Tech Brew Ride Home

Is the great Returning To The Office beginning with the Tech Industry? Really cool new way to use your Android apps on your Windows or Chromebook devices. Instagram lets you send private likes. The tech cold war between India and China claims another victim. And what did the NYTimes do to Wordle this morning? Sponsors: do.co/ridehome2022 Links: Microsoft and Expedia announce next phases in office reopenings, finally emerging from pandemic (GeekWire) Exclusive: Pixel will be able to stream Android apps to your Chromebook/PC, here’s how it works [Video] (9to5Google) Intel to Buy Israel’s Tower Semiconductor for $5.4 Billion (Bloomberg) Instagram now lets you send private Story likes (Engadget) Sea’s $16 Billion Crash Signals Trouble Beyond India Shutout (Bloomberg) Texas Sues Meta Over Facebook’s Facial-Recognition Practices (WSJ) Google Messages, with RCS in tow, is now Samsung’s default messaging app in the US (9to5Google) The New York Times has changed Wordle’s solutions (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Turns out Super Bowl ads really do move the needle. Another day, another crypto bug, this one could have let you create unlimited ether from thin air. See what I did there? Could we see a digital Euro by the end of next year? A couple of super interesting raises. And the curious case of the missing Nvidia graphics card. Sponsors: MagicMind.co/ride and code ride at checkout for 20% off OurCrowd.com/ride Links: Crypto apps soar in popularity after Super Bowl splurge (The Block) iOS jailbreak dev wins $2M bounty for finding critical Optimism bug (CoinTelegraph) HMRC seizes NFT for first time in £1.4m fraud case (BBCNews) Digital euro bill due early 2023 (Politico) Viam closes $30 Million Series A funding round (The Robot Report) Jio Platforms invests $200 million in Google-backed Glance (TechCrunch) Nvidia’s RTX 3090 Ti is still missing, and the company refuses to say what’s going on (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What is a DAO? How do they function? What is the history of this idea? Why have DAO's become so popular all of the sudden, and what are some examples of successful DAOs? The great Brady Dale from @DefiantNews joins Chris and Brian to explain. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Allegations of a new, widespread bulk surveillance program being run on American citizens by the CIA. Apple is planning AirTag updates to curb their use for stalking people. The first Android 13 developer preview is out. And of course, the weekend longreads suggestions. Sponsors: Masterworks.io RocketLawyer.com/workconfidently Links: Secret CIA Bulk Surveillance Program Includes Some Americans’ Records, Senators Say (WSJ) Apple Announces AirTag Updates to Address Unwanted Tracking (MacRumors) The first developer preview of Android 13 has arrived (TechCrunch) Weekend Longreads Suggestions Flexport Is Silicon Valley’s Solution To The Supply Chain Mess—Why Do Insiders Hope It Sinks? (Forbes) How Telegram Became the Anti-Facebook (Wired) Sony's AI Drives a Race Car Like a Champ (Wired) Russia’s drone army contains heaps of Western electronics. Can the U.S. cut them off? (Washington Post) The Little Streaming Comedy Platform That Couldn’t (Vulture) Amazon’s Lord of the Rings Series Rises: Inside The Rings of Power (Vanity Fair) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Not just rumors of an Apple AR headset, but actual code mentions of a “realityOS” are showing up now. Microsoft hopes to head off the regulators with some app store rules. Now Flash storage chips might be in for a supply crunch. And why static video memes are all over Instagram all of the sudden. Sponsors: Workable.com Links: Is ‘realityOS’ Apple’s newest operating system? (The Verge) In a bid to appease regulators, Microsoft announces new app store principles (The Washington Post) Western Digital, Kioxia Lose 'At Least' 6.5 Exabytes of 3D NAND Due to Contamination (Updated) (Tom's Hardware) Why Static Video Memes Are All Over Instagram (The Information) Gopuff stocks its warehouses with items purchased from Instacart, spending tens of thousands per month on the service (Insider) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

