You can even buy a holiday home in the first hotel in space

Space tourism is no longer the stuff of science fiction — it’s just around the corner. Aside from private missions to space, like Inspiration4 and DearMoon, in which members of the general public will spend a few days in a SpaceX vehicle circling the Earth and moon, respectively, there are also a few space hotels...
Read more: https://tiyow.blog/2021/03/08/you-can-even-buy-a-holiday-home-in-the-first-hotel-in-space/?source=Snapzu

‘Green gold’: Spanish farmers ditch olives for pistachios in bid to survive

Hard-up producers replace wheatfields and vineyards with a more lucrative, drought-resistant crop
Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/aug/27/spainish-farmers-pistachio-nuts-olives-grapes-wheat-drought-resistant-crop?source=Snapzu

What to read to understand how economists think

Our senior economics writer picks five books for those starting to study the subject
Read more: https://www.economist.com/the-economist-reads/2022/08/09/what-to-read-to-understand-how-economists-think?source=Snapzu

In Japan's 'random travel' trend, Lady Luck chooses the destination

So-called random trips, in which destinations are determined randomly by lottery or other means, are gaining popularity in Japan. In addition to the thrill of leaving travel plans up to chance, railway operators and airlines making using such strategies are providing the incentive of affordability through discounts.
Read more: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2022/08/22/business/economy-business/random-trips-japan/?source=Snapzu

Total Control: Why Central Bank Digital Currencies are a Catastrophic Idea

The year is 2050. Cash has largely disappeared from everyday life. Anyone caught with any form of paper money is considered suspicious. Drugs? Money laundering? Sabotage? Cash is dirty. The currency is digital now. But: Our digital payment transactions have long been fully monitored. This has given economists and central bankers completely new possibilities. As well as the police.
Read more: https://fixthemoney.substack.com/p/total-control-why-central-bank-digital?source=Snapzu

Eve 6 Lead Singer: ‘Owning Media Is Now An Act Of Countercultural Defiance’

Max Collins, the lead singer of the band Eve 6 has penned a great piece for Popula, noting that owning media is now an act of countercultural defiance. Specifically, he’s speaking out against…
Read more: https://www.techdirt.com/2022/08/16/eve-6-lead-singer-owning-media-is-now-an-act-of-countercultural-defiance/?source=Snapzu

DoorDash hit by data breach linked to Twilio hackers

Food delivery giant DoorDash has confirmed a data breach that exposed customers’ personal information. In a blog post shared with TechCrunch ahead of its publication at market close, DoorDash said malicious hackers stole credentials from employees of a third-party vendor that were then used to gain access to some of DoorDash’s internal tools.
Read more: https://techcrunch.com/2022/08/25/doordash-customer-data-breach-twilio/?source=Snapzu

Why there's no 'Dijon' in Dijon mustard

France is facing a widespread dearth of Dijon mustard, which news outlets wasted no time in attributing to the war in Ukraine. But the story is a whole lot spicier than that.
Read more: https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20220816-why-theres-no-dijon-in-dijon-mustard?source=Snapzu

Chip shops face 'extinction' amid cost of living crisis

The rising price of cod, sunflower oil and energy has left many shops struggling to survive.
Read more: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-somerset-62650572?source=Snapzu

Huawei CEO reportedly puts company in survival mode

Huawei CEO Ren Zhengfei has reportedly told staff that tough economic times represent a real threat to the company. Reports in Chinese outlets Yucai and NetEase allege that Ren posted a missive on Huawei’s internal networks in which the CEO called for the company to prioritize cash flow and profit instead of growth and scale.
Read more: https://www.theregister.com/2022/08/24/huawei_ceo_warning/?source=Snapzu

Yelp to begin prominently labeling crisis pregnancy centers to avoid confusion

Yelp on Tuesday said it is introducing a new label to more clearly identify crisis pregnancy centers, which do not perform abortions and typically attempt to persuade people from terminating pregnancies, in the latest example of tech companies adapting their policies in the wake of the demise of Roe v. Wade.
Read more: https://www.cnn.com/2022/08/23/tech/yelp-crisis-pregnancy-centers/index.html?source=Snapzu

