Fun fact! More people decide to build a cabin off the grid after using Google Nest products than successfully get it working with the rest of their smart home.

This week: Amazon walks out on Just Walk Out, pouring one out for Logitech Harmony, and the doom loop narrative comes for EVs. 🚗

Links:

• Shaq + Epson: A Winning Team | Epson US
• Smart Homes start with Google Nest
• Task Management Software Built For Pros - OmniFocus - The Omni Group
• Amazon.com: Sideclick Universal Remote Attachment for 2nd Gen Apple TV 4K : Electronics
• Amazon Ditches 'Just Walk Out' Checkouts at Its Grocery Stores
• Amazon.com - ToiletTree Products Fogless Shower Mirror - Anti-Fog Mirror - Adjustable Shaving Mirror with a Squeegee - Rust-Proof, Impact-Resistance Bathroom Shower Mirror - Tall
• Amazon.com: Joseph Joseph Tota 90-liter Laundry Hamper Separation Basket with lid, 2 Removable Washing Bags with Handles - Carbon Black : Home & Kitchen

Yeah, I mean it’s not too much of a stretch that automakers are selling your data and snitching on speeding to your insurer, but sending a report to Lin Manuel Miranda about how off key I sing “It’s Quiet Uptown” is a bridge too far.

This week: EV surprises, NAS surprises, with a dash of regulatory scrutiny surprises via one Merrick Garland. 🍎.

Links:

• 1Password Chase Center Sponsorship
• 1Password is The Official Password Manager of The Golden State Warriors | 1Password
• Tesla Superchargers Aren’t Just for Teslas Anymore. I Put My Ford EV to the Test. - WSJ
• Tesla is working on NACS extension cable to fix Supercharging issues with different port locations | Electrek
• Rivian surprises with R3 and R3X electric SUVs - The Verge
• Automakers Are Sharing Consumers’ Driving Behavior With Insurance Companies - The New York Times
• U.S. Justice Dept. Sues Apple, Claiming iPhone Monopoly in Antitrust Case - The New York Times
• U.S. versus Apple: A first reaction – Six Colors
• DOJ calls Apple’s privacy justifications an ‘elastic shield’ for financial gains | TechCrunch
• @reckless1280 • Everyone seems to be willfully missing the point here - the argument is Apple is threatening carm... • Threads
• The White Lotus | Official Website for the HBO Series | HBO.com
• Past Lives (2023) - IMDb

We know it’s been a while since Econ 201 but Jiminy Christmas are Hue bulbs the new Veblen good? What are these things made out of avocado toast? Come on.

This week: dust covered Vision Pros, NACS snaccs, and a peppering of Spring Apple news. 🥽.

Links:

• Apple now selling Belkin MagSafe iPhone mount for video calling on Apple TV 4K - 9to5Mac
• Max Will Be Available in Bundle With Mega Sports App
• Diamond Sports Files Official Re-Org Plan, Will Cut Ties With Bally's
• WSJ's Joanna Stern on Apple Vision Pro one month later: I'm reaching for it far less - YouTube
• Vision Pro demand higher than expected; returns down to 1%
• Ford's Tesla Supercharger adapter is now available to order for free | Electrek
• How Ford’s F-150 Lightning, Once in Hot Demand, Lost Its Luster - The New York Times
• Ford cuts prices of 2023 Mustang Mach-E, adds Lightning bonuses
• The Chevy Equinox EV will get 319 miles of range and start at around $35,000 - The Verge
• Apple updates 13- and 15-inch MacBook Air with M3 chips, support for two external displays – Six Colors
• Apple Sports: A free iPhone app to get you the score, fast – Six Colors
• Fire HD 8 Kids tablet | Amazon

We didn’t get a ballot but that ain’t stopping us. A fruit company year in review.

This week: hi Barbie, football (the non-Messi one), and a bit more on VR. 🥽.

Links:

• AdWatch: Pepsi / More Than OK - YouTube
• Irvine-based Vizio being acquired by Walmart : orangecounty
• The Apple Vision Pro – Stratechery by Ben Thompson
• FuboTV sues Disney, Fox, Warner Bros. over sports joint venture
• ESPN will launch its flagship direct-to-consumer service in fall 2025
• Apple in 2023: The Six Colors report card – Six Colors
• @craigmod • It's wild to think that I'd be happy to pay an extra $2/mo or whatever to apple to never again se... • Threads
• The Town - The Ringer

New ways to watch sports from ESPN, Fox, and Warner Brothers. All without a cable subscription. Sports from ESPN. FOX. Warner Brothers. Are you getting it? These are not three separate services. This is one device, and we’re calling it - Iger-ulu.

