📱 iPhone production, virtual reality struggles, transportation predictions, and password manager concerns

Today’s pick

• Apple is exploring the possibility of making iPhones without relying on China for production. This comes amid growing tensions between the US and China, as well as the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic which has disrupted supply chains. (Chris Miller / The Atlantic)

Chris Miller @crmiller1

Just how badly does Apple need China? I explore shifting tech supply chains in this piece for @TheAtlantic

theatlantic.comJust How Badly Does Apple Need China?The tech supply chain is growing more complex.

• The virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) markets had a disappointing year in 2022, with sales of VR headsets in the US declining 2% year-over-year to $1.1 billion, and worldwide shipments of VR and AR devices dropping more than 12% to 9.6 million. Apple is rumored to be entering the VR market in 2023, which could potentially give the industry a boost. (Jonathan Vanian / CNBC)

Jonathan Vanian @JonathanVanian

Metaverse off to ominous start after VR headset sales shrank in 2022 - next year looks to be tough as “consumer budgets will be tightening”

cnb.cxMetaverse off to ominous start after VR headset sales shrank in 2022Meta is betting big on virtual reality as an anchor technology for its metaverse, but VR isn’t catching on yet within the mainstream.

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• The Signal app, which is known for its strong privacy measures, has faced criticism over its decision to allow users to post anonymously without any moderation. This has raised concerns about the potential for abuse and the spread of misinformation. (Reid Blackman / The New York Times)

Eva @evacide

NYT's opinion page gets in under the wire in the competition for Worst Take of 2022: Signal is bad because the people who build it are morally committed to preserving the privacy of its users.

nytimes.comOpinion | The Signal App and the Danger of Privacy at All CostsThe debate about dilemmas posed by the text messaging system.

• The transportation industry is expected to see significant changes in 2023, with the mainstream adoption of electric vehicles and the continued rise of e-bikes. Gas prices are also expected to fluctuate. (Andrew J. Hawkins / The Verge)

Andrew J. Hawkins 🚇🚌🚲🛴 @andyjayhawk

I asked 17 smart people to give me their predictions for transportation in 2023 and these were their responses

theverge.comWe asked 17 smart people to predict the future of transportation in 2023Will e-bikes top Tesla as the top-selling EV in the country?

• LastPass, a popular password manager, recently announced that it suffered a data breach that exposed encrypted password vaults and other user data. This has led to calls for users to consider switching to alternative password management solutions. (Lily Hay Newman / WIRED)

WIRED @WIRED

Despite multiple requests for comment, LastPass has still not revealed how many password vaults were compromised in the November breach and how many users were affected.

wired.trib.alYes, It’s Time to Ditch LastPassThe password manager’s most recent data breach is so concerning, users need to take immediate steps to protect themselves.

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