Apple and Epic Games' battle ends, Google's data access issue revealed. Tech industry showmanship, AI in healthcare, and ethical concerns discussed. Apple reverses decision on Epic Games Store. Legal feud between Apple and Epic, anticipation for updated HomePod. Banter on Golang, listener boosts, sponsor consideration. Sci-fi book recommendations, AI character generation, transition to cloud services, Flash alternatives. Encouraging feedback and support for future episodes.
Apple delays intelligent features until iOS 18.4, raising transparency concerns.
Monetization of AI wellness coaching sparks questions on value and efficacy.
Google Chrome grants Google.com access to user data, raising privacy concerns.
Deep dives
Apple's AI Features Delayed in iOS 18 .4
Apple's new intelligent features, including a revamped Siri, won't be available until iOS 18 .4, with a beta for developers possibly releasing in January. This delay prompts discussions about tech companies prioritizing announcements to boost stock prices rather than delivering actual products. The move raises questions about Apple's transparency and credibility with their iOS updates.
Concerns Over Apple's OpenAI Deal and AI Wellness Coaching
The podcast delves into the complexities of Apple's partnership with OpenAI and its potential impact on privacy and user trust. The discussion highlights the introduction of AI wellness coaching by notable figures like Arianna Huffington and Sam Altman, critiquing the concept's efficacy and ethical implications. The podcast brings attention to the monetization of wellness coaching through businesses, questioning its true value and effectiveness in promoting genuine health outcomes.
Privacy Concerns Surrounding Google Chrome's Data Access
Recent revelations point to Google Chrome granting Google .com domains access to users' system data, including CPU and memory usage. The extension 'Hangout_resource_or_services' serves as a potential backchannel for extracting sensitive information, raising concerns about user privacy and data security. The podcast reflects on the implications of such data access and its impact on user tracking and identification within Chrome.
Discussion on AI Testing and Collaboration Tools
The podcast episode delves into the use of generative AI for writing unit tests by both junior and senior developers, highlighting instances where AI suggestions were found to be either helpful or nonsensical. While AI tools like GitHub Copilot can assist in generating code, there is a consensus that relying solely on AI for testing may offer a false sense of security, emphasizing the importance of human judgment and experience in determining appropriate test coverage.
Challenges and Considerations in Adopting AI Technologies
The episode addresses the broader implications of integrating AI technologies, such as Chat GPT, into software development workflows. It emphasizes the need for caution when using AI-generated information, as AI tools like Chat GPT rely on database collections and may not always provide accurate or reliable results. The discussion reflects a prevailing skepticism towards AI's ability to completely replace human developers, highlighting the ongoing importance of human input and critical thinking in the software development process.
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Epic Games Newsroom on X — 1/3 Apple has rejected our Epic Games Store notarization submission twice now, claiming the design and position of Epic’s “Install” button is too similar to Apple's "Get" button and that our "In-app purchases" label is too similar to the App Store's "In-App Purchases" label.
Apple approves Epic Games Store for iOS — Later the same day, Apple had a change of heart about the situation, and instead has approved the Epic Games Store.
Jeff Johnson - Mastodon — Apple has ZERO moral high ground. The crApp Store is the origin of many dark patterns.
tvOS 18 Hints at HomePod With Touchscreen Display — A unique touchscreen interface was allegedly found buried in tvOS 18 beta 3 by 9to5Mac, and the finding is actually relevant to the HomePod because the HomePod's software is an offshoot of the tvOS software.
Future HomePod Again Rumored to Add Curved LCD Display — In October, Kosutami shared images of component parts that allegedly belong to a prototype touch screen HomePod. Other reports at the time claimed to verify the legitimacy of these images with other sources.
Luca Casonato 🏳️🌈 on X — Google Chrome gives all *.google.com sites full access to system / tab CPU usage, GPU usage, and memory usage. It also gives access to detailed processor information, and provides a logging backchannel.
Luca Casonato 🏳️🌈 on X — For those interested: this is done through a built-in Chrome extension that can not be disabled, and does not show up in the extensions panel.