All the headlines from the Samsung event, including the new S22 lineup and some massive new tablets. Can Meta’s stock crash so much that it would become immune to antitrust liability? And, look, the alleged Bonnie and Clyde for our times, the whole saga of that husband and wife arrested here in NYC yesterday, allegedly related to the big Bitfinex hack. Sponsors: IPVanish.com/techmeme and promocode: techmeme for 70% savings Smith.ai promocode techmeme for $100 off signup Links: SAMSUNG’S GALAXY S22 AND S22 PLUS PUT IMPROVED CAMERAS AND PERFORMANCE IN A SAMEY DESIGN (The Verge) SAMSUNG’S GALAXY S22 ULTRA IS A NOTE BY ANOTHER NAME (The Verge) Samsung’s new tablets go bigger than ever (The Verge) Facebook market cap falls below $600 billion — which could actually help it dodge new antitrust scrutiny (CNBC) Justice Department Says It Seized $3.6 Billion Worth of Bitcoin Stolen in 2016 Hack (WSJ) Woman Who Allegedly Laundered $1B in Bitcoin Was Cringe YouTube Rapper (Motherboard) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s a day of retrenchment. Nvidia and Arm are off. Peter Thiel is leaving the Meta board. Peloton loses its CEO ahead of what is likely to be disastrous earnings. The IRS backs down from the whole facial recognition thing. And Tinder stops charging you more if you’re old. Sponsors: Do.co/trh Links: SoftBank’s $66bn sale of chip group Arm to Nvidia collapses (THE (?) Financial Times) Peter Thiel to Exit Meta’s Board to Support Trump-Aligned Candidates (NYTimes) Peloton CEO John Foley to Step Down, Firm to Cut 2,800 Jobs (WSJ) I.R.S. to End Use of Facial Recognition for Identity Verification (NYTimes) Apple Buys Startup That Makes Music With Artificial Intelligence (Bloomberg) Apple announces new Tap to Pay feature that turns iPhones into contactless payment terminals (9to5Mac) Signal now allows you to keep messages and groups after changing phone numbers (ZDNet) Tinder will stop charging older users more for premium features (Engadget) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rogangate rolls on. Why a controversy in the Ethereum Name Service community might be even more interesting, because of what it might teach us about the viability of DAOs. Twitter is, oddly, testing ways to make it easier for folks to DM you. And rumors of a new entry level MacBook Pro. Sponsors: Workable.com Grammarly.com/techmeme Links: Spotify CEO Addresses Joe Rogan’s N-Word Use, Doubles Down on Keeping Podcaster on Platform (The Hollywood Reporter) Spotify CEO defends Joe Rogan deal in tense company town hall (The Verge) Ethereum Name Service Removes Core Team Member Brantly Millegan Over 2016 Tweet (CoinDesk) Twitter’s direct DM test is a terrible idea (The Verge) Gurman: New entry-level MacBook Pro with M2 chip coming this year, but no ProMotion (9to5Mac) Gurman: Apple Event on March 8, At Least Four M2 Macs to Launch Later This Year (MacRumors) Mapping the celebrity NFT complex (Read Max) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

That crack you felt in your spine was just the whiplash from the craziest 24 hours in tech earnings I’ve ever seen. Amazon has created a bigger advertising business than the entire newspaper industry. Apple once again shows it can adjust the App Store vig when it has to. And of course, the weekend longreads suggestions. Sponsors: TodayInDigital.com Links: Snap shares rocket as much as 62% on first-ever quarterly net profit (CNBC) Amazon Flexes Its Pricing Muscles (WSJ) Amazon Profit Shows Resilience Even as Labor, Supply Crunch Weigh on Results (WSJ) Apple will charge 27% commission for app purchases made using alternative payment systems in the Netherlands (9to5Mac) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: HOW ONE COMPANY TOOK OVER THE NFT TRADE (The Verge) The Unnerving Rise of Video Games that Spy on You (Wired) North Korea Hacked Him. So He Took Down Its Internet (Wired) Startup Investors Cut Valuations Amid Tech Stock Rout, Dismal IPOs (WSJ) How IBM’s Watson Went From the Future of Health Care to Sold Off for Parts (Slate) Don’t forget Microsoft (Luttig's Learnings) (TWTR SPC) The Tools