There’s also some interesting platform news.
Amazon is removing its Just Walk Out technology from all Fresh grocery stores in the US. The self-checkout system, which relied on cameras, sensors, and human monitoring, faced issues and was expensive to install and maintain. Privacy concerns were also raised due to the collection of biometric information. Amazon plans to revamp its retail grocery arm by introducing Dash smart carts that allow consumers to skip the checkout.
Zoom has undergone its first major overhaul in over ten years, utilizing artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the video-calling experience. The redesign includes a fresh look with customizable color themes and meeting backgrounds and new features like multi-speaker view, document collaboration, portrait lighting, personalized audio isolation, and dynamic reactions. Improved collaboration features, such as the Meetings tab and Meeting Event hub, have also been implemented. Zoom Workplace is available at no additional cost for eligible paid plans.
Microsoft has announced price increases of between 9.26 percent and 16.67 percent for its Dynamics 365 business applications, citing the release of new features and enhancements as the justification. The price changes will take effect on October 1, 2024. US government users will see a 10 percent increase in October 2024, followed by another minor increase in October 2025 to align with commercial pricing.
Microsoft plans to introduce “recommendations” in the Windows 11 Start Menu, essentially ads for apps in the Microsoft Store. This feature will be initially tested with a small group of US Beta Channel Windows Insiders. The recommendations can be turned off and are currently limited to a subset of US Beta Channel Windows Insiders. However, this feature could be released more widely in the future.
Microsoft is using full-screen prompts to encourage Windows 10 users to upgrade to Windows 11, even though not all PCs are eligible. The prompts thank users for their loyalty and provide information about the end-of-support date. Microsoft has not clarified if this is a one-time notification or if it will appear regularly over the next 18 months. The prompt does not mention that consumers can continue using Windows 10 securely beyond the end of the support date if they are willing to pay for Extended Security Updates. Windows 11 uptake has been slower due to its stricter hardware requirements.
Google Workspace is introducing a multi-admin approval feature for high-risk setting changes to enhance security and prevent unauthorized modifications. This feature requires multiple admins to approve sensitive actions, adding an extra layer of security and preventing isolated decision-making. It aims to prevent compromised accounts from making harmful changes and lowers the risk of lowering the overall security level.
First, I want to note that Amazon is abandoning a major investment. There’s a lesson in abandoning technology and plans when they aren’t working.
Microsoft sure is squeezing that upgrade – full-screen ads, and you end up with more ads in Windows 11. Not sure I’m so keen on this. Distinctly, this is your opportunity to send feedback.