We really are hitting the time of year when there isn’t a ton of news happing. After US Thanksgiving the tech sector really starts to slow down until January. I’ll post updates when I think there’s enough that’s worthy to post. Here are a few things I’ve found interesting.
US Federal Trade Commission Sues Facebook over Instagram and WhatsApp
The Federal Trade Commission in the United States has put forward a lawsuit against Facebook that aims to undo the company’s acquisitions of both Instagram and WhatsApp, alleging that Facebook purchased the products to squash competition and enhance a monopoly in a marketplace.
I have nothing that I can add other than to say this will be interesting to watch, and it will take literally years to play out. Even if Facebook is found guilty and eventually forced to divest Instagram and/or WhatsApp, that process alone will take quite some time, as Instagram especially is tightly integrated into Facebook’s infrastructure.
Samsung begins rollout of Android 11
Samsung, the largest OEM of Android in the western world, has begun the rollout of it’s One UI 3.0 update that includes Android 11. Android 11 was originally announced and released on Google branded devices back in September, and the rollout from other OEM’s especially one the size of Samsung, does take time. Notably this is the fastest Samsung has ever started rolling out a major Android update to it’s phone portfolio.
The rollout begins with the Galaxy S20 line of smartphones, and will continue in January with the Note 20 line, Note 10 line, and Galaxy S10 line. Other eligible handsets will follow over the next few months.
https://www.engadget.com/samsung-android-11-one-ui-3-rollout-galaxy-s-20-090509075.html
xCloud coming to PC and iOS Spring 2021
When Microsoft launched its cloud gaming service earlier this fall, I found it inexplicable that it was not available for PC, and was a massive oversight by Microsoft. Now the company has finally announced that xCloud game straming will be coming to both PC and iOS in Spring of 2021. That is still too long of a wait, but at least it is coming.
Notably, Google’s Stadia, which I have recently begun testing, and Amazon’s Luna game streaming serives already work PC. Stadia is still slated to come to iOS “by the end of the year” (though Google is rapidly running out of year in which to accomplish that) and Luna is already available on iOS through a progressive web app.
I think hat Microsoft’s service will eventually be the most desirable of the bunch, but right now, it is strange to see competitors offering a wider range of availability.
Apple Announces AirPods Max for $780
Apple is going to Apple. The company has quietly released the long rumoured over ear headphones, called the AirPods Max. They look very interesting on paper. They are in a technical sense giant AirPods. Each earcup contains it’s own Bluetooth receiver and M1 chip for connectivity, which mimics how the regular airpods and airpods pro work, which means that they should work identically in a technical sense, and the larger size will certainly mean better sound quality and better noise cancellation.
But… the price. At $780 these are impossible to recommend. Yes, these will work like AirPods in that someone will multiple Apple devices will get a near seamless experience, and I’m sure they will sound great, but the reality is is that $780 is too much money for these. Sony’s universally praised WHX1000MK4 and Bose QuietComfort 700 headphones are almost certainly going to offer 90% of the experience of the AirPods Max, and retail at $450. There are also countless headphones in the $200-$300 range that will offer 80% of what the AirPods Max offer.
Apple makes some fantastic products, and commands a premium for them. Sometimes, that is justifiable. Sometimes, Apple makes a product that is technically fantastic, but fails due to the price. The original Homepod was such a device, and now we have the AirPods Max.
https://mobilesyrup.com/2020/12/08/apple-officially-announces-over-ear-airpods-max-for-779/
The US Government will “overlook” the TikTok Ban Deadline
This is almost a moot point because several courts have ruled that the President of the United States cannot unilaterally ban Tik Tok from operating in the country, but the US department of justice has stated that it will not enforce its ban on Tik Tok because “talks are progressing” on the future of the platform.
I guess Donald Trump has other things on his mind.