Virtual reality (VR) can be incredibly fun. However, one of the problems with the majority of VR headsets is that they can be expensive. Take for example the Meta Quest 3. With a price tag of $499.99, it is an expensive purchase for something most people might not use everyday. But now we are hearing that a cheaper version of the Meta Quest 3 is in the works.

 

This is according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman in the latest issue of his Power On newsletter. According to Gurman, Meta is apparently developing a cheaper alternative to the Meta Quest 3 called the Meta Quest 3S. This headset could be announced very soon, possibly in September during the Meta Connect conference which is scheduled for the 25th of the month.

 

Gurman claims that in terms of pricing, the Meta Quest 3S could be priced cheaper at around $300. This would basically be a $200 reduction in price, making it more affordable and more attractive for those who are curious about VR and want to dip their toes into the (virtual) waters.

 

One thing to note is that Gurman believes that in order to reduce the price, the controllers could be sold separately. For context, the Meta Quest Touch Plus Controller sells for about $150 for a pair. This means that if purchased together, it might end up being close in price to the regular Meta Quest 3. It is possible that Meta might use different and cheaper controllers.

 

The IFA, a leading consumer electronics and home appliances fair, is preparing to celebrate its centennial anniversary this year. Originally launched as the Great German Radio Exhibition in December 1924 in Berlin, the event featured 242 exhibitors showcasing their innovations across 7,000 square meters and attracted 180,000 visitors.

"IFA has always been a unique platform, serving as the ideal meeting point for trade, industry, start-ups, media, and consumers. It remains the only global trade fair in the home electronics sector with a dual B2B and B2C focus," said Dr. Sara Warneke, managing director of gfu Consumer & Home Electronics GmbH, the owner of the IFA trademark rights.

Throughout its history, IFA has marked several significant milestones, such as Albert Einstein opening the fair in 1930, the debut of triple tubes and electronic television, the introduction of color TV in West Germany by then Vice Chancellor Willy Brandt, and the launches of the CD, mp3 compression technology, and the European HD TV standard.

As a global trendsetter, IFA has consistently evolved over the decades while staying true to its core mission: showcasing cutting-edge technologies and fostering interaction between industry, start-ups, retailers, and consumers. Attendees at IFA have the unique opportunity to engage with the latest innovations directly at the exhibitors' stands.

"I am particularly excited about IFA 2024, not only because it remains the world's largest trade fair for consumer electronics and home appliances, but also because we'll be the stage for a wide array of innovations for five days in Berlin," said Leif Lindner, CEO of IFA Management GmbH, the organizer of IFA.

"Moreover, we will celebrate our 100th anniversary in grand style. IFA embodies both a forward-looking vision and a rich historical legacy, something we are immensely proud of."

For IFA 2024, visitors can expect clearly defined thematic areas, with well-curated halls.

IFA is not just about technology; it's also about entertainment. In addition to a comprehensive program at the Sommergarten (Summer Garden) of the exhibition grounds during the event, Berlin will play a prominent role in the celebrations with a series of brand activations titled ‘100Moments,' set to launch 100 days before the fair begins.

Leading up to and during the event in September, Berlin will host various celebrations in honor of IFA's 100th anniversary. The city's key cultural brands and institutions, alongside top companies and innovators from the technology sector, will gather at special locations to mark the occasion.

"The 100th anniversary of IFA is not only a historic milestone but also the beginning of a new era of innovation and global networking," added Lindner.

"As we reflect on a century of groundbreaking technological advances, we are equally eager to embrace the future. IFA is evolving from a traditional trade fair into a global innovation platform that focuses more intensely on the latest technological and market-relevant trends. Today's modern trade fair must transcend the traditional exhibition model and function as a cultural event that inspires consumers, retailers, exhibitors, and the media, while also attracting key opinion leaders."

IFA 2024 is scheduled to take place from September 6 to 10 in Berlin.


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ChatGPT's growing reach into various industry applications has been nothing short of impressive, and it looks like the popular AI assistant has found itself another new home with Peugeot. More specifically, the auto manufacturer announced that it will be integrating ChatGPT into its various models.

 

With that in mind, ChatGPT will be integrated into Peugeot's i-Cockpit system and can be activated via voice commands. Similar to how it works on other platforms, it will be able to provide answers to user queries and more.

