Venus Aerospace Takes Flight: A New Era of Supersonic Passenger Travel?

Houston-based start-up Venus Aerospace is developing a hypersonic aircraft that can travel at speeds of Mach 9 or 11,000 km/h. Co-founded by husband and wife team, Andrew and Sassie Duggleby, the company is aiming to build an aeroplane that can carry around a dozen passengers and go around the world in just an hour.

The aircraft will take off and perform a 10-minute boost with its rocket engine, sending it to an altitude of about 50 km. The company recently tested a rocket engine prototype based on a rotating detonation engine, which has the potential to increase fuel efficiency by about 10%. To refine the plane's shape, Venus Aerospace is testing drones that can hit Mach 3 by early 2024.

The company has raised $41 million so far and is seeking a second round of funding. With their "home for dinner" policy for both employees and customers, the Dugglebys hope to revolutionize the air travel industry. Good luck with that, guys!

Walmart Joins the Social Media Game, But Instead of Likes, You Get More Stuff to Buy

Walmart just spruced up its website with a fresh coat of paint and added some social media flair to keep you scrolling and buying, and scrolling and buying, and scrolling and buying. It's like going to a supermarket, asking for Oreos, and the clerk pointing you toward Pepperidge Farm Milano's because the Campbell Soup Company is paying more to be on the shelves.

Walmart is looking to diversify its revenue streams, including boosting profits through ad sales, B2B services, and third-party marketplace sellers. But they don't want to annoy customers like Amazon does with their average of 8.5 sponsored results on the first page of product searches. In its latest quarter, Amazon's e-commerce business was down 2%, but Jeff Bezos doesn't care as long as ad and third-party sales are up.

Walmart's e-commerce chief is trying to curate an experience for customers, whether they're physical or digital. So, get ready for an engaging way to browse, scroll, and buy, and scroll, and buy, and scroll, and buy...

Apple's AirPods Case Goes High-Tech with Built-In Touchscreen, Making Your Old Case Look Like a Potato

Apple is reportedly developing a new AirPods case that features an interactive touchscreen display. The futuristic design, filed by Apple in September 2021 and recently published by the US Patent and Trademark Office, will allow users to control audio sources and interact with apps associated with the connected device.

The patent shows various images of AirPods with a touchscreen on the case's front, which Apple believes will reduce the deficiencies associated with user control of wireless headphones. In addition to controlling audio playback, adjusting volume, and invoking Siri through specific gestures, the patent suggests that the case could provide interactive access to iPhone apps including Phone, Mail, Messages, Camera, Calendar, Weather, Maps, and more.

While it's uncertain whether this technology will make it into an actual product, we're excited to see what other futuristic features Apple has in store for its AirPods.

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