[KC] DEBRIEF WEEK 45 FRIDAY 11/12
DIGITAL TITANS
_Microsoft Overtakes Apple As Most Valuable Company In The World It looks like not even a US$19 Polishing Cloth can clean away investors’ slight uncertainty with Apple this season. With shares declining about 2%, the Cupertino tech giant has bowed out to Microsoft as the world’s most valuable public company. It was CEO Tim Cook’s heads-up about oncoming supply chain hiccups that seems to have caused a wobble in trust. Apple has been dealing with such issues for a while, but Cook warned that they’ll likely be aggravated with the approaching holidays. As a result, Apple’s sales fell US$6 billion in the fiscal fourth quarter, boosting Microsoft into first place in market capitalization, Reuters reports. Despite a rocky year from the outside looking in, most notably regarding the public image of co-founder Bill Gates, Microsoft’s stock took a massive 49% hike this year. Its focus on cloud-based services proved to be a winning solution amid the pandemic when remote work became the norm.
_Meta is considering opening its first retail stores, reports The New York Times. The stores will showcase metaverse exploration devices like virtual reality headsets and video teleconferencing devices that can be used through the Facebook app. The first store, a flagship, is reportedly planned for Burlingame, Calif., where the company has an office for Reality Labs. Last week Facebook changed its name to Meta to reflect a shifted focus on building a virtual world or metaverse.
_Tiktok. How To Create A TikTok Trend: A Step By Step Guide .But, why is it that certain TikToks spark trends? IT’S just over a year since Nathan Apodaca, aka 420doggface208, became a TikTok phenomenon and sparked a global trend. By now we all know the story. He inspired members of Fleetwood Mac, the CEO of Ocean Spray, and hundreds of thousands of others to create similar content. It became so popular that it sparked renewed interest in Fleetwood Mac. Their song Dream’s re-entered the Billboard top 10 for its first time since 1978 (a year after the song’s original debut). Nathan has since managed to buy a home and now works as a full-time creator. But, why is it that certain TikToks spark trends? What is it that allows some videos to spark global movements, while others languish in obscurity? It’s an answer everyone wants to know. If you’re a creator or musician it could rocket you to fame and fortune. If you’re a brand it could lead to products selling out….
_Instagram tests ‘Take a Break’ reminders on an opt-in basis Instagram head Adam Mosseri announced today the company has begun testing a new feature this week called “Take a Break,” which will allow users to remind themselves to take a break from using the app after either 10, 20 or 30 minutes, depending on their preferences. As an opt-in feature, however, the reminders may have a limited impact, as users would have to be motivated to set up the new control for themselves. The company had previously said it was looking into “Take a Break” reminders. Mosseri, for instance, mentioned the coming addition when commenting on Instagram’s decision to pause the development of a version of its service for younger users, Instagram for Kids. He referenced Instagram’s plans to build in “nudges” and “reminders,” like “Take a Break,” as an example of how Instagram was addressing issues related to its product’s impact on users’ mental health.
_Discord. Discord tweeted out a little Web3 tease. (Twitter). And then almost immediately backed away because of a backlash (ArsTechnica)
_Google. Mysterious Ocean ‘Void’ Discovered On Google Maps Sends Internet Users In Frenzy. There is, apparently, a mysterious void in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, according to Google Maps. Discovered by Reddit user kokoblocks, who posted a screenshot of it in the r/GoogleMaps subreddit with the title “what the F**K this looks nothing like an island,” the island—if it is one—has sparked quite the debate in the comments. A couple of users have reiterated just how little it looks like an actual piece of land, with comparisons ranging from leather seats to God’s guitar pick. Responses ranged from cheeky jokes to genuine speculation, with a notably great-yet-awful pun reading, “No it doesn't. Not atoll,” in response to the title. “It’s surrounded on three sides by water, making it a peninsula,” another user eagerly offers. Or it could be the Hollow Earth entrance if going according to the theory that the Earth is actually completely hollow underneath its surface. Putting jokes aside, some have suggested volcanic rock, and others have noted that it looks like it was censored. This could’ve been because it’s something like a military base, which Google Maps does censor in other areas of the world.
ALSO
_A new search engine called You.com is challenging Google's dominance with a promise of better privacy and more elaborate results. The startup launched its service Tuesday with $20 million in funding from venture capital firms and a big name in tech, Salesforce Chief Executive Marc Benioff. You.com, now in public beta testing, won't sell your personal information, track you online or show you targeted ads, the company says. You can perform searches in a personal mode that can be customized for your preferences and that logs things like unsuccessful searches that need to be improved, or in a private mode that records nothing, the company said.
