Dana Wollman, executive editor at Engadget, discusses the Apple HomePod's bizarre new issue of leaving white rings on wooden furniture. Wollman also talks Skype's security flaw and Huawei's latest problems getting into the U.S. phone market.
Wollman explains no one knows why the HomePod is leaving white rings on wooden furniture, and while Apple has acknowledged the issue, the company is just expecting users to deal with it.
Wollman also touches on Skype's major security flaw, explaining Microsoft isn't planning on sending out an update. Microsoft is expected to rebuild Skype from the ground up.
Recently, FBI Director Christopher Wray testified to the Senate Intelligence Committee that Huawei phones pose a threat to U.S. security because of the company's connections to the Chinese government. Wollman says this is just the latest setback for Huawei, which once had carrier deals with both AT&T and Verizon. Wollman doesn't see how Huawei will ever break into the American market now.
Meta, the parent company of Facebook, is facing a lawsuit from Ohio's attorney general Dave Yost, who said the company misled the public about safety on the platform.
Bitcoin received its first update in four years called Taproot. Unlike the previous bitcoin update in 2017, Taproot has widespread support — in part because these changes involve fairly incremental improvements to the code. Christie Harkin, tech managing editor at CoinDesk, explained what the move could mean for the future of cryptocurrencies as a whole.
Snap has announced a licensing deal with Sony Music, giving its social media platform Snapchat access to the label's entire catalog. The deal now gives the company agreements with all of the major industry labels.
Kyndryl isn't wasting any time as an independent company. Just over a week after spinning off from IBM, the IT infrastructure services provider has announced its first global strategic partner in Microsoft. The two tech giants are coming together to form a new kind of power duo, creating multi-billion dollar revenue opportunities between the companies. Stephen Leonard, global alliances & partnerships leader for Kyndryl, told Cheddar more about the partnership and what it aims to achieve.
Bitcoin has successfully activated Taproot, the cryptocurrency's first major upgrade since 2017 and a highly anticipated change to the blockchain. Taproot will introduce what's known as Schnorr signatures, which will help transactions become more private, efficient and perhaps even less expensive. Robert Hackett, a cryptocurrency expert and journalist, breaks down the new upgrade and what it means for bitcoin users.
Jill is joined by Baker Machado to talk all things infrastructure: where will the money go and who’s in charge? Plus, Sesame Street has its first Asian-American muppet. And a trailer for the trailer for Spiderman. Huh?
Virtual reality startup Sandbox VR recently announced it raised $37 million Series B funding round. It is a location-based VR company, a space that was hit hard during the pandemic. Sandbox was eventually forced to file for bankruptcy; however, the company is emerging from the pandemic with a fresh round of funding and plans to open new retail locations around the world. Sandbox VR CEO Steve Zhao joins Cheddar News' Closing Bell to discuss.
