Techmeme Ride Home

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

Bitcoin hits its latest, biggest milestone. A OnePlus cofounder’s latest startup is: Nothing. But it bought something: Essential. I’ll explain why this “who’s on first” routine might be interesting. Why government antitrust action has a tendency to open the litigation floodgates. And if you’ve been hearing about that new app Dispo, I’ve got an explainer for you. Cause that’s what I’m here for. Sponsors: Fundrise.com/techmeme Tovala.com/ride Links: Bitcoin Jumps to $50,000 as Record-Breaking Rally Accelerates (Bloomberg) Essential is now officially owned by Carl Pei’s Nothing Technologies (9to5Google) Microsoft’s new Office app now available on iPad (The Verge) New Samsung laptops rumored to include OLED screens and S Pen support (The Verge) Big Tech’s Next Big Problem Could Come From People Like ‘Mr. Sweepy’ (NYTimes) Retro photo app is winning buzz (Axios) The bull case for Dispo (Justin Potts) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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

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 T

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 (Moto

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

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 Tra

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

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

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

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 (@ankithh

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.

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 re

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) t

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) Recordi

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

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 Wag

We finally get to the whole GameStop story cause Robinhood has frozen trading for some folks looking for fresh “tendies.” Apple and Facebook release absolutely killer earnings. As expected. But are they about to go to world war in court? Tesla’s earnings disappoint. And Facebook’s Oversight Board issues its first rulings. Sponsors: Netgear.com/bestwifi TinyCapital.com Links: Robinhood restricts trading in GameStop, other names involved in frenzy (CNBC) How WallStreetBets Pushed GameStop Shares to the Moon (Bloomberg) WallStreetBets Founder Reckons With Legacy Amid Stock-Market Frenzy (WSJ) 'Smack It Like E. Honda': Buying NFTs for Pleasure and Profit (CoinTalk) Mark Zuckerberg says Apple is now one of Facebook’s biggest competitors (CNBC) Facebook Preps Antitrust Lawsuit Against Apple (The Information) Apple's App Tracking Transparency Feature will be enabled by default and arrive in 'early spring' on iOS (TechCrunch) Tesla disappoints Wall Street despite strong profits (CNN Business) Face

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

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