It's Thursday, July 21st, 2016, and today was a pretty big day for Mark Zuckerberg and the folks at Facebook. At daybreak this morning in Yuma, Arizona, Facebook launched the Aquila, an unmanned solar-powered aircraft with a wingspan bigger than a Boeing 737. The aircraft is intended to bring internet access to underserved areas, but it's just a test run, and the internet delivery system is still in development.
Apparently, the flight which was only supposed to go for about half an hour went so well that the team left the aircraft flying for over an hour and a half. Ultimately, Facebook intends to send drones like the Aquila soaring up to elevations exceeding 60,000 feet to beam internet access via lasers and millimeter wave technology down to remote areas that don't have the infrastructure to build out internet pathways. This is not the first attempt at bringing internet access to underserved areas; Google is also doing something similar with balloons called Project Loon.
As we wonder how these connectivity projects will avoid mid-air collisions, it's worth noting that Facebook and Google are just starting to explore this concept. Meanwhile, many of us are struggling to get cell signals in our daily lives. Can these tech titans beam internet access to us? It seems like a small ask, but it would be great if they could figure out how to make it happen.
While Facebook is celebrating new beginnings, a company in Japan is bringing an iconic home entertainment device to its official end. You won't believe this, but Funai Electric is still making VCRs or at least they were today. The company that produces electronics for a number of brands officially ended production of its VCRs, which it was making for Sanyo. If you still got a closet full of VHS tapes and want to get all nostalgic with them, now's the time to snag a VCR before entrepreneurial types on eBay start selling them for obscene amounts of money.
Finally, today Tesla has officially announced the master plan that company CEO Elon Musk has been teasing for weeks. It looks like the company is going to be venturing well outside of its electric cars and energy storage systems. We now know that Tesla intends to build an electric pickup truck, which would be a welcome addition to their lineup. Additionally, they're planning to build an electric semi-truck and a electric bus. While Musk has been focused on a broader vision of sustainability through alternate energy sources, he's also tying a lot of that to the planned acquisition of SolarCity.
Musk's plan is quite ambitious, but it also raises some concerns. As many critics point out, his involvement with SolarCity creates a conflict of interest, and it's also worth noting that he sits on the board of that company as well. His cousin runs the company, so it's literally a family affair. Some also suggest that Musk needs to make his own company sustainable first before taking on such big projects. However, if we know Mr. Musk, he'll have no problem rallying the necessary troops to move forward. We think Tesla's stock is going to do just fine, thanks very much.
That's it for DT Daily today, folks. We'll see you right back here for our TGIS edition tomorrow.
"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: enit's thursday july 21st 2016 and today was a pretty big day for Mark Zuckerberg and the folks at Facebook at daybreak this morning in Yuma Arizona facebook launched the Aquila an unmanned solar-powered aircraft with a wingspan bigger than a Boeing 737 intended to bring internet access to underserved areas now this was just a test run and the internet delivery system is still in development but apparently the flight which was only supposed to go for about half an hour went so well the team left the aircraft fly for over an hour and a half ultimately Facebook intend to send drones like the Aquila soaring up to elevations exceeding 60,000 feet to beam internet access via lasers and millimeter wave technology down to remote areas which don't have the infrastructure to build out internet pathways now Facebook isn't alone in this quest Google is doing something similar with balloons called Project loon and that makes us wonder how will the two tech titans avoid a mid-air collisions will let them sort that out but for now it's really interesting to see how these connectivity projects are taking shape now can they do this for cell service because I can't seem to get a cell signal anywhere anymore so if you could just beam that to me to Facebook that would be great thanks while Facebook is celebrating new beginnings a company in Japan is bringing an iconic home entertainment device to its official end you're not going to believe this but Funai electric is still making VCRs or at least they were today the company which produces electronics for a number of brands officially ended production of its VCRs which it was making for sanyo i know i'm a huge AV guy and i didn't even know they were still making those things anyway if you still got a closet full of VHS tapes you want to get all nostalgic with and need a VCR we'd hurry up and snatch one now before entrepreneurial types on ebay get wise and start selling them for obscene amounts of money finally today Tesla has officially announced the master plan that company CEO Elon Musk has been teasing for weeks and it looks like the company is going to be venturing well outside of its electric cars and energy storage systems we now know Tesla intends to build an electric pickup truck which can I just say parenthetically yes please take my money an electric semi truck and a electric bus beyond the electric vehicles though musk is focused on a broader vision of sustainability through alternate energy sources and he's tying a lot of that to the planned acquisition of solar city which as many critics that point out is a little dodgy since he sits on the board of that company as well oh and also his cousin runs that company so it is literally a family affair anyway summer saying musk has a lot of big ideas and not much planning to back it up sound like someone you know some also suggest must needs to make his own company sustainable first but if we know mr. musk he'll have no problem rallying the necessary troops to move forward and we think Tesla's stock is going to do just fine thank you very much that's it for dt daily today folks we'll see you right back here for our tgif edition tomorrowit's thursday july 21st 2016 and today was a pretty big day for Mark Zuckerberg and the folks at Facebook at daybreak this morning in Yuma Arizona facebook launched the Aquila an unmanned solar-powered aircraft with a wingspan bigger than a Boeing 737 intended to bring internet access to underserved areas now this was just a test run and the internet delivery system is still in development but apparently the flight which was only supposed to go for about half an hour went so well the team left the aircraft fly for over an hour and a half ultimately Facebook intend to send drones like the Aquila soaring up to elevations exceeding 60,000 feet to beam internet access via lasers and millimeter wave technology down to remote areas which don't have the infrastructure to build out internet pathways now Facebook isn't alone in this quest Google is doing something similar with balloons called Project loon and that makes us wonder how will the two tech titans avoid a mid-air collisions will let them sort that out but for now it's really interesting to see how these connectivity projects are taking shape now can they do this for cell service because I can't seem to get a cell signal anywhere anymore so if you could just beam that to me to Facebook that would be great thanks while Facebook is celebrating new beginnings a company in Japan is bringing an iconic home entertainment device to its official end you're not going to believe this but Funai electric is still making VCRs or at least they were today the company which produces electronics for a number of brands officially ended production of its VCRs which it was making for sanyo i know i'm a huge AV guy and i didn't even know they were still making those things anyway if you still got a closet full of VHS tapes you want to get all nostalgic with and need a VCR we'd hurry up and snatch one now before entrepreneurial types on ebay get wise and start selling them for obscene amounts of money finally today Tesla has officially announced the master plan that company CEO Elon Musk has been teasing for weeks and it looks like the company is going to be venturing well outside of its electric cars and energy storage systems we now know Tesla intends to build an electric pickup truck which can I just say parenthetically yes please take my money an electric semi truck and a electric bus beyond the electric vehicles though musk is focused on a broader vision of sustainability through alternate energy sources and he's tying a lot of that to the planned acquisition of solar city which as many critics that point out is a little dodgy since he sits on the board of that company as well oh and also his cousin runs that company so it is literally a family affair anyway summer saying musk has a lot of big ideas and not much planning to back it up sound like someone you know some also suggest must needs to make his own company sustainable first but if we know mr. musk he'll have no problem rallying the necessary troops to move forward and we think Tesla's stock is going to do just fine thank you very much that's it for dt daily today folks we'll see you right back here for our tgif edition tomorrow\n"