_Amazon To Launch First Internet Satellites Into Orbit In 2022. Project Kuiper, the low-Earth orbit satellite project run by Amazon aims to provide affordable broadband worldwide. Now, the company has just announced that this project is planning to launch two such satellites by the end of 2022. Last year, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) approved Amazon’s plans for its system, made up of 3,236 satellites. Amazon has now filed another request with the FCC to launch and operate the two prototypes, which are called KuiperSat-1 and KuiperSat-2. These will be riding on the back of ABL Space’s RS1 rocket to carry them into orbit. Both satellites will include technology planned for the final design, such as phased array and parabolic antennas, power and propulsion systems, and custom-designed modems.
_Boeing joins race to launch satellite Internet Broadband Following FCC ApprovalSpaceX’s Starlink and Amazon’s Kuiper are set to face more competition in the satellite broadband arena, as the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has approved Boeing’s application to operate its own fleet in space. Now, having been granted the go-ahead, Boeing will be able to launch its proposed 147 satellites, with 132 being low-Earth satellites and the remaining 15 following the rotation of the Earth at a higher altitude. This will allow the company to start providing internet services to homes across the globe, much like what Starlink has built for over 100,000 subscribers. According to Gizmodo, Boeing is eyeing the US, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands as its initial targets before expanding worldwide.
_After first announcing that it was coming back in September, Clubhouse has today officially launched its new Replays feature, which will provide another way to utilize your Clubhouse chats, and get more value out of your audio sessions.“Replays are an optional feature that creators can choose to toggle on or off for any public room. When Replays are enabled, anyone on Clubhouse can replay the entire experience whenever they like. They’ll get to see the same elements of a live room like Leave Quietly, and watch the dynamic of the stage and audience shift and evolve throughout the discussion, including PTRs, mic taps, and all the special moments that only happen here.” Clubhouse Adds Room Recordings, Improved Analytics Data on Attendees
INNOVATION
_AR technology company Niantic, best known for Pokémon GO, announced today that it will launch Lightship, an AR Developer Kit (ARDK) that will make building augmented reality experiences more accessible. This free, openly available technology will help Niantic lay the foundation for its vision of the “real-world metaverse.”In the program’s launch livestream, Niantic CEO John Hanke referenced his blog post where he called the metaverse a “dystopian nightmare.” But even as Facebook changes its name to Meta and advertises a future dominated by VR headsets, Niantic is imagining an alternative: a metaverse that brings people together in person, rather than in a virtual world. Niantic’s existing games emphasize outdoor activity and meeting new people. Before making pandemic-era adjustments to play remotely, certain aspects of Pokémon GO — such as legendary raid battles — were only playable if enough players worked together simultaneously. Local Discord communities sprung up around the release of legendary raid battles in 2017, helping people coordinate real-world meet-ups to try to catch a Lugia or an Articuno together.
_NFT Blockchain Decentralized App Development with Solidity & JavaScriptDescription. The blockchain is a ground-breaking technology that enables secure, distributed, and decentralized data storage. The blockchain has swept through the technical world in recent years. Many in the business believe that, like the Internet in the early 2000s, the blockchain will revolutionize how we interact with technology. And, because blockchain is gaining traction and will undoubtedly play a role in the future, blockchain-related jobs are in great demand. This course will teach you how to create your own blockchain and cryptocurrency from the ground up. Start your blockchain journey and earn 6 figures in the tech field.
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Mammoth Interactive produces XBOX 360, iPhone, iPad, Android, HTML 5, ad-games, and more. It's owned by top-rated instructor John Bura. Mammoth Interactive recently sold a game to Nickelodeon! John has been contracted by many different companies to provide game design, audio, programming, level design, and project management. To this day John has 40 commercial games that he has contributed to. Several of the games he has produced have risen to number 1 in Apple's app store. In his spare time, John likes to play ultimate Frisbee, cycle, and work out.
PEOPLE, MEDIA, CULTURE
_China. As we enter the final weeks of 2021, China’s wide-ranging crackdown on celebrities, fan culture, and the domestic entertainment industry — covered in our recent report, What China’s Big Celebrity Crackdown Means For Luxury — shows no sign of slowing down. Having essentially shut down the competition reality programs that have become a key marketing vehicle for local and global brands in recent years, Chinese authorities now threaten to further muddy the waters of what is allowed and what’s not via a new salvo against programming that is too entertaining. Last week, two powerful Chinese government agencies — the Central Propaganda Department and the National Radio and Television Administration (NRTA) — met with television stations in Shanghai, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Hunan to address what they called the “problem of excessive entertainment in satellite television programs.” Although authorities conceded that these stations had made “positive contributions in promoting mainstream values and spreading positive energy” with their programming, the officials cited issues to be rectified, specifically — and frustratingly vaguely — excessive entertainment (过度娱乐化) and celebrity idolization (追星炒星). According to state media, the agencies “emphasized” that the stations “carry out comprehensive management work” in the field of entertainment and “vigorously promote the core values of socialism.” For their part, the stations said they would “conscientiously implement the interview requirements, comprehensively strengthen rectification and reform, accelerate transformation and development, and use more high-quality television programs to enrich and lead the people’s high-quality spiritual and cultural life. "While (perhaps purposely) vague, the question now is what this burgeoning effort against “excessive” entertainment could actually mean — and what effect it could have on sponsorships and content-commerce-based marketing initiatives in 2022. What this could foster is an increase in more “low-key” programming, with shows that are far less flashy and heavily branded than hits from recent years such as The Rap of China, Sisters Who Make Waves, or Fourtry. One new program, Shanghai TV’s Flash Cafe (闪电咖啡馆) takes on a relaxed format that makes sure to include a clear path to purchase. Lifestyle-focused and aimed at young professionals, Flash Cafe — a pilot project by the Shanghai Culture, Broadcasting, Film and Television Group Co., Ltd. (SMG) — anchors its reality-show format in coffee and music, as well as omni-media integration and, naturally, ample product placement. Amid Crackdown on “Excessively Entertaining” Content, Low-Key Programs Could Set the Tone For 2022
_Quentin Tarantino Is Turning Unreleased ‘Pulp Fiction’ Content Into NFTs. Heads up—Quentin Tarantino is joining the non-fungible token (NFT) craze, and he’s starting off with his most famous film to date. The enigmatic director announced the project at a cryptocurrency-art conference in New York City, revealing that he’s turning seven scenes from Pulp Fiction into “secret” NFTs. According to Artnet News, each artwork will feature digitized excerpts from the original script—handwritten by Tarantino—and first-person audio commentary. As reported by CNBC, this special collection of NFTs will be hosted on the Secret Network, a new blockchain system that keeps transaction and ownership data private. While such information is usually public on other blockchains, this network encrypts the data once a digital asset is sold.
_One Of Van Gogh’s Most-Hated Masterpieces Recreated IRL So You Can ‘Live’ In ItWith its depressing colors and blatant bloopers, The Potato Eaters (1885) is nary the sort of painting you’d expect to have been created by Vincent van Gogh. In his lifetime, people hated it. But the post-Impressionist told his sister it was his best work yet. The controversial early piece takes the center of a new Mistake or Masterpiece? exhibition, which will run through February 13, 2022, in the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam. Accompanying it is a life-size reconstruction of the work that invites selfie-taking admirers to stand out from its murky setup. Van Gogh worked on the painting after his art dealer brother Theo requested for something to be submitted to a salon in 1885. The painter—then living in Brabant, in the southern Netherlands—was fascinated by the rural life of local farmers, as well as the work of Dutch painter Jozef Israels, most known for focusing on working-class scenes, so he based his next piece on them. The artist portrayed five peasants in a cramped farming household in earth colors “like the color of a really dusty potato, unpeeled of course.” The real-life recreation of The Potato Eaters, meanwhile, honors its uninspiring color scheme and objects: you’ll find the same clock, cutlery, and coffee pot in the scene. Of course, potatoes are a must. One Of Van Gogh's Most-Hated Masterpieces Recreated IRL So You Can 'Live' In It
_AI Visualizes Any Place In The World After Falling To Climate ChangeTragic as they are, the effects of climate change aren’t always visible to the masses. Habitats are disappearing, water bodies are clogging up, and ice caps are melting, but the fact that these places are so far from our windows makes it much easier to ignore a global problem. Too many reports of natural disasters around the world, however, have prompted AI researchers at Quebec AI Institute Mila to drive these matters right under people’s noses in hopes to incite action. This Climate Does Not Exist, inspired by AI-generated imagery tools like the popular This Person Does Not Exist, imagines any place in the world potentially being at the mercy of the climate crisis. About 30 scientists were behind the project, and it took about two years for the website to finally be launched. The results are sobering, because you’re finally witnessing those detrimental impacts in your own backyard. Inputting any address generates a Google Street View image of the area with realistic filters depicting heavy flooding, wildfires, or smog. The tool reminds you that not even your childhood home or favorite restaurant is spared.
