) of the creator economy? Featuring @gregarious as well as @NigelKofi (check out Ko-fi at https://ko-fi.com/ ) and @reeshahoward . Sponsor: Porkbun.com/tld/design Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 14, 2021
A ransomware attack has brought down large sections of the Irish health service. Why Disney+ numbers are suddenly looking so weak to investors. A deep dive review on whether or not, or even to what degree, Elon’s internet service from space can free us from ISP hell. And, of course, the weekend longreads suggestions. Sponsors: AwayTravel.com/techmeme Streak.com/techmeme Links: Cyber attack 'most significant on Irish state' (BBC) Disney Plus Hits 103.6 Million Subscribers as Rapid Growth Slows, ESPN Plus Perks Up (Variety) STARLINK REVIEW: BROADBAND DREAMS FALL TO EARTH (The Verge) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: To Understand Amazon, We Must Understand Jeff Bezos (New York Times) The PlayStation 5 Is Starting to Look Like the Revolution It Promised (Wired) Apple is Holding Back the Creator Economy (Every) Robinhood’s Big Gamble (The New Yorker) What Is an Entertainment Company in 2021 and Why Does the Answer Matter? (Matthew Ball) How the Personal Computer Broke the Human Body (Vice) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 13, 2021
The whims of Elon Musk go both ways when it comes to crypto markets. SpaceX signs a deal with Google Cloud to do battle with AWS and the Kuiper Project. Colonial Pipeline reportedly paid the ransom and is getting back online. Will Facebook’s crypto project ever see the light of day, part 12. And the Ethereum creator donates Crypto to help India. Sponsors: Skiff.org/ride Cybereason.com Links: Tesla stops taking Bitcoin for vehicle purchases, citing environmental harm (The Verge) Elon Musk’s SpaceX inks satellite connectivity deal with Google Cloud (The Verge) Biden signs executive order designed to strengthen federal digital defenses (Washington Post) Roku will launch original programming fueled by Quibi’s content on May 20 (Tech Crunch) Apple parts ways with employee amid backlash (Axios) Facebook-backed crypto project Diem abandons Swiss license application, will move to the U.S. (CNBC) Ethereum creator donates meme coins worth $1 billion to help India fight COVID-19 (Tech Crunch) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 12, 2021
The US lets Xiaomi out of the blacklist. GitHub ads security key support and wants to move on from the password era. eBay wants in on the NFT action. WhatsApp is gonna turn the screws until you agree to their terms. And speaking of, Brian Krebs outlines how that group suspected to be behind the pipeline hack has sophisticated ways of getting you to pay up. Sponsors: NordVPN.com/ride coupon code: ride LinkedIN.com/ride Links: US agrees to drop Xiaomi from blacklist after lawsuit (Bloomberg) Amazon updates the Echo Show 8 and 5 with better cameras (The Verge) GitHub shifts away from passwords with security key support for SSH Git operations (ZDNet) EBay officially opens its platform to NFT sales (The Block) WhatsApp will gradually stop you calling or messaging contacts if you don't agree to its new privacy policy (Insider) E-scooter company Bird will go public via SPAC (Axios) SoftBank joins corporate heavyweights with $37 bln Vision Fund profit (Reuters) A Closer Look at the DarkSide Ransomware Gang (Krebs on Security) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 11, 2021
It’s new chip day. Intel unveils it’s 11th-gen Core Tiger Lake-H 10nm chips, while Nvidia unveils the RTX 3050 and 3050 Ti laptop GPUs. So expect a bunch of laptop lines to be refreshed. And, oh, look at that. The Dell XPS lineup already has been. Details on the next gen PlayStation VR hardware. And an argument that Apple’s recent privacy movies are a naked and ugly power play that harms the open web. Sponsors: Cybereason.com Kiwico.com promocode ride Links: Intel Launches 11th Generation Core Tiger Lake-H: Eight Core 10nm Mobile Processors (AnandTech) NVIDIA's RTX 3050 and 3050 Ti bring ray tracing to affordable laptops (Engadget) Dell’s new XPS 15 and XPS 17 get upgraded with Intel’s long-awaited 11th Gen H-series chips (The Verge) Next-Gen PlayStation VR Is 4K With Foveated Rendering And Vibration Feature (Upload) Foxconn’s iPhone output in India down amid COVID surge-sources (Reuters) Apple robbed the mob’s bank (Mobile Dev Demo) Graphic Novel by Matthew Bogart: IncredibleDoom.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 10, 2021
Sony warns that it might be literal years before I can finally win one of those PlayStation 5 sales windows on Walmart.com. The big ransomware attack that threatened fuel supply on the US East Coast, and the hackers allegedly behind it. Clubhouse hits Android. A researcher claims to have already hacked AirTags. And Elon Musk’s SNL appearance, and Dogecoin, and everything. Sponsors: Netgear.com/bestwifi Promocode: Tech10 Cybereason.com Links: Sony warns tight Playstation 5 supply to extend into next year (Bloomberg) Colonial hackers stole data Thursday ahead of pipeline shutdown (Bloomberg) Here’s the hacking group responsible for the Colonial Pipeline shutdown (CNBC) Clubhouse comes to Android after more than a year of iOS exclusivity (The Verge) AirTag hacked for the first time by security researcher [Video] (9to5 Mac) Apple's 2023 iPhone could ditch Qualcomm and launch with its own 5G chip (Laptop Mag) Apple Awards iPhone Glass Supplier Corning Additional $45M From Advanced Manufacturing Fund (Mac Rumors) Tesla privately admits Elon Musk has been exaggerating about ‘full self-driving’ (The Verge) SNL was a good night for Elon Musk — and a bad one for Dogecoin (Protocol) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 8, 2021
We talk about the Tip Jar and all the other big changes Twitter has been making. We get into the Basecamp brouhaha and also why I didn’t end up covering it this week. We talk about Dogecoin with someone who was there at the beginning of the project. And we even have an actual newsmaker on the show. At the very end, we talk to Tony Haile, founder of Scroll, which, if you’ll remember, just got acquired by Twitter this past week. Sponsor: Cybereason.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 7, 2021
Twitter introduces a tip jar, literally called Tip Jar. Why crypto trading juicing Square’s earnings is worth thinking about. What is the mysterious social space Netflix is surveying users about building? Yes, Substack is letting writers build magazines and newsrooms, so stop pointing out the obvious. And, of course, the weekend longreads suggestions. Sponsors: Skiff.org/ride Cybereason.com Links: Twitter is testing a new Tip Jar feature for sending money to your favorite accounts (The Verge) Square gets a bitcoin boost with revenue up 266% (CNBC) Playlists and podcasts? Netflix is exploring developing ‘N-Plus’ (Protocol) You can now build a “mini media empire” on Substack (Financial Times) Everyone yells at the Oversight Board (Platformer) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: How Much Energy Does Bitcoin Actually Consume? (Harvard Business Review) Crypto pros are getting tired of the 79 billion dollar dogecoin joke (Bloomberg) I'm seeing a lot of people FOMO quit their jobs to join "crypto" (Jon Syu) THE LAST DAYS OF SATOSHI: WHAT HAPPENED WHEN BITCOIN’S CREATOR DISAPPEARED (Bitcoin Magazine) John Swartzwelder, Sage of “The Simpsons” (The New Yorker) Subscribe to the RideHome+ Feed at: tech.supercast.tech Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 6, 2021
IBM says it has created the world’s first 2nm chip. Google really wants everyone to use two factor authentication. Twitter is enacting more speed bumps to get you to stop trolling people in your tweets. Apple’s delicate dance with Netflix over in app payments. And SpaceX finally gets its Mars rocket to… not blow up on landing. Sponsors: AirMedCareNetwork.com/tech offer code TECH Cybereason.com Links: IBM Creates First 2nm Chip (AnandTech) Google is going to start automatically enrolling users in two-step verification (ZDNet) Google relaxes work from home rules to let more staff be remote (Bloomberg) Twitter rolls out improved ‘reply prompts’ to cut down on harmful tweets (Tech Crunch) Emails reveal Apple’s attempts to stop Netflix from dropping App Store In-App Purchase support (9to5 Mac) EXCLUSIVE China's Tencent in talks with U.S. to keep gaming investments -sources (Reuters) SpaceX successfully lands its massive Starship for the first time (New Atlas) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 5, 2021
Facebook’s Oversight Board upholds the Trump account suspension. Signal trolls Facebook using its own ad system. An appeals court has ruled that Section 230 does not apply to app design. Kind of. It’s complicated. And the not complicated reason why some exchanges can’t tell you the price of Berkshire Hathaway stock right now. Think: partying like it’s 1999. Sponsors: Kraken.com/techmeme PingIdentity.com Links: Facebook’s Trump ban can stay in place, says Oversight Board (The Verge) Signal Tries to Run the Most Honest Facebook Ad Campaign Ever, Immediately Gets Banned (Gizmodo) Facebook Workplace reaches 7 million paid subscribers (CNBC) Facebook takes on Nextdoor with Neighborhoods tool (Cnet) Dell patches 12-year-old driver vulnerability impacting millions of PCs (The Record) Snapchat Can Be Sued Over Role In Fatal Car Crash, Court Rules (NPR) Epic CEO says he would have taken a special App Store deal if Apple had offered (9to5 Mac) Epic CEO argues Fortnite trial is an existential fight for the future (Protocol) Berkshire Hathaway’s Stock Price Is Too Much for Computers (WSJ) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 4, 2021
Twitter opens up Space more broadly, and buys the startup Scroll. So, what is the larger endgame here with their subscription play? Apple benefits from the turmoil in Google’s AI team. A breakdown of day one of the Apple/Epic Games trial. And how many people still pay a monthly subscription to AOL? Sponsors: Masterworks.io, promocode: ride Cybereason.com Links: Twitter expands Spaces to anyone with 600+ followers, details plans for tickets, reminders and more (Tech Crunch) Twitter is buying Scroll, the subscription service that removes ads from news sites (The Verge) Twitter makes all of its money from ads. It’s trying to change that. (Recode) Apple hires ex-Google AI scientist who resigned after colleagues' firings (Reuters) Ford backed Argo sees new sensor as key for self driving cars (Bloomberg) Apple and Epic go head-to-head in fiery opening remarks of highly-anticipated trial (9to5 Mac) About 1.5 million people still pay for AOL — but now they get tech support and identity theft services instead of dial-up internet (CNBC) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 3, 2021
Kuo says we’re gonna see a foldable iPhone soon. After the iOS privacy changes, Facebook is giving users popups begging them to turn tracking on. The interesting new “green” cryptocurrency that is launching today. And a backgrounder and breakdown of the Apple/Epic games trial that is kicking off today. Sponsors: PorkBun.com/tld/design use coupon code RIDE Cybereason.com Links: Kuo: Apple to Launch 8-Inch Foldable iPhone in 2023 (Mac Rumors) Verizon sells media businesses including Yahoo and AOL to Apollo for $5 billion (CNBC) Facebook and Instagram notices in iOS apps tell users tracking helps keep them ‘free of charge’ (The Verge) A new green cryptocurrency called Chia uses a less energy-intensive method of minting new coins. Here are 6 things to know about the digital asset before it starts trading on Monday. (Markets Insider) Microsoft explored reducing its Xbox store cut to shake up console gaming (The Verge) Apple’s App Store Had 78% Margin in 2019, Epic Expert Says (Bloomberg) Epic v. Apple: Everything you need to know about the biggest trial in tech (Protocol) 52 Week Newsletter: https://reading-waves.ghost.io/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 1, 2021
Last week, the great Ed Zitron ( @edzitron ) , head of the media relations firm EZPR, put out a post that got a lot of chatter where he laid out a bear case for Clubhouse. So I tweeted out, did anyone want to do a bull case for clubhouse so we could do a bull/bear debate episode? And the great Joseph Flaherty (@josephflaherty ) of Founders Collective raised his hand and said he’d be game to do it, so this is what we have today. An episode of two halves. First, Joe makes the bull case, then after the break, Ed gives the bear take. And that’s it? Great conversation. Great points made by both guys. Enjoy. Here is Ed's piece that we refer to throughout: Clubhouse and Audio's Feature Not A Product Problem (And How It Might Possibly Be Meerkat 2) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 30, 2021
The EU does indeed charge Apple with antitrust violations. Roku has indeed followed through on its threats to YouTube TV. Will the Magic Keyboard actually work with the new iPad Pros or not? And of course, the weekend longreads suggestions. Sponsors: Red-ID.com/brian AirMedCareNetwork.com/tech offer code TECH Links: EU Charges Apple With App Store Antitrust Violations in Spotify Case (Wall Street Jounal) YouTube TV removed from Roku channel store amid Google contract dispute (Axios) Apple says the new 12.9-inch iPad Pro will work with the old Magic Keyboard, but ‘may not precisely fit when closed’ (9to5 Mac) 'A Perfect Positive Storm’: Bonkers Dollars for Big Tech (New York Times) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: The new wave of crypto users: migrant workers (Rest of World) Europe Is Trying to Reclaim Its Lost Chipmaking Glory (Bloomberg) As Nintendo’s entertainment kingdom expands, it’s still about the games (Fast Company) Spotify’s Surprise (Stratechery) Artificial Intelligence Is Misreading Human Emotion (The Atlantic) mRNA vaccine technology (Peter Attia MD) How mRNA Technology Could Change the World (The Atlantic) Subscribe to the RideHome+ Feed at: tech.supercast.tech Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 29, 2021
Another earnings round up leads me to ask, what if the Covid era really is a historical inflection point for tech? AT&T has decided what to charge for HBO with ads, while Verizon is try to get someone to take AOL and Yahoo of their hands. What if we did streaming gaming, but just for browsing the web? Say hello to Mighty. And odds are, you’ve probably never gotten millimeter wave 5G on you fancy new phone. Sponsors: Red-ID.com/brian calderalab.com use code TECHMEME (all caps one word) at checkout Links: Facebook Revenue Grows 48% as Ad Prices Increase (The Information) Apple warns of supply shortages likely to impact iPad and Mac in Q3 (9to5 Mac) WarnerMedia plans to charge $9.99 per month for ad-supported HBO Max (CNBC) Verizon Explores Sale of Media Assets, Including Parts of Yahoo and AOL (Wall Street Journal) Amazon to spend $1B to boost pay for 500k operations workers by as much as $3 an hour (Geek Wire) Mighty wants to ‘make Chrome faster’ by streaming a browser from the cloud, starting on macOS (9to5 Google) Verizon “leads” all US carriers in mmWave 5G availability at 0.8% (Ars Technica) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 28, 2021
The Consumer Technology Association says they’re doing it live! As in, an in-person CES once again. Samsung announces two superlight laptops that are nonetheless, still “pro.” Netflix launches a new interface to take away what to watch fatigue. A roundup of tech earnings. And help Microsoft pick a new default font for Office. Sponsors: Red-ID.com/brian Oracle.com/goto/ride Links: CES will return to Las Vegas as an in-person event in 2022 (The Verge) Samsung’s new Galaxy Book Pro and Galaxy Book Pro 360 are lightweight laptops with OLED screens (The Verge) AirPods demand reportedly falling as Apple cuts production by 25-30% (9 to 5 Mac) Inside Netflix’s Quest to End Scrolling: How the company is working to solve one of its biggest threats: decision fatigue. (Vulture) Huawei reports 16.5% drop in revenues in first quarter, warns of ‘another challenging year’ ahead (CNBC) Microsoft is changing the default Office font and wants your help to pick a new one (The Verge) 52-Week High Newsletter Tool ( https://reading-waves.ghost.io/ ) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 27, 2021
Is the EU about to bring the hammer down on Apple? Are Apple M2 chips right around the corner? Spotify launches its Podcast Subscription offering, and it is an interesting contrast to Apple’s. A whole slew of new Fire Tablets from Amazon. Lyft exits the self-driving game. And we’re in a dark new world when it comes to ransomware attacks. Sponsors: Skiff.org/ride Cyberreason.com Links: EU to charge Apple with anti-competitive behaviour this week (Financial Times) Spotify launches podcast subscriptions, but you can’t subscribe in-app (The Verge) Apple's follow-up to M1 chip goes into mass production for Mac (Nikkei Asia) Amazon’s new Fire HD 10 tablet has slimmer bezels and better specs (The Verge) Lyft sells self-driving unit to Toyota’s Woven Planet for $550M (Tech Crunch) Ransomware gang threatens to expose police informants if ransom is not paid (The Record) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 26, 2021
Facebook rolls out that Spotify integration. Roku accuses Google of making anticompetitive demands for YouTube TV. iOS 14.5 rolls out, and with it that App Tracking Transparency tool. Apple plans a big new campus in North Carolina. And DoNotPay’s latest service helps protect your selfies from the global panopticon. Sponsors: CalderaLab.com use code TECHMEME (all caps one word) at checkout Kiwico.com, Promocode ride for 30 percent off Links: Facebook introduces a new miniplayer that streams Spotify within the Facebook app (Tech Crunch) Zoom launches Immersive View to unify participants in the same virtual room (Venture Beat) Roku says it may lose YouTube TV app after Google made anti-competitive demands (Axios) OnlyFans feels the lockdown love as transactions hit £1.7bn (Financial Times) German groups file Apple antitrust complaint as it makes privacy changes (Financial Times) To Be Tracked or Not? Apple Is Now Giving Us the Choice. (New York Times) Apple will spend $1 billion to open 3,000-employee campus in North Carolina (CNBC) DoNotPay's new tool makes your photos undetectable to facial recognition software (Input) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 24, 2021
Figuring out the AirTags play. New iMac lust. And a deep discussion of the Apple Podcasts Subscription thing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 23, 2021
Spotify looks like it’s going to quickly counter Apple with a Podcasts Subscription competitor that might be extremely creator friendly. The mystery of the driverless Tesla car crash. Worth noting how quickly things have been turned around for the better over at Snapchat. And of course, the Weekend Longreads Suggestions. Sponsors: Tovala.com/ride AirMedCareNetwork.com/tech offer code TECH Links: Apple, Spotify and the New Battle Over Who Wins Podcasting (Wall Street Journal) Did a Human or a Computer Crash This Tesla? (Intelligencer) Snap reports accelerating revenue growth, strong user numbers for first quarter (CNBC) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: Netflix, Disney and Amazon’s Streaming Wars Heat Up Overseas (Wall Street Journal) The pandemic nearly crushed pet-care startup Rover (Business Insider) Meet Virtual Reality, Your New Physical Therapist (New York Times) TMSC's expansion challenge told in 10 timely charts (Bloomberg) Why the Chip Shortage Is So Hard to Overcome (Wall Street Journal) Designed by Apple in California, Not Assembled in China (Above Avalon) 15 Years of Spotify: How the Streaming Giant Has Changed and Reinvented the Music Industry (Variety) Subscribe to the RideHome+ Feed at: tech.supercast.tech Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 22, 2021
Dish partners with AWS to build the first public cloud-based 5G network. iPadOS 15 might let you go full widget on the home screen. Some of those stolen schematics suggest we will be getting the MacBook Pros we deserve. I’ve got an interesting raise for a product every Product Manager should know about. And the first reviews of the Apple Air Tags are in. Sponsors: PingIdentity.com NewYorker.com/techmeme, promocode techmeme Links: US satellite company Dish taps Amazon for 5G launch (Financial Times) Apple Plans Notifications, iPad Home Screen Upgrades for iOS 15 (Bloomberg) Stolen MacBook Pro Schematics Confirm Apple's Plans to Add More Ports and Remove Touch Bar (Mac Rumors) Software product planning platform Productboard raises $72M (Venture Beat) AIRTAG LOCATION TRACKERS ARE SMART, CAPABLE, AND VERY APPLE (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 21, 2021
The EU proposes a big new regulatory framework for AI. A ransomware gang threatens to release Apple product schematics unless they get paid off. Fallout from yesterday’s Apple event including what you can and cannot put on your AirTags. Netflix has disappointed Wall Street, and Amazon is expanding its “pay with your palm” program to more Whole Foods locations. Sponsors: Skiff.org/ride Tovala.com/ride Classified: RobBettis.com Links: Artificial Intelligence, Facial Recognition Face Curbs in New EU Proposal (Wall Street Journal) Instagram launches tools to filter out abusive DMs based on keywords and emojis, and to block people, even on new accounts (Tech Crunch) Apple announces AirTag accessories that cost more than the device (9 to 5 Mac) Ransomware gang tries to extort Apple hours ahead of Spring Loaded event (The Record) Netflix falls after pandemic boom reverses to rare weakness (Bloomberg) Amazon is bringing palm-scanning payment system to Whole Foods stores (CNBC) (Order your own classified at: https://www.ridehome.info/p/classifieds/ ) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 20, 2021
All of the headlines from Apple’s “Spring Loaded” event. All of the announcements Mark Zuckerberg made in that Discord room yesterday. Binance hires a former regulator to be its new CEO. And Fitbit wants to sell you a fashion forward Fitness Tracker. Sponsors: ManlyBands.com/techmeme Kracken.com/techmeme Classified: RobBettis.com Links: Apple updates 11" and 12.9" iPad Pros with M1, 8-core GPU, Thunderbolt, up to 2TB storage, 5G, 1080p FaceTime HD camera, and a miniLED screen on the 12.9" model (Techmeme) Apple introduces Podcasts Subscriptions to pay creators for content in redesigned app (9to5Mac) Facebook unveils suite of new audio products (Axios) Clubhouse’s Monthly Downloads Plunged 72% Last Month (The Wrap) Cryptocurrency Giant Binance.US Hires Former Top Bank Regulator (WSJ) Fitbit’s Luxe is a fashion-focused fitness band that costs $149.95 (The Verge) (Order your own classified at: https://www.ridehome.info/p/classifieds/ ) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 19, 2021
Mon. 04/19 – Facebook To Announce Going Big On Audio, Via Audio? Facebook has probably just outlined its plans to go big on audio, via a digital audio room. Clubhouse has officially announced that big new raise, probably in reaction to that, to some degree, A16Z did indeed triple down, and I try to outline all the threads for you. Britain might block ARM’s sale to Nvidia. And what to expect from tomorrow’s Apple event. Sponsors: Masterworks.io promocode ride Fundrise.com/techmeme Links: Facebook plans to go after Clubhouse — and podcasts — with a suite of new audio products (Vox) Clubhouse closes an undisclosed $4B valuation Series C round, as tech giants’ clones circle (Tech Crunch) UK invokes national security to investigate Nvidia's ARM deal (Reuters) Tencent's Ma dangles billions in aid as antitrust scrutiny grows (Bloomberg) Microsoft’s xCloud beta arrives on iOS and PC this week (The Verge) What to Expect From Apple's April 20 Event: New iPads, AirTags and More (Mac Rumors) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 17, 2021
Chris Fralic of First Round Capital was involved in funding such companies as Ring, Hotel Tonight, Warby Parker, Rec Room, and as you’ll hear today, Roblox. But in addition to being a legend, as you’ll hear, Chris is just an all around good dude... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 16, 2021
The biggest semiconductor companies in the world warn than the global chip shortage might roll on for years. Could that recent batch of Facebook accounts showing up on the dark web lead to the dreaded maximal GDPR action? Apple says it pays artists more than Spotify does, but is that really true? Depends on how you run the numbers. And of course, the weekend longreads suggestions. Sponsors: Skiff.org/ride GivingMultiplier.org/techmeme Links: Intel, Nvidia, TSMC execs agree: Chip shortage could last into 2023 (Ars Technica) Facebook faces ‘mass action’ lawsuit in Europe over 2019 breach (Tech Crunch) Apple Music Reveals How Much It Pays When You Stream a Song (Wall Street Journal) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: Dogecoin: The meme that somehow became a real cryptocurrency (Cnet) They were ancient internet memes. Now NFTs are making them rich (Wired) Why did Microsoft spend $19.7 billion to purchase Nuance? The answer may lie beyond health care. (Protocol) A Little-Known Upstart Might Just Beat Google to Autonomous Driving (Bloomberg Business Week) Hip-Hop Loves Cash App, and That Might Be Why Jack Dorsey Bought Tidal (GQ) Why a Chinese invasion of Taiwan would be a catastrophe for China and the world (Doxa) Strong Bad ... thank you: The Flash icon endures as the internet rapidly changes (Polygon) Subscribe to the RideHome+ Feed at: tech.supercast.tech Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 15, 2021
Jeff Bezos pens his farewell to the troops, and also, the shareholders. A big Google Earth update. Some thoughts on yesterday’s Coinbase debut. DJI updates its mid-level workhorse drone. And Ford is taking baby steps to that sort of super cruise control that I really want while we’re wait for full autonomy. Sponsors: AirMedCareNetwork.com/tech offer code TECH AwayTravel.com/techmeme Links: Jeff Bezos says Amazon needs to do a better job for employees in his final shareholder letter as CEO (CNBC) Google Earth’s historical 3D time lapses show the ravages of climate change (The Verge) Apple announces $200 million investment fund for forest restoration projects (9 to 5 Mac) Parallels 16.5 with native Apple Silicon support now available, up 30% faster VM performance than Intel (9 to 5 Mac) I funded Coinbase in 2012. Making 6000x on my best startup investment yet (Gary Tan) DJI’s new Mavic Air 2S comes with one big upgrade (The Verge) Ford’s hands-free BlueCruise driving feature coming soon to the F-150 and Mustang Mach-E (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 14, 2021
Wed. 04/14 – Now It’s the FBI Doing The (Legal?) Hacking The FBI hacked into some Exchange servers to prevent further hacking of Exchange servers. Ming-Chi Kuo thinks the iPhone mini and the notch are both going away after this year. Sony wants you to think of their phones as cameras first. Oculus gets a key new wireless update. And yes, those Boston Dynamics robot dogs have been spotted on the streets of NYC. Sponsors: Startmail.com/Techmeme for 50% off your first year! Blockchain.com Links: FBI Accesses Computers Around Country to Delete Microsoft Exchange Hacks (Vice) Kuo: 2022 iPhones to Feature 48-Megapixel Camera, 8K Video, and 6.1 and 6.7" Sizes With No 5.4" Mini Option (Mac Rumors) Kuo: Apple to Adopt Under Display Face ID Starting With 2023 iPhones (Mac Rumors) Kuo: 2023 iPhones to Feature 'Periscopic' Telephoto Lens (Mac Rumors) Samsung's third Unpacked event of 2021 set for April 28 (Cnet) Sony announces the Xperia 1 III and Xperia 5 III with variable telephoto lenses (The Verge) Oculus Quest 2 owners can start testing wireless PC VR gaming with Air Link (Engadget) NYPD Deploys "Creepy" New Robot Dog In Manhattan Public Housing Complex (Gothamist) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 13, 2021
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) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 12, 2021
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) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 10, 2021
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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 9, 2021
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) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 8, 2021
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) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 7, 2021
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) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 6, 2021
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) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 5, 2021
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) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 3, 2021
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… Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 2, 2021
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) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 1, 2021
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) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 31, 2021
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 games in the ‘multiverse’ (GamesBeat) RideHome+ Feed: tech.supercast.tech Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 30, 2021
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 first union vote and reports about workers peeing in bottles (Insider) There's Something Fishy About Amazon's Anti-Union Twitter Army [Updated] (Gizmodo) Cameo Aims to Connect Celebrities With Fans and It’s Now Valued at $1 Billion (WSJ) Volvo and Aurora team up on fully autonomous trucks for North America (The Verge) Xiaomi announces the Mi Mix Fold, its first folding phone (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 29, 2021
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 strategy (The Verge) Amazon Union Vote Ends as Both Sides Brace for Contentious Count (Bloomberg) Amazon started a Twitter war because Jeff Bezos was pissed (Recode) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 28, 2021
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? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 27, 2021
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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 26, 2021
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 — and skeptics (TechCrunch) Analysis: Money no object as governments race to build chip arsenals (Reuters) Buffer overruns, license violations, and bad code: FreeBSD 13’s close call (ArsTechnica) VC Firms Have Long Backed AI. Now, They Are Using It. (WSJ) The Hard Truth About Bitcoin's Energy Consumption (Decrypt) Mac OS X Turns 20: A Look Back at the Operating System That Helped Save Apple (PCMag) Subscribe to the RideHome+ Feed at: tech.supercast.tech Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 25, 2021
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 ‘unofficial mayor’ Chrissy Teigen quits platform after years of harassment (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 24, 2021
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) Amazon hires former executive Adam Selipsky to run AWS (CNBC) Prince Harry Is Taking on a New Job Title: Chief Impact Officer at BetterUp (WSJ) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 23, 2021
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’s first tweet sold as an NFT for an oddly specific $2,915,835.47 (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 22, 2021
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-demand logistics and fulfillment startup Flowspace raises $31M (VentureBeat) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 20, 2021
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 Raises episode that RideHome+ subscribers got this weekend. Less than half the content. If hearing these gives you a bit of FOMO, of course you can always sign up for the RideHome+ feed anytime, at tech.supercast.tech. As always, link to sign up for that feed is in the bottom of the show notes. Sponsors: ManlyBands.com/techmeme Subscribe to the RideHome+ Feed by tapping this link, right here in your podcast app: tech.supercast.tech Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 19, 2021
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 Valley as We Know It? (O'Reilly) Moore's Law for Everything (SamAltman.com) Empathetic Robots Are Killing Off the World’s Call-Center Industry (Bloomberg Businessweek) Loans that hijack your phone are coming to India (Rest of World) How a social app you’ve never heard of became a haven for Gen Z (Protocol) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 18, 2021
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 praising PCs (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 17, 2021
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 (WSJ) Clubhouse Tweet Thread (ShaanVP) Tampa Twitter hacker agrees to three years in prison (Tampa Bay Times) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 16, 2021
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) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 15, 2021
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 creators on its platform (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 12, 2021
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 grew up with its Gen Z users to become a mainstream success (South China Morning Post) Sometimes It’s OK to Give Up (Wired) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 11, 2021
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) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 10, 2021
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 that it's a niche, gimmicky product that could fail (Insider) Inside Facebook Reality Labs: The Next Era of Human-Computer Interaction (Tech@Facebook) Facebook's ready to talk about how its AR glasses will work with neural wristbands (CNET) Samsung sets March 17 for its second Unpacked event of 2021 (CNET) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 9, 2021
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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 8, 2021
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) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 6, 2021
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? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 5, 2021
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 passports (Protocol) How a tiny startup is reinventing the DVR for the cord-cutter era (Fast Company) China’s Tencent Becomes an Investment Powerhouse, Using Deals to Expand Its Empire (WSJ) I have one of the most advanced prosthetic arms in the world — and I hate it (Input) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 4, 2021
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) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 3, 2021
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) Amazon shaves app icon mustache that raised eyebrows (The Verge) My podcast NFT! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 2, 2021
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 ‘Succession.’ You Can Watch ‘90 Day Fiancé’ for 100 Hours Straight. (NYTimes) Researchers introduce a new generation of tiny, agile drones (MIT News) Tonight's Clubhouse Experiment Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 1, 2021
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/Andreessen Horowitz) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 27, 2021
Chris Messina and I go deeper on some of the news of the week. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 26, 2021
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 Suggestions: Xiaomi is undercutting the whole tech industry. And it’s working (Wired) American Idle (Eugene Wei) Why Plus Is a Minus When Naming Your Streaming Site (NYTimes) Shockingly Real Tom Cruise Deepfakes Are Invading TikTok (Daily Beast) We're Just Rediscovering a 19th-Century Pandemic Strategy (The Atlantic) Subscribe to RideHome+ to listen to the Gadgets episode here: tech.supercast.tech Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 25, 2021
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 transcription (VentureBeat) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 24, 2021
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 Platformer) VCs are chasing Hopin upwards of $5-6B valuation (TechCrunch) Qualcomm’s new AR ‘Smart Viewer’ lets you pin virtual screens to your walls (The Verge) Link to the Clubhouse Event Tonight at 10pm eastern, 7pm pacific Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 23, 2021
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) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 22, 2021
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) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 20, 2021
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 and corporate and startup perspective. And also, we’re going to talk to Seth Rininger ( @Sethmr1989 ) who is a kind-hearted listener to this show who, when I put out the word for someone to help me get onboarded with Oculus platform, kindly answered the call and helped guide me through getting my VR legs under me. My discussion with Seth is designed to give you an idea of where VR is at right now, in case you’re looking to give it a go yourself. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 19, 2021
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 million lesson in the importance of UI design (Ars Technica) All Your Base Are Belong To Us has turned 20 (The Verge) What Peter Jackson’s original two-movie Lord of the Rings almost looked like (Polygon) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 18, 2021
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) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 17, 2021
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 New Emojis in iOS 14.5 (Emojipedia) The essay we hope to discuss on Clubhouse tonight: Why did I leave Google or, why did I stay so long? (Noam Bardin) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 16, 2021
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 buz z (Axios) The bull case for Dispo (Justin Potts) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 15, 2021
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) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 13, 2021
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… Sponsors: AirMedCareNetwork.com/tech offer code TECH Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 12, 2021
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) Cadillac Super Cruise Review: Better Than Tesla’s Autopilot (MotorTrend) Chip Shortage Spirals Beyond Cars to Phones and Consoles (Bloomberg | Quint) HOW SONY DESIGNED THE PS5’S ULTIMATE EASTER EGG (The Verge) Who Really Created the Marvel Universe? (The New Yorker) Listen to this weekend's Interesting Raise Episode by signing up right here: tech.supercast.tech Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 11, 2021
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) Machines Are Inventing New Math We've Never Seen (Motherboard) tech.supercast.tech Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 10, 2021
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 Features in iOS 14.5 for Crowdsourcing Accidents, Speed Traps and Hazards (MacRumors) Is This Beverly Hills Cop Playing Sublime’s ‘Santeria’ to Avoid Being Live-Streamed? (Vice) Subscribe to RideHome+ at tech.supercast.tech Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 9, 2021
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 (Motherboard) tech.supercast.tech Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 8, 2021
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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 6, 2021
This is Garry's YouTube channel . Subscribe to RideHome+ at tech.supercast.tech Or, watch the full video on YouTube Here . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 5, 2021
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 Longreads Suggestions: Andy Jassy Twitter Thread (@ankithharathi) This Hedge Fund Made $700 Million on GameStop (WSJ) PFOF is the Ad Model for Brokerage (Justin Paterno) Superstar Cities Are in Trouble (The Atlantic) They’re Flocking to America to Make a Fortune Playing Video Games (NYTimes) Subscribe to RideHome+ at tech.supercast.tech Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 4, 2021
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 Tech where it hurts (Washington Post) tech.supercast.tech for the premium feed Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 3, 2021
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 audio / video pre-check (The Verge) Zoom adds virtual receptionists for when people start going back to the office (CNBC) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 2, 2021
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, Renewing Its Commitment to Offices (WSJ) tech.supercast.tech Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 1, 2021
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 (WSJ) Elon Musk busts Clubhouse limit (TechCrunch) Recording of Musk on Clubhouse (Final Stand/YouTube) RideHome+ Feed Signup: tech.supercast.tech Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 30, 2021
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) TCL 20 5G and TCL 20 SE are new affordable smartphones for entertainment (GSMArena) Vuzix’s new microLED smart glasses look like tech you’d actually want to wear on your face (The Verge) Vuzix’s new microLED-powered smart glasses will arrive this summer (TechCrunch) This is Sony’s Airpeak drone (The Verge) (Sign up to give Airpeak feedback here) Linksys unveils a next-gen router that senses motion in your home (CNET) Western Digital SSDs (AnAndTech) YSL’s lipstick pod gadget will create whatever shade you want (The Verge) Samsung's new robot vacuum uses lidar and empties its own bin like a fancy Roomba (CNET) How Samsung’s JetBot 90 AI+ Reimagines Cleaning (Samsung Newsroom) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 29, 2021
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 Forums (Bloomberg) Think Americans Wouldn’t Wager on Russian Table Tennis? Care to Bet? (NyTimes) CashApp Is King (Aika's Newsletter) Can Growth Go Out of Style? (Irrelevant Investor) YouTube’s Spammy Sex Bots Make a Ton of Money (OneZero) Who’s Making All Those Scam Calls? (NYTimes Magazine) Subscribe to the RideHome+ Feed: tech.supercast.tech Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 28, 2021
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: R obinhood 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 disappoints Wall Street despite strong profits (CNN Business) Facebook's 'Oversight Board' overturns 4 cases in first rulings (NBC News) Subscribe to Ride Home+ at tech.supercast.tech Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 27, 2021
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) !!! Subscribe to Ride Home+ tech.supercast.tech Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 26, 2021
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 boxes are coming to people’s homes, whether they want them or not (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 25, 2021
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 interfere with medical devices (Silicon Angle) SPAC boom could finally provide an exit ramp for digital publishers like Buzzfeed and Vice Media (CNBC) When SPACs Attack! A New Force Is Invading Wall Street. (WSJ) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 23, 2021
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 satellites, do you know we could shoot a super small probe, about the size of a small satellite, attached to a solar sail and pushed by a laser right now, today? Humanity could reach another star for the first time in just 20 years… in all of our lifetimes, and we could get the data and pictures back within 24 years. Avi is working on this with the backing of Yuri Milner and Mark Zuckerberg among others. So, come for Oumuamua, and stay for the crazy space project that, in my opinion, should be the one we all band together to pursue. Sponsors: Netgear.com/bestwifi Metalab.co Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 22, 2021
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 Clubhouse (OneZero) SAMSUNG GALAXY S21 ULTRA REVIEW: THE REAL DEAL (The Verge) Samsung Galaxy S21 review: The best Android phone for the money (Engadget) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 21, 2021
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) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 20, 2021
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 (Stratechery) Twitter Thread on the Intel stuff Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 19, 2021
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) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 16, 2021
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) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 15, 2021
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 investment ban (Financial Times) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: Is Letterboxd Becoming a Blockbuster? (NYTimes) Why the Canadian Tech Scene Doesn’t Work (AlexDanco.com) An Oral History of Wikipedia, the Web’s Encyclopedia (OneZero) CRISPR and the Splice to Survive (The New Yorker) Spotify Bets Big on Podcasts as a Path to Profitability (Bloomberg Businessweek) Subscribe to the premium feed here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 14, 2021
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) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 13, 2021
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) WhatsApp clarifies it’s not giving all your data to Facebook after surge in Signal and Telegram users (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 12, 2021
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 Information) LG’s Rollable phone is real and launching in 2021 (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 11, 2021
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) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 8, 2021
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 Video Game Empire (Bloomberg) FarmVille Once Took Over Facebook. Now Everything Is FarmVille. (NYTimes) Archaeology is going digital to harness the power of Big Data (Ars Technica) Here are the 6 most exciting space missions of 2021 (TNW) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 7, 2021
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) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 6, 2021
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 itself (Polygon) Cameo launches hiring spree following banner year (Axios) Link to the Clubhouse parody video (@PottsJustin) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 5, 2021
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 contact tracing data for criminal investigations (ZDNet) Dell built a range of monitors for video conferencing (Engadget) Dell's new Latitude 9000 laptops feature an automatic webcam shutter (Engadget) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 4, 2021
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) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 30, 2020
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 Billion. Now He Has to Deliver (Bloomberg) Where Year Two of the Pandemic Will Take Us (The Atlantic) With Money, and Waste, China Fights for Chip Independence (NYTimes) The Lasting Lessons of John Conway’s Game of Life (NYTimes) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 29, 2020
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/tinyama Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 28, 2020
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) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 23, 2020
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 Centers (NYTimes) The North Carolina Kid Who Cracked YouTube’s Secret Code (Bloomberg) What if life were a video game? These 650,000 people imagine it that way. (The Washington Post) Czech Startup Founders Turn Billionaires Without VC Help (Bloomberg) Inside the Whale: An Interview with an Anonymous Amazonian (Logic Magazine) Star Wars toys keep changing, and leaving kids behind (Polygon) Shigeru Miyamoto Wants to Create a Kinder World (The New Yorker) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 22, 2020
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 unicorn after backing from Microsoft, Google, others Ouster, maker of self-driving tech, agrees $1.9 billion deal to go public (Reuters) SoftBank launches blank-check company to join SPAC craze (CNBC) IAC shares jump after Vimeo spinoff announcement (CNBC) The bizarre case of the sexy butt-flap onesie that has taken over the internet (Business Insider) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 21, 2020
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 (MacRumors) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 18, 2020
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 Suggestions: Where Tech Workers Are Moving: New LinkedIn Data vs. the Narrative (Big Technology Newsletter) Why I Decided to Leave Substack (A Media Operator Newsletter) New WarnerMedia chief Jason Kilar is moving to shake up Hollywood. Insiders are questioning if he has what it takes to turn around the entertainment giant without destroying it. (Business Insider) Can’t get a PlayStation 5? Meet the Grinch bots snapping up the holidays’ hottest gift. (Washington Post) How AltaVista, our first good search engine, fell into the digital abyss (Tedium) My $200,000 Sushi Dinner (NYTimes) Link to today's easter egg on YouTube Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 17, 2020
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 Is Launching on Roku, After Device Maker and WarnerMedia Finally Bury the Hatchet (Variety) Texas Accuses Google and Facebook of an Illegal Conspiracy (Wired) Substack launches an RSS reader to organize all your newsletter subscriptions (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 16, 2020
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 Verge) I’m so excited about this board games console I just peed a little (TNW) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 15, 2020
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) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 14, 2020
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) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 12, 2020
Connie Chan, from Andreessen Horowitz, talking about: Live, Social, and Shoppable: The Future of Video Sponsors: VistaPrint.com/techmeme TinyCapital.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 11, 2020
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 Suit or Not (Bloomberg Businessweek) Who’s Behind the Fight Between Warner Bros. and Hollywood? It’s AT&T (NYTimes) Inside the Human Science of Spotify’s New Music Friday Playlist (Variety) How eBird Changed Birding Forever (Outside) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 10, 2020
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 Kottke Ride Home Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 9, 2020
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 of Self-Driving Car Unit to AI Chief (Bloomberg) The state of European tech 2020: 20 things you should know (Sifted) Wikifactory has raised $4.5M for its ‘GitHub for hardware’ to make almost anything remotely (TechCrunch) Spam calls grew 18% this year despite the global pandemic (TechCrunch) San Francisco's 35% Plunge in Rents Shows Effects of Tech Fleeing City (Bloomberg) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 8, 2020
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," Denounces Warner Bros.' Plan (The Hollywood Reporter) ‘Dune’ Producer Legendary Entertainment May Sue Warner Bros. Over HBO Max Deal (Variety) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 7, 2020
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) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 5, 2020
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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 4, 2020
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. (NYTimes) Why Most Newsletters Fail (What Went Wrong) These Tech Startups Want to Sell You Their Life Insurance (WSJ) A.A. to Zoom, Substance Abuse Treatment Goes Online (NYTimes) An oral history of the hamburger icon (by the people who were there) (invision) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 3, 2020
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 you create Street View photos with just a phone (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 2, 2020
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 frame (TechCrunch) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 1, 2020
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-enabled XR-3 VR headset shows where VR and AR are bound to blend (CNET) Justices express qualms about sweeping computer crime law (Politico) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 30, 2020
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) Tony Hsieh, RIP (Om.co) Tony. (Paul Bradley Carr) Zappos CEO Tony Hsieh’s Legacy, From Tech Leaders Who Knew Him Well (Forbes) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 25, 2020
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 Becoming Amazon? (NYTimes Magazine) Hollywood’s ‘We’re Not in Kansas Anymore’ Moment (NYTimes) How Venture Capitalists Are Deforming Capitalism (The New Yorker) Substack got lucky, and so did Margins (Margins) Why a Paid Newsletter Won't Be Enough Money for Most Writers (And That's Fine): The Multi-SKU Creator (Hunter Walk) If your website's full of assholes, it's your fault (Anil Dash) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 24, 2020
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) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 23, 2020
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) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 21, 2020
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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 20, 2020
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 Substackerati (CJR) Jack Ma vs. the Party: Inside the collapse of the world's biggest IPO (Nikkei Asia) Ok Google: please publish your DKIM secret keys (Matthew Green's Blog) ‘Like Being Grilled Alive’: The Fear of Living With a Hackable Heart (OneZero) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 19, 2020
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 TensorFlow optimized for macOS Big Sur (VentureBeat) The iPhone 12 Pro Max: Real Pro Photography (Halide Blog) Apple embraces iOS 14 home screen customization by fixing how app shortcuts work (TechCrunch) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 18, 2020
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) Not Dead Yet: News Site Mistakenly Runs Dozens of V.I.P. Obituaries (NYTimes) Tonight's bonus episode taping. 9pm eastern. 6pm pacific. https://zoom.us/j/91680804823 Meeting ID: 916 8080 4823 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 17, 2020
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 PCs, no fan required (Engadget) Yeah, Apple's M1 MacBook Pro is powerful, but it's the battery life that will blow you away (TechCrunch) Office Hours Link (Tomorrow 9pm eastern): https://zoom.us/j/91680804823 Meeting ID: 916 8080 4823 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 16, 2020
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 International Space Station (USAToday) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 13, 2020
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 Through Absurd Hoops To Use Exam Monitoring Software (Motherboard) Masayoshi Son Again Pulled SoftBank From the Brink. This Time He Had Help. (WSJ) The Digital Nomads Did Not Prepare for This (NYTimes) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 12, 2020
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) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 11, 2020
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 tech giants, wiping US$102 billion from Alibaba, Tencent and Meituan stocks (South China Morning Post) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 10, 2020
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) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 9, 2020
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) Biden’s victory was just what tech wanted. Now what? (Protocol) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 7, 2020
You know the drill... Sponsors: Canva.me/ride Metalab.co Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 6, 2020
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 Florida recount in 2000 (Fast Company) An Oral History of 'Marge vs The Monorail', the Episode That Changed 'The Simpsons' (Motherboard) Tonight! 9pm Eastern/6pm Pacific, join the listener call-in episode here: https://zoom.us/j/94445550255 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 5, 2020
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 (Bloomberg) Razer's first mainstream laptop still has an RGB keyboard (Engadget) XBOX SERIES X REVIEW: A NEXT-GEN PC (The Verge) Link for listener call-in episode TOMORROW night at 9pm eastern: https://zoom.us/j/94445550255 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 4, 2020
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 Conten t (The Hollywood Reporter) Big Tech Snags Hollywood Talent to Pursue Enhanced Reality (WSJ) Link for tomorrow night's Listener Call In Episode: https://zoom.us/j/94445550255 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 3, 2020
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) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 2, 2020
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) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 30, 2020
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 — now it’s the only future (The Verge) The Elysium effect: The coming backlash to the billionaire 'NewSpace' revolution (Space.com) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 29, 2020
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: iPhone 12 Pro Demand Higher Than Expected (MacRumors) Genshin Impact made $245m in its first month on mobile alone (GamesIndustry.biz) Amazon Argues Users Don't Actually Own Purchased Prime Video Content (The Hollywood Reporter) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 28, 2020
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) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 27, 2020
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) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 26, 2020
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) Americans Working From Home Face Internet Usage Limits (WSJ) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 24, 2020
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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 23, 2020
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 special effects (Engadget) The Google Case (Tim Wu) Audio’s Opportunity and Who Will Capture It (Mathew Ball) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 22, 2020
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 the tech is not ready (Washington Post) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 21, 2020
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 (TechCrunch) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 20, 2020
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 Azure Space initiative; partners with SpaceX (ZDNet) APPLE IPHONE 12 PRO REVIEW: AHEAD OF ITS TIME (The Verge) APPLE IPHONE 12 REVIEW: RAISING THE BAR (The Verge) Review: iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro, two gems, one jewel (TechCrunch) iPhone 12 and 12 Pro review: Apple enters the 5G era (Engadget) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 19, 2020
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 Influence Over Markets Eclipses Dot-Com Bubble Peak (WSJ) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 17, 2020
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 promise of crypto? What, the heck, is DeFi? What is it doing? It’s hard for a knucklehead like me to get my mind around. So, I sent out the bat signal to Brady Dale of CoinDesk to tell me, what the heck is going on with DeFi? Brady's rough history of the DeFi movement Brady's explanation of Yield Farming Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 16, 2020
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. Airports. Now It Wants to Own Your Entire Digital Identity. (OneZero) THE CONTEST TO PROTECT ALMOST EVERYTHING ON THE INTERNET (WSJ) Cory Doctorow’s Writing Radicalized Young Hackers. Now He Wants to Redeem Them (Wired) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 15, 2020
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) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 14, 2020
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 to make remote work permanent (CNBC) Dropbox goes Virtual First (Dropbox Blog) WordPress can now turn blog posts into tweetstorms automatically (TechCrunch) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 13, 2020
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) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 12, 2020
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) Caterpillar bets on self-driving machines impervious to pandemics (Reuters) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 9, 2020
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 possible over cable (ArsTechnica) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: Inside the US campaign to cut China out of the tech supply chain (NikkeiAsia) Why media formats (like Snapchat Stories and TikTok music videos) become hits? (Medium/Eric Feng) THE MASK BARONS OF ETSY (The Verge) A Major Online Learning Platform Was Created by a Subterranean Religious ‘Cult’ Whose Leader Has Been Accused of Violence and Abuse (OneZero) Definitely not Windows 95: What operating systems keep things running in space? (ArsTechnica) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 8, 2020
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 Disposable Camera App (WSJ) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 7, 2020
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) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 6, 2020
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) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 5, 2020
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) What Is DeFi? (CoinDesk) States are finally starting to use the Covid-tracking tech Apple and Google built — here’s why (CNBC) Clinical Trials Hit by Ransomware Attack on Health Tech Firm (NYTimes) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 3, 2020
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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 2, 2020
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 Soldier Spy (Intelligencer) Sourcegraph: Devs are managing 100x more code now than they did in 2010 (Ars Technica) HOTorNOT shaped the social web as we know it (Mashable) Inside Facebook’s quadruple play: How the company is finally melding its apps (Fast Company) HYPE MANOF THE CENTURY (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 1, 2020
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) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 30, 2020
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 in (but not buy) collectibles (TechCrunch) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 29, 2020
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 together (CNN Business) Netflix Price Hike Is “Probable” Soon, But It Won’t Slow Company’s Roll, Analyst Says (Deadline) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 28, 2020
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 Review) Amazon Prime Day set for Oct 13 and 14 after coronavirus delayed original summer date (CNBC) The original FarmVille on Facebook is shutting down at the end of the year (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 26, 2020
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) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 25, 2020
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 (WSJ) How Nvidia’s CEO Cooked Up America’s Biggest Semiconductor Company (WSJ) This Deal Helped Turn Google Into an Ad Powerhouse. Is That a Problem? (NYTimes) The Supply of Disinformation Will Soon Be Infinite (The Atlantic) Why iPhone users are suddenly going wild creating custom looks for their home screens (CNBC) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 24, 2020
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) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 23, 2020
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 company can build a $25,000 self-driving car within three years (CNBC) Elon Musk promises $25,000 Tesla and says Model S 'Plaid' is coming soon (CNN) Pinterest officially launches new Story Pins format in beta (TechCrunch) Why Spotify Has So Many Bizarre, Generic Artists Like ‘White Noise Baby Sleep’ (OneZero) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 22, 2020
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 your Xbox One games to your Android phone for free (The Verge) Microsoft to Buy Bethesda for $7.5 Billion to Boost Xbox (Bloomberg) Microsoft to acquire Elder Scrolls, Fallout, other hit games in $7.5B deal for Bethesda Softworks parent (GeekWire) Watch a demo of Royole’s new folding phone, on sale today for roughly $1,500 (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 21, 2020
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 (TechCrunch) Amazon details its low-bandwidth Sidewalk neighborhood network, coming to Echo and Tile devices soon (TechCrunch) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 18, 2020
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 entertainment business’ (Protocol) Remote Work Is Killing the Hidden Trillion-Dollar Office Economy (Marker) Your Teenage Email Account Is a Lost Time Capsule (One Zero) Why the Apple II Didn’t Support Lowercase Letters (Vintage Computing And Gaming) This unheard Steve Jobs tape is part of an amazing trove of tech history (Fast Company) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 17, 2020
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’: How Red Ventures grew into a giant (Digiday) Sit Like an Apple Engineer in This 70s-Era British Office Chair (Gear Patrol) Subscribe to the ad-free feed and support the show directly! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 16, 2020
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 pissed. (Mashable) Exclusive: AT&T considers cellphone plans subsidized by ads (Reuters) AT&T Plans Lower-Priced Version of HBO Max With Advertising (Bloomberg) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 15, 2020
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) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 14, 2020
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 Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 12, 2020
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 . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 11, 2020
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 (The Atlantic) Esports Pros Have ‘Dream’ Jobs—but Game Publishers Have All the Power (Wired) How Netflix's Reed Hastings Rewrote the Hollywood Script (Forbes) I was skeptical about attending Burning Man in VR, but it’s great (Fast Company) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 10, 2020
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) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 9, 2020
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 to merge after nearly a year (CNBC) Yubico’s new USB-C security key with NFC could be the one key to unlock them all (The Verge) Fastest Mobile Networks 2020 (PCMag) Ride Home Mutants classic league, code: e5m0zl https://fantasy.premierleague.com/leagues/auto-join/e5m0zl Ride Home Head to Head, code: 8hwq78 https://fantasy.premierleague.com/leagues/auto-join/8hwq78 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 8, 2020
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) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 5, 2020
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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 4, 2020
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 to Be Amazon for Farms, Runs Into Ag Giants (WSJ) Inside Fitbit’s Plan to Detect Covid Symptoms With a New Wearable (OneZero) How I hacked my Lego NES into a real console (Input) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 3, 2020
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 Verge) Qualcomm promises better AI for its next Snapdragon PC chip (Engadget) China to Plan Sweeping Support for Chip Sector to Counter Trump (Bloomberg) Qualcomm hopes to topple AirPods Pro with ‘adaptive’ noise cancellation for true wireless earbuds (The Verge) The first battery-free Game Boy wants to power a gaming revolution (CNET) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 2, 2020
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 More Work (Bloomberg) How the British studio behind 'Fall Guys' went from near-disaster to launching one of the biggest gaming hits of all time (Business Insider) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 1, 2020
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 shares soar after revenue more than quadruples from last year (CNBC) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 31, 2020
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 Drones (The Drive/The Warzone) Stolen Fortnite Accounts Sold as Part of $1 Billion Black Market (Bloomberg) Jack Ma’s Ant Fuels Tech IPO Frenzy Not Seen Since Dotcom Bubble (Bloomberg) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 28, 2020
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 The Anti-Facebook: 12 Years In, Facebook's Cofounder Dustin Moskovitz's Slow-Burn Second Act Asana Finally Has Its Moment (Forbes) Palantir: On Business, Cults, and Politics (The Diff) Belarus Turned Off the Internet. Its Citizens Hot-Wired It. (Gizmodo) The Event Industry Is Being Confronted By Its Napster Moment (Skift) Amazon and FedEx Push to Put Delivery Robots on Your Sidewalk (Wired) The Conscience of Silicon Valley (GQ) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 27, 2020
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 pillaging’ his audience (The Verge) Thanks to: @eliweiss1 Get in touch with him at: eliaweiss.com And @openendedfilms Check out his film at: aoamovie.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 26, 2020
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 Neuralink device on Friday (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 25, 2020
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 202 1 (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 Crowd/Bill Gurley) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 24, 2020
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 Subscribe in Apple Podcasts Subscribe in Google Podcasts Subscribe On Spotify Or search Kottke Ride Home on your podcast app of choice Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 23, 2020
Subscribe in Apple Podcasts Subscribe in Google Podcasts Subscribe On Spotify Or search Kottke Ride Home on your podcast app of choice Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 21, 2020
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 Elon Musk using the language he knows best: memes (The Verge) The Case of the Top Secret iPod (TidBits) The Inside Story Of Robinhood’s Billionaire Founders, Option Kid Cowboys And The Wall Street Sharks That Feed On Them (Forbes) Sex, lies, and video games: Inside Roblox’s war on porn (Fast Company) Why the Facebookening of Oculus VR is bad for users, devs, competition (Ars Technica) Microsoft Flight Simulator review: clear skies with some light chop (Polygon) Why Microsoft's new Flight Simulator should make Google and Amazon nervous (Protocol) Classified: GrowthMarketingToolbox.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 20, 2020
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-analysis giant Palantir moves headquarters to Denver (Denver Business Journal) Alibaba posts 124 per cent gain in quarterly profit, sees China retail back to pre-pandemic levels (SCMP) Lyft will suspend its ride-hailing service in California (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 19, 2020
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) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 18, 2020
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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 17, 2020
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) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 15, 2020
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 . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 14, 2020
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 Black Internet Gold Rush That Wiped Away $75 Million in 18 Months (Level) A college kid’s fake, AI-generated blog fooled tens of thousands. This is how he made it. (Technology Review) The Return of Anonymous (The Atlantic) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 13, 2020
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) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 12, 2020
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 (Motherboard) Xiaomi reveals its transparent 55-inch TV (CNET) Xiaomi’s see-through OLED TV is a transparent attempt at attention, and it’s working (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 11, 2020
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 why? (Electrek) Onyx Launches a 6-Inch Color E-Reader (PCMag) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 10, 2020
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) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 7, 2020
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'? Mapping The Alumni Of Square (Protocol) Dan Rose Kindle Tweet Thread How TikTok’s Owner Tried, and Failed, to Cross the U.S.-China Divide (NYTimes) Subscribe to the Ad-Free Feed! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 6, 2020
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 (Apple Insider) Wireless Charging Is a Disaster Waiting to Happen (OneZero) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 5, 2020
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) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 4, 2020
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 xCloud game streaming will launch on September 15th on Android (The Verge) Take-Two Interactive coasts to $831.3 million in Q1 2021 revenue as fans flock to online games (Venture Beat) Take-Two: Next-gen software price hikes "reflect the quality of the experience" (GamesIndustry.biz) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 3, 2020
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 Twitter Hack: A Florida Teen’s Troubled Online Path (NYTimes) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 31, 2020
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 the Hustle Economy. (OneZero) Car Companies Want to Monitor Your Every Move With Emotion-Detecting AI (Motherboard) Subscribe to the Ad-Free Feed! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 30, 2020
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) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 29, 2020
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) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 28, 2020
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) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 27, 2020
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) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 24, 2020
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 Inside Story of How a Sleep Tracker Became the Hottest Device of the Pandemic (Marker) How Harvard’s Star Computer-Science Professor Built a Distance-Learning Empire (The New Yorker) The case for and against banning TikTok (Vox) The App of the Summer Is Just a Random-Number Generator (The Atlantic) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 23, 2020
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) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 22, 2020
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 America's top advertiser (Axios) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 21, 2020
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 Intel (The Verge) Self-driving industry takes to the highway after robotaxi failure (Financial Times) Subscribe to the ad-free feed! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 20, 2020
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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 18, 2020
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! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 17, 2020
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) Sale of the Century: The Inside Story of Ethereum’s 2014 Premine (Coindesk) Apple Silicon: The Passing of Wintel (MondayNote) https://zoom.us/j/93965359337?pwd=d2RsK0VCaGhxRVJMUGxQRUh6NVdqdz09 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 16, 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 (9to5Mac) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 15, 2020
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) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 14, 2020
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 steps up privacy, security with Confidential VMs and Assured Workloads (ZDNet) Google Cloud's new BigQuery Omni will let developers query data in GCP, AWS and Azure (TechCrunch) Link from today's listener classified: CUSTOMERSERVICE.FUN Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 13, 2020
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) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 10, 2020
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? (Vulture) How Wirecard Went From Tech Star to Bankrupt (WSJ) DE-ESCALATING SOCIAL MEDIA (NickPunt.com) Algorithms are now commodities (The Shape of Code) Hacker News thread about the above (Hacker News) Subreddit where you can answer my hive mind mystery! ....... And subscribe to the ad-free feed here! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 9, 2020
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) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 8, 2020
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 appears set for September 8th (Android Police) Mmhmm turns your boring Zoom call into a Weekend Update-style TV show (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 7, 2020
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 27: committee (Reuters) A Bird? A Plane? No, It’s a Google Balloon Beaming the Internet (NYTimes) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 6, 2020
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 AIR CONDITIONER IS FINALLY AVAILABLE FOR SALE! (Yanko Design) Subscribe to the ad-free feed! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 2, 2020
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’s Relentless Strategy, Execution, and Point of View (Learn By Shipping) Strategy Behind Blockbuster Grubhub Deal: Don’t Deliver (WSJ) Networks of self-driving trucks are becoming a reality in the US (recode) Did a Chinese Hack Kill Canada’s Greatest Tech Company? (Bloomberg Businessweek) Disney's Developed Movie-Quality Face-Swapping Technology That Promises to Change Filmmaking (Gizmodo) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 1, 2020
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 (Bloomberg) Twitch breaks records again in Q2, topping 5B total hours watched (TechCrunch) Subscribe to the ad-free feed Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 30, 2020
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) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 29, 2020
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 File Recovery tool lets you retrieve deleted documents (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 27, 2020
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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 26, 2020
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 moments that shaped the internet's front page (Mashable) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 25, 2020
