tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-65243772673266507972024-02-12T06:37:25.220-08:00Technolgy RulesI love technology and the amazing impact it can have on someones life.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07708768578194219823noreply@blogger.comBlogger6086125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6524377267326650797.post-19238083421764371462056-02-13T03:27:00.000-08:002016-04-07T01:44:52.087-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Individuals enjoy a few exercises to keep their brain from floating away. These exercises help them sit back and have a ton of fun while they don’t have anything critical to do. The diversions that individuals take up depend from individual to individual. A few individuals take up swimming as an alternative to kill time while other play some musical instrument. Whatever they do, they do it in light of the fact that it presents to them genuine feelings of serenity. Your pastime ought to be an easy fun approach to kill time. One of the diversions that numerous individuals enjoy is perusing books and other scholarly items. It is a standout amongst the most acclaimed past times and a few individuals have a loving for the same. These individuals build up a feeling of warmth in the material that they are perusing and they start regarding it as their closest companion. There is no mischief in accomplishing something like this as it brings you euphoria. In addition to the fact that it is enlivening, you can learn such a great amount through these scholarly soft cover books. Casual instruction through magazines, books and short stories is one of ideal approaches to find out about everything that you are encompassed by. After some time, there have been a few new types of advancements built up that let individuals read book in its computerized structure through Kindle books.</div>
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With the approach of little handheld small-scale PCs, individuals are presently living moving. The advanced mobile phones have gotten to be more astute and there are a few sorts of cell phones that have now come to the purchaser’s hands. This incorporates portable workstations, tablets, advanced cells and other palm measured gadgets that have enamored the psyches of the youthful and the old alike. One reason for their prosperity is that these contraptions are amazingly convenient and can be conveyed starting with one place then onto the next. They have great batteries and a screen size that is somewhat greater than a normal component telephone that you get in the business sector.</div>
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The screens on these gadgets make a perfect stage peruse advanced duplicates of your most loved novel. These are precisely like the soft cover books that you buy from a physical store. The main distinction is that these are currently digitally marked and sold to you through <a href="http://www.gadgetscompared.com/" target="_blank">Amazon Kindle</a> books store. This focal commercial center gives you a chance to purchase and download a wide range of magazines and publications that you can ever envision. One reason for the fame of such computerized variants is that they accommodate an exceptionally media rich substance. They have superior quality pictures and recordings that can be seen while you read. On the other hand, a standout amongst the most interesting components of these is the choice to pick in for book recordings. No more do you need to peruse through that most loved book of yours and strain your eyes.</div>
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Through Amazon, you are allowed to download a sound of the whole book. This implies you can now listen to your most loved Christian book recordings and not stress over straining your eye. Whatever be your preferred reason or the duplicate, these Kindle books are perfect for the whole gang and can be obtained online with ease.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07708768578194219823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6524377267326650797.post-18637803573750617382021-09-21T10:18:00.001-07:002021-09-21T10:18:35.763-07:00PayPal launches its ‘super app’ combining payments, savings, bill pay, crypto, shopping and more<p id="speakable-summary">PayPal has been talking about its “super app” plans for <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2020/11/03/paypal-details-its-digital-wallet-plans-for-2021-including-crypto-honey-integration-and-more/">some time</a>, having <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2021/07/29/paypals-new-super-app-is-ready-to-launch-will-also-include-messaging/">recently told investors</a> its upcoming digital wallet and payments app had been given a go for launch. Today, the first version of that app is officially being introduced, offering a combination of financial tools including direct deposit, bill pay, a digital wallet, peer-to-peer payments, shopping tools, crypto capabilities and more. The company is also announcing its partnership with Synchrony Bank for its new high-yield savings account, PayPal Savings.</p>
<p>These changes shift PayPal from being largely a payments utility that’s tacked on other offerings here and there, to being a more fully fleshed out finance app. Though PayPal itself doesn’t aim to be a “bank,” the new app offers a range of competitive features for those considering shifting their finances to neobanks, like Chime or Varo, as it will now also include support for paycheck Direct Deposits through PayPal’s bank partners, bill pay and more.</p>
<p>By enabling direct deposit, PayPal users can get paid up to two days earlier, which is one of the bigger draws among those considering digital banking apps over traditional banks.</p>
<p>In addition to shifting their paychecks to Payal, customers’ PayPal funds can then be used for things that are a part of daily life, like paying their bills, saving or shopping, for example.</p>
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<p><a href="https://techcrunch.com/2021/07/29/paypals-new-super-app-is-ready-to-launch-will-also-include-messaging/">PayPal’s new ‘super app,’ to include messaging, is ready to launch</a></p>
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<p><iframe class="wp-embedded-content" sandbox="allow-scripts" security="restricted" title="“PayPal’s new ‘super app,’ to include messaging, is ready to launch” — TechCrunch" src="https://techcrunch.com/2021/07/29/paypals-new-super-app-is-ready-to-launch-will-also-include-messaging/embed/#?secret=2eyOFZ6SSJ" data-secret="2eyOFZ6SSJ" width="800" height="450" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></p>
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<p>The enhanced bill pay feature lets customers track, view and pay bills from thousands of companies, including utilities, TV and internet, insurance, credit cards, phone and more, PayPal says. When bill pay first arrived earlier this year, it offered access to (single-digit) thousands of billers. Now, it will support around 17,000 billers. Customers can also discover billers through an improved, intelligent search feature, set reminders to be notified of upcoming bills and schedule automatic payments for bills they have to pay on a regular basis. The bills don’t have to only be paid from funds currently in the PayPal account, but can be paid through any eligible funding source that’s already linked to their PayPal account.</p>
<p>Via a Synchrony Bank partnership, PayPal Savings will offer a high-yield savings account with a 0.40% Annual Percentage Yield (APY), which is more than six times the national average of 0.06%, the company says. However, that’s lower than top rivals in the digital banking market offer, like Chime (<a href="https://www.chime.com/applyggv4-hys2/">0.50%</a>), Varo (starts at 0.20%, but users <a href="https://www.varomoney.com/savings-account/">can qualify</a> to get 3.00% APY), Marcus (<a href="https://www.marcus.com/us/en/savings/high-yield-savings">0.50%</a>), Ally (<a href="https://www.ally.com/bank/online-savings-account">0.50%</a>), ONE (<a href="https://www.onefinance.com/">1.00% or 3.00%</a> on Auto-Save transactions), and others. However, the rate may appeal to those who are switching from a traditional bank, where rates tend to be lower.</p>
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<p>PayPal believes its high-yield offering will be able to compete not based on the APY alone, but on the strength of its combined offerings.</p>
<div id="attachment_2205131" style="width: 690px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-2205131" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-2205131" src="https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/New-PayPal-App-Savings-2.jpg?w=680" alt="" width="680" height="383" srcset="https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/New-PayPal-App-Savings-2.jpg 1280w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/New-PayPal-App-Savings-2.jpg?resize=150,84 150w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/New-PayPal-App-Savings-2.jpg?resize=300,169 300w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/New-PayPal-App-Savings-2.jpg?resize=768,432 768w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/New-PayPal-App-Savings-2.jpg?resize=680,383 680w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/New-PayPal-App-Savings-2.jpg?resize=50,28 50w" sizes="(max-width: 680px) 100vw, 680px" />
<p id="caption-attachment-2205131" class="wp-caption-text"><strong>Image Credits:</strong> PayPal</p>
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<p>“We know that about half of customers in the United States don’t even have a savings account, much less one with a very competitive rate,” notes PayPal SVP of Consumer, Julian King. “So all in all, we think that by bringing together the full set of solutions on the platform, it’s a really competitive offering for an individual.”</p>
<p>The app has also been reorganized to accommodate the new features and those yet to come.</p>
<p>It now features a personalized dashboard offering an overview of the customer’s account. The wallet tab lets users manage Direct Deposits and connect funding sources like bank accounts and debit and credit cards alongside the ability to enroll in PayPal’s own debit, credit and cash cards. And a finance tab provides access to the high-yield savings and the <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2020/11/12/paypal-says-all-users-in-u-s-can-now-buy-hold-and-sell-cryptocurrencies/">previously available crypto capabilities</a>, which allows users to buy, hold and sell Bitcoin, Ethereum, Bitcoin Cash and Litecoin.</p>
<p>The payments tab, meanwhile, will hold much of PayPal’s traditional feature set, including peer-to-peer payments, international remittances, charitable and nonprofit giving, plus now bill pay <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2021/07/29/paypals-new-super-app-is-ready-to-launch-will-also-include-messaging/">and a two-way messaging feature</a> that allows users to request payments or say thank you after receiving a payment — whether that’s between friends and family or between merchants and customers. This addition could bring PayPal more in line with PayPal-owned Venmo, which already offers the ability to add notes to payments and make comments.</p>
<p>Messaging also ties into PayPal’s new Shopping hub, which is where the company is finally putting to good use its 2019 <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2019/11/20/paypal-to-acquire-shopping-and-rewards-platform-honey-for-4-billion/">$4 billion Honey acquisition</a>. Honey’s core features are now becoming a part of the PayPal mobile experience, including personalized deals and exclusive rewards.</p>
<div id="attachment_2205130" style="width: 690px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-2205130" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-2205130" src="https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/New-PayPal-App-Shopping-1.jpg?w=680" alt="" width="680" height="383" srcset="https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/New-PayPal-App-Shopping-1.jpg 1280w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/New-PayPal-App-Shopping-1.jpg?resize=150,84 150w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/New-PayPal-App-Shopping-1.jpg?resize=300,169 300w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/New-PayPal-App-Shopping-1.jpg?resize=768,432 768w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/New-PayPal-App-Shopping-1.jpg?resize=680,383 680w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/New-PayPal-App-Shopping-1.jpg?resize=50,28 50w" sizes="(max-width: 680px) 100vw, 680px" />
<p id="caption-attachment-2205130" class="wp-caption-text"><strong>Image Credits:</strong> PayPal</p>
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<p>PayPal users will be able to browse the discounts and offers inside the app, then shop and transact through the in-app browser. The deals can be saved to the wallet for future use, so they can be applied if shopping later in the app or online. Customers will also be able to join a loyalty program, where they can earn cashback and PayPal shopping credit on their purchases. The company says these personalized deals will improve over time.</p>
<p>“We’ll use AI and [machine learning] capabilities to understand what kind of shopping deals are most interesting to customers and continue to develop that over time. They’ll just get smarter and smarter as the product gets more usage,” notes King. This will include using the data about the deals a customer likes, then bringing similar deals to them in the future.</p>
<p>Also new in the updated mobile app is the addition of PayPal’s <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2020/11/19/paypal-launches-a-new-crowdsourced-fundraising-platform-the-generosity-network/">crowdsourced fundraising platform, the Generosity Network</a>, first launched late last year. The network is PayPal’s answer to GoFundMe or Facebook Fundraisers, by offering tools that allow individuals to raise money for themselves, others in need, or organizations like small businesses or charities. The network is also now expanding to international markets with Germany and the U.K. to start, with more countries to come.</p>
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<p>As PayPal has said, the new app is laying the groundwork for other new products in the quarters to come. The biggest initiative on its roadmap is a plan to enter the investment space, to rival other mobile investing apps, like Robinhood. When this arrives, it will support the ability to buy stocks, fractional stocks and ETFs, PayPal says.</p>
<p>It will also later add support for paying with QR codes, like Venmo, and tools for using PayPal to save while in stores.</p>
<p>The updated app is rolling out starting today in the U.S. as a staggered release that will complete in the weeks ahead. However, PayPal Savings won’t be available immediately — it will arrive in the U.S. in the “coming months,” as will some of the shopping and rewards tools.</p>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07708768578194219823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6524377267326650797.post-69765230366417462962021-09-21T02:18:00.001-07:002021-09-21T02:18:19.526-07:00Netflix launches free plan in Kenya to boost growth<p id="speakable-summary">Netflix said on Monday it is launching a free mobile plan in Kenya as the global streaming giant looks to tap the East African nation that is home to over 20 million internet users.</p>
<p>The free plan, which will be rolled out to all users in Kenya in the coming weeks, won’t require them to provide any payment information during the sign-up, the company said. The new plan is available to any user aged 18 or above with an Android phone, the company said. It will also not include ads.</p>
<p>Netflix, available in over 190 countries, has experimented with a range of plans in recent years to lure customers in developing markets. For instance, it <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2018/11/14/netflix-is-testing-a-mobile-only-subscription-to-make-its-service-more-affordable/">began testing a $3 mobile-only plan in India in 2018</a> — before <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2019/10/24/netflix-malaysia-mobile-only-cheap-plan/">expanding</a> it to users in several other countries.</p>
<p>This is also not the first time Netflix is offering its service for free — or at little to no price. The company has previously supported free trials in many markets, <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2020/08/31/now-streaming-on-netflix-globally-free-original-shows-and-movies-to-non-subscribers/">offered a tiny portion</a> of its original movies and shows to non-subscribers, and has run at least one campaign in India when the service was available at no charge <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2020/10/20/netflix-to-test-free-weekend-long-access-in-india/">over the course of a weekend</a>.</p>
<p>But its latest offering in Kenya is still remarkable. The company <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-netflix-kenya-idUSKBN2GG1LY">told Reuters</a> that it is making about one quarter of its movies and television shows catalog available to users in the free plan in the East African nation.</p>
<p>“If you’ve never watched Netflix before — and many people in Kenya haven’t — this is a great way to experience our service,” Cathy Conk, Director of Product Innovation at Netflix, <a href="https://about.netflix.com/en/news/netflix-launches-free-plan-in-kenya">wrote in a blog post</a>.</p>
<p>“And if you like what you see, it’s easy to upgrade to one of our paid plans so you can enjoy our full catalog on your TV or laptop as well.”</p>
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<p>The company didn’t disclose how long it plans to offer this free tier in Kenya — and whether it is considering expanding this offering to other markets.</p>
<p>On its past earnings calls, Netflix executives have insisted that they study each market and explore ways to make their service more compelling to all. The ability to sign up without a payment information lends credibility to such claims. Many individuals in developed countries don’t have a credit or debit card, which renders services requiring such payment instruments at the sign-up inaccessible to them.</p>
<p>The new push to win customers comes as the company, which is also <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2021/07/20/netflix-says-its-gaming-push-will-begin-with-mobile/">planning to add mobile games to its offering</a>, added only 1.5 million net paying subscribers in the quarter that ended in June this year, lower than what it had forecast. Netflix, which has amassed over 209 million subscribers, as well as Amazon Prime Video and other streaming services are increasingly trying to win customers outside of the U.S. to maintain faster growth rates.</p>
<p>Earlier this year, Amazon <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2021/05/15/amazon-minitv-free-streaming-service-india/">introduced a free and ad-supported video streaming service</a> within its shopping app in India to tap more customers.</p>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07708768578194219823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6524377267326650797.post-59362384405080441692021-09-20T17:18:00.003-07:002021-09-20T17:18:07.940-07:00iOS 15 adds all the little features that were missing<p id="speakable-summary">The <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2021/09/20/ios-15-is-now-available-to-download/">release of iOS 15</a> should be a major event for mobile operating systems. And yet, this year, there’s no breakthrough feature or overarching theme that makes this release stand out. Apple has focused on quality-of-life updates as well as new features for its own apps.</p>
<p>The result is a solid update that is not going to be controversial. Some people are going to take advantage of the new Focus feature. They’ll spend a lot of time customizing their phone to make it as personal as possible. Other people are just going to miss or dismiss the new features.</p>
<p>This year’s update is also a bit different because you don’t have to update to iOS 15. If you’re fine with iOS 14, Apple won’t force you to make the jump to iOS 15. You’ll still receive security patches. Some people will simply dismiss iOS 15 altogether.</p>
<p>It seems like a small change but it actually says a lot about the current state of iOS. Apple considers iOS as a mature platform. Just like you don’t have to update your Mac to the latest version of macOS if you don’t want to, you can now update at your own pace.</p>
<p>iOS should also be considered as a mature platform for app developers. iOS 15 adoption will be slower than usual as people won’t necessarily update to iOS 15 right away. Apps should potentially work on older iOS versions for longer.</p>
<p>Of course, users will ‘update’ to a new version of iOS when they buy a new iPhone and replace their old iPhone. But Apple has And people who pre-ordered the <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2021/09/14/this-is-the-iphone-13/">iPhone 13</a> will get iOS 15.</p>
<div id="attachment_2205238" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-2205238" loading="lazy" src="https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Apple_iOS15-avail_hero_09202021b.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="576" class="breakout size-full wp-image-2205238" srcset="https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Apple_iOS15-avail_hero_09202021b.jpg 1960w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Apple_iOS15-avail_hero_09202021b.jpg?resize=150,84 150w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Apple_iOS15-avail_hero_09202021b.jpg?resize=300,169 300w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Apple_iOS15-avail_hero_09202021b.jpg?resize=768,432 768w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Apple_iOS15-avail_hero_09202021b.jpg?resize=680,382 680w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Apple_iOS15-avail_hero_09202021b.jpg?resize=1536,864 1536w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Apple_iOS15-avail_hero_09202021b.jpg?resize=50,28 50w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />
<p id="caption-attachment-2205238" class="wp-caption-text"><strong>Image Credits:</strong> Apple</p>
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<h2>Focusing on you instead of your phone</h2>
<p>One of the biggest change in iOS 15 is the ability to change your Focus from Control Center. It’s a surprisingly powerful feature with a lot of options and tweaks. I would say it doesn’t feel like an Apple feature.</p>
<p>But it’s definitely one of the most interesting features of iOS 15. Chances are you spend a lot of time with your phone and your device requires a lot of attention from you. With this new feature, it reverses the balance and puts you back in charge.</p>
<p>‘Do Not Disturb’ users are already quite familiar with the idea that you can silence notifications when you don’t want them. If you want to keep using ‘moon mode’ with iOS 15, you don’t have to change anything.</p>
<p>But you can now create additional Focuses. By default, Apple suggests a few Focuses — Work, Sleep, Driving, Fitness, Gaming, Mindfulness, Personal and Reading. Each Focus is customizable to your needs and you can create new Focuses from scratch.</p>
<p>When you turn on a specific Focus, it basically blocks notifications by default. You can then add people and apps so that notifications from those people and apps still go through. App developers can also mark a notification as time sensitive so that it always goes through. I hope they won’t abuse that feature.</p>
<p>There are three more settings that you can activate. First, you can optionally share that your notifications are currently silenced in Messages and compatible third-party apps. Second, you can hide home screen pages altogether. Third, you can hide notifications from the lock screen and hide badges from the home screen.</p>
<p>Focus gets particularly interesting when you realize that you can couple specific Focuses with automation features. For instance, you can automatically turn on ‘Sleep’ at night or you can automatically turn on ‘Work’ when you arrive at work.</p>
<p>Power users will also have a lot of fun setting up a Focus and pairing it with a Shortcut. For instance, you could use Shortcuts to open the Clock app when you turn on Sleep mode. You get it, this new feature has a lot of depth and beta users have just started scratching the surface.</p>
<div id="attachment_2205240" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-2205240" loading="lazy" src="https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Apple_iOS15-avail_focus_09202021.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="1433" class="vertical size-full wp-image-2205240" srcset="https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Apple_iOS15-avail_focus_09202021.jpg 1306w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Apple_iOS15-avail_focus_09202021.jpg?resize=107,150 107w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Apple_iOS15-avail_focus_09202021.jpg?resize=214,300 214w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Apple_iOS15-avail_focus_09202021.jpg?resize=768,1075 768w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Apple_iOS15-avail_focus_09202021.jpg?resize=486,680 486w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Apple_iOS15-avail_focus_09202021.jpg?resize=1097,1536 1097w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Apple_iOS15-avail_focus_09202021.jpg?resize=36,50 36w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />
<p id="caption-attachment-2205240" class="wp-caption-text"><strong>Image Credits:</strong> Apple</p>
</div>
<h2>Update all apps</h2>
<p>With iOS 15, Apple has improved nearly all the default apps. Some additions are definitely nice improvements. Others have been a bit more controversial.</p>
<p>Let’s start with <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2021/08/18/apple-walks-back-controversial-safari-changes-with-ios-15-beta-6-update/">the controversial one</a>, <strong>Safari</strong>’s design has been updated. But what you saw at WWDC in June doesn’t look at all like what’s shipping today. Essentially, Apple has listened to feedback and changed the user interface of its web browser during the summer.</p>
<p>By default, the address bar is now at the bottom of the screen, right above the row of buttons that let you open bookmarks, share the current page or go to the previous page. I think it works better. But if you really don’t want the address bar at the bottom, you can move it back to the top of the screen.</p>
<p>Other than that, Safari changes are all good improvements. For instance, the browser now supports traditional web extensions. It’s going to be interesting to see if popular Google Chrome extensions eventually come to Safari. Another nice new feature is the ability to create tab groups and find your tab groups from your other devices.</p>
<p><strong>FaceTime</strong> has become a versatile video-conferencing service. You can now create links, share them with friends and add them to calendar invites. For the first time, people who don’t own an Apple device will be able to join FaceTime calls from a web browser. There’s also a new Zoom view… I mean, grid view.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, the big new FaceTime feature is not ready for prime time just yet. SharePlay, the feature that lets you sync audio and video playback with your friends, is going to be released later this Fall.</p>
<p>The <strong>Weather</strong> app has also been redesigned. It is now packed with a lot more information, such as precipitation maps, next-hour precipitation notifications and a new UV index. It has become a solid alternative to third-party weather apps. I still use <a href="https://bjango.com/ios/snowflake/">Snowflake</a> but differences are smaller and smaller.</p>
<p><strong>Messages</strong> is now better integrated with other Apple apps. Whenever someone sends you an article, a photo album, a podcast or a song, you’ll see those recommendations in Apple’s other apps — Apple News, Photos, Apple Podcasts, Apple Music, etc. Once again, this is a nice addition in my testings but it’s not going to change the way you use your phone.</p>
<p><strong>Apple Maps</strong> is getting better and better, especially if you live in San Francisco. If you haven’t used it in a few years, I encourage you to try it again. It’s now a solid alternative to Google Maps.</p>
<p>Some cities, such as San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York and London, are receiving new detailed maps with 3D buildings, bus lanes, sidewalks and more. It feels like navigating a video game given how detailed it is. The app has also been redesigned with new place cards, a new driving user interface and settings in the app.</p>
<p><strong>Photos</strong> is also receiving a bunch of improvements. Every year, the company is refining Memories. I’m not sure a ton of people are using this feature, but it’s better than before. There are now more information if you swipe on a photo as well, such as the shutter speed and lens that were used.</p>
<p>But the biggest change to your photo library is that you can now search for text in your photo. iOS is scanning your photos to find text and save it for Spotlight searches.</p>
<p>Similarly, you can now point your camera at text and select text from there. It is incredibly convenient if you’re looking for the restaurant address on the menu and want to share it with a friend or if you’re traveling and you want to translate some text.</p>
<div id="attachment_2205244" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-2205244" loading="lazy" src="https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Apple_iOS15-avail_weather_09202021.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="1433" class="vertical size-full wp-image-2205244" srcset="https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Apple_iOS15-avail_weather_09202021.jpg 1306w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Apple_iOS15-avail_weather_09202021.jpg?resize=107,150 107w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Apple_iOS15-avail_weather_09202021.jpg?resize=214,300 214w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Apple_iOS15-avail_weather_09202021.jpg?resize=768,1075 768w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Apple_iOS15-avail_weather_09202021.jpg?resize=486,680 486w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Apple_iOS15-avail_weather_09202021.jpg?resize=1097,1536 1097w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Apple_iOS15-avail_weather_09202021.jpg?resize=36,50 36w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />
<p id="caption-attachment-2205244" class="wp-caption-text"><strong>Image Credits:</strong> Apple</p>
</div>
<h2>Tips and tricks</h2>
<p>There are a ton of small changes that make iOS 15 better than iOS 14. Let me list some of them:</p>
<ul>
<li>If you have a compatible home key, hotel key, office key or ID card, you can now add all of those to the Wallet app.</li>
<li>You can share some health data with someone else. It can be useful if you’re living far away from your loved ones or if you want to update your healthcare team.</li>
<li>If you pay for iCloud, you’re now an iCloud+ users. In addition to storage, you get additional features. iCloud Private Relay, which is available as a beta feature, lets you browse the web with increased privacy. Hide My Email lets you create randomly generated email addresses to create new accounts around the web.</li>
<li>Similarly, if your family is using iCloud for their email addresses, you can now set up a personal domain name and set it up in iCloud.</li>
<li>iOS uses on-device speech recognition, which means that you can dictate text much faster.</li>
<li>But that’s not all, iOS processes some Siri requests on your device directly, which means that you can start a timer, set an alarm or change the music instantly. It has changed the way I use Siri.</li>
<li>You can add an account recovery contact in case you get locked out of your iCloud account. This is important to convince more people to use two-factor authentication.</li>
<li>Talking about two-factor authentication, Apple’s built-in password manager called ‘Passwords’ can now save 2FA details and auto-fill 2FA fields. It works pretty much like 2FA in 1Password.</li>
<li>You can set up a legacy person for your Apple ID. I encourage you to look at that feature carefully. I’ve talked with several persons who couldn’t get their loved one’s photos after they passed away because Apple couldn’t just hand out the photos.</li>
<li>Apple has added tags to Reminders and Notes. You can also @-mention people in Notes.</li>
</ul>
<p>As you can see, the list of changes in iOS 15 is quite long. But it’s up to you to decide whether you want to update to iOS 15. When Apple added cut, copy and paste with <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IPhone_OS_3">iPhone OS 3</a>, it was an obvious decision. I personally like the new features and it was worth updating. And I hope this review can help you decide whether to update or not.</p>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07708768578194219823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6524377267326650797.post-90472853048041059192021-09-20T17:18:00.001-07:002021-09-20T17:18:06.578-07:00iOS 15 is now available to download<p id="speakable-summary">Apple has just released the final version of <a href="https://www.apple.com/ios/ios-15/">iOS 15</a>, the next major version of the operating system for the iPhone. It is a free download and it works with the iPhone 6s or later, both generations of iPhone SE and the most recent iPod touch model (iPad users will also be able to update to <a href="https://www.apple.com/ipados/ipados-15/">iPadOS 15</a> and <a href="https://www.apple.com/watchos/watchos-8/">watchOS 8</a> today).</p>
<p>The biggest change of iOS 15 is a new Focus mode. In addition to “Do not disturb,” you can configure various modes — you can choose apps and people you want notifications from and change your focus depending on what you’re doing. For instance, you can create a Work mode, a Sleep mode, a Workout mode, etc.</p>
<p>There are many new features across the board, such as a new Weather app, updated maps in Apple Maps, an improved version of FaceTime, and more. Safari also has a brand-new look.</p>
<p>The new version of iOS also scans your photos for text. Called Live Text, this feature lets you highlight, copy and paste text in photos. It could be a nice accessibility feature as well; iOS is going to leverage that info for Spotlight. You can search for text in your photos directly in Spotlight and it’ll pull out relevant photos. These features are handled on-device directly.</p>
<p>Paid iCloud users have been upgraded to iCloud+. In addition to more storage, iCloud+ subscribers get a handful of new features. iCloud Private Relay, which is available as a beta feature, lets you browse the web with increased privacy. Hide My Email lets you create randomly generated email addresses to create new accounts around the web. ICloud email users can also switch to a personal domain name.</p>
<p>The update is currently rolling out and is available both over-the-air in the Settings app, and by plugging your device to your computer for a wired update. But first, back up your device. Make sure your iCloud backup is up to date by opening the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad and tapping on your account information at the top and then on your device name. Additionally, you can also plug your iOS device to your computer to do a manual backup in Finder or iTunes for Windows (or do both, really).</p>
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<p>Don’t forget to encrypt your backup in iTunes. It is much safer if somebody hacks your computer. And encrypted backups include saved passwords and health data. This way, you don’t have to reconnect to all your online accounts.</p>
<p>Once this is done, you should go to the Settings app, then “General” and then “Software Update.” You should see “Update Requested…” It will then automatically start downloading once the download is available.</p>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07708768578194219823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6524377267326650797.post-71826825772309314662021-09-20T12:18:00.003-07:002021-09-20T12:18:57.146-07:00Facetune maker Lightricks raises $130 million ahead of M&A plans<p id="speakable-summary">Facetune developer <a href="https://www.lightricks.com/">Lightricks</a>, which operates over a dozen subscription-based photo and video editing apps across iOS and Android, now has $130 million in new funding to further grow its business. The company’s newly announced Series D round includes $100 million in primary and $30 million in secondary funding, and now values the company at $1.8 billion. To date, Lightricks has raised $335 million.</p>
<p>The new round was co-led by New York-based VC firm Insight Partners and Hanaco Venture Capital and includes new investors Migdal Insurance, Altshuler Shaham, and Shavit Capital. Existing investors Goldman Sachs Asset Management, Clal Tech, Harel Insurance and Finance, and Greycroft, also participated.</p>
<p>The company’s last round of funding was its pre-pandemic <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2019/07/31/the-maker-of-popular-selfie-app-facetune-just-landed-135-million-at-a-unicorn-valuation/">raise of $135 million</a>, which minted the company as a unicorn.</p>
<p>Based in Jerusalem, Lightricks has been best known for its photo-editing app Facetune, which puts Photoshop-like retouching tools into the hands of consumers. The app quickly gained traction as online influencers tweaked their Instagram photos to look more polished, perfected, and blemish-free. This growth wasn’t without controversy, however, as some argued how image editing apps like Facetune <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/media/2018/mar/09/facetune-photoshopping-app-instagram-body-image-debate">took airbrushing too far,</a> contributing to body image issues that now, <a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/facebook-knows-instagram-is-toxic-for-teen-girls-company-documents-show-11631620739">Facebook’s internal research indicates</a>, could have a negative effect on teenagers’ mental health.</p>
<p>But Facetune was only the beginning for what’s since become a mobile editing empire for Lightricks, at a time when everyone is trying to look their best online and create compelling content. Over the years, the company has rolled out the <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2016/11/28/facetune-2-puts-a-powerful-photo-editor-in-your-pocket/">more powerful Facetune 2</a>, along with <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2017/07/06/facetune-makers-newest-app-enlight-photofox-is-a-powerful-image-editor/">other creativity</a> and <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2017/09/05/facetune-makers-latest-app-quickshot-helps-you-take-better-photos/">mobile photo apps</a> that weren’t focused on selfies. It also expanded its product lineup beyond the creator crowd to <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2019/10/02/facetune-maker-lightricks-expands-with-a-trio-of-apps-for-small-businesses/">bring a suite of tools</a> to online marketers and small businesses. And last year, Lightricks more directly responded to the growth in online video as a form of self-expression with a <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2020/07/28/facetune-maker-lightricks-brings-its-popular-selfie-retouching-features-to-video/">new selfie retouching tool called Facetune Video</a> — essentially the Facetune for the TikTok era.</p>
<div id="attachment_2023444" style="width: 690px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-2023444" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-2023444" src="https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Screen-Shot-2020-07-28-at-12.58.48-PM.jpg?w=680" alt="" width="680" height="378" srcset="https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Screen-Shot-2020-07-28-at-12.58.48-PM.jpg 1988w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Screen-Shot-2020-07-28-at-12.58.48-PM.jpg?resize=150,83 150w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Screen-Shot-2020-07-28-at-12.58.48-PM.jpg?resize=300,167 300w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Screen-Shot-2020-07-28-at-12.58.48-PM.jpg?resize=768,426 768w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Screen-Shot-2020-07-28-at-12.58.48-PM.jpg?resize=680,378 680w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Screen-Shot-2020-07-28-at-12.58.48-PM.jpg?resize=1536,853 1536w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Screen-Shot-2020-07-28-at-12.58.48-PM.jpg?resize=50,28 50w" sizes="(max-width: 680px) 100vw, 680px" />
<p id="caption-attachment-2023444" class="wp-caption-text"><strong>Image Credits:</strong> Lightricks</p>
</div>
<p>The company benefitted from Covid-19 lockdowns, as well, as more people participated online and creators, as a group, became more well-established as a way for brands to reach consumers. During peak lockdowns, the company saw a 90% increase in usage across its apps in the U.S. Meanwhile, downloads for its popular Videoleap video editing apps jumped 70% since the start of the pandemic, as TikTok adoption also grew.</p>
<div class="piano-inline-promo"></div>
<p>Across its suite of apps, the company now touts 29 million monthly active users, where over 5 million are paid subscribers. Its users average around 78 million monthly exports, indicating Lightricks’ sizable impact on the creator economy. In 2021, Lightricks is on track for over $200 million in revenue and plans to grow that figure by 40% in the year ahead.</p>
<p>To do so, the company’s strategy will change. Instead of just developing its own apps, it’s now on the hunt for potential acquisitions.</p>
<p>“Our plan is to grow into a one-stop-shop creator platform, supporting creators throughout their journey, from content creation to monetization,” says Zeev Farbman, CEO and Co-Founder of Lightricks. “To do so, we are broadening our acquisition activity, while developing other services in-house—our overall M&A objective is advancing our shift into the creator’s platform. To begin, we are planning between three to five acquisitions, each with a budget of tens of millions of dollars. However, we are also on the lookout for larger ticket size deals if there is enough conviction on both sides,” he notes.</p>
<div id="attachment_2204983" style="width: 690px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-2204983" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-2204983" src="https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/facetune-app-store-screens.png?w=680" alt="" width="680" height="232" srcset="https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/facetune-app-store-screens.png 4038w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/facetune-app-store-screens.png?resize=150,51 150w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/facetune-app-store-screens.png?resize=300,102 300w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/facetune-app-store-screens.png?resize=768,262 768w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/facetune-app-store-screens.png?resize=680,232 680w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/facetune-app-store-screens.png?resize=1536,523 1536w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/facetune-app-store-screens.png?resize=2048,697 2048w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/facetune-app-store-screens.png?resize=50,17 50w" sizes="(max-width: 680px) 100vw, 680px" />
