Stay connected in the world of tech! Dive into this week’s top headlines from across the worldwide web. From DALL-E updates to Waymo’s Robotaxi in LA and more, we have you covered!
Substack’s New Look Mirrors Classic Social Media App Features
Substack has unveiled a refreshed design of its app, highlighted by the new “Home” tab, which aids users in discovering content. This tab showcases a series of cards featuring posts from user subscriptions reminiscent of Apple’s Podcast app suggestions. Alongside the Home tab, there’s an “Inbox” tab listing subscriptions chronologically with enhanced filtering options for better navigation. Additionally, Substack has repositioned its chat section to the rightmost tab, with notifications now accessible through a bell icon and users’ profile pictures leading to their subscription library.
Fujifilm Introduces Instax Pal: A Compact $200 Digital Camera with Smartphone Printer Feature
Fujifilm is venturing into the instant camera market with its new product, the Instax Pal digital camera bundle, priced at $199.95 and set for release in late October. Targeted at kids, the Instax Pal is a compact, round digital camera that doesn’t directly print photos and comes without a built-in viewfinder. Instead, images are processed via a companion app and printed using the accompanying Instax Mini Link 2 smartphone printer. While the bundle includes a 10-pack of Instax Mini film, some question its value when compared to Fujifilm’s own Instax Mini Evo instant camera, which has more features and is similarly priced. Preliminary reviews suggest that while the Instax Pal offers novelty with customizable sounds and in-app editing, it may function more as a fun accessory than a true camera.
The Orion Video System app transforms your iPad into an HDMI monitor, infused with a nostalgic touch
The creator of the renowned iPhone camera app, Halide, has introduced a new app, the Orion Video System, allowing users to utilize their iPad as an HDMI display suitable for gaming, camera monitoring, and more. Available on the App Store, Orion offers a modern interface coupled with retro fonts and menus reminiscent of older VCR settings. This development has been possible due to Apple’s recent integration of USB video class (UVC) support on iPad through iPadOS 17, permitting the connection of compatible webcams and video capture cards. While Orion is free and doesn’t feature ads or tracking, users can opt for the $4.99 Orion Pro version, which provides advanced features like AI-powered 4K upscaling and a CRT filter for a vintage gaming experience. This innovation follows similar app endeavors like Genki Studio, with Orion standing out for those fond of video nostalgia from past decades.
OpenAI releases the third version of DALL-E
OpenAI has unveiled the third iteration of its generative AI visual art platform, DALL-E. This version has been enhanced to better understand the context of text prompts and convert them into images. A significant update in DALL-E 3 is its integration with ChatGPT. This allows users to utilize ChatGPT to generate prompts for DALL-E. Likewise, this simplifies the creation process for those unfamiliar with crafting detailed prompts. During a demonstration, the combined capabilities of ChatGPT and DALL-E 3 were showcased. The results produced imaginative art based on a chatbot-generated prompt. The rollout for DALL-E 3 will commence with ChatGPT Plus and ChatGPT Enterprise users. Likewise, subsequent releases to research labs and API services are planned for the coming months.
Waymo Explores Launching a Robotaxi Service in Los Angeles.
Waymo is embarking on a “tour across Los Angeles,” offering residents rides in its fully autonomous vehicles. Of course, this hints at the groundwork for a forthcoming commercial robotaxi service. The tour involves six extended stops in different LA neighborhoods where individuals can hail a driverless car. Those keen can secure early access tickets at pop-up events or join a waitlist. The service areas for this tour include popular neighborhoods from Santa Monica to Downtown LA. This initiative marks Waymo’s initial deployment of a “tour” model preceding a commercial launch. In addition, it comes after years of groundwork and mapping of LA streets. Likewise, Waymo aims to capture a significant portion of a potential $2 billion market in the city.