Apple HomeView, AI Shopping and a Mars Rover Record, in Context

Apple opens smart-display preorders, Shopify widens access for shopping agents, and NASA reports a driving milestone on Mars. Three developments, with a practical view of what each means.

Apple opens preorders for its HomeView smart display

Ars Technica reports that Apple opened HomeView preorders on October 13. The seven-inch display and speaker is intended to give up to six family members access to Apple's devices and apps. It can control connected home equipment through voice commands and show up to nine video feeds. Its generative AI version of Siri remains in beta.

Shopify expands access for AI shopping agents

The Verge reports that Shopify announced wider access to its product catalog for AI agents on October 13. Shoppers will be able to configure agents to buy on their behalf, without the partnership integration previously used for Meta's Muse. The report says the catalog contains more than a billion listings, including products outside Shopify storefronts.

Perseverance passes Opportunity's driving distance on Mars

NASA's newly published images document Perseverance passing Opportunity's total driving distance during an October 11 drive. Opportunity covered 45.16 kilometers across its mission; Perseverance moved beyond that milestone during a 91.31-meter journey. Another image shows the mission team with OPTIMISM, the full-scale engineering model used to plan driving routes and science activities on Mars.

Which of these developments would you most like to explore?