Friday Five Episode 5
Microsoft and Minecraft, wearable power suit, Apple buzz
Microsoft in talks with Minecraft
Microsoft is looking to further its investment in the gaming industry—especially mobile gaming. Talks of Microsoft buying Mojang, the company behind the massively popular sandbox game Minecraft, has lit up news and invited pundit opinions. Games themselves are clearly important to Microsoft, having invested millions in its own Microsoft Game Studios, but being able to appeal to the enormous user-base that follows each title is the key to success. The New York Times reported this week that Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella said:
“[Games are] the single biggest digital life category, measured in both time and money spent.”
The deal will put Microsoft in control of the lucrative Minecraft ecosystem, and ensures that new features will be available on Microsoft devices, keeping highly youth-centric content on the Windows platform. This potential acquisition will remain under watchful eyes—by the diehard Minecraft fanbase and beyond.
Alba smart bulbs lights up the connected home of the future
The announcement of Apple’s HomeKit creates opportunities for siloed smart devices to communicate with each other via a unified hub at home. Designers and manufacturers are following suit and beginning to create context-aware products. The Alba by Stack Lighting is a white-only dimmable light bulb that can doesn’t have to be controlled by a smartphone. The smartbulb sports motion sensing capability that enables it to switch on when a homeowner walks by. The main differentiator is the presence detection option, which allows the Alba bulbs to ‘scientifically’ determine the best type of light based on the time of day—bluer in the morning, and warmer, dimmer hues in the evening. Designed with the retail and home environment in mind, Stack Lighting believes Alba’s built-in sensors make it the first truly autonomous—and smart—light bulb.
Power up with a wearable robotic suit
It seems movies and emerging tech are in advancing in tandem, pushing the boundaries of filmmaking and priming audiences for innovation. Conor Walsh, an engineer at Harvard University, is spearheading a wearable robot suit project that can revolutionize the way people work, play, and recover from injuries. Walsh’s soft exosuit integrates technology that mimics the way muscles and tendons move to assist those that are paralyzed or recovering. Walsh’s team is hopeful that the suit will help people carry heavy loads, let stroke victims recover their movement, and assist the elderly. Walsh, when asked about how his team’s powered exosuit will compare with other wearable robitics, said:
“We’re fundamentally addressing a different challenge.”
HTC to develop an ultra-wide angle, waterproof camera
The Taiwan-based company is looking to diversify its portfolio outside of mobile, and is decidedly taking a first step with a rugged, portable camera. It’s been reported to be a challenger to the successful line of GoPro cameras, designed with the extreme sports enthusiast in mind. Details of HTC’s camera so far tell of an ultra wide-angle lens, a 16 megapixel sensor, and the ability to integrate with devices running on both Android and iOS systems. Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity will also be included in development. At this point, the product is unnamed, but HTC plans to unveil its camera at a press event on October 8 in New York.
Say hello to Apple’s new products
This was a huge week for Apple. Excitement over the announcements from Apple’s event this Tuesday filled the news with recaps, reviews, and reports on the Apple Watch, iPhone 6, and Apple Pay. Today, carrier websites crashed under the demand for iPhone 6 and 6 Plus pre-orders, leaving the 6 Plus already backordered. If you missed any of the buzz this week, catch up with Punchkick’s rundown of each announcement below: