Adeptmind raises $4.5M from Fidelity to bring smarter search to retailers

If you’ve ever searched for a product on any website that’s not Amazon or Google, you’ve probably had a bad time trying to find something — and then go straight back to Google or Amazon. That’s a significant problem for retailers, which need to ensure that potential customers that are already signaling a lot of interest in buying something will actually be able… Read More

Source: https://techcrunch.com/2017/11/15/adeptmind-raises-4-5m-from-fidelity-to-bring-smarter-search-to-retailers/?ncid=rss

The Moto Z’s latest Mod turns the phone into a Polaroid instant camera

The Moto Z’s selection of modular backings have been pretty hit or miss (largely miss, if I’m being honest), but this one’s pretty clever. Sure, the addition of a Polaroid Insta-Share Printer Moto Mod probably isn’t going to make anyone run out and buy the company’s latest flagship, but this is a case where it actually makes sense to have the accessory as a… Read More

Source: https://techcrunch.com/2017/11/15/the-moto-zs-latest-mod-turns-the-phone-into-a-polaroid-instant-camera/?ncid=rss

Sprint adds free Hulu service to its Unlimited Freedom plan

As had been rumored this week, Hulu and Sprint today announced that Hulu’s service will now come bundled with Sprint’s unlimited wireless plan. Starting on November 17, both new and existing customers of the Sprint Unlimited Freedom plan will gain access to Hulu’s Limited Commercials service – the on-demand TV streaming service offering access to thousands of TV shows… Read More

Source: https://techcrunch.com/2017/11/15/sprint-adds-free-hulu-service-to-its-unlimited-freedom-plan/?ncid=rss

Essential offers up an Android Oreo beta for the Essential Phone

Android smartphone maker Essential promised that it would be releasing an update to Android 8.0 Oreo for its devices soon, and now there’s a beta version of the update available through its developer portal. This is just a beta, as mentioned, but it’s broadly available for anyone interested enough in the Oreo update to try out pre-release software. Read More

Source: https://techcrunch.com/2017/11/14/essential-offers-up-an-android-oreo-beta-for-the-essential-phone/?ncid=rss

A mesh network spontaneously erupts in the US and helps connect Puerto Rico

When goTenna put out their Mesh device earlier this year, I thought the off-grid gadgets would be great for an emergency kit or back-country hike. But it turns out that I underestimated the demand for a resilient, user-powered mesh network: dedicated nodes now populate cities across the country, and volunteers are using them to get Puerto Rico back online after a devastating hurricane season. Read More

Source: https://techcrunch.com/2017/11/14/a-mesh-network-spontaneously-erupts-in-the-us-and-helps-connect-puerto-rico/?ncid=rss

Pinterest Lens now gives users a way to figure out their outfits with the clothes in their closet

Looking for what to wear is one of the bigger use cases on Pinterest, but as the company looks to make the process of getting the right content to users more seamless, it’s been increasingly focusing on its interface with the real world with the camera. Now the company is going a step further by letting users tap the camera’s visual search technology with clothes that are already… Read More

Source: https://techcrunch.com/2017/11/14/pinterest-lens-now-gives-users-a-way-to-figure-out-their-outfits-with-the-clothes-in-their-closet/?ncid=rss

Pinterest rolls out its own version of QR codes

If you are walking around a retailer, you might have seen a sign or something along those lines posted to check out its Pinterest account for additional content or products — but there was not really a seamless way to get to that account. Taking a cue from the prevalence of QR codes around the world, Pinterest is rolling out its own variation of QR codes for retailers and brands. Read More

Source: https://techcrunch.com/2017/11/14/pinterest-rolls-out-its-own-version-of-qr-codes/?ncid=rss

Cloudflare expands into mobile performance with Neumob acquisition

Cloudflare made a significant acquisition today when it acquired mobile VPN startup, Neumob. The purchase gives Cloudflare a mobile performance tool it was lacking, and a road to its first direct to consumer product. The company did not reveal the purchase price. Neumob, which had raised close to $11 million, was founded in 2015 to give users a faster mobile VPN experience that purports to… Read More

Source: https://techcrunch.com/2017/11/14/cloudflare-expands-into-mobile-performance-with-neumob-acquisition/?ncid=rss

Facebook launches collaborative Stories for Groups and Events

Facebook is combining its Snapchat Stories clone with features Snapchat can’t match. Starting today, users of Facebook Groups and Events will be able to contribute to a Facebook Story visible to the rest of the members and moderated by the admins. In essence, these collaborative Stories will work like a private hashtag so multiple people can add content but only those involved can see it. Read More

Source: https://techcrunch.com/2017/11/13/facebook-event-stories/?ncid=rss

Facebook Stories replaces Messenger Day with synced cross-posting

Facebook is cleaning up the redundancy in its Snapchat Stories clones. Today Facebook is killing off the Messenger Day brand and merging the chat app’s stories feature with Facebook Stories. Now, just called “Stories,” 24-hour ephemeral posts in either Facebook or Messenger will appear in both apps, and viewing will be synced, too. Read More

