Satya Nadella takes the stand in Google vs USA trial

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella took the stand in the USA vs Google trial and made it clear that if Bing was the default search engine on iOS instead of Google, "it would be a game changer" and that "defaults are the only thing that matter" when it comes to changing user behaviour and that Google's claims that its easy to switch your default browser "bogus". Microsoft did try to beat Google's offer (it's not like Microsoft is low on cash), but Apple was "afraid of what Google would do if it lost default status" - like retaliating with its very popular Gmail and YouTube apps for iOS - which is what Satya reckons keeps Apple and Google working together just as much as the piles of money Google sends to Apple every year. Oh, and Microsoft tried to sell Bing to Apple.

Look for the Chromebook Plus badge on your next Chromebook

Google's introduced "Chromebook Plus", a badge OEMs can slap on laptops running ChromeOS that denotes the computer meets certain requirements. Hardware wise the laptops need to have an Intel Core i3 12th Gen/AMD Ryzen 3 7000 series or above CPU, 8GB or more of RAM, a 128GB or larger SSD, a 1080p+ webcam with "Temporal Noise Reduction" and a 1080p IPS or better display. Google's got a list of certified devices here. On the software side, the Chromebook Plus badge means the device is capable of running relatively intensive web apps like Google Photo's Magic Eraser feature and Adobe Photoshop, along with "Google's AI capabilities" built-in to ChromeOS. Don't forget about ChromeOS Flex to breathe life into older devices, like a MacBook Air or an iMac. Here's a list of supported devices.

HBO Max likely launching in AU by 2025, Spotify's CEO has another jab at Google & Apple, Counter-Strike 2 is out

• The boss of streaming at the parent company of HBO, newly merged Warner Bros Discovery, let loose at a conference that HBO Max might expand to Austraila in 2025, which also happens to be the year its deal with Foxtel runs out. RIP Binge, access to HBO content is the only reason anyone subscribes.
• Spotify's CEO is in the UK to lobby for the Digital Markets, Competition, and Consumers Bill and while there he had a little chat to the Financial Times, dropping this presumably workshopped zinger - "if you want to be the referee you can't also be the player", referring to Apple and Google unfairly competing with developers on their own platforms.
• Counter-Strike 2 was released last week, replacing the incredibly popular CS:GO on Steam - literally, as it uses the same listing on Steam as CS:GO and overwrites CS:GO when installed. 17 year old me would have gone apeshit over this and would have skipped school for a solid week to go play it at the internet cafe a few blocks away (why did they put it so close to the school?!) with all the other reprobates.

NYC Mesh is a cool community mesh network providing affordable internet

CNET has an inspiring story about NYC Mesh, a not for profit group that built a city-wide mesh wi-fi network using Ubiquiti's AirMAX and some Mikrotik products to give people cheap internet that doesn't suck. They get a fast fibre line hooked up to a tall building and spread that internet around to other buildings wirelessly, then using ethernet from the building down to the apartments inside. Their documentation on typical installs is pretty good. While reading it I couldn't help but think of the NBN and how the cheapest 50mbit plan is $65/m. I wonder if something similar would be useful and sustainable in Australian cities? Offer economically vulnerable people free, reliable, speedy and private internet access, subsided by donations from wealthy patrons, supported and installed by bleeding heart nerds.