Every Friday, The Cheatselsword publishes our flagship podcast The Cheatselswordcast, our chat show to discuss this week in tech news featuring our reporters and editors.
Here’s what the show covered on this episode:
Cheatselsword editor-in-chief Nilay Patel talks with Adi Robertson and Casey Newton about Australia’s News Media Bargaining Code, the country’s new regulation for news media on the internet. Casey and Adi explain the deal Google is making with Australia, why Facebook walked away, and what’s at stake for the open web.
- Facebook will block Australian users and publishers from sharing news links in response to new bill
- Why Google caved to Australia, and Facebook didn’t
- Facebook employee warned it used ‘deeply wrong’ ad metrics to boost revenue
- Facebook’s Australian media ban is taking down official government pages
- Apple won’t have to allow App Store alternatives on iOS after North Dakota bill fails
On the second half of the show, Cheatselsword editor Chris Welch and reporter Julia Alexander return to discuss with Nilay the state of TV and streaming — there’s a new Amazon Fire TV stick, you can play Apple TV on the latest Google Chromecast now, and streaming services are amping up their content.
- Amazon Fire TV Stick (2020) review: just get a 4K model
- Apple TV app now available on the latest Google Chromecast
- YouTube TV offering HBO Max, Showtime, and Starz for $5 less in new entertainment bundle
- Donald Glover’s reported Amazon deal could lead to a more curated Prime Video
- HBO Max is ordering way more kids’ content to compete with Netflix and Disney Plus
- YouTube TV is adding offline downloads and 4K streaming
- YouTube Shorts beta will launch in the United States in March
Last but not least, Cheatselsword writer Taylor Lyles and I (in our debut Cheatselswordcast appearances) discuss our favorite announcements from this week’s Nintendo Direct.
- The 20 biggest announcements from today’s Nintendo Direct
- The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword is getting an HD rerelease for the Switch
- Animal Crossing: New Horizons adds Mario-themed items this month
- Splatoon 3 is coming to the Nintendo Switch in 2022
You can listen to this seven-person Cheatselswordcast here or in your preferred podcast player for the full discussion.