Latest news with #PanosPanay


Time of India
a day ago
- Time of India
WhatsApp is dropping its native Windows app that Microsoft exec called 'exemplary modern Windows app'
Meta has quietly rolled back WhatsApp's native Windows 11 application, replacing it with a Chromium-based web wrapper that sacrifices performance for development convenience. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The change, currently available in beta, marks a disappointing retreat from the company's previous commitment to platform-specific optimization. The new version essentially packages into a desktop container using Microsoft's WebView2 technology , creating multiple subprocesses that consume approximately 30% more RAM than the original native app. Windows Latest first identified the transition by examining Task Manager, which now shows several WebView2 helper processes handling graphics, networking, and storage operations. Why WhatsApp is changing its app on Windows The shift represents a stark departure from WhatsApp's previous UWP/WinUI implementation, which operated as a lightweight, single-process application using Windows' native UI toolkit. The original app was celebrated by Microsoft executives, including former Windows chief Panos Panay, as an exemplary modern Windows application. Meta's own support documentation ironically contradicts this decision, stating that native apps "provide increased performance and reliability" along with superior notification experiences, calling capabilities, and screen sharing functionality. The web-based replacement offers a more basic settings interface and altered notification behavior that feels disconnected from Windows 11's design language. What's new with the WhatsApp web wrapper app on Windows 11 The beta version include some advantage over the previous app, bringing WhatsApp Channels and enhanced Status and Communities features that were previously available only through the web interface. However, these additions come at the cost of the streamlined, integrated experience that made the native Windows app distinctive. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The transition also allows Meta to maintain a single codebase across all platforms rather than developing platform-specific applications. Meta has not announced when the web-based version will replace the current native app for all users.


Business Insider
7 days ago
- Business
- Business Insider
Amazon (AMZN) Turns to Rival SpaceX to Launch Its Internet Satellites
Although tech giant Amazon (AMZN) competes with SpaceX in the satellite internet market, it turned to Elon Musk 's aerospace company in order to launch the next batch of its Kuiper satellites. Indeed, on Wednesday morning, a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched 24 of Amazon's Kuiper satellites into space from Florida. About an hour later, SpaceX confirmed that all the satellites were deployed successfully. This is interesting because SpaceX's Starlink service is the leader in satellite internet, with about 8,000 satellites and 5 million customers. Elevate Your Investing Strategy: Take advantage of TipRanks Premium at 50% off! Unlock powerful investing tools, advanced data, and expert analyst insights to help you invest with confidence. Make smarter investment decisions with TipRanks' Smart Investor Picks, delivered to your inbox every week. Nevertheless, Amazon publicly thanked SpaceX for the launch in a LinkedIn post by Panos Panay, who leads Amazon's devices and services, including Kuiper. It is worth noting that Amazon launched Project Kuiper in 2019 with the goal of building a network of over 3,000 satellites. In addition, the company is working under a deadline from U.S. regulators, which requires 1,600 satellites to be in orbit by July 2026. So far, Amazon has launched three groups of satellites to bring its total to 78 satellites in orbit. To meet its goal, Amazon has lined up as many as 83 future launches, including more with SpaceX. Project Kuiper is now one of Amazon's biggest bets, with more than $10 billion already invested. According to Bank of America, Amazon could end up spending as much as $23 billion to fully build the satellite network, not including the cost of the devices people will use to connect. In fact, this year alone, Amazon is expected to spend around $150 million per launch and $1.1 billion on building satellites. Nevertheless, analysts say that the satellite internet market could reach $40 billion by 2030. What Is the Price Target for AMZN Stock? Turning to Wall Street, analysts have a Strong Buy consensus rating on Amazon stock based on 44 Buys and one Hold assigned in the past three months. Furthermore, the average AMZN stock price target of $251.44 per share implies 12.7% upside potential from current levels.


