Running counter to what you would have thought was going to happen, Netflix says that after cracking down on password sharing, they got the largest number of new account sign ups in two days since April and May 2020 during the pandemic. Mashable.com reports they got over 100,000 daily sign ups on both May 26th and 27th. It’s too early to tell if this is a solid trend, but it sure flies in the face of what most people…including this reporter…expected to happen.

In his latest Power On newsletter, Mark Gurman from Bloomberg says Apple is working on a ‘more affordable’ mixed reality headset to come out in 2025. This comes on the heels of the reveal of the Vision Pro last week at WWDC for an eye-watering $3500. Gurman thinks the cheaper version will be called just Apple Vision or Apple Vision One. He speculates that with less powerful chips, lower quality screens, and less cameras and sensors…and maybe the removal of the spatial audio speakers that Cupertino could shave several hundred dollars off the price. He doesn’t believe that Apple will compromise quality much more than that. Since we are speculating on vapor ware, here’s my two cents: unless Apple can come out with a headset for more like $1500, they will never have mass market level sales that can replace the iPhone line. Not with other headsets…admittedly not near as good…going for $400 to $800. Apple’s rolling out a cheaper model for $3000 won’t move the needle. A number of tech reporters also think 2025 is super optimistic as far as the time line goes. 

New details have leaked about Google’s Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro, and they include big camera upgrades. 9to5google.com says that the primary sensor for both phones will be a 50 megapixel one. There will also be more support for 8K video recording. Both phones will get an upgraded ultra wide cam, too…going to 64 megapixels…a hell of a jump from the 12MP ultra wide they have now. The telephoto and selfie cams will stay the same, according to the leak which was first picked up by Android Authority.

It had been rumored and we reported earlier that Mercedes-Benz had been the first car maker to ask for California’s permission to put Level 3 self-driving tech on the roads. Now, California has granted that permit. Level 3 is hands off and eyes off. According to engadget.com, the Mercedes Drive Pilot lets drivers to takes their eyes off the road and hands off the wheel, then do other non-driving activities like watching videos and texting. If the rules for use are followed, Mercedes (and not the driver) will be legally responsible for any accident that happens. The Mercedes cars are still not using the advanced systems of Waymo and Cruise vehicles, which are being allowed full self driving with no human driver aboard…but Stuttgart leapfrogs Tesla and their so-called ‘Full Self Driving’ system, which is still just Level 2. Elon Musk has said Tesla will skip Level 3 and go right to Level 4…but he has made wild promises for years, that have yet to materialize.

I’m Clark Reid and you’re ‘Technified’ for now.