Yahoo Tech

Apple's 10.2-inch iPad with LTE drops to $380 on Amazon

Tue, 12 May 2020 10:40:28 -0400

Amazon’s latest sale on the 10.2-inch iPad with cellular drops the price down from $460 to $380.

Apple adds fresh beat-making tools to Logic Pro X

Tue, 12 May 2020 10:31:19 -0400

Apple has released a new update for Logic Pro X the company says is its biggest since it released the app back in 2013.

Despite the economy, LA's Maple Media is hunting for app acquisitions

Tue, 12 May 2020 10:30:28 -0400

Over the past three years the Los Angeles-based startup Maple Media has amassed a portfolio of roughly thirty companies and one hundred apps in its quest to become the IAC of app store businesses. "We look at three pillars of our types of apps... casual games, mobile games, and personal tools," said Maple Media chief executive, Michael Ritter. Other apps in the company's portfolio include Pic Stitch, the photo collage editor and the calendar app, WeCal.

'Hamilton' is coming to Disney+ on July 3rd, a year earlier than expected

Tue, 12 May 2020 10:22:15 -0400

The filmed version of the megahit musical was originally scheduled for a theatrical release in October 2021.

Spotify Kids app rolls out blocking, listening history features for parents

Tue, 12 May 2020 10:18:54 -0400

Spotify is expanding the capabilities of its parental controls on its Spotify Kids app, aimed at children ages 3 and up on a parent's Spotify Premium Family plan. At the time, Spotify said it heard from parents testing the app in other markets how they wanted to have even more control over the app's included content. The Listening History option will allow them to view every track the child has streamed on the Spotify Kids app over the past 3 months.

New Orleans-based Resilia raises $8 million from Mucker Capital to make nonprofits more efficient

Tue, 12 May 2020 10:05:16 -0400

Sevetri Wilson founded her first company, a public relations firm catering to non-profit organizations, as soon as she graduated from Louisiana State University back in 2009. Eleven years later, and with a fresh $8 million round of funding in the bank, Wilson has taken the experience she amassed working in the nonprofit world and turned it into her new business, Resilia. From offices in New Orleans and New York, Wilson's company offers a suite of services for nonprofits to better manage and report their finances and for grant-making and philanthropic organizations to find the groups that are working in the areas they want to support.

How to use your high-end camera as a webcam

Tue, 12 May 2020 10:00:26 -0400

If you're thinking of buying a webcam, here’s an option you may not have thought of. If you happen to have a DSLR, mirrorless or compact camera, you may be able to put it into service as a high-quality webcam. In some cases, particularly with select Canon, Nikon and Sony models on Windows, you might not even need any extra hardware at all.

CMU's tiny robot rover passes NASA design review ahead of 2021 trip to the Moon

Tue, 12 May 2020 09:45:14 -0400

Carnegie Mellon University is one step closer to operating its robotic rover on the surface of the Moon: The school's diminutive bot has passed a crucial NASA design review, performed by the agency in collaboration with Astrobotic, whose Peregrine lunar lander will be providing the ride for the robot down to the surface of the Moon on a mission set for 2021. The positive result from the design review did include a few design tweaks that the team will now implement as it moves from prototype to flight-ready rover, a process that's designed to take place this summer.

‘Minecraft Earth’ players can share their builds with just a web link

Tue, 12 May 2020 09:41:24 -0400

Microsoft is making it easier to share Minecraft Earth builds with just a link.

LG may be working on a phone with a second swivel display

Tue, 12 May 2020 09:25:49 -0400

LG's next phone could involve swivelling screens.

Xiaomi spinoff POCO's F2 Pro undercuts Android rivals with low price and flagship features

Tue, 12 May 2020 09:08:32 -0400

POCO, a brand that spun out of Chinese electronics giant Xiaomi earlier this year, today launched the POCO F2 Pro smartphone as it continues its new journey as an independent firm. The POCO F2 Pro, like its two-year-old sleeper hit predecessor Pocophone F1 smartphone, punches above its price class. It features an all-screen 6.67-inch full-HD+ AMOLED display (with 2400×1080 pixels), in-screen fingerprint scanner, support for 5G, quad-core rear camera setup, and a pop-up front camera that quietly tucks away when not in use.

