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Headspace
Headspace and Ginger, two popular digital mental health platforms, announced Wednesday plans to merge. The combined company will have a $3 billion valuation; Headspace confirmed, as well as the world’s largest mental health data set. Together, Headspace and Ginger reach nearly 100 million users in more than 190 countries. They reach users with a direct-to-consumer model as well as through deals with more than 2700 enterprises and health plans. The combined entity will be called Headspace Health. The deal is expected to close in the last quarter of 2021, at which time Ginger CEO Russell Glass will take on the role of CEO of Headspace Health. CeCe Morken will remain CEO of Headspace and take on the additional role of President for the combined entity. Headspace, founded in 2010, is a mindfulness and meditation platform. Ginger, also founded in 2010, provides a platform through which users can get access to behavioral health coaching, therapy and psychiatry. The two companies have more than 800 employees. Their combined bookings by the end of 2021 will be near $300 million.Combined, they will reach consumers directly, as well as through employers and health plans. Their combined mental health dataset will be leveraged to deliver highly personalized care, Headspace had said.Ginger is already reimbursed as a virtual in-network benefit through fully-insured, self-insured, and government-funded programs, such as Cigna and AmeriHealth Caritas District of Columbia, a Medicaid program. Nearly 700 companies provide Ginger as a benefit to their employees, including ViacomCBS, Delta Air Lines and Sephora.

Headspace is also fully covered through healthcare partnerships with companies like Bright HealthCare and Solera Health, which distributes Headspace to leading regional health plans through their Mental Health and Stress solution. More than 2100 employers currently offer Headspace for Work for employees, including Starbucks, Adobe, Hyatt and Unilever. Headspace has also forged partnerships with various other tech brands like Microsoft, integrating with Microsoft Teams. More

Do you find yourself constantly tweaking your thermostat to find a temperature that you’re comfortable at? Does the prospect of coming home to a sweltering house make you keep the air conditioner running all day long? Are you dreading your monthly energy bill because you know that you’re spending more than you need to be? There are lots of reasons to get a smart thermostat, from comfort to control to conservation. They are great tools for keeping your home at the ideal temperature for you and anyone else who occupies your home. They are also an ideal option to help cut down on your monthly energy bill by operating more efficiently and energy-saving. Take a look at your newsfeed, or just take a look outside, and you’ll notice that the weather is getting more and more extreme. Hotter summer days, colder winter nights, and lots of wild swings and waves of weather can throw your day and your thermostat for a loop. You can’t control the weather outside your walls, but you sure can manage how it feels inside. Smart thermostats make that possible. So what is the best smart thermostat for you? Well, that all depends on what kind of features you’re looking for, what kind of control you prefer, and what your smart home ecosystem already has. We’ve compiled some of the best smart thermostats on the market, and we’ll walk you through which will suit your home.

The best option on the market

Amazon

Specs: 3.5-inch full-color LCD touchscreen | Voice support (Alexa) | Works with Apple HomeKit, Amazon Alexa, Samsung SmartThings, IFTTT | It might not be the brand name or product that you most associate with smart thermostats, but there is no question that the Ecobee SmartThermostat with Voice Control is one of the best smart thermostats available. A big reason for that is the ease and simplicity with which this smart thermostat integrates into your home. Lots of smart thermostats offer some form of voice control through apps or other devices, but the Ecobee SmartThermostat with Voice Control offers it right out of the box and right from the thermostat itself. Amazon Alexa is built-in and equipped to handle all kinds of commands to adjust your heating and air conditioning. It can also handle commands for reading the news, playing music, or making calls. The Ecobee SmartThermostat with Voice Control can be a true hub of your home. Then there is the ability to manage your home’s environment, which is the most important aspect of any thermostat. Ecobee estimates that with energy-efficient features like its eco+ mode, along with the ability to schedule heating and cooling cycles, you’ll be able to save as much as 26% of your standard energy costs. This thermostat is also compatible with up to 32 smart sensors that can automatically gauge conditions around the house and tell if you’re home, and adjust the temperature based on that information. It would be nice if other voice control options like Apple’s Siri or Google Assistant were built into this smart speaker, but they are supported through app-based interfaces. You only get one sensor included with this thermostat, but that will be more than enough to get you started and save you money. Pros: Amazon Alexa built-inSmart scheduling featuresExpandable with sensorsCons: Only one sensor comes with the thermostatSupport for other voice assistants through app only

The best-known smart thermostat

Google

Specs: 3.3-inch full-color display | Voice support (Google Assistant) | Works with IFTTT, Amazon Alexa, Samsung SmartThingsWithout question, the Google Nest is the most well-known smart thermostat. It’s not hard to see why. It has an unmistakable design that you would recognize anywhere and is easy to interact with. It’s one of the most essential tools of a smart home, and it more than gets the job done for most people.The latest offering, the Google Nest Learning Thermostat, goes heavy on the smart learning features to help you save money while controlling the temperature in your home. According to Google, the thermostat can pay for itself in under two years simply by tweaking the way that you heat and cool your house. That’s good, as it’s one of the more expensive smart thermostats in terms of up-front cost — but if you can swing it, you’ll get your money back on the back end.The Nest Learning thermostats offer some nice touches that make you both feel at home and in total control. It lights up when you walk into the room and gives you pertinent information about the current conditions. But it’s doing more than just greeting you — it’s learning your schedule. The Nest Learning Thermostat can start to automatically adapt to your life, knowing when you’re home and when you’re away and modifying the temperatures in the house based on the season. Google claims that after a week, it should be able to program itself to your personal schedule.You’ll be able to control your Google Nest Learning Thermostat from anywhere using the Nest app. You’ll also be able to integrate it into your smart home and communicate with it using voice commands by setting up the Google Home app. The lack of direct voice control is a bit disappointing, but the Google Nest’s interface is intuitive and easy to use. The fact that you can largely go hands-off in setting up a schedule as it learns your routine makes it even better.Pros:Intuitive controlsAutomatically learns your scheduleControl with Nest app or Google HomeCons:No direct voice control on the deviceExpensive up-front cost

Best budget option

Amazon

Specs: 3.5-inch touchscreen display | Voice support (Siri) | Works with Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit, Google Assistant, IFTTT | Smart thermostats have a reputation for being expensive. They don’t have to break your bank, though. The Honeywell Home T5 Smart Thermostat proves that. It’s a budget-friendly option, but it doesn’t skimp on the features that you would expect out of high-end smart thermostats.The Honeywell Home T5 Smart Thermostat integrates easily into basically any smart home platform. This means it will work with your favorite voice assistant, whether it is through a smart home app or a smart speaker. You’ll just have to set it up. It also can become a part of your routines. Do you have smart lights that turn on before you get in the door? The Honeywell Home T5 Smart Thermostat can be set to change the temperature before you arrive, as well.This smart thermostat isn’t quite as smart as others that learn your schedule — instead, you’ll have to set it up manually, though geofencing technology does know when you’re coming and going, so it can adjust based on what you tell it to do if you’re out of the house. You can also maintain control at all times over the device through your smart home app of choice. The Honeywell Home T5 Smart Thermostat is not the most stylish smart thermostat on the market and visually leaves a bit to be desired. But if you’re more interested in function than aesthetics and you’re on a budget, you won’t be disappointed by how well this smart thermostat gets the job done.Pros:Works with most smart home platformsGeofencing knows when you come and goAffordableCons:Doesn’t learn your scheduleIt is not the most visually appealing

Best for total control

Amazon

Specs: 3.5-inch color touchscreen display | Voice support (Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and Microsoft Cortana) | Works with Samsung SmartThings, Vera, Amazon Alexa, Google Home | Think of the Honeywell Home T9 Smart Thermostat as the smarter upgrade to the budget-friendly T5 model. It’s a bit more expensive, but it gets upgrades across the board when it comes to automation, function, and visual appeal.The Honeywell Home T9 Smart Thermostat extends its understanding of what is happening in your home by introducing sensors that you can place around your home. These sensors detect all kinds of information that help to inform the device. They can detect motion, temperature, and humidity. All the data that these sensors gather help to inform the thermostat, adjusting the temperature in your home and working to make sure that each room is set to the ideal conditions.In terms of integrating into your existing smart home ecosystem, the Honeywell Home T9 Smart Thermostat offers plenty of variety — though surprisingly less than the T5 provides. There is no Apple HomeKit support, so you won’t be able to use Siri or control this device through your Apple HomeKit app. But there is support for Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa, along with Microsoft Cortana.The Honeywell Home T9 Smart Thermostat still isn’t quite as smart as other thermostats on the market, as it doesn’t pick up on your schedule over time. But the sensors help, and it comes with one in the box to get you started. Pros:Expandable sensorsIntegrates into a smart homeGeofencing knows when you come and leaveCons:It doesn’t work with Apple HomeKitDoesn’t learn your schedule over time

