Meta is introducing a new searchable and dynamic map experience on Instagram. The map will allow users to explore popular tagged locations around them and filter location results by specific categories. Users can save and revisit locations and share places via direct messages to friends or groups. They will be able to find relevant locations on the map when searching certain hashtags.
Google is starting public tests of its new smart glasses. The glasses will be able to recognize objects in the environment through AI, but they will not be able to take photos or videos. They can currently be used for translation, transcription, visual search, and navigation. Testers will be restricted on where they can use the glasses. Bystanders can ask testers to delete image data. Google has not announced plans for the glasses to be a commercially available product yet.
Scientists have hacked the brains of fruit flies to make them remote-controlled. The flies were genetically engineered so that they expressed a certain heat-sensitive ion channel in some of their neurons that would be activated when it sensed heat, causing the flies to spread their wings. They then injected iron oxide nanoparticles into the insects' brains. The nanoparticles heated up when a magnetic field switched on nearby, which caused the neurons to fire and the flies to spread their wings. The goal of the research was to use this kind of technology to restore some sight to patients with vision impairments by stimulating the visual cortex.
Relativity Space and Impulse Space are launching a mission that will land on the surface of Mars in less than three years. It will be the first-ever commercial mission to Mars. Relativity's Terran R rocket, which will carry the mission, will be more powerful than SpaceX's Falcon 9. Impulse is developing space thrusters that use a less toxic alternative to the fuels typically used by spacecraft.
iles is a static-site generator that provides great support for partial hydration. It ships JavaScript only for the interactive sections and it features great Markdown support, layouts and components, file-based routing, and Vue Devtools support. iles aims to combine the development experience of building a site with Vue while effortlessly shipping a zero JavaScript site.
Carbon is a programming language from Google that aims to be a successor to C++. While it started with Google, it is open source and will be an independent and community project. Carbon is intended to be fully interoperable with existing C++ code. Many more details, including a list of highlights of the language, are available in the article.
Samsung's next big product launch will be on August 10. The launch is expected to include the Galaxy Z Fold 4, Galaxy Z Flip 4, Galaxy Watch 5, and the Buds2 Pro earbuds. Official renders of both the Galaxy Z Fold 4 and Galaxy Z Flip 4 were posted today. Links to official and unofficial renders are available in the article.
Microsoft has launched Viva Engage, a Facebook-like app inside Teams that promotes digital communities, conversations, and self-expression at the workplace. It looks and feels just like Facebook, with a storylines section that features conversational posts and media. Viva Engage will also include Stories. Microsoft likely created Viva Engage with Workplace from Meta in mind as the two companies are increasingly on a collision course for metaverse competition.
BeReal is a French photo app that is designed specifically to discourage the kind of influencer building that has been a core feature of social media for many years.