Apple and Virtual Reality, True iPhone Costs

May 27, 2016

The Memorial Day Holiday weekend is thisclose to become reality. Here’s a look at some of the news happening on this Friday, May 27.

3 Stories/30 Seconds

Crashed: The Zano project

Crowdsourcing warnings

Sites such as Kickstarter have made products such as Pebble household names. Unfortunately, many crowdfunding products never come to fruition — leaving early backers empty-handed.

In a compelling post, Macworld offers words of warning for folks looking to back the next big thing.

Apple and VR

Re/Code offers an excellent discussion on Apple’s commitment to virtual reality (VR). The bottom line: Cupertino is going to play a huge role here in the coming years.

It’s certainly true that virtual reality is having its moment, and appears to have reached a tipping point of sorts between its long history of over-promising and under-delivering and something that’s actually compelling. However, that doesn’t mean Apple has to introduce VR hardware in the very near future in order to keep up. In fact, following Apple’s long-established patterns of product introductions suggest a different approach.

- Re/Code

The New York Times

An iPhone costs how much, really?

The Apple iPhone can be an expensive proposition for many would-be buyers. Exactly how expensive is the topic of a new piece at The New York Times.

Among the findings:

The average Londoner works 41.2 hours to earn enough to buy an iPhone 6.
In Athens, it’s 98 hours.
For those in Kiev: 627 hours.

Today in Tech & Media/15 Seconds

Ahead of Memorial Day on Monday, May 30, get ready with Sun Screen Day, today, May 27. Tomorrow is both Amnesty International Day and International Jazz Day.

Asus is holding a press event on Monday, May 30.

Looking backwards: On May 28, 1937, President Franklin D. Roosevelt pushed a button that opened San Fransisco’s Golden Gate Bridge. On May 29, 1953, Sir Edmund Hillary became the first person to reach the summit of Mt. Everest.

Trending on Twitter/15 Seconds

Is your productivity nosediving? You’re not alone as many are thinking of #MemorialDayWeekend.

Others are discussing:

Extra Minutes

Have a few more minutes? Check out these other stories making news:

Deadly superbug arrives in US, report says, Fox News
Minecraft-like Dragon Quest Builders is launching in October, The Verge
ForcePhone could let you control your phone with a squeeze, CNET

Want even more? Check our the new Tech Media Extra.

The Tech Media Minute returns on Tuesday, May 31.