Most intuitive option

Wyze

Specs: 2.5-inch display | Voice support (Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant) | Works with Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, Samsung SmartThings, IFTTT |If simplicity is a priority for you, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a more suitable option than the Wyze Thermostat. One of the newer devices on the market, this smart thermostat puts a premium on intuitive features while keeping much of the automated functionality you’d expect from a smart thermostat.The Wyze Thermostat features a built-in motion sensor that knows when you’re home and when you go, so it can adjust the temperature for you. On top of that, it’ll track your comings and goings and make recommendations in the accompanying Wyze app that will help you with energy-saving. While you can make changes from the app from anywhere, a simple dial on the device also lets you make immediate changes in the home.This thermostat also includes the ability to set a seven-day schedule, so each day reflects your day-to-day life. While it doesn’t necessarily do the kind of automating that other alternatives do, it does give you plenty of control that reflects your schedule. This smart thermostat integrates into smart homes, is compatible with Google Home and Amazon Alexa, and you’ll be able to use voice controls to manage your home that way. It lacks Apple HomeKit support, but if you use any other smart home ecosystem, you should be able to make it work.Pros:Simple designRecommendations for energy savingSeven-day schedulingCons:Light on automationNo Apple HomeKit support

How to pick the best smart thermostat for you?

Picking the best smart thermostat for you is going to depend on what you need in your home. If you’d like to go hands-off and let the thermostat learn your routine and automate the heating and cooling situation, go with a solution like the Google Nest Learning Thermostat or the Ecobee SmartThermostat with Voice Control. If automation is less important than total control, then you may be better off going with a simpler smart thermostat. A solution like the Wyze Thermostat or the Honeywell Home T5 Smart Thermostat lets you maintain total control over your home environment, even when you’re away from home.If you want control over every element of your home, consider the Honeywell Home T9 Smart Thermostat. With its expandable sensor system, including one that comes with the device, it gives you even more information about your home and lets you control every element of it in nearly every room.

Is a smart thermostat worth the price?

Yes, in most situations, a smart thermostat is worth the price. While the upfront investment can feel steep, even the most basic automation features will often end up saving you a considerable amount of money in the long run. It will pay for itself over time by reducing energy costs.

What is the difference between a smart thermostat and a Wi-Fi thermostat?

A smart thermostat has automation features that help you manage your energy consumption, typically by reducing your energy usage when you are away. A Wi-Fi thermostat is internet-connected and may give you the ability to control it from your phone, but it often lacks automated tools and can’t always be controlled when you are away from home.

Can I install a smart thermostat in my home?

Most home heating and cooling systems are compatible with smart thermostats. In some cases, you may have to purchase an adapter or kit to install it. This is especially true of older homes. Check the compatibility of the thermostat to make sure it will work with your home before you purchase it.

Are there alternatives worth considering?

There are many smart thermostats on the market, so there is almost certainly one that will work best for your home. Consider these alternatives: More

Comcast Business said it will acquire Masergy, a company that offers software defined managed networking and security, unified communications as a service and call center as a service. The move will give Comcast Business a bigger foothold among mid-sized and large enterprises. Comcast Business, the business broadband unit of cable giant Comcast, has grown up as primarily an SMB play. Masergy will beef up Comcast Business’ customer base because it has more than 1,400 customers in almost 100 countries. Comcast said it will combine its fiber network with Masergy’s services to offer a more complete stack. Terms of the deal weren’t disclosed. Comcast Business has an annual revenue run rate approaching $9 billion.Here’s a look at Masergy’s software defined portfolio.  More

