Tag Archives: integration

Review of the Oakley Meta Vanguard: Impressive AI Running Glasses Featuring Garmin Integration

Posted on by
Reply

T
he Oakley Meta Vanguard represents a new era of display-less AI glasses, crafted for running, cycling, and action sports, featuring robust integration with Garmin and Strava. These could potentially be the first functional sports smart glasses on the market.


These innovative glasses serve as running eyewear, open-ear headphones, and alternatives to head-mounted action cameras—all in one. They mark the latest collaboration between Meta and the sunglasses giant, Essilor Luxottica, which includes brands like Ray-Ban and Oakley.

Unlike the popular Ray-Ban Meta Wayfarer, which focuses on leisurely use, the Vanguard is specifically engineered for athletes, enabling them to move fast and track their performance without hesitation.

As one of the priciest screenless AI glasses available, they start at £499 (€549/$499/AU$789), surpassing the £399 Oakley Meta HSTN and £379 Ray-Ban Meta Wayfarer.




The included silicone nose pads come in three sizes, allowing for a customized fit that remains secure and balanced. Photo: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian

The Vanguard distinguishes itself from traditional smart glasses, thanks to a design brought together by Oakley, ensuring a great fit and finish. The large wraparound visor and 3-point fit system take cues from the renowned Oakley Sephala sports glasses, ensuring that the 66g frame stays snugly in place, even under a helmet.

With two frame colors and four contrast-enhancing lenses, though without prescription options, the glasses incorporate a small button on the left arm to power on and off, allowing for dual functionality as sunglasses.




The speaker is conveniently located next to a large camera button and a small action button, allowing you to configure various functions using the Meta AI app. Photo: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian

The hidden speakers within each arm can be directed towards your ear for listening to music, taking calls, and engaging with Meta’s AI chatbot. They offer superior sound quality compared to other open-ear speakers, and are loud enough to be heard over wind and road noise. Although they may not deliver the bass of traditional headphones, they are well-suited for music during physical activity. The five beamforming microphones effectively minimize background noise during calls or interactions with the AI, even in busy environments.

A touch panel on the right arm allows for manual control of playback and volume. Music automatically pauses when the glasses are removed, and the volume adapts to match surrounding noise—a great feature for road use.

Specifications

  • Size: 136×120×59mm

  • Weight: 66g (258g case)

  • Water resistance: IP67

  • Camera: 12MP/3K Ultra Wide

  • Speaker: Stereo open-ear

  • Microphone: 5-microphone array

  • Battery life: 6 hours of music playback (30 hours with case)

  • Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.3, Wi-Fi 6

  • Storage: 32GB




The ultra-wide camera is discreetly mounted between your eyes and remains unseen when worn. An LED directly above indicates when the camera is in use. Photo: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian

The central camera captures quality 12-megapixel photos and stable video at up to 3K resolution for five-minute intervals. It also supports hyperlapses that combine a series of action shots into a single fast-paced clip, as well as slow-motion video at up to 120 frames per second at 720p.

While it cannot compete with high-end smartphones, the camera effectively captures live action—similar to mid-range action cameras commonly used by adventurers. Users can take photos by pressing the camera button, initiate video recording with a long press, or request the Meta AI for hands-free photo or video capture.

All functionalities, including voice controls for music, auto volume adjustments, and camera operations, work seamlessly with Bluetooth-connected devices, like running watches. For enhanced AI features, however, connections to Android or iPhone devices are necessary, via the Meta AI app.




The Meta AI app enables you to configure settings for the glasses, sync media, and translate or transcribe conversations with the chatbot. Composition: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian

Similar to any chatbot, you can query Meta AI about its visual input. It can identify plants, translate text, and address inquiries about your surroundings. Notably, it also quickly converts distance and pace between metric and imperial units while running, although it falls short of the comprehensive capabilities of Google’s Gemini on mobile.

Furthermore, users can send messages, share photos, and make hands-free calls using their glasses, connected to devices or apps like WhatsApp, Facebook, or Instagram.

One of Vanguard’s standout features is its seamless integration with the latest Garmin running watches and bike computers. Utilizing the free Meta AI app on Garmin, you can access real-time statistics during activities just by asking.




