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Tech

Apple Caves

Is the green text bubble next?

Apple held a two hour keynote session at the 2024 Worldwide Developers conference and, yet, might have buried the lede.

While we got the news last week about their AI integration, and how much that concerns Elon Musk, we didn’t hear much about their RCS support. Which, for most, is probably the bigger deal. In fact, Apple, themselves, barely even mentioned it.

In case you’re unfamiliar - “RCS” is Rich Communication Services, which is what Android phones use for their messaging. And now, Apple will be adding it.

So, why should you care? Well, this will allow iPhone users to send high-resolution pictures and videos to (and receive from) Android users. This will also allow for read receipts and typing indicators when texting with Android users, which was only available previously with iMessage. 

Now if Apple can find a way (choose?) to remove the green colored text, well, that might win them the next Presidential Election. But nevertheless, the disconnect between iPhones and Androids, at least in regards to text communication, seems to be closing.

These features will be part of the upcoming iOS 18, which will also allow you to bold and italicize text in iMessage and have the ability to schedule a text too.

Apple breezed over the RCS part of their announcement, as if to be ashamed that they’re seemingly extending an olive branch to their competitors, the Android. In fact, they even buried the news on their iOS 18 preview page and refused to refer to Android users by name.

Apple was the last hold out, as every other major carrier had already made the switch to RCS. This news was really years in the making. 

And for the most part, to the chagrin of Apple, this is probably bigger news than their AI integration, or anything else they shared last week. There’s a reason why Elon Musk hasn’t denounced Apple over THIS news!

Politics

We’re Debating

That mute button is going to get worn out!

We’re less than two weeks from the first presidential debate of the 2024 election cycle (June 27th), and there might not be anything bigger on TV this summer.

Forget Joey Chesnut vs Kobayashi on Netflix. Forget Jake Paul vs Mike Tyson in the fall. It’s all about Trump vs Biden next Thursday on CNN.

It’ll be a 90-minute debate with two commercial breaks, and staff will not be allowed to interact with their candidates at all during this time. 

But the most interesting rule of said-debate is the fact that microphones will be muted in-between answers, which was agreed upon by both parties.

This way, Trump can not constantly interrupt Biden, and Biden can’t forget that it’s not his turn to speak, as he already answered the question just 20 seconds prior. 

No props or pre-written notes will be allowed on stage, but candidates will be given a pen, a pad of paper and a bottle of water. Prune juice, metamucil and butterscotch candies will all be available upon request (kidding… kind of?).

Unlike previous debates, there will be NO studio audience this time around, which may subtract from the environment. CNN’s Jake Tapper and Dana Bash will be the moderators, and the debate will take place in Atlanta.

With the muted microphones, and no live audience in person, Trump might not be as performative as in the past. But regardless, we’ll probably be treated to some fireworks, prior to July 4th. 

Tech/Finance

Bitcoin, About to Skyrocket?

THIS IS NOT AN ENDORSEMENT!!!

The analytics firm Santiment pointed out on X, formerly known as Twitter, that a recent dip in cryptocurrency has led to the second-largest spike of buying interest among social media users. Bitcoin dipped below $66,000, leading to many social media users calling to buy.

Santiment pointed to greed and FOMO (fear of missing out) as the two reasons why. As they tweeted, there are two reasons why this happens:

#1: Price erupts and traders want to jump in with hopes of prices continuing to climb

#2: Price drops, traders don’t believe the dip was warranted, and buy in hopes of a quick recovery

Santiment believes #1 was the reason for the first spike a month ago, and #2 is the reason for the current spike, which began last week. The data also shows that BTC topped out soon after the social media spike came last month, which gives credence to the FOMO idea. 

Seriously though, this is not an endorsement…

Sports | Golf

Rory Chokes

Dechambeau Holds on and Wins the U.S. Open

Pinehurst #2 was in rare form and put the worlds best golfers through the ringer this weekend, and on a beautiful Sunday afternoon Rory went full Rory. After making an incredible run to start Sunday, including birdieing 4 of 5 holes and taking a two stroke lead. Rory found himself with an under 3-foot putt to force a playoff, and put an enormous amount of pressure on Bryson to finish with a par (he almost blew it too).

Unfortunately for Rory, after making his 496 putts under 3 feet, he missed a putt most of us pick up as a gimme. Leaving the door wide open for Bryson Dechambeau to become a 2-time U.S. Open Champion.

Sports | NBA & NHL Finals

Put the Brooms Away

Edmonton Forces Game 5

The series haven’t been that great, but at least we avoided the dreaded double-sweep in the NBA and NHL finals. Something that still hasn’t happened since 1995.

The Dallas Mavericks won game 4 at home, surviving and extending the series to game 5 tonight. And the Oilers finally showed up in their game 4, winning 8-1(!), to extend the Stanley Cup Finals to Tuesday.

The Oilers had just four goals in the first three games total, before the eight goal eruption Saturday. Their star player, Connor McDavid, finally showed up at the 11th hour. After going scoreless in games 1-3, he finally scored a goal Saturday, along with three assists, breaking Wayne Gretzky’s record for most assists in a single playoff.

Were these victories just delaying the inevitable? Or will they be the start of history?

No NBA team has ever erased a 3-0 deficit. The New York Knicks came the closest, when they forced a game 7 way back in 1951. Meanwhile, in the NHL, the 1942 Toronto Maple Leafs are the only team to come back from a 3-0 deficit. 

It feels like the Mavs and Oilers survived, just to die another day. Maybe even tonight for Dallas, and tomorrow for Edmonton. Stay tuned…

Entertainment

Big Week For Movies & TV

Big Shows, Big Movies

Despite reruns back in the day, the summer has always been known for providing us big time entertainment. Blockbuster movies and now, in the age of streaming, popular shows will drop in the summer too, as opposed to avoiding it like previous decades.

Season 4 of “The Boys” just dropped over the weekend on Amazon Prime Video. The popular superhero show holds a 93% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. 

Meanwhile, season 2 of “House of the Dragon” just debuted last night on HBO. The prequel to “Game of Thrones”, House of the Dragon holds a 90% on Rotten Tomatoes. New episodes will drop each Sunday night. 

For the kids in the family, “Inside Out 2” was just released in theaters on Friday. This Disney Pixar movie has been getting a lot of publicity after the first film, released in 2015, scored a 98% on Rotten Tomatoes. Oddly enough, the audience that might have loved the first film, may now be too old to fully enjoy the follow up nine years later.

And for the ladies in your life, you can remind them that the final episodes of “Bridgerton” were just released this weekend on Netflix. Or, depending on your feelings, you might be celebrating that those are finally the last episodes. 

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