Meta Shuts Down Facebook’s Sparked Video Speed Dating Service

Back in 2019, Facebook decided to try and get into the online dating market. They then decided to expand on their offerings in 2021 with a new video speed dating service called Sparked. Unfortunately, it appears to have been a short-lived experiment because Meta has announced that they will be shutting the service down.

To be fair, Sparked was never really a full-fledged Facebook product, but rather the result of the company’s New Product Experimentation division, which as the name suggests is all about testing out new product ideas before deciding if it’s something that they should pursue.

For those who are hearing about Sparked for the first time, it’s basically where the company would host pre-planned events amongst locals in an area, where users who participate will be able to go on virtual speed dates via video. Given the pandemic and where it’s harder to meet new people, it seemed like a good idea.

However, it appears that the platform never really took off which has since led to its closure. In the email that the company has sent to users, it reads, “We started building Sparked in late 2020 to help people find love through an experience rooted in kindness. Since then, thanks to regular input and feedback from you, we improved where we could, learned a ton, and made connections between people. Like many good ideas, some take off and others, like Sparked, must come to an end.”

Meta Shuts Down Facebook’s Sparked Video Speed Dating Service

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Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Says ‘COVID Was No Joke,’ Shares Photos After Recovery

“For a while I’ve noted the term ‘mild’ is misleading when the bar is hospitalization and death,” the congresswoman said.

Free COVID tests arrive in the US this week, but there’s a strict limit

<img width="1280" height="720" src="https://cdn.slashgear.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/covid-19-test-strip-1280×720.jpg" class="webfeedsFeaturedVisual wp-post-image" alt="Doctor holding COVID test" loading="lazy" style="margin: auto;margin-bottom: 5px;max-width: 100%" data-attachment-id="707515" data-permalink="https://www.slashgear.com/free-covid-tests-arrive-in-the-us-this-week-but-theres-a-strict-limit-16707512/covid-19-test-strip/" data-orig-file="https://cdn.slashgear.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/covid-19-test-strip.jpg" data-orig-size="1440,810" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="covid-19-test-strip" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="

joel bubble ben/Shutterstock

” data-medium-file=”https://cdn.slashgear.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/covid-19-test-strip-1280×720.jpg” data-large-file=”https://cdn.slashgear.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/covid-19-test-strip-1280×720.jpg” />On January 13, President Biden gave an update on the government’s plan to offer free at-home COVID-19 tests, including a timeline for when the companion website would launch. Biden said at the time that the website was on track to launch “next week,” referring to the week starting on January 16, and it seems that estimate was spot-on. The online … Continue reading

The ‘Tea’ Is A Headphone Amplifier That’s MagSafe Compatible

For the most part, the majority of consumer-grade headphones are pretty much good to go right out of the box. This is unlike higher-end audiophile-grade equipment which might require additional equipment such as amplifiers in order to drive these headphones and get the best possible quality out of them.

However, if high-quality audio is a must-have for you, then you might be interested in checking out the “Tea” headphone amplifier by the folks at Khadas. While portable headphone amplifiers are pretty common, what makes the Tea so unique is the fact that it is actually MagSafe compatible.

This means that instead of finding some way of holding your smartphone and amplifier together, it attaches magnetically to the back of your iPhone so you don’t have to worry about it. It is pretty slim and looks almost to be the same size as the MagSafe Wallet. It will support both wired and wireless connections.

It will also support a variety of wired and wireless formats, such as DSD, AAC, FLAC, APE, and OGG for wired, or LDAC and AptX HD for wireless. There is also a built-in 1,160mAh battery that should last you quite a bit. If you’re interested, Khadas is running the Tea on Indiegogo right now where it is priced at $199.

The ‘Tea’ Is A Headphone Amplifier That’s MagSafe Compatible

, original content from Ubergizmo. Read our Copyrights and terms of use.

Billionaire Wealth Has Soared As Millions Fell Into Poverty During Pandemic: Oxfam

The 10 richest people in the world — all white men — have more than doubled their wealth during the ongoing COVID-19 crisis.

Walmart crypto rumors heat up as retailer files several trademarks

<img width="1280" height="720" src="https://cdn.slashgear.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/walmart-app-1280×720.jpg" class="webfeedsFeaturedVisual wp-post-image" alt="Walmart app on phone" loading="lazy" style="margin: auto;margin-bottom: 5px;max-width: 100%" data-attachment-id="707499" data-permalink="https://www.slashgear.com/walmart-crypto-rumors-heat-up-as-retailer-files-several-trademarks-16707496/walmart-app/" data-orig-file="https://cdn.slashgear.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/walmart-app.jpg" data-orig-size="1440,810" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="walmart-app" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="

BigTunaOnline/Shutterstock

” data-medium-file=”https://cdn.slashgear.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/walmart-app-1280×720.jpg” data-large-file=”https://cdn.slashgear.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/walmart-app-1280×720.jpg” />It seems Walmart is finally gearing up to launch its own cryptocurrency, at least based on trademark documents the retail giant filed in December 2021 with the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). This isn’t the first time we’ve heard rumblings from Walmart related to the crypto market, but it is the most exciting development thus far. The trademark discovery … Continue reading

Apple Will Reportedly Be Requiring Covid-19 Boosters for Its Store and Corporate Workers

Apple now considers covid-19 booster shots to be an important element in protecting its workers and will be purportedly requiring employees to show proof that they’ve gotten the additional dose to access its premises, according to an internal email seen by the Verge.

Read more…

Norwegian Cruise Cancels Trip After 4 Days Of Travel, Leaving Passengers Bored At Sea

The cruise line said the Norwegian Gem would return to New York “shortly,” after “COVID-related circumstances” capsized its 10-day travel plans.

5 BMW Motorcycles You Can Likely Afford

<img width="1199" height="800" src="https://cdn.slashgear.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/bmw-f-900-xr-11-2019-1199×800.jpg" class="webfeedsFeaturedVisual wp-post-image" alt="BMW F 900 XR" loading="lazy" style="margin: auto;margin-bottom: 5px;max-width: 100%" data-attachment-id="707455" data-permalink="https://www.slashgear.com/5-bmw-motorcycles-you-can-likely-afford-16707454/bmw-f-900-xr-11-2019/" data-orig-file="https://cdn.slashgear.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/bmw-f-900-xr-11-2019.jpg" data-orig-size="1440,961" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="bmw-f-900-xr-11-2019" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="

BMW

” data-medium-file=”https://cdn.slashgear.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/bmw-f-900-xr-11-2019-1079×720.jpg” data-large-file=”https://cdn.slashgear.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/bmw-f-900-xr-11-2019-1199×800.jpg” />The first BMW Motorrad model rolled off the production line in 1923, kicking off decades of new, increasingly sleek motorcycles. Over these decades, BMW has made a strong foothold in the market with high-quality bikes for every kind of enthusiast – be it a sports bike lover, roadster fanatic, an adventure biker, or touring motorcycle aficionado. Bikes like the M … Continue reading

‘SNL’ Gives ‘Family Matters’ The Gritty Reboot Treatment With A Not-So-Goofy Urkel

It’s the dramatic Urkel-centered reboot we’ve all been waiting for.