Weekly Links & Thoughts #50

Here is a weekly selection of thoughtful opinion pieces, interesting analyses and significant yet under-reported information bits from the digital and technology world. Published and commented every Thursday, just in time so you have something good to read during the weekend.

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• To defend the free web, you must save Mozilla
  
  Signed. Using Firefox is one way to save Mozilla. Donating is another.
• Can We Trust the Hacker Philanthropists?
  
  What does it mean if tech billionaires like Mark Zuckerberg or Bill Gates attempt to save the world on their terms? Is it good, is it bad? This text offers some solid thoughts.
• The iPhone Thought Experiment
  
  Intriguing question to keep your mind occupied: If all humans suddenly loose everything they and their ancestors have ever created (except all their knowledge), how long time would it take until they become able to create a fully-featured and perfectly functional iPhone 6S?
• The rise and fall of the unicorns
  
  Sooner or later, somebody had to write this piece.
• The Race to Create Elon Musk’s Hyperloop Heats Up
  
  Very very cool to see how what was just an idea in the head of Elon Musk 2 years ago now is being seriously pushed by multiple contenders.
• Uber wants to integrate with all your apps
  
  Uber already is a platform, connecting people who have transportation needs with people who are available to give them a ride. Slowly, the company is establishing a second platform; a technological platform for third party apps and services that want to provide its users with transportation services. Basically a second tier platform which feeds Uber’s core platform.
• Tesla-As-A-Platform
  
  Even though this short piece only highlights one example, the idea of Tesla-As-A-Platform is a nobrainer which certainly will see a lot of applications in the future. It’s pretty exciting, even though I hope for the competition to heat up in the field of electrical smart cars.
• Everything That Can Become a Platform Will Become a Platform
  
  I agree with the claim from the headline. The rise of large-scale platforms (with winner-takes-it-all tendencies) will turn industries, national economies and today’s social welfare systems upside down. Governments have a lot of work to do in order to take necessary precautions and initiate structural changes, now.
• Full speed ahead: When it comes to connected car technology, Europe is among the best in class
  
  Hopefully Europe will remain a leading force when it comes to innovative mobility concepts.
• Facebook now lets you chat with businesses via Messenger on their website
  
  As I loathe having to call service hotlines or stores, I am very curious about what Facebook is doing with messaging for businesses.
• Snapchat finally enables publishers to ‘deep link’ to their Discover content
  
  I wish deep linking into mobile apps would be as seamless for any website/blog owner as linking to other websites.
• WhatsApp’s Jan Koum Sold $274 Million in Facebook Stock Last Week
  
  This guy hit the jackpot: “The $274 million Koum sold last week was just under 4 percent of his total holdings. That means he still owns about $7 billion in Facebook stock.”
• Coins.ph turns people into ATMs
  
  While this is an unproven idea which easily might fail, it sounds quite innovative.
• Apple’s Failed Retail Revolution: Beacons Still Won’t Be Big on Black Friday
  
  Good point. Until this day, I don’t think I have ever received a local push message from a retailer or other type of local venue nor have I wished that it would happen.
• Li-Fi has just been tested in the real world, and it’s 100 times faster than Wi-Fi
  
  Using LEDs for ultra-fast data transmitting. Fascinating.
• German court says ISPs may have to block music-sharing sites
• No Pirate Bay Blockade in Sweden, Court Rules
  
  A bit curious: Within 24 hours, two courts in two different countries made completely opposed rulings. Since the German culture is generally rather supportive of strong copyright rules, whereas in Sweden people have a more relaxed attitude in that regard, both of the rulings somehow reflect the corresponding local culture. Of course, that might just be a coincidence, and a higher Swedish court might come to a different conclusion.

Most recently on meshedsociety.com

• Ask what your country can do for you (and the world)
  
  Imagine this: You wake up this morning, open your messaging inbox and find “applications” from 4 different countries who would like to win you over as new citizen. No matter if you are open to such an adventure or not – wouldn’t it be pretty exciting?
• Online media is utterly broken
  
  About that “Phuc Dat Bich” hoax and the general state of online media.