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 and Pianist, Dies at 58 (NYTimes) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 24, 2020
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) Subscribe to the ad-free version of the show Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 23, 2020
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) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 22, 2020
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) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 19, 2020
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 venture capital doesn’t build the things we really need (MIT Technology Review) Brilliant Hardware in the Valley of the Software Slump (Craigmod.com) The Grandmaster Who Got Twitch Hooked on Chess (Wired) healthOS (Divinations newsletter) The Segway’s Inventor Has a New Project: Manufacturing Human Organs (OneZero) We spent a fortune on police body cams. Why haven’t they fixed policing? (Fast Company) What to expect from Apple's WWDC 2020 (TechCrunch) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 18, 2020
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 To Natick Couple (WBZ Boston) Former eBay Execs Allegedly Made Life Hell for Critics (Wired) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 17, 2020
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) TikTok owner ByteDance first-quarter revenue soared to around $5.6 billion (Reuters) Unbounce raises $38.4M to build better landing pages with automation (TechCrunch) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 16, 2020
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) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 15, 2020
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) Ad Free Feed Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 12, 2020
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 Much More Money Artists Earn From Bandcamp Compared to Streaming Services (Pitchfork) The most interesting man at Microsoft (Protocol) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 11, 2020
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 at a $2 billion valuation (VentureBeat) Scoop: Facebook establishing a venture arm to invest in startups (Axios) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 10, 2020
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 Hollywood Reporter) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 9, 2020
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) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 8, 2020
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) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 5, 2020
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 Toshiba, Tech Companies Cash in on the Facial Recognition Gold Rush (OneZero) Why Is the Human Brain So Efficient? (Nautilus) Subscribe to the Ad-Free Feed Right Here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 4, 2020
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) ZoomInfo aiming to price IPO $1 above revised price range (CNBC) Gaming Startup Unity Is Said to Prepare for IPO This Year (Bloomberg) Kitty Hawk ends Flyer program, shifts focus to once-secret autonomous aircraft (TechCrunch) Classified: MezcalDigital.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 3, 2020
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 Service (Variety) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 2, 2020
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 security updates’ (9to5Mac) YouTube’s Chase for Streaming-TV Ad Dollars Faces Hurdles (WSJ) Samsung’s rotating mobile-friendly TV goes on sale for $1,999 (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 1, 2020
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 next week’s Android 11 Beta release and virtual launch event (9to5Google) Sony confirms PS5 will have exclusive games playable only on next-gen hardware (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 29, 2020
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 stepping down (VentureBeat) The Rise of New Short-Form Video App Zynn Could Spell Trouble for TikTok (Social Media Today) Weekend Longreads Suggestions Amazon’s Big Breakdown (NYTimes) Remember the MOOCs? After Near-Death, They’re Booming (NYTimes) Who Will Own the Cars That Drive Themselves? (NYTimes) The rise of React (Increment) 'We had no idea how to do it': YouTube's founders, investors, and first employees tell the chaotic inside story of how it rose from failed dating site to $1.65 billion video behemoth (Business Insider) Poolside.fm is the chillest place you should be hanging out right now (The Verge) Podcast Survey: https://www.ridehome.info/survey/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 28, 2020
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 publicly shames you when you’re late on loan payment (Rest of World) Nuro’s driverless delivery robots will transport medicine to CVS customers in Texas (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 27, 2020
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 Executives Shut Down Efforts to Make the Site Less Divisive (WSJ) EU privacy enforcer hits make-or-break moment (Politico) Tech Giants’ Top EU Privacy Watchdog Attacked Over Slow Pace (Bloomberg) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 26, 2020
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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 23, 2020
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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 22, 2020
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 classical musicians are fighting online. The bots are winning. (Washington Post) This DIY laptop costs as much as a MacBook Air — How is it selling so well? (Laptop) The State of the Self-Driving Car Race 2020 (Bloomberg) MEET THE FIRST NASA ASTRONAUTS SPACEX WILL LAUNCH TO ORBIT (The Verge) Support what I do every day directly. The ad-free feed is here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 21, 2020
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 convinced Facebook’s former security chief to invest in his data privacy start-up (CNBC) YouTube Link! Subscribe! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCj7NVTTsi0_04LjqMfOhp5Q Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 20, 2020
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) New Spec Gives SD Cards a Massive Boost in Speed (Gizmodo) Subscribe to the ad free feed right here, inside your podcast app! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 19, 2020
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 Microsoft Cloud for Healthcare (Microsoft) Microsoft’s new Fluid Office document is Google Docs on steroids (The Verge) Microsoft and Sony to create smart camera solutions for AI-enabled image sensor (ZDNet) Microsoft’s OpenAI supercomputer has 285,000 CPU cores, 10,000 GPUs (Engadget) Apple’s AR Glasses! (Front Page Tech on YouTube) Apple Buys Older Shows for TV+, Stepping Up Netflix Challenge (Bloomberg News) Attorney General William P. Barr and FBI Director Christopher Wray Announce Significant Developments in the Investigation of the Naval Air Station Pensacola Shooting (DOJ) Apple Buys Older Shows for TV+, Stepping Up Netflix Challenge (Bloomberg News) Walmart is shutting down Jet.com 4 years after buying the company for $3.3 billion (Business Insider) Trying to Support a Local Pizza Joint? Just Make Sure It Isn’t Actually Chuck E. Cheese (Food & Wine) Introducing the World’s Largest Medical Repair Database, Free for Everyone (iFixIt) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 18, 2020
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 $105M In Debt & Equity (TechCrunch) Doordash and Pizza Arbitrage (Margins, by Ranjan Roy and Can Duruk) Subscribe to the ad-free feed! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 16, 2020
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.... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 15, 2020
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) Weekend Longreads: OnlyFans, Influencers, And The Politics Of Selling Nudes During A Pandemic (Elle.com) How Sporcle followed trivia fans from bars to Zoom and built a $2.5M business (Protocol) Founder Of Borders Bookstores, Webvan Returns With Dreams Of Beating Amazon At Food Delivery (Forbes) Inside HBO Max, the $4 Billion Bet to Stand Out in the Streaming Wars (Variety) The Confessions of Marcus Hutchins, the Hacker Who Saved the Internet (Wired) Our weird behavior during the pandemic is messing with AI models (MIT Technology Review) Yes, websites really are starting to look more similar (The Conversation) Link to zoom meeting, 1pm eastern time Saturday: https://zoom.us/j/92079645112 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 14, 2020
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 this weekend here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 13, 2020
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 podcast app! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 12, 2020
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) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 11, 2020
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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 9, 2020
Of course not. But also: it's more nuanced than you might think... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 8, 2020
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 FIGHTING A NEW SURGE OF CHEATERS AND HACKERS (The Verge) How Apple reinvented the cursor for iPad (TechCrunch) Instacart’s Frantic Dash From Grocery App to Essential Service (Bloomberg Businessweek) It’s the 50th Anniversary of Humanity’s Favorite Activity: Staring at an LCD (WSJ) Steven Sinofsky lived Microsoft history. Now he’s writing it (Fast Company) One-Man Hedge Fund Gains 56% With Virus-Resistant Tech Bets (Bloomberg) Subscribe to the ad-free feed, support the podcast directly, and get started in 60 seconds, right here inside your podcast app. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 7, 2020
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 Who Can Overrule Mark Zuckerberg (Wired) A Little Hatred by Joe Abercrombie Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 6, 2020
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 Reminiscent of 2017 Bubble Frenzy (Bloomberg) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 5, 2020
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 platform Moovit in a $900M deal (TechCrunch) Microsoft confirms Windows 10X is coming to laptops amid big jump in Windows usage (The Verge) Facebook’s Oculus Is Developing a New Quest VR Headset (Bloomberg) Google Meet starts rolling out in Gmail, continuing Google’s quest to unseat Zoom (The Verge) Sensor Tower raises $45M as demand for app data grows (TechCrunch) https://www.reddit.com/r/RideHome/comments/gdyyoh/listener_feedback_post/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 4, 2020
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) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 1, 2020
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 Recognize Your Masked Face? (Wired) Inside the MIT spinoff that’s making Inception-style dream manipulation possible (Digital Trends) You Have a TikTok Hit! Now, Quick — Change the Title (Rolling Stone) The "Farts and Procreation" Wiki page. Subscribe to the ad free podcast feed and support this show directly Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 30, 2020
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) Twitter Q1: sales up 3% to $808M as it swings to a loss on COVID-19, mDAUS hit record 166M (TechCrunch) Tesla posts profit despite hit from coronavirus (CNN Business) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 29, 2020
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) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 28, 2020
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) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 27, 2020
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 test, paving the way for short flight (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 26, 2020
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 . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 25, 2020
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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 24, 2020
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. Coronavirus is forcing change (CNET) Preppers Are Quite Prepared to Enjoy Some Vindication (NYTimes) Following the money in a massive “sextortion” spam scheme (Sophos) How Instagram managed to survive antitrust scrutiny when it was acquired by Facebook (Fast Company) IN THE CORONAVIRUS ERA, THE FORCE IS STILL WITH JACK DORSEY (Vanity Fair) Subscribe to the ad-free feed right here, inside your podcast app! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 23, 2020
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 whiteboard as demand surges (TechCrunch) Subscribe to the ad-free feed RIGHT HERE Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 22, 2020
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 (2020) (Wired) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 21, 2020
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 27 (Bloomberg) Kickstarter plans layoffs after new projects on the site drop off by 35 percent (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 20, 2020
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) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 18, 2020
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, private investors aren't buying the hype Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 17, 2020
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 Coronavirus Era? (NYTimes) LIDAR: Peek Into The Future With iPad Pro (Halide) The Devastating Decline of a Brilliant Young Coder (Wired) In Half-Life’s improv scene, anyone can speak for Gordon Freeman (Ars Technica) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 16, 2020
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’ accounts (The Verge) Lawn love job opening: https://apply.workable.com/lawn-love/j/A749319261/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 15, 2020
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) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 14, 2020
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 screen with more coming soon (ZDNet) Amazon to Expand Shipments of Nonessential Items, Continue Adding Staff (WSJ) VC Firms Raised $21 Billion Last Quarter Despite Pandemic Chaos (Bloomberg) ESRB introduces a new label to indicate that a game has loot boxes (The Verge) Links to job openings: https://botsociety.io/careers/account-manager or info@botsociety.com https://zen.ly/jobs Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 13, 2020
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, YouTubers Say Pay Is Plummeting (OneZero) ‘It’s still niche’: Esports see audience surge, more tepid ad demand (Digiday) Anyone's a Celebrity Streamer With This Open Source App (Wired) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 11, 2020
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 to Stay On Top Forever Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 10, 2020
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 helped build today’s tech. How’s it prepping for the future? (Protocol) Zuckerberg’s Jealousy Held Back Instagram and Drove Off Founders (Bloomberg Businessweek) Was Leisure Suit Larry Really an Accomplice in Early Banking Cyberattacks? (Vice) Has Apple finally bitten off way more than it can chew? (WiredUK) Apple, Amazon, and Common Enemies (Stratechery) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 9, 2020
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) Why the coronavirus lockdown is making the internet stronger than ever (MIT Technology Review) Twitter notifies users that it’s now sharing more data with advertisers (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 8, 2020
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 Microsoft events will be digital-only until July 2021 (The Verge) The Virus Changed the Way We Internet (NYTimes) Restaurant management platform Toast cuts 50% of staff (TechCrunch) Tyto Care raises $50 million to grow its telehealth examination and diagnostic platform (VentureBeat) Google's video chat service adds 2 million users a day amid coronavirus (CNET) Don’t be surprised when ‘Hangouts Meet’ becomes ‘Google Meet’ (9to5Google) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 7, 2020
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) Subscribe to the ad free feed! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 6, 2020
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) Microsoft Edge is now 2nd most popular desktop browser, beats Firefox (BleepingComputer) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 3, 2020
Tech companies are, in fact, stepping up to track Covid-19. We have a name for the new low-end iPhone. Tesla soars but the Space X Starship doesn’t. Watch some free HBO this weekend, and of course, the weekend longreads suggestions. Sponsors: No Parking Podcast TinyCapital.com Links: Google uses location data to show which places are complying with stay-at-home orders — and which aren’t (The Verge) In coronavirus fight, oft-criticized Facebook data aids U.S. cities, states (Reuters) PRIVACY EXPERTS SAY RESPONSIBLE CORONAVIRUS SURVEILLANCE IS POSSIBLE (The Intercept) Exclusive: iPhone 9 launch imminent, 2020 ‘iPhone SE’ in red, white, and black with up to 256GB (9to5Mac) Tesla soars on delivery numbers -- company delivered 88,400 vehicles in Q1 (CNBC) A third prototype of SpaceX’s Starship rocket bursts on the test stand (The Verge) Airbnb lowers internal valuation by 16% to $26bn (FT) HBO Will Stream 500 Hours of Free Programming, Including Full Seasons of ‘Veep,’ ‘The Sopranos,’ ‘Silicon Valley’ (Variety) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: Google Data Centers’ Secret Cost: Billions of Gallons of Water (Bloomberg Green) Microsoft Edge is becoming the browser you didn’t know you needed (Ars Technica) The Xbox Series X master plan (Polygon) From courts to consoles: With live sports canceled, pro athletes join the streaming surge (The Washington Post) Telemedicine, Once a Hard Sell, Can’t Keep Up With Demand (WSJ) The Medical News Site That Saw the Coronavirus Coming Months Ago (NYTimes) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 2, 2020
Zoom apologizes, but also reveals some INSANE growth numbers. Facebook Messenger comes to desktop. YouTube wants to clone TikTok. Apple let’s some people avoid the App Store tax. More gross firings by teleconference and a timely interesting raise. Sponsors: TinyCapital.com No Parking Podcast Links: A Message to Our Users (Zoom Blog) Facebook debuts standalone Messenger app on Mac and PC (Engadget) 'Content network effect' makes TikTok tough to copy (TechCrunch) YouTube Plans ‘Shorts’ to Rival TikTok (The Information) Apple Lets Some Video Apps Sell Shows Without Taking 30% Cut (Bloomberg) 'It Felt Like a Black Mirror Episode' The Inside Account of How Bird Laid off 406 People in Two Minutes via a Zoom Webinar (dot.LA) Notion, Maker of Collaboration Software, Raises $50 Million (NYTimes) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 1, 2020
We’ve reached the end of the John Legere era. Samsung thinks we’ve reached the end of the LCD era. Comcast is inadvertently proving ISP datacaps are BS. Is Zoom a victim of its own success? And it’s maybe not overstating things to say it’s past time Amazon should start thinking more humanely about… people. Sponsors: No Parking podcast TinyCapital.com Sponsors: Legere is out as T-Mobile CEO as Sprint merger officially closes (CNBC) Samsung Display to end all LCD production by end 2020 (Reuters) Marriott discloses new data breach impacting 5.2 million hotel guests (ZDNet) Comcast waiving data caps hasn’t hurt its network—why not make it permanent? (Ars Technica) Zoom Lets Attackers Steal Windows Credentials via UNC Links (Bleeping Computer) @c1truz_ thread about Zoom Amazon's Covid Hiring Boom Has Applicants Packed Into Job Fairs With No Special Precautions (Bloomberg) Amazon Struggles to Find Its Coronavirus Footing. ‘It’s a Time of Great Stress.’ (WSJ) Amazon's past catches up with it (The Interface) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 31, 2020
Snapchat launches its Stories syndication program. Fitbit has a powerful new fitness tracker. Microsoft and Spotify release some family friendly features and apps. It’s time for Zoom to come under the spotlight for privacy concerns. And a court has ruled that simply breaking a site's terms of service does not constitute criminal hacking. Sponsors: F5.com/ride TinyCaptial.com Links: Apple purchases hyperlocal weather app Dark Sky, ending API and killing Android apps (9to5Mac) Snapchat preempts clones, syndicates Stories to other apps (TechCrunch) Surprise! Fitbit's First New Product Since Google Deal Is A Fitness Tracker (Gizmodo) Microsoft announces Teams for consumers, Skype daily active users up 70% to 40 million (VentureBeat) Microsoft 365 bundles Office 365 with AI and cloud-powered features (VentureBeat) Spotify Brings Standalone Kids’ App to U.S., Featuring a ‘Wash Your Hands’ Playlist (Variety) New York Attorney General Looks Into Zoom’s Privacy Practices (NYTimes) ZOOM MEETINGS AREN’T END-TO-END ENCRYPTED, DESPITE MISLEADING MARKETING (The Intercept) Comcast says voice and video calls have skyrocketed 212 percent during widespread self-isolation (The Verge) Apple Tests Its Secrecy Somewhere New: Employee Homes (Bloomberg) Court: Violating a site’s terms of service isn’t criminal hacking (Ars Technica) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 30, 2020
HQ Trivia resurrects itself thanks to an anonymous investor. Facebook tries to squeeze Apple out of the AR screen market. Some crowdsourced data reveals who where layoffs are happening in tech but also which companies are still hiring. And a major hack takes down a big chunk of the dark web. Sponsors: TinyCapital.com Feals.com/techmeme Links: HQ Trivia Returns Thanks to Anonymous Investor (WSJ) Facebook Strikes Deal for AR Displays, Squeezing Out Apple (The Information) Government Tracking How People Move Around in Coronavirus Pandemic (WSJ) Coronavirus has led to a 775 percent increase in usage of Microsoft Azure cloud services (BetaNews) Apple's factories are running, but suppliers wary about iPhone demand (Reuters) Candor: 267 companies have frozen hiring, 44 had layoffs, 36 rescinded offers, 111 are hiring (VentureBeat) OneWeb files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy (Space News) Airbnb to Halt All Marketing, Most Hiring as Losses Mount (The Information) Lyft Tells Drivers to Work for Amazon After Ridership Plummets (Bloomberg) Bird lays off about 30% of workforce amid COVID-19 pandemic (TechCrunch) Hack Attack Takes Down Dark Web Host: 7,595 Websites Confirmed Deleted (Forbes) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 27, 2020
Apple has released an official Covid-19 App. Kuo says Arm-based Macbooks are coming next year. Sony is spinning off a lot of the parts of itself that make it a tech company. Instacart workers are planning a nationwide strike on Monday. And, of course, the weekend longreads suggestions. Sponsors: Metalab.co Kiwico.com/ride Links: Apple releases new COVID-19 app and website based on CDC guidance (Apple Newsroom) Kuo: Apple to Launch Several Macs With Arm-Based Processors in 2021, USB4 Support Coming to Macs in 2022 (MacRumors) Sony Spins Off Camera Business Into Separate Company (PetaPixel) Instacart’s Gig Workers Are Planning a Massive, Nationwide Strike (Motherboard) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: Everything Is So Fucked, You Might As Well Get A Facebook Portal (Buzzfeed News) We Need A Massive Surveillance Program (IdleWords.com) Bosses Panic-Buy Spy Software to Keep Tabs on Remote Workers (Bloomberg) Why Don’t We Just Ban Targeted Advertising? (Wired) DJI Won the Drone Wars, and Now It’s Paying the Price (BusinessWeek) We visited a small Virginia town where drone deliveries have begun for real (Input Magazine) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 26, 2020
Apple is weighing its options, and delaying the release of the 5G iPhone until 2021 is being discussed. Airbnb is offering free housing for medical workers. An interesting raise Thursday that wants to be the flip side of Shopify in the ecommerce space. And a preview of Huawei’s upcoming Google-less flagship phone. Sponsors: Metalab.co Sanebox.com/techmeme Links: Apple weighs delaying 5G iPhone launch by months, sources say (Nikkei Asian Review) Apple Testing AR/VR Headset With HTC Vive-Like Controller, Crosswalk Bowling Game, and More (MacRumors) What Qualcomm's new chips mean for upcoming true wireless earbuds (CNET) Airbnb Hosts to Help Provide Housing to 100,000 COVID-19 Responders (Airbnb Newsroom) TripActions, Zeus Living Laying Off Employees Due To COVID-19 Slowdown (Crunchbase News) What it feels like to be laid off on Zoom during this crisis (Protocol) Lime’s Valuation May Fall 80% in Emergency Fundraising (The Information) StubHub furloughs employees, other ticket sites face challenges in wake of pandemic (ESPN) Stripe leads $20M Series A into Fast, which is building a universal checkout service for e-commerce (TechCrunch) LIVING A GOOGLE-FREE LIFE WITH A HUAWEI PHONE (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 25, 2020
How Facebook is coping with Corona, Google Podcasts comes to iOS, ad blocking officially comes to Safari, when Apple thinks it can re-open stores, Singapore open-sources it’s Corona-contact-tracing app, and have your screen time notifications horrified you this week? You’re not alone. Sponsors: Metalab.co Rhone.com/ridehome Promocode: ridehome for 20 percent off Links: Facebook Is ‘Just Trying to Keep the Lights On’ as Traffic Soars in Pandemic (NYTimes) The Coronavirus Revives Facebook as a News Powerhouse More than half of all news consumption on Facebook in America (NYTimes) Google Podcasts is finally available of iOS (TechCrunch) Apple updates Safari’s anti-tracking tech with full third-party cookie blocking (The Verge) Apple May Start Reopening Stores in First Half of April (Bloomberg) iPhone Makers Suspend India Production Due to Lockdown (Bloomberg) Coronavirus: S'pore Government to make its contact-tracing app freely available to developers worldwide (The Straight Times) Court in Telegram case blocks gram token issuance, says token distribution likely violates securities law (The Block) Our iPhone weekly screen time reports are through the roof, and people are ‘horrified’ (Washington Post) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 24, 2020
A wicked Windows zero day is out in the wild without a patch. Google is open sourcing a cool new AI architecture. Instagram wants you to co-watch your feed with a friend. A popular “challenger bank” comes to the US. And the iPad Pro reviews are in. Sponsors: Metalab.co Zapier.com/ride Links: Microsoft says hackers are attacking Windows users with a new unpatched bug (TechCrunch) Apple promises App Store expansion to 20 new countries starting next month (9to5Mac) Google open-sources framework that reduces AI training costs by up to 80% (VentureBeat) Google opens Stadia Makers program for indie game developers (9to5Google) Google unveils Android Performance Tuner, Android GPU Inspector, and Cloud Firestore for game developers (VentureBeat) Instagram has a new way for people isolated by coronavirus to connect: sharing posts via video chat (CNBC) Exclusive: Disney+ Sees Huge Subscription Spike As Homebound Audiences Clamor For Content (Forbes) Revolut launches its neobank in the US (TechCrunch) Review: Apple iPad Pro (2020) (Wired) APPLE IPAD PRO REVIEW 2020: SMALL SPEC BUMP, BIG CAMERA BUMP (The Verge) Buy my book for $2.99 (Kindle) Buy my book for $2.99 (B&N) How the Internet Happened: From Netscape to the iPhone Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 23, 2020
The pros and cons of using big data, cellphones and the surveillance economy to combat the coronavirus. More iPhone rumors from Ming-Chi Kuo. Is the Oculus Quest bringing VR into the mainstream? And how to block your messy background when you’re on a Zoom conference call for work. Sponsors: Metalab.co Mintmobile.com/ride Links: European mobile operators share data for coronavirus fight (Reuters) Taiwan's new 'electronic fence' for quarantines leads wave of virus monitoring (Reuters) Hidden data is revealing the true scale of the coronavirus outbreak (Wired) Google’s coronavirus website finally launches alongside enhanced search results (The Verge) Google cancels I/O 2020 entirely in light of coronavirus (9to5Google) Kuo: Sensor-Shift Image Stabilization Coming to 6.7-Inch iPhone in 2020, Periscope Lens to Follow in 2022 (MacRumors) Facebook: 90% Of Quest Users For Christmas Were ‘Brand New’ To Oculus (UploadVR) Apple Acknowledges Personal Hotspot Issues Affecting Some iOS 13 and iPadOS 13 Users (MacRumors) This is how you do that Zoom background thing everyone is talking about (CNET) Glenn's FREE Book: Take Control of Working from Home Temporarily - TakeControlBooks.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 21, 2020
WSJ Technology columnist Chris Mims and I talk WFH best practices, and how the Tech Industry has responded to the Covid-19 crisis thusfar. Sponsors: DoubleUp.agency * KeepComingBackPodcast.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 20, 2020
Yelp is showing how the restaurant industry is in deep trouble. Instagram makes ready to clone the last Snapchat feature it hadn’t copped yet. The very interesting lessons behind a self-driving startup closing its doors. And, of course, the weekend longreads suggestions. Sponsors: TinyCapital.com Zapier.com/ride Links: Amazon AWS launches $20 million initiative to help fight the coronavirus (CNBC) Instagram prototypes Snapchat-style disappearing text messages (TechCrunch) Microsoft’s DirectX 12 Ultimate unifies graphics tech for PC gaming and Xbox Series X (The Verge) Ex-Uber executive Anthony Levandowski pleads guilty to trade-secret theft (Washington Post) The End of Starsky Robotics (Medium) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: How Reddit's coronavirus community became a destination (NBC News) Can Smart Thermometers Track the Spread of the Coronavirus? (NYTimes) Correlation and Market Meltdowns (Fred Wilson/AVC) Zoom conquered video chat — now it has even bigger plans (Protocol) The tech industry’s quest to help us sleep better is just beginning (Fast Company) How TikTok Is Taking the Tunes out of Pop (HighSnobiety) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 19, 2020
Square wants to become a bank. Microsoft Teams might be rocketing ahead of Slack in terms of user numbers. The EU wants streaming companies to cut back on HD streams. Covid might be depressing music streaming, and some analysis of the iPad becoming a regular old computer. Sponsors: TinyCapital.com Blinkist.com/techmeme Links: Square gains FDIC conditional approval for a banking license (Silicon Angle) Microsoft Teams passes 44 million daily active users, thanks in part to coronavirus (VentureBeat) What worries Mark Zuckerberg (The Interface) EU warns of broadband strain as millions work from home (Financial Times) Improved iPhone, AirPods availability suggests Chinese production nearing normality (Apple Insider) Music streaming may actually be falling because of coronavirus (QZ) Apple's iPad Pro becomes more like a Surface, and that's a problem for Microsoft (Windows Central) Steven Sinofsky tweet thread about the iPad Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 18, 2020
It’s a day of new! New iPads pro, new Macbooks Air, new Macs Mini, and more bye bye butterfly keyboard! A new Transcribe for Android, a new design overhaul for Slack, all the specs for the new Playstation 5, and why Cameo is a new app to keep your eye on. Sponsors: Tinycapital.com Zapier.com/ride Linkedin.com/ride Links: Apple announces new iPad Pro with trackpad support and a wild keyboard cover (The Verge) The MacBook Air gets an updated keyboard and souped-up specs, starting at $999 (TechCrunch) Apple's $799 Mac mini debuts with double the storage (Apple Insider) Google Translate launches Transcribe for Android in 8 languages (VentureBeat) Slack unveils its biggest redesign yet (The Verge) PlayStation 5 hardware specifications revealed (Polygon) How Cameo Turned D-List Celebs Into a Monetization Machine (Marker) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 17, 2020
Big acquisition for GitHub... which really means: big acquisition for Microsoft as it continues to gobble up the entire developer stack. The iPhone 9 chips will not be underpowered at all. How Amazon is, in fact, trying to cope with the Corona-surge. And is this crisis the tipping point for streaming media? Sponsors: Tinycapital.com TryExpressVPN.com/ride Links: Microsoft's GitHub acquires npm to help JavaScript developers (WindowsCentral) iOS 14 code confirms Apple planning ‘iPhone 9 Plus’ with A13 as larger version of rumored entry-level model (9to5Mac) Amazon ramps hiring, opening 100,000 new roles to support people relying on Amazon’s service in this stressful time (Amazon Day One Blog) Uber, Lyft suspend pooled rides in U.S., Canada to limit spread of coronavirus (Reuters) Phones Could Track the Spread of Covid-19. Is It a Good Idea? (Wired) To Track Coronavirus, Israel Moves to Tap Secret Trove of Cellphone Data (NYTimes) With Movie Theater Shutdown, Universal Pictures to Stream New Release Films on Prime Video, iTunes, & More (The Streamable) Movie Crowds Stay Away. Theaters Hope It’s Not for Good. (NYTimes) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 16, 2020
Apple fined by France, the FCC nets a bundle at auction, new Beats earbuds, all the specs for the new Xbox Series X, and how Google got caught by surprise by President Trump’s announcement regarding Coronavirus work. Sponsors: Tinycapital.com TryExpressVPN.com/ride Links: Apple fined a record $1.2 billion by French antitrust authorities (CNBC) FCC’s largest spectrum auction nets $4.47 billion for 5G mmWave bands (VentureBeat) Beats announces $149 Powerbeats with 15 hours of battery life (The Verge) Inside Xbox Series X: the full specs (Eurogamer) Microsoft hits its goal of 1 billion devices running Windows 10 (The Verge) Trump Oversold a Google Site to Fight Coronavirus (NYTimes) Trump’s Google testing announcement mixed up several real projects (The Verge) Silicon Valley Was First to Send Workers Home. It’s Been Messy. (WSJ) Coronavirus Impact: Netflix Shuts Down Film, TV Work in U.S. and Canada as Production Nears Standstill (The Hollywood Reporter) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 13, 2020
Has the Coronavirus proven that datacaps from ISPs are a sham? Comcast accidentally published the numbers of customers who paid them not to do that. Airbnb continues to be in trouble. Cool no-code tools from Atlassian, and of course, the weekend longreads suggestions. Sponsors: DoubleUp.agency BuyRaycon.com/tech Links: Housebound Italian Kids Strain Network With Fortnite Marathon (Bloomberg) AT&T Suspends Broadband Data Caps During Coronavirus Crisis (Vice) Comcast accidentally published 200,000 “unlisted” phone numbers (ArsTechnica) Airbnb’s Loss Nearly Doubles in Fourth Quarter, Before Virus (Bloomberg) Atlassian brings new automation tools to Jira Cloud (TechCrunch) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: The Secret History of a Cold War Mastermind (Wired) TIM COOK’S TRICK FOR MAKING IPHONES IS NOW AT RISK FROM THE PANDEMIC (The Verge) Why All the Warby Parker Clones Are Now Imploding (Marker) How Google kneecapped Amazon’s smart TV efforts (Protocol) A Chatty Auction Site Is Taking the Classic Car World by Storm (NYTimes) The History of the URL (Cloudflare) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 12, 2020
Are the factories coming back online in China? Is G Suite quietly one of the biggest platforms out there? Why is Magic Leap “exploring options” and why does it want everyone to know that? An interesting raise. And I really didn’t mean to crash the crypto markets with my comments yesterday. Sponsors: Protect.eset.com/ride DoubleUp.agency Links: Apple Closes All 17 Stores in Italy Amid Coronavirus Pandemic (Bloomberg) Twitter makes working from home mandatory for employees around the world in response to COVID-19 (TechCrunch) Resumption of work at Foxconn factories in China beats expectations, says founder (Reuters) Scoop: Google's G Suite cracks 2 billion users (Axios) Kuo: New MacBook Pro and MacBook Air Models With Scissor Keyboards to Launch in Second Quarter (MacRumors) The next iPhone will get a ‘world facing’ 3D camera (Fast Company) Augmented-Reality Startup Magic Leap to Explore a Sale (Bloomberg) Deep North raises $25.7M for AI that uses CCTV to build retail analytics (TechCrunch) Bitcoin Hits 10-Month Low Below $6K as Stocks Plunge in Massive Sell-Off (CoinDesk) End music: "Shoutout" by Cousin Stizz Link to the Coronavirus Daily Briefing podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 11, 2020
E3 is cancelled. Uber might ban drivers AND riders who test positive for Coronavirus. A 2nd gen Chromecast Ultra might be coming. A Peloton-style workout app from Apple might be coming. A look at Amazon’s entry into the suddenly hot ARM-s race. And am I wrong or wasn’t crypto supposed to help during the apocalypse? Sponsors: Protect.eset.com/ride DoubleUp.agency Links: E3 2020 Canceled After ‘Overwhelming Concerns’ About Coronavirus (Variety) Uber may suspend accounts of riders, drivers who test positive for coronavirus (Reuters) Exclusive: Google plans new Chromecast Ultra based on Android TV (w/ remote!) (9to5Google) Apple Developing Fitness App for iOS 14 That Lets You Download Guided Workout Videos (MacRumors) UK presses ahead with digital tech tax in spite of pressure from Trump (CNET) Intel CPUs vulnerable to new LVI attacks (ZDNet) Amazon's Arm-based Graviton2 Against AMD and Intel: Comparing Cloud Compute (AnAndTech) More good news: Medical equipment is still prone to hacker attacks (VentureBeat) SAMSUNG GALAXY S20 REVIEW: JUST RIGHT (The Verge) Venture funding into crypto on pace to be down 40% from Q1 2019 (TheBlockGenesis) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 10, 2020
A leaked version of Apple’s iOS 14 reveals a treasure trove of details about an upcoming iPhone and iPad, augmented reality software, and tracking tags; an analytics company has secretly operated VPN and ad-blocking apps and gathered data from tens of millions of users without proper disclosure, a company offering panopticon service to the state of Utah once developed disguised social-media scraping apps, Google adds quantum computing to its machine-learning open-source TensorFlow development kit, DoNotPay lets users share streaming and news logins, the latest on the coronavirus impact on the tech world, and things fall apart: political strife broke the knitting community at Ravelry. Sponsors Links: iOS 14 reveals iPhone 9 and updated iPad Pro details, new Apple TV remote, AirTags, more (9to5Mac) Apple developing new augmented reality app for iOS 14, testing Apple Store and Starbucks partnership (9to5Mac) Apple Watch Series 6 and watchOS 7 to include ‘Infograph Pro’ with tachymeter (9to5Mac) Apple Invents Foldable iPad and iPhone that could enter a ‘Joint Operating Mode’ Similar to Microsoft’s Surface Neo (Patently Apple) Popular VPN And Ad-Blocking Apps Are Secretly Harvesting User Data (BuzzFeed News) Twitter thread from Will Strafach on Sensor Tower apps (Twitter) Surveillance Firm Banjo Used a Secret Company and Fake Apps to Scrape Social Media (Motherboard) Announcing TensorFlow Quantum: An Open Source Library for Quantum Machine Learning (Google AI Blog) Google launches TensorFlow Quantum, a machine learning framework for training quantum models (VentureBeat) DoNotPay Chrome browser extension (Chrome Web Store) Now you can share your Netflix account just by sending a link (Fast Company) How to clean your Apple products (Apple) All but four of Apple’s stores in mainland China have reopened after coronavirus shutdown (CNBC) Silicon Valley is effectively on lockdown over coronavirus (Cnet) Amazon Tells New York and New Jersey Employees to Stay Home Uber to offer drivers 14 days sick leave if they fall ill with coronavirus (CNN) Engineer Who Attended Cyber Event Contracts Coronavirus (Bloomberg News) How a ban on pro-Trump patterns unraveled the online knitting world (MIT Technology Review) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 9, 2020
Another day of markets in turmoil, another Robinhood outage. Jack Dorsey lives to fight another day. Apple is repairing some iPad Airs for free, and might bring 64 MP cameras to the iPhone 12. Gaming out the reality of a ARM-based Mac. And let me hip you to “sleep streaming” on TikTok. Sponsors: DoubleUp.agency Links: Robinhood goes down again, causing clients to miss out on another historic trading day (CNBC) Twitter CEO Dorsey keeps his job after company strikes investment deal with Elliott Management, Silver Lake (CNBC) Apple sells fewer than 500,000 smartphones in China in February amid coronavirus (Reuters) Amazon launches business selling automated checkout to retailers (Reuters) SXSW canceled due to coronavirus after Austin declares ‘local disaster’ (CNBC) Apple opens repair program for 2019 iPad Air models suffering from blank screen issue (AppleInsider) iPhone 12 Pro leak reveals how Apple will beat the Samsung Galaxy S20 (Tom's Guide) New AMD Side Channel Attacks Discovered, Impacts Zen Architecture (AMD Responds) (Tom's Hardware) ARM-ed Mac: Not Again Or For Real This Time? (Jean-Louis Gassee) How to Make Money in Your Sleep (NYTimes) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 7, 2020
I’ve said before, Steven Levy is the dean of the tech writers. All the way back in 1984 his classic book Hackers defined a tech space that wasn’t even fully aware of itself yet. Steven has written book length histories and examinations of Apple and Google, and now, with his new book, Facebook: The Inside Story , he finally tells the full Facebook story for the first time. Not the movie version, but the real story of how Facebook became Facebook from the earliest days at Harvard through the rise to 2 and a half billion users. It is, as I tell him, the best tech book I’ve read in years. If you want to fully understand Facebook, or just how a modern startup works or how a modern tech behemoth functions and sees itself in the world, I cannot recommend this book more highly. Buy the book here . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 6, 2020
Another flaw in Intel chips, this time unfixable. Y Combinator demo day is going online only. Sonos won’t brick your old hardware anymore. Jack Dorsey probably won’t be moving to Africa anymore. And, of course, the weekend longreads suggestions. Links: Metalab.co TheUSample.com/product Links: 5 years of Intel CPUs and chipsets have a concerning flaw that’s unfixable (Ars Technica) Apple is rejecting coronavirus apps that aren’t from health organizations, app makers say (CNBC) YC W20 Online Demo Day (YCombinator) Sonos kills its device-bricking 'recycle mode' (Engadget) Quibi is giving people a 90-day free trial in hopes they’ll actually sign up (The Verge) Jack Dorsey is reconsidering Africa move amid coronavirus and activist investor threats (The Verge) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: So you wanna buy a used IP address block? (Web Informant) The Untold Story of the Man That Made Mainstream Encryption Possible (One Zero) Sportswriting’s future may depend on the Athletic, which is either reassuring or terrifying (Washington Post) Hideo Kojima’s Strange, Unforgettable Video-Game Worlds (NYTimes Magazine) Can You Really Hire a Hit Man on the Dark Web? (NYTimes) This Utility Heats New York State—And Mines Its Own Bitcoin (Bloomberg) Classic iPod Hackers Say There’s No Better Way to Listen to Music (One Zero) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 5, 2020
More Cornavirus worries, Apple is allowing ads in push notifications, Google is switching to mobile first indexing, hackers can hack your car keys, Samsung’s 4k and 8k tv lineup is here, and why I’m struggling to find a reason NOT to subscribe to DoNotPay at this point. Sponsors: Metalab.co Capterra.com/ride Links: Microsoft tells Bay Area and Puget Sound employees to work from home if possible as coronavirus spreads (CNBC) Apple Warns Stores About a Shortage of Replacement iPhones (Bloomberg) Ex-Uber self-driving head declares bankruptcy after $179 million loss to Google (Reuters) Apple now lets apps send ads in push notifications (The Verge) Microsoft, Cisco Integrate Their Cloud and IoT Services (Redmond Channel Partner) Google to switch completely over to mobile-first indexing by September 2020 (Search Engine Land) Hackers Can Clone Millions of Toyota, Hyundai, and Kia Keys (Wired) VSCO's new editing tool Montage lets you edit and layer both photos and videos (TechCrunch) Google starts rolling out 4K Stadia gaming on the web (9to5Google) Samsung launches its 2020 lineup of 4K and 8K QLED TVs (The Verge) Exclusive: For $3, a ‘robot lawyer’ will sue data brokers that don’t delete your personal and location info (Fortune) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 4, 2020
You already know Tweets, but let me introduce you to Fleets. Robinhood explains its outages. Google assistant can now read you webpages out loud. Netlify is an interesting raise. And why getting a big-named VC in your seed round might actually be detrimental to your startup. Sponsors: Metalab.co Kiwico.com/ride Links: Twitter Is Finally Doing Stories (Buzzfeed) Robinhood offers $15 discount, blames outage on record trades (TechCrunch) Robinhood offers traders $15 for going down as markets gained $1.1T (TNW) Google cancels ‘physical’ I/O 2020 due to coronavirus concerns (9to5Google) Amazon employee in Seattle tests positive for coronavirus (GeekWire) Tesla downgraded Model 3 chip in China thanks to coronavirus (BBC News) Google Assistant can now read or translate websites and Android app content (VentureBeat) $75M legal startup Atrium shuts down, lays off 100 (TechCrunch) After attracting 800K web developers, Netlify wins $53M in funding (SiliconAngle) New AngelList data set sheds light on the signaling risks of seed-stage investments (TechCrunch) Streamer Quibi Raises Additional Funds Ahead of Launch (WSJ) Hulu’s live TV service is now on PS4 consoles after PlayStation Vue shutdown (The Verge) Roku is in talks for original programming, following the footsteps of Netflix and Amazon (Digiday) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 3, 2020
Waymo has an interesting raise. Interesting for what it says about self-driving and about Google Moon Shots. Robinhood has the worst possible outages at the worst possible time. A new player in the quantum computing race. And sports tech offers a new way to watch… golf? Sponsors: Metalab.co Legalzoom.com Code: "ride" at checkout Links: Waymo raises $2.25 billion to scale up autonomous vehicles operations (VentureBeat) Robinhood Trading Site Seizes Up, Customers Miss Stock Rally (Bloomberg) Honeywell set to launch its quantum computer with quantum volume of 64 (ZDNet) Ampere Altra is the first 80-core ARM-based server processor (VentureBeat) iPhone Maker Expects China Plants to Return to Normal in Coming Weeks (Bloomberg) Tim Cook and Apple Bet Everything on China. Then Coronavirus Hit. (WSJ) Alibaba’s new AI system can detect coronavirus in seconds with 96% accuracy (TNW) NBC’s experimental PGA Tour live stream makes it easier to follow your favorite golfer (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 2, 2020
Some investors want Jack out as Twitter CEO. Apple settles a class action lawsuit for half a billion dollars. If you listen regularly, I bet you can guess why some game developers don’t want to work with Stadia. Spotify wants artists to pay to promote their own songs. And AT&T TV is a new way to re-invent the cable bundle. Sponsors: Metalab.co Zapier.com/ride Links: Rajeev Suri to step down as Nokia CEO; Pekka Lundmark to take over (TechCrunch) Singer’s Elliott Seeks to Replace Twitter CEO Dorsey (Bloomberg) Apple to pay up to $500 million to settle U.S. lawsuit over slow iPhones (Reuters) Google's ambitious push into gaming is floundering, and it's due largely to too few games on its Stadia platform — here's why developers have held back (Business Insider) AT&T TV now available nationwide with Android TV set-top box — and a two-year contract (The Verge) Spotify’s Newest Pitch to Labels and Musicians: Now You Pay Us (Bloomberg) The Week in Tech: Coronavirus Disrupts the Industry (NYTimes) Airbnb’s Path to 2020 Stock Listing Imperiled by Coronavirus (Bloomberg) Kuo: iPhone Production Will Not Significantly Improve Until Second Quarter of 2020 (MacRumors) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 28, 2020
Are S10 sales in Korea the first indication of the Covid-19 effect? Is the FCC gonna fine the wireless carriers enough for selling location data? Is Apple going to release an iPad Pro with a trackpad? A hybrid scooter/tiny car. And, of course, the weekend longreads suggestions. Sponsors: TinyCapital.com Netgear.com/bestwifi Links: Amazon bars one million products for false coronavirus claims (Reuters) Initial sales of Galaxy S20 series downbeat amid virus fears (The Korea Herald) FCC to propose $200 million fines for U.S. cellphone carriers over consumer data disclosures (Reuters) Apple Planning iPad Keyboard with Trackpad (The Information) An iPhone with no ports? It could happen in the very near future (Macworld) Second proof of concept of under-display camera, but won’t come to iPhone soon (9to5Mac) Citroën's new EV is a tiny two-seater that only costs $22 a month (Engadget) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: How Monzo brought Silicon Valley’s ‘wild ideas’ to Britain’s staid banking system (CNBC) The bank manager will see you now: is Monzo ready to grow up? (The Guardian) Inside the race to build the best quantum computer on Earth (MIT Technology Review) A parody Twitter account hits a nerve with Silicon Valley VCs (Protocol) How North Korean Hackers Rob Banks Around the World (Wired) YC’s New Guide to Raising a Series A (Y Combinator) Printing’s Not Dead: The $35 Billion Fight Over Ink Cartridges (Bloomberg Businessweek) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 27, 2020
What else? More Coronavirus stuff. F8 8'nt gonna happen. Roblox is the most interesting raise in a long time. DoorDash files for an IPO but don’t expect it soon. Nokia is exploring its options. Oh, and the first reviews for the Galaxy S20 Ultra suggest the cameras are having issues. Sponsors: TinyCapital.com Links: Facebook cancels F8 developers conference over coronavirus (CNET) Microsoft warns it will miss guidance for segment that includes Windows because of coronavirus (CNBC) Roblox raises $150M Series G, led by Andreessen Horowitz, now valued at $4B (TechCrunch) DoorDash preps for IPO, confidentially files documents with SEC (CNBC) Nokia to Weigh Strategic Options as Profit Pressure Mounts (Bloomberg) It took Google three years to add Firefox, Edge and Opera support to Google Earth (Ghacks.net) Timex is releasing a GPS smartwatch with 25 days of battery life (The Verge) SAMSUNG GALAXY S20 ULTRA REVIEW: SHUTTER BUG (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 26, 2020
Facebook bans ads around the Cornavirus, a deeper dive into how the Coronavirus crisis might be affecting iPhone development, Bob Iger is no longer Disney’s leader (kinda), why Waymo is hiring like crazy in hopes of a self-driving breakthrough, and if you see someone using an iPhone in a mystery movie, guess what? They’re probably not the bad guy. Sponsors: TinyCapital.com TryGrasshopper.com/ride Links: Facebook is banning ads that promise to cure the coronavirus (BusinessInsider) Coronavirus clouds Apple's timeline for new iPhones (Reuters) Disney has a new CEO, but its old CEO isn’t going away quite yet (Recode) Inside Waymo’s Hiring Binge (The Information) Plume raises $85 million to bring smarter Wi-Fi networks to more homes (VentureBeat) Musicians Algorithmically Generate Every Possible Melody, Release Them to Public Domain (Vice) Smithsonian Institute just released 2.8 million high-quality images for free (TNW) Apple won’t let bad guys use iPhones in movies, says Knives Out director (The Verge) Jif settles the great debate with a GIF peanut butter jar (CNN Business) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 25, 2020
Netflix launches Top 10 lists, Firefox rolls out DNS over HTTPS, Amazon Go Grocery means no cashiers or checkout lines, consolidation or super app in the Southeast Asian on demand transport space, and why this might be Signal’s moment to go mainstream. Sponsors: Facebook: The Inside Story by Steven Levy Tinycapital.com Rhone.com/ridehome Promocode: ridehome for 20 percent off Links: New Netflix feature reveals the top 10 most popular programs on its service (TechCrunch) Netflix added a top 10 list of its most-watched content — here’s how to find it (The Next Web) Firefox turns encrypted DNS on by default to thwart snooping ISPs (Ars Technica) Intuit confirms that it is buying Credit Karma for $7.1B in cash and stock (TechCrunch) Inside ‘Amazon Go Grocery’: Tech giant opens first full-sized store without cashiers or checkout lines (GeekWire) Grab raises up to $856M to boost payments business as rumors swirl of a merger with rival Gojek (TechCrunch) EU Commission to staff: Switch to Signal messaging app (Politico.eu) SourceCode Newsletter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 24, 2020
The phantom announcements from MWC start trickling in. Safari might be getting strict with HTTPS certificates. Apple might release an ARM-based Mac as soon as early 2021. TONS of specs revealed concerning the Xbox Series X. And Fintech continues to be on a roll. Sponsors: TinyCapital.com MintMobile.com/ride Links: Huawei unveils the Mate Xs and MatePad Pro 5G w/ no Play Store access (9to5Google) Intel debuts 5G server and base station chips, plus a PC network card (VentureBeat) Apple drops a bomb on long-life HTTPS certificates: Safari to snub new security certs valid for more than 13 months (The Register) Microsoft reveals more Xbox Series X specs (Polygon) Apple to release first ARM Mac without Intel processor in next 18 months, predicts Kuo (9to5Mac) Intuit Near Deal to Buy Credit Karma for $7 Billion (WSJ) Fintech startups raised $34B in 2019 (TechCrunch) Enveil raises $10 million for enterprise-scale homomorphic encryption (VentureBeat) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 23, 2020
I am honored to be speaking today to Lloyd Minor, the Dean of the Stanford University School of Medicine. He has a new book out called Discovering Precision Health , and if you are interested in health tech at all, ESPECIALLY if you are interested in trying your hand at a health tech startup? This is required reading. And for the rest of us, it’s also a great primer on how tech is about to transform health, and what we can (hopefully) look forward to as tech finally (again, hopefully) disrupts the health care space… in a positive sense! Sponsors: TinyCapital.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 22, 2020
Well, we mentioned it a couple weeks ago, but Tesla has had quite the month. Maybe one of the banner months of its entire life as a company. No better time to check in on the world of Elon Musk with Rob Mauer of the always excellent Tesla Daily podcast. Why did Tesla’s stock shoot to the moon, come back down a bit, and then inch back up toward the moon this month? What are the fundamentals behind that excellent earnings report? Is this it? Have the Tesla bulls won? Such a fascinating company… Sponsors: Tinycapital.com Podcorn.com (promocode "ride" at checkout) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 21, 2020
Shopify joins the Libra Association, Facebook will pay you for your data in one specific instance, Google is cutting down on apps using background location, more Coronavirus cancellations and the Weekend Longreads Suggestions. Sponsors: Metalab.co Podcorn.com (promocode: "ride" at checkout) Links: Shopify joins Facebook's cryptocurrency Libra Association (TechCrunch) Google Resists Demands From States in Digital-Ad Probe (WSJ) Facebook will now pay you for your voice recordings (The Verge) Google is cracking down on Android apps that track your location in the background (The Verge) PlayStation and Facebook cancel GDC appearances citing coronavirus concerns (GamesIndustry.biz) Weekend Longreads: Did the Early Internet Activists Blow It? (Slate) Wikipedia Is the Last Best Place on the Internet (Wired) How the BBC’s Netflix-killing plan was snuffed by myopic regulation (WiredUK) Could micro-credentials compete with traditional degrees? (BBC) Debt is Coming (AlexDanco.com) The New Business of AI (and How It’s Different From Traditional Software) (A16Z) Aircraft, Big and Small, Are Changing Our Relationship With Flight (NYTimes) Classified Ad info: Email: cofounders@icloud.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 20, 2020
Apple might let users choose third-party default apps, Twitter further embraces tweet storms, Morgan Stanley buys E*Trade, a rundown of all the stuff in the new Android developer preview, and if anything, it looks like cord cutting is just accelerating. Sponsors: Metalab.co Netgear.com/bestwifi Links: Apple Weighs Letting Users Switch Default iPhone Apps to Rivals (Bloomberg) Microsoft plans antivirus software for Android and iOS devices (CNBC) Twitter rolling out new ‘Continue thread’ option for connecting multiple tweets together (9to5Mac) Blue Chip Morgan Stanley to Buy Discount Broker E-Trade (NYTimes) Google launches Android 11 Developer Preview ahead of schedule for Pixel phones (9to5Google) Cord-Cutting Accelerated in 2019, Raising Pressure on Cable Providers (WSJ) Classified Ad info: Email: cofounders@icloud.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 19, 2020
The ways in which Twitter might be taking a page out of Facebook’s book, and Facebook might be trying some Twitter-like feed experiments. Spotify finally starts showing lyrics. Ring finally requires two factor authentication. And be sure to listen to the end of today’s episode to hear about our new Gaming Ride Home podcast. Sponsors: Radar.io Metalab.co Links: Twitter acquires Stories template maker Chroma Labs (TechCrunch) Facebook prototypes tabbed News Feed with Most Recent & Seen (TechCrunch) Firefox releases Android app for its VPN service (Android Police) Spotify finally starts showing proper, complete song lyrics synced with music (Android Police) Google Docs autocorrect widely rolling out as Smart Compose exits G Suite beta (9to5Google) Adobe brings more desktop-quality Photoshop tools to the iPad (Engadget) Microsoft’s new Office app arrives on iOS and Android with mobile-friendly features (The Verge) Ring now requires two-factor sign-ins for its home security devices (Engadget) Record labels rush to IPO amid music streaming boom (Axios) Larry Tesler, the Apple employee who invented cut, copy and paste, dies at 74 (Cult of Mac) Classified Ad info: Email: cofounders@icloud.com And check out the job description here . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 18, 2020
The Coronavirus crisis forces Apple to miss their already cautious revenue guidance. Wait. Is the Galaxy Z Flip using real glass or not? Qualcomm claps back at Apple with its next gen 5G modem. And Jeff Bezos plans to donate $10 billion dollars to combat climate change. Sponsors: Metalab.co Capterra.com/ride Links: Investor update on quarterly guidance (Apple Newsroom) APPLE WARNS THAT CORONAVIRUS OUTBREAK IN CHINA WILL AFFECT REVENUE THIS QUARTER (Daring Fireball) Forget foldable: These leaked images show a phone concept with a slide-out screen (CNET) Galaxy Z Flip durability test calls Samsung’s Ultra Thin ‘Glass’ into question (The Verge) Qualcomm's New 3rd Generation 5G Modem (AnAndTech) Microsoft's new all-in-one Office app is now available for all, but tablets aren't supported (Android Police) Pay Up, Or We’ll Make Google Ban Your Ads (Krebs on Security) Jeff Bezos commits $10 billion to fight climate change (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 17, 2020
The world’s most powerful climate supercomputer, HQ Trivia joins the Deadpool, Apple isn’t happy with Qualcomm’s chips again, foldable phones are having crease issues again, and a bit of an explainer about the Indian e-commerce gold rush. Sponsors: Metalab.co Wealthfront.com/techmeme Links: UK to spend $1.6 billion on the world's fastest weather supercompute r (Engadget) Game over for HQ Trivia (CNN Business) Exclusive: Apple is designing its own antenna for this year’s 5G iPhone (Fast Company) Our Motorola Razr's display is already breaking and peeling at the fold (Input) US Army testing all terrain electric scooter for tactical use (Electrek) In India, mom-and-pop stores are proving to be the holy grail for tech startups (KrASIA) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 15, 2020
When a company does one of their big product events late in the day, it’s always a mad rush for me to get it out. Apple events are hard, but at least they start a bit earlier. The Samsung event this week just felt like me making a mad list of everything announced and hoping I wasn’t missing anything. So I really felt it was worth sitting back, taking a breath, and looking at everything that was announced in depth. We’re speaking to Gizmodo’s Sam Rutherford today who has actually be hands on with the S20s, so we’ll lay out in a more granular way, the differences between them all, and also, speculate on whether or not the Z Flip is actually the foldable phone we’ve all been waiting for. A foldable phone that might not suck. Sponsors: DoubleUp.agency The Special BookNotes Link Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 14, 2020
The DOJ charges a bitcoin mixing service. A judge has blocked Microsoft’s JEDI contract. What happens if the PlayStation 5 is $500? Google takes down some malicious browser extensions. And, of course, the Weekend Longreads Suggestions. Sponsors: DoubleUp.agency Netgear.com/bestwifi Links: Ohio man arrested for running Bitcoin mixing service that laundered $300 million (ZDNet) Judge temporarily blocks Microsoft Pentagon cloud contract after Amazon suit (CNBC) Sony Is Struggling With PlayStation 5 Price Due to Costly Parts (Bloomberg) Google removes 500+ malicious Chrome extensions from the Web Store (ZDNet) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: Inside Mark Zuckerberg's Lost Notebook (Wired) THE HIGH COST OF A FREE CODING BOOTCAMP (The Verge) Cost Cutting Algorithms Are Making Your Job Search a Living Hell (Vice) Are Algorithmically-Generated Term Papers the Next Big Challenge to Academic Integrity? (EdSurge) SoftBank’s $375 Million Bet on Pizza Went Really Bad Really Fast (Bloomberg BusinessWeek) How a Space Engineer Made Her Own Rotary Cell Phone (Wired) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 13, 2020
The US charges Huawei with racketeering. Could the future of the Apple Watch be modular? Uber trials ordering an Uber via 800 number. Interesting raises in robotics and in space. And why quantum entanglement could lead to a truly secure internet. Sponsors: Doubleup.agency BuyRaycon.com/tech Links: The US is charging Huawei with racketeering (TechCrunch) Andy Rubin’s Start-Up, Essential Products, Shuts Down (NYTimes) Apple Watch of the future could have a modular back for upgrades & new sensors (Apple Insider) Broadcom launches Wi-Fi 6 extended combo processor, aims to hit 2 Gbps speeds (ZDNet) Uber's latest test books rides with a phone call, not the app (Engadget) Intuition Robotics raises $36 million to bring AI companions to everyone (VentureBeat) Astranis raises $90 million for its next-gen satellite broadband internet service (TechCrunch) Dieter Bohn's Processor newsletter (The Verge) Quantum entanglement over 30 miles of fiber has brought super secure internet closer (MIT Technology Review) Click here to give the Ad-Free Feed a Try Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 12, 2020
Does Uncle Sam have a smoking gun when it comes to Huawei? Could Airbnb’s recent financials imperil its IPO plans? Is Apple Pay eating the payments market? Is the CISO job actually a miserable one? And might the Z Flip actually be the first good foldable phone? Sponsors: DoubleUp.agency Zapier.com/ride Links: U.S. Officials Say Huawei Can Covertly Access Telecom Networks (WSJ) Facebook accuses telecoms groups of disinformation tactics (Financial Times) FTC Expands Antitrust Investigation Into Big Tech (WSJ) Airbnb Swings to a Loss as Costs Climb Ahead of IPO (WSJ) Apple Pay is on pace to account for 10% of all global card transactions (QZ) State of Software Engineers (Hired.com) Average tenure of a CISO is just 26 months due to high stress and burnout (ZDNet) Samsung Galaxy Z Flip hands-on: This is more like it (TechCrunch) Samsung Galaxy Z Flip hands-on: Razr who? (Engadget) Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip beats the Motorola Razr in nearly every way (The Verge) The world’s biggest phone show has been canceled due to coronavirus concerns (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 11, 2020
All of the headlines from the big Samsung Unpacked event, the T-Mobile-Sprint merger is officially a go… mostly, Brandless is the first Softbank company to shut down entirely, a Sirius lifeline for Soundcloud, and has the CIA quietly been the real owner of the leading encryption company for decades now? Sponsors: DoubleUP.agency LinkedIN.com/ride Links: SAMSUNG’S GALAXY S20, PLUS, AND ULTRA FIRST LOOK: CAMERAS, 5G, AND 120HZ SCREENS (The Verge) Samsung’s new foldable Galaxy Z Flip will arrive on February 14th for $1,380 (The Verge) Samsung Galaxy Z Flip debuts w/ less expensive ‘flip phone’ design (9to5Google) Judge approves $26 billion merger of T-Mobile and Sprint (CNBC) Brandless shuts down operations, becoming SoftBank Vision Fund's first failure (Protocol) SiriusXM Acquires Minority Stake in SoundCloud for $75 Million (The Hollywood Reporter) Netflix dominates viewing on TVs over all other streaming services (CNET) ‘The intelligence coup of the century’ (Washington Post) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 10, 2020
The DOJ says the Chinese were behind the Equifax hack, MWC is becoming a ghost conference, the Razr reviews are in, the Corp.com domain name is a weird story, and why ARM’s new edge chips could revolutionize the Internet of Things. Sponsors: Netgear.com/bestwifi Ashford.edu/ride Links: U.S. charges Chinese military hackers with massive Equifax breach (Politico) As top exhibitors pull out of MWC, organizers implement stringent safeguards (TechCrunch) Coronavirus: Sony and Amazon pull out of major tech show (BBC News) Motorola Razr review: It's the most personal phone I've used, but I have concerns (CNET) Motorola Razr review: A tragedy unfolds (Input Magazine) Netflix Spends Big for Oscars—Will Hollywood Give In? (WSJ) Dangerous Domain Corp.com Goes Up for Sale (KrebsonSecurity) ARM’s new edge AI chips promise IoT devices that won’t need the cloud (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 7, 2020
Uber says it will be profitable quicker than it had expected to, yet another entrant into the lists at the Streaming Wars, what’s it like to use a 64-core processor, and of course, the weekend longreads suggestions. Sponsors: TinyCapital.com Podcorn.com Links: Uber stock is on pace for its best day ever (CNBC) ViacomCBS to launch new streaming service blending CBS All Access with Paramount films, Viacom channels (CNBC) NYSE Owner Abandons Potential eBay Deal (WSJ) The 64 Core Threadripper 3990X CPU Review (AnandTech) Big Tech opponent Bernie Sanders raises more money from Big Tech employees than anyone else (Recode) Netflix will now let you disable its awful autoplaying feature (The Verge) The Weekend Longreads Suggestions: MICROSOFT’S WINDOWS FUTURE IS NOW TIED TO HARDWARE (The Verge) Steven Levy's Plaintext An Algorithm That Grants Freedom, or Takes It Away (NYTimes) ‘ClassPass Is Squeezing Studios to the Point of Death’ (Vice) Elon Musk Can’t Lose (BuzzFeed News) A SMALL ROCKET MAKER IS RUNNING A DIFFERENT KIND OF SPACE RACE (Bloomberg) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 6, 2020
Google Maps turns 15 and puts on a fresh coat of paint, it turns out you WILL be able to unlock your car via iPhone and really soon, Huawei is suing Verizon, Twitter impresses investors, Casper has a rollercoaster IPO, and does the fact that Google has stopped reporting a key metric basically guarantee that they have crossed the ad-load Rubicon? Sponsors: TinyCapital.com Podcorn.com Links: Google Maps gets a new icon and more tabs to celebrate 15th anniversary (The Verge) New ‘CarKey’ feature in iOS 13.4 beta brings built-in support for unlocking, driving, and sharing NFC car keys (9to5Mac) Apple now sells more watches than the entire Swiss watch industry (The Verge) Huawei sues Verizon for alleged patent violations (The Verge) Twitter reports $1.01B in Q4 revenue with 152M monetizable daily active users (TechCrunch) Casper surges nearly 30% in market debut (CNBC) The mysterious disappearance of Google's click metric (ZDNet) Ancestry to lay off 6% of workforce because of a slowdown in the consumer DNA-testing market (CNBC) U.S. allows SoftBank-backed Nuro to deploy driverless delivery vehicles (Reuters) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 5, 2020
Spotify officially buys The Ringer, we have the official Disney+ subscriber numbers, Jeff Weiner is officially stepping down as LinkedIn CEO, a Rockstar Games co-founder is apparently leaving the company, and what languages do most developers say they want to learn next? Sponsors: TinyCapital.com NetGear.com/bestwifi Links: Spotify is buying Bill Simmons’s The Ringer to boost its podcast business (Recode) Disney earnings beat expectations, fueled by strong Disney+ subscriptions (Yahoo! Finance) LG Electronics is withdrawing from Mobile World Congress due to coronavirus (The Verge) NYSE Owner Intercontinental Exchange Makes Takeover Offer for eBay (WSJ) Instagram Brings In More Than a Quarter of Facebook Sales (Bloomberg) Jeff Weiner Updates His LinkedIn Profile (Wired) Rockstar co-founder Dan Houser is leaving the company (The Verge) Programming languages: Go and Python are what developers most want to learn (ZDNet) Why the N.Y.P.D. Dropped One of Its Oldest Crime-Fighting Tools (NYTimes) Steve Jobs' personality changed after Apple's success, Wozniak says (CNET) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 4, 2020
We finally know how big a business YouTube is, the tech angle on that Iowa Caucuses mess IS the only angle, Mastercard explains why it pulled out of Libra, and why has the US Government decided to break up Big Razor, before it gets around to Big Tech. Sponsors: Capterra.com/ride WarbyParker.com/tech Links: YouTube is a $15 billion-a-year business, Google reveals for the first time (The Verge) This Is The Buzzy Democratic Firm That Botched The Iowa Caucuses (HuffPost) Some Google Photos videos in ‘Takeout’ backups were sent to strangers last November (9to5Google) Mastercard chief speaks out against nationalism and Facebook (Financial Times) Asana Says It’s Filed to Go Public Through a Direct Listing (Bloomberg) Chip Industry Had Worst Sales Year Since Dot-Com Bubble Burst (Bloomberg) Top Antitrust Official Is Said to Recuse Himself From Google Inquiry (NYTimes) The US government is breaking up Big Razor before it gets to Big Tech (Recode) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 3, 2020
The end might truly be nigh for Blackberry this time. Will the Corona Virus mean we won’t have an Apple event next month after all? Leaked video of the Galaxy Z Flip. Did Jeff Bezos succumb to Elon Musk envy? And why one of the most popular music streaming services in the world is one you’ve probably never heard of. Sponsors: TinyCapital.com LegalZoom.com (code: ride at checkout) Links: BlackBerry’s Android smartphones will stop being sold in August 2020 (9to5Google) Ming-Chi Kuo Says Coronavirus Outbreak Impacting iPhone Supply, Lowers Shipment Forecast (MacRumors) Uber Suspends 240 Mexican Accounts to Prevent Coronavirus Spread (Bloomberg) Microsoft Teams goes down after Microsoft forgot to renew a certificate (The Verge) Alleged leaked video shows off Samsung’s folding Galaxy Z Flip (The Verge) Disney Takes Tighter Control of Hulu After Disney+ Bundle Revs Up Growth (Bloomberg) Behind Amazon’s HQ2 Fiasco: Jeff Bezos Was Jealous of Elon Musk (Bloomberg) Spotify, Apple Music Trail Little-Known Rival in Music-Obsessed India (WSJ) A guy carted 99 phones around to create traffic jams on Google Maps (Updated) (Android Authority) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 1, 2020
This is the promised interview with Angela Strange from Andreessen Horowitz. I told you about it on the weekend longreads segment yesterday, so no more need to explain it: let’s talk about why soon, every company could be a Fintech company. Sponsor: Tinycapital.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 31, 2020
Amazon earnings, the new Apple Maps is rolling out in the US, Uber and DoorDash held merger talks at Softbank’s behest, who’s number two to TikTok in short form videos, and of course, the weekend longreads suggestions. Sponsor: Metalab.co Links: Amazon Revenue Jumps on Holiday Sales as Profit Rises (WSJ) Apple's redesigned Maps app is available across the US (TechCrunch) Uber and DoorDash held merger talks after SoftBank push (Financial Times) SoftBank Is Funding Every Side of a Bruising Startup Battle (WSJ) EU lawmakers snub Apple's pleas, overwhelmingly vote to push for charging cable standard (Apple Insider) How Dubsmash revived itself as #2 to TikTok (TechCrunch) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: Every Company Will Be a Fintech Company (Angela Strange/A16Z) Don't Brush Off Mouth Tech As a Passing Fad (Wired) The iPad's original software designer and program lead look back on the device's first 10 years (InPut) Super Bowl 2020: The madness and magic behind the game’s first 4K HDR broadcast (Digital Trends) Researchers Are Racing to Make a Coronavirus Vaccine. Will It Help? (NYTimes) How Do Bats Live With So Many Viruses? (NYTimes) Facial Recognition- The controversial and nearly ever-present technology that could replace the fingerprint (California Sunday Magazine) CollegeHumor Helped Shape Online Comedy. What Went Wrong? (Wired) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 30, 2020
Its Earnings Bonanza Day! Tesla, Facebook, Microsoft, Samsung… Facebook pays a record fine to Illinois, the Switch has outsold the SNES, three interesting Apple stories, Avast changes its business model and the new Fantastical app. Sponsors: Metalab.co BelovedRobot.com/nolowcode Links: Tesla’s record 2019 has bought it some breathing room (The Verge) We’re about to enter a world where Tesla is the cheaper electric car (Quartz) Facebook plunges, wiping out more than $50 billion in market value (CNBC) Xbox revenue falls 21% as Microsoft gears up for Xbox Series X debut (GeekWire) Samsung Posts Lower Profit, Anticipates End of Chip Slump (WSJ) Facebook to Pay $550 Million to Settle Facial Recognition Suit (NYTimes) Avast winds down Jumpshot, cites user data sale privacy concerns (ZDNet) Nintendo upgrades fiscal-year forecast as Switch hits 52.5 million consoles sold (VentureBeat) Apple Hires Key Netflix Engineer in Bid to Boost Subscription Services (WSJ) Apple Ends AI Startup’s Work on ‘Project Maven’ After Acquisition (The Information) Kuo: Apple to Launch AirTags, Small Charging Mat, New iPads and Macs, High-End Headphones, and More in First Half of 2020 (MacRumors) Say hello to the new Fantastical: one robust calendar for iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, and Mac (9to5Mac) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 29, 2020
Apple earnings, Google is testing another chat app, we know Uncle Sam is wary of Huawei but did you know he doesn’t trust DJI either, Lime is testing AI scooters and the new app that will let you skip the ads without screwing over publishers. Sponsors: Metalab.co Links: Apple shares rise after company reports better-than-expected revenue of $91.8B (TechCrunch) Apple could see some impact from coronavirus in China, Cook says (CNET) Google Developing New ‘Unified’ Communications App for Businesses (The Information) Interior Department Adopts Restrictions Aimed at Chinese Drones (WSJ) Facebook's 'Clear History' Tool Doesn't Clear Shit (Gizmodo) Ring Doorbell App Packed with Third-Party Trackers (EFF) Lime knows when you're riding on a sidewalk, and will warn you if you do (CNET) Here’s how to stop seeing ads on the internet without screwing over publishers (recode) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 28, 2020
The UK government will allow Huawei to build SOME 5G components, the coronavirus is testing the Great Firewall of China, Product Hunt has a social network, Gruber is critical of the iPad at 10, and would you stay at an Atari Hotel? Sponsors: Metalab.co Wealthfront.com/techmeme Links: UK Huawei decision appears to avert row with US (The Guardian) As Virus Spreads, Anger Floods Chinese Social Media (NYTimes) iPhone 11's new multicam app lets you shoot video with two cameras at once (CNET) Product Hunt Has Released YourStack, A Social Network Where People Talk About Products (BuzzFeed News) The iPad Awkwardly Turns 10 (Daring Fireball) Facebook will now show you exactly how it stalks you — even when you’re not using Facebook (The Washington Post) Google will shut down App Maker on January 19, 2021 (Venture Beat) Atari is opening eight video game hotels across the U.S . (Input Magazine) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 27, 2020
Vine has a spiritual successor in Byte, the new razr might have “bumps and lumps,” your anti-virus program might be selling all your clicks, Seamless might be inventing restaurants from whole cloth, and the AI algorithm that spotted the Wuhan virus early. Sponsors: Metalab.co MintMobile.com/ride Links: Vine reboot Byte officially launches (TechCrunch) Motorola on the Razr’s folding screen: ‘bumps and lumps are normal’ (The Verge) An AI Epidemiologist Sent the First Warnings of the Wuhan Virus (Wired) YouTube signs exclusive streaming deal for Activision e-sports like Call of Duty and Overwatch (The Verge) Online mattress retailer Casper IPO to raise $182.4 million (CNBC) Leaked Documents Expose the Secretive Market for Your Web Browsing Data (Motherboard) Seamless, Grubhub deliver confusion with mistaken restaurant listings (The San Francisco Chronicle) Alex Danco Tweet Thread Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 25, 2020
One of my favorite newsletters—I’ve really gotta give you all a list of all the newsletters I subscribe to if you’re interested at some point—one of my favorite newsletters is The New Consumer ( subscribe here ) by Dan Frommer. Dan published his own analysis of the Casper IPO, and I couldn’t help myself. I needed to delve into the Casper financials in greater detail. But also: scandal marketing! Can brands be “cancelled”? And analysis of this week’s Netflix earnings. Sponsors: DoubleUp.agency Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 24, 2020
Quick Share is coming to challenge AirDrop, how iOS 13 has blown up location marketing, Google takes the wrapping of Dataset Search, an interesting eSports raise and, of course, the weekend longreads suggestions. Sponsors: DoubleUp.agency BelovedRobot.com/nolowcode Links: Clayton Christensen, guru of disruptive innovation and Latter-day Saint leader, dies at 67 (DesertNews) Exclusive: Quick Share is Samsung’s alternative to AirDrop for Galaxy phones (XDADevelopers) Apple, Broadcom Strike $15 Billion Worth of Chip-Supply Deals (Bloomberg) Apple and Google’s tough new location privacy controls are working (Fast Company) Shlayer, No. 1 Threat for Mac, Targets YouTube, Wikipedia (ThreatPost) Google’s search engine for scientists upgraded for better data scouring (The Verge) Esports Training Site ProGuides Raises $5 Million In Seed Funding (Forbes) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: Inside the World's Highest-Stakes Industrial Hacking Contest (Wired) We’re Banning Facial Recognition. We’re Missing the Point. (NYTimes) The Secret History of Facial Recognition (Wired) Behind the Scenes at Rotten Tomatoes (Wired) Jobs, Cook, Ive—Blevins? The Rise of Apple’s Cost Cutter (WSJ) The Tesla Skeptics Who Bet Against Elon Musk (Bloomberg Businessweek) The Internet of Beefs (Ribbonfarm.com) The Hacker News Thread on The Internet of Beefs Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 23, 2020
