My condolences to anyone at Microsoft affected by its large round of layoffs. Announced officially on Wednesday morning, the cuts mean about 10,000 people are losing their jobs. It makes Microsoft the latest tech giant to have cut thousands of jobs in recent months, following layoffs at the likes of Meta and Amazon.
Wednesday’s tech news started, like Tuesday’s, with a new Apple hardware announcement. After discontinuing its HomePod speaker a few years ago, the company s launching a new version, priced at $299, with support for Spatial Audio and the Matter smart home spec.
Apple has also reportedly put its plans to release a pair of lightweight augmented reality glasses on hold due to “technical challenges.” Its mixed reality headset (which would offer both AR and VR) is still believed to be on track for this year, but these sleeker AR-only glasses are now unlikely to meet their 2025 target launch date.
For now, here’s a silly tweet to start your day (don’t worry, it’s not actually “sensitive content” as the disclaimer suggests):
Stay tuned, as we continue to update this list with the most important news of today: Wednesday, January 18th, 2023.
Jan 18, 2023, 10:55 PM UTCAndrew Webster
Ted Lasso’s third season kicks off this spring
There’s no specific premiere date for the Apple TV Plus series, though.
Jan 18, 2023, 10:54 PM UTCAndrew J. Hawkins
Elon Musk’s tweets take center stage in opening day of his securities fraud trial
The plaintiffs’ lawyers argued that Musk’s ‘funding secured’ tweets were reckless and cost ‘regular people’ millions of dollars, while Musk’s attorneys said they ‘didn’t matter.’
Jan 18, 2023, 10:51 PM UTCChris Person
Apple is reportedly working on an iPad-like smart display
New inexpensive smart displays, a revamped Apple TV, and that freaky HomePod / Apple TV fusion are in the works.
- AFinally, a good use of ‘yelling fire in a crowded theater.’
It’s the latest project from Jeff Kosseff, author of The Verge’s favorite Section 230 book, The Twenty-Six Words That Created the Internet. I truly cannot wait.
Jan 18, 2023, 7:40 PM UTCAndrew Webster
Apple’s retrofuturistic series Hello Tomorrow wants to fly you to the Moon in first trailer
The series stars Billy Crudup and starts streaming on February 17th.
- CWe are gathered here today in memory of our dearly departed cloud gaming service, Stadia
You’ve transferred your saves, converted your controller to Bluetooth, and rescued your toons, so there’s nothing left to do but remember all the times Google told us we wouldn’t be here.
Google Stadia is officially closing its cloud doors today, almost four years after an inauspicious debut displaying the console alongside uhhh... notable video game artifacts, ET for the Atari 2600, the Power Glove, and the Dreamcast.
Google has handled its passing with as much grace as can be expected, so let’s (Google) Wave goodbye to a cloud gaming OG.
- NHere I am talking about Microsoft’s layoffs and the Activision deal on CNBC.
Nadella noting that he’s planning for a “platform shift” and cutting the “hardware portfolio” is pretty interesting — but I’m curious for your thoughts in the comments!
- JWho’s the biggest name at VidCon?
Last year, TikTok was the event’s main sponsor, highlighting a major shift in the creator video space. This year... YouTube is back. (And surely, it’ll want to remind creators to use YouTube Shorts.)
Of course, buying a sponsorship ≠ maintaining cultural dominance. Shorts has its work cut out. But showing up to VidCon still means something — it tells creators that YouTube cares.
- EThey’re surveilling your money without a warrant in Arizona.
The Transaction Record Analysis Center has been used by more than 600 law-enforcement entities to surveil money sent across US borders without a warrant. Among the data? Your name, how much you sent, and who you sent it to.
“One slideshow prepared by a TRAC investigator showed how the program’s data could be used to scan for categories such as ‘Middle Eastern/Arabic names’ in bulk transaction records,” the WSJ reports.
Jan 18, 2023, 5:32 PM UTCCameron Faulkner
Apple is turning on the HomePod Mini’s secret temperature and humidity sensor
Alongside the announcement of Apple’s new HomePod, the company said it would enable a sensor hidden in the HomePod Mini since launch in an upcoming software update.
Jan 18, 2023, 5:12 PM UTCBarbara Krasnoff
What’s on your desk, Tom Warren?
A new house led to a total overhaul of the work-from-home environment.
Jan 18, 2023, 4:53 PM UTCUmar Shakir
Shell is acquiring EV charging network Volta for $169 million
Shell USA is buying all shares of the destination electric vehicle charging company Volta, which operates over 3,000 stations.
Jan 18, 2023, 3:55 PM UTCAlice Newcome-Beill
How the new MacBook Pros compare to the rest of Apple’s MacBook lineup
The new 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pros boast Apple’s latest silicon, but are they worth the upgrade?
- CIt looks like Apple fixed a big HomePod annoyance.
The original HomePod from 2018 had a power cable that shouldn’t be removed, which was a bad design choice.
After looking at the older version’s spec sheet compared to the new model that Apple announced today, Apple seems to have fixed that. Huzzah!
Jan 18, 2023, 2:55 PM UTCJames Vincent
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman on GPT-4: ‘people are begging to be disappointed and they will be’
GPT-4 is coming, says Altman, but it won’t be AGI.
Jan 18, 2023, 2:45 PM UTCTom Warren
Microsoft set to lay off thousands of employees
Microsoft’s latest job cuts are expected to be significantly larger than the 1 percent in 2022.
Jan 18, 2023, 2:42 PM UTCJess Weatherbed
Coffee makers and statues: Twitter starts auctioning off assets from its San Francisco headquarters
The company is selling espresso machines, designer chairs, and bike-powered recharging stations after falling behind on office rent payments.
Jan 18, 2023, 2:33 PM UTCCharles Pulliam-Moore
Netflix’s 2023 movie lineup is looking kind of lean
A new Netflix sizzle reel features fresh looks at They Cloned Tyrone, Leave the World Behind, and The Mother.
Jan 18, 2023, 2:24 PM UTCTom Warren
Microsoft announces big layoffs that will affect 10,000 employees
Microsoft is cutting thousands of jobs just as CEO Satya Nadella warns of a challenging two years ahead for tech companies.
Jan 18, 2023, 2:05 PM UTCJon Porter
Apple announces revamped full-size HomePod two years after discontinuing original
The new speaker will be sold alongside the HomePod Mini introduced in 2020.
Jan 18, 2023, 2:00 PM UTCVictoria Song
Carhartt’s smart vest uses AI to keep you toasty
The $220 smart heated vest will be available starting February 1st and automatically adjusts the temperature to keep you comfortable in the cold.
Jan 18, 2023, 2:00 PM UTCChris Welch
YouTube TV’s live guide and library are getting much better starting today
Subscribers of the live TV service will notice a redesigned, more efficient channel guide. And the library is getting cleaner and more helpful.
Jan 18, 2023, 11:00 AM UTCMia Sato
TikTok is expanding its state-controlled media label to more countries
The platform began piloting state-affiliated media labels last year following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Jan 18, 2023, 10:02 AM UTCJon Porter
Galaxy S23 spec leak leaves few surprises ahead of February launch
The leak confirms previously rumored specs including a 200-megapixel camera on the S23 Ultra, as well as the designs of all three devices.
Jan 18, 2023, 8:01 AM UTCJon Porter
Logitech’s new $69.99 webcam is a stylish alternative to its aging C920s
The Brio 300 supports up to 1080p at 30fps and has a built-in privacy shutter.
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