LinkedIn ads polls and live video-based events in a focus on more virtual engagement

Tue, 12 May 2020 09:05:05 -0400

Today, LinkedIn announced a couple of big new feature updates that point to how it's trying to play a part in both of these: it's launching a new Polls feature for users to canvas opinions and get feedback; and it's launching a new "LinkedIn Virtual Events" tool that lets people create and broadcast video events via its platform. Despite now being owned by Microsoft, interestingly it doesn't seem that the Virtual Events service taps into Teams or Skype, Microsoft's two other big video products that it has been pushing hard at a time when use of video streaming for work, education and play is going through the roof. The polls feature -- you can see an example of one in the picture below, or respond to that specific poll here -- is a quick-fire and low-bar way of asking a question and encouraging engagement: LinkedIn says that a poll takes only about 30 seconds to put together, and responding doesn't require thinking of something to write, but gives the respondent more of a 'voice' than he or she would get just by providing a "like" or other reaction.

Sony job listing hints PS5 may launch in October

Tue, 12 May 2020 09:02:02 -0400

A Sony job opening has hinted that the PlayStation 5 might debut in October -- that is, if the pandemic and other factors don't cause problems.

Spotify Kids lets parents view listening history and block content

Tue, 12 May 2020 09:00:54 -0400

As promised, Spotify is adding more parental controls to its Spotify Kids music streaming app. From the Grown Ups section (formerly called Parental Settings), parents can view their child’s listening history for the previous three months.

SiMa.ai announces $30M Series A to build out lower-power edge chip solution

Tue, 12 May 2020 09:00:54 -0400

Krishna Rangasayee, founder and CEO, at SiMa.ai, has 30 years of experience in the semiconductor industry. Today he announced a $30 million Series A led by Dell Technologies Capital with help from Amplify Partners, Wing Venture Capital and +ND Capital. Rangasayee says in his years as a chip executive he saw a gap in the machine learning market for embedded devices running at the edge and he decided to start the company to solve that issue.

Sketchfab launches team platform to share and collaborate on 3D models

Tue, 12 May 2020 09:00:46 -0400

Sketchfab is enabling multiplayer mode today with a new Sketchfab for Teams feature. The startup lets you share 3D models with other people in your company so that they can view, edit and download models. Sketchfab has been working for years on a 3D model viewer for web browsers.

GreenLight Biosciences raises $17m to ramp mRNA production for COVID-19 vaccine candidate trials

Tue, 12 May 2020 09:00:44 -0400

One of the approaches therapeutics companies are taking to developing vaccines for COVID-19 relies on what's called an mRNA (messenger RNA, which essentially provides cells with protein production instructions) vaccine, a relatively novel method that hasn't yet resulted in a vaccine approved for human use (though approved mRNA vaccines do exist for veterinary treatment). Making mRNA is a fairly specialized affair, and one biotech startup that focuses on its production has raised $17 million in special purpose funding to ramp up its manufacturing capacity. Boston-based GreenLight Biosciences raided the additional funding from a combination of new and existing investors, including Flu Lab, Xeraya Capital, and Baird Capital, and will use the new funds to both expand its mRNA production capacity in order to support the creation of "billions of doses" of potential COVID-19 vaccines for use in trials and eventual deployment, should any candidates prove effective.

Summer Game Fest's first new game reveal starts at noon ET

Tue, 12 May 2020 08:40:40 -0400

With no E3 this year, Summer Game Fest is filling in the gap. Two events are on the schedule for Tuesday and Wednesday to showcase some new games on the way.

