MacVoices #23223: MacVoices Live - SanDisk's Silence, Epic's Loss, and UK's Guidelines (1)

This MacVoices Live! session starts out with an usual discussion of Panorama’s database program. Then, Chuck Joiner, David Ginsburg, Eric Bolden, Jim Rea, Jeff Gamet, Web Bixby, and Mark Fuccio consider SanDisk's lack of response to reported issues with their SSDs, and advise backups and alternatives. They highlight Western Digital's history of silence in face of customer problems. Then, the dispute between Epic Games, Apple, and Google regarding in-game purchases and App Store guidelines is takes center stage. As if that wasn’t enough, a passionate discussion about the UK's proposed changes to App Store payments and Setapp's plans for an alternative app store in Europe kicks off. (Part 1)  This edition of MacVoices is supported by The MacVoices Slack. Available all Patrons of MacVoices. Sign up at Patreon.com/macvoices. Show Notes: Chapters: 0:01:32 Guests Introductions and Expectations 0:02:35 Goat Scoring System: Milk, Butterfat, and Protein Content 0:07:17 Webb's New Hardware and Stunning Background 0:09:12 Mark's Black and White Sonoma Theme 0:12:28 Western Digital's silence and potential firmware update for Sandisk SSDs 0:16:51 Firmware Upgrade Issue with Western Digital SSDs 0:18:29 Epic Loses Bid to Change Apple's App Store Payment Rules 0:24:08 Apple's challenge with multiple stores and rules 0:25:01 Difficulty in App Store Rules 0:26:30 Seizing the Business Opportunity: Apple's Unique Advantage 0:27:47 Contemplating the impact of app purchases and SetApp 0:29:15 SetApp subscribers and the potential for an alternate app store in Europe Links: Insta360 Link - PTZ 4K Webcam with 1/2" Sensor, AI Tracking, Gesture Control, HDR, Noise-Canceling Microphones https://amzn.to/45HG9L6 SanDisk’s silence deafens as high-profile users say Extreme SSDs still broken https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2023/08/sandisk-extreme-ssds-are-still-wiping-data-after-firmware-fix-users-say/ Epic loses bid to make Apple change its App Store payment rules right now https://www.engadget.com/epic-loses-bid-to-make-apple-change-its-app-store-payment-rules-right-now-174924222.html SetApp Setapp Planning to Launch Alternative App Store for iOS in Europe https://www.macrumors.com/2023/08/15/setapp-to-launch-alternative-app-store/ Apple is ‘working with EU’ on third-party app stores for iPhone, iPad, etc. https://macdailynews.com/2023/06/14/apple-is-working-with-eu-on-third-party-app-stores-for-iphone-ipad-etc/ Guests: Web Bixby has been in the insurance business for 40 years and has been an Apple user for longer than that.You can catch up with him on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. Eric Bolden is into macOS, plants, sci-fi, food, and is a rural internet supporter. You can connect with him on Twitter, by email at [email protected], on Mastodon at @[email protected], and on his blog, Trending At Work. Brian Flanigan-Arthurs is an educator with a passion for providing results-driven, innovative learning strategies for all students, but particularly those who are at-risk. He is also a tech enthusiast who has a particular affinity for Apple since he first used the Apple IIGS as a student. You can contact Brian on twitter as @brian8944. He also recently opened a Mastodon account at @[email protected]. Mark Fuccio is actively involved in high tech startup companies, both as a principle at piqsure.com, or as a marketing advisor through his consulting practice Tactics Sells High Tech, Inc. Mark was a proud investor in Microsoft from the mid-1990's selling in mid 2000, and hopes one day that MSFT will be again an attractive investment. You can contact Mark through Twitter, LinkedIn, or on Mastodon. Jeff Gamet is a technology blogger, podcaster, author, and public speaker. Previously, he was The Mac Observer’s Managing Editor, and the TextExpander Evangelist for Smile. He has presented at Macworld Expo, RSA Conference, several WordCamp events, along with many other conferences. You can find him on several podcasts such as The Mac Show, The Big Show, MacVoices, Mac OS Ken, This Week in iOS, and more. Jeff is easy to find on social media as @jgamet on Twitter and Instagram, jeffgamet on LinkedIn., @[email protected] on Mastodon, and on his YouTube Channel at YouTube.com/jgamet. David Ginsburg is the host of the weekly podcast In Touch With iOS where he discusses all things iOS, iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Apple Watch, and related technologies. He is an IT professional supporting Mac, iOS and Windows users. Visit his YouTube channel at https://youtube.com/daveg65 and find and follow him on Twitter @daveg65 and on Mastodon at @[email protected] Jim Rea built his own computer from scratch in 1975, started programming in 1977, and has been an independent Mac developer continuously since 1984. He is the founder of ProVUE Development, and the author of Panorama X, ProVUE's ultra fast RAM based database software for the macOS platform. He’s been a speaker at MacTech, MacWorld Expo and other industry conferences. Follow Jim at provue.com and via @[email protected] on Mastodon. Support:      Become a MacVoices Patron on Patreon      http://patreon.com/macvoices      Enjoy this episode? Make a one-time donation with PayPal Connect:      Web:      http://macvoices.com      Twitter:      http://www.twitter.com/chuckjoiner      http://www.twitter.com/macvoices      Mastodon:      https://mastodon.cloud/@chuckjoiner      Facebook:      http://www.facebook.com/chuck.joiner      MacVoices Page on Facebook:      http://www.facebook.com/macvoices/      MacVoices Group on Facebook:      http://www.facebook.com/groups/macvoice      LinkedIn:      https://www.linkedin.com/in/chuckjoiner/      Instagram:      https://www.instagram.com/chuckjoiner/ Subscribe:      Audio in iTunes      Video in iTunes      Subscribe manually via iTunes or any podcatcher:      Audio: http://www.macvoices.com/rss/macvoicesrss      Video: http://www.macvoices.com/rss/macvoicesvideorss 00:00:00 Setapp's Potential Expansion and Epic's Losses 00:01:31 Guests Introductions and Expectations 00:07:16 Webb's New Hardware and Stunning Background 00:09:12 Mark's Black and White Sonoma Theme 00:12:28 Western Digital's silence and potential firmware update for Sandisk SSDs 00:16:50 Firmware Upgrade Issue with Western Digital SSDs 00:18:28 Epic Loses Bid to Change Apple's App Store Payment Rules 00:24:07 Apple's challenge with multiple stores and rules 00:25:00 Difficulty in App Store Rules 00:26:29 Seizing the Business Opportunity: Apple's Unique Advantage 00:27:46 Contemplating the impact of app purchases and SetApp 00:29:14 SetApp subscribers and the potential for an alternate app store in Europe