Week in Review: Snapchat beats a dead horse - TechCrunch

Hey. This is Week-in-Review, where I give a heavy amount of analysis and/or rambling thoughts on one story while scouring the rest of the hundreds of stories that emerged on TechCrunch this week to surface my favorites for your reading pleasure.

Last week, I talked about how Netflix might have some rough times ahead as Disney barrels towards it.

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The big story

There is plenty to be said about the potential of smart glasses. I write about them at length for TechCrunch and I’ve talked to a lot of founders doing cool stuff. That being said, I don’t have any idea what Snap is doing with the introduction of a third-generation of its Spectacles video sunglasses.

The first-gen were a marketing smash hit, their sales proved to be a major failure for the company which bet big and seemingly walked away with a landfill’s worth of the glasses.

Snap’s latest version of Spectacles were announced in Vogue this week, they are much more expensive at $380 and their main feature is that they have two cameras which capture images in light depth which can lead to these cute little 3D boomerangs. One one hand, it’s nice to see the company showing perseverance with a tough market, on the other it’s kind of funny to see them push the same rock up the hill again.

Snap is having an awesome 2019 after a laughably bad 2018, the stock has recovered from record lows and is trading in its IPO price wheelhouse. It seems like they’re ripe for something new and exciting, not beautiful yet iterative.

The $150 Spectacles 2 are still for sale, though they seem quite a bit dated-looking at this point. Spectacles 3 seem to be geared entirely towards women, and I’m sure they made that call after seeing the active users of previous generations, but given the write-down they took on the first-generation, something tells me that Snap’s continued experimentation here is borne out of some stubbornness form Spiegel and the higher-ups who want the Snap brand to live in a high fashion world and want to be at the forefront of an AR industry that seems to have already moved onto different things.

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On to the rest of the week’s news.

Trends of the week

Here are a few big news items from big companies, with green links to all the sweet, sweet added context:

• WordPress buys Tumblr for chump change
  Tumblr, a game-changing blogging network that shifted online habits and exited for $1.1 billion just changed hands after Verizon (which owns TechCrunch) unloaded the property for a reported $3 million. Read more about this nightmarish deal here.
• Trump gives American hardware a holiday season pass on tariffs 
  The ongoing trade war with China generally seems to be rough news for American companies deeply intertwined with the manufacturing centers there, but Trump is giving U.S. companies a Christmas reprieve from the tariffs, allowing certain types of hardware to be exempt from the recent rate increases through December. Read more here.
• Facebook loses one last acquisition co-founder
  This week, the final remnant of Facebook’s major acquisitions left the company. Oculus co-founder Nate Mitchell announced he was leaving. Now, Instagram, WhatsApp and Oculus are all helmed by Facebook leadership and not a single co-founder from the three companies remains onboard. Read more here.

GAFA Gaffes

How did the top tech companies screw up this week? This clearly needs its own section, in order of badness:

1. Facebook’s turn in audio transcription debacle:
   [Facebook transcribed users’ audio messages without permission]
2. Google’s hate speech detection algorithms get critiqued:
   [Racial bias observed in hate speech detection algorithm from Google]
3. Amazon has a little email mishap:
   [Amazon customers say they received emails for other people’s orders]

Adam Neumann (WeWork) at TechCrunch Disrupt NY 2017

Extra Crunch

Our premium subscription service had another week of interesting deep dives. My colleague Danny Crichton wrote about the “tech” conundrum that is WeWork and the questions that are still unanswered after the company filed documents this week to go public.

…How is margin changing at its older locations? How is margin changing as it opens up in places like India, with very different costs and revenues? How do those margins change over time as a property matures? WeWork spills serious amounts of ink saying that these numbers do get better … without seemingly being willing to actually offer up the numbers themselves…

Here are some of our other top reads this week for premium subscribers. This week, we published a major deep dive into the world’s next music unicorn and we dug deep into marketplace startups.

Sign up for more newsletters in your inbox (including this one) here.

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https://techcrunch.com/2019/08/18/week-in-review-snapchat-beats-a-dead-horse-and-tumblr/

2019-08-18 12:00:39Z
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Sonos’ first portable Bluetooth speaker leaks in more detail - Circuit Breaker

We’re getting a better look at the long-awaited portable bluetooth speaker from Sonos thanks to a slew of new images posted by WinFuture. The German publication that specializes in Microsoft leaks has posted what it says are “official marketing images” of the new speaker, while also giving us a name for product S17: Sonos Move.

The images give us a first glimpse at the stationary base station as well as the built-in handle whereby the Sonos Move can be undocked and transformed into an ordinary Bluetooth speaker via a toggle button on the rear. We’re also getting a first look at how the Sonos Move charges, either via the USB-C jack or the two charging contacts near the base of the speaker. It’s a clever design that lets you extend your Sonos whole-home audio network into the backyard or a bathroom, for example, or to places far beyond the reach of your Wi-Fi signal like the beach or a park.

The Verge previously revealed additional details based on information provided by a person familiar with the speaker’s capabilities:

• The speaker is larger than it may look in the photos. It’s both taller and slightly wider than the Sonos One / Play:1.
• It supports hands-free voice commands from either Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant.
• When in Bluetooth mode, the speaker cannot be controlled with the Sonos app. It behaves like any other Bluetooth speaker. You pair it and play.
• Hands-free voice commands for Alexa and Google Assistant are also (currently) unavailable in Bluetooth mode.
• In regular Wi-Fi mode, the speaker appears like any other Sonos device in the app — but with a battery indicator.
• Like other recent Sonos speakers, the portable one will support Apple’s AirPlay 2.
• It’s the first Sonos speaker to support Auto Trueplay, utilizing the speaker’s built-in microphones to automatically fine tune the audio output.

We still don’t know the battery life, waterproof / dustproof rating, ability to pair with other Sonos speaker(s) for stereo or surround sound, or, importantly, the price. As far as dates go, Sonos is hosting a press event that kicks off on August 26th, so it’s a good bet we’ll get all the details then.

For more images of the Sonos Move be sure to check out WinFuture.

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https://www.theverge.com/circuitbreaker/2019/8/18/20810817/sonos-move-bluetooth-speaker-leak

2019-08-18 09:36:36Z
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Apple is charging employees to get their feedback on Apple Arcade - PhoneArena

Back in March, Apple introduced its new Apple Arcade service. For a yet to be decided monthly fee ($4.99, $9.99?) subscribers will be able to choose from over 100 new mobile games. Apple says that it expects to launch Arcade this fall, but in the meantime, the company is giving employees a preview of the service. According to 9to5Mac, those toiling for the tech giant are getting a one-month free trial; once the trial period expires, they are paying 49 cents a month to test early builds of some of the games that will be offered to subscribers once the platform launches. This early access program is expected to end once the final version of iOS 13 drops.

The games that are available for the early access program include Way of the Turtle, Down in Bermuda, Hot Lava, Sneaky Sasquatch, Kings of the Castle, Frogger in Toy Town and Lame Game 2. Apple Arcade will allow subscribers to play any title available for as long as they want, and players can switch platforms from the iPhone to an iPad, a Mac and Apple TV without missing a beat. Users will also be able to play games while offline and a family with up to six members will be able to share a family subscription. Because players will be paying monthly, there are no in-app purchases offered.

Apple has reportedly spent $500 million on Apple Arcade

After iPhone shipments peaked in 2015 at 231.22 million units, the company decided to focus on its services unit. This was a smart move because many of the businesses under the services umbrella, like Apple Music and Apple News+, require recurring payments from subscribers. And these businesses are less reliant on new iPhone sales, depending instead on the large number of active iPhone users which at last count totaled 900 million people. The company has targeted $50 billion in services revenue by 2020 which would be twice the $25 billion that the division grossed in 2016. For the recently announced fiscal third quarter, covering April through June, the services unit took in a record $11.5 billion in revenue. That is a 12.7% year-over-year gain from the $10.2 billion that the division took in during the same quarter in 2018. Overall, the services unit is Apple's second-largest business unit and is it's most profitable. The success or failure of Apple Arcade will go a long way toward determining whether Apple meets its $50 billion revenue goal next year.