This week: plug in hybrids, old movies, and an update on the Chicago food scene. 🌭.

Links:

• ESPN, Fox and Warner Team Up to Create Sports Streaming Platform - WSJ
• Peacock's AFC Wild Card game was the "most-streamed event ever in the US." - The Verge
• Diamond Sports to receive Amazon investment in bankruptcy plan: What does it mean for MLB, NBA, NHL? - The Athletic
• NFL is in advanced talks on taking a stake in Disney's ESPN - Los Angeles Times
• GM Went All In on EVs. Dealers Say Buyers Want Hybrids.  - WSJ
• Apple Vision Pro review: magic, until it’s not - The Verge
• Daring Fireball: The Vision Pro
• Marques Brownlee - YouTube
• Five: Our Most Powerful Wireless Hi-Fi Speaker | Sonos

Chris Nolan gets roasted by Peloton instructors and Soulcycle stays mum on Wes Anderson making the same movie over and over again for three decades. Hmm.

This week: cursed airports, (smart) locks of love, and area Cinnabon manager snubbed for the umpteenth time by the Emmys. 📺.

Links:

• Schlage BE499WB CEN 622 Encode Plus WiFi Deadbolt Smart Lock with Apple Home Key, Keyless Entry Door Lock with Century Trim, Matte Black - Amazon.com
• Amazon.com: Eve Door & Window – Smart Contact Sensor for Doors & Windows, Notifications (Open/Closed State), Automatic Control of Accessories & Scenes, no Bridge, Apple HomeKit, Bluetooth, Thread : Automotive
• Daring Fireball: Post-SCOTUS Ruling, Apple Releases Guidelines for 'External Purchase Links' in iOS Apps (Spoiler: They Still Demand the Same Commissions)
• Apple Vision Pro hands-on, again, for the first time - The Verge
• The One Part of the Vision Pro That Apple Doesn’t Want You to See | WIRED
• @mgsiegler • To state the obvious, the Vision Pro roll out is very, very strange. No event pre-shipping, multi... • Threads

Did each engineer designing the Chevy Blazer EV’s infotainment software spend at least 10,000 hours on it before it went into production?

Okay, this is a very funny joke about Malcolm Gladwell, trust me.

This week: Taylor’s concert film, Ryan’s sports dilemma, and Tim’s headset. 🏀.

Links:

• La Colombe Ball Cap - La Colombe Coffee Roasters
• MVP Hat – La Colombe Coffee Roasters
• La Colombe acquired by Chobani in $900 million deal - WHYY
• M&L Ice Cream Croissant
• GM stops selling the Chevy Blazer EV to deal with ‘software quality issues’ - The Verge
• @jimfarley98 • Proud of our team for strong 2023! @Ford is #2 EV brand in U.S. w/ record Q4 & year. EVs up 24% f... • Threads
• Vision Pro launching on February 2, pre-orders begin next week - 9to5Mac
• Amazon.com: Tatuo 4 Pcs Clear Plastic Charger Cord Organizer Box, Cord Storage Box, Electronics Cable Organizer Box Cable Storage Box with 40 Wire Ties for Home Drawer Office Desk Organizers and Accessories : Electronics
• Five: Our Most Powerful Wireless Hi-Fi Speaker | Sonos

“It’s only ridiculous if it doesn’t work.” - Tyler Florence, probably.

This week: the enduring legacy of a flat panel icon, Amazon Prime Video with Special Offers, and a look at peak Donkey Sauce Capitalism. 🫏

Links:

• The Experience | Guy’s Flavortown Tailgate - Better with Pepsi - Las Vegas 2024
• Flavortown Kitchen - Guy Fieri
• Guy Fieri's American Kitchen & Bar - Guy Fieri
• Zoom videoconferencing app now available on Apple TV - 9to5Mac
• Apple to Drop Goldman Sachs for Apple Card; Chase Bank Is Ideal Replacement - Bloomberg
• Miller & Lux Provisions
• Paramount Mulling 1,000+ Layoffs, Shari Redstone in Sales Talks
• Apple and Paramount Discuss Bundling Their Streaming Services - WSJ
• Showtime Cable Network to Adopt 'Paramount+ With Showtime' Name
• Pixar's Soul, Turning Red, Luca Coming to Theaters in 2024
• Turns out Sony owns the creepiest TV patent ever | Creative Bloq
• This free TV comes with two screens - The Verge
• @lucas_shaw • Streaming cancellations in the US hit another all time high in October. The only company doing ... • Threads
• Disney+ rolling out ‘Hulu Hub’ for bundle subscribers, but some content is missing - 9to5Mac
• Amazon.com: PERLESMITH Universal TV Stand - Table Top TV Stand for 32-60 inch LCD LED TVs - Height Adjustable TV Base Stand with Tempered Glass Base & Wire Management, VESA 400x400mm PSTVS04 : Home & Kitchen
• Watch Fixer Upper: The Hotel | Max

iPod Socks? Again?

