Digital Trends Live: Google Maps update, Apple Watch sales, and more

By Todd Werkhoven Published April 25, 2023

On this episode of Digital Trends Live, hosts Greg Nibler and Ryan Waniata discuss the biggest-trending stories in tech, including a major update to Google Maps, Apple Watch sales outpacing the Swiss watch industry, neural network 4K upscaling, rocket talk, and more.

We then turn to the world of gaming, where Lisa Marie Segarra, DT’s gaming editor, joins us from our New York studios to talk about the effects of the coronavirus on Nintendo Switch production. She also discusses the 20th anniversary of The Sims.

Vlad Panchenko

Next up, Vlad Panchenko, founder and chief executive officer of DMarket, talks about how to make gaming profitable for players and developers, and how allowing third-party skins has opened up a multibillion dollar industry.

Luke Larsen later joins Nibler to discuss rethinking Windows in the PC ecosystem, and how Panos Panay has taken over Windows and Surface to make Windows exciting again.

Dr. Hesaam Esfandyarpour

Nibler then welcomes Dr. Hesaam Esfandyarpour, founder and CEO of GenapSys, about how to make gene sequencing more affordable, and how GenapSys is 100 times smaller and more affordable than current systems.

Winnie Sun

Winnie Sun, managing partner at Sun Group Wealth Partners, also joins the program to discuss financial planning for a longer retirement.

It’s then time for Reel News, where Erin Keeney joins Nibler to talk all about the Oscars, the nomination process, who gets to vote, and the snubs and favorites.

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Todd Werkhoven's work can be read at numerous publications and he co-authored a personal finance book called "Zombie…

Topics

Wearables

XREAL’s $299 AR glasses are finally here, and they could be a great travel companion

These AR glasses give you a 147-inch virtual display you can carry around in your pocket

X by XREAL with different front frames

XREAL announced its lower-cost xbx sub-brand earlier this year, and its first product is now available in the U.S. The xbx a01+ costs $299 through XREAL’s online store, putting it below the company’s more expensive AR glasses.

The a01+ is mainly built for watching videos, playing games, or using a laptop on a large virtual screen. It connects to compatible phones, handheld consoles, and computers over USB-C, so it works more like a wearable display than a standalone headset.

Wearables

I took this Oppo smartwatch swimming, and it tracked everything except my excuses

The Oppo Watch X3 caught every lap, stroke, and my poolside talking breaks

Wristwatch, Arm, Body Part

I recently covered a report suggesting that people who use fitness trackers and smartphone apps tend to stay more physically active. While my experience sits far outside the scope of that study that involved cardiovascular disease, I now understand how a wearable can turn an ordinary workout into something you want to repeat.

I have been trying to get back into swimming, and the Oppo Watch X3 arrived at the perfect time.

Wearables

Your dog can run, but Fi’s new Starlink satellite-backed tracker makes sure you can still find them

Fi Ultra borrows Starlink satellites to find pups that wander off the grid

Fi Ultra dog tracker

A runaway pup can race into a forest or across miles of open countryside, leaving its owner with a GPS tracker that suddenly has no way to report its location. But Fi is looking to solve that problem with the Fi Ultra, which is a new dog tracker that falls back on SpaceX’s Starlink network whenever cellular coverage disappears. The company describes it as the first dog tracker powered by T-Mobile’s T-Satellite with Starlink service. It is available now in the US for $199, plus a $20 activation fee and a $189 annual membership.

Your dog just got a satellite connection