Venmo will now let you hide your friend list.
After Joe Biden's "secret" Venmo account was discovered earlier this month, Venmo confirmed they're going to let people set their friend list to private or visible only to their friends. BuzzFeed News, who revealed Joe Biden's Venmo account, used public friend lists, which previously could not be made private, to find the president, the first lady, and members of their immediate family. Now Venmo confirmed that they added the "hide friends" feature. There's apparently also an option that allows you to hide your account from appearing in other people's friend lists. Link
May 31, 2021
May 28, 2021
Nintendo plans to announce next generation of Nintendo Switch console.
The new Switch is expected to be more powerful than the current models and could launch as soon as September. It's likely to be priced higher than the current $299 price and will replace the original Nintendo Switch (the less expensive Switch Lite will still be available). According to reports from earlier this year, the new model will be capable of producing 4K graphics on a TV and will have a larger OLED screen. Nintendo is rumored to announce the upgraded Switch before the June E3 gaming conference so game publishers can showcase their games on it at the conference. According to Nintendo, they have sold about 85 million Switch units so far. Link
The new Switch is expected to be more powerful than the current models and could launch as soon as September. It's likely to be priced higher than the current $299 price and will replace the original Nintendo Switch (the less expensive Switch Lite will still be available). According to reports from earlier this year, the new model will be capable of producing 4K graphics on a TV and will have a larger OLED screen. Nintendo is rumored to announce the upgraded Switch before the June E3 gaming conference so game publishers can showcase their games on it at the conference. According to Nintendo, they have sold about 85 million Switch units so far. Link
May 27, 2021
You can now hide Like counts on Facebook and Instagram.
Rolling out this week, both Facebook and Instagram users will now have the option to hide like and view counts across all their posts (so viewers won't see them) and to choose to not see likes and views when scrolling their feed (likes that other people's posts received). This follows earlier tests that started in 2019. The goal with this is to reduce pressure and anxiety users had about getting enough likes on their posts. This is particularly difficult for younger users who highly value what peers think of them, often resulting in taking down posts that didn't get enough likes. Link
Rolling out this week, both Facebook and Instagram users will now have the option to hide like and view counts across all their posts (so viewers won't see them) and to choose to not see likes and views when scrolling their feed (likes that other people's posts received). This follows earlier tests that started in 2019. The goal with this is to reduce pressure and anxiety users had about getting enough likes on their posts. This is particularly difficult for younger users who highly value what peers think of them, often resulting in taking down posts that didn't get enough likes. Link
May 25, 2021
Netflix plans to offer a gaming product next year, similar to Apple Arcade.
Netflix hasn't confirmed this yet but there have been signs all over. They're apparently hiring a gaming executive to oversee new gaming efforts and when asked they said "we’re excited to do more with interactive entertainment". Netflix reportedly plans to commission titles from indie studios and to develop games based on licensed IP. Apparently, Netflix subscribers will be offered the upcoming service as "a smaller Apple Arcade" bundle, possibly launching in 2022. Funnily enough, when Apple Arcade launched it was described as the Netflix of games 😀. Link
Netflix hasn't confirmed this yet but there have been signs all over. They're apparently hiring a gaming executive to oversee new gaming efforts and when asked they said "we’re excited to do more with interactive entertainment". Netflix reportedly plans to commission titles from indie studios and to develop games based on licensed IP. Apparently, Netflix subscribers will be offered the upcoming service as "a smaller Apple Arcade" bundle, possibly launching in 2022. Funnily enough, when Apple Arcade launched it was described as the Netflix of games 😀. Link
May 23, 2021
Google is opening its first physical retail store in New York this summer.
The new Google Store in Chelsea (15th and 9th Streets) will host "an extensive selection of products made by Google" including Pixel phones, Nest products, Fitbit devices, and more. Google's main motivation for opening the store is to let customers experience Google hardware before buying and to pickup products ordered online at GoogleStore.com. Similar to Apple, the store will have experts on hand to help visitors with their devices, such as troubleshooting an issue, fixing a cracked Pixel screen or helping with installations. It's a bit surprising that this is Google's first physical store, considering the myriad of competing Apple Stores. Link
The new Google Store in Chelsea (15th and 9th Streets) will host "an extensive selection of products made by Google" including Pixel phones, Nest products, Fitbit devices, and more. Google's main motivation for opening the store is to let customers experience Google hardware before buying and to pickup products ordered online at GoogleStore.com. Similar to Apple, the store will have experts on hand to help visitors with their devices, such as troubleshooting an issue, fixing a cracked Pixel screen or helping with installations. It's a bit surprising that this is Google's first physical store, considering the myriad of competing Apple Stores. Link
May 21, 2021
Snap unveiled a new version of Spectacles that include an AR display for the first time.
