Discord's Viral Video, Apple Podcasts and RCS Updates

The Tech Landscape

In this episode, the Waveform team discusses various tech developments, ranging from the viral success of Discord's April Fool's video to the ongoing evolution of Apple's ecosystem and the emergence of new EV competitors.

Discord's Viral Video

• Discord unintentionally created the fastest-growing YouTube video ever.
• By embedding an auto-looping video as a mandatory pop-up, the company accidentally generated over 221 million views in 24 hours.
• The team reflects on the nature of viewbotting and how organic vs. forced engagement metrics work.

Apple Podcasts and Distribution

• The hosts discuss recent reports that Apple may be prioritizing podcasts enrolled in its internal subscription program within the browse section.
• The conversation centers on the tension between the open RSS standard (the foundation of podcasting) and platform-exclusive features that aim to consolidate control.
• > "It doesn't shock me that they're doing this, but it is interesting."

RCS and Android

• Following an accidental leak from Google, it is confirmed that Apple will support RCS (Rich Communication Services) on the iPhone in fall 2024.
• This development aims to bridge the long-standing gap between green and blue bubble messaging, although it is expected that the iMessage interface will remain distinct.

Future Tech and Vision Pro

Vision OS 1.1

• The update introduces spatial personas (referred to as "ghosts" by the team), which theoretically allow users to feel a sense of presence when interacting remotely through Vision Pro.
• The group explores the uncanny valley of these avatars and the difficulty of balancing realism with immersive UX.

Xiaomi SU7

• The hosts analyze the new Xiaomi SU7, a high-performance EV that has already garnered significant market attention in China.
• Despite the confusing naming convention—SU stands for Speed Ultra—the specifications for the price point challenge existing market leaders like the Tesla Model 3.