Techmeme Ride Home Wed. 09/29 – Is Amazon’s Astro Robot… Ready?
Sep 29, 2021
Amazon’s Astro Robot is facing serious issues, reportedly throwing itself down stairs while raising privacy concerns. Netflix makes waves by acquiring its first game studio, expanding its gaming footprint. Meanwhile, the owner of Kik and Genius has purchased Imgur, shaking up the digital media landscape. Excitingly, Microsoft is opening its Windows Store to third-party apps, boosting accessibility. Finally, a major social platform is strategizing to engage preteens, while offering new tools for entrepreneurs to streamline their startups.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Amazon's Astro's Troubles
- Amazon's Astro robot, designed for home surveillance and peace of mind, faces criticism.
- It reportedly struggles with facial recognition, breaks easily, and might fall down stairs.
Netflix's Gaming Ambitions
- Netflix acquired Night School Studio, marking its first game studio acquisition.
- This signals Netflix's serious intent to expand into gaming beyond mobile, offering ad-free games within subscriptions.
MediaLab's Strategy
- MediaLab acquired Imgur, adding to its portfolio of once-popular platforms.
- Their business model involves bundling traffic and selling ads/data while cutting costs.