The Tech Landscape #94
The Austrian classical composer, Joseph Haydn, was famous for including jokes in his music. His Symphony Number 94 contains an unexpectedly loud chord in an otherwise quiet piece. It’s popularly known as the Surprise Symphony.
A fairly quiet week, albeit with a couple of big announcements.
Need to Know #1: Google Stadia
Google showed off their new gaming platform, Stadia. It streams games over the internet, allowing 4K UHD gaming with just a Chromecast, phone, or web browser—no console required. It will be heavily integrated with YouTube (in case you’re not aware, watching other people play games is insanely popular). They also showed off a new games controller with Google Assistant button, and are starting their own games studio. Details of pricing and partners will follow later this year.
theverge.com/2019/3/19/18271702/google-stadia-cloud-gaming-service-announcement-gdc-2019
You can watch the key moments of the Stadia announcement for yourself: youtu.be/vsaenNSjclY.
Worth noting that Google won’t have the field to themselves; Sony, Microsoft, and Valve are just three of the names which already have cloud gaming platforms in the works, and Chinese giant Tencent announced their own platform at GDC too (to considerably less fanfare). Google’s big advantage will be in owning cloud infrastructure, and the social element.
Need to Know #2: Instagram Checkout
Instagram users can now buy directly from brands through the app. Checkout, as the service is known, covers purchasing and fulfilment. Will be available to selected brand partners, in the US, only (for now).
instagram-press.com/blog/2019/03/19/instagram-checkout/
AR & VR [XR]
HP announced Reverb, a new standalone XR headset. It has ‘inside-out’ tracking (meaning it no longer relies on external sensors to track your position) and external passthrough cameras which allow for AR use as well as VR.
theverge.com/2019/3/19/18272229/hp-reverb-vr-windows-mixed-reality-headset-price-release-date
Oculus announced an updated version of its Rift VR headset. The Rift S is lighter and has better screens than its predecessor, and ‘inside-out’ tracking.
wired.com/story/oculus-rift-s-vr-headset/
Angry Pigs’ first AR game was announced for iOS. The AR angle is a bit of a novelty for now, but will doubtless play better on AR headsets than on phones.
techcrunch.com/2019/03/19/angry-birds-ar-is-coming-to-iphone-this-spring/
Assistants & Voice
Apple announced second-generation AirPods, with the new H1 headphone chip for better data connection, a wireless charging case, and hands-free “Hey Siri” voice activation.
apple.com/uk/newsroom/2019/03/airpods-the-worlds-most-popular-wireless-headphones-are-getting-even-better/
UK social messaging platform, Conversocial, acquired conversational commerce provider, Assist.
voicebot.ai/2019/03/19/conversocial-acquires-assist-an-interview-with-shane-mac/
Google Pay
Customers in India can now buy train tickets directly through the Google Pay app, adding to bus, ridesharing, and hotel options already available.
india.googleblog.com/2019/03/introducing-train-ticket-booking-on.html
The Google Pay app can now display boarding passes from a number of European airlines. It seems the plan is to make it into a universal payment and transaction wallet.
androidpolice.com/2019/03/19/ryanair-boarding-passes-can-now-be-saved-to-google-pay/
Google vs the EU
Google will notify users of Android phones in the EU that other browsers and search engines are available. This is to appease regulators who think Google are acting monopolistically (see below).
blog.google/around-the-globe/google-europe/supporting-choice-and-competition-europe/
Google have been fined €1.5bn by the EU for anti-competitive practices in advertising. This is their third fine in two years, for a total of €8.25bn (the first two are under appeal).
bbc.co.uk/news/business-47639228