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Is Apple Breaking the Law?

WVFRM Podcast・106 minutes read

The text delves into the concept of activity Pub, an open standard protocol for social media platforms allowing cross-platform communication, with platforms like Threads already adopting this technology. The ultimate goal is full federation of platforms, streamlining the social media experience while preserving user privacy and enhancing AI capabilities.

Insights

  • Activity Pub is an open standard protocol for social media platforms, enabling cross-platform communication similar to email.
  • Threads, a platform with over 100 million users, is adopting Activity Pub to connect with other platforms like Mastadon, aiming for full Federation.
  • Federated platforms like Mastadon and Blue Sky allow tailored content apps, while users can follow specific content styles without switching platforms.
  • Apple's restrictive rules with the App Store have led to a lawsuit by the Department of Justice over monopolization concerns, focusing on Apple's iPhone ecosystem and stifling competitors.

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  • What is Activity Pub?

    An open standard protocol for social media.

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Summary

00:00

"Activity Pub: Federated Social Media Platforms Explained"

  • The text discusses the concept of activity Pub, an open standard protocol for social media platforms, similar to email, allowing cross-platform communication.
  • Threads, a platform with over 100 million users, has started adopting activity Pub, enabling users to see posts from other activity Pub-enabled platforms like Mastadon.
  • The beta version of Threads' fediverse allows users in the US, Canada, and Japan to follow accounts from other activity Pub platforms.
  • The ultimate goal is for all platforms like Mastadon, Blue Sky, and Threads to be fully Federated, creating a seamless social media experience.
  • The activity Pub protocol standardizes social actions, allowing tailored apps like Pixel Fed to focus on specific content while still being accessible across platforms.
  • Users can follow different versions of the social mesh to customize their experience based on features and content preferences.
  • Federated platforms eliminate the need for new apps to gain a user base by allowing users to follow specific content styles without switching platforms.
  • The concept of Federated platforms can sound like a VC pitch, but the difference lies in the open-source nature of the protocol.
  • The text briefly mentions Active Worlds, a social network/game hybrid similar to Second Life, highlighting the similarities in the concept of community-moderated servers and worlds.

13:57

"AI Advancements in Apple's Developer Conferences"

  • Online platform similar to Town Square where users can post messages and interact.
  • Different worlds on the platform with varying rules, flavors, and moderation policies.
  • Federated apps gaining popularity, incentivizing smaller niche apps like Instagram.
  • Google and Apple announcing developer conference dates, Google IO and Worldwide Developer Conference.
  • Expectations of AI announcements at both conferences.
  • Speculation on Apple's AI advancements, including Siri improvements and use of Gemini.
  • Apple's focus on privacy and minimal data collection potentially limiting AI capabilities.
  • Potential challenges for Apple in building a comprehensive AI assistant without extensive user data.
  • Speculation on AI features beyond Siri, possibly extending to other Apple devices like watches and earbuds.
  • Distinction between local AI and cloud-based AI, with potential outsourcing of cloud-based AI to Google for Apple.

27:22

Apple's Device Focus and AI Speculation

  • The speaker believes that Apple will not partner with another company and will focus on device-based operations.
  • Siri's performance is criticized, suggesting Apple may avoid cloud-based services to maintain user privacy.
  • Gemini, a cloud-based AI model, may be used by Apple but not integrated locally.
  • Speculation arises about Apple mentioning Gemini at an event, with differing opinions on the likelihood.
  • Expectations for updates on Vision Pro at WWDC are discussed, anticipating significant improvements.
  • Developers may receive tools to enhance their work on Vision Pro at the upcoming event.
  • Google IO predictions include the unveiling of new Pixel phones and updates on Gemini and Google Assistant.
  • The potential merger of Google Assistant and Gemini is theorized, aiming for a unified AI system.
  • The frequency of the term "AI" in Google's presentations is debated, with expectations for increased usage.
  • The practice of delaying software features on new devices is discussed, with a promise of free AI features until at least 2025.

