What a week! Yes – you know, I’m referring to the Facebook Family outage this week… we had insta, whatsapp… all of them down. Good to see Twitter meme’s taking full advantage of the situation!
And then there’s new about Elon… moving Tesla, from California to Texas! This was going to be one of my Top Tech Stories this week, but I feel I talk a lot about Tesla on here, a lot about Elon and the reason is, they are always in the news!! But don’t you worry… I’ve found some really good news stories in addition to the two above for you this week.
- Sky to ditch the Satellite!
British broadcaster Sky is launching a TV that streams content via the internet, removing the need for a satellite dish.
The company describes Sky Glass as a “no-fuss” streaming TV.
One expert said it would put the broadcaster in direct competition with TV makers such as Samsung and Sony.
Another said while ditching the “outdated satellite dish” was long overdue, it was “an expensive way to watch TV”.
Sky Glass eliminates the need for an external box – and with built-in Dolby Atmos, there is no need for a sound bar either.
Other specs include:
- three versions – 43in, 55in and 65in
- a single wire and just one plug
- 4K ultra-high-definition quantum-dot screen
- 10-bit high dynamic range to support Dolby Vision HDR
- voice-activated interface
- available in five colours
“Sky Glass is the streaming TV with Sky inside, providing the total integration of hardware, software and content,” group chief executive Dana Strong said.
“We believe this is the smartest TV available.”
Although it will require a Sky subscription, content from BBC iPlayer, Amazon, Netflix, Disney+, ITV Hub and All4 will also be available.
Sky has not yet named the hardware partner who will make the device.
It has also not explained how exactly it plans to stream its content over the web, without delays or buffering.
If someone wishes to cancel their Sky subscription after purchasing the TV, they will still be able to use the TV but will lose some of the more advanced features, such as voice control and playlists.
Oh.. and it’ll be carbon neutral.
2. Airless Tires!
We have phones that can survive being immersed, watches you can drag over a cheese grater and screens you can fold without breaking, but a common nail can strand your car on the side of the road. Tires need to lose their air, but not that way.
Michelin is one of several tiremakers that have been developing airless tires but they seemed as improbable as GM’s early vision of self-driving cars. Now, however, the two companies are putting a pin in the calendar to have airless tires on the market by 2024.
That’s right – you may remember a previous blog of mine talking about these types – but they are finally going to be here!
The first thing you notice about the airless Michelin Uptis, or Unique Puncture-proof Tire System tires is that you can see through them. Glass fiber reinforced plastic vanes support the tread rather than air pressure.
Uptis tires also have a green angle: The promise to scrap 200 million fewer tires worldwide each year by eliminating sidewall cuts and accelerated wear due to improper inflation. This environmental benefit will accrue regardless of which companies crack the code for airless tires.
Aspects I’ll watch on the road to the airless tire include:
- What will these weigh? The increasingly electric car world is lardy enough already.
- How do they drive? Driving purists will rend their vestments as they did over automatic transmissions and electric power steering, but the rest of us are open to better ride quality.
- Are they quiet? Tire contact is the main cause of noise that emanates from freeways and inspires all those ugly sound walls.
- Will these be fully compatible with today’s wheels or best suited to new ones designed for Uptis ?
- Can existing auto safety systems like ABS and stability control work properly with Uptis tires?
- How well will they shed snow, especially if it packs into the vanes and becomes ice?
- What will they cost?
Airless tires will be an overdue leap forward. Today’s pneumatic ones date back as far as combustion engine cars, and we know which way those are going.