More Samsung phone rumors, Match Group invests in safety features as a feature, the Bezos phone hack story gets a lot murkier, and everyone seems to have noticed that Google search has gotten crufty. Sponsors: DoubleUp.agency ClearMe.com/techmeme Code: Techmeme Links: Samsung's new foldable phone already sounds way better than the Galaxy Fold (Mashable) New leak says the Galaxy S20's display will run at 60Hz by default (Android Central) Microsoft starts rolling out developer tools for its dual-screen Surface Duo Android phone (ZDNet) Match Group invests in Noonlight to power new safety features in Tinder and other dating apps (TechCrunch) Here Is the Technical Report Suggesting Saudi Arabia’s Prince Hacked Jeff Bezos’ Phone (Motherboard) Alex Stamos Tweet Storm Google’s ads just look like search results now (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 22, 2020
The whole Jeff Bezos phone-got-hacked thing blows up into something crazy. That rumored “cheap” iPhone might be mere weeks away. Is Amazon Music almost as big as Apple Music? Cruise unveils the Origin self-driving car. And the first test of voting via smartphone in the US. Sponsors: DoubleUp.agency Capterra.com/ride Links: Jeff Bezos hack: Amazon boss's phone 'hacked by Saudi crown prince' (The Guardian) Saudi’s MBS implicated in hacking of Jeff Bezos’s phone (Financial Times) UN calls for investigation into alleged Saudi crown prince involvement in Bezos phone hack (CNBC) New Low-Cost iPhone to Enter Mass Production in February (Bloomberg) Amazon Music subscriber numbers close in on Apple (Financial Times) Exclusive: Seattle-Area Voters To Vote By Smartphone In 1st For U.S. Elections (NPR) EXCLUSIVE LOOK AT CRUISE’S FIRST DRIVERLESS CAR WITHOUT A STEERING WHEEL OR PEDALS (The Verge) Netflix says Disney and Baby Yoda may have cut into the streaming service’s growth (Recode) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 21, 2020
Apple could have encrypted iCloud backups… but didn’t… ostensibly to play nice with the government? Getting an Uber from the airport is about to get more expensive. Digital media is actually making money??!! Is IGTV on the way out? Some interesting raises and (potentially) the most consequential lawsuit in Silicon Valley history. Sponsors: DoubleUp.agency Zapier.com/ride Links: Exclusive: Apple dropped plan for encrypting backups after FBI complained - sources (Reuters) Uber Tests Feature Allowing Some California Drivers to Set Fares (WSJ) A true digital media publishing breakthrough (Axios) Spotify in Early Talks to Buy Sports and Pop-Culture Outlet the Ringer (WSJ) Instagram drops IGTV button, but only 1% downloaded the app (TechCrunch) DARPA-backed Soft Robotics raises $23 million for autonomous grippers and sorters (VentureBeat) Berlin proptech Home raises €11 million to be tech-enabled middleman between owners and tenants (Tech.eu) Snyk raises $150 million at $1 billion valuation for AI that protects open source code (VentureBeat) Apple lawsuit tests if an employee can plan rival startup while on payroll (Reuters) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 18, 2020
As I said on Friday, we’re going to delve into Sports Tech in a meaningful way for the first time. This will cover the streaming wars from a new angle because, where is sports in all that? This will be esports, the streaming wars surrounding game streaming, the new betting economy, this will be wearables and actual sports tech products. My guest is Will Martin, who’s Sports Tech Newsletter is something you should subscribe to immediately if you like this space. Subscribe to the Sports Tech Live newsletter Sponsor: Tiny Capital Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 17, 2020
No ads in WhatsApp… for now. We have all the details on the Peacock streaming service. The other streaming wars are taking their toll on Twitch. Jack Dorsey asked Elon Musk how to fix Twitter. And, of course, the weekend longreads suggestions. Sponsors: Metalab.co Links: Facebook Backs Off Controversial Plan to Sell Ads in WhatsApp (WSJ) NBC’s Peacock streaming service will launch on July 15th with three different price tiers (The Verge) Twitch's loss of top streamers impacts hours watched and streamed in Q4 2019, report says (TechCrunch) Huawei P40 Pro leak shows off five-camera bump and ceramic body (The Verge) Jack Dorsey Asks Elon Musk How to Fix Twitter (Bloomberg) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: How Mormons Built the Next Silicon Valley While No One Was Looking (Marker) All the money in the world couldn’t make Kinect happen (Polygon) The Promise of Cloud-Native Games (A16Z/Jonathan Lai) The Metaverse: What It Is, Where to Find it, Who Will Build It, and Fortnite (MatthewBall.vc) Islamic fintechs are on the rise — but how viable is this tailored offering? (Sifted) The Big Question Now Facing Apple (Above Avalon) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 16, 2020
Apple has acquired a pretty interesting AI startup, the Chromium-based Edge browser is here, but there is trouble in Mozilla land, Fitbit is first to market with blood oxygen monitoring, the state of the app economy and ‘instant’ weather forecasts from Google. Sponsor: Metalab.co Links: Exclusive: Apple acquires Xnor.ai, edge AI spin-out from Paul Allen’s AI2, for price in $200M range (GeekWire) XNOR.ai frees AI from the prison of the supercomputer (TechCrunch) Microsoft launches Chromium Edge for Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 10, and macOS (VentureBeat) Mozilla lays off 70 as it waits for new products to generate revenue (TechCrunch) Fitbit quietly enables blood oxygen tracking on its wearables (Engadget) Venture capital slowly seeps outside of Silicon Valley (Axios) App stores saw record 204 billion app downloads in 2013, consumer spend of $120 billion (TechCrunch) Google says new AI models allow for ‘nearly instantaneous’ weather forecasts (The Verge) Subscribe to the ad-free feed here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 15, 2020
More juicy details about the Galaxy S20 lineup, Google Smart Lock lets you do 2FA on your iPhone, proof that no-code development is the new hotness, why do the Feds even need Apple to unlock those iPhones, and Jack Dorsey says we are never, ever, ever going to get… a Edit Tweet button. Probably. Sponsors: Metalab BelovedRobot.com/ridehome Links: Exclusive: Leaked Samsung Galaxy S20+ Hands-on confirms 120Hz display, ultrasonic under-display fingerprint scanner, and no headphone jack (XDAdevelopers) You can now use iPhones as Google security keys for 2FA (9to5Google) Google acquires no-code app development platform AppSheet (VentureBeat) Four years after being acquired, Hipmunk is shutting down (TechCrunch) Apple Takes a (Cautious) Stand Against Opening a Killer’s iPhones (NYTimes) European Venture Report: VC Dollars Rise In 2019 (Crunchbase News) Disney+ was the most downloaded app in the US in Q4 2019 (TechCrunch) Twitter’s Jack Dorsey on edit button: ‘We’ll probably never do it’ (The Verge) Subscribe to the ad-free feed here . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 14, 2020
Apple once again refuses to unlock an iPhone for the Feds, Visa buys Plaid, a macOS beta hints at future ‘Pro Mode’, super crucial Windows update you should download right away and why today is also the end of the Windows 7 Era. Sponsors: Metalab.co LegalZoom.com (promo code RIDE at checkout) Links: Apple Said It Is Helping In The Pensacola Shooting Investigation, But It Won't Unlock The Shooter's iPhones (Buzzfeed News) Visa to acquire Plaid, the fintech powering Venmo and other banking apps, in $5.3 billion deal (CNBC) Epic says its PC game store now has more than 100 million users (The Verge) macOS beta hints at future ‘Pro Mode’ to boost performance on portable Macs (9to5Mac) PC shipments grew in 2019 ahead of bet on 5G and dual-screen devices (VentureBeat) Cryptic Rumblings Ahead of First 2020 Patch Tuesday (KrebsOnSecurity) MICROSOFT BIDS FAREWELL TO WINDOWS 7 AND THE MILLIONS OF PCS THAT STILL RUN IT (The Verge) Free Windows 10 upgrade still works for many Windows 7 users. Here's how to get it (CNET) (Potentially??) Free Windows 10 Upgrade Link Subscribe to the Ad-Free Feed Right Here ! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 13, 2020
Are you ready to get hyped for the Galaxy S20 cause yes, that’s the name. We’re skipping some numbers. TikTok might be cloning Snapchat’s Discover feed. Is GDPR actually doing anything and/or is it enforceable? And could Casper be a make or break test for the Unicorn ecosystem? Sponsors: LinkedIn.com/ride Metalab.co Links: Exclusive: This is the Samsung Galaxy S20+ (XDAdevelopers) TikTok explores curated content feed to lure advertisers (FT) Cookie consent tools are being used to undermine EU privacy rules, study suggests (TechCrunch) A billion medical images are exposed online, as doctors ignore warnings (TechCrunch) Casper's IPO could be a bellwether for unprofitable startups in the post-We-Work era (TechCrunch) Casper files to go public, shows you can lose money selling mattresses (TechCrunch) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 11, 2020
Checkin on the health-tech space with the only reporter I follow religiously around this space: Christina Farr. Why are hospitals suddenly in the middle of a health data gold rush? Why are you more likely to have your health records hacked then every be able to get them in your own hands? Sponsors: Tiny Capital DoubleUp.agency Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 10, 2020
More trouble for Softbank startups, more layoffs at scooter startups, VC deals plateaued last year but music streaming continues to skyrocket, how much money does Netflix lose to password sharers and of course, the weekend longreads suggestions. Sponsors: Stackbit.com/techmeme Tiny Capital Links: SoftBank-Backed Oyo Firing Thousands Across China and India (Bloomberg) E-scooter startup Lime shuts in 12 markets, lays off around 100 (Axios) The Q4/EOY 2019 Global VC Report: A Strong End To A Good, But Not Fantastic, Year (Crunchbase News) U.S. Music Streams Topped a Trillion in 2019 (WSJ) Streaming Services Reckon With Password-Sharing "Havoc" (The Hollywood Reporter) I’m a Millennial, and I Don’t Understand What Quibi Is Trying to Do (Fortune) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: QUIBI VERSUS THE WORLD (The Verge) The hidden world and overlooked problems of acting in video games (Washington Post) Why your favorite celebs are ditching Twitter for an app you’ve never heard of (Fast Company) AN ORAL HISTORY OF RICKROLLING (Mel) Admit It: You Have a Box of Cords You’ll Never, Ever Use Again (WSJ) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 9, 2020
Twitter will allow you to limit who can reply to your tweets, iPhone sales in China seem to have rebounded, the Chinese version of TikTok is why TikTok can distance itself from China, AI is going to pick which movies get made, and why sex tech finally has a home at CES. Sponsors: Tiny Capital Links: Twitter will put options to limit replies directly on the compose screen (The Verge) Firefox gets patch for critical 0-day that’s being actively exploited (Ars Technica) iPhone Hits Double-Digit Growth in China, Official Data Show (Bloomberg) Douyin, TikTok app in China, hits 400 million daily active users (TechCrunch) Warner Bros. Signs Deal for AI-Driven Film Management System (Exclusive) (The Hollywood Reporter) At CES 2020, the AirPods Pro competitors arrived in droves (The Verge) Sex-Tech Companies Are Having More Fun Than the Rest of Us at CES (Wired) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 8, 2020
Another interesting Facebook memo from Boz, Intel previews its next generation of mobile GPUs, more troubles in Softbank startup land, Quibi had a bit of a launch event today, and I saw Charmin’s toilet paper delivery robot. Sponsors: Tiny Capital BelovedRobot.com/ridehome Links: Don’t Tilt Scales Against Trump, Facebook Executive Warns (NYTimes) CES 2020: Intel previews Tiger Lake mobile processors and discrete GPU (CNET) Getaround to Lay Off About One-Fourth of Staff (The Information) ClassPass, finally a unicorn, raises $285M in new funding (TechCrunch) Quibi unveils "Turnstyle," its flagship mobile video format (Axios) Quibi's secret weapon: Videos that work in portrait and landscape mode (Engadget) Mind-blowing Delta board shows 100 passengers personalized flight details at the same time (Mashable) I tried Nreal’s mixed reality glasses at CES and now I want a pair (Android Authority) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 7, 2020
Sonos goes nuclear on Google, though it really has Amazon in mind also; Facebook bans deep fakes… in a way; a whole bunch of really interesting laptop stuff, Sony makes a car, and you make a fashion statement and protect yourself from air pollution at the same time… all the stuff from Day 2 at CES. Sponsors: Tiny Captial Capterra.com/ride Links: Sonos, Squeezed by the Tech Giants, Sues Google (NYTimes) Enforcing Against Manipulated Media (Facebook Newsroom) Facebook bans deepfakes, but new policy may not cover controversial Pelosi video (Washington Post) Sony surprises with an electric concept car called the Vision-S (The Verge) Mercedes-Benz unveils an Avatar-themed concept car with scales (The Verge) Lenovo's ThinkBook Plus Laptop Has a Second Screen on the Lid (TomsHardware) Lenovo’s ThinkPad X1 Fold is a $2,499 PC with a folding OLED screen (The Verge) Lenovo's Yoga 5G laptop packs nine antennas and Snapdragon power (Engadget) Ring adds privacy dashboard to app in response to security concerns (The Verge) Atmos Faceware makes clean air an expensive accessory (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 6, 2020
Samsung tries to scoop CES, Amazon’s Fire TV Edition wants to leapfrog Roku TV, Samsung wants the Galaxy Chromebook to change the way you think about Chromebooks, is Softbank ghosting startups even after delivering term sheets, and a roundup of day one of CES. Sponsors: Wealthfront.com/techmeme Ashford.edu/ride Links: Fire TV Edition expands to more soundbars, plus cars, cables boxes and more (TechCrunch) Roku TV adds 15 more brand partners plus a new 'Roku TV Ready' program (TechCrunch) THE SAMSUNG GALAXY CHROMEBOOK IS BEAUTIFUL, FAST, AND EXPENSIVE (The Verge) Scoop: SoftBank shafts startups (Axios) News coverage gets geo-fragmented (NiemanLab) Samsung details its stunning bezel-less 8K TV (The Verge) The 10 Neatest Things We've Seen at CES So Far (Wired) Intel just confirmed it’s building this tiny modular desktop gaming PC (The Verge) Processor With Dieter Bohn Newsletter Signup Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 3, 2020
Google’s AI has a medical breakthrough, Apple raids HBO for maybe it’s biggest name, Instagram seems to be plateauing by one metric—going gangbusters in another, what to expect from CES and, of course, the Weekend Longreads Suggestions. Sponsors: WeWorkRemotely Links: A.I. Is Learning to Read Mammograms (NYTimes) Apple Deal Returns Former HBO Boss Richard Plepler to Spotlight (NYTimes) HERE’S WHAT’S NEXT FOR GADGETS IN 2020 (The Verge) Snapchat quietly acquired AI Factory, the company behind its new Cameos feature, for $166M (TechCrunch) Instagram User Growth in the US Will Drop to Single Digits For the First Time (eMarketer) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: How to lose a monopoly: Microsoft, IBM and anti-trust (Benedict Evans) Windows: Facing the New Decade (2010–2020) (Steven Sinofsky) Ghosts in the Clouds: Inside China’s Major Corporate Hack (WSJ) 'Shattered': Inside the secret battle to save America's undercover spies in the digital age (Yahoo News) This time, for sure! Ars Technica’s 2020 Deathwatch (Ars Technica) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 2, 2020
Dell kicks off CES season with two new laptops, Imagination Technologies is back in Apple’s good graces, the IRS is finally sticking it to tax prep software firms, and a grand unified theory of the Google Civil War. Sponsors: WeWorkRemotely MintMobile.com/ride Links: Dell’s latest XPS 13 has a new design with a bigger display and Ice Lake chips (The Verge) Dell debuts 5G-ready Latitude 9510 laptop, adds iOS mirroring to PCs (VentureBeat) Apple restores Imagination GPU chip agreement after public dispute and employee poaching (9to5Mac) IRS Reforms Free File Program, Drops Agreement Not to Compete With TurboTax (ProPublica) I Was Google’s Head of International Relations. Here’s Why I Left. (Ross LaJeunesse/Medium) Google veterans: The company has become ‘unrecognizable’ (CNBC) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 30, 2019
A major internet of things data leak, China is about to turn on its GPS competitor, would you like to star in a bitmoji TV show, a look back at the year in unicorns and is the VC gravy train over for us consumers, at least? Sponsors: WeWorkRemotely GiveWell.org/ridehome Links: IoT vendor Wyze confirms server leak (ZDNet) China decouples from US in space with 2020 'GPS' completion (Nikkei Asian Review) SPOTIFY TO SUSPEND POLITICAL ADS IN 2020 (AdAge) Snapchat will launch Bitmoji TV, a personalized cartoon show (TechCrunch) The New Unicorns Of 2019 (Crunchbase News) Israel doubles number of unicorns in 2019 (Globes) Tech Startups Face New Investor Mandate: Profits Over Discounts (WSJ) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 27, 2019
A late holiday gift for YouTube creators, an important new rule for drone operators, to what degree has the Chinese government enabled Huawei’s success, and of course, the weekend longreads suggestions. Sponsors: GiveWell.org/ridehome Mealime Links: YouTube gives creators more control over copyright claim disputes with new update (The Verge) New rule would make it possible to track and identify nearly all drones flying in the U.S. (CNBC) State Support Helped Fuel Huawei’s Global Rise (WSJ) Inside Documents Show How Amazon Chose Speed Over Safety in Building Its Delivery Network (Pro Publica) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: Where Are the Tech Zillionaires? San Francisco Faces the I.P.O. Fizzle (NYTimes) Netflix was the best-performing stock of the decade, delivering a more than 4,000% return (CNBC) 11 Lessons from the Success of Disney+ (MatthewBall.vc) Tuvalu is a tiny island nation of 11,000 people. It’s cashing in thanks to Twitch. (WSJ) How Atari took on Apple in the 1980s home PC wars (Fast Company) THE 84 BIGGEST FLOPS, FAILS, AND DEAD DREAMS OF THE DECADE IN TECH (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 26, 2019
Travis Kalanick has cut all ties with Uber, Sling does indeed have streaming pricing power, livestreams are the new telethons, YouTube considered doing the right thing but passed, and is Catalyst fundamentally flawed? Sponsors: Mealime GiveWell.org/ridehome Links: Travis Kalanick severs all ties with Uber, departing board and selling all his shares (CNBC) Sling TV gets more expensive, raises cheapest subscription price to $30 (The Verge) Pyka and its autonomous, electric crop-spraying drone land $11M seed round (TechCrunch) Pentagon tells military personnel not to use at-home DNA kits (NBC News) Livestreams are the new telethons, and they’re raising millions for charities (Washington Post) Inside YouTube’s Year of Responsibility (Bloomberg) Catalyst and Cohesion (WormsandViruses.com) Catalyst, Two Months In (Daring Fireball) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 23, 2019
The Government says ToTok is a full on spying app, TikTok wants to distance itself from allegations that it might be a spying app, out of nowhere, could Rivian be Tesla’s biggest competitor, and what does it mean if Travis Kalanick sells all of his Uber stock? Sponsors: GiveWell.org/ridehome Mealime Links: It Seemed Like a Popular Chat App. It’s Secretly a Spy Tool. (NYTimes) U.S. Navy bans TikTok from government-issued mobile devices (Reuters) DraftKings going public via reverse merger (Axios) Rivian adds $1.3 billion in funding for its electric utility and adventure vehicles (TechCrunch) Uber Co-Founder Travis Kalanick Cuts Stake in Company by More Than 90% (WSJ) Boeing Starliner Lands in New Mexico After Clock Error Prompts Early Return (NYTimes) Starliner makes a safe landing—now NASA faces some big decisions (Ars Technica) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 20, 2019
Does Apple have a secret team to do an end run around telecom carriers, Google buys a game studio, IAC buys Care.com, Ripple is an interesting raise, and of course, the weekend longreads suggestions. Sponsors: Tiny Capital GetQuip.com/ride Booknotesapp.com (or on iPhone and Android) Links: Apple Has Secret Team Working on Satellites to Beam Data to Devices (Bloomberg) Google buys triple-A game dev Typhoon Studio to beef up Stadia (VentureBeat) Care.com shares surge after Barry Diller’s IAC agrees to buy online caregiver marketplace (CNBC) Ripple Raises $200 Million as Part of Bid for XRP Adoption (Fortune) Robocall fines rise to $10,000 per call under newly passed law (The Verge) Labels & Publishers Win $1 Billion Piracy Lawsuit Against Cox Communications (Billboard) The Booknotesapp.com Weekend Longreads Suggestions: SoftBank Vision Fund Employees Depict a Culture of Recklessness (Bloomberg Businessweek) Shopify: A StarCraft Inspired Business Strategy (Non-GAAP Thoughts) IKEA 2.0 (The Verge) State of the Stream 2019: Platform Wars, the New King of Streaming, Most Watched Game and More! (Stream Elements) Meet the Mad Scientist Who Wrote the Book on How to Hunt Hackers (Wired) I created my own deepfake—it took two weeks and cost $552 (Ars Technica) The 100 Memes That Defined The 2010s (Buzzfeed News) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 19, 2019
That big NYTimes piece about location data, is Facebook taking another run at creating its own OS, is Apple considering buying James Bond, is Spotify building a social graph, and do e-athletes need gaming socks? Sponsors: TinyCapital.com Rhone.com/ridehome Links: Twelve Million Phones, One Dataset, Zero Privacy (NYTimes) Facebook will bar posts, ads that spread disinformation about the U.S. Census (Washington Post) To Control Its Destiny, Facebook Bets Big on Hardware (The Information) Apple Held Preliminary Talks With Pac-12 Conference, MGM (WSJ) Spotify prototypes Tastebuds to revive social music discovery (TechCrunch) A milestone: Earthquake early warning system sends first public alert to smartphones in California (Los Angeles Times) TiVo to Merge With Entertainment-Tech Firm Xperi in $3 Billion Deal (Variety) Puma’s first ‘active gaming footwear’ is a sock (Engadget) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 18, 2019
Everyone comes together to create a smart-home standard, did Google consider walking away from its cloud business, the last holdout comes to streaming, Gary Larson stops holding out on the web and the math behind that gift-wrapping video. Sponsors: Tiny Capital Aircall.io/ride Links: Apple, Google and Amazon are cooperating to make your home gadgets talk to each other (CNBC) We Tested Ring’s Security. It’s Awful (Motherboard) Google Brass Set 2023 as Deadline to Beat Amazon, Microsoft in Cloud (The Information) Cord cutters, you can finally stream your PBS stations online – on YouTube TV (USA Today) Virtual product placement is coming for TV and movies and Ryff has raised cash to put it there (TechCrunch) Far Side creator Gary Larson launches website with promise of new work (The Guardian) A Letter From Gary Larson (TheFarSide.com) The Internet Is Losing Its Mind Over This Gift-Wrapping Trick. Here's the Secret. (Popular Mechanics) The Gift Wrapping Video Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 17, 2019
More reported casualties in the Google Civil War, more strife between Amazon and FedEx, can Amazon turn Alexa into a healthy ecosystem, developers: get busy on Edge extensions, and the top apps of the decade have one big thing in common. Sponsors: TinyCapital.com GiveWell.org/ridehome Links: Google accused of firing another worker in union-busting drive (Engadget) Amazon Blocks Sellers From Using FedEx Ground for Prime Shipments (WSJ) Amazon Learns a New Skill: Making Money From Alexa (The Information) Amazon Brings in $1.4 Million in 2019 of Alexa Skill Revenue So Far — Well Short of the $5.5 Million Target According to The Information (Voicebot.ai) Microsoft Opens Edge Addons Store for Submissions (Winbuzzer) A Look Back At the Top Apps & Games of the Decade (App Annie) Controversial sale of .org domain manager faces review at ICANN (Ars Technica) Chess champion Magnus Carlsen moves to top of world fantasy football rankings (The Guardian) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 16, 2019
Chrome 79 is wiping data from some apps, Amazon is about to deliver more than FedEx or UPS all by its lonesome, Argo plans to charge by the mile, smart TV’s make margin by watching you, does music lack pricing power and help me find a name for $100 million-dollar annual recurring revenue startups. Sponsors: TinyCapital.com DollarShaveClub.com/ride Links: Google pauses Chrome 79 rollout on Android after bug wipes data in some apps (Android Police) Watch out, UPS. Morgan Stanley estimates Amazon is already delivering half of its packages (CNBC) Self-Driving Mercedes Will Be Programmed To Sacrifice Pedestrians To Save The Driver (Fast Company) Argo takes different road to skirt self-driving challenges (Reuters) The falling price of a TV set is the story of the American economy (The Outline) The newest members of the $100M ARR club (TechCrunch) Zero-to-100 Million in 3 Years (Lemonade Blog) Why Do We Still Pay Only $10 a Month for Music? (Rolling Stone) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 14, 2019
For the final weekend bonus episode of the year, I wanted to check in with Crypto. What a year for the space! Seemingly dead at the beginning of the year. But then the Crypto Spring™ happened. And then Libra happened. And so… where are we? No one better than CoinDesk’s Brady Dale to catch us up… Sponsors: PixelUnion.net Mealime Sofi.com/ride Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 13, 2019
Details about the next-gen Xbox, Apple makes an interesting acquisition around photography, Lyft will rent you a car, why I find Roku so interesting, and, of course, the weekend longreads suggestions. Sponsors: Today In Digital Marketing Podcast PixelUnion.net aircall.io/ride Links: Microsoft’s next Xbox is Xbox Series X, coming holiday 2020 (The Verge) Apple Buys U.K. Startup to Improve iPhone Picture Taking (Bloomberg) Lyft launches a car rental service with no mileage limit (The Verge) Google Maps has now photographed 10 million miles in Street View (CNET) Roku Built the Dominant Streaming Box. Now It’s Under Siege (Bloomberg BusinessWeek) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: THE AGE OF INSTAGRAM FACE (New Yorker) The Influencer and the Hit Man (OneZero) Silicon Valley’s psychedelic wonder drug is almost here (Fast Company) How Zoom Became the Best Web-Conferencing Product in the World in Less Than 10 Years (FYI) “Link In Bio” is a slow knife (Anil Dash) THE VERGE’S GADGETS OF THE DECADE (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 12, 2019
Google releases all the things at once, everyone is mulling over Jack’s decentralized Twitter idea, one last tech IPO of the year, should seed investors just say yes to every deal, why you should know the Canva story, and why Cousin Greg playing Adam Neumann is my Christmas dream come true. Sponsors: PixelUnion.net GiveWell.org/ridehome Links: FTC Weighs Seeking Injunction Against Facebook Over How Its Apps Interact (WSJ) Google is bringing spam detection and verified business messaging to Messages (The Verge) Interpreter, Google's real-time translator, comes to mobile (TechCrunch) Bill.com’s Stock Takes Off On IPO Day (Forbes) AI R&D is booming, but general intelligence is still out of reach (The Verge) Startup Growth and Venture Returns: What We Found When We Analyzed Thousands of VC Deals (AngelList Blog) Bluesky early thoughts (Sriramk.com) Hey @Jack Dorsey, decentralizing Twitter won’t solve hate speech problems (Digital Trends) Inside the Podcast that Hacks Ring Camera Owners Live on Air (Motherboard) Canva Uncovered: How A Young Australian Kitesurfer Built A $3.2 Billion (Profitable!) Startup Phenom (Forbes) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 11, 2019
A bold new proposal to decentralize social media from Jack Dorsey, YouTube bans “malicious insults,” you can only clean your Pro Display XDR with a special cloth, Silicon Valley is no longer everyone’s favorite place to work and the big tech companies whistled past their troubles this year. Sponsors: aircall.io/ride Today In Digital Marketing Podcast Links: The Bluesky Thread (@jack) YouTube Will Ban Videos That “Maliciously Insult” People Based On Race, Gender, Or Sexual Orientation (Buzzfeed News) Apple's Pro Display XDR With Nano-Texture Can Only Be Cleaned With Special Apple-Provided Cloth (MacRumors) Intel's Manufacturing Roadmap from 2019 to 2029 (AnandTech) Chrome 79 released with tab freezing, back-forward caching, and loads of security features (ZDNet) Facebook, Google Drop Out of Top 10 ‘Best Places to Work’ List (Bloomberg) Big Tech Is Under Attack, and Investors Couldn’t Care Less (NYTimes) Link to the ad-free feed! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 10, 2019
Apple is suing its former chip architect, the Apple Card finally makes sense to me, wheels on the Mac Pro will run you $400, Softbank abandons Wag, Microsoft brings Office to Linux and I want the new tech bubble to be about exoskeletons. Sponsors: PixelUnion.net Today In Digital Marketing Podcast Links: Apple sues iPhone CPU design ace after he quits to run data-center chip upstart Nuvia (The Register) Apple’s Ad-Targeting Crackdown Shakes Up Ad Market (The Information) Apple Cards' interest-free iPhone installment plan goes live, now with 6% back on Apple holiday purchases (TechCrunch) SoftBank Is Selling Wag Stake Back to Company (WSJ) Microsoft Teams is the first Office app for Linux (VentureBeat) Mac Pro Build to Order Options (MacRumors) VSCO acquires video editing startup Rylo (TechCrunch) Robotic exoskeletons: Coming to a factory, warehouse or army near you, soon (ZDNet) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 9, 2019
China orders its own crackdown on foreign tech, Google is bringing “feature drops” to Pixel Phones, the Mac Pro is here but Wunderlist is exiting stage left, Magic Leap seems to be having issues, and an interesting raise from, well… us. Sponsors: Ashford.edu/ride Netgear.com/bestwifi Links: Beijing orders state offices to replace foreign PCs and software (Asian Financial Review) Making Pixel more helpful with the first Pixel feature drop (The Keyword) New Mac Pro and Pro Display XDR orders start on December 10, Apple announces (9to5Mac) Amazon blames Trump for losing $10 billion JEDI cloud contract to Microsoft (CNBC) Microsoft to finally shut down to do list app Wunderlist on May 6, 2020 (TechCrunch) Dented Reality: Magic Leap Sees Slow Sales, Steep Losses (The Information) Amazon leases Hudson Yards office space less than year after HQ2 debacle (Curbed NY) This podcaster wants to catch you up on the news on your ride home, no matter what you’re into (Fast Company) Ride Home Media Raises $1M To Build “Summary-As-A-Service” Podcast Network (CrunchBase News) The Daily Podcast Revolution (Medium) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 8, 2019
I’ve been trying to read books about AI lately to get a firmer grasp on this important topic, and the best book I’ve read for both a basic grounding of the history and the state of play of AI, but also looking at potential frameworks for the technology, both ethically and socially is A Human Algorithm: How Artificial Intelligence is Redefining Who We Are by Flynn Coleman . Sponsors: PixelUnion Mealime Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 7, 2019
I had already reached out to Bloomberg’s Mark Bergen this week to talk about the Google Civil War, but then, of course, there was other big Google news this week. So, come for the assessment of Google’s culture at the moment but stay for an assessment of regime change and a lot more. Sponsors: Metalab Mealime Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 6, 2019
The Uber safety report, more Galaxy S11 rumors, could Apple be about to kill the charging port on iPhones entirely and what would that mean, Samsung’s new chips to make AR mainstream and of course, the weekend longreads suggestions. Sponsors: Metalab PaintYourLife . Text TECH to 64-000 Links: Uber Says 3,045 Sexual Assaults Were Reported in U.S. Rides Last Year (NYTimes) Samsung to Take on iPhone’s Popularity With Big Camera Overhaul (Bloomberg) Kuo: Apple to Launch 'Completely Wireless' iPhone Without Lightning Connector and 'iPhone SE 2 Plus' With Touch ID Power Button in 2021 (MacRumors) 5G and face tracking: The weird future of VR headsets like Oculus Quest and HoloLens (CNET) Qualcomm’s new Snapdragon 8c and 7c processors will power cheaper ARM laptops (The Verge) Spotify Year In Review Thread (@baekdal) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: How Ring Went From ‘Shark Tank’ Reject to America’s Scariest Surveillance Company (Motherboard) Inside VSCO, a Gen Z-approved photo-sharing app, with CEO Joel Flory (TechCrunch) Commentary: Andy Jassy aims to reinvent Amazon Web Services for the cloud’s next generation (Silicon Angle) Why Silicon Valley Investors Are Bonkers For European Startups (Forbes) A decade of hacking: The most notable cyber-security events of the 2010s (ZDNet) HOW SONY BOUGHT, AND SQUANDERED, THE FUTURE OF GAMING (The Verge) The difference between Windows Notepad and WordPad, and when to use each (Windows Central) Why ‘The Mandalorian’ cites Fortnite dev Epic Games in its credits (VentureBeat) Unintended Perk of the Online Mattress Boom: Never-Ending Free (WSJ) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 5, 2019
The FTC might be broadening its look into Amazon, the new flagship Snapdragon Chips, a disc-free Xbox, checkins with Slack, Imgur and Robinhood, and craigslist enters the 21st century. Sponsors: Metalab.co Vistaprint.com Promo Code: Ride50 (for up to 50% off) Links: Amazon Faces Widening U.S. Antitrust Scrutiny in Cloud Business (Bloomberg) Qualcomm Announces Snapdragon 865 and 765(G): 5G For All in 2020, All The Details (AnandTech) Sources: Microsoft Is Still Planning A Cheaper, Disc-Less Next-Gen Xbox (Kotaku) Slack Raises Outlook After Winning New Corporate Customers (WSJ) 300M-user Imgur launches Melee, a gaming meme app (TechCrunch) Red Flags for Robinhood (Fortune) Craigslist Finally Gets an Official App (Gizmodo) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 4, 2019
Larry and Sergey ride their Segway’s off into the sunset, a new entrant in the streaming wars, more news from the re:Invent conference, YouTube says it’s algorithm change is working and the year that was, in the world of Reddit. Sponsors: Metalab Capterra.com/ride GiveWell.org/ridehome Links: A letter from Larry and Sergey (The Keyword) GOOGLE’S THIRD ERA (The Verge) Plex launches a free, ad-supported streaming service in over 200 countries (TechCrunch) With Outposts, Local Zones, and Verizon, AWS looks beyond the cloud (Mostly Cloudy) YouTube says viewers are spending less time watching conspiracy videos. But many still do. (The Washington Post) Instagram to collect ages in leap for youth safety, alcohol ads (Reuters) Reddit's monthly active user base grew 30% to reach 430M in 2019 (TechCrunch) Subreddit That Hates on ‘Game of Thrones’ Is the Most Popular TV Subreddit of 2019 (The Wrap) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 3, 2019
Headlines from re:Invent, how tech is caught up in a tariff war with France, Facebook created a chatbot to help employees explain themselves during the holidays, and let me tell you about the new foldable phone from Pablo Escobar’s brother. Sponsors: Metalab Netgear.com/bestwifi Links: AWS Graviton2: What it means for Arm in the data center, cloud, enterprise, AWS (ZDNet) AWS launches its custom Inferentia inferencing chips (TechCrunch) Trump Administration Proposes Tariffs Against $2.4 Billion of French Goods (WSJ) Former Google employees who say they were fired for organizing are filing labor charges against the company (Vox) Google fired us for organizing. We’re fighting back. (Google Walkout For Real Change) TikTok curbed reach for people with disabilities (NetzPolitik.org) TikTok prevented disabled users’ videos from showing up in feeds (The Verge) DHS wants to expand airport face recognition scans to include US citizens (TechCrunch) Facebook Gives Workers a Chatbot to Appease That Prying Uncle (NYTimes) Pablo Escobar's Brother Has Apple In His Crosshairs With... an 'Unbreakable' Foldable Phone? (Gizmodo) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 2, 2019
Interesting Galaxy S11 leaks, T-Mobile flips the switch on its 5G network, might different models of next year’s iPhone have different versions of 5G, the rundown of Black Friday/Cyber Monday and why an e-sports team is IPO-ing. Sponsors: Legacybox.com/ride Sofi.com/ride Links: Samsung Suddenly Exposes Radical New Galaxy Smartphone [Updated] (Forbes) T-Mobile launches 600MHz 5G across the US, but no one can use it until December 6th (The Verge) 4 new iPhones could have 5G in 2020, but not the same kind of 5G (Mashable) Google and Facebook run into more trouble over data in Europe (CNN Business) Driving Innovation in Data Portability with a New Photo Transfer Tool (Facebook Newsroom) Black Friday sees record $7.4B in online sales, $2.9B spent using smartphones (TechCrunch) Now even the FBI is warning about your smart TV's security (TechCrunch) Amazon debuts automatic speech recognition service, Amazon Transcribe Medical (TechCrunch) Amazon’s kooky new keyboard lets humans and AI write music together (Fast Company) Counter-Strike World Champions Aim for First Esport Team IPO (Bloomberg) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 29, 2019
Since it’s a holiday week in the US, I’m going to do what I’ve done once before on Holiday weeks and give you an episode from the Internet History Podcast archives. This is a story about tech history that, if you’ve never heard it, will blow your mind. What if I told you there was a crazy entrepreneur who was the true founder of what would become America Online? He was the guy who hired Steve Case back before AOL was AOL. What if I told you that same entrepreneur invented true, networked, online gaming—not in the era of the Xbox 360, or Stadia, but back in the days of the Atari 2600? What if I then told you that same entrepreneur invented a Napster/Pandora/Spotify/Sirius-like music service, all the way back in 1981, before the compact disc was even widely available? That Man Is William von Meister And he is the subject of this episode. This is a crazy story, about a hard drinking, heavy-smoking, women-chasing entrepreneur, seemingly from the Mad Men cloth, who was “a pathological entrepreneur” with a “reality-distortion-field” that would give Steve Jobs a run for his money. It’s a story of about a dozen harebrained businesses, none of which were really successful (excepting of course that some or all of them lent their DNA to the company that would become AOL) but all of which were way ahead of their time, and in many ways, presaged technologies we take for granted today. Sponsors: CloudBees.io Mealime Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 26, 2019
Google fires four workers associated with labor organizing, Amazon's ruthless quotas lead to high rates of warehouse injuries, grass-roots opponents to Amazon's power form a coalition, a report cites the public cost of Amazon warehouses on Southern California, the California DMV is selling driver information, the Rev transcription service exposes contractors to horrific recordings, Facebook pays people to take surveys, Zuckerberg mostly listens to old white men, a TikTok teen spreads the news about Chinese mistreatment of Muslim Uyghurs, and Texas Instruments keeps toting up new profits from an old calculator style. Sponsors Silicon Valley Bank Mealime Links: Google fires four workers, including one tied to protests (Bloomberg) Ruthless Quotas at Amazon Are Maiming Employees (the Atlantic) Amazon's Own Numbers Reveal Staggering Injury Rates at Staten Island Warehouse (Gizmodo) Grass-roots activists on Amazon's power coalesce (New York Times) Amazon costs Southern California big time in public assistance for its workers, environmental and transportation impact (Economic Roundtable) California DMV makes $50 million a year selling personal information (Vice) Rev Transcribers Hate the Low Pay, But the Disturbing Recordings Are Even Worse (The Verge) Facebook pays people to take surveys (Engadget) Zuck talks to old white men (Bloomberg) TikTok suspended a teen who posted a viral takedown of China disguised as a makeup tutorial (Business Insider) The Texas Instruments Chained-Calculation Massacre (Medium's GEN) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 25, 2019
Uber loses its license in London, the web’s founder launches a “contract” to save it, eBay sells StubHub, the Threadrippers seem to be the real deal, Deadpool is buying a mobile carrier and Elon Musk knows why those windows cracked. Sponsors: Mealime DollarShaveClub.com/ride Links: Uber loses London licence after TfL finds drivers faked identity (The Guardian) Tim Berners-Lee unveils global plan to save the web (The Guardian) EBay to sell StubHub to Viagogo for about $4 billion in cash (CNBC) India's financial services firm Paytm raises $1B (TechCrunch) The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3960X and 3970X Review: 24 and 32 Cores on 7nm (AnandTech) AMD confirms 64-core Threadripper 3990X for 2020 (The Verge) Ryan Reynolds now owns a stake in budget carrier Mint Mobile (Engadget) Elon Musk explains why Tesla’s Cybertruck windows smashed during presentation (The Verge) Tesla's polarizing Cybertruck was preordered 200,000 times within 3 days (USA Today) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 22, 2019
We gotta talk about Cybertruck, Twitter continues its shipping products hot streak, AirPods are hotter than even Apple anticipated, some trouble in Russia for gadget makers and, of course, the Weekend Longreads Suggestions. Sponsors: SVB.com/next Netgear.com/bestwifi Links: Behold, the Tesla Cybertruck is here (TechCrunch) Tesla accidentally busted two windows on the Cybertruck while demonstrating how tough they are (TechCrunch) Wall Street analysts say Tesla’s pickup is ‘really weird’ and Ford can ‘breathe a sigh of relief’ (CNBC) Tesla all-electric ATV makes a surprise debut at Cybertruck event (TechCrunch) Russia bans sale of gadgets without Russian-made software (BBC News) Twitter will finally let users disable SMS as default 2FA method (ZDNet) Twitter rolls out its 'Hide Replies' feature to all users worldwide (TechCrunch) Apple AirPods Shipments Expected to Double to 60 Million in 2019 (Bloomberg) Microsoft pushes Surface Earbuds release back to spring 2020 (Windows Central) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: How our home delivery habit reshaped the world (The Guardian) The Architect of Modern Algorithms (Quanta Magazine) Spotify’s Daniel Ek Has a Plan to Harness Hollywood for Podcasts and Create "the World’s No. 1 Audio Platform" (The Hollywood Reporter) Inside the Most Watched YouTube Channel in the World (Bloomberg Businessweek) Global Protests Reveal Bitcoin’s Limitations (CoinDesk) Robert De Niro and Al Pacino: A Big, Beautiful 50-Year Friendship (GQ) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 21, 2019
Google is changing its rules around political ads, PayPal is acquiring Honey for a ton of money, why have a Dash Button when you can have a Dash Shelf? Route puts all your orders in one place and I’m afraid Google’s original culture is definitively dead. Sponsors: Castro.fm SVB.com/next Links: An update on our political ads policy (The Keyword/Google) Google to Limit Targeting of Political Ads (NYTimes) Facebook Weighs Steps to Curb Narrowly Targeted Political Ads (WSJ) PayPal to acquire shopping and rewards platform Honey for $4B (TechCrunch) Amazon unveils new Dash Smart Shelf that automatically reorders items when supplies run low (GeekWire) Route's app auto-tracks all your packages, raises $12M (TechCrunch) Inside Apple’s iPhone Software Shakeup After Buggy iOS 13 Debut (Bloomberg) Google Hires Firm Known for Anti-Union Efforts (NYTimes) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 20, 2019
Hackers could take over your Android cameras, the police can do whatever they want with your Ring videos, if your Disney+ account is hacked, is it probably your fault? An amazing breakthrough in solar technology and why fishing by drone has become a thing. Sponsors: Castro Rhone.com/ridehome Links: Android Camera App Bug Lets Apps Record Video Without Permission (BleepingComputer) Police can keep Ring camera video forever and share with whomever they’d like, Amazon tells senator (Washington Post) Amazon says it’s considered face scanning in Ring doorbells (Associated Press) Hacked Disney+ accounts are reportedly being sold for as little as $3 (CNBC) Apple expands in Austin (Apple Newsroom) Secretive energy startup backed by Bill Gates achieves solar breakthrough (CNN) A new solar heat technology could help solve one of the trickiest climate problems (Vox) Tackle Box for the Modern Fisherman: Rod, Reel, Drone (WSJ) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 19, 2019
Apple’s planning an awards ceremony? Amazon has a new fire TV accessory, Spotify launches Your Daily Podcast, Google announces Your News Update, Ransomware comes for the vets, and the hidden cost hurdle for electric cars. Sponsors: Castro SVB.com/next Links: Apple announces press event on Dec. 2 (CNBC) Amazon’s latest Fire TV accessory is an IR blaster that lets your Echo control your TV (The Verge) AMAZON EXPANDS FREE MUSIC STREAMING SERVICE TO APPLE, ANDROID DEVICES (MusicBusinessWorldwide) Google is putting an algorithmic audio news feed on its Assistant (The Verge) Ransomware Bites 400 Veterinary Hospitals (Krebs on Security) Why the electric-car revolution may take a lot longer than expected (MIT Technology Review) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 18, 2019
The Mustang Mach-E wants to out Tesla Tesla, John Legere is stepping down from T-Mobile, .org domain names might be getting a lot more expensive, and the reviews on Google Stadia are decidedly mixed, but at least it works. Sponsors: Castro Mealime Links: FORD’S MUSTANG MACH-E IS AN ELECTRIC SUV WITH UP TO 300 MILES OF RANGE (The Verge) UP CLOSE WITH FORD’S ELECTRIC MUSTANG SUV, THE MACH-E (The Verge) Wayve raises $20 million to give autonomous cars better AI brains (VentureBeat) John Legere to step down as T-Mobile CEO next year (CNBC) The org that doles out .org websites just sold itself to a for-profit company (The Verge) ByteDance to take on rivals with music streaming launch (Financial Times) HP board unanimously rejects Xerox’s bid to acquire the company (CNBC) GOOGLE STADIA REVIEW: THE BEST OF CLOUD GAMING IS STILL JUST A BETA (The Verge) Stadia the Technology? Awesome. Stadia the Service? Not So Much (Vice) Stadia tech review: the best game streaming yet, but far from ready (EuroGamer) Subscribe to the ad-free feed right here! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 16, 2019
So, that Razr event, out in LA... obviously I didn’t get to cover it live… and if there was ever a recent hardware event crying out for “hands-on” reporting, this was one. So, I reached out to someone who was there: QZ.com’s Mike Murphy, and actually, his take was pretty different than some of the others I read to you on Thursday. Come for that, and stay for the reality check about what will really make the 5G revolution happen. Sponsors: Mealime GetQuip.com/ride Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 15, 2019
Apple takes down vaping apps from the App Store, why is Google going ahead with the Stadia launch this month? Amazon protests the JEDI decision, the TikTok juggernaut rolls on—especially in India—and, of course, the weekend longreads suggestions. Sponsors: PixelUnion.net Vistaprint.com promo code Ride50 Links: Exclusive: Apple to remove vaping apps from store (Axios) November 2019 Xbox One Update Brings Xbox Action for the Google Assistant, Gamertag Updates, Text Filters and More (XBox Wire) Microsoft to launch xCloud in 2020, with PS4 controllers and PC streaming on the way (The Verge) Google demos Stadia UI and lists several missing launch features (Engadget) Amazon cites ‘unmistakable bias’ in Microsoft’s military cloud contract win (CNBC) TikTok surpasses 1.5 billion downloads — with almost 500M in India (TNW) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: WeFail: How the doomed Masa Son-Adam Neumann relationship set WeWork on the road to disaster (Fast Company) How VCs Make Money (VCStarterKit) Superhero or Supervillain? Technology’s Role Changes Comic Books (NYTimes) AN ORAL HISTORY OF LIMEWIRE: THE LITTLE APP THAT CHANGED THE MUSIC INDUSTRY FOREVER (MelMagazine) As L.A. ports automate, some workers are cheering on the robots (LATimes) Managing Your Friendships, With Software (The Atlantic) From Instagram to Candy Crush: These are the most important apps of the decade (CNET) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 14, 2019
There’s a new Razr phone with a foldable screen that might actually work? That Apple Prime bundle might be coming sooner rather than later. That Apple Research app is here right now. Why did 1Password raise a bunch of money for the first time ever? And can Netflix use Nickelodeon to fend off Disney? Sponsors: PixelUnion.net leap.FidelityCareers.com Links: Motorola's foldable Razr: Inside the remaking of a flip phone icon (CNET) MOTOROLA RESURRECTS THE RAZR AS A FOLDABLE ANDROID SMARTPHONE (The Verge) Apple Plans Mega Bundle of Music, News, TV as Early as 2020 (Bloomberg) Apple launches Research app, US users can enroll in three health studies (9to5Mac) In Its First Funding In 14 Years, Toronto’s 1Password Raises $200M Series A Led By Accel (Crunchbase) Netflix and Nickelodeon partner on original programming, following Disney+ launch (TechCrunch) First ‘Tuned by THX’ home theater speakers need no A/V receivers — or wires (Digital Trends) Support the pod directly! Subscribe to the ad-free feed directly in your podcast app! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 13, 2019
The new 16-inch MacBook pro might actually have a keyboard that works! Google wants you to bank with them. The Brave browser comes out of beta. And there’s an AI that can predict if you’ll die in the next year… but doctors don’t know how it does it. Sponsors: PixelUnion.net Capterra.com/ride Links: APPLE’S 16-INCH MACBOOK PRO IS HERE AND IT HAS A GOOD KEYBOARD (The Verge) 16-Inch MacBook Pro First Impressions: Great Keyboard, Outstanding Speakers (Daring Fireball) Next in Google’s Quest for Consumer Dominance: Banking (WSJ) Brave 1.0 launches, bringing the privacy-first browser out of beta (The Verge) DoorDash Picks Up Another $100 Million at Nearly $13 Billion Valuation (Bloomberg) Border officials can’t have ‘boundless’ access to search devices, court rules (The Verge) AI can predict if you'll die soon - but we've no idea how it works (New Scientist) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 12, 2019
Google has hoovered up the health records of millions of folks without telling anyone, Instagram debuts a TikTok competitor, Facebook debuts Facebook Pay, WordPress.com debuts recurring payments and Disney+ literally just debuts. Sponsors: PixelUnion.net Netgear.com/bestwifi Links: Google’s ‘Project Nightingale’ Gathers Personal Health Data on Millions of Americans (The Wall Street Journal) Instagram Stories launches TikTok clone Reels in Brazil (TechCrunch) Facebook Pay is a new payment system for WhatsApp, Instagram, and Facebook (The Verge) Facebook finally lets you banish nav bar tabs & red dots (TechCrunch) Whoop, the sports tech and analytics company that makes discreet wearables, raises $55M (TechCrunch) WordPress.com sites can now accept subscriptions with new 'Recurring Payments' feature (TechCrunch) Disney+ experiencing ‘unable to connect’ errors on launch day (The Verge) Here’s what time every episode of The Mandalorian and other Disney+ shows go live (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 11, 2019
New York State is investigating the Apple Card for alleged gender bias, sources say Apple thinks AR glasses could someday replace the smartphone, Dara Khosrowshahi said some things he regrets, and Amazon is gonna launch a grocery store not called Whole Foods. Sponsors: PixelUnion.net PaintYourLife.com : Text RIDE to 64-000. Links: Viral Tweet About Apple Card Leads to Goldman Sachs Probe (Bloomberg) @dhh Thread About the Apple Card (dhh.dk) Uber CEO backtracks after calling Saudi murder of Khashoggi "a mistake" (Axios) Apple Eyes 2022 Release for AR Headset, 2023 for Glasses (The Information) Amazon will launch new grocery store as alternative to Whole Foods (CNET) DoorDash Won Food Delivery by Seizing the Suburbs and $2 Billion (Bloomberg) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 9, 2019
Hello! @jyarow and @fmanjoo are back! Sponsors: Castro.fm Molekule.com and enter "ride10" at checkout Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 8, 2019
Disney Plus will be on Amazon’s Fire TV when it launches next week, Andreessen Horowitz launches a completely free crypto school, Twitter seems to have woken up all of the sudden, T-Mobile really wants that merger with Sprint to happen, and, of course, the Weekend Longreads Suggestions. Sponsors: Metalab.co Netgear.com/bestwifi SVB.com/next Links: Disney stock rises after beating on top and bottom lines (CNBC) Andreessen Horowitz launches free crypto startup school (TechCrunch) Twitter Is Trying To Fix The Dunk And Ratio (BuzzFeed) T-Mobile dangles $15 plan, 5G gains, big freebies to get Sprint deal done (CNET) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: Pessimists Archive Podcast The new dot com bubble is here: it’s called online advertising (The Correspondent) THE BIG BITCOIN HEIST (Vanity Fair) We are living in Hideo Kojima’s dystopian nightmare. Can he save us? (Washington Post) A critical analysis of scroll bars throughout history (The Verge) The Making of the World’s Greatest Investor (WSJ) How Cheap Robots Are Transforming Ocean Exploration (Outside) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 7, 2019
Twitter employees charged with spying for Saudi Arabia, those weird text messages a whole bunch of people received overnight, the most powerful desktop CPUs in the world, Ghost Locomotion wants to turn existing cars into autonomous vehicles, Wrench will repair your car on demand, and what smart speaker seems to be unhackable? Sponsors: Metalab.co SVB.com/next Links: Former Twitter employees charged with spying for Saudi Arabia by digging into the accounts of kingdom critics (Washington Post) Alphabet’s board of directors is investigating executives over inappropriate relationships (CNBC) A ton of people received text messages overnight that were originally sent on Valentine’s Day (The Verge) AMD unveils world's most powerful desktop CPUs (ZDNet) Uber faces costly choices after expert finds it uses Waymo self-driving tech (Reuters) Ghost raises $63.7 million to develop an aftermarket kit that gives cars self-driving capabilities (VentureBeat) Wrench's on-demand vehicle repair and maintenance service picks up $20 million (TechCrunch) Facebook Portal survives Pwn2Own hacking contest, Amazon Echo got hacked (ZDNet) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 6, 2019
Twitter announces Topics, Xerox might take a run at HP, Uber’s getting into the ads business, Ford’s electric Mustang makes Tech Crunch angry, and the best blockchain startup idea I’ve heard of in a long time. Sponsors: Metalab.co Leap.FidelityCareers.com Links: Twitter is rolling out Topics, a way to follow subjects automatically in the timeline (The Verge) Xerox Considers Takeover Offer for HP (WSJ) California Says Facebook Failed to Comply With Subpoenas (NYTimes) California asks for court order forcing Facebook to hand over Cambridge Analytica documents (The Verge) Self-Driving Uber in Crash Wasn’t Designed to See Jaywalkers (Bloomberg) Uber is entering the ads business (TechCrunch) Neural Magic raises $15 million to boost AI inferencing speed on off-the-shelf processors (VentureBeat) How Arweave's Permaweb cheaply hosts sites & apps forever (TechCrunch) Ford built an electric Mustand with a manual transmission. And we're mad. (TechCrunch) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 5, 2019
How are things in Masa Son’s world post-WeWork? How long until Uber will be profitable? How is the new Surface Pro X to use? Why is iOS aggressively quitting background apps? And why data scoring companies are maybe worse than credit score companies. Sponsors: SVB.com/next Metalab.co Links: SoftBank imposes new standards to rein in start-up founders (Financial Times) WeWork Isn’t the Only Stumble for SoftBank’s Vision Fund (WSJ) Uber Books Another Quarterly Loss as Revenue Climbs (WSJ) MICROSOFT SURFACE PRO X REVIEW: HEARTBREAKER (The Verge) Xiaomi unveils its 108-megapixel smartphone (Engadget) Actively exploited bug in fully updated Firefox is sending users into a tizzy (ArsTechnica) IOS 13.2 IS OVERZEALOUSLY KILLING APPS IN THE BACKGROUND (Daring Fireball) I Got Access to My Secret Consumer Score. Now You Can Get Yours, Too. (NYTimes) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 4, 2019
Your smart speakers aren’t secure in a wild new way, crazy product announcement day from Microsoft and Adobe, crazy new logo design day from everyone but especially Facebook, and Wikipedia makes a big change to citations. Sponsors: Metalab.co go.conga.com/techmeme SoFi.com/ride Links: Hackers Can Use Lasers to ‘Speak’ to Your Amazon Echo or Google Home (Wired) Microsoft’s new Office app for iOS and Android combines Word, Excel, and PowerPoint (The Verge) Microsoft's Chromium Edge browser arrives January 15th (Engadget) Microsoft Teams is getting Outlook integration, tasks support, and more (The Verge) Microsoft Ignite 2019: Meet Project Cortex, Office 365 knowledge-management service (ZDNet) Microsoft is bringing Cortana to Outlook for iOS and Android with a new ‘masculine’ voice (The Verge) Introducing Our New Company Brand (Facebook Newsroom) Photoshop for iPad is now available in the App Store (WCCFTech) The Internet Archive Is Making Wikipedia More Reliable (Wired) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 2, 2019
Steve Case is obviously an internet and technology legend, as the founder of America Online. But as I said when I did a segment about it this week, I’ve always been fascinated with his Rise of the Rest Tour and Fund because, look, the whole basic principle of the project is to try new things, try to find new ideas and new people in new places. So after doing the segment on the new Rise of the Rest Fund II, I reached out to Steve to learn more about what he’s been learning as he’s been barnstorming the country to try to find exciting new companies outside of the major tech hubs. Sponsor: WeWorkRemotely Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 1, 2019
Google acquires Fitbit, Apple TV+ officially launches, might the US Government be about to bring the hammer down on TikTok, and of course, the Weekend Longreads suggestions. Sponsors: Tiny Capital Leap.FidelityCareers.com Links: Google to acquire Fitbit, valuing the smartwatch maker at about $2.1 billion (CNBC) Maps Incognito is launching for Google Maps Android Users (Google Maps Help) Apple TV+ is now live in the TV app: Start watching Apple’s original TV shows and movies (9to5Mac) Exclusive: U.S. opens national security investigation into TikTok - sources (Reuters) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: 50 years ago today, the internet was born in Room 3420 (Fast Company) Talking with former Facebook security chief Alex Stamos (CJR) Everything is Amazing, But Nothing is Ours (AlexDanco.com) The Gross Margin Problem: Lessons for Tech-Enabled Startups (Craft) The Ransomware Superhero of Normal, Illinois (ProPublica) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 31, 2019
Twitter says it will ban ALL political advertising, Cognizant says it is getting out of the content moderation business, Facebook earnings are good, Apple earnings are good… and evolving, and can the Chinese monitor SMS messages at the provider level, at scale? Sponsors: Tiny Capital Leap.FidelityCareers.com Links: Jack Dorsey's Twitter Thread Zuckerberg defends politician ads that will be 0.5% of 2020 revenue (TechCrunch) Aaron Sorkin: An Open Letter to Mark Zuckerberg (NYTimes) Facebook shares rise on strong Q3, users up 2% to 2.45B (TechCrunch) A Facebook content moderation vendor is quitting the business after two Verge investigations (The Verge) Apple is laying the groundwork for an iPhone subscription (CNBC) Researchers unearth malware that siphoned SMS texts out of telco’s network (ArsTechnica) Unraveling the Secret Origins of an AmazonBasics Battery (OneZero) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 30, 2019
WhatsApp sues the NSO Group about that crazy exploit, Uber is threating to sue Los Angeles about a crazy tracking program that I’m not sure about, we’ve got the full details surrounding HBO Max, an activist is taking Facebook’s political advertising policy to its logical conclusion, and how come none of you told me about Mario Kart Tour? Sponsors: Tiny Capital Pessimists Archive Podcast Links: Why WhatsApp is pushing back on NSO Group hacking (Washington Post) WhatsApp Says Israeli Firm Used Its App in Spy Program (NYTimes) The New HBO Max is competing with Netflix by giving you Friends and Game of Thrones for $15 a month (Recode) Report: Apple to Use Qualcomm's X55 5G Modem in All Three 2020 iPhones (MacRumors) Uber in talks with Los Angeles as scooter location data lawsuit looms (CNET) Privacy groups actually side with Uber in scooter data fight (Mashable) This man is running for governor of California so he can run false Facebook ads (CNN Business) Mario Kart Tour Has a Rocket Start With 123.9 Million Downloads in Its First Month (SensorTower) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 29, 2019
Earnings from Alphabet and Shopify, hacking the Olympics, the Rise of the Rest rides again, Amazon is making grocery delivery free and letting you pay your electric bill via Alexa, and don’t update your HomePod, or you might brick it. Sponsors: Tiny Capital leap.fidelitycareers.com Links: Alphabet Earnings Dented by Spending on Cloud Business (Bloomberg) Shopify Shares Tumble After Surprise Loss on Spending Boost (Bloomberg) Microsoft: Russian hackers are targeting sporting organizations ahead of Tokyo Olympics (ZDNet) AOL Founder Steve Case Launches Second $150 Million ‘Rise Of The Rest’ Fund To Back Entrepreneurs Across U.S. (Forbes) China to Funnel $29 Billion Towards its Chip Ambitions (Bloomberg) Amazon axes $14.99 Amazon Fresh fee, making grocery delivery free for Prime members to boost use (TechCrunch) Amazon will let you pay bills with Alexa (VentureBeat) New 13.2 Update Bricking Some HomePods [Update Pulled by Apple] (MacRumors) PlayStation Vue is Shutting Down Live TV Streaming Service in January (The Streamable) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 28, 2019
AirPods Pro are here, new Nvidia streaming gadgets are here, Alphabet might be about to acquire Fitbit, the fallout from the Pentagon JEDI contract and what happens when your entire city orders from Amazon every single day. Sponsors: Tinycapital.com LinkedIn.com/ride Links: Apple reveals new AirPods Pro, available October 30 (Apple NewsRoom) Apple unveils new in-ear AirPods Pro coming October 30 for $249 (9to5Mac) Google parent Alphabet makes offer to buy Fitbit, sending stock soaring (CNBC) Nvidia’s new Shield TV wins the Android TV market with amazing 4K upscaling (TechCrunch) Microsoft snags hotly contested $10 billion defense contract, beating out Amazon (CNBC) Spotify grows users 30% in Q3 2019, premium subscribers reach 113 million (VentureBeat) Microsoft’s Xbox bundles are back and ready for the new Project Scarlett Xbox (The Verge) 1.5 Million Packages a Day: The Internet Brings Chaos to N.Y. Streets (NYTimes) Subscribe to the premium ad-free feed here! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 26, 2019
The news that Yahoo was shutting down Yahoo Groups, as I said, was another gut punch when you realize how much of the web’s history is so ephemeral. It also got me thinking that Yahoo as a company might be about to go down the memory hole, and that got me thinking about Yahoo’s legacy as perhaps the first great Internet company, and that got me talking to one of the deans of tech journalism, Harry McCracken. What IS Yahoo’s legacy? Why has it ended up the way it has? And also, why do we feel nostalgic for the sort of web Yahoo Groups represents? What has changed on the Internet from the Yahoo Groups glory days until now? Sponsors: PixelUnion.net LegalForce RAPC (650-390-6461 or raj@legalforcelaw.com) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 25, 2019
Introducing Facebook News. Did the major US Carriers do an end-run around Google out of spite? Amazon is back to making as little profit as it possibly can, HBO Max makes its aggressive pricing move, and, of course, the Weekend Longreads Suggestions. Sponsors: Mealime LegalForce RAPC (650-390-6461 or raj@legalforcelaw.com) Links: Rupert Murdoch wanted Mark Zuckerberg to pay him for news stories — and now Facebook is going to do just that (Recode) [Update: Google responds] Verizon, AT&T, Sprint, and T-Mobile join forces to bring RCS to Android in 2020 (9to5Google) AMAZON.COM ANNOUNCES THIRD QUARTER SALES UP 24% TO $70.0 BILLION (Amazon) Behind AT&T's plan to take on Netflix, Apple and Disney with HBO Max (Reuters) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: The 2010s Broke Our Sense Of Time (Buzzfeed) Inside R/Relationships, the Unbearably Human Corner of Reddit (The Atlantic) He revolutionized how millions of people spend money in India. His next target: America (CNN Business) Now the Machines Are Learning How to Smell (Wired) Pentagon, With an Eye on China, Pushes for Help From American Tech (NYTimes) Google CEO Sundar Pichai on achieving quantum supremacy (MIT Technology Review) How Do You Like We Now (Bloomberg Opinion) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 24, 2019
Is TikTok a national security risk? Inquiring Senators want to know. Earnings running the gamut from bad to surprisingly good from Twitter, Amazon and Tesla. And to paraphrase an old saw: if a voicemail system goes down how would anyone even notice? Sponsors: Mealime LegalForce RAPC (650-390-6461 or raj@legalforcelaw.com) Links: TikTok raises national security concerns in Congress as Schumer, Cotton ask for federal review (The Washington Post) Music Video Upstart ‘Triller’ Says It’s Taking On TikTok Amid $28 Million Series B (TubeFilter) Twitter Q3 misses bi on revenues of $824M and EPS of $0.05 on the back of adtech glitches (TechCrunch) Twitter’s Growth Sags, But That Wasn’t the Worst Part (Bloomberg) Microsoft Sales, Profit Top Estimates on Cloud; Azure Slows (Bloomberg) Tesla Shares Soar as Elon Musk Packs Profit Report With Positives (Bloomberg) AT&T claims a weeks-long voicemail outage will be fixed with a single device update (The Verge) Apple TV app launches on Amazon Fire TV devices (9to5Mac) 40 Major Music Festivals Have Pledged Not to Use Facial Recognition Technology (Vice) BBC News launches 'dark web' Tor mirror (BBC News) Behold the massive social media explosion from Fortnite’s Season 10 finale (The Washington Post) Last week's Fortnite update helped Akamai set a new CDN traffic record (ZDNet) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 23, 2019
Mr. Zuckerberg went back to Washington, Google claims “Quantum Supremacy,” Apple overtakes Starbucks, HireVue is a controversial AI hiring tool and is the influencer bubble on the wane? Sponsors: leap.Fidelitycareers.com Mealime.com Links: Zuckerberg, in Washington to Talk Cryptocurrency, Gets Grilled on Everything (NYTimes) Snapchat beats in Q3, adding 7M users & revenue up 50% (TechCrunch) Apple Pay Overtakes Starbucks as Top Mobile Payment App in the US (eMarketer) Google Claims a Quantum Breakthrough That Could Change Computing (NYTimes) On “Quantum Supremacy” (IBM Research Blog) A face-scanning algorithm increasingly decides whether you deserve the job (The Washington Post) Online Influencers Tell You What to Buy, Advertisers Wonder Who’s Listening (WSJ) Classified: Upside.fm/subscribe Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 22, 2019
SoftBank is taking over WeWork in order to save it, Verizon will give you Disney+ for free, Surprise! Comcast’s “free” streaming box really isn’t, and how much does Dark Mode save in battery life? Quite a bit, it turns out… Sponsors: LegalForce RAPC (650-390-6461 or raj@legalforcelaw.com) Mealime.com Links: Neumann to Get Up to $1.7 Billion to Exit WeWork as SoftBank Takes Control (WSJ) Verizon Will Give One Year of Disney Plus for Free to All Unlimited Wireless Customers (Variety) Roku is buying ad tech company Dataxu in $150 million deal (CNBC) Comcast’s ‘free’ streaming box actually requires an additional $13 / month fee (The Verge) Forty-six attorneys general have joined a New York-led antitrust investigation of Facebook (The Washington Post) The Pixel 4 supports fast wireless charging on any Qi charger [Updated] (AndroidCentral) Dark Mode in iOS 13 significantly helps iPhone battery life, robotic test shows [Video] (9to5Mac) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 21, 2019
It’s review-a-palooza day with Surface reviews and Pixel 4 reviews. Also, Facebook announces new disinformation initiatives, and Microsoft announces a Secured-core PC initiative and Twitch wants in on the Watch Party action. Sponsors: Mealime Capterra.com/ride Links: Facebook disables Russian, Iranian networks, illustrating continued 2020 election threat (Washington Post) Helping to Protect the 2020 US Elections (Facebook Newsroom) Microsoft announces Secured-core PCs to counter firmware attacks (VentureBeat) Twitch’s new Watch Parties test taps Prime Video for movie night (SlashGear) MICROSOFT SURFACE PRO 7 REVIEW: I WISH THIS LOOKED LIKE A SURFACE PRO X (The Verge) MICROSOFT SURFACE LAPTOP 3 15-INCH REVIEW: IT’S A BIGGER SURFACE LAPTOP (The Verge) Google Pixel 4 XL review: A night vision camera that's dead by sunset (Android Central) GOOGLE PIXEL 4 AND 4 XL REVIEW: MORE THAN THE SUM OF ITS SENSORS (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 18, 2019
Zuckerberg defends Facebook as a champion of free speech, will iPhone users have unlimited photo uploads to Google Photos while Pixel 4 owners will not, dial back your expectations for the Photoshop iPad app, the Vatican has a wearable prayer gadget, and, of course, the weekend longreads suggestions. Sponsors: WeWorkRemotely.com Vistaprint.com promo code Ride Links: Samsung says fingerprint security fix is coming as early as next week (The Verge) Defiant Zuckerberg Says Facebook Won’t Police Political Speech (NYTimes) On Facebook’s live stream, Zuckerberg’s free-speech lecture got a big thumbs up (Washington Post) Google Photos format loophole seems to give iPhone free unlimited storage for orig. quality photos, Pixel 4 left behind (9to5Mac) Photoshop for iPad Nearing Launch With Some Key Features Missing (Bloomberg) Vatican launches $110 'click to pray' wearable rosary (CNN) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: The Apple, iPhone 11, 11 Pro & 11 Pro Max Review (AnAndTech) The Creators Of Pokémon Go Mapped The World. Now They're Mapping You (Kotaku) The Young Firms Rethinking Social Media (The Information) Inside Apple's Long, Bumpy Road to Hollywood (The Hollywood Reporter) How Pinterest Built One of Silicon Valley’s Most Successful Algorithms (OneZero) Inside TurboTax’s 20-Year Fight to Stop Americans From Filing Their Taxes for Free (ProPublica) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 17, 2019
Fingerprint sensors on the Galaxy S10 can be tricked by a phone case, the Pixel 4 face recognition system unlocks your phone even when you’re asleep, Netflix kicks off tech earnings season, Airbnb’s losses double, and Travis Kalanick is getting the Billion’s treatment. Paging Bobby Axelrod... Sponsors: WeWorkRemotely.com GetQuip.com/ride Links: Samsung to patch the Galaxy S10’s fingerprint sensor over screen protector concerns (The Verge) Netflix soars 8% after beating on earnings, despite miss on subscribers (CNBC) Netflix finally admitted two things we already knew about the streaming wars (CNBC) Airbnb’s quarterly loss reportedly doubled in Q1, a bad sign as investors grow wary of money-losers (CNBC) Airbnb’s Q1 Loss More Than Doubled, New Data Shows (The Information) The FCC has voted to approve the T-Mobile-Sprint merger (The Verge) Privacy-focused Brave browser boasts 8M monthly active users (The Block) Google Pixel 4 Face Unlock works if eyes are shut (BBC News) Yahoo Groups Is Winding Down and All Content Will Be Permanently Removed (Vice) Microsoft introduces new open-source specs for developing cloud and edge applications (ZDNet) ‘Billions’ Creators to Develop ‘Super Pumped: The Battle for Uber’ Series at Showtime (Variety) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 16, 2019
Twitter explains how world leaders can break its rules but they’ll kinda, sorta crack down on them. LinkedIn launches Events, Giphy launches Giphy arcade, DoNotPay fascinates me, and a debrief on yesterday’s Google event. Sponsors: WeWorkRemotely.com Leap.FidelityCareers.com Links: Twitter says it will restrict users from retweeting world leaders who break its rules (TechCrunch) Huawei Reports Stronger Sales Growth (NYTimes) LinkedIn gets physical, debuts Events hub for people to plan in-person networking events (TechCrunch) Giphy Arcade lets you play, create, and share mini-games on the web as if they were GIFs (The Verge) This brilliant app waits on hold for you (The Verge) Go inside Pixel 4's new camera features with Google's photo technology experts (CNET) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 15, 2019
All the headlines from the Google hardware event, Apple butts in with new Beats, Libra loses another one, your movie theater wants to rent you movies, and Fortnite is back from the “black hole.” Sponsors: WeWorkRemotely Zapier.com/ride Links: PIXELBOOK GO: GOOGLE FINALLY MADE A REASONABLY PRICED CHROMEBOOK (The Verge) Google announces Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL (The Verge) BEATS ANNOUNCES SOLO PRO ON-EAR HEADPHONES WITH NOISE CANCELLATION (The Verge) Facebook's Libra announces board as support shrinks further (Reuters) AMC Theater Chain Gets Into Streaming With On-Demand Movies (NYTimes) Fortnite’s black hole has closed, and Chapter 2 is finally here (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 14, 2019
More China related controversy for Apple, for gaming, for all of tech really… but why Apple suddenly finds itself in a unique bind. More iPhone SE 2 rumors, the latest installment of “Will We Actually Ever See Libra?” and why nobody can play Fortnite right now. Sponsors: WeWorkRemotely.com MintMobile.com/ride Links: How safe is Apple’s Safe Browsing? (Matthew Green) Chinese app on Xi’s ideology allows data access to users’ phones, report says (The Washington Post) Kuo: iPhone SE 2 Launching in Q1 2020 with A13 at $399 Price (MacRumors) Facebook’s libra cryptocurrency coalition is falling apart as eBay, Visa, Mastercard and Stripe jump ship (CNBC) SoftBank is reportedly seeking to take control of WeWork through a financing package (CNBC) ‘Fortnite’ Goes Dark: A Masterful Marketing Stroke by Epic Games (Variety) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 11, 2019
More on Apple’s China controversy, hands-on with Google’s Pixelbook Go laptop, Twitter returns to the Mac, Africa’s first homegrown smartphone, SpaceX and NASA kiss and make up, and of course, the weekend longreads suggestions. Sponsors: Castro CognitoHQ.com Today In Digital Marketing Podcast Links: TIM COOK’S COMPANY-WIDE MEMO ON HKMAP.LIVE DOESN’T ADD UP (Daring Fireball) Exclusive: This is the Google Pixelbook Go [Gallery] (9to5Google) Twitter releases new Catalyst app for macOS Catalina (The Verge) Rwanda just released the first smartphone made entirely in Africa (Fast Company) NASA aims for first manned SpaceX mission in first-quarter 2020 (Reuters) Apple Launches In-House Studio With 'Band of Brothers'/'The Pacific' Follow-Up (The Hollywood Reporter) Weekend Longreads: Is Amazon Unstoppable? (The New Yorker) Jeff Bezos’s Master Plan (The Atlantic) When GoFundMe Gets Ugly (The Atlantic) Can a Machine Learn To Write For The New Yorker? (The New Yorker) The Style-Quantifying Astrophysicists of Silicon Valley (Wired) The State of Machine Learning Frameworks in 2019 (The Gradient) Who Needs Moonshots? How Former Hollywood Mogul Barry Diller Built A $4.2 Billion Tech Fortune Out Of Underdog Assets (Forbes) Subscribe to the ad-free feed RIGHT IN YOUR PODCAST APP! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 10, 2019
Apple takes down the Hong Kong app that it reinstated after taking it down in the first place, Waymo will soon let real people into driverless cars, Grammarly is the newest unicorn, and why, if you live in the Bay Area, your house might be without power… but your work probably won’t be. Sponsors: Castro Legacybox.com/ride Links: Apple Removes App That Helps Hong Kong Protesters Track the Police (NYTimes) APPLE REMOVES HKMAP.LIVE FROM APP STORE (Daring Fireball) Apple, Google Pull Hong Kong Protest Apps After China Uproar (WSJ) Tweetstorm (@Grummz) Grammarly raises $90M at over $1B+ valuation for its AI-based grammar and writing tools (TechCrunch) Splinter Shutting Down (Daily Beast) Why the PG&E Blackouts Spared California's Big Tech HQs (Wired) What Happens When Your Tweet Becomes a Subway Ad (One Zero) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 9, 2019
Twitter used your 2-Factor credentials to sell ads against you, the China/Hong Kong/tech controversies roll on, Mark Zuckerberg is going back to Washington, and the Nobel Prize for chemistry gives long overdue recognition to the most important technology innovation of our time. Sponsors: Today In Digital Marketing Podcast Castro Leap.FidelityCareers.com Links: Twitter says it unintentionally misused user data for advertising (Axios) Twitter says phone numbers users provided for security were ‘inadvertently’ used for ad purposes (The Washington Post) 'Protecting rioters': China warns Apple over app that tracks Hong Kong police (The Guardian) 'Call of Duty: Mobile' smashes records with 100 million downloads in first week (Reuters) Kuo: New iPad Pro and iPhone SE 2 in early 2020, followed by Apple AR headset collaboration with ‘third-party brands’ (9to5Mac) Mark Zuckerberg to testify before Congress on Facebook’s libra cryptocurrency (CNBC) Postmates’ new IPO delay says something bigger: Wall Street is turning against Silicon Valley (Recode) Smart fitness device Mirror launches one-on-one personal training (CNET) Nobel prize in chemistry awarded for work on lithium-ion batteries (The Guardian) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 8, 2019
The PlayStation 5 is coming in about a year and Wired has the details, Hulu finally lets you download video, a gamer is banned for voicing support for Hong Kong protesters, how the Galaxy Fold was “fixed,” and Robinhood takes another crack at Cash Management. Sponsors: Castro Vistaprint.com promo code Ride Sponsors: Exclusive: A Deeper Look at the PlayStation 5 (Wired) Hulu finally launches support for downloads, initially to ad-free viewers (TechCrunch) Group Nine to Acquire PopSugar, Continuing Wave of Digital Media Tie-Ups (The WSJ) Blizzard Bans Gamer, Rescinds Money, on Hong Kong Protest Support (Bloomberg) Blizzard Suspends Professional Hearthstone Player for Hong Kong Comments (Hacker News) Samsung Galaxy Fold Teardown (iFixit) Robinhood revives checking with new debit card & 2% interest (TechCrunch) Researchers “Translate” Bat Talk. Turns Out, They Argue—A Lot (Smithsonian.com) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 7, 2019
A Kindle Kids Edition is here, Sonos speakers via subscription is here, macOS Catalina is here, but the following tab is gone from Instagram, PayPal is ghosting Libra, and why investors think the time to jump into Quantum Computing is now. Sponsors: Castro Podcast App Today In Digital Marketing Podcast Links: Amazon debuts its first ever Kindle Kids Edition (CNET) New Sonos service lets you rent its speakers (The Verge) Instagram’s Following Activity Tab Is Going Away (BuzzFeed News) Music labels wary as Apple tries to bundle subscriptions (Financial Times) Apple’s macOS Catalina update is coming today (The Verge) macOS Catalina Review (iMore) PayPal Bails on Facebook-Led Libra Cryptocurrency Dream (Bloomberg) PayPal withdraws from Facebook’s libra cryptocurrency (CNBC) Quantum gold rush: the private funding pouring into quantum start-ups (Nature) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 5, 2019
