September 28, 2023

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IN THIS ISSUE

🕶️ Meta's latest VR headset takes center stage at its Connect event

❓ X/Twitter CEO fails to confirm Musk's plan to charge all users

📱 Google gearing up to unveil new phones and smartwatch

UP FIRST

Meta officially launches VR goggles, high-tech specs, and AI features

Meta chief Mark Zuckerberg took to the stage on Wednesday to reveal all

Meta officially launched VR goggles, high-tech specs, and a bunch of AI features at its annual Connect event yesterday.

The goggles come in the form of the Quest 3. They're a big improvement on the Quest 2, sporting a smaller design, better weight distribution, improved visuals, and more power. And more games are coming, too.

Pre-orders for the $500 Quest 3 headset are open now. But first, check out Digital Trends’ hands-on review of the device. And while you’re at it, find out if the $300 Quest 2 is still worth a look.

Meta also unveiled an updated version of its Ray-Ban smart glasses, which can live-stream video directly to Instagram and Facebook, and introduced a bunch of AI features, including generative AI stickers for Meta’s messaging apps that let you create unique images from text prompts in just a few seconds ...

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SOCIAL MEDIA

X/Twitter CEO fails to confirm Musk's plan to charge all users

Elon Musk suggested earlier this month that everyone might soon have to pay to use the social media platform

X/Twitter CEO Linda Yaccarino has dodged a question about whether the company will start charging everyone a fee to use the platform.

The idea was suggested recently by company owner Elon Musk, who said it was “moving to having a small monthly payment for use of the X system” to help fight bots that plague the platform.

During an on-stage appearance on Wednesday, CNBC’s Julia Boorstin asked: “Do you want to start charging all users of X, as [Musk] said, and how many users do you think you will lose as a result?”

Yaccarino seemed a little discombobulated and asked Boorstin to repeat the question, finally responding: “Did he say we were moving to it specifically, or he’s thinking about it?”

Asked if he consulted her about it, Yaccarino said, “We talk about everything,” but failed to confirm either way whether a fee is incoming. Judging by her reaction, it seems unlikely for now ...

ON THE HORIZON

Google's Pixel 8 launch is just around the corner

Recent reports suggest a special freebie for those ordering the Pro version of Google's new smartphone

Google will officially introduce the latest iterations of its highly regarded Pixel phones next week. An update of its Pixel smartwatch is expected, too, along with other announcements.

There have already been plenty of leaks about the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro, and Google has also teased the devices. They suggest the design will be pretty similar to their predecessors, though we can of course expect more power and additional features with the new handsets, and hopefully a few nice surprises, as well.

Notably, recent reports claimed that Google is planning to throw in a free Pixel Watch for those who preorder a Pixel 8 Pro, so that’s something to look out for.

Other gear that could see updates include the Pixel Buds A-Series and Pixel Buds Pro.

Google’s event starts at 10 a.m. ET on Wednesday, October 4, and will be live-streamed on its YouTube channel and the Google Store website ...

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