Tech Brew Ride Home

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. Sponsors: Fundrise.com/techmeme Metalab.co Links: 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) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Sponsors: Metalab.co Liftoff.to Links: Samsung's new Galaxy Z Fold2 packs a bigger 120Hz folding glass screen, Snapdragon 865+, and more (Android Police) ZTE unveils the Axon 20 5G, the first phone with an under-display camera (Engadget) Apple Preparing 75 Million 5G iPhones Alongside New Watches and iPad (Bloomberg) Kuo: mmWave 5G iPhone Shipments Likely to Be Weaker Than Expected in 2020-21 (MacRumors) Facebook Could Block Sharing of News Stories in Australia (NYTimes) Walmart+ launches Sept 15, offering same-day delivery, gas discounts and cashierless checkout for $98/yr (TechCrunch) Zoom shares soar after revenue more than quadruples from last year (CNBC) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Sponsors: Metalab.co BlueNile.com code RIDE GetSideQuest.app/ride Links: 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) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Sponsors: TinyCapital.com Masterworks.io, select PODCAST, then enter: RIDE GetSideQuest.app/ride 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 The Anti-Facebook: 12 Years In, Facebook's Cofounder Dustin Moskovitz's Slow-Burn Second Act Asana Finally Has Its Moment (Forbes) Palantir: On Business, Cults, and Politics (The Diff) Belarus Turned Off the Internet. Its Citizens Hot-Wired It. (Gizmodo) The Event Industry Is Being Confronted By Its Napster Moment (Skift) Amazon and FedEx Push to Put Delivery Robots on Your Sidewalk (Wired) The Conscience of Silicon Valley (GQ) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Sponsors: Masterworks.io, select PODCAST, then enter: RIDE TinyCapital.com Links: 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Sponsors: 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) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Sponsors: ExtraHop.com/techmeme TinyCapital.com Links: 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) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Sponsors: TinyCapital.com Grammarly.com/techmeme Links: 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 Subscribe in Apple Podcasts Subscribe in Google Podcasts Subscribe On Spotify Or search Kottke Ride Home on your podcast app of choice Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Subscribe in Apple Podcasts Subscribe in Google Podcasts Subscribe On Spotify Or search Kottke Ride Home on your podcast app of choice Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Sponsors: Metalab.co Today In Digital Marketing Podcast Links: Former Uber Security Chief Charged With Concealing Hack (NYTimes) Uber and Lyft Get Reprieve After Threatening to Shut Down (NYTimes) Jeff Wilke, Amazon’s consumer boss and a top lieutenant to Bezos, will step down in 2021 (CNBC) Epic to host a #FreeFortnite tournament with anti-Apple prizes (The Verge) Apple secretly acquired Israeli photography startup Camerai (CalcalisTech) Kuo: Apple Looking to Save on Costs in iPhone 12 With Simpler Battery Board Design (MacRumors) Weekend Longreads MONUMENTAL FAILURE - How Tulsa, Oklahoma, almost won Elon Musk using the language he knows best: memes (The Verge) The Case of the Top Secret iPod (TidBits) The Inside Story Of Robinhood’s Billionaire Founders, Option Kid Cowboys And The Wall Street Sharks That Feed On Them (Forbes) Sex, lies, and video games: Inside Roblox’s war on porn (Fast Company) Why the Facebookening of Oculus VR is bad for users, devs, competition (Ars Technica) Microsoft Flight Simulator review: clear skies with some light chop (Polygon) Why Microsoft's new Flight Simulator should make Google and Amazon nervous (Protocol) Classified: GrowthMarketingToolbox.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Facebook has removed tons of stuff from what it calls US-based militia organizations. Airbnb has filed for its IPO. Cobalt is an interesting raise. But also, some new tech might remove cobalt for better batteries. DoorDash launches grocery delivery. And is Palantir the first high profile company to flee Silicon Valley? Sponsors: Metalab.co BuyRaycon.com/tech Links: Facebook Removes 790 QAnon Groups to Fight Conspiracy Theory (NYTimes) Facebook restricts more than 10,000 QAnon and US militia groups (The Guardian) Airbnb files confidential IPO paperwork (CNBC) Airbnb Files Confidentially for IPO With SEC (WSJ) Online Thrift Shop ThredUp Plans IPO Early Next Year (Bloomberg) Cobalt.io grabs $29M Series B to continue building out pentesting platform (TechCrunch) This Cobalt-Free Battery Is Good for the Planet—and It Actually Works (Wired) DoorDash launches grocery delivery to compete with Amazon and Instacart (The Verge) Data-analysis giant Palantir moves headquarters to Denver (Denver Business Journal) Alibaba posts 124 per cent gain in quarterly profit, sees China retail back to pre-pandemic levels (SCMP) Lyft will suspend its ride-hailing service in California (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Soon you can only use an Oculus if you have a Facebook account. But bizarrely, the Facebook Portal (along with the Echo Show and Google Nest Hub Max) is opening up to Zoom. Netflix is testing a “shuffle play” feature. Blackberry phones are coming back. And Apple hits a $2 trillion market cap. Sponsors: BlueNile.com code: RIDE Metalab.co Links: You’ll need a Facebook account to use future Oculus headsets (The Verge) Zoom is coming to Google Nest, Amazon Echo, and Facebook Portal smart displays (The Verge) Trump Expresses Support for Oracle to Buy TikTok (WSJ) Netflix test puts a ‘Shuffle Play’ button right on your home screen (TechCrunch) New BlackBerry-branded devices w/ QWERTY keyboards set to come in 2021 (9to5Google) A TikTok Ban Is Overdue (NYTimes) The ecommerce surge (Benedict Evans) Big Tech’s Domination of Business Reaches New Heights (NYTimes) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apple has chosen the tactical nuclear option in its fight with Epic Games. But Epic might rally a rebel alliance. Would Oracle buying TikTok make any sense to anyone? Uber and Lyft consider reverting to the business model they claimed the operated all along. And algorithms CAN be good for humanity. Sponsors: Metalab.co Discover.bot/podcast Links: Epic says Apple threatens ‘catastrophic’ response in two weeks if Fortnite doesn’t comply with rules (The Verge) Oracle enters race to buy TikTok’s US operations (Financial Times) Apple Gives Users More Time to Buy AppleCare After Sales Slow (Bloomberg) Amazon Bets on Office-Based Work With Expansion in Major Cities (WSJ) Uber and Lyft Consider Franchise-Like Model in California (NYTimes) Facebook and NYU use artificial intelligence to make MRI scans four times faster (The Verge) tech.supercast.tech Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Why I think regulatory impact for Big Tech is maybe inevitable. Amazon seems to be sniffing around Rackspace. The first “mass produced” smartphone with a camera underneath the display? An ex-Googler says Google Cloud’s deprecation policy is maddening. And why you can’t watch the movie Cocoon, even if you want to. Sponsors: ExtraHop.com/techmeme Metalab.co Links: Google says Australian news rule threatens free search services (Financial Times) Exclusive: Amazon in talks to invest in cloud services company Rackspace, say sources (Reuters) ZTE's Axon 20 5G smartphone will have the first under-display camera (Engadget) Dear Google Cloud: Your Deprecation Policy is Killing You (Steve Yegge) Results day is a diversity disaster. Here’s all the proof you need (Wired) Our Long, Arduous Attempt To Watch ‘Cocoon,’ And Why Some Classic Movies Seemingly Just Vanish (UpRoxx) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The whole story of Reliance and Reliance Jio with Bryne Hobart, author of the excellent newsletter The Diff. Subscribe at: diff.substack.com Also, the book about Dhirubhai Ambani we discuss at the beginning is this one: The Polyester Prince. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What do you think we’re going to talk about? Apple and Google ban Fortnite. Epic Games turns around and sues Apple and Google for antitrust. Also: Adobe commits to fighting Deepfakes, Streaming is now a quarter of all tv viewing, and, of course, the weekend longreads suggestions. Sponsors: LiftOff.to JoinFightCamp.com/techmeme Links: Fortnite for Android has also been kicked off the Google Play Store (The Verge) Epic is suing Google over Fortnite’s removal from the Google Play Store (The Verge) Epic rallies Fortnite players against Apple with a warning that they’ll miss the next season (The Verge) Epic's 1984 Parody Video Photoshop Will Help ID Images That Have Been … Photoshopped (Wired) Disney+ Gains Foothold in Streaming Battlefield, Nielsen Says (The Hollywood Reporter) Weekend Longreads Suggestions The Secret SIMs Used By Criminals to Spoof Any Number (Motherboard) How We Got the Favicon (The History of the Web) The Black Internet Gold Rush That Wiped Away $75 Million in 18 Months (Level) A college kid’s fake, AI-generated blog fooled tens of thousands. This is how he made it. (Technology Review) The Return of Anonymous (The Atlantic) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apple subscription bundles coming as soon as October according to Gurman. Epic is straight out thumbing its nose at the App Stores. What could render iPhones as “electronic trash” in China. And why are people sniffing around Dubsmash for a possible acquisition? Sponsors: Liftoff.to BuyRaycon.com/tech Links: Apple Readies Subscription Bundles to Boost Digital Services (Bloomberg) Epic offers new direct payment in Fortnite on iOS and Android to get around app store fees (The Verge) Twitter launches new API as it tries to make amends with third-party developers (The Verge) Intel offers a first look at its next-gen Tiger Lake processors and Xe graphics (The Verge) Corporate America Worries WeChat Ban Could Be Bad for Business (WSJ) Facebook, Snap Held Talks to Buy TikTok Rival Dubsmash (The Information) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Microsoft’s dual screen Surface Duo is here! Microsoft’s commits to November as a launch month for the Xbox Series X. Foxconn wants to pull back from China itself. Mozilla is in trouble. Silicon Valley and Kamala Harris are quite close, by the way. And why I think a see-through tv is actually a pretty good idea, thank you very much. Sponsors: Fundrise.com/techmeme Liftoff.to Links: MICROSOFT’S SURFACE DUO ARRIVES ON SEPTEMBER 10TH FOR $1,399 (The Verge) Microsoft Surface Duo's dual-screen hinge design is already winning me over (CNET) Microsoft to launch Xbox Series X in November (The Verge) Uber CEO says its service will probably shut down temporarily in California if it’s forced to classify drivers as employees (CNBC) Apple supplier Foxconn's profit beats view, sees smartphone demand off lows (Reuters) Kamala Harris is the choice Joe Biden needed to win over Silicon Valley (Recode) Mozilla Corporation to Lay Off 250 Staff (Motherboard) Xiaomi reveals its transparent 55-inch TV (CNET) Xiaomi’s see-through OLED TV is a transparent attempt at attention, and it’s working (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Android is becoming a worldwide earthquake detection network. Major legal setback for Uber and Lyft in California. Businesses using Bitcoin as their capital reserve. Parallels Desktop supports Big Sur. Nreal still believes in consumer AR glasses. And we try my deepfake audio experiment. Sponsors: LiftOff.to LinkedIn.com/ride Links: ANDROID IS BECOMING A WORLDWIDE EARTHQUAKE DETECTION NETWORK (The Verge) California Wins Preliminary Injunction Against Uber, Lyft (Bloomberg) MicroStrategy becomes first listed company to buy bitcoin as part of its capital allocation strategy (The Block) Parallels Desktop 16 adds Big Sur support, 3D Metal support, and more (Ars Technica) Nreal’s augmented reality glasses are shipping this month in Korea (The Verge) Airbnb Plans to File Confidentially for IPO in August (WSJ) SpaceX is manufacturing 120 Starlink internet satellites per month (CNBC) Tesla is involved in the development of a smartwatch, but why? (Electrek) Onyx Launches a 6-Inch Color E-Reader (PCMag) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Amazon wants to literally take over Malls. How exposed to China is Apple at the moment? Apple is literally doing legal battle with a pear. An app to help guide you on your psychedelic trips. And why I would personally be in the market for a foldable e-ink notebook. Sponsors: MintMobile.com/ride Wipers123.com promocode: ride Links: Amazon and Mall Operator Look at Turning Sears, J.C. Penney Stores Into Fulfillment Centers (WSJ) TikTok To Sue Trump Administration Over Ban, As Soon As Tuesday (NPR) Twitter, TikTok Have Held Preliminary Talks About Possible Combination (WSJ) Google gives Android TV developers instant apps, speech-to-text, and predictive typing (VentureBeat) Apple Takes Legal Action Against This Small Company’s Pear Logo [Update] (iPhone In Canada) On Your Next Psychedelic Journey, Let an App Be Your Guide (Wired) E Ink demos a folding e-reader that can also take notes (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The President officially signs an order to block ByteDance AND Tencent. Apple confirms the reasons why xCloud and Stadia aren’t coming to iOS any time soon. Uber is now, officially, more burrito delivery company than taxi company. And of course, the weekend longreads suggestions. Sponsors: Today In Digital Marketing Podcast DoubleUp.Agency Links: Trump will prohibit transactions with ByteDance beginning September 20th in apparent TikTok ban (The Verge) Mark Zuckerberg Says A Ban On TikTok Would Set “A Really Bad Long-Term Precedent” (BuzzFeed.news) Apple confirms cloud gaming services like xCloud and Stadia violate App Store guidelines (The Verge) I'm Open Sourcing the Have I Been Pwned Code Base (TroyHunt.com) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: Pinduoduo: Vertically Integrated Social Commerce (Turner Novak's Substack) The New Network (The Bulwark) The Vigilante Hunting Down Cheaters in Video Games (Motherboard) The Next 'Mafia'? Mapping The Alumni Of Square (Protocol) Dan Rose Kindle Tweet Thread How TikTok’s Owner Tried, and Failed, to Cross the U.S.-China Divide (NYTimes) Subscribe to the Ad-Free Feed! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Will the US Government’s “Clean Network” plan lead to the definitive fracturing of the Internet we’ve all feared? Nintendo is killing it thanks to Covid and Animal Crossing. Are Samsung’s new earbuds actually Cool Beans? You no longer have to pay Apple $700 to put wheels on your Mac Pro. And why wireless charging could be a global environmental disaster waiting to happen. Sponsors: DoubleUp.agency BlueNile.com code: RIDE Links: Trump administration wants to see ‘untrusted’ Chinese apps like TikTok and WeChat removed from U.S. app stores, Pompeo says (CNBC) The US is building a new Great Firewall (Quartz) TikTok to Spend $500 Million on First EU Data Center in Ireland (Bloomberg) TikTok announces first data center in Europe (TechCrunch) Animal Crossing outsells Breath of the Wild in mere months (Polygon) SAMSUNG GALAXY BUDS LIVE REVIEW: COOL BEANS (The Verge) OWC undercuts Apple's $699 Mac Pro wheels with $199 conversion kit (Apple Insider) Wireless Charging Is a Disaster Waiting to Happen (OneZero) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

All of the headlines from the Samsung Unpacked event: new Galaxy Note 20s, New Galaxy Buds, New Galaxy Watch and more. Disney has already hit its goal for Disney+. ByteDance remains defiant even as Facebook launches Instagram Reels. And Anthony Levandowski remains defiant, even as he is sentenced. Sponsors: DoubleUp.agency Harrys.com/techmeme Links: Samsung Galaxy Note 20, Note 20 Ultra go official from $999 w/ Snapdragon 865+ (9to5Google) Samsung announces the Galaxy Z Fold 2 with bigger screens and better cameras (The Verge) Disney+ grows to more than 60.5M subscribers (TechCrunch) Instagram Reels launches globally in over 50 countries, including US (TechCrunch) ByteDance CEO Says Trump’s Real Goal Is to Kill Off TikTok (Bloomberg) Anthony Levandowski sentenced to 18 months in prison as new $4B lawsuit against Uber is filed (TechCrunch) Files by Google adds PIN protection for your most sensitive files on Android (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Last hurrah? Intel iMacs get a major update. The TikTok, Microsoft, Trump situation can only be described as nuts-o-butts-o. Looks like Garmin paid the ransom. Why xCloud is launching soon on Android but not on iOS. And get ready for games to get more expensive with the next generation consoles. Sponsors: DoubleUp.agency Discover.bot/podcast Links: Apple updates the iMac with new Intel processors and a better webcam (The Verge) Trump calls TikTok a hot brand, demands a chunk of its sale price (TechCrunch) Microsoft Should Refuse Trump’s TikTok Payoff (WSJ) Microsoft’s Talks to Buy TikTok’s U.S. Operations Raise Ire in China (WSJ) China Brands Trump’s Demands on TikTok Sale a ‘Smash and Grab’ (Bloomberg) Garmin reportedly paid multimillion-dollar ransom after suffering cyberattack (The Verge) Mergers: Commission opens in-depth investigation into the proposed acquisition of Fitbit by Google (EU Commission) Microsoft’s xCloud game streaming will launch on September 15th on Android (The Verge) Take-Two Interactive coasts to $831.3 million in Q1 2021 revenue as fans flock to online games (Venture Beat) Take-Two: Next-gen software price hikes "reflect the quality of the experience" (GamesIndustry.biz) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

TikTok has not been banned by Trump, but it came close this weekend. Microsoft almost walked away from buying TikTok this weekend, but it looks like it’s back on board and might buy non-Chinese TikTok operations soon. Google invests in ADT. The new Pixel 4As are here. And a profile of the alleged teenaged Twitter hack mastermind who has now been arrested. Sponsors: DoubleUp.agency Kiwico.com/ride Links: Inside the Microsoft Talks to Buy TikTok’s U.S. Business (WSJ) Microsoft to continue discussions on potential TikTok purchase in the United States (Official Microsoft Blog) Exclusive: Trump gives Microsoft 45 days to clinch TikTok deal (Reuters) Google to invest $450M in smart home security solutions provider ADT (TechCrunch) GOOGLE ANNOUNCES PIXEL 5, PIXEL 4A 5G, AND PIXEL 4A ALL AT ONCE (The Verge) GOOGLE PIXEL 4A REVIEW: BACK TO BASICS FOR $349 (The Verge) System for thwarting deepfakes unveiled (Axios) From Minecraft Tricks to Twitter Hack: A Florida Teen’s Troubled Online Path (NYTimes) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sources say Nvidia is in talks to buy Arm. Music Videos are coming to Facebook in a bigger way. The iPhone is delayed a tiny bit. A run-down of the earnings reports: TLDR: Apple made a ton of money when people thought they wouldn’t but Alphabet shrunk for the first time ever. And of course, the weekend longreads suggestions. Sponsors: Metalab.co JoinFightCamp.com/techmeme Links: Nvidia in talks to buy Arm from SoftBank for more than $32bn (Financial Times) Facebook Is Set to Finally Get the Rights to Show Music Videos (Bloomberg) Apple confirms short release delay for this year's iPhones (Axios) Comment: Analysts half-right about AAPL’s Q3 … but so wrong! (9to5Mac) Weekend Longreads Suggestions Philosophers On GPT-3 (updated with replies by GPT-3) (Daily Nous) Independence, autonomy, and too many small teams (Kislay Verma) Tech Sector Feeling COVID-19’s Economic Pain (Indeed Hiring Lab) The Gig Economy Is Failing. Say Hello to the Hustle Economy. (OneZero) Car Companies Want to Monitor Your Every Move With Emotion-Detecting AI (Motherboard) Subscribe to the Ad-Free Feed! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A comprehensive rundown of the big tech testimony in Congress yesterday. Don’t worry. I tried to keep it brief. Are seller fees quietly twice as big a business for Amazon as AWS is? There’s a new king of the smartphone hill as Huawei surpasses Samsung. And I think we can officially say that the Peacock launch has been a success. Sponsors: Today In Digital Marketing podcast Metalab.co Links: ‘INSTAGRAM CAN HURT US’: MARK ZUCKERBERG EMAILS OUTLINE PLAN TO NEUTRALIZE COMPETITORS (The Verge) Report: Amazon’s Monopoly Tollbooth (ILSR.org) Encrypted Messaging App Telegram Files Antitrust Complaint Against Apple With EU (MacRumors) Google's $2.1 billion Fitbit deal faces EU antitrust probe: sources (Reuters) Canalys: Huawei trumps Samsung for first time in worldwide smartphone market in Q2 2020 (Canalys) TikTok says it will pay creators a total of $2 billion in the next 3 years (Digital Trends) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A rundown of what the big tech CEO’s told Congress this afternoon. Are Samsung and Google about to get a lot more integrated? The biggest news in the ongoing streaming media transformation of Hollywood. Buying out TikTok is going to be pretty expensive. And Shopify’s earnings blow the roof off the place. Sponsors: Metalab.co MintMobile.com/ride Links: Watch Cook, Bezos, Pichai and Zuckerberg testify in Big Tech antitrust hearing — live updates and analysis (CNBC) Google in Talks to Take Over More Search Tasks on Samsung Phones (Bloomberg) AMC and Universal agree to let movies go from theaters to digital rentals much sooner (The Verge) Exclusive: ByteDance investors value TikTok at $50 billion in takeover bid - sources (Reuters) Shopify shares jump 7% after hot e-commerce company says second-quarter revenue increased 97% (CNBC) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What to expect from tomorrow’s Big Tech Congressional testimony. Instagram is trying to woo TikTok stars. Qualcomm has some amazing new quick charge tech. Roblox continues to look like the next big thing. And Deadspin—the true Deadspin—lives to fight another day. Sponsors: Metalab.co Harrys.com/techmeme Links: Their Businesses Went Virtual. Then Apple Wanted a Cut. (NYTimes) Google’s Top Search Result? Surprise! It’s Google (The Markup) Congress has battled airlines, banks, tobacco and baseball. Now it’s preparing to clash with Big Tech. (Washington Post) Facebook Offers Money to Reel In TikTok Creators (WSJ) Qualcomm’s Quick Charge 5 refuels phones 50% in 5 minutes, 100% in 15 (VentureBeat) Roblox jumps to over 150M monthly users, will pay out $250M to developers in 2020 (TechCrunch) After Quitting Deadspin in Protest, They’re Starting a New Site (NYTimes) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Google’s offices might remain closed due to Covid for another full year. Australia has sued Google on competition and consumer grounds. Looks like Garmin is being ransomed. A handheld device to replace guide dogs for the blind. And you know Software as a Service, but get ready for Hardware as a Service. Sponsors: Today In Digital Marketing podcast Metalab.co Links: Google to Keep Employees Home Until Summer 2021 Amid Coronavirus Pandemic (WSJ) ACCC takes second swing at Google for allegedly misleading customers (ITNews) Samsung Galaxy Unpacked trailer teases five new devices to be unveiled on August 5th (The Verge) Garmin outage caused by confirmed WastedLocker ransomware attack (Bleeping Computer) VCs and startups consider HaaS model for consumer devices (TechCrunch) Mobility device for the blind works like a handheld robotic guide dog (New Atlas) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Might Twitter have too many cooks in the kitchen to have decent op-sec? Intel has to delay its next gen chip process. Again. The US unveiled official plans for a quantum internet. AT&T announced its nationwide 5G network is operational. And of course, the weekend longreads suggestions. Sponsors: Tovala.com/ride Metalab.co Links: Exclusive: More than 1,000 people at Twitter had ability to aid hack of accounts (Reuters) Intel's 7nm is Broken, Company Announces Delay Until 2022, 2023 (Tom's Hardware) Big Tech CEO hearing is 'likely' to be postponed (Protocol) U.S. hatches plan to build a quantum Internet that might be unhackable (Washington Post) AT&T's low-band 5G network is now available nationwide (CNET) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: Robinhood Has Lured Young Traders, Sometimes With Devastating Results (NYTimes) Robinhood and How to Lose Money (The Margins) Want to buy a parrot? Please login via Facebook. (Rest Of World) The Inside Story of How a Sleep Tracker Became the Hottest Device of the Pandemic (Marker) How Harvard’s Star Computer-Science Professor Built a Distance-Learning Empire (The New Yorker) The case for and against banning TikTok (Vox) The App of the Summer Is Just a Random-Number Generator (The Atlantic) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Corning has introduced what it is calling it’s best Gorilla Glass ever, with a tough new name: Victus! HBO Max already has more than 4 million customers. It was Nvidia that was inquiring about buying ARM. And more on the whole ad supported free streaming tv angle. Sponsors: Metalab.co Tovala.com/ride Links: Corning’s new Gorilla Glass Victus could let your phone survive a six-foot drop, plus scratch resistance (The Verge) Plex launches a live TV service with over 80 free channels, most available worldwide (TechCrunch) HBO Max has more than 4 million subscribers, AT&T says (The Verge) Twitter admits hackers accessed DMs of dozens of high-profile accounts (TechCrunch) Nvidia Eyes Biggest-Ever Chip Deal in Pursuit of SoftBank’s Arm (Bloomberg) Hundreds Of Thousands Of Instacart Customers’ Personal Data Is Being Sold Online (BuzzFeed.News) Tesla reports fourth straight quarter of profits (CNBC) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Samsung announces the Galaxy Z Flip 5G! TikTok’s US-based investors are considering buying it out as a last resort. Slack files an antitrust complaint against Microsoft. Fiat Chrysler signs a deal with Waymo that points to that pivot we were just talking about. And an interesting raise involving ugly fruit. Sponsors: Tovala.com/ride Metalab.co Links: Samsung announces Galaxy Z Flip 5G for $1,449.99 (The Verge) Twitter bans 7,000 QAnon accounts, limits 150,000 others as part of broad crackdown (NBC News) ByteDance Investors Discuss TikTok Purchase (The Information) Slack Accuses Microsoft of Illegally Crushing Competition (NYTimes) Waymo and Fiat Chrysler's next big project is to develop self-driving Ram vans (TechCrunch) Misfits Market raises $85 million Series B to send you 'ugly' fruits and veggies (TechCrunch) Apple Lining up Periscope Telephoto Lens Suppliers for 2022 iPhone (MacRumors) Jeff Bezos hated ads — now Amazon is America's top advertiser (Axios) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apple says it will be 100% carbon neutral by 2030. Microsoft has been talking to Congress ahead of next week’s hearings. LinkedIn is cutting jobs cause of Covid. Smartphone sales took a hit last quarter for the same reason. Coinbase kept its customers from sending BTC to those Twitter hackers. And might the entire autonomous driving industry be pivoting to less autonomy? Sponsors: Tovala.com/ride Discover.bot/podcast Links: Apple commits to be 100 percent carbon neutral for its supply chain and products by 2030 (Apple Newsroom) Microsoft President Met With House Antitrust Committee (The Information) LinkedIn cuts 960 jobs as pandemic puts the brakes on corporate hiring (Reuters) iPhone SE attracting Android switchers, unlikely to cannibalize iPhone 12 sales (9to5Mac) Coinbase says it prevented over 1,000 customers from sending $280,000 worth of bitcoin to Twitter hackers (The Block) AMD’s first 7nm Ryzen 4000 desktop chips bring the fight to Intel (The Verge) Self-driving industry takes to the highway after robotaxi failure (Financial Times) Subscribe to the ad-free feed! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

eBay seems to be selling every last thing it can before all it's left with is its marketplace and its pride. Disney has quietly cut its Facebook advertising too. When might we actually seen Windows 10x? And what is GPT-3 and why was everyone freaking out about it over the weekend? Sponsors: Tovala.com/ride Metalab.co Links: EBay Nears Deal to Sell Classified-Ad Unit to Adevinta (WSJ) Reliance Jio: World’s First ‘Super Operator’? (Counterpoint) Disney Slashed Ad Spending on Facebook Amid Growing Boycott (WSJ) The easiest way to start meditating is now in... Snapchat? (Mashable) Microsoft plans for single-screen Windows 10X rollout in spring 2021; dual-screen in spring 2022 (ZDNet) Quick thoughts on GPT3 (Operators & Delian's Ramblings) Giving GPT-3 a Turing Test (Kevin Lacker's Blog) Video Example 1 Video Example 2 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Twitter hack! Can Apple REALLY buy Arm? The Ad-tier being key to Peacock's strategy. Will open standards ever make a comeback? And much more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Brian Krebs has a theory of who specifically he thinks was behind the Twitter hijack, but other people have theories too. Netflix kicks off tech earnings season, but also makes a pretty interesting executive move. And of course, the weekend longreads suggestions. Sponsors: TinyCapital.com Discover.bot/podcast Links: Who’s Behind Wednesday’s Epic Twitter Hack? (Krebs on Security) 130 high-profile Twitter accounts targeted in hacking attack (The Guardian) Netflix shares fall after earnings miss, weak subscriber guidance for third quarter (CNBC) Weekend Longreads Suggestions Some of Reddit's Wildest Relationship Stories Are Lies. I'd Know – I Wrote Them (Motherboard) Google’s secretive ATAP lab is imagining the future of smart devices (Fast Company) Inside Peacock’s Ambitious Plan to Crash a Crowded Streaming Field (Variety) Everything you need to know about Palantir, the secretive company coming for all your data (Recode) Sale of the Century: The Inside Story of Ethereum’s 2014 Premine (Coindesk) Apple Silicon: The Passing of Wintel (MondayNote) https://zoom.us/j/93965359337?pwd=d2RsK0VCaGhxRVJMUGxQRUh6NVdqdz09 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I run down the whole mess of the great twitter hijacking from last night. Facebook is rolling out more labels for politicians. Facebook might also be positioning itself for a TikTok diaspora. Amazon now lets influencers run home shopping-network-style shows on the website. And Apple officially has a podcast. Sponsors: JoinFightCamp.com/techmeme TinyCapital.com Links: Apple, Biden, Musk and other high-profile Twitter accounts hacked in crypto scam (TechCrunch) A hacker used Twitter’s own ‘admin’ tool to spread cryptocurrency scam (TechCrunch) Hackers Convinced Twitter Employee to Help Them Hijack Accounts (Motherboard) The Interface (Casey Newton) Facebook to label posts about voting from presidential candidates (Axios) Facebook readies global launch of its TikTok competitor (NBC News) Amazon Influence Program opens to live streamers for broadcasting Amazon Life (TechCrunch) How to subscribe to Apple’s free daily news podcast (9to5Mac) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apple wins its big tax fight with the EU. Sony is doubling PlayStation 5 production because: Covid. Zoom has its own hardware device. An early review of the new Peacock streaming service. And forget 5G. Is it too early to talk about what to expect from 6G? Sponsors: TinyCapital.com BuyRaycon.com/tech Links: Apple Wins Fight Over $14.9 Billion Tax Bill in Blow to EU (Bloomberg) Sony Boosting Output of PlayStation 5 to Meet Surge in Demand (Bloomberg) Google invest $4.5 billion in India's Reliance Jio Platforms (TechCrunch) Zoom introduces all-in-one home communications appliance for $599 (TechCrunch) Samsung: Expect 6G in 2028, enabling mobile holograms and digital twins (VentureBeat) Peacock’s interface aims to recreate the feeling of live TV, but it comes up short (The Verge) Peacock is live: Prices, free trials, devices, shows and movies (CNET) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Softbank looks like it might want to unload Arm, so let me blow your mind for a second: what if Apple bought Arm? The UK has completely flip flopped on Huawei, now going the full ban route. Is Google the next to line up an investment in Reliance Jio? And Amazon has unveiled a cashier negating shopping cart. Sponsors: TinyCapital.com KiwiCo.com/ride Links: SoftBank Explores Sale or IPO for Chip Designer Arm Holdings (WSJ) SoftBank hires Goldman Sachs to explore sale options for chip designer Arm after getting inbound interest, sources say (CNBC) U.K. to Ban Huawei From Its 5G Networks Amid China-U.S. Tensions (WSJ) Huawei posts revenue growth in H1 despite sanctions and pandemic (TechCrunch) Google Is in Advanced Talks to Invest $4 Billion in Jio Platforms (Bloomberg) Walmart leads $1.2 billion investment in India's Flipkart (TechCrunch) Amazon’s new smart shopping cart lets you check out without a cashier (The Verge) Google Cloud steps up privacy, security with Confidential VMs and Assured Workloads (ZDNet) Google Cloud's new BigQuery Omni will let developers query data in GCP, AWS and Azure (TechCrunch) Link from today's listener classified: CUSTOMERSERVICE.FUN Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

SiriusXM looks like it is stepping up to be the big competitor to Spotify in the podcasting space by lining up Podcasting’s biggest ever acquisition. More worrying signs if you’re a regular user of TikTok. Again, everyone wants a piece of Reliance Jio and a piece of the Indian market. And why Apple is warning people about covering the camera on your laptop. Sponsors: TinyCapital.com BuyRaycon.com/tech Links: SiriusXM Is Buying Stitcher in Deal Worth Up to $325 Million (Variety) Amazon says it will not ban TikTok from employee phones (The Verge) For TikTok, an Amazon Ban That Wasn’t, a Wells Fargo Ban That Was (The Information) DNC and RNC warn campaigns about using TikTok (CNN Politics) Google to invest $10 billion in India (TechCrunch) Autonomous drone startup Skydio rises $100 million and launches the X2 commercial drone (TechCrunch) The real reason Apple is warning users about MacBook camera covers (ZDNet) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We could get our first Apple Silicon Macs as soon as this year. Apple Glasses are still a ways away, but Foxconn is already making the lenses. Feverish last minute negotiations ahead of Peacock’s arrival next week. The PC market is definitively not shrinking, thanks to Covid. And as always on Fridays, the weekend longreads suggestions. Sponsors: CodeWizardsHQ.com offer code RIDE DoubleUp.agency Links: Kuo: Apple Silicon Macs to Include 13-inch MacBook Pro and MacBook Air This Year, 14.1-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro Models Next Year (MacRumors) Apple Reaches New Stage in Development of AR Devices (The Information) NBCUniversal’s Peacock is unlikely to reach deals with Amazon and Roku by July 15 launch (CNBC) PC shipments grew 3-11% in Q2 2020 despite coronavirus (VentureBeat) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: How Prosperity Transformed the Falklands (The New Yorker) Our Ghost-Kitchen Future (The New Yorker) Is Anyone Watching Quibi? (Vulture) How Wirecard Went From Tech Star to Bankrupt (WSJ) DE-ESCALATING SOCIAL MEDIA (NickPunt.com) Algorithms are now commodities (The Shape of Code) Hacker News thread about the above (Hacker News) Subreddit where you can answer my hive mind mystery! ....... And subscribe to the ad-free feed here! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Coinbase might be the most important IPO of the next several years. More bad numbers from Quibi. Apple wants you to know it is not abandoning Thunderbolt. Elon Musk says he’s gonna win my self-driving by 2020 wager. And I explain my whole Clubhouse versus Twitter analogy from yesterday. Sponsors: DoubleUp.agency CodeWizardsHQ.com offer code RIDE Links: Exclusive: Crypto exchange Coinbase readies landmark stock market listing, sources say (Reuters) Quibi reportedly lost 90 percent of early users after their free trials expired (The Verge) Apple promises to support Thunderbolt on its new ARM Macs (The Verge) Nvidia eclipses Intel as most valuable U.S. chipmaker (Reuters) Google launches Android 11 Beta 2 with final APIs and behaviors (VentureBeat) Musk Says Tesla Is ‘Very Close’ to Developing Fully Autonomous Vehicles (Bloomberg) Microsoft's plan to make video calls less miserable (Axios) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Facebook fails its own civil rights audit. Details of the new Thunderbolt 4 standard. Details on the new Snapdragon chip. Unpacking what might be in store for the newly announced Samsung Unpacked event. And not an interesting raise, so much as a hella interesting product launch. Sponsors: CodeWizardsHQ.com offer code RIDE DoubleUp.agency Links: Facebook Fails to Appease Organizers of Ad Boycott (NYTimes) Facebook Decisions Were ‘Setbacks for Civil Rights,’ Audit Finds (NYTimes) Exclusive: Apple is working on QR Code payments for Apple Pay, iOS 14 code reveals (9to5Mac) Thunderbolt 4: A supercharged port upgrade with 8K monitor support (Digital Trends) Qualcomm’s new Snapdragon 865 Plus is its most powerful mobile chip, designed for gaming (The Verge) Samsung’s Galaxy Note 20 event confirmed for August 5th (The Verge) Twitter is working on a new subscription platform, hints job listing (The Verge) Android 11's official launch appears set for September 8th (Android Police) Mmhmm turns your boring Zoom call into a Weekend Update-style TV show (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

TikTok pulls it’s app completely for the Hong Kong market. But could the US ban TikTok in the US market? And India shows us what happens when TikTok gets banned. Palantir is about to IPO. A new video compression standard is actually a big deal. And Alphabet’s Loon “moonshot” hits a major milestone. Sponsors: Doubleup.agency LinkedIn.com/ride Links: TikTok to pull out of Hong Kong (Axios) U.S. is ‘looking at’ banning TikTok and Chinese social media apps, Pompeo says (CNBC) India’s TikTok shutdown has left careers and fortunes in tatters (Wired) Secretive data startup Palantir has confidentially filed for an IPO (TechCrunch) Palantir Technologies Files to Go Public (NYTimes) Fraunhofer’s VVC promises to reduce video file sizes by 50% to improve mobile network efficiency (VentureBeat) 73. "Father" of the MP3, Karlheinz Brandenburg (Internet History Podcast) U.S. tech chiefs to testify before House antitrust panel on July 27: committee (Reuters) A Bird? A Plane? No, It’s a Google Balloon Beaming the Internet (NYTimes) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Uber buys Postmates for $2.65 billion dollars. There’s an Xbox Series X event coming later this month. An algorithm that could PREDICT Covid-19 outbreaks. Florida becomes the first to enact a DNA privacy law. And Sony’s new, wearable air conditioner, the Reon Pocket. Sponsors: Grammarly.com/techmeme Wipers123.com offer code RIDE Links: Uber agrees to buy food-delivery service Postmates for $2.65 billion in stock (CNBC) Uber acquires meal delivery service Postmates for $2.65 billion (The Verge) Facebook, WhatsApp, Twitter Suspend Review of Hong Kong Requests for User Data (WSJ) Microsoft announces Xbox Series X games event for July 23rd (The Verge) iOS 14: iCloud Keychain now alerts users about leaked passwords, more (9to5Mac) Can an Algorithm Predict the Pandemic’s Next Moves? (NYTimes) Florida becomes first state to enact DNA privacy law, blocking insurers from genetic data (Washington Examiner) SONY’S WEARABLE, POCKET-SIZED AIR CONDITIONER IS FINALLY AVAILABLE FOR SALE! (Yanko Design) Subscribe to the ad-free feed! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Zuckerberg has told Facebook staff he’s not overly worried about the boycotts. The Fab 4 CEOs of the biggest tech companies (minus Microsoft) all have a date to testify before Congress later this month. Police hacked an encrypted phone network popular with mafia types and the results won’t surprise you. And also, the weekend longreads suggestions. Sponsors: Metalab.co The Jordan Harbinger Show Links: Zuckerberg Tells Facebook Staff He Expects Advertisers to Return ‘Soon Enough’ (The Information) Apple CEO Tim Cook agrees to testify in House antitrust investigation (Apple Insider) Facebook is shutting down Lasso, its TikTok clone (TechCrunch) How Police Secretly Took Over a Global Phone Network for Organized Crime (Motherboard) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: Mirror Wanted to Be the Next iPhone. Instead, It’s Selling to Lululemon. (Marker) There are more streaming choices than ever — why are prices going up? (The Verge) Apple’s Relentless Strategy, Execution, and Point of View (Learn By Shipping) Strategy Behind Blockbuster Grubhub Deal: Don’t Deliver (WSJ) Networks of self-driving trucks are becoming a reality in the US (recode) Did a Chinese Hack Kill Canada’s Greatest Tech Company? (Bloomberg Businessweek) Disney's Developed Movie-Quality Face-Swapping Technology That Promises to Change Filmmaking (Gizmodo) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The reckoning for social media ad spend might be hitting critical mass. Spotify gets more affordable for couples. YouTube TV gets more expensive for everyone. Apple IS struggling with iPhone 5G delays, but it SHOULDN’T delay things into 2021. And when will Silicon Valley offices reopen? Not anytime soon, it sounds like. Sponsors: Metalab.co ApolloNeuro.com/ride Links: Facebook frustrates advertisers as boycott over hate speech kicks off (Reuters) Third of top brands likely to suspend social media spending, survey finds (Financial Times) Spotify brings its Premium Duo plan to the US, UK and dozens more countries (updated) (Engadget) YouTube TV hikes price to $64.99 per month following new channel additions (TechCrunch) Apple races to push ahead with 5G iPhone mass production (Nikkei Asian Review) Apple Cancels Some Arcade Games in Strategy Shift To Keep Subscribers (Bloomberg) Google Pushes Back U.S. Office Reopening Plan After Virus Surge (Bloomberg) Twitch breaks records again in Q2, topping 5B total hours watched (TechCrunch) Subscribe to the ad-free feed Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Lululemon wants to buy Mirror. We think Uber is thinking about buying Postmates. Amazon Prime Video launches Watch Party. Android’s AirDrop competitor is rolling out. And why cloud gaming is the impetus for a new data center race. Sponsors: Tovala.com/ride Metalab.co Links: Lululemon set to acquire home fitness startup Mirror for $500M (TechCrunch) Uber in Talks to Buy Postmates for About $2.6 Billion (WSJ) Amazon Prime Video introduces 'Watch Party,' a social co-viewing experience included with Prime (TechCrunch) Nearby Sharing — Android's AirDrop competitor — is rolling out now in beta (Android Police) CodeGuru, AWS's AI code reviewer and performance profiles, is now generally available (TechCrunch) Exclusive: Facebook changes algorithm to boost original reporting (Axios) An Infrastructure Arms Race Is Fueling the Future of Gaming (Wired) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Reddit bans r/The_Donald and I try to break down the almost hour by hour, day by day timeline of the whole Facebook/social media ad boycott situation. Apple might not include a charger (!) in the iPhone 12 box, much less earbuds. Amazon cuts back on waste in India. India cuts off Tik Tok completely. And some news you can use if you need to recover lost files in Windows. Sponsors: Metalab.co Tovala.com/ride Links: Reddit bans r/The_Donald and r/ChapoTrapHouse as part of a major expansion of its rules (The Verge) Exclusive: Facebook ad boycott campaign to go global, organizers say (Reuters) The hard truth about the Facebook ad boycott: Nothing matters but Zuckerberg (CNN Business) Kuo: Apple will not include earbuds or charger in iPhone 12 box (9to5Mac) Amazon eliminates single-use plastic in packaging in India (TechCrunch) Govt bans 59 Chinese apps including TikTok as border tensions simmer in Ladakh (India Today) Microsoft’s new Windows File Recovery tool lets you retrieve deleted documents (The Verge) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices