Facebook Dating Services to launch in Canada and Thailand

Facebook started its new dating feature in Colombia which is an algorithm-powered home screen for people. This feature is based on the information which has been given to Facebook. The goal was to make Facebook best place to start a dating business online. It is basically an online dating platform providing convenience. This feature was launched in Colombia for testing purpose but now, Facebook is now expanding its dating app in Canada and Thailand with some new features including re-reviewing people and taking breaks by putting the services on pause. Apps like Tinder are trying to compete with this feature where you can find hookups by going through different options. This can only scratch surface with partnerships.

  

The Pause factor in new features is also announced by another dating app Bumble. A “Snooze button” was introduced by the app for those people who wanted a break from the dating app for a while because of frustration or because of busy routines. This feature solved problems of many people. Facebook provides opportunity to send message while being on a pause. Other dating apps charge money for a second look but, Facebook is giving this feature free for its users where they can go back and re-review people in reverse chronological order. Another feature will be introduced which will enable the users to review their blocked lists. This will be a support to non-metric units and more interactive profile content sharing like sharing hometown or school. All these features will be there in the new Facebook Dating app.

Users would be able to see these feature displayed vertically instead of horizontally while scrolling through groups and events. Facebook is also working on a preemptive block list, based on the feedback of the users, they will be able to search for people who are not in their Facebook friend list and they don’t want them to see. The new feature will put a limit on the users that they won’t be able to express interest in more than 100 people per day.

Facebook dating app is positioning services for the people who want relationships but the challenge is that user’s trust in the company is missing because dating is something more private that cannot be exposed on social network because people are connected with their families and business peers. Facebook is trying to maintain privacy of the people and helping them in finding their soul mates.

Walmart’s Artificially Intelligent Retail Lab (IRL)

Walmart has extended its focus on harnessing technology and modernizing its retail stores. In 2017, Walmart assembled a team of AI experts and data scientists. This team was called Kepler and its purpose was to use AI technology to revamp Walmart’s retail stores. Earlier it was speculated that Walmart is going cashier-less like Amazon Go. But last week officials at Walmart revealed that Kepler is working on building an Intelligent Retail Lab.

This IRL is not yet operational but the team has started installing the hardware and software inside of its stores in Levittown, New York. This system once installed will revolutionize the retail business. It will assist store managers in knowing when the aisles need replenishing, inform them about spills and help them in re-arranging wrongly placed items.

This Artificial Intelligent system can also help them in recording customer data. This data could be analyzed to identify shopping patterns and customer preferences. In this age of information technology, such data can help Walmart in competing with their online competitors.

If this experiment proves to be a success, Walmart will surely install such systems in all of its retail outlets. Soon competitors would follow similar strategies and we will witness how innovative technology can change the way we shop at grocery stores.

Apple and Samsung – Planned Obsolescence Giants

Samsung just like Apple has started rolling out its updates that causes its phones to slow down. Last year when Apple started the planned obsolescence, Samsung ensured its customers that such problem will not be faced by its loyal customers but recently Italian government in a lawsuit fined both companies for forcing updates to the older devices that were not intended for the previous devices. 

Note 4 has been provided the android version that was launched for Galaxy Note 7, and Apple provided the same update that was made for iPhone 7  to iPhone 6 which caused significant performance loss thus forcing customers to upgrade to the latest versions of the phone series. Both the companies are fined approximately $5.7 million.

The fact that planned obsolescence is real, can be denied by these companies on the grounds that they roll out the updates and it is up to the user to upgrade. As people are eager to catch up and use exclusive features and performance, these market giants are also liable to make updates because the social media apps are upgrading functions which can only be used on latest version of an operating system. This creates a win-win situation for both the social media companies and the hardware department, as both need to be upgraded to the latest versions by the customers. 

CEO of Apple, “Tim Cook” said that the next iOS update will allow more transparent view of what will be happening to performance of the phone and users will be given option whether to upgrade or not.