<p id="caption-attachment-2204983" class="wp-caption-text"><strong>Image Credits:</strong> Lightricks</p>
</div>
<p>The company will also enhance its own technology to develop tools and services that will help all creators with content production and monetization, and it will grow its team.</p>
<p>Currently, Lightricks has 460 employees and plans to add 60 more by the end of 2021. The longer-term goal is to grow the team to 1,000 employees by the end of 2023, across roles that include developers, designers, and marketing. While most of this growth to date has taken place in Jerusalem, over the next two years, the company plans to grow its teams locally in Haifa, as well as internationally in London and Shenzhen. It may add on other locations through M&As, as well.</p>
<p>The U.K. office is now the largest outside of Lightricks’ headquarters, with 23 people. This number is expected to climb to 35 by year-end and be closer to 50 or 60 by the end of 2022, with growth focused on the production of the company’s new photography app plus Customer Experience and Marketing teams, which were previously only in Israel.</p>
<p>In the U.S., Lightricks is focused on content.</p>
<p>“Our U.S.-based activity will focus mostly on our content efforts that will provide a vast array of original, acquired, and co-produced content to inspire, educate and entertain creators across the entirety of their careers,” notes Farbman. “This includes written, video, audio, short and long-form, fun and informative content,” he says.</p>
<p>Investors say they see the potential for Lightricks to continue to grow as the creator economy booms.</p>
<p>“The creator economy has changed the way we, as a society, experience social networks,” said Pasha Romanovski, Co-Founding Partner of Hanaco Ventures, in a statement. “Audiences constantly consume information through the different content channels daily. Lightricks’ platform enables creators to have a broader, more professional, and higher-quality set of tools to optimize content. At a time when we are seeing content creators monetize content on social media at new levels, it is clear that Lightricks’ platform has the ability to create a one-stop shop that will be meaningful to its users,” he added.</p>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07708768578194219823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6524377267326650797.post-58612567137771594782021-09-20T12:18:00.001-07:002021-09-20T12:18:55.923-07:00Roku debuts new Streaming Stick 4K bundles, software update with voice and mobile features<p id="speakable-summary">Weeks after Amazon introduced an updated Fire TV lineup that included, for the first time, <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2021/09/09/amazon-is-releasing-its-own-tvs-with-alexa-built-in/">its own TVs</a>, Roku today is announcing its own competitive products in a race to capture consumers’ attention before the holiday shopping season. Its updates include a new Roku Streaming Stick 4K and Roku Streaming Stick 4K+ — the latter which ships with Roku’s newer hands-free voice remote. The company is also refreshing the Roku Ultra LT, a Walmart-exclusive version of its high-end player. And it announced the latest software update, Roku OS 10.5, which adds updated voice features, a new Live TV channel for home screens, and other minor changes.</p>
<p>The new Streaming Stick 4K builds on Roku’s four-year-old <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2019/09/19/roku-unveils-a-new-streaming-player-lineup-plus-roku-os-9-2-launch/">product</a>, the Streaming Stick+, as it offers the same type of stick form factor designed to be hidden behind the TV set. This version, however, has a faster processor which allows the device to boot up to 30% faster and load channels more quickly, Roku claims. The Wi-Fi is also improved, offering faster speeds and smart algorithms that help make sure users get on the right band for the best performance in their homes where network congestion is an increasingly common problem — especially with the pandemic-induced remote work lifestyle. The new Stick adds support for Dolby Vision and HDR 10+, giving it the “4K” moniker.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-2204898" src="https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Roku-Streaming-Stick-4K.png?w=680" alt="" width="680" height="425" srcset="https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Roku-Streaming-Stick-4K.png 1500w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Roku-Streaming-Stick-4K.png?resize=150,94 150w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Roku-Streaming-Stick-4K.png?resize=300,187 300w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Roku-Streaming-Stick-4K.png?resize=768,480 768w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Roku-Streaming-Stick-4K.png?resize=680,425 680w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Roku-Streaming-Stick-4K.png?resize=50,31 50w" sizes="(max-width: 680px) 100vw, 680px" /></p>
<p>This version ships with Roku’s standard voice remote for the same price of $49.99. For comparison, <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2021/09/09/amazon-is-releasing-its-own-tvs-with-alexa-built-in/">Amazon’s new</a> Fire TV Stick Max with a faster processor and speedier Wi-Fi is $54.99. However, Amazon is touting the addition of Wi-Fi 6 and support for its game streaming service, Luna, as reasons to upgrade.</p>
<p>Roku’s new Streaming Stick 4K+ adds the Roku Voice Remote Pro to the bundle instead. This is Roku’s new remote, <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2021/04/13/roku-launches-a-rechargeable-hands-free-voice-remote-and-other-devices-rolls-out-roku-os-10/">launched in the spring</a>, that offers rechargeability, a lost remote finder, and hands-free voice support via its mid-field microphone, so you can just say things like “hey Roku, turn on the TV,” or “launch Netflix,” instead of pressing buttons. Bought separately, this remote is $29.99. The bundle sells for $69.99, which translates to a $10 discount over buying the stick and remote by themselves.</p>
<div id="attachment_2204896" style="width: 690px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-2204896" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-2204896" src="https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Roku-Streaming-Stick-4K_behind-TV.png?w=680" alt="" width="680" height="523" srcset="https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Roku-Streaming-Stick-4K_behind-TV.png 2340w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Roku-Streaming-Stick-4K_behind-TV.png?resize=150,115 150w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Roku-Streaming-Stick-4K_behind-TV.png?resize=300,231 300w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Roku-Streaming-Stick-4K_behind-TV.png?resize=768,591 768w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Roku-Streaming-Stick-4K_behind-TV.png?resize=680,523 680w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Roku-Streaming-Stick-4K_behind-TV.png?resize=1536,1182 1536w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Roku-Streaming-Stick-4K_behind-TV.png?resize=2048,1575 2048w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Roku-Streaming-Stick-4K_behind-TV.png?resize=50,38 50w" sizes="(max-width: 680px) 100vw, 680px" />
<p id="caption-attachment-2204896" class="wp-caption-text"><strong>Image Credits:</strong> Roku</p>
</div>
<p>Both versions of the Streaming Stick will be sold online and in stores starting in October.</p>
<div class="piano-inline-promo"></div>
<p>The Roku Ultra LT ($79.99), built for Walmart exclusively, has also been refreshed with a faster processor, more storage, a new Wi-Fi radio with up to 50% longer range, support for Dolby Vision, Bluetooth audio streaming, and a built-in ethernet port.</p>
<p>Plus, Roku notes that TCL will become the first device partner to use the reference designs it introduced at CES for wireless soundbars, with its upcoming Roku TV wireless soundbar. This device connects over Wi-Fi to the TV and works with the Roku remote, and will arrive at major retailers in October where it will sell for $179.99.</p>
<p>The other big news is Roku’s OS 10.5 software release. The update isn’t making any dramatic changes this time around, but is instead focused largely on voice and mobile improvements.</p>
<p>The most noticeable consumer-facing change is the ability to add a new Live TV channel to your home screen which lets you more easily launch The Roku Channel’s 200+ free live TV channels, instead of having to first visit Roku’s free streaming hub directly, then navigate to the Live TV section. This could make the Roku feel more like traditional TV for cord-cutters abandoning their TV guide for the first time.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-2204894" src="https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Roku-OS-10.5.jpg?w=680" alt="" width="680" height="356" srcset="https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Roku-OS-10.5.jpg 1200w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Roku-OS-10.5.jpg?resize=150,79 150w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Roku-OS-10.5.jpg?resize=300,157 300w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Roku-OS-10.5.jpg?resize=768,402 768w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Roku-OS-10.5.jpg?resize=680,356 680w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Roku-OS-10.5.jpg?resize=50,26 50w" sizes="(max-width: 680px) 100vw, 680px" /></p>
<p>Other tweaks include expanded support for launching channels using voice commands, with most now supported; new voice search and podcast playback with a more visual “music and podcast” row and Spotify as a launch partner; the ability to control sound settings in the mobile app; an added Voice Help guide in settings; and additional sound configuration options for Roku speakers and soundbars (e.g. using the speaker pairs and soundbar in a left/center/right) or in full 5.1 surround sound system).</p>
<p>A handy feature for entering in email and passwords in set-up screens using voice commands is new, too. Roku says it sends the voice data off-device to its speech-to-text partner, and the audio is anonymized. Roku doesn’t get the password or store it, as it goes directly to the channel partner. While there are always privacy concerns with voice data, the addition is a big perk from an accessibility standpoint.</p>
<div id="attachment_2204891" style="width: 690px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-2204891" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-2204891" src="https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Roku-Audio_3.1-configuration.jpg?w=680" alt="" width="680" height="383" srcset="https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Roku-Audio_3.1-configuration.jpg 1920w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Roku-Audio_3.1-configuration.jpg?resize=150,84 150w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Roku-Audio_3.1-configuration.jpg?resize=300,169 300w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Roku-Audio_3.1-configuration.jpg?resize=768,432 768w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Roku-Audio_3.1-configuration.jpg?resize=680,383 680w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Roku-Audio_3.1-configuration.jpg?resize=1536,864 1536w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Roku-Audio_3.1-configuration.jpg?resize=50,28 50w" sizes="(max-width: 680px) 100vw, 680px" />
<p id="caption-attachment-2204891" class="wp-caption-text"><strong>Image Credits:</strong> Roku</p>
</div>
<p>One of the more under-the-radar, but potentially useful changes coming in OS 10.5 is an advanced A/V sync feature that lets you use the smartphone camera to help Roku make further refinements to the audio delay when using wireless headphones to listen to the TV. This feature is offered through the mobile app.</p>
<p>The Roku mobile app in the U.S. is also gaining another feature with the OS 10.5 update with the addition of a new Home tab for browsing collections of movies and shows across genres, and a “Save List, which functions as a way to bookmark shows or movies you might hear about — like when chatting with friends — and want to remember to watch later when you’re back home in front of the TV.</p>
<p>The software update will roll out to Roku devices over the weeks ahead. It typically comes to Roku players first, then rolls out to TVs.</p>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07708768578194219823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6524377267326650797.post-24169748814010738052021-09-20T02:18:00.001-07:002021-09-20T02:18:56.619-07:00Pakistan edtech startup Maqsad gets $2.1M pre-seed to make education more accessible<p id="speakable-summary"><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/taha-ahmed-8884a292/">Taha Ahmed</a> and <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/rooshan-aziz-04710875/">Rooshan Aziz</a> left their jobs in strategy consulting and investment banking in London earlier this year in order to found a mobile-only education platform startup, <a href="https://maqsad.io/">Maqsad</a>, in Pakistan, with a goal “to make education more accessible to 100 million Pakistani students.”</p>
<p>Having grown up in Karachi, childhood friends Ahmed and Aziz are aware of the challenges about the Pakistani education system, which is notably worse for those not living in large urban areas (the nation’s student-teacher ratio is 44:1). Pakistani children are less likely to go to school for each kilometer of distance between school and their home — with girls being four times affected, Maqsad co-founder Aziz said.</p>
<p>Maqsad announced today its $2.1 million pre-seed round to enhance its content platform growth and invest in R&D.</p>
<p>The pre-seed round, which was completed in just three weeks via virtual meetings, was led by Indus Valley Capital, with participation from Alter Global, Fatima Gobi Ventures and several angel investors from Pakistan, the Middle East and Europe.</p>
<p>Maqsad will use the proceeds for developing in-house content, such as production studio, academics and animators, as well as bolstering R&D and engineering, Aziz told TechCrunch. The company will focus on the K-12 education in Pakistan, including 11th and 12th grade math, with plans to expand into other STEM subjects for the next one-two years, Aziz said.</p>
<p>Maqsad’s platform, which provides a one-stop shop for after-school academic content in a mix of English and Urdu, will be supplemented by quizzes and other gamified features that will come together to offer a personalized education to individuals. Its platform features include adaptive testing that alter a question’s level of difficulty depending on users’ responses, Aziz explained.</p>
<p>The word “maqsad” means purpose in Urdu.</p>
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<p>“We believe everyone has a purpose. Maqsad’s mission is to enable Pakistani students to realize this purpose; whether you are a student from an urban centre, such as Lahore, or from a remote village in Sindh: Maqsad believes in equal opportunity for all,” Aziz said.</p>
<p>“We are building a mobile-first platform, given that 95% of broadband users in Pakistan are via mobile. Most other platforms are not mobile optimized,” Aziz added.</p>
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<p>“It’s about more than just getting students to pass their exams. We want to start a revolution in the way Pakistani students learn, moving beyond rote memorization to a place of real comprehension,” said co-founder Taha Ahmed, who was a former strategy consultant at LEK.</p>
<p>The company ran small pilots in April and May and started full-scale operations on 26 July, Aziz said, adding that Maqsad will launch its mobile app, currently under development, in the coming months in Q4 2021 and has a waitlist for early access.</p>
<p>“Struggles of students during the early days of the pandemic motivated us to run a pilot. With promising initial traction and user feedback, the size of the opportunity to digitize the education sector became very clear,” Aziz said.</p>
<p>The COVID-19 pandemic reshaped the education industry, heating up the global edtech startups that made online education more accessible for a wider population, for example in countries like India and Indonesia, Aziz mentioned.</p>
<p>The education market size in Pakistan is estimated at $12 billion and is projected to increase to $30 billion by 2030, according to Aziz.</p>
<p>It plans to build the company as a hybrid center offering online and offline courses like Byju’s and Aakash, and expand classes for adults such as MasterClass, the U.S.-based online classes for adults, as its long-term plans, Aziz said.</p>
<p>“Maqsad founders’ deep understanding of the problem, unique approach to solving it and passion for impact persuaded us quickly,” the founder and managing partner of Indus Valley Capital, <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/aatifawan/">Aatif Awan</a>, said.</p>
<p>“Pakistan’s edtech opportunity is one of the largest in the world and we are excited to back Maqsad in delivering tech-powered education that levels access, quality and across Pakistan’s youth and creates lasting social change,” <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/ali-mukhtar-842327139/?originalSubdomain=pk">Ali Mukhtar</a>, general partner of Fatima Gobi Ventures said.</p>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07708768578194219823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6524377267326650797.post-32904132464336463762021-09-16T10:18:00.001-07:002021-09-16T10:18:53.585-07:00Tile secures $40 million to take on Apple AirTag with new products<p id="speakable-summary"><a href="https://www.thetileapp.com/">Tile</a>, the maker of Bluetooth-powered lost item finder beacons and, more recently, <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2021/04/20/tile-bashes-apples-new-airtag-as-unfair-competition/">a staunch Apple critic</a>, announced today it has raised $40 million in non-dilutive debt financing from Capital IP. The funding will be put towards investment in Tile’s finding technologies, ahead of the company’s plan to unveil a new slate of products and features that the company believes will help it to better compete with <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2021/04/20/apple-officially-unveils-its-lost-item-finder-airtag/">Apple’s AirTags</a> and further expand its market.</p>
<p>The company has been a longtime leader in the lost item finder space, offering consumers small devices they can attach to items — like handbags, luggage, bikes, wallets, keys, and more — which can then be tracked using the Tile smartphone app for iOS or Android. When items go missing, the Tile app leverages Bluetooth to find the items and can make them play a sound. If the items are further afield, Tile taps into its broader <a href="https://www.thetileapp.com/en-us/blog/what-is-tile-network-community-find-lost-stolen-far-away">finding network</a> consisting of everyone who has the app installed on their phone and other access points. Through this network, Tile is able to automatically and anonymously communicate the lost item’s location back to its owner through their own Tile app.</p>
<div id="attachment_2203454" style="width: 690px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-2203454" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-2203454" src="https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Floral_1080x1080-copy.jpg?w=680" alt="" width="680" height="680" />
<p id="caption-attachment-2203454" class="wp-caption-text"><strong>Image Credits:</strong> Tile</p>
</div>
<p>Tile has also formed partnerships focused on integrating its finding network into over 40 different third-party devices, including those across audio, travel, wearables, and PC categories. Notable brand <a href="https://www.thetileapp.com/en-us/partners">partners</a> include HP, Dell, Fitbit, Skullcandy, Away, Xfinity, Plantronics, Sennheiser, Bose, Intel, and others. Tile says it’s seen 200% year-over-year growth on activations of these devices with its service embedded.</p>
<p>To date, Tile has sold over 40 million devices and has over 425,000 paying customers — a metric it’s revealing for the first time. It doesn’t disclose its total number of users, both free and paid combined, however. During the first half of 2021, Tile says revenues increased by over 50%, but didn’t provide hard numbers.</p>
<p>While Tile admits that the Covid-19 pandemic had some impacts on international expansions, as some markets have been slower to rebound, it has still seen strong performance outside the U.S., and considers that a continued focus.</p>
<p>The pandemic, however, hasn’t been Tile’s only speed bump.</p>
<div class="piano-inline-promo"></div>
<p>When Apple <a href="https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2021/04/apple-introduces-airtag/">announced</a> its plans to compete with the launch of AirTags, Tile went on record to <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-04-19/senate-to-call-spotify-match-at-apple-google-antitrust-hearing?sref=gni836kR">call it unfair competition</a>. Unlike Tile devices, Apple’s products could tap into the iPhone’s U1 chip to allow for more accurate finding through the use of ultra-wideband technologies available on newer iPhone models. Tile, meanwhile, has <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2021/01/05/tile-to-launch-to-launch-a-new-tracker-powered-by-ultra-wideband-technology/">plans</a> for its own ultra-wideband powered device, but hadn’t been provided the same access. In other words, Apple gave its own lost item finder early, exclusive access to a feature that would allow it to differentiate itself from the competition. (Apple has since announced it’s making ultra-wideband APIs available to third-party developers, but this access wasn’t available from day one of AirTag’s arrival.)</p>