Satish Jeyachandran is the Head of Hardware at Waymo. Before that he lead the self-driving team at Tesla, so he was in charge of the Autopilot team, and his job change lead to headlines at the time. Today Satish gives us a history lesson on Waymo, tells us what the future holds for self-driving tech generally, and most importantly for me, answers a question I’ve always wondered. Why go for full autonomy? If you can give me the ability to let the car drive itself on highways, why not give me that now? Why try to solve the full 99.99% of the problem? It turns out, that Waymo learned you can’t do half measures. You have to do full autonomy or you do nothing. Very interesting conversation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 4, 2019
Really bad Android zero-day discovered, is the scooter space back? Apple makes an interesting acquisition, an exoskeleton allows a paralyzed man to walk again and of course, the weekend longreads suggestions. Sponsors: PixelUnion.net Election Ride Home podcast Links: Attackers exploit 0-day vulnerability that gives full control of Android phones (ArsTechnica) Bird raises $275 million Series D round at a $2.5 billion valuation (TechCrunch) Apple May Have Acquired Motion Capture Company IKinema [Update: Confirmed] (MacRumors) Apple’s AR plans may come to life after acquiring iKinema motion tech (VentureBeat) A brain-controlled exoskeleton has let a paralyzed man walk in the lab (MIT Technology Review) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: The Off-the-Radar Baseball League That’s Trying to Reboot the Game (GEN) Inside Disney’s New York Stream Factory (Variety) My Time at Snap (@marko_tupper) Dog-walking startup Wag raised $300 million to unleash growth. Then things got messy (CNN Business) Where Toxic Masculinity Goes to Die (The Atlantic) The Fallen Worlds of Philip Pullman (The New Yorker) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 3, 2019
Instagram launches Threads, the iPhone SE might ride again, the biggest content recommendation players have merged, Vice Media and Refinery 29 have merged, and why has Apple banned an app for users in Hong Kong? Sponsors: PixelUnion.net Manscaped.com , code: "ride" Links: Instagram launches Threads, a Close Friends chat app with auto-status (TechCrunch) Facebook Can Be Forced to Delete Content Worldwide, E.U.’s Top Court Rules (NYTimes) Kuo: Apple to release ‘iPhone SE 2’ in Q1 2020 with iPhone 8 design, A13 processor (9to5Mac) What the Taboola-Outbrain combination means for publishers (Digiday) Vice Media to Acquire Refinery29, as Both Digital-Media Players Seek Scale (Variety) Google using dubious tactics to target people with ‘darker skin’ in facial recognition project: sources (NY Daily News) Here's that hippie, pro-privacy, pro-freedom Apple y'all so love: Hong Kong protest safety app banned from iOS store (The Register) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 2, 2019
All the news from Microsoft’s Surface event… they’re making smartphones again! Anti-trust scrutiny gets results again as Apple says Siri will soon play nice with others, the Galaxy Fold reviews are in and might the other members of the Libra consortium be having second thoughts? Sponsors: PixelUnion.net AirMedcareNetwork.com/tech code: tech Links: Microsoft Launches Surface Pro X With New Ultra-Thin Design, Slim Pen, Type Cover (Thurott.com) MICROSOFT SURFACE NEO FIRST LOOK: THE FUTURE OF WINDOWS 10X IS DUAL-SCREEN (The Verge) Microsoft surprises with new foldable Surface Duo phone running Android (The Verge) Galaxy Fold: This flip phone’s a flop, but the folding trend won’t stop (The Washington Post) Apple to Loosen Reins on Outside Messaging, Phone Apps Via Siri (Bloomberg) UPS Now Runs the First Official Drone Airline (Wired) Visa, Mastercard, Others Reconsider Involvement in Facebook's Libra Network (WSJ) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 1, 2019
Listen in on Mark Zuckerberg rallying the troops, GoPro hopes newer cameras revive its fortunes, prepping for the Microsoft event tomorrow, the SEC slaps a crypto company on the wrist, and Tesla’s new Smart Summon feature has made for some viral videos. Sponsors: PixelUnion.net Capterra.com/ride Links: All Hands on Deck (The Verge) READ THE FULL TRANSCRIPT OF MARK ZUCKERBERG’S LEAKED INTERNAL FACEBOOK MEETINGS (The Verge) GoPro launches two new cameras as it tries to become profitable this year (CNBC) GOPRO HERO 8 BLACK REVIEW: SMOOTH OPERATOR (The Verge) Appeals court upholds FCC’s cancelling of net neutrality rules (The Washington Post) Microsoft makes Windows Virtual Desktop generally available globally (ZDNet) EOS Maker Block.One Settles With SEC Over Unregistered Securities Sale (Coindesk) People Using Tesla's New Smart Summon Feature Are Already Running Into Trouble And It's Hard To Be Shocked (Jalopnik) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 30, 2019
IS the new iOS release finally bug free? Add podcasts to your Spotify playlists, WeWork officially “delays” its IPO, which gives us a reason to examine why the Unicorn IPO Parade has mattered, and This Week In Elon Musk is all about achieving orbit. Sponsors: PixelUnion.net LinkedIn.com/ride Links: Apple Releases iOS 13.1.2 and iPadOS 13.1.2 with Fixes for Camera, iCloud Backup, HomePod Shortcut, and Flashlight Bugs (MacRumors) Spotify users can add podcasts to playlists (Engadget) HP’s Spectre x360 13 seems like an improvement in almost every way (The Verge) New Checkm8 jailbreak released for all iOS devices running A5 to A11 chips (ZDNet) Developer of Checkm8 explains why iDevice jailbreak exploit is a game changer (ArsTechnica) The 'Checkm8' exploit isn't a big deal to iPhone or iPad users, and here's why (Apple Insider) WeWork pulls IPO filing (CNBC) The Great Public Market Reckoning (AVC) Elon Musk aims to put SpaceX’s Starship in orbit in six months (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 27, 2019
A DoorDash data breach that has a bad new angle, we might see the foldable Razr phone by the end of the year, how long can this alternative app store last before Apple shuts it down, the biggest Tesla software update yet, and of course, the weekend longreads suggestions. Sponsors: Metalab.co CognitoHQ.com Links: DoorDarsh confirms data breach affected 4.9 million customers, workers and merchants (TechCrunch) Spotify is finally getting Siri support with iOS 13 (The Verge) That Motorola Razr foldable will squeak out a debut before year's end (CNET) AltStore is an alternative iOS App Store with a built-in Nintendo emulator (The Verge) Tesla starts rolling out biggest software update ever with Spotify, Netflix, YouTube, and more (The Verge) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: Slack Is a Hell of Our Own Making (NY Magazine/Intelligencer) Every Company is Becoming a Software Company (Confluent Blog) Artificial Intelligence Confronts a 'Reproducibility' Crisis (Wired) INSIDE UBER’S PLAN TO TAKE OVER CITY LIFE WITH CEO DARA KHOSROWSHAHI (The Verge) The Octopus: An Alien Among Us (Literary Hub) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 26, 2019
Uber wants to become “the OS for everyday life,” Peloton’s IPO is a good news/bad news situation, the FTC sues Match.com for allegedly catfishing people, stuff I missed from yesterday’s Amazon event, and an “interesting raise” startup that wants to turn renters into home owners. Sponsors: Metalab.co CognitoHQ.com Links: Uber overhauls its app in ambitious bid to become ‘the operating system for your everyday life’ (The Verge) Peloton slides after opening below IPO price in market debut (CNBC) At Least 70 Countries Have Had Disinformation Campaigns, Study Finds (NYTimes) Attorney General Barr Seeks DOJ Facebook Antitrust Probe (Bloomberg) Match.com connected daters to fake accounts to boost subscriptions, US regulators say (The Verge) Amazon’s new Echo Flex lets you put Alexa everywhere in your home (The Verge) Alexa's 'Certified for Humans' wants to eliminate smart-home headaches (CNET) Divvy Homes Raises $43M Series B To Help Renters Become Homeowners (Crunchbase News) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 25, 2019
Amazon’s hardware event gives us more Alexa in just about anything you can think of, Oculus has some news on the VR front, the 2020 iPhones might echo the iPhone 4 design, and those dog like robots from Boston Dynamics are finally leaving the lab, but to adopt one, you need to think through a use case. Sponsors: Metalab.co AirMedcareNetwork.com/tech code: tech Links: Amazon announces high-end $199 Echo Studio speaker (The Verge) Alexa gains multilingual mode, celebrity voices, and frustration detection (Venture Beat) Amazon’s new Echo Show 8 combines the best of its big and small smart displays (The Verge) Amazon announces new $99 Eero mesh router with Alexa voice controls (The Verge) Amazon Sidewalk is a new long-range wireless network for your stuff (TechCrunch) Kuo: 2020 iPhones to Have Redesigned Metal Frame Similar to iPhone 4 (MacRumors) You can now sign up for Microsoft’s xCloud game streaming preview (The Verge) Boston Dynamics’ Spot is leaving the laboratory (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 24, 2019
Adam Neumann out as WeWork CEO, Facebook acquires CTRL-Labs to deliver computing controlled by your brain, Kik officially shuts down its app, and is Microsoft preparing to let users control and monetize their own data? Sponsors: Metalab.co AirMedcareNetwork.com/tech code: tech Links: WeWork CEO Adam Neumann to step down amid controversy and retain chairman role (CNBC) Facebook to Buy Startup for Controlling Computers With Your Mind (Bloomberg) KIK CHAT APP SHUTS DOWN AS COMPANY GOES “ALL IN” ON KIN (Betakit.com) SEC sues Kik for running an unregistered Initial Coin Offering (Engadget) Google wins landmark right to be forgotten case (BBC News) AMAZON CREATES A HUGE ALLIANCE TO DEMAND VOICE ASSISTANT COMPATIBILITY (The Verge) Amazon plans Alexa wireless earbuds with fitness-tracking built in, bigger Echo with better sound, source says (CNBC) Microsoft's new 'Data Dignity' team could help users control their personal data (ZDNet) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 23, 2019
Google Play Pass might usher in a new era of mobile gaming, the WeWork saga is becoming a soap opera, Facebook’s foes and (erstwhile) friends are talking to the FTC, and has Google ushered in the era of quantum supremacy? Sponsors: Metalab.co Zapier.com/ride Links: Google Play Pass bundles 350 Android games and apps for $4.99 per month (The Verge) Some WeWork Board Members Seek to Remove Adam Neumann as CEO (WSJ) SoftBank’s Masa Son is in favor of ousting WeWork CEO Adam Neumann (CNBC) How Adam Neumann’s Over-the-Top Style Built WeWork. ‘This Is Not the Way Everybody Behaves. ’ (WSJ) Snap Detailed Facebook’s Aggressive Tactics in ‘Project Voldemort’ Dossier (WSJ) Samsung Galaxy Fold will be available September 27th in the US (9to5Google) World Robotics Report: Global Sales of Robots Hit $16.5B in 2018 (Robotics Business Review) Google may have just ushered in an era of ‘quantum supremacy’ (The Verge) Classified AD: RobBettis.com For many businesses, digital marketing is essential to success. However, despite its importance, most companies can’t justify the cost of another full-time employee and they can’t stomach being burned by another flaky freelancer. What you really need is a partner. Rob Bettis is an independent digital marketer who helps e-commerce retailers and app developers build bigger, better businesses online through PPC media. Unlike agencies who are all about scale, Rob works with a limited number of businesses, managing advertising on Google, Bing, Facebook, Instagram, Amazon & Apple Search - ensuring every client gets the expertise and attention they deserve. Rob has spent the past 15 years managing PPC accounts. And since going solo, Rob has generated a return on ad spend of over 700% for his clients. If you want to build a bigger, better business online, contact Rob at RobBettis.com or click the link in the show notes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 20, 2019
Airbnb says it will have an IPO in 2020, Twitter exposes more bad state actors, a French court says Steam digital games may be resold in the EU, hold the phone on upgrading your iPhone to iOS 13, Amazon plays free with Allbirds, Tinder brings a new meaning to the word Bandersnatch, and this week’s long-reads suggestions, including a deep dive into the problems with pilot training and Boeing’s 737-MAX. Sponsors Mealime.com OpenVPN Links: Airbnb Says It Plans to Go Public in 2020 (New York Times) Airbnb Announces Intention to Become a Publicly-Traded Company During 2020 (Airbnb) Twitter suspends account of former top Saudi aide implicated in Khashoggi killing (Washington Post) Disclosing new data to our archive of information operations (Twitter) French court rules that Steam’s ban on reselling used games is contrary to European law (Polygon) New features available with iOS 13 (Apple) Facebook may copy your app, but Amazon will copy your shoe (The Verge) Inside Tinder’s Secret Streaming Series (Variety) What Really Brought Down the Boeing 737 Max? (New York Times) How Wi-Fi Almost Didn’t Happen (Wired) The U1 chip in the iPhone 11 is the beginning of an Ultra Wideband revolution (Six Colors) Artificial Intelligence Confronts a ‘Reproducibility’ Crisis (Wired) iOS and iPadOS 13: The MacStories Review (MacStories) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 19, 2019
Huawei tries to launch a flagship smartphone without a Google net, could Apple and Disney have merged? Some really interesting raises, for Automattic and Stripe, but also an autonomous construction equipment startup, and why there now might be SSD’s that are basically failproof. Sponsors: Mealime.com OpenVPN.net/ride Links: Huawei Mate 30 Pro goes official w/ no Google apps, ‘horizon’ display (9to5Google) GitHub acquires code analysis tool Semmle (TechCrunch) “WE COULD SAY ANYTHING TO EACH OTHER”: BOB IGER REMEMBERS STEVE JOBS, THE PIXAR DRAMA, AND THE APPLE MERGER THAT WASN’T (Vanity Fair) Datadog Rises 53% in Trading Debut After Rebuffing Cisco (Bloomberg) Amazon signs Climate Pledge to advance Paris Climate Accords goals by 10 years (VentureBeat) Built Robotics raises $33M for its self-driving construction equipment (TechCrunch) Automattic raises $300 million at $3 billion valuation from Salesforce Ventures (TechCrunch) Fintech Company Stripe Joins Silicon Valley Elite With $35 Billion Valuation (WSJ) Samsung unveils new PCIe 4.0 SSDs that "never die" (TechSpot) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 18, 2019
Facebook debuts Portal TV, and wants to make AR smart glasses to replace your smartphone, Google Fi has an “unlimited” plan that is every bit as unlimited as any other, the Apple Watch Series 5 reviews and autonomous vehicles come to the farm. Sponsors: Vistaprint.com promo code Ride2. Mealime.com OpenVPN.net/ride Links: Facebook launches Portal TV, a $149 video chat set-top box (TechCrunch) Facebook’s second-generation Portal devices are cheaper, smaller, and support WhatsApp (The Verge) Facebook working on smart glasses with Ray-Ban, code-named ‘Orion’ (CNBC) Smart TVs sending private data to Netflix and Facebook (Financial Times) Google Fi launches a more traditional unlimited plan (The Verge) HP Elite Dragonfly hands-on: A really light business notebook (Engadget) APPLE WATCH SERIES 5 REVIEW: THE BEST SMARTWATCH (The Verge) Apple Watch Series 5 (Daring Fireball) FarmWise and its weed-pulling agribot harvest $14.5M in funding (TechCrunch) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 17, 2019
WeWork’s IPO is off for now, Amazon Music HD is going after Tidal, the Streaming Wars mean big price tags for Seinfeld and Big Bang Theory, and a wrap up of all the iPhone 11, Pro and Pro Max reviews. Sponsors: OpenVPN.net/ride Mealime.com Links: Computer Scientist Richard Stallman Resigns From MIT Over Epstein Comments (Motherboard) WeWork delays IPO after frosty investor response (Reuters) SoftBank Backers Rethink Role in Next Vision Fund on WeWork (Bloomberg) Amazon Music rolls out a lossless streaming tier that Spotify and Apple can’t match (The Verge) Snapchat is adding a 3D Camera Mode, the latest salvo in its feature race with Instagram (TechCrunch) Netflix Lands 'Seinfeld' Rights in $500M-Plus Deal After Losing 'Friends' and 'The Office' (The Hollywood Reporter) ‘The Big Bang Theory’ to Show on New Streaming Service HBO Max (WSJ) NBCUniversal’s Streaming Service Is Called Peacock and It’s Launching Next April (Vulture) APPLE IPHONE 11 REVIEW: THE PHONE MOST PEOPLE SHOULD BUY (The Verge) Apple iPhone 11 Pro and Pro Max review: Better, but not groundbreaking (Engadget) Review: The iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 11 do Disneyland After Dark (TechCrunch) Review: Apple iPhone 11 Pro (Wired) IPhone 11 and 11 Pro Review: Thinking Differently in the Golden Age of Smartphones (NYTimes) Apple Arcade's best selling point: Games you'll actually want to play (Engadget) SUBSCRIBE TO THE AD-FREE FEED! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 16, 2019
If Amazon wants to tip-toe past the regulators, headlines like those from today can’t help, October is going to be filthy with major tech launch events, is TikTok showing us the future of the Chinese web in worrying ways, and let’s pour one out for MoviePass! Links: OpenVPN.net/ride Mealime.com Links: Amazon Changed Search Algorithm in Ways That Boost Its Own Products (WSJ) Facebook and JP Morgan meet with global central banks to discuss cryptocurrencies (CNBC) Google announces October 15th hardware event for Pixel 4 (The Verge) Iger Departs Board of Apple, Disney’s New Streaming Competitor (NY Times) Wi-Fi 6 officially launches today, ahead of iPhone 11 availability on Friday (9to5Mac) Wi-Fi 6 certification is here to make next-gen speeds a widespread reality (CNET) Multiple camera simultaneous recording coming to iPhone XS and iPhone XR, not just iPhone 11 (9to5Mac) TikTok’s Beijing roots fuel censorship suspicion as it builds a huge U.S. audience (The Washington Post) MoviePass will shut down for good on Sept. 14 (CNBC) AD FREE FEED SIGNUP! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 15, 2019
As I mentioned in the Weekend Longreads segment, Gary Marcus and Ernest Davis had an op ed in the times that has changed the way I think about the state of AI. But they’re also the authors of a great new book, Rebooting AI: Building Artificial Intelligence We Can Trust . There’s a reason people remain fearful about AI… it hasn’t earned our trust yet. In all sorts of ways that we get into on this episode. And also, the interesting ways AI development needs to change to take the state of the art to the next level. Sponsor: MintMobile.com/ride Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 14, 2019
We had the big iPhone announcement this week, so to break it down, our good friend at MacStories, John Voorhees is here to dive into… why so much backlash to this event? Was it boring? What did we actually get from Santa Tim? And why we might look back at this as the pivot point where Apple events changed into something new... Sponsors: Tinycapital.com WeWorkRemotely.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 13, 2019
Cloudflare has a successful IPO, but will WeWork’s planned IPO be considered a success even if it actually has one? Is another investment bubble popping in the AR/VR space? Will the streaming wars kill the back-end deal in Hollywood? And, of course, the weekend longreads suggestions. Sponsors: TinyCapital.com GetQuip.com/ride Links: Cloudflare stock pops 20% in first day of trading (CNBC) WeWork’s valuation could fall to below $15 billion in IPO, down from $47 billion private valuation (CNBC) House lawmakers ask Apple, Amazon, Facebook and Google to turn over trove of records in antitrust probe (The Washington Post) Another high-flying, heavily funded AR headset startup is shutting down (TechCrunch) J.J. Abrams Officially Closes Sizable WarnerMedia Film, TV Partnership (The Hollywood Reporter) The end of the backend? Disney wants to limit profit participation on its new TV shows (Los Angeles Times) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: How to Build Artificial Intelligence We Can Trust (NYTimes) As sex toys continue to get hacked, the definition of sexual assault is under question (Screen Shot) What Happened to Urban Dictionary? (Wired) TONY HAWK ON HOW HIS GAMES CHANGED SKATEBOARDING (The Verge) From Communism To Coding: How Daniel Dines Of $7 Billion UiPath Became The First Bot Billionaire (Forbes) Human speech may have a universal transmission rate: 39 bits per second (Science) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 12, 2019
Uber says the California contractor law doesn’t apply to it because it is… checks notes… not technically in the ride hailing business, will France block Libra in the EU, dark mode comes to Slack, crowd-sourced answers come to Alexa, and, some news on the Fermi Paradox front. Sponsors: Tinycapital.com Datatribe.com/challenge Links: Uber argues its drivers aren’t core to its business, won’t reclassify them as employees (The Verge) FACEBOOK’S LIBRA CRYPTOCURRENCY WILL BE BLOCKED IN EUROPE, FRANCE SAYS (The Independent) Slack's desktop apps get dark mode options (Engadget) The FBI is investigating a venture capital fund started by Peter Thiel for financial misconduc t (ReCode) Exclusive: Amazon will let anyone answer your Alexa questions now (Fast Company) Healthy.io raises $60 million to help patients complete urine tests on their phone (Venture Beat) An Exoplanet Like No Other Yet Found (The Atlantic) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 11, 2019
Will a California law change the entire landscape of the gig economy? Can Dutchie build a Shopify-like ecommerce platform for cannabis? Will Switzerland be less welcoming to Libra that Facebook hoped? And a rundown of the fallout from yesterday’s iPhone event. Sponsors: Tinycapital.com Jobs At WillowTreeApps.com: bit.ly/swiftjob Links: California Bill Makes App-Based Companies Treat Workers as Employees (NYTimes) Uber lays off 435 people across engineering and product teams (TechCrunch) Amazon’s Quantum Ledger Database is now generally available (Silicon Angle) These brothers just raised $15 million for their startup, Dutchie, a kind of Shopify for cannabis dispensaries (TechCrunch) Switzerland warns Facebook's Libra it will face extra scrutiny (Reuters) IPHONE 11 PRO AND 11 PRO MAX: HANDS-ON WITH APPLE’S NEW FLAGSHIP PHONES (The Verge) iPhone 11's ultra-wideband chip helps you AirDrop with the right person (Engadget) Editorial: Apple just told you that they aren't going to make an 'iPhone SE 2' any time soon (Apple Insider) Apple’s Biggest Surprise: More Aggressive Device and Services Pricing (Bloomberg) Subscribe to the Ad-Free Feed! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 10, 2019
All the news from the iPhone launch. Also, the Attorneys General officially go after Google… but why is California sitting this one out? And… is Masa Son pressuring WeWork to cancel its IPO or is it full speed ahead? Sponsors: Tinycapital.com Jobs At WillowTreeApps.com: bit.ly/swiftjob Links: Apple reveals the powerful new iPhone 11 Pro and Pro Max (Engadget) Apple reveals iPhone 11 with a dual-camera system, Night mode, and new colors (The Verge) Apple Watch Series 5 has an always-on display and comes in titanium or ceramic finishes (The Verge) Apple unveils entry-level 2019 iPad with a 10.2-inch screen (Venture Beat) Apple TV+ costs $4.99 per month and launches on November 1 (Venture Beat) Apple Arcade is launching on September 19th for $4.99 a month (The Verge) Google faces a new antitrust probe by 50 attorneys general (CNBC) 48 states are probing Google on antitrust grounds. Why isn’t California? (LATimes) SoftBank urges WeWork to shelve IPO (Financial Times) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 9, 2019
The MIT Media Lab director steps down, Apple sort of hides its own apps in App Store searches, why big tech should worry about the states as much as Uncle Sam, reviews of the Google Nest Hub Max and why hands-free games actually make you a better driver. Sponsors: Legacybox.com/ride Capterra.com/ride Links: Director of M.I.T.’s Media Lab Resigns After Taking Money From Jeffrey Epstein (NYTimes) How an Élite University Research Center Concealed Its Relationship with Jeffrey Epstein (New Yorker) How Apple’s Apps Topped Rivals in the App Store It Controls (NYTimes) Facebook, Google face off against a formidable new foe: State attorneys general (Washington Post) GOOGLE NEST HUB MAX REVIEW: BIGGER SCREEN, BETTER SOUND, AND A CAMERA (The Verge) Drivetime raises $11 million for interactive audio games like Jeopardy in the car (Venture Beat) Daimler brings driverless truck tests to public roads in Virginia (Venture Beat) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 6, 2019
Apple might have just given us the final reason to delete iTunes, Sonos has its first portable speaker, the Attorney’s General are targeting Facebook as well, it’s duplicating Google services all the way down, and, of course, the Weekend Longreads suggestions. Sponsors: WeWorkRemotely.com CognitoHQ.com Links: Apple Music launches a public beta on the web (TechCrunch) Sonos’ first portable speaker is the $399 Move (The Verge) Streaming makes up 80 percent of the music industry’s revenue (The Verge) New York attorney general is investigating Facebook for possible antitrust violations (CNBC) Google Assistant’s Ambient Mode turns Android devices into smart displays (The Verge) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: Uber Undone (The Baffler) Coming Soon to a Battlefield: Robots That Can Kill (The Atlantic) Amazon’s Next-Day Delivery Has Brought Chaos And Carnage To America’s Streets — But The World’s Biggest Retailer Has A System To Escape The Blame (BuzzFeed News) Coming Soon to a Small Screen Near You: Short Cuts (WSJ) ‘Hey, Google! Let me talk to my departed father.’ (Washington Post) ‘NCAA Football’ Is Still Alive, Because One Online Community Won’t Let the Game Die (The Ringer) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 5, 2019
China tracked Uyghur travelers by hacking Asian telcos, the company formerly known as WeWork drops its IPO target, Samsung has found a fold fix, Apple may bring back both Touch ID and a cheaper iPhone, MIT Media Lab’s founder says the group was right to have accepted money from Jeffrey Epstein, Facebook launches its Dating service in the U.S., SIM swapping is obscure but growing security problem, and the Jeremy Renner app has been shot down. Er, shut down. Sponsors WeWork Remotely Cognito by BlockScore Supercast Links: China hacked Asian telcos to spy on Uighur travelers (Reuters) WeWork Targets $20 Billion to $30 Billion IPO Value (Bloomberg) How Samsung fixed the Galaxy Fold (The Verge) Apple Plans Return of Touch ID and New Cheap iPhone (Bloomberg) MIT Media Lab founder: Taking Jeffrey Epstein’s money was justified (MIT Technology Review) Facebook Dating launches in the US, adds Instagram integration (TechCrunch) Why ‘SIM Swapping’ Is a Growing Security Nightmare (New York Times) I Broke The Official Jeremy Renner App By Posting The Word “Porno” On It (Deadspin) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 4, 2019
Google gets a fine and is about to be investigated by all the states, Android 10 is here, a $14k gaming chair is here, a slew of new Fire TV devices are here, and the Light Phone 2 wants to save you from the Internet. Sponsors: Supercast.com WeWorkRemotely.com Links: YouTube will pay $170 million to settle claims it violated child privacy laws (CNBC) Google emerges as target of a new state attorneys general antitrust probe (Washington Post) Google’s paid search ads are a ‘shakedown,’ Basecamp CEO says (CNBC) Android 10 launches today, and Pixel phones get the day one update (Ars Technica) An Update About Face Recognition on Facebook (Facebook Newsroom) Acer announces a $14,000 gaming chair because why not (TechCrunch) Amazon unveils a new Fire TV Cube, soundbar, and over a dozen Fire TV Edition products (TechCrunch) Amazon tests Whole Foods payment system that uses hands as ID (New York Post) The Light Phone 2 Wants to Save You From the Internet (Gizmodo) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 3, 2019
Samsung is gonna take another crack at foldable phones with a different design, sleep tracking is coming to the Apple Watch, Firefox 69 locks down everything, and a deep dive into the whole Ring Doorbell and Neighborhood controversy. Sponsors: Joybird.com/ride Promocode: RIDE WeWorkRemotely.com Links: Samsung Is Secretly Working on a Foldable Phone That Collapses Into a Square (Bloomberg) Apple Watch sleep tracking revealed: sleep quality, battery management, more (9to5Mac) Firefox 69 arrives with third-party tracking cookies and cryptomining blocked by default (VentureBeat) Upcoming Firefox update will decrease power usage on macOS by up to three times (ZDNet) Ring Neighbors Is the Best and Worst Neighborhood Watch App (WireCutter) Founders of Successful Tech Companies Are Mostly Middle-Aged (NYTimes) The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 30, 2019
The biggest iPhone attack ever, Microsoft wants to make tablet mode on Windows 10 more desktop-y, airlines are banning Macbook Pros, Jack Ma and Elon Musk debate AI and the weekend longreads suggestions. Sponsors: Castro Listennotes.com/api Links: Mysterious iOS Attack Changes Everything We Know About iPhone Hacking (Wired) Project Zero (Google Project Zero) Microsoft unveils new tablet experience for Windows 10 (The Verge) The Long-Term Stock Exchange raises $50 million in new funding (Axios) More Airlines Ban MacBook Pros in Checked Luggage (Bloomberg) When Elon Met Jack: Musings on AI, Mars and the End of Civilization (Bloomberg) The Weekend Longreads Suggestions: Unix at 50: How the OS that powered smartphones started from failure (Ars Technica) Wi-Fi 6 Will Be Here Soon. What Is It? (Wired) Mobile payments have barely caught on in the US, despite the rise of smartphones (CNBC) Drone Bubble Bursts, Wiping Out Startups and Hammering VC Firms (Bloomberg) Older people are embracing video games. For some, that means stardom. (NBC News) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 29, 2019
Apple makes nice with repair shops (and saves the date for the iPhone launch next month), an undersea cable mostly already built could be axed cause… China stuff, YouTube says it’s made progress on cleaning up its algorithm, and a machine learning betting company that says it can make sports betting a no-lose proposition. Sponsors: Castro Listennotes.com Links: Apple is allowing independent repair shops to officially service iPhones (9to5Mac) Indictment says accused Capital One hacker also used exploited cloud servers for cryptojacking (GeekWire) National Security Concerns Threaten Undersea Data Link Backed by Google, Facebook (WSJ) YouTube to adjust UK algorithm to cut false and extremist content (The Guardian) Former MLB Pitcher’s DC Startup Lands $23M for Sports Betting Platform (DCInno) Inkitt raises $16M led by Kleiner Perkins to publish crowdsourced novels in 'mini-episodes' (TechCrunch) Netflix ships milestone 5 billionth disc (CNET) Subscribe to the ad-free feed! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 28, 2019
Apple walks back the Siri grading program, Peloton’s S-1 reveals an interesting company, Fitbit’s interesting new smartwatch, don’t travel if you use social media at all, and another new service enters the Google Graveyard. Sponsors: Castro Jobs At WillowTreeApps.com: bit.ly/swiftjob Links: Apple is turning Siri audio clip review off by default and bringing it in house (TechCrunch) Peloton (Finally) Drops Its S-1, Revealing Sharply Rising Revenue And Net Losses (Crunchbase News) Fitbit Versa 2 hands-on: Alexa makes a good smartwatch better (Engadget) The Fitbit Versa 2 Chases Apple's Dominance (Gizmodo) Fitbit’s new premium subscription service hopes to sway you with personalized data, challenges, and more (The Verge) US border officials are increasingly denying entry to travelers over others' social media (TechCrunch) Incoming Harvard Freshman Deported After Visa Revoked (Harvard Crimson) Microsoft's lead EU data watchdog is looking into fresh Windows 10 privacy concerns (TechCrunch) Google will shut down Google Hire in 2020 (TechCrunch) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 27, 2019
Anthony Levandowski is arrested, Facebook is taking another run at Snapchat with something called Threads, Yelp adds personalized results for the first time, the BBC wants in on the voice assistant craze, The Irishman IS coming to theaters after all, and why people are standing in line, INSIDE World of Warcraft. Sponsors: Castro Vistaprint.com/ride Links: Former Star Google and Uber Engineer Charged With Theft of Trade Secrets (NYTimes) Instagram’s latest assault on Snapchat is a messaging app called Threads (The Verge) Yelp adds personalized search results to its iPhone app (Engadget) BBC to launch Alexa rival that will grasp regional accents (The Guardian) Sprint launches its 5G network in NYC, LA, Phoenix, and Washington, DC (The Verge) Microsoft announces Surface event on October 2nd in New York City (The Verge) Google Maps will now let users combine transit directions with biking and ride-sharing (The Verge) Netflix Unveils Release Plans for Martin Scorsese’s ‘The Irishman’ (Variety) Exclusive: U.S. officials fear ransomware attack against 2020 election (Reuters) World of Warcraft Classic players are standing in long lines to finish quests (Polygon) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 26, 2019
Google and Dell team up for enterprise-grade Chromebooks, Baidu makes big leaps in smart-speaker market share, Binance lets you lend crypto for interest, publishers sue Audible and why, when it comes to autonomy, maybe we should swim before we try to drive. Sponsors: Castro LinkedIn.com/ride Links: Google and Dell team up on the first Chromebooks made for business (Engadget) Baidu replaces Google to become number two in smart speaker market in Q2 2019 (Canalys) Binance enters into crypto lending space, offers interest-earning opportunities for BNB, ETC and Tethe r (The Block) Top U.S. publishers sue Amazon's Audible for copyright infringement (Reuters) Amazon’s Audible Sued by Publishers Over New Text Feature (Bloomberg) Netflix tests human-driven curation with launch of 'Collections' (TechCrunch) Deconstructing Google’s excuses on tracking protection (Freedom to Tinker) The Robot Ship Set to Cross the Atlantic and Change the World (Daily Beast) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 24, 2019
About a year ago, Elon Musk was doing so much crazy stuff, I was desperate for someone to tell me what was going on. So, I reached out to Rob Maurer from the Tesla Daily podcast to be a sort of Elon whisperer for me. Rob was great and gracious, and actually, that was the beginning of the weekend bonus episode idea in a way. Well, a year on… let’s take Elon’s temperature… and Tesla’s. Great conversation with Rob about where Tesla is at, and also, congrats to the Tesla Daily podcast on turning 2 years old! Subscribe now! Tesla Daily ! Sponsors: Capterra.com/ride Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 23, 2019
YouTube shuts down channels over Hong Kong content, some of Facebook’s Libra partners are having second thoughts, the WSJ finds some shady items on Amazon, the reviews of the Galaxy Note10+ are in, and the weekend longreads suggestions. Sponsors: BRD's Top 10 Crypto Memes PixelUnion.net Links: Google shutters more than 200 YouTube channels amid Hong Kong protests (CNBC) Facebook’s Libra backers look to distance themselves from project (Financial Times) Amazon Has Ceded Control of Its Site. The Result: Thousands of Banned, Unsafe or Mislabeled Products (WSJ) SAMSUNG GALAXY NOTE 10 PLUS REVIEW: SHOULD YOU SPEND FOR THE STYLUS? (The Verge) The Galaxy Note 10+ Is Damn Near Perfect (Gizmodo) REVIEW: SAMSUNG GALAXY NOTE10+ (Wired) Weekend Longreads: Top 10 Crypto Memes (BRD) All 84 startups from Y Combinator's S19 Demo Day 1 (TechCrunch) Here are the 82 startups from day 2 of Y Combinator's S19 Demo Days (TechCrunch) The Exclusive Inside Story Of The Fall Of Overstock’s Mad King, Patrick Byrne (Forbes) The Sports News Site Haters Love to Dunk on Keeps Signing Up Subscribers (Bloomberg Businessweek) The quantum revolution is coming, and Chinese scientists are at the forefront (Washington Post) YOU ARE ALREADY HAVING SEX WITH ROBOTS (Wired) Sad cartoons and melancholic hip-hop inspired YouTube’s new vaporwave scene (Polygon) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 22, 2019
Will we see an iPhone Pro next month? Google has a new proposal for ad tracking, Android deserts dessert nomenclature, why hasn’t tech solved parking yet, and why The Irishman might be a major fork in the road for Netflix. Sponsors: PixelUnion BRD.com on Twitter! Links: Apple Readies Camera-Focused Pro iPhones, New iPads, Larger MacBook Pro (Bloomberg) Google proposes new privacy and anti-fingerprinting controls for the web (TechCrunch) Google deserts desserts: Android 10 is the official name for Android Q (The Verge) The Google Play store’s visual refresh (Android Developers Blog) Google DeepMind Co-Founder Placed on Leave From AI Lab (Bloomberg) SpotHero raises $50 million to bring underutilized parking spaces online (VentureBeat) Martin Scorsese’s The Irishman is a perfect example of Netflix’s big screening dilemma (The Verge) Classified Ad: Nintendo Dispatch is a weekly Nintendo podcast with Nintendo fans Michael, Christina, and James. Each week they breakdown the latest news, game releases, and happenings in the Nintendo universe. No topic or game system is off limits as we discuss at the Nintendo Switch, 3DS, Nintendo's mobile games, theme parks, merchandise, and whatever else awesome Nintendo is doing. Join them each week for a new episode of awesome. Go to nintendodispatch.com or search Nintendo Dispatch on your podcast app right now to subscribe. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 21, 2019
Next gen chips from Intel, the real HQ2 for Amazon is in India, the controversy around Apple blocking ad tracking on kids apps is a real case for King Solomon, and Ben Thompson makes a compelling bull case for WeWork. Sponsors: Pixelunion.net Read the Blog Post from BRD: Here Links: Intel Launches Comet Lake-U and Comet Lake-Y: Up To 6 Cores for Thin & Light Laptops (AnandTech) Dell unveils new XPS, Inspiron, and Vostro models with Intel Comet Lake processors (VentureBeat) Exclusive: Alibaba postpones up to $15 billion Hong Kong listing amid protests: sources (Reuters) Amazon opens its biggest global campus in India (Reuters) Gmail in G Suite now uses AI for inline spelling and grammar suggestions (VentureBeat) Shazam data is powering Apple Music's newest chart, the Shazam Discovery Top 25 (TechCrunch) Apple aims to protect kids’ privacy. App makers say it could devastate their businesses. (The Washington Post) The WeWork IPO (Stratechery) Classified: The Merge Conflict podcast is a weekly discussion with developers Frank and James on all things development, technology, & more. After years of being friends, Frank and James finally decided to sit down and start a podcast about their lives as mobile developers using Xamarin. Much more than just another mobile development podcast, Merge Conflict, reaches all areas of development including desktop, server, and of course mobile. They also cover fun things happening in the world of technology and gaming and whatever else happens to be on their minds. Head to mergeconflict.fm to learn more or search Merge Conflict in your favorite podcast app today to subscribe. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 20, 2019
Twitter suspends a bunch of China-linked accounts, is Apple TV+ dead on arrival? 23 towns in Texas are hit with ransomware, and why isn’t Alexa in your car? Sponsors: DataTribe.com/challenge PixelUnion.net BRD's Longread About Libra Links: Information operations directed at Hong Kong (Twitter) Removing Coordinated Inauthentic Behavior From China (Facebook) Updating our advertising policies on state media (Twitter) Apple Targets Apple TV+ Launch in November, Weighs $9.99 Price After Free Trial (Bloomberg) Apple splashes $6bn on new shows in streaming wars (Financial Times) States to Move Forward With Antitrust Probe of Big Tech Firms (WSJ) Sony to acquire Insomniac Games (Polygon) Over 20 Texas local governments hit in 'coordinated ransomware attack' (ZDNet) The first Lightning security key for iPhones is here, and it works with USB-C, too (The Verge) Amazon Wants to Put Alexa in Cars. Google and Apple Are There Already (Bloomberg) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 19, 2019
Libra gets competition, Spotify and Roku get family friendly, Amazon is sitting out the launch of Disney+ (for now), Ikea is serious about becoming a smart-home player, and can the world’s largest semiconductor chip kickstart an AI revolution? Sponsors: Pixelunion.net BRD.com Links: Binance planning to launch ‘Venus,’ similar to Facebook’s upcoming cryptocurrency Libra (The Block) Spotify's Premium Family plans get an explicit content filter (Engadget) The Roku Channel is adding a kids and family section with free TV shows and movies (The Verge) Disney+ will stream on these devices at launch (The Verge) Ikea goes all in on smart home tech (The Verge) Hacker Releases First Public Jailbreak for Up-to-Date iPhones in Years (Motherboard) A new unicorn is born: Toor Insurance raises $100 million for a $1 billion valuation (TechCrunch) Root raises $350 million to drive auto insurance change (Axios) Cerebras (Pierre Lamond) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 17, 2019
On a recent weekend longreads segment, I recommended a piece by The Verge’s Julia Alexander asking whether Netflix’s recommendation algorithms were broken, or maybe borked. We’re going to talk a bit about that today, but since Julia is on the Streaming Wars beat at The Verge, you know how I love to talk about the streaming wars, and we are right about at the point where the battle is going to be joined in earnest. Sponsors: CognitoHQ.com Wix.com/podcast :) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 16, 2019
Coinbase says all your bitcoin base are belong to us, Apple sues a “virtualization” company, was Amazon offering vendors a pay to play scheme with Amazon Choice, and, as always, the weekend longreads suggestions. Sponsors: Metalab.co MacStadium.com/ridehome Links: Exclusive: Coinbase Buys Xapo Custody for $55 Million, Eyes Lending Business (Fortune) Apple Files Lawsuit Against Virtualization Company Corellium for Illegally Replicating iOS and Apple Apps (MacRumors) Amazon offered vendors ‘Amazon’s Choice’ labels in return for ad spending and lower prices (Digiday) YouTube shuts down music companies' use of manual copyright claims to steal creator revenue (TechCrunch) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: Weird gadgets that are actually really useful (ZDNet) Trump Tumult Has Gadget Giants Splitting Along U.S.-China Lines (Bloomberg) THREE YEARS OF MISERY INSIDE GOOGLE, THE HAPPIEST COMPANY IN TECH (Wired) WEWORK ISN’T A TECH COMPANY; IT’S A SOAP OPERA (The Verge) WeWTF (ProfGalloway.com) Elon Musk’s Neuralink: Both an evolution and a plan for radical change (Ars Technica) SpaceX’s First Astronauts Train Up for Space, but Crew Dragon Faces Delays (Inverse.com) HOW A 'NULL' LICENSE PLATE LANDED ONE HACKER IN TICKET HELL (Wired) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 15, 2019
Facebook tweaks groups, Google Assistant lets you remind family members, can we be training voice AI in a better way, say hello to the Sega Genesis Mini, and the free app that can save your life out in the wilderness. Sponsors: Metalab.co Macstadium.com/ridehome Links: Facebook is simplifying group privacy settings and adding admin tools for safety (The Verge) THE SEGA GENESIS MINI BUILDS ON WHAT MADE NINTENDO’S TINY CONSOLES GREAT (The Verge) UPS has been quietly delivering cargo using self-driving trucks (The Verge) Stay organized and productive with new Assignable reminders (Google) Do Tech Companies Really Need to Snoop Into Private Conversations to Improve Their A.I.? (Slate) What3words: The app that can save your life (BBC News) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 14, 2019
WeWork files for its IPO, a huge data leak reveals fingerprints, facial recognition data and more, are you going to have trouble taking your MacBook Pro on your next flight, why Two and a Half Men is the next big piece in the streaming wars and why I’m bullish on an Airbnb for boats. Sponsors: Metalab.co MacStadium.com/ridehome Links: WeWork files for long-awaited IPO (Axios) Major breach found in biometrics system used by banks, UK police and defence firm s (The Guardian) F AA Bans Recalled MacBook Pros From Flights (Bloomberg) AI Startup Boom Raises Questions of Exaggerated Tech Savvy (WSJ) HBO Max eyeing ‘Big Bang Theory’ and ‘Two and a Half Men’ in $1.5 billion deal (The Daily Dot) Facebook Paid Contractors to Transcribe Users’ Audio Chats (Bloomberg) Peer-to-peer boat rental marketplace Boatsetter raises $10M as it looks to grow globally (TechCrunch) Subscribe to the ad-free feed right HERE in your podcast browser! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 13, 2019
Tumblr finds its final home (hopefully), new Snap Spectacles, a new gaming startup tries to one-up Fortnite’s social model, why your DSLR camera is a prime ransomware target, and yes, Twinfluencers are apparently a thing. Sponsors: MacStadium.com/ridehome Metalab.co Links: Verizon to Sell Tumblr to WordPress.com Owner (WSJ) Snap Unveils a New Version of Video-Recording Spectacles (Bloomberg) Microsoft Cancels Super Duper Graphics Pack for Minecraft (Thurrott.com) Singularity 6 raises $16.5M from Andreessen Horowitz to create a 'virtual society' (TechCrunch) Security researchers find that DSLR cameras are vulnerable to ransomware attack (The Verge) Twinfluencers Are Taking Over the Internet (The Atlantic) Design Memes: The Origin of those Helvetica List T-Shirts (HowDesign.com) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 12, 2019
Would you want (or need) a 108MP smartphone camera? The “Ninja” Blevins/Twitch breakup explained. The cat-and-mouse between Chrome and paywalls explained. Credit where due for Apple on wearables, and why touchscreens might not be a user interface panacea. Sponsors: Metalab.co Legacybox.com/ride Links: Samsung's 108-megapixel mobile sensor closes in on mirrorless cameras (Engadget) Ninja calls out Twitch after his dormant channel highlights porn (updated) (Engadget) The New York Times is still detecting Chrome Incognito Mode after Google’s fix (9to5Google) Apple Deserves More Credit for Wearables (Above Avalon) How Facebook Is Changing to Deal With Scrutiny of Its Power (NYTimes) Navy Reverting DDGs Back to Physical Throttles, After Fleet Rejects Touchscreen Controls (USNI News) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 9, 2019
Uber and Lyft continue to lose money hand over fist, Huawei has a backup OS plan, Piano has a smarter paywall for news outlets, people are texting their “number neighbors” and of course, the weekend longreads suggestions. Sponsors: Mealime CognitoHQ.com Links: Uber Posts $5.2 Billion Loss and Slowest Ever Growth Rate (NYTimes) Huawei reveals HarmonyOS, its alternative to Android (Engadget) Facebook Offers News Outlets Millions of Dollars a Year to License Content (WSJ) How Piano built a propensity paywall for publishers — and what it’s learned so far (NiemanLab) Here's why the internet is obsessed with 'number neighbors,' a viral trend where people text phone numbers one digit away from their own (Business Insider) The Weekend Longreads Suggestions: The Lonely Work of Moderating Hacker News (The New Yorker) I Tried Hiding From Silicon Valley in a Pile of Privacy Gadgets (Bloomberg Businessweek) How Globalization Broke Gateway, the Cow Computer Company (Motherboard) Python is eating the world: How one developer's side project became the hottest programming language on the planet (ZDNet) With warshipping, hackers ship their exploits directly to their target's mail room (TechCrunch) Scientists Are Stuck on the Mystery of Tape (Engadget) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 8, 2019
All the headlines from the Galaxy Note 10 event, to what degree does Zuckerberg really want to keep Instagram independent, Google is expanding podcast search capabilities, you can now tell Alexa to slow down, and Netflix bags Benioff and Weiss and what that means to the streaming wars. Sponsors: Mealime Originate.mobi Links: The 7 biggest announcements from the Samsung Note 10 event (The Verge) Google Maps lets you pull up flight and hotel reservations on the go (CNET) Google will start surfacing individual podcast episodes in search results (The Verge) Now you can choose how fast Alexa talks on your Amazon Echo (The Verge) Instagram's lax privacy practices let a trusted partner track millions of users' physical locations, secretly save their stories, and flout its rule s (Business Insider) 'Game of Thrones' Creators Close $200M Netflix Overall Deal (The Hollywood Reporter) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 7, 2019
We have a launch date for Disney+ and we also have confirmation of a wicked compelling bundle, FedEx officially breaks up with Amazon, Amazon trades accusations with CVS and Walgreens, iOS API changes make life difficult for Facebook, and why it might be make or break time for TikTok. Sponsors: Originate.mobi Mealime Links: Disney Announces $12.99 Bundle For Disney+, Hulu, & ESPN+ Available At Launch (The Streamable) FedEx Ends Ground-Delivery Deal With Amazon (Bloomberg) Amazon’s PillPack is battling with CVS and Walgreens over getting patient prescriptions (CNBC) Revealed: Microsoft Contractors Are Listening to Some Skype Calls (Vice) Facebook Hit by Apple’s Crackdown on Messaging Feature (The Information) Slack unveils new admin security controls (ITPro) The biggest risks to TikTok (The Interface) End of an era? Microsoft’s MSDN Magazine is ending its run after more than three decades (Onmsft.com) https://fantasy.premierleague.com/leagues/join/private Mutant Podcast Army Classic league (Code: rd6c2i) Mutant Podcast Army Head2Head league (Code: bt0y07) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 6, 2019
The Apple Card is here (for some of you), industrial cyberattacks have doubled, are Yelp and Grubhub partnering to hurt restaurants, Amazon’s scoot robots come to Southern California, 5G comes to New York City and what to expect from tomorrow’s Samsung event. Sponsors: Mealime Joybird.com/ride Promocode: RIDE Links: The Apple Card starts rolling out today (TheVerge) Cyberattacks against industrial targets have doubled over the last 6 months (ZDNet) Microsoft: Russian state hackers are using IoT devices to breach enterprise networks (ZDNet) Microsoft launches Azure Security Lab, expands bug bounty rewards (ZDNet) Yelp is Screwing Over Restaurants By Quietly Replacing Their Phone Numbers (Motherboard) Amazon Squeezes Sellers That Offer Better Prices on Walmart (Bloomberg) Amazon’s Scout robots roll out in Southern California (Venture Beat) AT&T rolls out (limited) 5g in (parts of) New York City (TechCrunch) Note 10 Plus? Here’s what to expect from Samsung’s Galaxy Unpacked on August 7 (Digital Trends) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 5, 2019
Cloudflare stops doing business with 8chan, two big new smartwatch releases, why the Athletic believes people will pay for sports news, the 22 year old founder of the newest unicorn, and why used electric vehicles might signal EVs are entering the mainstream. Sponsors: Mealime.com MintMobile.com/ride Links: Terminating Service for 8Chan (Cloudflare Blog) 8chan: the far-right website linked to the rise in hate crimes (The Guardian) The Problem Isn't 8chan. It's Americans. (Buzzfeed News) Samsung’s Galaxy Watch Active 2 brings back the bezel control (The Verge) Fossil’s latest Wear OS watches have 1GB RAM, smart battery modes, Snapdragon Wear 3100 (9to5Google) Huawei tests smartphone with own operating system, possibly for sale this year: Chinese state media (Reuters) News discovery app SmartNews valued at $1.1b (TechCrunch) Silicon Valley’s Latest Unicorn Is Run by a 22-Year-Old (Bloomberg Businessweek) NOW ON USED CAR LOTS: GREAT ELECTRIC VEHICLES FOR CHEAP (Wired) Subscribe to the ad-free feed! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 3, 2019
The Vox/Recode family has a new podcast, Land of the Giants . And so we’re going to talk to Jason Del Rey, the voice behind the first season of this podcast, which focuses on Amazon. But look, I’ve wanted to get someone on to talk turkey with me about Amazon for a while now, because they're at this weird place where… maybe they’re the most powerful tech company in the land? What does that mean, for them AND for us? Jason Del Rey was the perfect person to ask. Sponsor: Vistaprint.com/ride Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 2, 2019
Google and Apple suspend their programs where humans listen in on what you say to your voice assistant, Google will let Android users in Europe pick a search engine, Verizon tortures the very definition of words, Amazon dash buttons have an official end date, and the Weekend Longreads Suggestions. Sponsors: WeWorkRemotely.com Wix.com/podcast Links: Apple suspends Siri response grading in response to privacy concerns (TechCrunch) Google will charge search providers to be the Android default in Europe (The Verge) Amazon is going to kill your Dash button (CNET) Verizon overhauls its ‘unlimited’ offerings with four new plans and $5 price cuts (The Verge) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: WHEN OPEN SOURCE SOFTWARE COMES WITH A FEW CATCHE S (Wired) Your Next iPhone Might Be Made in Vietnam. Thank the Trade War. (NYTimes) Late Night Dispatch: Tuca & Bertie versus The Algorithm (Julia Alexander) Where Everyone’s an Influencer (The Atlantic) America’s DIY Phone Farmers (Motherboard) What Happens When the World’s Population Stops Growing? (The Atlantic) CLASSIFIED: Tips tricks and commentary from the world of Cisco brought to you by the people that know it best. Conf T, or Configure Terminal for the newbies, is a bi-weekly podcast hosted by Cisco Systems Engineers where we discuss various Cisco technologies, best practices including Cisco Validated Designs, and overall commentary regarding Cisco and Technology in general. With new topics covered every two weeks across the entire Cisco portfolio, this is one of the best ways to keep up on everything Cisco. If you manage Cisco networks, be sure and subscribe to " Conf T with your SE " so you can stay up to date and informed. Conf T with your SE is available on Spotify, iTunes, Google Play, and anywhere else fine podcasts are found. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 1, 2019
Intel’s faster new chips, Bird’s more durable new scooters, Samsung’s new lack of a headphone jack, Cisco settles with the government, IBM’s facing an age discrimination lawsuit, Cloudflare’s planning an IPO and the new season of Fortnite. Sponsors: WeWorkRemotely.com Capterra.com/ride Links: Intel unveils its first 10th-gen laptop CPUs (Engadget) Bird’s new electric scooter has a better battery and anti-vandalism sensors (The Verge) Dongle life: Galaxy Note 10’s 3.5mm to USB-C adapter pictured in leak (SamMobile) Cloudflare Said To Pursue September IPO, We Say Heck Yes (Crunchbase News) Cisco to Pay $8.6 Million to Settle Government Claims of Flawed Tech (NYTimes) IBM Fired as Many as 100,000 in Recent Years, Lawsuit Shows (Bloomberg) Jeff Bezos Sells $2 Billion of Amazon Stock After 4% Stake Transfer (Bloomberg) Solar-sailing satellite proves it can use light to propel through space (The Verge) And Now, a Bicycle Built for None (NYTimes) Fortnite season X adds mech suits, a meteor, and ‘volatile rift zones’ (The Verge) Classified: Would you like to discover a happier, healthier, more focused life? Would you like to become a better version of yourself? Cactus.app [read as: cactus dot app] increases your self-awareness through guided self-reflection and gives you a private place to journal your thoughts. Cactus.app encourages you to think about the impact of your experiences, prompts exploration of your feelings, and proposes actions to enhance your experiences. And, it’s free. Check it out at cactus.app . And, by the way, this is not an app in the app store _yet_. You have to go to cactus.app to check it out. Link in the show notes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 31, 2019
Apple isn’t selling as many iPhones, but they want you to know that that’s just fine. Samsung isn’t selling as many high end smartphones as they’d like, but seemingly no one is. There’s a new Galaxy Tab, Facebook hasn’t given up on their Portal ambitions and the rise of the livestreamed funeral business. Sponsors: WeWorkRemotely.com DataDogHQ.com/ridehome Links: Apple Reports Third Quarter Results (Apple PR) Samsung's Q2 profit halved from low memory demand (ZDNet) Samsung’s Galaxy Tab S6 is its latest volley against the iPad Pro (The Verge) Spotify Grows to 108M Paid Subscribers Compared to Apple Music's 60M (MacRumors) Facebook Approached Netflix, Disney to Support TV Chat Device (The Information) Amazon concedes market share in battle for online consumer goods sales (TalkBusiness.net) NOW EVEN FUNERALS ARE LIVESTREAMED—AND FAMILIES ARE GRATEFUL (Wired) CLASSIFIED: There is a great new podcast on venture and startups. It’s Called LA Venture and it’s all about the Los Angeles venture and startup scene. It's useful if you're looking for funding or just interested in getting to know the LA investors. Admittedly, it's hosted by two VCs interviewing other VCs and everyone is talking about themselves. But, we're all avid TechMeme listeners so perhaps we've picked up some of Brian's ability to make our stories snappy and enjoyable listening. (ooh… flattery will get you everywhere)… Search for "LA Venture" hosted by TenOneTen. Great place to get venture insights if you're already caught up on TechMeme Ride Home listening. Again, LA Venture by TenOneTen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 30, 2019
Another day, another data breach… but this Capital One breach has some odd new wrinkles, the Android smartphone industry continues to be a tough gig for most manufacturers, I’m ready for smart contact lenses and apparently, the YouTube creator community is ready for a union. Sponsors: WeWorkRemotely.com PaintYourLife.com : Text the word TECH to 48-48-48 Links: Capital One says data breach affected 100 million credit card applications (Washington Post) Amazon's cloud was at the heart of the big Capital One hack, even though it doesn't seem to be at fault (Business Insider) Sony and LG still struggled to sell smartphones in Q2 2019, surprising nobody (Android Police) Scientists create contact lenses that zoom on command (Engadget) Techstars raises $42 million from SVB and Foundry Group to accelerate its growth in Europe and beyond (Tech.eu) Israel's New Top Unicorn: Monday.com Hits $1.9 Billion Valuation With $150 Million Raise (Forbes) Real estate platform Compass raises another $370M on a $6.4B valuation en route to an IPO (TechCrunch) PBS & PBS Kids Coming to YouTube TV Later This Year (The Streamable) The YouTubers Union Is Not Messing Around (Motherboard) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 29, 2019
Google continues to leak Pixel 4 details itself, Github bans users from specific countries, will we eventually see a TikTok phone? Consolidation in the food delivery space, and all hail our first official Fortnite World Cup Champion. Sponsors: WeWorkRemotely Lightstream.com/ride Links: (Don’t) hold the phone: new features coming to Pixel 4 (The KeyWord) GitHub confirms it has blocked developers in Iran, Syria and Crimea (TechCrunch) Amazon Wants to Rule the Grocery Aisles, and Not Just at Whole Foods (NYTimes) China's ByteDance, after Smartisan deal, says developing smartphone (Reuters) TikTok owner ByteDance confirms plans to produce a smartphone (The Verge) Europe's top court sharpens guidance for sites using leaky social plug-ins (TechCrunch) Just Eat £9bn merger plan sends shares soaring (The Guardian) Sony is crowdfunding a wearable 'air conditioner' (updated) (Engadget) Kyle "Bugha" Giersdorf, 16, wins Fortnite World Cup singles and $3 million (ESPN) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 26, 2019
The T-Mobile/Sprint merger gets the go-ahead, a whole bunch of odds-n-ends Apple stories, SoftBank announces a new Vision Fund, the biggest earnings wrap-up of the calendar quarter, turns out that Chris Hughes was serious about breaking up Facebook, and the weekend longreads suggestions. Sponsors: Pixelunion.net Firesideconf/ride Links: T-Mobile and Sprint merger approved by Justice Department (The Verge) Apple and Goldman Sachs Credit Card Targeting August Launch Date (Bloomberg) Trump says Apple will not be given tariff waivers or relief for Mac Pro parts made in China (CNBC) Apple buys Intel’s smartphone modem business (The Verge) SoftBank CEO Takes More Control in New $108 Billion Vision Fund (Bloomberg) Chris Hughes Worked to Create Facebook. Now, He Is Working to Break It Up. (NYTimes) The Weekend Longreads Suggestions: How Google Photos joined the billion-user club (Fast Company) The Man Who Built The Retweet: “We Handed A Loaded Weapon To 4-Year-Olds” (BuzzFeed News) What is Microsoft doing with Cortana? (The Verge) The Hidden Costs of Automated Thinking (The New Yorker) The Onion’s Guide To TikTok (The Onion) Ursula K Le Guin's Earthsea Books Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 25, 2019
Samsung says we will finally see the Galaxy Fold in September, Tesla has a bad earnings miss, Deep Mind and Waymo partner to hopefully speed up AV development, AT&T can’t stop dialing up new streaming services and a gadget, game and documentary review trifecta. Sponsors: PixelUnion.net SVB.com/next Links: Samsung says it has fixed the Galaxy Fold and will release it in September (The Verge) Apple Suppliers See Demand for New IPhones Stabilizing This Year (Bloomberg) Telsa reports larger-than-expected losses of $408 million in second quarter (TechCrunch) Facebook warns of costly privacy changes, discloses another U.S. probe (Reuters) DeepMind and Waymo collaborate to improve AI accuracy and speed up model training (Venture Beat) AT&T is launching another new streaming service this fall called AT&T TV (CNET) AT&T Chief: HBO Max Will ‘Ultimately’ Offer Live News, Sports (Variety) IKEA SYMFONISK review: Sonos speakers at IKEA prices (Gizmodo) Wolfenstein: Youngblood Review (IGN) NETFLIX'S THE GREAT HACK BRINGS OUR DATA NIGHTMARE TO LIFE (Wired) The Ad-Free Feed Is HERE! Get Your Classified Ad-Read HERE! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 24, 2019
The FTC comes down on Facebook, but is the new DOJ probe really what Silicon Valley should worry about? Cruise won’t be self-driving taxis in San Francisco this year, Snap really seems to be on the rebound, and is media piracy poised for a major comeback? Sponsors: PixelUnion.net SVB.com/next Links: U.S. government issues stunning rebuke, historic $5 billion fine against Facebook for repeated privacy violations (The Washington Post) Google launches Gallery Go, a lightweight alternative to Google Photos (The Verge) GM’s Cruise delays driverless taxi service, plans to build country’s largest EV fast charger station (Venture Beat) Snap shares surge as results smash estimates (CNBC) D oorDash CEO announces that now your tips will go to delivery workers (Engadget) PLEX MAKES PIRACY JUST ANOTHER STREAMING SERVICE (The Verge) CLASSIFIED AD: Here's something new for the RideHome audience. Attention investors, those thinking about investing and those long interested in the music business. A tightly held start-up in the Music Publishing space is looking for some investor love. Rocket Songs is changing the way musicians across the globe get their hands on professionally written songs. With songwriters that have written for: • Chris Stapleton • Beyonce • Kings of Leon • top K-Pop acts • And many others! Up until now songs from these songwriters have been in a vault (literal and figurative) at Music Publishing Houses. But we're making them available in a state-of-the art marketplace. We are live. We are converting users and making money. But we need Seed Round money and we're not friends with any top VC or angel investors. So, if you want... to help disrupt the multi-billion dollar publishing industry, to help a start-up with a proven business model. Reach out! Email: InvestIn@RocketSongs.com and check out RocketSongs.com. But also, for serious investment inquiries: InvestIn@RocketSongs.com . Link in the show notes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 23, 2019
Apple may buy Intel’s floundering 5G chip division, new rumored iPhone models seem like modest bumps, the attorney general dreams of an impossible encryption backdoor, a Facebook design flaw potentially exposed children to strangers, the NSA consolidates cybersecurity, Uber tests an all-in-one subscription plan, a suit against AT&T over a cryptocurrency theft can proceed, and winking face money bag 100% you should use emoji at work. Sponsors Pixel Union Marketing by Moe Links: Apple in Advanced Talks to Buy Intel’s Smartphone-Modem Chip Business (WSJ) Apple to release three ‘iPhone 11’ models this fall, including A13 chip, new Taptic Engine, more (9to5mac) US attorney general says encryption creates security risk (AP) AG Barr and Trump Want to Open Government Backdoors into Americans’ Personal Devices Video Available Here (Ron Wyden statement) Facebook design flaw let thousands of kids join chats with unauthorized users (The Verge) NSA Forms Cybersecurity Directorate Under More Assertive U.S. Effort (WSJ) Uber tests monthly subscription that combines Eats, rides, bikes and scooters (TechCrunch) Cryptocurrency investor’s $224 million suit against AT&T over stolen coins moves forward (CNBC) Yes, You Actually Should Be Using Emojis at Work (WSJ) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 22, 2019
Equifax agrees to a settlement over its massive 2017 data breach, Microsoft invests a billion dollars in an generalized AI startup, Huawei is linked to North Korea’s cellular network buildout, Google settles multiple lawsuits, including a decade-old one about Wi-Fi snooping, Apple’s sequel to Tim Cook becomes apparent, and senseless violins. Sponsors Cloudbaker Pixel Union Links: CFPB, FTC and States Announce Settlement with Equifax Over 2017 Data Breach (CFPB) Proving you deserve $20,000 from the Equifax settlement will be nearly impossible (CNBC) With $1 Billion From Microsoft, an A.I. Lab Wants to Mimic the Brain (New York Times) Microsoft invests in and partners with OpenAI to support us building beneficial AGI (OpenAI press release) Leaked documents reveal Huawei’s secret operations to build North Korea’s wireless network (Washington Post) Google Finds Cheap Way Out of Multibillion-Dollar ‘Wi-Spy’ Suit (Bloomberg) How Google Extracted Itself From Three More Lawsuits—Data Sheet (Fortune) Apple’s Heir Apparent Is Much More Like Tim Cook Than Steve Jobs (Bloomberg) Etsy acquires musical instrument marketplace Reverb for $275 million (VentureBeat) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 21, 2019
Is technology really rotting our brains, destroying our society... or is that what everyone has always worried about with every technological advance, going back to tv, or telephones, or even writing letters? The new book, Bored, Lonely, Angry, Stupid: Changing Feelings about Technology, from the Telegraph to Twitter tries to look at this question from a historical perspective. Is it really different this time? But more importantly... to what degree has technological change impacted how we think of things, and vice-versa. My thanks to the authors, Luke Fernandez and Susan J. Matt. Sponsors: Gabi.com/ride Castro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 20, 2019
So, today, July 20th 2019 is the 50th anniversary of human beings walking on the moon for the first time. As Glenn mentioned on Friday’s weekend longreads segment, Fast Company has been doing a 50 days to the moon thing. 50 different stories around the moon landing. They’re all from Charles Fishman, who wrote a book that came out this summer called One Giant Leap: The Impossible Mission that Flew Us to the Moon. Please buy that book if you want a super great summer long read, literal longread. But also, listen to this conversation with Charles discussing amazing stories about the moon landing that I for sure never knew, and 100% blew my mind… Sponsors: MarketingByMoe.com Castro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 19, 2019
Microsoft makes boring pay dividends, Trump says he’ll use JEDI mind tricks to examine a Pentagon bid, Orlando ends a controversial facial-recognition test with Amazon, and your weekend long read suggestions. Sponsors Castro Fireside Links: Microsoft beats on earnings, stock ticks up (CNBC) Trump says he’s looking into a Pentagon cloud contract for Amazon or Microsoft because ‘we’re getting tremendous complaints’ (CNBC) Republican lawmakers urge Trump not to delay the $10 billion Pentagon cloud contract Amazon and Microsoft want (CNBC) Orlando cancels Amazon Rekognition program, capping 15 months of glitches and controversy (Orlando Weekly) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: 50 Days to the Moon (Fast Company) Is It Okay to Laugh at Florida Man? (Washington Post) TikTok Stars Are Preparing to Take Over the Internet (The Atlantic) Grindr Wanted To Make The World Better For Queer People. Then A Chinese Gaming Company Bought It. (Buzzfeed) Andy Ngo Has The Newest New Media Career. It’s Made Him A Victim And A Star (Buzzfeed) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 18, 2019
Netflix's growth disappoints, but Stranger Things have happened. The Democratic National Committee tells candidates to avoid the photo-aging simulator FaceApp. Don't expect driverless cars any time soon, despite the hype. Can 5G networks give you cancer? No, no they can't. Finally, go ahead! Start that podcast. Don't listen to the naysayers. Sponsors: SVB.com/next Castro Links: Netflix subscription adds disappoint, stock drops (Variety) DNC warns candidates to stop using FaceApp, citing Russian danger (CNN) FaceApp developer describes privacy policy (TechCrunch) Tesla's plans for self-driving cars worry those who know best (Washington Post) Self-driving cars remains "way in the future" (New York Times) The 5G Health Hazard That Isn't (New York Times) Have we hit peak podcast? (New York Times) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 17, 2019
Google says Project Dragonfly is dead, Apple might be producing its own original podcasts, the Switch regular gets a refresh, and two long-time interesting companies: Neuralink and Boston Dynamics are ready for the spotlight. Sponsors: Castro SVB.com/next Links: Antitrust: Commission opens investigation into possible anti-competitive conduct of Amazon (The European Commission) A Google VP Told The US Senate The Company Has “Terminated” The Chinese Search App Dragonfly (BuzzFeed News) Apple Plans to Bankroll Original Podcasts to Fend Off Rivals (Bloomberg) New Nintendo Switch model will have much better battery life (Polygon) Microsoft wins multibillion-dollar cloud deal from AT&T (CNBC) Elon Musk’s Neuralink Takes Baby Steps to Wiring Brains to the Internet (NYTimes) BOSTON DYNAMICS’ ROBOTS ARE PREPARING TO LEAVE THE LAB — IS THE WORLD READY? (The Verge) Education publisher Pearson to phase out print textbooks (BBC News) Get a podcast classified of your own. CLASSIFIED: Should users be allowed to gain value from the location data their friends share with them? Even if it's non-monetary value? If not, why not? We have created an experiment to probe into these questions. Our experiment is an app that allows users to collect and analyze hundreds of location data points that are currently being shared with them by their friends, but are not collected. When this data is collected and analyzed properly, users can gain insights on their friends' behavior, much like companies gain insight on everyone else's behavior by collecting or buying this data in bulk. We are looking for one journalist to cover this exclusively, and we figured the Techmeme ride home would be our best bet. We intend to shed some more light on privacy inconsistencies. If you are interested in this, please email us at press@whosintown.app, that is press @ whosintown dot app Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 16, 2019
Facebook explains Libra to Congress, Amazon might be next in the EU’s woodshed, Google might be next in Trump’s woodshed, another Tesla lineup shakeup, a couple of interesting raises and Microsoft opens Windows up to all your digital assistants. Sponsors: SVB.com/next Firesideconf.com/ride Links: Senators aren’t sold on Facebook’s Libra project (The Verge) Highlights from Facebook's Libra Senate hearing (TechCrunch) Facebook Cryptocurrency Plans Have a Problem: Facebook’s Reputation (NYTimes) Amazon in EU Crosshairs as Vestager Fights Big Tech to the End (Bloomberg) Trump threatens to ‘take a look’ at Google for China ties (Washington Post) Silicon Valley’s Right Wing Is Angry And Punching Back (BuzzFeed News) Tesla updates pricing and options across lineup, discontinues several variants (Electrek) Newsletter platform Substack raises $15.3M round led by a16z (TechCrunch) Patreon raises $60M Series D, targets international growth and more customization (TechCrunch) Subscribe to the ad-free feed! Order up your own podcast classified! Podcast Classifieds: Are you a podcaster looking for an easy and affordable way to upload and share your podcast that doesn’t take a lot of time? Are you a church or ministry looking to share sermons or other content with your followers? JustCast turns your Dropbox into podcast hosting and is the easiest way to share to the web and iTunes. With hosting solutions starting at no cost and with other very affordable hosting tiers, JustCast is here for you. JustCast takes the hosting headaches away and gives you the ability to spend more time focusing on creating and perfecting your content. It’s the simplest way to create RSS feed for your podcast. JustCast is one of those technologies that will change your life. You’ll never remember what you did before JustCast! Check it out at www.justcast.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 15, 2019
The FTC is readying a record fine for Facebook, but is it just a parking ticket? Qualcomm refreshes the Snapdragon lineup, governments want to make money off of selling your data also, Microsoft Office quietly winning in mobile, and the Air Force warns: do NOT storm Area 51! Sponsors: Rhone.com/ride Promocode RIDE for 20% off! Firesideconf.com/ride Links: FTC Approves Roughly $5 Billion Facebook Settlement (WSJ) YouTube's Trampled Foes Plot Antitrust Revenge (Bloomberg) Qualcomm's Snapdragon 855 Plus chip is built for gaming and VR (Engadget) I-Team: Florida DMV sells your personal information to private companies, marketing firms (ABC Action News) Microsoft Word for Android has been installed more than 1 billion times (The Verge) Microsoft Word passes 1 billion installs on Play Store (Android Police) Who Needs Amazon HQ2? Not New York Real Estate’s Tech Boom (WSJ) AT&T to auto block fraud robocalls for free, but blocking spam calls will cost extra (ZDNet) Facebook-Driven Area 51 Storming May Be Countered With Force, Says US Air Force (Deadline) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 14, 2019
Remember that longread from Friday? I knew lots of physical retail was under threat from ecommcerce, but do we have to worry about the grocery store too? As I said, this was something I’ve never considered. So read the piece because I got in touch with the author, Joe Fassler to see what the story is. And yes, there are larger societal and cultural and even cyclical shifts imperiling the traditional grocery market, but yes, it’s tech and ecommerce too. A deeper dive into all this, plus at look at the star of Joe’s piece, the grocery store architect who is trying to blow up the grocery in order to save it. The man who’s going to save your neighborhood grocery store (The New Food Economy) Sponsors: CognitoHQ.com Stamps.com, click on the Microphone at the TOP of the homepage and type in RIDE Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 13, 2019
Remember the whole Superhuman kerfuffle of the last week or so? Mike Davidson wrote a blog post calling out some shady stuff in the Superhuman email product, all of silicon valley debated it, Superhuman walked things back a bit, and actually, I didn’t mention this, but Mike had a second post about this, which was even more in depth an eloquent than the first one. So, I reached out to Mike to talk about this whole thing, not because I wanted to re-litigate it, but because I wanted to poke at… well, what I said last week… what does this whole debate say about the discourse in tech at the moment? Mike's 2nd post on this that I didn't mention on the podcast Sponsors: Wix.com/podcast Capterra.com/ride Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 12, 2019
Amazon is developing a high-end Echo speaker, the PC market’s not dead yet, Postmates is having second thoughts about going public and might shop itself around instead, and of course, the weekend longreads suggestions. Sponsors: Metalab.co Lightstream.com/ride Links: Amazon Plans High-End Echo, Ramps Up Work on Alexa Home Robot (Bloomberg) Gartner: PC shipments grew 1.5% in Q2 2019 (VentureBeat) Ford-VW alliance expands to include autonomous and electric vehicles (The Verge) Postmates has explored a sale to Uber or DoorDash instead of going public (Recode) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: The man who’s going to save your neighborhood grocery store (The New Food Economy) Disney Won. Now What? (BuzzFeed News) You’re Hired. Now Wear This Headset to Learn the Job. (NYTimes) New Coke Didn’t Fail. It Was Murdered. (Mother Jones) ROAD-TRIPPING WITH THE AMAZON NOMADS (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 11, 2019
Apple quietly brings the hammer down on Zoom’s hidden web server, Apple also turns off Walkie Talkie in order to fix it, Google Assistant is listening in on you also, Amazon Music is a streaming dark-horse and dang is Bird losing a lot of money. Sponsors: SVB.com/next Metalab.co Links: Apple has pushed a silent Mac update to remove hidden Zoom web server (TechCrunch) Apple disables Walkie Talkie app due to vulnerability that could allow iPhone eavesdropping (TechCrunch) WHO’S LISTENING WHEN YOU TALK TO YOUR GOOGLE ASSISTANT? (Wired) OneTrust raised $200M at a $1.3B valuation to help organizations navigate online privacy rules (TechCrunch) Amazon becomes fastest-growing music steaming service (Financial Times) Hit by Big Loss, Bird Seeks $300M in New Funds (The Information) Blockstack wins first-ever SEC approval for a token offering under Reg A+ listing (The Block) 2020 iPhone to reduce TrueDepth notch, full-screen display rumored for 2021 (Apple Insider) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 10, 2019
The Nintendo Switch Lite is a smaller cheaper Switch that doesn’t “switch,” HBO Max is ready for the streaming thunderdome, is Slack falling behind Microsoft Teams, and an effort to close a funny tax loophole for crypto investors. Sponsors: SVB.com/next Metalab.co Links: Nintendo announces a handheld Nintendo Switch Lite for $199 (TechCrunch) HBO Max will be the exclusive streaming home of 'Friends' (Engadget) BET Streaming Service Taps Netflix Alum as Leader (Exclusive) (The Hollywood Reporter) AT&T says it will automatically block robocalls ‘in the coming months’ (The Verge) Microsoft might crush Slack like Facebook crushed Snapchat (ReCode) Snapchat announces new shows from Serena Williams, Arnold Schwarzenegger and others (TechCrunch) Next on Facebook’s Shopping List: Acquisitions to Beef Up Gaming (The Information) Bill to provide “safe harbor” for crypto fork taxpayers reintroduced in Congress (The Block) Buy a podcast classified ad at ridehome.info/classifieds TODAY'S CLASSIFIED: The Fortnite Challenges Guide is a community dedicated to completing the many challenges revealed in Fortnite Battle Royale each day. Our goal is to document every challenge soon after they are announced. If you play Fortnite, you've likely spent some time completing challenges. Each one is designed to highlight a specific aspect of gameplay or an interesting location on the map. You'll find hidden areas, loot, and strategies you never knew existed. If you're a content creator, come share your own videos showing how you've completed challenges. Let the community learn from your skills and experience. It's a great way to gain exposure to a new audience. This effort was created by a guy who spent the last 20 years of his career making websites for big companies. This small labor of love was built in his spare time, because he wished an organized, clean site like this already existed. Check it out at fortnite.challenges.guide. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 9, 2019
