Safari 16 supports AVIF in macOS Ventura and iOS 16
WebKit has supported the next-generation image format AVIF since April 2021, but Safari has not. That's because Apple's web browser can only process image types that macOS and iOS support. The release of iOS 16, and soon macOS Ventura, brings support for the AVIF image format to the operating system and Safari 16.
Cloudflare’s 1.1.1.1 + WARP VPN adds IP masking and more accurate geolocation
In a significant update to Cloudflare's 1.1.1.1 + WARP VPN service, the company added more precise geolocation to its free and premium account levels. The update now returns localized search engine and site results without exposing a user's public IP address.
Shopify upgrades Linkpop with new features
Several months after Shopify launched its ‘link in bio’ service, Linkpop, they’ve updated it with new customizations, support for multiple users, and added the Buy It Now feature to all product links.
Markdown writing app Ulysses adds support for tables
Ulysses, the popular writing and publishing app that uses Markdown for formatting, added support for creating, formatting and sharing tables.
Popular WordPress plugin that fixes email delivery issues gets major UI update after acquisition
Post SMTP, a free and widely used plugin that fixes common email delivery problems on WordPress, launched a new version of its software with an improved user interface on the heels of WPExperts acquiring it in March 2022.
Google Search adds author markup best practices
In response to publishers improperly using the Schema structured data author type on articles, Google Search has published new author markup best practices.
What formats does Kindle support?
Not every ebook format works with Kindle. Here are all the supported formats and how you can convert unsupported ebook formats to a native Kindle format.
‘Alexa Rank’ is officially gone: Amazon shuts down Alexa Internet
Alexa Internet retired its website research and analysis tools on May 1, 2022. The service was well known among digital marketers for its Alexa Rank score.
Elon Musk buying Twitter prompts some users to switch to Mastodon
Mastodon, an open-source and decentralized Twitter alternative, is gaining popularity as users seek out alternative social platforms in the wake of Elon Musk buying Twitter.
Google Search adding Signed Exchange (SXG) support for desktop results and creates a new meta tag for opting-out
Signed Exchanges (SXG) is an open standard created by Google that makes it possible for non-AMP sites to be cached and served by Google for near-instant delivery. SXG was initially supported for mobile results but will now work for desktop search results too. Sites wanting to opt-out of SXG for desktop results will have to add a unique meta tag to their pages.
Update: ‘Fast’ one-click frictionless checkout shutting down after less than two years
After capitalizing on Amazon’s expired 1-click patent, Fast is shutting down its frictionless one-click checkout service that could be used by practically any ecommerce store. They initially promoted the service as making the internet faster.
Popular bookmark manager, Raindrop.io, adds highlights and annotations for websites
Raindrop.io added a new feature to its browser extension that makes it possible to highlight text and leave notes on any web page.
Google updates product review ranking and provides tips for better visibility in search results
Google announced its third product reviews update within the past year. They provided publishers with clear guidance on optimizing product reviews for better search result visibility and answered frequently asked questions.
Shopify launches Linkpop, a ‘link in bio’ page with shoppable links
Brands with Shopify stores can now build free 'link in bio' pages for their social profiles with Linkpop. The new service integrates Shopify's secure checkout, and visitors can make purchases with only three clicks.
What happens to your NFTs when you die?
If you don't include your crypto assets in your estate, they still exist. That could make them more or less valuable.
Why crypto is a waste of energy, full of crime, and isn’t really decentralized
As venture capitalists pour money into Web3 and crypto, David Rosenthal meticulously explains why the overly hyped technology is extraordinarily inefficient, insecure, and more centralized than decentralized.
Google replaces FLoC with ‘Topics’ for cookieless targeted advertising
Google abandons FLoC due to its lack of true federated learning and privacy controls. They are replacing it with Topics, an API that leverages browser history and provides users with more transparency and control.
Web3 and crypto skepticism is growing and people are finally starting to listen
Crypto skeptics have been trying to warn the public that cryptocurrency is a Ponzi scheme and Web3 is fake decentralization that can't fix a web that isn't broken. Critics have mainly been ignored as aggressive opportunism and skyrocketing token prices have silenced dissent. However, as crypto becomes more mainstream and people experience its downsides, critics' warnings are starting to be heard.
Episode 12: Interview with crypto and Web3 skeptic Stephen Diehl
Stephen Diehl is a London-based software engineer working in the financial sector that has written and been outspoken about why Web3 is economically and technologically a terrible idea. In a 40-minute interview with Jon Henshaw, the two discuss the religious fervor surrounding Web3, why crypto is repeating history and will end badly, and how Web3 is already primarily centralized. They also discussed the Metaverse's potential impact on future generations and the promise no-code technology might have on society.
Princeton privacy study halts GDPR/CCPA research over ethics concerns and industry blowback
Computer science researchers at Princeton University and Radboud University conducted an academic study that sent automated email messages to websites with GDPR and CCPA privacy policy requests from fake personas. Email operators, web admins, and privacy professionals interpreted the messages as security risks and legal threats, prompting the researchers to suspend the study and delete all communication.