Twitter whistleblower raises security concerns

A former security chief for Twitter has turned whistleblower and testified that the company misled users and US regulators about gaps in its security. Peiter Zatko also claimed that Twitter underestimated how many fake and spam accounts are on its platform. The accusations could affect a legal battle between Twitter and billionaire Elon Musk, who is trying to cancel his $44bn (£37bn) deal to buy the company.
Read more: https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-62633191?source=Snapzu

How TikTok’s Unique Algorithm Changed the Social Media Game

Here's how TikTok is rewriting the rules for how we create, share and discover visual content.
Read more: https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/431804?source=Snapzu

Apple to Transition to Longer Serial Numbers for Repair Parts in October

Apple will begin to use a new and longer serial number format for iPhone, Mac, Apple Watch, and other product repair parts starting October 1, a few weeks following the expected launch of the new iPhone 14, Apple Watch Series 8, and other new products.
Read more: https://www.macrumors.com/2022/08/22/apple-transition-new-serial-number-format/?source=Snapzu

Apple workers hit back against the company's return-to-office plans, saying they have carried out 'exceptional work' from home

A group of previously office-based workers at Apple circulated a petition arguing employees have shown they can do "exceptional work" from home.
Read more: https://www.businessinsider.com/apple-employees-remote-work-office-three-days-2022-8?source=Snapzu

They built their businesses on Instagram. Then the platform changed

After losing her construction job early in the pandemic, Kaitlin Tokar decided to try selling some of her vintage furniture and housewares collection on Instagram.
Read more: https://edition.cnn.com/2022/08/21/tech/instagram-changes-small-business/index.html?source=Snapzu

Wish you weren’t here: the photos that show an hour in the life of ‘quiet’ tourist hotspots

Travellers trek to remote destinations in search of Instagram-worthy photos. But at what cost? Photographer Natacha de Mahieu visualises the impact of overtourism
Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2022/aug/20/how-beauty-spots-would-look-if-tourists-all-visited-at-once-in-pictures?source=Snapzu

Facebook parent Meta lays off 60 workers ‘at random’ using algorithm: report

Facebook is the latest large tech company to begin mass layoffs, choosing 60 contractors reportedly at random using an algorithm. The unlucky contractors were employed by Meta via its Austin office of Accenture — despite the company having a nearly half-billion-dollar deal with Meta to provide workers in content moderation and business integrity.
Read more: https://nypost.com/2022/08/19/facebook-parent-meta-lays-off-60-workers-at-random-using-algorithm-report/?source=Snapzu

What Is Going On With Barnes & Noble?

Writers sounded the alarm after learning Barnes & Noble stores would only be stocking hardcovers with proven sales records. Here's more on what this means.
Read more: https://bookriot.com/barnes-noble-hardcover-stock-change/?source=Snapzu

Apple Card issuer Goldman Sachs ranks first in credit card satisfaction survey

Goldman Sachs, Apple's financial partner and issuer of the Apple Card, has ranked first in customer satisfaction in a J.D. Power survey for the second year in a row. Among midsize issuers, Goldman Sachs topped the charts with a customer satisfaction rating of 843 in the J.D. Power U.S. Credit Card Satisfaction Study, Apple touted in a press release on Thursday. Goldman Sachs also ranked first in 2021 in the same survey.
Read more: https://appleinsider.com/articles/22/08/18/apple-card-issuer-goldman-sachs-ranks-first-in-credit-card-satisfaction-survey?source=Snapzu

Disney’s Price Hikes Usher in Era of the Not-So-Cheap Ad Tier

As it aims for Disney+ profitability by 2024, CEO Bob Chapek’s team runs the numbers and decides that it has enough market clout to avoid too much subscriber churn with increased prices.
Read more: https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/disneys-price-hikes-usher-in-era-of-the-not-so-cheap-ad-tier-1235200218/?source=Snapzu

