Entertainment
“The Silent Pain” of Mark Zuckerberg: Apple can sell iPhones, Tesla can sell cars in China, but Meta cannot.
Meta is relaunching its business operations in China through the virtual reality headset, Quest.
“Why can’t we do it if Apple can sell iPhones and Tesla can sell cars in China?”
This question was posed by Mark Zuckerberg at the end of 2021, serving as a motivation for Meta to relaunch its business operations on the mainland through the Quest virtual reality headset. This is considered the latest move after nearly a decade of Facebook being blocked in Beijing.
According to WSJ, Meta has engaged in negotiations with several Chinese technology companies and has made certain progress with the gaming conglomerate Tencent. However, these efforts still face challenges, particularly as China remains concerned about whether Zuckerberg genuinely has good intentions.
Previously, Meta representatives accused China of technology theft, targeting ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok. This somewhat impacted Zuckerberg’s 2016 plans to conquer the mainland and further solidified negative views of Beijing entrepreneurs.
“I think it’s well-documented that the Chinese government steals technology from American companies,” said Zuckerberg.
After blocking Facebook and Twitter in 2009, China tightened its control over online content. Potential partners of Meta feared similar restrictions would occur with VR—a field that Beijing could tightly regulate.
Experts believe that a successful collaboration between Meta and Tencent would benefit both parties. In particular, China’s massive consumer market would provide resources for Meta to develop virtual reality headsets, software, and applications for the Metaverse.
Previously, the executives at Tencent had engaged in lively debates over whether to collaborate with Meta. Tencent’s Chairman, Pony Ma, decided to initiate negotiations first and then consider suitable business deals.
The challenge lies in how Meta will promote its products in China. Users should have access to Meta’s global services, while Tencent aims to integrate its own products into the virtual reality headset.
According to the WSJ, this is Meta’s latest effort to re-enter China. Facebook is currently blocked in the country with a population of 1.4 billion, but it still generates revenue from Chinese companies that want to advertise on its platform. Meta has also recruited a Chinese policy director after CEO Mark Zuckerberg delivered several speeches in Mandarin.
According to Susan Li, the CFO of Meta, businesses in China are investing in advertising to attract users and expand their market. The main drivers are the reduced transportation costs and the Chinese government’s decision to lift certain restrictions. These factors have contributed to the company’s first revenue growth after three consecutive quarters of decline.
It is known that at the end of last year, Meta began negotiations with several Chinese technology companies, including Tencent and some smartphone manufacturers. Any agreements reached would potentially make the Chinese conglomerate the exclusive distributor of virtual reality headsets.
If successful, Meta will be able to compete with domestic rivals dominating the Chinese market, including ByteDance, the company that led the market with its Pico devices last year, according to research firm Counterpoint. The competition between Meta and Pico is intensifying as Pico’s virtual reality headsets have entered the European and Asian markets.
Other competing rivals include Sony Group, which launched PlayStation VR2 in China in February, and Apple, the recently valued trillion-dollar conglomerate.
Meanwhile, Meta’s virtual reality headsets have not garnered much attention. Most users who purchase Quest 2 do so primarily for gaming purposes, seeing it simply as a gaming console without much added value.
“It’s really sad that the consumer group who bought it last Christmas was not really satisfied,” said Mark Rabkin, Vice President of VR at Meta, adding that customers expect more with Horizon Worlds.
In the near future, Meta will be launching the next generation of its virtual reality headset, Meta Quest 3, as a successor to Quest 2. CEO Mark Zuckerberg confirmed that Quest 3 will incorporate Meta Reality, turning the VR headset into a mixed reality headset. Meta has not yet disclosed the official price, but consumers can expect to pay a bit more than for the Quest 2.
“We have to prove to everyone that all these new features are worth it,” Rabkin told the staff. “Mixed reality has to make the headset better and more comfortable.”