Episode! Recommended Apps List Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Meta really steps in it with earnings that send the stock down fully 25%. The plague of hacks hitting crypto startups. The ransomware attack causing a snacks crisis in Britain. Bored Apes Yacht Club is an interesting raise. And why we might not see a HoloLens 3. Sponsors: TodayInDigital.com Priceline.com Smith.ai promocode techmeme for $100 off signup Links: Meta estimates Apple's iOS changes will cost it $10B in 2022 (ZDNet) Facebook and Google’s Ad Addiction Can’t Last Forever (Bloomberg Opinion) Cryptocurrency platform Wormhole hacked for an estimated $322 million (The Record) KP Snacks giant hit by Conti ransomware, deliveries disrupted (BleepingComputer) Bored Ape start-up in investment talks with Andreessen Horowitz (FT) Inside Microsoft's mixed reality mess, where confusion, rivalries, and canceled projects have roiled the company's metaverse strategy (Insider) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Alphabet gives a new meaning to the term blowout quarter. Cruise is getting ready to launch its robotaxi business in San Francisco. A GDPR issue that might have huge implications. Starlink has a new premium tier. And what happens if someone buys your house, your IRL house, but in the metaverse? I’m not kidding. Sponsors: TodayInDigital.com Napjitsu.com/techmeme Devry.edu/future Links: Google parent Alphabet announces 20-for-1 stock split (CNBC) Cruise, loaded with another $1.35B from SoftBank, opens up driverless ride-hailing to the public (TechCrunch) SpaceX’s new Starlink Premium tier promises up to 500Mbps for $500 a month (The Verge) European Ad Group Hit With Sanctions Over Privacy Lapses (Bloomberg) Who owns your address in AR? Probably not you. (Protocol) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The year of gaming consolidation is upon us, with Sony snapping up Bungie. Not EXACTLY related, but the NYTimes has acquired Wordle. Did the CEO of Bolt’s tweets lose him the top job at the company he founded? You can no longer roll through stop signs in your Tesla. And the best use of augmented reality I’ve heard in a while. Sponsors: Do.co/trh TodayInDigital.com Links: Sony buying Bungie for $3.6 billion (GamesIndustry.biz) SONY’S BUNGIE ACQUISITION IS ALL ABOUT FORTNITE (The Verge) Microsoft Deal for Activision to Be Reviewed by FTC in U.S. (Bloomberg) Pinterest Adds Augmented Reality Feature for Home Decor (WSJ) Wordle has been bought by The New York Times, will ‘initially’ remain free for everyone to play (The Verge) Following his fiery Twitter tirades, Bolt founder Ryan Breslow is no longer CEO — and he says it’s his choice (TechCrunch) Tesla recall: ‘Full Self-Driving’ software runs stop signs (AP) Pinterest Adds Augmented Reality Feature for Home Decor (WSJ) World Cup of Entrepreneurs On YouTube Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Summing up the whole Joe Rogan brouhaha from over the weekend. Meta joins a crypto legal alliance and takes a page out of Alphabets book by planning to break out reporting of its metaverse business. And the dotcom bubble called and wants its headlines back: wash trading might be rampant on NFT marketplaces, and a look at the six startups trying to succeed, where Kozmo.com failed. Sponsors: Devry.edu/future Links: Spotify finally responds to Joe Rogan controversy with a plan to label podcasts that discuss COVID-19 (The Verge) Joe Rogan defends podcast and apologizes to Spotify for backlash (The Verge) Spotify’s big Rogan mistake (Protocol) Facebook parent Meta joins crypto group promoting open patents (The Block) Facebook's metaverse efforts are already generating close to $3 billion a year in revenue, analysts estimate. (Insider) LooksRare Has Reportedly Generated $8B in Ethereum NFT Wash Trading (Decrypt) Losses Mount for Startups Racing to Deliver Groceries Fast and Cheap (WSJ) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The great Katie Roof, Natasha Mascarenhas and Christine Hall come on to talk more about the craziness in the stock market and what it might mean for tech startups. Then Chris and I debate The Great Debate surrounding Web3. Shoutout to @randras_ for giving us context, even in the podcast space! Sponsors: Wix.