Linked List: January 20, 2024

Saturday, 20 January 2024

My thanks to Hey for sponsoring this week at DF to promote their new Hey Calendar.

Back in 2020 Hey launched their email service with a completely fresh take on a category that hadn’t seen anything new in forever. I’ve been subscribed since it launched, and still find it like nothing else. Their “screener” feature alone is worth it: get an email from someone you never want to see email from again? Just screen them out with a single thumbs-down button click. Those emails aren’t trashed, and they aren’t flagged as spam — they’re screened out of your inbox (or in Hey’s terms, imbox), but they remain in a “Screened Out” mailbox just in case. Every email app should have something like this.

Now they’ve done the same with calendaring. The all-new Hey Calendar brings flexibility, personality, and a radical new point of view to the boring old grid of dates.

So Hey is now both email and a calendar, all-in-one. As you may have heard, they’ve got an all-new mobile app for Hey Calendar. too. Check out how much better things can be at HEY.com.

Spotify Attacks Apple’s ‘Outrageous’ 27 Percent Commission From External Links ★

Tom Gerken, writing for BBC News:

On Wednesday, Apple announced it would permit app developers to sell products in places other than its own store — but only if they still paid commission. Spotify said that was “outrageous” and accused Apple of “stopping at nothing” to protect its profits. It is urging the British government to prevent similar fees being levied in the UK. [...]

Spotify has reacted with fury, saying the policy “flies in the face” of the US court’s attempt to enable greater competition. “Once again, Apple has demonstrated that they will stop at nothing to protect the profits they exact on the backs of developers and consumers under their app store monopoly,” it said in a statement.

I can see why Spotify doesn’t like this, but I’m not sure why Spotify doesn’t qualify under the “reader” app category that can link to external web pages without paying Apple any commission at all. Also, I think Spotify is barking up the wrong tree while complaining about Apple’s compliance with this U.S. court order under the guise of Apple abusing a monopoly — Judge Gonzales specifically ruled that the App Store does not constitute a monopoly.

Here’s a simple thought I had today regarding whether Apple’s new External Purchase Links entitlement policy is a good faith effort to comply with Judge Gonzales’ order: Will any developers actually choose to use it? Remember, to use this entitlement, developers must:

Still offer in-app purchases through Apple’s system, alongside external payment links.
Pay Apple a 27/12 percent commission on sales through external links.
Report monthly sales to Apple and submit to audits on demand.
Track users who follow those links so they can determine which sign-ups they owe Apple commission payments for.
Follow Apple’s strict design guidelines for presenting those links.

Or, they could just stick to using IAP exclusively. I’m curious whether any developers at all will consider the new External Payment Links worth implementing. If not, how could it be a reasonable policy? It may well be legal, but bad faith and spite aren’t illegal.

Apple Finally Reveals Vision Pro’s Weight ★

Chance Miller, 9to5Mac:

As you can see, the Vision Pro is certainly heavier than other headsets on the market, with the exception of the Meta Quest Pro. But it’s also important to remember that, other than the Valve Index, these other headsets have their batteries built-in, while Vision Pro relies on an external battery pack.

With that in mind, Vision Pro is actually lighter than the other major headset without an integrated battery.

Vision Pro: 600–650 grams (depending on light seal and headband)
Meta Quest Pro: 722 grams
Meta Quest 3: 515 grams
PlayStation VR2: 560 grams

Also on the tech specs page is the RAM: 16 GB for all models. As I predicted, there are multiple storage tiers: 512 GB for +$200, 1 TB for +$400.

‘Making Apple Vision Pro’ ★

Behind-the-scenes teaser video from Apple showing bits of how Vision Pro is manufactured and assembled. I could watch an hour of this.

Also of note: the YouTube version is presented in widescreen 16:9 aspect ratio, but Tim Cook posted a version of the same video to Twitter/X in the tall 9:16 ratio. Works perfectly both ways. (Via Stu Maschwitz.)

‘Nothing. There Ain’t Nothing in Room 237.’ ★

File this away for the next time you remodel a bathroom. Gorgeous.

I’m Imagining Bill Hader as Stefan: ‘Ikea’s Latest Vision Pro Accessory Has It All…’ ★

Daniel Raffel on Threads:

This IKEA table lamp in the shape of a mannequin head is probably going to be the hottest Vision Pro accessory.

Vision Pro really does raise a “Where do you keep it?” question, and the $40 Iskärna might be a fun answer.