Stay connected in the world of technology and media. Our weekly round-up of the latest tech news gives you a bite-size version of today’s headlines. From Wi-Fi 7 to Electric Jets and more, we have you covered!
What is Wi-Fi 7 — and do you even need it?
Wi-Fi is gearing up for another upgrade with the imminent arrival of Wi-Fi 7, following Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 6E. This new generation promises significant speed improvements, enhanced interference handling, and reduced network latency. Unlike previous upgrades, Wi-Fi 7 will still work seamlessly with older devices, gradually delivering better performance as you upgrade your devices to support the new standard. The key improvements in Wi-Fi 7 include increased bandwidth with 320MHz channel support, Multi-Link Operation (MLO) for combining bands, and an increase in MU-MIMO spatial streams to 16 x 16. It aims to make your smart home more reliable and improve mesh systems by allowing seamless band switching. Overall, Wi-Fi 7 holds the potential for significantly faster and more efficient wireless networking, even if the promise of 8K video may not be its most immediate benefit.
Compact, High-Speed Public EV Chargers Now Available and Expanding Rapidly
Gravity, the company known for its electric taxi fleet in New York City, has developed a compact and ultra-fast DC charging system tailored for densely populated urban areas, addressing the limited charging options for electric vehicle owners in cities. Their system, consisting of “Distributed Energy Access Points,” can deliver an impressive 500kW of energy, significantly reducing charging times. While current vehicles in North America cannot accept power beyond 350kW, Gravity aims to future-proof its setup for upcoming models. The first 500kW charging station is set to open in Midtown Manhattan, offering faster charging solutions for urban EV users.
Google Meet Introduces Skin Smoothing and Teeth Whitening Effects for Video Calls
Google is introducing a highly requested feature that allows users to apply “beauty” effects during video calls. The Google Meet portrait touch-up feature is rolling out on mobile devices for early adopters, with a broader rollout scheduled for October 28th. It will also come to Google Meet on the web by the end of 2023. Users can choose between two portrait modes, “Subtle” and “Smoothing,” offering varying levels of complexion smoothing, under-eye lightening, and teeth whitening. This feature, aimed at lightly enhancing appearance, can be enabled in the settings and is available for premium Google accounts, excluding personal accounts. Despite being a later addition compared to competitors like Microsoft Teams and Zoom, it addresses the demand for such tools in professional video conferencing.
This Electric 30-Rotor Jet Can Be Yours…For $10 Million
German electric aviation company Lilium has partnered with EMC Jet, a Texas-based air brokerage and management firm, to break into the US electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft market. The company plans to sell its premium Lilium Pioneer eVTOL jets, which are designed as a sustainable alternative for private jet users, priced at $10 million each. These jets offer a range of around 110 miles and are ideal for short hops between airports or quick trips within urban areas. Despite not having FAA and EASA certification yet, Lilium aims to secure orders with payments tied to them ahead of receiving the necessary approvals, a common practice in the private aviation market. They project receiving the final type and production certification in 2025 at the earliest.
X to Introduce an Annual $1 Fee for New Users in Two Countries
X is introducing a $1 per year subscription for new web users in New Zealand and the Philippines. The paid plan will be part of its “Not A Bot” program aimed at reducing spam and manipulation. Users in these countries will also need to verify their accounts with a phone number. This new subscription is separate from X’s main $8 per month subscription. Users who opt not to subscribe will have limited access. Likewise, they will only be able to perform “read-only” actions like viewing posts and videos.
Original Pixel Watch Receives Wear OS 4 Update from Google
Google is releasing Wear OS 4 for its original Pixel Watch. The update will gradually roll out to users in the coming weeks depending on their carrier and device. The update introduces several enhancements, including the Google Calendar app, enhanced notifications, and more. It also enables data transfer to a new phone without a factory reset. Likewise, this allows data and settings backup for upgrading to a new Pixel Watch. However, the original Pixel Watch may not support Safety Signal, available on the Pixel Watch 2 through Fitbit Premium. This feature connects to LTE networks for emergency features.