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🍪 Google wants to convert us all to the green bubble gang

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Bite Sized Beta
September 15, 2022

Good morning, friends! This is Bite Sized Beta. We’re the trusty rye chip of the chex mix bag — scrumptious, rare, and everyone’s favorite.

We’ve got a lot on deck today, so let’s get to the good stuff.

In the oven this week:

  • 💬 Google wants to turn us all into green bubbles

  • 🍪 Cookie crumbs: 5 bite-sized headlines

  • 🍫 Chocolate chips: our top finds of the week

  • 😂 Snickerdoodles

FRESHLY BAKED

GOOGLE WANTS US ALL TO JOIN THE GREEN BUBBLE GANG

Hide yo kids, hide yo wife, ‘cause Google wants to convert everyone to the green bubble gang.

Hold up, let me explain.

SMS & MMS are two types of tech that allow you to send basic texts and images/videos. Invented way back in the 90’s.

In 2007, RCS (rich communication services) came along, which was a new open standard for texts. It added lots of functionality like read receipts and video calling support.

But while Google started using RCS, Apple went and built iMessage instead, which doesn’t work on non-Apple devices. Hence, green vs. blue text bubbles.

I used to think it was just about the colors, but apparently it’s a lot worse than that.

When Android users text iPhone users, Apple converts the message to SMS or MMS, which creates a bunch of problems:

  • Unsent texts, since SMS/MMS don’t support texting over wifi

  • Low quality photos and video

  • Non-encrypted texts

  • No read receipts or typing indicators (the three dots!)

Google has been trying to get Apple to switch to RCS for years now. They went on the offensive earlier this year, claiming Android users are getting bullied by Apple users for the color of their texts.

Now, Google is spinning up a new campaign, getting influencers and iPhone users to petition Apple for text equality. They even created a whole lame website about it.

I feel for Google, but it’s giving.. desperation. Kinda like getting your mom to write your crush a letter about why they should date you, after they’ve already told you they hate your breath.

We’re not counting on much changing. iMessage is a great lock-in that keeps people in the iOS ecosystem.

At Code Conference last week, Tim Cook was asked about adopting RCS to end the blue/green bubble wars.

His response?

Got ‘emmm.

Steve Jobs once told Apple’s early employees: “It’s better to be a pirate than join the navy.” It’s looking like Jobs might just come back to life before Apple joins the RCS navy.

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BITE SIZED TREATS

The Super Bowl of crypto is here: the ETH merge. “The merge is coming” has been playing like a broken record these last few years, but it FINALLY happened, and was a success! According to researchers, the merge will reduce worldwide electricity consumption by 0.2%. Wow!

August’s inflation numbers were worse than expected (consumer prices still up 8.3% from last year), causing US stocks to have their worst day since 2020. Things that got more expensive: bread (+2.2%), eggs (+2.9%), medical services (+0.8%), new cars (+0.1%). Things that got cheaper: gas (-10.5%), flights (-4.6%). All I’m hearing is that it’s time for a vacation 🤔

Patagonia's founder just transferred ownership of the $3B company to a nonprofit called Holdfast Collective to combat climate change. Don't worry, the company will still operate as an independent for-profit corp, so your crunchy granola jackets aren’t going anywhere.

Much-hyped Launch House, a hacker house backed by a16z is facing allegations of sexual assault and cult behavior in an explosive investigation by Vox. The original idea: you pay $1-3K to live in a Beverly Hills mansion with a bunch of other entrepreneurs and start companies together. With the scandal, investors are pulling out of funding LH companies, including the ones started by women. If you’re an investor or just looking to support the female founders of the cohort, you can do so separately here.

Disgraced Luna founder Do Kwon is getting arrested. A South Korean court just issued a warrant, causing Luna (the revived version) to drop almost 50%.

CHOCOLATE CHIPS

PICKS OF THE WEEK

SNICKERDOODLES

THURSDAY MEMES

That's all we got for ya this week, folks!

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