Apple is conducting an internal test of Arcade by charging employees 49 cents a month to obtain their feedback

Earlier this year, a report claimed that Apple has spent $500 million on Apple Arcade; analysts at HSBC Bank see the subscription service generating $370 million in revenue next year before jumping to $2.7 billion by 2022 and a whopping $4.5 billion by 2024. The bank's analysis forecasts Apple Arcade having 29 million subscribers by 2024 with individual subscriptions costing $12.99 a month.

Besides paying the monthly subscription price, Arcade members are expected to shell out the cash required for them to pick up accessories for their Apple devices such as controllers. While subscribers will be able to navigate through Arcade games using the buttons on their iPhone, iPad or Mac, picking up an MFi (Made for iPhone, iPad) controller could make gameplay a little easier for some.

One of the games that Apple employees can play while subscribed to the Limited Internal Carry Test

It seems a little strange that Apple is asking employees to pay 49 cents a month so that the company can collect feedback from them; after all, the point of the early access program is to find out where Apple and the game developers can make changes to improve the user experience. While we have no data revealing how many have signed up for the short-lived program, we'd bet that it was more than enough for Apple and its developer partners to get a good idea of the work that still needs to be done on Arcade before its launch.

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2019-08-17 17:48:29Z
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Next Apple Watch could include new ceramic and titanium models - TechCrunch

Apple’s next Apple Watch revision could include new materials for the case, including titanium and ceramic. That’s according to new assets pulled form the latest watchOS beta release, as uncovered by Brazilian site iHelp.br (via 9to5Mac). The new screens discovered in the beta show graphics used to pair the Apple Watch during setup, and list “Titanium Case” and “Ceramic Case” alongside model size identification info.

Apple has previously offered a ceramic Apple Watch, alongside its Series 2 and Series 3 models, with a premium price and white and black case options. The company hasn’t previously used titanium, but the lightweight, durable metal is popular among traditional watchmakers because it can really significantly reduce the heft of a watch case, while still providing a premium look and feel.

Last year’s Apple Watch Series 4 was the first significant change in body design for the wearable since its introduction in 2015, so it seems unlikely that Apple will change that this year again. The new physical design includes larger case sizes (40mm and 44mm, respectively, vs. 38mm and 42mm for previous generations), a thinner profile and a display with rounded corners and slimmer bezels.

Offering new materials is a way for Apple to deliver new hardware that is observably new on the outside, in addition to whatever processor and component improvements they make on the inside. Apple will likely also offer these alongside their stainless steel and aluminum models, should they actually be released this fall, and would probably charge a premium for these material options, too.

The Series 4 Apple Watch proved a serious improvement in terms of performance, and added features like the onboard ECG. Splashy new looks likely won’t be the extent of what Apple has planned for Series 5, however, especially since the company is revamping watchOS to be much more independent of the phone, which would benefit from more capable processors.

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https://techcrunch.com/2019/08/17/next-apple-watch-could-include-new-ceramic-and-titanium-models/

2019-08-17 13:22:39Z
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New ceramic and titanium Apple Watch models spotted in watchOS 6 beta - The Verge

Apple’s latest watchOS beta appears to have revealed the company’s plans for new Apple Watch models. Just days after spotting a potential iPhone 11 announcement date, iHelp BR has discovered references to new ceramic and titanium watch models in the latest watchOS 6 beta. Both new watch models will reportedly come in both the 40mm and 44mm versions, and iHelp BR has found animations for the initial Apple Watch setup process.

Apple has never released an Apple Watch in a titanium finish, but 9to5Mac notes that this is the same finish used on the company’s new Apple Card. A ceramic Apple Watch was first introduced with the Series 2 and 3, but Apple didn’t produce a ceramic version of the Series 4 Apple Watch.

