Your Weekend Tech Digest: Microsoft Build 2017, Instagram launches web service

By Tian DuBelko

We round up the trending stories every week so you can catch up on the top tech news. This week, Microsoft held its annual build developers conference, Tesla’s new solar roof tiles went up for pre-order, Snap fell short of expectations in its first earning report, and Instagram launched a new web service for photo lovers. You can also read more stories over on our blog.

Microsoft Build 2017

At its annual Build developer conference, Microsoft made clear its desire to meet developers, no matter what platform they are building for. The Redmond-based tech giant also announced a variety of new products, including Windows 10, Office, and other software. One main takeaway of the two-day keynote was how Microsoft plans to become involved in more aspects of our tech lives. The company’s vision for future computing incorporates all sorts of smart devices in our lives, from our laptops to phones to even cars.

You can now pre-order Tesla solar roofing tiles

The first versions of Tesla roof tiles are here, and you can order them for just a $1,000 deposit. Two styles, black glass smooth and textured, are available now, with two more styles coming in the next half year, according to CEO Elon Musk. Musk also said the tiles can be ordered “for almost any country,” but how much do these tiles cost? There’s no official statement regarding the price, other than these tiles will cost differently for each home. Here’s a cost calculator to better estimate your costs.

Snap Inc. with a disastrous first earnings report

Investors had been keeping a close eye on Snap’s growth after its successful IPO, but these first returns weren’t pretty. Not only did Snap’s stock fall well short of Wall Street’s expectations, but the app’s amount of daily active user growth had slowed since its IPO debut. Snap’s year-over-year growth rate has slipped, as it fell to 36 percent year-over-year, down from 48 percent in Q4.

Instagram launches new mobile web sharing

Instagram revamped its mobile site in an effort to expand in areas with slow networks and expensive data. International users who can’t download the photo app will likely benefit the most from this move. The mobile website will allow users to upload photos as if they were using the app, and they will also have access to a lightweight version of the Explore tab, making browsing and sharing easier.

Did you come across a story that we didn’t mention? Tell us about it in the comments!