Microsoft’s cloud goes under the sea
Microsoft has successfully concluded one stage of an experiment to locate data centers on the ocean floor. Its shipping container sized data center was submerged off of the coast of Scotland’s Orkney Islands, where cool waters and 100% renewable energy from the islands resulted in servers that ran eight-times more reliably than land-based servers. The success of Project Natick will lead to larger submerged data centers that can be located closer to customer locations, rather than in a few large land-based data centers. TechCrunch.
dis-rup-shun: Moving data centers closer to customers and reducing power requirements thanks to cool temperatures under water is an opportunity to make “the cloud” more sustainable. But what objections will be raised by environmentalists who may think that disturbing marine topography is not worth the value of reducing carbon emissions? The concept has great promise, but may not win the favor of all.
YouTube’s TikTok killer debuts
YouTube Shorts will debut first in India, where the nation has cracked down on China-based technologies for similar security concerns as drove the Trump Executive Orders. The service will allow users to make 15 second video clips set to music. Along with Instagram Reels, the service seeks to take advantage of transitional times to dethrone TikTok. TheVerge
dis-rup-shun: With Oracle the apparent winner of TikTok, disruption to the service will likely be minimal, making the plans of its challengers more difficult. With YouTube the beloved and highly popular video delivery platform of choice for millions, it has the opportunity to win over those who may subscribe to the security fear mongering.
Singapore Airlines plans trips to nowhere
Hundreds of planes are grounded and thousands of seats go unsold as the pandemic watch continues. Singapore Airlines and Japan’s ANA, among others, are offering, or planning to offer flights to nowhere – sightseeing flights that fly low over scenery and unique locations. CNBC
dis-rup-shun: Re-purposing of assets in the time of COVID-19 continues to occur as creative business people seek ways to survive. Rideshare drivers are becoming package deliverers, restaurants are serving family meals, complete with alcoholic beverages, from tables set up in parking lots. Bus lines are pushing special event charters, and airlines may have found a way to amuse home-bound citizens who want to see the world.
Amazon hiring another 100,000 workers
Amazon’s revenues for the quarter ending in July were up 40%. The company is struggling to keep up with the increases in demand, and will hire an additional 100K workers in various cities in the U.S. and Canada. Workers will be in fulfillment centers, sorting centers, delivery centers, among other places. Forbes
dis-rup-shun: The re-structuring of the economy continues, and even if our society returns, in part, to its old ways of shopping after the pandemic subsides, Amazon will continue to play a larger role in the lives of people who have found that staying and working at home are simply more convenient than running around to shop. Expect Amazon to continue to grow post-pandemic, albeit at a slower rate.