TWTW: February 18th – February 24th, 2018

The week that was (TWTW) takes a look back at the week’s most prominent tech stories from around the world.

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Lastly you can find a full transcript of this week’s episode below.

In the week that was February 18th to February 24th, 2018.:

  • Twitter kills their desktop Mac app
  • Apple allows Chinese government access to iCloud
  • Kylie Jenner wipes US$1.3b off Snap Inc
  • Dutton doubles down on Australian decryption law

Intro

Hey everyone, Raj Deut here for Reckoner with a look back at the tech news in the week that was:

February 18th to February 24th, 2018.

Stories

Kicking things off this week Twitter finally put it’s desktop Mac application out of its misery announcing the now 2 year ignored app would no longer be supported.

For those few that still use the application Twitter have advised them to simply load their website instead as the company continues to struggle with a clear roadmap or direction.

Alternate desktop applications from third parties have long since risen to the occasion and done so again, with one of the most popular, Twitteriffic, going on sale for 50% off after the announcement.


Apple has handed over the keys to the kingdom in China, which in turn allows them to run their iCloud services in the digitally walled country.

Online providers are required by the Chinese government to allow full access to any stored data should you wish to run your service for its citizens.

Both Google and Facebook have made it clear they’re not willing to do the same and Apple’s move while financially beneficially opening up to the Chinese market has raised questions and concerns over the company’s hypocritical stance over user privacy having failed to unlock phones & data for US based law enforcement.


In probably the only time you’ll hear me talking about the Kardashians, half sister of Kim, Kylie Jenner took to Twitter this week to pronounce her distaste for Snapchat’s redesigned UI asking “sooo does anyone else not open Snapchat anymore? Or is it just me…”

The single tweet sent Snap Inc’s stock price into a free fall, the company losing US$1.3b overnight despite Jenner almost immediately following up the tweet with another professing her love for the platform, which also served as the home for her short lived online advice series “Ask Kylie”.


And on Australian soil this week, newly crowned potato otherwise known as the Australian Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton went on a rant again warning tech companies to allow access to encrypted communications or be forced to by law. Clearly not understanding what he wants or how to do it the minister claimed he doesn’t want a backdoor or decryption key but does still want authorities to read what they want, when they want and on every platform.

Australia also saw the introduction of manadatory data breach notification regulations. Companies beholden to Australia’s Privacy Act, which are those turning over more than $3m per year must now advise agencies of any form of data breach to their systems.

Outro

And that’s it for another week! Don’t forget The Week That Was is now available as a podcast. You can find and subscribe to it via the iTunes store as well through Apple’s and other good podcast apps.

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On the Reckoner website this week is our brand new video review of Apple’s HomePod which I’m sure you’ll enjoy. Check out that and lots more at reckoner.com.au

Thanks for tuning in, have a great week and bye for now.