An LED indicator next to the right eye flashes to inform you when the AI is listening, interacting, or capturing an image. Photo: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian

The AI can relay personal metrics such as pace, distance, heart rate, and cadence on request by saying “my stats,” which are gathered directly from Garmin at that moment. It audibly communicates your pace and other metrics for each lap, mile, or kilometer using a small LED indicator at your right eye to indicate your status in pace or heart rate zones, turning red when outside desired ranges.

Garmin integration also allows the camera to automatically document your workouts, whether walking, hiking, running, or biking. It captures five-second videos every kilometer or mile, or during significant milestones like sprint finishes or heart rate spikes. After your activity, the Meta AI app compiles your manually captured videos and highlight reels. You can overlay workout stats like distance, pace, altitude, time, heart rate, and power data, then quickly share this content with Meta’s app or Strava for immediate posting to your activity log.




The Meta AI app showcases a workout summary and processes any videos automatically captured via the glasses. Composition: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian

All functions operate effectively, and although not every run needs a video documentation, the capability to automatically capture highlight moments without hassle is a substantial bonus.

However, video capture does drain the battery. During a one-hour run, I interacted with Meta AI multiple times, listened to music, automatically recorded 14 five-second videos, and manually shot 13 minutes of 1080p/30fps video along with 14 photos. The glasses concluded the run with 25% battery life intact.

They should survive a full marathon with automatic capture activated, but caution is advised for prolonged filming to ensure coverage over the entire 42km distance.

For those without Garmin devices, the Meta AI app can sync with Apple Health, Google Health Connect, or Strava to retrieve data retrospectively from other trackers, such as Apple Watch and Coros devices. However, the metrics displayed on videos are limited, and there are no automatic capture features or running statistics available for these integrations.




The glasses provide up to six hours of continuous music playback and come stored in a durable Oakley case, complete with four additional charges while transmitting photos and videos to the cloud during recharging. Photo: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian

Sustainability

The glasses’ battery retains at least 80% capacity even after 500 full charge cycles. Replacement lenses (£69), charging case (£139), and nose pads (£10) are offered, but the glasses themselves cannot be repaired, and the battery is non-replaceable, ultimately deeming them disposable. Currently, these glasses do not incorporate recycled materials, and Meta lacks any trade-in programs or environmental impact reports for the product.

Price

The Oakley Meta Vanguard is priced at £499 (€549/$499/AU$789).

For reference, the pricing for other models includes the Ray-Ban Meta Wayfarer (gen 2) at £379, the Oakley Meta HSTN at £399, the Oakley Sphaera at £191, and the Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 at £169.

Verdict

The Oakley Meta Vanguard stands out as the finest sports smart glasses available. While expensive, they are clearly crafted for athletes by individuals who comprehend the needs of runners and sports enthusiasts.

By concentrating on the essentials for runners, cyclists, and adventure seekers—like an impeccable fit, lenses that effectively shield from the wind, decent water resistance, clear open-ear audio, extended battery life, and user-friendly controls—you end up with an excellent product without unnecessary bells and whistles.

The nose-mounted camera is excellent and could easily substitute for action cameras for many users. The microphone performs adequately, and Meta’s integrated AI is beneficial for answering inquiries that arise while on the move.

The primary highlight is unquestionably the integration with Garmin, allowing users to monitor statistics and create an automatic highlight reel from their camera capture during activities. However, it requires you to carry your phone while running, which could be a minor inconvenience. The glasses also have links to Strava and other fitness applications for non-Garmin users.

If you utilize them with your running watch to listen to music without needing your phone, basic voice commands for volume, playback, and camera will still operate smoothly.

Although the steep price is hard to justify, the main drawback remains the non-replaceable battery. While the lenses and nose pads are replaceable, like most earbuds and other smart glasses, they cannot be repaired, which detracts from the overall score.

Pros: Large, high-quality lenses; secure fit; powerful and clear open-ear speakers; nose-mounted camera; IP67 waterproof rating; long battery life; protective case; excellent Garmin integration; compatible with Strava and other fitness apps; customizable lenses and nose pads.

Cons: Very costly; non-repairable; advanced features necessitate a phone; excessive vocal commands while driving.




The Oakley logo doubles as part of the touchpad for controlling music playback and volume adjustments. Photo: Samuel Gibbs/The Guardian

Source: www.theguardian.com

Face ID: A Useful Resource or a Source of Concern? The Subtle Integration of Facial Recognition in Law Enforcement

Posted on by
Reply

The future is arriving ahead of schedule in Croydon. While it may not initially seem like the UK’s forefront, North End is a pedestrian-friendly high street filled with typical pawn shops, fast-food restaurants, and a blend of branded clothing stores. It’s anticipated that this area will host one of the UK’s first permanent fixed facial recognition cameras.

