Close Menu
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram LinkedIn
    SnapMunk
    • Startups
    • Crowdfunding
    • Industry Insights
    • Startup Directory
    • Newsletters
    SnapMunk
    Home»Industry Insights»Weekly Snapshot: Tech News To Know May 9-13
    weekly tech news from SnapMunk
    Industry Insights

    Weekly Snapshot: Tech News To Know May 9-13

    Stephen AltroggeBy Stephen AltroggeMay 13, 2016Updated:December 18, 20166 Comments3 Mins Read
    Share
    Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email

    Believe it or not, we don’t cover every piece of tech news here at SnapMunk. In an effort to keep you apprised of all things relevant in the world of technology and startups, here are some noteworthy tech news items that didn’t get a full column this week but certainly deserve a glance.

    Teen May Or May Not Have Discovered Lost Mayan City

    The Internet was in an uproar this week when a teen boy claimed to have found a lost Mayan city, and then backed his claim up using satellite images from Google Earth. The teen claimed to have found the city by matching the locations of stars to existing Mayan cities, and then extrapolating possible additional locations. Experts, as it is often their wont, are dismissing the claim, saying the discovery is a fake. I would say, “You be the judge,” but you can’t unless you happen to live in the jungles of Mexico.

    lost Mayan cities discovered by teenage boy
    Image via Google Earth

    Senate GOP Launches Inquiry Into Facebook News

    The US Senate Commerce Committee sent a letter to Mark Zuckerberg asking him to answer questions regarding Facebook’s trending news section. This letter was sent after a former Facebook news curator alleged that the company routinely suppressed subjects that would be of interest to conservatives. I’m sure that if Donald Trump becomes president, he will force Facebook to do what he wants.

    Mark Zuckerberg of Facebook

    Amazon Launches Its Version Of YouTube

    Amazon recently launched Video Direct, a service which will allow creators to upload videos and then receive royalties for said videos. Viewers can rent and buy content or watch it for free with advertisements. An ad free version will be available to Amazon Prime subscribers. It will be fascinating to see whether Amazon can truly distinguish itself in any way from YouTube, or whether this service will be a flop…like their cell phone was.

    Amazon Video Direct home page, an alternative to YouTube
    Image via BBC.com

    Google Changes Some Links To Black Instead Of Blue

    In a rather odd move, Google experimented with giving some users black hyperlinks instead of the traditional blue. A Google spokesperson said, “We’re always running many small scale experiments with the design of the results page.” The reaction has not been positive, with just about everyone pleading with Google to restore the standard blue links.

    Twitter reaction to Google search returning black links instead of blue

    Renaissance Festival Actor Spears Drone Out Of The Sky

    These are some hard core nerds. At a Renaissance festival in Russia, one of the actors noticed a drone buzzing overhead. So he did what any normal person would do in those circumstances: he whipped out a spear and threw it at the drone, knocking it out of the sky. Don’t mess with these people. They take their cosplay/reenacting/nerdery very seriously.

    Google Designs Working Women Emojis

    Apparently people feel that the current emojis available on computers and smartphones are sexist, because they only show women doing things like dancing and cutting hair and smiling. So Google has stepped in, designing a series of emojis showing women doing things like wearing scrubs and singing at a rock concert. Is this really an issue? Are women really upset due to insufficient emoji representation? I suppose I could be way out of touch with society, but this just feels profoundly stupid.

    working women emojis from Google

    Did we miss anything? Let us know in the comments!

    Stephen Altrogge
    • Website

    AUTHOR, SnapMunk Stephen Altrogge is a freelance writer based in Tallahassee, Florida. He writes about tech, marketing, faith, and lots of other things. He’s married to Jen and has three young girls. Every day he consumes more coffee than the entire population of Colombia. He knows more about Star Wars than any respectable man should, and he runs more than any sane man would. He once attempted to eat a 2 pound hamburger in under an hour. He failed.

    Related Posts

    Why the Last, Shittiest Ever Black Mirror Episode Is Definitely Its Best Ever Episode

    June 13, 2019

    Apple September 2018 Event: iPhone XS, XS Max, and More

    September 13, 2018

    Apple September 2018 Event: What’s in Store

    September 11, 2018

    A Search Engine Is Trying to Save the Planet and It’s Not Google: An Interview with Ecosia’s CEO

    April 16, 2018
    TOP POSTS

    Beyond Bonjour: Mastering Languages for a World Without Borders

    March 26, 2024

    Speak Like a Boss: Mastering Languages for Startup Success

    March 26, 2024

    Save Money While Going Green With Arcadia Power

    July 25, 2019

    3 Compelling Reasons Why Your Tech Startup Needs A .TECH Domain

    June 21, 2019

    Subscribe to Updates

    Get the latest creative news from FooBar about art, design and business.

    SnapMunk is dedicated to providing readers with all things interesting, exciting and entertaining in the world of tech news, startup companies and startup culture.

    We're social. Connect with us:

    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram LinkedIn
    TOP INSIGHTS

    Beyond Bonjour: Mastering Languages for a World Without Borders

    March 26, 2024

    Speak Like a Boss: Mastering Languages for Startup Success

    March 26, 2024

    Save Money While Going Green With Arcadia Power

    July 25, 2019
    GET INFORMED

    Subscribe to Updates

    Get the latest creative news from FooBar about art, design and business.

    Facebook X (Twitter) LinkedIn Instagram
    • Home
    • Startups
    • Crowdfunding
    • Industry Insights
    • Startup Directory
    © 2025 SnapMunk. Designed by SnapMunk.

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.