It’s not clear if these new Apple Watch models will be part of a bigger Series 5 launch, or simply added to the existing Series 4 lineup. Apple is expected to unveil its iPhone 11 lineup on September 10th, and these Apple Watch models will likely be part of that announcement.

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2019-08-17 13:10:22Z
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10 deals you don’t want to miss on Saturday: Free money from Amazon, $13 Anker wireless charger, Fire TV Stick, more - BGR

We’ve got a terrific daily deals roundup for you to check out on Saturday, and the cherry on top is some free money from Amazon! Buy $50 or more of Amazon gift cards and Amazon will give you a $15 credit for free if you enter the coupon code 19GIFTCARD at checkout, or you go to this page first and click the button to apply this promotion to your account. You’re obviously going to spend $65 on Amazon anyway, so why not get $15 of it for free!? The only caveat is that you’re not eligible for the promo if you’ve purchased Amazon gift cards from the Amazon site before.

Other top deals on Saturday include Anker’s best-selling wireless charging stand for only $12.99, true wireless earbuds with touch control like AirPods for just $30.99, a best-selling Wi-Fi range extender that works with any router for $16.99, a surprise discount on the Fire TV Stick, $100 Bose wired earbuds for $49, brand new Echo Dots for $29.99, an inflatable 12-foot movie projector screen for $119.99, 16-foot warm white LED strips for $7.99 each, the Echo Dot for cars for only $20.99, and more. Check out all of today’s best bargains below.

Follow @BGRDeals on Twitter to keep up with the latest and greatest deals from around the web. Quantities may be limited. Prices are subject to change without notice and coupons may expire at any time. BGR may receive a commission on orders placed through this article.

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2019-08-17 11:47:00Z
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24 hours with the Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ - Engadget

Very early yesterday morning, I picked up a shiny new Galaxy Note 10+ (in that trippy Aura Glow finish, no less). We'll have our full review completed soon, but after 24 hours of fiddling with it, there are a few features and flourishes that are worth digging into right now.

The hole-punch display

Samsung's mastery of smartphone screens is well-known, and the 6.8-inch Dynamic AMOLED one here is nothing short of excellent. (If it means something to you, DisplayMate has a fairly gushy evaluation you can read here.) What people have been more concerned about is whether the center-aligned front-facing 10-megapixel camera is any more distracting than the cutouts on the Galaxy S10 series. Well, I'm pleased to report I never really notice it. Yes, its placement is somewhat more prominent, but Samsung's work in making the cutout smaller means it's very easy to ignore.

The cameras

No surprises here — the Note 10+ more or less uses the same rear triple camera system and time-of-flight sensor as the Galaxy S10 5G, and they're still excellent. Colors are lush and vibrant and photos come out with a remarkable level of detail, though some of you might not like the extra sharpening Samsung's software does. One of the more notable changes here is that the 12-megapixel telephoto camera has a slightly wider aperture, which helps when shooting in the dark. The handful of telephoto shots I've taken in the do look surprisingly good, but I haven't had time to do a direct side-by-side comparison with the Galaxy S10 yet.

Blistering performance

Despite rumors that suggested Samsung might use an updated variant, the Note 10 and 10+ use the same Snapdragon 855 that pretty much every other flagship this year does. (Note: This is true of my US-spec model, but some international versions will use one of Samsung's Exynos chips instead.) It's still a powerhouse though, coupled with 12GB of RAM and Qualcomm's Adreno 640 GPU. As a result, the Note 10+ absolutely flies, but the same could be said of any flagship phone.

S Pen handwriting recognition

I recently started writing out notes and reminders on paper instead of typing them into my phone. The Note 10+ is supposed to give me the best of both worlds by letting me write out my notes with the S Pen and then turn that into searchable text.I've got to say, I'm impressed by how quickly the Note 10+ is able to parse my chicken scratch. I've been able to search for specific items in my shopping list mere moments after hitting save. And apart from some issues with recognizing spaces between words, the Note has done a decent job converting my writing into readable text.