Apple sets new deadline for corporate employees to return to the office three days a week

After Apple employees began returning to in-person work in April of this year, the company paused the rollout of its plans due to cases of COVID-19 increasing again. On Monday, Apple set a new deadline for its corporate employees to return to the office. Starting September 5, employees will need to work in person at least a few days a week.
Read more: https://9to5mac.com/2022/08/15/apple-deadline-employees-return-to-the-office/?source=Snapzu

Trump Organization chief expected to plead guilty in tax evasion case

Donald Trump’s longtime finance chief is expected to plead guilty as soon as Thursday in a tax evasion case that is the only criminal prosecution to arise from a long-running investigation into the former president’s company, three people familiar with the matter told the Associated Press. Allen Weisselberg, CFO of the Trump Organization, was scheduled to be tried in October on allegations he took more than $1.7m in off-the-books compensation from the company, including rent, car payments and school tuition.
Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/aug/15/allen-weisselberg-trump-organization-tax-evasion-case?source=Snapzu

Your iPhone may soon have more ads

Apple has reportedly tested ads on Maps internally.
Read more: https://www.theverge.com/2022/8/14/23305200/iphone-more-ads-advertising-apple-maps-podcasts-books-mark-gurman-rumors?source=Snapzu

The art of effective trolling

Sometimes you can say more with humor than with a polished speech or marketing spot.
Read more: https://www.axios.com/2022/08/11/the-art-of-trolling?source=Snapzu

A New Jailbreak for John Deere Tractors Rides the Right-to-Repair Wave

A hacker has formulated an exploit that provides root access to two popular models of the company’s farm equipment.
Read more: https://www.wired.com/story/john-deere-tractor-jailbreak-defcon-2022/?source=Snapzu

Remote workers are starting new businesses behind their bosses’ backs

You’ve heard of side hustles. Now, we’ve got side startups.
Read more: https://www.vox.com/recode/23299590/side-startup-remote-workers-founding-businesses-while-employed?source=Snapzu

Tech's Offshore Hiring Has Gone Into Overdrive

Companies that once battled to hire employees close to home are now turning to Latin America and other markets for talent.
Read more: https://www.wired.com/story/techs-offshore-hiring-has-gone-into-overdrive/?source=Snapzu

The Key to Successful Innovation? Progress Over Product

Tap into people's unspoken needs to create breakthrough innovations.
Read more: https://www.inc.com/david-schonthal/the-key-to-successful-innovation-progress-over-product.html?source=Snapzu

Why thinking hard makes us feel tired

Difficult tasks can lead to build-up of a signalling molecule in the brain, triggering fatigue.
Read more: https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-022-02161-5?source=Snapzu

Microsoft Responds: Only Sony worried about its acquisition of Activision Blizzard

Microsoft officially responded to Sony’s opposition to its acquisition of Activision Blizzard, arguing that only Sony has concerns in this area. The Xbox maker said Brazil’s Administrative Council for Economic Defense (CADE) asked Amazon, Apple, Google, Ubisoft, Riot Games and Sony about the acquisition, and only Sony raised concerns.
Read more: https://www.realmicentral.com/2022/08/11/microsoft-responds-only-sony-worried-about-its-acquisition-of-activision-blizzard/?source=Snapzu

Walmart is building a streaming service to take on Amazon Prime

It’s all about the perks for Walmart Plus.
Read more: https://www.theverge.com/2022/8/9/23298617/walmart-streaming-service-tv-movies?source=Snapzu

PS4 Sales Reach 117.2 Million Units As Production Winds Down

The PlayStation 4 has essentially reached the end of its production lifecycle, as Sony is no longer reporting sales figures for the console. Originally launched at the end of 2013, the final total for the number of PS4s shipped as of March 2022 is 117.2 million units, an impressive number that makes the PS4 the fourth best-selling console of all time currently.
Read more: https://www.gamespot.com/articles/ps4-sales-reach-117-2-million-units-as-production-winds-down/1100-6506319/?source=Snapzu