40:59

AI Costs and Apple Lawsuit Implications

  • 1. The speaker discusses the potential costs associated with AI features like voice search, suggesting that companies may start charging for these services based on usage.
  • 2. Companies are testing the waters to gauge the popularity of AI features, which could lead to significant costs in terms of inference costs to companies like Google or OpenAI.
  • 3. Charging for AI features may become necessary if usage incurs substantial costs, prompting companies to consider implementing fees for users.
  • 4. Transparent costs for queries and different types of queries are available, but the scale of mass adoption could result in significant expenses, potentially costing billions of dollars.
  • 5. Training one's own models can be extremely costly, amounting to hundreds of millions or even billions of dollars, leading companies to opt for leasing models from others.
  • 6. Operating data centers to support AI models can be expensive, with costs potentially escalating to unsustainable levels at a critical mass of users.
  • 7. The conversation shifts to discussing trivia, including the oldest video on YouTube's top 30 list, uploaded in 2009 and currently boasting 4.4 billion views.
  • 8. The Department of Justice has filed a lawsuit against Apple Inc. over monopolization concerns, focusing on Apple's dominant iPhone ecosystem and alleged stifling of competitors.
  • 9. The lawsuit highlights Apple's restrictive rules with the App Store and draws parallels to past legal actions against Microsoft, suggesting Apple's growth was facilitated by previous lawsuits.
  • 10. The Department of Justice outlines five primary complaints against Apple, including issues with super apps, game streaming services, and restrictions on app functionality, aiming to change Apple's behavior through legal action.

55:43

Apple's Strategic Decisions to Maintain Market Dominance

  • Apple is expected to provide a public reason for their actions, but the real reason is likely to prevent users from easily switching to other devices.
  • The Department of Justice's investigation will involve going through Apple's emails to uncover the true motives behind their decisions.
  • Apple's justification for not allowing "super apps" in their store is that they are complex and time-consuming to review, but the underlying reason is to maintain user loyalty to their products.
  • Apple's dominance in the market raises questions about their reluctance to accommodate various features and apps, despite their vast resources.
  • Apple's recent allowance of game streaming contradicts the complaints against them, as they are adapting to new technologies.
  • The restriction on third-party apps sending SMS messages on iPhones is to promote security, but it also serves to keep users reliant on Apple's messaging app.
  • Apple's decision to limit the functionality of non-Apple smartwatches with iPhones is seen as a strategic move to maintain their market share.
  • The lack of compatibility between Apple products and other devices creates a barrier for users who may want to switch to different brands.
  • Apple's pricing and exclusivity of their products, like the Apple Watch, further solidify their hold on customers within their ecosystem.
  • The inconvenience and cost associated with switching from an iPhone to an Android phone, due to the incompatibility of devices like the Apple Watch, contributes to Apple's retention of customers.

01:09:08

"Apple vs Android: Interoperability and Monopolistic Concerns"

  • Apple watch should work with Android phones, even if not as smoothly.
  • Pixel watch doesn't work with iPhones, similar to Galaxy watch.
  • Samsung apps work better with Galaxy phones, creating a seamless experience.
  • Pixel watch doesn't work at all with iPhones, raising concerns about monopolistic behavior.
  • Google is mimicking Apple's ecosystem, limiting compatibility between devices.
  • Access to NFC chip on iPhones is restricted to Apple pay, limiting competition.
  • Apple controls the NFC chip, taking a cut of every payment made through Apple pay.
  • Google pay allows for competition with different Wallet apps on Android phones.
  • Apple's dominance in the market restricts interoperability with other devices.
  • Apple's ecosystem, including Vision Pro, is exclusive to Apple devices, limiting functionality on Android phones.

01:22:37

"Brand Loyalty in Phone Choices"

  • Parents buying phones for kids should consider the social implications of not having popular messaging apps.
  • People tend to stick with brands they are familiar with for a long time.
  • An anecdote about an Uber driver choosing an LG phone out of brand loyalty.
  • Discussion about a family member choosing a Samsung phone based on brand history.
  • Elon Musk's email about enabling full self-driving on all Tesla vehicles leaving the factory.
  • Mandatory installation of FSD version 12.3.1 in North America with a test ride before handing over the car.
  • Different levels of Tesla's autopilot features: basic autopilot, enhanced autopilot, and full self-driving.
  • Enhanced autopilot includes auto lane change, auto park, summon, and costs $6,000.
  • Full self-driving includes auto steer on streets, traffic and stop sign control, and requires active driver supervision.
  • Debate on the terminology and accuracy of calling full self-driving "autonomous" when it still requires driver supervision.

01:38:46

"Car buying, YouTube trivia, tech history"

  • The old way of buying a car involved a $5,000 commitment due to an expected price increase.
  • Mention of FSD or autopilot errors during a conversation.
  • A trivia question about the oldest video on YouTube's all-time top 30 list, with the correct answer being "Axel F" by Crazy Frog.
  • Discussion on the release dates of popular videos like "Gangnam Style" and "Baby" by Justin Bieber.
  • A question about the first Google I/O event, with the correct answer being in 2010.
  • The first WWDC event was in 1990, previously known as Apple's developer conference or Devcon.
  • Safari browser trivia question about the third-party browser included in Macintosh from 1998 to 2003, with the correct answer being Internet Explorer.
  • Anecdotes about the hosts' experiences with a podcast shirt and a quote from Microsoft executives regarding Netscape during the antitrust era.
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