Image: Macquarie Telecom
Macquarie Telecom has reported its seventh straight year of increasing earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, and amortisation (EBITDA) on Wednesday, with the company seeing the figure increase 13% to AU$74 million, and revenue increasing 7% to AU$285 million. The increases were driven by MacTel’s cloud services and government segment, which saw revenue increase 21% to AU$131.5 million and EBITDA jump 25% to AU$36 million. Data centres contributed AU$39 million in revenue, up 10%, and had a 12% increase in EBITDA to AU$19 million. MacTel’s traditional telecom sector experienced drops in sales and profitability, with revenue down 3% to AU$135 million and EBITDA down by the same percentage to AU$18.5 million. The company said this was due to pandemic restrictions which limit office-based connectivity. All up, due to a 28% boost in depreciation and amortisation, the telco reported a 7% drop in net profit to AU$12.5 million. Responding to demand, the company said it would be investing in its cybersecurity arm as well as staffing and technology for its data centres. Last month, the company announced it would be spending AU$78 million to build the core and shell of its new 32-megawatt Intellicentre 3 Super West facility based at its Macquarie Park Data Centre Campus. The new facility will also be home to a new Sovereign Cyber Security Centre of Excellence, which according to the company, will be responsible for monitoring and managing cybersecurity events around the clock. An initial 31 cyber specialists are expected to run and operate the centre by 2024.

See also: Best internet provider in Australia 2021: Top ISPsSprint Technology Solutions also reported its yearly result on Wednesday, and after another year of acquisitions said it had transformed from a small ISP into a full service technology company. For the full year to June 30, revenue tripled to AU$104 million, EBITDA saw an almost four-fold increase to AU$8.6 million, and its net profit bounced from a AU$1.5 million loss to AU$1.16 million profit. “Of the 13 most recent acquisitions, Spirit has successfully integrated 10 of 13 companies into the standard operating environment,” Spirit managing director Sol Lukatsky said. “Spirit sits in the desirable position to participate actively in further industry consolidation across either of the IT and telco markets.” As it moves to being a pure enterprise player, Spirit said it received multiple bids for its consumer assets. “During the process, a group of potential acquirers of the consumer assets have enquired about the possible sale of additional infrastructure assets which Spirit may consider non-core,” the company said. “The Spirit board is considering these requests and has appointed an advisor to review its options.” Elsewhere, MNF Group reported it saw revenue rise 12% to AU$113 million and EBITDA increase 13% to AU$43 million. “I’m particularly proud of the progress we have made against our strategy during the year, as we build MNF into a world-class software company,” CEO René Sugo said. “We completed the divestment of parts of our direct business, aligning our business to wholesale revenue and the multi-billion-dollar opportunity we see ahead of us.” MNF said it was restructuring into three segments consisting of communications platform as a service, telecom as a service, and unified communications as a service. Related Coverage More

Image: Getty Images
An analysis carried out by the University of New South Wales (UNSW) Canberra has demonstrated that a new satellite system could potentially improve how Australia’s coastal and inland waterbodies are monitored and managed.The study was carried out on behalf of the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) and the SmartSat Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) at the Australian National Concurrent Design Facility (ANCDF). It forms part of the CSIRO’s Aqua Australia mission, which was established last year to develop and roll out a national water quality monitoring system that could deliver real-time updates, predictive analytics, and forecast warnings to water managers.According to the Preliminary Concept Study for the Satellite Segment of AquaWatch Australia report [PDF], the satellite system could include a constellation of small Earth observation satellites featuring high-resolution imaging cameras, which can capture precise and detailed data that could be used to detect water body content, plus a network of ground-based sensors.”We were able to identify a system design that addresses those requirements and is feasible to construct, commission, and operate,” ANCDF manager and space systems engineer Denis Naughton said.”The consolidated technical solution for the operational AquaWatch satellites would require further detailed engineering analyses of the mission.”The analysis added that gathered data from space could provide insight about water quality and natural events including toxic algal blooms, the contamination of drinking water, and excess runoff from irrigation. This is in comparison to existing Earth observation satellites that can only provide 60-70% coverage of Australia’s major water bodies. “The outcomes could lead to a step-change in Australia’s national water quality information delivery, supporting decision makers in water agencies, local communities, water utilities, and commercial water users to provide safe drinking water, regulate contamination events, and monitor water quality across primary industry and assist with management of aquaculture farms, reef structures and our coastal environs,” SmartSat CRC’s CEO Andy Koronios said.

