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How Netflix Makes the World Smaller With International Culture

Andrew Orr ·

An opinion piece by Farhad Manjoo caught my eye. He writes how, instead of Netflix exporting American culture, it shares international culture with everyone.

Despite a supposed surge in nationalism across the globe, many people like to watch movies and TV shows from other countries. “What we’re learning is that people have very diverse and eclectic tastes, and if you provide them with the world’s stories, they will be really adventurous, and they will find something unexpected,” Cindy Holland, Netflix’s vice president for original content, told me.

Mr. Manjoo also mentions the difference between Netflix and other tech companies. Netflix sells subscriptions, not advertising. I think this is an important difference, in case foreigners get a negative impression from our typically garish ads.

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Facebook Shuts Down Onavo Spyware...We Think

Andrew Orr ·

Facebook is shutting down its Onavo spyware VPN and associated «research» app. That is, if you believe anything Facebook says.

To preempt any more scandals around Onavo and the Facebook Research app and avoid Google stepping in to forcibly block the apps, Facebook is now taking Onavo off the Play Store and stopping recruitment of Research testers. That’s a surprising voluntary move that perhaps shows Facebook is finally getting in tune with the public perception of its shady actions.

Eh, I wouldn’t go that far. Not with Facebook blaming users when it screws them over.

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Playing Fast and Loose with 5G Nomenclature

John Martellaro ·

Some mobile phone carriers just can’t help themselves. They’re constantly fiddling with nomenclature to influence customers and gain a competitive edge. Wired writes:

AT&T is engaging in a marketing ploy—one it has used in the past. The 5GE symbol really means a phone is using advanced LTE technology, which is available on other carriers and is slower than the 10-gigabyte speeds 5G promises. When the company introduces actual 5G tech, it plans to call it 5G+ instead. Sprint is suing AT&T over the nomenclature, alleging it constitutes deceptive advertising.

TMO Deals

Start Your Car's Engine up to 20 Times and Recharge Your Mobile Devices Anywhere: $55.99

Bryan Chaffin ·

We have a deal on a nifty gadget today, the 14,000mAh Car Jump Starter Kit. This portable battery can be used to charge your regular mobile devices, including the ultimate mobile device, your car. It works with gasoline and diesel engines up to 7 liters with a 12 volt battery, and it can charge up to three smartphones and tablets at once with one Quick Charge 3.0 USB port and two iSmart USB ports. It’s $55.99 through our deal.

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London Could Remain Europe's VC Capital After Brexit

Charlotte Henry ·

LONDON – The tech community in the UK have raised a number of concerns about what will happen when the country leaves the EU. They have fears around being able to hire talent and data storage laws. However, Wired summed reported that London could still remain the VC Capital of Europe, even after Brexit.

London will remain the VC capital of Europe. According to KPMG, more than twice as much venture capital was deployed in the UK as in Germany in the third quarter of 2018. London remains the obvious location for international funds seeking a European HQ, as SoftBank’s presence in the UK testifies. Since the referendum, top Silicon Valley funds have led large investments in globally ambitious UK companies, from Sequoia’s $50m funding of Graphcore to Greylock’s investment in my own firm, Entrepreneur First. The British Business Bank – Britain’s state-owned bank tasked with providing credit for small and medium businesses – is flush with new cash, and has picked up much of the slack left by the European Investment Fund.

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Not Satisfied With 5G, Trump Wants 6G Cellular

Andrew Orr ·

Although 5G is barely out the door when it comes to adoption, President Trump isn’t satisfied. He tweeted that he wants 6G.

I want 5G, and even 6G, technology in the United States as soon as possible. It is far more powerful, faster, and smarter than the current standard. American companies must step up their efforts, or get left behind. There is no reason that we should be lagging behind on………

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How This New York Times Reporter Uses Apple Notes for Her Job

Andrew Orr ·

Isabella Kwai has «disturbingly agile millennial thumbs» because she prefers to use Apple Notes instead of pen and paper. Ms. Kwai is a New York Times reporter and writes about her technology.

I still keep a notebook on hand that I’ll occasionally use. But to be honest, I have atrocious handwriting, and deciphering it is arduous. Instead, I use the Notes app. I find it easier to write up thoughts and notes that way — though once, it did freak out a source, who asked me how I was able to type and look her in the eye. (Disturbingly agile millennial thumbs is how.)

I love reading about the tech other people use in their work and personal lives. I’m a big user of Apple Notes with close to 1,000 notes, although my thumbs aren’t very agile.

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Apple Car Might Actually be an Electric Van Instead

Charlotte Henry ·

The much-discussed Apple car could actually turn out to be an electric van. That is according to a report in German publication Manager Magazin, picked up by Reuters. Apple engineers are reportedly working on an interior for the vehicle. Apple itself refused to comment on the speculation. The revelation about a potential electric van came Thursday, a day after Apple released a White Paper for drivers testing its automated vehicles.

Manager Magazin, citing multiple unnamed sources, said that prototypes painted in black and silver had been seen. The report, which did not provide further details, said that engineers at Apple’s Cupertino, California-headquarters were now working on the interior.

 

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Israel Launching First Mission to the Moon

Charlotte Henry ·

Israel is preparing to launch its first mission to the moon. The privately funded Beresheet robot will launch from Cape Canaveral on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.  The aim is that the rocket will land and then hop across the moon’s surface, remaining operating for around 2 days, according to a BBC News report.

The 1.5m-high, 585kg Beresheet will begin its mission with a ride to Earth orbit on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral in Florida. Once ejected from this vehicle, the robot will then use its British-built engine to propel itself to the Moon. The journey will take over two months to complete. SpaceIL, the non-profit behind the project, hopes Beresheet («In the beginning» in Hebrew) will prove an inspiration to all those who follow its progress.