Month: August 2022

Enlarge (credit: SOPA Images via Getty)

Amazon is closing its telehealth service, Amazon Care, ending an ambitious plan to roll out its homegrown platform to “millions” of patients around the country, part of a long-stated goal of disrupting the US health care industry.

A memo sent to Amazon Care staff on Wednesday by Neil Lindsay, head of Amazon Health Services, said Amazon Care—which promised a doctor, nurse, or other health practitioner on demand, 24 hours a day—was not the right “long-term solution” for the external companies to which it had hoped to sell the service.

“This decision wasn’t made lightly and only became clear after many months of careful consideration,” Lindsay wrote, according to the memo seen by the Financial Times.

Enlarge (credit: SOPA Images via Getty)

Amazon is closing its telehealth service, Amazon Care, ending an ambitious plan to roll out its homegrown platform to “millions” of patients around the country, part of a long-stated goal of disrupting the US health care industry.

A memo sent to Amazon Care staff on Wednesday by Neil Lindsay, head of Amazon Health Services, said Amazon Care—which promised a doctor, nurse, or other health practitioner on demand, 24 hours a day—was not the right “long-term solution” for the external companies to which it had hoped to sell the service.

“This decision wasn’t made lightly and only became clear after many months of careful consideration,” Lindsay wrote, according to the memo seen by the Financial Times.

Enlarge / Wanna buy one of these in many parts of the world? Starting today, that's gonna cost you a little bit more. (credit: Sam Machkovech)

In the early hours of Thursday morning, Sony announced massive news for its PlayStation 5 console family. Around the world, console prices are going up.

The price hike for both models of PlayStation 5 (one with a disc drive, one without) is effective immediately in at least six regions, with Japan joining the price-hike fray on September 15. Sony's announcement lists specific price increases for some of its biggest gaming territories, yet it additionally warns that "select markets" may see their own price hikes in the coming days. These include territories in the Asia-Pacific region, Central and South America, and the massive cluster of nations that comprises the EMEA (Europe, the Middle East, and Africa).

Somehow, one particular region is out of Sony's price-hike crosshairs for now: the United States.

Enlarge (credit: HP)

HP announced a 31.5-inch monitor today at its Amplify partner conference that's aimed at workers with data-heavy setups and strong image quality needs. The 4K resolution HP Z32k G3 claims to be the first monitor to use an IPS Black panel along with a Thunderbolt 4 USB-C port.

Dell was the first to use IPS Black, tapping the LG Display tech for 27-inch and 31.5-inch USB-C UltraSharp monitors. IPS Black is a type of IPS panel that's supposed to double the typical contrast ratio of traditional IPS by delivering darker black levels. LG Display claimed that IPS Black's black levels are "35 percent deeper than existing IPS products."

HP's Z32k G3 claims a 2,000:1 contrast ratio, compared to the standard IPS monitor, which is typically around 1,000:1, with premium IPS examples reaching around 1,300:1. Assuming HP's shared an accurate figure, it's worth noting that the spec doesn't match a strong VA monitor or, compared to contrast afforded by displays with more expensive backlighting technology, Mini LED or OLED.

Enlarge / One camera's on the user; the other's facing the desktop. (credit: HP)

Companies haven't paid all-in-one (AIO) PCs a lot of love lately. Exciting AIO releases in the US are few and far between, and ever since Apple discontinued the 27-inch iMac, there has been somewhat of a gap for users seeking the simplicity of an AIO, along with ultra-high resolution and strong components. HP has apparently noticed that gap because in September, it will release a 34-inch AIO with 5120×2160 resolution, current-generation Intel and Nvidia parts, and flashy features aimed at workers.

Magnetic webcam(s)

A webcam that can magnetically attach to anywhere on the display's bezel is one of the hallmark features of HP's 34-inch all-in-one Desktop PC announced today at HP's Amplify channel partner conference.

The cameras use temporal noise reduction when producing an image, and there's Windows Hello support for facial recognition logins. (credit: HP)

This is similar to a magnetic webcam concept Dell showed us in December, but the camera isn't wireless and can't attach directly to the display. The AIO also supports up to two of these magnetic cameras; they would use pixel binning for 4 MP per still or video image, according to HP.