Apple culls the MacBook herd, YouTube returns to FireTV, a weird zero day exploit in Zoom’s video conferencing app, Elon Musk shakes up his autopilot team, and Stranger Things 3 breaks records for Netflix. Sponsors: SVB.com/next Metalab.co YouTube.com/jacksontaylortv Links: Apple stops selling 12-inch MacBook and previous generation MacBook Air (9to5Mac) YouTube is back on the Fire TV, and Prime Video launches on Chromecast starting today (The Verge) Instagram will test a feature that allows users to shadow ban their bullies (The Verge) Inside Instagram's War on Bullying (Time) Zoom Zero Day: 4+ Million Webcams & maybe an RCE? Just get them to visit your website! (InfoSec Write-Ups) More than 1,000 Android apps harvest data even after you deny permissions (CNET) Frustrated Musk Shakes Up Autopilot Team (The Information) If you'll pay more, new Uber Comfort offers Quiet Rides (TechCrunch) Spotify Lite is now officially out for 36 markets around the world (Engadget) ‘Stranger Things 3’ Breaks Netflix Four-Day Viewing Record, Streamer Says (Deadline) 'Stranger Things 3' has been seen by over 40 million Netflix accounts (Engadget) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 8, 2019
Your driver’s license is already being used for facial recognition surveillance, VC investment in Chinese startups is plummeting, I have an answer to my question around cities paying ransom to hackers, and if this podcast thing goes away, I know my next hustle: professional dungeon master. Sponsors: Metalab.co Legacybox.com/ride Links: FBI, ICE find state driver’s license photos are a gold mine for facial-recognition searches (The Washington Post) Apple tests Face ID and Touch ID sign-in for iCloud․com on iOS 13 and macOS Catalina betas (9to5Mac) China's Venture Capital Boom Shows Signs of Turning Into a Bust (Bloomberg) This Chrome extension lets you disguise Netflix as a Hangout to slack off at work (The Verge) Aircraft lands itself truly autonomously for the first time (Engadget) A City Paid a Hefty Ransom to Hackers. But Its Pains Are Far From Over. (NYTimes) Now Some Families Are Hiring Coaches to Help Them Raise Phone-Free Children (NYTimes) The Rise of the Professional Dungeon Master (Bloomberg Businessweek) Subscribe to the ad-free feed! Right INSIDE your podcast app! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 7, 2019
Part Two of the legendary Gary Kildall Story... Sponsors: Tiny.website CognitoHQ.com Subscribe to the ad-free feed! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 6, 2019
Part One of the legendary Gary Kildall Story... Sponsors: CognitoHQ.com Tiny.website Subscribe to the Ad-Free Feed! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 5, 2019
A Superhuman mea culpa, no mea culpa but Apple might be ready to tacitly admit the butterfly keyboards were a mistake, inside Walmart’s turf battles over ecommerce, HQ Trivia lays off staff, and the weekend longreads suggestions. Sponsors: CognitoHQ.com Tiny.website Firesideconf.com/ride Links: Read Statuses (Superhuman) Kuo: Apple to include new scissor switch keyboard in 2019 MacBook Air and 2020 MacBook Pro (9to5Mac) HQ Trivia lays off ~20% as it preps subscriptions (TechCrunch) Inside the conflict at Walmart that’s threatening its high-stakes race with Amazon (Recode) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: The Real Cloud Wars: The $6 Billion Battle Over The Future Of Weather Forecasting (Forbes) Catalyst deep dive: The future of Mac software according to Apple and devs (Ars Technica) Android Q(&A): Android Engineers take us on a deep dive of Android Q (Ars Technica) How To Game Google To Make Negative Results Disappear (BuzzFeed News) Hayflick limit (QZ) Books Recommendations: The Dog Stars Orphan X Subscribe to the ad-free feed! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 3, 2019
Telsa sold a lot more Model 3’s than anyone expected, more signs of tech manufacturing fleeing China, Uber’s new Dine-In service is kinda brilliant, and have you seen the whole tech world arguing over Superhuman? Sponsors: TinyCapital.com Instacart.com Promocode RIDE at checkout. Links: Tesla sold a lot more Model 3’s than anyone expected in latest quarter (Digital Trends) HP, Dell and Microsoft join electronics exodus from China (Nikkei Asian Review) House lawmakers officially ask Facebook to put Libra cryptocurrency project on hold (The Verge) Amazon Alexa keeps your data with no expiration date, and shares it too (CNET) Uber Eats invades restaurants with Dine-In option. (TechCrunch) Superhuman is Spying on You (Mike Industries) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 2, 2019
We know when the Galaxy Note 10 is coming, we don’t know why Microsoft is teasing Windows 1.0, Nvidia refreshes the RTX line, meditation app Calm is finding success in an interesting way, and Loon is about to have its first big test. Sponsors: FiresideConf.com/ride TinyCapital.com Links: Samsung confirms next Unpacked event will be Aug. 7 in New York (CNET) Microsoft is teasing Windows 1.0, and everyone is confused (Engadget) Microsoft finally details its plans for Windows 10 19H2 (WindowsCentral) Nvidia refreshes RTX line: “Super” GPUs add performance at same MSRP (ArsTechnica) Tim Cook disputes 'absurd' reports about Jony Ive's departure from Apple (NBCNews) Calm raises $27M to McConaughey you to sleep (TechCrunch) PlayStation Vue raises prices by $5 per month, following its recent content deals (TechCrunch) Google Stadia's Data Cap Challenge Will Be Addressed By ISPs, Says Phil Harrison (GameSpot) Google internet balloon spinoff Loon still looking for its wings (Reuters) The Ad Free Premium Feed Is HERE Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 1, 2019
Was Jony Ive burned out at Apple or was he burned out BY Apple? Again, Roku as the quiet mega-player in the streaming wars, how TikTok is spending its way to ubiquity (on the backs of those it wants to supplant) and how tech is revolutionizing Archeology. Sponsors: FiresideConf.com/ride Pantheon.io/ride Links: Jony Ive Is Leaving Apple, but His Departure Started Long Ago (WSJ) Roku Will Soon Have 70% More OTT Devices in Global Streaming Market Than Next Closest Competitor (Multichannel News) Streaming Overload? Nielsen Report Finds Average Viewer Takes 7 Minutes To Pick What To Watch; Just One-Third Bother To Check Menu (Deadline) TikTok’s Videos Are Goofy. Its Strategy to Dominate Social Media Is Serious. (WSJ) RealWear AR Closes Series B, Total Funding Over $100M (Forbes) Exclusive: Intel launches blockbuster auction for its mobile portfolio (iam-media.com) New electric cars sold in Europe must be fitted with noise-making device (TechSpot) How Cutting-Edge Tech Is Empowering Ancient Archaeology (OneZero) Machine learning has been used to automatically translate long-lost languages (MIT Technology Review) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 30, 2019
I didn’t cover it, but you might have noticed that this week, bitcoin did indeed cross that magical $10,000 mark, in fact, got to $13,000 a coin only to flash crash back down again almost to $10,000. But look, seemingly the crypto spring is upon us and I was just curious as to why, so I asked Aaron Lammer, co-host of the only crypto podcast I listen to, CoinTalk to try to find out what is behind this rally. TLDR, it’s a little bit market cycles and a little bit Facebook Libra. Sponsors: HappyCog.com/ride Wix.com/podcast Subscribe to the CoinTalk podcast! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 29, 2019
Is it really different this time? Is the regulatory hammer about to come down on Silicon Valley? Matt Stoller is a fellow at the Open Markets Institute; he’s writing a book on the history of Monopoly power; and he has direct experience with this stuff. He was a Senior Policy Advisor and Budget Analyst to the Senate Budget Committee. He also worked in the U.S. House of Representatives on financial services policy, including Dodd-Frank, the Federal Reserve, and the foreclosure crisis. How is monopoly power different (or not) in the era of Big Tech? Sponsors: CognitoHQ.com GetKeySmart.com and use the promocode techmeme Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 28, 2019
Jony Ive is leaving Apple, health tech is having its first big IPO, Amazon looks like it is finally ready to kill UPS, I’ve got issues with Google’s new reCAPTCHA’s and the weekend longreads suggestions. Sponsors: WeWorkRemotely Gabi.com/ride Links: Apple's Longtime Design Chief Jony Ive Leaving to Start New Design Company With Apple as a Primary Client (MacRumors) History Will Not Be Kind to Jony Ive (Motherboard) Jony Ive Is Leaving Apple (Daring Fireball) Jony Ive on leaving Apple, in his own words (The Financial Times) Digital health start-up Livongo files to go public (CNBC) Amazon, the new king of shipping (Axios) Google’s new reCAPTCHA has a dark side (Fast Company) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: Meet the A.I. Landlord That’s Building a Single-Family-Home Empire (Fortune) Memes Are the New Pop Stars: How TikTok Became the Future of the Music Industry (The Ringer) New Emails, Old Tech (Tedium) How the Seattle Seahawks use data to win — on and off the field (GeekWire) How One VC Firm Amassed a 24% Stake in Slack Worth $4.6 Billion (Bloomberg) How Art Arrived at Jackson Pollock (Kottke.org) Subscribe to the ad-free feed! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 27, 2019
Twitter still allows public figures to break its rules, but it will warn you when they do, Zuckerberg says you need him on that wall, the US Wireless Emergency Alert system can be easily spoofed, and the mystery that is Superhuman. Sponsors: SVB.com/next WeWorkRemotely.com Links: Twitter will now hide — but not remove — harmful tweets from public figures (The Verge) Mark Zuckerberg Is Rethinking Deepfakes (The Atlantic) Mark Zuckerberg: We can’t stop Russian election interference by ourselves, US government must help (CNBC) Amazon partners with retailers for new Counter package pickup service, starting with Rite-Aid (GeekWire) Second Florida city pays giant ransom to ransomware gang in a week (ZDNet) Researchers Demonstrate How U.S. Emergency Alert System Can Be Hijacked and Weaponized (Motherboard) Would You Pay $30 a Month to Check Your Email? (NYTimes) Ad-Free Feed! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 26, 2019
Apple buys Drive.ai, the days of the phone notch might be numbered, the first solar powered electric car, fighting over the streaming rights for The Office, and why streaming music hasn’t been kind to classical music. Sponsors: SVB.com/next WeWorkRemotely.com Links: Apple acquires self-driving startup Drive.ai (Axios) Oppo unveils the world’s first under-screen selfie camera (The Verge) Airbnb’s New Luxe Tier Includes a $1 Million Polynesian Island (Bloomberg) 3D printing platform Carbon raises $260 million at $2.4 billion valuation (VentureBeat) 300M-user meme site Imgur raises $20M from Coil to pay creators (TechCrunch) Lightyear One Debuts as the first long-rand solar-powered electric car (TechCrunch) NBC is removing ‘The Office’ from Netflix in 2021 and putting it on its new streaming service (CNBC) In Streaming Age, Classical Music Gets Lost in the Metadata (NYTimes) Subscribe to the ad-free feed! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 25, 2019
LinkedIn’s changes mean peak newsfeed is truly behind us, hackers have been stealing a massive amount of phone data without touching phones, early impressions of the recent Apple beta releases and Bill Gates fesses up to his greatest career failure. Sponsors: WeWorkRemotely Tech.FidelityCareers.com Links: Exclusive: LinkedIn goes niche (Axios) Microsoft’s new OneDrive Personal Vault protects a folder with 2FA (The Verge) Hackers are stealing years of call records from hacked cell networks (TechCrunch) Harry Potter: Wizards Unite On Track for $10 Million First Month Following $1 Million Launch Weekend (SensorTower) Bill Gates says his ‘greatest mistake ever’ was Microsoft losing to Android (The Verge) Hands on with Apple's first public beta of macOS 10.15 Catalina (Apple Insider) IOS 13 HANDS-ON: DARK MODE, APPLE MAPS, REMINDERS, AND MORE (The Verge) iPadOS makes Apple's tablets feel like a priority again (Engadget) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 24, 2019
The Raspberry Pi 4 might finally be a full PC replacement, the first real bipartisan bill around data collection has arrived, is the Echo Show 5 the best Echo ever or just the best smart alarm clock ever, and why tonight’s Falcon Heavy launch might be the biggest test for SpaceX yet. Sponsors: SVB.com/next WeWorkRemotely.com Links: Raspberry Pi 4 on sale now from $35 The Raspberry Pi 4 Is Here and Wants to Replace Your Desktop PC for $35 (Vice) Scoop: Bipartisan senators want Big Tech to put a price on your data (Axios) AMAZON’S ECHO SHOW 5 IS THE SMART ALARM CLOCK TO GET (The Verge) DoorDash has unseated Grubhub as the leader in US online food delivery (Quartz) Microsoft Flight Simulator will support 'community content' (PC Gamer) Why the third launch of SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy rocket has the highest stakes yet (The Verge) Support the show directly! Subscribe to the ad-free feed right in your podcast app! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 23, 2019
E3 was last week, not even this past week, but I did want to get a debrief on what went on there, so I had to wait for everyone to get back from E3 and Brian Heater of TechCrunch is here to file a report. Where is gaming in this transition to streaming? What were the headline games announced at E3? What about Project Scarlett? Sponsors: Pantheon.io/ride Rhone.com/ride Promocode RIDE for 20% off! Subscribe to the ad-free premium feed! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 22, 2019
Well, given the news of the week, I knew we needed to do a deep dive on Libra, so I called up our friend Brady Dale at CoinDesk and we get into it. What do crypto folk think of Libra? Is he surprised by the governmental backlash? And since by the time you hear this, bitcoin might already be back above $10k dollars? Are we out of the crypto winter and into crypto spring? Sponsors: PaintYourLife.com: Text the word TECH to 48-48-48 Rhone.com/ride promocode RIDE at checkout Subscribe to the ad-free premium feed! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 21, 2019
Google is getting out of the tablet business, there’s a MacBook Pro recall but not because of keyboard issues, a startup is aiming to disrupt the billable hour in the legal space, the world’s “first” electric plane is here, and, of course, the weekend longreads suggestions. Sponsors: Castro Lighstream.com/ride Links: Google's officially done making its own tablets (Computerworld) GOOGLE WAS NEVER REALLY SERIOUS ABOUT TABLETS (The Verge) Apple launches recall program for select MacBook Pros due to battery safety concerns (9to5Mac) FASTEST MOBILE NETWORKS 2019 (PC Mag) The boring genius of how Atrium kills legal busy work (TechCrunch) Why the age of electric flight is finally upon us (BBC News) The Weekend Longreads Suggestions: THEY WELCOMED A ROBOT INTO THEIR FAMILY, NOW THEY’RE MOURNING ITS DEATH (The Verge) Apple, Google, and Facebook Are Raiding Animal Research Labs (Bloomberg Businessweek) How Much of Google’s Search Traffic is Left for Anyone But Themselves? (SparkToro) Don’t Know Which Toaster to Buy? There’s a Website for That. (The Ringer) Using CRISPR to resurrect the dead (CNet) The fake French minister in a silicone mask who stole millions (BBC News) Subscribe to the ad-free feed! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 20, 2019
Slack debuts as a publicly traded company, there will be Congressional hearings about Libra, a Florida city pays ransom money to hackers, getting your internet from your lightbulbs and are we on the cusp of a fast-charging-battery revolution Sponsors: SVB.com/next Castro Links: Horns are growing on young people’s skulls. Phone use is to blame, research suggests. (The Washington Post) Facebook called before Senate panel over digital currency project (Reuters) YouTube under federal investigation over allegations it violates children’s privacy (The Washington Post) Apple Explores Moving Some Production Out of China (WSJ) Florida city pays $600,000 ransom to save computer records (Associated Press) Philips Hue company announces lights that beam data at 250 Mbps (The Verge) Vivo's insane 120W Super FlashCharge tech fills a 4000mAh battery in 13 minutes (AndroidCentral) The Blade Itself (The First Law Trilogy): Joe Abercrombie Subscribe to the Ad-Free Premium Feed! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 19, 2019
More revelations about the horrible job that is Facebook Moderation, Best Buy now doubles as a Genius Bar—sorta, YouTube has some new AR tricks and is mulling some changes for kids, and the reaction to Facebook’s crypto play has me fascinated. Sponsors: SVB.com/next Castro Links: BODIES IN SEATS (The Verge) Apple expands authorized repairs to ~1,000 Best Buy Stores (TechCrunch) The new Kindle Oasis lets you adjust color temperature for night reading (The Verge) YouTube's new AR Beauty Try-On lets viewers virtually try on makeup while watching video review (TechCrunch) Top Democrat calls for Facebook to halt cryptocurrency plans until Congress investigates (The Verge) Facebook’s Libra cryptocurrency: where are the banks? (The Block) THE AMBITIOUS PLAN BEHIND FACEBOOK’S CRYPTOCURRENCY, LIBRA (Wired) The Premium Ad-Free Feed! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 18, 2019
Facebook announces Libra, Twitch acquires Bebo, are unmanned convenience stores something people even want, Facebook wants more houses in Silicon Valley, and LA real estate is starting to look like Silicon Valley. Sponsors: SVB.com/next Castro Links: Facebook announces Libra cryptocurrency: All you need to know (TechCrunch) FACEBOOK’S CALIBRA IS A SECRET WEAPON FOR MONETIZING ITS NEW CRYPTOCURRENCY (The Verge) Libra White Paper Shows How Facebook Borrowed From Bitcoin and Ethereum (CoinDesk) There’s a Second Token: A Breakdown of Facebook’s Crypto Economy (CoinDesk) Amazon's Twitch acquired social networking platform Bebo for up to $25M to bolster its esports effort (TechCrunch) China's unmanned store boom ends as quickly as it began (Nikkei Asian Review) $1 billion for 20,000 Bay Area homes (Google) Silicon Valley and Los Angeles Real Estate (LA Times) Ad-free Premium Feed! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 17, 2019
The 5G iPhones might be both bigger and smaller, both Huawei and the chip industry prepare for tough times, Genius says it caught Google red-handed, is the US making a big 5G mistake and what exactly is farming-as-a-service? Sponsors: Castro Linkedin Links: Huawei Braces for Phone Sales Drop of Up to 60 Million Overseas (Bloomberg) Broadcom's $2 billion warning rattles global chip sector (Reuters) Kuo on 2020 iPhones: 5.4-Inch and 6.7-Inch Models With 5G, 6.1-Inch Model With LTE, All With OLED Displays (MacRumors) Lyrics Site Accuses Google of Lifting Its Content (WSJ) Infarm closes $100M Series B to scale its 'urban farming platform' (TechCrunch) CHOOSING THE WRONG LANE IN THE RACE TO 5G (Wired) Study finds that a GPS outage would cost $1 billion per day (Ars Technica) On Snapchat, Original Series Are Finding Return Viewers (The Hollywood Reporter) Subscribe to the ad-free feed! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 16, 2019
Simon Owens is a journalist who, in his writing, podcasting and newsletters, covers the whole gamut of digital media, from the creator side to the publisher side… from the journalist side to the business side. So, we’ve got a great, wide-ranging conversation today about everything from newsletters, to YouTube, to paywalls to podcasts. And check out Simon’s great podcast, The Business of Content. Sponsors: Instacart. Promocode RIDE at checkout. Wix.com/podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 15, 2019
That Wired longread that I suggested yesterday, about Amazon’s warehouse robots really stuck with me for personal reasons you’ll hear in a second. I talked to the author of the piece, Matt Simon, not only cause I wanted more flavor on what it was like to work with these things, but because he also raises interesting ideas about human/robot symbiosis. In short, the robot apocalypse might still be coming, but not today. And for the foreseeable future, that might be the growth industry for humans: robot baby sitters. Please enjoy. Matt's article: INSIDE THE AMAZON WAREHOUSE WHERE HUMANS AND MACHINES BECOME ONE Sponsors: Vistaprint.com/ride Stamps.com, click on the Microphone at the TOP of the homepage and type in RIDE Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 14, 2019
Are foldable phones cursed—and will we ever see one? Facebook coin might be coming as early as next week, the hottest crypto is up 330% YTD but you’ve probably never heard of it, some IPOs to report on and, of course, the weekend longread suggestions. Sponsors: PixelUnion.net Tech.FidelityCareers.com Links: Huawei delays foldable phone launch until September to do extra tests after Samsung’s troubles (CNBC) Huawei delays launch of foldable Mate X following Galaxy Fold failure (The Verge) AT&T Cancels All Galaxy Fold Preorders, Issues $100 Promo Card (Tom's Guide) Facebook’s New Cryptocurrency, Libra, Gets Big Backers (WSJ) Hottest Crypto Is Up 330% This Year and Its Name Isn’t Bitcoin (Bloomberg) Chewy, PetSmart’s online business, soars as much 86% after IPO pricing at $22 per share (CNBC) THE HIGHLY DANGEROUS 'TRITON' HACKERS HAVE PROBED THE US GRID (Wired) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: The restaurant owner who asked for 1-star Yelp reviews (The Hustle) EverQuest’s long, strange 20-year trip still has no end in sight (Ars Technica) The story of the first E3 (Polygon) THE NEWEST HAVEN FOR CRYPTOCURRENCY COMPANIES? WYOMING (Wired) Comcast CEO’s Son Wants to Turn Philly Into an E-Sports Town (Bloomberg BusinessWeek) Beyond the PC: Lenovo's ambitious plan for the future of computing (ZDNet) Subscribe to the ad-free feed RIGHT HERE. Right in your podcast app! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 13, 2019
Telegram is getting DDoS’d, Google pulls a Radiohead on Pixel phone leakers, Bird buys Scoot, my dream TV is a wall, and the most interesting startup I’ve heard about in a while. Sponsors: SVB.com/next PixelUnion.net Links: Telegram faces DDoS attack in China... again (TechCrunch) NFC gets a lot more powerful in iOS 13 (TechCrunch) This is Google’s Pixel 4 (The Verge) Scooter Startup Bird Buys Struggling Competitor Scoot (WSJ) Ford will test new third-generation self-driving cars in Detroit (The Verge) Samsung's massive The Wall TV is now available in a 292-inch, 8K luxury version (TechSpot) Official Breaking Bad mobile game is now available (TechSpot) Helium raises $15 million to float fee-free, peer-to-peer networking (VentureBeat) Napster Founder’s IoT Startup to Go Crypto With $15 Million Series C (CoinDesk) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 12, 2019
The state of the Internet according to Mary Meeker, Houseparty joins the Fortnite party, Uber Elevate is planning some important firsts, the DOJ is telegraphing its possible punches to Silicon Valley, and someone find Have I Been Pwned a good home. Sponsors: PixelUnion.net PaintYourLife.com: Text the word TECH to 48-48-48 Links: Mary Meeker’s most important trends on the internet (ReCode) Fortnite maker Epic acquires social video app Houseparty (TechCrunch) Apple Discusses Acquisition of Intel’s German Modem Unit (The Information) Google Is Moving More Hardware Production Out of China (Bloomberg) Uber Wants Your Next Big Mac to Be Delivered by Drone (Bloomberg) Snapchat’s Gender-Swap and Baby Filters Doubled Downloads of the App (OneZero) The DOJ’s antitrust chief just telegraphed exactly how it could go after Google, Apple and other big tech companies (CNBC) Assistant Attorney General Makan Delrahim Delivers Remarks for the Antitrust New Frontiers Conference Project Svalbard: The Future of Have I Been Pwned (Troy Hunt) Premium Feed Link! Subscribe Right Here In Your Podcast App! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 11, 2019
An abject example of the maxim, “any data that is collected, will be breached,” Foxconn isn’t worried about a trade war so maybe Apple doesn’t have to be, electric car charging is about to get easier, and why it’s weird that Spotify can advertise against your moods. Sponsors: Inside the Five-Sided Box: Lessons from a Lifetime of Leadership in the Pentagon by Ash Carter PixelUnion.net Links: Don’t smile for surveillance: Why airport face scans are a privacy trap (Washington Post) The CBP Data Breach (TechCrunch) Apple’s U.S. iPhones Can All Be Made Outside of China If Needed (Bloomberg) Amazon to shut down its Amazon Restaurants business in the U.S. (GeekWire) Amazon launches Personalize, a fully managed AI-powered recommendation service (VentureBeat) Charging an electric car will get easier (TechCrunch) This is how scammers are now abusing Google Calendar to pillage your data (ZDNet) Big Mood Machine (The Baffler) Radiohead Have The Last Laugh After Hackers Hold 18 Hours Of Their Unreleased Music Ransom (HuffingtonPost UK) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 10, 2019
The next generation Xbox sounds like a beast, Salesforce buys Tableau, Apple might buy a self-driving car startup, we finally get some details on Quibi and does Broadway want to jump on the streaming video bandwagon? Sponsors: Pantheon.io/ride PixelUnion.net Links: Microsoft’s next-generation Xbox: 8K graphics, SSD storage, and ray-tracing for 2020 (The Verge) Microsoft’s new Xbox streaming mode is arriving in October for consoles (TheVerge) I tried Project xCloud at Xbox's E3 2019 show. It is real. It is insane. (Windows Central) Salesforce is buying data visualization company Tableau for $15.7 B in all-stock deal (TechCrunch) Apple to Buy Drive.ai in Bid for More Autonomous Vehicle Talent (Bloomberg) The Google Assistant is now available in Waze (The Keyword) Jeffrey Katzenberg, Meg Whitman Offer Details on Quibi Launch, Pricing (Variety) Would you pay to stream endless musicals? Some Broadway insiders are quietly betting on it. (The Washington Post) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 8, 2019
Does what is says on the tin. John Voorhees helps us sum up WWDC, get act dev reaction from the floor of the conference, and pick up some of the stray threads we missed from Apple's biggest week of the year. Sponsors: Capterra.com/ride Molekule.com checkout code: ride for $75 off Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 7, 2019
Now you can’t get Facebook on new Huawei phones, Barnes and Noble waives the white flag, WarnerMedia abandons that tiered streaming plan idea, Walmart wants to deliver directly to your refrigerator and the weekend longreads suggestions. Sponsors: Tiny.website Pantheon.io/ride Vistaprint.com/RIDE Links: Exclusive: Facebook suspends app pre-installs on Huawei phones (Reuters) Elliott Management to acquire Barnes & Noble for $683 million (CNBC) Amazon’s Home Surveillance Company Is Putting Suspected Petty Thieves in its Advertisements (Motherboard) AT&T Eyes $16- to $17-a-Month Streaming Service in Strategy Shift (WSJ) Walmart employees will soon deliver groceries directly into your fridge (The Verge) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: New Evidence Suggests Satoshi Nakamoto Is Paul Solotshi, The Creator Of Encryption Software E4M And TrueCrypt (InvestInBlockchain.com) The Stanford connections behind Latin America's multibillion-dollar startup renaissance (TechCrunch) When Grown-Ups Get Caught in Teens’ AirDrop Crossfire (The Atlantic) Buildings Can Be Designed to Withstand Earthquakes. Why Doesn’t the U.S. Build More of Them? (NYTimes) The Big Challenge for Policy Makers: Policing American Tech Giants (WSJ) Not Your Daddy’s Regulation: Tech Giants Face A Complicated Reckoning In Washington (BuzzFeed.news) The Day When Computers Can Break All Encryption Is Coming (WSJ) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 6, 2019
Google Stadia details are revealed, Amazon shows off its delivery drone and Uber debuts Uber Copter, Facebook is going to do an official white paper for its cryptocurrency, and our mobile gadgets have finally dethroned the television. Sponsors: Tiny.website Pantheon.io/ride Links: GOOGLE’S STADIA GAME SERVICE IS OFFICIALLY COMING NOVEMBER: EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW (The Verge) Google cloud boss Thomas Kurian makes his first big move — buys Looker for $2.6 billion (CNBC) Facebook plans June 18th cryptocurrency debut. Here's what we know (TechCrunch) A first look at Amazon's new delivery drone (TechCrunch) Uber Copter to Offer Flights From Lower Manhattan to J.F.K. (NYTimes) Average US Time Spent with Mobile in 2019 Has Increased (eMarketer) People spend more time on mobile devices than TV, firm says (Los Angeles Times) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 5, 2019
YouTube actually DOES make some changes, Peloton is going public, could Prime open Amazon up to anticompetitive scrutiny, more on that Sign in with Apple controversy, and why your local police department might want to buy you Ring doorbell. Sponsors: Eero.com/ride promo code RIDE Tiny.website Links: YouTube just banned supremacist content, and thousands of channels are about to be removed (TheVerge) Peloton, the connected fitness company, has filed to go public (TheVerge) Amazon may soon face an antitrust probe. Here are 3 questions the FTC is asking about it. (Vox/Recode) The SEC Is Suing Kik for Its 2017 ICO (CoinDesk) Netflix Is Testing an Instagram-Like Feed of Photos and Videos (Variety) Facebook shareholder revolt gets bloody: Powerless investors vote overwhelmingly to oust Zuckerberg as chairman (Business Insider) Apple asks developers to place its login button above Google, Facebook (Reuters) An antitrust case looms, and Apple tempts fate (Casey Newton/The Interface) Amazon's helping police build a surveillance network with Ring doorbells (CNET) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 4, 2019
It looks like Washington is serious about going after Big Tech in a big way, Firefox blocks cookies, why are developers trepidatious about that Sign In with Apple scheme, and why it’s time we really need to talk about the YouTube recommendation algorithm. Sponsors: Legacybox.com/ride Tiny.website Links: Facebook, Google and other tech giants to face antitrust investigation by House lawmakers (Washington Post) ITUNES IS DEAD. LET'S PAY OUR RESPECTS (Wired) Apple’s top spec Mac Pro will likely cost at least $35,000 (The Verge) Firefox starts blocking third-party cookies by default (VentureBeat) On YouTube’s Digital Playground, an Open Gate for Pedophiles (NYTimes) How YouTube Became a Breeding Ground for a Diabolical Lizard Cult (The New Republic) YouTube star who gave toothpaste-filled Oreo to homeless man gets 15-month jail sentence (Fox News) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 3, 2019
All the news and headlines from WWDC, the anti-trust brigade might be coming for Google in the US, a big chip acquisition, big news on the payments front, and a dispatch from the frontlines of the streaming wars… but, c’mon, we know what you’re here to hear about. Tiny.website Tech.FidelityCareers.com Links: Mac Pro (The Verge) Pro Display XDR (The Verge) iPadOS and Files app (The Verge) Sign in with Apple (9To5Mac) Dark Mode (The Verge) The Justice Department is preparing a potential antitrust investigation of Google (Washington Post) Infineon Will Buy Cypress Semi in Latest Chip Mega-Deal (Bloomberg) PayPal opens up access to e-commerce platform that’s already used by Instagram and Facebook (CNBC) Stripe Launches Chargeback Protection Service (Pymnts.com) An HBO Question Is Giving AT&T Executives a Headache (NYTimes) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 1, 2019
Y’all know Dan Frommer. Veteran tech journalist. We’re gonna do a WWDC preview here today, but before that, Dan has his own, excellent newsletter, the new consumer! Sign up for it in the show notes! Link to the free and paid editions. Because this is the beat Dan covers so well, before we get into the WWDC and Apple stuff, a lengthy discussion of the whole consumer unicorn startup space, that I don’t think we cover enough. https://newconsumer.com/ Sponsors: Rhone.com/ride promocode RIDE at checkout HappyCog.com/ride Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 31, 2019
Might Amazon get into the cellular carrier game and thus make a Sprint/T-Mobile merger more palatable? Uber’s first quarterly report as a public company, what to expect from WWDC next week, and of course, the weekend longreads suggestions. Sponsors: HappyCog.com/ride Mealime.com Links: Exclusive: Amazon interested in buying Boost from T-Mobile, Sprint - sources (Reuters) Uber stock rises as net losses match expectations (CNBC) APPLE WWDC 2019: MAC PRO, IOS 13, MARZIPAN, AND WHAT ELSE TO EXPECT (The Verge) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: Product Breakfast Club podcast The unlikely origins of USB, the port that changed everything (Fast Company) Bing turns 10: Why it’s been more disruptive than you think (Search Engine Land) The Collapsing Crime Rates of the ’90s Might Have Been Driven by Cellphones (The Atlantic) This ID Scanner Company is Collecting Sensitive Data on Millions of Bargoers (OneZero) AT&T Has Become a New Kind of Media Giant (Fortune) The case for caseless iPhones (Vox) Disney’s Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge theme park lands, explained (Polygon) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 30, 2019
Microsoft brings the Xbox Game Pass to PCs, Google gives the finger to adblockers (and all of us), the DOJ will only approve the Sprint/T-Mobile merger if there’s no actual market consolidation, GoGo wants to bring 5G to airplanes and when will an e-sports stadium come to your town? Sponsors: Mealime Sonic.com/ride Sponsors: Microsoft's Xbox Game Pass is coming to PC (Engadget) Google to restrict modern ad blocking Chrome extensions to enterprise users (9to5Google) Apple, Google and WhatsApp condemn UK proposal to eavesdrop on encrypted messages (CNBC) U.S. Wants T-Mobile to Create New Rival Before Clearing Megadeal (Bloomberg) Hulu Says 70% of Its 82 Million Viewers Are on Ad-Supported Plan (Variety) Gogo plans in-flight 5G for U.S. and Canadian aircraft in 2021 (VentureBeat) Excel for iPhone now lets you take a picture of a spreadsheet and import it (The Verge) As E-Sports Grow, So Do Their Homes (NYTimes) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 29, 2019
Amazon has a new Echo Show to go after the Google Nest Home Hub, the NYC subway is entering the mobile era, Uber says it will now ban RIDERS who get bad Uber ratings, and Microsoft outlines its vision for a modern operating system. Sponsors: Lightstream.com/ride Mealime Links: The Amazon Echo Show 5 puts Alexa on a smaller screen, shipping in June for $89.99 (The Verge) NYC subway riders will be able to swipe in with Apple Pay starting Friday (TechCrunch) Uber is now kicking low-rated passengers out of its cars (CNET) Huawei Revs Up Its U.S. Lawsuit, With the Media in Mind (NYTimes) Inside the Apple Team That Decides Which Apps Get on iPhones (Bloomberg) The Decrypted Podcast Microsoft hints at new modern Windows OS with ‘invisible’ background updates (The Verge) Enabling innovation and opportunity on the Intelligent Edge (Official Microsoft Blog) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 28, 2019
The iPod touch lives (and got an update), Dell’s whole laptop lineup got an update, the apocalypse is coming for small vendors on Amazon, MacKenzie Bezos signs the Giving Pledge, and why a laptop infested with malware sold for $1.3 million dollars. Sponsors: Sonic.com/ride Mealime Links: Apple refreshes the iPod touch with the iPhone 7’s processor (The Verge) Dell reveals new laptops aimed at gamers and business users (Android Authority) Amazon Is Poised to Unleash a Long-Feared Purge of Small Suppliers (Bloomberg) MacKenzie Bezos pledged to give away more than half of her $37B fortune to charity and philanthropy (TechCrunch) Browser vendors win war with W3C over HTML and DOM standards (ZDNet) Driverless Delivery Vans Are Here as Production Begins in China (Bloomberg) Auction for a laptop full of malware closes at $1.3 million (updated) (Engadget) Subscribe to the ad-free Premium Feed! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 27, 2019
Nerds and tech folk have always had a special fascination with typeface and font design, and especially with the venerable Helvetica. Today we're going to talk to Charles Nix, who's foundry Monotype had the challenge of updating Helvetica for the 21st century with Helvetica Now. A lot of these bonus episodes are you learning along with me as we take deeper dives into certain tech topics, well no more so than this episode because I knew absolutely nothing about this area of design and so was fascinated to learn about what goes into creating a typeface from an artistic, design, and even business perspective. Sponsors: HappyCog.com/ride Mealime This is what the Helvetica Now looks like. This is the ad-free premium feed! Subscribe now! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 24, 2019
The Facebook cryptocurrency could be here in about six months, SpaceX launches its first batch of internet satellites, iFixit tears down the MacBook keyboard tweaks, the robots are coming for MLB umpires, and a supersized weekend longreads segment. Sponsors: AirTable.com/techmeme Linkedin.com/ride Castro App Links: Facebook plans to launch 'GlobalCoin' currency in 2020 (BBC News) SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket deals out a deck of 60 Starlink internet satellites (GeekWire) Apple’s keyboard ‘material’ changes on the new MacBook Pro are minor at best (The Verge) Robot umpires are coming to baseball (Axios) The Weekend Longreads: Special report - Hobbling Huawei: Inside the U.S. war on China's tech giant (Reuters) WeWork Wants to Become Its Own Landlord With Latest Spending Spree (Bloomberg BusinessWeek) How Silicon Valley gamed Europe’s privacy rules (Politico) AFTER 15 YEARS, THE PIRATE BAY STILL CAN’T BE KILLED (Mel) One Inventor’s Race to Manage His Parkinson’s Disease With an App (OneZero) Business Bets on a Quantum Leap (Fortune) Can AI escape our control and destroy us? (Popular Science) The Dark Forest Theory of the Internet (OneZero) A Revolution In Your Pocket (RBS.io) Subscribe to the ad-free premium feed! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 23, 2019
The Playdate is a Game Boy for the 21st Century, GitHub launches a Patreon for open source developers, Amazon is working on a health app that can monitor emotions, Door Dash is emerging at the leader in the food delivery wars, and Rotten Tomatoes brings the hammer down on review stuffing. Sponsors: AirTable.com/techmeme Castro Podcast App Sonic.com/ride Links: Playdate is an adorable handheld with games from the creators of Qwop, Katamari, and more (The Verge) GitHub launches Sponsors, lets you pay your favorite open-source contributors (TechCrunch) Amazon Is Working on a Device That Can Read Human Emotions (Bloomberg) DoorDash Is Now Worth $12.6 Billion After New $600 Million Investment (Forbes) Andreessen pours $22M into PlanetScales' database-as-a-service (TechCrunch) Walmart starts selling self-branded Android tablets starting at $64 w/ Play Store (9to5Google) A year after GDPR, mobile notifications are up, location sharing is down (MarketingLand) Rotten Tomatoes will start verifying ticket purchases for audience reviews (TechCrunch) Subscribe to the premium, ad free feed! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 22, 2019
The Huawei mess metastasizes, the EU goes after Google again, Qualcomm loses to the FTC, and Comcast—of all people—is getting into health tech. Sponsors: AirTable.com/techmeme Tech.FidelityCareers.com The Castro Podcast App Links: Huawei: ARM memo tells staff to stop working with China’s tech giant (BBC News) Huawei Considers Rivals to Google's Android After U.S. Ban (Bloomberg) EU regulator launches probe into Google over data privacy (CNBC) Google says some G Suite user passwords were stored in plaintext since 2005 (TechCrunch) U.S. judge says Qualcomm violated antitrust law; appeal planned, shares plunge (Reuters) Microsoft kicks off the rollout of the Windows 10 May Update, version 1903 (ZDNet) Medium CEO Ev Williams Goes All-In on Building Subscription Business (Cheddar) Comcast is working on an in-home device to track people’s health (CNBC) Leak reveals Uber's $9.99 Unlimited delivery Eats Pass (TechCrunch) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 21, 2019
Has Apple fixed the MacBook keyboard problem? Huawei gets a 90 day reprieve, Instagram wants to copy Snapchat AND TikTok, the first self-driving mail trucks, and why would your smart car want to tell people if you’ve gained weight? Sponsors: AirTable.com/techmeme Castro Podcast App Sonic.com/ride Links: Apple tweaks its troubled MacBook keyboard design yet again, expands repair program (The Verge) U.S. eases curbs on Huawei; founder says clampdown underestimates Chinese firm (Reuters) Google will work with Huawei for 90 days after US eases trade restrictions (CNBC) DOJ Leans Against Approving T-Mobile’s Takeover of Sprint (Bloomberg) Instagram's IGTV copies TikTok's AI, Snapchat's Design (TechCrunch) Google brings release channels and Windows Container support to its Kubernetes Engine (TechCrunch) Self-Driving Trucks Will Carry Mail in U.S. for the First Time (Bloomberg) Hand Gestures And Horses: Waymo’s Self-Driving Service Learns To Woo The Public (Forbes) Chevy rolls out new feature that locks teens out of driving until they buckle up (The Verge) Your Car Knows When You Gain Weight (NYTimes) Subscribe to the ad-free, Premium Feed! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 20, 2019
Why Google ghosting Huawei might lead to a chain reaction for all of tech, the Sprint/T-Mobile merger gets a shot in the arm, GM sort of gets the point of software, I guess, and why 5G might be horrible for weather forecasting. Sponsors: AirTable.com/techmeme Tech.FidelityCareers.com The Castro Podcast App Links: Exclusive: Google suspends some business with Huawei after Trump blacklist - source (Reuters) Huawei responds to Android ban with service and security guarantees, but its future is unclear (TechCrunch) Y Combinator promotes Geoff Ralston to president, while Sam Altman shifts to advisor role (TechCrunch) Google Glass Enterprise Edition 2 drops to $999 and adds Qualcomm’s XR1 (VentureBeat) T-Mobile, Sprint Get Merger Backing From FCC Chairman (WSJ) 5G NETWORKS COULD THROW WEATHER FORECASTING INTO CHAOS (Wired) GM GIVES ALL ITS VEHICLES A NEW SOUL (Wired) Top ‘Live-Streamers’ Get $50,000 an Hour to Play New Videogames Online (WSJ) Subscribe to the ad-free Premium Feed! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 19, 2019
Eric Jackson is an investor at EMJ Capital Ltd. He’s deep in the media space, he’s deep in the streaming wars, as I think I say in this episode, he’s shaped a ton of my thinking about the streaming wars. So… where are we? Who’s up? Who’s down? Is it time to get bullish on Disney+ for a ton of reasons? Eric has a great podcast: The Eric Jackson Podcast. Sponsors: Audible.com/techmeme Instacart. Promocode RIDE at checkout. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 18, 2019
You know them, you love them, Jay Yarrow of CNBC, Farhad Manjoo of the New York Times. It’s another Jay and Farhad Show Reunion! Today’s topics: Uber’s IPO, the Streaming Wars, and Game of Thrones! These are my favorite episodes. I just hit record, and we thumb wrestle each other to get in a hot take. :) Sponsors: Capterra.com/ride Sonic.com/ride Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 17, 2019
Can Minecraft Earth be the killer app for AR? Are the best and brightest shunning working at Facebook? Has drone maker DJI beaten GoPro at its own game? And do I have some killer weekend longreads suggestions? You better believe I do. Sponsors: EthosLife.com/ride WeWorkRemotely.com Links: Hewlett Packard Enterprise to buy supercomputer maker Cray in $1.30 billion deal (Reuters) MINECRAFT EARTH GOES A STEP BEYOND POKÉMON GO TO COVER THE WORLD IN BLOCKS (TheVerge) Facebook has struggled to hire talent since the Cambridge Analytica scandal, according to recruiters who worked there (CNBC) Alphabet’s Wing will kick off Helsinki drone deliveries in summer 2019 (VentureBeat) DJI is out-GoProing GoPro with its own action camera (TechCrunch) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: How the Promise of a $120 Billion Uber I.P.O. Evaporated (NYTimes) WHY I (STILL) LOVE TECH: IN DEFENSE OF A DIFFICULT INDUSTRY (Wired) Editorial: Why Apple created Apple TV+ rather than buying Netflix (AppleInsider) The Pivot (Asymco/Horace Dediu) AS COMMERCIAL SPACEFLIGHT TAKES OFF, THE AVIATION INDUSTRY GETS PROTECTIVE OF AIRSPACE (The Verge) The Fusion Reactor Next Door (NYTimes) Subscribe to the ad-free premium feed here! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 16, 2019
The hammer is coming down on Huawei, China blocks Wikipedia, Google clarifies the Works with Nest shutdown, a 1TB microSD, more 5G rollouts, what should we think of Quibi and you didn’t fall for that porn scam did you? Sponsors: WeWorkRemotely.com Stamps.com, click on the Microphone at the TOP of the homepage and type in RIDE Links: Trump administration cracks down on giant Chinese tech firm, escalating clash with Beijing (Washington Post) Trump’s Huawei Threat Is the Nuclear Option to Halt China’s Rise (Bloomberg) Instagram is killing Direct, its standalone Snapchat clone app, in the next several weeks (TechCrunch) Report: Apple’s custom 5G modems may not arrive until 2025 after ‘long and painful divorce’ with Intel (The Information) China has blocked all language versions of Wikipedia (Mashable) Sprint will launch 5G on May 31 in 4 cities with LG V50 and HTC 5G Hub (VentureBeat) Streaming Service Quibi Seeks Up to $1 Billion in New Funding (The Information) Exclusive: Scammed Porn Watchers Have Paid Nearly $1 Million in Bitcoin Blackmail (Fortune) The Ad Free Premium Feed Is Here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 15, 2019
There’s a new major chip flaw called ZombieLoad, the major tech companies sign on to the so-called Christchurch Call to Action, San Francisco bans facial recognition tech, is Google effectively deprecating search, and did Beyonce make $300M on Uber? Sponsors: Tech.FidelityCareers.com WeWorkRemotely.com Links: New secret-spilling flaw affects almost every Intel chip since 2011 (TechCrunch) Facebook changes livestream rules after New Zealand shooting (CNN) White House declines to back Christchurch call to stamp out online extremism amid free speech concerns (Washington Post) San Francisco passes city government ban on facial recognition tech (TechCrunch) Google’s combining all its travel planning features under a site called Trips (The Verge) New native Discovery ad campaigns from Google monetize Discover feed for first time (Search Engine Land) Beyoncé Is Going To Make Bank From Uber Going Public (Yahoo Finance) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 14, 2019
WhatsApp discovered one of the craziest flaws I’ve ever heard about in mobile, Disney now controls all of Hulu, now we’ve got folding laptops, the One Plus 7 Pro is another strike against $1,000 phones and is bitcoin back? Sponsors: Joybird.com/ride Promocode: RIDE WeWorkRemotely Links: WhatsApp voice calls used to inject Israeli spyware on phones (Financial Times) WhatsApp discovers 'targeted' surveillance attack (BBC) Disney to take full control over Hulu, Comcast has option to sell its stake in 5 years (CNBC) Lenovo shows off the world’s first ‘foldable PC’ (The Verge) Walmart announces next-day delivery, firing back at Amazon (CNBC) Apple announces support for Apple Pay NFC stickers, partners with Bird scooters and more (9to5Mac) ONEPLUS 7 PRO REVIEW: PROOF THAT OTHER BIG PHONES COST TOO MUCH (The Verge) Uber Misses the Enchanted Forest (Bloomberg) Uber's underwater investors (Axios) Up $1,200 on the Day, Bitcoin’s Price Surges Above $8K (CoinDesk) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 13, 2019
A Supreme Court ruling might spell trouble for Apple and others, Amazon is automating the boxers out of a job, Discord is doing some serious MAU’s, what the death of Nest means for IOT, and a LITERAL Bitcoin treasure hunt. Sponsors: WeWorkRemotely.com Sonic.com/ride Links: Supreme Court deals Apple major setback in App Store antitrust case (CNBC) Exclusive: Amazon rolls out machines that pack orders and replace jobs (Reuters) Amazon Offers to Pay Employees $10,000 to Quit Their Jobs and Deliver Packages Instead (Time.com) Slack says it’s going to replace email and is as necessary as electricity in its pitch to investors (CNBC) Discord, Slack for gamers, tops 250 million registered users (CNET) FDA clears first 6-lead consumer ECG, AliveCor’s $150 KardiaMobile 6L (VentureBeat) Google Just Handed Amazon A Massive Advantage In Smart Home Tech (Forbes) Nest, the company, died at Google I/O 2019 (ArsTechnica) ‘Satoshi’s Treasure’ Is a Global Puzzle With a $1 Million Bitcoin Prize (CoinDesk) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 12, 2019
Not too long ago I did a longreads suggestion about Huawei and listener Dexter Thillien got in touch, because he’s a telecoms analyst, and he was actually quoted in the article. Over email, he educated me about some of my misconceptions about Huawei and I was like, “Don’t just school me! Come on the podcast and let’s catch everyone on up Huawei!” And so, today, we do that. Where did Huawei come from? How did it get to a place where it’s the pre-eminent 5G infrastructure firm? Is Huawei just a tool of the Chinese government. I do apologize for the somewhat poor Skype connection, but the content here is so good, you won’t even notice. My thanks to Dexter Thillien. Sponsor: Everykey.com, promo code RIDE20 to get 20% off. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 11, 2019
I knew Uber was going public this week, and it occurred to me that since this podcast started, my default position has been: Uber: super cool company, but a lot of people have a lot of doubts about them. But I realized, I had never explained that, or gone into detail about WHY people feel that way… unlike how we’ve done with other things. So, I reached out to Shira Ovide at Bloomberg, not to talk trash about Uber, but to… let’s say… get the skeptic’s take about Uber’s business model— which is the ride hailing business model, in a way, which is also the sharing economy business model in a way—so, in that vein, we also talk about WeWork a bit too (which people are also skeptical of). Sponsors: Eero.com/ride promocode RIDE at checkout Sonic.com/ride Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 10, 2019
Uber’s big IPO had some issues, smartphone shipments are at a 5 year low, do you need an app for unsubscribing to things and of course, the weekend longreads suggestions. Sponsors: MacStadium.com/ridehome Metalab.co Links: Uber Jackpot: Inside One of the Greatest Startup Investments of All Time (WSJ) Americans Have So Many Subscriptions They Need Apps to Track and Cancel Them (Bloomberg) Blue Origin: Bezos company aims to take people to moon by 2024 (The Guardian) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: How Much Is an Idea Worth? In Uber’s Case, $3.7 Billion (Bloomberg) The VC Who Engineered the 2017 Uber CEO Coup Just Got Very Rich (Bloomberg) The dangers of in-game data collection (Polygon) How Unions Are Pushing Back Against the Rise of Workplace Technology (Fortune) Three years in, Google’s hardware honcho is just getting started (FastCompany) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 9, 2019
Facebook co-founder Chris Hughes says it’s time to break up Facebook, more developer details from I/O, Uber has an arbitration problem, shoe tech is real, and get ready for 64 megapixel smartphone cameras. Sponsors: Wix.com/podcast Metalab.co Links: It’s Time to Break Up Facebook (Chris Hughes/NYTimes) Google is testing Mini-apps in Search and Google Assistant (VentureBeat) Google to allow users to pay for Android apps using cash (TechCrunch) Uber’s Arbitration Addiction Could Be Death by 60,000 Cuts (Bloomberg) Sick of Getting Returned Sneakers, Nike Tries a New Sizing App (Bloomberg) The story of the Brannock Device World’s fastest supercomputer will be built by AMD and Cray for US government (The Verge) 64-megapixel phone cameras are coming (The Verge) Fortnite is free, but kids are getting bullied into spending money (Polygon) Subscribe to the ad-free premium feed. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 8, 2019
Google is talking big on privacy, but going after cookies helps their bottom line as well, why the Pixel 3a might usher in a new era of flagship “lite” phones, the huge Binance bitcoin hack and why does Bird want to sell you a scooter, not just rent you one? Sponsors: Metalab.co Vistaprint.com/RIDE Links: Google strengthens Chrome's privacy controls (TechCrunch) Facebook talked privacy, Google actually built it (TechCrunch) US digital advertising exceeded $100 billion in 2019 (TechCrunch) Google shows Apple and Samsung how ‘lite’ flagships are done (Engadget) Apple should bring back the iPhone SE and model it after Google’s Pixel 3a (MacWorld) Bird has a new electric scooter: it’s durable, comes in three different colors, and you can buy it (The Verge) DIY Artists Will Earn More than $1 Billion This Year. No Wonder the Major Labels Want Their Business (Rolling Stone) Subscribe to the ad-free feed! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 7, 2019
All the news that I could possibly grab from Google’s I/O keynote, again, Alexa IS spying on you, Cruise Automation raises a big round... and will we ever actually see the Galaxy Fold? Sponsors: Lightstream.com/ride Metalab.co Links: THE PIXEL 3A PUTS GOOGLE’S PHENOMENAL CAMERA IN A $400 PHONE (The Verge) Alexa has been eavesdropping on you this whole time (The Washington Post) Check your Alexa recording archive here Study: Voice Assistants Far From Hot Marketplace For Buying (MediaPost) GM’s self-driving division Cruise raises another $1.15 billion (The Verge) How Chinese Spies Got the N.S.A.’s Hacking Tools, and Used Them for Attacks (NYTimes) Samsung Electronics says no anticipated shipping date yet for Galaxy Fold (Reuters) Subscribe to the Premium Ad-Free Feed right here! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 6, 2019
All the announcements from Microsoft’s Build 2019, Mozilla fixes the Firefox snafu, we think, a grab-bag of Apple rumors and why Netflix’s competitive resiliency might be here to stay. Sponsors: Legacybox.com/ride Metalab.co Links Microsoft's IntelliCode for AI-assisted coding comes out of preview (TechCrunch) Microsoft aims to modernize and secure voting with ElectionGuard (TechCrunch) Add-ons disabled or failing to install in Firefox (Mozilla Add-ons Blog) Amazon can already ship to 72% of US population within a day, this map shows (CNBC) Brussels poised to probe Apple over Spotify’s fees complaint (Financial Times) Netflix's Competitive Resiliency Is Here to Stay (Netflix Misunderstandings, Pt. 7) (Redef) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 3, 2019
This Facebook cryptocurrency is real, people, Microsoft has a blockchain product as well, Verizon is looking to unload Tumblr, Softbank is considering an IPO for the vision fund and, of course, the weekend longreads suggestions. Sponsors: PixelUnion.net Instacart. Promocode RIDE at checkout. Links: Facebook Building Cryptocurrency-Based Payments System (WSJ) Project Libra: Facebook to launch stablecoin-based payments network (The Block) Report: Facebook looking to disrupt credit cards with cryptocurrency (ArsTechnica) Microsoft adds more AI, mixed-reality, IoT services to its Azure line-up (ZDNet) Microsoft launches a fully managed blockchain service (TechCrunch) Verizon Looks to Unload Tumblr Blogging Site (WSJ) SoftBank Considers IPO for $100 Billion Vision Fund (WSJ) Sonic’s live-action design upset the entire internet, so the studio is changing it (The Verge) The Weekend Longreads Suggestions: The making of Amazon Prime, the internet’s most successful and devastating membership program (ReCode) The search for the kryptonite that can stop CRISPR (MIT Technology Review) The Most Valuable Company (for Now) Is Having a Nadellaissance (Bloomberg Businessweek) Software, the Tough Tomato Principle, and the Great Weirdening of the World (Florent Crivello) The productivity pit: how Slack is ruining work (ReCode) Exclusive: The Saga Of 'Star Citizen,' A Video Game That Raised $300 Million—But May Never Be Ready To Play (Forbes) Support the show! Lose the ads! Subscribe to the premium feed RIGHT HERE in your podcast app with 3 taps! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 2, 2019
Facebook might get a federally appointed privacy official, Google lets you set a time-limit on what it tracks about you, what Apple had to pay Qualcomm, Russia might effectively leave the open web, a Wikipedia competitor, and is the low-hanging fruit gone for the big tech oligarchs? Sponsors: ReMars.amazon.com PixelUnion.net Links: Exclusive: New privacy oversight on the table for Facebook, Zuckerberg (Politico) Google can now automatically delete your location, app, and search activity data (VentureBeat) Qualcomm to record $4B revenue from Apple settlement (Axios) Putin signs law to isolate Russian internet (Financial Times) Spotify launches voice-enabled ads on mobile devices in a limited US test (TechCrunch) Tesla is raising up to $1.5 billion through convertible note and share sale (TechCrunch) Golden unveils a Wikipedia alternative focused on emerging tech and startups (TechCrunch) Airbnb Spawned an Ecosystem of Startups That Sweat the Details so Owners Don’t Have to (Bloomberg) Support the show! Ad free feed! Signup right in your podcast app! Right here! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 1, 2019
Apple’s earnings were bad, but investors rejoiced, Andreessen Horowitz is continuing its transformation, Eric Schmidt is leaving Google’s board, don’t sleep on Hulu in the streaming wars and some thoughts on F8. Sponsors: PixelUnion.net Sonic.com/ride Links: Apple Trade-Ins and Discounts Spark iPhone Revival (Bloomberg) A16z ushers in new fund strategy with $2.75B (TechCrunch) Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt will leave Alphabet’s board after 18 years (The Verge) Scoop: e-Bike startup led by mobile veterans raises $20 million (Axios) SoftBank makes a huge bet on Latin America (TechCrunch) Hulu Grows to 28 Million Subscribers (The Hollywood Reporter) At F8, Facebook focuses on privacy — and little else (The Interface) Subscribe to the ad-free premium feed! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 30, 2019
All the news from the Facebook F8 conference, Cheddar gets acquired, Alphabet shows weakness, and why does Ring, the smart doorbell, need a news editor? Sponsors: FlatironSchool.com/techmeme PixelUnion.net Links Facebook details Messenger updates: New desktop app, social video, and Project LightSpeed (VentureBeat) Instagram will test hiding public like counts in Canada (The Verge) Altice USA Buys Streaming-Video Network Cheddar for $200 Million (WSJ) Google Shows First Cracks in Years (WSJ) Alphabet drops after reporting a slowdown in ad revenue (CNBC) WeWork Files for Initial Public Offering (WSJ) Amazon wants to deliver crime news and fear to Ring doorbell owners (TheNextWeb) A doorbell company owned by Amazon wants to start producing “crime news” and it’ll definitely end well (Nieman Lab) How Chinese apps like TikTok are quietly racking up American users (CNBC) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 29, 2019
There’s no reason the hotel chains can’t do what Airbnb does, why superzoom lenses might be the real innovation in smartphones right now, we’re almost done with Tech Earnings Season and why was GOT so dark last night? Sponsors: Pixelunion.com/agency GetQuip.com/ride Links: Spotify is first to 100 million paid subscribers (The Verge) Beats’ Powerbeats Pro earbuds will ship on May 10th for $250 (The Verge) Marriott Is Officially Getting Into the Homesharing Business (Skift) "Superzoom" lenses will be the biggest thing to happen to smartphone cameras in years (Android Police) How China’s ‘Unicorns’ Shook a Bicycle Town (NYTimes) California governor signs internet sales tax law (AP) AT&T says 5G will be priced like home Internet—pay more for faster speeds (ArsTechnica) Samsung thinks millennials want vertical TVs (The Verge) A Theory About Why Last Night's Game of Thrones Was Too Dark to Watch (Gizmodo) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 28, 2019
I wanted to talk to Dave Bittner of CyberWire because the CyberWire podcasts are my go to source for keeping up with the security space in a broad way. And I’m glad I did, Dave is a super knowledgeable pro, and we do get into things like those huge credential dumps, password best practices and that Triton virus that has me so worried. But we started off by going on a weird tangent about Facebook where I found myself arguing for Facebook for some reason, and we ended by really going off the rails and talking about the Fermi Paradox and aliens. It ended up being a really fun chat. :) Sponsors: Capterra.com/ride remars.Amazon.com Passwords article we discuss Subscribe to the ad-free premium feed! Right here! Inside your podcast app! It's easy! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 27, 2019
This one requires a bit of explaining. Remember that segment I did about Change A View, that subreddit that was becoming its own site to try to create a platform for healthy discourse and debate online? They got backing from—and technical support from—an Alphabet subsidiary called Jigsaw. So, I went down a rabbit hole with Jigsaw, because they weren’t on my radar, and I learned that their remit is to… seemingly… try to make the Internet not suck as much. So, long story short, I reached out to some people and got put in touch with Dan Keyserling of Jigsaw to see what they’re up to. Combatting radicalization, online censorship, trolls, bias in AI… there ARE still some folks who believe technology can make the world better… not just break it. Huge, if true! But seriously, this is a bit of a palate cleanse for me, and for you… but really… mostly for me. Sponsors: Wix.com/podcast Everykey.com, promo code RIDE20 to get 20% off. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 26, 2019
Amazon wants all Prime deliveries to be one-day shipping, Slack files for its IPO and Uber sets its price range, someone with a personal vendetta to fix Gmail and of course, the Weekend Longreads Suggestions. Sponsors: Tech.FidelityCareers.com Tiny.website Links: Amazon smashes earnings expectations (CNBC) Slack files to go public, revealing $400 million in revenue and $139 million in losses (CNBC) Uber sets IPO terms, could be valued at $84 billion (Axios) Regulators Around the World Are Circling Facebook (NYTimes) The former lead designer of Gmail just fixed Gmail on his own (Fast Company) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: How Fortnite’s success led to months of intense crunch at Epic Games (Polygon) Red Dead Redemption 2: six months later (Polygon) WE’VE BEEN WARNED ABOUT AI AND MUSIC FOR OVER 50 YEARS, BUT NO ONE’S PREPARED (TheVerge) How the Kleiner Perkins Empire Fell (Fortune) These home security startups aren’t afraid of Amazon and Google (Fast Company) Amazon Has Gone From Neutral Platform to Cutthroat Competitor, Say Open Source Developers (OneZero) I Sell Onions on the Internet (Deep South Ventures) Subscribe to the ad-free feed! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 25, 2019
It is just an earnings bonanza: Facebook? Good! Tesla? Bad! Microsoft? Really good! In fact, king of the world again! Nintendo? Not so good. Oh, and the whole Luminary, podcasting wars, Game of Phones and Nick Quah called it, had a crazy new wrinkle today… Sponsors: FlatironSchool.com/Techmeme Tiny.website Links: Facebook Reports First Quarter 2019 Results (Facebook Investor Relations) Facebook jumps as Stories users and ads show promising growth (CNBC) Nintendo Disappoints With Tepid Outlook, No Date for New Switch (Bloomberg) Verizon’s Galaxy S10 5G launches as it unveils next 20 5G cities (CNET) Podcast startup Luminary’s launch week keeps getting worse (The Verge) The ad free feed is here! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 24, 2019
iFixit thinks it knows why the Galaxy Fold is having issues, Wing becomes the first drone delivery operator cleared by the FAA, why Netflix has gone deep into debt and have the podcasting wars begun? Sponsors: Tech.FidelityCareers.com Tiny.Website Links: Samsung Galaxy Fold Teardown (iFixit) Here’s Why We Think Galaxy Folds Are Failing (iFixit) May to ban Huawei from providing 'core' parts of UK 5G network (TheGuardian) Google Spinoff’s Drone Delivery Business First to Get FAA Approval (Bloomberg) Kuo: Two new AirPods models in Q4 2019 – Q1 2020, one features an all-new design and higher price (9to5Mac) Snap rally fades after earnings beat (CNBC) Microsoft Paint to remain part of Windows 10 after all (The Verge) Netflix offers $2 billion more in debt to fund its content spending (TechCrunch) The Joe Rogan Experience to withdraw from Luminary (HotPod) Subscribe to the ad-free feed! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 23, 2019
Tesla has an event that some people say is all reality distortion field, Facebook makes some interesting hires, Twitter is quietly chirping a tune Wall Street likes and Amazon Key is here to deliver inside your house. Sponsors: Tiny.website EthosLife.com Links Here are Elon Musk’s wildest predictions about Tesla’s self-driving cars (The Verge) Facebook’s new chief lawyer helped write the Patriot Act (The Verge) Twitter stock surges more than 15% on earnings beat (CNBC) Key by Amazon in-home delivery comes to Las Vegas, 12 other cities (CNET) How Otonomo, with nearly $55 million in funding, is illegally cloning our product (SmartCar) HackerNews thread about all this SoftBank Founder Masayoshi Son Lost $130 Million on Bitcoin (WSJ) The Premium Ad-Free Podcast Feed! Try it Free For 7 Days! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 22, 2019
The Samsung Galaxy Fold is delayed, Sri Lanka blocking social media is complicated, how you’re being tracked in the airport and at work, and why there’s no such thing as a free lunch when it comes to free apps. Sponsors: tech.FidelityCareers.com Tiny.webiste Links: Samsung’s Galaxy Fold Smartphone Release Delayed (WSJ) Sri Lankan government blocks social media and imposes curfew following deadly blasts (The Washington Post) Zillow launches AI-powered 3D home tours in the U.S. and Canada (VentureBeat) The US wants to scan the faces of all air passengers leaving the country (QZ) Employee privacy in the US is at stake as corporate surveillance technology monitors workers’ every move (CNBC) That mental health app might share your data without telling you (The Verge) Turns Out, Meal Kits Might Not Suck for the Planet (Earther) Support the podcast directly! Subscribe to the ad-free feed right here inside your podcast app! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 21, 2019
Listeners ask questions. I try to give coherent answers. Sponsors: VistaPrint/ride remars.amazon.com, promo code: ride Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 20, 2019
Lyft has gone public. Uber will do so soon. So will Airbnb. Quartz’s Alison Griswold covers this stuff every day, and she has a great newsletter, covering this stuff every week. It’s called Oversharing, you can get it for free at oversharing.substack.com… Because she covers the sharing everything… we talk to her today about the ride sharing companies… but also about the deliver me something companies and especially, the e-scooter companies… the economics of all things sharing! Alison's newsletter: oversharing.substack.com Sponsors: Molekule.com checkout code: ride Stamps.com, click on the Microphone at the TOP of the homepage and type in RIDE Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 19, 2019
Facebook finds a new way to handle the privacy scandal of the day, free, ad supported music from Amazon and Google, Dieter ended up reviewing the Samsung Galaxy Fold as best he could, and of course, the Weekend Longreads Suggestions. Sponsors: Mealime Joybird.com/RIDE Links: Facebook says it stored millions of Instagram passwords unencrypted on its servers (Recode) Emtek announces they will be closing BBM consumer services on May 31 (CrackBerry) Amazon Music Launches Free Streaming Tier, Through Alexa Only (for Now) (Variety) SAMSUNG GALAXY FOLD REVIEW: BROKEN DREAM (TheVerge) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: Google Maps Is Ready to Transform the World of Superapps: A Skift Deep Dive (Skift) These Women Are Only On Facebook For The Groups (BuzzFeed News) Beyond Prime: Inside the Race to Deliver Shipments to the Moon (OneZero) Robo-Rigs: The Scientist, The Unicorn And The $700 Billion Race To Create Self-Driving Semi-Trucks (Forbes) The Coming Obsolescence of Animal Meat (The Atlantic) Russian Gamer Brothers Are the Newest Hidden Billionaires (Bloomberg) 29-year-old journalist Lyra McKee shot dead in Northern Ireland violence (CNN) Lyra McKee GoFundMe Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 18, 2019
Samsung responds to the Galaxy Fold review unit issues, Google and Amazon end their streaming video spat, Pinterest and Zoom have their IPOs and could the Chinese web end up being more popular than the open web? Mealime app remars.amazon.com, promo code: ride Links: Samsung responds to Galaxy Fold screen damage: ‘we will thoroughly inspect these units’ (The Verge) Here's why Galaxy Fold displays are already failing (Android Central) Facebook says it 'unintentionally uploaded' 1.5 million people's email contacts without their consent (BusinessInsider) Facebook is working on a voice assistant to rival Amazon Alexa and Apple Siri (CNBC) Google and Amazon end their ridiculous streaming video spat (Engadget) Presenting search app and browser options to Android users in Europe (The Keyword) Pinterest ends its first day of trading up 28% (CNBC) Big corporates back crypto 'plumbing' despite currency caution (Reuters) The U.S. Is Losing a Major Front to China in the New Cold War (Bloomberg) Newly Discovered 4,000-Year Old Egyptian Tomb Stuns Archaeologists (Geek.com) Support the show! Subscribe to the ad-free premium feed, right here, inside your podcast app! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 17, 2019
There’s no other way to describe it: Qualcomm got Apple to surrender, are things back on for an Apple Car, Microsoft has a new Hub and a new Xbox One S, and why Hulu has an advantage the other streamers don’t. Sponsors: Lightstream.com/ride Mealime app Links: Qualcomm surges after announcing a settlement with Apple over patent royalties (CNBC) Apple Settles With Qualcomm, Intel Exits Modems, Apple’s Miscalculation (Stratechery) Qualcomm just beat Apple into submission (SemiAccurate) Exclusive: Apple in talks with potential suppliers of sensors for self-driving cars - sources (Reuters) T-Mobile-Sprint Deal Runs Into Resistance From DOJ Antitrust Staff (WSJ) Microsoft's more portable Surface Hub 2S ships in June for $9000 (TechCrunch) Xbox One S All-Digital Edition: Price, availability, games and more (CNET) Netflix drops on earnings report showing weak guidance, CMO retires (CNBC) As Netflix Contends With More Rivals, Hulu Stands Out (NYTimes) My Samsung Galaxy Fold screen broke after just a day (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 16, 2019
YouTube’s algorithms are abhorrent in a new way, details on the next Playstation console, Google makes nice with developers, and three interesting sides to the TikTok story. Sponsors: EveryKey.com 20% off with promocode RIDE20 Mealime App Links: YouTube shows 9/11 link on live videos of unrelated Notre Dame fire (The Verge) EXCLUSIVE: WHAT TO EXPECT FROM SONY'S NEXT-GEN PLAYSTATION (Wired) 15 MONTHS OF FRESH HELL INSIDE FACEBOOK (Wired) Next major macOS version will include standalone Music, Podcasts, and TV apps, Books app gets major redesign (9to5Mac) Improving the update process with your feedback (Android Developer's Blog) AT&T sells Hulu stake, valuing the video streaming company at $15 billion (CNBC) Short video app TikTok extends reach in global markets, sees in-app purchases surge more than 200 per cent (South China Morning Post) TikTok downloads ordered to be blocked on iOS and Android in India over porn and other illegal content (TechCrunch) TikTok sensation Lil Nas X rewrites the rules of country music (Axios) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 15, 2019
You really need to run those Office updates, rumors of chaos at HQ Trivia, further details on Apple Arcade and Apple News+, and hands on with the Galaxy Fold. Sponsors: Logianalytics.com/ride Mealime.com Links: Hackers Could Read Your Hotmail, MSN, and Outlook Emails by Abusing Microsoft Support (Motherboard) Kaspersky: 70 percent of attacks now target Office vulnerabilities (ZDNet) Mutiny at HQ Trivia fails to oust CEO (TechCrunch) ‘Basically playing favorites’: Apple News+ gets off to a rocky start for some publishers (Digiday) Apple spends hundreds of millions on Arcade video game service (Financial Times) HANDS-ON WITH THE SAMSUNG GALAXY FOLD: MORE THAN JUST A CONCEPT (TheVerge) Unfolding the Samsung Galaxy Fold (TechCrunch) Booking.com is Beating Airbnb in Home Stays, Latest Numbers Show (Fortune) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 14, 2019
You might have noticed that I’ve gone down a bit of a wormhole lately when it comes to space tech, and actually, to understand why, listen to the very first minute of this conversation, because we actually work out why space tech has come to the forefront of my attention. Chris Mims had a piece in the Wall Street Journal this week about the suddenly race to deliver the Internet from space. This was triggered by the recent Amazon news of course, but also, listen for more deep dives into how and why space tech is suddenly having a moment. Chris’ article from the WSJ The CNBC article I refer to briefly Sponsors: Ethoslife.com techmeme.robinhood.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 13, 2019
While I talk about big round raises and startups and venture all the time, we haven’t really done a deep dive into where venture is at at the moment. So, who better to talk to than Crunchbase, and in this case, Crunchbase’s Jason Rowley. Today… the state of venture in 2019, and we especially get into the modern world of megarounds, even hypergiant rounds… raises of $250 million or more. Those never used to happen. They happen all the time now… we just talked about one this week… Softbank contributes to them all the time. How has that changed the landscape, and how has that created or influenced the unicorn ecosystem that is currently being harvested, as it were. Sponsors: Capterra.com/ride Flatironschool.com/techmeme Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 12, 2019
Uber’s IPO filing is officially upon us and there was much rejoicing… or, at least, plenty of takes; Disney outlined its streaming video plans and in doing so it both put Apple to shame and fired a warning shot at Netflix, and, of course, the weekend longreads suggestions. Sponsors: Tiny.website wix.com/podcast Links: Uber unveils IPO with warning it may never make a profit (Reuters) Alphabet Is Uber IPO’s Surprise Winner With Potential $5 Billion Stake (Forbes) Uber’s Venture Investors Set for a Windfall (WSJ) Disney+ app and worldwide rollout plans revealed (Engadget) Disney+ streaming service will be available starting Nov. 12 for $6.99 a month (CNBC) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: The basics of modern AI—how does it work and will it destroy society this year? (ArsTechnica) FOXCONN IS CONFUSING THE HELL OUT OF WISCONSIN (The Verge) The man behind Huawei (The Los Angeles Times) The Improbable Rise of Huawei (Foreign Policy) Inside the Biotech Startup That Wants to Extend Your Life (OneZero) VIDEO OF APPLE’S W.A.L.T. IN ACTION – THE 1993-EDITION IPHONE (Sonny Dickson) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 11, 2019
Yes, there are people listening in on your Alexa recordings, but it’s complicated; Jeff Bezos challenges competitors to pay their workers more, the third big unicorn IPO of the year happened today, and a rundown of noteworthy recent startup raises. Sponsors: Tiny.website LogiAnalytics.com/ride Links: Amazon Workers Are Listening to What You Tell Alexa (Bloomberg) Jeff Bezos challenges retail rivals to outdo Amazon’s $15 minimum wage (The Verge) YouTube TV Hikes Price to $50 per Month for All Customers After Inking Discovery Deal (Variety) PagerDuty pops more than 50% in debut as tech IPO market heats up (CNBC) Affectiva raises $26 million to bring emotional intelligence AI to car safety systems (VentureBeat) Triplebyte raises $35M for its online coding test and credentialing service for hiring engineers (TechCrunch) Lemonade picks up $300 million Series D led by SoftBank Group (TechCrunch) That image of a black hole you saw everywhere? Thank this grad student for making it possible (CNN) Subscribe to the ad-free feed RIGHT HERE inside your podcast app Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 10, 2019
Day two of Google’s Cloud Next conference, an update on the unicorns still queueing up to come to market, the heat death of iTunes is closer to reality, and Walmart doubles down on robots. Sponsors: remars.amazon.com, promo code: ride Tiny.website Links: Google Assistant now works with your G Suite work calendar (GeekWire) Google launches new security tools for G Suite users (TechCrunch) Google launches an end-to-end AI platform (TechCrunch) Remove, Reduce, Inform: New Steps to Manage Problematic Content (Facebook Newsroom) Exclusive: Uber plans to sell around $10 billion worth of stock in IPO - sources (Reuters) Slack Is Fetching High Prices in Private Stock Deals Ahead of Public Offering (Bloomberg) Zoom is poised to be one of the most richly valued tech companies after it goes public (CNBC) Next major macOS version will include standalone Music, Podcasts, and TV apps, Books app gets major redesign (9to5Mac) Walmart Is Rolling Out the Robots (WSJ) Mysterious safety-tampering malware infects a second critical infrastructure site (ArsTechnica) Congress is about to ban the government from offering free online tax filing (ArsTechnica) Falcon Heavy making only second flight, but it’s already changing the game (ArsTechnica) Support the show! Subscribe to the Ad-Free Premium Feed! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 9, 2019
The headlines from the Google Cloud Next conference, China seeks to ban cryptominers, why ads on streaming services is the new hotness, and also, why Roblox is the new hotness. Sponsors: Tiny.website GetQuip.com/ride Links: Google Cloud announces 7 open source partners, Seoul and Salt Lake City regions (VentureBeat) Google's hybrid cloud platform is coming to AWS and Azure (TechCrunch) Google announces Cloud Run for open and portable serverless compute (VentureBeat) China, home to the world’s biggest cryptocurrency mining farms, now wants to ban them completely (South China Morning Post) To cut down on spam, Twitter cuts the number of accounts you can follow per day (TechCrunch) The next front of the streaming wars is the battle for ad-supported programming (Digiday) Roblox hits milestone of 90M monthly active users (TechCrunch) Why Are People Still Playing Google’s Halloween Ghost Game in April? (Slate) Subscribe to the ad-free feed! Right in your podcast app! No muss! No fuss! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 8, 2019
Pinterest’s IPO looks set to make it an “undercorn,” the UK has some more ideas about regulating internet platforms, about those iPhone triple camera rumors, Netflix dumps AirPlay and Snap opts not to beat ’em; instead, plan’s to join ’em. Sponsors: PaintYourLife.com: Text the word TECH to 48-48-48 Tiny.website Links: Pinterest sets IPO range at $15-17, valuing it at $10.6B vs previous valuation of $12.3B (TechCrunch) iPhone rumors now claim two OLED models with triple-camera arrays for 2019 (The Verge) New report claims that the triple-camera iPhones in 2019 will feature 6.1-inch and 6.5-inch OLED screens, tweaked chassis thickness (9to5Mac) Netflix confirms it killed AirPlay support, won’t let you beam shows to Apple TVs anymore (The Verge) ‘CHANGE MY VIEW’ REDDIT COMMUNITY LAUNCHES ITS OWN WEBSITE (Wired) To stop copycats, Snapchat shares itself (TechCrunch) Microsoft launches first Chromium Edge builds for Windows 10 (VentureBeat) Subscribe to the premium ad-free feed! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 5, 2019
