Friday Checkout Notes

Introduction

• Summary of the week's tech announcements.
• Sponsored by Bellroy.

Meta's Hardware Event

• Quest 3S:

  • Cheaper headset at $299.
  • Equipped with Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 chip, similar controllers, and pass-through.
  • Designed to replace Quest 2 as budget option.
  • Criticism of focus on affordability over usability.

• Orion AR Glasses:

  • Prototon pair; most impressive hardware of the year.
  • Weighs 96 grams, features 7 cameras for tracking.
  • Waveguide display made from silicon carbide to reduce rainbow effects.
  • 70-degree field of view, compared to Snapchat Spectacles (46 degrees) and Hololens 2 (52 degrees).
  • Claims of all-day battery life, contrary to Snapchat's 45 minutes.
  • Custom-designed processing chips, external puck weighs 100 grams.
  • Neural band tracks hand gestures using EMG, suggesting significant innovation.
  • Estimated cost of Orion glasses: 10,000 euros.
  • Zuckerberg's prediction: price should drop to flagship phone level in a few years.
  • Predictions:
    • Neural band will launch before glasses.
    • Integration of computing puck and neural band into one device.

US Government Password Guidelines

• NIST Guidelines:
  • New standards for password creation and management.
  • Accept passwords up to 64 characters, including spaces.
  • No requirement for character type mixtures.
  • Elimination of fallback security questions.
  • Aim: To improve password quality across organizations that interact with the federal government.

LG TV Ads

• Full-Screen Ads:
  • LG introducing full-screen ads during screensavers.
  • Advertisers targeted with a press release.
  • Criticism of monetizing high-priced TVs with ads.
  • Comparison with Free Tele's model.

Release Monitor

• Samsung Devices:
  • Galaxy S24 FE: $650 budget flagship with Exynos 2400E chip.
  • New Tab S10 Plus and Ultra with upgrades, anti-reflective coating.
• New Earbuds:
  • Open design that allows outside noise, priced at $150.
• Insta360 Link 2 and 2C:
  • Lower-end models with 4K image quality, magnetic mounts, and physical privacy shutter.

Brief Updates

• OpenAI's CTO Leaves:
  • Mira Murati departs after six and a half years.
• iPhone 16:
  • New battery adhesive allows easy repair, rated 7/10.
• Intel:
  • Found root cause of issues with 13th and 14th gen desktop chips, new patch rolled out.
• Environmental Legislation:
  • Biden's bill for environmental permit exemptions for chip foundries.
• Microsoft:
  • Restarting energy production at 3 Mile Nuclear Power Plant for AI data centers.
• Google:
  • Purchase of Character AI for $2.7 billion.
• MKBHD's Wallpaper App:
  • Panels app launched with subscription model; faced criticism over permissions and data leak.
• Disney's Password Sharing Crackdown:
  • New fee structure for adding extra members to subscriptions.

Product Review: Bellroy Backpack

• Features of the Transit Backpack Plus:
  • Water-resistant, made from recycled nylon, durable.
  • Comfortable straps, quick-access side pockets, dedicated laptop holder.
  • Hidden pocket for air tag.
• Conclusion:
  • Bellroy's commitment to sustainability and quality.
  • 10% discount available via link in the description.