Michael Simon, staff writer for PC World, discusses Apple's 11.3 iOS announcement, as well as the HomePod which is now available for pre-order. He also explores what China's first ever annual decline in phone shipments could mean.
Simon says iOS 11.3 will finally allow users to check the health of their batteries, a growing issue for customers. The iOS 11.3 will also offer new Animojis. Apple says the update is due out this spring.
Simon also discusses Apple's new HomePod, now available for pre-order. While the company has a loyal following of people who will definitely purchase the product, he doesn't see most people paying $349 when Amazon's Echo is just $99. Concerning China's decline in phone shipments, Simon says Americans will always buy new phones for new features, but China is a different market and Apple will need to learn how to adjust.
Tesla is rolling out its latest self-driving software beta testing program, offering access to a limited number of Tesla owners. The closed beta will cost an additional $10,000 up front or $199 per month for the opportunity to test the system.
DoorDash is getting into the advertising business and will list restaurant ads on the platform. Restaurants can compete for ad space through a bidding system, but DoorDash will only be paid if orders are placed at the advertised business.
Twitter has introduced a soft block feature to its platform. You can now remove a follower without them knowing, preventing them from seeing your tweets on their timeline. However, that former follower will still be able to see your tweets by clicking on your profile and can send direct messages.
