Alexa Loses Big Money; iPhone 15-Rounded Back,Titanium Case; Musk Claims Twitter Hiring Again; Domino’s Readies for All-EV Delivery Fleet

Apparently, Meta’s Metaverse project isn’t the only big tech company division that’s losing huge money. Arstechnica.com reports that Amazon’s Alexa division is on its way to joining the ‘lose $10 billion a year’ club! One difference, however. In the 10 years Alexa and Alexa devices have been around, they have been considered something of a loss leader by Amazon. The problem is that the losses from the Alexa division are twice the amount of any other Amazon unit. Most of the Echo devices, which are among the “best-selling items on Amazon, most of the devices sold at cost.” The idea has been to make money on your using Alexa, not on the devices. Google is also not making any money on Google Assistant. Apple never did try to sell their Siri powered gadgets like the HomePod at cost…like Apple has EVER sold anything at cost…so they don’t seem to be in such a hole. Are voice assistants doomed? Stay tuned, we may find out before long.

Since Apple leaked into the first story, here is a new rumor about their iPhone 15. According to 9to5mac.com, quoting a leaker called ShrimpApplePro…who has a good, but not perfect record…the new iPhone 15 models may have a titanium casing, and rounded back. The titanium may only go to the Pro or Ultra models, though. The idea is to lighten the weight with the titanium. As for the rounded shoulders on the back, that is intended to help people pick the phones up off a surface. Even with the camera bump, you can’t always quickly grab your phone off a desk or table. The square corners top, rounded bottom isn’t completely foreign to Apple…the latest MacBooks also feature that design. 

Despite a few more layoffs this week, Elon Musk told an all hands meeting Monday that the company is done with layoffs and actively recruiting for engineering and sales help (like some of those he recently fired. The company is down to about 2700 employees from the 7500 before Musk took over. Theverge.com also noted that Musk said “This is not a right-wing takeover of Twitter. It is a moderate-wing takeover of Twitter.” In looking at what accounts he has allowed back on…from Trump to Marge Taylor Green…although drawing a line in the sand at Alex Jones, not many people would agree that it is a moderate take over!

Domino’s is going big on electric vehicles. The pizza delivery company has ordered 800 Chevy Bolt EVs for its delivery fleet. Theverge.com says the cars are sans any bells and whistles, but will be wrapped with custom Domino’s branding. The 855 EVs won’t mean one for each of Domino’s 6135 locations, but it will be a heck of a start! Domino’s thinks with local deliveries, the cars shouldn’t need to be charged more than every other or every 3 days. 

I’m Clark Reid, and you’re ‘Technified’ for now.