Techmeme Ride Home

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

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

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

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

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

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 f

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 col

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

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

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/ad

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 megap

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

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

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

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 megapho

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) Apple 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

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

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

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.

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 stori