Techcrunch

• newJack Ma’s fintech giant tops 1.3 billion users globally

  

  The speculation that Alibaba’s fintech affiliate Ant Group will go public has been swirling around for years. New details came to light recently. Reuters reported last week that the fintech giant could float as soon as this year in an initial public offering that values it at $200 billion. As a private firm, details of […]
  - 17 mins ago 15 Jul 20, 10:24am -
• newKobo introduces the lackluster Nia to replace its budget Aura e-reader

  

  The e-reader category was exciting once — or at least as exciting as one could hope from such a space. It was a vibrant category, with plenty of key players, each looking to outdo one another. But as is the case with a depressing number of verticals, Amazon has largely wiped the floor with the […]
  - 1 hour ago 15 Jul 20, 9:31am -
• newAdam Neumann is back in the shared economy business with an investment in GoTo Global

  

  Adam Neumann, the controversial co-founder and former CEO of WeWork, has taken a 33% equity stake in GoTo Global, a shared mobility company that operates in Israel and Malta and aims to expand into Europe later this year. Neumann’s family office, 166 2nd Financial Services, invested $10 million into GoTo Global, as part of a […]
  - 2 hours ago 15 Jul 20, 8:32am -
• newTesla lands at least $14.7 million in tax breaks to locate Cybertruck factory in Texas

  

  Lawmakers in Texas just gave Tesla and its CEO Elon Musk another incentive to locate its next factory there. Commissioners in Travis County, home to Austin and the possible next Tesla factory, approved Tuesday property tax breaks worth at least $14.7 million — and potentially more — over 10 years. The incentives are on top […]
  - 6 hours ago 15 Jul 20, 5:08am -
• newDear Sophie: What are my F-1 and other immigration options after graduation?

  

  Here’s another edition of “Dear Sophie,” the advice column that answers immigration-related questions about working at technology companies.
  - 6 hours ago 15 Jul 20, 5:08am -
• newVidMob rethinks video production in the pandemic era

  

  VidMob, which started out as a marketplace connecting marketers and video editors, now bills itself as a “creative technology platform.” Now there’s a “creator network” that’s part of a broader suite of tools for managing video production and turning those videos into online ads. And the company has continued to evolve during the COVID-19 pandemic. […]
  - 6 hours ago 15 Jul 20, 4:38am -
• newDaily Crunch: Behold, The TechCrunch List

  

  TechCrunch launches a major new initiative, Amazon tests a smart shopping cart and ICE backs down from its controversial student visa rule change. Here’s your Daily Crunch for July 14, 2020. The big story: Behold, The TechCrunch List Back in June we published a story with the rather grandiose headline “How we’re rebuilding the VC […]
  - 7 hours ago 15 Jul 20, 3:56am -
• newFacebook to launch officially licensed music videos in the US next month

  

  Facebook is preparing to launch officially licensed music videos on its social network in the U.S. next month, in a direct challenge to YouTube. In materials reviewed by TechCrunch, Facebook informed Page owners linked to artists they’ll need to toggle on a new setting to add their music videos to their page ahead of an […]
  - 8 hours ago 15 Jul 20, 3:11am -
• newSpaceX’s Starlink asks potential service testers for addresses, says private beta starts this summer

  

  Starlink, the high-bandwidth, low-latency broadband internet service that SpaceX is in the process of deploying, has sent out an email to those who’ve registered their interest in becoming beta testers. The email asks for a specific address, to replace the previously requested zip codes (or area codes in Canada) for potential testers to help them […]
  - 8 hours ago 15 Jul 20, 2:48am -
• newElon Musk rails against German court decision on Tesla Autopilot terminology

  

  Tesla CEO Elon Musk disputed a German court ruling issued today that bans the company from using on its website or other advertising terms like Autopilot or “full potential for autonomous driving.” In a tweet, Musk said “Tesla Autopilot was literally named after the term used in aviation. Also, what about Autobahn!?” The Wettbewerbszentrale, an […]
  - 8 hours ago 15 Jul 20, 2:19am -
• newBlueOcean uses automation to deliver affordable brand audits in seven days

  

