A few days ago, Strava upset its users over some restrictive API changes. It might seem odd for one app’s users to fume over an API, but at the heart of the matter is the inherent messiness of fitness data.

Here’s a typical scenario. Say you’re all in on Garmin’s platform. You use their watches for running and strength training. Then, you pick up a Peloton bike for indoor cycling. Well, Garmin devices aren’t compatible with Peloton bikes because the two companies haven’t struck a direct deal with one another for data sharing. So, to get your heart rate on the Peloton bike, you buy a chest strap. And then you decide to train for a race, so you sign up for one of those digital coaching platforms — the kind where a personal trainer reviews your workouts and builds you a customized plan.

The dilemma is now you have three separate apps where your workout history is stored, with three separate interfaces — and none of them with the whole picture of your training.

There are a number of ways you could consolidate that data, but in this scenario, the simplest is to upload all your workouts into Strava and then import all that Strava data into the coaching app.

This kind of scenario has come up dozens of times throughout my wearables testing. Most recently, it came up when I reviewed a Mobvoi connected desk treadmill. I didn’t like its native app, but trying to get the data into my preferred apps was a nightmare. At the end of the day, it was easiest for me to go through Strava.

The reality is many smaller fitness apps and wearable makers don’t have the resources to strike up direct data integrations with the thousands of other fitness apps and devices on the market. It’s much easier for everyone to use Strava’s API and call it a day. And unlike Apple’s HealthKit API or Google’s Health Connect, Strava is platform-agnostic.

Where things get really murky is third-party fitness platforms that extrapolate their own insights from Strava data — a no-no under the new API terms.

Take a third-party platform like VeloViewer. The whole idea behind VeloViewer is to give more in-depth insights into Strava data, including 3D maps, charts, yearly activity recaps, and leaderboards. This is a great option for folks who want more info than what’s natively available in Strava, but the new API changes break many of the aforementioned features. As you might imagine, VeloViewer users — many of whom say they only pay a Strava subscription to use VeloViewer — are pissed. VeloViewer has since released a statement saying it’s working with Strava to resolve the issue, but it doesn’t change the fact that Strava holds all the cards.

Admittedly, this is a niche problem. Most people use one or maybe two fitness apps with their smartwatch, and this isn’t really an issue. But for those of us who want the freedom of using multiple devices and apps across various platforms? It’s a sobering reminder that it only takes Strava changing the rules to break a carefully crafted system.

These days, Black Friday isn’t so much a single-day shopping holiday as it is an ever-expanding, monthslong event that often begins as early as October. The 24-hour deal blitz that once was the focus of newspaper headlines and mobs outside of stores is no more, which makes knowing when and where you should be spending your cash all the more confusing.

Luckily, we’re here to help. Over the next month or so, we’ll be poring through scores of presale spreadsheets and thousands upon thousands of deals to separate the real discounts from the unexciting, made-up bargains every retailer seems to hawk around the holidays. We’ll have tips on how to find the best deals and when to shop, and we’ll continue to flag the most compelling sales in the run-up to Black Friday proper on November 29th.

And if a month of sales is not enough, you’ll have another shot at tackling your holiday wish list come December 2nd. We’ll be rounding up the best deals on 4K TVs, laptops, phones, robot vacuums, noise-canceling headphones, and other Verge-approved gadgets throughout all of Cyber Week. So stay tuned!

Venus Aerospace, a Texas-based company, is developing a groundbreaking hypersonic jet called the Stargazer that could potentially fly from New York City to London in just under an hour, a journey that currently takes around seven hours. 

This ambitious project aims to revolutionize long-distance travel and redefine the boundaries of commercial aviation.

Powering Stargazer to hypersonic heights

At the heart of the Stargazer’s capabilities is the Venus Detonation Ramjet 2,000lb Thrust Engine, or VDR2. 

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This innovative propulsion system combines the rotating detonation rocket engine (RDRE) with a ramjet, allowing the engine to operate from takeoff through hypersonic speeds without complex mechanical systems. The VDR2 is expected to reach speeds of up to Mach 6, or 3,600 miles per hour and fly at an altitude of 110,000 feet, allowing passengers to see the curvature of the Earth. The aircraft is designed to travel up to 5,000 miles.

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Stargazer (Venus Aerospace)

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Navigating the path to hypersonic commercial flight

While the prospect of hypersonic travel is exciting, there are several challenges to overcome. The Stargazer is estimated to cost $33 million and will have a limited passenger capacity of 12. There are also potential issues with sonic booms over populated areas and regulatory hurdles in obtaining approval for commercial hypersonic flight. However, Venus Aerospace is moving swiftly to bring their vision to reality. The Stargazer is projected to be available for commercial use in the 2030s.

Stargazer (Venus Aerospace)

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Kurt’s key takeaways

If successful, the Stargazer could transform long-distance travel, making global cities more connected than ever before. However, it’s important to temper excitement with realism, as the road to commercial hypersonic flight will likely be long and complex. The technological advancements being made by Venus Aerospace are promising, but numerous hurdles remain before hypersonic travel becomes a reality for everyday passengers.

Would you fly on a hypersonic jet like the Stargazer, or are you hesitant about the idea of such rapid travel? Let us know by writing us at Cyberguy.com/Contact.

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