Surprising predictions part 4

 The Top Tech News You Need to Know This Weekend

It’s the weekend! You’ve got some free time ahead of you, and what better way to spend it than catching up on the latest technology news? Whether you want to learn more about the hottest new mobile app or simply just know what to expect from the major tech events taking place this year, this roundup of the top tech news you need to know this weekend will help you learn more about all things digital and be smarter about how you use technology in your life.

Apple Announces Three New iPhones

Apple announced three new iPhones this week: the iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, and iPhone 11 Pro Max. The iPhone 11 is the successor to the iPhone XR, while the iPhone 11 Pro and Pro Max are the successors to the iPhone XS and XS Max, respectively. All three phones feature a new A13 Bionic chip, improved cameras, and longer battery life. The iPhone 11 starts at $699, while the Pro and Pro Max start at $999 and $1099, respectively. The Pro Max features an edge-to-edge 6.5 inch OLED display with support for HDR video and Face ID. It also has triple rear camera lenses as well as dual front-facing cameras. The iPhone 11 and 11 Pro have 5.8 inch LCD displays with a single rear camera lens as well as dual front-facing cameras, both of which can record in 4K resolution. They also have upgraded Touch ID sensors that include advanced security features like face recognition. 

A list of the differences between these three phones can be found here.

The 10th anniversary edition of Pokémon: Let’s Go! was released on Friday and includes not only updated graphics but also Pikachu or Eevee in place of your starter Pokémon from past games (though you still need to catch them first). The game is available on Nintendo Switch or Nintendo 3DS. While it does not contain any groundbreaking new mechanics, it does seem like a fun way to revisit Kanto without needing to purchase other games such as Pokemon Yellow or Blue. However, some gamers may find it too easy. In particular, Niantic Lab head John Hanke admitted that their goal was to make the game more accessible for younger children. Players should also note that there is no wireless trading within the game nor will there ever be; though Niantic did announce they will be releasing a companion app next year called Pokémon Home which will allow players to manage their Pokémons from anywhere in real time. Additionally, with Pokémon Home comes the ability to trade Pokémons across different regions, much like how players could do so in previous generations. One of the most notable changes coming to future versions of Pokémon GO is that players will now be able to transfer their game progress from one device to another, allowing them to continue playing even if they break or lose their phone. Unfortunately, fans looking forward to playing more than just ten minutes per day in order to capture rarer creatures are out of luck; the maximum daily play time remains at ten minutes per day. Once released, players will be able to transfer their Pokémon through the mobile application rather than requiring the use of Wi-Fi. Other details about this forthcoming app are scarce currently, but it seems promising. It will be interesting to see what the response is when Pokémon Home is finally released.

A New Type of Social Media Platform Called Minds: Social media platforms are always trying to differentiate themselves and Minds is a perfect example of this. Founded in 2010, Minds takes a stand against censorship by refusing to take down user content unless it violates the law. For instance, terrorist propaganda, child pornography, and revenge porn are all prohibited by the company's terms of service. This ensures that every member's voice will be heard, as opposed to being censored. As part of its commitment to freedom of speech, users' identities remain anonymous in their posts and comments; however, their location is not hidden.

Amazon Releases Fire TV Stick 4K

If you're looking for a new streaming device, the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K is now available. The device supports 4K Ultra HD and HDR content, and comes with a voice remote that has Alexa built-in. Plus, with Prime Video, Netflix, HBO, and other popular apps pre-loaded, you'll be able to watch your favorite shows and movies right away. It will cost $50 when it launches on October 31st. Alongside the release of this product, Amazon also announced its intentions to purchase 20th Century Fox. 

 The acquisition should come as no surprise given recent rumors that Apple was also interested in purchasing 21st Century Fox, but how it affects either company's future projects remains unclear. For example, some have speculated whether or not Disney will cancel its plans for an R-rated Deadpool film after learning about the sale from Amazon. Regardless of what may happen with these two companies' films in the future, we can't wait to see what other new releases are coming out soon! There's more than enough to get excited about this month: Blade Runner 2049 (October 6), Justice League (November 17), Thor: Ragnarok (November 3), Coco (November 22) and more. What are you most excited for? Let us know in the comments below! 

In addition to creating original shows like Man in the High Castle, Amazon Prime Video has acquired numerous popular titles for viewers around the world. Just last week, it purchased three movies by Woody Allen—Wonder Wheel, Cafe Society and Blue Jasmine—for $15 million dollars. And there are plenty of movies still on their way too; here’s a list of just a few more that will be available on Prime Video by year’s end: Anchorman 2 , Back to School , Jackass Presents Bad Grandpa , Bruce Almighty , Clerks II , Goon , Kill Bill Vol 1 & 2 , Intolerable Cruelty . Yes! We're looking forward to watching all of those too - which one(s) do you think you'll watch first? Let us know in the comments below!

A lot happened this week, so we'll make sure to keep you updated every Friday night with what's going on in the world of technology. Stay tuned for our next update next weekend and happy streaming! 

