Fri. 09/06 – Telegram Blinks.

Sep 6, 2024 18m

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Episode Description

Pavel Durov speaks, and Telegram blinks, both for the first time since the French arrest. Are XR glasses tethered to smartphones the next big product category? What if your smartphone could cure your vision problems? And in the longreads, if Waymo is about to scale, what, exactly, is the business model, long-term? Links: Pavel Durov: Telegram founder says France arrest is ‘misguided’ (The Guardian) Exclusive: Qualcomm explores acquiring pieces of Intel chip-design business (Reuters) Qualcomm says it’s working on mixed reality smart glasses with Samsung and Google (CNBC) Review: Honor Magic V3 (Wired) Exclusive: Honor's latest devices use AI to try to reverse nearsightedness (Android Central) Weekend Longreads Suggestions: Waymo’s Robot Taxis Are Almost Mainstream. Can They Now Turn a Profit? (NYTimes) When the Bitcoin Scammers Came for Me (The Atlantic) Among the Idlers (Curbed)

AI-Generated Summary

Pavel Durov Speaks on Telegram's Recent Issues

In the episode, Brian discusses Pavel Durov's comments on his recent arrest in France, calling it 'misguided' and asserting that Telegram is misrepresented in the media. Durov highlights Telegram’s efforts to combat illegal use of its platform and reminds listeners of the app's proactive measures in removing harmful content. This comes in light of recent changes that allow users to flag illegal content in private chats for moderation.

Qualcomm's Mixed Reality Ambitions

A major highlight is Qualcomm's exploration of a partnership with Samsung and Google to develop mixed reality smart glasses. The discussion dives into the significance of XR technologies as potential future product categories linked to smartphones, and how these devices aim to improve user experience by merging virtual and augmented realities.

Honor's Magic V3 and Innovations in Smartphone Design

Brian reviews the recently released Honor Magic V3, a foldable phone praised for its slim and lightweight design, as well as innovative AI features aimed to tackle common vision issues like myopia. The phone utilizes advanced display techniques to provide a better user experience, showcasing how smartphone manufacturers are pushing boundaries in both form and function.

Waymo's Scaling and Business Model Challenges

In the longread segment, Brian speculates on Waymo's scaling of self-driving tech and the associated business model challenges. Waymo aims to compete with Uber and Lyft, but its costs significantly differ due to its fleet's operational demands. There are discussions on various market fits for Waymo’s model and potential revenue streams from major urban centers.

The Intricacies of Bitcoin Scams

The podcast wraps up with a discussion on the sophisticated nature of Bitcoin scams, particularly highlighting a personal account of being scammed. It showcases the evolving and deceptive tactics utilized by scammers and draws attention to the psychological elements that make such scams successful.