Time of India
7 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Elon Musk's SpaceX offers this ‘BIG HELP' to rival Amazon's Kuiper internet satellites; company says ‘Pumped to have…'
Image credit: LinkedIn Elon Musk 's rocket company SpaceX has provided launch services for Amazon's Kuiper internet satellites. This marks a major collaboration between two rival companies in the satellite internet market, as SpaceX's Starlink currently holds a dominant position in the low-Earth orbit satellite internet sector. Amazon has confirmed that a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket successfully launched 24 Kuiper satellites into space. The launch took place from Florida's Space Coast at 2:30 a.m. ET (12.00 am IST). Nearly an hour after liftoff, SpaceX confirmed that all Kuiper satellites were successfully deployed. The mission was also livestreamed on the social media platform X (earlier Twitter). It's important to note that Starlink operates a constellation of around 8,000 satellites and serves about 5 million customers globally. What Amazon said about the help from rival SpaceX Soon after the launch, Panos Panay, who oversees Amazon's devices and services unit, including Kuiper, thanked SpaceX for giving the satellites a lift into space. In a LinkedIn post, Panay wrote: 'Congrats to the amazing Amazon Project Kuiper team on another successful launch, and a big thanks to SpaceX for the ride to space. Pumped to have another batch of Kuiper satellites heading into orbit!' by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Villas Prices In Dubai Might Be More Affordable Than You Think Villas In Dubai | Search Ads Get Quote Undo Launched in 2019, Amazon's Project Kuiper aims to deliver global broadband via a network of over 3,000 satellites. To meet the FCC's deadline, Amazon need to have about 1,600 satellites in orbit by July 2026. After three launches, which include one in July 2025, the company has 78 satellites in orbit and has secured up to 83 launches, including rides with SpaceX. Kuiper represents a growing rivalry between Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and Musk, who leads competing ventures Starlink and SpaceX. Bezos' Blue Origin also seeks to rival SpaceX with its New Glenn rocket. According to a report by CNBC, Amazon has committed over $10 billion to Kuiper, though analysts estimate the project could cost up to $23 billion, excluding user terminal expenses. Each launch reportedly costs Amazon $150 million, with satellite production projected to reach $1.1 billion by year-end. Targeting a market expected to hit $40 billion by 2030, Amazon could earn $7.1 billion in Kuiper revenue by 2032 with a 30% market share. OnePlus Nord CE 5: You don't need to charge this phone daily AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now


UPI
7 days ago
- Science
- UPI
SpaceX launch adds dozens of satellites to Amazon's broadband network
July 16 (UPI) -- Amazon's Project Kuiper broadband network got a literal boost from SpaceX Wednesday as a Falcon 9 rocket put several Kuiper satellites into orbit. The mission, titled KF-01, involved a Falcon 9 that launched from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on Wednesday at 2:30 a.m. EDT, and carried 24 Kuiper craft into low Earth orbit at an altitude of 289 miles. "Congrats to the amazing [Project Kuiper] team on another successful launch and thank you to [SpaceX] for the ride to space," posted Amazon's devices chief Panos Panay to X Wednesday. "Pumped to have another batch of Kuiper satellites heading into orbit!" The Falcon 9's first stage then returned to Earth about nine minutes later, landing on SpaceX's "A Shortfall of Gravitas" droneship located in the Atlantic Ocean. Marking the third launch of Kuiper satellites, this mission expanded Amazon's broadband network to a current count of 78 but is slated to eventually be comprised of over 3,200 satellites, which will require more than 80 launches before reaching that goal.


Washington Post
14-07-2025
- Business
- Washington Post
Amazon delays Alexa's web debut — and a faceoff with ChatGPT
More than four months ago in New York City, Amazon executive Panos Panay said a new version of the Alexa virtual assistant would soon launch on the web at to 'help you do the long-form work you need to do.' The announcement set the voice-centric, artificial-intelligence-powered assistant that was first launched in 2014 on a new collision course with the popular text-heavy whippersnapper ChatGPT.