October 9, 2023

IN THIS ISSUE

🥽 Apple redesigning the Vision Pro in two important ways

📈 AI algorithm shows promise in forecasting quakes

🛍️ Amazon Prime Big Deals Day starts tomorrow

UP FIRST

Apple to improve next Vision Pro in 2 important ways, report claims

The changes could be coming to the second version of Apple's mixed-reality device

Apple finally took the wraps off its highly anticipated mixed-reality headset in June.

The Vision Pro is sleek and stylish and comes packed with features, though the hefty $3,500 price tag is bound to be prohibitive for many of those interested in the new device.

For anyone who does fork out for it when it goes on sale early next year, another issue could be comfort. According to a Bloomberg report on Sunday by prominent Apple leaker Mark Gurman, Apple’s Vision Pro headset “has caused neck strain in testing due to its size and weight.”

Its specific weight has yet to be revealed, but various reports suggest Apple’s new Vision Pro headset tips the scales at around 1 pound (453.6 grams).

Apple engineers are reported to now be working on the next version of the Vision Pro, with a particular focus on making it lighter and smaller, thereby making it more comfortable to wear for extended periods ...

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

AI algorithm shows promise in forecasting quakes

The technology was trialed in an international competition in China

Earthquakes can cause widespread destruction, with more than 60,000 people already having lost their lives in such events in 2023 alone.

Efforts to create technology capable of accurately predicting the timing and intensity of an earthquake continue to prove challenging, but researchers at the University of Texas (UT) in Austin recently reported an exciting breakthrough in the effort.

The team said that an AI-generated algorithm accurately predicted 70% of earthquakes a week before they occurred in trials that took place over seven months. Importantly, it was also able to predict their intensity.

The AI was trained to detect statistical bumps in real-time seismic data that the research team had paired with previous earthquakes.

“Predicting earthquakes is the holy grail,” said team member Sergey Fomel, adding: "What we achieved tells us that what we thought was an impossible problem is solvable in principle” ...

COMING SOON

Amazon Prime Big Deal Days event kicks off tomorrow

The sale will last 48 hours and offer discounts on a slew of products

Before its usual shopping events on Black Friday and Cyber Monday, Amazon is holding another shopping holiday exclusive for Prime members on Tuesday and Wednesday this week.

Prime Big Deal Days is a chance to bag some decent bargains across a range of products, including tech.

Prime Big Deal Days is similar to last year's Prime Early Access Sale, which was marketed as a way for Prime members to grab deals before shoppers dived in on Black Friday.

This week’s shopping event is geared primarily toward Prime members, though some offers will be available to non-Prime subscribers, too.

Smart shoppers who don’t want to fork out for a Prime membership can sign up for a free trial, make the most of the bargains, and cancel the free trial before the payment cycle kicks in. The trial also offers additional benefits such as free shipping and video streaming ...

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