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 (T...
Jul 22, 2021•17 min
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 nihil...
Jul 21, 2021•18 min
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 o...
Jul 20, 2021•18 min
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...
Jul 19, 2021•17 min
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 17, 2021•1 hr 21 min
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 documen...
Jul 16, 2021•17 min
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 t...
Jul 15, 2021•17 min
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 fo...
Jul 14, 2021•18 min
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 stand...
Jul 13, 2021•18 min
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 Regula...
Jul 12, 2021•17 min
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...
Jul 08, 2021•19 min
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 Show...
Jul 07, 2021•19 min
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 Re...
Jul 06, 2021•18 min
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 03, 2021•1 hr 16 min
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) Twitte...
Jul 02, 2021•18 min
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 ou...
Jul 01, 2021•17 min
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 F...
Jun 30, 2021•18 min
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...
Jun 29, 2021•19 min
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 everywher...
Jun 28, 2021•18 min
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 me...
Jun 26, 2021•1 hr 29 min
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...
Jun 25, 2021•17 min
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 (Cne...
Jun 24, 2021•17 min
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...
Jun 23, 2021•17 min
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 ...
Jun 22, 2021•17 min
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 (Te...
Jun 21, 2021•17 min
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 A...
Jun 18, 2021•18 min
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...
Jun 17, 2021•18 min
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 (CNB...
Jun 16, 2021•17 min
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 sh...
Jun 15, 2021•17 min
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 ...
Jun 14, 2021•20 min
