In this week’s edition of the Global Tech Gist Roundup, we’ve got some tech gists that will interest you.
GlobalData’s latest report forecasts that global spending on virtual reality will reach $28 billion by 2030, from $7 billion spent in 2018. The report states that the VR market will grow at a 13% compound rate over the forecast period.
Google just announced that it is buying Fitbit wearable company for $2.1 billion in a blog post. The purchase of Fitbit shows Google’s plans to invest in wearables since the introduction of its Made of Google wearable devices in the market. According to a separate press release by Fitbit, its health and wellness data will not be used for targeting Google ads. Learn More
AT&T, HBO Max’s parent company announced that HBO Max is set to debut its online video streaming service in May 2020 for $14.99 a month. This was announced at a special event the company held for investors at Warner Bros, California. The subscription rate makes it the most expensive streaming service, although HBO Now direct billing subscribers will get HBO Max for free. Learn More
Spotify also announced its launch of a child-focused platform where kids can safely listen to music. The app is available in Ireland and boasts of over 6000 child-focused curated tracks on the platform. The tracks are said to be limited to children’s stories on Disney and will be available on both iOS and Android. Learn More
Samsung has revealed its next generation of foldable phones. The concept was showcased at its annual Developer Conference held on Tuesday 29th October 2019. The phones look like the Motorola Razr flip which easily fits into your pocket. Check out the Twitter post and video clip from the event.
Facebook announced ‘Preventive Health’, a tool that will enable users to access personalized reminders about checkups and vaccinations. It connects people with healthcare materials and recommendations from notable US health organizations. Preventive health is available in the US on Facebook’s mobile app.
Jack Dorsey, the CEO of Twitter took to his handle to announce that political adverts will no longer be allowed on Twitter from the 22nd of November globally. He said that it was unfair for people to pay for more reach for sponsoring political propaganda. Read his Twitter thread below:
We’ve made the decision to stop all political advertising on Twitter globally. We believe political message reach should be earned, not bought. Why? A few reasons…🧵
— jack (@jack) October 30, 2019
Moving on, Apple Inc. recently launched its own pay-tv dubbed Apple TV+ and an in-house studio. It also launched its four big-budget shows featuring top Hollywood actors. The tech company will be creating its own contents and providing TV shows at cheaper rates, as a means to have more people purchase its hardware. Learn more
On more Apple news, the company has introduced a new program that will allow users to finance their iPhone purchases for 2 years at a stretch, without additional interest. It is available for existing customers who frequently upgrade their iPhones to the latest model. Learn More
In parts of India, Microsoft is using its Harnessing Automobiles for Safety (HAMS) AI project to make driving license tests smarter. The drivers do not have to sit next to an instructor during the test, instead, the cars have smartphones to monitor the driver and the roads while driving. Learn More
Finally, Dubai Internet city celebrated its 20th anniversary on Tuesday 29th October 2019. It became the world’s pioneer tech community in 1999. The Internet City is reputed as the regional tech hub of the Middle East, providing world-class infrastructure and an ideal environment for innovative development. Learn More
Thank you for reading through. We will keep doing our part to make sure you stay in the know.
See you next week.