Digital images of passersby will be captured discreetly and processed to derive biometric data, which includes facial measurements. This data will be rapidly compared against a watchlist via artificial intelligence, and a match will trigger an alert that might lead to an arrest.

As per the latest violence reduction strategy from the South London Borough, North End and its adjacent streets are identified as “major crime hotspots.” However, they do not rank among the most hazardous routes in the capital.

The crime rate here is the 20th worst among the 32 London Boroughs, excluding the City of London. Plans to launch permanent cameras for a trial phase later this summer are not an emergency measure; instead, North End and nearby London Roads might soon see more surveillance.

When approached about the surveillance initiative, most shopkeepers and visitors in the North End were unaware of the police’s plans or the underlying technology.

For many, the cameras appear as just another form of street furniture alongside signs promoting safe cycling. While some express concern, others reference studies indicating widespread exhaustion of the public facing rising crime rates.

The police began experimenting with facial recognition cameras in the UK and Wales in 2016. Recent documents released under the Freedom of Information Act (FOI) and police statistics shared with the Guardian reveal substantial growth in usage over the last year. This technology is evolving from a niche tool to a regular component of police strategies.

Last year, police scanned almost 4.7 million faces using live facial recognition cameras, with deployments more than doubling in 2023. In 2024, live facial recognition vans were utilized at least 256 times, up from 63 the previous year.

There’s speculation that mobile units of 10 live facial recognition vans may operate throughout the country.

Meanwhile, civil servants collaborate with law enforcement to develop a new national facial recognition system called strategic facial matchers. This platform will enable searches through various databases, including custody images and immigration files.

“The implementation of this technology could become a common sight in city centres and transit hubs across England and Wales,” states one funding document submitted by the South Wales police to the Home Department and released by Metropolitan Police under FOI.

Activists warn that this technology may disrupt everyday public life by subjecting individuals to impromptu identity checks facilitated by extensive facial recognition systems. Advocates of the technology acknowledge its risks but emphasize its importance for safety.

Recently, David Scheneller, a 73-year-old registered sex offender from Lewisham, who had served nine years for 21 offenses, was sentenced to two years in prison for breaching probation terms.

Officers were alerted by the live facial recognition cameras to Scheneller walking alone with his six-year-old child.

“He was on the watchlist due to his compliance conditions,” said Lindsay Chiswick, Metropolitan’s Intelligence Director and advisor to the National Police Chief of Facial Recognition.

“He formed a relationship with his mother over time and began picking up his daughter from school. If something went wrong that day, he was aware of the repercussions. This exemplifies how police could track him. Without facial recognition, recognizing him would have posed a challenge.”

Many see this as a compelling argument, but critics raise concerns about the unanticipated ramifications as law enforcement adopts technology without legislative guidance.

Madeline Stone from the NGO Big Brother Watch, who has observed mobile camera deployments, reported witnessing misidentifications of schoolchildren in uniforms undergoing “long, humiliating, and unnecessary police stops,” where they were compelled to verify their identities and provide fingerprints.

In these instances, the affected individuals were young Black boys, leaving them frightened and distressed, she noted.

Skip past newsletter promotions

“The effectiveness diminishes as the threshold rises,” Stone added. “The police might not prefer employing it in specific environments. There are no legal mandates requiring them to do so. The notion that police could unilaterally create their own guidelines for usage is truly alarming.”

A judicial review was initiated by Londoner Sean Thompson, with backing from Big Brother Watch, after he was wrongly identified as a person of interest due to the technology and detained for 30 minutes upon returning from a volunteer shift with the anti-knife initiative Street Father.

Additionally, Dr. Dara Murray, tasked with an independent evaluation of the trials by the Met in 2019, highlights the potential “chilling” effect this technology might have on society, suggesting that considerations must go beyond just the technology’s implementation.

“It’s akin to police tailing you, recording your interactions, where you go, how often, and for how long,” he remarked. “I believe most would be uncomfortable with such reality. Democracy thrives on dissent and discourse; if surveillance stifles that, it risks entrenching the status quo and limiting future opportunities.”

