2 October 2015
At SparkOptimus, we try to highlight the most important news and background stories in digital, e-commerce and retail. Here is our selection of last week’s news:
This week was all about Volkswagen. Reportedly 11 million cars were fitted with software capable of cheating emissions tests and will be victim of being among the biggest recalls in history by a single automaker. While the automotive company is now under huge pressure to address its own “worst business crisis in its 78-year history”, it also been reported that TV makers might be ‘doing a Volkswagen’. Although, surprisingly, the online interest in used Volkswagen Diesels is heating up, the scandal is all great marketing for electronic vehicles. What about the new Tesla Model X? The 7 person SUV with back-to-the-future style automatic doors, a panoramic roof, and even a bioweapon defence mode. The last is designed to protect the driver in catastrophic conditions and deliver top air quality, which might prove useful when driving behind a Volkswagen next time…
Even though the electric car itself has met positive reviews, some were not impressed with the press conference Elon Musk held to unveil the new Tesla. There are companies that do have a reputation of well-organized launches: people just cannot seem to get enough of the iPhone, as Apple has yet again broken its personal record and sold more than 13 million iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus units three days after their launch. An astronomical amount, one might say.
On the subject of astronomy, NASA has discovered there is a good chance there is liquid water on Mars. It is kind of sad, though, that the Mars Curiosity Rover could not get what it wants so badly, as it has been deemed too dirty to approach the areas where the water might be. In other news, Tinder has found a solution for the tantalizing problem of wanting something (or actually someone) but finding it out of reach: the ‘super like’ button.