Ubergizmo

Xiaomi’s Mi Band 6 Could Come With A Blood Oxygen Monitor

Mon, 25 Jan 2021 10:09:08 GMT

The Xiaomi Mi Band is a very basic fitness device. It measures your heart rate, it tracks your steps, calories, and so on. It’s as simple as it gets and that’s not a bad thing, especially when you consider its price. However, according to the latest rumors, it seems that the next-gen Mi Band could come with a killer feature.

According to the latest rumors, it seems that the upcoming Mi Band 6 could come with blood oxygen monitoring. For those unfamiliar, blood oxygen monitoring is a useful tool to gauge your overall health and fitness levels. Apple recently introduced it to their latest Apple Watch, Samsung has also introduced a similar feature, and OnePlus also brought the feature to their latest wearable.

For Xiaomi to introduce such a feature would be amazing and assuming they are able to maintain an affordable price tag, they might have a hot-ticket item on their hands. However, we expect that the device will probably cost more than the previous Mi Band due to the addition of the sensor, but hopefully Xiaomi finds a way to keep the pricing competitive.

There is currently no word on when the Mi Band 6 will be launched, so take it with a grain of salt and we’ll be keeping our eyes peeled for more info.

Xiaomi’s Mi Band 6 Could Come With A Blood Oxygen Monitor , original content from Ubergizmo. Read our Copyrights and terms of use.

Next-Gen Samsung And Apple Smartwatches Could Measure Blood Sugar Levels

Mon, 25 Jan 2021 10:07:49 GMT

For years, it has been rumored that Apple has been trying to come up with a way to introduce a painless and bloodless method of blood sugar monitoring in the Apple Watch. It turns out that maybe this could be that year, or at least that’s what a report from Korea’s ETNews is claiming.

The report is claiming that both Apple and Samsung are set to introduce new smartwatches in 2021 that have the ability to monitor blood sugar levels in a noninvasive manner. For those unfamiliar with the process, blood sugar monitoring usually involves the pricking of one’s finger to draw a sample of blood, which can then be read by a device.

This is critical for patients with diabetes who need to ensure that their blood sugar levels don’t get too high or too low. By creating a noninvasive way of monitoring, it could be useful as it is more efficient since monitoring can be done throughout the day without the user having to bring a blood sugar monitoring kit around, which might not be very convenient or sanitary.

What’s interesting is that earlier this month during CES, we came across a device by a Japanese company that claims to be capable of doing just that. We’re not sure if Apple or Samsung will be using this company’s tech or if either company has come up with their own solution, but either way, we recommend that you treat this report with a healthy dose of skepticism for now.

Next-Gen Samsung And Apple Smartwatches Could Measure Blood Sugar Levels , original content from Ubergizmo. Read our Copyrights and terms of use.

5G Capable MacBook In The Works, But Don’t Expect To See It So Soon

Mon, 25 Jan 2021 10:06:49 GMT

With our smartphones and tablets being able to connect to the internet using cellular connectivity, we actually have to wonder why such a feature isn’t as widely-available in laptops. There are cellular-capable laptops, but oddly enough, they aren’t as common as one might think even though the benefits of such devices are pretty obvious.

That being said, the good news for Apple fans is that it looks like such a device could be coming in the future. This is based on a Bloomberg report which claims that Apple is apparently developing a MacBook with support for 5G. However, the report notes that such a laptop won’t be arriving anytime soon.

It is unclear why that might be the case, but if it is true, it is still somewhat good news to know that a future MacBook could support 5G connectivity. Given how fast 5G speeds are, it might actually make it more appealing. However, it is possible that maybe given that 5G isn’t quite as widespread yet, plus there are also two different forms of 5G, maybe Apple is hoping for the tech to “settle down” first before introducing a 5G capable laptop.

The report had also previously claimed that Apple had developed Face ID for the iMac, but they apparently scrapped their plans to include it in the rumored upcoming redesign and will be saving it for a future model instead.

5G Capable MacBook In The Works, But Don’t Expect To See It So Soon , original content from Ubergizmo. Read our Copyrights and terms of use.

Apple Advises Against Putting The iPhone 12 Too Close To Pacemakers

Mon, 25 Jan 2021 00:38:35 GMT

A couple of weeks ago, it was reported that a study had suggested that Apple’s iPhone 12 with the addition of the MagSafe magnets had the potential to interfere with medical implants such as pacemakers. The company had previously had a support document in which it was suggested that MagSafe is not expected to “pose a greater risk of interference”.