<div id="attachment_2092114" style="width: 690px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-2092114" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-2092114" src="https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Screen-Shot-2021-01-04-at-3.03.02-PM.jpg?w=680" alt="" width="680" height="458" srcset="https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Screen-Shot-2021-01-04-at-3.03.02-PM.jpg 1184w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Screen-Shot-2021-01-04-at-3.03.02-PM.jpg?resize=150,101 150w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Screen-Shot-2021-01-04-at-3.03.02-PM.jpg?resize=300,202 300w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Screen-Shot-2021-01-04-at-3.03.02-PM.jpg?resize=768,518 768w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Screen-Shot-2021-01-04-at-3.03.02-PM.jpg?resize=680,458 680w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Screen-Shot-2021-01-04-at-3.03.02-PM.jpg?resize=50,34 50w" sizes="(max-width: 680px) 100vw, 680px" />
<p id="caption-attachment-2092114" class="wp-caption-text"><strong>Image Credits:</strong> Tile internal concept art</p>
</div>
<p>Tile has been vocal on the matter of Apple’s anti-competitive behavior, having testified in multiple <a href="https://9to5mac.com/2020/01/17/tile-apple-antitrust-opening-statement/">Congressional</a> <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-tech-antitrust-apple-tile/tile-says-apples-behavior-is-anticompetitive-and-has-gotten-worse-not-better-idUSKBN21J72V?feedType=RSS&feedName=technologyNews&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+reuters%2FtechnologyNews+%28Reuters+Technology+News%29">hearings</a> alongside other Apple critics, like Spotify and Match. As a result of increased regulatory pressure, Apple later <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2021/04/07/e-bikes-and-earbuds-among-the-first-third-party-hardware-to-support-apples-find-my-tracking/">opened up its Find My network</a> to third-party devices, in an effort to placate Tile and the other rivals its AirTags would disadvantage.</p>
<p>But Tile doesn’t want to route its customers to Apple’s first-party app — it intends to use its own app in order to compete based on its proprietary features and services. Among other things, this includes Tile’s subscriptions. A base plan is $29.99 per year, offering features like free battery replacement, smart alerts, and location history. A $99.99 per year plan also adds insurance of sorts — it pays up to $1,000 per year for items it can’t find. (AirTag doesn’t do that.)</p>
<p>Despite its many differentiators, Tile faces <a href="https://www.cnet.com/tech/mobile/apple-airtags-3-ways-theyre-better-tile-trackers-3-ways-worse/">steep competition</a> from the ultra-wideband capable AirTags, which have the advantage of tapping into Apple’s own finding network of potentially hundreds of millions of iPhone owners.</p>
<p>However, Tile CEO CJ Prober — who <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2018/09/24/tile-names-gopro-vet-cj-prober-new-ceo-adds-comcast-as-investor-and-new-product-partner/">joined the company in 2018</a> — claims AirTag hasn’t impacted the company’s revenue or device sales.</p>
<p>“But that doesn’t take away from the fact that they’re making things harder for us,” he says of Apple. “We’re a growing business. We’re winning the hearts and minds of consumers… and they’re competing unfairly.”</p>
<p>“When you own the platform, you shouldn’t be able to identify a category that you want to enter, disadvantage the incumbents in that category, and then advantage yourself — like they did in our case,” he adds.</p>
<p>Tile is preparing to announce an upcoming product refresh that may allow it to better take on the AirTag. Presumably, this will include the pre-announced <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2021/01/05/tile-to-launch-to-launch-a-new-tracker-powered-by-ultra-wideband-technology/">ultra-wideband version of Tile</a>, but the company says full details will be shared next week. Tile may also expand its lineup in other ways that will allow it to better compete based on look and feel, size and shape, and functionality.</p>
<p>Tile’s last round of funding was <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2019/07/24/tile-finds-another-45m-for-its-item-tracking-platform/">$45 million in growth equity</a> in 2019. Now it’s shifted to debt. In addition to new debt financing, Tile is also refinancing some of its existing debt with this fundraise, it says.</p>
<p>“My philosophy is it’s always good to have a mix of debt and equity. So some amount of debt on the balance sheet is good. And it doesn’t incur dilution to our shareholders,” Prober says. “We felt this was the right mix of capital choice for us.”</p>
<p>The company chose to work with Capital IP, a group it’s had a relationship with over the last three years, and who Tile had considered bringing on as an investor. The group has remained interested in Tile and excited about its trajectory, Prober notes.</p>
<p>“We are excited to partner with the Tile team as they continue to define and lead the finding category through hardware and software-based innovations,” said Capital IP’s Managing Partner Riyad Shahjahan, in a statement. “The impressive revenue growth and fast-climbing subscriber trends underline the value proposition that Tile delivers in a platform-agnostic manner, and were a critical driver in our decision to invest. The Tile team has an ambitious roadmap ahead and we look forward to supporting their entry into new markets and applications to further cement their market leadership,” he added.</p>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07708768578194219823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6524377267326650797.post-12489234363885068892021-09-15T14:18:00.001-07:002021-09-15T14:18:42.943-07:00News aggregator SmartNews raises $230 million, valuing its business at $2 billion<p id="speakable-summary"><a href="https://www.smartnews.com/en/">SmartNews</a>, a Tokyo-headquartered news aggregation website and app that’s grown in popularity despite hefty competition from built-in aggregators like Apple News, today announced it has closed on $230 million in Series F funding. The round brings SmartNews’ total raise to date to over $400 million and values the business at $2 billion — or as the company touts <a href="https://about.smartnews.com/en/2021/09/15/smartnews-raises-230-million-in-series-f-funding-at-a-2-billion-valuation-plans-to-invest-in-u-s-growth/">in its press release</a>, a “double unicorn.” (Ha!)</p>
<p>The funding included new U.S. investors Princeville Capital and Woodline Partners, as well as JIC Venture Growth Investments, Green Co-Invest Investment, and Yamauchi-No.10 Family Office in Japan. Existing investors participating in this round included ACA Investments and SMBC Venture Capital.</p>
<p>Founded in 2012 in Japan, the company launched to the U.S. in 2014 and <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2020/03/03/smartnews-local-news-feature-now-covers-more-than-6000-u-s-cities/">expanded its local news footprint</a> early last year. While the app’s content team includes former journalists, machine learning is used to pick which articles are shown to readers to personalize their experience. However, one of the app’s key differentiators is how it works to pop users’ “<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Filter_bubble">filter bubbles</a>” through its “News From All Sides” feature, which allows its users to access news from across a range of political perspectives.</p>
<p>It has also developed new products, like its Covid-19 vaccine dashboard and U.S. election dashboard, that provide critical information at a glance. With the additional funds, the company says it plans to develop more features for its U.S. audience — one of its largest, in addition to Japan — that will focus on consumer health and safety. These will roll out in the next few months and will include features for tracking wildfires and crime and safety reports. It also recently launched a hurricane tracker.</p>
<p>The aggregator’s business model is largely focused on advertising, as <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2019/11/18/smartnews-funding/">the company has said before</a> that 85-80% of Americans aren’t paying to subscribe to news. But SmartNews’ belief is that these news consumers still have a right to access quality information.</p>
<p>In total, SmartNews has relationships with over 3,000 global publishing partners whose content is available through its service on the web and mobile devices.</p>
<p>To generate revenue, the company sells inline ads and video ads, where revenue is shared with publishers. Over 75% of its publishing partners also take advantage of its “<a href="https://about.smartnews.com/en/2016/07/29/introducing-smartview-first-read-more-faster/">SmartView</a>” feature. This is the app’s quick-reading mode, and alternative to something like Google AMP. Here, users can quickly load an article to read, even if they’re offline. The company <a href="https://about.smartnews.com/en/publishers/">promises publishers</a> that these mobile-friendly stories, which are marked with a lightning bolt icon in the app, deliver higher engagement — and its algorithm rewards that type of content, bringing them more readers. Among SmartView partners are well-known brands like USA Today, ABC, HuffPost, and others. Currently, over 70% of all SmartNews’ pageviews are coming from SmartView first.</p>
<div class="piano-inline-promo"></div>
<p>SmartNews’ app has proven to be very sticky, in terms of attracting and keeping users’ attention. The company tells us, citing App Annie July 2021 data, that it sees an average time spent per user per month on U.S. mobile devices that’s higher than Google News or Apple News combined.</p>
<div id="attachment_2203126" style="width: 690px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-2203126" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-2203126" src="https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/smartnews.png?w=680" alt="" width="680" height="334" srcset="https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/smartnews.png 1576w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/smartnews.png?resize=150,74 150w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/smartnews.png?resize=300,147 300w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/smartnews.png?resize=768,377 768w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/smartnews.png?resize=680,334 680w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/smartnews.png?resize=1536,754 1536w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/smartnews.png?resize=50,25 50w" sizes="(max-width: 680px) 100vw, 680px" />
<p id="caption-attachment-2203126" class="wp-caption-text"><strong>Image Credits:</strong> App Annie data provided by SmartNews</p>
</div>
<p>The company declined to share its monthly active users (MAUs), but had said in 2019 it had grown to 20 million in the U.S. and Japan. Today, it says its U.S. MAUs doubled over the last year.</p>
<p>According to data provided to us by <a href="https://apptopia.com/">Apptopia</a>, the SmartNews app has seen around 85 million downloads since its October 2014 launch, and 14 million of those took place in the past 365 days. Japan is the largest market for installs, accounting for 59% of lifetime downloads, the firm noted.</p>
<p>“This latest round of funding further affirms the strength of our mission, and fuels our drive to expand our presence and launch features that specifically appeal to users and publishers in the United States,” said SmartNews co-founder and CEO Ken Suzuki. “Our investors both in the U.S. and globally acknowledge the tremendous growth potential and value of SmartNews’s efforts to democratize access to information and create an ecosystem that benefits consumers, publishers, and advertisers,” he added.</p>
<p>The company says the new funds will be used to invest in further U.S. growth and expanding the company’s team. Since <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2019/08/04/news-discovery-app-smartnews-valued-at-1-1b/">its last fundraise in 2019</a>, where it became a unicorn, the company more than doubled its headcount to approximately 500 people globally. it now plans to double its headcount of 100 in the U.S., with additions across engineering, product, and leadership roles.</p>
<p>The Wall Street Journal reports SmartNews is <a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/smartnews-app-raises-230-million-considers-possible-ipo-11631700001">exploring an IPO</a>, but the company declined to comment on this.</p>
<p>The SmartNews app is available on iOS and Android across more than 150 countries worldwide.</p>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07708768578194219823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6524377267326650797.post-12200814959623698742021-09-14T17:18:00.005-07:002021-09-14T17:18:39.732-07:00Apple sheds value during iPhone event<p id="speakable-summary">The TechCrunch crew is hard at work writing up <a href="https://techcrunch.com/tag/apple-fall-event-2021/">the latest</a> from Apple’s iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch event. They have good notes on the megacorp’s hardware updates. But what are the markets saying about the same array of products?</p>
<p>For those of us more concerned with effective S&P dividend yields than screen nit levels, events like Apple’s confab are more interesting for what they might mean for the value of the hosting company than how many GPUs a particular smartphone model has. And, for once, Apple’s stock may have done something a little interesting during the event!</p>
<p>Observe the following chart:</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-2202582" src="https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/AAPL_%5ESPXTR_%5EIXIC_chart.png?w=680" alt="" width="680" height="439" srcset="https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/AAPL_^SPXTR_^IXIC_chart.png 2000w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/AAPL_^SPXTR_^IXIC_chart.png?resize=150,97 150w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/AAPL_^SPXTR_^IXIC_chart.png?resize=300,194 300w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/AAPL_^SPXTR_^IXIC_chart.png?resize=768,496 768w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/AAPL_^SPXTR_^IXIC_chart.png?resize=680,439 680w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/AAPL_^SPXTR_^IXIC_chart.png?resize=1536,991 1536w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/AAPL_^SPXTR_^IXIC_chart.png?resize=50,32 50w" sizes="(max-width: 680px) 100vw, 680px" /></p>
<p>This is a one-day chart, mind, so we’re looking at intraday changes. We’re zoomed in. And Apple kinda took a bit of a dive during its event that kicked off at 1 p.m. in the above chart.</p>
<p>Normally <em>nothing</em> of import happens to Apple’s shares during its presentations. Which feels weird, frankly, as Apple events detail the product mix that will generate hundreds of billions in revenue. You’d think that they would have more impact than their usual zero.</p>
<p>But today, we had real share price movement when the event wrapped around 2 p.m. ET. Perhaps investors were hoping for more pricey devices? Or were hoping Apple had more up its sleeve? How you rate that holiday Apple product lineup is a matter of personal preference, but investors appear to have weighed in slightly to the negative.</p>
<p>Worth around $2.5 trillion, each 1% that Apple’s stock moves is worth $10 billion. Apple’s loss of 1.5% today — more or less; trading continues as I write this — is worth more than Mailchimp. It’s a lot of money.</p>
<p>You can read the rest of our coverage from the Apple event <a href="https://techcrunch.com/tag/apple-fall-event-2021/">here.</a> Enjoy!</p>
<p><a href="https://techcrunch.com/tag/apple-fall-event-2021"><img src="https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/apple-fall-event-2021-banner.jpg" alt="Read more about Apple's Fall 2021 Event on TechCrunch" /></a></p>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07708768578194219823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6524377267326650797.post-80426408957901612932021-09-14T17:18:00.003-07:002021-09-14T17:18:38.886-07:00iPhone users will receive iOS 15 update on September 20<p id="speakable-summary">Shortly after today’s <a href="https://techcrunch.com/tag/apple-fall-event-2021">virtual conference</a>, Apple announced that the next major version of iOS will be ready for prime time very soon. iPhone users will be able to update to iOS 15 on September 20. The company <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2021/06/07/apple-unveils-ios-15-with-new-features-for-facetime-and-better-notifications/">first unveiled</a> iOS 15 earlier this year at its Worldwide Developer Conference.</p>
<p>The biggest change of iOS 15 is a new Focus mode. In addition to “Do not disturb,” you can configure various modes — you can choose apps and people you want notifications from and change your focus depending on what you’re doing. For instance, you can create a Work mode, a Sleep mode, a Workout mode, etc.</p>
<p>There are many new features across the board, such as a new Weather app, updated maps in Apple Maps, an improved version of FaceTime, and more. Safari also has a brand-new look. At first, it was <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2021/07/27/apple-tweaks-controversial-ios-15-safari-changes-in-latest-beta/">a bit controversial</a>. Since then, Apple has listened to feedback and improved its new take on Safari.</p>
<p>The new version of iOS also scans your photos for text. Called Live Text, this feature lets you highlight, copy and paste text in photos. It could be a nice accessibility feature as well. iOS is going to leverage that info for Spotlight. You can search for text in your photos directly in Spotlight and it’ll pull out relevant photos. These features are handled on-device directly.</p>
<p>You’ll be able to update to iOS 15 if you have an iPhone 6s and later, any model of iPhone SE or the most recent iPod touch model. It’ll be available as a free download.</p>
<p>For users running the iOS 15 beta, the release candidate is rolling out now, ahead of Monday’s public launch.</p>
<p>If you like your iPhone the way it is, Apple has also said that you don’t have to update to iOS 15. For the foreseeable future, the company will still update iOS 14 with security patches.</p>
<p><a href="https://techcrunch.com/tag/apple-fall-event-2021"><img src="https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/apple-fall-event-2021-banner.jpg" alt="Read more about Apple's Fall 2021 Event on TechCrunch" /></a></p>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07708768578194219823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6524377267326650797.post-54349869251979344912021-09-14T17:18:00.001-07:002021-09-14T17:18:37.731-07:00Apple’s iPhone 13 sports better battery and improved cameras, starting at $799<p id="speakable-summary">The rumors were right. The centerpiece of today’s big Apple event is the latest iPhone. The latest device lands less than a year after its predecessor, now that things have settled down somewhat on the supply chain side for Apple. Last year’s iPhone 12 was a massive seller, bucking the trend of stagnating smartphones sales, in part due to a bottleneck in sales from the unplanned delay, but also because it finally brought 5G connectivity to Apple’s mobile line.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-2202467" src="https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/apple-2021-iphone-13-interior.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="576" srcset="https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/apple-2021-iphone-13-interior.jpg 1680w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/apple-2021-iphone-13-interior.jpg?resize=150,84 150w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/apple-2021-iphone-13-interior.jpg?resize=300,169 300w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/apple-2021-iphone-13-interior.jpg?resize=768,432 768w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/apple-2021-iphone-13-interior.jpg?resize=680,383 680w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/apple-2021-iphone-13-interior.jpg?resize=1536,864 1536w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/apple-2021-iphone-13-interior.jpg?resize=50,28 50w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></p>
<p>Lucky number iPhone 13 (no skipping for superstition’s sake, mind) features a familiar design. The front notch has finally been shrunken down — now 20% smaller than its predecessor, while the rear-facing camera system has also gotten a redesign. The screen is now 28% brighter Super Retina XDR display on both the iPhone 13 and 13 mini at 1200 nits.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-2202470" src="https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/apple-2021-iphone-13-angle.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="576" srcset="https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/apple-2021-iphone-13-angle.jpg 1680w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/apple-2021-iphone-13-angle.jpg?resize=150,84 150w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/apple-2021-iphone-13-angle.jpg?resize=300,169 300w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/apple-2021-iphone-13-angle.jpg?resize=768,432 768w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/apple-2021-iphone-13-angle.jpg?resize=680,383 680w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/apple-2021-iphone-13-angle.jpg?resize=1536,864 1536w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/apple-2021-iphone-13-angle.jpg?resize=50,28 50w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></p>
<p>The 13 sports a 6.1-inch screen, while the mini’s is 5.4 inches — same as last year. The display is protected by a ceramic shield coating, and the handset rates IP68 dust/waterproofing.</p>
