Tech News Roundup for September 28, 2021
Here are a few of the stories I’ve found interesting over the last few days. Including a smartphone from…. Wendy’s?
Amazon Annouces All The Things… Including a Robot That Looks Like Wall-E
Amazon held an event this week where it unveiled approximately 700 products. I’m not going to go into them all in depth, because some of them likely won’t be coming to Canada. But there’s a $60 USD smart thermostat, a 15 inch smart display that is set in a picture frame and designed to be hung on a wall, a new video chat appliance that looks like a coffee maker, a new fitness tracker, and more.
Oh, and Astro, a robot that looks like Wall-E. Astro looks like it can’t do much beyond be a smart display that follows you around the house, and those invited to buy one can do so for $1000 USD. *Shrug*
https://www.theverge.com/2021/9/28/22692147/amazon-devices-event-echo-ring-biggest-announcements
Microsoft is Giving Skype an Overhaul
This kind of came out of left field, since all indications was that Microsoft would eventually be replacing Skype with a version of Microsoft Teams geared towards consumer use. Microsoft has gone so far to build a version of Teams into Windows 11 that pulls in Skype contacts. But… now Microsoft says Skype is getting a complete redesign, and says Skype is “here to stay.” Long live Skype, I guess.
Activision Blizzard Settles Discrimination Lawsuit Less Than 24 Hours After it was Filed
On Monday, the United States Equal Opportunity Employment Office filed a lawsuit against Activision Blizzard alleging discrimination in hiring practices by the company. On Tuesday…. Activision Blizzard settled the case, agreeing to create an $18 million fund for those affected. $18 Million is not a lot of money to the company, so this doesn’t feel like much of a “punishment.” But it gets yet another legal problem for the company behind it as it fights even bigger ones.
Ikea’s Symfonisk Lamp Gets an Update
Ikea lamps aren’t usually in my vertical, but when that lamp has a built in Sonos speaker, I become much more interested. The company has announced a new version of the Symfonisk lamp, which has a much sleeker design than the older model which was released in 2019. The Symfonisk is literally a Sonos powered speaker with a lamp bolted on top of it. And… it looks good. It comes in black and white and there are two choices of lamp shades. This looks like a solid option for someone looking for a decent looking smart speaker and lamp. And being a Sonos speaker, it supports the Sonos ecosystem in full.
The Symfonisk lamp is $160, and the two lamp shade options are either $20 or $40.
https://mobilesyrup.com/2021/09/28/ikea-x-sonos-table-lamp-gets-new-design-and-airplay-2/
Wendy’s Makes Smartphones Now
Are you looking for a new $200 smartphone with a Wendy’s logo on it? Well, you can win one. Wendy’s is partnering with Samsung to give a way a limited number of Samsung Galaxy A11 smartphones with a red back and the Wendy’s logo on it. These will not be available for sale, you have to win one.
I want it.
https://mobilesyrup.com/2021/09/27/forget-the-iphone-13-wendys-has-a-phone-now/