Fri, 29 Mar, 2024

Technology

This Week in Technology (7-13 September 2021)

13-Sep-2021

By Bipashree Aryal

1. Facebook and Ray-Ban announce “Smart Sunglasses”.

September-9, International

In cooperation with Ray-Ban, Facebook has released a new pair of smart glasses. The Ray-Ban Stories glasses appear exactly like any other pair of sunglasses.

The Smart-Glasses have a pair of 5 Megapixel cameras, speakers, and a touch-sensitive side, as well as voice controls and a battery. Even with all of the technology incorporated into the glasses, they only add 5 grams to the weight, which is an incredible achievement.

The cameras in the Ray-Ban Stories, according to reviewers, shoot good images and videos considering their size. The glasses can be linked to a smartphone through the Facebook View app, and photos/videos made with the glasses may be shared to numerous applications and not only Facebook-owned services.

2. Apple Vs Epic suit comes to an end.

September- 10, California

After three months, Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers of the United States District Court for the Northern District of California delivered a permanent judgment that supported Apple on most grounds, stating:

  • Epic failed to show that Apple was a Monopoly

  • Epic breached developer contract (justifying the Fortnite ban in Apple App Store)

  • Epic must pay Apple 30% of Epic Direct payments taken through Fortnite on iOS from October 2020 - Present.

Additionally, the ruling also states that:

  • Even though Apple didn’t break any Antitrust Laws, they are guilty of  Anti-Competitive Behaviour.    

As a result of this decision, the court has mandated that Apple support third-party and external payment mechanisms in its apps and those available in the AppStore. While this judgment requires Epic to pay millions of dollars to Apple, the loss of in-app purchase commissions might cost Apple billions of dollars in the future.

3. Sony PlayStation 5 Showcase Event.

September-11, International

Sony's PS5 Showcase Event provided a slew of fresh information, game trailers, and teases. The event was live streamed online and included a slew of exciting announcements for PlayStation lovers everywhere. The key announcements made at the Event were:

  • Uncharted 4 along with its Spin-Off: “The Lost Legacy” coming to PS5 and PC.

  • Gran Turismo 7 releasing on March 4th, 2022.

  • A brand new Wolverine Game from Insomniac Studios.

  • A follow-up Spider-Man game named: Spider-Man: 2 from Insomniac Studios.

  • A follow-up God of War game from Santa Monica Studio named: God of War: Ragnarok.

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