Target Global has a €1M "super seed" fund incoming to switch on laid off tech talent in Spain during COVID-19

Tue, 12 May 2020 08:38:44 -0400

Target Global is backing a €1 million support fund for tech talent in Spain laid off or furloughed as a result of the coronavirus crisis. The aim is to provide pre-seed financing to help crisis-hit tech workers switch gears and build out a startup concept over the next four to six months, covering living expenses plus enough funds to get going on a business idea. The VC firm says they'll be cutting checks of at least €25k/€35k up to €50k for "qualified applicants" -- meaning the initiative could support between 20 and 30 local tech workers who have found themselves sat at home without a job as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Twitch now sells virtual gift cards

Tue, 12 May 2020 08:20:48 -0400

Twitch's new gift cards can be used to pay for pretty much anything on the platform.

AirPods Pro are at their lowest Amazon price ever

Tue, 12 May 2020 07:50:18 -0400

Apple’s AirPods Pro have been available on Amazon for $235 for the longest time, less than a month after it launched for $249 late last year. The AirPods Pro’s touch controls and design might not be for everyone, but it still offers noticeably better sound quality than its predecessors.

The Morning After: Tesla vs. Alameda County

Tue, 12 May 2020 07:15:14 -0400

Tesla's Fremont factory reopened Monday, despite local officials maintaining a stay-in-place order to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Sony's latest soundbar mimics spatial audio with a 3.1 setup

Tue, 12 May 2020 06:45:58 -0400

Sony's latest soundbar includes Dolby Atmos and vertical surround engine tech.

DispatchTrack, a last-mile logistics platform, raises $144M in its first-ever funding

Tue, 12 May 2020 06:15:01 -0400

The current state of our COVID-19 world has underscored more than ever the need for reliable delivery and e-commerce services: consumers sheltering in place are shopping at unprecedented levels online and getting items brought directly to their homes; and retailers urgently need web-based platforms that can help them manage, sell and bring their goods to those people -- becoming for many the only way they can now do business. DispatchTrack, which provides a platform for last-mile deliveries, specifically to help companies mimic Amazon-like experiences for themselves by planning and tracking deliveries more easily, has closed a $144 million investment, its first-ever funding after scaling up as a bootstrapped startup to support more than 60 million deliveries per year. The funding is coming from a single, high-profile investor, Spectrum Equity (backer of many other huge tech companies that have straddled the offline worlds with online services, including SurveyMonkey and GrubHub).

'Overwatch' is adding a competitive mode that doesn't require role locks

Tue, 12 May 2020 06:01:27 -0400

Competitive Open Queue mode is set to become a permanent feature in Overwatch.

Quibi's TV support is coming to iPhones this week

Tue, 12 May 2020 04:30:02 -0400

Quibi will finally start rolling out the ability to cast its bite-sized shows to TVs this week. In a report about the company’s performance since it launched in early April, the New York Times says that Quibi is launching the capability this week for iPhone users.

Ford promises quick over-the-air updates for its Mustang Mach-E

Tue, 12 May 2020 04:00:28 -0400

Ford’s Mustang Mach-E, which is currently available for reservation, will support over-the-air updates from the time it launches. In fact, the automaker expects to roll out its first updates within six months after the crossover EV makes its way to its first customers later this year.

Tim Hortons eyes China coffee drinkers with Tencent investment

Tue, 12 May 2020 03:22:43 -0400

Canadian coffee-and-doughnut chain Tim Hortons has secured a heavyweight partner to further its China expansion. The company announced on its social media account (in Chinese) on Tuesday that it has landed funding from Tencent, the Chinese social networking and gaming giant, without disclosing the size of the proceeds. Tim Hortons did not immediately respond to TechCrunch's request for comment.

Roland slashes the starting price of its cloud synth subscriptions

Tue, 12 May 2020 03:00:36 -0400

Roland's digital instruments and software just got a lot cheaper.

