Geek News Central Podcast Todd Cochrane

YouTube is negotiating with major record labels like Universal Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment, and Warner Records to license music for its AI tools. The platform, which previously launched the Dream Track feature, aims to expand its AI music capabilities by paying lump sums for song licenses. Despite YouTube’s efforts, artists and labels are wary due to past issues with AI-generated music and the protection of their rights.

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Show Links and a Full Summary of Podcast:

In this episode of “Geek News Central” the lead story discusses YouTube’s ongoing negotiations with major record labels such as Universal Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment, and Warner Records. The platform wants to license music for its AI tools, mainly to run experiments, by offering lump sum payments for song licenses. This initiative is met with skepticism from artists and labels due to past issues concerning AI-generated music and rights protection.

The podcast also covers a variety of other tech-related news:

– A mother uses social media to tackle her student loan debt through a creative business venture.

– Unistellar’s new AR binoculars can identify various celestial and terrestrial objects.

– Connectivity issues faced by Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile customers when traveling internationally.

– Anticipation around Samsung’s upcoming Unpacked event and new releases including potentially a new Galaxy Ring.

– Issues with mobile service providers internationally and a brief mention of telecom strategies.

– Innovations and controversies in tech, including Time magazine’s partnership with OpenAI, character AI’s new feature allowing voice calls with AI avatars, and privacy concerns with Australian banks studying mobile device interactions.

– Legal battles involving technology and data usage, with Coinbase suing federal regulators for denied FOIA requests.

– Developments in drone technology amidst worries about Chinese dominance in the market.

– Google’s decision to discontinue its Stack scanning app, integrating its features into Google Drive.

– The Supreme Court’s stance on governmental interaction with social media companies regarding post removals.

– Speculations about a new large-display Apple Watch potentially being launched.

– Microsoft’s alleged involvement in a data theft at a US hospital.

Todd encourages listeners to contribute to the podcast’s production and value through various means and reminds them of the ongoing GoDaddy sponsorship deals. He concludes by thanking the listeners for their support and promoting the newsletter and the website, where additional resources and links related to the mentioned stories can be found. Lastly, he mentions his upcoming vacation, indicating when the next episode will air.



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Following a European Union investigation, Apple faces significant fines, potentially up to 10% of its global revenue. The EU’s preliminary findings suggest Apple violated the Digital Markets Act by restricting App Store developers from informing users about alternative payment methods outside Apple’s ecosystem. If found guilty, fines could escalate to tens of billions of dollars, and repeated violations may lead to even higher penalties. This case marks the first regulatory action under the DMA, emphasizing the bloc’s stance on major tech companies’ practices.

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New YouTube Channel – Beyond the Office



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The podcast episode “Apple’s App Store Pricing Antics Could Cost Billions,” hosted by Todd Cochrane on Geek News Central, focuses on significant developments concerning Apple and other tech news. The episode starts with Todd addressing the potential massive fines Apple could face, amounting to ten percent of its global revenue. This stems from a European Union investigation which found preliminary evidence of Apple violating the Digital Markets Act by restricting App Store developers from informing users about alternative payment methods outside Apple’s ecosystem.

Todd gives a comprehensive overview of the investigation and discusses Apple’s implications. He puts into perspective the seriousness of this case by highlighting that it’s the first regulatory action under the DMA, which underscores the EU’s rigid stance on major tech companies’ practices. The discussion extends to anticipating large fines and ongoing global revenue percentage implications if these DMA violations are repeated.

Todd then transitions to mention Geek News Central’s sponsors and their offers before briefly relaying his travel plans and moving back to the topic of tech companies. Following this segment, there’s an extensive discussion on various other tech-related stories:

1. The price increase of the Paramount Plus service.

2. Tesla’s new Optimus Gen Two robot and its implications on the labor market.

3. Deep fake scams are prevalent, particularly one featuring an AI-generated Elon Musk pushing cryptocurrency scams.

4. An urgent firmware update for Google Pixel phones due to a severe vulnerability.

5. A significant data breach in the Los Angeles Unified School District impacted many student records.

6. Netflix’s potential introduction of a free, ad-supported service in markets outside the US.

7. Recent vandalism on Tesla Cybertrucks and ongoing issues with Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft.

8. Several intellectual property lawsuits targeting AI music companies using copyrighted materials without authorization.