However, it seems that Apple might have had a change of heart (pun intended) because according to MacRumors, Apple has since updated its support document in which they caution that MagSafe could have the potential to interfere with implanted medical devices like pacemakers and defibrillators.

According to the updated document, “Medical devices such as implanted pacemakers and defibrillators might contain sensors that respond to magnets and radios when in close contact. To avoid any potential interactions with these devices, keep your iPhone and MagSafe accessories a safe distance away from your device (more than 6 inches / 15 cm apart or more than 12 inches / 30 cm apart if wirelessly charging). But consult with your physician and your device manufacturer for specific guidelines.”

However, at the same time it seems that while Apple does acknowledge that the iPhone 12 has more magnets compared to previous iPhone models, the company still believes that they are “not expected to pose a greater risk of magnetic interference to medical devices than prior iPhone models”.

Apple Advises Against Putting The iPhone 12 Too Close To Pacemakers , original content from Ubergizmo. Read our Copyrights and terms of use.

Microsoft Takes Aim At Apple In New Surface Pro 7 Ad

Mon, 25 Jan 2021 00:33:02 GMT

Microsoft and Apple’s rivalry dates back decades, even though Microsoft did help Apple through a tough time when Microsoft’s then-CEO, Bill Gates, bought $150 million worth of non-voting shares of Apple, and also gave them free-access to use Microsoft Office on Apple’s Mac computers.

However, rivalry is always good as it pushes companies to do better, which is what Microsoft is trying to convey in their new ad where they compare the Microsoft Surface Pro 7 against Apple’s MacBook Pro.

In the ad above, it talks about how the Surface Pro 7 comes with a stylus that can be used to draw and take notes. It also touts its full touchscreen ability, while taking a dig at the limited functionality of the MacBook Pro’s Touch Bar, although we think that this is something that Apple has quietly acknowledged as well.

They also boast about how the Surface Pro 7 is more portable thanks to its detachable keyboard, and how it is also more “powerful” and is a much better gaming device. Last but not least, they also point out how the Surface Pro 7 is currently much cheaper than the MacBook Pro. Does the company make valid points? They do, but at the end of the day, it does boil down to personal preference, although it does make for an entertaining rivalry all the same.

Microsoft Takes Aim At Apple In New Surface Pro 7 Ad , original content from Ubergizmo. Read our Copyrights and terms of use.

Netflix’s Android App Updated With ‘Studio Quality’ Audio

Mon, 25 Jan 2021 00:30:16 GMT

One of the problems with listening to audio on our smartphones is that it isn’t quite as good compared to dedicated speakers or even a proper set of headphones. This is because speakers on our smartphones are tiny and given the size of our phones, it doesn’t leave a lot of space for it to vibrate, which in turns does affect the overall sound quality.

This doesn’t mean that they are bad, smartphone speakers have come a long way since then, and it looks like Netflix will be helping improve on that front. The company has recently announced an update to its Android app where the app will now support the streaming of audio in xHE-AAC. This means that users should be able to expect much better sound quality coming from their speakers.

Netflix claims that this should bring about “studio quality” sound that is more consistent across the board, meaning that it will scale with things like your connectivity (like offer better quality when you’re connected to a fast network), loudness management that should prevent jarring volume changes, all of which should help users better understand what they’re listening to, or so they claim.

The update will require users to own an Android phone with Android 9.0 or higher. We’re not sure how big of a change this will be, but if you tend to watch Netflix on your phone more so than on your TV or computer, then perhaps this could be an improvement for you.

Netflix’s Android App Updated With ‘Studio Quality’ Audio , original content from Ubergizmo. Read our Copyrights and terms of use.

Vmed’s Smartphone Case Can Monitor Your Vital Stats

Sat, 23 Jan 2021 05:31:50 GMT

Our wearables have gotten a lot smarter and more advanced. These days, wearables like some smartwatches can measure more than just our heart rate, it can track our sleep, it can be used as an ECG monitor, and some can even measure blood oxygen levels, all of which can be used as a way of gauging our overall health.

However, what if you did not want a wearable strapped to your wrist all day? Are there alternatives? You bet there are. At the ShowStoppers event at CES 2021 earlier this month, we came across a device called Vmed which is basically a smartphone case that has the ability to measure your vital stats.

