TikTok Trouble And More On CHOM 97.7 FM

Every Monday morning at 7:10 am, I am on air at CHOM 97.7 FM radio out of Montreal (home base). It’s not a long segment – about 10 minutes every week – to decode the future. We discuss everything that is happening in the world of technology, digital media and culture. The good folks at CHOM 97.7 FM are posting these segments weekly on i Heart Radio, if you’re interested in hearing more about what’s happening in the transformation of our digital world. I’m really excited about these weekly hits, because this is the radio station that I grew up listening to, and it really is a fun treat to be invited to the Mornings Rock with Terry DiMonte morning show. The segment is called, CTRL ALT Delete with Mitch Joel.

This week we discussed:

• Apple had their semi-big launch last week. No new iPhone (which was expected, but still a surprise). But we did get new iPads and a new Apple Watch. The biggest excitement seems to their new Apple Fitness+ (and Apple’s push further into the services space). The announcement shook Peloton‘s stock. Gyms need to also pay attention to this.
• What’s going on with TikTok? Is it banned? Nope. It looks like that has been delayed. Is it sold? Not exactly. Oracle (with Walmart) with TikTok will start a new company called, TikTok Global, that will be headquartered in the US. “TikTok’s data would be stored by Oracle, which would have the right to inspect its source code,” says the BBC. Is President Trump happy about this? According to his Twitter account, he has given this deal his blessing, and said that the new company will be “totally controlled by Oracle and Walmart”. But in a joint statement on Saturday, Oracle and Walmart said they were together investing to acquire 20% of the newly formed TikTok Global business. So… here we are. Lots of drama, and it’s mostly about the trade dispute between US and China. Are we going to lose TikTok in Canada? Doesn’t seem like it.
• App of the Week: Krisp – mute background noise in any communication app. 

You can also listen in via I Heart Radio.

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