For those interested in a bit more information about Fire TV Stick 4K, it has an HDMI input that can display at 2160p (4K Ultra HD) resolution. It also supports HDR10 content as well as Dolby Atmos audio soundtracks. In addition to standard Alexa functionality, it has eight microphones and beam-forming technology that enhances voice recognition - both features designed to improve voice search features when watching movies or shows on Amazon Prime Video. And if you don't have Amazon Prime Video yet, sign up now using your existing account or start a free trial ! It comes with a host of benefits including access to music streaming through Prime Music, unlimited photo storage through Prime Photos and more - click here for more details .

Google Updates Smart Home Platform and Devices

Google made a number of announcements this week that are sure to make waves in the tech world. First, the company announced a number of updates to its smart home platform, Google Home. The platform will now support multi-room audio, meaning you can control multiple speakers at once from your phone or Google Home device. The company also announced new partnerships with a number of companies, including Belkin and Philips, that will result in new devices compatible with Google Home. Finally, Google announced that its smart assistant, Google Assistant, will soon be available on more devices, including Android Wear watches and headphones. These additions to the Google ecosystem could push it ahead of competitors like Amazon Alexa. They’ll also help put Google into more homes around the country as they work with partners to bring their products into stores. However, one announcement we weren’t so excited about was news that Google is discontinuing Nest Labs. Nest Labs created and designed many different connected home appliances before being acquired by Google in 2014 for $3 billion dollars. Though Nest was popular among users for quality products and convenience features, they didn’t produce much in terms of revenue for Google so they’ve decided to stop developing new products and shift resources towards other projects. As consumers prepare for these changes and try out these new offerings, we'll have to wait and see if they continue to stay loyal to the brand. If not, there's always Amazon. With the recent acquisition of Whole Foods, Amazon just seems to keep getting bigger and bigger. In fact, even though Google might be closing some doors with Nest Labs, Amazon continues to open them up--even grocery stores! Just last month they opened an experimental grocery store in Seattle called Amazon Go where shoppers check themselves out using sensors when they leave the store. The technology does away with checkouts and checkout lines altogether--a development that seems poised to become increasingly common given how hard it has been for traditional retailers to keep up with digital shopping trends. It’s unclear whether or not this type of model will take off, but it seems like Amazon is betting big that customers won't want to go back to standard checkouts any time soon.

Apple Updates iPad, Mac Lineups

Apple this week updated its iPad and Mac lineup with new devices across both product families. The iPad Air now comes in a new 10.5-inch size, while the iPad Pro gets updated 12.9- and 9.7-inch models. Apple also unveiled a new budget-friendly iPad that replaces the aging iPad mini 4. As for the Mac, Apple introduced refreshed MacBook and MacBook Pro laptops with faster processors and improved keyboards. The iMac Pro, a powerful all-in-one desktop aimed at professional users, was also announced this week and is set to ship in December. Finally, those who were disappointed by last year's iPhone X may be relieved to hear that Apple will release three new iPhones this fall: an update to the current flagship XS model, as well as successors called XR and XS Max. The latter two are expected to have larger screens than their predecessor, but won't be quite as expensive as the pricier XS model. All three of these phones will come with Face ID facial recognition technology like on the iPhone X. Speaking of smartphones, Google released Pixel 3 XL preorders this week and made the phone available through Verizon Wireless stores around the country. 

In other tech news, Amazon had some hardware announcements as well. It has revealed five new Echo speakers: one with a screen (the Echo Show), four without (Echo Dot Kids Edition, Echo Spot, Echo Plus and Echo Input). All of these products come equipped with Alexa functionality and can connect to other smart home devices from Amazon or third parties via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth connectivity. Meanwhile, Tesla stock continued to plummet this week following CEO Elon Musk’s controversial tweets about taking the company private. Many criticized his lack of transparency and questioned whether he had already violated securities laws. Musk responded by saying he later abandoned his plans due to shareholder pressure. Lastly, after being booted from Twitter following a tirade against female journalists and Republican leaders, conspiracy theorist Alex Jones has been banned from YouTube as well.

Facebook Makes Camera Platform More Accessible for Creators

Facebook’s Director of Product Management, Josh Twist, announced several new features for Facebook’s camera platform this week. The updates include: a new Creator Studio for better management of content; improved searchability of effects; and the ability to save and share custom AR effects. These features make it easier for creators to produce quality content on Facebook, and will likely lead to more engaging experiences for users. They also increase the company’s competitive edge in an increasingly crowded marketplace. Apple's AirPods II Coming in 2020? A recent patent filing from Apple has many speculating that we may see AirPods II sometime next year. New features could include noise-cancelling capabilities and wireless charging. 

Domino's Goes Cashless In France: Domino's Pizza is eliminating cash as a payment option at all stores across France by 2020. The switch is part of the company's mission to reduce contact with food allergens, thereby reducing risk for customers with allergies or sensitivities to those ingredients. While some are praising the move, others are concerned about people who don't have access to cards or mobile wallets. If you've got someone without a card, how do they buy? says Chris Ives, CEO of digital marketing agency Gyro. How do they get their pizza delivered? There are still ways to pay using coins and bills, but only online orders can be made using PayPal.