These are the 4th generation of Snapchat's Spectacles, but this time they aren't for sale. Yet. The new Spectacles have 2 displays that can superimpose AR effects. The frame features 2 front facing cameras (for detecting objects and surfaces), four built-in microphones, two stereo speakers, and a built-in touchpad. Instead of selling these, Snap is giving them to AR effects creators to encourage them to experiment with creating experiences for the new Spectacles. They aren't quite ready for mass consumption, the battery only lasts 30 minutes for now, and we think this ugly version can't be their final design 🤷♂️. They weigh 134 grams, twice the weight of the previous version, but far less than Microsoft’s Hololens AR headset.
The company, which calls itself a camera company, also announced that they bought WaveOptics, their key supplier for glasses hardware, for over $500 million.
Link
These are the 4th generation of Snapchat's Spectacles, but this time they aren't for sale. Yet. The new Spectacles have 2 displays that can superimpose AR effects. The frame features 2 front facing cameras (for detecting objects and surfaces), four built-in microphones, two stereo speakers, and a built-in touchpad. Instead of selling these, Snap is giving them to AR effects creators to encourage them to experiment with creating experiences for the new Spectacles. They aren't quite ready for mass consumption, the battery only lasts 30 minutes for now, and we think this ugly version can't be their final design 🤷♂️. They weigh 134 grams, twice the weight of the previous version, but far less than Microsoft’s Hololens AR headset.
The company, which calls itself a camera company, also announced that they bought WaveOptics, their key supplier for glasses hardware, for over $500 million.
Link
May 20, 2021
Microsoft is retiring Internet Explorer on June 15, 2022, after more than 25 years, in favor of Edge.
Internet Explorer used to be the top browser during the explosion years of the internet but has largely been unused by consumers for years. While the Long-Term Servicing Channel (LTSC) of Windows 10 will still include Internet Explorer next year, all consumer versions will end support of the browser. Although consumers haven't really been using IE, many business still rely on it. The alternative for most businesses will be Microsoft Edge with IE mode, which allows businesses to adopt Edge for older legacy websites. IE mode supports older ActiveX controls and legacy sites. Microsoft is promising to support IE mode in Edge until through at least 2029. Link
Internet Explorer used to be the top browser during the explosion years of the internet but has largely been unused by consumers for years. While the Long-Term Servicing Channel (LTSC) of Windows 10 will still include Internet Explorer next year, all consumer versions will end support of the browser. Although consumers haven't really been using IE, many business still rely on it. The alternative for most businesses will be Microsoft Edge with IE mode, which allows businesses to adopt Edge for older legacy websites. IE mode supports older ActiveX controls and legacy sites. Microsoft is promising to support IE mode in Edge until through at least 2029. Link
May 19, 2021
AT&T to spin off WarnerMedia and combine it with Discovery in a $43B deal.
The new combined company will own one of the largest content libraries in the world, of more than 100 brands — including HBO, Warner Bros., CNN, Discovery, HGTV, TLC, Carton Network, Food Network, TNT, Eurosport, Magnolia Network, Animal Planet, and DC Comics. This move will give AT&T a strong edge in the streaming wars against Netflix. AT&T's shareholders will get the majority of the shares in the combined company, at 71%, while Discovery's shareholders will get 29%. The new company will be run by Discovery CEO David Zaslav and it doesn't have a name yet. Link
Update: Discovery and WarnerMedia announced the name for the combined company: Warner Bros. Discovery. Very unique 😀
The new combined company will own one of the largest content libraries in the world, of more than 100 brands — including HBO, Warner Bros., CNN, Discovery, HGTV, TLC, Carton Network, Food Network, TNT, Eurosport, Magnolia Network, Animal Planet, and DC Comics. This move will give AT&T a strong edge in the streaming wars against Netflix. AT&T's shareholders will get the majority of the shares in the combined company, at 71%, while Discovery's shareholders will get 29%. The new company will be run by Discovery CEO David Zaslav and it doesn't have a name yet. Link
Update: Discovery and WarnerMedia announced the name for the combined company: Warner Bros. Discovery. Very unique 😀
Shein passes Amazon as the most installed shopping app in the US for iOS and Android.