<p>The phone is powered by Apple’s new A15 Bionic chip, built with a 5nm processor. The CPU is 6-core that the company is calling “the fastest CPU on any smartphone.” The new 4-core GPU, meanwhile, brings advanced graphics to the handset.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-2202486" src="https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Screen-Shot-2021-09-14-at-1.51.13-PM.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="640" srcset="https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Screen-Shot-2021-09-14-at-1.51.13-PM.jpg 3360w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Screen-Shot-2021-09-14-at-1.51.13-PM.jpg?resize=150,94 150w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Screen-Shot-2021-09-14-at-1.51.13-PM.jpg?resize=300,188 300w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Screen-Shot-2021-09-14-at-1.51.13-PM.jpg?resize=768,480 768w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Screen-Shot-2021-09-14-at-1.51.13-PM.jpg?resize=680,425 680w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Screen-Shot-2021-09-14-at-1.51.13-PM.jpg?resize=1536,960 1536w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Screen-Shot-2021-09-14-at-1.51.13-PM.jpg?resize=2048,1280 2048w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Screen-Shot-2021-09-14-at-1.51.13-PM.jpg?resize=50,31 50w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></p>
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<p>The rear dual-camera system features a 12MP wide angle camera that’s capable of pulling in up to 47% more light. The new Cinematic Mode, meanwhile, brings rack focus-style shooting capable of adjusting the focus on subjects, using machine learning (you can also tap to adjust manual or switch between subjects). All models in the iPhone 13 also support Night Mode shooting, as well as the ProRes codec for a more pro-level of video.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-2202469" src="https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/apple-2021-iphone-13-recycled.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="576" srcset="https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/apple-2021-iphone-13-recycled.jpg 1680w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/apple-2021-iphone-13-recycled.jpg?resize=150,84 150w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/apple-2021-iphone-13-recycled.jpg?resize=300,169 300w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/apple-2021-iphone-13-recycled.jpg?resize=768,432 768w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/apple-2021-iphone-13-recycled.jpg?resize=680,383 680w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/apple-2021-iphone-13-recycled.jpg?resize=1536,864 1536w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/apple-2021-iphone-13-recycled.jpg?resize=50,28 50w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></p>
<p>Following last year’s introduction of 5G, the company has added more advanced antennae. Through the combination of a larger battery and energy saving software, the company says it’s been able to eke out an additional 2.5 hours of life on the 13 and 1.5 hours on the mini.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-2202512" src="https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/apple-2021-iphone-13-overview.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="576" srcset="https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/apple-2021-iphone-13-overview.jpg 1680w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/apple-2021-iphone-13-overview.jpg?resize=150,84 150w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/apple-2021-iphone-13-overview.jpg?resize=300,169 300w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/apple-2021-iphone-13-overview.jpg?resize=768,432 768w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/apple-2021-iphone-13-overview.jpg?resize=680,383 680w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/apple-2021-iphone-13-overview.jpg?resize=1536,864 1536w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/apple-2021-iphone-13-overview.jpg?resize=50,28 50w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></p>
<p>iPhone 13 mini starts at $699 and, while the 13 starts at $799. It comes in black, gold, silver and a new, lighter blue. Storage options start at128GB.</p>
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<p>Not a massive update all told — Apple seemingly save a lot of that for the iPhone 13 Pro, which brings a 120Hz display (a feature that was rumored across the line) and a number of key updates to the imaging system. The Pro and Pro Max feature similar battery upgrades as the 13. The devices go up for pre-order on September 17 and will be available at retail on September 24.</p>
<p>The company is also launching a number of accessories, including <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2021/09/14/apples-new-magsafe-wallet-can-be-located-with-the-find-my-app-if-it-goes-missing/">a new MagSafe Wallet</a> that works with the Find My feature.</p>
<p><a href="https://techcrunch.com/tag/apple-fall-event-2021"><img src="https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/apple-fall-event-2021-banner.jpg" alt="Read more about Apple's Fall 2021 Event on TechCrunch" /></a></p>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07708768578194219823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6524377267326650797.post-44469791916971808722021-09-14T13:18:00.001-07:002021-09-14T13:18:36.308-07:00TikTok expands mental health resources, as negative reports of Instagram’s effect on teens leak<p id="speakable-summary">TikTok announced this morning that it is implementing new tactics to educate its users about the <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2021/03/09/tech-leaders-discuss-how-social-media-is-broken-and-what-we-can-do-about-it/">negative mental health impacts</a> of social media. As part of these changes, TikTok is rolling out a “<a href="https://www.tiktok.com/safety/en-us/well-being-guide/">well-being guide</a>” in its Safety Center, a <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/safety/en-us/eating-disorders/">brief primer</a> on eating disorders, expanded search interventions, and opt-in viewing screens on potentially triggering searches.</p>
<p>Developed in collaboration with <a href="https://www.iasp.info/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.iasp.info/&source=gmail&ust=1631712835680000&usg=AFQjCNHBGsaQLFE0o2iJ6rDeKuMVuz8cog">International Association for Suicide Prevention</a>, <a href="https://www.crisistextline.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.crisistextline.org/&source=gmail&ust=1631712835680000&usg=AFQjCNGpKn6LL3neGxykw0sIwHvmvXCorg">Crisis Text Line</a>, <a href="https://www.livefortomorrow.co/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.livefortomorrow.co/&source=gmail&ust=1631712835680000&usg=AFQjCNH4XAHmpY1Eev_IpO4m_h_5VqgbrA">Live For Tomorrow</a>, <a href="https://www.sos.org.sg/about/who-we-are?gclid=CjwKCAjwsNiIBhBdEiwAJK4khjJ3heyFTjhFR8Mv2YbjQ6rT-rwBWei_ppOCjWehgLHvLq3aqkyAihoCUUEQAvD_BwE" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.sos.org.sg/about/who-we-are?gclid%3DCjwKCAjwsNiIBhBdEiwAJK4khjJ3heyFTjhFR8Mv2YbjQ6rT-rwBWei_ppOCjWehgLHvLq3aqkyAihoCUUEQAvD_BwE&source=gmail&ust=1631712835680000&usg=AFQjCNF9kEhJZaDmqCGRJ0ChtnuCUj7lSg">Samaritans of Singapore</a>, and <a href="https://www.samaritans.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.samaritans.org/&source=gmail&ust=1631712835680000&usg=AFQjCNHetjbYm_SXQtwmyJeZxxA_wM69Qg">Samaritans (UK)</a>, the new well-being guide offers more targeted advice toward people using TikTok, encouraging users to consider how it might impact them to share their mental health stories on a platform where any post has the potential to go viral. TikTok wants users to think about why they’re sharing their experience, if they’re ready for a wider audience to hear their story if sharing could be harmful to them, and if they’re prepared to hear others’ stories in response.</p>
<p>The platform also added a brief, albeit generic memo about the <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/safety/en-us/eating-disorders/">impact of eating disorders</a> under the “topics” section of the Safety Center, which was developed with the <a href="https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/&source=gmail&ust=1631712835680000&usg=AFQjCNH_6fZatFLr2KphvOIMd5SIVjFDvQ">National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA)</a>. NEDA has a <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2013/06/20/over-a-year-after-new-content-policies-self-harm-social-media-still-thrives/">long track record</a> of collaborating with social media platforms, most recently <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2021/07/01/pinterest-updates-policy-to-prohibit-ads-promoting-weight-loss/">working with Pinterest</a> to prohibit ads promoting weight loss.</p>
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<p>Already, TikTok directs users to local resources when they search for words or phrases like #suicide,* but now, the platform will also share content from creators with the intent of helping someone in need. The platform told TechCrunch that it chose this content following consultation with independent experts. Additionally, if someone enters a search phrase that might be alarming (TikTok offered “scary makeup” as an example), the content will be blurred out, asking users to opt-in to see the search results.</p>
<p>As TikTok unveils these changes, its competitor Instagram is facing scrutiny after The Wall Street Journal <a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/facebook-knows-instagram-is-toxic-for-teen-girls-company-documents-show-11631620739">leaked documents</a> that reveal its parent company Facebook’s own research on the harm Instagram poses for teen girls. Similar to the Gen Z-dominated TikTok, <a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/facebook-knows-instagram-is-toxic-for-teen-girls-company-documents-show-11631620739">more than 40%</a> of Instagram users are 22 or younger, and 22 million teens log into Instagram in the U.S. each day. In one anecdote, a 19-year-old interviewed by The Wall Street Journal said that after searching Instagram for workout ideas, her explore page has been flooded with photos about how to lose weight (Instagram has previously fessed up to <a href="http://bbc.com/news/technology-56750088">errors with its search function</a>, which recommended that users search topics like “fasting” and “appetite suppressants”). Angela Guarda, director for the eating-disorders program at Johns Hopkins Hospital, told The Wall Street Journal that her patients often say they learned about dangerous weight loss tactics via social media.</p>
<p>“The question on many people’s minds is if social media is good or bad for people. The research on this is mixed; it can be both,” Instagram wrote in a <a href="https://about.instagram.com/blog/announcements/using-research-to-improve-your-experience/">blog post today</a>.</p>
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<p>As TikTok nods to with its advice on sharing mental health stories, social media can often be a positive resource, allowing people who are dealing with certain challenges to learn from others who have gone through similar experiences. So, despite these platforms’ outsized influence, it’s also on real people to think twice about what they post and how it might influence others. Even when Facebook experimented with hiding the number of “likes” on Instagram, employees said that <a style="background-color: #ffffff; font-size: 1rem; letter-spacing: -0.1px;" href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/facebook-knows-instagram-is-toxic-for-teen-girls-company-documents-show-11631620739">it didn’t improve</a> overall user well-being. These revelations about the negative impact of social media on mental health and body image aren’t ground-breaking, but they generate a renewed pressure for these powerful platforms to think about how to support their users (or, at the very least, add some new memos to their security center). </p>
<p><i data-stringify-type="italic">*If you or someone you know is struggling with depression or has had thoughts of harming themselves or taking their own life,</i> <i data-stringify-type="italic"><a class="c-link" href="https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-sk="tooltip_parent">The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline</a></i><i data-stringify-type="italic"> (</i><i data-stringify-type="italic"><a class="c-link" href="tel:18002738255" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-sk="tooltip_parent">1-800-273-8255</a></i><i data-stringify-type="italic">) provides 24/7, free, confidential support for people in distress, as well as best practices for professionals and resources to aid in prevention and crisis situations.</i></p>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07708768578194219823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6524377267326650797.post-25930427302697747382021-09-14T08:18:00.001-07:002021-09-14T08:18:32.990-07:00South Korean antitrust regulator fines Google $177M for abusing market dominance<p id="speakable-summary">The Korea Fair Trade Commission (KFTC) <a href="http://www.ftc.go.kr/www/selectReportUserView.do?key=10&rpttype=1&report_data_no=9254">said</a> on Tuesday it fined Google $177 million for abusing its market dominance in the Android operating system (OS) market.</p>
<p>The U.S. tech company has restricted market competition by prohibiting local smartphone makers like Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics from customizing their Android OS, through Google’s anti-fragmentation agreements (AFA), according to the antitrust regulator statement.</p>
<p>Under the AFA, smartphone developers are not allowed to install or develop “Android forks”, modified versions of Android.</p>
<p>The KFTC banned Google LLC, Google Asia Pacific and Google Korea from imposing local smartphone developers to sign the AFA and make changes on details about the existing version. The new measure in South Korea will be applied to not only mobiles devices but also other Android-powered smart devices including watches and TVs.</p>
<p><a href="https://source.android.com/compatibility/overview">Android’s compatibility program</a> has spurred innovation among Korean mobile operator owners and software developers and that has led to a better user experience for Korean consumers, Google said in its statement. “The KFTC’s decision released today ignores these benefits, and will undermine the advantages enjoyed by consumers. Google intends to appeal the KFTC’s decision,” a spokesperson at Google said.</p>
<p>The commission has been investigating Google over the anti-competition practice in OS market since July 2016, a spokesperson at KFTC said.</p>
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<p>Google’s global mobile OS market share excluding China has been increased to 97.7% in 2019 from 38% in 2010, as per KFTC’s announcement.</p>
<p>Google’s AFA has also limited to launch tech companies’ new devices like smart watches and TVs using the operating system (OS) including Samsung’s smart watch in 2013, LG Electronics’ LTE smart speaker in 2018 as well as Amazon’s smart TV in 2018.</p>
<p>South Korea’s watchdog is probing into three other cases including the Play Store app market, billing system and the advertisement market.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, South Korea’s “anti-Google law”, <a href="https://www.kcc.go.kr/user.do?mode=view&page=A05030000&dc=K05030000&boardId=1113&cp=1&boardSeq=51891">takes effect on 14 September, based on Korea Communications Commission’s press release.</a></p>
<p>In late August, South Korea <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2021/08/31/south-korea-passes-anti-google-law-bill-to-curb-google-apple-in-app-payment-commission/">passed a bill</a> to curb global tech companies including Google and Apple from imposing their own proprietary in-app payment service and commissions on app developers.</p>
<div class="embed breakout">
<blockquote class="wp-embedded-content" data-secret="HEAcNLvGxN">
<p><a href="https://techcrunch.com/2021/07/07/google-state-lawsuit-android-attorneys-general/">Google faces a major multi-state antitrust lawsuit over Google Play fees</a></p>
</blockquote>
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<p><a href="https://techcrunch.com/2021/04/21/apple-and-google-pressed-in-antitrust-hearing-on-whether-app-stores-share-data-with-product-development-teams/">Apple and Google pressed in antitrust hearing on whether app stores share data with product development teams</a></p>
</blockquote>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07708768578194219823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6524377267326650797.post-85961686926040670332021-09-14T03:25:00.001-07:002021-09-14T03:25:08.397-07:00Watch Apple unveil the new iPhone live right here<p id="speakable-summary">Apple is set to announce new iPhone models today. The company is holding a (virtual) keynote at <strong>10 AM PT (1 PM in New York, 6 PM in London, 7 PM in Paris)</strong>. And you’ll be able to watch the event right here as the company is streaming it live.</p>
<p><iframe class="youtube-player" width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/EvGOlAkLSLw?version=3&rel=1&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&fs=1&hl=en-US&autohide=2&wmode=transparent" allowfullscreen="true" style="border:0;" sandbox="allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation"></iframe></p>
<p><a href="https://techcrunch.com/2021/09/10/what-we-expect-from-next-weeks-apple-event/">Rumor has it</a> that there will be a new generation of iPhone models. Reports suggest that the company is going to call it the iPhone 13 and that there will be four different models just like last year. Today, you can expect to learn more about the iPhone 13, iPhone 13 Mini, iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max.</p>
<p>When it comes to new features, it’s safe to say that there will be big camera upgrades. This year, the company seems to be focused on video improvements in particular. The iPhone 13 should also come with a better display and a faster chip.</p>
<p>But that’s not all. Apple is likely to use this opportunity to announce a new Apple Watch model. There will be bigger design changes with the Apple Watch Series 7 with sharp edges.</p>
<p>There could be more product announcements as Apple has been working on the AirPods 3. They will replace or complement the entry-level AirPods 2 in the audio lineup. The AirPods Pro and AirPods Max will remain unchanged for now.</p>
<p>Finally, there’s a small chance that we get to hear more about new Macs with custom designed Apple chips as well as new iPad models…</p>
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<p>You can watch the live stream directly on this page, as Apple is streaming its conference on YouTube.</p>
<p>If you have an Apple TV, you can open the TV app and look for the ‘Apple Special Event’ section. It lets you stream today’s event and rewatch old ones.</p>
<p>And if you don’t have an Apple TV and don’t want to use YouTube, the company also lets you live stream the event from the <a href="https://www.apple.com/apple-events/livestream/">Apple Events section</a> on its website. This video feed now works in all major browsers — Safari, Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Edge and Google Chrome.</p>
<p>We’ll be covering the event and you can <a href="https://techcrunch.com/tag/apple-fall-event-2021">follow our liveblog</a> for live commentary.</p>
<p><a href="https://techcrunch.com/tag/apple-fall-event-2021"><img alt="Read more about Apple's Fall 2021 Event on TechCrunch" src="https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/apple-fall-event-2021-banner.jpg" /></a></p>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07708768578194219823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6524377267326650797.post-84596905642673389132021-09-13T13:18:00.005-07:002021-09-13T13:18:34.192-07:00Epic Games appeals last week’s ruling in antitrust battle with Apple<p id="speakable-summary">Fortnite maker Epic Games is appealing <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2021/09/10/apple-prohibited-from-blocking-outside-payment-in-epic-ruling/">last week’s ruling in its court battle</a> with Apple, where a federal judge said Apple would no longer be allowed to block developers from adding links to alternative payment mechanisms, but stopped short of dubbing Apple a monopolist. The latter would have allowed Epic Games to argue for alternative means of serving its iOS user base, including perhaps, through third-party app stores or even sideloading capabilities built into Apple’s mobile operating system, similar to those on Google’s Android OS.</p>
<p>Apple immediately <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2021/09/10/apple-prohibited-from-blocking-outside-payment-in-epic-ruling/">declared</a> the court battle a victory, as the judge had agreed with its position that the company was “not in violation of antitrust law” and had also deemed Apple’s success in the app and gaming ecosystem as “not illegal.” Epic Games founder and CEO Tim Sweeney, meanwhile, said the ruling was not a win for either developers or consumers. On Twitter, he hinted that the company may appeal the decision <a href="https://twitter.com/TimSweeneyEpic/status/1436370884994928641">when he said</a>, “We will fight on.”</p>
<p>In a court filing published on Sunday (see below), Epic Games officially stated its attention to appeal U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers’ final judgment and “all orders leading to or producing that judgment.”</p>
<p>As part of the judge’s decision, Epic Games had been ordered to pay Apple the 30% of the $12 million it earned when it introduced its alternative payment system in Fortnite on iOS, which was then in breach of its legal contract with Apple.</p>
