Little Brother is Listening
A tech reviewer who owned an early release of Google Home Mini discovered his device was recording audio 24/7 and sending the recordings to Google. These smart speakers are only supposed to listen when you say a wake word like “Ok Google” or when tapping a button on the top of the device. This particular device had a faulty button and kept reactivating itself even when not pressed. Google sent an employee to the tech reviewer’s home to personally pull the plug on the device and has issued a software patch to fix the issue. (Source: TechCrunch)
Apple’s Amazing Anthology
Apple is reviving Steven Spielberg’s anthology series, “Amazing Stories” as it expands into the world of original content and tries to compete with Netflix. The original “Amazing Stories,” which ran from 1985 to 1987, told scary, magical or horrific adventures (think modern day Twilight Zone), and won five Emmys. Spielberg’s Amblin Entertainment production company will produce 10 episodes with a budget of $5 million per episode. This is Apple’s first big move in its plan to invest $1 billion in original content in the coming year. (Source: The Verge)
Ikea’s Digital Furniture Wonderland
Ikea is starting a pilot program sometime in 2018 to sell its products through third-party online retailers. More than 2.1 billion people visited Ikea’s website in 2016, but this move could help reach even more customers. An Ikea spokesperson said that they have not decided on which marketplaces to partner with yet. However, I have a dream that one day, I can have Ikea furniture and a side of Swedish meatballs delivered right to my door with Amazon Prime. (Source: CNET)
