In a recent series of tweets, Elon Musk announced that Twitter would be rebranded as “X” and that the company’s iconic bird logo and name would be replaced. Musk later emailed staff, stating that the change to “X” was official and that his email would be the last he sent from a Twitter email address. These changes have now been implemented, with Twitter’s own account displaying the new “X” branding. The company has also quickly updated its branding elsewhere, with Twitter employees receiving an “X” tag next to their blue checkmarks, and the “X” logo being projected onto a building.
Interestingly, this isn’t the first time Musk has used the letter “X” in his ventures. In 1999, Musk co-founded an online bank called X.com, which eventually became PayPal and was later acquired by eBay. He has also recently announced his AI venture, xAI, and Twitter’s holding company was renamed to X Corp in April. Musk has expressed that he believes the rebranding to “X” will help transform Twitter into an “everything app,” further expanding the platform’s capabilities beyond its current functions.
There are still some elements of Twitter that need to be rebranded to fit the new “X” identity. Terms such as subtweets, retweets, and fail whales will likely require a rethink and reimagining to align with the new branding.
In other news, Engadget highlights several stories that you might have missed. These include the arrival of ChatGPT’s Android app in the last week of July, the announcement that the second season of “Star Trek: Strange New Worlds” will include a musical episode, a review of the film “Oppenheimer” which explores the life of J. Robert Oppenheimer, Engadget’s favorite backpacks for school, work, and travel, and a preview of what to expect from the Summer Samsung Unpacked event on July 26th.
The podcast “They Cloned Tyrone” is also a topic of discussion. The host speaks with the director and writers of the Netflix film, exploring its themes and creative process. Additionally, there is an intriguing chat about an AI technology developed by The Simulation that can generate TV episodes, movies, and more. The company’s CEO, Edward Saatchi, discusses the potential implications of this technology for creatives and the entertainment industry. The episode also touches on the concept of AI-powered immortality.
In a rather humorous turn of events, Redditors successfully trolled an AI content farm called The Portal by convincing them to cover a fake World of Warcraft feature called Glorbo. The Portal, which publishes gaming content powered by Z League, had been rewriting subreddit discussions into blog posts. Redditor u/kaefer_kriegerin decided to test the content farm’s authenticity by submitting a fake WoW feature, and The Portal fell for it. They even quoted u/kaefer_kriegerin’s faux enthusiasm for Glorbo, stating how happy it made them and hoping that major bot-operated news websites would cover the story.
Lastly, Engadget discusses the best VPN for gaming and streaming purposes. ExpressVPN stands out as a reliable and high-performing option. It not only provides fast internet speeds but also allows easy access to geo-blocked content, making it a popular choice for users looking to enjoy uninterrupted streaming and gaming experiences.
In conclusion, Elon Musk’s announcement of Twitter’s rebranding as “X” has been implemented, and the platform’s new branding can now be seen across various channels. Engadget also highlights several news stories, including the arrival of ChatGPT’s Android app, the second season of “Star Trek: Strange New Worlds” featuring a musical episode, and the successful trolling of an AI content farm by Redditors. Additionally, there is a podcast discussing the AI-powered technology used in the creation of TV episodes and movies, and a review of a VPN service that excels in gaming and streaming.
