Weekly news round-up: Sony launched 16K screen & Disney+ to launch in November

Sony launches 16K screen
Described as a “window to the world,” Sony has created the biggest 16K screen to be unveiled in Japan. The display has four times as many horizontal pixels as a 4K television and eight times more than a regular 1080p high definition TV. The BBC reported the detail in screen will eliminate picture blurriness but is likely to take decades to be market ready as a consumer product.  

Disney+ to launch in November
In a move to rival Netflix, Walt Disney Co will launch a new streaming service in November, according to The Wall Street Journal. Disney+ will be a direct-to-consumer service with popular series including Star Wars, High School Musical and Pixar content. Disney software developers have reportedly been instructed “to dial back other projects to make sure the service can handle millions of subscribers when it launches.”

Qualcomm unveils AI chip
Qualcomm has taken aim at Nvidia and Intel with the launch of a new chip for accelerating artificial intelligence (AI) work. According to Reuters, Qualcomm announced at an event in San Francisco it plans to begin testing its new Cloud AI 100 chip with Microsoft Corp and mass production expected to begin in 2020 as it looks to diversify beyond chips for mobile devices. 

Twitter forges 16 MENA content partnerships
Twitter has announced 16 new content partnerships spanning entertainment, sports and publishing genres in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. Broadcast Pro ME reported the new partnerships will allow Twitter to offer expanded content to connect better with audiences during relevant and engaging cultural moments.

Snap reveals gaming play 
At its first-ever Partner Summit, Snapchat unveiled Snap Games, an in-app platform that will feature original games. According to Business Insider, the social media company announced six new original and third-party games, which rolled out on the app last Thursday, among a slew of new products. 

YouTube TV adds Discovery
YouTube TV has announced that it is adding Discovery’s lineup of networks to its channel package which includes Food Network, TLC and Animal Planet. The addition is effective immediately along with a price rise for consumers, now costing $50 per month. According to The Verge the company claims that these networks have been a frequent request from customers.

Facebook pacifies EU Commission
The social media giant has admitted to its users that they are the product in a bid to keep the European Commission at bay, reported Telecoms. The EU Commissioner Vera Jourová said: “Today Facebook finally shows commitment to more transparency and straight forward language in its terms of use.” 

Deutsche Telekom criticised price of 5G
Deutsche Telekom chief executive Timotheus Höttges has criticised the amount companies will have to pay to get 5G mobile internet spectrum in Germany as the cost of total bids nears €5 billion. Reuters reported Hoettges, who spoke at a conference in Berlin, said: “This money is taken away from the customers, citizens and operators.”