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Wed. 09/02 – Nvidia’s New GPU Powerhouse, the RTX 3090 Sep 02, 2020

Show notes

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.

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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)

Tue. 09/01 – Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 Released; All The Details Sep 01, 2020

Show notes

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.

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Mon. 08/31 – TikTok Has A Buyer? Aug 31, 2020

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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.

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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)

Fri. 08/28 – Ok, So… How About Walmart Owning TikTok? Aug 28, 2020

Show notes

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.

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Masterworks.io, select PODCAST, then enter: RIDE
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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

Thu. 08/27 – Halo, Amazon’s New Fitness Wearable Aug 27, 2020

Show notes

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.

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Masterworks.io, select PODCAST, then enter: RIDE
TinyCapital.com

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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

Wed. 08/26 – Palantir’s S-1 Takes A Swipe At Silicon Valley Aug 26, 2020

Show notes

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.

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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)

Tue. 08/25 – Fitbit’s Sense Smartwatch and Versa 3 Aug 25, 2020

Show notes

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.

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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)

Mon. 08/24 – Is Apple Evil Now? Aug 24, 2020

Show notes

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.

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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

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Introducing the Kottke Ride Home Aug 23, 2020

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Fri. 08/21 - Uber’s Former CSO Charged With Obstruction of Justice Aug 21, 2020

Show notes

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.

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