Tech News Digest with Lucy & Larry

It's been a while, but Lucy and Larry are back to discuss the tech news stories that have caught their attention. Inevitably, the war in Ukraine touches nearly every story, as its impact on the tech sector - and the tech sector's impact on the war - is felt.

As we get back in our stride with the podcast, do get in touch with tech topics that you'd like us to dive into for you. You'll find on Twitter @techdigestpod and email [email protected].

Music attributions
Funkorama by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3788-funkorama
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Your Call by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/5018-your-call
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

We dive into the GameStop saga and explain how and why it unfolded.

Plus, Larry and Lucy discuss their attempts to move  away from the behemoth that is the Google search engine.

And loads of other stories from across tech:

• Google wants to give up on cookies - and not just for Lent
• Firefox also picks a fight with cookies
• Happy 20th Birthday to VLC player!
• Software advances for software engineers
• And how accurate is adssettings.google.com?

Lots of great conversation this week! Have your say by getting in touch @techdigestpod and [email protected].

Music attributions
Funkorama by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3788-funkorama
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Your Call by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/5018-your-call
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

This week, Lucy and Larry discuss:

• The Inauguration of Joe Biden and what does it mean for Big Tech.
• Google might pull back from Australia.
• How we'll ban Google for a week in favor of Bing and Duck Duck Go.
• What will Donald Trump do now?
• Should you leave WhatsApp in favor of Signal, Telegram, or maybe Matrix?
• E-Ink displays now with color, but still not mainstream enough.
• What's up with electric (self-driving) cars?
• AWS forks ElasticSearch.
• Raspberry Pi brings out another product, this time for hardware developers.

And we end with how data centers will heat the seas, tropical fish will flourish and attract tourism while slowly the sea boils away.

We had a lot of fun recording & editing this episode and we hope you'll have just as much fun listening! If not get in touch with your thoughts @techdigestpod and [email protected].

Music attributions
Funkorama by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3788-funkorama
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Your Call by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/5018-your-call
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

This week, Lucy and Larry discuss:

• social media's dismissal of Trump
• the geopolitical impact on global chip manufacturers
• the shortage of chips' impact on the car industry
• and the strange of Apple's investment in a autonomous vehicles

Get in touch with your thoughts @techdigestpod and [email protected]

Music attributions
Funkorama by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3788-funkorama
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Your Call by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/5018-your-call
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

This week, Lucy and Larry discuss:

• Google's response to US DoJ antitrust case
• Reparability labels on electronic goods
• youtube-dl removed from Github for copyright issues
• Spotify giving in to user pressure over downloading playlists
• PayPal's  new crypto payment service
• Nokia to build 4G on the moon
• Nasa's OSIRIS-REx lands on asteroid ... and picks up more than it should
• Intel sells off solid state storage division
• Microsoft takes Azure to low-orbit space with SpaceX partnership

Get in touch with your thoughts @techdigestpod and [email protected]

Music attributions
Funkorama by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3788-funkorama
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Your Call by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/5018-your-call
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

After another well-earned break Lucy & Larry are back with a whole lot of stories to talk about, including:

• Apple's practices around IAP compared to "Mafia extortion"
• Twitter will be taking steps, for the 2020 US Election
• Facebook their automated systems to filter out nudity founds these onions too sexy
• Plain text emails might do better than heavily styled ones
• Microsoft is also moving to the new work-from-home standard, permanently
• Practice typing on classic literature such as The Art of War
• Stop the EARN IT Bill Before It Breaks Encryption
• Excel caused COVID-19 results to be lost
• US Congress calls for big changes to big tech
• First all-female team wins Nobel science prize

Check the details at https://technewsdigest.co.uk/episodes-2020-14/

And much more. Check out the blog for all the details.

Music attributions
Funkorama by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3788-funkorama
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Your Call by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/5018-your-call
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Lucy & Larry are back and have plenty to talk about, including:

• the NHS's contact-tracing app is finally released - but will it suceed?
• Tesla wants to control the entire battery-making process - and remove cobalt
• Epic, Spotify and Tinder join forces to take on Apple's "app tax"
• Amazon enters the gaming space with Luna

And much more. Check out the blog for all the details.

Music attributions
Funkorama by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3788-funkorama
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Your Call by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/5018-your-call
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

This week, Lucy & Larry discuss:

• Elon Musk's demo of a brain chip in Gertrude the pig
• Apple removes Epic's developer account
• Are we too reliant on Zoom?
• The Internet Engineering Task Force focuses on the end user
• More twists and turns in the TikTok saga

Check out our blog for all the links to the stories.

Music attributions
Funkorama by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3788-funkorama
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Your Call by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/5018-your-call
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Larry takes us through a list of his top 5 science phenomena that will blow your mind! Or at least Lucy's mind...

Get in touch on Twitter @techdigestpod to tell us your favourite science phenomena.

In the news this week: 

• Starlink's satellite internet speeds look very healthy indeed!
• Apple's market cap reaches dizzying heights
• Facebook Messenger and Instagram messages merging
• GM mosquitoes causing a buzz in Florida
• Chrome inadvertently causing DDOS attacks on internet infrastructure

For all the detail and links to the news stories, check out our blog.

Music attributions
Funkorama by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3788-funkorama
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Your Call by Kevin MacLeod
Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/5018-your-call
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/