Tech Digest daily roundup: Sony shares slump after Microsoft deal
Shares in Japanese technology giant Sony have slumped in Tokyo trade after Microsoft said it plans to buy mega games company Activision Blizzard. The deal worth $68.7bn (£50.5bn), would be Microsoft’s biggest-ever buyout and the largest deal in gaming history. It would see the US firm owning popular gaming franchises including Call of Duty, Warcraft and Overwatch. The deal would be a major step for Microsoft’s Xbox gaming brand in its battle against Sony’s PlayStation. It also comes a year after Microsoft bought another influential gaming company, Bethesda for $7.5bn. BBC
Nearly 150,000 rural homes are at risk of being “left behind” in the Government’s broadband rollout because it is too expensive to reach them with cables, MPs have warned. The Commons public accounts committee said that ministers appeared to have “no clear plan” for getting connections to the remotest communities, where installing conventional broadband is not financially viable for private companies. The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), which is heading up the rollout, has previously said it is looking at emerging technologies, such as satellites that can beam internet coverage to remote areas. However, MPs warned ministers have not yet produced any details for how such a policy would work in practice. Telegraph
Garmin has launched the Fenix 7 smartwatch, the latest model in the lineup of its best smartwatches for cycling. Building on the success of the Fenix 6, the Fenix 7 comes with all the features of its predecessor, plus increased battery life and a brand new mode that tracks your stamina. Furthermore, an additional model, the Fenix 7X, features a built-in torch providing quick-access hands-free light. The Fenix 7 marks the next generation of Garmin’s flagship model, a rugged multi-sport smartwatch that’s designed to help its wearer improve their athletic performance. The new model features a touchscreen interface with extra button controls, as well as intuitive topographical maps for off-grid navigation. Cycling News
The rollout of a new 5G service has been delayed near key US airports after the nation’s largest airlines said it would interfere with aircraft technology and cause massive flight disruptions. AT&T and Verizon, the companies set to roll out the new C-Band 5G service on Wednesday, have made the decision after the Biden administration urged them to reach an agreement with airlines worried about the impact on flights. US Airlines want the new 5G service, scheduled to come into effect on Wednesday, to be banned within two miles of airport runways. Sky News
Apple has officially removed its long-running noise cancellation feature from the iPhone 13 series. A 9to5Mac reader by the name of Steve reached out to the Apple Support team who confirmed that the feature is no longer available on the iPhone 13 line. “That is correct. It is not supported. If you would like to leave feedback about this feature, please feel free to visit: apple.com/Feedback,” the Apple Support team wrote back. “[A]fter working with Apple and a senior advisor for months saying to wait for an update to fix the issue, I got an update regarding the issue, and apparently, it won’t be fixed and noise cancelation is intentionally disabled for those devices for unspecified reasons,” Steve added. Hypebeast