According to Mark Zuckerberg, the metaverse remains a core priority for Meta. The platform is further researching artificial intelligence (AI) technology to support messaging services and advertising.
“We have been focused on both AI and the metaverse for many years, and that will continue to be the case in the future. Both areas are interrelated,” shared Zuckerberg.
According to : WSJ, The Verge
Entertainment
Gamers fervently demand a simple feature, but Diablo 4 refuses hastily, surprising reasons.
All things considered, this isn’t an excessively high demand from the Diablo 4 gamers.
Diablo 4 has been receiving a great deal of recognition and praise from the gaming community following the improvements made in the latest version. Furthermore, anticipation is even higher for the upcoming first expansion of Diablo 4, Vessel of Hatred, set to be released next year. However, many gamers are already feeling disappointed as their heartfelt desires and expectations are not being fully met by Blizzard.
Accordingly, right from the game’s initial release, Diablo 4 players earnestly requested Blizzard to make changes to the inventory system. Firstly, they suggested creating a separate storage space for gems and precious stones. Secondly, they requested a feature that would make it easier for players to manage their items through a sorting and filtering system based on the quality of the loot. The first part of the request was addressed in Season 2, while regarding the loot filtering feature, many were surprised to learn that Blizzard would not be adding this functionality, even in the upcoming expansion next year.
Originally, this wasn’t an overly difficult or complex request, which is why Blizzard’s hesitancy and delay in responding has left many Diablo 4 players feeling frustrated. To explain their decision, Blizzard states that the changes need to be interconnected to maintain coherence and logicality. Therefore, before considering the loot filtering feature, the company is striving to implement other related adjustments that affect the functionality and diversification of item types. Of course, this response still doesn’t satisfy many people, as this is something relatively simple and could easily be addressed straightforwardly.
In this first expansion, several new features are being considered, including the removal of the Codex of Power from player’s inventory and changes to health and mana potions, as well as buffs.
Entertainment
Rumors have been circulating about a live-action film about GTA, the creator of the series spoke out to confirm one thing.
Rumors have been circulating about a live-action film about GTA, the creator of the series spoke out to confirm one thing.
With the brand’s popularity, it’s understandable that fans are eagerly anticipating a GTA film. Two of the most shocking pieces of news in the gaming world last week were Nintendo’s announcement of a live-action film based on The Legend of Zelda franchise and Rockstar’s promise to unveil the release roadmap for GTA 6 in December. While seemingly unrelated, recently there has been a surprising rumor circulating online that GTA 6 will serve as a stepping stone for Rockstar and Take-Two to release a film specifically for this franchise.
Fundamentally, this is entirely feasible as, alongside its immersive role-playing elements that attract a large player base, GTA is also renowned for its storytelling, setting, and notably, a plethora of iconic main characters throughout the game series. This material is sufficient to launch a cinematic work, and GTA fans have every reason to look forward to it. However, Take-Two’s CEO, Strauss Zelnick, quickly denied this and admitted that they are not interested in any film projects in the near future.
The reason was promptly given right after. Essentially, Take-Two could invest its own money to make a film or a series about GTA, and its chances of success would be significant. However, the publisher seems unenthusiastic about venturing into this new field because it would consume a lot of time and effort. Licensing the brand to a third party to develop a film project is also not worth mentioning because even if the film generates significant buzz, the revenue that Take-Two would receive wouldn’t be substantial, especially when compared to the earnings they have already generated from the GTA brand, particularly during the past decade of milking GTA 5. In summary, from Take-Two’s perspective, producing a film or film series about GTA would not yield profitable results.
Therefore, despite the strong desire, it is highly unlikely that GTA fans will have the opportunity to witness a cinematic work based on this franchise in the future. However, everything can change over time, especially as the trend of adapting games into films has seen significant success recently, as exemplified by the cases of Cyberpunk 2077 and The Last of Us.
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Entertainment
Why do private jet aircraft fly at higher altitudes than commercial planes?