9. Concerns around child privacy violations by TikTok and the latest US government sanctions against Kaspersky executives.

10. A report highlighting inefficiencies in surgical tech, potentially costing hundreds of work hours.

11. Possible updates across Apple’s Mac lineup to includ...

Elon Musk has confirmed the release of a new Starlink Mini dish, which will be half the price of the standard model and easily portable in a backpack. Despite its smaller size, the Mini dish promises speeds up to 100 Mbps with 23ms latency. Priced between $250-300, it will be available in select areas soon.

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Show Links and a Full Summary of Podcast

In episode 1749 of Geek News Central, hosted by Todd Cochrane, the main focal story is Elon Musk’s announcement of the new Starlink Mini dish. This dish is affordable, costing between $250-300, and boasts impressive portability and speeds up to 100 Mbps with a 23ms latency. It is designed to be small enough to fit in a backpack, measuring 11 by 9 inches, although it still requires a clear view of the sky. Despite the advantages, Todd points out the high monthly fee of $150, which he feels could be lower.

Following the lead story, Todd transitions to several other significant news topics:

1. U.S. car dealerships were halted due to an incident at CDK Global, a primary software provider.

2. YouTube is reportedly canceling premium memberships for users attempting to pay less by using VPNs in cheaper subscription countries.

3. Dell’s return to the office mandate is causing unrest among employees, with the company using a color-coded system to monitor compliance.

Todd shifts focus to announcements and sponsor messages, marking GoDaddy’s 19-year sponsorship of his podcast and promoting various GoDaddy deals that offer value for service packages like hosting and domain services.

Next, Todd discusses recent issues and trends in the tech and business world:

– Ferrari’s upcoming electric vehicle is expected to be considerably expensive.

– Warnings about VPNs potentially including malware, explicitly targeting Chinese users seeking VPN services.

– Changes in artificial intelligence (AI) and its implementation in various sectors, notably banking, may lead to significant job displacements.

He also mentions exciting developments regarding space exploration with Rocket Lab’s planned launch. He elaborates on online safety and privacy issues, notably Instagram’s problematic content recommendations to teenage users.

In the latter part of the podcast, Todd addresses listener interactions and contributions through modern podcast apps like Fountain, encouraging the community to interact more with the podcast.

To wrap up, Todd discusses legal issues surrounding TikTok and a unique approach some users take to resolve Facebook account issues by taking legal action.

Throughout the episode, Todd acknowledges the contributions and interactions from the listeners and invites feedback and participation, reinforcing the interactive nature of his podcast series.



* –YouTube is reportedly canceling Premium membersh...

DJI, a major drone manufacturer, may soon face a ban in the US as the Countering CCP Drones Act progresses through Congress. This bill, driven by concerns about Chinese Communist Party spying, aims to limit Chinese-built technology in the US market. DJI, holding 70% of the US drone market, has been recognized for its superior technology and innovation. However, the US government is pushing to open the market for domestic drone companies by targeting DJI. The bill’s passage could significantly impact the drone industry, given the lack of comparable US-made alternatives.

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New YouTube Channel – Beyond the Office



Show Links and Full Summary of Podcast



* –NASA delays Boeing Starliner departure from ISS

* –Amazon-powered AI cameras

* –Asus patches serious security flaw

* –Apple reportedly plans thinner devices

* –Proton

* –The US has sued Adobe

* ‘Superbug’ on the ISS

* –VPNs and the law

* –Hundreds of thousands affected by data breach

* –Hackers use emojis to dispatch malware

* –A new Android phone from Motorola

* –Your DJI drone may be banned

* –VPN for Pixel users

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Privacy campaigner noyb has filed a GDPR complaint against Google’s Privacy Sandbox, alleging it results in unwanted tracking. Despite being introduced to eliminate third-party cookies, the Privacy Sandbox tracks users within the browser. Noyb claims Google’s implementation lacks informed consent and misleads users into enabling first-party tracking under the guise of privacy protection. Google’s stance is that their Privacy Sandbox APIs offer significant privacy improvements, but the issue has drawn regulatory attention and criticism.

