### Issue 1672 - Tuesday 16th August, 2022

## In Today's Issue

- ACCC Digital Platforms Services Inquiry turns its gaze to social media and influencers
- Apple thinks its customers want to see more ads in all their apps
- Android 13 is out, Tesla's Dojo GPU cluster is big, some Signal users impacted by Twilio SMS phishing
- Still using Wireshark to inspect network traffic? Try an oscilloscope instead
- Cheap indoor wi-fi Tuya cameras, Asus OpenWRT flashable router, refurb Surface Pro 5, Tenda mesh wi-fi 4 pack, Optus, Vodafone & Coles SIMs, Nikon 200-500mm lens, Samsung Galax S21 FE, MacBook Pro 14", Spotify Premium for new/returning customers, Zone Bowling arcade double load credit

## The News

### ACCC Digital Platforms Services Inquiry turns its gaze to social media and influencers

The latest installment of the ACCC's long running Digital Platforms Services Inquiry is gonna look at the "way that businesses are using social media advertising services such as display advertising, sponsored posts and paid influencers to engage with and advertise to consumers", plus "the impact of scams and the risk of being exposed to misleading or deceptive content by businesses through social media". The ACCC will also investigate "competition issues involving social media services, including barriers to entry and expansion faced by new platforms, and hurdles and costs faced by consumers and businesses when they try to switch services". Good to see some scrutiny given to this seedy part of the internet that's usually stacked high with bullshit. The findings are due in March 2023.

### Apple thinks its customers want to see more ads in all their apps

Apple insider and Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman is speculating that the Cupertino based megacorp (market cap US$2.7 trillion, annual revenue 2021 US$365 billion, 2021 profit US$152 billion) is going to double down on advertising across all its platforms. Right now Apple runs its own ad network and pops low quality shitty scam looking ads in the News and Stocks apps and ads for apps in search results on the App Store. Apple wants to expand the range of ads on the App Store (the curated Today homepage and individual app listing pages), as well as the Podcasts, Books and even Maps apps. Very convenient they make it harder for competitors (App Tracking Transparency) then decide to go harder on ads themselves.

### Android 13 is out, Tesla's Dojo GPU cluster is big, some Signal users impacted by Twilio SMS phishing

- Android 13 is out of beta and now available for Pixel smartphones. Google has a blog post with the top 13 features. This Reddit post has a list of new 50 features. Looks like a nice update, who knows when it'll reach non-Pixel devices.
- Tesla reckons their Dojo supercomputer is now the 7th most powerful rig in the world (by GPU count) after an upgrade. It's got 7,360 Nvidia A100 80GB GPUs now. We'll get more info about it on AI Day 2 on the 30th of September.
- Signal has identified 1,900 users that may have been at risk of having accounts stolen as part of a Twilio (who provide Signal with phone number verification services) data-breach. Message history, contact lists, etc. were not impacted.

## Something I Saw On The Internet

### Still using Wireshark to inspect network traffic? Try an oscilloscope instead

Sometimes you just see a post that makes you feel like you know nothing about computers. Today that post is Matt Keeter's expedition with a high-speed active differential probe (whatever the fuck that is) connected to a network switch. This allows him to look at the signals coming off the switch on an oscilloscope. Literally looking at the data across the wire! From there the rest of the post goes totally over my head, but it is very impressive. This is what you call "deep knowledge", folks.

## Bargains

- Laxihub M2 (Tuya compatable) indoor wi-fi cameras 2-pack - $37.29 from AliExpress
- ASUS RT-AX53U (can be flashed with OpenWRT) wi-fi 6 router - $107.40 from Amazon
- Refurb Surface Pro 5 (i5-7300U, 8GB RAM, 128GB SSD, keyboard) - $379.05 from BNEACTTRADER's eBay store
- Tenda Nova MW6 Mesh Wi-Fi Router 4 Pack - $159 from PCByte
- Optus 120GB 365-day SIM (eSIM eligible) - $150 from Optus
- Vodafone 150GB 365-day SIM (also good for eSIM) - $125 from Woolworths
- Coles Mobile 60GB 365-day SIM - $99 from Coles
- Nikon AF-S 200-500mm F5.6E ED VR Zoom (FX) Lens - $1186.55 from DigiDIRECT's eBay store
- Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G 256GB - $799 from Samsung
- Apple MacBook Pro 14" (M1 Pro, 16GB RAM, 512 SSD) - $2799 from Amazon
- 3 months of free Spotify Premium for new and returning users
- Double credit at Zone Bowling arcades (e.g: load $40, get $80 credit) on Saturday 20th August

## The End

📻 Dirty Hearts - Dallas Crane

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