The report will now be used to inform the upcoming Australian Space Agency’s Earth Observations from Space Technology Roadmap.”This preliminary system design report will underpin our approach to establishing the integrated space and ground infrastructure, and inform our analysis of domestic technical capability to build such purpose-designed Earth observation satellites,” CSIRO’s AquaWatch Australia mission leader Dr Alex Held added. “This will help drive the development of local advanced manufacturing, support the growth in Earth observation data analysis, modelling and applications.”In other satellite news, Queensland-based Gilmour Space Technologies has signed a series of small satellite launch agreements with Exolaunch, a Berlin-based firm that specialises in rideshare launch and deployment services for small satellites.Under the agreements, Gilmour will gain access to Exolaunch’s small satellite deployment technologies and in-space transportation services, while Exolaunch will have access to Gilmour’s low-inclination missions and orbits using Eris, a hybrid launch vehicle developed by Gilmour.Related Coverage More

Image: Chris Duckett/ZDNet
Uniti Group has reported a AU$102 million boost in revenue for the full year to June 30, with the figure coming in at AU$160 million. Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, and amortisation (EBITDA) spiked from AU$16 million to AU$74 million, and reported net profit saw a 85% increase to AU$29 million. During November and December, Uniti picked up Telstra Velocity for AU$140 million, paid AU$9.25 million for Harbour ISP, and ended the saga to acquire Opticomm.Broken down by segment, wholesale and infrastructure contributed the lion’s share of revenue and earnings, accounting for AU$105 million in revenue, and AU$79 million in EBITDA. The company said this trend would continue as it now has a fibre-to-the-premise order book that increases to over 250,000 lines. Uniti said its total number of lines in service or contracted to be built was over 565,000. In its other segments, retail consumer and business reported AU$43.6 million in sales and AU$4.5 million in EBITDA, and its communications platform-as-a-service segment made just shy of AU$31 million in revenue, and AU$20 million in EBITDA. “We are immensely proud of the company Uniti has become in just two and a half years since listing, transforming from a loss-making fixed wireless business into a highly profitable, growing, ASX200 organisation,” managing director and CEO Michael Simmons said. “Today, Uniti is a ‘group of one’, an integrated digital infrastructure company, which is the definitive challenger in the residential FttP market, with a platform to further expand market share and presence in adjacent markets.” See also: Best internet provider in Australia 2021: Top ISPs

Elsewhere on Tuesday, Superloop reported it increased revenue by 3.6% to AU$110.5 million, EBITDA increased by 35% to AU$18 million, and its net loss narrowed by AU$9 million to AU$32 million. The company said it saw revenue from wholesale and business customers increase by 22% and consumer broadband subscribers increase by 62% to 47,000, but these increases were offset by a drop in guest Wi-Fi services due to the pandemic. Excluding the retirement of its cloud managed services, the company said revenue would have increased 14%. Not included in this set of results was Superloop’s AU$110 million acquisition of Exetel, which did not close before the end of the fiscal year. Once Exetel is included, Superloop is expecting a 135% in revenue to AU$261 million, EBITDA to jump 89% to AU$34 million, and free cash flow to be AU$14 million compared to zero. Exetel will bring 110,000 extra customers to next year’s results and are already being migrated onto the Superloop network. “We demonstrated our ability to execute well, and it’s pleasing to see that translate to a marked increase in the utilisation of the Superloop network, and the outstanding network assets that we have,” managing director and CEO Paul Tyler said. “In addition to the continued focus on organic growth across all three customer segments, the robust balance sheet that we now have in place allows us the operational flexibility to contemplate further [merger and acquisition] options in the year ahead, should we identify opportunities that represent sufficient value.” Related Coverage More

