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 a 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.
The Latest from Apple
Apple has a reputation for perfecting technologies, but it has seldom been the first to market. To buck this trend, the tech megalith is introducing a “stopgap” augmented reality headset in the near future that combines the nascent technology with virtual reality.
With high-resolution displays, several external cameras and a new version of iOS dubbed xrOS, the upcoming device promises to move ahead of Meta Platforms’ and Sony’s offerings while stopping short of a true augmented reality headset.
EU Delays Lithium Toxicity Ruling
Last week, the European Union (EU) decided to push back a vote on whether it will classify lithium as a toxic substance.
The European Commission’s scientific arm recommended that it do so, but economic concerns could be holding up the ruling.
Lithium is a crucial component in EV batteries and a ruling against the safety of the metal could have dire economic consequences for Europe as it would push manufacturers out of the region.
Linkedin Offers “Safe Space” for Former Twitter Users
It is no secret that former Twitter users are flocking to new platforms after the chaotic upheaval that has followed since Elon Musk’s takeover.
One platform in particular is unexpectedly seeing a massive influx: Linkedin. Known primarily as a professional networking social media site, Linkedin is benefiting from the mass Twitter exodus. Linkedin Casual, a more informal version of the platform, is garnering a larger user base every day.
“I come to LinkedIn for education, discussion, and making connections,” said Dr. Amy Jo Kim, chief executive of Game Thinking Academy, a Silicon Valley-based training company to startups and game developers. The sentiment is being echoed by celebrities, Twitter power users, and many business professionals.
Musk Releases Twitter Internal Docs to Reporters
On Dec. 2, Elon Musk allowed reporters Matt Taibbi and Bari Weiss unprecedented access to Twitter’s internal documents, resulting in the public disclosure of potentially unethical behavior at the company. Now known as “the Twitter files,” Taibi and Weiss unloaded what they considered to be the most prudent information in lengthy Twitter threads.
The biggest bombshell unearthed was a reveal that Twitter barred anyone from tweeting a link to the infamous “Hunter Biden laptop” story or sending it via direct message, labeling it “hacked material.” The company also suspended the New York Post’s account for multiple days, preventing it from tweeting further.