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New YouTube Channel – Beyond the Office



Show Notes and Full Summary:

In episode 1747 of Geek News Central, hosted by Todd Cochrane, the main focus is on a complaint filed by privacy campaigner NOYB against Google’s Privacy Sandbox. Todd starts the episode by summarizing the allegation that despite its intention to eliminate third-party cookies, Google’s Privacy Sandbox results in unwanted tracking within the browser. NOYB claims that Google misleads users into enabling first-party tracking disguised as privacy protection, lacking informed consent. Google maintains that the Privacy Sandbox offers significant privacy improvements.

Todd proceeds to a detailed sponsor segment, promoting GoDaddy’s services and deals and emphasizing the sponsorship’s long-standing support for the podcast. The host briefly mentions a personal challenge with his rough voice and the disturbance due to nearby construction, adding a touch of personal experience to the episode.

Moving on, Todd elaborates on the technical aspects of the Privacy Sandbox API introduced by Google in 2020, designed to replace third-party cookie tracking with API-based user interest ad displays. This approach sparked controversy as it seemingly shifts the monitoring within the browser, which, according to NOYB, manipulates user consent through misleading pop-up messages.

The podcast covers other major stories, including a massive pay deal for Elon Musk approved by Tesla investors, Google’s reinforcement of Android 15 against attacks at charging stations, concerns over Amazon Alexa’s data usage, and Spotify’s expansion into audiobook offerings, which stirred a complaint from music publishers.

Todd then discusses technological developments, such as AI-driven training plans for the New York City Marathon, updates in Apple Pay functionalities, and the introduction of AI job coaching tools on LinkedIn.

The episode wraps up with acknowledgments to listeners who donate and contribute to the podcast, followed by a review of further news items like a software update for Waymo’s driverless taxis, a cyberattack on the tracker company Tile, and rising costs of Blu-ray DVDs.

The episode provides a good blend of technical discussion, personal anecdotes, and promotion, catering to an audience interested in technology updates, privacy issues, and digital media impacts.



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Apple announced the macOS 15 Sequoia at WWDC 2024, featuring the Apple Intelligence AI suite, iPhone mirroring, and Continuity updates. The new OS introduces automatic window tiling, a cross-platform Passwords app, and enhanced Safari features. macOS Sequoia is compatible with Apple Silicon and select Intel-based Macs

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Show Notes and Full Summary:

In this episode of Geek News Central, host Todd Cochrane discusses several critical topics primarily focusing on Apple’s announcement of macOS 15 Sequoia during WWDC 2024. The new operating system introduces several innovative features, including the Apple Intelligence AI suite, iPhone mirroring, and enhanced continuity updates. MacOS Sequoia supports automatic window tiling, a cross-platform Passwords app, and improved Safari features. It is compatible with Apple Silicon and select Intel-based Macs.

Todd Cochrane seamlessly transitions into sponsor promotion, specifically highlighting GoDaddy as Geek News Central’s primary sponsor. He encourages listeners to take advantage of special deals provided through his GoDaddy affiliate link. He emphasizes the importance of supporting the podcast by signing up to become a GNC insider or using modern podcast apps that allow listeners to contribute directly through the value-for-value model.

Cochran shares anecdotes from his travels in the Philippines, reminiscing about his experiences in the Subic Bay area. He provides a rundown on notable spots and changes in the Olongapo area, reflecting on the region’s transformation.

The episode shifts back to tech topics, delving deeper into the features of macOS Sequoia. Todd discusses Apple Intelligence at length, describing how the AI will enhance functionality across Apple devices by introducing new capabilities in writing tools, Siri, and user interactivity between Mac and iPhone.

Further, Todd covers a variety of additional tech news stories, including NATO’s funding for a German startup developing autonomous war robots, Google’s settlement over an antitrust lawsuit, and a piracy lawsuit filed by significant publishers against Google. He also briefly touches upon personal internet security tips and wraps up with news of Tesla’s door design issues potentially affecting car windows.

Throughout the episode, Todd encourages listener interaction through emails and sharing feedback on modern podcast apps. He also mentions significant contributions from dedicated listeners who support the podcast through financial donations or streaming sats with modern Podcast Apps.

To conclude, Todd outlines the upcoming changes and challenges related to his podcast setup, sharing his transition from a studio to potentially building a new working space at home and ending with acknowledgments for the ongoing support from the Geek News Central community.



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