This week, the tech industry received word of some incoming hardware, both rumored and confirmed, along with more commotion going on over at Twitter. On the product side, Meta announced the forthcoming Quest 3 virtual and mixed reality headset, while Apple is rumored to be testing out its new processors on MacBooks and iMacs.
Over at Twitter, meanwhile, the company’s value has been reported to be only a third of what it was worth at the time of Musk’s purchase. And in Europe, Twitter could also face a potential ban in the near future if it doesn’t agree to comply with a new law requiring companies to combat disinformation.
Below, Hypebeast has rounded up the top tech stories of the week so you can stay up to date on trends in the industry.
Meta Announced the $500 USD Quest 3 VR Headset, Powered by New Snapdragon Chipset
Meta
At the latest Meta Gaming Showcase, Mark Zuckerberg surprised the audience by not only sharing the new titles coming to VR but also giving word of a new installment in its hardware roster. The Meta Quest 3 is a virtual and mixed reality headset geared towards offering an even more immersive experience than the Quest 2.
Priced at $500 USD, Meta is angling to entice users with improved graphics and more powerful performance. The Quest 3 offers double the GPUs of the Quest 2 and 128 GB of storage courtesy of Qualcomm’s Snapdragon chipset, though headsets with additional storage will also be available. As for the physical piece of hardware, Meta says the Quest 3 is 40% slimmer than its predecessor, and presumably lighter too. The company hasn’t given a word on when the Quest 3 will be released but said it’ll circle back with additional details during Meta Connect in September.
Apple Is Reportedly Testing Out Macs With M2 Max and M2 Ultra Processors
Apple
Apple rumors are rampant in the few days left leading up to the company’s annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC). Among them, from Apple insider Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, is that it is currently testing out M2 Max and M2 Ultra processors for its new lineup of computers.
According to Gurman, the company has two new MacBook Pros that will run on the M2 Max, making them faster with brighter colors and better graphics, as well as 96 GB of storage. On top of that, Apple is apparently seeking to tap into an increased pool of remote workers with what Gurman calls a “high-end” desktop for professional home use. Of course, people will have to wait until Apple officially confirms new products at WWDC on Monday.
Twitter Is Now Worth Only One-Third of the Price Elon Musk and Investors Paid for It in 2022
Win Mcnamee/Getty Images
Less than a year after Elon Musk purchased Twitter for $44 billion USD, the platform has dramatically decreased in value. In the months following the acquisition, approximately 7,000 employees throughout the company. More recently, Linda Yaccarino, a former executive at NBCUniversal overseeing ad revenue, was brought on as Twitter’s new CEO.
In March, Musk himself valued Twitter at $20 billion USD. And in just a few months, that amount has dropped to around $15 billion USD as of May, according to Fidelity. Over at Twitter, the platform has been scrambling to make money via subscriptions like Twitter Blue, though those initiatives have been less successful than expected.
Twitter Could Be Banned in Europe by Not Following Disinformation Rules
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As Europe plans to legally require companies to fight disinformation – via the Digital Services Act that will go into effect throughout the European Union come August – Twitter may find itself in hot water. The company has left the currently voluntary EU Code of Practice against disinformation, meaning it hasn’t agreed to oblige by certain standards the EU has set for companies to fight fake news.
“Disinformation is one of the gravest threats weighing on our democracies. Twitter, if it repeatedly doesn’t follow our rules, will be banned from the EU,” France’s Digital Minister Jean-Noël Barrot told France Info. “Twitter leaves EU voluntary Code of Practice against disinformation. But obligations remain. You can run but you can’t hide.”
Elon Musk himself, nor incoming CEO Linda Yaccarino, has yet to comment on the matter.
