The tech world had a lot to share this week. Apple has been busy stocking the shelves with its latest products and rolling out iOS 16 for iPhone 8 and later devices. Social media platforms continue to fight each other: Instagram began testing a new in-feed repost feature similar to Twitter, and TikTok began experiments with a new Berial-style feature called TikTok Now. And otherwise, we’ve got an update on the status of Elon Musk’s messy $44 billion Twitter deal.
Below, Hypebeast has rounded up the best tech stories of the week so you can stay up-to-date on trends in the industry.
Apple has launched iOS 16.
On Monday, Apple announced iOS 16, or what it calls a “major update to the lock screen,” for iPhone 8 and older models. In the updated operating system, users can now add deep effects to their background and change the font or style for the time display. Users can also choose to display a single still image as the background, or select a new gallery feature that switches between different images.
Elsewhere, iOS 16 offers new widgets that make it easier to access important information, including alerts, time zones, calendar events, and more. And notifications now appear at the bottom of the screen. In iMessage, users can now sync movies and music via SharePlay, which is ideal for both work collaboration or leisure activities.
Twitter shareholders vote to approve Elon Musk’s $44 billion buyout
Brendan Smialowski/AFP/Getty Images
As Musk continues to try to get out of the giant deal, a majority of Twitter shareholders on Tuesday approved a $44 billion buyout of the Tesla CEO. In their meeting, which was said to have lasted just seven minutes, shareholders approved two separate proposals.
The original idea was that Musk would buy Twitter as a private company following a merger deal. And the second proposal provided context for how Twitter executives would be compensated pending approval of the deal.
The company did not share the exact number of shareholders who voted to approve the proposals, although it will disclose those figures later.
Instagram started testing a new repost tool
Mateusz Slodkowski / Sopa Images / Lightrocket / Getty Images
People have long been able to share other users’ content on their Facebook and Twitter feeds, and it looks like Instagram is getting ready to introduce its own version of the popular feature. Of course, users can already share other people’s content to their Stories, but this latest experiment allows Instagrammers to “recommend” content on their own feed, a first for the social media giant.
“We’re exploring the ability to reshare posts in feeds — how to reshare them in stories — so people can share what resonates with them and original creators can be recognized for their work,” confirmed a Meta spokesperson. TechCrunch. “We plan to test this with a few people soon.”
It has been reported that users can reply to a repost with a message. Instagram has yet to confirm if and when the feature will be officially released.
Comcast joint plans to introduce 2Gbps Internet in the US
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Comcast will soon offer 2Gbps Internet in the US, specifically in 34 cities. Initial destinations include Augusta, Colorado Springs, Panama City Beach and Philadelphia, though the company says upload speeds will be limited to 200Mbps initially. Balanced speeds will be available in 2023.
“We’re making our network smarter and faster, enabling us to deliver true multi-gig WiFi faster to tens of millions of businesses and residential consumers,” said Charlie Herrin, Comcast Cable’s president of technology. Whatever the application, whatever the future holds, our network and world-class, whole-home Wi-Fi experience will be there and ready to enhance all of our customers’ connected experiences.
The company said the project has been in the works for two years. The goal is to provide 2Gbps speeds to more than 50 million households by the end of 2025.
Tiktok started experimenting with a new BeReal-Style feature
Tiktok
TikTok Now, similar to BeReal, will ask users to post a photo (front and rear camera) or a 10-second video within a certain time frame in a new test that is scheduled to take place in the “coming weeks.” In the US, the feature will be available in the popular TikTok app, although other countries may receive an entirely new app specific to the new device.
While the popular video-sharing app is no stranger to other companies duping its original features, this attempt is one of the first attempts by TikTok to borrow a core concept from another platform. TikTok has yet to confirm whether the feature will be permanent on the platform.
Apple’s latest iPhones and Apple Watches have been launched globally
Tiktok
Tiktok
On Friday, Apple’s new iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Pro, iPhone 14 Pro Max, Apple Watch Series 8 and Apple Watch SE hit the shelves of tech giants around the world.
Among several product launches, the iPhone 14 Pro features a dynamic island, a forward-thinking design feature that runs alongside a pill-shaped notch, as well as an always-on display and a first-ever 48-megapixel sensor. Camera. Elsewhere, the Apple Watch Series 8 improves on the company’s top-notch health and safety features, with a slew of new technologies like temperature-sensing capabilities, retroactive ovulation estimates, crash detection, and global roaming.
Head over to Apple’s website to shop the full lineup.