<p>The appellate court will revisit how Judge Gonzalez Rogers defined the market where Epic Games had argued Apple was acting as a monopolist. Contrary to both parties’ wishes, Gonzalez Rogers defined it as the market for “digital mobile gaming transactions” specifically. Though an appeal may or may not see the court shifting its opinion in Epic Games’ favor, a new ruling could potentially help to clarify the vague language used in the injunction to describe how Apple must now accommodate developers who want to point their customers to other payment mechanisms.</p>
<p>So far, the expectation floating around the developer community is that Apple will simply extend the “reader app” category exception to all non-reader apps (apps that provide access to purchased content). Apple recently settled <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2021/09/01/apple-announced-new-settlement-with-japan-allowing-developers-to-link-to-external-website/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Techcrunch+%28TechCrunch%29">with a Japanese regulator</a> by agreeing to allow reader apps to point users to their own website where users could sign up and manage their accounts, which could include customers paying for subscriptions — like Netflix or Spotify subscriptions, for instance. Apple said this change would be global.</p>
<p>In briefings with reporters, Apple said the details of the injunction issued with the Epic Games ruling, however, would still need to be worked out. Given the recency of the decision, the company has not yet communicated with developers on how this change will impact them directly nor has it updated its App Store guidelines with new language.</p>
<div class="piano-inline-promo"></div>
<p>Reached for comment, Epic Games said it does not have any further statements on its decision to appeal at this time.</p>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07708768578194219823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6524377267326650797.post-86970647143939379482021-09-13T13:18:00.003-07:002021-09-13T13:18:32.428-07:00Spotify’s Clubhouse clone adds six new weekly shows, some that tie to Spotify playlists<p id="speakable-summary">This summer, Spotify <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2021/06/16/spotify-launches-its-live-audio-app-and-clubhouse-rival-spotify-greenroom/">launched</a> its live audio app and Clubhouse rival, Spotify Greenroom, with the promises of more programming to come in the months ahead to augment its then primarily user-generated live content. Today, the company is making good on that earlier commitment, with the launch of six new shows on Spotify Greenroom focused on pop culture and music, in addition to what Spotify calls “playlist-inspired shows” — meaning those that are inspired by Spotify’s own playlists.</p>
<p>This includes a new show based on the popular playlist Lorem, which launched in 2019, showcasing an eclectic mix of music that has included indie pop, R&B, garage rock, hip-hop, and more, <a href="https://www.oswegonian.com/2020/03/12/spotify-drops-new-playlist-lorem-tailor-made-for-generation-z/">focused on a younger, Gen Z audience</a>. That playlist today has over 884,000 “likes” on Spotify and has <a href="https://hypebeast.com/2020/11/spotify-lorem-playlist-interview">risen to become</a> one of the places new artists are able to break through on the platform. Now, Lorem listeners will be connected to “Lorem Life,” a Spotify Greenroom show that will feature a mix of culture and discussions about music, the environment, sustainability, fashion, and space, Spotify says. The show is hosted by Gen Z influencers and TikTok stars, Dev Lemons and Max Motley, who will engage with other artists and influencers. It begins airing on Wednesday, September 15, at 9 PM ET.</p>
<p>Another new “playlist-inspired” show is “The Get Up LIVE.” If the name sounds familiar, it’s because “The Get Up” was <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2020/10/22/spotify-takes-on-radio-with-its-own-daily-morning-show/">introduced last fall</a> as Spotify’s own take on a daily morning show by mixing music with talk radio-style content led by hosts who discuss the news, pop culture, entertainment, and other topics. To date, that content has not been provided as a live program, however. Instead, the show has been pre-recorded then made available as a playlist that gives listeners the feel of a daily FM radio show. Now, “The Get Up’s” co-hosts Kat Lazo and Xavier “X” Jernigan will record their show live on Greenroom, starting on Wednesday, Sept. 15 at 11 AM ET.</p>
<p>This odd time seems to contradict Spotify’s original intention of providing a show for those who commute to the office. But with the rise of remote work in the face of the unending pandemic, addressing the commuter audience may be of less interest, with the new program. However, Spotify tells us “The Get up LIVE” will be complementary to the daily show, which will still run as normal — that’s why it has a later airing.</p>
<p>Other new Greenroom shows include “A Gay in the Life,” hosted by the married couple, actor Garrett Clayton and writer and educator Blake Knight, who will discuss LGBTQIA+ news and issues (weekly, 8 PM ET, starting today); “Take a Seat,” hosted by Ben Mandelker and Ronnie Karam of the “Watch What Crappens” podcast, who will recap reality shows and dive into other pop culture fascinations (weekly, 10 PM ET, starting today); “The Movie Buff,” hosted by film buff and comedian Jon Gabrus, who will review and break down the latest hot movies (weekly, 11 PM ET, starting today); and “The Most Necessary: Live,” a complement to Spotify’s “Most Necessary” playlist, where host B.Dot will discuss up-and-comers in hip-hop (weekly, 9 PM ET, starting Tuesday).</p>
<p>In addition to the new programs, Deuxmoi’s show “Deux Me After Dark” will also air this evening (Sept. 13) at 9 PM ET to recap the red carpet looks and gossip from this year’s Met Gala alongside guest Hillary Kerr, co-founder of Who What Wear.</p>
<div id="attachment_2183360" style="width: 690px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-2183360" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-2183360" src="https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/greenroom.png?w=680" alt="" width="680" height="259" srcset="https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/greenroom.png 1390w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/greenroom.png?resize=150,57 150w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/greenroom.png?resize=300,114 300w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/greenroom.png?resize=768,293 768w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/greenroom.png?resize=680,259 680w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/greenroom.png?resize=50,19 50w" sizes="(max-width: 680px) 100vw, 680px" />
<p id="caption-attachment-2183360" class="wp-caption-text"><strong>Image Credits:</strong> Spotify</p>
</div>
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<p>Greenrom is now available to listeners in over 135 global markets and has been quietly expanding with live audio from sports site and podcast network “The Ringer” as well as from artists like Pop Smoke, the company says. Other programs added include <a href="https://open.spotify.com/episode/20VLkbny6CtlSZe5g0YjPy?si=ehecYV8gRfGNwED64tkGeQ&dl_branch=1" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://open.spotify.com/episode/20VLkbny6CtlSZe5g0YjPy?si%3DehecYV8gRfGNwED64tkGeQ%26dl_branch%3D1&source=gmail&ust=1631632022228000&usg=AFQjCNFjgmRT_WRpz2YA_Q-zjNd4LGrARg">Men In Blazers</a>, <a href="https://open.spotify.com/episode/53l2zgXZSsaCVlK5tKyqFC?si=9uceM4zDS1a29So04uVx6A&dl_branch=1" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://open.spotify.com/episode/53l2zgXZSsaCVlK5tKyqFC?si%3D9uceM4zDS1a29So04uVx6A%26dl_branch%3D1&source=gmail&ust=1631632022228000&usg=AFQjCNEytE_tZx7H9AACTB8O6K0ahVdwSg">Deaux Me After Dark</a>, <a href="https://open.spotify.com/episode/0ZXjkGQVTOXUS1z3HpVEiX?si=LYxS02ZsRHiMLkGwK_-1Ew&dl_branch=1" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://open.spotify.com/episode/0ZXjkGQVTOXUS1z3HpVEiX?si%3DLYxS02ZsRHiMLkGwK_-1Ew%26dl_branch%3D1&source=gmail&ust=1631632022228000&usg=AFQjCNHebpYQRKFNfY1oshNrRnn4zBknNg">True Crime Rewind</a> and <a href="https://open.spotify.com/episode/5BGCn3r17pIMPB3y2v6JBi?si=Xp6wkpOaRqO-NGAQ1oI5Fg&dl_branch=1" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://open.spotify.com/episode/5BGCn3r17pIMPB3y2v6JBi?si%3DXp6wkpOaRqO-NGAQ1oI5Fg%26dl_branch%3D1&source=gmail&ust=1631632022228000&usg=AFQjCNF6exIRZjIYavDyytNGBFnF9A9RZg">Ask The Tarot</a>. Many of the shows are also being published on-demand after the live show ends.</p>
<p>The app had gotten off to a slower start this year, given its roots had been in sports talk live programming, which didn’t necessarily connect with Spotify’s music fans. Plus, it has faced growing competition from not only Clubhouse, which inspired its creation, but also other top social networks like Facebook, Twitter, Reddit, Discord, and more. Without dedicated programs to garner user interest in yet another live audio app, the company <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2021/07/28/spotifys-clubhouse-rival-greenroom-tops-140k-installs-on-ios-100k-on-android/">had only seen 141,000 new downloads</a> for Greenroom on iOS a little over a month after its launch, and fewer on Google Play. But Spotify’s long-term vision for the service was to more closely tie Greenroom to the music, artists, programs, and podcasts that were already available on its flagship music streaming app — and these new shows are an example of that plan in action.</p>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07708768578194219823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6524377267326650797.post-54124615820714400842021-09-13T13:18:00.001-07:002021-09-13T13:18:30.942-07:00MarginEdge, a restaurant management software company, raises $18M<p id="speakable-summary"><a href="https://www.marginedge.com/">MarginEdge</a> announced Monday it raised $18 million in Series B funding to give restaurant operators a real-time view into their costs.</p>
<p>Co-founder and CEO Bo Davis founded the company with Roy Phillips and Brian Mills in 2015. Both Davis and Phillips are veterans of the restaurant industry: Davis was previously the founder of conveyor belt sushi restaurant chain Wasabi, while Phillips was an executive at Bloomin Brands.</p>
<p>What they recognized with independent restaurants was that they struggled with workflow like invoices and tracking food costs and were either building internal tools to help them stay on top of things or were still operating with pen and paper or spreadsheets.</p>
<p>“We focused on building something our friends would like,” Davis told TechCrunch. “We spent three years on the product and worked with 20 restaurants to use the software and focus on getting it right instead of rushing to market.”</p>
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<p>MarginEdge’s tool is a restaurant management app that works with a business’ point of sale to streamline inventory, cost-tracking, ordering and recipes to eliminate the paperwork. It also captures all invoices, receipts or bills and converts them to line-item details within 24 hours. It is designed for independent restaurant owners that have under 50 units, Davis said.</p>
<p>Since launching its app in 2018, the Virginia-based company is seeing its platform used in over 2,500 restaurants. It raised a Series A in 2019, then an A2 in 2020 and with the latest round, led by IGC Hospitality, has raised $25 million in total.</p>
<p>IGC Hospitality, which operates restaurant properties, is not only an investor, but is also a customer, said Jeffrey Brosi, founder and managing partner. The company was using some different technology platforms to manage inventory and sales, but was looking for something to manage its whole inventory process.</p>
<p>“Bo came in and did a presentation, and it was amazing,” Brosi added. “The biggest thing for us is [being] user friendly. MarginEdge also has great customer service. We’ve invested in a few companies in the hospitality industry, and know the pain points and what we want to fix. If it makes sense financially, we will invest. This was one pain point that we didn’t have, and Bo filled that void.”</p>
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<p>Like all restaurants over the past 18 months, Davis said the global pandemic caused MarginEdge to step back and evaluate. Despite many restaurants going out of business, he credits his business taking off again to restaurants rethinking their processes.</p>
<p>“We were lucky enough to be in a good position with capital that we could keep our team,” he added. “Revenue decreased for the first time, but we grew 45% even with COVID and as of Q1 was seeing 200% annual growth.”</p>
<p>MarginEdge has over 400 employees and its platform processes 45,000 invoices a week. Davis intends to invest the new funding in building out the leadership team, product development, building new features for the back office and on data science, an area he just received an advanced degree in, he said.</p>
<p>The company is using benchmark data around sales, food costs and labor costs and would like to provide more insights to its customers as it relates to inflation, which affects all of those aspects, and as a result, the menu prices.</p>
<p>“A lot of it is using data to understand menu pricing and what other people are doing so you are not pricing yourself out of the market or operating on margins where you can’t survive,” Davis added. “It will be all about predicting rather than reporting. The two things in the kitchen that are hardest are the startup prep list and the inventory late at night, and we make both easier.”</p>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07708768578194219823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6524377267326650797.post-51867696321562511202021-09-10T16:18:00.001-07:002021-09-10T16:18:53.953-07:00What we expect from next week’s Apple event<p id="speakable-summary">We’ve been scouring the latest rumors and leaks and playing all of The Mamas and The Papas songs forward and backward to get the best possible picture of what we’re in store for with next Tuesday’s “California Streaming’” event.</p>
<p>The invites, which went out a week in advance, don’t appear to give the game away here. There was some extremely cool AR trickery, accessible through Safari on mobile, which could point to some fancy camera upgrades, though augmented reality has become a bit of a staple on these invites.</p>
<p>The California Streaming title, meanwhile, seems likely to be more of a nod to the all-virtual nature of the event, rather than anything to do with, say, Apple TV (of course, we’ve been one-more-thinged in the past). And as for that lovely shot of the Sierras — that could well be a nod to macOS, though the company has moved onto Monterey. It seems just as likely to be a reference to the aforementioned title.</p>
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<p>The biggest, simplest and most important answer to the question of what to expect is a new iPhone. Last year’s models saw a notable delay due to COVID-19-related supply chain bottlenecking. Supply chain problems have persisted, of course, but by all accounts, the company appears to be back on track with its pre-pandemic release cycle.</p>
<p>The iPhone 12’s biggest upgrade was, of course, the long-awaited addition of 5G. That, coupled with the delay, led Apple to some pretty massive sales quarters amid a broader stalling of the overall mobile market. While other manufacturers have skipped the number out of superstitious concerns, Apple seems firmly on board with iPhone 13 (even as renders of its successor, the iPhone 14 have <a href="https://appleinsider.com/articles/21/09/08/2022-iphone-14-revealed-by-leakers-days-before-iphone-13-announcement">reportedly already leaked</a>).</p>
<div id="attachment_1938660" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1938660" loading="lazy" class="breakout size-full wp-image-1938660" src="https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/GettyImages-1173711317.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="656" srcset="https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/GettyImages-1173711317.jpg 3000w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/GettyImages-1173711317.jpg?resize=150,96 150w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/GettyImages-1173711317.jpg?resize=300,192 300w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/GettyImages-1173711317.jpg?resize=768,492 768w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/GettyImages-1173711317.jpg?resize=680,435 680w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/GettyImages-1173711317.jpg?resize=1536,984 1536w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/GettyImages-1173711317.jpg?resize=2048,1311 2048w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/GettyImages-1173711317.jpg?resize=50,32 50w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />
<p id="caption-attachment-1938660" class="wp-caption-text"><strong>Image Credits:</strong> Getty Images / Qi Heng/VCG</p>
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<p>Recent reports suggest that the iPhone 13 will arrive in four different configurations — much like its predecessor. So: the iPhone 13, 13 Mini, 13 Pro and 13 Pro Max. The screen sizes should remain the same: 5.4, 6.1 (x2) and 6.7 inches. A separate report, meanwhile, suggests that we’ll see additional colors, with the full lineup being black, white, blue, purple, pink (rather than green) and Product (Red). But, keep in mind that offering different color availabilities in different markets isn’t entirely out of the question.</p>
<p>Unsurprisingly, camera upgrades appear to be the biggest news here. Word from analyst Ming-Chi Kuo is that last year’s Pro Max model specs will graduate to the rest of the line (including, potentially, lidar). A ProRes video mode is said to be following the addition of ProRAW to further advance the handset’s bonafides as a semi-pro video shooting rig. <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-08-10/apple-readies-new-iphones-with-pro-focused-camera-video-updates">Cinematic Video</a>, meanwhile, is said to bring a Portrait-mode-style effect to video. Kuo has also suggested that the devices will be getting a feature based on the Qualcomm X60 that allows for emergency satellite calls — reportedly only available in select markets.</p>
<p>Of course, the phone will also be getting Apple’s latest chip, the A15, said to be coupled with 120 Hz ProMotion display. Apple could also be bringing an always-on feature to the screen, hopefully with minimal impact on battery life. Looks-wise we anticipate it will be more or less the same as its predecessor, albeit with a somewhat smaller camera notch up front — though not to the point of the fake Ted Lasso iPhone. The camera bump around back, meanwhile, is said to be getting larger, perhaps offering an improved telephoto lens.</p>
<p>Oh, and apparently they’ll be <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/gordonkelly/2021/08/28/apple-iphone-13-pro-max-price-release-date-cost-upgrade-iphone-12-pro-max/?sh=4d66e5e3579d">more expensive</a> than the iPhone 12 — clearly not one of the new features Apple is going to be actively promoting.</p>
<div id="attachment_2046642" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-2046642" loading="lazy" class="breakout size-full wp-image-2046642" src="https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Screen-Shot-2020-09-15-at-1.14.27-PM.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="612" srcset="https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Screen-Shot-2020-09-15-at-1.14.27-PM.jpg 2458w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Screen-Shot-2020-09-15-at-1.14.27-PM.jpg?resize=150,90 150w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Screen-Shot-2020-09-15-at-1.14.27-PM.jpg?resize=300,179 300w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Screen-Shot-2020-09-15-at-1.14.27-PM.jpg?resize=768,459 768w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Screen-Shot-2020-09-15-at-1.14.27-PM.jpg?resize=680,406 680w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Screen-Shot-2020-09-15-at-1.14.27-PM.jpg?resize=1536,917 1536w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Screen-Shot-2020-09-15-at-1.14.27-PM.jpg?resize=2048,1223 2048w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Screen-Shot-2020-09-15-at-1.14.27-PM.jpg?resize=50,30 50w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />
<p id="caption-attachment-2046642" class="wp-caption-text"><strong>Image Credits:</strong> Apple</p>
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<p>The Apple Watch 7 seems destined to be the other big news of the event. Apple’s massively popular wearable is reportedly set to get more massive, with a larger display, resulting in a slightly larger case size, from 40 mm and 44 mm to 41 mm and 45 mm. The overall size won’t be too large a change, however, as the company is said to be reducing its bezels this go-round.</p>
<p>Perhaps the most exciting rumor around the Watch is the addition of significant battery life. That’s long felt like a blind spot for the product, compared to competing smartwatches — particularly after Apple significantly improved sleep tracking. Most aren’t anticipating major new health features for the Watch this outing, which is a bit of a surprise here, given that health and fitness have been a major cornerstone for Apple.</p>