 

Peugeot says that the move to integrate the AI assistant came after trialling its functionality during a successful pilot phase, which was conducted earlier this year - it also involved 10,000 customers. As such, ChatGPT will be available on models with voice command support including the New 208, New 2008, New 308, New 308 SW, New 408, New 508, New 508 SW, New RIFTER, New TRAVELLER, New PARTNER, New EXPERT, with New 3008 and New 5008 following suit at the end of the year.

 

It will also be initially available in several markets including Germany, Austria, Spain, France, Italy, Portugal, United Kingdom, for both new vehicles and for existing customers via an OTA update. It will arrive in late July for Denmark, Ireland, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, Belgium, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Poland, and the Czech Republic.

 

It should also be noted that ChatGPT is available as part of the Connect Plus pack, or for customers who purchased their car before its introduction, as a feature on demand.

 

WhatsApp, the popular messaging app, continues to evolve its features to enhance user experience. In its latest beta update for Android (2.24.14.5), WhatsApp is introducing a new shortcut that streamlines the process of replying to video messages. This update is a significant step towards making video communication more seamless and intuitive within the app.

 

The new shortcut appears as a small button next to video messages in chats. Tapping this button instantly opens the video recorder, allowing users to create and send their video response without any additional steps. This eliminates the previous need to navigate through menus or use specific gestures, saving users time and effort.

 

 

While this feature is currently rolling out to beta testers, it's expected to be available to all users soon. WhatsApp has been actively improving its video messaging capabilities, and this update is another example of its efforts to providing a user-friendly experience.

 

The quick reply shortcut complements other recent enhancements, such as the ability to forward video messages and improvements to video message quality. The growing demand for video-based interactions seems to be driving WhatsApp to position itself as a platform for both text and video messaging.

 

For users who frequently exchange video messages, this new shortcut will undoubtedly be a welcome addition. It not only simplifies the reply process but also encourages more spontaneous and dynamic conversations.

 

As it is for now a beta feature, it's currently not available to all WhatsApp users. However, it is expected that the feature will roll out to even more users in the coming days or weeks until it eventually reaches the stable build.

 

As a WhatsApp users, I am definitely looking forward to trying this out. Unfortunately, getting access to the beta version of WhatsApp via the Play Store is next to impossible these days, as there is almost always a waiting list. Thankfully, it doesn't look like we have a lot longer to wait to get this on the official version of the app.

 

Peter Cheng

Editor-In-Chief

YouMobile, Inc

 

Chatbots can be useful if you want customer service and you don't want to wait around for a live person to chat with. The only problem is that a lot of existing chatbots are kind of "dumb" and limited. That could be something Google could be looking to fix as they are apparently working on a new AI chatbot project.

 

According to a report from The Information (paywall), Google is working on a new AI project involving chatbots. This project would basically allow anyone to create their own chatbots, similar to services like Character.ai. The report claims that this will be purely for entertainment purposes, but we can see the potential behind it.

Google might consider integrating its generative AI chatbots directly into YouTube rather than keeping them as standalone entities. This approach could leverage popular YouTube creators who could use these AI personas to enhance their content, similar to how major YouTube star Mr. Beast already utilizes AI on Meta platforms. This strategy could potentially include a monetization model tied to user engagement and other relevant YouTube metrics.

 

Google is exploring the possibility of integrating its generative AI chatbots into YouTube, rather than keeping them as separate entities. This approach could allow popular YouTube creators to feature these AI personas in their content, akin to how Mr. Beast, a prominent YouTube star, already incorporates AI on Meta platforms. Google may also develop a monetization strategy tied to user engagement and other key YouTube metrics.

 

If Google can somehow come up with a way to make it easy to create an AI-powered chatbot, it would revolutionize the way companies interact with their customers. Generative AI models allow users to ask it questions in natural language, making it easier to use and less awkward.

 

 

We've already seen the benefits of using AI models like ChatGPT, so imagine if all companies could easily create something similar to answer questions customers might have. The report also claims that Google could allow users to create chatbots modeled after celebrities, social media influencers, and more.

 

Peter Cheng

Editor-in-Chief