Lightspeed Internet

Alphabet’s High Speed Internet Project Taara

Episode 331 – November 14, 2020

Topics:

  • Sequential Video Storytelling
  • Biden/Harris Transition Website
  • Spotify Acquires Megaphone
  • VR Furries Invade Four Seasons Landscaping
  • Gmail Embeds Tweets
  • MmHmm Emerges From Beta
  • YouTube Cancels Rewind
  • Customizable Oreos
  • Ticketmaster’s Safe Fans App
  • Fascism’s Law Firms
  • Support For Pot Legalization

During episode 331, BL and David discuss Google’s infrared Internet project; sequential video storytelling; the Biden Harris transition website; Spotify buys Megaphone audio hosting provider; Four Seasons Total Landscaping’s VR furries; YouTube Rewind cancelled this year; MmHmm video conferencing addon comes out of beta; customizable Oreo cookies; Ticketmaster’s fan safety app; our post-literate society; law firms undermining democracy; support for pot legalization;…and much, much more.

Best Practices

Infrared Internet

More than three billion people still don’t have Internet access. Now Alphabet Moonshot’s Project Taara is testing a new approach. Like fiber, but without the cables, Taara uses light to transmit information at super high speeds through the air as a very narrow, invisible beam.

Sequential Video Storytelling

This tactic uses video advertising to tell a story through a series of user-directed short spots.

Biden Harris Transition Website

Clear communication.

Spotify Gets A Megaphone

It’s all about the ads.

VR Furries Troll Trump

The Philadelphia site of Rudy Giuliani’s speech is being put to another use.

— coopertom (@thecoopertom) November 9, 2020

Gmail Embeds Tweets

It appears Gmail now embeds tweets when it sees a tweet URL.

Screenshot: Gmail Embeds Tweets

MmHmm Goes Live

MmHmm for iOs comes out of Beta today. Testers get 3 free months. Windows version to come.

YouTube Unwind

Seriously. Who wants to relive 2020?

— YouTube (@YouTube) November 12, 2020

Customizable Cookies

The build-your-own cookie is an online holiday push from the Oreo brand, though there are no plans to stop once the holidays are over.

— OREO Cookie (@Oreo) November 12, 2020

Worst Practices

Coronavirus Concert Tickets

In an exclusive, Billboard reported that Ticketmaster plans a post-pandemic fan safety protocol that makes fans verify Covid vaccine or negative test status in a 24 to 72 hour window. The company says that’s not how it works. What could do wrong?!

Post Literacy

Do words even matter anymore?

Fascism’s Attorneys

A Biglaw firm’s reputation is a valuable,  and fragile, thing.

— Greg Sargent (@ThePlumLineGS) November 10, 2020

Smiles

— NowThis (@nowthisnews) November 12, 2020

Shiny New Stuff

B.L.’s Finds

David’s Finds

Projects

Black Swans

The show that spotlights women in finance.

Politics

TikTok & Twitter Users Trolled Trump’s Voter Fraud Hotline

They answered the phone “Trump War Room” at Rudy Giuliani’s #StopTheSteal” hotline.

Only 3% Of Americans Think Trump Won

Pro Tips

Upgrade Your Authentication

Microsoft recommends using app-based authenticators and security keys instead.

Weekly Numbers