### Issue 1540 - Friday 4th February, 2022

## In Today's Issue

- Open App Markets Act could force Apple to allow other app stores
- Nintendo is selling lots of Switches
- Meta tanks harder after market opens
- I wrote something about EVs, RetroNAS is cool & Don't Forget About Microsoft
- Friday Forum Update
- Cheap Crucial SSDs, WD 18TB HDD, LEGO Porsche 911, Logitech keyboard, Last of Us Pt 2, SanDisk microSD

## The News

### Open App Markets Act could force Apple to allow other app stores

We are inching closer to a world where Apple is forced to allow apps onto iOS devices via some other method than the App Store, thanks to the Open App Markets Act. This proposed US laws has support from both sides of government, passed without much fighting in the committee stage and is now set for a vote in the US Senate. A Senator involved in its creation said that the law will "let people download apps directly from outside companies rather than being forced to go through official app stores". How exciting is that?! Apple is of course, shitting itself and spreading FUD that allowing non-Apple run app stores on the iPhone would "allow malware, scams and data-exploitation to proliferate" - a claim thoroughly debunked by Bruce Schneier.

### Nintendo is selling lots of Switches

The Nintendo Switch has hit a fresh milestone - outselling the Wii. So far Nintendo's sold 103.54 million Switches around the world in the 5 years (wow, it's five years already??) compared to the Wii which sold 101.63 million units between 2006 and 2013. Nintendo reckons the Switch is still "mid-cycle" so there's still lots of life in it yet. There's a good chance it'll outsell the original Game Boy (118.69m units) and the Nintendo DS (154.02m). Nintendo also said that Animal Crossing: New Horzions is the best selling console game in Japan of all time. I don't know what you can do with this information, but if it ever comes up in a pub trivia competition you'll be glad you paid your $5 a month for The Sizzle.

### Meta tanks harder after market opens

Facebook/Meta's share price shit the bed even harder once trading opened in the US, at one point dropping 25% and wiping US$230b off their market cap. The biggest one-day loss ever by a US company. Meta also confirmed that Apple's App Tracking Transparency would wipe out US$10b of ads sales in 2022. You just love to see it, don't ya? Meta is still worth over US$671b and made a yearly profit of US$40b so it's not like they're going anywhere, but the market decided we've hit peak Facebook and took their gains before things get worse. Alternatively, if you think Meta will rise again and their metaverse play will keep them relevant, now is a great time to put your money where your mouth is.

## Something I Saw On The Internet

### I wrote something about EVs, RetroNAS is cool & Don't Forget About Microsoft

- WhichCar Australia published (and paid me! I like that) a rant of mine about five things other countries have done to make EV charging easier that Australia should copy ASAP. Please click the article and spend some time on site with your adblocker turned off so the editor (hello Mike) sees that my stories are popular.
- RetroNAS turns a Raspberry Pi into a file server for old computers and game consoles. Many vintage devices have network share abilities, but the protocols used are ancient and depreciated (for good reason) on modern gear. RetroNAS makes it easy to setup a file server with old protocols like Netalk, NTLMv1, ps3netsrv, EtherDFS and more.
- John Luttig has an interesting article reminding us "not to forget Microsoft". John outlines how he thinks they'll become the first US$10T company, because its core product lines (Azure and Office 365) have a shitload of growth in them if they can appeal to younger people and continue to buy up other businesses.

## Friday Forum Update

Here's five interesting discussions over on The Sizzle's paid subscriber forum for you to enjoy over the weekend. If you are not a paid subscriber but want to get involved, visit https://thesizzle.com.au/payme to get onboard.

- LiamJM has decided to live in a van for a while
- I updated my thread about trying to get more people to sign up for a free trial of The Sizzle
- Mitty got themselves a 3D printer and is loving it
- ninjacatfish wants a new wireless router that doesn't suck to replace their Apple Time Capsule
- zootman shows off their cool LEGO kits (love the ISS & Saturn V!)

## Bargains

- Crucial MX500 1TB SATA SSD - $124.95 from Shopping Express
- WD Ultrastar DC HC550 18TB HDD - $555 from Amazon USA
- LEGO Porsche 911 (10295) - $183.99 + shipping from ShopForMe
- Logitech K780 multi-device Bluetooth & 2.4GHz USB wireless keyboard - $39 at Officeworks
- The Last of Us Part 2 for PS4 - $19 from Amazon
- SanDisk 256GB Ultra microSD card (U1 & A1 support) - $38.95 from Shopping Square

## The End

📻 Little Dawn - Ted Leo and the Pharmacists

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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.