How will COVID-19 change the future of consumer technology? Why is Zoom the videoconferencing tool of the moment, and why has it had so many security and privacy issues? We ask the big questions this week, and also discuss Amazon's ability to sell and rent movies on iOS, the mystifying launch of the Quibi video service, and how moving to a virtual workspace is affecting Apple.
This episode of Upgrade is sponsored by:
- Pingdom: Start monitoring your website performance and availability today, and get instant alerts when an outage occurs or a site transaction fails. Use offer code UPGRADE to get 30% off. Offer expires on January 31, 2021.
- Squarespace: Make your next move. Enter offer code UPGRADE at checkout to get 10% off your first purchase.
- Linode: Cloud Hosting & Linux Servers. Get a $20 credit.
- eero: Get your WiFi fixed as soon as tomorrow! Free overnight shipping.
Links and Show Notes:
Support Upgrade with a Relay FM Membership
How I vanquished my messy Desktop - Six Colors
Downlink
Apple Updates iMovie and iWork Apps for iOS With Trackpad and Mouse Support - MacRumors
Fantastical for iPad now enhanced for new iPadOS 13.4 trackpad feature - 9to5Mac
Screens for iOS - Control Any Computer Remotely from your iPhone or iPad - Edovia
Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (1986) - IMDb
Apple Tests Its Secrecy Somewhere New: Employee Homes - Bloomberg
Foxconn tells investors that 5G iPhone production is still on track for a fall launch - 9to5Mac
Apple Tells Staff U.S. Stores to Remain Closed Until Early May - Bloomberg
Tim Cook on Twitter: "Apple is dedicated to supporting the worldwide response to COVID-19."
Did Apple and Amazon just settle their in-app purchase dispute? - Six Colors
Amazon Prime Video now lets users buy TV shows and movies in the app, seemingly struck special deal with Apple - 9to5Mac
WarnerMedia Names Jason Kilar CEO | Hollywood Reporter
Quibi app review: short-form streaming in a shifting landscape - The Verge
Josh Constine on Twitter: "Quibi’s app is slick but the content feels slapdash."
Benjamin Mayo on Twitter: Regarding Quibi Pricing
TV Talk Machine | Skunks Are Terrible Beings (Episode 248)
Zoom is showing how to respond to criticism the right way - The Verge
Every Zoom Security and Privacy Flaw So Far, and What You Can Do to Protect Yourself - TidBITS
Zoom Follow-Up, Twitter Unmasking Follow-up, TSMC and Huawei – Stratechery by Ben Thompson
The Daily Update – Stratechery by Ben Thompson
Thank god for the internet – Input
Apple purchases hyperlocal weather app Dark Sky, ending API and killing Android apps - 9to5Mac
Apple Acquires AI Startup to Better Understand Natural Language - Bloomberg
Exclusive: Apple likely buyer of NextVR, a live event streaming AR/VR company being sold for ~$100M - 9to5Mac
Mac Power Users #522: iCloud Family Sharing - Relay FM
Modular Computer: iPad Pro as a Tablet, Laptop, and Desktop Workstation - MacStories
Brydge Wireless Keyboard for iPad Pro
Activity