ICYMI: The 7 Biggest Tech Stories of the Week, From Casio’s Smart Ring Watch to YouTube’s Spotify Wrapped
Black Friday is almost here, and while we’ve been hard at work looking for the best Black Friday deals, we’ve still had time to cover all the biggest tech news stories of the week.
If you haven’t had time to catch up, don’t worry; We’ve collected the top seven stories for you here so you can stay up to date this weekend and find out more about the new Echo Show, the Casio smart ring watch and the latest Snap Spectacles.
Once you’ve caught up, be sure to check out seven new movies and TV shows to stream this weekend (November 22).
1. Amazon has given its largest Echo Shows a major makeover
Kitchens aren’t often treated to the most exciting technology outside of the occasional air fryer or coffee maker, but Amazon has attempted to change that this week with its largest Echo Show smart displays yet.
In addition to an improved version of the Echo Show 15, the 21-inch Echo Show 21 was also announced – a huge, wall-mountable screen that can do everything from YouTube videos to family organization.
The improvements this time include better speakers and auto-framing skills for your video calls. Both are also more powerful smart home hubs thanks to support for the Matter standard. The only problem may be finding a chunk of wall space large enough to house them.
2. Casio has made a smart ring watch – and we want it
Casio took the smart rings vs. smartwatches debate and said, “Why not both?” The Casio CRW-001-1JR is part smartwatch, part smart ring with many of the same functions as the classic Casio GMW-B5000 digital watch: it can tell you the time in two locations, act as a stopwatch and serve as an alarm clock thanks to three functional buttons. The display even has a built-in LED.
The only difference (apart from the size) is that the strap is not adjustable and the watch is only available in one size, which corresponds to the US ring size 10.5. However, there are spacers included so that it fits better on smaller fingers.
It goes on sale in early December, but it looks like supplies will be limited and limited to Japan, so getting your hands on it might be tricky.
3. Google crowned its best apps of 2024
Every year, Google awards 10 apps in the Play Store with the title of the best apps of the year in various categories, and this week the 2024 results were published. The overall winner was Partiful, which looks like the ultimate event management tool, with Max (the streaming service) taking the other top prize.
With a mix of free and paid fitness, studying and socializing tools, the list is interesting; While we don’t agree with every choice, some of the tools look super interesting. Timeleft – the winner of the Best Hidden Gem award – looks like a weird but cool way to make new friends in a city by meeting up for a dinner that the app organizes for all of you. The reviews are mixed, but we’re eager to try it out.
4. YouTube’s answer to Spotify Wrapped came out early
Sure, we all eagerly await Spotify Wrapped – the annual roundup of what we’ve been listening to – at least if we’re subscribed to that streamer, but YouTube Music seems to be ahead of them. The YouTube Music 2024 Recap is available to all users and, like Spotify’s, takes you back in your memory of everything you listened to this year.
From the most listened to tracks to podcasts and of course favorite artists. The YouTube team has also put together some custom images that are easy on the eyes and, of course, meant to be shared. Of course, what you listen to on YouTube counts too, beyond just the special songs, so there are bound to be some surprises.
5. We tried out Snap’s new glasses
It’s been a success since Snap officially unveiled its fifth-generation AR-ready glasses, but this week the social media company was finally ready to give some people, like our editor at Large Lance Ulanoff, a controlled spin on it. His first impressions: Spectacles 5 is big, a bit heavy and offers a lot of AR fun. The frames can seamlessly combine fictional and real worlds to impressive effect.
You can draw together in 3D (if another friend has one), play music with a virtual record player, make phone calls and even learn to play the piano with a very AR flair. Developers pay $99 for access to the wearable and are busy building new experiences for Snap OS. No word on when consumers can buy them or how much they cost. Yes, the field of view is a bit narrow and we think they’re still too big to be practical. On the other hand, we can’t wait to try them again.
6. ChatGPT has received a creative upgrade
One of the great things about AI chatbots is that as they improve, you don’t have to install new software yourself. The next time you use them, you will get the latest version by default. This week ChatGPT had a small update that made it better at creative writing.
Overnight, the ability to spin a catchy yarn improved significantly. The update only applies to ChatGPT-4o, the version of ChatGPT you can access with the ChatGPT Plus subscription – so it doesn’t apply to people on the free tier. While ChatGPT was pretty good before, the new update definitely gives it the edge when it comes to keeping you entertained.
7. Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse started taking over New York
This is currently hanging in Chelsea, New York. What are they cooking? 🤔pic.twitter.com/X1JBg25hVRNovember 18, 2024
We’re not sure if A Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse A release date announcement is coming… but how else do you explain the giant spider logo being placed in Manhattan’s Chelsea neighborhood? A location that has connections to Gwen Stacy / Spider-Woman (or Spider-Gwen / Ghost Spider to use some of her comic book titles), one of the most important figures of the series.
As for when that announcement could drop, you should know that Comic-Con Brazil 2024 is just around the corner (from December 5 to 8). About the Spider-Verse‘s first clip debuted at the December 2021 event, so a big announcement at this year’s show would make sense and see the film finally get a confirmed release date after being pushed back from its 2024 date due to the Hollywood Strikes in 2023.
Whatever date Sony announces (or even if there’s no announcement at all), we shouldn’t have to wait too long for more Spider-Man content. Spider-Man spinoff incoming Kraven the Hunter will hit theaters on December 13, and Your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man debuts in January on Disney Plus.