Apple’s headset, Humane’s weird demo, and the pretty Prius
Apr 28, 2023
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Andrew Hawkins, a transportation reporter at The Verge, dives into the future of electric vehicles. He discusses Tesla's shift towards volume sales amidst fierce competition from rivals like Ford and Rivian. The conversation explores the impact of subscription-based features in luxury cars and the rising complexity of automotive technology. They also critique the reliability of food tracking tech and share humorous takes on the eccentricities of modern vehicles. Additionally, Hawkins hints at market shifts and evolving consumer expectations in the rapidly changing EV landscape.
Car companies are exploring new ways to monetize software and charge customers for additional features and services.
Tesla is facing a lawsuit regarding its self-driving technology, with the plaintiffs seeking to enter statements made by CEO Elon Musk about safety as evidence.
Amazon has discontinued its Halo division and associated devices due to functionality concerns, allowing rival Woo to mock its claims about capabilities.
Disney is suing the state of Florida for attempting to change the composition of the board overseeing Disney World's monetary zone, citing government interference.
Deep dives
Car companies looking to extract more money from customers
Car companies are exploring various ways to extract more money from customers, such as charging monthly fees for additional features like seat heaters and offering subscriptions for premium services.
Mercedes offering optional monthly fee for additional acceleration
Mercedes is offering customers the option to pay a monthly fee for additional acceleration in their vehicles, starting at $90 per month.
Car companies' shift towards software and monetization
Car companies are shifting towards monetizing software and finding additional revenue streams, as they explore ways to charge customers for various features and services.
The future of cars and associated costs
As cars become more focused on software and connected services, car companies are looking for ways to generate additional revenue. This shift raises questions about the future costs of owning a car and potential long-term financial implications for customers.
Tesla's CEO Elon Musk faces deepfake argument in lawsuits
Tesla is currently facing a lawsuit regarding its full self-driving technology, and as part of the lawsuit, the plaintiffs are seeking to enter statements made by CEO Elon Musk about the safety of the technology. However, Tesla's defense argues that Musk should not be deposed because the statements could potentially be deepfakes. They claim that Musk is a target for deepfakes and that his public statements are immune from scrutiny. The judge, however, has rejected this argument and stated that public figures cannot simply hide behind the potential for deepfakes to avoid taking responsibility for their statements.
Amazon discontinues its Halo devices, faces criticism from rival Woo
Amazon has announced the discontinuation of its Halo division and a range of associated devices, including the Halo Band and the Halo View. The decision comes after the division faced criticism for its functionality, such as the ability to monitor a user's tone when interacting with others. Amazon's rival Woo, which also focuses on fitness and activity tracking, has taken the opportunity to mock Amazon on social media, highlighting the failure of the company's Halo devices and its claims about their capabilities.
Disney counters Florida's attempt to change board composition
Disney is fighting against the state of Florida's attempt to change the composition of the board overseeing Disney World's special monetary zone. Florida's Governor Ron DeSantis wants to replace Disney's representatives on the board with individuals who support his stance on various issues, including a recent law related to the teaching of LGBTQ+ issues in schools. Disney argues that the attempts to alter the board composition are a form of government interference in its operations and have filed a lawsuit against the state.
