Tech Brew Ride Home - Thu. 02/23 – Coinbase Wants To Seed Web 3

Starting point is 00:00:00 On April 4th, 2023, around 2 in the morning, a man was found stabbed multiple times on a sidewalk in downtown San Francisco. Hey, who did this to you? What happened next turned the story into a political firestorm. Reports have identified the victim as Bob Lee, the founder of Cash App. From Bloomberg Podcasts, this is Foundering, the Killing of Bob Lee, beginning April 16. Welcome to the TechMeme right home for Thursday, February 23rd, 2023. I'm Brian McCullough today. Coinbase wants to let 1,000 Web3 flowers bloom by launching its own Layer 2 network. The new iPhone specs have leaked. Apple might have made a big breakthrough in blood glucose monitoring.

Starting point is 00:00:50 Satellite telephony continues to be a busy space, weirdly enough, and the reviews of the Galaxy S23 lineup. Here's what you miss today in the world of tech. Coinbase has launched base, a layer two network using Optimism's OP stack, offering access to Ethereum, Solana, and others. Not sure what that means? Well, let me explain. This is them incubating their own layer two network, even though they're not getting into the token issuing game themselves in a way. They're just trying to make a neutral decentralized crypto. This is a play to seed a Web3 ecosystem, quoting CoinDesk. Coinbase is joining Optimism as a core developer on the open source OP stack, a developer toolkit for the Optimism Network,

Starting point is 00:01:37 the firm said. However, Base will not be limited to Ethereum. It will also provide easy and secure access to Layer 2 networks such as Optimism, as well as other blockchain ecosystems like Solana. Today, we're excited to announce the TestNet launch of Base, an Ethereum Layer 2 network, offering a secure, low-cost developer-friendly way for anyone anywhere to build decentralized apps or DAPs on chain. Will Robinson, Vice President of Engine at Coinbase told CoinDesk. We're incubating base inside of Coinbase, leveraging the last decade of our experience building crypto products, and plan to progressively decentralize the chain over time, Robinson added. Coinbase has no plans to issue a new network token. Test nets are testing environments

Starting point is 00:02:19 that mimic real-world blockchain usage. Layer 2 refers to separate blockchains built on top of layer ones or base blockchains that reduce bottlenecks with scaling and data and are generally much faster and cheaper. Coinbase would allow developers to directly integrate their product with base and provide fiat on ramps, targeting an estimated 110 million verified users and $80 billion in assets on the platform in the Coinbase ecosystem. We encourage them to start on base, but go everywhere. We see base as a bridge for users into the crypto economy, Robinson said. It's an easy-to-use default on-chain experience with access to products on other chains, end quote. Meanwhile, Coinbase also announced the base ecosystem fund, which will invest in and supports

Starting point is 00:03:04 early stage projects building on base that meet determined investment criteria, end quote. Quoting our friend Alex Willam on Twitter, hyper-curious about this move, kind of a long-term move by Coinbase to try and grow the overall crypto market so that its role as a central hub for U.S. market becomes more valuable over time, end quote. It's that time of year again. Leaked iPhone 15 CAD files reveal a larger 6.2 inch display for the upcoming lineup, Dynamic Island, USBC charging, as everyone has rumored, and more, quoting 9 to 5 Mac. One of the most notable changes is that the iPhone 15 will ditch the notch for a dynamic island instead. This is a feature that was introduced on the iPhone 14 Pro models last year, and it consists of an oval-shaped cutout at the top of the

Starting point is 00:04:00 screen that hides the front camera and face ID sensors. The dynamic island seems to be making its way to all four iPhone models, as it's unlikely that Apple would choose to have outdated technology on the larger size of their newest flagship phones. Another change that we spotted on the CAD files is that the iPhone 15 will finally adopt USB Type C as its charging port. This is something that many users have been asking for for years, as USBC is more versatile and compatible than Lightning is. USBC can also support fast. charging and data transfer speeds than lightning. Apple does seem to be keeping the classic dual camera setup for the standard iPhone. The third camera and LIDAR still seem to be exclusive to the

Starting point is 00:04:39 pro-model iPhones. The CAD files also show that the iPhone 15 will have a new display size of 6.2 inches, which is slightly larger than most recent base model iPhones, except for the iPhone 14 plus, and 14 Pro Max, of course. The display resolution and refresh rate are unknown at this point, but we expect them to be similar to those of the iPhone 14 models. One thing that we noticed missing from the CAD files are capacitive buttons, which were rumored to be coming to some iPhone models this year. However, it seems like capacitive buttons are only available on the iPhone 15 Pro models this year, as the iPhone 15 still has physical buttons like every previous iPhone, end quote. Also, this is a potentially longer term Apple scoop. Mark German says Apple hit major milestones in a

Starting point is 00:05:27 Steve Jobs era project to develop non-invasive blood glucose monitoring, part of its alphabet X-like exploratory design group, quoting Bloomberg. If perfected, such a breakthrough would be a boon to diabetics and help cement Apple as a powerhouse in health care. Adding the monitoring system to the Apple Watch, the ultimate goal, would also make that device an essential item for millions of diabetics around the world. There's still years of work ahead, but the move could upend a multi-billion dollar industry. Roughly one in ten Americans have diabetes, and they typically rely on a device that pokes the skin for a blood sample. There are also patches from Dexcom Inc. and Abbott Laboratories that are inserted into the skin but need to be replaced about every two weeks.

