Fitbit Announces the Versa 2
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| Fitbit Announces the Versa 2 | |
| Number | 928 |
| Broadcast Date | AUGUST 28, 2019 |
| Episode Length | 6:44 |
| Hosts | Rich Stroffolino |
Fitbit unveils the Versa 2, Canon debuts cameras based on a new 32.5MP sensor, and Facebook implements new rules for political advertisers.
Headlines
- Fitbit unveiled the Versa 2 smartwatch, which now includes Amazon Voice Services and Spotify integration. An onboard microphone can be used to make AVS commands, or to dictate text replies on Android. The device includes a 1.4-inch AMOLED with smaller bezels than the original Versa, GPS, water resistance, and a new processor that enables "5 plus" days of battery life, or "multiday" battery life with the screen set to always be on. The Versa 2 also includes FitBit Pay and a new sleep score system, which includes an estimated blood oxygen variation and Smart Wake features. The Versa 2 goes on sale September 15th for $200, with a Special Edition bundle available for $230.
- FitBit also announced Fitbit Premium, a subscription service that offers personalized goals, challenges, guidance and eventually coaching. The subscription will cost $9.99 a month or $79.99 annually, and work with all currently sold FitBit trackers and smartwatches. Subscribers will get detailed health reports that can be printed for physicians visits, contextual data that looks across data to determine overall wellness gains, the ability to participate in health challenges with other users, and dedicated motivational and meditative audio content. In 2020, Fitbit plans to include access to a certified health and wellness coach for personalized advice to the service. Fitbit Premium will launch this fall.
- Canon unveiled the EOS 90D SLR and the M6 Mark II mirrorless camera, both based on a new 32.5MP APS-C camera sensor capable of uncropped 4k and 120fps 1080p video. The 90D offers 10fps shooting, Canon's dual pixel autofocus system, supports face tracking when using the optical viewfinder, offers a fully articulating touchscreen on the back, with partial weather sealing. The M6 Mark II offers up to 14fps, includes dual pixel AF that covers the full height and 88% of the width of a shot, USB-C charging, and an optional external electronic viewfinder that's included in a kit package. The M6 body starts at $849.99 and the 90D body starts at $1,199.
- Facebook announced Wednesday that starting in mid-September, political advertisers will need to provide more information before their ads will run. Commercial businesses, nonprofits, and NGOs will have to provide their tax ID number. Government and military will have to have a domain name and email address that ends in .gov or .mil. And Political action committees and parties will have to give their Federal Election Commission identification numbers. Ads that run under this program will include an i button that can be clicked to verify who paid for the ad. Smaller ad buyers will have to submit name, address, email and phone number for their organization which Facebook will verify.
- Former Google autonomous vehicle research engineer Anthony Levandowski was charged by federal prosecutors on Tuesday with 33 counts of theft and attempted theft of trade secrets. These charges from the United States Attorney’s Office of the Northern District of California are the latest in a legal battle involving Google, its self-driving car spinoff Waymo and rival Uber. Levandowski is accused of downloading more than 14,000 critical files about Google’s autonomous-vehicle research before leaving the company in 2016 and joining Uber the same year, when Uber bought his self-driving trucking startup Otto. Levandowski faces a maximum of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine for every count, and additional restitution if he's convicted.
- Back in May, Telegram cancelled its initial coin offering of a cryptocurrency called Gram. However, if Telegram does not launch Gram by October 31, it has to give up the $1.7 billion it raised in pre-sales of the coin. Now The New York Times reports Telegram plans to deliver the first batches of Gram coins in the next two months. Sources told the NY Times that Telegram will create a digital wallet for all Telegram users to store Gram coins.
- Reuters reports that the U.S. Commerce Department received 130 applications from US companies seeking to sell goods to Huawei, according to sources. In June, US President Trump promised Chinese President Xi Jinping that exports of non-sensitive goods to Huawei could resume, and US Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross promised timely responses to applications to resume trade in July. According to sources, no applications have yet been approved, reflecting the complexities of the interagency consultation required.
- Google announced it will shut down the job application tracking system Google Hire on September 1, 2020. Customers currently using Google Hire won't be charged for using the service through the shutdown date. Hire was launched in 2017 and was based on the assets received when Google acquired Bebop in 2015 for $380 million.
- Amazon announced new security subscription offerings for users of its mesh router system Eero. The Eero Secure subscription offers warnings for sites flagged as potentially hosting malware and phishing schemes, as well as including parental controls. Eero Secure+ offers the same features, but bundles in a VPN from Encrypt.me and a subscription to the 1Password password manager. Eero Secure costs $2.99 a month or $29.99 annually, while Eero Secure Plus costs $9.99 a month and $99.99 annually.
- Google announced that Nest Hello doorbells can now detect package deliveries. The camera can now monitor doorsteps and alert users when a package is detected. The feature is limited to Nest Aware Subscribers, and will be turned on by default following an update. The feature can be turned off in settings.
- In the latest beta of Apple Music for Android, Apple added in support for streaming to Chromecast devices. This will allow playback through connected devices, and allow music selection to be controlled by voice commands to a Google Home, rather than the phone. The beta also added over 100,000 radio stations from TuneIn, Radio.com, and iHeartRadio.
- Microsoft sent out invites to an event October 2 in New York, a year after its last major Surface hardware launch featuring the Surface Pro 6 hybrid and Surface Studio 2. The Verge notes Microsoft has been building a dual-screen device, codenamed “Centaurus" which it demonstrated at an internal meeting in June.
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| Preceded by: "Lenovo Announces X1 and L13 ThinkPads" |
Fitbit Announces the Versa 2 |
Followed by: "Huawei Mate 30 to Launch Without Google Apps" |