  BlueOcean is a new startup offering companies a relatively fast and affordable way to see how their brands are performing and what they can do to improve. CEO Grant McDougall and COO/President Liza Nebel (the pair founded BlueOcean with Chief Data Scientist Matthew Gross) told me they’ve been developing the technology for two years. And […]
  - 9 hours ago 15 Jul 20, 1:57am -
• newWhatsApp hit by brief outage, leaving users unable to send or receive messages

  

  WhatsApp was briefly down Tuesday, with users unable to send or receive messages on the Facebook-owned end-to-end encrypted messaging app. Affected users may have seen that WhatsApp was “connecting” to the service when trying to send a message. The outage started at about 4 p.m. ET but appeared to be working again by 4:30 p.m. […]
  - 9 hours ago 15 Jul 20, 1:57am -

• newAfter colleges sue, ICE backs down from student visa rule change

  

  The Trump administration has backed down from plans to revoke visas of international students studying in the U.S. whose schools planned to provide their classes exclusively online in the fall because of the coronavirus pandemic. The reversal comes as over a dozen universities and colleges threatened legal action against the administration’s order. The multi-faceted effort […]
  - 9 hours ago 15 Jul 20, 1:26am -
• newInvestors are browsing for Chromium startups

  

  A few months ago, we declared that “browsers are interesting again,” thanks to increased competition among the major players. Now, as more startups are getting onboard, things are getting downright exciting. A small but growing number of projects are building web browsers with a more specific type of user in mind. Whether that perceived user […]
  - 10 hours ago 15 Jul 20, 1:02am -
• newChrome competitor, The Browser Company, quietly raises $5M

  

  A handful of Silicon Valley’s notable figures are backing a software startup looking to challenge Google Chrome’s dominance. The startup, called The Browser Company, is led by Joshua Miller, who previously served as the Obama White House’s director of Product and is currently an investor at Thrive Capital, an investment firm founded by Josh Kushner. […]
  - 10 hours ago 15 Jul 20, 1:00am -
• newDecrypted: As tech giants rally against Hong Kong security law, Apple holds out

  

  It’s not often Silicon Valley gets behind a single cause. Supporting net neutrality was one, reforming government surveillance another. Last week, Big Tech took up its latest: halting any cooperation with Hong Kong police. Facebook, Google, Microsoft, Twitter, and even China-headquartered TikTok said last week they would no longer respond to demands for user data […]
  - 11 hours ago 14 Jul 20, 11:15pm -
• newSocial Construct’s computer-optimized buildings could shake construction industry’s foundations

  

  Construction is one of the largest industries still resisting the call of the 21st century, its practitioners opting for decades-old but tried and true methods. Ben Huh, of Cheezburger fame, aims to modernize the planning and assembly of buildings with software-generated floor plans and rooms that fit together like Lego bricks. Huh’s new company, Social […]
  - 12 hours ago 14 Jul 20, 11:03pm -
• newThe IPO market stays hot, as nCino prices above range and Jamf targets a ~$2B valuation

  

  Despite some market chop, the U.S. IPO market is still active, with fresh debut nCino pricing above its elevated price range, and Jamf moving to start its pricing process after filing to go public at the end of June. In addition to the pricing news, yesterday evening saw e-commerce software company BigCommerce commence its own […]
  - 12 hours ago 14 Jul 20, 10:27pm -
• newClassPass co-founder Sanjiv Sanghavi joins Arcadia, bringing consumer marketing savvy to clean energy

  

  “Helping navigate the elusiveness of product market fit” is how Sanjiv Sanghavi, the co-founder of ClassPass and itinerant startup executive, describes his roles at different companies.  From ClassPass through Knotel, Sanghavi has shepherded several businesses to growth and over a billion dollars in valuations; now he’s looking to bring that branding and marketing savvy to […]
  - 12 hours ago 14 Jul 20, 10:16pm -
• newOpenCV AI Kit aims to do for computer vision what Raspberry Pi did for hobbyist hardware

  

  A new gadget called the OpenCV AI Kit, or OAK, looks to replicate the success of Raspberry Pi and other minimal computing solutions, but for the growing fields of computer vision and 3D perception. Its new multi-camera PCBs pack a lot of capability into a small, open-source unit and are now seeking funding on Kickstarter. […]
  - 12 hours ago 14 Jul 20, 10:15pm -

Verge Re/Code

• newKobo’s $99.99 Nia is its new entry-level e-reader
  Image: Kobo Kobo is introducing a new entry-level e-reader to its lineup, the $99.99 Nia, which slots in beneath the $119.99 Clara HD model (which is sticking around). While both models have a 6-inch display, the Nia’s $20 savings come with slightly worse specs in a few areas compared to its slightly pricier sibling. Specifically, the Nia has a slightly lower-resolution display (212 ppi, versus 300 ppi on the Clara HD), a standard backlight (versus the Clara HD’s color temperature-changi…
  - 1 hour ago 15 Jul 20, 9:31am -
• newAustin approves tax breaks for Tesla in bid for Cybertruck factory
  Photo by Sean O’Kane / The Verge Officials in Austin have approved a total of at least $60 million in property tax rebates in an effort to bring Tesla’s next electric car factory to the Texas city. Austin is one of the two leading candidates for the factory, which is where Tesla will build the Cybertruck, along with Tulsa, Oklahoma. Travis County Commissioner’s Court, the policy-making and administrative arm of the local government, approved an agreement on Tuesday that will save Tesla…
  - 6 hours ago 15 Jul 20, 4:19am -
• newPeacock’s interface aims to recreate the feeling of live TV, but it comes up short
  Every new streaming service is looking for standout features to differentiate themselves from the competition, and Peacock’s features try to combine three different types of experiences in one app: a traditional streaming interface, a curation of small, short-form newsy moments, and “live TV.” But after a few days with the Peacock app, what became very apparent to me is the app isn’t as robust as Comcast’s ambitions for it.Depending on how people watch Peacock, they’ll be presented…
  - 8 hours ago 15 Jul 20, 2:26am -
• newWhatsApp went down for nearly an hour
  Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge WhatsApp went down for its 2 billion users earlier today, but service has now been restored. The issues started at around 4PM ET and prevented WhatsApp users from sending or receiving messages on the service for nearly an hour. The WhatsApp application would still open, but a connecting loop was displayed while the service experienced issues.“Earlier today, an internal update made to our WhatsApp servers caused some people to have trouble sending…
  - 9 hours ago 15 Jul 20, 2:06am -
• new15 states will follow California’s push to electrify trucks and buses
  Image: Proterra Fifteen states and Washington, DC have announced that they will follow California’s lead in switching all heavy-duty trucks, vans, and buses over to running on electricity, in what could be one of the most significant efforts to reduce harmful diesel engine pollution in the United States. It could also be a big development in the fight for environmental justice because emissions from diesel-powered commercial vehicles disproportionately harm Black, Asian, and Latinx communit…
  - 9 hours ago 15 Jul 20, 1:34am -
• newUS rescinds directive barring international students from online classes
  Photo by Anik Rahman/NurPhoto via Getty Images The US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) have agreed to rescind a policy that would require international students to take in-person classes in order to remain in the US. The agencies have reached an agreement with Harvard and MIT, who filed a lawsuit on July 8th over the policy. The resolution came less than five minutes into a hearing for the case, federal Judge Allison D. Burroughs announced.…
  - 9 hours ago 15 Jul 20, 1:34am -
• newHow far will Facebook go to address their civil rights audit?
  Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge This week on the Vergecast interview series, Verge editor-in-chief Nilay Patel talks to Rashad Robinson, president of Color of Change, about the Facebook ad boycott and Facebook’s civil rights audit that was released to the public. Color of Change, an online racial justice organization, is one of the groups leading the ad boycott against Facebook and other social media companies in response to hate speech on those platforms.In the interview, Robinso…
  - 9 hours ago 15 Jul 20, 1:20am -
• newWatch With Friends brings remote Netflix watch parties to Apple TV and Roku devices
  With move theaters shuttered and folks still stuck at home due to the pandemic, remote viewing party services have shot up in popularity, letting friends and family members sync up movies and TV shows from their own homes. But nearly all of those services only work on computers — not exactly the most satisfying way to watch a movie. But a new app called Watch With Friends developed by Caavo (the company behind the high-end Caavo Control Center universal remote) promises to bring that same expe…
  - 11 hours ago 15 Jul 20, 12:11am -
• newSony’s WH-1000XM3 wireless noise-canceling headphones are over $100 off at Woot
  Photo by James Bareham / The Verge Sony’s WH-1000XM3 are a great investment if you’re looking for a comfortable set of wireless, over-ear headphones that feature noise cancellation. The thing is, they’re usually $350. Well, today Woot is offering a new set for $220, which is a 37 percent discount on that original price. This deal will last through today, though it will end earlier if it sells out of stock.This headphone model originally released in late 2018, and rumors have been swirl…
  - 11 hours ago 14 Jul 20, 11:34pm -