Google scraps the AI ethics board, Alexa is coming for AirPods, the Bezos’ divorce is settled, Snap reminds everyone they’re pretty darned good at inventing weird stuff and the weekend longreads suggestions. Sponsors: Metalab.co FlatironSchool.com/techmeme Links: Exclusive: Google cancels AI ethics board in response to outcry (Vox) Amazon Is Making a Rival to Apple’s AirPods as Its First Alexa Wearable (Bloomberg) Jeff Bezos, in divorce settlement, retains 75 percent of the Amazon stock he held with his now ex-wife MacKenzie (The Washington Post) Snapchat launches Mario Party-style multiplayer games platform (TechCrunch) Snapchat launches Scan, its AR utility platform (TechCrunch) Snapchat will power Stories & ads in other apps (TechCrunch) The Weekend Longreads Suggestions: Talking Reckless (A Gaming Podcast) Smart home, machine learning and discovery (Benedict Evans) 25 Years Later: Interview with Linus Torvalds (Linux Journal) ‘They Thought It Was Black Magic’: An Oral History of TiVo (OneZero) The World’s Greatest Delivery Empire (Bloomberg Businessweek) Old, Online, And Fed On Lies: How An Aging Population Will Reshape The Internet (Buzzfeed News) Astronomers set to make 'groundbreaking' black hole announcement (CNET) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 4, 2019
Facebook. Data. Exposure. Another one. Could Intel issues delay a 5G iPhone? Apple cuts the price of the HomePod, Amazon is going to launch Internet satellites, and the trouble with AI ethics boards. Sponsors: Imagekit.io/ride Metalab.co Links: Researchers find 540 million Facebook user records on exposed servers (TechCrunch) Inside Apple’s shaky plan to deliver a 5G iPhone in 2020 [Updated] (FastCompany) MIT suspends ties with China's Huawei and ZTE (CNN Business) Apple drops HomePod price down to $299 (TheVerge) Google launches Android Q Beta 2 with multitasking Bubbles, foldables emulator, and zoomable microphones (VentureBeat) Hundreds of thousands of ‘lost’ MySpace songs have been recovered (TheVerge) Amazon to offer broadband access from orbit with 3,236-satellite ‘Project Kuiper’ constellation (GeekWire) Google’s brand-new AI ethics board is already falling apart (Vox) THE PROBLEM WITH AI ETHICS (TheVerge) Electric car battery with 600 miles of range? This startup claims to have done it (TheVerge) Subscribe to the ad-free, listener-supported feed! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 3, 2019
Facebook stops asking people to reveal their email passwords, WhatsApp gives you control over group chats, Google has a credibility problem when it comes to product shutdowns and 5G is kinda, officially here. Sponsors: LogiAnalytics.com/ride Metalab.com Links: ‘Beyond Sketchy’: Facebook Demanding Some New Users’ Email Passwords (Daily Beast) Facebook Is Just Casually Asking Some New Users for Their Email Passwords (Gizmodo) Facebook will stop asking new users for their email passwords (Axios) WhatsApp finally lets you prevent people from adding you to their shitty groups (TNW) WhatsApp now lets you control who can add you to groups (The Verge) Justice Department Warns Academy Over Potential Oscar Rule Changes Threatening Netflix (EXCLUSIVE) (Variety) Media Companies Take a Big Gamble on Apple (NYTimes) Tweet Storm on Apple+ and The New Yorker (@Michaelluo) Google Duplex rolling out to non-Pixel, iOS devices in the US (9to5Google) Google begins shutting down its failed Google+ social network (The Verge) Google’s constant product shutdowns are damaging its brand (ArsTechnica) Wayve claims 'world first' in driving a car autonomously with only its AI and a SatNav (TechCrunch) Support the show! Subscribe to the Ad-Free Premium Feed! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 2, 2019
The price of bitcoin soars, but is it for real? Walmart wants to let you shop with your voice, Andreessen Horowitz shakes up VC (again) and a scathing look at YouTube’s algorithm problems. Sponsors: Metalab.co LogiAnalytics.com/ride Links: Bitcoin jumps 20 percent, mystery order seen as catalyst (Reuters) April Fools: Traders Chase Another Unexplainable Bitcoin Rally (Bloomberg) Report: ICOs Raised $118 Million in Q1 2019, Over 58 Times Less Than in Q1 2018 (CoinTelegraph) Walmart Unveils Voice-Activated, Google-Powered Grocery Shopping (Bloomberg) Morning Lineup – “It’s Just a Fad” (Bespoke) Andreessen Horowitz Is Blowing Up The Venture Capital Model (Again) (Forbes) YouTube Executives Ignored Warnings, Letting Toxic Videos Run Rampant (Bloomberg) Support the show! Subscribe to the premium, ad-free feed! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 1, 2019
Gmail celebrates an appropriate April Fool’s anniversary, the winners from the Lyft IPO, Mark Zuckerberg asks for regulation and food tech has delivered a meatless Whopper™. Sponsors: PaintYourLife.com: Text the word TECH to 48-48-48 Metalab.co Links: Google launches Gmail message scheduling and expands Smart Compose to more devices and languages (VentureBeat) New Facebook tool answers the question 'Why am I seeing this post?' (TechCrunch) The biggest winners of Lyft’s $24 billion IPO (Quartz) The CEO behind 'Fortnite' says it's 'evolving beyond being a game' and explains the company's ambitious vision (Business Insider) Mark Zuckerberg: The Internet needs new rules. Let’s start in these four areas. (The Washington Post) Citizen Zuck: The making of Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg (CNET) Burger King begins selling the meatless Impossible Whopper (The Verge) Subscribe to the Ad-Free Feed! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 31, 2019
Today... another dipping of our collective toes into an adjacent tech space that we cover now and then, but don't know all that much about. Another episode where I learn more and hopefully you learn more. Speaking of spaces... Space! Space tech! The final frontier! Bill Gattle is the President for Space and Intelligence Systems at Harris Corp. We're gonna talk today about the state of the space industry, how soon will space tourism be a thing, and a revolution in space tech that I knew nothing about: small satellites, or small sats. Miniaturization and Moore's law comes for all our niche's I guess. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 30, 2019
So, we did the pre-amble for the Apple Services event last week, I figured we should do a debriefing, especially since it was such a confusing event, at least to me. I knew I needed some Apple experts to help me out, so I reached out to Federico Viticci and John Voorhees from MacStories. I don’t know if we sorted it out, but as I said earlier in the week, great minds think alike because Federico and I both had a brainstorm about when we might see AirPower released, if we ever do. By the way, Federico and John host a podcast you should check out, if you never have. AppStories, exploring the world of apps. Subscribe to it wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 29, 2019
Lyft IPO’d today, Huawei’s profits don’t seem affected by governmental pressures, Stack Overflow is looking for a new CEO, Alexa Business Blueprints allow you to create custom skills for your business and the weekend longreads suggestions. Sponsors: LightStream.com/ride DataDogHQ.com/ridehome Links: Lyft pops 20% in trading debut (CNBC) In This Tech I.P.O. Wave, Big Investors Grab More of the Gains (NYTimes) Huawei tops $100 billion revenue for first time despite political headwinds (CNBC) The Next CEO of Stack Overflow (Stack Overflow Blog) Amazon’s Alexa for Business Blueprints lets employees make custom voice apps (VentureBeat) The Weekend Longreads Suggestions: Podcast Suggestion: RunAs Radio The danger of 'I already pay for Apple News+' (TechCrunch) Europe is splitting the internet into three (The Verge) ‘A battle for the top of the funnel’: Pinterest’s long road to becoming a commerce platform (Digiday) Forget Brexit and trade wars, Europe’s start-ups are thriving (Financial Times) The Enormous Numbers Behind Amazon’s Market Reach (Bloomberg) The Elaborate, Dying Art of Hustling for Money at Dave & Buster's (Vice) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 28, 2019
Facebook is charged with violations of the Fair Housing Act, the UK gives Huawei a pass but drags them at the same time, Spotify lets you share your account with your better half, and let’s take two on that Google podcast transcription search experiment. Sponsors: DataDogHQ.com/ridehome Tiny.website Link to how to use Google Podcast search Links: Facebook has been charged with housing discrimination by the US government (The Verge) Huawei Security ‘Defects’ Are Found by British Authorities (NYTimes) Spotify is testing Premium Duo, a discounted subscription for two (The Verge) Microsoft sues to take control of domains involved in Iran hacking campaign (TechCrunch) The Business of Your Face (Fortune) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 27, 2019
The pioneers of modern AI win the Turing Award, Apple still hasn’t fixed its keyboard problem, India shot down a satellite in space and Microsoft puts the kibosh on April Fools’ jokes. The words to search for in Google podcasts (original story from the show that will tell you how to search is here) are as follows: transom mint sponsor hobby secrecy interact evacuate gadgetry. Sponsors Tiny.website DataDogHQ.com/ridehome Links: Turing Award Won by 3 Pioneers in Artificial Intelligence (NYTimes) THE GODFATHERS OF THE AI BOOM WIN COMPUTING’S HIGHEST HONOR (Wired) Google Podcasts in-episode search is coming, shows now being fully transcribed (Android Police) Google makes emails more dynamic with AMP for Email (TechCrunch) Appl Still Hasn’t Fixd Its MacBook Kyboad Problm (WSJ) FTC announces inquiry into the privacy practices of broadband providers (The Verge) NYPD's Big Artificial-Intelligence Reveal (Governing.com) India says it has just shot down a satellite in space (MIT Technology Review) Microsoft leads the way in banning April Fools’ Day pranks (The Verge) Subscribe to the ad-free premium feed! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 26, 2019
The EU Parliament approves the “link tax” and the “upload filter.” Uber acquires Careem, McDonald’s makes a tech acquisition, and a wrap-up of the hot-takes from the Apple event. Sponsors: Datadog's Integration with Alibaba Cloud Tiny.website Links: Europe’s controversial overhaul of online copyright receives final approval (The Verge) HUAWEI’S P30 PRO IS A PHOTOGRAPHIC POWERHOUSE WITH A TINY NOTCH (The Verge) Uber announces $3.1 billion deal to buy Middle East rival Careem (CNBC) McDonald's is acquiring Dynamic Yield to create a more customized drive-thru (TechCrunch) Exclusive: First look at Apple’s new AirPods-like ‘Powerbeats Pro’ truly wireless sport headphones (9to5Mac) Very Brief Thoughts and Observations on Today’s ‘Show Time’ Apple Event (Daring Fireball) Subscribe to the Ad-Free Premium Feed Here! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 25, 2019
The Apple event broken down piece by piece, YouTube wants out of the streaming video wars, Nintendo is working on two new Switch devices, is consolidation finally coming to the digital media space, and why you should know the name Transsion. Sponsors: Tiny.website DataDogHQ.com/ridehome Links: Apple launches $9.99 Apple News Plus with more than 300 magazines (The Verge) Apple introduced its own credit card, the Apple Card (TechCrunch) Apple announces Apple TV Plus video subscription service (The Verge) YouTube Bows Out of Hollywood Arms Race With Netflix and Amazon (Bloomberg) Nintendo to Launch Two New Switch Models (WSJ) Digital media companies Group Nine Media and Refinery29 are said to be in talks to merge (Business Insider) Shenzhen Transsion applies to raise capital on Shanghai’s technology board after taking Africa’s phone market by storm (South China Morning Post) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 24, 2019
Not too long ago I recommended The Rideshare Guy podcast because I’ve fallen in love with it. That and his website, the Rideshareguy.com. Harry Campbell allows us to look at a space from a different angle than we usually do on this show. So, here’s a great conversation with Harry about the rideshare driver community! What they think about the upcoming IPOs, what they think about the ridesharing platforms generally, who might be the driver’s favorite, what do they think about self-driving cars? TheRideShareGuy.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 23, 2019
Today, we’re going to talk Facebook’s pivot to privacy and Apple’s big event on Monday. Please do search your podcast apps and subscribe to the Future Forward podcast. Sponsors: Stamps.com, click the microphone and enter RIDE Vistaprint.com/RIDE Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 22, 2019
Might Apple’s Monday event be a huge anticlimax? Is AT&T’s “5G E” slower than 4G? YouTube is responsible for 37% of mobile Internet Traffic, what programming languages are on the up and the weekend longreads suggestions. Sponsors: Skillshare.com/ride Metalab.co Links: New York Times CEO warns publishers ahead of Apple news launch (Reuters) Apple’s plan for its new TV service: Sell other people’s TV services (Recode) 750,000 Medtronic defibrillators vulnerable to hacking (StarTribune) Facebook acknowledges concerns over Cambridge Analytica emerged earlier than reported (The Guardian) AT&T's fake 5G E is slower than Verizon's and T-Mobile's 4G (CNET) Mobile time-spent jumps up: YouTube corners ~40% of the traffic, Facebook less than 10% (WhatsNewInPublishing) The RedMonk Programming Language Rankings: January 2019 (RedMonk) Weekend Longreads: Meet Silicon Valley's 'China whisperer (CNNBusiness) Inside Garageband, the Little App Ruling the Sound of Modern Music (Rolling Stone) Grab vs. Go-Jek: Inside Asia’s Battle of the 'Super Apps' (Fortune) BETTER LIVING THROUGH CRISPR: GROWING HUMAN ORGANS IN PIGS (Wired) A MORE HUMANE LIVESTOCK INDUSTRY, BROUGHT TO YOU BY CRISPR (Wired) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 21, 2019
Reset the x number of days without a Facebook scandal calendar, Microsoft launches Virtual Desktop but begins sunsetting Windows 7, European Wikipedia goes dark, and the hottest coin in crypto is making people remember the glory days of 2017. Sponsors: GetQuip.com/ride Metalab.co Links: Facebook Stored Hundreds of Millions of User Passwords in Plain Text for Years (Krebs on Security) Can Duruk's Tweet Storm Windows Virtual Desktop is now in public preview (TechCrunch) Microsoft launches previews of Windows Virtual Desktop and Defender ATP for Mac (VentureBeat) Microsoft warns Windows 7 users of looming end to security updates (TechCrunch) European Wikipedias have been turned off for the day to protest dangerous copyright laws (The Verge) Hottest Crypto Coin's Massive Rally Echoes Bitcoin's Glory Days (Bloomberg) APPLE IPAD MINI REVIEW: NO COMPETITION (The Verge) Subscribe to the ad-free feed! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 20, 2019
The EU Commission hits Google with another billion Euro fine, Santa Tim had another surprise for us this morning with next generation AirPods, and in fact, it was a day of quiet upgrades, to the Oculus Rift, to the Kindle, even to Facebook Messenger. Also, MoviePass brings back it’s unlimited plan… for now. Sponsors: Metalab.co DataDogHQ.com/ridehome Links: Google hit with €1.5 billion antitrust fine by EU (The Verge) Facebook Halts Ad Targeting Cited in Bias Complaints (NYTimes) AirPods, the world’s most popular wireless headphones, are getting even better (Apple Newsroom) The Oculus Rift S is real and arrives in spring for $399 (TechCrunch) Amazon’s entry-level Kindle gets a light and a higher price tag (The Verge) Facebook Messenger now has message threads (VentureBeat) MoviePass’ unlimited plan is back and at the original price — for now (Polygon) All 88 companies from Y Combinator's W19 Demo Day 2 (TechCrunch) New York City is finally getting its own self-driving shuttle service (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 19, 2019
Google’s gaming service is called Stadia, the iMac lineup gets an update, Instagram ads in-app shopping, Intel wants to build an exascale computer and Y Combinator’s Demo Day, Day 1. Sponsors: DataDogHQ.com/RideHome Metalab.co Links: Google Stadia announced, a game streaming service for Chrome, Android, and TVs (9to5Google) Google unveils Stadia cloud gaming service, launches in 2019 (The Verge) Stadia, Google’s gaming platform, changed the rules of the console wars (Polygon) Apple Updates iMac Lineup With Up to 8-Core 9th-Gen Intel Processors and Radeon Pro Vega Graphics Options (MacRumors) Instagram tests in-app shopping with Kylie Cosmetics, Nike and Huda Beauty (Digiday) Nvidia announces $99 AI computer for developers, makers, and researchers (The Verge) Intel claims Aurora will be the first U.S. supercomputer to hit 1 exaflop (Venture Beat) Here are the 85+ startups that launched at YC's W19 Demo Day One (TechCrunch) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 18, 2019
An iPad mini refresh and a new iPad Air, MySpace has lost basically all your stuff, details of the Lyft IPO and the state of Seed Investing. Sponsors: Legacybox.com/ride Metalab.co Links: Apple launches new iPad Air and iPad mini (TechCrunch) Inside YouTube’s struggles to shut down video of the New Zealand shooting — and the humans who outsmarted its systems (Washington Post) Myspace player won't play songs, and I want to download them if possible (Reddit thread on the Myspace news) The Internet Archive is working to preserve public Google+ posts before it shuts down (The Verge) Lyft Aims for Valuation Near $20 Billion in Biggest U.S. IPO (Bloomberg) Ride-hail service Juno is seeking a buyer (Quartz) Why Has Seed Investing Declined? And What Does this Mean for the Future? (Both Sides) Decade in review: Trends in seed and early-stage funding (TechCrunch) Apple’s Big Spending Plan to Challenge Netflix Takes Shape (NYTimes) Google Spent Years on a Secret New Plan to Attack a $140 Billion Industry. It All Starts Tomorrow (Inc.) Subscribe to the ad-free Premium Feed inside your podcast app here! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 17, 2019
How technology has impacted policing has come up on this show far more than you would expect, if you think about it. So, when listener of the show Matt Stroud got in touch to talk about his new book about the impact of technology on policing, I said: yes please. The book is coming out this week, it's called Thin Blue Lie: The failure of high tech policing. Reading the book, a couple of things surprised me. As you'll hear, policing wasn't very tech or data driven until very recently, and like in other areas, it just seems like throwing technology at a problem, does not solve everything magically. In fact, there can be serious unintended consequences. And also, I was surprised how much the theme and anecdotes in the book lined up with some of the things we've discussed on this show. IE: technology is a tool, but data and gadgets still need a human element to be used effectively, especially when you're dealing with, you know, humans. Subscribe to the Premium, Ad-Free Feed! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 16, 2019
When issues of consumer data, and consumer privacy come up on the show, I think I've asked a couple of times before, what are the laws here? In the United States. Who owns my data? What are the rules? What mechanisms are in place to give me control over my data? Are there any? Well, Justin Brookman is the Director of Consumer Privacy and Technology Policy at Consumer Reports. He was also previously at the Federal Trade Commission... and as you'll hear, he confirms that there are essentially no nationwide rules or laws in place around a lot of this stuff. Whatever rules are in place are sort of tangential statutes that have been drafted into service in an attempt to address modern issues that the statutes weren't even designed for. Is a big federal data and privacy regulatory regime coming soon? What might it look like? And by the way, the states aren't waiting, they're beginning to pass consumer data and privacy laws, but do they even have the right to do that? Oh, and is the FTC about to bring the hammer down on Facebook? Spoiler alert, Justin thinks most definitely, because the FTC knows it needs to make a statement. Anyway, another episode where I educate myself on corners of the tech world I don't know super much about, and hopefully, education you along with me. Sponsors: Eero.com/ride and promocode RIDE at checkout Skillshare.com/ride Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 15, 2019
Does Chris Cox’s departure from Facebook mean the pivot is real, Apple responds to Spotify’s complaint, and of course, the weekend longreads suggestions. Sponsors: DataDogHQ.com/ridehome techmeme.robinhood.com Links: FACEBOOK’S HEAD OF PRODUCT LEAVES AFTER PRIVACY PIVOT (Wired) As Mark Zuckerberg Tightens Grip on Facebook, 2 Top Deputies Leave (NYTimes) Addressing Spotify’s claims (Apple Newsroom) The New Zealand Massacre Was Made to Go Viral (NYTimes) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: ‘We Know Them. We Trust Them.’ Uber and Airbnb Alumni Fuel Tech’s Next Wave. (NYTimes) DeepMind and Google: the battle to control artificial intelligence (1843) Foursquare’s first decade, from viral hit to real business and beyond (Fast Company) Meet The Billionaire Who Defied Amazon And Built Wish, The World’s Most-Downloaded E-Commerce App (Forbes) How to Stop Your Roommates From Messing With Your Amazon Echo (Lifehacker) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 14, 2019
Facebook’s data sharing is now under criminal investigation, and the company had a bad night with its services intermittently down across the globe, Dropbox is cracking down on freeloaders, Silicon Valley wants to build a monument to itself, and Google makes a π Day statement. Sponsors: DataDogHQ.com/ridehome Tiny.website Links: Facebook’s Data Deals Are Under Criminal Investigation (NYTimes) Google launches Android Q Beta 1 (Venture Beat) Telegram gained three million new users during Facebook outage (The Verge) Tumblr traffic dropped by nearly 100M views the month after it banned porn (TNW) Dropbox device linking limits just got added for Basic accounts (SlashGear) Microsoft announces Xbox Live for any iOS or Android game (The Verge) In Silicon Valley, Plans for a Monument to Silicon Valley (NYTimes) Silicon Valley Wants a Monument to Itself. Will It Scale? (NYMag) Pi in the sky: Calculating a record-breaking 31.4 trillion digits of Archimedes’ constant on Google Cloud (Google Cloud Blog) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 13, 2019
Spotify files a pretty timely anti-trust complaint against Apple, Microsoft tries to get a jump on Google’s steaming video game announcement, is Google scaling back its hardware ambitions, what is Discord and why is it going mainstream all the sudden, and maybe you already knew this, but scientists think they’ve proven that there’s no such thing as objective reality. Sponsors: Tiny.website Wix.com/podcast DataDogHQ.com/ridehome Links: Spotify files EU antitrust complaint against Apple (Reuters) Apple Courts HBO and Showtime for Service to Challenge Netflix (Bloomberg) Facial recognition's 'dirty little secret': Millions of online photos scraped without consent (NBC News) Google has told dozens of employees on its laptop and tablet division to find new jobs at the company, raising questions about its hardware plans (Business Insider) Verizon’s 5G service will cost $10 extra, launches in Chicago and Minneapolis on April 11th (The Verge) Microsoft demonstrates xCloud game streaming a week before Google’s ‘future of gaming’ event (The Verge) How an App for Gamers Went Mainstream (The Atlantic) A quantum experiment suggests there’s no such thing as objective reality (MIT Technology Review) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 12, 2019
Facebook self owns by taking down Senator Warren’s ads, Spotify will now give you Hulu for free, why the Bay Area is no longer the best place for startups, and the 30th anniversary of the World Wide Web. Sponsors: Tiny.website DataDogHQ.com/ridehome Links: Facebook backtracks after removing Warren ads calling for Facebook breakup (Politico) Apple’s March 25th event is official: ‘It’s show time’ (9to5Mac) Spotify Premium now includes Hulu for no extra cost (The Verge) Amazon’s Alexa has 80,000 Apps—and No Runaway Hit (Bloomberg) Peak California (Byrne Hobart) Goodbye, Silicon Valley, hello, Atlanta: Black entrepreneurs part of new migration to South (USA Today) 30 years on, what’s next #ForTheWeb? (Tim Berners-Lee) The original Web proposal Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 11, 2019
Nvidia buys Mellanox, Tesla reverses course, a handy primer on how TikTok is different, and we check in on the smart takes from last week’s big stories. Subscribe to the Premium, Ad-Free Podcast Feed! Sponsors: DataDogHQ.com/ridehome Tiny.website Links: Nvidia to Buy Mellanox for $6.9 Billion in Data Center Push (Bloomberg) Landlords to Tesla: You’re Still on the Hook for Your Store Leases (WSJ) How TikTok Is Rewriting the World (NYTimes) Facebook vs. Apple (Slate) Facebook has a big, terrifying dream to be the communication backbone for the Western world (Business Insider) ELIZABETH WARREN WANTS TO BREAK UP APPLE, TOO (The Verge) Elizabeth Warren Wants To Break Up Amazon, Google And Facebook; But Does Her Plan Make Any Sense? (TechDirt) How to Enable Dark Mode Nearly Everywhere It's Available Right Now (Gizmodo) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 10, 2019
Sometimes the bonus episodes are for getting news in areas that I might have missed or might not have made our show, but I still find interesting. This week I reached out to Brady Dale of Coindesk, because I know he’s a listener and I knew he could give us some more background on Facebook’s recent moves in crypto, but also some other crypto news we haven’t gotten to and just the state of the crypto-space generally. Sponsors: LinkedIn.com/ride Tiny.website Subscribe to the Premium, Ad-Free Podcast Feed! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 9, 2019
You know MG Siegler. Once upon a time, he was one of the most prominent tech journalists in the land, when he wrote for TechCrunch. Now-a-days he is a prominent venture capitalist at GV. But he still likes to talk about gadgets. Maybe you’ve heard him do so on Gruber’s podcast. Today’s bonus episode is nothing sophisticated, no deep-dive level of journalism… it’s just two dudes looking at the recent slate of foldable phones and deciding if we want one. Logianalytics.com/ride Linkedin.com/ride Subscribe to the Premium, Ad-Free Podcast Feed! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 8, 2019
Senator Warren proposes breaking up big tech, Airbnb buys HotelTonight, why the big platforms are taking down vaccine content, and of course, the weekend longreads suggestions. Subscribe to the Premium, Ad-Free Podcast Feed! Sponsors: Logianalytics.com/ride Metalab.co Links: Here’s how we can break up Big Tech (Warren For President) Airbnb Wanted Travelers To Stay In Homes. Now It's Buying HotelTonight. (BuzzFeed News) Three Reasons Behind Airbnb’s Deal for HotelTonight (The Information) Turnitin to Be Acquired by Advance Publications for $1.75B (EdSurge) Combatting Vaccine Misinformation (Facebook Newsroom) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: THE HYPOCRISY OF THE TECHNO-MORALISTS IN THE COMING AGE OF AUTONOMY (WarOnTheRocks) HOW ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE WILL REVOLUTIONIZE THE WAY VIDEO GAMES ARE DEVELOPED AND PLAYED (TheVerge) Delete Never: The Digital Hoarders Who Collect Tumblrs, Medieval Manuscripts, and Terabytes of Text Files (Gizmodo) How Munchery’s high hopes led to its decline and fall (FastCompany) Triton is the world’s most murderous malware, and it’s spreading (MIT Technology Review) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 7, 2019
Facebook pivots to privacy, Huawei follows through on suing the US government, Duplex rolls out wide, and Bird’s white label scooter scheme. Sponsors: Lightstream.com/ride Metalab.co Links: A Privacy-Focused Vision for Social Networking (Mark Zuckerberg) A 'privacy-focused' Facebook would kill Zuckerberg's business model (The Guardian) Facebook’s Privacy Cake (Ben Thompson/Stratechery) Mark Zuckerberg Tried Hard To Get Facebook Into China. Now The Company May Be Backing Away. (Buzzfeed News) Amazon's joint health-care venture finally has a name: Haven (CNBC) Huawei: US Congress acted as 'judge, juror and executioner' with ban on our products (CNN) Google brings its Duplex AI restaurant booking assistant to 43 states (TechCrunch) How Bird plans to blanket the world with electric scooters without going bankrupt (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 6, 2019
Fitbit unveils a new smartwatch and lowers prices across the board, Samsung is working on two more foldable phones, Grab grabs $1.4 billion from Masa Son and Waymo finally found a way to make money. Sponsors: DataDogHQ.com/ridehome Metalab.co Links: Fitbit’s new $160 Versa Lite is a stripped-down version of its entry-level smartwatch (The Verge) Fitbit kills Alta, Alta HR, Flex 2, and Zip (VentureBeat) Samsung Working on Two More Foldable Smartphones (Bloomberg) WANT A FOLDABLE PHONE? HOLD OUT FOR REAL GLASS (Wired) Chinese Hackers Target Universities in Pursuit of Maritime Military Secrets (WSJ) Uber found not criminally liable in last year’s self-driving car death (QZ) Grab confirms $1.46B investment from SoftBank’s Vision Fund (TechCrunch) Waymo Starts Selling Sensors to Lower Cost of Self-Driving Cars (Bloomberg) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 5, 2019
The NSA program Snowden revealed might be done, Microsoft is readying a Windows Lite, poor iPhone sales are hitting Foxconn workers hard, a big strategic look at Netflix and why one seemingly random password is a poor choice if you care about your security. Sponsors: Metalab.co Logianalytics.com/ride Links Disputed N.S.A. Phone Program Is Shut Down, Aide Says (NYTimes) Microsoft is creating Windows Lite for dual-screen and Chromebook-like devices (The Verge) Apple acquires patent portfolio of failed smart home security startup Lighthouse AI (9to5Mac) Coinbase Pushes Out Ex-Hacking Team Employees Following Uproar (Coindesk) Coinbase Users Struggle to Delete Their Accounts in Protest (Motherboard) Living up to our values and the Neutrino acquisition (Coinbase Blog) Foxconn, a tale of slashed salaries, disappearing benefits and mass resignations as iPhone orders dry up (South China Morning Post) Big Media Isn't Ready to Fight Back (Netflix Misunderstandings, Pt. 5) (Redef) Why 'ji32k7au4a83' Is a Remarkably Common Password (Gizmodo) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 4, 2019
Facebook lets randos look you up by your phone number; Huawei is about to sue the U.S. government; a Vermont law exposes more than 100 data brokers; USB 4 is announced; Facebook offers a way to log in with your face...kind of; and the W3C has a new standard that promises to do away with passwords forever. Sponsors: Keeps - https://keeps.com/techmeme MetaLab - https://metalab.co Links: Facebook won’t let you opt-out of its phone number ‘look up’ setting (TechCrunch) Scammers abused Facebook phone number search (BBC News) Huawei Said to Be Preparing to Sue the U.S. Government (New York Times) Here are the data brokers quietly buying and selling your personal information (Fast Company) With USB 4, Thunderbolt 3’s benefits become open to all (The Verge) USB Promoter Group Announces USB4 Specification (AP News) Harry McCracken's Facebook tweet (Twitter) Facebook explains how it’ll review nude photos to stop revenge porn (The Verge) Facebook’s New CAPTCHA Test: ‘Upload a Clear Photo of Your Face’ (Wired) W3C approves WebAuthn as the web standard for password-free logins (VentureBeat) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 3, 2019
So, I hope you read the piece I mentioned in the long reads, Called Outgrowing Advertising, by Andreessen Horowitz's general partner Connie Chan. Link in the show notes. Again, I think this points a way forward for the one trick pony-ism that I've bemoaned on this podcast. A model for new startups now that the low hanging fruit of "let's just get to a billion users and throw some ads up" is kinda, sorta, done. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 2, 2019
It's rare that I've seen an investigative piece get as much pickup as The Trauma Floor, Casey Newton's look at the secret lives of Facebook content moderators. It was all anyone could talk about at the beginning of the week. Hope you've read it. If not, link in the show notes. So... simple. We're gonna talk to Casey and dig a bit deeper. How did this story happen? What has the reaction been? And a couple of the implications of the piece, at least to me. THE TRAUMA FLOOR (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 1, 2019
Lyft officially files for its IPO and do the numbers reveal concern for Uber, New York wants Jeff Bezos to reconsider, Tesla slashes prices, physical sales trump downloads when it comes to music, and the weekend longreads suggestions. Sponsors: Tiny.website DatadogHQ.com/ridehome Links: Lyft's financials show a $911 million loss ahead of its IPO (CNBC) Amazon stops selling Dash buttons, goofy forerunners of the connected home (CNET) U.S. Music Industry Posts Third Straight Year of Double-Digit Growth as Streaming Soars 30% (Variety) Andrew Cuomo Speaks With Jeff Bezos, Hints of ‘Other Ways’ to Clear Path for Amazon’s Return (NYTimes) The $35,000 Tesla Model 3 has arrived—but it comes with a price (TechCrunch) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: Do You Trust Your VPN? Are You Sure? (Slate) Is Cloudflare a privacy champion or hate speech enabler? Depends who you ask (Fast Company) The Car That Killed Glamour (The Atlantic) How Disney Built Star Wars, in real life (TechCrunch) THE TRAUMA FLOOR (The Verge) Outgrowing Advertising: Multimodal Business Models as a Product Strategy (A16Z/Connie Chan) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 28, 2019
Amazon Day gives you the ability to schedule your Prime Deliveries, Motorola teases more details about the foldable resurrection of the Razr phone, the state of the smartwatch market, and seemingly every messaging platform might soon have a crypto coin. Sponsors: Tiny.Website DataDogHQ.com/ridehome Links: Amazon Prime members can choose a weekly delivery date with launch of 'Amazon Day' (TechCrunch) Motorola confirms its foldable phone is coming (Engadget) Apple self-driving car layoffs hit 190 employees in Santa Clara, Sunnyvale (San Francisco Chronicle) Apple shipped 9.2M Apple Watch units in Q4 2018 to capture half of market, report says (AppleInsider) Uber and Lyft drivers will reportedly get stock in the highly anticipated IPOs (CNBC) Facebook and Telegram Are Hoping to Succeed Where Bitcoin Failed (NYTimes) Mozilla updates Common Voice dataset with 1,400 hours of speech across 18 languages (Venture Beat) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 27, 2019
Fast flash storage for phones, TikTok passes a billion downloads, FedEx rolls out its own delivery bot, why you might be overpaying for cloud computing and why China wants to map the faces of pigs. Sponsors: Tiny.website DataDogHQ.com/ridehome Links: Samsung's new 512GB flash chip is twice as fast as its predecessor (Engadget) TikTok was bigger than Instagram last year after passing the 1 billion download mark (Business Insider) Machine learning can boost the value of wind energy (Google's The Keyword Blog) FedEx unveils autonomous delivery robot (The Verge) Threads emerges from stealth with $10.5M from Sequoia for a new take on enabling work conversations (TechCrunch) As AWS Use Soars, Companies Surprised by Cloud Bills (The Information) Containers may be leading to cloud computing cost overruns (ZDNet) Rotten Tomatoes tweaks audience ratings system to thwart online trolls (The Los Angeles Times) China’s Tech Firms Are Mapping Pig Faces (NYTimes) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 26, 2019
The Game of Thrones when it comes to modern tech platforms is very much up in the air, Satya Nadella defends making the HoloLens for the US Army, could the FTC undo previous tech mergers and that big Casey Newton piece about Facebook content moderators. Sponsors: Tiny.website DataDogHQ.com/ridehome Links: Apple Music Integration Possibly Coming to Google Home Devices (MacRumors) Apple Plans Sleep Tracking Feature for Future Watch (Bloomberg) Microsoft CEO defends US military contract that some employees say crosses a line (CNN Business) New FTC task force will take on tech monopolies (The Verge) Coinbase Lists Controversial Cryptocurrency XRP, Price Jumps 10% (Fortune) This 18,000mAh battery has a phone in it (The Verge) THE TRAUMA FLOOR (The Verge) Facebook Grappling With Employee Anger Over Moderator Conditions (Bloomberg) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 25, 2019
It’s a whole slew of headlines from Mobile World Congress: more foldable phones, dates for 5G chip sets and 5G coverage rollouts, and Microsoft unveils its HoloLens2. Plus: why Wikidata proves the bots still need us. Sponsors: Wix.com/podcast DataDogHQ.com/ridehome Links: MICROSOFT’S HOLOLENS 2: A $3,500 MIXED REALITY HEADSET FOR THE FACTORY, NOT THE LIVING ROOM (The Verge) Huawei Launches the Mate X: Folding in a New Direction (AnAndTech) I held the future in my hands, and it was foldable (TheVerge) Sprint’s 5G network launches in May (The Verge) T-Mobile delays full 600MHz 5G launch until second half of 2019 (CNET) microSD Express unlocks hyper-fast data speeds for mobile devices (Engadget) SanDisk and Micron announce the world’s first 1TB microSD card (MSPowerUser.com) The latest Android devices now let you log into apps without requiring a password (The Verge) INSIDE THE ALEXA-FRIENDLY WORLD OF WIKIDATA (Wired) Princeton Tech Meetup Details Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 24, 2019
Taylor Lorenz, over at the Atlantic has the influencer beat down. I’ve told you about so many of her stories, often as longreads. You think influencers… the universe of YouTube stars, Instagram stars, social media stars generally is a niche thing? No way. This is already a huge industry with a ton of money sloshing around in it, and Taylor covers it better than anyone else. Sponsors: Bubble.is (coupon code "ride") Burrow.com/tech Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 23, 2019
Last week there was a bunch of gaming news, and if you’ll recall, I put a shout out to see if anyone could tell me what the heck is going on in the gaming space. Well, Jason Schreier, the news editor of Kotaku answered my Bat Signal, and so, here it is. The state of the video game industry, how has Fortnite changed it, does Fornite have a competitor in Apex legends, and even… what is the state of VR gaming? Sponsors: Burrow.com/tech Bubble.is (coupon code "ride") Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 22, 2019
Facebook is shutting down its controversial Onavo app, Google’s streaming gaming service might get some hardware to go along with it, the most acquisitive unicorns and the weekend longreads suggestions. Here’s what you missed today in the world of tech. Sponsors: The Castro Podcast App Legacybox.com/ride Lighstream.com/ride Links: Facebook will shut down its spyware VPN app Onavo (TechCrunch) Samsung will extend Bixby button remapping to premium Galaxy phones running Android Pie (The Verge) Source: Google plans to announce long-rumored ‘Yeti’ hardware at GDC event (9to5Google) Airbnb, Automattic, And Pinterest Top Rank Of Most Acquisitive Unicorns (Crunchbase News) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: Late Night Linux Podcast HOW APPLE’S ENTERPRISE APP PROGRAM BECAME THE NEW WILD WEST OF MOBILE APPS (The Verge) “SHE NEVER LOOKS BACK”: INSIDE ELIZABETH HOLMES’S CHILLING FINAL MONTHS AT THERANOS (Vanity Fair) It Started With a Jolt: How New York Became a Tech Town (NYTimes) Guidemaster: The least-awful Android phones (Ars Technica) The curse of the Twitter reply guy (Mashable) YouTube Story 1: Study blames YouTube for rise in number of Flat Earthers (The Guardian) YouTube Story 2: YouTube Unleashed a Conspiracy Theory Boom. Can It Be Contained? (NYTimes) YouTube Story 3: How YouTube helps flat-earthers organize (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 21, 2019
Take-aways from all the hands-on reports with the new Samsung Galaxy S10 phones, hands-OFF reports about the Galaxy Fold, Apple teams up with Goldman Sachs on a new credit card, YouTube faces yet another scandal running ads on horrible content, and a look at how law enforcement grabbing location data from Google using "reverse location search warrants." Sponsors: DataDogHQ.com/ridehome Castro Podcast App Links: Samsung Galaxy S10 and S10+ hands-on (Engadget) You can remap the Bixby button on Samsung’s Galaxy S10 to do whatever you want (The Verge) The Galaxy Fold makes no sense as a consumer device yet (The Verge) Apple, Goldman Sachs Team Up on Credit Card Paired With iPhone (Wall Street Journal) Nestle, Disney Pull YouTube Ads, Joining Furor Over Child Videos (Bloomberg) On YouTube, a network of paedophiles is hiding in plain sight (Wired UK) Youtube is Facilitating the Sexual Exploitation of Children, and it's Being Monetized (2019) (Matt Watson, YouTube) YouTube terminates more than 400 channels following child exploitation controversy (The Verge) Close Enough (Slate/Future Tense) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 20, 2019
The foldable phone is here! And some regular new Galaxies too. Other stuff... (I'm late posting today... sorry! In a rush!) Sponsors: Castro Podcast App DataDogHQ.com/ridehome joybird.com/RIDE - 25% off your first order using code RIDE Links: Samsung’s foldable phone is the Galaxy Fold, available April 26th starting at $1,980 (The Verge) Xiaomi's triple-camera Mi 9 has a fast 20W wireless charger (Engadget) Google says the built-in microphone it never told Nest users about was 'never supposed to be a secret' (Business Insider) Google Set To Unveil Netflix-Like Game Streaming Service (Fortune) Apple Plans on Combining iPhone, iPad, Mac Apps by 2021 (Bloomberg) Princeton Tech Meetup 69 w/ Brian McCullough Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 19, 2019
Qualcomm unveils a second gen 5G chip, Huawei’s founder hits back at the US, his biggest investors push back at Masa Son, and why emoji are causing problems in increasing numbers of court cases. Sponsors: The Castro Podcast App Promocode Ride at Vistaprint.com Links: Before the first 5G phone is out, Qualcomm is already moving on to its second-gen 5G modem (The Verge) The US cannot crush us, says Huawei founder (BBC News) How Huawei Targets Apple Trade Secrets (The Information) Walmart’s US e-commerce sales up 43% in Q4, thanks to growing online grocery business (TechCrunch) Key Investors Are Unhappy With SoftBank Tech-Investment Fund (WSJ) Mining Giant Bitmain Posts $500 Million Loss in IPO Financial Filing (Coindesk) Emoji are showing up in court cases exponentially, and courts aren’t prepared (TheVerge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 18, 2019
Parliament calls Facebook a “digital gangster,” Australia’s Parliament was hacked, a full year of Apple lineup rumors, and since it’s a holiday here in the US, a mini longread segment. Sponsors: The Castro Podcast App Flatironschool.com/techmeme Links: UK parliament calls for antitrust, data abuse probe of Facebook (TechCrunch) Australia's major political parties hacked in 'sophisticated' attack ahead of election (The Sydney Morning Herald) Kuo: 16-inch MacBook Pro, 31-inch 6K display, iPhones w/ upgraded Face ID & bilateral wireless charging coming in 2019 (9to5Mac) Etsy sellers say their bank accounts were emptied in major billing snafu (BoingBoing) Elroy Air raises $9.2 million for delivery drones that can carry up to 500 pounds (VentureBeat) Google’s Waymo risks repeating Silicon Valley’s most famous blunder (ArsTechnica) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 17, 2019
Mark Gurman of Bloomberg, the reporter who gets Apple scoops like no other. Quick catch up with Mark about his recent scoops, but also some Apple analysis in general: Apple has spent as much as 3 billion dollars on its original content for its new streaming service. But… they have probably fewer than 10 original movies locked and loaded. When it comes to “Project Titan,” Apple’s self driving car project, Apple still doesn’t have any idea where any of this is headed. I was skeptical we’d actually see an Apple AR headset. Actual Apple Googles. Mark thinks we really will... but not until 2021, or 2022. Sponsors: Capterra.com/ride LinkedIn.com/ride Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 16, 2019
Remember that first weekend longread from yesterday, from NBC’s Tech Correspondent Jacob Ward? As I said, it triggered some things that I’ve been thinking about for a while. About data and data harvesting and data capitalism. So, I reached out to Jacob to delve further, and I’m glad I did. Super provocative deeper dive into the ideas of THIS piece: Why data, not privacy, is the real danger (NBC News) Sponsors: Capterra.com/ride LinkedIn.com/ride Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 15, 2019
More fallout and analysis of Amazon ghosting NYC, more signs of blockchain actually taking hold on Wall Street, Samsung’s lineup of gadgets leaks and of course, the weekend longreads suggestions. Sponsors: Tiny.website DataDogHQ.com/ridehome Links: The U.S. government and Facebook are negotiating a record, multibillion-dollar fine for the company’s privacy lapses (The Washington Post) Amazon’s Escape From New York (Bloomberg BusinessWeek) Copyright Office Refuses Registration for 'Fresh Prince' Star Alfonso Ribeiro's "Carlton Dance" (The Hollywood Reporter) HSBC forex trading costs cut sharply by blockchain - executive (Reuters) Samsung leaks entire new wearables lineup through its own app (The Verge) Weekend Longreads: The Strong Web (podcast suggestion) Why data, not privacy, is the real danger (NBCNews) Uber’s Secret Gold Mine: How Uber Eats Is Turning Into A Billion-Dollar Business To Rival Grubhub (Forbes) Zillow Wants to Flip Your House (Bloomberg BusinessWeek) The Strange Experience of Being Australia’s First Tech Billionaires (NYTimes) The Secret History of Women in Coding (NYTimes Magazine) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 14, 2019
Amazon says thank you, but no thank you, to New York City, JP Morgan has its own crypto token, Google might try to come at the iPhone on price, and the legendary Lee Clow retires. Sponsors: Tiny.website DataDogHQ.com/ridehome Links: Amazon Pulls Out of Planned New York City Headquarters (NYTimes) JP Morgan is rolling out the first US bank-backed cryptocurrency to transform payments business (CNBC) Google plans cheaper smartphone to draw users into internet empire (Nikkei Asian Review) Software pirates use Apple tech to put hacked apps on iPhones (Reuters) Lee Clow, mastermind behind Apple’s ‘Think Different’ & ‘Get a Mac’ campaigns retires (9to5Mac) The Tiny Type Museum and Time Capsule (Glenn Fleishman) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 13, 2019
An Apple event focused on services, a former Apple Vice President charged with insider trading, the larger gaming industry is having issues, and why your GPS device might have issues on April 6th of this year. Sponsors: Tiny.website Wix.com/podcast DataDogHQ.com/ridehome Links: Apple Plans News Event For March 25 (BuzzFeed News) Publishers Chafe at Apple’s Terms for Subscription News Service (WSJ) The former Apple lawyer who was supposed to keep employees from insider trading has been charged with insider trading (CNBC) Amazon opens up Alexa store for anyone to create and publish custom skills (The Verge) Activision Blizzard cuts hundreds of jobs despite ‘record revenue’ year (Polygon) Fun fact: GPS uses 10 bits to store the week. That means it runs out... oh heck – April 6, 2019 (The Register) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 12, 2019
Amazon acquires Eero, Apple is putting marketing muscle behind AR, looks like everyone was abusing Apple’s Enterprise Certificate program, and the new video game sensation giving Fortnite a run for its money. Sponsors: DataDogHQ.com/ridehome Tiny.website Links: Why Amazon buying Eero feels so disappointing (The Verge) Your Smart Light Can Tell Amazon and Google When You Go to Bed (Bloomberg) Apple Taps iPhone Executive to Be First Head of Marketing for AR (Bloomberg) Apple fails to block porn & gambling “Enterprise” apps (TechCrunch) More than 26 million people have taken an at-home ancestry test (MIT Technology Review) Apex Legends Quickly Surpasses Fortnite (Thurrott.com) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 11, 2019
The Trump Administration wants America to get serious about AI, Patch is actually profitable, Reddit raises a round, Apple Health for vets and hands on with AR navigation on Google Maps. Sponsors: Tiny.website DataDogHQ.com/ridehome Links: Trump to lay out an AI plan (Axios) US military equipped with tiny spy drones (ZDNet) It’s the Real World—With Google Maps Layered on Top (WSJ) The alternative to your dying local paper is written by one person, a robot, and you (Recode) Reddit raised $300 million at a $3 billion valuation — now it's ready to take on Facebook and Google (CNBC) Driverless delivery startup Nuro gets $940 million SoftBank investment (Reuters) Apple teaming up with US Department of Veterans Affairs to bring digital health records to iPhone (9to5Mac) When Amazon Went From Big to Unbelievably Big (The Atlantic) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 10, 2019
Remember this longread piece? Is Spotify’s Model Wiping Out Music’s Middle Class? It's stuck with me because, a) I didn't quite understand how the math worked out and b) I thought it was an interesting take on the ARTIST side of the equation as we move to a streaming/subscription/one-app-for-that future. So, we're talking to the author of the piece, Victor Luckerson, for more insight. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 9, 2019
I’ve told you plenty that this year, one of the big narratives, one of THE big stories... will be 5G. But what exactly IS 5G? Well, I spoke to Peter Linder, the head of 5G marketing, and evangelist at Ericsson. Here are all the answers to your questions, to prepare us for Mobile World Congress, which is coming later this month, and where all of this 5G stuff might finally begin to happen. For real. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 8, 2019
Yes, we’re gonna talk about the Bezos thing, is Amazon reconsidering HQ2, Sprint sues over 5G, maybe digital media is just fine, and the weekend longreads suggestions. Sponsors: FlatironSchool.com/techmeme Metalab.co Links: No thank you, Mr. Pecker (Jeff Bezos on Medium) Facing opposition, Amazon reconsiders NY headquarters site, two officials say (Washington Post) Sprint sues AT&T over its fake 5G branding (Engadget) Google warns about two iOS zero-days 'exploited in the wild' (ZDNet) Can Subscriptions Save All Media Companies, or Just the New York Times? (NYMag) Amid bad news in the industry, Business Insider parent says it crossed $100m revenue mark and is profitable (Digiday) The Weekend Longreads Suggestions: How To Be Awesome At Your Job (Podcast) “Do We Want to Be in Business?” The Strange, Never-Ending Saga of MoviePass (The Ringer) The CRISPR machines that can wipe out entire species (Cnet) Inside Wisconsin’s Disastrous $4.5 Billion Deal With Foxconn (Bloomberg Businessweek) Fortnite Is the Future, but Probably Not for the Reasons You Think (Redef) FINDING LENA, THE PATRON SAINT OF JPEGS (Wired) https://kimberlite.fm/ridehome/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 7, 2019
Germany is this week’s headache for Facebook, Twitter mixes up its MAU and DAU game, Cluno is subscriptions but for cars and Optimus Ride is what we mean by starting small with autonomous vehicles. Sponsors: Metalab.co DataDogHQ.com/ridehome Links: Facebook ordered by Germany to gather and mix less data (BBC) How Facebook’s Tiny China Sales Floor Helps Generate Big Ad Money (NYTimes) Twitter Q4 Earnings (TechCrunch) Skype Can Now Blur Your Background So You Don't Have to Frantically Tidy Your Room (Gizmodo) Car subscription service Cluno scores $28M in Series B funding (TechCrunch) Another self-driving car startup is starting small, and that’s a good thing (The Verge) Original WWII German message decrypts to go on display at National Museum of Computing (The Register) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 6, 2019
THE expert on the Podcasting Industry breaks down today's big news. Subscribe to Nick's newsletter, HotPod. This episode has a full transcript. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 6, 2019
Podcasting has its biggest news day ever, some pretty big executive shakeups, the new emojis for 2019 and how to steal a million dollars from an ATM without anyone noticing. Sponsors: QCon.ai Promocode: QCONAI2019 Metalab.co Links: Spotify has bought two podcast startups and it wants to buy more (ReCode) Relaxation app Calm raises $88 million, valuing it $1 billion (CNBC) Facebook’s top PR exec is leaving (ReCode) 230 New Emojis in Final List for 2019 (EmojiPedia) Programmer finds ridiculous ATM loophole that let him withdraw $1 million in cash (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 5, 2019
It’s getting more expensive for Google to make money, Facebook turns fifteen, choosing your own adventure is becoming a trend, and one specific way Fortnite is measurably bigger than the Super Bowl. Sponsors: Metalab.co DataDogHQ.com/ridehome Eero.com/ride and code: ride at checkout Links: Being Google is getting very expensive (QZ) Zuckerberg's Facebook Post Facebook Makes First Blockchain Acquisition With Chainspace: Sources (Cheddar) Boring Game Plus New Orleans Rebellion Leads to Ratings Drop (NYTimes) 'Fortnite' Had 10 Million Concurrent Players In The Marshmello Concert Event (Forbes) iPhone XR Review (AnAndTech) Amazon Alexa Now Lets You Choose Your Own Adventure (Geek.com) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 4, 2019
Soon you can play Xbox live everywhere, Google unveils Live Transcribe, Slack files to go public, the most crypto story ever and why CAPTCHA’s have gotten so difficult. Sponsors: QCon.ai - Save $75 with code: QCONAI2019 Metalab.co Links: Microsoft wants to bring Xbox Live cross-platform gaming to Android, iOS, Nintendo Switch, and more (WindowsCentral) Slack confidentially files to go public (CNBC) Crypto Exchange Says It Can't Repay $190 Million to Clients After Founder Dies With Only Password (Gizmodo) Locast, a Free App Streaming Network TV, Would Love to Get Sued (NYTimes) MacBook keyboard failures could end with introduction of glass panel keyboards (AppleInsider) WHY CAPTCHAS HAVE GOTTEN SO DIFFICULT (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 3, 2019
Ars Technica's Timothy B. Lee gives me odds on my self-driving car wager. Sponsor: Eero.com/ride promocode: ride Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 2, 2019
For years, Jay Yarrow and Farhad Manjoo had a podcast, the Jay and Farhad show. You might remember Jay from his time at BusinessInsider (he’s an executive editor at CNBC now) and Farhad of course is a NYTimes columnist. Well, they stopped doing the podcast late last year, which was a super bummer for a lot of us. Jay and Farhad had a super cool chemistry and I know a lot of people for whom the show was unmissable. Well, I got Jay and Farhad to put the band back together, so you’re about to hear a special reunion episode of the Jay and Farhad show! We talk Apple! Facebook! Layoffs! (No twitter, oddly...) It's great! Sponsors: Vistaprint.com. Code: ride Burrow.com/tech Code: tech Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 1, 2019
Turns out Google poked Apple in the eye also, layoffs hit Vice, Amazon reports earnings and reports that a ton of people responded to that minimum wage hike, and of course, the weekend longreads suggestions. Sponsors: DataDogHQ.com/ridehome Tiny.website Links: Apple restores Google's internal iOS apps after certificate misuse punishment (TechCrunch) Twitter removed some accounts originating in Iran, Russia and Venezuela that targeted U.S. midterm election (The Washington Post) Vice Media to Reorganize, Lay Off 10 Percent of Staff (Exclusive) (The Hollywood Reporter) Why the Outlook for Digital Media Behemoths is Worse than You Think (Talking Points Memo) Amazon Notches Third Record Profit in a Row (WSJ) Americans are lining up to work for Amazon for $15 an hour (QZ) Why Alexa usually won’t respond when someone says ‘Alexa’ on TV (VentureBeat) The SmartTouchUSA.com Weekend Longreads Suggestions The ShopTalkShow podcast Is Alexa working? (Benedict Evans) As I.P.O. Approaches, Lyft’s Chief Is Nudged Into the Spotlight (NYTimes) Why Technology Hasn’t Fixed the Housing Crisis (NYTimes) The Secrets of Lyndon Johnson’s Archives (The New Yorker) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 31, 2019
Facebook returns to growth, iPhones might be getting USB-C and 3D cameras, Hulu’s launching pause-ads, and on Reddit, it’s paintings of paintings of paintings of birds, all the way down. Sponsors: Tiny.website DataDogHQ.com/ridehome Links: Mark Zuckerberg wants to get back to building new Facebook products (ReCode) Nintendo cuts Switch sales forecast despite strong holiday season (The Verge) Apple Is Planning 3-D Cameras for New iPhones in AR Push (Bloomberg) HACKERS ARE PASSING AROUND A MEGALEAK OF 2.2 BILLION RECORDS (Wired) Hulu announces a new ad unit that appears when you pause (TechCrunch) The Reddit Painting Links: The orig post Tweet storm showing the painting progression The painting tree illustrated on github Flipboard Links: https://flipboard.com/@thomasgalla1pp6/techmeme-ride-home-daily-podcast-tc2a63l7y https://flipboard.com/@thomasgalla1pp6/techmeme-ride-home-weekend-long-reads-m64k8fj9y Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 30, 2019
Facebook decides to mix it up a bit: what if we had a scandal that pissed off our business partners? Apple’s earnings are mixed but you can see where they’re going with this. Why Americans no longer answer the phone and are you ready for 1TB smartphones? Sponsors: DataDogHQ.com/ridehome Tiny.website Links: Facebook pays teens to install VPN that spies on them (TechCrunch) Apple blocks Facebook from running its internal iOS apps (The Verge) Apple Reports First Quarter Results (Apple Newsroom) Report: Americans got 26.3 billion robocalls last year, up 46 percent from 2017 (Washington Post) 1TB phones are coming and I’m so f***ing ready (TNW) Flipboards: https://flipboard.com/@thomasgalla1pp6/techmeme-ride-home-daily-podcast-tc2a63l7y https://flipboard.com/@thomasgalla1pp6/techmeme-ride-home-weekend-long-reads-m64k8fj9y Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 29, 2019
Pretty major FaceTime bug from Apple, the DOJ makes it’s case against Huawei, the first successful ICO of the year and what Bluetooth ‘direction finding’ might do for you. Sponsors: Tiny.website DataDogHQ.com/ridehome Links: Major iPhone FaceTime bug lets you hear the audio of the person you are calling … before they pick up (9to5Mac) U.S. Charges Huawei With Stealing Trade Secrets, Bank Fraud (Bloomberg) BitTorrent Tokens Sold Out in Under 15 Minutes, Netting Over $7 Mln (CoinTelegraph) Bluetooth gains ‘direction finding’ for location accuracy to the centimeter (VentureBeat) After backlash, BuzzFeed says it will pay out earned paid time off to laid off employees (CNN Business) Aiming to change the way people take medicine, Lyndra Therapeutics raises $55 million (TechCrunch) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 28, 2019
An Apple subscription gaming service? Is Facebook Watch still alive? The GDPR floodgates are truly open. And losing to AI’s might have some benefits. Sponsors: DataDogHQ.com/ridehome Tiny.website Links: Apple Plans Gaming Subscription Service: Sources (Cheddar) A Tiny Screw Shows Why iPhones Won’t Be ‘Assembled in U.S.A.’ (NYTimes) China created a unicorn every 3.8 days in 2018 (South China Morning Post) China's smartphone shipments dropped 14 percent in 2018 (TechCrunch) Facebook Watch Isn’t Living Up to Its Name (Bloomberg) Google and IAB ad category lists show 'massive leakage of highly intimate data,' GDPR complain claims (TechCrunch) AI Helps Amputees Walk With a Robotic Knee (IEEE Spectrum) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 27, 2019
One of my favorite people to read is the Wall Street Journal tech columnist Chris Mims. We talked about his piece this week positing that email was back, baby! And I read a piece he did a while back about the new way of constructing super energy efficient homes, but when I did the email piece and remembered he did a piece recently about how I’m more likely to get a burrito delivered to me for lunch than to have my self-driving wager come in by commuting to work in a robot car, I knew it was time to hit up Chris to come on the pod. He’s a listener! This episode has a full transcript. The posts we discuss: The Hot New Channel for Reaching Real People: Email Why Your Ice Cream Will Ride in a Self-Driving Car Before You Do Sponsors: Squarespace.com/listen Risk! Podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 26, 2019
Given all the news of layoffs in the digital media space this week, I knew I couldn't sit on this interview with Rafat Ali any longer. Currently the founder and CEO of digital media company Skift—but also, if you weren’t aware, a true digital media pioneer going back to his founding of Paid Content—I knew he could talk about this stuff, and he has a pretty unique perspective on the state of digital media in 2019. TLDR, it’s not good. Dire might even be the word. This episode has a full transcript. Sponsor: Capterra.com/ride Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 25, 2019
Now the AIs can defeat us at StarCraft II (too?), Zuckerberg wants to unify his collection of messaging apps, my grand unifying theory for the streaming video wars and of course the weekend longreads suggestions. Sponsors: Juniper.net/try Metalab.co Links: Zuckerberg Plans to Integrate WhatsApp, Instagram and Facebook Messenger (NYTimes) Facebook knowingly duped game-playing kids and their parents out of money (Reveal) Facebook ignored kids’ spending problems, internal documents reveal (BBC News) DeepMind AI Challenges Pro StarCraft II Players, Wins Almost Every Match (ExtremeTech) Coming to a TV near you: personalized ads (Axios) The SmartTouchUSA.com Weekend Longreads: From Founder to CEO (podcast) EVERYBODY DOES IT: THE MESSY TRUTH ABOUT INFILTRATING COMPUTER SUPPLY CHAINS (The Intercept) Katzenberg and Whitman: Hollywood’s New Odd Couple (Fortune) Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey: The Rolling Stone Interview (Rolling Stone) “The Linux of social media”—How LiveJournal pioneered (then lost) blogging (ArsTechnica) Reddit’s r/changemyview is a template for how all online discussion should be (TNW) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 24, 2019
Bing’s Schrodinger-style China Ban, headphones from Sonos, flying cars from Boeing, layoffs for project Titan, and the serious ongoing layoffs in the digital media world. Sponsors: Lightstream.com/ride Metalab.co DatadogHQ.com/ridehome Stories from: @pkafka, @markgurman Tweets: @stroughtonsmith Links: China Appears to Block Microsoft’s Bing as Censorship Intensifies (NYTimes) Sonos Plans Headphones in Move Outside the Home (Bloomberg) Boeing’s ‘flying car’ lifts off in race to revolutionize urban transport (VentureBeat) The U.S. Government Shutdown Has Delivered A Surprise Blow To Bitcoin (Forbes) Apple just dismissed more than 200 employees from Project Titan, its autonomous vehicle group (CNBC) Verizon Media Group is laying off 7% of its staff (CNBC) BuzzFeed is laying off more than 200 people, its second round of cuts in 14 months (Recode) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 23, 2019
YouTube TV goes nationwide, Jony Ive’s dream phone design, Patreon milestones and is Spotify killing music’s middle class? Sponsors: Joybird.com/RIDE ... Promocode RIDE Metalab.co Links: YouTube TV finally goes nationwide almost two years after launch (The Verge) Hulu drops to just $5.99 per month after Netflix’s price hikes (The Verge) Waymo says it will build self-driving cars in Michigan (Reuters) Xiaomi's flexible phone concept folds on both sides (Engadget) Meizu Zero debuts with no physical buttons, speaker or charging port (GSMarena) Millions and Billions | Celebrating Patrons, Creators, and Major Milestones (Patreon Blog) Digitimes: AirPods 2 launching in first half of this year, redesigned to support ‘health monitoring’ features (9to5Mac) Spotify Will Soon Let You Block Artists (Thurrot.com) The economics of streaming is making songs shorter (QZ) Is Spotify’s Model Wiping Out Music’s Middle Class? (The Ringer) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 22, 2019
Munchery bites the big one, Foxconn considers moving production to India, Netflix wants a seat at the adults table, and, yes, even guitar tech is now tech. Sponsors: Metalab.co DatadogHQ.com/ridehome Links: Munchery closes on-demand meal-delivery business (San Francisco Chronicle) Foxconn Looks Beyond China to India for iPhone Assembly (WSJ) Apple Supplier in Japan Looks to Taiwan for Bailout After iPhone XR Letdown (WSJ) Apple Pay coming to Target, Taco Bell and more top US retail locations (Apple Newsroom) Netflix in advanced talks to join major Hollywood lobbying group (Politico) Rosetta Stone for iPhone adds AI to identify objects for live translations (VentureBeat) FENDER'S NEW ACOUSTIC GUITAR HAS A MILLION DIFFERENT VOICES (Wired) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 21, 2019
The GDPR fines begin, but the EU “link tax” might be in trouble, Uber wants self driving scooters, and why email is back, baby! (Hint: it never left.) Sponsors: Flatironschool.com/podcast Metalab.co Links: French data protection watchdog fines Google $57 million under the GDPR (TechCrunch) Copyright negotiations hit a brick wall in Council (Julia Reda) Uber is exploring autonomous bikes and scooters (TechCrunch) A POKER-PLAYING ROBOT GOES TO WORK FOR THE PENTAGON (Wired) Amazon helped 50,000 SMBs generate $500,000 in sales (Neowin) The Hot New Channel for Reaching Real People: Email (WSJ) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 20, 2019
Ali's Medium Post: Land of the Super Founders On this bonus episode, we’re going to revisit a past weekend longread suggestion and talk to the author of that longread to go further in-depth. Do you remember I recommended Land of the Super Founders a medium piece by Ali Tamaseb who spent 300 hours gathering data on unicorn startups to answer the simple question what did billion-dollar startups look like when they were getting started? What common traits did they share? This episode has a full transcript. Sponsor: Squarespace.com/listen Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 19, 2019
This week had a lot of health tech news in it… a lot of it broken by CNBC’s health tech reporter Christina Farr. So, I reached out to Christina to chat, and we discussed Amazon getting into healthcare—possibly even getting into health insurance—what Apple’s health strategy is, where health tech might go beyond wearables and how the healthcare industry is responding to Silicon Valley invading their turf. This episode has a full transcript. Sponsor: Squarespace.com/listen Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 18, 2019
Netflix starts to open up, Cortana stops competing, gadget reviews now include shoes as a category and the weekend longreads suggestions. Sponsors: DataDogHQ.com/ridehome Tiny.website Links: Netflix beats on subscriber growth, but misses slightly on revenue — stock falls after hours (CNBC) It’s Official: Satya Nadella Confirms Cortana Defeat (Thurrott) Nike's auto-laced future (TechCrunch) NIKE'S NEW SELF-LACING BASKETBALL SHOE IS ACTUALLY SMART (Wired) The SmartTouchUSA.com Weekened Longreads Drone Radio Show Delivery Drones Use Bird-Inspired Legs to Jump Into the Air (IEEE Spectrum) Why Do Shareholders Agree to Give Up Voting Rights? (New York Magazine) The Attention Economy Is a Malthusian Trap (The Atlantic) The Story Behind Meta, the AR Startup That Just Had Its Assets Sold to a Mystery Buyer (Variety) Rekindled yet again, Nokia’s next-gen phones offer more than just nostalgia (Digital Trends) INSIDE THE STRANGE YET PROFITABLE WORLD OF RETAIL ARBITRAGE (Mel Magazine) EA’s Troubled Decade Of Star Wars Games (Kotaku) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 17, 2019
Tim Cook calls for a data-broker clearinghouse, a possible criminal case against Huawei, the largest leak of user credentials ever found in the wild, and why we probably need a Unix for machine learning. Sponsors: Tiny.website DataDogHQ.com/ridehome Links: Removing Coordinated Inauthentic Behavior from Russia (Facebook Newsroom) You Deserve Privacy Online. Here’s How You Could Actually Get It (Time) I Mentored Mark Zuckerberg. I Loved Facebook. But I Can't Stay Silent About What's Happening. (Time) Huawei Targeted in U.S. Criminal Probe for Alleged Theft of Trade Secrets (WSJ) HACK BRIEF: AN ASTONISHING 773 MILLION RECORDS EXPOSED IN MONSTER BREACH (Wired) AWS For Everyone: New clues emerge about Amazon’s secretive low-code/no-code project (GeekWire) Former Facebook engineer picks up $15M for AI platform Spell (TechCrunch) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 16, 2019
More high profile execs quit Snap, Apple’s in talks to get more Apple Watches in the hands of seniors, the state of the App Economy, and the Razr is coming back to herald in the era of the bendable phone. Sponsors: DataDogHQ.com/ridehome (DataDog's Blog Post on Container Trends) Tiny.website Links: WeWork’s CEO Makes Millions as Landlord to WeWork (WSJ) Apple is in talks with private Medicare plans about bringing its watch to at-risk seniors (CNBC) App economy expected to be $120 billion in 2019 as small screen leads digital transformation efforts (ZDNet) FACEBOOK'S '10 YEAR CHALLENGE' IS JUST A HARMLESS MEME—RIGHT? (Wired) Madagascar has become a business outsourcing hotspot thanks to its super-fast internet (QZ Africa) Return of the Razr—With a Foldable Screen and $1,500 Price (WSJ) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 15, 2019
Netflix raises prices, maybe the Apple battery replacement WAS a big deal after all, cops can’t force you to unlock your phone with your face, and Amazon is driving its retail competitors into the arms of Microsoft. Sponsors: Metalab.co DatadogHQ.com/ridehome Links: Netflix will raise prices for US subscribers, with its most popular plan going up to $13 per month (TechCrunch) Apple Q1 Numbers: Missing Explanations (Monday Note) ON APPLE’S $29 IPHONE BATTERY REPLACEMENT PROGRAM AND ITS ROLE IN THEIR EARNINGS MISS (Daring Fireball) MongoDB Follow-up, AWS’ Incentives, Batteries: The iPhone’s Missing Miss (Stratechery) Apple's 5G iPhone shift bogged down by Qualcomm chip battle (CNET) German court throws out Qualcomm's latest patent case against Apple (Reuters) Feds Can't Force You To Unlock Your iPhone With Finger Or Face, Judge Rules (Forbes) Microsoft counters Amazon again with big Walgreens partnership, aiming to reshape healthcare (GeekWire) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 14, 2019
Event sharing comes to stories, what this year’s CES says about where consumer tech is at the moment, and then a bunch of stories about what that means for the future in different ways, including wireless chips that suck power from the air, and the dilemma that voice assistants pose for the modern office. Sponsors: DataDogHQ.com/ridehome Tiny.website Links: Facebook’s new Stories feature for event sharing actually sounds useful (The Verge) CES 2019: A Show Report (Learn By Shipping/@stevesi) SoundGuys: USB-C audio is dead (Android Authority) Wiliot nabs $30M from Amazon, Avery Dennison, Samsung for a chip that runs on power from ambient radio frequencies (TechCrunch) The rise of Alexa creates a dilemma for your open plan office (Wired) A Picture Of An Egg Beat Kylie Jenner For The Most Liked Instagram Of All Time (BuzzFeed News) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 12, 2019
The great Howard Lindzon and I discuss how Wall Street is thinking of Tech right now, what Apple's deal is and what the prospects are for those big tech IPOs coming down the pike. This episode has a full transcript. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 11, 2019
Motherboard shames the telecom companies into not selling us out, shareholders are suing Alphabet’s board, the government shutdown claims more tech victims, Apple says, “We can add more cameras also!” and the weekend longreads suggestions. Sponsors: Go.Bitrise.io/ride Metalab.co Links: I Gave a Bounty Hunter $300. Then He Located Our Phone (Motherboard) AT&T says it’ll stop selling your location data, amid calls for a federal investigation (Washington Post) Google Board Sued for Hushing Claims of Executive Misconduct (Bloomberg) Government shutdown: TLS certificates not renewed, many websites are down (ZDNet) Apple Plans Three New iPhones This Year, Plays Catch-Up on Cameras (WSJ) Amazon Developing Game Streaming Service (The Information) The Smart Touch Weekend Longreads: Demon Underneath: John DeLorean and the Invention of the Future (The Outline) The Rise and Demise of RSS (Motherboard) Pitchfork’s Ryan Schreiber shaped Internet music journalism and now leaves it behind (Los Angeles Times) Inside look at modern web browser (part 1) (Developers.Google) The Race to Diagnose Cancer With a Simple Blood Test (2069 - Medium) Lasers vs. Microwaves: The Billion-Dollar Bet on the Future of Magnetic Storage (ieee Spectrum) PREPARING FOR Y2038 (ALREADY?!) (blogs.akamai) VOTE FOR THE RIDE HOME FOR BUZZFEED'S 2019 PODCAST LIST Or: email scott.bryan@buzzfeed.com and make sure "podcast" is in the subject line. Thx! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 10, 2019
We have a good idea when that foldable Samsung phone is coming, Google is actually close to a big legal win in Europe (for a change), the government shutdown might actually be affecting CES and why the “gig economy” might actually be a big nothingburger. Sponsors: Flatironschool.com/podcast Metalab.co Go.BitRide.io/ride Links: Samsung to Show Off Its New Foldable Phone in February (WSJ) Amazon Web Services calls MongoDB’s licensing bluff with DocumentDB, a new managed database (GeekWire) Google Nears Win in Europe Over ‘Right to Be Forgotten’ (WSJ) Google Only Has to Respect Your 'Right to Be Forgotten' in the EU, Court Says (Gizmodo) 2019 is already full of weird and wonderful monitors (The Verge) Government shutdown halts FCC device approvals (Axios) How Estimates of the Gig Economy Went Wrong (WSJ) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 9, 2019
Now we know why Google has gone so big at CES: they want to put Assistant in everything, the first foldable phone arrives at CES, Twitter wants to show you only half of an NBA game, and Marc Zuckerberg wants to host his own version of a podcast, I guess. Sponsors: go.bitrise.io/ride Metalab.co Links: GOOGLE’S PLAN TO TAKE ON ALEXA: NEW FEATURES, NEW DEVICES, AND A TROJAN HORSE (The Verge) The world’s first foldable phone is charmingly awful (The Verge) Twitter hopes you want to watch NBA games from a camera focused on just one player (Recode) Zuckerberg's 2019 Challenge Post VC funding in U.S. startups nears $100 billion in 2018, highest since dot-com era (GeekWire) Venture Capital Funding Report 2018 (CBInsights) Cable operators will fight off 5G with 10-gigabit cable modems (VentureBeat) This pretax benefits startup is giving hourly workers a raise (Fast Company) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 8, 2019
Are we in a smartphone recession, mooooaaaar tv new from CES, AT&T wants to make 5G confusing, and why WeWork is now, simply, We (company). Sponsors: Metalab.co go.bitrise.io/ride Links: Sorry, Samsung. Seems nobody is immune to peak smartphone (The Register) Apple’s Errors (Stratechery) Sony doubles down on 8K TVs and the entertainment to play on them (VentureBeat) AT&T decides 4G is now “5G,” starts issuing icon-changing software updates (ArsTechnica) Uber’s Confidential Documents Show Path to $90 Billion IPO (The Information) Exclusive: WeWork rebrands to The We Company; CEO Neumann talks about revised SoftBank round (Fast Company) Amazon's new ad strategy: Free samples based on what it knows about you (Axios) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 7, 2019
Is Apple willing to sacrifice Apple TV for the greater subscription good, is Google Assistant is coming to feature phones, what is the use-case for a tv you can roll up into a box, and plenty more like that because it’s time to let the CES headlines rain over you. Sponsors: go.bitrise.io/ride metalab.co Stories from: @henrytcasey, @AshleyRReports Tweets: @geoffreyfowler Links: Apple is putting iTunes on Samsung TVs (The Verge) Google Assistant will soon be on a billion devices, and feature phones are next (The Verge) Everything you may have missed from Nvidia's CES keynote (Techspot) HP Launches First-Ever AMD Chromebook (LaptopMag) Withings undercuts Apple Watch, debuts $129 ECG monitoring smartwatch (ArsTechnica) LG’s groundbreaking roll-up TV is going on sale this year (The Verge) Keeping up with Netflix originals is basically a part-time job now (QZ) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 4, 2019
The Verge and AT&T have a trademark dispute, the city of Los Angeles and The Weather Channel app have a location data dispute, more on how shows like Bandersnatch really might be the future of storytelling and the weekend longreads suggestions. Sponsor: Mealime.com (iOS App) (Android App) Links: AT&T tries to trademark ‘Verge TV’ as if we’re going to let them get away with it (The Verge) Los Angeles Accuses Weather Channel App of Covertly Mining User Data (NYTimes) D-Link debuts a 5G Wi-Fi router with 40 times wired broadband speeds (Venture Beat) BLACK MIRROR: BANDERSNATCH COULD BECOME NETFLIX’S SECRET MARKETING WEAPON (The Verge) Longreads: Podcast suggestion: Daily Fortnite Courier Prime He Hawks Young Blood As A New Miracle Treatment. All That’s Missing Is Proof. (HuffPo) Curbs on A.I. Exports? Silicon Valley Fears Losing Its Edge (NYTimes) The Bird Box Effect: How Memes Drive Users to Netflix (The Ringer) Birding Like It’s 1899: Inside a Blockbuster American West Video Game (Audubon) How Space and Time Could Be a Quantum Error-Correcting Code (Quanta) The Hacker News discussion of the Quanta piece Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 3, 2019
Apple lowers its guidance and the tech world freaks out, the company that you can outsource your censorship friendly China content to, a more durable e-scooter is coming and what to expect from CES. Sponsor: Mealime.com (iOS App) (Android App) Links: Letter from Tim Cook to Apple investors Censoring China’s Internet, for Stability and Profit (NYTimes) Segway unveils a more durable electric scooter and autonomous delivery bot (TechCrunch) What to expect from CES 2019 (TechCrunch) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 2, 2019
Today, Roku is quietly a major combatant in the Streaming Wars, Tesla slashes prices, how many cameras can we fit on a smartphone, how much would it cost to convince you to quit Facebook, and why Bandersnatch might just be the beginning of the choose your own adventure trend. Sponsor: Mealime.com (iOS App) (Android App) Links: Activision Plans to Fire CFO Neumann, Puts Him on Paid Leave (Bloomberg) ROKU BREAKS FREE FROM BOXES AND TVS (Wired) Tesla slashes EV prices by $2,000 to offset reduced tax credits (Engadget) [Exclusive] Nokia 9 PureView Penta-camera Phone Revealed in Full Glory in First-ever Promo Video (Mysmartprice) Economists calculate the true value of Facebook to its users in new study (ArsTechnica) Popsugar's Twinning app was leaking everyone's uploaded photos (TechCrunch) HOW THE SURPRISE NEW INTERACTIVE BLACK MIRROR CAME TOGETHER (Wired) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 1, 2019
Happy 2019! And... here's what we've got on tap for the pod in the new year! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 28, 2018