Some of the measures can be found in wearables, but it is now in the form of a smartphone case that maybe some of you can appreciate better. This includes the ability to measure blood oxygen levels, breathing rate, BRV, blood pressure, ECG, heart rate, HRV, your fatigue factor, stress index, and even your temperature.

The best part is that since this doesn’t come in a smartwatch form factor, it is less personal and you can even use it to monitor the vital stats of people around you, like family members that you’re taking care of, and so on. The case also works with an accompanying app that records the data that users can then share with their doctors on their next visit.

Vmed’s Smartphone Case Can Monitor Your Vital Stats , original content from Ubergizmo. Read our Copyrights and terms of use.

A Diablo 2 Remake Could Be Happening

Sat, 23 Jan 2021 01:59:45 GMT

Activision Blizzard recently announced that they would be folding Vicarious Visions, one of its development studios, into Blizzard, the company behind popular franchises like Warcraft and Diablo. Now it seems that one of the projects that the team will be working on is apparently a remake of Diablo 2.

We want to point out that this is not the first time we’re hearing about this. Back in May 2020, there was a report that a Diablo 2 remake was on the cards, and now this new report from Bloomberg is corroborating it, although it seems that the remake will fall under the responsibility of Blizzard’s Team 3, who is also responsible for the company’s upcoming Diablo IV.

The report also claims that prior to Vicarious Visions being folded into Blizzard, the studio was actually actively supporting Team 3’s efforts in remaking Diablo 2. The original development of the remake was under the purview of Team 1, who was behind the Warcraft III: Reforged project, but the team has since been dissolved which might explain why Diablo 2’s remake has been given over to Team 3.

That being said, back in 2019, it was revealed by Diablo’s creators that they did not think a Diablo 2 remake was possible. This is because hard drives containing a lot of the game’s source code and assets were lost, which meant that if a remake were to happen, Blizzard would essentially have to build the game from ground up.

Blizzard has not confirmed anything yet, but if it is true, then gamers have a lot of Diablo-related content to look forward to in the coming years, such as Diablo Immortal and also Diablo IV.

A Diablo 2 Remake Could Be Happening , original content from Ubergizmo. Read our Copyrights and terms of use.

Redesigned MacBook Pro Could See The Return Of The SD Card Slot

Sat, 23 Jan 2021 01:58:01 GMT

Apple’s MacBook laptop design has been kept more or less the same for several years now, and while it is a nice design, it would be good to see Apple shake things up a bit. We have been hearing rumors that a redesign could be on its way, and now a new report from Bloomberg has revealed a potential “new” feature.

The report claims that Apple will finally be bringing the SD card slot back to the MacBook Pro as part of the redesign. While we can appreciate the streamlined design of Apple’s newer MacBooks, the fact that the company removed so many ports, like the SD card slot, was kind of a bummer especially given how useful it is.

However, the report does give us some hope that the feature could be set to make its return. The last time an SD card slot was present in the MacBook Pro was back in 2016, and photographers and videographers on the move have since had to deal with USB hubs and dongles just to get the feature back.

Bloomberg’s report also corroborates an earlier report by analyst Ming-Chi Kuo who suggested that Apple could be admitting defeat on the Touch Bar as the new MacBook Pro is said to be ditching the feature.

Redesigned MacBook Pro Could See The Return Of The SD Card Slot , original content from Ubergizmo. Read our Copyrights and terms of use.

LG Could Sell Smartphone Business To Vietnamese Conglomerate

Sat, 23 Jan 2021 01:57:01 GMT

After initially denying that they would be selling off their smartphone business, it was later revealed that LG was indeed considering such a move. While there are no concrete plans yet, the company did state that this was something that they were looking into and that it was one of their options.

Now in a new report from BusinessKorea, it appears that LG might have a potential buyer for their smartphone division. The report claims that LG could be interested in selling off their smartphone business to a Vietnamese conglomerate called Vingroup. The company is pretty huge over in Vietnam where it is estimated that they account for 14% of the total market capitalization of Vietnamese listed companies.

It seems that they dabble in a wide variety of businesses, which includes hotels, real estate, distribution, construction, automobiles, and also mobile phones, which might explain why they could be interested in acquiring LG’s smartphone business, which we imagine could give them a huge boost.

In fact, Vingroup has actually been working with LG for the past few years under an ODM contract, so acquiring LG’s smartphone division could be a huge step up for them and it could also help the company break into the US market. However, like we previously stated, nothing official has been announced yet so we’ll just have to wait and see.

