- As it gets set to launch its F8 conference, Facebook (FB +1.5%) is likely to drop key news in what it's been working on in a fairly secretive hardware lab called Building 8.
- And that includes four projects in particular, Business Insider says: One involving cameras and augmented reality; another likely tied to drone development; one on brain-scanning technology, led by a former Johns Hopkins neuroscientist; and a fourth medical project led by a cardiologist with expertise in early-stage medical device development.
- CEO Mark Zuckerberg will deliver a keynote tomorrow which might supply details on new hardware. The conference continues through Wednesday.
- The augmented reality work could attempt to build where Google (NASDAQ:GOOGL) Glass disappointed, and may open a wider competitive interface with social-media rival (and "camera company") Snap (SNAP -1.2%).
- With augmented reality the next frontier of technology, Facebook needs to make a statement, says former Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster. “They realize to be part of this next wave, they’ve got to get real and hurry,” he says.
- Meanwhile, the company says it's going to review its handling of videos with violence and other objectionable material amid a now-nationwide hunt for a suspect in a Cleveland killing that was broadcast on the service Sunday. Video of the killing remained on Facebook for more than two hours.
Original article