Zee News Technology

• newThis Facebook robot walks on power lines to install fiber-optic cable
  Each robot will be capable of installing over a kilometre of fiber and passing the dozens of intervening obstacles autonomously in approximately an hour and a half.
  - 20 hours ago 14 Jul 20, 3:07pm -
• newFujifilm's launches sleek smartphone printer in India
  The instant printer is available for purchase via Amazon, Flipkart and leading offline stores.
  - 20 hours ago 14 Jul 20, 2:43pm -
• newSony launches new wireless speaker range in India
  The speakers support ‘Extra Bass' sound which is achieved on the XB wireless speaker line-up through Sony's renowned audio technology.
  - 21 hours ago 14 Jul 20, 1:37pm -
• newSamsung Galaxy Unpacked virtual event to kick off on August 5; may launch Galaxy Note 20 series, Galaxy Fold 2
  The event will begin at 7.30 pm India time on August 5.
  - 22 hours ago 14 Jul 20, 12:55pm -
• newSamsung Galaxy Fold 2 may not launch on August 5: Report
  An earlier leaked report suggested that Samsung may unwrap its third foldable smartphone in its ‘Unpacked' event next month.
  - 22 hours ago 14 Jul 20, 12:50pm -
• newQuick Heal blocked over 1 billion threats targeting Indian consumers
  West Bengal, Karnataka, and Gujarat rounded off the top five states with the most threat detections.
  - 22 hours ago 14 Jul 20, 12:28pm -
• newApple to pay $25 each to affected iPhone users over battery slow down issue
  The exact amount each person will receive may slightly vary based on the number of claims received.
  - 24 hours ago 14 Jul 20, 10:46am -
• Libero videoconferencing app - India's alternative to foreign apps being developed by 25-year-old Vamsi Kurama
  The Libero app is going through a final process and would be market-ready within a month, given that his prototype is selected by the central government.
  - 1 day ago 14 Jul 20, 12:27am -
• Google announces partnership with CBSE, to train over 1 million teachers by end of 2020
  Google also announced a new grant of $1 million to Kaivalya Education Foundation (KEF).
  - 2 days ago 13 Jul 20, 5:33pm -
• Google to launch low cost smartphones in India to enable feature phone users shift to smartphone
  The company will launch high quality Android phones at reasonable price so that more people can have access to the internet.
  - 2 days ago 13 Jul 20, 4:43pm -