_NFT Festival Gets Sensory With Rave App That ‘May Induce Hallucinations’Just because NFTs are largely virtual experiences doesn’t mean they have to stop there. Dreamverse, the “world’s first” NFT art and music festival, not only brought the party offline—it hit the senses. Hosted by NFT fund Metapurse, which claims to be “the largest NFT fund”, the event took place in New York on Thursday at nightclub Terminal 5, promising a revolutionary experience merging art, music, and NFTs. There were two parts to this: a Dreamverse Gallery in the daytime, presented in partnership with TIME, and an evening Dreamverse Party, headlined by DJ and producer Alesso. One of the experiences upon offer was by artist Carsten Höller, who is well-known for producing sensory environments as part of his art. (Previous works include a sensory deprivation tank.) His contribution was the headline act at Dreamverse and comes in the form of a potential hallucination. 7.8 (Reduced Reality App), Höller’s creation in collaboration with Acute Art, was presented at the climax of the evening Party. This takes the form of an app participants downloaded, which made their smartphones “flicker, vibrate and sound at 7.8 Hz, a frequency that stimulates brain waves and, after a while, may induce hallucinations.”With everyone in the event using it, the artwork was said to “become a collective immersive experience that creates a bridge between art and music” while also doubling as somewhat of a social experiment. “What this frequency does to you is that it interferes with your brainwaves,” Höller explains to Artnet over a video chat. He elaborates that different frequencies can cause new feelings, including hallucinations. The human brain has a frequency of between four and 12 hertz. “It makes you high in a certain sense, and it even makes you see things that are not really there,” Höller details. “Typically, if you close your eyes and go close to the torch, you start to see color fields—red, blue, green—and everything becomes a kind of light LSD experience.”
_NYC’s Next Mayor Wants Paychecks In Bitcoin, To Make City ‘Center Of Crypto’ Eric Adams, who was recently elected to take over as New York City Mayor from Bill de Blasio in January 2022, has announced he would accept his first three paychecks in Bitcoin. Saying he wanted to make New York the “center of the cryptocurrency industry,” the mayor-elect is leading the way. According to the BBC, at first, Francis Suarez, the re-elected Mayor of Miami, had promised to receive his first paycheck in the digital token. Not to be outdone, Adams stretched the offer to not one, not two, but his first three paychecks at the helm. “In New York, we always go big, so I’m going to take my first three paychecks in Bitcoin when I become Mayor,” Adams wrote on Twitter. “NYC is going to be the center of the cryptocurrency industry and other fast-growing, innovative industries. Just wait!”
BRANDS
_Nike gets fit for the metaverse. The Future. Some of Nike’s patent filings over the past few years unbox a long-in-the-works play for the metaverse, including digital sneakers, NFT “cryptokicks", and avatars that can compete for virtual gear. With Microsoft working on its own interoperable avatars for the metaverse, Nike could soon outfit an entire digital ecosystem.
_Discover ‘The Unconventional Gallery’ – A Digital Experience Making Art Accessible to all for Ruinart’s Collaboration with Artist David Shrigley by makemepulse.
_Porsche Creates ‘Digital Twin’ Of Your Car So You Can Tell When To Get Repairs. Porsche is introducing a new concept to help drivers more easily identify if their vehicles require service. Dubbed a ‘digital twin’, each car will come with a virtual copy of itself, which will make use of an algorithm to predict when it’ll next require maintenance, depending on an individual’s driving style. According to Engadget, the predictive system is so advanced, it can even anticipate faults in a vehicle before they appear. This could help drivers get problems fixed before they become bigger and more costly, and will help the brand’s vehicles stay safer on the road. The feature, which involves sensors embedded into the vehicle, creates a virtual replica of the car, enabling the system to record data and monitor the car’s performance without having to perform real-world tests. As per FutureCar, the algorithm will not only recommend the type of services a vehicle needs but also the scope of the work that needs to be done. Porsche Creates 'Digital Twin' Of Your Car So You Can Tell When To Get Repairs
MMMM OF THE WEEK
_Justin Bieber will perform an entire live show as an avatar in his own virtual universe! With the Justice World Tour kicking off in 2022, this is your chance to see Justin perform hits like Peaches, Hold On, and his new single Ghost like never before. Interact directly with Justin during the show, chat with fans from around the world, and help shape what happens in the experience. SIGN UP for a free wave. Watch account to be a part of the experience. Waves are the World's most interactive virtual concerts - performed live by artists, influenced by audiences, and experienced together.