Weekly Tech Updates (July 23, 2021)
Weekly Tech Updates is an easy and convenient way to keep up with all the happenings in the tech world. Stay tuned every Friday for all the latest updates.
News:
1. Google launched Doodle Champion Island Games!
In conjunction with the Tokyo Olympics 2020, Google has launched Doodle Champion Island.
Doodle Champion Island is a browser-based game that immerses players in a world filled with seven sport mini-games, legendary opponents, dozens of daring side quests, and a few new (and old ;)) friends.
The ultimate goal of the game is to defeat each sport Champion and collect all seven sacred scrolls—and complete extra hidden challenges across Champion Island in the purrr-ocess.
2. Twitch officially rolls out localized subscription price in Malaysia
As announced back in May, Twitch has finally rolled out localized subscription price here in Malaysia. The new subscription price is RM7.99 compared to the previous US$4.99 (RM20.99).
There are two main reasons driving local price changes. First is that viewers have let us know they want to be able to support creators and help grow their favorite communities, no matter where they live. And second is that creators will benefit from the price reduction in the long-term as subscriptions become more affordable for viewers around the world.
3. Zoom to Acquire Five9
Zoom Video Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ: ZM) announced on 19th July 2021 that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Five9, Inc. (NASDAQ: FIVN), a leading provider of the intelligent cloud contact center, in an all-stock transaction valued at approximately $14.7 billion.
Five9 is a pioneer of cloud-based contact center software. Its highly-scalable and secure cloud contact center delivers a comprehensive suite of easy-to-use applications that allows management and optimization of customer interactions across many different channels.
The acquisition is expected to help enhance Zoom’s presence with enterprise customers and allow it to accelerate its long-term growth opportunity by adding the $24 billion contact center market.
4. Blue Origin safely brings billionaire, Jeff Bezos to space and back
Blue Origin successfully completed New Shepard’s first human flight today with four private citizens onboard. The crew included Jeff Bezos, Mark Bezos, Wally Funk and Oliver Daemen, who all officially became astronauts when they passed the Kármán Line, the internationally recognized boundary of space.
A Historic Mission
- Wally Funk, 82, became the oldest person to fly in space.
- Oliver Daemen, 18, was the first ever commercial astronaut to purchase a ticket and fly to space on a privately-funded and licensed space vehicle from a private launch site. He also became the youngest person to fly in space.
- New Shepard became the first commercial vehicle under a suborbital reusable launch vehicle license to fly paying customers, both payloads and astronauts, to space and back.
- Jeff and Mark Bezos became the first siblings to ever fly in space together.
Blue Origin is also aiming to make rides to outer space available to public in the near future. If you have the money and is interested, you may sign up here.
