NBA moves to the (Microsoft) cloud
Remember sports? The NBA and Microsoft announced a sweeping contract which employs Microsoft’s Azure cloud to create an enhanced fan experience — enabling fans to access historical videos and select camera angles. The contract also includes the NBA’s widespread use of Microsoft’s Surface devices. CNBC
dis-rup-shun: Question: How do you beat the cloud giant, Amazon? Answer: You leverage assets (a line of PC/tablets) that your competitor does not have, and you position your services to invent a new way of watching sports to create new camera angles and special features for online users. Microsoft continues to execute beautifully under Nadella and beat dominant AWS in some very strategic accounts.
Apple to develop over-the-ear headphones
According to Bloomberg, Apple is readying a line of over the ear, noise cancelling headphones. The company owns Beats, which offers a number of over-the-ear models. TechCrunch
dis-rup-shun: Over-the-ear headphones seem like a not very innovative product and it’s a bit of a surprise that Apple is pursuing this product now. What are some reasons? Firstly, the company has made so much money selling its premium priced AirPods that it can’t resist the urge to follow that act with another audio accessory. Secondly, given the fact that the future appears that it will be spent, in large part, on video conferencing applications, demand for audio accessories is greatly increased. Finally, since the company already owns Beats, it can repackage the technology and use existing supply partners quickly. In short, it is a low risk way to expand a profitable product line.
Website provides the office and workplace noises you miss
For those that are on the edge of insanity from the quiet or repetition of sheltering at home, the microsite Reichenbergerstr 121 offers a cacophony of office/coffee shop noises, taking you back to the time when you worked around people. Sounds effects supplied include:
- Clandestine whispers of two people trying to gossip in an open office
- Opening of a La Croix can
- The retro summer jam everyone at the office agrees is a bop
- Mediocre but hard-working Keurig machine gurgles
- The marketing manager who worked with someone named Felicia and smugly shouted “bye Felicia!” 3 to 30 times daily
- Two people apologizing for bumping into each other in the hall
- C-SPAN broadcasting a Congressional hearing
- Mysterious laughter from the one area where everyone is best friends
- My editor trying to eat lunch the quietest that anyone has ever eaten Lifehacker
dis-rup-shun: This site does offer good amusement, especially if you start it and leave it, forgetting it is running until you hear distant giggles or an occasional whistle. Perhaps, once people return to public places, the sounds of crowds can be used to jump start traffic to empty shops and restaurants, and get the pump primed, so to speak. What would we do without the wonderful place called the World Wide Web?
Rokid glasses “see” COVID-19 from a distance
Chinese start-up Rokid has released infrared glasses that are able to see people with high body temperatures from three meters away. Outfitted on hospital workers or airport security agents, the technology could help remove infected people from crowds and public places. TechCrunch
dis-rup-shun: While this technology could be very useful, its use again seems like a violation of privacy, wherein the eye in the sky scans the crowd for people that will be escorted, by storm troopers, to an unidentified back room.