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A Starlink competitor just got a major influx of cash — and the investments are coming from some heavy hitters.

Google, AT&T, and Vodaphone just injected $200M into AST SpaceMobile, cranking up the heat on the space-based connectivity race. Let’s explore…

In today’s tech rundown:

• Google, phone carriers invest in Starlink competitor

• On-demand skin patch wirelessly releases drugs

• 7 new products

• Apple’s security-enhancing iOS upgrade

• DMA ruling allows EU users to separate FB, IG accounts

• Mr. Beast earns $250k on X video experiment

Read time: 3 minutes

TODAY’S HEADLINES

AST SPACEMOBILE

📡 Google, phone carriers invest in Starlink competitor

Image source: AST

The Rundown: Google, AT&T, and Vodafone are investing $206.5M into AST SpaceMobile, a Starlink competitor developing satellites that can connect directly to smartphones.

The details:

• Like Starlink, AST aims to provide service in hard-to-reach areas not covered by cellular networks.

• The company has a large prototype in orbit, with plans to launch 5 more satellites by March 2024 (for comparison, Starlink has 6 LTE-enabled satellites in orbit).

• Google will partner on integrating AST's service into Android devices, while AT&T and Vodafone have placed equipment orders for commercial service.

• Starlink has a deal with T-Mobile in the U.S., along with a partnership with several other carriers worldwide.

Why it matters: With backing from major tech and telecom players, AST could position itself as a thorn in Starlink’s side — though consumers worldwide likely benefit from the mass expansion of global phone connectivity set to come in the near future.

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MEDICAL TECH

💊 On-demand skin patch wirelessly releases drugs

Image source: UNC

The Rundown: Researchers at the University of North Carolina just developed a wearable skin patch that can wirelessly receive commands from a smartphone to release drugs on demand.

The details:

• The soft, thin patch contains an array of tiny microneedles loaded with different medications.

• A wireless signal triggers heating of individual microneedles, causing their gold coating to disintegrate and expose the drugs to the skin.

• Drugs are then released within 30 seconds from only targeted needles.

• In tests on mice, the patch effectively delivered the sleep hormone melatonin when triggered.

Why it matters: This smart patch could transform treatment for chronic illnesses by scheduling and delivering multiple drugs throughout the day without needing injections or frequent medication intake — with convenience and programmability that could significantly improve patients' quality of life.

NEW PRODUCTS

💰 Finagg- Free, extensive financial data (link)

📙 Meander- Feedback and career growth insights (link)

🤖 CuServly- Your business's AI-powered chatbot solution (link)

🌐 Instill- AI-driven data ETL platform for unstructured inputs (link)

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🦾 Fine Tuner- Build AI agents at scale (link)

💼 Cody- An AI assistant for business (link)

Browse the most popular tools ever featured with our tool database.

SNIPPETS

Nvidia has launched the open beta of its RTX Remix tool, enabling modders to enhance older games with advanced textures and ray tracing technology.

Apple's latest update, iOS 17.3, introduces Stolen Device Protection to enhance user data security on iPhones and iPads.

Mr. Beast shared that his video posted to X garnered $250k in revenue, though the content creator pointed to advertisers inflating numbers with ad buys.

EU users will soon be able to separate their Instagram and Facebook accounts due to new regulations from the Digital Markets Act.

VF Corp, supplier to popular brands like North Face and Vans, admits a data breach affecting 35.5 million customers without expecting financial repercussions.

Growing inventory and declining mortgage rates signal a potential recovery for the housing market in 2024.

MAGGIE, a proposed solar-powered aircraft, aims to search for water on Mars from the planet's atmosphere.

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THAT’S A WRAP

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