LG Could Sell Smartphone Business To Vietnamese Conglomerate , original content from Ubergizmo. Read our Copyrights and terms of use.

Police Track Down Kidnapped Woman Through Her Apple Watch

Sat, 23 Jan 2021 01:12:10 GMT

A lot of our mobile devices come with GPS these days. This isn’t so much that companies want to know where you are, but rather it is used for health and fitness related apps, navigation apps, and so on. The inclusion of GPS can also be a good thing, like in the case of a woman who was kidnapped but later rescued by police who used her Apple Watch to track her down.

In a report from News 4 San Antonio, police in Texas were alerted to a potential kidnapping. They received a report from a girl who said her mother was arguing with a man, Adalberto Longoria, when she heard her scream. However, she could not find her mother later and when she called, her mother answered through her Apple Watch and told her daughter that Longoria had kidnapped her.

Thanks to the use of an emergency cellular ping, police eventually track the woman and Longoria down to a Hyatt hotel parking lot where they found the woman in a car. It seems that both the woman and Longoria were arguing and Longoria had asked the woman to get her things out of his truck, but later drove away while she was still in the truck bed.

This isn’t the first time we’ve heard stories about mobile devices being used to track people down in search and rescue efforts, so while there is no doubt some concerns regarding our privacy with devices that have GPS installed, there are also some obvious benefits.

Police Track Down Kidnapped Woman Through Her Apple Watch , original content from Ubergizmo. Read our Copyrights and terms of use.

OnePlus And OPPO Have Merged Their R&D Divisions

Sat, 23 Jan 2021 01:11:01 GMT

For those following the world of smartphones, there’s a very good chance that you might have heard of OnePlus and OPPO. Both are phone companies from China, and it seems that both companies have also recently announced that their R&D divisions have merged. So don’t be surprised if moving forwards, we will start seeing more similar features across both brands.

According to a statement shared by a OnePlus spokesperson, “To better maximize resources and further position OnePlus for growth, we are in the process of further integrating some R&D capabilities within OPLUS, our long-term investor. OnePlus will continue operating independently and working to deliver the best possible user experience for existing and future OnePlus users.”

For those who are unfamiliar, both OnePlus and OPPO are essentially owned by the same parent company – BBK Electronics, who also owns other Chinese smartphone brands such as Vivo and Realme, just to name a few. So this is really just a matter of combining resources as opposed to one company absorbing another.

Both OnePlus and OPPO are still expected to operate independently of each other and will each offer their own distinct brand of Android, but hopefully the merger could mean that we can look forward to an increased effort in the development of new features for either brand.

OnePlus And OPPO Have Merged Their R&D Divisions , original content from Ubergizmo. Read our Copyrights and terms of use.

Meet The Honor View40, The Company’s First Smartphone Since Splitting From Huawei

Sat, 23 Jan 2021 01:10:07 GMT

Huawei is a brand that many of us are familiar with when it comes to smartphones, and to a certain extent, Honor as well who used to be under Huawei’s banner. However, the company has since been split off from Huawei and it looks like they wasted no time in launching their first smartphone – the Honor View40 5G.

This is the first smartphone from Honor ever since they left Huawei and it looks like they’re trying to establish themselves in their own way and want to shed the image of being a Huawei sub-brand. The View40 5G seems to be a step in the right direction where not only does it pack some impressive hardware, but it has a decent price tag to match.

The View40 5G will come with a 6.72-inch OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate and 800 nits of maximum brightness. Under the hood, the phone will be powered by MediaTek’s Dimensity 1000+ chipset with 8GB of RAM, 256GB of storage, and a 4,000mAh battery to boot. The cameras on the phone include a 50MP main camera on the back, an 8MP ultrawide, and a 2MP macro. There is also a laser module that will help with autofocusing. On the front, there will also be a 16MP shooter.

The phone, as its name implies, will also support 5G. As for pricing, the View40 will retail at $555 for the 128GB model and $618 for the 256GB model, but the company has not mentioned if there are plans to bring it to markets outside of China for now.

Meet The Honor View40, The Company’s First Smartphone Since Splitting From Huawei , original content from Ubergizmo. Read our Copyrights and terms of use.

Google Mobile Search Just Got A Brand New Design

Fri, 22 Jan 2021 18:52:54 GMT

As the way we use our smartphones changes, so does the need for websites and the user experience. This means that what used to work 5 years ago on our smartphones might not necessarily work today, which is why companies need to constantly evolve their design to keep up with the latest trends and also to ensure an optimal experience.

