The Daily Crunch 08/12/16

Is it even actually possible to block ads really? The answer to that question and more in The Daily Crunch for August 12, 2016. And if you can't read this email, it's probably your transition lenses reacting too slowly, but help is on the way.

1. Facebook and AdBlock Plus begin an elegant dance

Facebook decided to say "no more" to ad blockers earlier this week, and AdBlock Plus promptly followed up with a workaround. Then FB killed said workaround, which means we're in for an age-old tale of one-upmanship between ad blocking companies, and FB, which is determined to bring people ads. FB's primary revenue driver is ads, so it makes sense they would try to fight off ad blockers, but you have to wonder how much revenue goes into keeping up with ad-blocking Joneses, vs. how much is lost by the small number of people who actually use the blockers.

2. Microsoft picks up a faster, more interactive Twitch competitor

Microsoft picked up game streaming startup Beam right quick after it launched its interactive features at Disrupt NY 2016, where it won the Startup Battlefield competition. The Seattle startup not only differentiates itself from YouTube and Twitch game streaming with features that let viewers direct the play of the streamer, but also with better streaming speed and less latency. Xbox in-house 'Let's Play' service here we come.

3. Here's to the Rogue Ones

A new trailer for Star Wars: Rogue One!! Just watch it, it's Friday and it's fantastic. And there's an appearance by a special someone you might recognize.

4. On-demand on strike

Apparently even whimsical names can't save you from organized labor action. UK on-demand food delivery startup Deliveroo is facing a strike by its couriers, following the "successful" trial and introduction of a new payment model that seems to screw delivery workers now matter how much you try to spin it (£3.75 flat rate per delivery, rather than the £7 per hour plus £1 per delivery the company launched with). No matter how much on-demand services try to avoid unionization and other labor organization tactics, they're probably going to eventually come calling.

5. Tesla gears up for Autopilot 2.0

Tesla's major revision to its Autopilot driver assistance tech is definitely right around the corner, and apparently the car maker is already fitting new vehicles with additional hardware to pave the way. A new three-camera array offers front-facing data, and new radar sensors in the car corners give a blanket view, adding to the single front-facing radar operating in current models. This hardware will still run Autopilot 1.0 for the time being, picking up valuable real-world driving data that Tesla can use to build the smarts of its next-gen system.

6. Intel's diversity turnaround is troubling

Intel is improving its minority hiring, according to its latest diversity report – but it still has work to do there, and now it also has a retention problem. Its latest report show that POC employee numbers are down overall, despite the increased hire rate, which means those hires aren't sticking around. It just goes to show that true diversity improvements at big tech firms isn't something you can fix just via hiring practices; deeper culture shifts need to happen, too.

7. In the future, everyone has super fast transition lenses

The problem with Transitions lenses is that they don't change from tinted to clear quickly enough, leaving you looking like a major creeper indoors. A new MIT technology could change that, since it involves glass for use in buildings that very quickly go from perfectly clear to opaque based on lighting conditions. It's not actually designed for eyeglasses, but I can dream.