Construyo scores €2M to connect the architecture, engineering and construction industry

Tue, 12 May 2020 03:00:34 -0400

Construyo, a Berlin-based startup that offers a "holistic" project management service that connects the architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) industry, has raised €2 million in seed funding. The round is led by Talis Capital, and follows €300,000 of previous backing from Florian Swoboda, founder of Liberty Ventures; Florian Leibert, founder of D2iQ, and Jan Kanieß, co-founder of Payone. Founded in 2018 by Leonhard Jeub and Fabian Müller, Construyo’s mission is to bring the construction industry into the digital age.

Roland brings its Zen-core synth engine to your computer

Tue, 12 May 2020 03:00:17 -0400

As part of its revamped Roland Cloud service, it’s also launching Zenology as a standalone VST instrument that can be used in your DAW of choice. The full version comes packed with over 3,500 different synth sounds and 80 drum kits.

Tencent Music bets on China's crowded audio content space

Tue, 12 May 2020 00:36:38 -0400

Listeners of podcasts, audiobooks and other audio shows are estimated to number 542 million in China this year, according to a third-party survey by marketing firm iiMedia. The group's main line of businesses goes beyond music streaming to encompass virtual karaoke, live streaming and audio content; a category that has recently seen a big push from the firm. In its newly released quarterly report, TME said it has made "significant progress in expanding" its audio library by adding thousands of new adaptions from popular IP pieces and works from independent producers.

iFixit takes a look inside Apple's Magic Keyboard

Mon, 11 May 2020 23:52:24 -0400

Apple’s Magic Keyboard works so well that it blurs the line between iPads and full-blown Macs. Now, iFixit has taken a closer look at what’s inside its keys as well as its sturdy, elegant trackpad, which we called one of Magic Keyboard’s biggest selling points in our review.

What's on TV this week: 'Scoob!' and Kimmy Schmidt

Mon, 11 May 2020 22:25:28 -0400

This week 'Scoob!' comes home in 4K, while Netflix wraps up 'Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt' with a new interactive episode.

Southeast Asian lending platform Validus raises $20 million for its Series B+ round

Mon, 11 May 2020 22:00:53 -0400

Small- to medium-sized businesses are one of the most important parts of Southeast Asia’s economy, but many have trouble securing growth capital from traditional financial institutions. Validus wants to fix the financing gap with its peer-to-peer lending platform, which connects accredited lenders with SMEs. The Singapore-based startup announced today that it has raised $20 million for its ongoing Series B+ round.

Instagram Lite vanishes ahead of a redesign

Mon, 11 May 2020 21:32:30 -0400

Instagram has temporarily shelved its Lite app as it prepares a redesigned version.

Elon Musk just put a new person in charge of production at Tesla's Fremont factory

Mon, 11 May 2020 21:06:02 -0400

On the same day that Elon Musk defied local regulations and reopened Tesla's factory in Fremont, California, the CEO put a new person in charge of production. Musk named Richard Miller, who was director of paint operations at Tesla, to head production at the factory, according to an internal email sent to employees Monday and viewed by TechCrunch. It appears that Miller replaces Jatinder Dhillon, who was the company's manufacturing director.

Apple's rumored over-ear headphones may let you wear them 'backwards'

Mon, 11 May 2020 20:28:20 -0400

Apple's reported over-ear headphones could use sensors to let you wear them any way you like, with custom EQ settings to boot.

Motorola Razr's Android 10 update makes better use of the outer screen

Mon, 11 May 2020 19:26:06 -0400

Motorola has updated the new Motorola Razr to Android 10, and its outer screen is now useful for everything from Google Maps to quick text replies.

This flexible robot is a speedy runner -- and not a bad swimmer

Mon, 11 May 2020 18:57:33 -0400

According to the team, LEAP can ran at speeds of 2.7 body lengths per second — that makes it around three times faster than speeds hit by the fastest soft robots. What’s more, by attaching a fin, it's capable of swimming 0.78 body lengths a second, versus the 0.7 achieved by the last soft robot to claim top speed. The team took inspiration from cheetahs — because what else are you going to take inspiration from when attempting to build a fast robot?

3D atom mapping helps investigate the origins of life

Mon, 11 May 2020 18:40:06 -0400

Scientists have used 3D atom mapping to find evidence of life-supporting fluids in a meteorite 4.5 billion years old.

