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With another week winding down, it’s time to get updated on the latest tech news. From Waymo’s driverless cars in LA to flying cars via Alef and more, we have you covered. Read on for the latest news happening in the world of tech!

Alef Debuts Flying Car with 2025 Debut Date

It’s not quite The Jetsons, but Alef’s flying car prototype is fairly close. The company unveiled its prototype for a flying car this past week. The $300,000 machine is meant to give experienced drivers the chance to soar over traffic. Alef hopes to begin selling the flying vehicle starting in 2025. The Alef Model A has a driving range of 200 miles and a flying range of 110 miles. Likewise, the vehicle is already in high demand, with the start-up already receiving orders online. In addition, the company is also working on a $35,000 Model Z to launch by 2030.

SpaceX Debuts Starlink Internet Service for Private Jets

When it comes to staying connected while jet-setting, SpaceX is hoping to have you covered. The company unveiled Starlink Aviation this past week, a satellite internet service that will offer in-flight Wi-Fi on private jets. Likewise, SpaceX CEO and Starlink Founder Elon Musk hopes to sell internet service to the masses. The company is looking to a growing network of private satellites orbiting overhead as a way to ensure connectivity for the service. Private jet owners interested in the internet service can pay $150,000 for the hardware needed to connect a jet to Starlink. Likewise, the monthly subscription will be between $12,500 a month and $25,000 a month for unlimited data. “Passengers can engage in activities previously not functional in flight, including video calls, online gaming, virtual private networks, and other high data rate activities,” the company said.

Meta AI Now Able to Decipher Unwritten Languages, Company Says

The AI system developed by Meta is now able to translate unwritten languages. The company announced the news this week, calling it the “first AI-powered speech translation system for an unwritten language,” according to a blog post from the tech company. The language system was created as a part of Meta’s artificial intelligence project called Universal Speech Translator, or UST. “The translation system is the first milestone for Meta AI’s Universal Speech Translator project, which focuses on developing AI systems that provide real-time speech-to-speech translation across all languages, even primarily spoken ones,” Meta said in a statement. 

BMW Invests $1.7 Billion in EVs and Batteries in the US

Luxury automobile maker BMW has announced plans for a major investment in EVs and the assembly process. The German company stated that $1.7 billion will be invested in US electric vehicle manufacturing. Likewise, the total amount will be segmented, with $1 billion dedicated to EV production at its existing US assembly facility. In addition, BMW hopes that it will be able to build six fully electric BMW models in the US by 2030. The remaining $700 million will go toward building a new high-voltage battery assembly facility in nearby Woodruff.

Waymo Launches Self-Driving Ride Service in Los Angeles

After launches in San Francisco and Phoenix, Waymo’s self-driving ride service has made its way to LA. The company announced this week that it’s Waymo One driverless ride-hailing service will be available in the Los Angeles area. While a timeline has not been provided for launch, the company stated the vehicles will “begin driving autonomously in several central districts over the coming months.” In addition, the car service will be offered around the clock. Waymo has been working with several partners for the rollout, including Mothers Against Drunk Driving’s California chapter and the Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition.

Netflix Password Sharing Crackdown to Launch in Early 2023

The days of using your third cousin’s best friend’s former neighbor’s Netflix account are numbered. The streaming giant has set a date for its major update that will limit account sharing beginning in early 2023. Likewise, as a part of the rollout, the company will allow users the ability to transfer their profiles to new accounts. Netflix will begin letting subscribers create sub-accounts starting next year in line with its plans to “monetize account sharing” more widely. In addition, to the profile change, the company will also be launching its ad-supported tier system in the coming month. Of course, the company will be clamping down on password sharing as it remains committed to the “bingeable release model.”

Stay connected in the world of tech and science! In this week’s tech news blog, we are breaking down the major headlines you want to know via bite-sized versions of the facts that matter. From Meta’s Quest Pro to the Netflix Basic Plan and more, we have you covered with technology news!

Meta Debuts High-End VR Set Quest VR Pro

Eager VR fans are finally getting more details on Meta’s high-end version of its Quest VR glasses. The Quest VR Pro, which has been priced at $1499, brings massive changes to the popular VR set. With an upgraded processor and better ergonomics, the Quest VR Pro is both faster and more comfortable than its predecessor. In addition, the gear has added eye tracking and high-resolution color for its video feed. Likewise, the latter makes the line between virtual and augmented reality more blurred. “This is the highest-end VR device — for enthusiasts, the prosumer, the sort of people who are trying to get work done,” said Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg.

Amazon is Primed to Launch its Prototype Satellites Early Next Year

As part of its Project Kuiper satellite internet constellation, Amazon is readying to launch two satellites early next year. The test satellites were built to compete with services like SpaceX Starlink and OneWeb. The company put out a release this week stating that the prototypes Kuipersat-1 and Kuipersat-2, will be riding into orbit on a Vulcan Centaur rocket from the United Launch Alliance (ULA) in early 2023. The company says the launch will let it perform tests on its satellite network technology with data from space and that the data will “help finalize the design, deployment, and operational plans for our commercial satellite system.”

