Foxxconn's empty innovation centers and a blackhole photo revealed

Scientists have successfully captured the first-ever image of a black hole, which is an incredible technological feat considering their extreme density and the fact that light cannot escape from them. This achievement was made possible through the collaboration of scientists using the Event Horizon Telescope, which combines data from eight observatories on five continents. Meanwhile, in tech news, the debate on net neutrality and the streaming wars continues, with T-Mobile receiving a score on the Go 90 scale for its streaming services. Additionally, there's a call for votes for the Vergecast in the Webby Awards, with Paul Miller even dressing up as Kylo Ren for the cause. Lastly, Deloitte is highlighted as a company that can help businesses build a future by combining business acumen and innovative technology.

A team of scientists working together made use of a network of telescopes around the world to capture data for one week in April 2017, which was then processed by supercomputers and algorithms to construct an image of the event horizon of a black hole. This event horizon, also known as the point of no return, is a region around a black hole from which nothing, including light, can escape. The image reveals a blurry ring of fire, representing the hot gas and dust swirling around the black hole, with an orange ring marking the point of no return. This discovery not only provides visual confirmation of the existence of black holes but also sheds light on the behavior of gravity at the event horizon and the growth of supermassive black holes. The Event Horizon Telescope project, which involves coordinating telescopes worldwide, continues to process data and may release more images in the future. Each night, the telescopes capture one petabyte of data.

Despite advancements in technology, transferring large amounts of data, such as the data required for the image of a black hole, still presents significant challenges. This was exemplified by the Event Horizon Telescope project, which collected five petabytes of data and had to physically transport hard drives containing the data around the world due to the limitations of internet bandwidth. This highlights the importance of continued innovation in data transfer technologies. Additionally, the discussion touched upon the contrasting uses of "big data" - while much of it is used for targeted advertising, a small percentage is used for groundbreaking scientific discoveries. Furthermore, the segment about Foxconn in Wisconsin showcased the disconnect between grand announcements and the reality on the ground, with many of the innovation centers being sublet to other companies.

The building of innovation centers in Milwaukee by Foxconn, despite numerous announcements, has resulted in empty buildings with no visible progress. The prevailing theory is that these announcements were made to improve public support during the previous election, but the lack of transparency and absence of Foxconn at these sites has led to numerous speculations among the local population. These theories range from Foxconn's intentions to acquire intellectual property, access to water, or even buy all the ginseng in America. The huge subsidy package provided by the government, which includes tax breaks and infrastructure support, has also been a topic of debate, with some questioning its effectiveness and financial implications for local governments. Overall, the situation raises concerns about transparency and accountability in large corporate projects and the potential impact on local communities.

The Foxconn project in Wisconsin, which was promised to bring thousands of new jobs and significant economic growth, has become a source of confusion and skepticism due to unfulfilled promises, empty buildings, and questions about the company's true intentions. The state's tax incentives are based on the creation of new jobs, but there's uncertainty about whether Foxconn will actually deliver on that promise. Additionally, the foundation built for the project may not be suitable for the intended LCD manufacturing, adding to the doubts. The acquisition of Eero by Amazon for $97 million, while securing jobs for employees, was disappointing as it prevented a small company from potentially thriving on its own. Both projects raise questions about the ability of large corporations to deliver on their promises and the potential consequences for local communities.

For small companies trying to create innovative hardware products, especially in the tech industry, it can be incredibly challenging to compete with larger companies that have the resources to produce and market a wider range of products and absorb losses. Eero, a company specializing in Wi-Fi systems, faced this issue when they tried to expand beyond their original product and failed to compete with Google's Wi-Fi offering. The cost of building hardware and the need for continuous growth and perfection can be overwhelming for smaller companies, making it difficult for them to succeed and thrive in the market. Additionally, the success of subpar products from larger companies can make it even more challenging for smaller businesses to gain traction. This is a common theme in the tech industry, with examples like Facebook Watch and Apple News, which despite being less than perfect, continue to succeed due to the vast resources and reach of their parent companies.

The success of tech companies is not always measured by the number of users or profits, but by the impact they have on the industry and consumers. The discussion touched upon the acquisition of Eero by Amazon and the potential loss of innovation and competition. The Save the Internet Act vote in the House of Representatives highlights the importance of net neutrality and the ongoing debate around tech policy in the upcoming elections. The conversation also revealed the complexity of measuring the state of broadband infrastructure in America and the need for further investment and improvement. Ultimately, the era of tech giants and their impact on the industry and consumers continues to evolve, with both opportunities and challenges ahead.

The debate around net neutrality and content regulation is complex and multifaceted. While some argue that removing regulations would lead to increased investment in infrastructure and competition, others contend that the lack of competition at the application layer necessitates stronger regulatory oversight. The example given was the dominance of a few players in the content moderation space, such as Google, Facebook, and YouTube, and how they have either bought out or ruthlessly competed against smaller competitors. The conversation around net neutrality and content moderation transcends the traditional layer-based approach to the internet and requires a nuanced understanding of the market dynamics and consumer behavior. Ultimately, the goal should be to encourage more competition and consumer choice, whether it be in broadband access or content moderation.

