‘Laptop class’ | JOMO for 17th May
In today’s JOMO: Apple’s Easy Mode, Uber lets you book via a phone call and Elon, the gift that keeps giving
🗞In the news
Apple touts $2 billion in App Store fraud prevented last year amid rumors of third-party app stores on iPhone
Apple will reportedly open the iPhone to third-party app stores and side-loading in the European Union as part of iOS 17 this fall.
Interesting that Apple has released these numbers, now. While they do release this data every year, they’ve really put effort into ensuring these numbers get out there, this time. Maybe it’s to justify their monopoly
🤑🚀Startups, funding etc
Fashion Giant Shein Raises $2 Billion but Lowers Valuation by a Third
Shein generated $23 billion in revenue last year, the people said, closing in on European rivals H&M Hennes & Mauritz and Zara owner Inditex, and its net profit was $800 million. Shein has set a target to grow its revenue by 40% this year
WSJ: https://www.wsj.com/articles/fashion-giant-shein-raises-2-billion-but-lowers-valuation-by-a-third-1f8c316b
The fact that it could raise $2bn in this market is a bigger surprise, than the cut in valuation
🤩New products, features, launches
Amazon refreshes its Echo lineup, adds a Wi-Fi extender and smart speaker combo, Echo Pop
TC: https://techcrunch.com/2023/05/17/amazon-refreshes-its-echo-lineup-adds-a-wi-fi-extender-and-smart-speaker-combo-echo-pop/
This division saw 2000 people laid off. Thought Amazon would scale down it’s devices play after that
iPhones will be able to speak in your voice with 15 minutes of training
Apple’s new accessibility features can assist those who’ve lost the ability to speak or who are blind or have low vision.
Verge: https://www.theverge.com/2023/5/16/23725237/iphone-personal-voice-speak-training-accessibility
Reminds me of the Easy mode on Asus phones: the experience is so simple it’s almost like a kid version of the interface. The idea is to reduce cognitive load. Love the attention to detail from Apple. Worth checking out the UX choices
You can now hail an Uber by calling a number
TC: https://techcrunch.com/2023/05/17/you-can-now-hail-an-uber-by-calling-a-number/
Quite the 360 move this: From booking cabs on an app with smart features, to the simplicity of just booking a cab.. via a call. Only in US though, for now.
🤔Interesting read
Elon Musk talks Tesla, Twitter, and why he tweets freely — even if it costs him money
Silicon Valley “laptop classes” need to get off their “moral high horse” with their “work-from-home bulls***,” he said
“I think that the whole notion of work from home is a bit like the fake Marie Antoinette quote, ’Let them eat cake,”″ Musk said. “It’s not just a productivity thing,” Musk said. “I think it’s morally wrong.”
CNBC: https://www.cnbc.com/2023/05/16/elon-musk-cnbc-interview-with-david-faber.html
Well Elon is a media favourite for exactly this outspoken nature. Not sure if it’s best for his businesses, but hey we all need a hero (or anti-hero?). The Laptop class chose the jobs they did because of this precise reason, so not sure what his problem is honestly.
OpenAI founder dreams big about more than AI
OpenAI founder Sam Altman has a lot more going on than just ChatGPT as he comes for Elon Musk’s No. 1 billionaire-innovator spot. He’s about to secure a $100 million funding round for an eye scan-accessible global cryptocurrency project, Worldcoin, according to the Financial Times.
Morning Brew: https://www.morningbrew.com/daily/stories/2023/05/15/openai-founder-dreams-big-about-more-than-ai
📊Poll for the day
Have you used Bard?
Er what?
Nope
Yes
Curated from:
Morning Brew, Verge, Techcrunch, Techmeme, CNBC, Hacker News, Product Hunt and more