Crypto Insider

2023-03-19 21:00:35 Microsoft dips Teams in the metaverse vat with avatars ahead

Microsoft Teams users are getting more ways to express themselves to other participants on those increasingly frequent video calls. Redmond is continuing to add features that enable users to change the look of their environments during video meetings, from blurring the background to putting shots of scenic vistas behind them.

Teams users now are getting more filters to add colorful animation to the screen or change the hue of the video. The visual effects filters, which were put into public preview in January, are being made generally available this month. And for those who just want to turn off the camera and get off the screen during video conferences, Microsoft starting in May will be rolling out 3D avatars that will give other participants something else to look at instead. Открыть/Комментировать

2023-03-19 14:00:41 Solana-based NFT website Formfunction to shut down on March 29

Formfunction, an NFT marketplace platform on Solana, will shut down its website on March 29, about a year after the project raised $4.7 million in a seed funding round. Creators on the platform have been advised to delist their items before March 29. Formfunction launched in February 2022 to support “one of one” NFT creators on Solana. Formfunction said it has supported more than 4,000 creators on its platform and that 60% of them had made at least one sale, with over 600 earning at least $1,000. The website added that 70 creators had earned more than $10,000 each during its run. Despite these successes and the $4.7 million fundraising, Formfunction is shutting down. The March 15 announcement did not give reasons for ending the project, but called the decision “extremely difficult.” Formfunction CEO Katherine Liu thanked team members for their efforts in a statement issued on Wednesday. Открыть/Комментировать

2023-03-18 21:00:37 YouTubers who promoted FTX are being sued in a class-action lawsuit, claiming $1B in damages.

According to LegalEagle on Twitter, “this is a cut and paste job of the lawsuit against Tom Brady. Literally the same lawyers, plaintiffs, and claims.” Открыть/Комментировать

2023-03-18 14:00:46 Microsoft dips Teams in the metaverse vat with avatars ahead

Microsoft Teams users are getting more ways to express themselves to other participants on those increasingly frequent video calls. Redmond is continuing to add features that enable users to change the look of their environments during video meetings, from blurring the background to putting shots of scenic vistas behind them. Teams users now are getting more filters to add colorful animation to the screen or change the hue of the video. The visual effects filters, which were put into public preview in January, are being made generally available this month. And for those who just want to turn off the camera and get off the screen during video conferences, Microsoft starting in May will be rolling out 3D avatars that will give other participants something else to look at instead. Video conferencing was already on the rise, but the COVID-19 pandemic almost overnight ramped demand. Открыть/Комментировать

2023-03-17 22:01:32 Metalink has announced the launch of its mobile app – available now in the App Store

They are aiming to create the first mobile platform enabling NFT collectors to communicate via gated chats; track real-time portfolio valuations; aggregate announcements; and eventually buy, sell and swap assets in a single app.

“Our vision is for Metalink to be the one place for NFT collectors to Talk, Track and Transact NFTs,” said Metalink CEO, Jakeu Dell. “No more communicating through web2 messaging apps and separately buying and selling through several different marketplaces. We’re excited about our ‘Talk’ and ‘Track’ features and working hard to make transactions a reality soon.”

The app features novel and secure NFT chat rooms, NFT portfolio management suite, announcement aggregation – and more. Открыть/Комментировать

2023-03-17 14:00:45 Meta Cuts 10,000 More Workers After Scrapping NFT Plans

Meta’s workforce ballooned in recent years as the Facebook parent company signaled its ambitions for the metaverse—but recent moves suggest that it is feeling the sting of changing tech trends and rough market conditions. The company today announced another round of layoffs, one day after saying that it was “winding down” support for NFTs. Co-founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg wrote in a post today that Meta will shed about 10,000 further employees in the months ahead across multiple waves, as well as close about 5,000 current listings for open positions. The moves will affect its recruiting department this week, its tech groups in April, and business groups in May. Meta previously laid off about 11,000 employees in November, representing about 13% of its workforce at the time, per CNBC. As of December 31, 2022, Meta reported having a headcount of 86,482 people across all divisions —a 20% jump from the year prior. Открыть/Комментировать

2023-03-16 21:00:42 Google has announced a suite of upcoming generative AI features for its Workspace apps, including Google Docs and Gmail.

You will soon be able to generate, summarize, and brainstorm text with AI in Google Docs.

You will have the option to generate full emails in Gmail based on brief bullet points, and the ability to produce AI imagery, audio, and video to illustrate presentations in Slides.

You will also be able to generate new backgrounds and capture notes in Meet, and enable workflows for getting things done in Chat.

These features will begin rolling out to a selection of US-based users this month and is another step forward in Google’s plans to not only catch up to, but dethrone Microsoft as the leader in the Generative AI race. Открыть/Комментировать

2023-03-16 14:00:49 ITV Studios takes Thunderbirds into the metaverse

ITV Studios has teamed up with web3 firm Reality+ to take the TV series Thunderbirds into the metaverse. The British science fiction series that showcased characters such as Lady Penelope, Brains, and Jeff Tracy is to be rebooted within The Sandbox metaverse. Tracy Island, the famous top secret international rescue headquarters from Thunderbirds. Using a VR headset to enter the metaverse, players will be greeted by their favourite Thunderbirds characters and be able to go on quests around Tracy Island. Labelled the Tracy Island Sandbox Experience, the event will consist of 15 quests and mini-games. Users will have access to Thunderbirds NFTs, or non-fungible tokens and will be able to visit a digital artwork gallery in the Thunderbird 2 hangar, including an exhibition curated by Lady Penelope herself. Reality+ co-founder Tony Pearce said it was a "tremendous honour to be working with ITV Studios. Открыть/Комментировать

2023-03-15 21:00:38 Bitcoin surged almost 20% today as the Nasdaq bank index is down almost 8%.

The global crypto market cap is now healthily above $1T, increasing over 10% in the last 24 hours. Открыть/Комментировать

2023-03-15 14:00:44 ITV Studios takes Thunderbirds into The Sandbox metaverse

ITV Studios and Reality+ have joined together to launch the Tracy Island Sandbox Metaverse Experience. The time-limited Tracy Island event in The Sandbox Metaverse will run for two weeks from today to give fans the opportunity to join forces with their favourite Thunderbirds characters to take on quests in and around the famous top secret International Rescue HQ. The Tracy Island Sandbox Experience consists of 15 quests and mini-games with a plethora of Easter eggs and information about the original TV series. Leveraging the benefits of Web3, fans can also browse the various digital collectibles, including a gallery takeover in the Thunderbird 2 hangar, and a special voxel exhibition curated by Lady Penelope. Reality+ co-founder Tony Pearce said: “It’s a tremendous honour to be working with ITV Studios, not only to help them push the boundaries of what’s possible in the world of Web3 entertainment. Открыть/Комментировать