Monday's technology stories
Snapchat sells Spectacles online
Snapchat spectacles now available for purchase online.
Spectacles are smartphone-connected glasses that take Snapchats — videos or stills — with the click of a button. Previously, the glasses were only available for purchase at pop-up vending machines in New York and California, where lines were long and the allure was strong. Now, Snap Inc. is making their glasses available to all consumers for $130 USD.
Why it matters: In its S-1 filing with the New York Stock Exchange, Snapchat calls itself a "camera company" instead of a social media app or a messaging service. This is critical in understanding how Snapchat plans to monetize its reach and technology, which investors are monitoring closely ahead of its IPO. In its S-1 filing, Snapchat noted that Spectacles have not initially generated any revenue. While Snapchat makes the majority of its money from advertising now, opening up sales for its new camera now signals that Snap Inc. sees camera technology and sales as a lucrative business model in the future.
It's up to Uber's investors to demand a change in culture
Responding to a former Uber engineer's allegations of widespread sexism at the company, Uber CEO Travis Kalanick has called for an "urgent investigation" and threatened to fire anyone found behaving or thinking along the lines of those described.
But even a cursory read of Susan Fowler Rigetti's harrowing post shows a series of alleged events that could not have been caused by one abhorrent manager or a rogue HR person. It implicates an entire culture and raises questions of whether Uber's board and management have the will to change it.
Who's already speaking out: In addition to Kalanick's comments, some early Uber investors are chiming in:
What to watch for: Any comments from the board and the results of Uber's investigation. Also, the public response. Will there be yet another #DeleteUber movement?