Gm. I’ve never played Fortnite, but I know it’s really hard to be good at these days. And that’s with a controller. How the hell can anybody play that thing on a phone? Kids these days are built different man.
🏠 TECH
The App Store Is A Changing
Besides being something that drives other companies absolutely insane, the App Store is notable for its remarkable consistency. It’s really not all that different from when it was a decade ago.
That is about to change.
Because of the EU’s Digital Market’s Act (DMA), the App Store we’re getting with iOS 17.4 is coming with some big changes (for European users):
Third-party app stores will be allowed on iOS for the first time, although any store still has to be approved by Apple.
The App Store is finally letting alternative payment systems on with a 17% fee instead of the usual 30%.
They are introducing a “Core Technology Fee” that will charge developers $0.54 for every app install over a million installs.
Game streaming services will be allowed for the first time.
At first glance, you would think developers would be happy about these changes. They’ve been fighting for third-party app stores and alternative payment systems since the App Store was born.
But the App Store’s biggest critic is far from satisfied.
To Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney, this is another move by Apple to skirt real reform. The new fees, taxes, and ability to choose which third-party stores are allowed to launch all add up to what is, in his words, a hot garbage announcement.
We’ll have to wait and see how much change these moves really bring, but it’s clear that the fight over the App Store is far from over.
At Least… Fortnite is coming back to iPhones.
🤝 THE LATEST IN…
TECH
Apple is finally locking in on AI.
Microsoft laid off a ton of video game workers.
Cruise is in some real trouble.
Tesla is working on a more affordable model.
AI
OpenAI is smacking the lazy out of GPT-4.
Google is putting its powers behind Hugging Face.
Lumiere is a space-time diffusion model for realistic AI videos.
Midjourney is dealing with a class action from artists.
SCIENCE
Gene therapy is out here curing deafness.
Liquid metal makes 3D-printing better.
China has opened a huge dark matter lab.
T-cells can be tricked to resist aging.
CRYPTO
Crypto is now providing phone service in Mexico.
The ETH ETF isn’t happening anytime soon.
Say hello to the Silk Road bitcoin.
Bitcoin ETF flows are going negative.
🏃♀️ QUICKIES
Raise: Captura, a direct ocean capture company, raised $21.5M in Series A funding.
Stat: 60%: How much more time kids spent on TikTok versus YouTube. That’s crazy.
Rabbit hole: Multi-Hit Wonders (Li’s Newsletter)
🛠️ FOUNDERS CORNER
The best resources we recently came across that will help you become a better founder, builder, or investor.
🔬 It’s time to use AI to find some clients.
🦅 Findr lets you search through all your apps at the same time.
🎯 ShipLog is a changelog you’ll actually update.
🎁 FINAL JEOPARDY!
This Final Jeopardy! question stumped every contestant. Can you get it right?
Category: Fashion Brands
Clue: Translated from Roman numerals, “55” appears in luggage and watch product names from a company founded by this man.
💉 DOPAMINE HIT
Death spiral or crazy mosh pit?
@gabrielbeniciobh Ants reacting to @AC/DC. #ants #acdc
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FINAL JEOPARDY! ANSWER
Louis Vuitton