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ho hum. Apple reports its most revenue and profit in history. You’ll soon be able to unlock your iPhone while masked, even without the Apple Watch. The White House is readying a huge executive order on Crypto. The new version of GPT-3 is less error-prone, and less prone to say bad stuff. And of course, the weekend longreads suggestions. Sponsors: EditorX.com Wealthfront.com/techmeme Links: Apple CEO: ‘We Don’t Make Purely Financial Decisions’ About Apple TV Plus Content (Variety) iOS 15.4 Beta Lets You Use Face ID With a Mask On (MacRumors) White House reportedly preparing executive order on crypto (CoinTelegraph) The new version of GPT-3 is much better behaved (and should be less toxic) (Technology Review) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: Line Goes Up – The Problem With NFTs (Folding Ideas on YouTube) Three things web3 should fix in 2022 (Platformer) The NFT Art World Wouldn’t Be the Same Without This Woman’s ‘Wide-Awake Hallucinations’ (RollingStone) Nothing Sacred: These Apps Reserve The Right To Sell Your Prayers (Buzzfeed News) Your Hotel Concierge Is Probably a Texting Robot. Srsly. (WSJ) Why Netflix Just Had Its Worst Day in A Decade (Bloomberg) Netflix stock market woe is warning to Hollywood (Financial Times) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apple is coming for Block’s Square dongle with a new ability to accept payments just using your iPhone. The dilemma that is the Spotify/Neil Young situation. OpenAI is an interesting raise. Fireblocks is an interesting raise. And why has the r/antiwork subreddit suddenly gone private? Sponsors: Smith.ai promocode techmeme for $100 off signup Linkedin.com/ride Links: Apple to Rival Square by Turning iPhones Into Payment Terminals (Bloomberg) Spotify Takes Down Neil Young’s Music After His Joe Rogan Ultimatum (WSJ) Facebook’s Cryptocurrency Venture to Wind Down, Sell Assets (WSJ) OpenAI co-founder Sam Altman ridicules start-up fundraising process (CNBC) Fireblocks raises $550 million in Series E funding, now valued at $8 billion (The Block) Anti-Work Subreddit Suddenly Goes Private to Clean Up After ‘Brigading’ (Bloomberg) Anti-work subreddit implodes after rough Fox News interview (Mashable) Valve will start selling the Steam Deck on February 25th (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Is Mark Zuckerberg abandoning his crypto dreams and looking to sell off Diem? The IMF is subtly suggesting El Salvador abandon bitcoin. Microsoft is gonna play nice with Activision exclusives. For now. Mark your calendars for the next Samsung event. And has YouTube figured out how to beat TikTok at its own game? Sponsors: Masterworks.io/ride EditorX.com Links: Mark Zuckerberg’s Stablecoin Ambitions Unravel With Diem Sale Talks (Bloomberg) Ditch Bitcoin: IMF Urges El Salvador to Rethink Crypto (Bloomberg) Activision’s Next Three Call of Duty Games Will Be on PlayStation and Xbox (Bloomberg) Samsung's first Unpacked of 2022 will take place February 9th (Engadget) Log4Shell: No Mass Abuse, But No Respite, What Happened? (Sophos News) YouTube Shorts Tops 5 Trillion Views to Date, Platform to Test Shopping and Branded Content for TikTok-Style Videos (Variety) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

That already fraught tie-up between Nvidia and Arm increasingly looks like it’s running out of time. Google kills its cookie-killer. Twitter is developing a close friends feature. Meta’s new Machine Learning supercomputer. And why the situation in Ukraine might be a black swan event that is nigh. Sponsors: Do.co/trh Wix.com Links: Nvidia Quietly Prepares to Abandon $40 Billion Arm Bid (Bloomberg) Google kills off FLoC, replaces it with Topics (TechCrunch) Twitter's new Flock feature takes aim at Instagram Close Friends (Input) Meta has built an AI supercomputer it says will be world’s fastest by end of 2022 (The Verge) Hactivists say they hacked Belarus rail system to stop Russian military buildup (ArsTechnica) DHS warns of Russian cyberattack on US if it responds to Ukraine invasion (ABCNews) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

