Tech News – Page 84 – by Arlin Schaffel

Chromebooks Are Trash (Literally)

Chromebooks have become a key part of many students’ educational lives, but like our smartphones, they aren’t built to last. It’s worse than that, though: They have an expiration date, one that creates a big problem with e-waste down the line. That’s a problem that has long been known about these low-end machines, but it’s something that “Chromebook Churn,” a new report from the U.S. Public Interest Research Group (U.S. PIRG) Education Fund makes clear.
https://www.vice.com/en/article/qjv8mw/chromebooks-are-trash-literally

End of an Era: Netflix Retiring DVD-by-Mail Service in September

“After an incredible 25-year run, we’ve decided to wind down DVD.com later this year,” says Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos. “Our goal has always been to provide the best service for our members but as the business continues to shrink that’s going to become increasingly difficult.”
https://www.pcmag.com/news/end-of-an-era-netflix-retiring-dvd-by-mail-service-in-september

Twitter Tells Corporate Partners It’s Now X Corp. Amid Switch To ‘Everything App’

Twitter informed business users Tuesday it is now conducting business as X Corp., confirming a transition previously indicated in court filings as the firm’s billionaire chief, Elon Musk, continues to reshape the social media company toward his ultimate vision of the X “everything app.”
https://www.forbes.com/sites/dereksaul/2023/04/18/twitter-tells-corporate-partners-its-now-x-corp-amid-switch-to-everything-app/

Apple Focusing on Sports, Gaming, and Fitness Apps for AR/VR Headset

Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said in early April that the AR/VR headset is the "last hope" for persuading investors that AR/VR devices will become the "next star product in consumer electronics." Other devices from companies like Meta have lacked appealing software, and this is a major hurdle that Apple will need to overcome.
https://www.macrumors.com/2023/04/18/apple-ar-vr-headset-app-development/

Apple launches high-interest savings account paying 4% — but not in Canada | CBC News

Apple will soon offer users of its eponymous banking service the ability to earn money from their savings in a high-interest account that pays far more than what’s available at conventional banks. The California based technology giant said Monday that Apple Card customers can sign up for a new account that currently pays out 4.15 per cent annually on any cash in it.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/apple-savings-account-1.6813076

Sega to acquire Angry Birds-maker Rovio for $775M

With Rovio under its wing, Sega says it plans to “accelerate the development” of its own existing games, as well as “generate synergies” between Sega and Rovio’s brands. Specifically, it seems that Rovio’s experience in so-called “live service” mobile gaming is what appealed to Sega, which refers games designed to be played more or less indefinitely through regular content updates to keep players interested. Moreover, Sega said that Rovio’s expertise can help it expand Sega’s current and new games in more markets, particularly in Europe and North America.
https://techcrunch.com/2023/04/17/sega-to-acquire-angry-birds-maker-rovio-for-775m/

Microsoft’s new Copilot will change Office documents forever

Microsoft has a flashy marketing video that shows off Copilot’s potential, but seeing Friedman demonstrate this in real time across Office apps and in Teams left me convinced it will forever change how we interact with software, create documents, and ultimately, how we work.
https://www.theverge.com/2023/3/17/23644501/microsoft-copilot-ai-office-documents-microsoft-365-report