Reconnecting, reluctantly, with Facebook

Mon, 11 May 2020 18:15:24 -0400

Haje Jan Kamps is a founder, photographer and journalist who logged time as a TechCrunch writer years ago and who has since launched a platform for virtual conferences called Konf. In a recent catch-up with him about work and life during COVID-19, we wound up talking at some length about Facebook, which is seeing record use across its social networking, messaging and live-streaming platforms right now and will likely continue to do so throughout this pandemic.

Amazon releases Kendra to solve enterprise search with AI and machine learning

Mon, 11 May 2020 17:40:37 -0400

Enterprise search has always been a tough nut to crack. The holy grail has always been to operate like Google, but in-house. You enter a few keywords and you get back that nearly perfect response at the top of the list of the results.

Instagram Lite shuts down in advance of a relaunch

Mon, 11 May 2020 17:22:38 -0400

Instagram Lite, the two-year-old version of the Instagram app aimed at emerging markets, has quietly disappeared. The previously highly ranked app vanished from the Google Play charts on April 13 in the countries where it was active, including Kenya, Mexico, Peru and the Philippines. Existing Instagram Lite users have been directed to the main Instagram app via a message that claimed "Instagram Lite is No Longer Supported."

Fiat Chrysler and AV startup Voyage partner on self-driving minivans

Mon, 11 May 2020 17:21:05 -0400

Self-driving vehicle startup Voyage said Monday that it has inked a deal with Fiat Chrysler to supply purpose-built vehicles, a partnership that will help accelerate its plan to launch a fully driverless ride-hailing service. Voyage, a three-year-old startup that tests and operates a self-driving vehicle service (with human safety operators) in retirement communities in California and Florida, started by modifying Ford Fusion vehicles. The company then began modifying FCA's Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid minivans with its autonomous vehicle technology.

Elon Musk restarts Tesla production in defiance of county lockdown (updated)

Mon, 11 May 2020 17:18:07 -0400

Tesla has restarted production at its Fremont plant despite the county's lockdown orders.

American Idol is shooting on iPhones amid stay at home orders

Mon, 11 May 2020 16:55:04 -0400

The COVID-19 pandemic has forced a lot of otherwise traditional industries to become creative and flexible in ways that might have seemed entirely out of the realm of possibility only a few months ago. With most of the country at home, social distancing, a number of networks have turned to consumer technologies in order to keep creating content. The list includes a Parks and Recreation reunion, Conan O’Brien and Jimmy Fallon’s late night shows and now longstanding prime-time talent contest, American Idol.

Rideshare drivers stage caravan protest over Uber's labor practices

Mon, 11 May 2020 16:05:46 -0400

Hundreds of Uber and Lyft drivers are staging a caravan protest at Uber's San Francisco headquarters to demand Uber comply with gig worker protections law AB-5, pay into the state's unemployment insurance fund and drop the ballot initiative it proposed along with Lyft and DoorDash that aims to keep gig workers classified as independent contractors. "Uber, Lyft and other gig companies are continuing in the same path of abusing and completely taking advantage of workers while putting them at risk," rideshare driver and organizer with Gig Workers Rising Edan Alva told TechCrunch.

Bethesda says 'Elder Scrolls 6' details are years away

Mon, 11 May 2020 15:20:38 -0400

Bethesda marketing vice president Pete Hines told fans this weekend the company won't have any details to share about the latest Elder Scrolls game anytime soon.

Banjo's CEO resigns after report details KKK ties in his past

Mon, 11 May 2020 14:41:10 -0400

After investigative reporting revealed his undisclosed involvement in shooting at a synagogue with KKK members at age 17, the CEO of Banjo will leave the company he founded. In a short blog post, the company announced a "change in leadership" and the resignation of its founder and CEO Damien Patton. "I am confident Banjo’s greatest days are still ahead, and will do everything in my power to ensure our mission succeeds," Patton said in the post.