Starting point is 00:06:13 Apple is taking a different approach using a chip technology known as silicon photonics and a measurement process called optical absorption spectroscopy. The system uses lasers to emit specific wavelengths of light into the area below the skin where there is interstitial fluid, substances that leak out of capillaries that can be absorbed by glucose. The light is then reflected back to the sensor in a way that indicates the concentration of glucose. An algorithm then determines a person's blood glucose level. Hundreds of engineers are working on the project as part of Apple's exploratory design group or XDG, a previously unreported effort akin to X, the Moonshot Division of Alphabet.

Starting point is 00:06:51 It's one of the most covert initiatives at the famously secretive Apple. Even fewer people are involved in it than the company's self-driving car undertaking overseen by the Special Projects Group or the Mixed Reality headset, which is being developed by its technology development group, end quote. Reuters has seen a letter from the U.S. Copyright Office saying a graphic novel's images that were generated using the AI tool mid-jurney should not have been granted copyright protection. Quote, Zaria of the Dawn, author Chris Kachtenova, is entitled to a copyright for the parts of the book Kachanova wrote and arranged, but not for the images produced by Mid Journey, the office said in its letter dated Tuesday.

Starting point is 00:07:36 The decision is one of the first by a U.S. Court or Agency on the scope of copyright protection for works created with AI and comes amid the meteoric rise of generative AI software like Mid Journey, Dolly, and Chat GPT. The Copyright Office said in its letter that it would reissue the registration for Zaria of the Dawn to omit images that, quote, are not the product of human authorship, end quote, and therefore cannot be copyrighted. Kachanova on Wednesday called it great news that the, office allowed copyright protection for the novel story and the way the images were arranged, which Kashinova said covers a lot of uses for the people in the AI art community.

Starting point is 00:08:12 Kachanova said they were considering how best to press ahead with the argument that the images themselves were a, quote, direct expression of my creativity and therefore copyrightable. Mid-Journey General Counsel Max Sills said the decision was a great victory for Chris, mid-jurney, and artists, and that the Copyright Office is clearly saying that if an artist exerts creative control over an image-generating tool like Mid-Jurney, the output is protectable, end quote. Mid-Journey is an AI-based system that generates images based on text prompts entered by users. Kachanova wrote the text of Zaria of the Dawn, and Mid-Journey then created the book's images based on prompts. The Copyright Office told Kachanova in October, it would reconsider the book's copyright registration

Starting point is 00:08:53 because the application did not disclose Mid-Journey's role. The office said on Tuesday that it would grant copyright protection for the book's text and the way Cassanova selected and arranged its elements. But it said, Casanova was not the mastermind behind the images themselves. Quote, the fact that Mid Journey's specific output cannot be predicted by users makes Mid Journey different for copyright purposes than other tools used by artists, the letter said, end quote. Yesterday, Spotify jumped on the current bandwagon, announcing that AI DJ feature. Now they want to jump on the old bandwagon. Spotify is testing token-enabled playlists, letting some NFT holders connect their wallets and listen to curated music, starting on Android and select

Starting point is 00:09:38 countries. Now, you might feel like I was being snarky by saying old bandwagon stuff, but to be honest, music and artist rights and content management, that's always where I felt the sweet spot for NFT adoption could be, quoting Coin Desk. Currently, the services available to token holders within the fluff, moonbirds, kingship, and overlord communities. The curated playlist will be actively updated during the three-month testing period and can only be accessed by community members via a unique link. Web3 Gaming and Media Universe Overlord tweeted on Wednesday that holders of its lizard-themed creeps NFT project can connect their Web3 wallet on Spotify to access the project's community-c curated invasion playlist. Universal Music Group's NFT band Kingship also shared that it had created a token-gated

Starting point is 00:10:26 playlist for NFT holders featuring Queen, Missy Elliott, Snoop Dog, and Led Zeppelin. According to the screenshot, NFT holders can connect to... their MetaMask, Trust Wallet, Rainbow, Ledger Live, or Zerion Wallets. The global streaming platform, which has over 489 million users, has previously experimented with integrating NFTs into its service. In May 2022, Spotify allowed a select group of artists, including Steve Ayoki and the Wombats, to promote NFTs on their profiles. Meanwhile, a number of Web3 music platforms have cropped up to decentralize the music listening experience. Audius, for example, is a crypto-linked streaming service that allows users to earn audio token rewards for interacting with its app,

