Livestream After-Hours - Feb. 11th, 2022 - Meta, Apple, Opal, and more.
0Today we'll be talking about Meta, Opal's expensive webcam, and Apple's vindictive job market behavior.
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### Bluesky Project
- What is it and can we trust it?
- Twitter-funded
- Jack Dorsey is on the board.
- They want to build a "decentralized" standard for social media.
- Does include developer Jeremie Miller, who "invented technology that instant messaging services use to operate."
- Source: [Twitter-funded social media project Bluesky adds Jack Dorsey to board | Reuters](https://www.reuters.com/technology/twitter-funded-social-media-project-bluesky-adds-jack-dorsey-board-2022-02-08/)
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### Meta may have to close Facebook and Instagram in Europe.
- It will likely never happen. However, for how terrible Facebook has been doing lately, maybe it's not impossible.
- Apparently, The Securities and Exchange Commission and Meta couldn't reach a data transfer and warehousing agreement.
- An Austrian activist, Max Shrems, challenged many EU privacy laws. The European Court Justice rule that US law "did not ensure an adequate level of protection" from US government mass surveillance.
- Long story short, if the regulator from Ireland decides that Meta's data privacy standards "aren't up to par", it could then end data transfers outside of the EU.
- Source: [Meta may be forced to shutter Facebook, Instagram in EU | Ars Technica](https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2022/02/meta-may-be-forced-to-shutter-facebook-instagram-in-eu/)
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### Opal has a new "DSLR Quality" Webcam
- Called the Opal C1
- I hope nobody buys this and here's why:
- It's $300. Uses a sensor that was from the Sony/Google Pixel in 2016
- Has some good mics inside, called "MicMesh
- Has lots of cool features, such as Facelock and bokeh.
- There's one problem. They charge $4/month for the fucking software.
- It was almost a perfect product in my eyes, but it's basically garbage.
- Please don't support pay-forever products that you don't truly own.
- They are making the software "free for early adopters". We know that free doesn't last forever. Just ask Google.
- Source: [Opal Camera](https://opalcamera.com/)
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### Apple confirmed it changes the name of ex-employee's job title to associate in job verification databases
- Such a magical, beautiful way to treat their former employees. Like a disgruntled ex.
- Forget "Level 5 Engineer" or, "PhD" in computer science, Apple will list you as an associate.
- Previous employees caught this when their resumes conflicted again an official database such as Equifax and LexisNexis.
- Josh Rosenstock is the Apple spokesperson that confirmed Apple has been doing this for years. Out of disrespect, lets call him "Associate Spokesperson". He declined to say why Apple does this or when it began.
- Seems like a typical response from an Associate, junior role in general. Maybe he'll know once he gains more experience and we promote him out of the Associate role.
- He then went on to talk about inclusiveness and how they take all concerns seriously. You know, the regular bullshit they think you want to hear.
- Apparently, Apple also changes titles for employees who have taken a leave of absence. Call this for what it is: Bullshit.
- Source: [Apple changes employees’ titles to ‘associate’ after they leave - The Washington Post](https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2022/02/10/apple-associate/)
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