💥 Meta just canceled its Vision Pro competitor

💥 Meta just canceled its Vision Pro competitor

• Meta has decided to cancel its high-end mixed reality headset project, La Jolla, which was meant to compete with Apple's Vision Pro, despite earlier plans for a 2027 release.

• The La Jolla headset development reportedly stopped partly because of the high cost of MicroOLED displays, making it difficult to keep the device under the target price of $1,000.

• Although the La Jolla project is shelved, Meta continues to work on other headsets and mixed reality technologies, including a more affordable Quest headset and new AR glasses.

🛑 OpenAI faces backlash over lack of AI safety support

• Former OpenAI employees have criticized CEO Sam Altman for opposing California's AI regulation bill, SB 1047, despite previously supporting the idea of AI regulation.

• The former employees argue that OpenAI's resistance to the "light-touch" requirements of SB 1047 undermines the company's commitment to AI safety.

• The critics also believe that OpenAI's demands for employees to waive whistleblower rights are contradictory to its public stance on AI safety and transparency.

📱 Apple rumor points to an iPhone 16, Watch, and AirPods launch event next month

• According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, a launch event on September 10th could unveil the iPhone 16 series, Apple Watch Series 10, and new AirPods, with sales starting around September 20th.

• The iPhone 16 Pro models are expected to have larger screens and a dedicated camera button, while major hardware changes might not arrive until the potential iPhone 17 Slim next year.

• The Apple Watch Series 10 will reportedly be thinner with larger screens, and new AirPods may combine features from the third-generation models and AirPods Pro, including active noise cancellation.

🪦 Microsoft to ditch ‘iconic’ Windows feature after 39 years

• Microsoft has officially announced the deprecation of the Windows Control Panel, a feature that has been part of the operating system for 39 years.

• The Control Panel, which allowed users to change system settings through various applets, will be replaced by the more modern and streamlined Settings app.

• This change has been gradually occurring since Windows 8 in 2012, with the Settings app becoming a full-featured replacement by the time Windows 11 was released.

🤔 Elon Musk says X staff can get their stock — if they prove they deserve it

• Elon Musk announced that X staff will receive stock grants, but they must prove their worth through a one-page summary detailing their contributions.

• The anticipated stock allocations come amid increasing tensions between X leadership and staff, following a recent unexplained delay in the promotions process.

• A source revealed that the company has yet to distribute the annual equity refresher, which was originally scheduled for April, adding to employee uncertainty.