Live facial recognition is being utilized to apprehend individuals for traffic violations, growing cannabis, and neglecting community orders. Is this truly justified?

Fraser Sampson, former biometrics and surveillance camera commissioner in England and Wales until his position was dissolved in October 2023, currently serves as a non-executive director for FaceWatch, the leading UK firm in retail security systems designed to prevent shoplifting.

While he acknowledges the technology’s potential, he expresses concern that independent regulations concerning surveillance haven’t kept pace with its deployment by the state.

Sampson commented: “There’s an abundance of information about the technology’s functionalities, yet in practical terms—its application, the reason for its use, and the avenues for challenges or complaints—those clarity elements seem lacking.”

Chiswick noted her understanding of the concerns while recognizing the potential advantages of regulatory measures. The Met is cautiously making “small strides” that are continually reviewed, she stated. With limited resources, law enforcement needs to adapt and capitalize on the possibilities brought by AI. They are cognizant of potential “chilling effects” on society and have made it clear that cameras will not be deployed in protest areas.

“Will this become common? I cannot say,” Chiswick remarked. “We need to approach that assumption with caution. There are numerous possible scenarios; areas like the West End? It’s conceivable, instead of the static trials we’re conducting in Croydon, we could utilize it there. However, that’s not our current plan.”

She added: “I believe the integration of technology, data, and AI will continue to rise in the coming years, as personally, that’s how we can improve our operations.”

Source: www.theguardian.com

Return to Facebook’s origins with the New Friends tab integration

Posted on by
Reply

Last year, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and one of his top EUs, Tom Allison, were discussing how to rebuild Facebook for the future of social networking.

Zuckerberg, who grew Facebook to a $1.5 trillion company renamed Meta from the dorm room project, wanted to regain some of the original rationales for social networks, or what he called the “OG Facebook” vibe, Alison said. After adding many years of features, executives felt that some of Facebook’s important features were dead.

So they asked themselves: Why not build some features similar to old Facebook?

On Thursday, Meta did it with a simple adjustment. The company now includes a separate news feed for users, featuring posts shared only by people’s friends and family.

A feature called The Friends tab replaces the app’s tab that displays new friends’ requests or suggested friends. Instead, Friends Tab will display a scroll feed of posts such as photos, video stories, text, birthday notifications, and friend requests. For now, Facebook users are only available in the US and Canada.

“We’re looking forward to seeing you in the facebook app,” said Allison, head of the Facebook app. “We’re making sure there’s still a place on Facebook for something like this, something you shouldn’t get lost in the modern social media mix.”

The new feed is a sudden departure from the way social media has evolved over the past decade. The rise of apps like Tiktok has become accustomed to seeing feed posts from influencers and content creators. Other companies followed suit. Meta’s apps, including Instagram, have begun to lean more towards recommended content to attract people for a longer period of time.

Now people see apps like YouTube, Instagram, Tiktok as something similar to TV.

Not everyone is welcoming shifts. When Zuckerberg founded Facebook in 2004, it was intended to help college students connect with friends on campus. As the app becomes more popular, it is now helping all users stay up to date with posts from friends and family.

So, when Zuckerberg announced in 2022 that Meta would insert recommended content on Facebook from people who were not connected to users, many users rebelled. Many people first discovered recommended content – it relied on surface suggestions – it was jarring. After some criticism, Zuckerberg slightly reduced the amount of such content added to people’s Facebook feeds.

Still, that didn’t stop meta from accepting algorithmically recommended content. In recent years, much of the people’s feed on Facebook and Instagram has been dominated by creators, businesses and brands. Recommended content, such as Meta’s video product Reels, has led people to spend more time on the app, the company said.

Meta has no plans to stop adding recommended content to users’ feeds, Alison said in an interview. For now, the company doesn’t think The Friends Tab is more popular than the recommended home feed.

And there could be more changes to Facebook. Meta is planning to bring in other features and updates to Facebook next year, making social media still “social,” Alison said.

“Frankly, it’s the heart of Facebook,” he said.

Source: www.nytimes.com

‘AI Integration in Britain: Labor Announces Extensive Public Implementation’

Posted on by
Reply

Billions of pounds are set to be invested in enhancing Britain’s computing capacity, with ministers unveiling plans to integrate artificial intelligence more deeply into the country’s operations, despite widespread public concerns about the repercussions of using AI.