<div id="attachment_1800816" style="width: 4042px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1800816" loading="lazy" class="breakout wp-image-1800816 size-full" src="https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Image-from-iOS-1.jpg" alt="" width="4032" height="2433" srcset="https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Image-from-iOS-1.jpg 4032w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Image-from-iOS-1.jpg?resize=150,91 150w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Image-from-iOS-1.jpg?resize=300,181 300w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Image-from-iOS-1.jpg?resize=768,463 768w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Image-from-iOS-1.jpg?resize=680,410 680w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Image-from-iOS-1.jpg?resize=1536,927 1536w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Image-from-iOS-1.jpg?resize=2048,1236 2048w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Image-from-iOS-1.jpg?resize=50,30 50w" sizes="(max-width: 4032px) 100vw, 4032px" />
<p id="caption-attachment-1800816" class="wp-caption-text"><strong>Image Credits:</strong> TechCrunch</p>
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<p>AirPods 3 seem like a reasonably good bet. The latest version of the company’s entry-level earbuds (and their case) are said to be getting a more Pro-style redesign, along with a new chip that’s designed to improve battery life. Active noise cancelation and replaceable tips are apparently not going to make an appearance to maintain the distinction between the two models.</p>
<p>With the company’s rangewide upgrade to its own silicon chugging along, don’t be surprised if we see a number of new Macs. Rumors suggest a new MacBook Pro, Mac Mini and a larger, 27-inch version of its ARM-powered iMac.</p>
<p>The event kicks off Tuesday, September 14 at 10 a.m. PDT/1 p.m. EDT. We’ll be here, bringing you the news as it arrives.<br />
<a href="https://techcrunch.com/tag/apple-fall-event-2021"><img src="https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/apple-fall-event-2021-banner.jpg" alt="Read more about Apple's Fall 2021 Event on TechCrunch" /></a></p>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07708768578194219823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6524377267326650797.post-51021245505005913722021-09-10T08:18:00.001-07:002021-09-10T08:18:25.985-07:00MaxRewards banks $3M to reveal best payment methods that reap the most rewards<p id="speakable-summary">When Anik Khan graduated from college, his first job was working on credit cards and business expenses at Accenture. There, he found that someone could bring in a couple of thousand dollars just by having the right credit cards and following the rewards and promotions.</p>
<p>It was back in 2017 when he and David Gao got the idea for his company <a href="http://maxrewards.com/">MaxRewards</a>, a digital wallet app that manages credit cards and automatically activates benefits like rewards, cashback offers and monthly credits. It also makes recommendations at the point of purchase on which card would yield the best reward for that purchase.</p>
<p>Going after the some <a href="https://www.federalreserve.gov/publications/2021-economic-well-being-of-us-households-in-2020-banking-and-credit.htm">83% of Americans that have a credit card</a>, the app version was officially launched in 2019, and now the Atlanta-based company is announcing a $3 million seed round co-led by Dundee Venture Capital and Calano Ventures. Also backing the company are Techstars, Fintech Ventures Fund, Service Provider Capital and Fleetcor president Nick Izquierdo.</p>
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<p>Tracking his own credit cards manually prior to MaxRewards, Khan recalled in one year, getting $16,000 in rewards. However, utilizing those benefits was time-consuming and difficult, because the rewards and savings aren’t always made evident by the credit card companies.</p>
<p>“Other companies have tried to do something similar, but the issue is you don’t have the reward information or the offers,” Khan told TechCrunch. “If you were to aggregate this information, you still would have to activate all of these things and use them before they expired.”</p>
<p>Users connect their accounts and when they make a purchase, their location is cross-referenced with the merchant and an algorithm is applied to tell the user which card to use. The average app user has six credit cards.</p>
<p>MaxRewards is free to download and use, and the majority of the app’s functionalities are free. Users who want additional features, like the auto activation or rewards, can join MaxRewards Gold and are given the opportunity to choose their own monthly price — the average is over $25 per month — based on the value they expect to gain, Khan said.</p>
<div id="attachment_2200610" style="width: 690px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-2200610" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-2200610" src="https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Offers__Benefits.png?w=680" alt="" width="680" height="453" srcset="https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Offers__Benefits.png 1920w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Offers__Benefits.png?resize=150,100 150w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Offers__Benefits.png?resize=300,200 300w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Offers__Benefits.png?resize=768,512 768w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Offers__Benefits.png?resize=680,453 680w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Offers__Benefits.png?resize=1536,1024 1536w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Offers__Benefits.png?resize=50,33 50w" sizes="(max-width: 680px) 100vw, 680px" />
<p id="caption-attachment-2200610" class="wp-caption-text">MaxRewards offers and benefits. <strong>Image Credits:</strong> MaxRewards</p>
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<p>Ron Watson, partner at Dundee, said his firm invests in seed-stage companies between the coasts and is interested in consumer and e-commerce companies. Watson said he was impressed with what MaxRewards has been able to do with a team of three. He also relates to the company’s mission, having grown up in a lower, middle-class family that did not frequently go on vacations.</p>
<p>When he got his first job and was suddenly flying everywhere, he recalls building up so many rewards to the point where he was able to go on a vacation to Hawaii and only spend maybe $100, he said.</p>
<p>“I used to put my points into a spreadsheet, but as I got older and had kids, I realized how hard it was for the average person to do that and how important it is to have automation,” Watson said. “I downloaded the app, and on the first day, saved $20.”</p>
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<p>The company is often compared to NerdWallet or Mint, but in terms of functionality, Khan said he feels MaxRewards is unique due to its credit card system connectors. Rather than rely on third-party aggregators to discover the rewards, MaxRewards leverages its own proprietary connectors to card systems.</p>
<p>There are hundreds of thousands of offers to be discovered, and consumers are asking for even more features, so Khan decided it was time to go after seed funding. He had raised a small seed, about $200,000, from his time at Techstars, but the new funding will enable him to add to his team of three people. He expects to be at 20 by the end of the year. Khan also wants to accelerate its user acquisition, product improvement and compliance.</p>
<p>Next up, the company is going to automate rewards and savings across additional platforms like debit cards, payment apps and cashback apps, as well as create browser extensions and a web app. Khan also wants to do more on the education side with regard to using credit cards in a smart manner.</p>
<p>Arron Solano, managing partner at Calano, met Khan through Techstars and said he is an advocate for using credit cards in the right way. His firm was looking for a company like MaxRewards.</p>
<p>“During our first call, I remember telling my partner that Anik was a bulldog who knew what he was talking about, especially at that stage,” Solano added. “He had strong team members, his vision lined up well and that checked off a massive box for us. He energized us and showed he could find a market with insanely high ‘super users.’ ”</p>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07708768578194219823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6524377267326650797.post-23747789851546731682021-09-09T15:18:00.001-07:002021-09-09T15:18:40.354-07:00Epic Games to shut down Houseparty in October, including the video chat ‘Fortnite Mode’ feature<p id="speakable-summary">Houseparty, the social video chat app <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2019/06/12/fortnite-maker-epic-acquires-social-video-app-houseparty/">acquired</a> by Fortnite maker Epic Games <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/epic-games-paid-35-million-for-houseparty-in-2019-2020-5">for a reported $35 million</a> back in 2019, is shutting down. The company <a href="https://houseparty.com/blog/saying-goodbye-to-houseparty/">says</a> Houseparty will be discontinued in October when the app will stop functioning for its existing users; it will be pulled from the app stores today, however. Related to this move, Epic Games’ “<a href="https://techcrunch.com/2020/11/18/houseparty-adds-fortnite-mode-bringing-video-chat-to-the-popular-game/">Fortnite Mode” feature</a>, which leveraged Houseparty to bring video chat to Fortnite gamers, will also be discontinued.</p>
<p>Founded in 2015, Houseparty offered a way for users to participate in group video chats with friends and even play games, like Uno, trivia, Heads Up and others. Last year, Epic Games <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2020/11/18/houseparty-adds-fortnite-mode-bringing-video-chat-to-the-popular-game/">integrated</a> Houseparty with Fortnite, initially to allow gamers to see live feeds from friends while gaming, then later <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2021/04/05/fortnite-users-can-now-live-stream-gameplay-to-housepartys-social-video-app/">adding support</a> to livestream gameplay directly into Houseparty. At the time, these integrations appeared to be the end goal that explained why Epic Games had bought the social startup in the first place.</p>
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<p><a href="https://techcrunch.com/2021/01/05/8-investors-discuss-social-gamings-biggest-opportunities/">8 investors discuss social gaming’s biggest opportunities</a></p>
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<p><iframe class="wp-embedded-content" sandbox="allow-scripts" security="restricted" title="“8 investors discuss social gaming’s biggest opportunities” — TechCrunch" src="https://techcrunch.com/2021/01/05/8-investors-discuss-social-gamings-biggest-opportunities/embed/#?secret=tHhmV96iAI" data-secret="tHhmV96iAI" width="800" height="450" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></p>
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<p>Now, just over two years after the acquisition was announced, and less than half a year since <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2021/04/05/fortnite-users-can-now-live-stream-gameplay-to-housepartys-social-video-app/">support for livestreaming</a> was added to the app, Houseparty is shutting down.</p>
<p>The company didn’t offer any solid insight into what, at first glance, feels like an admission of failure to capitalize on its acquisition. But the reality is that Epic Games may have something larger in store beyond just video chat. That said, all Epic Games would say today is that the Houseparty team could no longer give the app the attention it required — a statement that indicates an executive decision to shift the team’s focus to other matters.</p>
<p>While none of the Houseparty team members are being let go as a result of this move, we’re told, they will be joining other teams where they will work on new ways to allow for “social interactions” across the Epic Games family of products. The company’s announcement hinted that those social features would be designed and built at the “metaverse scale.”</p>
<p>The “metaverse” is an increasingly used buzzword that references a shared virtual environment, like those provided by large-scale online gaming platforms such as Fortnite, Roblox and others. Facebook, too, <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2021/07/28/zuckerberg-is-turning-trillion-dollar-facebook-into-a-metaverse-company-he-tells-investors/">claims the metaverse</a> is the next big gambit for social networking, with CEO Mark Zuckerberg having described it as an “embodied internet that you’re inside of rather than just looking at.”</p>
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<p>To some extent, Fortnite has begun to embrace the metaverse by offering non-gaming experiences like <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2020/04/24/fortnite-hosted-a-psychedelic-travis-scott-concert-and-12-3m-people-watched/">online</a> <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2021/08/09/fortnite-ariana-grande-concert-metaverse/">concerts</a> you attend as your avatar, and other live events. Ahead of its shutdown, Houseparty also <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2020/05/13/houseparty-expands-beyond-video-chat-with-co-watching-of-live-events/">toyed with live events</a> that users would co-watch and participate in alongside their friends.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr" xml:lang="en">3/6 The metaverse vision and products we’re working on at <a href="https://twitter.com/EpicGames?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@EpicGames</a> are also about shared experiences, but in a more rich form than 2D video — one that’s better positioned to shape the next generation of the internet.</p>
<p>— sima sistani (@SimaSistani) <a href="https://twitter.com/SimaSistani/status/1436045438830972930?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 9, 2021</a></p>
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<p>An Epic Games spokesperson tells TechCrunch the Houseparty team has worked on (and continues to work on) a number of other projects that focus on social. But some of the “multiple, larger projects” Epic Games has in the works remain undisclosed, we’re told.</p>
<p>In terms of social products, Houseparty’s technology now underpins all of Fortnite voice chat and the features they built are widely available for free to developers through <a href="https://www.epicgames.com/site/en-US/news/epic-online-services-launches-free-in-game-voice-and-easy-anti-cheat">Epic Games Services</a>. They also worked on building out new social experiences, which have ranged from the social RSVP functions for Fortnite’s global events, like the recent Ariana Grande concert, to the upcoming <a href="https://www.epicgames.com/fortnite/en-US/news/prepare-for-the-end-of-chapter-2-season-7-in-the-finale-event-operation-sky-fire">“Operation: Sky Fire” event</a> for collaborating quests and other game mechanics. More social functionality and new experiences are also being built into Fortnite’s user-generated content platform, Create Mode.</p>
<p>While it may seem odd to close an app that only last year experienced a boost in usage due to the pandemic, it appears the COVID bump didn’t have staying power.</p>
<p>At the height of lockdowns, Houseparty had <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2020/04/15/houseparty-reports-50m-sign-ups-in-past-month-amid-covid-19-lockdowns/">reported it had gained 50 million new sign-ups</a> in a month’s time as users looked to video apps to connect with family and friends while the world was shut down. But as the pandemic wore on, other video chat experiences gained more ground. Zoom, which had established itself as an essential tool for remote work, became a tool for <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/think/opinion/covid-s-remote-parties-allowed-us-celebrate-all-our-dearest-ncna1263552">hanging out with friends</a> after-hours, as well. Facebook also started to eat Houseparty’s lunch with <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2020/04/24/faceboo-launches-drop-in-video-chat-rooms-to-rival-houseparty/">its debut of drop-in video chat “Rooms” last year,</a> which offered a similar group video experience. And bored users shifted to audio-based social networking on <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2020/04/18/clubhouse-app-chat-rooms/">apps like Clubhouse</a> or Twitter Spaces.</p>
<div id="attachment_2200392" style="width: 690px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-2200392" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-2200392" src="https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Houseparty-quarterly-downloads.png?w=680" alt="" width="680" height="481" srcset="https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Houseparty-quarterly-downloads.png 1150w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Houseparty-quarterly-downloads.png?resize=150,106 150w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Houseparty-quarterly-downloads.png?resize=300,212 300w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Houseparty-quarterly-downloads.png?resize=768,543 768w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Houseparty-quarterly-downloads.png?resize=680,481 680w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Houseparty-quarterly-downloads.png?resize=50,35 50w" sizes="(max-width: 680px) 100vw, 680px" />
<p id="caption-attachment-2200392" class="wp-caption-text"><strong>Image Credits:</strong> Apptopia</p>
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<p>According to data from <a href="https://apptopia.com/">Apptopia</a>, Houseparty has been continually declining since the pandemic bump. To date, its app has seen a total of 111 million downloads across iOS and Android, with the majority (63 million) on iOS. The U.S. was Houseparty’s largest market, accounting for 43.4% of downloads, followed by the U.K. (9.8%), then Germany (5.6%).</p>
<p>Epic Games, meanwhile, said the app served “tens of millions” of users worldwide. It insists the closure wasn’t decided lightly, nor was the decision to shutter “Fortnite Mode” made due to lack of adoption.</p>
<p>Houseparty will alert users to the shutdown via in-app notifications ahead of its final closure in October. At that point, Fortnite Mode will also no longer be available.</p>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07708768578194219823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6524377267326650797.post-36754955468271094422021-09-09T13:18:00.003-07:002021-09-09T13:18:32.656-07:00Dispo launches a test to gauge user interest in selling their photos as NFTs<p id="speakable-summary">The photo-sharing app that emulates disposable cameras, <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2021/06/08/amid-controversy-dispo-confirms-series-a-funding-high-profile-advisors-and-investors/">Dispo</a> started rolling out a test yesterday that will record user interest in selling photos as <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Non-fungible_token">NFTs</a>. Some users will now see a sell button on their photos, and when they tap it, they can sign up to be notified when the ability to sell Dispo photos launches.</p>
<p>CEO and co-founder <a href="https://techcrunch.com/author/daniel-liss/">Daniel Liss</a> told TechCrunch that Dispo is still deciding how it will incorporate NFT sales into the app, which is why the platform is piloting a test with its users. Dispo doesn’t know yet what blockchain it would use, if it would partner with an NFT marketplace, or what cut of sales Dispo would take.</p>
<p>“I think it’s safe to say from the test that there will be an experience native to the Dispo app,” Liss said. “There are a number of ways it could look — there could be a native experience within Dispo that then connects through an API to another platform, and in turn, they’re our partner, but to the community, it would look native to the Dispo app.”</p>
<div id="attachment_2200048" style="width: 690px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-2200048" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-2200048" src="https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Dispo_NFT-02.png?w=680" alt="" width="680" height="680" srcset="https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Dispo_NFT-02.png 2160w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Dispo_NFT-02.png?resize=150,150 150w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Dispo_NFT-02.png?resize=300,300 300w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Dispo_NFT-02.png?resize=768,768 768w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Dispo_NFT-02.png?resize=680,680 680w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Dispo_NFT-02.png?resize=1536,1536 1536w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Dispo_NFT-02.png?resize=2048,2048 2048w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Dispo_NFT-02.png?resize=32,32 32w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Dispo_NFT-02.png?resize=50,50 50w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Dispo_NFT-02.png?resize=64,64 64w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Dispo_NFT-02.png?resize=96,96 96w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Dispo_NFT-02.png?resize=128,128 128w" sizes="(max-width: 680px) 100vw, 680px" />
<p id="caption-attachment-2200048" class="wp-caption-text"><strong>Image Credits:</strong> Dispo</p>
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<p>This marks a new direction for the social media app, which seeks to redefine the photo-sharing experience by only letting users see the photos they took at 9 AM the next morning. From Dispo’s perspective, this gimmick helps users share more authentically, since you take one photo and then you’re done — the app isn’t conducive to taking dozens of selfies and posting the “best” image of yourself. But though it only launched in December 2019, Dispo has already faced both <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/25/style/dispo-david-dobrik-disposable-camera-app.html">buzzy hype</a> and devastating <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2021/03/21/spark-capital-decides-to-sever-all-ties-with-david-dobriks-dispo-app-weeks-after-leading-investment/">controversy</a>.</p>
