• Cash Nut
  • Posts
  • Has Xbox lost the console wars

Has Xbox lost the console wars

Plus: Amazon's vision: An AI model for everything 

Author

Cash Nut
June 26, 2023

In Today’s Edition

  • Airbnb CEO's Fireside Chat at Figma Config

  • How to Build a High-Performing Software Engineering Team

  • Amazon's vision: An AI model for everything

  • Elon Musk outlines major upgrades before next launch of Super Heavy rocket

  • Second-gen Apple Watch Ultra coming this fall, new big iMac in early development with larger than 30-inch screen

  • Stunning - Midjourney update wows AI artists with camera-like feature

  • Has Xbox really lost the console wars?

🚀Startups Nuts

Brian Chesky offers valuable insights into how Airbnb has embraced a design-led approach, highlighting key aspects such as empowering designers, product marketing, design systems, and product release cycles. This discussion provides valuable information for understanding how Airbnb has fostered a culture of design excellence within the company.

This article provides advice on how to create an exceptional software engineering team that is highly productive and motivated. It includes tips on how to hire well, create a welcoming environment, promote collaboration, and empower team members to succeed.

🏭Business Nuts

Amazon's long-term strategy is to create a single point of entry for businesses to tap into both open-source and closed-source generative AI models. Matt Wood, vice president of product for Amazon Web Services, is leading Amazon's response to the AI war. This article features an interview with Wood where he discusses how Amazon views the AI market, the company's approach to winning the AI battle between the tech giants, the future of the internet, and more.

Elon Musk says that SpaceX needs another six weeks or so to finish implementing over a thousand changes to its Super Heavy/Starship rocket and launch pad before it will be ready for a second attempt to reach orbit. SpaceX will also need FAA clearance for the launch. The modifications include using hot staging for the stage separation system, redesigning the Raptor's hot gas manifold, and a stronger launch pad that will allow the rocket to take off at a higher throttle setting. The Super Heavy/Starship program has so far cost SpaceX over $2 billion and investment could approach $3 billion by the end of the year.

📱Tech Nuts

Apple will launch an Apple Watch Series 9 and a second-generation Apple Watch Ultra alongside the iPhone 15 lineup this fall. Updates to the Mac lineup are not expected until later this year or early 2024. Apple is working on a new 24-inch iMac and a new iMac with a screen larger than 30 inches. The iPad Pro and iPad Air will see updates in 2024. The third-generation AirPods Pro, a new Apple TV, and other smart home products are currently in early development.

Midjourney 5.2 was released on Thursday. It includes a new zoom out feature that automatically builds larger scenes around a central synthesized image. Unlike similar features on other AI models, Midjourney's zoom out feature only works on images generated within Midjourney. The Midjourney Discord server is still the official interface for the model, but there are plans to change that. Examples of images generated with Midjourney 5.2 using the zoom out feature are available in the article.

🔥Newsletter Spotlight

  • See Bay Area Times - The visual daily newsletter on business and tech. 📈 Analyzing the news with 1 visual per story - Subscribe.

  • Learn AI with AI Tool Report - They will teach you how to save time and earn more with AI - Visit

🎁Miscellaneous

Phil Spencer recently took the stand during the FTC v. Microsoft hearing to discuss Microsoft losing the console wars, competition with Sony, and Xbox's struggle to compete. Spencer's promises that Microsoft won't pull Call of Duty from PlayStation resulted in some testy exchanges with FTC's lawyer. A representative from Google also appeared at the hearing to talk about Stadia. This article takes a look at these testimonies and examines the arguments that the companies make.

💡What else are we reading and seeing?

  • How OpenAI's unique equity compensation works

  • What’s the cost of thriving in America?

  • For companies sticking with remote work, the rules are becoming clear

  • Where’s the recession we were promised?

😎Fun Fact

The term "blue chip" to describe high-quality stocks originated from the blue color of the highest-valued chips in poker games.

🐦Tweet of the Day

Enjoy The Cash Nut? Consider forwarding it to a co-worker, colleague, classmate, or whoever you think might be interested.

Keep an Eye on our Weekly newsletter, where we gonna share resources like Financial Models, AI tools, and much more.

That’s it from our side for today.