Thu. 12/19 - What If Apple Owned James Bond?

December 19, 2019·19 min·1 clip

Your smartphone is broadcasting your exact location 24/7 to companies you've never heard of, creating a detailed map of your most private moments.

The episode opens with a major New York Times investigation into location tracking, revealing how data brokers collected 50 billion location pings from over 12 million Americans' phones. The data came not from major tech companies but from dozens of lesser-known location data companies like Skyhook and Ground Truth that embed tracking software in mobile apps. The investigation shows these companies can track people's visits to private locations like clinics, religious sites, and personal meetings with alarming precision. Currently, no federal law limits this vast tracking industry, relying only on company policies to prevent abuse like stalking or selling intelligence officers' locations to foreign powers. Facebook announced new policies banning misleading census information, even from politicians, aligning with existing election interference rules. The Information reports Facebook has tasked a Windows NT co-author with building a completely new operating system from scratch, aiming to control its destiny in next-generation hardware rather than relying on Android. This OS would power future Facebook devices like Oculus and Portal, with the company also developing its own voice assistant and reportedly holding acquisition talks with chip maker Cirrus Logic. Apple executives met with MGM representatives and Pac-12 sports conference officials about potential multi-billion dollar content deals to boost Apple TV Plus. An MGM acquisition could cost up to $10 billion but would give Apple rights to major franchises like James Bond and a vast content library. Spotify is prototyping social features called Taste Buds that would let users discover music through friends' listening habits, marking a shift from the company's previous strategy of limiting social interaction to maintain control over music discovery and artist promotion. The MyShake earthquake warning app issued its first public alert for a 4.3 magnitude California earthquake, demonstrating how seismic warning systems can provide crucial seconds of advance notice. TiVo abandoned plans to split into two companies and instead announced a merger with Xperi, creating a combined entity worth $2.4 billion focused on technology licensing across entertainment and semiconductors. Finally, Puma unveiled $105 gaming socks designed for esports athletes, reflecting the growing commercialization of competitive gaming as traditional sports brands seek new markets.

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