Besides the luxury and convenience to cater to ultra-rich customers, private jets operate at higher altitudes compared to commercial planes.
Typically, most commercial planes operate at an altitude of around 10.6 km (the specific altitude will be determined by the air traffic control along the route) and are certified to fly at altitudes of up to 12 km. Some specific wide-body aircraft, such as the Airbus A380, Airbus A350, and Boeing 787, have certifications for even higher altitudes, reaching up to 13.1 km (with some variants, such as the 787-10 and A350-1000, evaluated at slightly lower altitudes of 12.52 km and 12.6 km). However, due to air traffic constraints, they may not regularly operate at these altitudes.
Meanwhile, most medium and large private jet aircraft typically operate at higher altitudes than this, sometimes surpassing the permitted limits due to reduced air traffic and fewer restrictions. According to Simple Flying, many types of private jet aircraft, including the Gulfstream G650 and G650ER, Bombardier Global Express, or Challenger jet, Cessna Citation X, and Dassault Falcon 7X, are certified to fly at altitudes of 15.5 km. In contrast, Embraer Legacy and Praetor, along with Cessna Citation Longitude and Excel jets, have certifications for slightly lower altitudes, limited to 13.7 km, as reported by Interesting Engineering. There are several explanations for the significant difference in cruising altitude between private jets and commercial planes during cruise mode, according to Interesting Engineering.
Safety Standards
Safety is the top priority for all aircraft, but private jets have more flexibility in regulations and systems. In the event of a cabin pressure loss, commercial planes must rapidly descend to a safe altitude below 3 km to provide sufficient oxygen for passengers.
This requirement demands specific design considerations for the aircraft’s structure and engines, as well as the installation of safety equipment such as oxygen masks and emergency slides. In contrast, private jet engines can facilitate quicker descent, and their cabin pressure and oxygen supply systems may vary. The risk of damage to the fuselage due to engine malfunctions is also lower for private jets, as their engines are located at the rear of the aircraft, far from the pressurized cabin.
Private Jets are Faster and More Efficient
Flying at higher altitudes also brings performance and fuel efficiency benefits. At higher altitudes, the air is thinner and cooler, improving the performance of jet engines and reducing fuel consumption. Of course, this must be balanced with the fuel required for the aircraft to reach such altitudes, which can be a challenge for heavier commercial planes.
The engines of private jets also have a higher bypass ratio, meaning they utilize more air from the core rather than the fan surrounding the core. This optimizes engine performance at higher altitudes.
The Importance of Aircraft Size
Private jet aircraft are designed to be flexible and efficient, with a higher power-to-weight ratio than commercial planes. This means they can climb and maintain speed at higher altitudes, where the air is thinner and there is less drag.
On the other hand, commercial planes are heavier and bulkier due to the need to carry many passengers and cargo. They also require large wings to support their weight at higher altitudes. This is why some aircraft models, such as the Boeing 777X, have folding wings to save ground space.
Smoother Experience at Higher Altitudes
Weather and turbulence in the air also affect comfort and safety during flight. When flying at an altitude of 10.6 km, commercial planes are almost unaffected by weather phenomena, but they may still encounter turbulence caused by wind shear or jet streams. This can cause discomfort for passengers and the flight crew, as well as put pressure on the aircraft’s structure. Private jets can avoid these issues by flying even higher, where the air is calmer and less turbulent. Private jet pilots also have more options to change direction or altitude in case of bad weather or air turbulence.
Reduced Air Traffic
Air traffic is another factor that influences the choice of altitude. Commercial planes must adhere to predetermined flight paths and altitudes, which are often crowded due to the numerous planes operating at these levels.
This can lead to issues such as flight delays, rerouting, increased fuel consumption, and emissions. In contrast, private jets have more freedom in choosing routes and altitudes, which are less congested than common altitudes. This helps save time and money while reducing environmental impact.
Source: Interesting Engineering
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