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Welcome, Tech enthusiasts.
Google is heading to court this week against the U.S. Department of Justice, in one of the most prominent Big Tech lawsuits in recent memory.
Will the government deal a legal blow to the search giant? Let’s dig in…
In today’s tech rundown:
🏛️ Google heads to trial against the US
📱 Apple delays 5G modem plans, renews Qualcomm deal
🎮 Roblox releasing on PlayStation consoles
🛠️ 7 new products and 6 quick stories
Read time: 3 minutes
TODAY’S HEADLINES
Image source: Midjourney
The Rundown: The U.S. Justice Dept. is taking Google to court this week, accusing it of illegally protecting its online search monopoly through restrictive deals with device makers and browsers.
Key points:
The government says Google pays Apple, Samsung, etc., billions to be the default search engine, blocking rivals like Bing.
Google argues these deals are simply common business practices.
The lawsuit tests whether antitrust laws can rein in Big Tech — and it's the first big tech monopoly case against since Microsoft in the 1990s.
The case comes amid growing scrutiny of Google's influence and on the heels of the EU’s Digital Services Act.
Why it matters: As the tech landscape continues to evolve, antitrust lawsuits such as this will serve as crucial decision points in outlining the boundaries of competition. Regardless of the case outcome, it's clear that the influence of tech giants is under more intense scrutiny than ever.
APPLE
Image source: Bloomberg
The Rundown: Apple reportedly extended its supply agreement with Qualcomm for 5G modem chips through 2026 this week — indicating its own in-house modem is taking longer than expected.
The details:
While Apple's previous deal with Qualcomm was set to expire this year, the new 3-year agreement covers iPhones launching in 2024-2026.
The company’s stock surged on the news.
Apple has been working on its 5G modem chip since 2018, but development challenges have delayed its launch beyond 2023.
Qualcomm will continue its key role in Apple's supply chain, with iPhones accounting for nearly a quarter of Qualcomm's revenue
Our thoughts: A plot twist surfaces just as we thought Apple might be close to chip independence. While successfully making their own modem chips would have been a feather in Apple's cap, this extension shows high-end modem development isn’t a process the tech giant is willing to rush.
ROBLOX
Image source: Roblox
The Rundown: Roblox has announced it will launch on PlayStation 4 and PS5 in October, marking the first time the massively popular kids' gaming platform will be available on Sony consoles.
Key points:
Currently played by over 60 million daily global players, the gaming universe will be available on PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 by October 2023.
The creative platform is hugely popular with kids — played by a whopping 67% of U.S. 9 to 12-year-olds, according to surveys.
Other Roblox announcements include a full VR version for Meta Quest, new facial mapping for in-game avatars, and voice/video calls via "Roblox Connect".
The relevance: Roblox, with its user-focused creation ethos, is not just playing— it's revolutionizing the gaming industry. And while the platform already dominates with staggering user numbers, onboarding to popular Sony gaming products will open up yet another avenue for new users.
NEW PRODUCTS
🧑 Wylo- Start an exclusive community for your business (link)
🏋️ Suratfit- The perfect fitness companion (link)
📝 Copy AI- Generate content, such as blog headlines, emails, and social media posts using AI (link)
🎵 Mubert- Soundtrack for your content made by AI (link)
💼 Meet Cody- An AI assistant for business (link)
🧪 Quiz Gecko- AI online test and quiz maker (link)
🦾 Fine Tuner- Build AI agents at scale (link)
Browse the most popular tools ever featured with our tool database.
SNIPPETS
Tesla's Dojo supercomputer, designed for training AI models for self-driving cars, may lead to a nearly $600 billion increase in Tesla's market value by advancing robotaxis and software services, according to Morgan Stanley analysts.
Zeno Power, a startup from Vanderbilt's Innovation Center, secured $15 million from NASA to develop a radioisotope Stirling generator for the Artemis moon missions.
Audi of America and Navistar have introduced Cellular Vehicle to Everything (C-V2X) technology to enhance safety for children traveling to school.
A cybersecurity issue at MGM Resorts led to widespread system shutdowns across multiple locations, with the FBI investigating and reports suggesting a possible ransomware attack.
TikTok accidentally blocked searches related to the Writers Guild of America strike while trying to moderate QAnon conspiracy theories. The block was quickly rectified, but it highlighted the platform's challenges in content moderation.
New York City's Local Law 18 has imposed stringent rules on short-term rentals, virtually eliminating many Airbnb listings unless hosts are present during guests' stays and limiting guest numbers to two.
THAT’S A WRAP
If you have anything interesting to share, please reach out to us by sending us a DM on Twitter: @rowancheung & @therundowntech
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