Worry not friends, it is finally time: our first annual holiday gift guide.

This week: Kiri the fire truck, unplugging for the holidays, and more tales from retail lock up. 🧦.

Links:

• Cyber what? I still remember a time when they said I was the future. . #tomorrow #keitruck #cybertruck #tesla #daihatsu #firetruck… | Instagram
• @amahnke • There is a large graveyard filled with my enemies. I do not wish to add to it, but will given no ... • Threads
• Target earnings: CEO says customers thankful for locked items
• @dyannaluna • San Francisco’s World-Famous Irish Coffees • Threads
• Guy Fieri Signs $100 Million Food Network Deal
• Gordon Ramsay Makes Scrambled and Fried Eggs | Cooking With Gordon | HexClad - YouTube
• Nom Nom Nom. What’s the Deal With Cookie Monster’s Cookies? - The New York Times
• I Visited Over 120 EV Chargers: Three Reasons Why So Many Were Broken - WSJ
• Philips Hue Festavia 65-Foot 250-LED Smart String Lights White and Color Ambiance 585307 - Best Buy
• The 5 Best Christmas Lights of 2023 | Reviews by Wirecutter
• Amazon.com: Philips Hue Smart Light Starter Kit Old Version - Includes (1) Bridge, (1) Smart Button and (3) Smart 60W A19 LED Bulb, Soft Warm White Light, 1100LM, E26 - Control with Hue App or Voice Assistant : Everything Else
• Amazon.com: 150W USB C Charger, Anker 747 Charger ( GaNPrime), 4-Port Fast Compact Foldable Gan Charger for MacBook Pro/Air, iPhone 14/Pro, iPad Pro, Dell XPS 13, Galaxy S22/S21, Note 20/10+, Pixel and More : Cell Phones & Accessories
• Amazon.com: Slice Mini Box Cutter | Manual Retracting | Safe Ceramic Box Cutter Lasting 11x Longer than Metal | Keychain Box Opener | 1 Pack : Office Products
• Channellock 131CB 13-in-1 Ratcheting Screwdriver | Multi-Bit Storage | 1/4-Inch Nut Driver | Quick-Load Handle with Cushion Grip | 28-Tooth Ratchet Mechanism Provides up to 225 lbs. of Torque , Red - Screwdrivers - Amazon.com
• iFixit Mako Driver Kit: Precision Screwdriver Bit Set for Electronics
• Amazon.com: DEWALT 20V MAX Cordless Drill / Driver Kit, Brushless, 1/2-Inch (DCD791D2) : Tools & Home Improvement
• Amazon.com: OXO Good Grips 1-Cup Angled Measuring Cup: Oxo Liquid Measuring Cup: Home & Kitchen
• Amazon.com: OXO Good Grips Stainless Steel Measuring Cups and Spoons Set, 2.9, 8 Piece: Home & Kitchen
• Amazon.com: OXO Good Grips 2-Piece Plastic Cutting Board Set (Pack of 1),Clear: Home & Kitchen
• Amazon.com: Joseph Joseph Folio Icon 4-piece Chopping Board Set with Storage Case: Home & Kitchen
• Amazon.com: Chef'n 102-540-388 Garliczoom Garlic Chopper, One Size, Green: Home & Kitchen
• Hybrid Cocktail Shaker - Your Last Cocktail Shaker | Elevated Craft® – Elevated Craft
• Amazon.com: OXO SteeL Angled Measuring Jigger: Home & Kitchen
• Amazon.com: True Cubes Crystal Clear Ice Cube Maker- 4 Large Clear Ice Cubes for Cocktails, Drinks & Whiskey - BPA-Free Silicone Square Ice Cube Mold - Whiskey Gifts for Men: Home & Kitchen

We all thought Jack Nicholson looked silly wearing sunglasses courtside but with these retina searing courts who’s laughing now…

This week: New York bagels, the metric system, and the perils of computers on wheels. 🥯

Links:

• How the bold new NBA in-season tournament courts came to fruition - ESPN
• Every NBA City Edition jersey in 2023-2024, ranked by how cool they are - SBNation.com
• Rivian Pushes Software Update That Breaks Infotainment System
• Behind the scenes at Scary Fast: Apple’s keynote event shot on iPhone - Apple
• Apple Event — March 8 - YouTube
• Disney Says It Will Take Full Control of Hulu - The New York Times
• Sony announces a9 III: World's first full-frame global shutter camera: Digital Photography Review