Keir Starmer has introduced an ambitious scheme to boost AI computing power under public ownership 20-fold by 2030 and leverage AI in various applications, ranging from identifying potholes to supporting educators. The initiative is in the works.

Labour’s strategy to ‘unleash’ AI involves the Prime Minister’s personal commitment to position the UK as a ‘world leader’ in this rapidly advancing sector. The government’s proposals include potentially contentious measures to release public data to foster the growth of AI firms. This includes offering anonymized NHS data to “researchers and innovators” for training AI models. The government assures the presence of “robust privacy protections”, ensuring the data remains beyond the control of private entities.

Ministers are optimistic that AI could combat Britain’s sluggish economic expansion and generate an economic injection of up to £470 billion over the coming decade, based on their internal forecasts. The action plan signals a shift from the UK government’s earlier emphasis on addressing critical challenges.

The administration’s commitment to nurture the AI sector has been well received by tech giants like Microsoft, Anthropic, and OpenAI. Mr. Starmer emphasized the necessity for governmental support in the AI domain. Regulatory bodies are tasked with “actively backing innovation,” a stance that may clash with individuals advocating for public protection.

However, experts caution about the societal, employment, and environmental impacts of AI. Recent government research underscores that the terms “robot,” “scary,” and “worry” are top-of-mind for the average person regarding AI.

The political initiative also aims to expedite investments in new small-scale nuclear reactors to power energy-intensive technologies.

Susie Alegre, an expert in technology and human rights, mentions the Post Office scandal as a stark reminder of the perils of overreliance on technology without sufficient oversight mechanisms.

Mr. Starmer urged all cabinet members to prioritize the integration of AI, stating that AI’s transformative potential can enhance various facets of daily life. He stressed the need for swift and decisive action, recognizing the fierce global competition in the realm of AI.

Endeavors to bolster the UK’s AI hardware could position cloud computing as vital to the country’s economy, society, and security as internet access, electricity, oil, and gas. This strategic move is propelled by the belief that…

Source: www.theguardian.com

Blockchain News: Introducing AI-Powered Layer 3 for Gaming with Arbitrum Orbit and Gelato RaaS Integration

Posted on by
Reply

Zug, Switzerland, April 17, 2024, Chainwire

abnormalityannounced the launch of the first AI-powered zero-gas layer 3 gaming platform leveraging play-to-airdrop mechanics to reach Telegram's 900 million daily active users.mounted arbitram orbit and use gelato Rollup as a service (RaaS), Anomaly's new Layer-3 fully abstracts the complexity of blockchain while leveraging an AI-enabled game engine to enable developers to create immersive, decentralized gaming experiences at unprecedented speed. We plan to redefine the gaming industry by allowing you to create.

Anomaly streamlines the UX of blockchain games with account abstraction, enables user onboarding through social platforms, and leverages SocialFi for game monetization. At the core of the new game layer 3 are: Abnormal SDKThis enables advanced AI features such as AI-driven matchmaking, decision-making, player model training, automatic quest creation, and asset generation in Web3 games. This aims to save developer time, address the cost challenges of AI integration, and significantly improve user engagement and experience within the Anomaly gaming ecosystem.

“At Anomaly, we are not just launching another gaming platform. We are pioneering a new paradigm for Web3 gaming, which will fundamentally change the blockchain gaming industry,” said Long Do, founder of Anomaly. says. “Anomaly Layer-3 acts as a decentralized gaming layer with a native AI technology stack to facilitate interoperability and platform experience.”

Utilization of Arbitrum anytrust DAC technology, the Anomaly Layer-3 Orbit chain inherits a fast, secure, and scalable execution environment, boasting 250ms block times with near-instantaneous transaction finality, processing thousands of transactions per second, It stands out as one of the fastest EVM Layer-3. Commercial roll-up. The chain features the native gas token $nom, which ensures smooth navigation between game areas.

“Anomaly’s implementation of the Arbitrum Orbit technology stack addresses fundamental problems facing blockchain games,” said Cooper Midroni, Product Manager at Offchain Labs. “The Anomaly Layer-3 ecosystem will allow on-chain games to offer the same level of fun and seamless experience as traditional games.”

