This week, the tech industry saw the rollout of a few new products, including a collaboration between Bowers & Wilkins and McLaren Automotive in the form of a cutting-edge speaker. On the app side, Instagram is working on a new feature that lets users post Stories for select groups of people.
In the world of AI, meanwhile, Disney was called out for the alleged use of AI to make a poster for the forthcoming second season of Loki. And to round it off, SpaceX’s Starlink shared plans to launch a satellite SMS service next year.
Below, Hypebeast has rounded up the top tech stories of the week so you can stay up to date on trends in the industry.
SpaceX’s Starlink is Launching a Satellite-Based SMS Services in 2024
Rafael Henrique/Sopa Images/Lightrocket/Getty Images
SpaceX‘s Starlink has revealed plans to start an SMS service. Entitled Direct-to-Cell, the messaging system is being developed in partnership with T-Mobile and is scheduled to launch in 2024. T-Mobile is expanding its wide-reaching 5G spectrum to Starlink’s second-gen satellites.
While Direct-to-Cell will include just SMS to start, Starlink plans to add voice and data in 2025. With the service, the company aims to provide “ubiquitous access to texting, calling and browsing wherever you may be on land, lakes, or coastal waters,” according to its website.
Bowers & Wilkins Collaborated With McLaren Automotive for a New Zeppelin Wireless Speaker
Bowers & Wilkins
Following Bowers & Wilkins‘ headphone collaboration with McLaren Automotive, the audio brand has debuted a wireless speaker with the company. The Zeppelin McLaren Edition brings together high-quality sound and sleek, thoughtful design.
Engineered to serve as a complete stereo system, the speaker looks similar to a blimp, coming in a “Galvanic Grey” finish with “Papaya Orange” details. Sound capabilities aside — though the speaker offers 240W of amplification — it also pays homage to Bruce McLaren with a Speedy Kiwi on the rear.
Disney’s Loki Was Called Out Over an Alleged Use of AI in a Poster Design
Disney
Posters for the second season of Disney‘s Loki have been garnering criticism due to the alleged use of AI in its design. One fan took to X to draw attention to a few issues in the poster that seemed to point to it having been generated by AI, such as the artist not knowing the Roman numeral for four and the unnatural look of the figures.
The criticism was also driven by reports that the latest season cost $141.3 million USD. “Disney too cheap to pay an artist to do their Loki promotional art, so we get this ugly AI sh*t again,” the fan wrote.
Instagram is Testing a New Feature Allowing Users To Share Stories With Several Audience Lists
Jakub Porzycki/Nurphoto/Getty Images
Instagram users may soon be able to post Stories for specific groups of people. CEO Adam Mosseri shared that the app is currently working on a new feature similar to its “Close Friends” list that instead lets users curate multiple lists of followers that can view their Stories. For instance, users can create and name their lists according to chosen categories, such as “Siblings” and “Travel Crew.”
“This allows you to share stories to smaller groups and gives you more control over who can see your stories,” Mosseri said per Engadget. “As someone who uses Close Friends often, I’m pretty excited about being able to create additional lists for the people in my life.”