Instagram briefly goes horizontal, more on how epic Fortnite has been for Epic Games this year, Larry Ellison joins Tesla’s board, the global GPS wars are joined and the last weekend longreads of the year. Links: Instagram briefly switched to a horizontal feed and people freaked out (The Verge) Epic Games, the creator of Fortnite, banked a $3 billion profit in 2018 (TechCrunch) Exclusive: Foxconn to begin assembling top-end Apple iPhones in India in 2019 - source (Reuters) Tesla Taps Ellison, HR Expert to Prove Musk Is Reined In (Bloomberg) China ramps up global coverage for domestic Beidou satellite navigation system as rival to GPS (South China Morning Post) The Betterment Weekend Longreads Suggestions: The Devchat.tv podcasts The GPS wars have begun (TechCrunch) Amazon gets into health insurance — and more 2019 health-tech predictions from top experts (CNBC) The biggest technology failures of 2018 (MIT Technology Review) Why Your Next Home Might Not Need Any Energy at All (WSJ) THE 'FUTURE BOOK' IS HERE, BUT IT'S NOT WHAT WE EXPECTED (Wired) Bird Box Is the First Great Monster Movie About This Poisonous Invention (PaleoFuture/Gizmodo) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 27, 2018
Amazon has a record-breaking holiday season, surprising absolutely no one, another Instagram crackdown, a look at Austin as a tech hub, and why mobile alerts are a Frankenstein monster increasingly out of control. Amazon Says Alexa Voice Shopping Tripled During 2018 Holiday Season (Fortune) Instagram’s Christmas Crackdown (The Atlantic) Tesla's Supercharger network will cover all of Europe in 2019 (Engadget) With Tech Expansion, Austin Is Still Weird. It’s Just More Wired Now, Too. (NYTimes) Pushed Even Further: US Newsrooms View Mobile Alerts as a Standalone Platform (CJR) Movie Theaters Bounce Back: What’s Behind the 2018 Rebound (Variety) Watch the trailer for Black Mirror: Bandersnatch, releasing Friday 28th on Netflix (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 26, 2018
How the US government shutdown affects cybersecurity, how the Open Government Data Act is possibly good tech governance, Airbnb and Slack are considering non-traditional IPOs and the state of AI research at the end of 2018. How a government shutdown affects America’s cybersecurity workforce (FifthDomain) In a huge win for open data, Congress passes the Open, Public, Electronic, and Necessary Government Data Act (BoingBoing) Wall Street Quietly Shelves Its Bitcoin Dreams (Bloomberg) Layoffs Underway Amid ‘Adjustments,’ Bitcoin Miner Bitmain Confirms (CoinDesk) HQ Trivia launches HQ Words as reinstalled CEO seeks a game-changer (TechCrunch) Airbnb and Slack are considering untraditional IPOs that box out bankers like Spotify did (Recode) Geoffrey Hinton and Demis Hassabis: AGI is nowhere close to being a reality (VentureBeat) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 21, 2018
Facebook is developing a cryptocoin for WhatsApp, Blind was not quite anonymous enough, which is the most accurate voice assistant and of course, the weekend longreads suggestions. Sponsors: Metalab.co The Internet of Things Podcast Links: Facebook Is Developing a Cryptocurrency for WhatsApp Transfers, Sources Say (Bloomberg) At Blind, a security lapse revealed private complaints from Silicon Valley employees (TechCrunch) Apple AI Chief John Giannandrea Gets Promotion to Senior Vice President (MacRumors) Annual Smart Speaker IQ Test (LoopVentures) The Betterment Weekend Longreads: Software Defined Talk (Podcast) Apple Computers Used to Be Built in the U.S. It Was a Mess (NYTimes) Inside Shenzhen’s race to outdo Silicon Valley (Bloomberg) The 2019 IPO class headlined by Uber will create a ton of new wealth. Will the billions go to mansions or missions? (Recode) Venture Capital Blind Spots: The Top 7 Reasons Why VCs Miss Billion-Dollar Outcomes (645 Ventures) Prime and Punishment (The Verge) 7 Modern BBSes Worth Calling Today (PCMag) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 20, 2018
Now some iPhones can’t be sold in Germany, is there an iPad Pro bend-gate brewing, drones shut down a major UK airport, and why Carlton from The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air is suing the makers of Fortnite. Sponsors: Metalab.co The Cyberwire Podcast Links: Apple to Stop Selling iPhone 7 and iPhone 8 Models in Germany While Appealing Broader Sales Ban [Updated] (MacRumors) Apple confirms some iPad Pros ship slightly bent, but says it’s normal (The Verge) Justice Department charges Chinese nationals in ‘extensive’ global hacking campaign (CNBC) Uber's self-driving cars return to public roads after fatal crash (CNET) Drones cause holiday chaos at one of London's busiest airports (Engadget) Gatwick Airport: Drones ground flights (BBC News) Pinterest Readies Itself for Early 2019 IPO (WSJ) FORTNITE KEEPS STEALING DANCES — AND NO ONE KNOWS IF IT’S ILLEGAL (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 19, 2018
I’m sorry. I truly am. Another Facebook scandal to tell you about. The Boring Company unveils its tunnel, Zwift is gamification, a fitness app play, a social network, VR, and e-sports all in one startup and why Touch ID might return to the iPhone. Sponsors: Metalab.co Grumpy Old Geeks Podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 18, 2018
Google presses pause on that Chinese search project, what’s delaying Facebook’s Clear History project, AT&T’s 5G goes live and Audi unveils its autonomous vehicle ambitions. Sponsors: FlatironSchool.com/podcast Metalab.co Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 17, 2018
Facebook got all the press but the Russians really loved Instagram to spread misinformation, more tech real estate moves, the CEO of HQ Trivia passes away, and how to break into somebody’s phone with a 3D-printed head.Sponsors:Techmeme.Robinhood.comMetalab.coLinks:Instagram Was Bigger Russian Election Tool Than Facebook, Senate Report Says (Bloomberg)Google Details Major New York Expansion (WSJ)Colin Kroll, 34, HQ Trivia and Vine Co-Founder, Is Found Dead (NYTimes)We Broke Into A Bunch Of Android Phones With A 3D-Printed Head (Forbes)Robinhood Will Retool Checking Product Following Scrutiny (Bloomberg)Apple hires designer Andrew Kim away from Tesla (The Verge)My Talk at Google (Me) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 14, 2018
Fri. 12/14 - Facebook Faces a GDPR Inquiryhttps://feedpress.me/RideHome - Direct RSS feed starting this weekend, just in caseThe bomb scare email scam that demanded bitcoin, Facebook’s Photo API gave away too many photos, Apple strikes back at Qualcomm, Apple kills its second music-based social network, an Apple analyst sounds alarm bells about iPhone unit sales, Instacart breaks up with Whole Foods, PlanetScale brings mega-scaling technology to the masses, and of course the Weekend Longreads suggestions.Sponsors:MacStadium.com/ridehome Tiny.websiteLinks:Bitcoin scammers send bomb threats worldwide, causing evacuations (The Verge)Facebook bug exposed up to 6.8M users’ unposted photos to apps (TechCrunch)Irish regulator to investigate Facebook after new data leak (Financial Times)Apple Says China iPhone Ban Would Force Settlement With Qualcomm (Bloomberg)Apple Music removes ability for artists to post to Connect, posts removed from Artist Pages and For You (9to5Mac)Ming-Chi Kuo cuts first quarter iPhone sales estimates by 20%, says iPhone XR demand is low (9to5Mac)Amazon has officially killed the Whole Foods-Instacart partnership (Recode)They scaled YouTube—now they’ll shared everyone with PlanetScale (TechCrunch)The Betterment Weekend Longreads:EV News Daily (Podcast)Evelyn Berezin, 93, Dies; Built the First True Word Processor (New York Times)The State of Technology at the End of 2018 (Stratechery)The rise of the recommendation site (Vox)How the CIA Trains Spies to Hide in Plain Sight (Wired) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 13, 2018
Apple keeps Austin weird with a new campus, RobinHood launches checking and savings accounts, hands on with the Apple Watch ECG thingy, and the most disliked video in YouTube history. Sponsors:MacStadium.com/ridehome Tiny.websiteLinks:Apple to invest $1 billion in new Austin campus (Axios)Amazon Hires Lobbyists for N.Y. Site and Tries to Fend Off Ocasio-Cortez’s Supporters (NYTimes)Amazon Went to City Hall. Things Got Loud, Quickly. (NYTimes)High-Tech Degrees and the Price of an Avocado: The Data New York Gave to Amazon (NYTimes)After losing half its value, Nvidia faces reckoning (TechCrunch)Robinhood launches no-fee checking/savings with Mastercard & the most ATMs (TechCrunch)A look at the Apple Watch’s ECG, from someone who needs it (Ars Technica)Apple now has dozens of doctors on staff, showing it's serious about health tech (CNBC)POSTMATES' QUEST TO BUILD THE DELIVERY ROBOT OF THE FUTURE (Wired)YouTube Rewind 2018 is officially the most disliked video on YouTube (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 12, 2018
Intel’s next generation architecture revealed, was China behind that massive Marriott hack, Good Money wants to give customers a stake in their own banking, and what is Michael Dell’s long game?Sponsors:Eero.com/ride (promo code: ride)Tiny.websiteLinks:Intel unveils a new architecture for 2019: Sunny Cove (Ars Technica)Intel is bringing teraflop integrated graphics to 10nm chips in 2019 (Engadget)AN INTEL BREAKTHROUGH RETHINKS HOW CHIPS ARE MADE (Wired)Marriott Data Breach Is Traced to Chinese Hackers as U.S. Readies Crackdown on Beijing (NYTimes)Apple Suppliers Are Considering Moving iPhone Output if Tariffs Hit 25% (Bloomberg)U.S. investigators point to China in Marriott hack affecting 500 million guests (The Washington Post)Indonesia e-commerce leader Tokopedia raises $1.1B from Alibaba and SoftBank's Vision Fund (TechCrunch)At this new online banking platform, customers are the owners (Fast Company)Apple’s ‘Netflix for Magazines’ Getting a Chilly Reception (Bloomberg)Dell’s long game is in hybrid and private clouds (TechCrunch)U.S. internet speeds rose nearly 40 percent this year (ReCode) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 11, 2018
Mr. Pichai goes to Washington, another bug prompts Google to kill Google+ even sooner, Keurig for beer makes no sense, and Doom turns 25.Sponsors:DataDogHQ.com/ridehomeTiny.websiteFlatironSchool.com/podcastLinks:Google moves up Google+ consumer shutdown to April 2019 (VentureBeat)Uber customers and drivers are furious after a major outage causes all kinds of issues (BusinessInsider)Social media outpaces print newspapers in the U.S. as a news source (Pew Research Center)Fintech start-up Plaid raises $250 million at $2.7 billion valuation, adds Mary Meeker to board (CNBC)Vroom nabs $146M from AutoNation, VCs for its used car site (TechCrunch)Keurigs for Beer Make No Sense (Gizmodo)Doom is 25 and co-creator John Romero is putting out a giant expansion for it (TechCrunch) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 10, 2018
iPhone sales blocked in China, Apple’s getting into the A&R business, pump the breaks on the e-scooter hype, and forget the notch, 2019 might be the year of the hole punch.Sponsors:DataDogHQ.com/ridehomeTiny.websiteLinks:China bans many iPhone models in Qualcomm patent dispute (Axios)Can the U.S. Stop China From Controlling the Next Internet Age? (NYTimes)Huawei CFO Arrested, Australia’s Awful Law (Stratechery)Apple acquired Platoon, a platform for musicians to create and distribute work (TechCrunch)Investor Frenzy for Scooter Startups Cools (WSJ)Your Apps Know Where You Were Last Night, and They’re Not Keeping It Secret (NYTimes)Samsung’s A8s is its first phone with an Infinity-O hole-punch display (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 7, 2018
Microsoft calls for regulation of facial recognition AI, the Crypto market crash is starting to claim casualties, Reddit is quietly doing very well, thank you very much, and the Weekend Longreads suggestions.Sponsors:Metalab.coDataDogHQ.com/RideHomeLinks:MICROSOFT WANTS TO STOP AI'S 'RACE TO THE BOTTOM' (Wired)Scientists create AI that can crush the world's best AI (at board games, thankfully) (CNET)Crypto Market Crash Leaving Bankrupt Startups in its Wake (Bloomberg)Reddit’s Year in Review: 2018 (Upvoted)The Betterment Weekend Longreads:The Comics Canon (Podcast)Land of the “Super Founders“— A Data-Driven Approach to Uncover the Secrets of Billion Dollar Startups (Ali Tamaseb)YOUTUBE CREATORS BLINDSIDED BY MAJOR NETWORK’S COLLAPSE (The Verge)A 7-year-old boy is making $22 million a year on YouTube reviewing toys (MSN)Almost Every Electric Scooter in the World Comes From This Chinese Company (Bloomberg)Cryptopia In Crisis: Joe Lubin’s Ethereum Experiment Is A Mess. How Long Will He Prop It Up? (Forbes)How Robotics Maker Rethink Crashed and Burned (The Information)The new word processor wars: A fresh crop of productivity apps are trying to reinvent our workday (GeekWire) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 6, 2018
Huawai’s CFO arrested and stock markets quake, Google’s Allo joins the crowded Google Deadpool, Lyft files for an IPO and are Amazon’s robots finally rebelling?Sponsors:DatadogHQ.com/RideHomeMetalab.coLinks:Canada arrests Huawei’s global chief financial officer in Vancouver (The Globe and Mail)Microsoft is rebuilding its Edge browser on Chrome and bringing it to the Mac (The Verge)Google is shutting down Allo (The Verge)Ride-hail firm Lyft races to leave Uber behind in IPO chase (Reuters)These Confidential Charts Show Why Facebook Bought WhatsApp (Buzzfeed)Firefly Nets $21.5 Million Seed Round To Boost Ride-Hail Driver Revenues With On-Car Ads (Crunchbase News)Cuba to roll out mobile internet for the first time (CNBC)Robot Accidentally Hospitalises 24 Amazon Workers After It Sprays Them With Bear Repellent (Huffington Post) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 5, 2018
The UK Parliament docu-dumps on Facebook, Qualcomm fires the starter pistol on 5G rollout, an actual test drive on Waymo’s new ride hailing service, and behind that $100 million Friends deal.Sponsors:Metalab.coDataDogHQ.com/ridehomeLinks:Note by Damian Collins MP (UK Parliament)Qualcomm announces the Snapdragon 855 and its news under-display fingerprint sensor (TechCrunch)Qualcomm announces first ultrasonic fingerprint reader: Headed to the Galaxy S10? (CNET)Fortnite’s Minecraft-like creative mode launches tomorrow (The Verge)RIDING IN WAYMO ONE, THE GOOGLE SPINOFF’S FIRST SELF-DRIVING TAXI SERVICE (The Verge)The story behind Netflix’s $100 million ‘Friends’ deal (Recode) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 4, 2018
Another day, another data breach, this time Quora, Microsoft might be replacing the Edge web browser, and maybe even replacing Windows, a review of some low-end smartphones and why 4k streaming and data caps are on a collision course.Sponsors:DatadogHQ.com/ridehomeMetalab.coLinks:Quora Security Update (The Quora Blog)Microsoft is building a Chromium-powered web browser that will replace Edge on Windows 10 (Windows Central)What is Windows Lite? It's Microsoft's Chrome OS Killer (Petri.com)NVIDIA's new AI turns videos of the real world into virtual landscapes (Engadget)MOTOROLA AND NOKIA’S NEW PHONES MAKE $350 LOOK LIKE $1,000 (The Verge)Your 4K Netflix Streaming Is on a Collision Course With Your ISP's Data Caps (Motherboard) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 3, 2018
Tumblr bans adult content, is Apple going to sit on the 5G sidelines, Uber has held talks about acquiring either Bird or Lime, a new self-driving car yardstick and resetting your web browser to square one.SimpleContacts.com/rideMetalab.coLinks:Tumblr will ban all adult content on December 17th (TheVerge)Apple Will Wait Until at Least 2020 to Release a 5G iPhone (Bloomberg)Kuo: ‘All-new design’ AirPods in 2020, wireless charging model in first quarter 2019 (9to5Mac)Uber Exploring Deal to Buy Bird or Lime (The Information)Tencent Music Moves Forward With IPO After Delay (WSJ)Microsoft PowerPoint is getting real-time captions and subtitles for presentations (The Verge)The first self-driving car you use will most likely carry your groceries, not you (Vox)How to Reset All of Your Browsers Back to Square One (Gizmodo) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 30, 2018
The monster Starwood Hotels data breach, Apple music comes to Amazon Echo devices, Instagram rolls out “close friends” lists, Airbnb wants to build your house, not just rent it, and the Weekend Longreads Suggestions. Links: Marriott says 500 million Starwood guest records stolen in massive data breach (TechCrunch) SEC charges Floyd Mayweather, DJ Khaled for promoting ICOs without disclosing payments (CNBC) Apple Music is coming to the Amazon Echo (TechCrunch) Instagram now lets you share Stories to a Close Friends list (TechCrunch) Exclusive: Airbnb will start designing houses in 2019 (Fast Company) Techmeme now publishing paid and free "Leaderboards" showing the most influential reporters around a specific news topic (Techmeme.com) The Betterment Weekend Longreads Suggestions: Our first podcast suggestion: Python Bytes Microsoft Is Worth as Much as Apple. How Did That Happen? (NYTimes) How China’s Bytedance became the world’s most valuable startup (The Verge) China’s Video Craze Drives Growth for ByteDance (The Information) How Amazon Web Services Reinvented the Internet and Became a Cash Cow (NYMag) The legacy of PlayStation creator Ken Kutaragi, in 24 stories (Polygon) This Is the Way the Paper Crumples (NYTimes) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 29, 2018
Amazon gets into self-driving cars… in a way, Google Assistant adds some familiar features, YouTube rolls out Stories, and WTF is happening in Crypto? Stories from: @RolfeWinkler Tweets: @CrankGameplays, @SavinTheBees Links: Amazon debuts a scale model autonomous car to teach developers machine learning (TechCrunch) New Parents Complain Amazon Baby-Registry Ads Are Deceptive (WSJ) An Amazon revolt could be brewing as the tech giant exerts more control over brands (Recode) Google Assistant gets visual lyrics and more in big holiday update (Engadget) YouTube is rolling out its Instagram-like Stories feature to more creators (The Verge) Facebook Considered Charging for Access to User Data (WSJ) WTF is happening to crypto? (TechCrunch) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 28, 2018
The biggest ad fraud ever? Amazon gets into medical records, Project Fi comes to iPhones, one of Elon’s LA tunnels is canceled, and the Big Mouth Billy Bass enters the 21st Century. Links: 8 People Are Facing Charges As A Result Of The FBI’s Biggest-Ever Ad Fraud Investigation (BuzzFeed) Big Tech Expands Footprint in Health (WSJ) Project Fi is now Google Fi, and it will work with iPhones and most Android devices (The Verge) Waymo taps former NTSB chair to oversee safety of self-driving ride-share fleet (CNBC) YouTube to Make New Originals Available for Free, Ad-Supported Viewing With ‘Single Slate’ Strategy (Variety) Laurene Powell Jobs’s Emerson Collective bought Pop-Up Magazine Productions (Recode) Community Activists Kill Elon Musk's Plan for an Underground Freeway Tunnel in LA (Motherboard) Big Mouth Billy Bass Will Now Annoy the Shit Out of You With Alexa Support Built In (Gizmodo) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 28, 2018
AWS goes the custom silicon route, Facebook Watch goes after the olds, will Microsoft leapfrog Apple and why does Amazon’s shopping experience suck so much? Stories from: @katienotopoulos, @ShiraOvide Tweets: @ajassy, @AlexSchleber Links: Amazon Web Services introduces its own custom-designed Arm server processor, promises 45 percent lower costs for some workloads (GeekWire) Facebook's YouTube competitor is pivoting to older audiences as teens tune out and publishers balk (CNBC) Half of all Phishing Sites Now Have the Padlock (Krebs on Security) Employees Say Startup Civil Hyped Crypto Returns, But Failed to Pay (CoinDesk) Apple has an idea to make Animoji even more fun (Cult of Mac) Don’t Look Now, But Microsoft Is Overtaking Apple (Bloomberg) What If Amazon.com Actually…Is A Horrible Website? (BuzzFeed) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 27, 2018
AWS goes the custom silicon route, Facebook Watch goes after the olds, will Microsoft leapfrog Apple and why does Amazon’s shopping experience suck so much? Stories from: @katienotopoulos, @ShiraOvide Tweets: @ajassy, @AlexSchleber Links: Amazon Web Services introduces its own custom-designed Arm server processor, promises 45 percent lower costs for some workloads (GeekWire) Facebook's YouTube competitor is pivoting to older audiences as teens tune out and publishers balk (CNBC) Half of all Phishing Sites Now Have the Padlock (Krebs on Security) Employees Say Startup Civil Hyped Crypto Returns, But Failed to Pay (CoinDesk) Apple has an idea to make Animoji even more fun (Cult of Mac) Don’t Look Now, But Microsoft Is Overtaking Apple (Bloomberg) What If Amazon.com Actually…Is A Horrible Website? (BuzzFeed) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 26, 2018
Apple heads to the Supreme Court over antitrust concerns about its App Store; Facebook’s internal documents are seized by the British Parliament; what’s behind the resurgence of Atari; the human story of Black Friday inside Amazon’s fulfillment centers; and Lenny—a chatbot designed to frustrate telemarketers. Links: U.S. top court leans toward allowing Apple App Store antitrust suit (Reuters) My Amicus Brief (AVC/Fred Wilson) Parliament seizes cache of Facebook internal papers (The Guardian) Internal documents Facebook has fought to keep private obtained by UK Parliament (CNN) Atari CEO interview — How Rollercoaster Tycoon revival saved the company (VentureBeat) The human costs of Black Friday, explained by a former Amazon warehouse manager (Vox) The Story of Lenny, the Internet's Favorite Telemarketing Troll (Motherboard) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 20, 2018
Storm clouds everywhere! Tech stocks in bear market territory, crypto in full-on meltdown territory… but video games might help solve science’s gender problem and this one spacebar trick might make your iPhone insanely more useful. Oh, and the weekend Longreads suggestions. Links: It's Official: Once Mighty FAANG Stocks Have All Entered a Bear Market (Fortune) Silicon Valley wages have dropped for all except highest-paying jobs: report (The Mercury News) Bitcoin drops 12% to below $5,000 (CNBC) Tumblr was removed from Apple’s App Store over child pornography issues (The Verge) Video games could be a short-term answer to science’s gender problem (The Conversation) “The space bar trick” is the most amazing feature in iOS 12, and the internet just realized it (Fast Company) The Betterment Weekend Longreads: How The Wall Street Journal is preparing its journalists to detect deepfakes (NiemanLab) Self-driving trucks in US offer window into where machines may replace humans (Christian Science Monitor) When Elon Musk Tunnels Under Your Home (The Atlantic) The Case Against Quantum Computing (IEEE Spectrum) HOW GOOGLE AND AMAZON GOT AWAY WITH NOT BEING REGULATED (Wired) How to Use an iPod Touch as a Secure Device Instead of a Phone (Motherboard) Scientists say goodbye to physical definition of the kilogram (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 19, 2018
Skype calls on Amazon Echos, Tumblr disappears from iOS, Facebook on a war footing, iPhone sales storm clouds, and the Bitcoin Cash hard fork explained. Links: Skype calling now available on Alexa (The Verge) Tweet Storm on Where Tumblr's Gone (@bluechoochoo) With Facebook at ‘War,’ Zuckerberg Adopts More Aggressive Style (WSJ) Tim Cook defends multibillion-dollar Google search deal despite Apple’s privacy focus (The Verge) Apple Suppliers Suffer With Uncertainty Around iPhone Demand (WSJ) With Facebook at ‘War,’ Zuckerberg Adopts More Aggressive Style (WSJ) Bitcoin Cash Declares War: Why Coming Hard Fork Could Mean Another Split (CoinDesk) One Day After the Bitcoin Cash Hard Fork: Takeaways and Latest Developments (Bitcoin Magazine) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 16, 2018
Airbnb opens the kimono, a disc-less Xbox, Facebook pushes back on controversy, SpaceX gets a key go-ahead, and the weekend longreads suggestions. Links: Airbnb booked more than $1 billion in third quarter revenue (CNBC) Microsoft’s Building a Disc-Less Xbox One for Release in 2019 (Thurrott.com) Facebook Morale Takes a Tumble Along With Stock Price (WSJ) ‘I Don’t Really Want to Work for Facebook.’ So Say Some Computer Science Students. (NYTimes) Major SMS security lapse is a reminder to use authenticator apps instead (The Verge) The Betterment Weekend Longreads: THE GENIUS NEUROSCIENTIST WHO MIGHT HOLD THE KEY TO TRUE AI (Wired) Are Killer Robots the Future of War? Parsing the Facts on Autonomous Weapons (NYTimes Magazine) The Internet Has a Huge C/C++ Problem and Developers Don't Want to Deal With It (Motherboard) How Superhuman Built an Engine to Find Product/Market Fit (First Round Review) THE HAIL MARY PLAN TO RESTART A HACKED US ELECTRIC GRID (Wired) Space Camp grows up (Mashable) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 15, 2018
That huge New York Times story behind the scenes of Facebook, Google adds business messaging to Google Maps, Uber eats is a monster business, Amazon Go has a rival and there’s a new King of YouTube. Links: Delay, Deny and Deflect: How Facebook’s Leaders Fought Through Crisis (NYTimes) Google Maps will let you chat with businesses (The Verge) Uber continues to lose money as it scales scooters, bikes and other newer businesses (TechCrunch) Amazon Go competitor Standard Cognition raises $40 million to expand its cashierless store solution (VentureBeat) PewDiePie's Tumultuous Reign as YouTube King Is Almost Over (Bloomberg) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 14, 2018
Why was Google’s traffic routed from Nigeria through China, Ford partners with Walmart on driverless cars, Amazon’s HQ2 stunt seems to be backfiring, and Uber gets a customer loyalty program. Links: Nigerian firm takes blame for routing Google traffic through China (Reuters) Exclusive: Snap reveals U.S. subpoenas on IPO disclosures (Reuters) Ford partners with Walmart and Postmates to test autonomous grocery delivery (TechCrunch) A STARTUP IS SETTING DRONES FREE BY TYING THEM TO THE GROUND (Wired) Amazon’s HQ2 stunt could come back to haunt it (The Verge) This time, Amazon has gone too far: Jeff Bezos's company is profiting and taxpayers are paying the price (NYDailyNews) Uber launches rider loyalty Rewards like credits & upgrades 9 cities (TechCrunch) Amazon's Microwave With Alexa Makes Life Marginally Better (BuzzFeed) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 13, 2018
Amazon’s HQ2 officially lands in Queens and Crystal City; Waymo is launching a driverless car service in December; Apple locks down repairs on modern Macs; get ready for cloud gaming; Pandora applies its music technology to podcasts; and a magic act that’ll make your day. Links: Amazon selects New York City and Northern Virginia for new headquarters (Amazon DayOne Blog) Amazon HQ2 decision: Amazon splits prize between Crystal City and New York (The Washington Post) Pandora brings its Genome technology to podcast recommendations (TechCrunch) Waymo to Start First Driverless Car Service Next Month (Bloomberg) Apple confirms its T2 security chip blocks some third-party repairs of new Macs (The Verge) The Tricky—but Potentially Lucrative—Task of Streaming Videogames (WSJ) Eric Chien 2018 Fism Grand Prix Magic Act (YouTube) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 12, 2018
SAP buys Qualtrics, the Galaxy S10 might be coming in February and the Galaxy F might be coming in March, what exactly is TikTok and why you should care, and Jony Ive has an exclusive new product design. Links: SAP to buy Qualtrics for $8 billion (Axios) How One Family Built $8 Billion Startup Far From Silicon Valley (Bloomberg) Samsung Electronics to release first foldable smartphone in March: sources (Yonhap News Agency) Snap’s former No. 2 exec Imran Khan is building an online shopping startup (ReCode) Facebook quietly launches a TikTok competitor app called Lasso (The Verge) A Guide to TikTok for Anyone Who Isn’t a Teen (Slate) Netflix to Test Lower-Price Plans as It Seeks More Asian Users (Bloomberg) At Netflix, Who Wins When It’s Hollywood vs. the Algorithm? (WSJ) Jony Ive’s latest design is the ultimate diamond ring – made only of diamond … (9to5Mac) The Fading Battlefields of World War I (The Atlantic) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 9, 2018
The great winter of tech worker discontent is definitely here, Disney’s streaming service has a name, Vine might be coming back, Github hits a major milestone and, of course, the weekend longreads suggestions. Links: Amazon is finally selling new iPhones after a long and complicated 'turf war' with Apple (BusinessInsider) A note to our employees (Google) #GoogleWalkout update: Collective action works, and we need to keep working. True equity depends on it. (Google Walkout For Real Change) Amazon Execs Addressed Concerns About Amazon Rekognition And ICE At An All-Hands Meeting (BuzzFeed) Vine co-founder plans to launch successor Byte in Spring 2019 (TechCrunch) GitHub passes 100 million repositories (Venture Beat) The Betterment Weekend Longreads: Why Technology Favors Tyranny (The Atlantic) Tech C.E.O.s Are in Love With Their Principal Doomsayer (NYTimes) HQ Trivia was a blockbuster hit — but internal turmoil and a shrinking audience have pushed its company to the brink (ReCode) ‘It’s Giant and Has Like Five Million Buttons.’ The Office Desk Phone Won’t Die (WSJ) Why Doctors Hate Their Computers (The New Yorker) Here Comes ‘Smart Dust,’ the Tiny Computers That Pull Power from the Air (WSJ) ASTRONOMERS SEE MATERIAL ORBITING A BLACK HOLE *RIGHT* AT THE EDGE OF FOREVER (SyFy Wire) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 8, 2018
Foldable phones are officially a thing, Tesla names a new board chair, Amazon’s mailing a physical toy catalog, Ford doesn’t want to miss out on scooters, and Comcast doesn’t want to miss out on home hubs. Stories from: @albertwenger, @dmac1, @meganrosedickey Tweets: @bryce Links: This is Samsung’s foldable smartphone (The Verge) Google says Android will natively support ‘foldables’ to limit fragmentation (The Verge) Amazon is mailing a printed holiday toy catalog to millions of customers (CNBC) Google Plans Large New York City Expansion (WSJ) The Anchor Tenant (Fred Wilson/AVC) Google's Gift to NYC (Albert Wenger) Ford buys electric scooter startup Spin (TechCrunch) Comcast is developing a video-streaming platform for broadband-only customers (CNBC) So I sent my mom that newfangled Facebook Portal (TechCrunch) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 7, 2018
Silicon Valley’s special election day vote, why robocalls have taken over your phone, Jeff Bezos’ clever HQ2 bonus, making 911 calls better and why Jake Tapper is a digital media pioneer. Links: San Francisco has passed a first-of-its-kind tax on big businesses — like Square and Stripe — to help the homeless (Recode) Scoop: AT&T to cut off some customers' service in piracy crackdown (Axios) Why robocalls have taken over your phone (The Verge) Amazon gained a huge perk from its HQ2 contest that's worth far more than any tax break (Business Insider) Chinese ‘gait recognition’ tech IDs people by how they walk (The Associated Press) RapidSOS, an emergency response data provider, raises $30M as it grows from 10K users to 250M (TechCrunch) Newsonomics: “Digital defeats print” is the headline as Gannett steps away from printed election results (NiemanLab) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 6, 2018
Facebook takes down more accounts ahead of the election, the new Chrome might block ALL ads on some websites, Macbook Air reviews, and why you might not be able to read election results in tomorrow’s newspaper. Links: Medium Post on Facebook and the Election (Jonathan Albright) Chrome will soon ad-block an entire website if it shows abusive ads (The Verge) Amazon Plans to Split HQ2 Evenly Between Two Cities (WSJ) APPLE MACBOOK AIR (2018) REVIEW: THE PRESENT OF COMPUTING (The Verge) The 2018 Retina MacBook Air (Daring Fireball) India's Meesho, which enables social commerce via WhatsApp, raises $50M (TechCrunch) PredictHQ exits stealth with $10 million to help Uber and others forecast demand surges (VentureBeat) VMWare acquires Heptio, the startup founded by 2 co-founders of Kubernetes (TechCrunch) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 5, 2018
Has Amazon decided on the location of its new HQ? What do people think of the new iPad Pros? Why are recently IPO’d tech companies hoarding cash? And why you might want to think twice about taking a selfie in the voting booth tomorrow. Links: Amazon in Late-Stage Talks With Cities Including Crystal City, Va., Dallas, New York City for HQ2 (WSJ) Amazon waives $25 minimum spend to offer free Christmas deliveries for all U.S. customers (Venture Beat) APPLE IPAD PRO REVIEW 2018: THE FASTEST IPAD IS STILL AN IPAD (The Verge) Apple’s first 5G iPhone will arrive in 2020 (Fast Company) YOU TOO CAN BUILD YOUR OWN CHIP – FOR ONLY $30 MILLION (Digits to Dollars) Newly Public Tech Firms Race Back to Market as IPO Frenzy Continues (WSJ) Did You Vote? Now Your Friends May Know (and Nag You) (NYTimes) You can't take a 'ballot selfie' in Illinois, Florida, or 25 other states — see where it's illegal to take a photo in the voting booth (Business Insider) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 2, 2018
Apple makes a pile of money and their stock tanks, Flickr ends its mega-free-storage plan, a classic internet cartoon gets a 4K makeover, browser extensions steal Facebook private messages, testing the latest smartphones to see how their batteries hold up, and the weekend longreads suggestions. Tweets: @neilcybart, @textfiles Links: Apple results: A record September quarter with $62.9B revenue (Six Colors) Apple’s price hike strategy is paying off (The Verge) Flickr will end 1TB of free storage and limit free users to 1,000 photos (The Verge) Several thoughts from your old pal Jason (Jason Scott/Twitter) The Cartoon That Invented Internet Culture Gets a High-Definition Rerelease (Intelligencer) Private messages from 81,000 hacked Facebook accounts for sale (BBC News) It’s not your imagination: Phone battery life is getting worse (Washington Post) ‘How the Internet Happened’ Review: Building a World Online (Wall Street Journal) The Betterment Weekend Longreads: The Facebook Dilemma, Part 1 (Frontline on YouTube) and The Facebook Dilemma, Part 2 (Frontline on YouTube) A Cryptocurrency Millionaire Wants to Build a Utopia in Nevada (New York Times) The Man Behind the Scooter Revolution (CityLab) A Fork in the Road for Avis (Fortune) The Encyclopedia of the Missing (Longreads) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 1, 2018
Google employees stage a walk-out protest around the globe, Vox swallows Recode, the new devices this week continue Apple’s push to increase ASP, and maybe it’s subscriptions that are eating the world. Stories from: @rustybrick, @benlovejoy Tweets: @lizthegrey, @ingridlunden Links: Google walkout: Pictures of Google workers leaving their desks in protest over sexual misconduct (Business Insider) Recode Tech and Media Website to Be Folded Into Vox.com (WSJ) New MacBook Air threatens both MacBook and MacBook Pro with Function Keys (Apple Insider) Opinion: The 2018 MacBook Air is the iPhone X’s ASP strategy all over again (9to5Mac) Apple's new T2 security chip will prevent hackers from eavesdropping on your microphone (TechCrunch) WhatsApp found a place to show you ads (The Verge) Google My Business Adds Setting For Google Assistant Calls Over Duplex (Search Engine Roundtable) Spotify is just $6.8 million away from profitability (Engadget) Liftoff: Mobile users are embracing subscription app economy (Venture Beat) Tickets for: Brian's 92Y Book Event Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 31, 2018
Facebook earnings were not a disaster, another Alphabet employee is out because of scandal, Waymo has a permit to test real driverless cars on California roads, and if you don’t know what computational notebooks are, let me tell you about them. Links: Zuckerberg says the future is sharing via 100B messages & 1B Stories/day (TechCrunch) Scoop: Executive accused of harassment at Alphabet 'X' unit is out (Axios) Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile Won't Support eSIM Until Later This Year (MacRumors) Gmail for iOS now lets you view all of your accounts in a single inbox (The Verge) Waymo’s excruciatingly gradual launch process, explained (Ars Technica) How Facebook Failed To Build A Better Alexa (Or Siri) (Forbes) Google, Accel and Jay Z invest in life insurance start-up Ethos, valuing it at more than $100 million (CNBC) Why Jupyter is data scientists’ computational notebook of choice (Nature) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 30, 2018
Today MacBook Airs, Mac Minis and new iPad Pros, Coinbase raises a round, the UK has a new tech tax, interesting executive musical chairs, and why reCAPTCHA’s might be a thing of the past. Links: UK chancellor announces 2% ‘digital services tax’ on tech giants’ revenues starting in April 2020 (TechCrunch) Snap CEO Picked a New Business Chief, Then Changed His Mind (Bloomberg) Google Launches reCAPTCHA v3 (Security Week) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 29, 2018
IBM buys Red Hat, museums get new ways to preserve video games, Sony announces the full list of titles for its retro PlayStation mini-console, DJI has a drone for first responders, and a look at the service Gab. Links: IBM to acquire Red Hat in deal valued at $34 billion (CNBC) Forget Watson, the Red Hat acquisition may be the thing that saves IBM (TechCrunch) IBM’s Old Playbook (Stratechery) Copyright Law Just Got Better for Video Game History (Motherboard) Exemption to Prohibition on Circumvention of Copyright Protection Systems for Access Control Technologies (PDF - US Copyright Office, Library of Congress) Here are the 20 games shipping with the PlayStation Classic (TechCrunch) DJI's latest Mavic 2 drone is built for search and rescue (Engadget) Two more platforms have suspended Gab in the wake of Pittsburgh shooting (TechCrunch) On Gab, an Extremist-Friendly Site, Pittsburgh Shooting Suspect Aired His Hatred in Full (New York Times) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 26, 2018
The Tech earnings season earnings roundup, new DRM rules allow jailbreaking… for some things, China’s rival GPS system, AI “art” fetches $400,000 at auction and the weekend longreads suggestions. Links: Twitter Stock Soars after Strong Earnings Beat (CNBC) Tesla Shares Soar on Surprise Third-Quarter Profit That Beats Wall Street Expectations (CNBC) Microsoft Reports $29.1 Billion in Q1 2019 Revenue: Azure up 76%, Surface up 14%, and Windows up 3% (VentureBeat) Amazon Squeezes Out More Profit as Sales Growth Slows (New York Times) Google Stock Falls As Revenue Misses; Amazon Ad Competition To Blame? (Investor’s Business Daily) Snap Hits All-Time Low After Lackluster Earnings Report (CNBC) Copyright Office Ruling Issues Sweeping Right to Repair Reforms (iFixit) In Groundbreaking Decision, Feds Say Hacking DRM to Fix Your Electronics Is Legal (Motherboard) How China's GPS 'Rival' Beidou is Plotting to Go Global (BBC News) AI Art at Christie’s Sells for $432,500 (New York Times) The Betterment Weekend Longreads: Inside Rockstar Games' Culture Of Crunch (Kotaku) At Netflix, Radical Transparency and Blunt Firings Unsettle the Ranks (WSJ) Podcast on Netflix Culture (Planet Money Podcast) It Might Get Loud: Inside Silicon Valley’s Battle to Own Voice Tech (Fortune) How Dara Khosrowshahi’s Iranian heritage shapes how he leads Uber (Fast Company) AN ALTERNATIVE HISTORY OF SILICON VALLEY DISRUPTION (Wired) Bonus Link (from Wednesday): THE AI COLD WAR THAT COULD DOOM US ALL (Wired) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 25, 2018
How Google paid Andy Rubin on his way out the door despite allegations of sexual misconduct, Uber Eats and the rise of virtual restaurants, Kickstarter sunsets its Drip service but plans a nice replacement, and older people are worse than younger people at telling fact from opinion. Links: How Google Protected Andy Rubin, the ‘Father of Android’ (New York Times) Uber’s Secret Restaurant Empire (Bloomberg) A New Approach to Our Work on Drip (Kickstarter Blog) Kickstarter to End Drip, Fund New Platform with XOXO Festival Creators (The Verge) The Team Behind XOXO is Taking Over Kickstarter’s Drip Crowdfunding Community (TechCrunch) Older People Are Worse Than Young People at Telling Fact from Opinion (The Atlantic) Younger Americans Are Better than Older Americans at Telling Factual News Statements from Opinions (Pew Research Center) VIDEO: Joseph Saelee vs. Jonas Neubeauer in CTWC 2018 Finals (Twitter) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 24, 2018
Tim Cook attacks the “data industrial complex,” why political texts are flooding your phone, the US, China and the AI cold war, and how Facebook Messenger got its new look. Links: Apple’s Tim Cook Makes Blistering Attack On the “Data Industrial Complex” (TechCrunch) Why political text messages are flooding your phone (Axios) The AI Cold War That Could Doom Us All (Wired) Messenger redesigns to clean up Facebook’s mess (TechCrunch) How Facebook’s Messenger Got Its New Look in a New Jersey Basement (Wired) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 23, 2018
Tim Cook demands a retraction from Bloomberg, another founder flees Facebook, Repl.it gets a murder’s row of VC backers and the iPhone XR reviews are in. Links: Amazon cloud chief Jassy follows Apple in calling for retraction of Chinese spy chip story (CNBC) Apple CEO Tim Cook Is Calling For Bloomberg To Retract Its Chinese Spy Chip Story (Buzzfeed) Supermicro CEO Joins Cook in Calling for Bloomberg to Retract Supply Chain Hack Story (MacRumors) Oculus co-founder is leaving Facebook after cancellation of ‘Rift 2’ headset (TechCrunch) Former Facebook engineer quit to build the programming tool he always wanted (CNBC) Apple iPhone XR Review: Better Than Good Enough (The Verge) Now Apps Can Track You Even After You Uninstall Them (Bloomberg) Android: A Visual History of Google’s OS On Its 10th Anniversary (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 22, 2018
Facebook wants to buy some cybersecurity, Washington wants to know what Silicon Valley will do for its country, Fred Wilson wants you to ask yourself if your investors are bad actors, and stealing a Tesla by hacking the entry fob. Links: Facebook on Hunt for Big Cybersecurity Acquisition (The Information) Who Are My Investors? (AVC) Thieves steal a Tesla Model S by hacking the entry fob (Engadget) A tech executive's video of his Tesla Model S being hacked and stolen is going viral (Business Insider) Video of the Tesla theft Google Home Hub review (CNET) Google Home Hub review—Awesome hardware for Google’s nascent smart display software (Ars Technica) Google Home Hub Review: At the intersection of useful and just plain cute [Video] (9to5Google) Google Home Hub review: A more personal smart display (Engadget) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 19, 2018
Facebook makes a hire that makes British Twitter laugh, here’s how much Google’s going to charge for Android, Google wants China but does China want Google and the Weekend Longreads suggestions. Links: Facebook Hires Nick Clegg, Former UK Deputy Prime Minister, as Head of Global Affairs and Communications, to Succeed Elliot Schrage (Financial Times) Twitter Suspends Pro-Saudi Bots Spreading Propaganda About the Murder of Jamal Khashoggi (Gizmodo) Twitter Pulls Down Bot Network That Pushed Pro-Saudi Talking Points about Disappeared Journalist (NBC News) Powerful Executives Have Stepped Away From the Saudis. Not SoftBank's. (New York Times) Google App Suite Costs as Much as $40 Per Phone Under New EU Android Deal (The Verge) Google Wants China. Will Chinese Users Want Google? (Wired) The Betterment Weekend Longreads Suggestions: Craig Newmark, Newspaper Villain, Is Working to Save Journalism (New York Times) How the West Was Digitized: The Making of Rockstar Games’ Red Dead Redemption 2 (Vulture/New York Magazine) Drone Journalism's Battle for Airspace (Columbia Journalism Review) Mother Earth Mother Board (Wired) The Prophets of Cryptocurrency Survey the Boom and Bust (The New Yorker) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 18, 2018
Spotify Premium gets a spit shine, Facebook think it knows who was behind that big hack, why everyone and their mother has a subscription box service, and an Apple event in Brooklyn! Links: Spotify Premium gets personalized artist radio stations and better search (The Verge) Twitter makes it easier to see enforcement taken on reported tweets (Tech Crunch) Facebook Finds Hack Was Done by Spammers, Not Foreign State (WSJ) Android Creator’s Startup Essential Products Cuts About 30% of Staff (Bloomberg) Inside the $2.6 billion subscription box wars (Fast Company) Beddr’s SleepTuner is a powerful standalone alternative to Apple Watch sleep tracking (9to5Mac) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 17, 2018
Google bows to the EU’s demands, the biggest thing to happen to Github since the pull request, video game cheaters are getting sued, and Facebook brings back MTV’s The Real World. Links: Google will start charging Android device makers a fee for using its apps in Europe (The Verge) GitHub launches Actions, its workflow automation tool (Github) Fortnite, GTA V hackers face legal action for online cheating (Ars Technica) It turns out that Facebook could in fact use data collected from its Portal in-home video device to target you with ads (Recode) MTV is bringing back 'The Real World' for Facebook Watch, and will let the audience vote on the direction of the show (Business Insider) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 16, 2018
Uber’s targeting a blockbuster IPO valuation, cops told to stop looking at iPhones, the Kindle Paperwhite is ready for the bath, the Pixel reviews are in, and remembering Paul Allen.Sponsors:DatadogHQ.com/RideHomeTiny.website99designs.com/techmeme Links:Uber Proposals Value Company at $120 Billion in a Possible IPO (WSJ)Cops Told ‘Don’t Look’ at New iPhones to Avoid Face ID Lock-Out (Motherboard)The Kindle Paperwhite is ready for the bath (Engadget)Google Pixel 3 review: improving on incredible (Charged)GOOGLE PIXEL 3 AND 3 XL REVIEW: THE BEST CAMERA GETS A BETTER PHONE (The Verge)The Google Pixel 3 XL review (TechCrunch)Google Pixel 3 Review: The Other Way to Make a Killer Phone (Gizmodo)Paul G. Allen, Microsoft’s Co-Founder, Is Dead at 65 (NyTimes) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 15, 2018
The future of Photoshop is here today, Palm is back to bring us a tiny phone, Apple makes another acquisition, and why we’re doomed to a future of genetic surveillance. Links: FINALLY: REAL PHOTOSHOP ON THE IPAD (The Verge) Adobe launches new AR and drawing tools (TechCrunch) Adobe launches Premiere Rush, a cross-platform video editor (Venture Beat) Apple acquires music analytics startup Asaii (Axios) THE NEW PALM IS A TINY PHONE TO KEEP YOU AWAY FROM YOUR PHONE (The Verge) GENOME HACKERS SHOW NO ONE’S DNA IS ANONYMOUS ANYMORE (Wired) Blockchain isn't about democracy and decentralisation – it's about greed (The Guardian) Tweetstorm about Google+ from @morganknutson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 12, 2018
Facebook announces the results of their investigation into that data breach, the market downturn is biting some tech companies, has Spotify ruined music, and, of course, the Weekend Longreads suggestions. Links: An Update on the Security Issue (Facebook) Facebook rolls out 3D photos that use AI to simulate depth (TechCrunch) Tencent Music Pauses IPO Amid Market Turmoil (WSJ) FAANG stocks have seen $600 billion of market value wiped out — here's how much each one is on sale (Business Insider) Tesla sets deadline on new orders to get delivery and full tax credit by end of the year (Electrek) Who Needs German Engineering? Tesla Outsells Mercedes-Benz For The First Time—And Has a Plan to Pass BMW Too (Fortune) Has 10 years of Spotify ruined music? (The Guardian) The Betterment Weekend Longreads Suggestions: This Is How Amazon Loses (NewCo Shift) The Pentagon’s Push to Program Soldiers’ Brains (The Atlantic) Alexa, Should We Trust You? (The Atlantic) Fear and loathing in venture capital (Max Niederhofer) The First Rule of Microsoft Excel—Don’t Tell Anyone You’re Good at It (WSJ) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 11, 2018
Facebook cracks down again, ahead of the election, Apple make some interesting acquisitions, how many cameras does a smartphone need, and Dieter Rams just wants Silicon Valley to slow down. Links: Facebook purged over 800 accounts and pages pushing political messages for profit (The Washington Post) Apple inks $600M deal to license IP, acquire assets and talent from Dialog to expand chipmaking in Europe (TechCrunch) Apple buys machine learning AR firm specializing in mixed realities (Apple Insider) Samsung’s Galaxy A9 is the first quad camera phone (Engadget) Samsung hopes these four cameras will save its mid-range phone lineup (The Verge) Gartner: Microsoft passes Acer to become top 5 PC vendor in the U.S. (Venture Beat) Apple plans to give away original content for free to device owners as part of new digital TV strategy (CNBC) Coinbase's Active Customers Drop 80% in Crypto Slump, Study Says (Bloomberg) Plan to Fix Journalism With Cryptocurrency Draws Skepticism (WSJ) Dieter Rams wants Silicon Valley to stop (Fast Company) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 10, 2018
Windows needed a do-over, Snapchat hopes its Originals will give it one too, Minecraft abandons Apple TV, and Andy Rubin can’t quit smartphones. Links: Microsoft begins re-releasing Windows 10 October update after fixing file deletion bug (The Verge) Snapchat becomes the mobile HBO with 12 daily scripted Original shows (TechCrunch) Snap Is ‘Quickly Running Out of Money,’ Analyst Says (Bloomberg) Google Photos adds automated sharing through ‘Live Albums,’ which can stream to Home Hub (TechCrunch) Apple's dream of making the Apple TV a gaming console just took a major hit (Business Insider) A China Veggie-Selling App May Be Worth $7 billion (Bloomberg) Android Creator Is Building an AI Phone That Texts People for You (Bloomberg) AT&T will launch a Netflix rival next year (CNBC) Where the next 10 million miles will take us (Waymo) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 9, 2018
The big Made By Google event, follow up on that Google+ bug, WeChat is willing to debunk rumors for you and Saudi Arabia doubles down on Masa Son. Links: First look at Google’s Pixel 3 and 3 XL (The Verge) Exclusive: iPad Pro Face ID details, 4K HDR video over USB-C, AirPods-like Apple Pencil 2 pairing, more (9to5Mac) Google, Exposures, and Breaches; Was Google Wrong?; The Political Considerations (Stratechery) Google Drops Out of Pentagon's $10 Billion Cloud Competition (Bloomberg) Some advertisers are moving half of their search budget from Google to Amazon, say ad industry sources (CNBC) How China's biggest social network fights fake news (Abacus) Saudi Arabia Doubles Down on SoftBank Bet With Extra $45 Billion (Bloomberg) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 8, 2018
Google has a data scandal and it's a doozy. Facebook portal is real, a Microsoft streaming gaming service is real, next generation Intel chips are manifest, no one knows what to believe in that blockbuster Bloomberg story, and how the Internet Archive works. Links: Facebook launches Portal auto-zooming video chat screens for $199/$349 (TechCrunch) THE NEW AMAZON ECHO SHOW’S IMPROVED SCREEN AND BETTER SPEAKERS AREN’T ENOUGH (The Verge) Microsoft’s xCloud service streams Xbox games to PCs, consoles, and mobile devices (The Verge) Intel Announces 9th Gen Core CPUs (AnAndTech) Google Exposed User Data, Feared Repercussions of Disclosing to Public (WSJ) Supply Chain Security is the Whole Enchilada, But Who’s Willing to Pay for It? (Krebs on Security) The Internet’s keepers? “Some call us hoarders—I like to say we’re archivists” (Ars Technica) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 5, 2018
He said she said on that Bloomberg Bombshell, Evan Spiegel’s plan for survival, new Macs are un-repairable, why are Apple Watch faces such a mess, and the Weekend Longreads Suggestions. Stories from: @jsnell, @bizcarson Tweets: @karaswisher, @AdamMinter Links: Instagram prototypes handling your location history to Facebook (TechCrunch) Instagram is testing the ability to share your precise location history with Facebook (The Verge) 9 highlights from Snapchat CEO’s 6,000-word leaked memo on survival (TechCrunch) iMac Pro and 2018 MacBook Pro Systems Must Pass Apple Diagnostics to Function After Certain Repairs (MacRumors) Facebook’s Oculus Looking to Invest in Location-Based Virtual Reality (EXCLUSIVE) (Variety) Why are Apple Watch faces such a mess? (Macworld) Norway's petabyte plan: Store everything ever published in a 1,000-year archive (ZDNet) The Betterment Weekend Longreads: The iPhone XS & XS Max Review: Unveiling the Silicon Secrets (AnAndTech) Sex Workers Pioneered the Early Internet—and It Screwed Them Over (Motherboard) Raised by YouTube (The Atlantic) Old Unicorn, New Tricks: Airbnb Has A Sky-High Valuation. Here's Its Audacious Plan To Earn It (Forbes) EA announces ‘FIFA 19’ PS4 esports tournament (Engadget) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 4, 2018
Did China pull off a hardware hack to end all hardware hacks, is a new Nintendo Switch coming as soon as next summer, the ThinQ has five cameras on one phone, and Movie Pass? Still alive! Links: The Big Hack: How China Used a Tiny Chip to Infiltrate U.S. Companies (Bloomberg Businessweek) Russia cyber-plots: US, UK and Netherlands allege hacking (BBC News) Nintendo Plans New Version of Switch Next Year (WSJ) LG V40 THINQ REVIEW: ONE PHONE, FIVE CAMERAS (The Verge) Verizon’s Severance Offer Goes to About 44,000 Employees (WSJ) Barnes & Noble names board committee to review possible sale, shares soar (CNBC) MoviePass' new funding means it isn't going anywhere just yet (Engadget) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 3, 2018
Highlights from the Microsoft Surface event, Uber launches its scooter play, streaming service fatigue might be pushing consumers back toward piracy, did you get your smartphone alert from the president, and the new app startup from a young entrepreneur by the name of Bill Gates. Links: Microsoft has unveiled the $3,499 Surface Studio 2, its super-powerful and gorgeous new competitor to the Apple iMac (Business Insider) Facebook Hack Puts Thousands of Other Sites at Risk (NYTimes) Facebook Login Update (Facebook Newsroom) Facebook Briefs Lawmakers on Breach in Effort to Guard Against Backlash (WSJ) GM and Honda will team up to build an autonomous car (Quartz) First presidential wireless test alert will come to your phone today (Axios) The Rise of Netflix Competitors Has Pushed Consumers Back Toward Piracy (Motherboard) Recommendations startup Likewise emerges from Bill Gates’ private office, letting friends track and share their favorite things (GeekWire) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 2, 2018
Amazon raises its minimum wage, Tesla’s hitting its Model 3 marks, another new California law could change the face of Tech Boards of Directors and Netflix wants us to choose our own adventure. Links: Amazon raises minimum wage to $15 for all US employees (CNBC) The Story of Henry Ford's $5 a Day Wages: It's Not What You Think (Forbes) Tesla delivered over 55,000 Model 3s in Q3 (Road Show/CNET) Three US universities now let students use iPhone and Apple Watch as their campus ID card (9to5Mac) THESE TECH COMPANIES WILL NEED MORE WOMEN ON THEIR BOARDS (Wired) Google's Project Stream lets you play Assassin's Creed Odyssey in Chrome (CNET) Netflix Is Planning a Choose-Your-Own-Adventure ‘Black Mirror’ (Bloomberg) Amazon's IMDb will announce this week a new free video service to compete for TV ad dollars (CNBC) The anti-Netflix: Free, ad-supported video streaming services are growing (Digiday) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 1, 2018
California ready to do battle over net neutrality, Instagram under new management, Elon settles with the SEC, and Tim Berners Lee kinda wants a do-over on the whole World Wide Web thing. Links: The Trump administration is suing California to quash its new net neutrality law (The Washington Post) Justice Department Sues to Stop California Net Neutrality Law (NYTimes) SEC settles charges with Tesla's Elon Musk, will remain as CEO but relinquish chairman role and pay stiff fine (CNBC) Internet, social media use and device ownership in U.S. have plateaued after years of growth (Pew Research Center) (SMART) SPEAKING MY LANGUAGE: DESPITE THEIR VAST CAPABILITIES, SMART SPEAKERS ARE ALL ABOUT THE MUSIC (Nielsen) One Small Step for the Web... (Inrupt Blog) Exclusive: Tim Berners-Lee tells us his radical new plan to upend the World Wide Web (Fast Company) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 28, 2018
A new Facebook scandal—but this time it’s different, Slack is preparing for an IPO, an exciting new episode of Today in Elon Musk, and, of course, the weekend longreads suggestions. Links: Slack Actively Preparing for Early 2019 IPO (WSJ) Coinbase now lets users buy 'bundles' (TechCrunch) Compound launches easy way to short cryptocurrencies (TechCrunch) Tesla's Musk pulled the plug on a settlement with the SEC at the last minute (CNBC) The Betterment Weekend Longreads: How Uber is getting flying cars off the ground (CNET) Coinbase Wants To Be Too Big To Fail (Fortune) The Apple Watch – Tipping Point Time for Healthcare (Steve Blank) Meet the Community Keeping Obsolete Supercomputers Alive (Motherboard) The first Android phone 10 years later: An annotated review (CNET) Hacker says he'll livestream deletion of Zuckerberg's Facebook page (Engadget) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 27, 2018
Facebook said it doesn’t market certain data; surprise, surprise, researchers prove they do, Amazon doesn’t love unions, is the Oculus Quest VR’s iPhone moment, and do ride sharing companies actually make money? Links: Facebook Is Giving Advertisers Access to Your Shadow Contact Information (Gizmodo) Amazon's Aggressive Anti-Union Tactics Revealed in Leaked 45-Minute Video (Gizmodo) Teen Apple Hacker Avoids Jail in Australia After Serious Attacks (Bloomberg) Payment Startup Stripe Is Now a $20 Billion Company (Bloomberg) Masayoshi Son, SoftBank, and the $100 Billion Blitz on Sand Hill Road (Bloomberg Businessweek) Lyft Shows Financial Improvement Ahead of IPO Filing (The Information) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 26, 2018
More fallout from the Instagram departures and some pretty dirty laundry aired from inside Facebook, Google reverses course on Chrome, Coinbase opens its doors to alts, and maybe I was right about Amazon Homes! Links: Exclusive: WhatsApp Cofounder Brian Acton Gives The Inside Story On #DeleteFacebook And Why He Left $850 Million Behind (Forbes) Facebook’s Messing With Instagram Prompted Co-Founders’ Departure (WSJ) Product updates based on your feedback (The Google Chrome Blog) The Temptation of Apple News (Slate) Coinbase will add cryptocurrencies more rapidly, with ratings and reviews (Yahoo Finance) One third of ICOs launched in the past two years aren’t listed anywhere (TNW) Amazon Comes Up With Another Way to Get Alexa Into Your Home (Bloomberg) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 25, 2018
Instagram’s founders turn in their two weeks notice, Samsung accuses Apple of stealing, lots of changes coming to Google Search, and a “Netflix for open source.” Links: Why Instagram's founders are resigning: independence from Facebook weakened (TechCrunch) Facebook’s Terrible Year Hits a New Low (Bloomberg Opinion) Qualcomm accuses Apple of stealing chip secrets and giving them to Intel (CNBC) Google CEO Sundar Pichai to Meet With Top GOP Lawmakers (WSJ) Google's new activity cards will save your previous searches (Engadget) 'NETFLIX FOR OPEN SOURCE' WANTS DEVELOPERS TO GET PAID (Wired) macOS 10.14 Mojave: The Ars Technica review (Ars Technica) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 24, 2018
Office 2019 is here, SiriusXM acquires Pandora, the Chrome browser login controversy, more missed revenue numbers in digital media and Eric Schmidt says there could someday be the regular internet and a separate, Chinese internet. Links: SiriusXM to buy Pandora in all-stock deal valued at $3.5 billion (CNBC) Why I’m done with Chrome (Matthew Green) Uber drivers and other gig economy workers are earning half what they did five years ago (Recode) Vox Media On Pace to Miss Revenue Target as Digital Advertising Disappoints (WSJ) Amazon: Retailers Gonna Retail (Steven Sinofsky) Former Google CEO predicts the internet will split in two — and one part will be led by China (CNBC) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 21, 2018
More fallout from that monster Alexa event yesterday, Facebook is gonna take another swing at Portal, Instagram wants to cut down on #hashtagoverload, Gmail was too willing to say “I love you,” and the Weekend Longreads Suggestions.Sponsors:Ude.my/techTiny.websiteLinks:AMAZON WANTS ALEXA TO HEAR YOUR WHISPERS AND FRUSTRATION (Wired)Amazon just pulled an Apple on the smart home (Stacey on IOT newsletter)Facebook's 'Portal' Video Chat Device to Be Announced Next Week (Cheddar)Instagram may divide hashtags from captions to end overhashing (TechCrunch)Instagram is testing a native resharing feature for the feed (The Verge)Is This Article Worth Reading? Gmail’s Suggested Reply: ‘Haha, Thanks!’ (WSJ)The Betterment Weekend Longreads:Inside Facebook’s Election ‘War Room’ (NYTimes)Bitcoin Miners Flock to New York’s Remote Corners, but Get Chilly Reception (NYTimes)Living The Stream (ESPN The Magazine)A brief history of the numeric keypad (UX Collective)Inside the Dramatic, Painful--and Hugely Successful--Return of Reddit's Founders (Inc)Buy The History of Reddit Book Here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 20, 2018
Amazon announced Alexa for friggin everything, AmazonGos might soon be friggin everywhere, a life insurer will only sell you a policy if you own a smartwatch, and they’ve finally found Spock’s home planet of Vulcan. Links: Amazon Will Consider Opening Up to 3,000 Cashierless Stores by 2021 (Bloomberg) Strap on the Fitbit: John Hancock to sell only interactive life insurance (Reuters) Life Insurance Offering More Incentive to Live Longer (NYTimes) ESPN's new streaming service passes 1 million paid subscribers in five months (CNBC) Google, Facebook Lead Digital’s March to Half of U.S. Ad Market (Bloomberg) Spock’s planet ‘Vulcan’ found years after Star Trek prediction (SlashGear) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 19, 2018
Amazon’s ad business is already huge, there’s a new retro Playstation console, Evernote is in our prayers, HQ is moving beyond trivia with a new game and a roundup of the Apple Watch Series 4 reviews. Links: The ACLU Is Charging Facebook With Gender Discrimination In Its Targeted Ads (Buzzfeed News) Facebook Is Letting Job Advertisers Target Only Men (ProPublica) Amazon becoming 3rd-biggest digital ad platform (Axios) Google Home Mini was the best-selling smart speaker in Q2 (TechCrunch) Sony is launching a PlayStation Classic console this December loaded with 20 games (The Verge) Evernote just slashed 54 jobs, or 15 percent of its workforce HQ expands beyond trivia with new ‘Wheel of Fortune’-type game (Digiday) Google Maps for CarPlay in iOS 12 is now available (9to5Mac) iOS 12.1 references ‘iPad2018Fall’, all but confirming new iPad Pro debut next month (9to5Mac) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 18, 2018
A reported criminal investigation around Elon Musk’s tweets, Twitter brings back the chronological feed, Alexa for microwaves, and a wrap up of the iPhone XS and XS Max reviews. Links:Tesla Is Facing U.S. Criminal Probe Over Elon Musk Statements (Bloomberg)The Tweet that got Twitter to bring back the chrono-feed (@EmmaKinema)Amazon plans to release at least 8 new Alexa-powered devices, including a microwave, an amplifier, and an in-car gadget (CNBC)Trump Hits China With Tariffs on $200 Billion in Goods, Escalating Trade War (NYTimes)APPLE IPHONE XS AND XS MAX REVIEW: SMOOTHED OUT (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 17, 2018
Another Billionaire bails out a major media brand, social network Path is no more, Amazon employees are allegedly taking bribes, Linus Torvalds apologizes for being a jerk, and Steve Jobs had a weird notion about what actually constitutes pizza. Stories from: @cgartenberg Tweets: @laura_nelson, @BuzzFeedBen Links:Are there any other billionaires out there to buy Fortune or Sports Illustrated? (Recode)Mobile social network Path, once a challenger to Facebook, is closing down (TechCrunch)Here are over 150 new features and changes in iOS 12 for iPhone and iPad (Apple Insider)Amazon Investigates Employees Leaking Data for Bribes (WSJ)Amazon Storefronts is a new retail hub exclusively for US small businesses (The Verge)Linus Torvalds apologizes for years of being a jerk, takes time off to learn empathy (Ars Technica)AN ORAL HISTORY OF APPLE'S INFINITE LOOP (Wired) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 16, 2018
Literally, what the f*** is up with Tesla? With the Rob Maurer of the Tesla Daily podcast. Subscribe! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 14, 2018
More signs of drama inside Google, how Apple cleared the new Apple Watches through the FDA, how the Weather Channel made that insane flooding video, and the weekend longreads suggestions. Links:Google Employees Are Quitting Over The Company’s Secretive China Search Project (Buzzfeed News)Google’s internal political battles keep spilling out into the public (The Verge)The new heart-monitoring capabilities on the Apple Watch aren’t all that impressive (Quartz)iPhone XS Max and Apple Watch Series 4 shipping dates now slipping into October (9to5Mac)Apple Is Deleting Bought Films From iTunes Accounts - And Don't Expect A Refund (Forbes)Yes, You Can Name A Website “F***nazis.us”HOW THE WEATHER CHANNEL MADE THAT INSANE STORM SURGE ANIMATION (Wired) The Betterment Weekend Longreads:Android 9 Pie, thoroughly reviewed (Ars Technica)Why a Leading Venture Capitalist Is Betting on a Decentralized Internet (Breaker)Olaf Carlson-Wee Rode the Bitcoin Boom to Silicon Valley Riches. Can He Survive the Crash? (WSJ)Memo to the Silicon Valley boys’ club: Arlan Hamilton has no time for your BS (Fast Company)Driverless Hype Collides With Merciless Reality (WSJ) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 13, 2018
The fallout from the Apple event, Google kills another beloved product, the Nintendo Switch online service comes online, and where in the World is Larry Page? Links:The iPhone Franchise (Stratechery)Making sense of the most confusing new iPhone lineup ever (Fast Company)Inbox, Google’s playground for email innovation, is going bye-bye (Fact Company)The Nintendo Switch online service is launching on September 18th (The Verge)How Procore Built The Cloud’s Hottest Unicorn By Bringing Software To Low-Tech Construction Sites (Forbes)Where in the World Is Larry Page? (Bloomberg Businessweek) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 12, 2018
What else? The iPhone event. Also, the EU strikes again, the T-Mobile/Sprint merger is on “pause” and "Gawker" is coming back. Links:EU approves controversial Copyright Directive, including internet ‘link tax’ and ‘upload filter’ (The Verge)European Parliament Passes Copyright Directive Giving Artists Greater Share of Revenue (Variety)FCC says it needs more time to review Sprint-T-Mobile deal (CNBC)Verizon to begin 5G home broadband service sign-ups on Thursday (Axios)Gawker Set to Relaunch Under New Owner Bryan Goldberg (EXCLUSIVE) (Variety) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 11, 2018
ICOs now officially securities, some steps backward in the self-driving car space, parsing the Zuckerberg New Yorker profile, and did Facebook disrespect the memory of Burt Reynolds? Stories from: @eosnos Tweets: @ezraklein, @BrendanNyhan Links:US Judge Rules ICO Frauds Fall Under Securities Law (CoinDesk)Renesas in $6.7 billion deal for IDT to boost chips for self-driving cars (Reuters)GM's Plan to Test Autonomous Cars in New York City Seems to Have Gone up in Smoke (Jalopnik)How to prepare your iPhone for a trade-in program (The Verge)Can Mark Zuckerberg Fix Facebook Before It Breaks Democracy? (The New Yorker)Facebook Apologizes For Taking Down Your Horny Burt Reynolds Posts (Vulture) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 10, 2018
Some juicy new Apple rumors for Wednesday, the end of the Jack Ma era is nigh upon us, there were some naughty apps in the Mac App Store and why following people whose politics you disagree with might not lead to peace in our time. Links:Kuo: USB-C on 2018 iPad Pro, Touch ID on 2018 MacBook, EKG and Ceramic Backs on All Apple Watch Series 4 Models, More (MacRumors)Snap just lost its chief strategy officer (Fast Company)Alibaba announces Jack Ma succession plan: CEO Daniel Zhang to take over as chairman in a year (CNBC)Additional Mac App Store apps caught stealing and uploading browser history (9to5Mac)No. 1 paid utility in Mac App Store steals browser history, sends it to Chinese server (9to5Mac)Twitter’s Flawed Solution to Political Polarization (NYTimes Opinion)Can Mark Zuckerberg Fix Facebook Before It Breaks Democracy? (The New Yorker) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 7, 2018
Tim Armstrong might be on his way out of Oath, Alex Jones is permanently off of Twitter, a Cambridge Analytica figure is officially no longer a Facebook employee, Elon Musk smokes a blunt and the weekend longreads suggestions! Links:Verizon’s Internet Boss Tim Armstrong in Talks to Leave (WSJ)Tim Armstrong is headed out of Verizon. What happens to the $9 billion content company he is leaving behind? (Recode)Charlie Warzel Twitter ThreadHOW THAT MAGICAL JACK DORSEY–ALEX JONES PHOTO HAPPENED (Wired)A Facebook scientist tied to Cambridge Analytica has quietly left Facebook (Fast Company)Weed, whiskey, Tesla and a flamethrower: Elon Musk meets Joe Rogan (CNN Tech)Tesla Erupts in Chaos After Senior Execs Leave, Musk Tokes Up (Bloomberg) The Betterment Weekend Longreads:Inside the World of Eddy Cue, Apple’s Services Chief (The Information)Bezos Unbound: Exclusive Interview With The Amazon Founder On What He Plans To Conquer Next (Forbes)The Super Rich of Silicon Valley Have a Doomsday Escape Plan (Bloomberg)What went wrong at Social Capital (Axios)How Android Pie’s Adaptive Battery and Adaptive Brightness work (Venture Beat)The man who won the lottery 14 times (The Hustle) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 6, 2018
The 2014 Sony hacker gets charged, Lyft beats Uber to the scooter punch, why Roblox is the biggest thing since Minecraft, Spotify plays chicken with the music industry, and let’s play another round of Apple event rumor bingo. Links:U.S. charges North Korean operative in conspiracy to hack Sony Pictures, banks (The Washington Post)Lyft rolls out its first electric scooters in Denver (The Verge)You Will Soon Be Able to Control Your Xbox With Alexa and Cortana (Thurrott)Walmart partners with delivery logistics platform Bringg on last-mile grocery delivery (TechCrunch)The new Roomba could be the end of vacuuming (Quartz)Kids' gaming platform Roblox raises $150M (TechCrunch)The video game turning teens into millionaires has raised a whopping $150 million, making it a $2.5 billion company (Business Insider)A New Spotify Initiative Makes the Big Record Labels Nervous (NYTimes)The Tension Is Building Between Spotify and the Music Industry (Bloomberg)‘iPhone Xs Max’ likely name for 6.5-inch OLED flagship, sources say (9to5Mac) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 5, 2018
Tech CEOs hauled before Congress again, Theranos is no more, Google mulls big changes to URL’s and maybe the whole the-teens-are-abandoning-Facebook is a real thing after all? Links:Video of the Hearings (The US Senate)Facebook and Twitter testified before Congress. Conservative conspiracy theorists lurked behind them. (The Washington Post)Blood-Testing Firm Theranos to Dissolve (WSJ)HOW GOOGLE CHROME SPENT A DECADE MAKING THE WEB MORE SECURE (Wired)GOOGLE WANTS TO KILL THE URL (Wired)Americans are changing their relationship with Facebook (PEW Research)Instagram is building a standalone app for shopping (The Verge)Snap launches new styles of Spectacles that look more like traditional sunglasses (The Verge)Vimeo pivots business from media to tech (Axios)Vimeo launches stock video marketplace starting at $79 per clip (Venture Beat) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 4, 2018
Amazon hits a trillion, the EU is giving Netflix quotas, gaming out various Apple rumors ahead of next week’s event and the robots are coming to the drive through window. LinksAmazon falls off $1 trillion market cap, leaving Apple the only public US company above the benchmark (Bloomberg)Local Product Quotas for Netflix, Amazon to Become Law, EU Official Says (EXCLUSIVE) (Variety)Ethereum in BigQuery: a Public Dataset for smart contract analytics (Google Cloud)Major cryptocurrency exchange delists Bitcoin Gold following $18M hack (TNW)2018 iPad Pro redesign is both brilliant and stupid (Cult of Mac)Samsung teases foldable smartphone launch for later this year (The Verge)China's Silicon Valley Threatens to Swallow Up Hong Kong (Bloomberg)Clinc is building a voice AI system to replace humans in drive-through restaurants (TechCrunch) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 31, 2018
How those iPhone leaks happened (maybe), the scooter permits happened and some big names got snubbed, Google’s secret deal with MasterCard, and the weekend long reads suggestions. Links:Exclusive: This is ‘iPhone XS’ — design, larger version, and gold colors confirmed (9to5Mac)Exclusive: Apple Watch Series 4 revealed — massive display, dense watch face, more (9to5Mac)Huawei’s AI Cube is a 4G router and Alexa speaker, not a cube (The Verge)Huawei's Google Home clone has Alexa inside (Engadget)Scooters will return to San Francisco, but Bird and Lime aren’t invited (The Verge)Mozilla announces Firefox will block trackers by default (Venture Beat)Google and Mastercard Cut a Secret Ad Deal to Track Retail Sales (Bloomberg) The Betterment Weekend Longreads:Franken-algorithms: the deadly consequences of unpredictable code (The Guardian)Logged off: meet the teens who refuse to use social media (The Guardian)How Big Tech Swallowed Seattle (Bloomberg Businessweek)The Mystery of People Who Speak Dozens of Languages (The New Yorker) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 30, 2018
An Apple acquisition suggests they’re serious about AR, Uber is serious about escooters, Google lets Kubernetes leave the nest, your IP address is not enough to finger you for a crime, and a fully functional Bugatti made out of Legos. Links:Apple buys startup focused on lenses for AR glasses (Reuters)Apple’s AR lenses purchase also sees future mobile storage (ComputerWorld)Google takes a step back from running the Kubernetes development infrastructure (TechCrunch)Uber Is Building Its Own Scooter to Compete in Frenzy (Bloomberg)Microsoft Requires Paid Parental Leave for Subcontractors (Bloomberg)Important Appeals Court Ruling States Clearly That Merely Having An IP Address Is Insufficient For Infringement Claims (TechDirt)FIRST EVER LIFE-SIZE AND DRIVABLE LEGO® TECHNIC BUGATTI CHIRON IS A PIONEERING PIECE OF ENGINEERING AND DESIGN (Lego) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 29, 2018
A bunch of new laptops from Dell, Amazon might jump into the free tv game, Google updates Wear OS, and why the world’s oldest blockchain has been hiding in plain site since 1995. Links:Dell tempts Pixelbook lovers with premium $599 Inspiron Chromebook 14 (ArsTechnica)Dell shows its fall lineup of Alexa-ready Inspiron, XPS, and Vostro laptops and 2-in-1s (VentureBeat)Amazon Plans New Video App, Latest Step Into TV Ad Market (The Information)Google is revamping the Wear OS smartwatch user interface (TheVerge)The rise of giant consumer startups that said no to investor money (Recode)'World Computer' Project Dfinity Raises $102 Million (Fortune)The rise of crypto in higher education (Coinbase Reports)The Hot New Subject on Campus? It's Blockchain (Fortune)The World’s Oldest Blockchain Has Been Hiding in the New York Times Since 1995 (Motherboard) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 28, 2018
President Trump accuses Google of rigged search results, Instagram updates its identity systems, Yahoo scans your mail for marketing purposes, BuzzFeed tests memberships and the rarest Apple device in the world comes to auction. Links:You can now apply to be verified in Instagram (The Verge)Yahoo, Bucking Industry, Scans Emails for Data to Sell Advertisers (WSJ)Toyota Investing $500 Million in Uber in Driverless-Car Pact (WSJ)AutoX is using its self-driving vehicles to deliver groceries (TechCrunch)BuzzFeed News quietly tests a membership program (Digiday)Buzzfeed, With Nearly $500M In Funding, Asks For Contributions (Crunchbase News)How ‘Grand Theft Auto’ Is Changing the Way the World Experiences Music (Rolling Stone)First Apple Computer Goes Up For Auction, Expected to Fetch More Than $300,000 (Paleofuture) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 27, 2018
The three new iPhones Mark Gurman says are coming our way, Warren Buffet invests in an Indian tech company, Palmer Luckey pans Magic Leap and why Uber thinks e-scooters are cool. Links:Apple to Embrace iPhone X Design With New Colors, Bigger Screens (Bloomberg)Berkshire Hathaway in talks for a stake in Paytm (Economic Times)Microsoft Announces Xbox All Access (Thurrott.com)Public Bravado, Private Doubts: Inside the Unraveling of Elon Musk’s Tesla Buyout (WSJ)Why Elon Musk Reversed Course on Taking Tesla Private (NYTimes)Epic's first Fortnite Installer allowed hackers to download and install anything on your Android phone silently (Android Central)Magic Leap is a Tragic Heap (PalmerLuckey.com)Uber plans shift from cars to bikes for shorter trips (The Financial Times) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 24, 2018
Tech’s version of the five families met today to get on the same page over election security, 23andMe shuts down its API just to be safe, robot puppies, and the weekend longreads suggestions. Links:Google finds evidence of attack linked to Iran state media (Axios)Tech Companies Are Gathering For A Secret Meeting To Prepare A 2018 Election Strategy (Buzzfeed News)Microsoft Hit With U.S. Bribery Probe Over Deals in Hungary (WSJ)23andMe will no longer let app developers read your DNA data (CNBC)The Impossible Job: Inside Facebook’s Struggle to Moderate Two Billion People (Motherboard) The Betterment Weekend Longreads Suggestions:Late to the Driverless Revolution (WSJ)Posting Instagram Sponsored Content Is the New Summer Job (The Atlantic)THE UNTOLD STORY OF NOTPETYA, THE MOST DEVASTATING CYBERATTACK IN HISTORY (Wired)The Vanishing Idealism of Burning Man (The New Republic)Welcome to the Age of Privacy Nihilism (The Atlantic)A monstrous primer on the works of H.P. Lovecraft (Polygon) Bonus Link!Sony Aibo hands-on: An adorable robo-pup that needs training (Engadget) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 23, 2018
Australia bans Chinese telecoms equipment, Microsoft might offer an Xbox subscription that includes the whole console, new DJI drones, Alex Stamos on hacking the 2018 election and the backlash against the “app store tax.” Links:Australia Bars China’s Huawei From Building 5G Wireless Network (NYTimes)'Xbox All Access' looks like a new subscription service with Xbox Live, Game Pass, and a console (Windows Central)DJI Mavic 2 Pro, Mavic 2 Zoom add Hasselblad quality and optical zoom to folding drones (CNET)How the U.S. Has Failed to Protect the 2018 Election--and Four Ways to Protect 2020 (Lawfare)Apple and Google Face Growing Revolt Over App Store ‘Tax’ (Bloomberg)The 30% Tax (Fred Wilson/AVC) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 22, 2018
The fake Russians are back and they’ve brought some fake Iranians with them, Verizon throttles firefighters, Google wants to tell you something good, and day two of the Y Combinator demo days. Links:Sprawling Iranian influence operation globalizes tech’s war on disinformation (The Washington Post)Verizon throttled fire department’s “unlimited” data during Calif. wildfire (Ars Technica)Google Assistant's latest feature delivers just the 'good news' (TechCrunch)Walmart takes another jab at Amazon as it begins selling e-books for first time (USA Today)How Teens and Parents Navigate Screen Time and Device Distractions (Pew Research Center)‘Bitcoin Jesus’ Is Having a Hard Time Winning Over True Believers (Bloomberg)All 59 startups that launched today at Y Combinator’s S18 Demo Day 2 (TechCrunch) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 21, 2018