The chain operates with a gasless user experience designed to provide a Web2-like user experience gameplay. Start with Gelato, Gelato's industry standard Web3 service. relay person, Web3 featuresand VRF. These services enable fully automated and immersive gaming experiences and provide a verified on-chain randomness source for fair gameplay. The chain will also soon be equipped with key infrastructure such as the Blockscout block explorer, which provides easy access to block, transaction, and address data, and a standard bridge UI serviced by Gelato.

“Anomaly came to us looking for a future-proof gaming platform that would support millions of users,” explained Hilmar Orth, founder of Gelato. “We have created a game-centric, full-service, auto-scalable, layer 3 infrastructure that allows Anomaly to attract community and liquidity, and ultimately support distribution.”

Anomaly Layer-3 will also leverage Gelato's latest Node-Sale-as-a-Service solution to sell validation node licenses and enable the community to participate in securing Anomaly's infrastructure. , harden rollup security. Anomaly's launch will feature a private sale of AI-based node NFTs to Telegram's early supporters, highlighting the platform's focus on a community-driven ecosystem. Additionally, Anomaly makes it easy for all users to operate their nodes using a cloud-based subscription that can be done by paying monthly directly within Telegram.

Anomaly is revolutionizing Web3 gaming by working with the Telegram, Discord, and Farcaster communities. This approach provides an in-platform gaming experience that accommodates users wherever they are, avoids onboarding challenges, abstracts blockchain complexity, and provides an experience comparable to Web2 gaming.

About anomalies

abnormality is an avant-garde AI game studio and layer 3 blockchain innovator poised to redefine gaming by fusing Web3 and SocialFi and leveraging AI to create immersive experiences. Anomaly is at the forefront of gaming evolution, focused on leveraging the synergies of AI and blockchain. The studio is dedicated to rapid game development and deployment, community engagement through social platforms, and innovative approaches to gaming, setting new benchmarks in interactive entertainment.

About Arbitrum Foundation

of Arbitrum Founded in March 2023, the Foundation supports and grows the Arbitrum network and community by securely scaling Ethereum. Introduced in March 2023, Arbitrum Orbit is a permissionless path to launch customizable, dedicated L2 and L3 orbit chains using Arbitrum technology. Arbitrum Orbit leverages secure, scalable, and cost-effective blockchain scaling technology to enable features such as custom gas tokens, dedicated throughput, customizable permissions, and interoperability. Over 25 Orbit chains have been officially announced, and over 50 more are in active development to date.

About gelato

gelato All-in-one Ethereum rollup as a service platform Built without limits. Designed to be ultra-fast, incredibly secure, and infinitely scalable, Gelato Rollups provides full-service Layer 2 and Layer 3 chains that are natively integrated with industry-standard Web3 tools and services. Anyone can build, deploy, and launch a production-ready Web3 development environment. One click.

contact

head of marketing
Ella Jonas
Gelato Digital GmbH
press@gelato.digital

Source: www.the-blockchain.com

The Limitations of Apple’s Vision Pro Headset: Absence of Netflix, Spotify, and YouTube Integration

Posted on by
Reply

It’s important to have friends who come to your birthday parties, offer support during tough times, and allocate resources to develop apps for emerging virtual reality platforms despite limited direct benefits. It may be tempting to believe that a $30 billion cash reserve and a product line generating over $200 billion annually are sufficient. However, Apple is finding that money cannot buy everything.

Pre-orders for Apple’s Vision Pro headset, a $3,500 “spatial computing” platform and CEO Tim Cook’s vision of Apple’s future, opened last week. Despite Apple’s enthusiasm, quiet opposition from potential users has overshadowed the announcement.

According to a report from Bloomberg (£), Netflix has opted not to design a Vision Pro app or support existing iPad apps on the platform, instead instructing users to access their content through a web browser.

Rather than developing a Vision Pro app or supporting existing iPad apps, Netflix has chosen to direct users to watch their content on the web. This decision is notable given the competition between Netflix and Apple in the streaming market.

Although the initial weekend release of Vision Pro saw an estimated 160,000-180,000 units sold, this pales in comparison to Netflix’s 250 million paying subscribers. Therefore, Netflix’s reluctance to invest resources in an app for the Vision Pro is understandable, as app development is only worthwhile if it can attract new customers or retain existing ones.

Despite Apple’s promotion of the Vision Pro as the most immersive way to watch TV, Netflix has similarly abandoned its app for MetaQuest, demonstrating a pattern of resistance to immersive platforms.