Starting point is 00:11:06 while Royal and another block allow creators to sell music royalties as fractionalized NFTs, end quote. Samsung has announced a standardized 5G non-terrestrial network or NTN modem that will enable two-way communication between smartphones and satellites, quoting and gadget. There was speculation that Samsung could use smartphone to satellite technology in its Galaxy S-23, much like Apple has for iPhone 14, but that didn't happen in the end. Now, the company has unveiled a new standardized 5G NTN, non-terrestrial network modem that will enable two-way communication between smartphones and satellites. The technology will allow users to send and receive calls, text messages, and data

Starting point is 00:11:54 without the need for a cellular network and will be integrated into Samsung's future Xenos chips. The aim is to allow people in mountains, deserts, or other remote areas to communicate with others in critical situations. 5G NTN conforms to third-generation partnership project, 3GPP, release 17 standards, meaning it works with traditional communication services from chip manufacturers, smartphone makers, and telecoms. However, Samsung indicated that the tech could eventually be used to transmit high-definition photos and even video on top of texts and calls. It simulated the tech using its Exenos Modem 5300 platform to accurately predict satellite locations and minimize frequency

Starting point is 00:12:33 offsets caused by Doppler shift, the company said. That will help pave the way for hybrid terrestrial NTN networks in preparation for the arrival of 6G, said Samsung VP Mingu Kim. At CES 2023, Qualcomm unveiled Snapdragon satellite, technology that would allow smartphones to send messages when no cellular signal is available. It'll work in smartphones that have both the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset and X70 modem system, plus some additional radios. Since Samsung's Galaxy S-23 has both chips, it was thought the device may offer satellite communication technology to match Apple's iPhone 14. However, Samsung Mobile Experience VPTM-Row said it wasn't the best moment, as satellite functionality is still fairly limited. When there is the right timing,

Starting point is 00:13:17 infrastructure and technology is ready, then, of course, for Samsung Galaxy, for our mobile division, we would also actively consider adopting this feature as well, he told CNET in an interview, end quote. Finally today, since we're there, reviews of the Galaxy S23 and S23 plus from The Verge, of course. They say much improved battery life, sensibly sized, and top-notch performance, as expected, but the 3x telephoto lens is short, and Samsung's one UI is, well, remains average. Quote, say you're in the U.S. and shopping for a fancy Android phone. You don't want something over the top or a phone that folds in half, but you do want plenty of bells and whistles. Which one should you buy? In any of the past few years, the answer would have been easy. Just get the Samsung S-series

Starting point is 00:14:10 phone. This year, it's a little more complicated. That's because Google has produced some worthy competitors that are putting on the pressure. They have the high-end touches that previous pixel phones lacked, like a high-res display, premium build quality, and a flagship-level chip set, the kind of stuff you can count on getting from an S-series galaxy phone, but for a little less money. While Google has been catching up, Samsung appears to have gotten comfortable. There's very little that's new about the S23 and S23 Plus, updated chipsets, bigger batteries, and a rear panel makeover that brings them into the same family visually as the S23 Ultra. This is not a runout and upgrade year by any means. Despite the sameness of the S23 series and the added pressure

Starting point is 00:14:52 from Google, Samsung remains the category winner, however. For some people, the Pixel 7 will be a better choice, but overall, the Galaxy S23 and S23 Plus are the best high-end Android phones for most people in the U.S. However, that recommendation comes with a list of caveats, and I think the ball is in Samsung's court to come up with something special next time around. As things stand, the 6.1-inch S-23 is the best reasonably sized Android phone on the market in the U.S., partly because almost every other Android phone sold here is gigantic. But it's also a really good device, with a battery that gets through a full day more comfortably than its predecessor, the Pixel 6A is another option, and it's a damn good deal for what you get, but it's not a

Starting point is 00:15:31 flagship phone. However, the situation is less cut and dried for the S23 Plus, with the Pixel 7 Pro hovering right over its shoulder. Both include 256 gigabytes of storage for $999. The 7 Pro is currently marked down to $849, and the Pixel offers 12 gigabytes of RAM compared to the S23 Plus's 8 gigabytes for that same price. You also get a more useful 5X telephoto camera, a better out-of-the-box software experience and a slightly bigger high-res screen. For anyone who doesn't want to fuss with Samsung software and wants the absolute most screen you can get for your money, the 7 Pro is a better choice. I still think most people would be happier, though, with the S-23 Plus.

Starting point is 00:16:11 Performance from the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 is very impressive, and I have a lot of faith in it holding up after years of OS upgrades. Google's custom Tensor G2 processor is also highly capable, but it's a bit more of a wild card. Samsung also promises one more OS upgrade than Google does, which is weird, but also a point in favor of the S23 Plus, end quote. All right, as I said, sorry this is coming out a few hours late, as I warned you yesterday. Back to the regular posting schedule tomorrow, so talk to you then.

Tech Brew Ride Home - Thu. 02/23 – Coinbase Wants To Seed Web 3

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