Dozens of Whole Foods stores will soon let you pay with just a scan of your palm

Amazon’s palm-scanning technology is expanding to 65 Whole Foods locations across California. The checkout devices were introduced in 2020 as part of the Amazon One payment service, allowing customers to pay with a scan of their palm. This is the biggest rollout by the company yet, with the first new Whole Foods locations adding support today in Malibu, Montana Avenue, and Santa Monica.
Read more: https://www.theverge.com/2022/8/9/23298684/amazon-one-expanding-palm-print-reading-technology-california-whole-foods?source=Snapzu

Toys R Us reopens in 9 states, more locations 'coming soon'

Toys R Us, the beloved children's toy store, is officially back inside Macy's locations in 9 states, with more "coming soon." The retailer did a Christmas in July-type announcement, saying all locations will be complete by October 15, just in time for the holiday shopping season.
Read more: https://www.fox29.com/news/toys-r-us-reopens?source=Snapzu

Google Sues Sonos Over Voice Control Technology

The lawsuits are the latest jab in a long-running legal battle between the two companies. Google is suing speaker-maker Sonos over alleged patent infringement. In two lawsuits filed Monday in US District Court in California, Google alleges that Sonos' latest voice-assistant technology violates seven patents related to Google Assistant.
Read more: https://www.cnet.com/tech/home-entertainment/google-sues-sonos-over-voice-control-technology/?source=Snapzu

Less than 1% of Netflix subscribers are playing its games

Netflix is trying to diversify its income as the company launched last year a video game catalog for iOS and Android users. While the streaming service already offers 24 games and plans to add 26 more by the end of the year, a study showed less than 1% of its subscribers are playing the games.
Read more: https://9to5mac.com/2022/08/08/netflix-games-few-subscribers/?source=Snapzu

AI systems can’t patent inventions, US federal circuit court confirms

The US federal circuit court has confirmed that AI systems cannot patent inventions because they are not human beings. The ruling is the latest failure in a series of quixotic legal battles by computer scientist Stephen Thaler to copyright and patent the output of various AI software tools he’s created.
Read more: https://www.theverge.com/2022/8/8/23293353/ai-patent-legal-status-us-federal-circuit-court-rules-thaler-dabus?source=Snapzu

Apple is building a demand-side platform

Apple may have blown up the digital ads business but it left enough fertile ground to build its own, more focused play for media dollars. The company is building a demand-side platform if recent job listings are to be believed.
Read more: https://digiday.com/media/apple-is-building-a-demand-side-platform/?source=Snapzu

Apple asks suppliers in Taiwan to label products as made in China – report

Apple has reportedly asked Taiwan-based suppliers to label their products as being produced in China, in an effort to avoid disruption from strict Chinese customs inspections resulting from the visit of the US House speaker, Nancy Pelosi, to Taipei.
Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2022/aug/07/apple-asks-suppliers-in-taiwan-to-label-products-as-made-in-china-report?source=Snapzu

Netflix is not in deep trouble. It's becoming a media company

New York (CNN Business)Netflix has had a terrible 2022. In April, it said it lost subscribers for the first time since 2011. Its stock has tumbled more than 60% so far this year. Yet its recent struggles may not be the start of a downward spiral or the beginning of the end for the streaming giant. Rather, it's a sign that Netflix is becoming a more traditional media company.
Read more: https://edition.cnn.com/2022/08/07/media/netflix-wall-street/index.html?source=Snapzu

A Look At the Lightning Network

Examining the scaling method of the Bitcoin network and its evolution from a store of value to a medium of exchange.
Read more: https://www.swanbitcoin.com/a-look-at-the-lightning-network?source=Snapzu

