Tue. 08/25 – Fitbit’s Sense Smartwatch and Versa 3
A whole bunch of new hardware gadgetry today. New Fitbits. New smart locks. New Roomba capabilities. Also, rumors of a new Nintendo Switch console with serious spec upgrades. A judge hands a lifeline to the Unreal Engine. 3nm Silicon is coming fast. And Bill Gurley gives us a timely background on SPACs. Sponsors: ExtraHop.com/techmeme TinyCapital.com Links: Fitbit unveils Sense and Versa 3 smartwatches with Google Assistant (VentureBeat) Level’s latest smart lock can be unlocked with a touch (The Verge) Nintendo Plans Upgraded Switch Console and Major Games for 2021 (Bloomberg) Nintendo reportedly releasing upgraded Switch next year (The Verge) Epic judge will protect Unreal Engine — but not Fortnite (The Verge) iRobot is giving its vacuum cleaners a new AI-powered brain (The Verge) TSMC Details 3nm Process Technology: Full Node Scaling for 2H22 Volume Production (AnandTech) Going Public Circa 2020; Door #3: The SPAC (Above The Crowd/Bill Gurley) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
25 Aug 202017min
Mon. 08/24 – Is Apple Evil Now?
Is Apple evil now? Another App Store kerfluffle, this time involving WordPress of all things. Also, more fallout from the Apple/Epic Games/Fortnite battle. Lawsuits flying in the WeChat/TikTok controversies. And let me introduce you to SPAC’s, otherwise known as blank-check companies. Sponsors: TinyCapital.com Grammarly.com/techmeme Links: WordPress founder claims Apple cut off updates to his completely free app because it wants 30 percent (The Verge) Apple apologizes to WordPress, won’t force the free app to add purchases after all (The Verge) Apple PE Ratio 2006-2020 | AAPL (Macrotrends) Apple is holding the Unreal Engine hostage, Epic says in new motion (The Verge) Lawsuit Claims U.S. WeChat Ban Is Unconstitutional (WSJ) Zoom is working again, even if you’re not (The Verge) Peter Thiel-Backed Startup Luminar to Go Public in $3.4 Billion Merger (Bloomberg) Introducing the Kottke Ride Home 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
24 Aug 202019min
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
23 Aug 202051min
Fri. 08/21 - Uber’s Former CSO Charged With Obstruction of Justice
Uber’s former CSO charged with obstruction of justice, becoming the first tech executive ever charged for a security incident. A legend of the Amazon C suite is leaving next year. Epic Games continues to gleefully poke Apple in the eye. How Apple is cutting 5G costs in the iPhone 12. And of course, the weekend longreads suggestions. Sponsors: Metalab.co Today In Digital Marketing Podcast Links: Former Uber Security Chief Charged With Concealing Hack (NYTimes) Uber and Lyft Get Reprieve After Threatening to Shut Down (NYTimes) Jeff Wilke, Amazon’s consumer boss and a top lieutenant to Bezos, will step down in 2021 (CNBC) Epic to host a #FreeFortnite tournament with anti-Apple prizes (The Verge) Apple secretly acquired Israeli photography startup Camerai (CalcalisTech) Kuo: Apple Looking to Save on Costs in iPhone 12 With Simpler Battery Board Design (MacRumors) Weekend Longreads MONUMENTAL FAILURE - How Tulsa, Oklahoma, almost won 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
21 Aug 202016min
Thu. 08/20 – Lyft Ends Service In California At Midnight
Facebook has removed tons of stuff from what it calls US-based militia organizations. Airbnb has filed for its IPO. Cobalt is an interesting raise. But also, some new tech might remove cobalt for better batteries. DoorDash launches grocery delivery. And is Palantir the first high profile company to flee Silicon Valley? Sponsors: Metalab.co BuyRaycon.com/tech Links: Facebook Removes 790 QAnon Groups to Fight Conspiracy Theory (NYTimes) Facebook restricts more than 10,000 QAnon and US militia groups (The Guardian) Airbnb files confidential IPO paperwork (CNBC) Airbnb Files Confidentially for IPO With SEC (WSJ) Online Thrift Shop ThredUp Plans IPO Early Next Year (Bloomberg) Cobalt.io grabs $29M Series B to continue building out pentesting platform (TechCrunch) This Cobalt-Free Battery Is Good for the Planet—and It Actually Works (Wired) DoorDash launches grocery delivery to compete with Amazon and Instacart (The Verge) Data-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
20 Aug 202018min
Wed. 08/19 – You Won’t Be Able To Use An Oculus Without A Facebook Account
Soon you can only use an Oculus if you have a Facebook account. But bizarrely, the Facebook Portal (along with the Echo Show and Google Nest Hub Max) is opening up to Zoom. Netflix is testing a “shuffle play” feature. Blackberry phones are coming back. And Apple hits a $2 trillion market cap. Sponsors: BlueNile.com code: RIDE Metalab.co Links: You’ll need a Facebook account to use future Oculus headsets (The Verge) Zoom is coming to Google Nest, Amazon Echo, and Facebook Portal smart displays (The Verge) Trump Expresses Support for Oracle to Buy TikTok (WSJ) Netflix test puts a ‘Shuffle Play’ button right on your home screen (TechCrunch) New BlackBerry-branded devices w/ QWERTY keyboards set to come in 2021 (9to5Google) A TikTok Ban Is Overdue (NYTimes) The ecommerce surge (Benedict Evans) Big Tech’s Domination of Business Reaches New Heights (NYTimes) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
19 Aug 202017min
Tue. 08/18 – Apple Goes Nuclear Against Epic Games
Apple has chosen the tactical nuclear option in its fight with Epic Games. But Epic might rally a rebel alliance. Would Oracle buying TikTok make any sense to anyone? Uber and Lyft consider reverting to the business model they claimed the operated all along. And algorithms CAN be good for humanity. Sponsors: Metalab.co Discover.bot/podcast Links: Epic says Apple threatens ‘catastrophic’ response in two weeks if Fortnite doesn’t comply with rules (The Verge) Oracle enters race to buy TikTok’s US operations (Financial Times) Apple Gives Users More Time to Buy AppleCare After Sales Slow (Bloomberg) Amazon Bets on Office-Based Work With Expansion in Major Cities (WSJ) Uber and Lyft Consider Franchise-Like Model in California (NYTimes) Facebook and NYU use artificial intelligence to make MRI scans four times faster (The Verge) tech.supercast.tech Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
18 Aug 202015min
Mon. 08/17 – Why Regulatory Change For Big Tech Is Maybe Inevitable
Why I think regulatory impact for Big Tech is maybe inevitable. Amazon seems to be sniffing around Rackspace. The first “mass produced” smartphone with a camera underneath the display? An ex-Googler says Google Cloud’s deprecation policy is maddening. And why you can’t watch the movie Cocoon, even if you want to. Sponsors: ExtraHop.com/techmeme Metalab.co Links: Google says Australian news rule threatens free search services (Financial Times) Exclusive: Amazon in talks to invest in cloud services company Rackspace, say sources (Reuters) ZTE's Axon 20 5G smartphone will have the first under-display camera (Engadget) Dear Google Cloud: Your Deprecation Policy is Killing You (Steve Yegge) Results day is a diversity disaster. Here’s all the proof you need (Wired) Our Long, Arduous Attempt To Watch ‘Cocoon,’ And Why Some Classic Movies Seemingly Just Vanish (UpRoxx) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
17 Aug 202019min