The regulation of social media and the internet is becoming increasingly complex due to the rapid advancement of technology. The legal systems are struggling to keep up, leading to a potential regional breakup of the internet. Governments are asserting their dominion over how social media platforms are moderated, but this is a challenging task. The US Constitution's protection of free speech is a significant hurdle, and different countries have varying approaches to this issue. The speaker argues for a decentralized approach, allowing localities to make their own rules, rather than relying on a single entity like Facebook to regulate content globally. The speaker also emphasizes the importance of governments being able to regulate corporations, rather than the other way around. The New Zealand privacy commissioner's recent criticism of Facebook as being run by morally bankrupt liars highlights the need for regulation. Overall, the internet is outpacing the law, and finding a balance between technological innovation and regulatory oversight is a complex issue.

T-Mobile's new video service, T-Vision Home, launched with a traditional cable-like offering for $90 a month, requiring a box and broadband connection. Despite T-Mobile's reputation as an "uncarrier," this service comes with potential additional costs like taxes and fees. The service primarily uses T-Mobile's own infrastructure, which could potentially reduce latency and buffering issues. However, the future of streaming services may not lie in expensive cable-like offerings. Meanwhile, Netflix caused a stir by disabling AirPlay to Apple TV over the weekend, adding to the ongoing competition and petty maneuvers in the streaming wars.

During a discussion about the removal of AirPlay functionality from the Netflix app, it became clear that Netflix is serious about certifying the devices it streams to. This is due to the fact that AirPlay 2 does not send back a device ID, preventing Netflix from confirming compatibility and potentially forming user profiles. Despite this seeming petty, it's likely that Netflix sees this as a necessary step to maintain control over its streaming service. Additionally, the rising costs of streaming services, such as YouTube TV, are making it increasingly difficult for consumers to access all the content they want in one place, leading some to consider alternative options like antennas and over-the-air tuners. Another issue highlighted was a bug in Android TV that prevented Google Assistant from casting to the device, causing frustration for users.

There are ongoing issues with the integration between Google Assistant and Android TV, resulting in the inability to cast music and the appearance of unwanted ads. The speaker expresses frustration with the lack of communication and resolution between the Google Assistant and Android TV teams. Additionally, there are concerns about Apple's potential introduction of ads on their Apple TV platform and the impending breakup of iTunes into separate apps using the Marzipan UI framework. The speaker expresses hope for improvements in the user experience and seamless integration across devices. However, they also acknowledge the challenges in competing with platform companies, particularly in regards to UI frameworks.

While innovation in smartphone technology continues at a rapid pace, particularly in the area of camera capabilities, much of this innovation is not making its way to the US market due to carrier exclusivity deals and consumer attachment to iPhones. The Huawei P30 Pro, with its remarkable camera system and groundbreaking periscope zoom technology, is a prime example of this trend. However, form factor innovation is thriving in markets like India and China, where consumers are more likely to switch phones frequently and the operating system is consistent across brands. It's a shame that US consumers may be missing out on some of the most exciting advancements in smartphone design and functionality.

The market for mobile phones, particularly in the low-end segment, is becoming increasingly competitive, with companies like Oppo and Nokia offering strong alternatives to Google's Pixel 3A. The speaker also expressed a desire for open-source, decentralized networks and the idea of giving all spectrum back to the people. Regarding the Pixel 3A, it was suggested that Google needs to price it competitively and offer a unique selling proposition to stand out from the competition. The speaker also touched upon the evolution of Android versions and the Pixel 3's perceived disappointment in the market. Additionally, there was a discussion about various dongles, with the Sonata HD USBC audio dongle being considered a robust and high-quality option, but not necessarily the last one that would be needed.

There will always be a need for technological adaptations and updates in our lives, whether it be purchasing dongles for new interconnects or using different web browsers. While some may see this as an annoyance, others see it as progress. For instance, Microsoft's decision to rebuild Edge on Chromium means more web browsers, but also means less diversity in rendering and features. However, it also allows users to opt for browsers that align more closely with their priorities, rather than being tied to a specific operating system. Ultimately, the future of technology is constantly evolving, and we must adapt and make choices based on our individual needs and preferences.

The merger of Microsoft Edge and Chromium engine brings both sadness and excitement. On the one hand, it's sad because it may lead to less browser diversity, potentially making the web less accessible to various platforms. On the other hand, it's exciting as it could result in a faster and better web browsing experience on Windows. Additionally, it may lead to Windows becoming more Chrome-like, allowing for wider application deployment across platforms. However, there are still uncertainties regarding the impact on Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) and Electron apps. The presence of other major rendering engines, such as mobile Safari, provides some competition, and Microsoft's history of supporting the web ensures a good user experience. Despite disagreements on web standards, particularly around PWAs, progress is being made, and Apple's restrictions on them have proven beneficial in preventing fingerprinting.

The discussion revolved around the challenges of maintaining privacy in the digital world, specifically in relation to web browsers and tracking. Apple's decision to remove the "Do Not Track" setting was discussed, as it was deemed ineffective and potentially misleading to users. The speakers also touched upon the idea of having more companies in the browser market to promote competition and innovation. A humorous suggestion was made to start a vodka company to fund a new browser project. The conversation also explored the complexity of the web and the potential benefits of having additional shared platforms. The speakers expressed their concerns about the web's ability to do too much and the negative impact on browser development. The discussion ended with a call to bring back Gopher, an older internet protocol, as a potential solution. The speakers also mentioned various projects and initiatives, including Art Beets and Lyrics, a documentary about an art show, and a call to vote for Verge Science in the Webby Awards.