Vaccine news deals blow to stay-at-home stocks
On the good news from Pfizer that a Coronavirus vaccine candidate from Pfizer and BioNTech appears 90% effective, shares of tech stocks that have flourished during the pandemic saw an immediate drop. Zoom, Amazon, Netflix, and Teledoc are some of the biggest Covid-19 winners that were immediately impacted by the announcement, losing up to 5% of their value in pre-market trading. CNBC
dis-rup-shun: The idea of a post-pandemic economic recovery, with a new President-elect, could be great for everyone. Most agree that life after pandemic will remain different, but the question is how different? New lifestyles and work habits should remain viable options, and expect these pandemic winners to continue to be strong alternatives in a more online economy.
Next generation ADT Google smart home
ADT, in its quarterly earnings announcement, revealed that it will work with investor and partner Google to develop a next generation home automation and security platform that will leverage machine learning, intelligent alarm and video verification. ADT.com
dis-rup-shun: What is the future of an ADT/Google partnership? How long will development of such a platform take? The good news for consumers is that apparently ADT recognizes that the traditional security system that relies on calling the police in case of a problem is growing long in the tooth. Law enforcement in many cities is stretched thin. Consumers want immediate feedback of exactly what is happening in their homes. Doorbell cameras are offering a deeper sense of engagement with the home. Consumers are increasingly investing in home systems for comfort and convenience. The partnership could raise the bar for home systems, but in the meantime, advanced technology firms such as Alarm.com, Vivint and Honeywell (among others) will not be resting, but will be offering enhanced solutions — but likely with a cloud partner other than Google.
Why you should use Apple Pay or Google Pay
Despite being available since 2014, mobile pay apps have caught on slowly in North America. Today, nearly 50% of iPhone users use Apple Pay at least occasionally, with Google Pay rising as well. Global Apple Pay transactions are 10% of credit card transactions. Wired makes the case for using mobile pay more, as it is convenient, faster, doesn’t require your wallet, and is actually more secure as each separate transaction requires facial recognition, your security code, and or facial recognition. Credit cards in the U.S. mostly do not require a PIN, meaning a thief with your card can buys things with it.
dis-rup-shun: Why U.S. consumers have been slow to adopt mobile payments is a curiosity, as more convenience and more security are great motivators. Less contact during Covid-19 should motivate us to hold up our phones rather than press PINs into a keypad. Near field communications will improve such that the point of sale device may soon display our names as soon as we approach the check out stand and simply ask us to confirm the purchase by looking into our phones. So simple.
Virgin Hyperloop conducts first human transport test
Virgin Hyperloop, the Elon Musk concept later purchased and branded Virgin by Richard Branson, has completed its first trip at speeds over one hundred miles per hour with people on board. The 500 meter test tube in the desert outside of Las Vegas sends the compartment through an air vacuum tube. The vision of hyperloop is to transport people at speeds over 600 mph. To date its top speed has been 240 mph. TheVerge
dis-rup-shun: It is difficult to predict how long it will take for this technology to become reality, but if speeds well over those of a bullet train can be attained, the attractiveness of this mode of travel increase quickly. Traveling from San Francisco to L.A. in 30 minutes could be a game-changer, and could be a great alternative to overnight delivery of specialized cargo. Acquiring the land, or digging the tunnels or elevated rails, however, is a daunting infrastructure project.