Google Stadia Details Leak Ahead of Announcement
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| Google Stadia Details Leak Ahead of Announcement | |
| Number | 857 |
| Broadcast Date | JUNE 6, 2019 |
| Episode Length | 5:05 |
| Hosts | Rich Stroffolino |
Google Stadia details leak ahead of the official announcement, Amazon improves Alexa voice navigation, and Facebook plans to set up an independent foundation for its cryptocurrency.
Headlines
- The Canadian online newspaper La Presse leaked an embargoed press release with details about the Google Stadia launch, ahead of the official announcement on June 6. The service will launch in November in 14 countries with 31 titles. Initially, the service will require a $11.99 (Canadian) a month Stadia Pro subscription, which will include a selection of older games to stream, with new games available for purchase. The Pro tier offers 4k resolution and 60fps, while a free option will launch sometime in 2020 with 1080p game streaming. Access will require a Chromecast device at launch, with Google Chrome support arriving in 2020. Stadia streaming requires a minimum of 10 Mbps down and 1 Mbps up, with 4k requiring 35 Mbps down. A Stadia: Founder's Edition bundle will be available at launch with a controller, Chromecast Ultra, Destiny 2, and a three-month subscription included, for $169 Canadian.
- Amazon announced a handful of new things at its Re:MARS conference. Amazon showed off its Prime Air delivery drone. It's a vertical takeoff and landing hybrid aircraft with thermal cameras, depth cameras and sonar that that Amazon claims make it is "as robust and stable as commercial aircraft." Amazon says its goal is delivering packages in a 15 mile range up to 5 pounds in less than 30 minutes starting in a matter of months.
- Amazon also announced StyleSnap coming "soon" to Android and iOS. It will let you take a photo or upload an image of an outfit you like and Amazon will use machine learning to find similar clothing items for sale on Amazon.
- Amazon announced improvements to its voice assistant's ability to hold a conversation without constantly having to say its name. Amazon says it is working to predict what a user will want to do next and guide the conversation. In its demo, the assistant went from a question about what movies were playing nearby to selecting a movie, buying tickets, making a restaurant reservation, watching a trailer and ordering an Uber. It will go live to users in the coming months.
- In Let Them Eat Cake news, Uber Copter will begin service in New York City on July 9th, taking passengers on an 8-minute helicopter ride between Lower Manhattan and Kennedy International Airport, with private ground transportation to and from the ride included. The service is available to Platinum and Diamond Uber Rewards members, and will run Monday through Friday during afternoon rush hour. Each helicopter can seat five passengers, and booked either on-demand or up to five days in advance. Uber estimates an average ride will cost between $200 and $225 per person. Two pilots will be on each flight, with passengers required to view a 90-second safety video.
- Chinese ride-hailing giant Didi Chuxing announced it rolled out service to Valparaiso, Chile and Bogota, Columbia, with plans to expand beyond those cities over time. The company also plans to add dedicated licensed taxi service in Colombia later this year. This marks an expansion of Didi's service in Latin America, where it already operates in Brazil and Mexico.
- TechCrunch reports that, according to sources, Bird is in talks to acquire fellow scooter startup Scoot. While much smaller than Bird in terms of valuation ($71 million vs 2.3 billion), Scoot does have license to operate on demand pick-up/drop-off street service in several markets Bird does not, including San Francisco, Barcelona, Spain and Santiago, Chile.
- The Information reports that Facebook plans to create an independent foundation to govern it's forthcoming cryptocurrency. According to sources, Facebook plans to license the right to run nodes on the network for $10 million a piece. Node operators would be allowed to send a representative to the independent foundation, and Facebook hopes to launch the network with 100 nodes. Facebook plans to use the license fees to back the cryptocurrency with a bundle of international currencies and low-risk securities.
- Google announced updates to SOS alerts, providing more detailed visual information about areas effected by natural disasters like hurricanes, floods, and earthquakes. Google Maps will also show this information. Earthquake visualizations will appear on desktop, Android and iOS versions of the app, with navigation warnings available in the smartphone apps. Flood visualizations are coming to Android, desktop and mobile versions of Maps, with hurricane visual forecasts available on all platforms.
- With the release of Chrome 75, Google announced that Chrome Remote Desktop is available through a website, rather than requiring both parties to use a Chrome app. People in need of assistance can visit remotedesktop.google.com, and generate a code, which the person remoting into the machine uses to access through the same website. Google will end support for the Chrome Remote Desktop app on June 30th.
Links
| Preceded by: "YouTube Won't Ban Controversial Creator" |
Google Stadia Details Leak Ahead of Announcement |
Followed by: "Maine Governor Signs the Act to Protect the Privacy of Online Consumer Information" |