That being said, if you were to surf on over to Google’s mobile search page, don’t be surprised if you’re greeted with a slightly unfamiliar look. This is because Google has introduced a redesign to its mobile search page, which the company expects should begin rolling out to all of its users over the course of the next few days.

According to Google designer Aileen Cheng, “We wanted to take a step back to simplify a bit so people could find what they’re looking for faster and more easily.” Cheng adds, “Rethinking the visual design for something like Search is really complex. That’s especially true given how much Google Search has evolved. We’re not just organizing the web’s information, but all the world’s information.”

Some of the changes that we can look forward to include text that’s easier to read, where the result and section titles have been made bigger and more obvious. There is also more “breathing space” as part of the redesign process resulting in Google opting to use less shadows, thus opening up the space on the website even more. Google has also chosen to use more colors to highlight things that they think might be important.

Google Mobile Search Just Got A Brand New Design , original content from Ubergizmo. Read our Copyrights and terms of use.

Virtual Reality Helped A Husband Meet His Deceased Wife One More Time

Fri, 22 Jan 2021 18:52:08 GMT

Virtual reality has a ton of uses, most of which are games because it does seem to be a very obvious candidate for that. However, it seems that maybe the technology behind VR could also be used for other things, such as providing therapy, where it could help people who lost loved ones get some closure and move on.

In a new documentary on MBC, one of South Korea’s major broadcasting networks, it showed how the use of VR helped a husband meet his deceased wife one more time, where he also got to interact with her through VR and speak to her. According to the man, 51-year old Kim Jung Soo, he had expressed his hopes at seeing his wife again, and this experience allowed him to do just that.

The avatar of his wife was created by the MBC Design Center where they tried to recreate her movements and also her voice, where they found an actor whose voice sounded the most similar. It is a rather touching documentary and it also goes to show that VR isn’t just for games, and that it could be used for potentially holistic and therapeutic purposes as well.

If you have a minute to spare, you can check out a brief trailer of the documentary in the video above, but be warned, it gets pretty emotional!

Virtual Reality Helped A Husband Meet His Deceased Wife One More Time , original content from Ubergizmo. Read our Copyrights and terms of use.

Scientists Have Managed To Make Paralyzed Mice Walk Again

Fri, 22 Jan 2021 18:51:15 GMT

Injury to the spine often means that a person becomes paralyzed and might never walk again or regain control over their lower limbs. This is usually a permanent sort of thing, but thanks to German researchers, it seems that there could be hope that one day in the future where people with spinal cord injuries and who are paralyzed might be able to walk again.

According to researchers from Ruhr University Bochum, they have found a way to help paralyzed mice walk again. This was accomplished by stimulating the mice’s nerve cells and forcing it to regenerate through the use of a designer protein. The mice that received the treatment started walking again after 2-3 weeks.

Speaking to Reuters, the research team’s head Dietmar Fischer said, “The special thing about our study is that the protein is not only used to stimulate those nerve cells that produce it themselves, but that it is also carried further (through the brain). In this way, with a relatively small intervention, we stimulate a very large number of nerves to regenerate and that is ultimately the reason why the mice can walk again.”

Now, before we get ahead of ourselves, the researchers caution that their success so far has been on mice, and whether or not it works on larger mammals like pigs, dogs, or primates remains to be seen. Even then, it will probably take years before it can be deemed safe enough for human trials, but still, it’s progress that we like to see.

Scientists Have Managed To Make Paralyzed Mice Walk Again , original content from Ubergizmo. Read our Copyrights and terms of use.

Face ID Developed For Mac, But Won’t Be Coming Anytime Soon

Fri, 22 Jan 2021 14:06:48 GMT

When Apple brought Touch ID over to their Mac computers, many had rightfully figured that it was only a matter of time before Face ID was also introduced. After all, some of Apple’s Mac computers do come with built-in webcams, so why not fit the Face ID components under there as well, right?

Turns out, we were right, sort of. A new report from Bloomberg has revealed that Apple has apparently developed Face ID for the Mac. The report claims that Apple had originally intended for Face ID to make an appearance with the 2021 iMac (which has also been rumored for a redesign), but for whatever reason the company is now choosing to delay the launch and will skip the first iteration of the new design.

