Every day we wake up, drink a cup of coffee, and get ready for work. Following are a handful of stories from around the tech world condensed to fit into one single cup of coffee. These are the things you need to know before you step foot out of your door (or in front of a webcam) and into the real world this morning.
So sit back, grab a cup, and start your morning off right with a few “Quick Bytes” from Innovation & Tech Today.
Spielberg Signs Deal with Netflix
Steven Spielberg’s Amblin Partners has reached a deal with Netflix to produce an undisclosed number of films. This doesn’t cancel Spielberg’s deal with Universal but is in addition. A report from Deadline said Netflix is expecting multiple films a year from Amblin. Despite his outspoken opposition to streaming in the past, Spielberg seems excited about his and other Amblin projects reaching new audiences in new ways with Netflix.
Citizen App Announces LA Plane Crash that Did Not Happen
Citizen, a safety networking app that has had other headaches in the recent past, had another glitch Saturday. According to Daily Dot, this weekend the Citizen app informed 60,000 people of a Los Angeles plane crash that never happened. It was later clarified that it was referencing a training exercise. In May, the app named the wrong man during the hunt for an LA-area arson suspect.
Sotheby’s Auction House to Accept Cryptocurrency for Diamond
Famed Sotheby’s will be accepting bitcoin and ethereum as payment for an upcoming auction. The auction is for a 101-carat pear-shaped diamond worth an estimated $10-15 million. The diamond has been certified as “flawless and highly chemically pure,” an extremely rare designation. Sotheby’s is accepting bids leading up to and during the July auction.
SpaceX Could Have Global Starlink Coverage as Soon as September
Elon Musk’s SpaceX continues to launch satellites to broaden the reach of its Starlink internet service. To date, the company has launched 1,800 satellites related to the project — enough to complete its goal of global coverage. Starlink could be ready as early as September. The company would, however, need to gain regulatory approval from any country where its service would be available.
