### Issue 1912 - Thursday 17th August, 2023

Unfortunately Australia didn't get the result we wanted last night, but the Matildas can hold their heads high. They've united a nation and firmly raised the flag for women's sport. Bravo!

## In Today's Issue

- Linus Tech Tips shuts down production amid turmoil
- Intel bows out of US$5.4b Tower acquisition
- Setapp's alternate iPhone app store is ready to pounce
- CrossOver brings DirectX12 support to the Mac
- Bargains, bargains, bargains - Afterpay sale on @ eBay

## The News

### Linus Tech Tips shuts down production amid turmoil

The Tech-Tuber-Sphere has imploded over the past couple of days with Linus Sebastian's Linus Media Group (LMG) announcing a one week pause on all production after a number of errors and poor responses to valid criticism were called out by fellow Tech-Tubers "Gamers Nexus". Their apology video is a 20 minute long paint-by-corporate-numbers saga led by a new CEO who's just 6 weeks into the role & wondering what the hell he's just signed up for. In it a meek Linus reiterates he was never qualified to be CEO in the first place and takes responsibility for a ranting forum post when the criticisms first landed. Sadly it doesn't stop there though. Just hours after posting the apology a former employee has taken to X (Twitter) detailing alleged daily abuse, sexual harassment and toxic work conditions they experience whilst at LMG. Sounds like they're going to need a lot longer than a week to sort their shit out over there.

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### Intel bows out of US$5.4b Tower acquisition

With dreams of becoming a true rival of TSMC, Intel made the move to acquire Israeli based Tower Semiconductor in February of 2022. The specialist chip maker would provide Intel a much needed shot in the arm for contract chip construction with Tower having expertise with RF chips and CMOS image sensors. Unfortunately for Intel the deal has fallen through with Bloomberg reporting that required regulatory approval never came from Chinese authorities likely due to the semiconductor chip war between the US & China. The failed acquisition will cost Intel US$353m, which they'll pay to Tower for terminating the contract.

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### Setapp's alternate iPhone app store is ready to pounce

Popular macOS software subscription service Setapp has been quietly setting up shop as an alternative app store. A part of the EU's new Digital Markets Act (DMA) legislation has been designed specifically to increase competition and allow users to install apps without using the Apple App Store. There's a March 2024 deadline for Apple and others to comply with the legislation, but it's expected Apple will contest it and the date move back. Meanwhile Setapp is out pitching to devs to grow their own ecosystem promising the same 70/30 rev share as Apple, but with an additional 20% for whoever brings the customer to Setapp's system first.

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## Something I Saw On The Internet

### CrossOver brings DirectX12 support to the Mac

I've been streaming a bunch on Twitch lately and playing some pretty incredible and modern titles like Dave the Diver & Inscryption. I've got it all natively running off my M2 MacBook Pro, which in its own right is pretty amazing but most of the big name titles like Diablo IV still aren't available. Until now. Sort of. The new version of CrossOver brings that ever-important DirectX12 support and while emulated, allows a lot of previously unavailable titles to run on your Mac. It's never going to be the same as running it natively on a PC, but you can at least fire up Diablo IV or Street Fighter V or any number of titles today if you wanted.

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## Bargains

- AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D CPU - $589 from Shopping Express via eBay Afterpay sale
- Dyson Pure Hot+Cold Fan - $424.15 Dyson via eBay Afterpay sale
- Ubiquiti US6+ AP - $160.65 Wireless 1 via eBay Afterpay sale
- LG Ultrafine Ergo 4K IPS 31" Monitor - $599 LG via eBay Afterpay sale
- Razer Kiyo Pro webcam - $131.75 Razer via eBay Afterpay sale
- Sony PS5 Console (Disc version) - $699.95 Sony via eBay Afterpay sale
- Canon RF 28mm f/2.8 lens - $449.65 didiDirect via eBay Afterpay sale
- Denon AVR-S760H 7.2 Channel 8K AV Receiver - $683 HomeAudioSales via eBay Afterpay sale

## Image Of The Day

iMac 1998 Press Photos (Wilhelm4 / Internet Archive)

## The End

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The Sizzle is created on Wathaurong land and acknowledges the traditional owners of country throughout Australia, recognising their continuing connection to land, water and community. I pay my respect to them and their cultures and to elders both past and present.