One of the technical challenges of Face ID for the Mac would be trying to place the dot projector into the camera. On the iPhone and iPad, this isn’t an issue given how “thick” the devices are, but we imagine that this could pose an issue for the MacBooks. However, the iMac seems like it would have enough space, so we can’t say for sure why Apple is delaying it.

Perhaps they are hoping to get Face ID small enough where they can fit it across all their devices, but that’s just speculation on our part. Either way, it’s still somewhat good news to know that Apple is considering the feature, so now it’s just a matter of waiting to see when it might make its debut.

Face ID Developed For Mac, But Won’t Be Coming Anytime Soon , original content from Ubergizmo. Read our Copyrights and terms of use.

‘Higher-End’ MacBook Air Could Be Launching Later This Year

Fri, 22 Jan 2021 14:05:01 GMT

We have been hearing rumors that Apple could be planning on redesigning its MacBook Pro, but what about the MacBook Air? Apart from changing up the bezels for the display, the laptop has still pretty much maintained the same design and form factor. That could change either later in the year or possibly 2022.

This is based on Mark Gurman’s report over at Bloomberg, where he claims that Apple is planning on introducing a new “higher-end” MacBook Air that will come with a brand new design. It is expected to be even thinner and lighter than the current model, and will also include features like a MagSafe charger that Apple had previously retired from its laptops in favor of USB-C.

The report also shares some tidbits on the design process, where apparently Apple did explore the idea of creating a 15-inch MacBook Air, but it seems that did not come to pass. Apple’s MacBook Airs have typically been touted as value-for-money purchases as far as Apple’s laptops are concerned.

While not necessarily cheap, they are pretty decently-specced for the price, plus the build quality means that they will last users a very long time. We’re not sure what a “higher-end” model could look like, but we’ll have to wait for either later in the year or 2022, but hopefully Apple’s redesigned MacBook Pro could give us some clues as to what we might be able to look forward to.

‘Higher-End’ MacBook Air Could Be Launching Later This Year , original content from Ubergizmo. Read our Copyrights and terms of use.

An Internet Legend Comes To An End As Tucows Downloads Will Be Shutting Down

Fri, 22 Jan 2021 14:04:02 GMT

Back in the early days of the internet when dial-up was still very much a thing, the internet wasn’t as populated as it is today. People still did not necessarily know where they needed to go to find what they needed, and search engines were certainly not as robust or as smart as they are today.

This gave rise to websites such as Tucows which became the default place you would go to if you wanted to download software from a trusted platform. That was back then, but now there are so many other venues, so much so that the company has announced that its Tucows Downloads website will be shutting down.

The company behind Tucows Downloads has shifted its strategy and focus over the years to keep up with the trends, but they always kept its original website running. However, like we said, with all the various mediums available to us, there is little reason for websites like that to exist, which is why they will be retiring it, while also transferring over software and assets to the Internet Archive to help preserve a bit of internet history.

We’re not sure how many of you guys remember Tucows from the good old days, but if you do, then it’s time to bid an internet legend farewell.

An Internet Legend Comes To An End As Tucows Downloads Will Be Shutting Down , original content from Ubergizmo. Read our Copyrights and terms of use.

Alphabet’s Project Loon Will Be Winding Things Down

Fri, 22 Jan 2021 11:26:19 GMT

About 6-7 years ago, Google launched a moonshot project called Project Loon. The idea was simple – use balloons and launch them into the sky and float them to remote places and provide those places with internet. It was a grand idea, but unfortunately it wasn’t exactly a profitable one.

This is why it doesn’t come as a surprise to learn that Alphabet (Google’s parent company) has announced that they will be shutting Project Loon down. According to the announcement, “Sadly, despite the team’s groundbreaking technical achievements over the last 9 years — doing many things previously thought impossible, like precisely navigating balloons in the stratosphere, creating a mesh network in the sky, or developing balloons that can withstand the harsh conditions of the stratosphere for more than a year — the road to commercial viability has proven much longer and riskier than hoped.”

Alphabet notes that a handful of employees will continue to remain on to help wrap things up, and that they are hoping that they will be able to find these employees roles at Alphabet’s other companies, like Google.

The good news though, is that Project Loon wasn’t completely for nothing. The company notes that some of the technology they used for Project Loon has been incorporated into Project Taara, another attempt by Alphabet to bring internet to Sub-Saharan Africa.

Alphabet’s Project Loon Will Be Winding Things Down , original content from Ubergizmo. Read our Copyrights and terms of use.