Microsoft uncovers more Russian political hacking, a possible MacBook Air successor, Netflix “tests” bypassing the App Store, and are you paying for Amazon’s electricity bill? Links:New Russian Hacking Targeted Republican Groups, Microsoft Says (NYTimes)Apple Is Planning a New Low-Cost MacBook, Pro-Focused Mac Mini (Bloomberg)Netflix Tests Promotional Videos but Users See ‘Commercials’ (NYTimes)Netflix tests a bypass of iTunes billing in 33 markets (TechCrunch)Facebook is rating the trustworthiness of its users on a scale from zero to 1 (The Washington Post)Amazon Isn’t Paying Its Electric Bills. You Might Be (Bloomberg Businessweek)Here are the 63 startups that launched today at Y Combinator’s S18 Demo Day 1 (TechCrunch) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 20, 2018
Fitbit doubles down on fitness trackers, new EU regulations might be coming for web platforms, Karma is a startup selling excess food, Trip Advisor has its own fake news problem, and are women the most valuable mobile gaming consumers? Links:With Charge 3, Fitbit blurs the smartwatch line (TechCrunch)EU Weighs Regulations For Terrorist Content (Financial Times)‘Minecraft: Education Edition’ comes to iPad, as education features expand to mainstream version of game (GeekWire)Karma raises $12 million for marketplace that helps restaurants and supermarkets reduce food waste (Venture Beat)Farfetch files for IPO to trade on NYSE as FTCH; has nearly 1M active users of its luxury goods marketplace (TechCrunch)Arm Unveils Client CPU Performance Roadmap Through 2020 - Taking Intel Head On (AnAndTech)How TripAdvisor changed travel (The Guardian)Women are 79 percent more likely to spend money on mobile games (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 17, 2018
A Google smart speaker with a screen, the crypto mining fad is fading, Silicon Valley has lost a piece of its history, the secret Netflix categories and the weekend longreads suggestions. Links:Google to debut display-equipped AI speaker before holidays (Nikkei Asian Review)APNewsBreak: Google clarifies location-tracking policy (The Associated Press)Crypto crash: Despite a strong quarter, Nvidia shares fall on disappointing forecast (SiliconAngle)Wish, an Internet Dollar Store, Struggles to Keep Customers (The Information)Silicon Valley is dismantling a priceless piece of its history (Fast Company)The Netflix ID Bible – Every Category on Netflix (What's on Netflix) The Betterment Weekend Longreads:VIRGIN GALACTIC’S ROCKET MAN (The New Yorker)Inside Evernote’s brain (Fast Company)LET’S ALL GO BACK TO TUMBLR (The Outline)Why Can’t Europe Do Tech? (Bloomberg Businessweek)To Get Ready for Robot Driving, Some Want to Reprogram Pedestrians (Bloomberg) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 16, 2018
Amazon might buy a chain of movie theaters, why the Saudis invest the way they do, Twitter pisses everyone off because… what else is new? And reviews of the Note 9 and Android Pie are in. Links:Amazon in Running to Acquire Landmark Movie Chain (Bloomberg)Saudi Arabia Goes High-Tech in Approach to Investing (WSJ)Twitter company email addresses why it’s #BreakingMyTwitter (TechCrunch)Samsung Galaxy Note 9 review: A better Note for most of us (Engadget)You Can Really Feel the Samsung Note 9's $1000 Price Tag (Gizmodo)Samsung Galaxy Note 9 review: Sleek and new, but too much déjà vu (BGR)ANDROID 9 PIE REVIEW: THE PREDICTIVE OS (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 15, 2018
Today, Twitter takes action on Alex Jones, a new Intel chip vulnerability, Alexa and Cortana play nice together, consolidation in podcasting and a “rest and vest” for the ages. Stories from: @AnneMarieSteele, @dseetharaman Tweets: @MattRosoff Links:SPECTRE-LIKE FLAW UNDERMINES INTEL PROCESSORS' MOST SECURE ELEMENT (Wired)After a year's wait, Amazon and Microsoft bring Alexa and Cortana to each other's devices (CNET)OneDrive can now automatically backup your PC’s documents, pictures, and desktop folders (The Verge)Public Radio Networks to Merge in Big Bet on Podcasts (WSJ)Uber’s Losses Mount at Self-Driving Car Unit (The Information)Cash Wildfire Spreads Among Young Tech Companies (Bloomberg)WhatsApp Co-Founder’s ‘Rest and Vest’ Reward From Facebook: $450 Million (WSJ) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 14, 2018
NVIDIA announces its next generation GPUs, Apple wants developers to get SaaS-y, what if we just rebuilt the cable bundle with streaming channels, Tinder founders file suit and is Kevin Durant teaming up with Marc Andreessen? LinksNVIDIA Reveals Next-Gen Turing GPU Architecture (AnandTech)How an invite-only meeting at Apple's luxury loft in New York set the stage for one of the biggest subscription businesses in the world (Business Insider)Banks and Retailers Are Tracking How You Type, Swipe and Tap (NYTimes)Netflix, Amazon Video, and Xfinity are accidentally re-creating cable TV (The Verge)Kevin Durant, Will Smith Top the Lineup for a New Venture-Capital Fund for Black Investors (WSJ) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 13, 2018
Is Google tracking you even when you tell it not to? Big executive departure at Netflix, Elon expounds on taking Telsa private, and how machine learning can identify devs simply by the way they code. Links:Lenovo Launches Ultra-Thin ThinkPad P1: X1 Carbon Meets Workstation (AnAndTech)EVEN ANONYMOUS CODERS LEAVE FINGERPRINTS (Wired)Update on Taking Tesla Private (Tesla)China has outspent the US by $24 billion in 5G technology since 2015, study shows (CNBC)An 11-Year-Old Changed The Results Of Florida's Presidential Vote At A Hacker Convention. Discuss. (Buzzfeed News)Dozens of Vegas slots went offline simultaneously during a hacker convention (Mashable) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 10, 2018
Is Apple’s secret car project back on? Is Elon Musk in trouble with the SEC? How many people use Apple Pay? Is Alexa coming to cars? And the weekend Longreads suggestions. Stories from: @gruber Tweets: @jbarro, @kairyssdal Links:Tesla is now worth less than it was before Elon Musk's $420 tweet (Business Insider)Doug Field Returns to Apple After Leaving Tesla (Daring Fireball)Apple Pay Increasingly Central to iPhone (Loop Ventures)Amazon launches Auto SDK to bring Alexa to more cars (VentureBeat)VCs Are On Track To Make 2018 A Record Year For Unicorns (Crunchbase News) The Betterment Weekend Long Reads Suggestions:Fintech Frenzy: Hype or Reality? A Closer Look at 6 Key Sectors (Fortune)HOW THE SHARED FAMILY COMPUTER PROTECTED US FROM OUR WORST SELVES (The Verge)“The Lean Startup” is an unproductive legend (Quartz)THE STRANGE DAVID AND GOLIATH SAGA OF RADIO FREQUENCIES (Wired)THE ULTRA-PURE, SUPER-SECRET SAND THAT MAKES YOUR PHONE POSSIBLE (Wired) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 9, 2018
The new Galaxy Note 9 is unveiled, New York City caps ride hailing companies, Discord kneecaps Steam—as expected, the continuing saga of Alex Jones and what’s up with Elon Musk now? Links:Samsung Galaxy Note9: Design, specs, features, and pricing (VentureBeat)New York Plans to Cap Uber and Lyft (WSJ)Where’s the Money Coming From, Elon? (Bloomberg Businessweek) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 8, 2018
We can actually, finally find out what Magic Leap does, Snap reports earnings, Slack gets ready for war, Patreon is building a patronage empire and why you’re probably getting ripped off if you’re paying for DSL. Links:I TRIED MAGIC LEAP AND SAW A FLAWED GLIMPSE OF MIXED REALITY’S AMAZING POTENTIAL (The Verge)Magic Leap Headset Test Drive: Off Your Phone and Into Your World (WSJ)Magic Leap’s headset is real, but that may not be enough (MIT Technology Review)Patreon buys Memberful but keeps it indie as patronage consolidates (TechCrunch)Tinder’s business will double this year to more than $800 million (Recode)Study Shows How Bad Most of the Country Is Getting Ripped Off By Their ISPs (Motherboard) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 7, 2018
Voting via app will be tested during the midterms, Old Bitcoin Money and New Bitcoin money are in a power struggle, the truth about how we use Alexa, and a new combatant joins the fray in the Streaming Video Wars. Links:West Virginia to introduce mobile phone voting for midterm elections (CNN Tech)A Culture War Is Brewing Between Bitcoin’s Old and New Money (Bloomberg)Wall Street isn’t boosting bitcoin (Quartz)Twitter says Alex Jones and InfoWars accounts don't violate policy, will remain live for now (CNBC)The Reality Behind Voice Shopping Hype (The Information)Jeffrey Katzenberg’s ‘NewTV’ Startup Closes $1 Billion, All Major Studios Among Investors (Variety)Cloudflare Stream makes it easy (and cheap) for developers to work with video (TNW)Airbnb for Work claims 700,000 businesses as bookings tripled for second year in a row (VentureBeat) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 6, 2018
Nearly every major tech platform bans Alex Jones to one degree or another, does Facebook really want to know your bank balance, MoviePass comes with another subscription pivot, Apple’s plans for India and why $1,000 smartphones might only be the beginning. Links:Facebook, Apple, YouTube and Spotify ban Infowars' Alex Jones (The Guardian)Facebook to Banks: Give Us Your Data, We’ll Give You Our Users (WSJ)Facebook taps banks, but for chatbots not purchase data like Google (TechCrunch)MoviePass Abandons Price Hike, But Will Limit Films to Three a Month (Variety)iPhone Chipmaker Races to Recover After Crippling Computer Virus (Bloomberg)Here’s Apple’s Plan to Keep From Losing the World’s Fastest-Growing Smartphone Market (Bloomberg Businessweek)Why iPhone and Android phone prices will get even higher (CNET) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 3, 2018
Fortnite snubs Google, Amazon Prime Video is coming to Comcast, Peloton raises a ton, the top ten programming languages of 2018 and, of course, the weekend longreads suggestions. Links: Epic Games sidesteps the Play Store with Fortnite for Android launch (TechCrunch)Ready, Aim, Hire a ‘Fortnite’ Coach: Parents Enlist Videogame Tutors for Their Children (WSJ)Google Maps location sharing shows your contact's battery level (Android Police)The 2018 Top Programming Languages (IEEE Spectrum) The Betterment.com/ride Weekend Longreads:How Robot Hands Are Evolving to Do What Ours Can (NYTimes)Why the Next Silicon Valley Will Probably Be Outside the U.S. (Citylab)Masayoshi Son’s secret to running his $100 billion fund: Telling start-ups to treat each other like family (CNBC)What Happened to General Magic? (NYMag/SelectAll)Growing Up Jobs (Vanity Fair) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 2, 2018
Apple hits a trillion, a midwestern unicorn cashes in, the Surface Go reviews are in, there are no perfect tools for making memes, and Tesla is adding video games to its cars. Links:Cisco to acquire Ann Arbor-based Duo Security in $2.35 billion deal (Crain's Detroit Business)Surface Go review: The ideal cheap Windows tablet... almost (Engadget)The tiny Microsoft Surface Go is available now, and it’s an overachiever (The Verge)Microsoft Surface Go review: Barely better than a netbook (Mashable)The Microsoft Surface Go Is Practically Perfect (Gizmodo)RideOS raises $25M to become the traffic control center for self-driving cars (TechCrunch)As Memes Evolve, Apps Are Struggling to Keep Up (The Atlantic)How Software Ate the Point of Sale (The Atlantic) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 1, 2018
Google has a secret plan to return to China, the Apple earnings analysis, Masayoshi Son goes “Brandless” and in praise of microfilm! Links:GOOGLE PLANS TO LAUNCH CENSORED SEARCH ENGINE IN CHINA, LEAKED DOCUMENTS REVEAL (The Intercept)Apple tops 300 million paid subscriptions as it reportedly preps new subscription services (Digiday)This No-Brand Startup Won $240 Million to Fight Amazon on Price and Quality (Bloomberg)Microfilm Lasts Half a Millennium (The Atlantic) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 31, 2018
Facebook reveals fresh election meddling, Galaxy 9s might not be selling well, but Nintendo Switches sure are, and Playstation 4s still are, Uber stops truckin’ and Google Maps will predict which restaurant you’ll like. Stories from: @kerby, @fredwilson Tweets: @LDrogen Links:Smartphone Slowdown Hits Profits at Samsung Electronics (Bloomberg)Sony can't stop making money from PlayStation (Engadget)Uber’s self-driving trucks division is dead, long live Uber self-driving cars (TechCrunch)Where Did you Go to School? (Richard Kerby)Where Did You Go To School? (AVC)WhatsApp group calls are rolling out to everyone, but don’t ditch Skype just yet (Android Authority)Google Maps can predict how much you'll like a restaurant (Engadget) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 30, 2018
The king of the bitcoin miners mulls an IPO (not an ICO), the prediction market Augur gets dark, a “Netflix for gadgets” and a “Dallas Cowboys for e-sports” both raise money, advice for Twitter and Facebook, and why autonomous cars need to talk to us. Links:Scoop: Bitcoin Mining Company Bitmain Hit $1.1 Billion in Profits in Q1 2018 (Fortune)The First Augur Assassination Markets Have Arrived (CoinDesk)Grover raises €37M Series A to offer latest tech products as a subscription (TechCrunch)Twitter is prioritizing its network ‘health’ over adding new growth features. Is that the right move? (Recode)Why unskippable Stories ads could revive Facebook (TechCrunch)Retailers set sights on Facebook, Google ad revenue (Reuters)The self-driving cars hitting the road in Texas today are unlike any we’ve seen before (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 27, 2018
Slack takes out some competitors, Twitter get its own earnings shock, Amazon is just fine, thank you very much, Stripe issues credit cards, MoviePass… still alive at the time of this recording… and the weekend longreads suggestions. Stories from: @neilstrauss, @lmatsakis Tweets: @sparkycollier Links:Goodbye HipChat: Slack and Atlassian Team Up on Chat Software (Bloomberg)This is the Amazon everyone should have feared — and it has nothing to do with its retail business (Recode)Stripe Starts Issuing Credit Cards (Bloomberg) Weekend Longreads:Brock Pierce: The Hippie King of Cryptocurrency (Rolling Stone)How Silicon Valley Has Disrupted Philanthropy (The Atlantic)THE 'GUERRILLA' WIKIPEDIA EDITORS WHO COMBAT CONSPIRACY THEORIES (Wired)Inside Google’s Shadow Workforce (Bloomberg)MySpace and the Coding Legacy it Left Behind (Code Academy) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 26, 2018
The Facebook earnings disaster. What else? But also Qualcomm walks away from an acquisition, Amazon’s facial recognition tech seems pretty flawed, and Samsung might have invented unbreakable displays for smartphones! Links:Samsung announces new 'unbreakable' display that survives punishing UL certification (Android Central) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 25, 2018
Another internal Facebook memo leaks, China tells Facebook “not so fast,” Steam battles Discord, why the iPhone can’t compete in China, and a Y2K bug for the new millennium. Links:Departing Facebook Security Officer's Memo: "We Need To Be Willing To Pick Sides" (BuzzFeed News)China Said to Quickly Withdraw Approval for New Facebook Venture (NYTimes)Steam is rolling out its new Discord-like chat features to all users (The Verge)General Motors wants its customers to rent their cars to other people (The Verge)Why the iPhone can’t compete in India (The Verge)Big tech warns of 'Japan's millennium bug' ahead of Akihito's abdication (The Guardian) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 24, 2018
Alphabet earnings, Google’s Translation app takes over the world, potentially two new Xbox consoles, Verizon wants to deliver TV over 5G and the thin-and-light laptop revolution has gone too far! Links:Alphabet surges to all-time high as Wall Street says internet giant’s big bets are ‘paying off’ (CNBC)Alphabet’s experimental investments in the future continue to cost it a fortune (The Verge)Google CEO Sundar Pichai revealed a jaw-dropping fact about its translation app that shows how much money is still sitting on the table (Business Insider)Miles is an app that tracks your every move in exchange for deals and discounts (The Verge)A Few More Details About Microsoft’s Xbox Scarlett Game Streaming Service (Thurrott.com)Verizon Is Seeking Google or Apple as 5G TV Provider (Bloomberg)Thinner and Lighter Laptops Have Screwed Us All (Motherboard) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 23, 2018
Susan Fowler Rigetti gets a high profile new job, a Lyft and Uber driver was live-streaming without consent, Samsung takes a big step toward a 5G world, and why is Google Translate spitting out religious prophecies? Links:St. Louis Uber driver has put video of hundreds of passengers online. Most have no idea. (St. Louis Dispatch)$20K in Crypto: The First Bets on Prediction Market Augur Just Paid Out (CoinDesk)Qualcomm's new chips fix a major problem for 5G phones (CNET)Why Is Google Translate Spitting Out Sinister Religious Prophecies? (Motherboard)Pinterest nears $1 billion in ad sales and valuation rises as it looks to go public in mid-2019 (CNBC)Consumer startups are dead. Long live consumer startups. (Eric Feng) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 20, 2018
WhatsApp limits forwards, Microsoft announces earnings, emergency alerts on Netflix, grocery chain Kroger throws shade at Amazon Prime Day, and the Weekend Longreads Suggestions. Links:WhatsApp will drastically limit forwarding across the globe to stop the spread of fake news, following violence in India and Myanmar (Recode)https://techcrunch.com/2018/07/18/senate-wants-emergency-alerts-to-go-out-through-netflix-spotify-etc/ (TechCrunch)First Test Drive of the Tesla Model 3 Performance: A Thrilling, Modern Marvel (WSJ) Weekend LongreadsHow ‘Small’ Security Errors Lead to a Security Breach (Alex DeFreese)Robots Are Ready to Shake (and Stir) Up Bars (WSJ)AI Could Make Detecting Autism Easier (The Atlantic)Best Buy Should Be Dead, But It’s Thriving in the Age of Amazon (Bloomberg Businessweek)When a DNA Test Shatters Your Identity (The Atlantic) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 19, 2018
Facebook and Zuckerberg address misinformation and censorship, Reddit rolls out live chatrooms, will Fuchsia replace Android, and who is online journalism’s newest savior? Links:Facebook says it will begin removing misinformation that leads to violence (The Verge)Full transcript: Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg on Recode Decode (Recode)Mark Zuckerberg clarifies: ‘I personally find Holocaust denial deeply offensive, and I absolutely didn’t intend to defend the intent of people who deny that.’ (Recode)REDDIT REINVENTS THE CHAT ROOM WITH COMMUNITY CHAT (Wired)The European Commission Versus Android (Stretechery)Project ‘Fuchsia’: Google Is Quietly Working on a Successor to Android (Bloomberg)Google’s Fuchsia OS on the Pixelbook: It works! It actually works! (Ars Technica) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 18, 2018
Google faces a record European fine, Nest gets a major reshuffle inside Google, Walmart guns for Netflix, Venmo transactions can be public, and can cool camera tech destined for smartphones actually improve autonomous vehicles? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 17, 2018
Netflix’s subscriber miss, Amazon’s troubled Prime Day, Walmart and Microsoft team up against Amazon, some big problems with voting machines and the big autonomous vehicle startup you’ve probably never heard of. Links:What Netflix's big miss means for the new tech economy (Axios)STRIKES, BOYCOTTS, AND OUTAGES MAR AMAZON PRIME DAY (Wired)Amazon warehouse workers are striking across Europe on Prime Day (The Verge)Andreessen Horowitz Names Connie Chan A General Partner, Ending VC Firm's No-Promotion Policy (Forbes)Top Voting Machine Vendor Admits It Installed Remote-Access Software on Systems Sold to States (Motherboard)VC Firm Social Capital Set Out to Fix Capitalism. Now It’s In Turmoil (Bloomberg)Amazon Foes Walmart and Microsoft Deepen Tech Partnership (WSJ)$800 Million Says a Self-Driving Car Looks Like This (Bloomberg Businessweek) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 16, 2018
A Roku wireless speaker, better Uber pickups, Instapaper goes solo, what to expect from the Galaxy S10 and it’s Amazon Prime Day everybody! Links:Wave Uber’s new Spotlight or send canned chats to find your driver (TechCrunch)Airbnb is grappling with how to treat people with criminal convictions (Quartz)A German court ruled you can inherit Facebook content like a letter or a diary (Quartz)Here's what to expect from the Samsung Galaxy S10, including a new feature you won't find on iPhones (Business Insider)Amazon’s share of the US e-commerce market is now 49%, or 5% of all retail spend (TechCrunch) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 13, 2018
Full Photoshop is coming to iPads, PC sales are growing again, what now for the AT&T/Time Warner merger, what does an unlimited data plan really mean, and the weekend longreads suggestions. Stories from: @imkialikethecar, @ballmatthew Tweets: @renato_mariotti Links:Top of the Morning (Axios)AT&T’s no-good week shows why it may regret its Google envy (Fast Company)Uber begins monitoring U.S. driver background checks continuously (Axios)Unlimited data plans are a mess: here’s how to pick the best one (The Verge) Weekend Longreads:Hell for Elon Musk Is a Midsize Sedan (Bloomberg Businessweek)How Twitter Became Home to the Teen Status Update (The Atlantic)Why Some of Instagram's Biggest Memers Are Locking Their Accounts (The Atlantic)GEORGE HOTZ IS ON A HACKER CRUSADE AGAINST THE ‘SCAM’ OF SELF-DRIVING CARS (The Verge)THE ONLY GOOD ONLINE FANDOM LEFT IS DUNE (The Outline)Netflix Isn’t Being Reckless, It’s Just Playing a Game No One Else Dares (Netflix Misunderstandings, Pt. 3) (Matthew Ball/Redef) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 12, 2018
Surprise MacBook Pro updates, Broadcom goes for Plan B, the fate of Gawker and The Onion, who will be the first to a trillion dollars, and who wants to be the Pixar of VR. Links:APPLE’S NEW MACBOOK PROS HAVE THE LATEST INTEL PROCESSORS AND QUIETER KEYBOARDS (The Verge)Broadcom reaches deal to acquire CA Technologies for $18.9 billion in cash (CNBC)The Race to a Trillion (Above Avalon) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 11, 2018
Facebook faces its first fine from the Cambridge Analytica scandal, a look at what Article 13 might do to the web, a juicy new Apple rumor, more hints from Magic Leap, and a look at Alphabet’s “Moonshot” factory. Stories from: @AlecMuffett, @adavies47 Tweets: @joshelman Links:Facebook is slapped with first fine for Cambridge Analytica scandal (Washington Post)Thread by @AlecMuffett: "Regards Article13, I wrote up a little command-line false-positive emulator; it tests 10 million events with a test (for copyrighted materia […]" #Article13 (Alex Muffett)European Networks Are Joining Forces to Take On Netflix and Amazon (The Hollywood Reporter)INSIDE X, THE MOONSHOT FACTORY RACING TO BUILD THE NEXT GOOGLE (Wired) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 10, 2018
Microsoft unveils a new Surface tablet, police can probably still break into iPhones, YouTube fights fake news, the new silicon gold rush, and Netflix makes binging even easier. Links:Microsoft’s $399 Surface Go aims to stand out from iPads or Chromebooks (The Verge)Microsoft's $399 Surface Go is here to nuke Apple's iPad (Mashable)The AI revolution has spawned a new chips arms race (Ars Technica)Netflix Binge-Watching Just Got Even Easier: Now It Automatically Downloads New Episodes To Watch Offline (BuzzFeed) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 9, 2018
Xiaomi’s IPO disappoints, Apple Music gains on Spotify, Amazon’s ad business could be a contender, and why half the members of a popular subreddit are getting banned. Stories from: @mikelaris, @noamscheiber Tweets: @danprimack Links:Shares of Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi stumble on their debut, slipping as much as 6% (CNBC)Xiaomi's weak debut signals trouble for upcoming Hong Kong tech listings (Reuters)Apple slices into Spotify’s lead in the US music market (CNBC)High-Skilled White-Collar Work? Machines Can Do That, Too (NYTimes)Federal researchers are using data from Waze and Maryland to try to predict road dangers (Washington Post)The Thanos subreddit is gleefully heading for mass slaughter (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 6, 2018
Sonos files for an IPO, Netflix sunsets movie reviews, the iPhone is getting new colors, the memes are safe for now, and the weekend longreads suggestions. Links:MEPs vote to reopen copyright debate over 'censorship' controversy (TechCrunch)Kuo: New 2018 iPhone models to come in gold, grey, white, blue, red and orange colors (9to5Mac)Amazon Takes a Page From Toys ‘R’ Us With a Holiday Catalog (Bloomberg)Reddit — one of the world's most popular websites — is trying to cash in through advertising (CNBC) Longreads Suggestions:Xiaomi founder Lei Jun’s tech empire goes way beyond smartphones (Quartz)SELF-DRIVING CARS ARE HEADED TOWARD AN AI ROADBLOCK (The Verge)How to Make Piles of Money Using Instagram (Bloomberg)Ice Poseidon’s Lucrative, Stressful Life as a Live Streamer (The New Yorker) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 3, 2018
A big problem with Samsung Messages, Dell comes back to the public markets, more machinations in the transportation shuffle, more NSA shenanigans, and the 10th anniversary of the App Store. Links:Dell to Return to Public Markets With Tracking Stock (NYTimes)Alphabet adds to transport bets with scooter deal (FT)N.S.A. Purges Hundreds of Millions of Call and Text Records (NYTimes)IPO Market Posts Blistering First Half (WSJ)In Q2 2018, Global VC Scales Tipped In Favor Of Chinese Startups Over North America (CrunchBase)These are the top iPhone apps of all time (Tech Crunch)“Perhaps it is simpler to say that Intel…was disrupted” (Steven Sinofsky) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 29, 2018
Xiaomi’s IPO disappoints, Apple is rebuilding Maps from the ground up, the state of the ICO market, the weekend long reads suggestions, and the NES is back, baby! Stories from: @panzer, @tomwarren Tweets: @elonmusk Links:Apple is rebuilding Maps from the ground up (TechCrunch)Microsoft details secret ‘pocketable’ Surface device in leaked email (The Verge)Digital currency sales hit $13.7 billion in first five months of 2018: report (Reuters)The NES Classic is back: here’s where you can pick one up (The Verge) Weekend Longreads Suggestions:I Delivered Packages for Amazon and It Was a Nightmare (The Atlantic)HOW THE STARTUP MENTALITY FAILED KIDS IN SAN FRANCISCO (Wired)Despite Caution Over Cryptocurrency, Investors Are Bullish (NYTimes)The Biggest Digital Heist in History Isn’t Over Yet (Bloomberg) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 28, 2018
Amazon makes a ton of news including buying into pharmaceutical commerce and creating its own mini-package delivery army, Apple considers one subscription to rule them all, and the long Apple/Samsung war is over. Stories from: @angelicalavito, @jacknicas Tweets: @eugenegu Links:Amazon shakes up drugstore business with deal to buy online pharmacy PillPack (CNBC)Amazon’s new blue crew: Tech giant enlists entrepreneurs to own the ‘last mile,’ delivering packages in Prime vans and uniforms (GeekWire)Apple Eyes Streaming Bundle for TV, Music and News (The Information)Apple and Samsung End Smartphone Patent Wars (NYTimes)Bird CEO Explains Why His Scooter Startup Needed $300 Million (Bloomberg)AT&T more than doubles ‘admin fee’ for every wireless customer (The Verge)Colossal 128TB SD cards could soon be on the way (TNW) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 27, 2018
Google rebrands AdWords and demos Duplex for reporters, Twitter takes steps to fight spam and make your account more secure, Facebook wants to help you avoid spoilers and is Blackberry back with the Key2? Links:Google is retiring the AdWords & DoubleClick brands in a major rebranding aimed at simplification (Search Engine Land)Google opens its human-sounding Duplex AI to public testing (CNET)Google Duplex really works and testing begins this summer (The Verge)Facebook tests 30-day keyword snoozing to fight spoilers, triggers (TechCrunch)BlackBerry KEY2 review: One of the most unique phones around comes up short of awesome (Android Police) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 26, 2018
Uber gets legal in London, a16z raises a crypto fund, Apple opts for human editors, Fortnite makes bank, and a check-in on the space race. Links:Uber wins the right to keep operating in London (TheVerge)Wi-Fi security is starting to get its biggest upgrade in over a decade (TheVerge)Fortnite is generating more revenue than any other free game ever (ReCode)Intel and the Danger of Integration (Ben Thompson/Stratechery)Steven Sinofsky Tweet Thread on the Above Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 25, 2018
New noise cancelling AirPods might be coming, AT&T buys AppNexus, more Trump and Chinese tech rumblings, and what is the future of Benchmark Capital? Links:Apple to Unveil High-End AirPods, Over-Ear Headphones For 2019 (Bloomberg)The US now officially has the world's fastest supercomputer, knocking China off the top spot (TechSport)Is there a next act for one of Silicon Valley’s top investors after Uber? Benchmark and Bill Gurley are about to find out. (ReCode)Here’s How That Tablet On The Table At Your Favorite Restaurant Is Hurting Your Waiter (BuzzFeed) Book Recommendation:eBoys Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 22, 2018
The Supreme Court rules on cell phone tracking, YouTube gets channel memberships, Twitter literally smites Smyte, the Elon Musk sabotage saga gets weirder and the weekend longreads suggestions. Stories from: @sarahintampa, @drewharwell Tweets: @mathewi Links:Supreme Court says police can't use your cellphone to track you without a court order (NBC News)Twitter ‘smytes’ customers (TechCrunch)Elon Musk Has Always Been At War With The Media (BuzzFeed) Weekend Longreads:How Twitter Made The Tech World's Most Unlikely Comeback (BuzzFeed)The Legend of Nintendo (Bloomberg)Intel now faces a fight for its future (The Verge)INSIDE THE CRYPTO WORLD'S BIGGEST SCANDAL (Wired) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 21, 2018
Intel’s CEO steps down, an update on Apple’s AirPower wireless charger, a Supreme Court ruling will have a big impact on e-commerce, and Amazon Fire TV Cube reviews. Stories from: @jessiwrites, @chrisvelazco Tweets: @kevinctofel Links: Why Apple’s AirPower Wireless Charger Is Taking So Long to Make (Bloomberg)AMAZON FIRE TV CUBE REVIEW: A SMARTER STREAMING BOX (The Verge)Google turns on ‘Continued Conversation’ in the Google Assistant (Search Engine Land)WHY LYFT IS TRYING TO BECOME THE NEXT SUBSCRIPTION BUSINESS (Wired) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 20, 2018
The immigration controversy comes to Silicon Valley, Instagram debuts IGTV, Disney ups its bid for Fox, and a new phone finds a new way around “the notch.” Links:Facebook launches gameshows platform with interactive video (TechCrunch)Oppo’s Find X ditches the notch for pop-up cameras (The Verge)Crypto Exchange Bithumb Halts Withdrawals After $31 Million Hack (CoinDesk) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 19, 2018
Verizon and AT&T stop selling your location data, Google roles out a couple of cool new things, Alexa is coming to your hotel, Elon Musk is worried about sabotage, and how Europe might kill meme culture. Stories from: @jacknicas Tweets: @coryweinberg, @danprimack Links:In China Trade War, Apple Worries It Will Be Collateral Damage (NYTimes)One Year in, Bird Founder Sells Some Shares (The Information)The EU's bizarre war on memes is totally unwinnable (Wired UK) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 18, 2018
Apple upgrades 911 calls—and is taking a case to the Supreme Court—Google invests big time in China, gaming addiction is officially a disorder, and how an Australian telecom company is screwing up the World Cup. Stories from: @stevelevine, @tiffkhsu Tweets: @mhbergen Links:In China, a picture of how warehouse jobs can vanish (Axios)Video Game Addiction Tries to Move From Basement to Doctor’s Office (NYTimes)Google Is Training Machines to Predict When a Patient Will Die (Bloomberg)SBS to screen World Cup games after Optus fail (Sydney Morning Herald) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 15, 2018
Oprah signs with Apple, but OLEDs aren’t working out for Apple, Netflix has a hidden source for teen comedy hits, the weekend longreads suggestions, and, if you can believe it, William Shatner’s new gig. Stories from: @mochi_wsj, @McLauchlin Links:APPLE’S ORIGINAL CONTENT IS FURTHER ALONG THAN YOU THINK (LoupVentures)Netflix’s latest hit ‘The Kissing Booth’ is a Wattpad success story (TechCrunch)How Batteries Went From Primitive Power to Global Domination (Bloomberg)William Shatner's new enterprise: A solar-powered bitcoin mining farm in southern Illinois (Chicago Tribune) Weekend Longreads Suggestions:The Time Canada Wanted Its Own Internet Because It Thought the US Would Mess It Up (Motherboard)Instagram’s Wannabe-Stars Are Driving Luxury Hotels Crazy (The Atlantic)HOW THE TRENDIEST GRILLED-CHEESE VENTURE GOT BURNT (Wired)THE SECRET HISTORY OF THE RACY MODULE THAT ALMOST RUINED D&D (Wired) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 14, 2018
Apple tries to lock down it’s phones again, Google makes ad targeting more transparent, Microsoft works to replace cashiers with robots… but the robots have already come for middle managers at Amazon, and a plea to help save Metafilter. Stories from: @spencersoper, @viticci, @CamiRusso Links:Shortcuts: A New Vision for Siri and iOS Automation (MacStories)Amazon’s Clever Machines Are Moving From the Warehouse to Headquarters (Bloomberg)Making a Killing in Virtual Real Estate (Bloomberg)The Million Dollar Homepage (Wikipedia)SAVE METAFILTER! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 13, 2018
Today was major revamp day. Twitter’s ringing in big changes. Microsoft is putting a new polish on Office. Also: Intel jumps into the GPU game, Bitcoin might have been manipulated, and Fortnite comes to the Nintendo Switch. Stories from: @nathanielpopper, @PatcohenNYT, @ryanshrout Tweets: @hrtbps Links:Intel makes it a three-way race with AMD and Nvidia on graphics chips (Marketwatch)Bitcoin’s Price Was Artificially Inflated Last Year, Researchers Say (NYTimes)E-Commerce Might Help Solve the Mystery of Low Inflation (NYTimes)Fortnite on the Switch is good enough to make Sony’s cross-play policy look even more stupid (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 12, 2018
E-scooter valuations explode, Facebook turns in its homework, Microsoft’s next Xbox is coming in 2020, how Netflix is winning, and a dreaded 51% attack explained. Here’s what you missed today in the world of tech. Tweets: @annehelen, @arielbogle Stories: @danprimack, @bdsams Links:Scooter startup Bird is seeking a $2 billion valuation (Axios)Microsoft’s Next-Gen Xbox Will Arrive in 2020 (Thurrott.com)The Guy Tapping His Head Meme Explained (NYMag)Inside the Binge Factory (NYMag)Blockchain's Once-Feared 51% Attack Is Now Becoming Regular (CoinDesk)TED Residency (TED) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 11, 2018
Snapchat Clear Chats and Facebook’s Memories come at social media from different philosophical viewpoints, headlines from the ramp up to E3, new Apple Watch rumors, the scooter economy, and do on-screen fingerprint scanners work well? Stories from: @thesullivan, @345triangle Links:The Apple Watch will get touch-sensitive, solid-state buttons (Fast Company)The Scooter Economy (Stratechery)How to understand the financial levers in your business (TechCrunch)AT&T-Time Warner Ruling Has Dealmakers Bracing (NYTimes)In-display fingerprint sensors are here, and they actually work (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 8, 2018
Google’s lays out ethical principles for AI development, Facebook has another privacy issue (again), why the next generation of gaming consoles might be the last, Yahoo Messenger logs off, and the weekend long-reads suggestions. Stories from: @sundarpichai, @terrortola Links:AI at Google: our principles (Google)Can Google keep its promises on building ethical AI? (Engadget)Airbnb says forced to cancel bookings under new Japan law (Asia One)Ubisoft Believes Next Gen Is the Last for Consoles as Microsoft Looks Beyond Platforms (Variety)Chat Wars (N+1) Longreads:‘I can understand about 50 percent of the things you say’: How Congress is struggling to get smart on tech (Washington Post)The Twitter crime mystery that gripped Spain (BBC)Meet the people who still use Myspace: 'It's given me so much joy' (The Guardian)Exploring The Digital Ruins Of 'Second Life' (Digg)Why Aren’t We All Buying Houses on the Internet? (Slate) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 7, 2018
ZTE makes a deal with Uncle Sam, but Google might be in trouble because of Huawei, the new Amazon Fire TV Cube is announced, a new Blackberry phone, a redesigned Lyft app and more Instagram video rumors. Stories from: @stuwoo, @meganrosedickey LinksAfter Scrutinizing Facebook, Congress Turns to Google Deal With Huawei (WSJ)Lyft redesigns rider app to encourage shared rides (TechCrunch)Instagram plans to launch Snapchat Discover-style video hub (TechCrunch)For BlackBerry Key2, privacy is (again) a key pitch for comeback (CNET) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 6, 2018
A whole slew of product announcements. New Sonos speakers. A new Motorola smartphone. A new AMD chip. Instagram may soon allow you to post hour-long videos. Plus: why Microsoft sunk a data center off the Scottish coast and why startups keep naming themselves after… people. Stories from: @DMOberhaus, @janinewolfj9, @laforgia_ Links:Facebook Gave Data Access to Chinese Firm Flagged by U.S. Intelligence (NYTimes)Instagram Could Soon Allow Users to Post Long-Form Video (WSJ)Microsoft Just Put a Data Center on the Bottom of the Ocean (Motherboard)Marcus, Casper, Oscar: Why Startups Are Obsessed With Human Names (Bloomberg) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 5, 2018
Intel releases some anniversary chips, why WhatsApp and Facebook had a falling out, followups from WWDC and analysis of that GitHub acquisition, and some scientists purposely created a psychopathic AI. Stories from: @jameskobielus, @janewakefield Tweets: @pkafka Links:Microsoft’s GitHub takeover sends shockwaves through the open-source developer ecosystem (SiliconAngle)Behind the Messy, Expensive Split Between Facebook and WhatsApp’s Founders (WSJ)Are you scared yet? Meet Norman, the psychopathic AI (BBC News)I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream (Wikipedia)Roko's basilisk (LessWrong) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 4, 2018
Today, it’s all about developers, everything from Apple’s WWDC Keynote, Microsoft buys GitHub in order to court developers. Oh. And a new Facebook data brouhaha. Tweet commentary: @ericlbarnes, @HenrikJoreteg Links:Microsoft confirms it’s acquiring GitHub for $7.5 billion (The Verge)Facebook Gave Device Makers Deep Access to Data on Users and Friends (NYTimes) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 1, 2018
The end of an era in venture capital, the end of Facebook’s trending news feature, what to expect from WWDC next week, some new ARM chips and the weekend longreads suggestions. Stories from: @joshuarothman, @deborahgage, @meliarobin Links:New Arm Cortex-A76 and Mali-G76 target laptop-class performance (Android Authority)Angry Facebook shareholders challenge Zuckerberg over 'corporate dictatorship' (The Guardian)Apple Is Set to Unveil AR Upgrade, Software to Manage iPhone Use (Bloomberg)Apple’s WWDC 2018: iOS 12, macOS, and what else to expect (The Verge)WWDC 2018: What to expect from Apple’s big event (MacWorld) Weekend Longreads:Obama's US Digital Service Survives Trump—Quietly (Wired)The Search for Women Who Want Cybersecurity Careers (WSJ)How Futures Trading Changed Bitcoin Prices (Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco)The Growing Emptiness of the "Star Wars" Universe (The New Yorker) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 31, 2018
A bunch of self driving car news, a bunch of headline making quotes from the Code Conference, a couple new flagship smartphones, and a new Atari gaming console that nobody is quite sure the purpose of. Stories: @Charlie_L_Hall, @richardlai Tweets: @ChengmingAlpert, @dcseifert Links:Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi says he’s trying to convince Alphabet to put Waymo self-driving cars on the company’s network (Recode)Xiaomi's transparent Mi 8 also does 3D face unlock (Engadget)Atari is crowdfunding a new console, but who is this device actually for? (Polygon) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 30, 2018
The Code Conference brings us Mary Meeker’s Internet Trends Report and juicy quotes from Evan Spiegel, web publishers find life after Facebook, a new gaming laptop from HP, and how ambulance chasing lawyers can target ads to people in the hospital. Tweets: @simonowens, @agolis Links:Snapchat preps Snapkit platform to bring camera, login to other apps (TechCrunch)Mobile Direct Traffic Eclipses Facebook (Chartbeat)Mary Meeker’s 2018 internet trends report: All the slides, plus analysis (Recode)Digital Ambulance Chasers? Law Firms Send Ads To Patients' Phones Inside ERs (NPR)Glenn's Kickstarter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 29, 2018
Uber adds a panic button, Apple updates HomePod, the Chinese trade war is back on, Facebook gets a month-long timeout, another EU privacy regulation, and less-desirable dogs get better PR. Tweets from from @lcmoser, @heldavidson, @jimwaterson Links:Uber adds a panic button in its app (The Verge)Uber’s Exit From Southeast Asia Upsets Regulators and Drivers (New York Times)Apple’s HomePod Speaker Finally Gets Multi-Room Audio And Stereo Mode (Buzzfeed)Papua New Guinea To Shutdown Facebook (Post Courier)Mark Zuckerberg on Facebook’s hardest year, and what comes next (Vox)Bid to Block Trump's Deal on ZTE Would Have Support, Rubio Says (Bloomberg News)The Next Privacy Battle in Europe Is Over This New Law (New York Times)How The Internet Is Changing The Way Dogs Find Homes (Buzzfeed)Credits: Special Guest-Host: Glenn Fleishman Produced by @glennf, @brianmcc, and the @techmeme editors Music by @jpschwinghamer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 25, 2018
European Union privacy restrictions kick in, Tesla settles a suit, Alexa is listening, Essential becomes a misnomer, and San Francisco brakes scooters. Tweets: @bxchen, @ktbenner, @geoffreyfowler, @zeynep, @cathyyoung63, @mccanner Links:Publications block EU readers (New York Times)Google late to update advertisers and ad-tech networks on GDPR changes (Digiday)Tesla settles on auto-pilot (Reuters)Alexa forwards private conversation by couple (KIRO)Amazon’s statement on Alexa recording and forwarding (Recode)Piles of bike-sharing cycles (Atlantic)Long Reads:Instagram has transformed high-school basketball players into starsAn oral history of the Microsoft antitrust lawsuit that’s now 20 years oldHow Facebook monitors for abuse and misuseIn depth on Henry VIII’s second wife, Anne BoleynCredits: Special Guest-Host: Glenn Fleishman Produced by @glennf, @brianmcc, and the @techmeme editors Music by @jpschwinghamer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 24, 2018
Facebook and Twitter label political ads, Apple’s self-driving car efforts fizzle, the DOJ is looking at cryptocurrency manipulation, there’s a PornHub VPN, and StumbleUpon is no more. Stories from: @jacknicas, @mat Links:Apple, Spurned by Others, Signs Deal With Volkswagen for Driverless Cars (NYTimes)Google Buys 20,000 SUVs, Apple Gets Two Dozen VW Vans (Bloomberg)The Techie Town Of San Francisco Gets A New Tower As Houses Remain Scarce (BuzzFeed) Credits: Produced by @brianmcc and the @techmeme editors Music by @jpschwinghamer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 23, 2018
Facebook helps you find a plumber, Apple lets you download your data, Comcast wants to buy 21st Century Fox, why would Amazon ban you, and Bill Gates’ summer reading recommendations. Stories from: @kottke, @LauraStevensWSJ Links:Next Generation iPhone Chips Go Into Production (Bloomberg)HTC Announces U12 Plus With Pressure-Sensitive Buttons and Sides (The Verge)Banned From Amazon: The Shoppers Who Make Too Many Returns (WSJ) Bill Gates' Summer Reading List Recommendations:Origin Story: A Big History of Everything by David ChristianLeonardo da Vinci by Walter Isaacson.Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders.Everything Happens for a Reason: And Other Lies I’ve Loved by Kate Bowler.Factfulness: Ten Reasons We’re Wrong About the World - and Why Things Are Better Than You Think by Hans Rosling. Credits: Produced by @brianmcc and the @techmeme editors Music by @jpschwinghamer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 22, 2018
Another chip flaw found, privacy activists turn their attention to Amazon, ZTE might be saved by the Trump Administration, Zuckerberg’s European sojourn is a damp squib, and now you can mute annoying people on Instagram. Stories from: @katienotopoulos, @sarafischer Links:The Privacy Scandal That Should Be Bigger Than Cambridge Analytica (Slate)Impatient, distracted consumers upend the media landscape (Axios)Overall Q1 US Smartphone Sales Dip 11% YoY, Apple Grows a Record 16% YoY (Counterpoint)Instagram Finally Adds A Mute Button, Saving Countless Friendships (BuzzFeed) Credits: Produced by @brianmcc and the @techmeme editors Music by @jpschwinghamer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 21, 2018
Is the government coming after Big Tech, Microsoft doubles down on voice AI, Lyft joins the e-scooter scramble, the Obamas officially join Netflix, and which smartphone is most likely to shatter? Stories from: @TaylorLorenz, @coryweinberg Tweets: @tanayj, @ibogost Links:Lyft Explores Launching Scooter Service in San Francisco (The Information)Electric Scooter Charger Culture Is Out of Control (The Atlantic)We Dropped $18,000 Worth of Phones, and These Are the Toughest (and Weakest) (Tomsguide.com) Credits: Produced by @brianmcc and the @techmeme editors Music by @jpschwinghamer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 18, 2018
Today more leakage of your phone’s location data, Fortnite comes to Android, dataplans for seniors’ smartphones, robotic insects, drone sailboats, and the weekend long reads suggestions. Stories from: @briankrebs, @valleyhack Links: Tracking Firm LocationSmart Leaked Location Data for Customers of All Major U.S. Mobile Carriers Without Consent in Real Time Via Its Web Site (KrebsonSecurity)The first wireless flying robotic insect takes off (University of Washington)This Armada of Saildrones Could Conquer the Ocean (Bloomberg) Longreads Suggestions:Death in the alpine (High Country News)How Evan Spiegel Fumbled Snap’s Redesign (The Information)Apple and Its Rivals Bet Their Futures on These Men’s Dreams (Bloomberg)I Tried to Get an AI to Write This Story (Bloomberg) Credits: Produced by @brianmcc and the @techmeme editors Music by @jpschwinghamer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 17, 2018
YouTube Music launches next week, Apple too is looking for a major new campus, Mobileye signs a big deal for autonomous car tech and the SEC creates honeypot to teach investors about scammy ICOs. Stories from: @JessConditt, @josephfcox Links:Hacker Breaches Securus, the Company That Helps Cops Track Phones Across the US (Motherboard)Xbox Adaptive Controller first look: A new, necessary gamepad (Engadget)The Autonomous-Car Company That’s Selling Safety First (Bloomberg)Buyer Beware: Hundreds of Bitcoin Wannabes Show Hallmarks of Fraud (WSJ)Howeycoins (SEC) Credits: Produced by @brianmcc and the @techmeme editors Music by @jpschwinghamer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 16, 2018
Zuckerberg to testify in Europe, Prime members to get discounts at Whole Foods, low-end tablets possibly coming from Microsoft, a blockchain phone, a connected toothbrush, and all you need to know about the Yanny or Laurel controversy. Stories from: @markgurman, @chrissyfarr Tweets: @backlon, @anindac92 Links:Amazon cuts Whole Foods prices for Prime members in new grocery showdown (Reuters)Microsoft Plans Low-Cost Tablet Line to Rival iPad (Bloomberg)This start-up made connected toothbrushes -- now it aims to overthrow the 'primitive' dental insurance industry (CNBC)Yanny or Laurel? How an Audio Clip Divided the Internet (NYTimes)The True History of 'Yanny' and 'Laurel' (Wired) Credits: Produced by @brianmcc and the @techmeme editors Music by @jpschwinghamer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 15, 2018
Everyone says they’re cleaning up their act: Twitter, Facebook, Uber. The Crypto kids crash New York while Coinbase cozies up to Wall Street. The Surface Hub 2 looks pretty sweet, and we might soon be shooting Wikipedia pages to the moon. Stories from: @lorengrush Tweets: @AaronKlein, @marcoarment, @ballmatthew Links:At NYC’s Big Crypto Conference, the Lamborghinis Are Rented and Protests Are Staged (Bloomberg)Microsoft’s Surface Hub 2 is designed for an office of the future (The Verge)Tweetstorm about Netflix and "originals" (Matthew Ball)This nonprofit plans to send millions of Wikipedia pages to the Moon — printed on tiny metal sheets (The Verge) Credits: Produced by @brianmcc and the @techmeme editors Music by @jpschwinghamer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 14, 2018
Email encryption might be broken, Facebook suspends suspicious apps, why Google employees are resigning in protest, Silicon Valley could benefit from a gambling gold rush, and how Masayoshi Son is disrupting the entire technology world. Stories from: @Danny_Heifetz, @kateconger Tweets from: @F_Kaltheuner, @dcurtis Links:Google Employees Resign in Protest Against Pentagon Contract (Gizmodo)New HP all-in-one houses Alexa, provides power with wireless charging base (Ars Technica)The Supreme Court Struck Down the Law Prohibiting Sports Gambling. Here’s What Could Happen Next. (The Ringer)Supreme Court allows states to legalize sports betting, opening floodgates for online gambling profits (TechCrunch)The impact of Masayoshi Son’s $100bn tech fund will be profound (The Economist) Credits: Produced by @brianmcc and the @techmeme editors Music by @jpschwinghamer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 11, 2018
Is a Facebook cryptocurrency really possible? Can Snapchat redesign its way back into users' hearts? What's going on at Symantec? Klout strikes out. And the Weekend Longreads. Stories from: @alexeheath, @mekosoff Tweets: @om, @manjusrii, @sfiegerman Links:"It Was Cataclysmic": Can Snapchat Survive Its Redesign? (Vanity Fair)IAB says online advertising grew to $88B last year — more spending than TV (TechCrunch) Longreads:Don't Skype Me: How Microsoft Turned Consumers Against a Beloved Brand (Bloomberg)How to Make Your Open Office Less Annoying (The Atlantic)The 15 People Who Keep Wikipedia’s Editors From Killing Each Other (WSJ)The Wealthy Are Hoarding $10 Billion of Bitcoin in Bunkers (Bloomberg)Supercomputers are driving a revolution in hurricane forecasting (Ars Technica) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 10, 2018
The suspected Russian Facebook ads are released, a new Apple credit card, why Roku is a quiet powerhouse, Robinhood raises a ton of money, and how your digital assistant might be susceptible to subliminal commands. Stories from: @jank0, @mattlynley Tweets: @ByronTau, @anildash Links:Link to the Russian Facebook ads (House.gov)Goldman Sachs, Apple Team Up on New Credit Card (WSJ)Roku Earnings Beat Expectations as Ads, Services Surpass Hardware Revenue (Variety)Free stock trading app Robinhood rockets to a $5.6B valuation with new funding round (TechCrunch)Google Grapples With ‘Horrifying’ Reaction to Uncanny AI Tech (Bloomberg)Google’s AI sounds like a human on the phone — should we be worried? (The Verge)Alexa and Siri Can Hear This Hidden Command. You Can’t. (NYTimes)Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots Pt. 1 (The Flaming Lips) Credits: Produced by @brianmcc and the @techmeme editors Music by @jpschwinghamer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 9, 2018
A major Facebook executive shakeup, Walmart beats Amazon to Flipkart, Glassdoor gets acquired, one more chance to fight for net neutrality, and a deeper look at how Google’s Duplex technology works. Stories from: @brianstelter Tweets: @pt, @poniewozik Links:Tweet thread about using crypto for social networking (Parker Thompson @pt)Red Alert For Net Neutrality Email Your Senator Form (Do it!)Google Duplex: An AI System for Accomplishing Real World Tasks Over the Phone (Google AI Blog)FX and New York Times partner for new series 'The Weekly' (CNN/Money) Credits: Produced by @brianmcc and the @techmeme editors Music by @jpschwinghamer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 8, 2018
The highlights from Google I/O, Microsoft gives developers 95%, possible encrypted Twitter DMs, the NYSE wants to trade bitcoin, and Uber unveils its flying car. Stories from: @nathanielpopper, @tonyromm Tweets: @puiwingtam, @bzamayo Links:Link to the video of the full I/O keynoteBest video I could find (in a rush) of the Duplex DemoTwitter has an unlaunched ‘Secret’ encrypted messages feature (TechCrunch)Bitcoin Sees Wall Street Warm to Trading Virtual Currency (NYTimes)Uber shows its flying car prototype, which looks like a giant drone (CNBC) Credits: Produced by @brianmcc and the @techmeme editors Music by @jpschwinghamer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 7, 2018
Highlights from Microsoft's Build conference, a preview of Google's I/O conference, you might soon be able to add music to your Instagram Stories, who's ahead in the autonomous car race, and the iMac at twenty. Stories from: @backlon, @nickstatt Links:Nadella's Microsoft (The Verge)Eight things to expect at Google I/O 2018 (The Verge)Who’s Winning the Self-Driving Car Race? (Bloomberg)Why 'Stories' Took Over Your Smartphone (The Atlantic) Credits: Produced by @brianmcc and the @techmeme editors Music by @jpschwinghamer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 4, 2018
Would you pay for a Facebook subscription? Would you pay for Facebook satellite internet? Instagram adds native payments, Warren Buffett doubles down on Apple, the weekend longreads suggestions and plenty more. Stories from: @NellieBowles, @beckyquick Jokes from: @behindyourback Links:Facebook Weighs Ad-Free Subscription Option (Bloomberg)Facebook May Have Secret Plans to Build a Satellite-Based Internet (ieee spectrum)Instagram quietly launches payments for commerce (TechCrunch)Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway bought a stunning 75 million Apple shares in first quarter (CNBC)Why Regulators Should Approve the T-Mobile/Sprint Deal (Tech.pinions)The ‘Race to 5G’ Is Just Mindless Marketing BS (Motherboard) Longreads:‘Hi, It’s Amazon Calling. Here’s What We Don’t Like in Your City.’ (WSJ)Over 400 Startups Are Trying to Become the Next Warby Parker. Inside the Wild Race to Overthrow Every Consumer Category (Inc)All We Want to Do Is Watch Each Other Play Video Games (NYTimes)CoinTalk (podcast) Credits: Produced by @brianmcc and the @techmeme editors Music by @jpschwinghamer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 3, 2018
Xiaomi files for a monster IPO, Cambridge Analytica might not be dead after all, a whole bunch of news in the digital assistant space, NPR buys a podcast app, and how Stories have eaten social networking. Stories from: @oneunderscore__ , @JoshConstine Tweets: @rycrist Links:How Xiaomi Went From Has-Been to World's Biggest IPO in Years (Bloomberg)Stories are about to surpass feed sharing. Now what? (TechCrunch) Credits: Produced by @brianmcc and the @techmeme editors Music by @jpschwinghamer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 2, 2018
Facebook’s AI announcements from F8, LG announces G7 ThinQ, Apple earnings analysis, Snap earnings analysis, the Pentagon blocks the sale of Chinese phones, and can AI predict the next Avengers: Infinity War? Stories from: @ashleyrcarman, @DanielEran Tweets from: @BenedictEvans, @lexnfx Links:Cambridge Analytica Closing Operations Following Facebook Data Controversy (WSJ)Telegram Messaging App Scraps Plans for Public Coin Offering (WSJ)LG’s G7 ThinQ preserves the headphone jack and introduces a notch (The Verge)Pandora Learns the Cost of Ads, and of Subscriptions (Wired)Over 30? You're Too Old For Tech Jobs In China (Bloomberg)Could Artificial Intelligence Predict the Next Avengers: Infinity War? (Wired) Credits: Produced by @brianmcc and the @techmeme editors Music by @jpschwinghamer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 1, 2018
Apple's earnings numbers, all of the announcements from Facebook's F8 conference, a WhatsApp co-founder leaves, publishers criticize Google over GDPR, and will Comcast only give you faster internet speeds if you subscribe to cable TV? Stories from: @lizzadwoskin Tweets: @anildash, @johnbattelle, @jason_kint Links:Mark Zuckerberg Says it Will Take 3 Years to Fix Facebook (Wired)WhatsApp founder plans to leave after broad clashes with parent Facebook (Washington Post)Comcast won’t give new speed boost to Internet users who don’t buy TV service (Ars Technica) Credits: Produced by @brianmcc and the @techmeme editors Music by @jpschwinghamer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 30, 2018
The T-Mobile/Sprint merger, Fitbit wants to share health data with doctors, Oculus wants virtual reality theater, Galaxy S9s get a storage boost, and did Jeff Bezos become a billionaire simply because he wanted to live in space? Links:As controversy swirls, Facebook dials down the swagger on its developer conference (The Verge)Oculus wants to make immersive virtual theater a reality (CNET)Jeff Bezos reveals what it’s like to build an empire and become the richest man in the world — and why he's willing to spend $1 billion a year to fund the most important mission of his life (Business Insider) Credits: Produced by @brianmcc and the @techmeme editors Music by @jpschwinghamer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 27, 2018
The Price of Amazon Prime is going up, Apple's AirPort is going away, Square buys Weebly, A DNA site might have cracked the Golden State Killer case, will T-Mobile and Sprint finally tie the knot, is Apple working on an AR/VR headset, and the weekend longreads. Stories: @matthew_d_green, @reneritchie Tweets: @jrichlive, @mattmcgee Links:RIP AirPort Base Stations: Why Apple is exiting the Wi-Fi router business (iMore)Apple’s working on a powerful, wireless headset for both AR, VR (CNET)GEDmatch, a tiny DNA analysis firm, was key for Golden State Killer case (Ars Technica)A few thoughts on Ray Ozzie’s “Clear” Proposal (Matthew Green) Weekend Longreads:Inside Jeff Bezos’s DC Life (Washingtonian)Hulu Beyond 'Handmaid's Tale': Execs and Stars on a Promising Yet Uncertain Future (The Hollywood Reporter)Can Silicon Valley Get You Pregnant? (Fast Company)You could be flirting on dating apps with paid impersonators (Quartz) Credits: Produced by @brianmcc and the @techmeme editors Music by @jpschwinghamer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 26, 2018
It’s an earnings bonanza! Amazon, Microsoft, Facebook… and what might Samsung’s earnings mean for Apple’s? Also, new Snapchat Spectacles, a look behind the scenes at Nintendo, a possible Sonos IPO and Digg finds a new home. Stories from: @maureenmfarrell, @CaseyNewton Tweets: @lexnfx Links:Snap’s second-generation Spectacles are more grown up — and more expensive (The Verge)Inside Nintendo's secretive creative process (The Guardian)Sonos Prepares for IPO as Soon as June (WSJ) Credits: Produced by @brianmcc and the @techmeme staff Music by @jpschwinghamer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 25, 2018
Facebook earnings, Twitter earnings, the Gmail redesign arrives, Alexa for children, a possible solution for law enforcement accessing encrypted phones, and drones are helping first responders in Europe. Stories from: @mm_maack and @StevenLevy Links:DJI launches a new emergency drone program in Europe (TNW)Cracking the Crypto War (Wired) Credits: Produced by @brianmcc and the @techmeme staff Music by @jpschwinghamer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 24, 2018
Amazon now delivers to your car, Spotify updates its app for free users, a wrap up of Alphabet’s earnings, jailbreak-able Nintendo Switches, and Mt. Gox’s Mark Karpelès breaks his silence. Stories from: @ShiraOvide, @KyleOrl, @jenwieczner Links:Google's Writing Checks and Trusts Investors Won’t Bounce (Bloomberg)The “unpatchable” exploit that makes every current Nintendo Switch hackable (Ars Technica)Mt. Gox and the Surprising Redemption of Bitcoin’s Biggest Villain (Fortune) Credits: Produced by @brianmcc and the @techmeme staff Music by @jpschwinghamer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 23, 2018
Alphabet's Q1 earnings, Amazon's working on a domestic robot, Aleksandr Kogan says he worked more closely with Facebook than has been reported, spies—like us—fear digital tracking, and the state of the music industry. Stories:Amazon Has a Top-Secret Plan to Build Home Robots (Bloomberg)Cambridge Analytica Data Scientist Aleksandr Kogan Wants You To Know He’s Not A Russian Spy (BuzzFeed)Who Has More of Your Personal Data Than Facebook? Try Google (WSJ)CIA agents in 'about 30 countries' being tracked by technology, top official says (CNN)Global Recorded Music Revenues Grew By $1.4 Billion in 2017 (Music Industry Blog) Credits: Produced by @brianmcc and the @techmeme staff Music by @jpschwinghamer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 20, 2018
Google brands its replacement for SMS as "Chat," Apple can’t quit Samsung…yet, people are worried about MoviePass, digital design pioneer Susan Kare is honored, the weekend long reads suggestions, and Do Not Disturb While Driving might be having an impact. Stories from: @LangeAlexandra, @backlon, @emiliapetrarca Tweets: @waltmossberg Links:Exclusive: Chat is Google's Next Big Fix for Android's Messaging Mess (The Verge)Apple Can’t Cut Its Dependence on Rival Samsung’s Screens (WSJ)The Woman Who Gave The Macintosh a Smile (The New Yorker)Phone use while driving is still a huge problem, but this is helping (SlashGear) LongReads:Style is an Algorithm (Racked)Everything We Know About the Feud Between These Two Computer-Generated Instagram Influencers (The Cut)Iceland Takes Hard Look at Tech Boom Sparked by Its Cheap, Bountiful Power (WSJ)The Untold Story of Jaime Levy, Punk-Rock Cyber-Publishing Pioneer (NYMag)Can This Man Help Uber Recover From The Travis Kalanick Era? (Wired) Credits: Produced by @brianmcc and the @techmeme staff Music by @jpschwinghamer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 19, 2018
Amazon Prime tops 100 million subscribers, clarifying Facebook’s GDPR compliance, Netflix has mobile previews, what metrics show that is Reddit bigger than Facebook, and will you soon be able to letter in eSports? Stories from: @David_Ingram, @aatilley Links:Amazon CEO Shareholder Letter (SEC)Exclusive: Facebook to put 1.5 billion users out of reach of new EU privacy law (Reuters)Facebook Is Forming a Team to Design Its Own Chips (Bloomberg)Intel Plans to Shut Down Smart Glasses Group (The Information)PlayVS wants every high school to have an esports team (TechCrunch) Credits: Produced by @brianmcc and the @techmeme staff Music by @jpschwinghamer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 18, 2018
Facebook rolls out better privacy tools globally, Amazon and Best Buy partner to sell TVs, the IRS suffered from a terribly timed outage, YouTube tries to reassure creators, and the great San Francisco scooter debate. Stories:A flaw-by-flaw guide to Facebook’s new GDPR privacy changes (TechCrunch)Welcome to the Wikipedia for Terms of Service Agreements (Wired)ToSDR.org Credits: Produced by @brianmcc and the @techmeme staff Music by @jpschwinghamer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 17, 2018
Apple is readying a new subscription reading app, tech companies pledge not to help governments wage cyberwar, Facebook outlines its web tracking, and Netflix earnings. Tweets: @DaveLeeBBC, @geoffreyfowler Stories:These Ex-Spies Are Harvesting Facebook Photos For A Massive Facial Recognition Database (Forbes)Hard Questions: What Data Does Facebook Collect When I’m Not Using Facebook, and Why? (Facebook Newsroom) Credits: Produced by @brianmcc and the @techmeme staff Music by @jpschwinghamer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 16, 2018
US punishes a Chinese cellphone maker, two interesting acquisitions (General Assembly and Earn.com), App Store earnings, original streaming content numbers, and some Android apps might be collecting data from kids. Links:Netflix Licensed Content Generates 80% of U.S. Viewing, Study Finds (Variety)How We Need to Remake the Internet (TED) Credits: Produced by @brianmcc and the @techmeme staff Music by @jpschwinghamer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 13, 2018
Is Telegram the new refuge for pirated content, more police departments buy a device to unlock iPhones, Chinese cops use facial recognition to pick criminals out of crowds, more leaks of upcoming Gmail features, the long reads suggestions, and how Instagram might be making poetry popular again. Stories:Telegram is the Hot New Source for Pirated Content (The Outline)Cops Around the Country Can Now Unlock iPhones, Records Show (Motherboard) LongReads:Web apps are only getting better (The Verge)In pursuit of the perfect AI voice (Engadget)Silicon Valley Powered American Tech Dominance—Now It Has a Challenger (WSJ)Arcade fame turns to infamy as Billy Mitchell's record-setting Donkey Kong score is invalidated (TechCrunch) Credits: Produced by @brianmcc and the @techmeme staff Music by @jpschwinghamer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 12, 2018
ESPN goes over-the-top, Apple’s Home Pod is reportedly “stumbling,” a final wrap-up of the Zuckerberg testimony, Snap testing commerce, and an AI doctor can diagnose on its own. Stories:How Android Phones Hide Missed Security Updates From You (Wired)The Facebook Current (Stratechery)The Most Important Exchange of the Zuckerberg Hearing (The Atlantic)I Downloaded the Information That Facebook Has on Me. Yikes. (NYTimes)AI software that helps doctors diagnose like specialists is approved by FDA (The Verge) Credits: Produced by @brianmcc and the @techmeme staff Music by @jpschwinghamer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 11, 2018
Zuckerberg’s back on the hot seat, Spotify and Hulu have a new bundle, changes might be coming to Gmail, we might have new Spectacles soon, and Uber adds a car rental option. Stories from: @KaleighRogers, @sarahjeong Links:Four Questions Congress Should Ask Mark Zuckerberg (Wired)Let’s Talk About Mark Zuckerberg’s Claim that Facebook 'Doesn’t Sell Data' (Motherboard)Here's How Much Facebook Donated to Every Lawmaker Questioning Mark Zuckerberg this Week (The Verge) Credits: Produced by @brianmcc and the @techmeme staff Music by @jpschwinghamer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 10, 2018
Mr. Zuckerberg goes to Washington, taking the temperature of Facebook employees, a fake Black Lives Matter page, YouTube videos vandalized, an Instagram portrait mode, and a museum of lost sounds. Stories from: @georgia_wells, @dseetharaman Tweets: @marshallk, @cwarzel Links:Some Facebook Workers Feel Outrage Is Misplaced (WSJ)Bots in the Twittersphere (Pew Research)Conserve the Sound Credits: Produced by @brianmcc and the @techmeme staff Music by @jpschwinghamer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 9, 2018
A new (PRODUCT)RED iPhone, Uber gets into bike sharing, Zuckerberg crams for Congress, an open source AR headset, and why phishing attacks work. Stories:Amazon spent nearly $23 billion on R&D last year — more than any other U.S. company (Recode)17 percent of employees fall for social engineering attacks (betanews) Credits: Produced by @brianmcc and the @techmeme staff Music by @jpschwinghamer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 6, 2018
Facebook labels political ads, cryptocurrencies might run afoul of GDPR, SpaceX can’t post videos from space, bots help you beat parking tickets, the weekend longreads and what’s the story behind Fortnite? Stories and Longreads:Lawyer bots take the hassle out of fighting parking tickets and property taxes — and could cost local governments real revenue (Recode)How Europe’s new privacy rule is reshaping the internet (The Verge)Checking in with the Facebook fact-checking partnership (Columbia Journalism Review)A 200-Year-Old Idea Offers A New Way to Trace Stolen Bitcoins (Wired)South Korean millennials are reeling from the Bitcoin bust (The Verge) Credits: Produced by @brianmcc and the @techmeme staff Music by @jpschwinghamer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 5, 2018
Zuckerberg’s Q&A with reporters, possible social media regulations, Trump may hate Amazon but Uncle Sam seems to love ‘em, a dreaded 51% attack in crypto, and a new home for Moviefone. Stories:How the Government Could Fix Facebook (The Atlantic) Credits: Produced by @brianmcc and the @techmeme staff Music by @jpschwinghamer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 4, 2018
Everything we know about yesterday’s shooting incident at YouTube, rumors of iphones with curved glass, Zuckerberg’s going to testify to congress, Apple poaches Google’s AI chief, and a smart piece about social media overload. Stories from: @markgurman and @BenedictEvans Links:Apple Working on Touchless Control and Curved iPhone Screen (Bloomberg)The death of the newsfeed (Benedict Evans) Credits: Produced by @brianmcc and the @techmeme staff Music by @jpschwinghamer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 3, 2018
Spotify debuts on the stock market, but it needs to depend less on record labels, Trump seems serious about Amazon, your favorite messaging app is changing, Panera has a data leak and Swedes turn against a cash-free future. Links:Spotify relies on the big labels for most of its music. It thinks that will change. (Recode)“Trump is Like, ‘How Can I F--k With Him?’”: Trump’s War With Amazon (And the Washington Post) is Personal (Vanity Fair)No Sympathy for Amazon (The New Republic) Credits: Produced by @brianmcc and the @techmeme staff Music by @jpschwinghamer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 2, 2018
Is Apple replacing Intel’s chips? Is Grindr leaking users’ HIV status? Cloudflare wants to protect your browsing privacy, Zuckerberg gives a longer interview, Macron talks AI, a profile of Amazon’s headquarters search and how many tv viewers are going over the top? Links:Zuckerberg interview with Ezra Klein (The Ezra Klein Show)EMMANUEL MACRON TALKS TO WIRED ABOUT FRANCE'S AI STRATEGY (Wired) Credits: Produced by @brianmcc and the @techmeme staff Music by @jpschwinghamer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 30, 2018
An internal Facebook memo causes controversy, Under Armour was hacked, SpaceX gets FCC approval for satellite internet, utility companies dream of electric sheep cars, and the weekend long read suggestions. Stories from: @om, @sheelahk and @CaseyNewton Long Reads:At Uber, a New C.E.O. Shifts Gears (New Yorker)Microsoft is ready for a world beyond Windows (The Verge)The Curious Case of the Belkin Buy (Om.co)Mozilla's radical open-source move helped rewrite rules of tech (CNET) Credits: Produced by @brianmcc and the @techmeme staff Music by @jpschwinghamer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 29, 2018
A big re-org at Microsoft, Facebook cuts out third party ad data, iOS 11.3 is out, Trump tweets his “concerns” about Amazon, Atlanta is digitally held hostage and Ripple donates to charity. Tweets from: @tomwarren, @caro_milanesi Stories from: @atbwebb Credits: Produced by @brianmcc and the @techmeme staff Music by @jpschwinghamer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 28, 2018
Facebook introduces Privacy Shortcuts, Trump is “obsessed” with Amazon, Waze launches local ads, Shyp shuts down, video streaming will get faster and there’s more music now than ever! Stories from: @harrymccracken, @NeilShahWSJ Credits: Produced by @brianmcc and the @techmeme staff Music by @jpschwinghamer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 27, 2018
Apple's new iPad, Arizona bans Uber test cars, Zuckerberg won't talk to Parliament but might talk to Congress, Foxconn buys Belkin, Apple goes to Hollywood, and will the streaming explosion revive piracy? Stories from: @koblin, @KarlBodeLink: Apple Goes to Hollywood. Will Its Story Have a Happy Ending? (New York Times)Link: The Rise In Streaming Video Exclusives Could Annoy Consumers, Driving Them Back To Piracy (TechDirt) Credits: Produced by @brianmcc and the @techmeme staff Music by @jpschwinghamer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 26, 2018
The first Chrome OS tablet, Uber exits Southeast Asia, Tim Cook thinks Facebook should be regulated, The Fitbit Versa smartwatch, and a billion dollar ATM hacker gang is taken down. Stories from: @thepacketrat, @VranicaWSJ Tweets from: @alexhern Credits: Produced by @brianmcc and the @techmeme staff Music by @jpschwinghamer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 23, 2018
Low-cost iPads are coming, Dropbox IPOs, touchscreen issues with Galaxy S9s, Craigslist pulls all personal ads, and the weekend long-read suggestions. Long-reads links:How IKEA's future-living lab created an augmented reality hit (WiredUk)My Cow Game Extracted Your Facebook Data (The Atlantic)The Glory that Was Yahoo (Fast Company) Credits: Produced by @brianmcc and the @techmeme staff Music by @jpschwinghamer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 22, 2018
Zuckerberg's interviews analyzed, Instagram updates the feed, IBM accused of age discrimination, early Oculus Go reviews and a wi-fi wine bottle bites the dust. Credits: Produced by @brianmcc and the @techmeme staff Music by @jpschwinghamer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 21, 2018
Zuckerberg speaks out about the Cambridge Analytica scandal, Siri will read your hidden messages, Travis Kalanick's new gig, Facebook Messenger's new features, YouTube's increased ad load, Google gobbles Lytro, and everyone wants to work at a tech company. Credits: Produced by @brianmcc and the @techmeme staff Music by @jpschwinghamer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 20, 2018
Google wants to support journalism, more on the Facebook/Cambridge Analytica saga, more on the self-driving car fatality, YouTube rolls out a “go live” feature, and scandal rocks the world of HQ Trivia. Credits: Produced by @brianmcc and the @techmeme staff Music by @jpschwinghamer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 19, 2018
The fallout from the Facebook/Cambridge Analytica story summarized, Facebook launches a Patreon, a self-driving car kills a pedestrian and Apple might be making its own screens. Credits: Produced by @brianmcc and the @techmeme staff Music by @jpschwinghamer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 16, 2018
Apple takes a field trip, a small town bans bitcoin, Rihanna doesn't accept Snapchat's apology, Adobe transforms itself, and Lyft tests subscriptions. Stories from, @DMOberhaus and @oliviasolon; tweet-analysis from @ow Weekend long-read suggestions:'They'll squash you like a bug': how Silicon Valley keeps a lid on leakers (The Guardian)When an AI finally kills someone, who will be responsible? (MIT Technology Review)The Perfect Selfishness of Mapping Apps (The Atlantic) Credits: Produced by @brianmcc and the @techmeme staff Music by @jpschwinghamer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 15, 2018
Apple's troubles with Siri, Amazon's had an amazing last three years, but it didn't kill Toys "R" Us, Nest launches a video doorbell, Google answers with no search results, and Drake crashes Twitch. Stories from @ShiraOvide and @rustybrick and tweet analysis from @taralach Credits: Produced by @brianmcc and the @techmeme staff Music by @jpschwinghamer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 14, 2018
Theranos Charged with Fraud, Google bans crypto ads, YouTube fights conspiracy theories, a startup that wants to kill you, Google Maps for games, and Twitter comes after Snap. Credits: Produced by @brianmcc and the @techmeme staff Music by @jpschwinghamer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 13, 2018
Trump trumps Broadcom, Larry Page and flying taxis, alleged flaws in AMD chips, Spotify playlist payola, checking in with Lyft, ranking tech brands and WWDC dates are announced. Credits: Produced by @brianmcc and the @techmeme staff Music by @jpschwinghamer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 12, 2018
Apple acquires Texture, details on the Dropbox IPO, drone deliveries might be coming soon, Twitter attacks tweetdecking, more on the Broadcom/Qualcomm story, and an interesting story out of the bitcoin world. Here's what happened today in tech. Credits: Produced by @brianmcc and the @techmeme staff Music by @jpschwinghamer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 9, 2018
Waymo joins the self-driving truck party, Twitter wants you to go verify yourself, Snap wants to break even, Facebook streams Major League Baseball, some weekend long-reads, and why that Obama going to Netflix story is a tech story. The long-reads recommendations: Bitcoin Is Ridiculous. Blockchain Is Dangerous (Bloomberg BusinessWeek) The Story of The Internet, As Told By Know Your Meme (TheVerge) This Is What Happens When Bitcoin Miners Take Over Your Town (Politico) Credits: Produced by @brianmcc and the @techmeme staff Music by @jpschwinghamer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 8, 2018
Galaxy S9 reviews, Travis Kalanick's new fund, Google wants to AMP the web, most Netflix is watched on TVs, a Star Wars TV show, and yesterday's Alexa laughter led to a lot of Twitter jokes. Credits: Produced by @brianmcc and the @techmeme staff Music by @jpschwinghamer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 7, 2018
Android P is released to developers, Blackberry sues Facebook, sources speak of possible Snap layoffs, an interesting Peter Thiel interview, and actually, much more.... Credits: Produced by @brianmcc and the @techmeme staff Music by @jpschwinghamer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 6, 2018
Google adds AI to drones, Uber trucks start hauling cargo, reading the Uber tea leaves, Washington State brings back net neutrality, Bumble bans guns, and Dyson cuts the cord. Literally. Google says it provides TensorFlow APIs to US Dept of Defense to help interpret drone footage, is working on policies and safeguards for use of machine learning Gizmodo Uber begins using its self-driving trucks for some long haul cargo trips in Arizona as part of Uber Freight service, leaving the last stretch to human drivers The VergeNew York TimesYouTube Source: Uber has burned $10.7B total so far, making its losses worse than tech giants when they had same market cap; revenue lags firms with similar market capBloomberg Washington becomes first state to enact its own net neutrality protections as its bill is signed into law; 25+ states have introduced net neutrality billsGeekwireMashable Bumble updates policy to ban firearm images and will use ~5K moderators to remove gun-related content, won't censor images appearing in users' Instagram feedsNew York TimesTechCrunch@jrsalzman Dyson says it's done making corded vacuumsCNET Credits: Produced by @brianmcc and the @techmeme staff Music by @jpschwinghamer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 5, 2018
Amazon checking accounts, Apple noise canceling earphones, Google sells Zagat, Facebook posts a cringeworthy user survey, and VCs take a road trip! Sources: Amazon is in talks with big banks including JPMorgan Chase about a checking-account-like product that would appeal to those without bank accountsWall Street JournalNew York Magazine Sources: Apple is planning to launch high-end headphones with noise canceling and wireless pairing as early as end of 2018, but has faced development challengesBloomberg9to5Mac Google is selling US restaurant review guide Zagat, which it bought for $151M in 2011, to restaurant review company The Infatuation for an undisclosed sum New York TimesEater LAEater NY Facebook admits it was a mistake to run a survey this weekend that asked users what its policy should be for when adults ask underage girls for sexual images The GuardianJonathan Haynes TweetsTechCrunch Some VCs say travels outside the Bay Area, including to Midwest, have helped them see downsides of Silicon Valley, as SF faces high levels of outward migration New York Times Credits: Produced by @brianmcc and the @techmeme staff Music by @jpschwinghamer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 1, 2018
Introducing ourselves, and letting you know what we'll be doing. First episode launches March 6 at 5PM eastern. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices