Category: Big Tech!

The previous generation of the Meta VR headset, Meta Quest 2, is getting a large price drop.

The VR headset is dropping from $299 to $199. The model that will be affected is the Meta Quest 2 128 GB, which will now be the most affordable VR headset for anyone who wants a virtual experience.

Quest 2 was first released in 2020 for $299. During the inflation of 2022, there was a price jump to $399. The $199 price decrease is the lowest it has ever been since it debuted in June 2021.

“From home fitness to fully immersive gaming to 2D entertainment, Meta Quest 2 is the most affordable way to tap into everything VR has to offer, and we’re doubling down by making our recent price drop permanent,” says Meta.

The price drop shouldn’t be a surprise considering the release of Quest 3 in October. The latest generation is sold for $499, making Meta Quest 2 the most affordable VR headset.

Meta also announced that the price of Quest 2 accessories will drop. The Elite Strap is now $24.00, the Elite Strap with Battery is now sold at $45, and the Carrying Case is now $20. The company’s Active Pack is now reduced to $30, and its Fit Pack is seeing its price drop to $20.

The original Quest headset, which was released back in 2019, currently has no support, new updates, or new apps. Consumers rightfully fear this may be the beginning of the end of Quest 2.

With the release of Meta AI, Llama 3, and Ray-Ban glasses, fans of Meta hardware products are expecting the new age of virtual reality and artificial reality in all upcoming Meta products.

While the Quest 3 has more to offer, such as mixed reality support and a bump in specs, the Quest 3 is the best for its price.

Endeavor, the parent company of WME and the majority shareholder in combat sports powerhouse TKO Group (owners of UFC and WWE), is going private.

This comes after the announcement that the private equity firm Silver Lake has agreed to acquire Endeavor. The acquisition is valued at $13 billion, and shareholders in Endeavor will receive $27.50 per share.

Endeavor in October 2023 announced its “strategic review” to boost shareholder value which may include going private.

“Silver Lake believes that when consolidating all of TKO’s value into Endeavor, the combined total enterprise value of $25 billion will make this the largest private equity sponsor public-to-private investment transaction in over a decade, and the largest ever in the media and entertainment sector,” the companies said.

Formed last year, TKO Groups Holdings will remain a publicly traded company, it “will continue to benefit from its connectivity to Endeavor’s expertise, relationships, and significant capabilities,” – Endeavor and Silver Lake said.

In over 15 countries, Binance has been accused of fixing exchange rates and engaging in illegal transactions. In Nigeria, Binance has been accused of tax evasion, financing terrorist transactions, and money laundering, amongst others, even leading to the arrest of some of its officials.
Earlier this year, the government requested Binance pay $10 billion as retribution and provide the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) with comprehensive data or information on all persons from Nigeria trading on its platform.

A list of countries that have banned Binance:

1. Canada
2. China
3. Japan
4. Italy
5. Philippines
6. United States
7. Australia
8. India
9. Iran
10. Netherlands
11. Germany
12. Belgium
13. Bangladesh
14. France
15. Vietnam
16. Thailand
17. Kazakhstan
18. Malaysia
19. United Kingdom

Binance, founded in 2017 by Changpeng Zhao, is currently facing global scrutiny, including investigations by the US Department of Justice and IRS for alleged money laundering, among others.