Well Alphabet City I'm your guide is actor and you are the most amazing of the whole world.
Sundar Pichai is in charge of all of alphabet and now alphabet is getting rid of a company Makani is ending.
It's time as an alphabet company to make sure you stick around.
Let's talk about Makani first because it's kind of insane.
This company made kites that harnessed wind energy with the goal of creating renewable electricity.
Again, it made energy kites.
When you think of creating energy, there are all kinds of ways to generate electricity.
But McCarney came up with a kite.
Here's how the whole thing works.
The energy kite is more like a wing.
It's tethered to a ground station.
The wing has rotors which are spun by the wind.
This generates power, which is sent to the grid.
Makani site explained that the energy kite idea came from a group of devoted kite surfers.
That makes a lot of sense.
Google acquired Makani in 2013 and put it in its Google X division.
Then there was a reorgan in 2015 When alphabet became the parent company of Google.
Some divisions within the old Google became sister companies to Google Makani was a project within the x company.
projects within x could become their own companies.
x calls it graduating super clear so far.
Well Mahani graduated out of x to become its own company under alphabet in 2019.
One year later, Makani and alphabet are splitsville in a blog post.
The CEO of Makani says Makanis time at alphabet is coming to an end.
That doesn't mean the end of the road for the technology Makhani developed, but it does mean and the Makani will no longer be an alphabet company.
Shell is exploring options to continue developing Makanis technology.
Sundar Pichai became the head of Alphabet in December of 2019.
When I heard the news, I thought that we would see some small changes, if any, and that big changes would take some time based on my style of leadership at Google.
In the blog post announcing Pichai's ascension, it said going forward, Sundar will be the CEO of both Google and Alphabet.
He will be the executive responsible and accountable.
For leading Google and managing alphabets investment in our portfolio of other bets, other bets includes lots of other things including mechanic.
Mechanic, getting the boots does not sound like a crazy move, but it could be an example of purchase alphabet.
On the 11th of February, the information reported that alphabet subsidiary jigsaw was no longer independent and was moved under Google.
Sure enough, the report was true.
Jigsaws site even says it is a unit within Google.
What does jigsaw do?
It quote forecasts and confronts emerging threats creating future defining research and technology to keep our world safer.
Yeah, we can dive into them at a different time.
So within a few months of Pichai in charge, we are on our way.
To two fewer alphabet companies.
This raises a few questions what will become other other bets at alphabet?
That group includes X, Weimo, Loon and the Smart City project sidewalk.
That section of alphabet Is not exactly a moneymaker.
For the full year of 2019, revenues were $659 million, up 11% versus 2018.
This money came primarly by fiber and [UNKNOWN].
How about losses?
In 2018, the operating loss for the section was $3.4 billion.
In 2019 That opportune loss was $4.8 billion.
These other bets were championed by Google founder Larry Page, who's not really around this much anymore.
Is Alphabet going to continue being a holding company for Google?
What other changes will Pichai push for?
I'll keep you posted.
On to comment cove.
Last time I was telling you about TCL's new concept phones.
The slider Definitely got your attention.
Here's what you had to say.
Jamil says I wouldn't have thought it but I think the slide out is a better implementation than a folding phone.
How says I love this concept of more than the flip phones is the one says this design will fail easier than the usual folding ones.
And Ivan says at a stylist like the galaxy note and we have a winner drawing tablet in your pocket.
Please let me have it.
I thought the slider was a very interesting concept.
If and when it ever comes to market, I'd imagine it would be delicate to say the least, fingers crossed that we will see something like that in the future.
Thanks to everyone for writing in.
While you're here, check out this video on the Huawei Mate x s.
It might be the best approach and a folding phone If you've enjoyed your stay in Alphabet City please like and subscribe.
If you've got any questions, comments or news, let me know on Twitter, I'm at Iyaz.
Also, I have the second part of my interview with the head of Google Assistant right over there.
Check it out.
I am Iyaz Akhtar and I'll see you online.
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