• PM Narendra Modi interacts with Google CEO Sundar Pichai, discusses COVID-19, data security, cyber safety
  PM Modi and Pichai also spoke on the power of technology to transform the lives of Indian farmers, youngsters and entrepreneurs.
  - 2 days ago 13 Jul 20, 4:16pm -
• Sundar Pichai-led Google to invest Rs 75,000 crore in India in next 5-7 years
  Google intends to do this through a mix of equity investments, partnerships, and operational, infrastructure and ecosystem investments. 
  - 2 days ago 13 Jul 20, 3:05pm -
• Samsung Galaxy Note 20 may cost cheaper than Note 10
  The Galaxy Note 10 was launched at Rs 78,300 while its successor Note 20 may retail at nearly Rs 75,200).
  - 2 days ago 13 Jul 20, 12:56pm -
• HP set to expand gaming portfolio with 2 affordable laptops in India
  According to industry sources, the company is expected to announce their first 16-inch gaming laptop from the Pavilion Gaming portfolio that will be aggressively priced around Rs 70,000.
  - 2 days ago 13 Jul 20, 12:38pm -
• Make a WhatsApp voice or video call with Google Assistant
  One can easily access WhatsApp and some of its options by triggering the Google Assistant from the home screen on your smartphone.
  - 2 days ago 13 Jul 20, 10:42am -
• Google for India 2020 event kicks off today: How to watch livestreaming
  Google CEO Sundar Pichai will deliver the addressing notes at the event. 
  - 2 days ago 13 Jul 20, 9:39am -
• Google machine translation helping disseminate COVID-19 information
  Google AI and ML translation services are helping health officials communicate with people in languages they understand to disseminate the Covid-19 information, and it means reaching 51 million migrants in at least 350 languages in the US alone.
  - 3 days ago 12 Jul 20, 11:04am -
• Apple supplier Foxconn to invest USD 1 billion in India: sources
  Foxconn plans to invest up to $1 billion to expand a factory in southern India where the Taiwanese contract manufacturer assembles Apple iPhones, two sources said.
  - 3 days ago 12 Jul 20, 8:09am -
• 13.3-inch MacBook Pro to be first device with Apple silicon chip
  In a research note with TF International Securities, Kuo said the 13.3-inch MacBook Pro with Apple silicon chip will go into mass production in the fourth quarter. 
  - 4 days ago 11 Jul 20, 12:18pm -
• Apple releases public Beta version of iOS 14, iPadOS 14
  The new iOS version is compatible with the iPhone as well as iPod touch models that are compatible with iOS 13 and for iPad users, the new release is specifically meant for models that are currently running on iPadOS 13.
  - 5 days ago 10 Jul 20, 6:15pm -

NDTV Technology News

• newGovernment Said to Quiz Banned Chinese Apps Owners Over Content, Practices
  Chinese companies such as TikTok-owner ByteDance have been asked by India to answer 77 questions about their apps that have been banned by New Delhi, including whether they censored content, worked on...
  - 32 mins ago 15 Jul 20, 10:09am -
• newOnePlus Nord Pre-Orders Open Today at 1:30pm Via Amazon in India
  OnePlus Nord will be up for pre-orders today, July 15, in India starting at 1:30pm via Amazon. Even though not a lot of details about the OnePlus Nord have been confirmed till now, there is a lot of...
  - 3 hours ago 15 Jul 20, 7:29am -
• newRedmi Note 9 Pro Max to Go on Sale Today at 12 Noon via Amazon, Mi.com
  Redmi Note 9 Pro Max will be put on another flash sale in India today at 12pm (noon). The phone will be for grabs via Amazon and Xiaomi India website.
  - 4 hours ago 15 Jul 20, 7:08am -
• newAMD Ryzen Threadripper Pro Workstation CPUs With Up to 64 Cores Announced
  The Lenovo ThinkStation P620 will be the first professional workstation based on Ryzen Threadripper Pro, and promises performance that beats a similar system with dual Intel Xeon CPUs.
  - 13 hours ago 14 Jul 20, 10:00pm -
• newGhost of Tsushima Review: A Kurosawa Samurai Movie You Can Play
  In our Ghost of Tsushima review, we look at the PS4 game's efforts for authenticity with Japanese dialogues and a "Kurosawa Mode", the gameplay - intricacies of combat and different ways to...
  - 15 hours ago 14 Jul 20, 7:30pm -
• newWhatsApp Web: Here's How to Instantly Enable Dark Mode
  Dark theme can easily be enabled on WhatsApp Web. Here's how.
  - 16 hours ago 14 Jul 20, 7:00pm -
• newAirtel, Vodafone Idea Collectively Lost 75 Lakh Subscribers in March: TRAI
  After adding over 9 lakh subscribers in February 2020, Bharti Airtel lost more than 12 lakh subscribers in March this year. Airtel and Vodafone have collectively lost more than 76 lakh subscribers....
  - 16 hours ago 14 Jul 20, 6:50pm -
• newHow to Get Rid of Instagram Reels

