Curated Commons // Edition 115
Thank you for subscribing (if you haven’t, subscribe now!). Welcome to the 115th edition of Curated Commons. Happy reading, and do pass on the newsletter and share it on your social networks if you find it interesting! It’s free! Dollar-free, ad-free, and algorithm-free.
Let’s dive right in ($ indicates potential paywall).
Uber facing headwinds in Pakistan…thank to app that enables haggling
This is as desi as you can get. Uber is slowing down in Pakistan because one of its new competitors has a haggling feature with drivers. And is keeping costs low by…not hiring leadership or customer support! Can’t make this up! - Read here
What is the cost of America’s ban on Chinese chips?
It’s a semiconductor-world that we live in, and far more than we really acknowledge. And the impact of new American sanctions on Chinese chip manufacturers will be felt far and wide. Good piece. - Read here ($)
What will community X do it Twitter goes down?
X can be anything. There are just too many great communities who are completely isolated from the noise around the terrible parts of the bird site. One example is this piece on chemists - Read here
The Internet was built for anonymously sharing/shaming powerful people
Some tidbits, juicy as ever, from a former intern at SpaceX - Read here
Want better performance from your EV? That’s a new monthly subscription
Mercedes will now charge an annual subscription fee for increasing horsepower and torque for all its EQ electric model cars. When your car is basically a complex application with features unlocked by subscriptions… - Read here
Human ingenuity Vs algorithmic smarts - story of our times
Uber drivers in India are ganging up on Telegram to try and beat the algorithm. Of course this is for those who have not figured the #1 popular solution to beating the app - accept the ride, go to the customer, ask them to cancel it, and drop the passenger directly for the same amount (or even less) transfer money directly. And the algorithm is left wondering… - Read here
Gaming is moving to the cloud
Subscriptions are coming everywhere, including gaming. The Netflix model is too alluring to let go. And gaming is no exception. - Read here ($)
Want to short unicorns? The finance industry may have a solution
Options through synthetic derivatives as a way of keeping startups in line. Why not? - Read here ($)
Hey Alexa, seems you don’t make any money?
Voice commands were expected to be the next big thing. But there’s not much money in these devices apparently. Amazon is on track to lose some $10 Bn on Alexa and other device this year. - Read here
Robot workers are here. We call them 3D Printers
Wireless electricity, anyone?
Can you beam solar energy from space? The European Space Agency is interested in studying the possibility. - Read here
More interesting reads:
Fashion retailers are buying low-carbon alternative fibres for clothing and packaging to help reduce global emissions - Read here
Why processes matter, particularly if you are in a position to trigger wars! - Read here
Onshoring is growing. LG Chem is investing $3 Bn to set up a battery cathode plant in the US - Read here
Interesting thread on whether content can be a moat for food delivery services. Content here meaning the restaurants on each platform. - Read here
Learning, playing, and the role of toys - Read here
India’s upcoming gas revolution. Good deep-dive. Read here
Stay safe, and happy reading! And if you liked the newsletter, thank you, and maybe consider sharing it? My DMs on Twitter are always open for any feedback.