183 – Tech Titans and TikTok: Bytes, Barbie, and Beyond

In this episode, we cover a wide range of topics. Bytedance’s decision to move executives from Beijing to TikTok raises questions about the platform’s evolving global strategy. Meanwhile, TikTok is making headlines with videos about steroids amassing millions of views. Privacy concerns also loom as TikTok may be overreaching even more than Meta, exposing politicians’ and celebrities’ contacts. K-12 funding is at a historic low, harking back to 2000 levels, prompting us to ponder whether technology is to blame. In Musk’s Musky Minutes, we discuss his cowboy persona and a rambling interview by X CEO. In Apple Innovation, iPhone 15 case makers missed the mark, and Apple unveils new iPhone 15 Pro colors, an Apple Watch Series 9 with an S9 chip, and iOS 17 changes, while Sonoma brings back something akin to Active Desktop. In Misc News, Windows activation with old keys is in question, Rich watched an intriguing Barbie documentary, and there’s a debate about movie-watching order. The episode closes with a somewhat tongue-in-cheek notion about Congress. Plus, the highly anticipated game Starfield leaves one host feeling queasy.