Netflix Begins this November Rollout for Basic Plan with Ads

Beginning in November, Netflix will rollout out its Basic plan to users in a select number of countries. The plan will be available to users in the US, Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Spain, and the UK. The Basic with Ads tier will launch at $6.99 a month in exchange for having to watch four to five ads per hour. In addition, the package will give users access to a large amount of Netflix’s content but not its full catalog. Basic with Ads subscribers will also not be able to download content onto their devices, and video quality is capped at 720p / HD.

Microsoft Launches Microsoft Places for Better Hybrid Team Connectivity

A new workplace app is being launched by Microsoft to assist with the challenges of hybrid working. Called Microsoft Places, the app is currently in beta and set to launch soon. The app will track what percentage of team members will be in the office on a given day. In addition to tracking team members’ locations, the app also works to keep workflow organized by giving “insights and guidance.” Places are also designed to help managers plan office use and how much space might be needed in the future.

Roku Partners with Wyze and Walmart for New Smart Home Gear

Streaming device company Roku is entering the smart home field. The company has debuted a range of smart home gadgets in partnership with Wyze and Walmart. The gadgets include lighting, plugs, and cameras. Likewise, at launch, users will be able to view a video feed from the Roku video doorbell via the Roku TV operating system. Roku also says the lineup will be compatible with Google Assistant and Roku Voice. A Roku Smart Home mobile app will be available on iOS and Android for managing smart devices.

As October speeds on, we are speeding through this week’s tech news to give you the latest. Read on for a bite-sized version of major headlines happening across the web. From Twitter’s edit button to the Peloton Row and more, we have you covered!

Over the Counter Hearing Aids will Soon be Available

The USDA has announced it had finalized a rule that will allow hearing aids to be sold over the counter. The move will allow buyers to purchase a hearing aid without a prescription. Federal health officials are hopeful the change will allow people to have more affordable access and convenience in purchasing a hearing aid. With hearing loss varying based on the person, the FDA has set the device to be for a certain level of hearing loss. The OTC hearing aids will be for adults with “perceived mild to moderate hearing impairment.” This is according to Tricia Ashby-Scabis, senior director of audiology practices at the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Of course, what this means is that it will more than likely be for consumers who are just now noticing a change in hearing. 

Peloton Launches New Rowing Machine for At-Home Fitness

With products like the Peloton Bike and Peloton Tread, it should come as no surprise that the company is expanding its range of products. This month, Peloton launched the Peloton Row. The smart rowing machine, which was announced in May, has now begun taking pre-orders. The basic Peloton Row package will cost you $3,195 USD. The company hopes the device will help even users at a beginner level to become better rowers. 

Scientists Look to Laughing Gas as New Sign of Life Indicator on Other Planets

As scientists seek out biosignatures as indicators for life outside our solar system, oxygen and methane have been the main focus. A team of astrobiologists has proposed looking for nitrous oxide as another biosignature indicator. “There’s been a lot of thought put into oxygen and methane as biosignatures. Fewer researchers have seriously considered nitrous oxide, but we think that may be a mistake,” said astrobiologist Eddie Schwieterman in a University of California, Riverside statement on Tuesday. The researchers suggest observatories like the James Webb Space Telescope for observation. this is because the telescope has the ability to study exoplanet atmospheres and could be used to search for nitrous oxide.

Google Unveils Google Pixel 7 Pro at Made by Google Event

The Pixel 7 Pro has officially been unveiled at this month’s Made by Google event. The new Pro phone comes preloaded with the Android 13 operating system and is powered by Google’s new Tensor G2 chip. Consumers will be able to choose from three colors that include a polished aluminum camera bar. In addition to selfies, Pixel 7 Pro’s front-facing camera can be used to unlock your phone using facial recognition technology. You will also be able to unlock your phone using the under-display fingerprint reader.

CES 2023 Expected to Drawn Over 100,000 AttendeesWith 2023 around the corner, the Consumer Technology Association is forecasting large crowds for CES 2023. Kicking off on January 5 in Las Vegas, this would be the largest crowd the conference has seen since pre-pandemic. “We are optimistic we can hit our attendance goal of 100,000, which would make it the largest independently audited post-pandemic tech event,” Gary Shapiro, president, and CEO of the CTA, said in a statement. CES is the tech industry’s largest in-person annual trade event. Thousands of companies every year descend upon the 2.5 million-square-foot Las Vegas Convention Center for the annual trade show. 

Twitter Rolls Out Edit Button for Paid Subscribers

If you have been eager to edit your tweets…you’ll need Twitter Blue. The popular social media app has finally begun its rollout of the edit button in the US for paid subscribers. The launch began in countries like Canada, Australia, and New Zealand before finally becoming accessible to US users. When a paid subscriber finally gets the rollout, the feature will be accessible in the apps Labs section. Of course, not all tweets can be redone, as the feature will not be available for replies, retweets, and polls. Likewise, since the feature is still in testing mode, some changes can be expected in the coming weeks and months.