TikTok Lives at a Cost; Apple Watch 6; Why Phone; Facebook VR
Lance Ulanoff
Tech and Social Media Expert. Tech media personality, Content Strategist and Public Speaker. Tech Guy on Live with Kelly and Mark.
TikTok locks
The deal is done (more or less), but Oracle becoming the data parent and Walmart the ecommerce partner for TikTok is no cause for celebration. This is the first rocky step down a slippery slope of Government overreach.
TikTok’s potentially social platform-saving deal came after some last-minute digital sabre rattling as the Commerce Dept. promised to make it impossible for TikTok to upgrade its own app (and to ban Tencent’s WeChat outright, though that’s on hold). It was a bold and also potentially disastrous move because, as others have pointed out, it could’ve lead to dangerous security breaches for TikTok’s millions of users.
On the face of it, Oracle is a perfectly fine owner/partner for TikTok. It has a near half-century history of database systems and servers, and in recent years has created powerful cloud-based marketing services. The latter could be the perfect solution to seamlessly integrate an ad serving systems inside the wildly-popular platform.
It’s still not clear if the deal is 100% done. The last I heard was that Trump approved of it in principle. There even appears to be some money coming from TikTok to a $5B U.S. education fund, though TikTok’s current parent is apparently unaware of this deal component.
Saving TikTok is a worthy goal, but let’s remember that the order for Chinese company ByteDance to divest itself from TikTok (a company run in America on U.S.-based servers and by U.S. employees) came right after TikTok users punked the Trump Campaign. Trump has no compunction about hitting back with the full might of the U.S. government when he is personally slighted.
It’s also worth remembering that Oracle CEO and Billionaire Larry Ellison has publicly supported Trump.
Over the weekend, interim TikTok head Vanessa Pappas thanked TikTokers for the support, cheered the deal, and said that TikTok is here for the long-run. Interestingly, she didn’t mention Oracle or Walmart, specifically.
All I’m saying is that this deal is no great victory for American cybersecurity or free enterprise.
Apple aftermath
As we predicted, Apple did not release any new iPhones last week. Instead, we got a new Apple Watch (Series 6), new iPads (8th Gen and Air) and new services (Fitness+) and bundles (Apple One). The last might’ve been the most momentous development. I’ve been calling for bundled Apple Services pricing forever. Happy it’s happening, but wish they’d done more with iCloud. I have more thoughts about the whole event here.
I also spent some quality time with the new watch. It’s good. The Solo bands may be even better.
iOS 14
It’s here, it’s solid, and it’s very good. If you haven’t already updated, you probably should (iPhone 6s and up).
Future tech
Recently I was asked to go on TV to talk about a Wall Street Journal article regarding 10 big tech trends. The list was underwhelming (Bikes that talk back? A smart oven?). Still a few of the predictions stood out for me, like smart pills that utilize nanotechnology to diagnose and maybe even treat our bodies.
As for it being a future trend, I think we’re already well on our way. Humans chipping themselves is nothing new and there are already pills that can help doctors see your digestive health without the need for invasive surgery or even tubes and cameras.
There was also something about algae fueling our cars, but this ignores the bigger and faster-moving trend: Electric vehicles. Perhaps you’ve noticed all the Tesla Model 3 cars on the road (if you haven’t, I bet you will now). It was really the first affordable all-electric sedan and with it eating a significant portion of the mid-size car market share, competitor automakers are scrambling to roll out their own lines of all electric cars. GM plans to introduce an EV SUV (or something bigger) that “crabs” late next month.
The “Why?” Phone
LG just unveiled a new smartphone, the LG Wing (I do love the name), which features two screens. One is a 6.7-inch OLED, the other is a 3.5-inch display hidden behind the first one. You rotate the main display 90-degrees to access it. I don’t get it. Sure, the tiny screen can be a virtual keyboard while the main display offers you wide-screen typing glory. Other than that? I still don’t get it.
It’s real
In case you hadn’t noticed, it’s officially product season. New gadgets are coming from all corners at lightning speed. Late last week, Facebook unveiled Oculus Quest 2 VR headset, controllers, and exciting new VR software, including a multi-player world game. The company promised, during its Connect VR conference, that the new VR headset is lighter and faster than the original.
Reviews I’ve read, though, have not been stellar. I have an original Quest, which I like, except for the weight on my face. From what I understand, though, the weight reduction in the new model comes from redesigned straps, not the main chassis. Guess I’ll hold onto my original for now.
Under the sea
Apparently the next frontier for datacenter building is underwater. Microsoft just proved this with Project Natick, which involved sinking a functioning data center in the ocean for two years. It turned out to be more reliable than dry, above ground datacenters. Fascinating.
See you soon.
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