Fitbit Blood Pressure Study; Twitter Looked at Clubhouse; Twitch Curbs Offline Misconduct; Virtual Google I/O
Posted: April 8, 2021 Filed under: Uncategorized Leave a commentFitbit’s most advanced smartwatch today can track heart rate, blood oxygen, and skin temperature, and now, the company is investigating if it can measure blood pressure with a new study for Sense owners. 9to5google.com says Fitbit Labs is launching a blood pressure study this month to “potentially measure” the “time it takes for a pulse of blood to reach your wrist after your heart beats.” Sense owners over 20 in the US will receive a notification in the Fitbit app about this study.
Twitter held talks recently to acquire Clubhouse, the buzzy audio-based social network. Bloomberg reports that the companies discussed a potential valuation of roughly $4 billion for Clubhouse. Discussions are no longer ongoing, and it’s unclear why they stalled. A Twitter spokesman declined to comment. A Clubhouse representative didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.Twitter’s Clubhouse competitor, called Spaces, launched in late 2020, though it’s still in beta form and not all users can create or host public discussions.
Twitch will start taking disciplinary actions against people for misconduct that takes place offline or entirely on other platforms. According to engadget.com, the company may ban people for off-service misconduct under its expanded harassment and hateful conduct policy.The service will still target misconduct that takes place both on and off of Twitch (like if a user is harassing a streamer on its platform as well as Twitter). The updated policy adds a second category to tackle misconduct that doesn’t happen on Twitch at all.
Last year, due to the pandemic, Apple and Microsoft went virtual for their big developer events. Google called off I/O all together. Techcrunch.com says this year, the Google show is set to return in virtual form. Google sent out its customary puzzle invites today, noting that the event will be held May 18-20. Like other online-only events of a recent vintage, this version of the developer’s conference will be free to attend and open to all.
Starlink Sat Dishes; Vitals by Smartphone; TikTok Gets Captions; Chip Shortage
Posted: April 7, 2021 Filed under: Uncategorized Leave a commentSpaceX has been shipping satellite dishes to Starlink customers that are actually worth far more than the $499 it’s charging its customers. It initially cost the company $3,000 to produce each satellite dish, according to CNBC.The company has since reduced the manufacturing cost to $1,500, and then down to $1,300. The manufacturing costs are expected to fall even further to “the few hundred dollar range within the next year or two.” The $499 for the Starlink dish and Wi-Fi modem is a one-time fee. Users must also pay $99 a month to receive the internet service.
Scientists with the University of Washington and Microsoft Research have new technology that allows medical providers to remotely check a patient’s pulse and heart rate.The tool uses the camera on a smartphone or computer to capture 18 seconds of video of a person’s face. Geekwire.com says that the video is analyzed to measure changes in the light reflected by a patient’s skin, which correlates to changes in blood volume and motion that are caused by blood circulation.
TikTok has announced the launch of a new feature designed to make its app accessible to people who are hard of hearing or deaf. The company is today debuting auto captions — a feature that, when enabled, will automatically transcribe the speech from a video so viewers can read what’s being said in the video as an alternative to listening. Techcrunch.com reports that initially, auto captions will support American English and Japanese, with additional languages coming in the months ahead.
Auto manufacturers and other companies are hoping that the global chip shortage will end soon, but snarled semiconductor supply chains may not untangle until 2022. According to arstechnica.com, the pandemic upended the market for semiconductors. As demand for cars plummeted, automakers slashed their orders. But at the same time, demand for chips that power laptops and data centers skyrocketed. Shortages of wafers and packaging substrates are compounding the problem.
Clubhouse Allows Creator Pay; Cook-Apple AR & Car; Android Auto-More Apps; Softbank Invests in Warehouse Robotics
Posted: April 6, 2021 Filed under: Uncategorized Leave a commentBuzzy social audio app Clubhouse will let all users pay other creators . Theverge.com says it’s the first monetization tool built right into the app. Clubhouse says it won’t take a cut of payments, meaning that creators get the entirety of what somebody sends them. Not everyone will be able to receive payments just yet, though; that will be rolling out in waves, “starting with a small test group,” according to Clubhouse. Right now, Clubhouse is only available on iOS as an invite-only app, though an Android version is in the works.
Tim Cook has hinted at Apple’s vision for augmented reality tech, telling Sway’s Kara Swisher that charts and other visual elements could enhance conversation. Cnet.com notes that he wouldn’t confirm reports that the company is working on a mixed reality headset, but he agreed with Swisher’s suggestion that AR is “critically important” to Apple’s future. Also—Cook didn’t rule out the possibility of the long-rumored Apple Car, noting that such a device’s autonomy would be its “core technology.”
Android Auto users will soon see a greater variety of navigation, parking and charging apps on the Play Store. Google is now allowing third-party developers to push software in those categories to production. According to engadget.com, that means you’ll soon start seeing those apps show up on the Play Store. Up to now, Google allowed third-party developers to release messaging and media apps for Android Auto, but not much else.
Japanese investment firm The SoftBank Group has announced it will spend $2.8 billion to buy a 40% stake in robotics company AutoStore System, which specializes in robotics for warehouses. Zdnet.com says that company develops a line of robots, including the “R5,” a member of its Red Line series, for moving bins full of goods around a warehouse. Its software offerings, such as AutoStore’s “The Router,” optimize the movement of robotics systems around a warehouse.
WFH- Boss Enjoys More; Saudis Price Up Asian Oil; Samsung’s Fat Profits; LG Exits Smartphones
Posted: April 5, 2021 Filed under: Uncategorized Leave a commentA lot has been made of surveys showing how the hybrid of work from home and office is great. Zdnet.com found in a study Microsoft did that it depends. Apparently, it’s working great for bosses. For the rest of us…maybe not so much. Redmond found 52% of the company’s IMs were being sent between 6pm and midnight. Sixty-one percent of leaders described themselves as “thriving.” However… that those who don’t make the decisions are thriving 23 points less than their bosses!
The Saudis think the economy is improving. Aramco, the Saudi state energy firm, will increase its grades for Asia in May by between 20 and 50 cents a barrel. It will raise the key Arab Light grade for the region by 40 cents from April to $1.80 per barrel above the benchmark. The company had been expected to hike the grade by 30 cents, according to a Bloomberg survey of eight traders and refiners. Western Europe is flat, Saudi exports to the US are down a dime.
Samsung Electronics likely saw a 45% jump in profit for January through March on robust sales of smartphones, TVs and home appliances, though chip division earnings are seen tumbling after a storm suspended production at its U.S. plant. Reuters says its attributed to spending more time at home due to the coronavirus pandemic. Consumers have splurged on an array of high-margin consumer electronics which in turn has helped cause a global shortage of semiconductors. Samsung is scheduled to officially announce preliminary first-quarter results on Wednesday.
LG said on Monday it will close its loss-making mobile phone business worldwide as the once pioneer brand looks to focus its resources in “growth areas” such as electric vehicle components, connected devices, smart homes, robotics, AI and B2B solutions, and platforms and services. Techcrunch.com reports that the South Korean firm said in a statement that its board of directors approved the decision today. LG, which maintained No. 3 spot in the smartphone market in the U.S. for a long time, said it will continue to sell handsets until the inventory lasts.
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