Flight tracking exposure irks billionaires and baddies

How to upset Russian freight companies, Elon Musk, Chinese authorities and Kylie Jenner in one go? Track their jets. Flight following websites and Twitter accounts offer real-time views of air traffic—and sometimes major news like Nancy Pelosi's Taiwan trip—but that exposure draws pushback ranging from complaints to gear seizures.
Read more: https://techxplore.com/news/2022-08-flight-tracking-exposure-irks-billionaires.html?source=Snapzu

Exclusive: Italy, Intel close to $5 billion deal for chip factory

Italy is close to clinching a deal initially worth $5 billion with Intel (INTC.O) to build an advanced semiconductor packaging and assembly plant in the country, two sources briefed on discussions told Reuters on Thursday. Intel's investment in Italy is part of a wider plan announced by the U.S. chipmaker earlier this year to invest $88 billion in building capacity across Europe, which is striving to cut its reliance on Asian chip imports and ease a supply crunch that has curbed output in the region's strategic car sector.
Read more: https://www.reuters.com/technology/exclusive-italy-intel-close-5-bln-deal-chip-factory-sources-2022-08-04/?source=Snapzu

Why HBO Max May Already Have Lost the International Streaming Race — Analysis

Warner Bros. Discovery says it will merge HBO Max and Discovery+ into a single platform that is commercially and technologically viable. But the conglomerate looks like it will be playing catch-up in streaming markets outside the U.S. for many years to come.
Read more: https://variety.com/2022/biz/global/hbo-max-international-streaming-1235334371/?source=Snapzu

Amazon to acquire Roomba robot vacuum maker iRobot for $1.7 billion

Amazon has signed an agreement to acquire iRobot, makers of Roomba robot vacuums. The deal is valued at approximately $1.7 billion, and Amazon will acquire iRobot for $61 per share in an all-cash transaction. “Customers love iRobot products — and I’m excited to work with the iRobot team to invent in ways that make customers’ lives easier and more enjoyable,” says Dave Limp, SVP of Amazon Devices. It’s not immediately clear how iRobot will be integrated into Amazon once the deal is finalized and cleared by regulators, but Amazon intends to keep Colin Angle as the CEO of iRobot.
Read more: https://www.theverge.com/2022/8/5/23293349/amazon-acquires-irobot-roomba-robot-vacuums?source=Snapzu

Google: How we're improving search results when you use quotes

How snippets in Google’s search results are being improved by forming them around where quoted words or phrases occur in a web document.
Read more: https://blog.google/products/search/how-were-improving-search-results-when-you-use-quotes/?source=Snapzu

Report: Apple retaliated against women who complained about misconduct

The Financial Times has published a lengthy report saying that Apple has fostered a culture of apathy toward reports of employee misconduct, and has actively retaliated against staff members who complained about colleagues, including those who reported incidents of sexual assault. If accurate, the allegations are at odds with the image of inclusiveness that Apple projects, and cast a pall on the real progress it has made in boosting its workforce diversity.
Read more: https://www.engadget.com/report-apple-retaliated-against-misconduct-victims-094505393.html?src=rss?source=Snapzu

Tim Hortons Offers a Free Coffee and Pastry for Spying on People for Over a Year

Canadian coffee giant Tom Hortons is proposing offering impacted customers a free hot drink and baked good as settlement in class action lawsuits filed after the company spied on app users for over a year. The news provides a conclusion to one of the more bizarre location data gathering scandals in recent years.
Read more: https://www.vice.com/en/article/wxnnn4/tim-hortons-offers-a-free-coffee-and-pastry-for-spying-on-people-for-over-a-year?source=Snapzu

OneOf NFT Platform Adds American Express as Backer in $8.4M Round

Sustainability-focused non-fungible token (NFT) platform OneOf has raised $8.4 million in a strategic funding round that included Amex Ventures, the venture capital arm of American Express. The credit card company will host an exclusive pop-up event that includes OneOf NFTs, according to a press release provided to CoinDesk.
Read more: https://www.coindesk.com/business/2022/08/01/oneof-nft-platform-adds-american-express-as-backer-in-84m-round/?source=Snapzu