Episodes

July 8, 2021

Thu. 07/08 – The States Go After Google First

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?
July 7, 2021

Wed. 07/07 – Pentagon, RE: The JEDI Contract: Jkjkjkjkjk

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 h…
July 6, 2021

Tue. 07/06 – New Nintendo Switch (Finally/Kinda)

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…
July 3, 2021

(SPC CST) The Facebook Antitrust Blowup With @Kantrowitz

Alex 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.
Guest: Alex Kantrowitz
July 2, 2021

Fri. 07/02 – Robinhood’s IPO Success Depends On Doge?

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.
July 1, 2021

Thu. 07/01 – Instagram Is “No Longer A Photo-Sharing App”

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 mont…
June 30, 2021

Wed. 06/30 – Facebook’s Substack Clone

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?
June 29, 2021

Tue. 06/29 – Facebook Beats The Rap

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. …
June 28, 2021

Mon. 06/28 – Binance Runs Into Trouble Around The Globe

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.
June 26, 2021

(SPC CST) a16z's Future Plans And Audio Spaces With @smc90 and @kyurieff

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…
Guests: Sonal Chokshi , Kaya Yurieff
June 25, 2021

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.
June 24, 2021

Thu. 06/24 – New Windows!

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.
June 23, 2021

Wed. 06/23 – Microsoft Joins The $2T Club

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 $…
June 22, 2021

Tue. 06/22 – More EU Trouble For Google

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 autonomou…
June 21, 2021

Mon. 06/21 – Can Facebook Win Audio?

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 yo…
June 18, 2021

Fri. 06/18 – Cell Networks Security Deliberately Nerfed?

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.
June 17, 2021

Thu. 06/17 – How About Some Ads On Your Oculus?

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?
June 16, 2021

Wed. 06/16 – A Nightmare FTC Chair For Big Tech?

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?
June 15, 2021

Tue. 06/15 – Automattic Acquires Day One

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 o…
June 14, 2021

Mon. 06/14 – An “Extreme” Apple Watch?

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.
June 11, 2021

Fri. 06/11 – Now The Hackers Have Come For Our Hamburgers

Moar… hacking news. McDonalds. Electronic Arts. Le sigh. Apple wants to do away with passwords too. Elon Musk unveils the Model S Plaid. An interesting Apple Car hire. And of course, the weekend longreads suggestions.
June 10, 2021

Thu. 06/10 – Another Payoff To Ransomware Hackers

Another payoff to Ransomware hackers. Facebook to launch a smartwatch? Microsoft to launch a dedicated game streaming device? Samsung unveils a tiny, tiny camera sensor. Stripe wants to handle your sales tax headache. And can the creator economy take off in a world of App Stores with 30% rakes?
June 9, 2021

Wed. 06/09 – The First Country To Adopt Bitcoin As Legal Tender

El Salvador becomes the first country to adopt bitcoin as legal tender. Biden reverses the TikTok and WeChat bans. Did one single customer cause that Fastly internet outage? Interesting raise for a faster Ethereum. Interesting new browser option. And maybe my favorite honey pot operation of all tim…
June 8, 2021

Tue. 06/08 – Fastly Takes Down The Internet

Fastly takes down the internet, highlighting how the internet is still really centralized. The US seized most of the bitcoins those hackers got from the Colonial Pipeline hack, highlighting how Bitcoin is actually eminently traceable. Facebook pokes Apple in the eye on WWDC day, and I give you a wr…