Due to these decisions, Vision Pro users will be limited to watching Netflix through the web, losing the ability to access offline viewing, a key selling point of the headset.

Furthermore, YouTube and Spotify have also opted not to release new apps for the Vision Pro, indicating a lack of enthusiasm from major content providers for the platform.

In a related story, Apple has recently allowed developers to bypass its payment system, providing them with an alternative to the high fees associated with in-app purchases. This shift may reflect a broader resistance among developers to Apple’s monopoly over economic activity in their app ecosystem.

The reluctance of major content providers to invest in apps for the Vision Pro may indicate a broader skepticism among developers about the benefits of supporting Apple’s latest venture. This trend may signal a greater movement within the developer community to challenge Apple’s control over app development and monetization.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Owner and CEO of Automattic, Matt Mullenweg, says that Tumblr’s integration with the Fediverse is still in progress.

Posted on by
Reply

Despite delays, plans to connect Tumblr’s blog site to the wider world of decentralized social media, also known as the “Fediverse,” appear to still be in the works. More than a year ago, Automattic CEO Matt Mullenweg (who acquired Tumblr from Verizon in 2019) announced that the site is the protocol that powers Twitter/X rival Mastodon and other decentralized social apps. It posted on Twitter that support for ActivityPub will be added “soon.” However, as time passed since the announcement, it wasn’t clear whether Tumblr was still moving in that direction.

To further complicate matters, Tumblr has recently cut a number of jobs, reassigning many of them to other projects within the parent company. automatic, which operates WordPress.com, WooCommerce, Pocket Casts, and more, including the recently acquired Texts.com. The reorganization was intended to relieve financial pressure on Tumblr as it continued to make losses. But at the same time, many Federation supporters began to wonder if Tumblr’s plans to join the world of decentralized social media were also scrapped.

In addition, Posted by Tumblr Employees They said that the Fediverse project had been moved to Tumblr Labs, Tumblr’s testing ground, which seemed to indicate that the project is currently on the back burner.

Now, CEO Matt Mullenweg is laying out the current state of Tumblr’s various ambitions in an AMA (Ask Me Anything) shared on his Tumblr blog.in response In response to a question from TechCrunch, Mullenweg said that despite the reorganization, which will see many Tumblr employees move on to other projects at the end of the year, Automattic is moving someone to Tumblr to work on the Fediverse integration. He explained that he had done so. new Year.

Still, Mullenweg cautioned that so far, Automattic has yet to see significant user demand for federated social media.

” activity pub and friend Both plugins for WordPress are provided by Automatticians, which has allowed us to work in this space, understand the community and protocols, and assess user demand. ” he writes Mullenweg. “We have less than 10,000 users on either side at the moment, so there hasn’t been a big user push for this yet,” he said.

But he said people will “dig into Tumblr’s codebase” to see what they can do to move forward with federation.

Reading between the lines, it appears that while Mullenweg supports a more open internet in general, the company isn’t ready to go all-in on ActivityPub.

“While I continue to be a strong believer in open standards and user freedom, I do not claim that any particular standard holds the truth about which is better or best, but in order to serve our customers. “We sincerely support doing everything we can to give our users more freedom, choice, and avoid lock-in,” he also said in the AMA. (Mullenweg said earlier this year that the company is also evaluating the value of other protocols such as his AT protocol for Bluesky and nostr).

Only one lap of Mastodon today. 1.5 million monthly active usersActivityPub has been going from strength to strength lately. Especially since his other Twitter/X competitor, Instagram Threads, is promising integration with Fediverse. Many in the community expect it to happen in early 2024. In the meantime, Threads users can take the first step by checking their profile on Mastodon. Other startups have also launched to make Fediverse more approachable for beginners, including Mozilla-backed app Mammoth and indie apps like Ivory, and companies like Flipboard and Medium have also embraced his Mastodon. Masu. This gives Tumblr the tools he needs in 2024 to determine whether ActivityPub is worth his time and whether it technically makes sense to bring his Tumblr blog to Mastodon. You might get a boost.

In other words, work is being done to integrate Tumblr into the Fediverse, but no agreement has been reached at this time.

In another AMA responseMullunweg also said the company is considering a large-scale effort to migrate Tumblr’s 500 million blogs to WordPress backend in the new year.

“We’re going to work on it, but we don’t know when,” the executive said.

Source: techcrunch.com