States sue Google for data shenanigans. Europe passes a landmark ad targeting and data law. Apple’s 2022 lineup according to Mark Gurman. A look at the state of the crypto crash, and to what degree it is affecting NFTs. And all this talk of metaverses led to record VC investment in AR and VR startups, but what some folks are starting to ask is, even if we build it, do we have the infrastructure that will even allow the people to come? Sponsors: OurCrowd.com/ride EditorX.com Links: Google deceived consumers about how it profits from their location data, attorneys general allege in lawsuits (Washington Post) MEPs adopt Digital Services Act with significant last-minute changes (Euractiv) European Parliament approves initial proposal to ban some targeted ads (The Verge) Apple Nears First Product Launch of 2022, With 5G iPhone SE and New iPad on Tap (Bloomberg) Solana Slides 17% to Lead Losses Amid Crypto Market Plunge (CoinDesk) Despite the Drop in Crypto Prices, Weekly NFT Sales Reach $4.7 Billion, Increasing 81% (Bitcoin.com) VR/AR Investments Increase Just As Metaverse Talk Heats Up—But That May Not Be The Only Reason (Crunchbase News) The titans of the metaverse have a bandwidth issue (Financial Times) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Weirdly, this turned into a sort of education on VC and startup investing episode? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Sponsors: Wix.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The trend of re-onshoring silicon production domestically and Intel’s turnaround plans collide in a way that is very good for Ohio. Twitter will let you NFT-up your profile picture. Google’s doing the AR headset thing too. That Apple education discount has gotten harder to spoof. And of course, the weekend longreads suggestions. Sponsors: DeVry.edu/engineering EditorX.com Links: Exclusive: Intel Reveals Plans for Massive New Ohio Factory, Fighting the Chip Shortage Stateside (Time) Twitter Embraces NFTs With New Profile-Picture Feature (WSJ) GOOGLE IS BUILDING AN AR HEADSET (The Verge) Netflix Falls Short of Q4 Subscriber Target, Stock Tumbles on Weak Forecast (Variety) We regret to inform you that Apple now verifies anyone asking for educational discounts (The Verge) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: How Did ID.me Get Between You and Your Identity? (Bloomberg Businessweek) The SPAC Ship Is Sinking. Investors Want Their Money Back. (WSJ) THE INSIDE STORY OF IBEER, THE UNDERDOG BEER APP THAT MADE MILLIONS (MelMagazine) The Rise of A.I. Fighter Pilots (The New Yorker) How Tumblr Became Popular for Being Obsolete (The New Yorker) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Meta is working on NFTs for Instagram and Facebook while Google is starting a blockchain team. Instagram Subscriptions launches. Google Play Games launches on Windows. Amazon launches its first physical fashion store. And why, by this summer, you will only be able to pay the IRS your taxes online by doxing yourself? Sponsors: NewRelic.com/techmeme Wix.com Links: Facebook owner Meta dives into NFT digital collectibles craze (FT) Google Forms Blockchain Group Under Newly Appointed Executive (Bloomberg) Instagram launches early test of creator subscriptions in the US (TechCrunch) Google Play Games for PC starts limited beta for Android games on Windows, sharing system requirements (Android Police) Amazon to try another tech-infused retail concept with ‘Amazon Style,’ its first physical fashion store (GeekWire) Crypto.com Says Regulators Haven’t Reached Out After Hack (Bloomberg) Web3 ‘Proof of attendance’ startup raises $10M to mint shared memories as NFTs (TechCrunch) IRS Will Require Facial Recognition Scans to Access Your Taxes Online (Gizmodo) IRS Will Soon Require Selfies for Online Access (KrebsonSecurity) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today is the big day for the showdown between 5G and the airlines. Nobody’s blinked yet, but both sides have sort of blinked. An interesting raise in the NFT space. And I’ve heard of autonomous road cars, but autonomous rail cars? More fallout from the Activision/Microsoft