This week we dive into Air Force’s super secretive plane that was testing autonomous and unmanned space travel as well as testing a broad range of technologies. A recreational drone grounded firefighting helicopters in California causing deserved discussion on the need for more education and punishment for illegal drone use. Black Friday is already here and has quickly become a month long event for consumers and retailers.

California is gripping with power outages and wildfires, and it begs the question over concerns with using an electric grid system built on antiqued technology. By all accounts, Microsoft shocked the cloud computing world when it was announced that the Seattle-based company was awarded a $10 billion federal government contract over Amazon Web Services. Lastly, SpaceX is testing a new satellite internet service to reach half of the world’s population that has no access to an internet connection.

Google Maps is rolling out a new controversial feature that provides users locations of police traps and DUI/DWI checkpoints, something that law enforcement is not pleased with. Astronauts Dr. Jessica Meir and Ms. Christina Koch made history as they became the first all-female duo to conduct a space walk, which includes conversations with the president and live viewers. Tesla continues to make tremendous progress both in vehicle sales and notice on the roadways, but they are terrible at making money and it is catching up with them.

NASA announced a new mission to Titan, one of Saturn’s moons, in which a dual quadcopter drone will survey for organic matter and water. A blind engineer has created a smart cane that includes voice assistant, Google Maps integration, and Bluetooth syncing to assist the visually impaired. We breakdown what we know as details surface about Facebook’s own internal Supreme Court that intents to review content after reports of misuse. The NFL is bragging about streaming 4K but that is quite misleading when you read the fine print. Lastly, Google Maps had some fun with the Area 51 with a “We Click in Peace” feature.

A recent worldwide crackdown on email scheming resulted in 281 arrests, the seizing of million of dollars, and the shutdown of an organized criminal organization. McDonald’s is making news with their purchase of a voice technology company with hopes of changing the ordering systems around the world. MoviePass officially closed their doors this week after blowing through venture capital funds and creating scandals and unrest with customers. A United States transportation agency is requiring hybrid manufacturers to install car alert sounds to warn pedestrians and the visually impaired. Lastly, Amazon is coming under attack after their modified their algorithm to favor their own goods and products.

A new European association has formed between seven countries focused on providing standardized mobile payment systems for 25 million users. We visited the Space Shuttle Endeavor and other scaled space units that are on display at a science center in Los Angeles and share some thoughts on the adventure. Another Tesla driver was videoed sleeping while his vehicle continued traveling down the road using autopilot, drawing more criticism around autonomous vehicles. Several State attorney generals are moving forward with a robust antitrust investigation against Google.  Finally, John Deere has stepped up the game for lawn care with a very unique and usable application for home improvement enthusiasts.

France’s 3% digital tax has gained exceptional attention over the past few weeks and continues to make headlines as the United States and French officials find a compromise. YouTube creators and YouTube are hitting the negotiating rooms as video publishers are asking for a seat at the table in terms of moderation, monetization, and decision making. Windows has released a patch twenty years after learning of a bug in their operating system that could cause significant damage if exploited. One of the biggest stories in 2019 is the rush for the common end user of technology to purchase their own VPN service and for very good reason.

Vimeo is beginning to solidify their position as a video partner in the industry by providing resources, tools, and software for businesses to create and manage their own video strategy. Starman is back in the news as the driver of the Tesla orbital vehicle has completed its first complete orbit around the sun. The 3% digital tax the French government has levied on big tech is taking effect, yet the sellers and consumers of Amazon are now absorbing those fees. Wearable data and personal fitness trackers are all the craze, but we are learning that physicians and medical professionals are not overly thrilled about data dumping. Amazon Lockers, which most have not heard of, provide a safe and unique method for consumer goods delivery and pickup.

Big news hit this week as we learned that MoviePass deliberately changed user passwords to prevent users from using their subscription service. Surprisingly, railroad crossings are not a standard feature in navigation tools and certain safety agencies are pushing big technology to change that. Samsung announced their future headlining products will not feature a headphone jack, a major trend in the mobile market. Lastly, Google launched a new flight price guarantee program where consumers may request refunds when prices drop below what was originally paid.