The China-based fashion e-commerce company focuses on children's and women's apparel. Dubbed the "TikTok for e-commerce", Shein manufactures in China as many apparel companies do, however they also control their production chain: from design and prototype to procurement to manufacturing. This allows the company to rapidly follow market trends in different countries and churn out hundreds of new products daily. The strategy is similar to TikTok matching content creators with users by using algorithms to understand their habits in real-time. Link
The China-based fashion e-commerce company focuses on children's and women's apparel. Dubbed the "TikTok for e-commerce", Shein manufactures in China as many apparel companies do, however they also control their production chain: from design and prototype to procurement to manufacturing. This allows the company to rapidly follow market trends in different countries and churn out hundreds of new products daily. The strategy is similar to TikTok matching content creators with users by using algorithms to understand their habits in real-time. Link
May 18, 2021
Microsoft confirms they will launch a consumer version of their HoloLens AR headset.
Microsoft Technical Fellow Alex Kipman confirms that it's a significant part of their AR strategy. He said that Microsoft could not lead a new medium of computing without addressing the consumer market. Kipman didn’t give any kind of roadmap for an eventual launch of a consumer HoloLens, but it’s likely not going to happen for a while. Link
Microsoft Technical Fellow Alex Kipman confirms that it's a significant part of their AR strategy. He said that Microsoft could not lead a new medium of computing without addressing the consumer market. Kipman didn’t give any kind of roadmap for an eventual launch of a consumer HoloLens, but it’s likely not going to happen for a while. Link
Amazon is in talks to acquire MGM for $9B.
MGM, the film production company, has been up for sale since December 2020 and $9B was the amount that MGM was reportedly hoping to get. The Guardian reported that MGM has a library of 4,000 films and 17,000 hours of TV (including James Bond, The Handmaid’s Tale, Rocky, Stargate, Robocop, Legally Blonde, and Vikings). James Bond alone is one of the most valuable film franchises ever made. Link
Update: Amazon acquires MGM Studios for $8.45B, its second-largest acquisition since it paid $13.7B for Whole Foods in 2017 - Link
MGM, the film production company, has been up for sale since December 2020 and $9B was the amount that MGM was reportedly hoping to get. The Guardian reported that MGM has a library of 4,000 films and 17,000 hours of TV (including James Bond, The Handmaid’s Tale, Rocky, Stargate, Robocop, Legally Blonde, and Vikings). James Bond alone is one of the most valuable film franchises ever made. Link
Update: Amazon acquires MGM Studios for $8.45B, its second-largest acquisition since it paid $13.7B for Whole Foods in 2017 - Link
May 17, 2021
Bitcoin dropped 8.5% and hit $43K because of a one word tweet by Elon Musk.
Somebody on Twitter speculated that Tesla would now sell the Bitcoin they're holding after announcing last week that Tesla would no longer accept the cryptocurrency as payment, Musk replied with one word: "Indeed". That was enough to get cryptocurrency investors to start selling Bitcoin which caused one of Bitcoin's biggest drops in value since the price first began to rapidly increase in January.
Link
Somebody on Twitter speculated that Tesla would now sell the Bitcoin they're holding after announcing last week that Tesla would no longer accept the cryptocurrency as payment, Musk replied with one word: "Indeed". That was enough to get cryptocurrency investors to start selling Bitcoin which caused one of Bitcoin's biggest drops in value since the price first began to rapidly increase in January.
May 16, 2021
Android 12 will have a new lock screen, a redesigned keyboard, and stacked notifications and widgets.
Leaked slides from Google's I/O conference show that Android 12 will also promise stronger privacy and security protections, "a beautiful new experience", and improved interactions between devices.
Google I/O, their annual developer's conference, starts on Tuesday. Link
Leaked slides from Google's I/O conference show that Android 12 will also promise stronger privacy and security protections, "a beautiful new experience", and improved interactions between devices.
Clubhouse launching their Android app globally by Friday.
Last week the company launched the beta version of their Android app only in the US. Now they said they'll roll out the Android version to Japan, Brazil, and Russia on Tuesday, Nigeria and India three days later, and the rest of the world by Friday afternoon. Clubhouse launched as an iPhone-only app last year and is valued at about $4 billion. The app quickly gained popularity and attracted high-profile celebrities, politicians, investors, and entrepreneurs. Link
Last week the company launched the beta version of their Android app only in the US. Now they said they'll roll out the Android version to Japan, Brazil, and Russia on Tuesday, Nigeria and India three days later, and the rest of the world by Friday afternoon. Clubhouse launched as an iPhone-only app last year and is valued at about $4 billion. The app quickly gained popularity and attracted high-profile celebrities, politicians, investors, and entrepreneurs. Link
May 15, 2021
Twitter's premium service will be called Twitter Blue.
