Alphabet reported third-quarter revenue of $127.6 billion, up 25 percent year on year, with Google Cloud revenue of $30.7 billion, up 103 percent. Microsoft's Azure cloud business grew 48 percent in its fiscal first quarter ended September, and it lowered its full-year capital expenditure forecast to $170 billion from $175 billion. Alphabet posted negative free cash flow of $9.07 billion as spending rose, and its shares fell about 8 to 10 percent after the results, according to reports. Microsoft shares rose more than 3 percent in after-hours trading. The results came as investors weighed how much companies spend on AI against the income it generates.
Meta has released Waddle World, an AI-powered virtual pet app, in the Philippines on iOS and Android, according to Engadget and TechCrunch. Users hatch an egg, feed and play with the pet, and write journal entries the pet answers with illustrated doodles. The game first appeared in late September and is listed as free and limited to adults. Meta has not confirmed wider availability, and it is unclear whether the app will reach the US or other markets. Meta also launched an AI fashion app, Style Sketch, in Indonesia, Singapore and Thailand, The Verge reports.
Xreal has reduced the price of its Aura smartglasses to $1,099 through the end of the year, down from the $1,279 preorder price announced last month. Customers who preordered at the higher price will be refunded the difference automatically, according to Xreal general manager Ralph Jodice. The glasses weigh 95 grams, run Android XR on a tethered compute puck, and will ship in mid-November in the United States, Canada and South Korea, with Japan following on 2 Nov. Xreal and Google describe the device as offering more than 150 dedicated XR experiences.