<p>Until about a year ago, the app was called David’s Disposables, named after co-founder and YouTuber David Dobrik. The app was downloaded over a million times in the first week after its release and hit number one on the App Store charts. In March 2021, the app dropped its waitlist and relaunched with social network features, but just weeks later, Insider reported <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/vlog-squad-durte-dom-rape-allegation-david-dobrik-zeglaitis-video-2021-3">sexual assault allegations</a> against a member of Vlog Squad, Dobrik’s YouTube prank ensemble. In response, Spark Capital <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2021/03/21/spark-capital-decides-to-sever-all-ties-with-david-dobriks-dispo-app-weeks-after-leading-investment/">severed ties</a> with the company, leading to Dobrik’s departure. Other investors like Seven Seven Six and Unshackled Ventures, who contributed to the company’s $20 million Series A round, announced that they would <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/22/business/dispo-david-dobrik.html">donate any profits</a> from their investments in Dispo to organizations working with survivors of sexual assault.</p>
<p>Liss told TechCrunch in June, when the company <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2021/06/08/amid-controversy-dispo-confirms-series-a-funding-high-profile-advisors-and-investors/">confirmed its Series A</a>, that Dobrik’s role with the company was as a marketing partner — Liss has been CEO since the beginning. In light of the controversy, Liss said the app focused on improving the product itself and took a step back from promotion.</p>
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<p>According to data from the app analytics firm SensorTower, Dispo has reached an estimated 4.7 million global installs to date since launch. Though the app saw the most downloads in January 2020, when it was installed over 1 million times, the app’s next best month came in March 2021, when it removed its waitlist — that month, about 616,000 people downloaded Dispo. Between March and the end of August, the app was downloaded around 1.4 million times, which is up 118% year over year compared to the same time frame in 2020 — but it should be expected that this year’s numbers would be higher, since last year, the app’s membership was exclusive.</p>
<div id="attachment_2163190" style="width: 606px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-2163190" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-2163190" src="https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/dispo.jpeg?w=596" alt="" width="596" height="397" srcset="https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/dispo.jpeg 596w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/dispo.jpeg?resize=150,100 150w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/dispo.jpeg?resize=300,200 300w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/dispo.jpeg?resize=50,33 50w" sizes="(max-width: 596px) 100vw, 596px" />
<p id="caption-attachment-2163190" class="wp-caption-text"><strong>Image Credits:</strong> Dispo</p>
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<p>Now, with the announcement that Dispo is pursuing NFTs, Liss hopes that his company won’t just change how people post photos, but what the relationship will be between platforms and the content that users create.</p>
<p>“Why NFTs? The most powerful memories of our lives have value. And they have economic value, because we created them, and the past of social media fails to recognize that,” Liss told TechCrunch. “As a result, the only way that a creator with a big following is compensated is by selling directly to a brand, as opposed to profiting from the content itself.”</p>
<p>Adding NFT sales to the app offers Dispo a way to profit from a cut of user sales, but it stands to question how adding NFT sales could impact the community-focused feel of Dispo.</p>
<p>“I think there is tremendous curiosity and interest,” Liss said. “But these problems and questions are why we need more data.”</p>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07708768578194219823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6524377267326650797.post-8303555133235855542021-09-09T13:18:00.001-07:002021-09-09T13:18:31.863-07:00Tinder adds a new home for interactive, social features with launch of Tinder Explore<p id="speakable-summary">Tinder is <a href="https://www.tinderpressroom.com/2021-09-08-Tinder-Opens-This-Falls-Hottest-New-Venue-Tinder-Explore">redesigning</a> its app to put a larger emphasis on its social, interactive features with the launch of “Explore,” a new section that will feature events, like the return of the popular <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2021/08/11/tinders-interactive-swipe-night-stories-return-after-a-20-million-user-turnout/">“Swipe Night” series</a>, as well as ways to discover matches by interests and dive into quick chats before a match is made. Combined, the changes help to push Tinder further away from its roots as a quick match-based dating app into something that’s more akin to a social network aimed at helping users meet new people.</p>
<p>This shift could resonate better with a younger generation that may feel like traditional online dating has lost its novelty. Today, these users are turning to apps marketing themselves <a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/why-young-people-are-using-dating-apps-to-find-friendswithout-benefits-11626101537">as places to meet new friends</a>, while newcomers to the dating app industry are experimenting with other means of connecting users — such as with short, TikTok-like videos, as in <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2021/05/10/snack-a-tinder-meets-tiktok-dating-app-opens-to-gen-z-investors/">Snack</a>, or even audio, <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2021/07/07/swoonme-uses-avatars-and-audio-for-its-less-superficial-dating-app/">as in SwoonMe</a>. For Tinder, these market shifts may have represented an existential threat to its own business. But instead, the company has doubled down on interactivity as being core to the Tinder experience, and as a means of maintaining its dominant position.</p>
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<p><iframe class="wp-embedded-content" sandbox="allow-scripts" security="restricted" title="“Tinder’s interactive ‘Swipe Night’ stories return after a 20 million user turnout” — TechCrunch" src="https://techcrunch.com/2021/08/11/tinders-interactive-swipe-night-stories-return-after-a-20-million-user-turnout/embed/#?secret=fzqM4DskmR" data-secret="fzqM4DskmR" width="800" height="450" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></p>
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<p>At launch, Tinder Explore will include a handful of existing features alongside a new way to meet people. The latter allows users to connect with others based on interests — like Foodies, Gamers, Music Lovers, Social Causes, Entrepreneurs and more. Over time, more interests will be added, which will allow Tinder members to find someone based on what they’re like, rather than just what they look like.</p>
<div id="attachment_2200055" style="width: 690px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-2200055" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-2200055" src="https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Explore-multi.png?w=680" alt="" width="680" height="383" srcset="https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Explore-multi.png 1920w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Explore-multi.png?resize=150,84 150w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Explore-multi.png?resize=300,169 300w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Explore-multi.png?resize=768,432 768w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Explore-multi.png?resize=680,383 680w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Explore-multi.png?resize=1536,864 1536w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Explore-multi.png?resize=50,28 50w" sizes="(max-width: 680px) 100vw, 680px" />
<p id="caption-attachment-2200055" class="wp-caption-text"><strong>Image Credits:</strong> Tinder</p>
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<p>Explore will also be home to Tinder’s “Swipe Night,” the interactive series that launched in 2019 as an in-app “choose your own adventure” story which helped to <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2019/09/20/tinders-interactive-series-swipe-night-could-bring-a-needed-boost-to-user-engagement/">boost</a> Tinder engagement as it gave users a reason to relaunch the app at a specific time. Tinder <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2021/08/11/tinders-interactive-swipe-night-stories-return-after-a-20-million-user-turnout/">hailed</a> “Swipe Night” as a success, saying the feature attracted over 20 million users during its first run and led to a 26% increase in matches. In November, the series will <a href="https://www.tinderpressroom.com/2021-08-11-Tinder-Orders-More-Swipe-Night-Following-Transformative-20-Million-Member-Turnout-and-26-Increase-in-Matches">return</a> — this time, with new characters and a new “whodunit”-style storyline. It will now also leverage the “Fast Chat” feature that powers Tinder’s “Hot Takes” experience, which allows unmatched users to chat.</p>
<p>“Hot Takes” will also appear in Tinder Explore, which the company describes as a more low-stakes way to match with other users. As a timer counts down, users who are chatting can choose if they want to match. If the timer expires, they meet someone new — similar to an online version of speed dating. Since launching this summer, millions of Tinder users have tried “Hot Takes,” which is only available from 6 pm to midnight local time.</p>
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<p>However, the bigger story about Tinder Explore isn’t just what sort of features it will host now, but what the company has in store for the future. Earlier this year, Tinder parent Match bought the Korean social networking company <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2021/02/09/match-hyperconnect-acquisition/">Hyperconnect for $1.73 billion</a> — its largest acquisition to date. And it’s preparing to use Hyperconnect’s IP to make the online dating experience even more interactive than it is today, having announced <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2021/08/04/match-group-to-add-live-audio-and-video-to-its-dating-app-portfolio-starting-in-2021/">plans to add audio and video chat, including group live video</a>, to several of its top dating app properties, Tinder included.</p>
<div class="embed breakout">
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<p><a href="https://techcrunch.com/2021/08/04/match-group-to-add-live-audio-and-video-to-its-dating-app-portfolio-starting-in-2021/">Match Group to add audio and video chat, including group live video, to its dating app portfolio</a></p>
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<p><iframe class="wp-embedded-content" sandbox="allow-scripts" security="restricted" title="“Match Group to add audio and video chat, including group live video, to its dating app portfolio” — TechCrunch" src="https://techcrunch.com/2021/08/04/match-group-to-add-live-audio-and-video-to-its-dating-app-portfolio-starting-in-2021/embed/#?secret=AZvnFsv4C5" data-secret="AZvnFsv4C5" width="800" height="450" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></p>
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<p>Tinder Explore provides a platform where features like this could later be added — something Tinder hints toward0s, noting that the section is designed to offer users access to “a growing list” of social experiences with “many more to follow.”</p>
<p>“A new generation of daters is asking for more from us in the post-Covid world: more ways to have fun and interact with others virtually and more control over who they meet on Tinder,” said Tinder CEO Jim Lanzone, in a company announcement. “Today’s launch of Explore is a major step in creating a deeper, multi-dimensional, interactive experience for our members that expands the possibilities of Tinder as a platform,” he added.</p>
<p>Tinder Explore began rolling out to major English-speaking markets on Wednesday, September 8, and will be available globally by mid-October.</p>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07708768578194219823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6524377267326650797.post-37184704045149032142021-09-08T18:18:00.001-07:002021-09-08T18:18:45.500-07:00Tape It launches an A.I.-powered music recording app for iPhone<p id="speakable-summary">Earlier this year, Apple <a href="https://9to5mac.com/2021/03/02/apple-music-memos-voice-memos-integration/">officially discontinued</a> Music Memos, an iPhone app that allowed musicians to quickly record audio and develop new song ideas. Now, a new startup called <a href="https://tape.it/">Tape It</a> is stepping in to fill the void with an app that improves audio recordings by offering a variety of features, including higher-quality sound, automatic instrument detection, support for markers, notes, and images, and more.</p>
<p>The idea for Tape It comes from two friends and musicians, <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/tcwalther/">Thomas Walther</a> and <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/jan-n-2559b2116/">Jan Nash</a>.</p>
<p>Walther had previously spent three and a half years at Spotify, following its 2017 <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2017/03/07/spotify-acquires-audio-detection-startup-sonalytic/">acquisition of the audio detection startup Sonalytic</a>, which he had co-founded. Nash, meanwhile, is a classically trained opera singer, who also plays bass and is an engineer.</p>
<p>They’re joined by designer and musician <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/christiancrusius/">Christian Crusius</a>, previously of the design consultancy Fjord, which was <a href="https://newsroom.accenture.com/industries/communications/accenture-completes-acquisition-of-fjord-expanding-digital-and-marketing-capabilities.htm">acquired</a> by Accenture.</p>
<p>The founders, who had played in a band together for many years, were inspired to build Tape It because it was something they wanted for themselves, Walther says. After ending his stint at Spotify working in <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2017/11/17/spotify-acquires-online-music-studio-soundtrap/">their new Soundtrap division</a> (an online music startup Spotify also bought in 2017), he knew he wanted to work on a project that was more focused on the music-making side of things. But while Soundtrap worked for some, it wasn’t what either Walther or his friends had needed. Instead, they wanted a simple tool that would allow them to record their music with their phone — something that musicians often do today using Apple’s Voice Memos app and, briefly, Music Memos — until its demise.</p>
<div id="attachment_2199782" style="width: 690px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-2199782" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-2199782" src="https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Photo-3.jpg?w=680" alt="" width="680" height="510" srcset="https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Photo-3.jpg 2000w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Photo-3.jpg?resize=150,113 150w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Photo-3.jpg?resize=300,225 300w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Photo-3.jpg?resize=768,576 768w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Photo-3.jpg?resize=680,510 680w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Photo-3.jpg?resize=1536,1152 1536w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Photo-3.jpg?resize=50,38 50w" sizes="(max-width: 680px) 100vw, 680px" />
<p id="caption-attachment-2199782" class="wp-caption-text"><strong>Image Credits:</strong> Tape It</p>
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<p>“Regardless of whether you’re an amateur or even like a touring professional…you will record your ideas with your phone, just because that’s what you have with you,” Walther explains. “It’s the exact same thing with cameras — the best camera is the one you have with you. And the best audio recording tool is the one you have with you.”</p>
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<p>That is, when you want to record, the easiest thing to do is not to get out your laptop and connect a bunch of cables to it, then load up your studio software — it’s to hit the record button on your iPhone.</p>
<p>The Tape It app allows you to do just that, but adds other features that make it more competitive with its built-in competition, Voice Memos.</p>
<p>When you record using Tape It, the app leverages A.I. to automatically detect the instrument, then annotate the recording with a visual indication to make those recordings easier to find by looking for the colorful icon. Musicians can also add their own markers to the files right when they record them, then add notes and photos to remind themselves of other details. This can be useful when reviewing the recordings later on, Walther says.</p>
<div id="attachment_2199783" style="width: 690px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-2199783" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-2199783" src="https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Photo-2.jpg?w=680" alt="" width="680" height="510" srcset="https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Photo-2.jpg 2000w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Photo-2.jpg?resize=150,113 150w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Photo-2.jpg?resize=300,225 300w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Photo-2.jpg?resize=768,576 768w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Photo-2.jpg?resize=680,510 680w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Photo-2.jpg?resize=1536,1152 1536w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Photo-2.jpg?resize=50,38 50w" sizes="(max-width: 680px) 100vw, 680px" />
<p id="caption-attachment-2199783" class="wp-caption-text"><strong>Image Credits:</strong> Tape It</p>
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<p>“If I have a nice guitar sound, I can just take a picture of the settings on my amplifier, and I have them. This is something musicians do all the time,” he notes. “It’s the easiest way to re-create that sound.”</p>
<p>Another novel, but simple, change in Tape It is that breaks longer recordings into multiple lines, similar to a paragraph of text. The team calls this the “Time Paragraph,” and believes it will make listening to longer sessions easier than the default — which is typically a single, horizontally scrollable recording.</p>
<div id="attachment_2199785" style="width: 333px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-2199785" loading="lazy" class="vertical size-large wp-image-2199785" src="https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Tape.png?w=323" alt="" width="323" height="680" srcset="https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Tape.png 1580w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Tape.png?resize=71,150 71w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Tape.png?resize=142,300 142w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Tape.png?resize=768,1618 768w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Tape.png?resize=323,680 323w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Tape.png?resize=729,1536 729w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Tape.png?resize=972,2048 972w, https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Tape.png?resize=24,50 24w" sizes="(max-width: 323px) 100vw, 323px" />
<p id="caption-attachment-2199785" class="wp-caption-text"><strong>Image Credits:</strong> Tape It</p>
</div>
<p>The app has also been designed so it’s easier to go back to the right part of recordings, thanks to its smart waveforms, in addition to the optional markers and photos. And you can mark recordings as favorites so you can quickly pull up a list of your best ideas and sounds. The app offers full media center integration as well, so you can play back your music whenever you have time.</p>
<p>However, the standout feature is Tape It’s support for “Stereo HD” quality. Here, the app takes advantage of the two microphones on devices like the iPhone XS, XR, and other newer models, then improves the sound using A.I. technology and other noise reduction techniques which it’s developed in-house. This feature is part of its $20 per year premium subscription.</p>
<p>Over time, Tape It intends to broaden its use of A.I. and other IP to improve the sound quality further. It also plans to introduce collaborative features and support for importing and exporting recordings into professional studio software. This could eventually place Tape It into the same market that SoundCloud had initially chased before it shifted its focus to becoming more of a consumer-facing service.</p>
<p>But first, Tape It wants to nail the single-user workflow before adding on more sharing features.</p>
<p>“We decided that it’s so important to make sure it’s useful, even just for you. The stuff that you can collaborate on — if you don’t like using it yourself, you’re not going to use it,” Walther says.</p>
<p>Tape It’s team of three is dually based in both Stockholm and Berlin and is currently bootstrapping.</p>
<p>The app itself is a free download on <a href="https://apps.apple.com/us/app/tape-it-songwriting/id1576341885">iOS</a> and will later support desktop users on Mac and Windows. An Android version is not planned.</p>
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