Some of the things that I love most about reading technology news are the vision and hope that they can impart. Some people might find it cold but I find tech news to be more hopeful than human-interest stories. This week, as I found myself too caught up in life’s little details, news such as: SpaceX’ third attempt at recovering a rocket via drone ship; NASA’s recent images of pyramid-shaped structure on dwarf planet Ceres; and Google’s built-from-the-ground-up self driving car being tested in California, fill me with hope for the future and a sense of wonder. News like these made me take a pause to reflect on our place in the universe and how we are starting to live with technology conjured by science fiction not so long ago. I hope you find these as uplifting as I did.
The solitary peak juts out from the horizon in this image snapped by Dawn
Here are this week’s most relevant news in tech and retail:
In tech:
- Space news: Microsoft’s augmented reality headgear HoloLens will be used on board the International Space Station in partnership with NASA; SpaceX will attempt another drone ship rocket landing this Sunday (you can watch it here); NASA’s Dawn probe reveals pyramid-like structure on dwarf planet Ceres
- Google news: Google’s panda-shaped self-driving cars are now being tested in California; Google Genomics collaborates with the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard to develop data-driven tools to fight diseases;
- IAC/InterActiveCorp is planning an IPO for The Match Group, conglomerate behind dating websites Match.com, Tinder and OKCupid
- French company Thales unveils robots that could replace immigration officers
- Music streaming: Google launches free, ad-supported tier to its Google Play Music streaming service; Jay-Z’s music streaming service Tidal loses interim CEO; Taylor Swift’s 1989 album will be available on Apple’s music streaming service (to launch on June 30) after Apple’s change of royalty policies
In retail:
- H&M Q2 profits up as sales rise with store and product expansions
- Lululemon Athletica recalls 318,000 women’s tops over reported injuries of elastic drawstrings
- Walmart to start charging vendor fees as costs increase; will affect 10,000 U.S. suppliers in the
- Olapic raises $15M in new funding to help brands boost sales with user-generated images from social media such as Instagram
- On-demand delivery startup raises Series D round of $80M at a $400M valuation
