HeyWhatsNew: Bitcoin Is More Expensive Than It’s Ever Been, and Apple Vision Pro Makes a Mark in Medicine
Hey there, Heyuppers. It’s been an interesting week in the tech industry (again). Let’s explore the tech news headlines that have had a major impact on the world in the week beginning 11/03/2024.
Apple’s Vision Pro Headset Plays a Major Role in Spinal Surgery
One of the many factors that have influenced the growth of the AR and VR market is the technology’s potential to improve the medical industry. This week, the Apple Vision Pro was used to achieve just that in London. A surgical team at Cromwell Hospital managed to use the headset to display important information to the theater nurse to help her prepare, keep track of the procedure, and choose which tools to hand to the surgeon during the spinal surgery.
In the future, Vision Pro technology won't only benefit spinal surgeries. Apple's recent blog post showcased various medical apps utilizing VisionOS. For instance, Stryker developed myMako to aid doctors in planning joint replacement surgeries, while Cinematic Reality by Siemens Healthineers offers interactive holograms of the human body for medical students. These apps, along with others, can be downloaded from the App Store.
Bitcoin Reaches an All-Time High, Breaking Its Previous Record
Bitcoin, the world's largest and most popular cryptocurrency, recently reached an all-time high of nearly $72,968 before taking another slight dip. This surge has boosted its market value to $1.42 trillion, even surpassing the value of silver.
Experts believe that the spike is caused by the launch of spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) that are currently being backed by big financial players like BlackRock Inc. and Fidelity Investments. These investments from the big players have attracted around $9.5 billion in additional investments, causing a surge in the price of Bitcoin.
Nothing Phone (2a) Breaks Sales Records on Its First Day
Nothing, a tech company based in London, recently launched its third cellphone, the Nothing Phone (2a). It quickly gained attention with its lively and supportive community. A special event called The 100 Drop was held at the company's Soho store in London last Saturday, drawing fans who lined up to be the first to get their hands on the phone. Within hours of its release on Tuesday, March 12, the Nothing Phone (2a) reached a significant milestone, selling 100,000 units.
In an exclusive interview with Forbes, Carl Pei, CEO and Co-Founder of Nothing, expressed gratitude to the community, partners, and team for their support, stating that the phone is redefining a category and bringing unique innovations to millions of users worldwide.
A New Bill Could See TikTok Banned in the U.S. in the Next 5 Months
The US House of Representatives has passed a bill that could lead to a nationwide ban on TikTok due to concerns about national security risks associated with its Chinese parent company, ByteDance. The vote, with a majority of 352 to 65, saw bipartisan support, indicating widespread concern. If enacted, the legislation would require TikTok to separate from ByteDance within five months to continue being available in US app stores.
Failure to comply would result in TikTok being banned from platforms like Apple and Google. President Joe Biden has indicated he would sign the bill if it progresses to his desk, although its fate in the Senate remains uncertain.
Apple Users in the EU Prefer to Use Firefox as Their Default Browser
Following changes by Apple regarding default browser options in the EU, Firefox experienced a surge in users with the company’s spokesperson, Christopher Hilton, citing a more than 50 percent increase in Germany and nearly 30 percent in France.
According to The Verge, Hilton further emphasized that while the compliance with newly implemented DMA regulation wasn't perfect, the user’s ability to choose a default browser of their choice represents a positive move towards fostering genuine competition in the EU.
Starship Attempts a Third Test Launch
The SpaceX rocket, Starship, was given the green light and go-ahead by the FAA this week to attempt its first launch test of 2024. This will be the third time the tallest rocket in the world will attempt to reach orbit, a crucial step it needs to achieve before SpaceX can move on to bigger ventures.
The company has already secured tourists for private space trips, and there are plans for the Starship to take NASA astronauts to the moon in 2026 as part of the Artemis 3 mission. However, the thing needs to be able to fly first, as Space.com has shared.
If you don’t manage to catch the live stream on March 14 when it happens, we’ll have a short update for you next week.
The British Military’s DragonFire Laser Weapon Is Close to Production
In late 2023, DragonFire, a laser-directed energy weapon system, underwent successful testing at the British Ministry of Defense (MoD) Hebrides range. The tests evaluated its ability to track and engage moving air and sea targets at different distances, heights, and speeds. Following these trials, it's been announced that DragonFire is closer to being mass-produced.
An article on Interesting Engineering says that if things go as planned, British Royal Navy ships could be equipped with this system within five years. Additionally, the recent test footage has been approved for public viewing, and companies like MBDA, Leonardo, and QinetiQ are already working on improved versions of DragonFire.
And that’s all, folks! Join us again next time when we’ll unpack the top stories that are shaping the world and the tech sphere in the week.