Chris Velazco/Engadget

Lots of design tweaks

This might just be a me thing, but the smaller Note 10 is way more comfortable to use than this big one. If you're a big phone fan, the Note 10+ might be OK, especially since it's roughly the same size as last year's Note 9. Even as a guy with big hands, though, the Note 10+'s body can feel a little unwieldy at times. It doesn't really help that part of my hand frequently sits on the screen without my noticing it, leading to a few moments of confusion when my touch inputs get totally screwed up. That's all because the touch-sensitive screen curves a little further down the sides than on earlier devices, making accidental touches much more frequent. It sounds like a little thing, I'll admit, but it's starting to get pretty frustrating. When it comes to Samsung's big phones, I firmly believe the company peaked with the S10+.

Oh, and while I'm glad Samsung finally got rid of that pointless Bixby button, the fact that all of the phone's physical controls are on the left side keeps throwing me for a loop. This decision runs counter to what basically every other Android smartphone maker does. I often reach for a power button that's not where I expect it to be. On the plus side, though, lefties finally have a phone that feels purpose-built for them.

S Pen Air Actions

One of the biggest changes to the Galaxy Note formula this year is Samsung's addition of an accelerometer to its new S Pen. In case you hadn't heard, you can use it as a magic wand of sorts to trigger shortcuts and remotely perform actions in certain apps like switch between camera modes and control your media.

For now support is limited to Samsung's first-party apps, but that's to be expected, and may well change over time. My bigger concern is that Air Actions largely feel like things you'll use once or twice and never again. If you're not the kind of person who mounts their phones on tripods when taking photos, for instance, the Air Action to control the zoom level is basically useless. I'll keep testing them, but for now, consider me a skeptic.

Chris Velazco/Engadget

The battery

There's a 4,300mAh battery tucked inside the Note10+, and that's the most capacious Samsung has ever squeezed into one of its phones. It's hard to draw many meaningful conclusions here after only a day, but I will say that I pulled the Note of its box at 7:45AM and it was down to around 10 percent by 6PM. (That said, I suspect some prolonged periods where I was listening to YouTube videos with the screen off didn't help.) For what it's worth at this point, Samsung's battery info reported about 5.5 hours of screen-on time when I finally plugged it in, but I'll dig into this further.

Creator features

I had a few people on Twitter ask me how the Note 10+ stacks up as a tool for creators, especially now that Samsung axed the headphone jack. I spent most of yesterday playing with the S Pen, and didn't have the chance to really dig into Samsung's home-brew video editing app, or whether the crazy zoom-in audio feature really does hone in on subjects in the frame. I will, however, be visiting my goddaughter for her birthday this weekend, so expect lots of cute test footage and AR doodles when publish our full review.

Unfinished business

I was really looking forward to trying out the Note 10's new DeX features — instead of plugging the phone into a separate monitor you happen to have lying around, you can connect to a Windows or Mac computer and run the full DeX interface in a window. Unfortunately, that requires a companion app for your computer which won't be available until the Notes are officially released on August 23, but I'm confident I'll have time to test it properly before then. Same goes for PlayGalaxyLink, that lets you stream any game installed on your PC to your Galaxy Note. It sounds like a potentially great reason toinvest in a 5G Galaxy Note, but for now, we'll have just to wait a bit longer

Oh, one final thing: I've been paying close attention to the questions people have been sharing with on Twitter, so drop me a line there if there's something you're particularly curious about. One question did come up more frequently on Twitter than I had expected, so I'll just my answer here for posterity:

In this article: gear, impressions, mobile, preview, samsung

All products recommended by Engadget are selected by our editorial team, independent of our parent company. Some of our stories include affiliate links. If you buy something through one of these links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

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https://www.engadget.com/2019/08/16/samsung-galaxy-note-10-plus-24-hour-preview/

2019-08-16 18:45:29Z
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