The subscription service will cost $2.99 per month. Its features reportedly will include the ability to unsend tweets and to create collections of tweets. It also appears that Twitter is working on a tiered subscription model, which could mean a less-cluttered, premium experience for the highest-paying subscribers. Link
Update: Twitter has updated their Apple App Store listing and it now has an in-app purchase of "Twitter Blue" for $2.99, which pretty much confirms the Twitter Blue rumor
The subscription service will cost $2.99 per month. Its features reportedly will include the ability to unsend tweets and to create collections of tweets. It also appears that Twitter is working on a tiered subscription model, which could mean a less-cluttered, premium experience for the highest-paying subscribers. Link
Update: Twitter has updated their Apple App Store listing and it now has an in-app purchase of "Twitter Blue" for $2.99, which pretty much confirms the Twitter Blue rumor
May 14, 2021
Facebook is testing a pop-up that encourages users to open unread articles before sharing them.
Facebook wants to make sure you’ve read the article you’re about to share so they are testing a prompt that asks users if they’re sure they want to share an article that they haven’t opened. The pop-up will prompt users to read the article, but they can also choose to continue sharing it if they want. Twitter debuted a similar prompt a year ago.
Link
Facebook wants to make sure you’ve read the article you’re about to share so they are testing a prompt that asks users if they’re sure they want to share an article that they haven’t opened. The pop-up will prompt users to read the article, but they can also choose to continue sharing it if they want. Twitter debuted a similar prompt a year ago.
Roku to debut 30 ex-Quibi shows on May 20
Roku acquired the rights to Quibi's short-form shows when Quibi shut down. Financial terms were not disclosed, but it's understood to be less than $100M. Roku will not maintain Quibi's Turnstyle feature, which enabled mobile users to rotate their phones between landscape and portrait modes and automatically see an adapted version. Link
Roku acquired the rights to Quibi's short-form shows when Quibi shut down. Financial terms were not disclosed, but it's understood to be less than $100M. Roku will not maintain Quibi's Turnstyle feature, which enabled mobile users to rotate their phones between landscape and portrait modes and automatically see an adapted version. Link
May 13, 2021
US agrees to remove Xiaomi from blacklist after Xiaomi's lawsuit earlier this year.
Xiaomi Corp. and the U.S. government have reached an agreement to remove the blacklisting that the Trump administration set in place. Having Xiaomi blacklisted could have restricted American investment in the Chinese smartphone maker. Link
Xiaomi Corp. and the U.S. government have reached an agreement to remove the blacklisting that the Trump administration set in place. Having Xiaomi blacklisted could have restricted American investment in the Chinese smartphone maker. Link
Tesla has suspended Bitcoin payments for vehicle purchases.
Elon Musk tweeted that it "is a good idea... but this cannot come at great cost to the environment", referring to the negative environmental impact that mining Bitcound has. Tesla bought $1.5B worth of Bitcoin in February. Link
Elon Musk tweeted that it "is a good idea... but this cannot come at great cost to the environment", referring to the negative environmental impact that mining Bitcound has. Tesla bought $1.5B worth of Bitcoin in February. Link
May 12, 2021
Sony warns that there will be a shortage of PlayStation 5's through 2022, even despite a boost in supply.
They also claim that demand is not going to decline any time soon. Sony sold 7.8M units through March 31, and are aiming to sell 14.8M units by the end of the year. Link
WhatsApp will gradually stop working if you don't agree to the new privacy policy.
It will effectively become useless for any users that refuse the new privacy policy. WhatsApp said that they will eventually stop users from sending and receiving messages and after several weeks users will begin to lose access to their chat lists. And a few weeks after that, users won't receive calls or notifications. Link
Update: WhatsApp backtracks and says they now won’t limit functionality if you don’t accept their new privacy policy - Update link
It will effectively become useless for any users that refuse the new privacy policy. WhatsApp said that they will eventually stop users from sending and receiving messages and after several weeks users will begin to lose access to their chat lists. And a few weeks after that, users won't receive calls or notifications. Link
Update: WhatsApp backtracks and says they now won’t limit functionality if you don’t accept their new privacy policy - Update link
YouTube plans to pay $100M to creators to create YouTube Shorts.
YouTube Shorts is their TikTok competitor and they plan to start paying top creators in the next few months in the US and India.
YouTube Shorts is their TikTok competitor and they plan to start paying top creators in the next few months in the US and India.
Called the YouTube Shorts Fund, its goal is to reward creators with the highest engagement. Anyone who creates Shorts is eligible to participate.
Link
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