### Issue 1654 - Thursday 21st July, 2022

## In Today's Issue

- Microsoft says no NFTs or blockchain in Minecraft, ever
- Loads of apps for kids contain advertising tracking code
- The new dystopian cat video game that cats seem to enjoy too
- The Internet Archive asks court to decide ASAP on publisher lawsuit against digital lending
- Cheap HP Ryzen laptop, QNAP NAS, TP-Link mesh wifi, Dell gaming monitor, Suunto sports smartwatch

## The News

### Microsoft says no NFTs or blockchain in Minecraft, ever

Mojang, developer of Minecraft, subsidiary of Microsoft, has made a post explaining that NFTs and blockchain stuff is not welcome in Minecraft and they will not officially support it. The post says that "integrations of NFTs with Minecraft are generally not something we will support or allow" and that "NFTs and other blockchain technologies creates digital ownership based on scarcity and exclusion, which does not align with Minecraft values of creative inclusion and playing together". Good on them for not exposing kids to a ponzi scheme.

### Loads of apps for kids contain advertising tracking code

Children and Media Australia (CMA) commissioned an audit of "186 Android entertainment apps" and found that "101 of the 186 tested contained concerning code". What is concerning code? The article isn't exactly clear and I can't find the report anywhere, but the main beef is the use of Advertising IDs (AAID) and Android IDs (AID) to track the users of these apps (children who can't consent!) and use it to show them ads. It's the same stuff used to track anyone using almost any app these days and flog them ads. It sucks when it's done to you or I, but to do it to kids too is some low level evil villain shit.

### The new dystopian cat video game that cats seem to enjoy too

Time for some not so horrible news for once! Have you heard of a game called Stray? It "follows the story of a stray cat who must set out to return to its family after falling into a world populated by robots, machines, and carnivorous bacteria". It's on PlayStation and PC and looks kinda fun. The reason I bring it up is because there's a trend going around on social media of cat owners posting videos and photos of their cats "getting engaged with the game". Perfect marketing strategy for a game I probably would have never even known about, let alone mentioned here in the Sizzle.

## Something I Saw On The Internet

### The Internet Archive asks court to decide ASAP on publisher lawsuit against digital lending

The Internet Archive has a shitload of physical books stored in warehouses and loans out scanned digital copies of these books - if they have 3 copies of the book, they'll loan out the digital version to 3 people at a time. This is a grey area in copyright law, but IA has done it for years with no complaints. During the pandemic IA removed the restrictions and loaned out more digital copies than they had books, using the closure of libraries as an excuse to let loose. This pissed off Hachette, Penguin Random House, HarperCollins and John Wiley & Sons, who sued the IA in July 2020 wanting the entire digital lending system shut down. Last week the IA asked the court to decide the case without a trial (ideally in their favour). God speed, I hope they win.

## Bargains

- HP 50R83PA laptop (Ryzen 5 5500U, 15.6" 1080p, 256GB SSD, 8GB RAM) - $679 at JB Hi-Fi
- QNAP TS-453D-4G NAS - $679.20 + shipping from Shopping Express
- TP-Link Deco M5 3-Pack mesh wi-fi - $199 from Amazon
- Dell G2422HS 24" 1080p 165Hz IPS gaming monitor - $203.20 from Dell
- Suunto 7 GPS Sports Watch - $149 from JB Hi-Fi

## The End

📻 Whatever You Want - Something For Kate

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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.