Week in Review: Meta Reveals Its Oakley Smart Glasses

Welcome back to the Week in Review! This week brings a mix of innovation and strategic acquisitions. From Meta’s foray into smart eyewear to a surprising acquisition in the no-code AI space, and even a giant sand battery in Finland, here’s a quick recap of the most significant tech stories.

Smart Specs: Meta and Oakley have partnered to release a new line of smart glasses. Priced starting at $399, these glasses boast 3K video recording, music playback, call handling, and integration with Meta AI. Promising double the battery life of Meta’s previous Ray-Ban collaboration, a limited-edition Oakley Meta HSTN model will be available from July 11 for $499.

Unicorn Watch: Wix acquired Base44, a six-month-old solo startup, for $80 million in cash. Base44, a no-code AI tool for web app development, rapidly gained traction and profitability, making it an irresistible target for Wix.

Sand to the Rescue: Finland activated the world’s largest sand battery to power the town of Pornainen’s heating system. This low-tech, low-cost solution stores heat in a giant silo made from discarded fireplace soapstone and can retain heat for weeks, offering a sustainable alternative to lithium-based solutions.

We’re Back, Baby: VanMoof is making a comeback with the S6, its first e-bike since its bankruptcy. Continuing with its custom design, the new VanMoof aims to deliver smoother rides and smarter features, supported by McLaren tech and an improved repair network.

Space Lasers: Baiju Bhatt, Robinhood’s co-founder, is venturing into space with Aetherflux, a startup focused on beaming solar power from orbit using lasers. Aetherflux has secured $60 million in funding and plans to launch a demo satellite next year, with early backing from the Department of Defense.

Oh No: One of SpaceX’s Starship rockets exploded during a test in Texas, potentially delaying its next launch. The explosion, caused by a pressurized tank failure, adds to a challenging year for SpaceX’s mega-rocket program.

That Lossless Feeling: Spotify’s long-awaited lossless audio tier may be on the horizon, as new code hints at active development. However, after years of delays, anticipation should be tempered until an official announcement is made.

I Can Digg It: Digg’s reboot has entered alpha testing with a new iOS app, aiming to be an AI-era alternative to Reddit. The app features curated communities, AI-powered summaries, and gamified elements.

We Want You: The U.S. Navy is streamlining its collaboration with startups, focusing on AI, GPS, and system upgrades. This initiative aims to save time and improve morale, with Silicon Valley showing increased interest.

Cash Ain’t King: Despite offering up to $100 million, Mark Zuckerberg has been unable to lure top AI talent from OpenAI and DeepMind. Sam Altman emphasizes his team’s commitment to their mission over monetary gains.

San Francisco’s Latest Startup Saga? Cluely’s after-party for YC’s AI Startup School was shut down by the police before it even started, becoming the “most legendary party that never happened.” The viral marketing may have promised chaos, but the real party is still waiting to happen.