Analysis: new iPhone first weekend pre-orders were down 12.7% to ~37M units; the iPhone 16 Pro declined 27% and iPhone 16 Pro Max 16% compared to the iPhone 15 (Ming-Chi Kuo)

Ming-Chi Kuo:
Analysis: new iPhone first weekend pre-orders were down 12.7% to ~37M units; the iPhone 16 Pro declined 27% and iPhone 16 Pro Max 16% compared to the iPhone 15  —  Based on my latest supply chain survey and pre-order results from Apple's official websites, I've compiled key data on iPhone 16's …

Research based on the US Census Bureau's data from 2008 to 2021 suggests online dating may be partially to blame for a rise in income inequality in recent times (Alexandre Tanzi/Bloomberg)

Alexandre Tanzi / Bloomberg:
Research based on the US Census Bureau's data from 2008 to 2021 suggests online dating may be partially to blame for a rise in income inequality in recent times  —  - With apps, people increasingly marry someone like themselves  — It helps explain the increase in income inequality since 1980

The Port of Seattle says the Rhysida ransomware operation was behind an August 24 cyberattack and that it appears "some Port data was obtained by the actor" (Sergiu Gatlan/BleepingComputer)

Sergiu Gatlan / BleepingComputer:
The Port of Seattle says the Rhysida ransomware operation was behind an August 24 cyberattack and that it appears “some Port data was obtained by the actor”  —  Port of Seattle, the United States government agency overseeing Seattle's seaport and airport, confirmed on Friday …

How Google, Amazon, Microsoft, and Meta are fighting an Ohio power company's proposal to increase the upfront energy costs they'll pay for their data centers (Caroline O'Donovan/Washington Post)

Caroline O'Donovan / Washington Post:
How Google, Amazon, Microsoft, and Meta are fighting an Ohio power company's proposal to increase the upfront energy costs they'll pay for their data centers  —  Negotiations between Big Tech and an Ohio power utility could set a national precedent as communities grapple with the energy demands of the data center boom.

Some of the largest custodial banks are interested in crypto custody but are hindered by the SEC rule SAB 121, which establishes accounting standards (Bloomberg)

Bloomberg:
Some of the largest custodial banks are interested in crypto custody but are hindered by the SEC rule SAB 121, which establishes accounting standards  —  - Coinbase, BitGo have been among the dominant service providers  — SEC rule seen making it impractical for banks to do custody

Google Pixel 9 Pro teardown: impressive repairability for a foldable, with a highly modular design that separates high mechanical wear parts like the USB-C port (Shahram Mokhtari/iFixit News)

Shahram Mokhtari / iFixit News:
Google Pixel 9 Pro teardown: impressive repairability for a foldable, with a highly modular design that separates high mechanical wear parts like the USB-C port  —  The Pixel 9 Pro Fold has come a long way since the first generation Pixel Fold.  That's because unlike other foldable smartphones …

OpenAI should've stuck with the name Strawberry for o1, avoiding user confusion between models named 4o and o1, and helping humanize the tech (M.G. Siegler/Spyglass)

M.G. Siegler / Spyglass:
OpenAI should've stuck with the name Strawberry for o1, avoiding user confusion between models named 4o and o1, and helping humanize the tech  —  They're wrong, but there are other, more pressing product questions...  Well, what was coming in “the next couple of weeks” ended up being “the next couple of days” — here's Kylie Robison:

A profile of Chase Herro, who calls himself the "dirtbag of the internet" and sources say is the dealmaker behind Trump's crypto project World Liberty Financial (Bloomberg)

Bloomberg:
A profile of Chase Herro, who calls himself the “dirtbag of the internet” and sources say is the dealmaker behind Trump's crypto project World Liberty Financial  —  'If you do this right, who f—ing cares if it goes to zero,' Chase Herro once said of crypto.

An overview of California's AI safety bill SB 1047, which easily passed the state's legislature, as it awaits Governor Newsom's signature or veto before Sep. 30 (Financial Times)

Financial Times:
An overview of California's AI safety bill SB 1047, which easily passed the state's legislature, as it awaits Governor Newsom's signature or veto before Sep. 30  —  California's Gavin Newsom has until September 30 to decide whether to sign legislation that will reach far beyond the state

The White House plans to curb the "overuse and abuse" of the de minimis loophole used by Shein and Temu, which exempts packages worth $800 or less from tariffs (CNBC)

CNBC:
The White House plans to curb the “overuse and abuse” of the de minimis loophole used by Shein and Temu, which exempts packages worth $800 or less from tariffs  —  The Biden administration announced new steps on Friday to curtail what it calls the “overuse and abuse” …

Sources: Microsoft has pitched its AI to ExxonMobil, Chevron, and others to find and develop oil and gas reserves while publicly committing to reduce emissions (Karen Hao/The Atlantic)

Karen Hao / The Atlantic:
Sources: Microsoft has pitched its AI to ExxonMobil, Chevron, and others to find and develop oil and gas reserves while publicly committing to reduce emissions  —  Microsoft executives have been thinking lately about the end of the world.  In a white paper published late last year, Brad Smith …

Apple to allow iPad users in the EU to install alternative app stores, starting with iPadOS 18 launch on September 16 (Romain Dillet/TechCrunch)

Romain Dillet / TechCrunch:
Apple to allow iPad users in the EU to install alternative app stores, starting with iPadOS 18 launch on September 16  —  It was a matter of time, but Apple is going to allow third-party app stores on the iPad starting next week, on September 16.  This change will occur with the next major release …

Analysis: VC investments in AI startups have reached $64.1B, ~30% of total VC dollars invested, so far in 2024 amid questions about whether it will pay off (Wall Street Journal)

Wall Street Journal:
Analysis: VC investments in AI startups have reached $64.1B, ~30% of total VC dollars invested, so far in 2024 amid questions about whether it will pay off  —  Tech giants and investors are shoveling cash into artificial intelligence amid questions about whether it will pay off

Memo: Microsoft is laying off 650 staff from its gaming business, bringing the cuts in its gaming business to 2,550 jobs since acquiring Activision Blizzard (Wesley Yin-Poole/IGN)

Wesley Yin-Poole / IGN:
Memo: Microsoft is laying off 650 staff from its gaming business, bringing the cuts in its gaming business to 2,550 jobs since acquiring Activision Blizzard  —  No games canceled or studios closed this time.  —  Microsoft is laying off a further 650 staff from its gaming business …

A look at the tough options before Intel's board, including scaling back factory projects, selling off subsidiaries, or splitting Intel's core operations (Ian King/Bloomberg)

Ian King / Bloomberg:
A look at the tough options before Intel's board, including scaling back factory projects, selling off subsidiaries, or splitting Intel's core operations  —  CEO Pat Gelsinger's plan to spend the chipmaker back to relevance nears the end of its runway.  —  A slow-motion disaster …