China’s LeEco came out swinging with a press conference that felt more like new tech announcements.
The Hustle
Thurs, Oct 20
It’s pronounced LAY-EEco
We’ve talked about LeEco a couple times at this point. To recap, they’re a Chinese-version of LeNetflix that bought the LeTV manufacturer, Vizio, makes their own LeCell phones, and also somehow finds the time to create a LeSelf-driving car.
The company’s goal, it seems, is to sell everything, and they’ve somehow managed to fly quietly under the international radar… until now.
Yesterday, in a monster press event in San Francisco, LeEco absolutely unloaded with new product announcements that made Apple’s and Google’s semi-annual announcements look childish.
Here’s a rundown of what they’re releasing
The Le Pro3 and Le S3 smartphones, which both cost under $400 and look/feel pretty much the same as Google’s new Pixel.
A Gear VR competitor, the ExploreVR, so you can strap a phone 3 inches from your face and feel like you’re a bird or something.
Le Syvrac, basically an Android phone in the shape of a bicycle that has 30 speeds, built in lighting, fingerprint scanner, alarm, location tracker, and 4-inch touchscreen in the middle of the handlebars. The perfect way to get hit by a car while commuting to work.
The uMax85, a 7-foot TV that costs $5,000 and 3 other (smaller) sizes that are packed with LeEco’s own smart-TV apps, Android TV, and Google Cast along with a set-top box which does the same thing as Apple TV but only costs $80.
A video streaming platform, LeEco Live, to rival Netflix, Hulu, HBO, Amazon, etc. They partnered with a bunch of content creators and it doesn’t look like they’re making their own original stuff.
LeMall, an all-inclusive e-commerce destination featuring, among other things, EcoPass aka. Amazon Prime minus the 2-day shipping. Stuff like video streaming, 5 terabytes of LeCloud Storage (what they actually call it), an extended hardware warranty, and exclusive discounts.
The LeSEE Pro self-driving car concept that won’t be sold anytime soon but is already featured in Transformers 5. In fact, they couldn’t show the actual car because director Michael Bay had it in London for filming. “It’s a real bummer,” said LeEco’s chairman Jia Yueting. The real bummer is that somehow Michael Bay made it in the presentation without dramatic camera angles, punchy one-liners, and explosions.
Phew, still with us?
It’s a lot to take in, but here’s the bottom line: LeEco is trying to build yet another ecosystem that consumers probably don’t want.
In just a matter of hours, they inserted themselves into the same conversations as Apple, Google, and Amazon when it comes to all types of hardware and software products you use every day.
Kind of like Transformers 5, it’s 100% not something we need, but with enough cash and an insane amount of ambition, maybe it’ll at least be entertaining.
Just don’t expect us to get on board that bike anytime soon.
LeSigh…
When it rains, it pours
Sticking with outlandish curtain reveals, the ultimate showman himself, Tesla and Musk-master Elon announced yesterday that all of the new cars they produce will have the necessary hardware for “full self-driving capabilities.”
That means 8 cameras with 360-degree viewing and 12 ultrasonic sensors for detecting both hard and soft objects (aka. your garage wall and grandma).
Aren’t we still years away from full autonomy?
Yes, but this opens the door for Tesla’s patented “over-the-air” software updates that can unlock car functionality without having to go see Larry at the chop shop down the street.
All of the cameras and sensors that make up the “Tesla Neural Net” will be built into the cars meaning they won’t stick out like GoPros on motorcycle helmets.
We reached out to Musk for comment on potential issues with state and federal regulations but all he wanted to talk about was the new Guardians of the Galaxy trailer. Classic.
*Clearly not true
Salesforce uses Glassdoor like you use Yelp
When you’re deciding on a restaurant for dinner, you’ll consult Yelp, right? Browse some reviews, peep some photos, check the dessert menu for pecan pie usually (seals the deal).
Well, turns out Salesforce uses Glassdoor in a similar way when deciding whether or not to acquire a company.
Tell me more…
This information came to light thanks to a presentation contained in leaked emails from Salesforce board member Colin Powell — yes, that Colin Powell.
Included in the presentation were slides referring to 4 acquisition targets: LinkedIn, ServiceNow, Tableau, and Demandware.
One slide evaluating Demandware (cloud-based e-commerce platform) was headlined, “Positive Glassdoor ratings show strong CEO approval” and cited a 95% approval rating of CEO Thomas Ebling on the site.
Salesforce ended up acquiring Demandware for $2.8B, its largest deal ever.
As for ServiceNow (another cloud-computing company), one slide read, “Below average Glassdoor rankings,” referring to the fact that only 65% of employees said they’d recommend working at the company to a friend.
ServiceNow remains an independent company.
Key Lime is good, too
Nintendo’s new console is almost here
Just this morning, Nintendo finally revealed details about its newest gaming system, the Nintendo Switch. Here’s a great video previewing the console, which will debut in March 2017.
Can you give me the lowdown?
Yeah, we got you. So basically, the Switch is both a home console and a portable machine. Kind of like if you had a Nintendo 64 and a Game Boy all-in-one.
The system comprises of a dock, a tablet, and removable controllers. There’s even a little kickstand for playing while, say, on an airplane.
Why this makes sense for Nintendo
In the past, Nintendo dominated the home console market and the portable gaming market. But these days, it’s taken a backseat in both, as Sony and Microsoft took over basements and smartphones took over bus rides.
Will the Switch help them get back to #1 in either market? No, probably not. But it does make them relevant in both, simultaneously. Which, at the end of the day, is a win… unless this thing sucks, of course.
I miss Zelda…
Introducing Hassan Ali
The Onion is, without question, one of our favorite websites on the internet. Their satirical take on news is so refreshing in this digital age, especially when it comes to the often insane world of technology.
But did you know that The Onion is also prolific at creating sponsored content for brands? Well, they are. And the guy in charge of it all — The Onion’s VP of Marketing, Hassan Ali — is speaking at Con Con on Friday, November 4th.
We sat down for a brief interview with the man, himself, to learn a little more about his role and what he’ll be talking about at the event. Check it out! Then buy a ticket.
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