  Reels is Instagram's brand new feature that lets you create TikTok-style short videos. However, if you aren't that fond of the new feature, read this article to learn how to avoid Instagram Reels.
  - 16 hours ago 14 Jul 20, 6:46pm -
• newHow Huawei Is Faring Around the World Amid UK Plans to Ban Brand From 5G
  UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson is set to ban Huawei from Britain's 5G network, following US push to revert earlier decision of granting the Chinese brand a limited role in the country's 5G...
  - 16 hours ago 14 Jul 20, 6:31pm -
• newSpotify Rolls Out New Podcast Charts in India, 25 More Markets
  With Spotify offering access to over a million podcasts, discoverability can be a bit of a challenge. Spotify is introducing two podcast charts - "Top Podcasts" and "Trending Podcasts" -...
  - 16 hours ago 14 Jul 20, 6:30pm -

• newFlipkart Raises $1.2 Billion in Fresh Funding Round Led by Walmart
  Flipkart on Tuesday closed an additional $1.2 billion (roughly Rs. 9,048 crores) equity round led by its majority owner and US e-commerce giant Walmart.
  - 16 hours ago 14 Jul 20, 6:20pm -
• newHuawei Expected to Be Banned From UK 5G Network by 2027
  UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson is set to ban Huawei from Britain's 5G network, following US push to revert earlier decision of granting the Chinese brand a limited role in the country's 5G...
  - 17 hours ago 14 Jul 20, 6:00pm -
• newTikTok Users in US Prepare for Life Without the Video App
  TikTok users in the US prepare for a life beyond the video app as Secretary of State Mike Pompeo threaten to ban all Chinese apps in the country.
  - 17 hours ago 14 Jul 20, 5:38pm -
• newGoogle Meet Starts to Block Anonymous Users From Education Meetings
  By blocking anonymous users from entering a video meeting, Google Meet hopes to resolve the increasing problem of miscreants showing up in online classrooms and creating havoc. Students are found...
  - 17 hours ago 14 Jul 20, 5:37pm -
• newOnePlus Nord Teased to Come With a 4,115mAh Battery
  OnePlus Nord battery details have been revealed officially. OnePlus has announced its partnership with YouTuber Zack Nelson of JerryRigEverything to launch a special-edition Dbrand Teardown case for...
  - 17 hours ago 14 Jul 20, 5:21pm -
• newOppo Reno 4 Global Variant's New Leak Reveals Key Design Details
  The NCC listing tips images of the Oppo Reno 4 phone launching in markets outside of China. The phone seems to have the Oppo logo at the back, and the triple rear camera setup. The setup is seen to be...
  - 18 hours ago 14 Jul 20, 4:35pm -
• newAirtel BlueJeans Debuts as Airtel's Answer to JioMeet and Zoom
  Airtel BlueJeans is debuting as the telecom operator's answer to Jio's newly launched video conferencing app JioMeet. The telco has partnered with Verizon-owned BlueJeans to bring its JioMeet-rival to...
  - 18 hours ago 14 Jul 20, 4:35pm -
• newOppo A72 5G With Triple Rear Cameras Spotted on China Telecom Site
  Oppo A72 5G has surfaced on a database managed by Chinese operator China Telecom, suggesting the phone's key specifications along with its pricing.
  - 18 hours ago 14 Jul 20, 4:32pm -
• newPUBG PC Will Get Revamped Sanhok Map by July 22
  PUBG will soon be getting some new features and improvements to the Sanhok map. The developers have been teasing the upcoming changes through short clips on Twitter and a recent 30 second clip some...
  - 18 hours ago 14 Jul 20, 4:24pm -
• newPUBG Mobile Announces New Subscription Plans With Royale Pass Season 14
  PUBG Mobile has launched Royal Pass Season 14: Spark the Flame today. Android users can purchase Prime subscription packs which unlocks new rewards, monthly Royal Pass vouchers and several more perks.
  - 19 hours ago 14 Jul 20, 3:55pm -