tie-up, and how literally fallout from that undersea volcano may have knocked Tonga off the internet. Sponsors: EditorX.com do.co/trh Links: Airlines Cancel Some Flights Ahead of U.S. 5G Wireless Launch (WSJ) Major airlines cancel, change flights to US over 5G dispute (AP) Coinbase NFT Marketplace Will Enable Purchases With Mastercard (Decrypt) OpenSea confirms acquisition of Dharma, sets sights on fiat onramps (The Block) Michael Jordan, Multicoin Back Solana NFT Firm Metaplex in $46M Round (Decrypt) Former SpaceX engineers bring autonomous, electric rail vehicle startup out of stealth (TechCrunch) Activision Blizzard’s Workplace Problems Spurred $75 Billion Microsoft Deal (WSJ) Microsoft is buying one of the biggest names in games — if Washington lets it (Recode) Tonga’s volcano blast cut it off from the world. Here’s what it will take to get it reconnected. (MIT Technology Review) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Microsoft is buying Activision Blizzard in the biggest gaming acquisition of all time. Partially this is a metaverse play, but meanwhile, Meta is quietly locking down all the metaverse patents. Crypto.com halts withdrawals on its platform but insists it hasn’t been hacked. And why are countries encouraging their athletes to use burner phones when they attend the upcoming Olympics? Sponsors: Streak.com/techmeme EditorX.com Links: Microsoft to buy Activision in $68.7 billion all-cash deal (CNBC) Activision Blizzard Games Will Come To Xbox Game Pass As Part Of Acquisition (PureXbox) Facebook patents reveal how it intends to cash in on metaverse (Financial Times) Crypto.com Suffers Hack for At Least $15M in Ethereum (Decrypt) Samsung begins mass production of Exynos 2200 smartphone processor (ZDNet) Cross-country Exposure - Analysis of the MY2022 Olympics app (Citizenlab.ca) Olympic burner phones? Athletes warned about bringing personal devices to China for 2022 Beijing Games (USAToday) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

... and I'm not just talking about the hosts! Myself, Chris, and about a dozen listeners kick around the latest apps, tools, platforms and other things we use to GTD. Sponsors: Wix.com Some of the books I mention at the end: A Short History Of Nearly Everything The Infinite Machine: How an Army of Crypto-hackers Is Building the Next Internet with Ethereum Rocket Billionaires: Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, and the New Space Race Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Russia has cracked down on REvil? Question-mark? Investing in crypto is so hot, FTX has launched its own monster venture fund. Why has the Android 12 rollout been such a disaster so far? How long is the Cybertruck going to be delayed? And, of course, the weekend longreads suggestions. Sponsors: EditorX.com Napjitsu.com/techmeme Links: Russia takes down REvil hacking group at U.S. request - FSB (Reuters) Crypto Exchange FTX Sets Up $2 Billion Venture Fund (WSJ) "You Don't Own Web3": A Coinbase Curse and How VCs Sell Crypto to Retail (Startups And Econ) GOOGLE’S ANDROID 12 UPDATE HAS BEEN THE ROCKIEST IN YEARS (The Verge) Tesla delays Cybertruck to early 2023, says reportTesla delays Cybertruck to early 2023, says report (The Verge) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: Remembering VRML: The Metaverse of 1995 (How To Geek) After the Beanie Baby bubble burst (Vox) Crypto Firms Gear Up for Battles Over New Rules in Washington (Bloomberg) Xbox players are fed up with forced crossplay against PC gamers (The Verge) Academics want to preserve video games. The game industry is fighting them in court. (The Washington Post) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apple indeed is removing Wordle clones, but PUBG sues them for NOT removing what they allege are clones of their game. Does Google Analytics run afoul of GDPR? China is going to do NFTs, NOT on the blockchain. And will the new Nuro bot bring me my burrito? Sponsors: RealVision.com/techmeme DeVry.edu/engineering Links: Apple Removes Wordle Apps Fueled by Confused Users (Bloomberg) Game maker says Apple, Google selling rip-offs in new lawsuit (Reuters) In bad news for US cloud