A trail of a group of SpaceX’s Starlink satellites passing over Uruguay 
Image: Getty Images
Elon Musk has announced that his SpaceX Starlink project, which aims to deliver global broadband service through a satellite constellation, has shipped 100,000 terminals to customers.Shipping the terminals to customers brings the company a step closer to achieving its goal of delivering broadband connectivity to locations where access is unreliable or completely unavailable. Each Starlink Kit comes with a Starlink terminal, Wi-Fi router, power supply, cables, and mounting tripod. Under the project, beta services are currently operating in 11 different countries. SpaceX outlined as part of beta services that users can expect to see data speeds vary from 50Mbps to 150Mbps and latency from 20ms to 40ms in “most locations over the next several months” while the Starlink system continues to be enhanced. There will also be brief periods of no connectivity at all, the company added. Musk, however, noted licence approval to be able to provide telco services remained pending in “many more countries”. “Hoping to serve Earth soon,” he wrote in a tweet.The delivery of the terminals come as the SpaceX said it plans to go-live in September with its low-Earth orbit Starlink satellite broadband. In June, SpaceX president and chief operating officer Gwynne Shotwell confirmed the company had already deployed 1,800 satellites into orbit.

Elsewhere, Virgin Orbit is set to become a publicly-traded company on Nasdaq after entering into merger agreement with special purpose acquisition company NextGen. The company confirmed the deal would be valued at $3.2 billion and provide the combined company up to $483 million in cash, including up to $383 million of cash held in the trust of NextGen and a $100 million private investment in public equity (PIPE). The combined company will retain the Virgin Orbit name and trade under the ticker symbol VORB when it’s listed on the Nasdaq.Virgin Orbit said it expects to use the funds from the business combination and PIPE transaction to further scale its rocket manufacturing and growth in its space solutions business. “I’m very excited we are taking Virgin Orbit public, with the support of our partners at NextGen and our other wonderful investors. It’s another milestone for empowering all of those working today to build space technology that will positively change the world,” Virgin Orbit founder Richard Branson said.Subject to approval by NextGen’s shareholders, the proposed business combination is expected to be completed by Q4 2021. “The space economy is developing rapidly and Virgin Orbit is well positioned to benefit through its ability to competitively launch at any time, from any place on Earth, to any orbit and inclination,” NextGen co-founders George Mattson and Greg Summe said.”We look forward to leveraging our industry and financial experience, along with our public company leadership and governance experience to help Virgin Orbit deliver the next chapter of its exciting journey as a public company.”Related Coverage More

Brazil’s connected population relies mostly on smartphones to access the Internet as PC penetration remains low within financially vulnerable citizens, a new study has found. Some 58% of Brazilians only access the web through their phones, according to the TIC Domicílios study, carried out by the research arm of the Brazilian Internet Steering Committee. The research is one of the main indicators of the use of information and communication technologies among the Brazilian population and has been carried out since 2005.The study considers Brazil’s current base of 164 million Internet users, the equivalent to 87% of the population above 10 years old. This includes 12 million users who do not have full Internet access, and only use mobile applications such as WhatsApp under zero-rating offers, whereby operators provide access to previously determined content and applications to the user, without incurring in extra cost.

Considering the country’s socioeconomic class system – which ranges from the elite (class A), the upper-middle class (class B), the lower middle class (class C), the working-class poor (class D) and the extremely poor and unemployed (class E) – the study noted that Brazilians from classes C, D and E don’t tend to have PCs at home and most use smartphones as their only means to carry out activities online. The research also noted a stark difference in PC ownership according to socioeconomic status: while computers are present in almost 100% of elite households, PCs can be found in only 13% of homes within classes D and E. The study has also found there has been a boost in activities such as Internet-based courses within the lower middle class population, but Class C Brazilians study online way less than the elite.According to the survey, there was an increase in uptake of digital channels for online public services in 2020, of about 40% in relation to the prior year, due to the restrictions of the the Covid-19 pandemic. Moreover, there has been a boost in usage of digital channels to perform financial transactions – 43% in 2020 versus 33% in 2029. However, this increase was driven primarily by users based in urban areas, with more education and belonging to the top of the socioeconomic pyramid. Another study, also carried out by the Brazilian Internet Steering Committee, has found that more than 20 million households in the country, predominantly those within poorer segments of society, are digitally excluded. Separate research published earlier this year suggests that less than 20% of financially vulnerable Brazilians have been able to work remotely through the pandemic. More