There's a lot to get to and I know you have places (in your house) to go, so let's get to it.
Today's Login is 1,315 words, a 5-minute read.
There's a lot to get to and I know you have places (in your house) to go, so let's get to it.
Today's Login is 1,315 words, a 5-minute read.
Illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios
The coronavirus pandemic is bringing out Silicon Valley's penchant for problem solving, Axios' Kia Kokalitcheva reports.
The big picture: Tech companies, entrepreneurs and investors have rushed to find ways to apply their skills, resources, and creativity to tackling the virus and its public health and economic impact.
A number of health care startups, including Everlywell, Carbon Health and Nurx, shifted quickly to working on developing COVID-19 testing kits.
Other companies are tapping into their existing supply chains and expertise.
Many software companies decided to offer some products for free to those coping with the crisis.
Investors jumped into action as well.
Tech giants also moved swiftly to finish projects and build solutions.
Yes, but: Some tech leaders have also been criticized for their armchair epidemiology on Twitter.
The bottom line: Most Silicon Valley leaders and workers understand that the key fight right now belongs to medical science and healthcare professionals, but they're eager to pitch in — and have plenty of both ideas and resources.
It's no shock that online shopping has surged, especially for groceries, but new data from Adobe offers some valuable breakdowns of exactly where consumer dollars are going.
Why it matters: Some buying patterns are likely temporary, but many people may permanently expand what they buy online, even once physical stores reopen.
Details: According to Adobe, online grocery sales in mid-March were double what they were at the start of the month, with overall e-commerce up 25%.
Photo: Ina Fried/Axios
Comcast said Monday that while it has seen a significant increase in demand, so far its network can handle the increased traffic without a noticeable decline in speed or reliability.
Why it matters: There has been much concern over how well the internet would hold up as most of America is working and schooling from home. So far, broadband and wireless providers say they aren't seeing signs of trouble.
"The speeds are holding up well," Comcast's lead tech executive Tony Werner said on a conference call with journalists Monday. "There (are) not any trends that make me worry in the least."
Part of the reason is that Comcast tries to build capacity 12-18 months ahead of where it anticipates demand will be (and usage per customer tends to go up about 45% per year).
By the numbers:
Fitbit is the latest tech company tasked with launching a consumer product amid the coronavirus outbreak, on Tuesday unveiling a new version of its Charge fitness tracker.
The big picture: While it has been working to add paid subscription services, Fitbit remains dependent on new hardware sales, something that could be trickier in a time when most of America is sheltering in place.
Details: The new product, the Charge 4, adds GPS and Spotify controls, while keeping a sub-$150 price. The GPS function is only turned on for specific activities in order to allow the band to have multi-day battery life.
Yes, but: Fitbit could be in a tough spot in trying to get people to buy a new fitness tracker at a time when stores are closed and people are largely staying at home.
What they're saying: "We're still assessing the overall impact on our business, but we are pleased that we are able to deliver Charge 4 to the market as planned. ... We are constantly monitoring the evolving situation globally across all of our supply chains and will adjust our plans and operations as needed," a Fitbit representative told Axios.
A mesh image of 6D.ai's 3D scanning technology. Photo: Niantic
Pokémon Go creator Niantic is making another acquisition in the augmented reality space, scooping up 6D.ai, a 16-person 3D mapping company spun out of Oxford University.
Why it matters: Niantic's goal is to build a 3D map of the world to serve as a platform for games and other software, both its own and those from third parties.
Meanwhile: The company has had to rapidly pivot its existing games, built on the premise of going out and exploring the world, to be relevant to and playable by people stuck at home.
On Tap
Trading Places
For the record
ICYMI
Here are some classic-looking travel posters designed to match the present times.