Source: https://techcrunch.com/2017/11/13/rip-direct-and-messenger-day/?ncid=rss

Snapchat’s epic strategy flip-flop

It takes courage to say you were wrong about almost everything. But that’s what Snap Inc. CEO Evan Spiegel did this week, and that’s what it will take to save Snapchat. From algorithmic feeds to partnerships to target markets to recruiting adults, Snap is planning a 180-degree turn across the board. Read More

Source: https://techcrunch.com/2017/11/13/time-to-snap-into-action/?ncid=rss

ESPN launches a short-form version of SportsCenter on Snapchat

ESPN today announced it’s launching a short-form version of its SportsCenter show on Snapchat, which will kick off today at 5 PM ET. The show will then begin to release new episodes on a twice-daily basis, at 5 AM and 5 PM on weekdays and once, at 5 AM, on weekends. The launch will make SportsCenter the first-ever daily sports show on Snapchat’s platform. The move comes at a time… Read More

Source: https://techcrunch.com/2017/11/13/espn-launches-a-short-form-version-of-sportscenter-on-snapchat/?ncid=rss

Qualcomm rejects Broadcom’s $70 per share takeover offer

Qualcomm’s board of directors has unanimously voted to reject an acquisition offer from rival chipmaker Broadcom. Read More

Source: https://techcrunch.com/2017/11/13/qualcomm-rejects-broadcoms-70-per-share-takeover-offer/?ncid=rss

Graphcore raises $50M amid a flurry of AI chip activity

While some of the largest chip manufacturers are looking to shift their focus onto the GPU for their biggest machine learnings, there’s a blooming ecosystem of new chip startups looking to rethink the way processing for AI works That includes a European-based startup called Graphcore, which said today that it has raised $50 million in new financing led by Sequoia Capital — following… Read More

Source: https://techcrunch.com/2017/11/12/graphcore-raises-50m-amid-a-flurry-of-ai-chip-activity/?ncid=rss

Bike-share platform Spin poaches Seattle transit regulator and launches in a dozen new cities

Spin, one of several bike-sharing companies now vying for dominance in a number of U.S. cities, has a new weapon to wield against its competitors: Kyle Rowe, the architect of Seattle’s permissive and apparently successful bike-share permit system, who is joining the company to work on government partnerships. In addition, Spin is gearing up to launch in a dozen or so new cities. Read More

Source: https://techcrunch.com/2017/11/10/bike-share-platform-spin-poaches-seattle-transit-regulator-and-launches-in-a-dozen-new-cities/?ncid=rss

Uber ‘Express POOL’ offers the cheapest fare if you’ll walk a little

Uber’s found a way to shave another 25 percent or so off the price of a ride. Uber Express POOL asks you to walk up to a few blocks to your pickup and destination before and after the ride in exchange for the cheapest fare out of all of Uber’s options. Read More

Source: https://techcrunch.com/2017/11/10/uber-express-pool/?ncid=rss

Mysterious ‘green line of death’ appears on some iPhone X displays

It wouldn’t be the launch of a first-generation Apple product without a few hiccups — who can forget Antennagate and Bendgate? — and the iPhone X is no different. A handful of users report that a mysterious and inextinguishable green line has appeared on their device’s display. Read More

Source: https://techcrunch.com/2017/11/10/mysterious-green-line-of-death-appears-on-some-iphone-x-displays/?ncid=rss

Apple’s iOS App Store adds weekend deals to boost app downloads

With the introduction of iOS 11, Apple redesigned the App Store with a heavier focus on editorial content, including articles, interviews, how-to’s, lists and other round-ups with app recommendations. Now, it’s adding another feature, as well, called “This Weekend Only.” The new section lists deals that can be found inside apps, as opposed to discounts on downloads of… Read More

Source: https://techcrunch.com/2017/11/10/apples-ios-app-store-adds-weekend-deals-to-boost-app-downloads/?ncid=rss

Facebook relaunches Events app as Facebook Local, adds bars and food

Bad news for Yelp and good news for nightlife lovers. When you want to go out, it doesn’t necessarily have to be to an event. So to help you discover bars, restaurants, and nearby attractions, Facebook is rebranding its standalone Events app as “Facebook Local”. Launching in the U.S. today on iOS and Android, Facebook Local combines events and permanent places to a single… Read More

Source: https://techcrunch.com/2017/11/10/facebook-local/?ncid=rss

Apple updates its Clips video app with fancy selfie backgrounds and iCloud support

Apple is releasing version 2.0 of Clips, its free application for easily editing mobile videos. When the app first launched earlier this year, it was clear that Apple wasn’t trying to replace more sophisticated editing software like FinalCut or iMovie. Instead, it’s trying to offer an easy way to stitch together video segments shot on your phone (you can shoot video directly in… Read More