services, Austrian website’s use of Google Analytics found to breach GDPR (TechCrunch) Canalys: Worldwide PC shipments soared in 2021 to 341 million units (TechCrunch) Instagram, still benefiting from TikTok’s ban in India, again became the top app by downloads in Q4 (TechCrunch) China to create own NFT industry based on state-backed blockchain infrastructure, main developer says (South China Morning Post) Nuro’s newest autonomous delivery bot is designed for the masses (TechCrunch) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 for stakes (FT) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 collaboration company Miro valued at $17.5B following $400M in new funding (TechCrunch) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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’Oreal's precision hair coloring device is the end of home dye job disasters (Input) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 at 5G Delay (Bloomberg) OpenSea freezes $2.2M of stolen Bored Apes (CoinTelegraph) How NFTs became a $40bn market in 2021 (FT) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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/adchoices

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 megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 megaphone.fm/adchoices

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) Strange, horny game ads are flooding social media. I accidentally became obsessed (The Guardian) MATTER’S PLAN TO SAVE THE SMART HOME (The Verge) Computers Revolutionized Chess. Magnus Carlsen Wins by Being Human (WSJ) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 stories of the year: chrismessina.me/topstories Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A huge bug in Apache servers is causing chaos around the Internet. What to expect, and what we’re still waiting on from iOS 15.2. Why did Instagram steal the @metaverse handle from a woman in Australia, and the story of the fat finger fire sale of a Board Ape Yacht Club NFT. Sponsors: Grammarly.com/techmeme Tovala.com/ride Links: Zero-day in ubiquitous Log4j tool poses a grave threat to the Internet (ArsTechnica) The Internet’s biggest players are all affected by critical Log4Shell 0-day (ArsTechnica) PROFESSIONAL MAINTAINERS: A WAKE-UP CALL (Filippo.io) Apple Set to Release Nudity Detection in Texting, But Other Features Remain on Hold (Bloomberg) Her Instagram Handle Was ‘Metaverse.’ Last Month, It Vanished. (NYTimes) Bored Ape Yacht Club: Someone accidentally sold a $300,000 NFT for $3,000 (CNET) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The great Andrew Chen of a16z joins us to discuss his new book: The Cold Start Problem: How to Start and Scale Network Effects. This an indispensable guide to get that "rocket-ship" action going for whatever product or company you're working with. Sponsors: RadPowerBikes.com AltoIra.com/techmeme Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Google Play games are coming to Windows, while Microsoft was apparently willing to bend over backwards if Apple had let xCloud games into the iOS app store. Meta’s first tangible foray into the Metaverse. The English Football punters buying into NFTs. And, of course, the weekend longreads suggestions. Sponsors: Tovala.com/ride My First Million Podcast Links: Google is bringing Android games to Windows in 2022 (The Verge) MICROSOFT QUIETLY TOLD APPLE IT WAS WILLING TO TURN BIG XBOX-EXCLUSIVE GAMES INTO IPHONE APPS (The Verge) Meta opens up access to its VR social platform Horizon Worlds (The Verge) Football fans spending millions on club crypto-tokens (BBC News) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: Pokémon and the First Wave of Digital Nostalgia (The New Yorker) Half a Billion in Bitcoin, Lost in the Dump (The New Yorker) Amazon is making its own containers and bypassing supply chain chaos with chartered ships and long-haul planes (CNBC) HOW AN EXCEL TIKTOKER MANIFESTED HER WAY TO MAKING SIX FIGURES A DAY (The Verge) Three Steps To The Future (Ben Evans' 2022 Slide Deck) On “Succession,” Jeremy Strong Doesn’t Get the Joke (The New Yorker) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices