Here are a few of the stories that caught my attention over the past couple days.
Apple blocking Facebook Update That Mentions Apple 30% Tax
Facebook is the latest company to put public pressure on Apple’s App Store policies, telling the media that Apple has blocked an update to the Facebook app on iOS because on a purchase screen for an in app purchase Facebook informs users that Apple will take a 30% cut of that purchase. Apple rejected the app update saying that it “includes irrelevant information.”. Apple does not allow developers to mention the 30% cut, nor does it allow developers to mention in any way that users can complete transactions outside the App Store.
This is jut another example of Apple’s draconian policies, and it is interesting to see more and more companies putting public pressure on Apple.
Facebook Warns of Ad Revenue Crash Because of iOS 14
Continuing the Facebook and Apple news, Facebook is warning investors that a change to iOS 14 that will require users to specifically opt-in to ad tracking could cut Facebook’s mobile ad revenue by up to 50%.
Tracking ads are hugely valuable. These ads are the targeted ads based on user behaviour, and are collected by many metrics. iOS 14 will turn off the ability for ads to track user behaviour between apps unless a user specifically opts in, which will make ads harder to target, and thus much less valuable.
Do I think Facebook’s ad revenue will drop by 50%? No. but it will definitely take a hit, and probably a significant hit. This does show just how valuable tracked ads are.
Fairphone 3+ and upgradable Fairphone 3
Mobile phones today contribute a lot to a growing issue with e-waste in society. Our phones today are largely devices that are completely not user serviceable, and any damage to them means the entire device has to be replaced. Apple does a good job with it’s device repair and recycling program, but a small company called Fairphone has been trying to create more sustainable smartphones. The Fairphone 3+ is the newest phone in the lineup, with small upgrades to the previous Fairphone 3.
The Fairphone 3 and 3+ are made from 7 modular components that can all be replaced individually. The phones are not as sleek as a modern high end phone, but do allow for components to be easily replaced. Battery no longer holds a charge? You can buy a replacement. Screen breaks? You can buy a replacement.
The company does take this a step further, and is actually making some parts interchangable. Users of the Fairphone 3 can actually buy the camera module for the Fairphone 3+ and put in in their existing phone.
The ability to upgrade existing phones wth newer parts is a really fascinating prospect, especially on cameras. I don’t expect this to become mainstream anytime soon, but it shows what is possible.
Tik Tok News Roundup
Here is your roundup inside a roundup of Tik Tok news.
Tik Tok’s CEO has quit after just 4 months on the job. Kevin Mayer came to Tik Tok from Disney, and was primed to lead Tik Tok into the next global social media company that he hoped would rival Facebook. With Tik Tok likely to be absorbed into an even larger company, Mayer would lose his role as CEO, and decided to leave Tik Tok.
Part of this news was in his internal memo to Tik Tok employees which quickly leaked out to the pubic, he stated that a “resolution” to Tik Tok’s uncertain future was coming shortly. This seems to imply there will be an announcement sooner rather than later on what will eventually happen to Tik Tok.
In that vein, there are reports that Microsoft has an unlikely partner in its acquisition of Tik Tok: Wal-Mart. Wal-Mart is apparently interested in the e-commerce and adversiting aspects of Tik Tok, while Microsoft is interested in hosting Tik Tok’s infrastructure. Oracle remains in the picture to purchase Tik Tok, and it should be noted that Oracle CEO Larry Ellison is a supporter of US President Donald Trump and has donated to him, and it is being reported that Donald Trump is personally pushing for Oracle to purchase Tik Tok.
https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-news/tiktok-ceo-kevin-mayer-leave-company-n1238368
https://www.cnbc.com/2020/08/27/walmart-is-teaming-up-with-microsoft-on-tiktok-bid.html
Flight Simulator players flying into Hurricane Laura
Microsoft’s Flight Simulator 2020 has a very interesting feature where it can take weather data in real time and let players experience those conditions in real time. When Hurricane Laura was a Category 4 storm over the Gulf of Mexico, people took to Flight Simulator to actually fly through the storm virtually.
https://www.theverge.com/2020/8/27/21403769/hurricane-laura-microsoft-flight-simulator
Napster has a new owner
Remember Napster? Think it died a long time ago? Well, the one time staple of music piracy never really went away. Napster’s name and trademark was purchased by RealNetworks in 2012 and Napster was rolled into the Rhapsody music service, with the Napster name eventually replacing Rhapsody. Napster today is a very legitimate music streaming service in the vein of Spotify, but it is a small service.
A VR company MelodyVR has purchased Napster from RealNetworks, and apparently wants to turn Napster into some kind of VR music service,
This isn’t huge news, but the Napster name alone is a fun memory.
https://www.engadget.com/napster-bought-by-vr-experience-company-melody-vr-114020515.html