http://techcrunch.com Startup and Technology News Wed, 12 Aug 2015 01:00:55 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ http://1.gravatar.com/blavatar/d9ea925a71f82f06a1e6224298f7fe80?s=96&d=http%3A%2F%2Fs2.wp.com%2Fi%2Fbuttonw-com.png http://techcrunch.com http://techcrunch.com/2015/08/11/branch8/?ncid=rss http://techcrunch.com/2015/08/11/branch8/#comments Wed, 12 Aug 2015 01:00:03 +0000 http://techcrunch.com/?p=1194521  If there’s one thing that is as diverse and multi-faceted as culture in “Asia” — a term that really exists on paper to help people label this part of the world — it would probably be the region’s e-commerce landscape. Read More]]> http://techcrunch.com/2015/08/11/branch8/feed/ 0 Branch8%20Lets%20Merchants%20Sell%20Via%20Multiple%20E-Commerce%20Sites%20With%20Fewer%26nbsp%3BHeadaches Screenshot 2015-08-12 05.04.52 Jon http://techcrunch.com/2015/08/11/fergusontaughtme-touches-on-race-police-brutality-and-privilege/?ncid=rss http://techcrunch.com/2015/08/11/fergusontaughtme-touches-on-race-police-brutality-and-privilege/#comments Tue, 11 Aug 2015 23:57:02 +0000 http://techcrunch.com/?p=1194557  A year ago this past Sunday, police in Ferguson, Missouri, shot and killed Michael Brown, an unarmed, black 18-year-old. Over the last couple of days, people haven taken to Twitter using the hashtag #FergusonTaughtMe to reflect on Brown’s untimely death at the hands of a white police officer, as well as the protests and social activism, like #BlackLivesMatter, that his death… Read More]]> http://techcrunch.com/2015/08/11/fergusontaughtme-touches-on-race-police-brutality-and-privilege/feed/ 0 %23FergusonTaughtMe%20Touches%20On%20Race%2C%20Police%20Brutality%20And%26nbsp%3BPrivilege black lives matter mdickey http://techcrunch.com/2015/08/11/driving-your-car-will-soon-be-illegal/?ncid=rss http://techcrunch.com/2015/08/11/driving-your-car-will-soon-be-illegal/#comments Tue, 11 Aug 2015 23:00:28 +0000 http://techcrunch.com/?p=1193384  Driving a car will be illegal by 2030. Our economy will be severely impacted as millions of truck drivers, cabbies and delivery people are put out of work. In this era of endless innovation, man’s century-long relationship with the automobile is about to be permanently disrupted. Read More]]> http://techcrunch.com/2015/08/11/driving-your-car-will-soon-be-illegal/feed/ 0 Driving%20Your%20Car%20Will%20Soon%20Be%26nbsp%3BIllegal oldcars CP http://techcrunch.com/2015/08/11/get-your-discounted-student-tickets-to-disrupt-sf-2015/?ncid=rss http://techcrunch.com/2015/08/11/get-your-discounted-student-tickets-to-disrupt-sf-2015/#comments Tue, 11 Aug 2015 22:00:04 +0000 http://techcrunch.com/?p=1192146  Disrupt SF is coming up fast, and we still have some student tickets available for the show at the deeply discounted price of $300 a piece. Previously, these tickets were only available to those enrolled in undergraduate or graduate school with a valid student ID and current transcript, but we’ve now opened these cheap tickets up to all you recent grads out there, as well. Now, folks… Read More]]> http://techcrunch.com/2015/08/11/get-your-discounted-student-tickets-to-disrupt-sf-2015/feed/ 0 Reminder%3A%20Get%20Your%20Discounted%20Student%20Tickets%20To%20Disrupt%20SF%26nbsp%3B2015 disrupt sf 2014 startup alley mjburnsy http://techcrunch.com/2015/08/11/l3d-cube-video/?ncid=rss http://techcrunch.com/2015/08/11/l3d-cube-video/#comments Tue, 11 Aug 2015 21:06:50 +0000 http://techcrunch.com/?p=1194497  Earlier this year, Looking Glass successfully raised $252,000 on Kickstarter for its 3D LED cube, dubbed the L3D Cube. Now the startup actually is shipping cubes — or, rather, kits for assembling your cube — and co-founders Alex Hornstein and Shawn Frayne are getting settled into a new office in Brooklyn. (Frayne is splitting his time between Brooklyn and Hong Kong.) So we stopped… Read More]]> http://techcrunch.com/2015/08/11/l3d-cube-video/feed/ 0 Looking%20Glass%20Founders%20See%20Their%20L3D%20Cube%20As%20A%20New%20Type%20Of%26nbsp%3BDisplay L3d Cube Looking Glass Founders anthha http://techcrunch.com/2015/08/11/patreon-makes-space-to-create-tc-cribs/?ncid=rss http://techcrunch.com/2015/08/11/patreon-makes-space-to-create-tc-cribs/#comments Tue, 11 Aug 2015 21:06:13 +0000 http://techcrunch.com/?p=1194406  In today’s episode of Cribs, we visit Patreon, a subscription-based funding platform for artists. Patreon is all about creative. Giant murals deck the walls alongside the productions of writers and artists on the site. Employees gather for jam sessions, utilizing the many musical instruments available in the office. Tune in to see Patreon’s art-filled office and my first go at… Read More]]> http://techcrunch.com/2015/08/11/patreon-makes-space-to-create-tc-cribs/feed/ 0 Patreon%20Makes%20Space%20To%20Create%20%7C%20TC%26nbsp%3BCribs patreon cribs sarahbuhr http://techcrunch.com/2015/08/11/apple-shares-tumble-5-amidst-china-concerns/?ncid=rss http://techcrunch.com/2015/08/11/apple-shares-tumble-5-amidst-china-concerns/#comments Tue, 11 Aug 2015 20:05:38 +0000 http://techcrunch.com/?p=1194475  Apple suffered a 5 percent drop in its share price Tuesday as Wall Street reacted strongly to news from China that the government is further devaluing the yuan. The currency devaluation is likely to increase import costs of devices for Apple in the region. Read More]]> http://techcrunch.com/2015/08/11/apple-shares-tumble-5-amidst-china-concerns/feed/ 0 Apple%20Shares%20Tumble%205%25%20Amid%20China%26nbsp%3BConcerns apple-china lucasmatney2015 Screen Shot 2015-08-11 at 1.06.26 PM http://techcrunch.com/2015/08/11/its-operating-systems-vs-messaging-apps-in-the-battle-for-techs-next-frontier/?ncid=rss http://techcrunch.com/2015/08/11/its-operating-systems-vs-messaging-apps-in-the-battle-for-techs-next-frontier/#comments Tue, 11 Aug 2015 20:00:42 +0000 http://techcrunch.com/?p=1194216  As mobile devices continue to explore and colonize the technology landscape, their conquests are leading us to a new era, beyond search and apps. Looking to claim the territory previously held by URLs, portals, and even search and apps, the rapid acceleration of mobile interface innovation, with messaging as its main driver, is irreversibly moving us into a new, conversation-based… Read More]]> http://techcrunch.com/2015/08/11/its-operating-systems-vs-messaging-apps-in-the-battle-for-techs-next-frontier/feed/ 0 It%26%238217%3Bs%20Operating%20Systems%20Vs.%20Messaging%20Apps%20In%20The%20Battle%20For%20Tech%26%238217%3Bs%20Next%26nbsp%3BFrontier Image 1.0 - Celebration shieberj Image 2.0 - Mountaintop Telegram co-founder Pavel Durov Image 11.0 - Apple Google Uphill battle Image 12.0 - Apple Watch Quick Boards Demo Image 13.0 - Messaging Apps To the Top Some Telegram Custom Keyboards http://techcrunch.com/2015/08/11/wearsafe-is-a-connected-panic-button-for-the-app-generation/?ncid=rss http://techcrunch.com/2015/08/11/wearsafe-is-a-connected-panic-button-for-the-app-generation/#comments Tue, 11 Aug 2015 18:20:04 +0000 http://techcrunch.com/?p=1194395  At the Disrupt NY hackathon this year the winning hack was a live-streaming app called Witness whose team’s pitch was a desire to be the panic button for the mobile age. But what about sticky situations where you don’t have time to fire up an app? That’s where Connecticut-based startup Wearsafe Labs is hoping to step in, with a hardware panic button also updated for the app era. Read More]]> http://techcrunch.com/2015/08/11/wearsafe-is-a-connected-panic-button-for-the-app-generation/feed/ 0 Wearsafe%20Is%20A%20Connected%20Panic%20Button%20For%20The%20App%26nbsp%3BGeneration Wearsafe_2_Media_Kit-Behind_Shot nelomas Wearsafe app http://techcrunch.com/2015/08/11/drink-drank-drunk/?ncid=rss http://techcrunch.com/2015/08/11/drink-drank-drunk/#comments Tue, 11 Aug 2015 18:14:16 +0000 http://techcrunch.com/?p=1193257  There were inklings of hints that this was the frattiest startup of all time. For starters, the subject line of the email pitch was “Not Porn” and it was about an app called Drunk Mode that helps wastoids avoid the unsightly ramifications of getting wasted. Read More]]> http://techcrunch.com/2015/08/11/drink-drank-drunk/feed/ 0 Drunk%20Mode%20App%20Aims%20To%20Be%20College%20Kids%26%238217%3B%20Responsible%20Drinking%26nbsp%3BBuddy Animal House lucasmatney2015 drunken http://techcrunch.com/2015/08/11/square-has-both-the-hardware-and-software-to-help-businesses-of-all-sizes/?ncid=rss http://techcrunch.com/2015/08/11/square-has-both-the-hardware-and-software-to-help-businesses-of-all-sizes/#comments Tue, 11 Aug 2015 18:11:20 +0000 http://techcrunch.com/?p=1194429  Last week, I visited payments company Square and sat down with its Hardware Lead, Jesse Dorogusker, about much more than hardware. Dorogusker, a former director of engineering at Apple, discussed with me how the company has evolved to much more than a dongle that accepts payments. Read More]]> http://techcrunch.com/2015/08/11/square-has-both-the-hardware-and-software-to-help-businesses-of-all-sizes/feed/ 0 Square%20Has%20Both%20The%20Hardware%20And%20Software%20To%20Help%20Businesses%20Of%20All%26nbsp%3BSizes O92A9576 thatdrew http://techcrunch.com/2015/08/11/top-vcs-chasing-digital-companies-in-latin-america/?ncid=rss http://techcrunch.com/2015/08/11/top-vcs-chasing-digital-companies-in-latin-america/#comments Tue, 11 Aug 2015 18:00:46 +0000 http://techcrunch.com/?p=1193374  It has been difficult to attract investors to the digital startup space in Latin America. This is because of a variety of reasons, including the lack of a track record of established VC firms in Latin America, the immaturity of the new generation of entrepreneurs and the scarcity of exit strategies in the region. Read More]]> http://techcrunch.com/2015/08/11/top-vcs-chasing-digital-companies-in-latin-america/feed/ 0 Top%20VCs%20Are%20Chasing%20Digital%20Companies%20In%20Latin%26nbsp%3BAmerica shutterstock_97694546 CP LATAM VC_PEv5-page-001 http://techcrunch.com/2015/08/11/checking-in-on-windows-10/?ncid=rss http://techcrunch.com/2015/08/11/checking-in-on-windows-10/#comments Tue, 11 Aug 2015 17:37:48 +0000 http://techcrunch.com/?p=1193653  A few points, dear reader, to get ourselves acclimated: Windows 10 landed in the market at the beginning of this month to moderately strong reviews Microsoft is hellbent on attracting a user base for its new operating system quickly A large Windows 10 user install base implies higher rates of app downloads. That makes extant developers happy, and attracts new developers. The more and better… Read More]]> http://techcrunch.com/2015/08/11/checking-in-on-windows-10/feed/ 0 Checking%20In%20On%20Windows%26nbsp%3B10 windows 10 alexjameswilhelm Screen Shot 2015-08-10 at 10.38.54 AM Screen Shot 2015-08-10 at 10.42.58 AM http://techcrunch.com/2015/08/11/google-renderer/?ncid=rss http://techcrunch.com/2015/08/11/google-renderer/#comments Tue, 11 Aug 2015 17:13:00 +0000 http://techcrunch.com/?p=1194361  Google, the largest subsidiary corporation of Alphabet, wants movie studios to use its cloud to render their special effects. Last August, Google acquired Zync, a visual effects rendering service that allows studios and independent artists to render their works in the cloud. Today, the company announced that it will open up the first beta of Zync on its Cloud Platform next week on August 20. Read More]]> http://techcrunch.com/2015/08/11/google-renderer/feed/ 0 zync_gcp fredericlardinois http://techcrunch.com/2015/08/11/gnip-launches-full-archive-search-api-to-provide-instant-access-to-nine-years-worth-of-tweets/?ncid=rss http://techcrunch.com/2015/08/11/gnip-launches-full-archive-search-api-to-provide-instant-access-to-nine-years-worth-of-tweets/#comments Tue, 11 Aug 2015 17:00:13 +0000 http://techcrunch.com/?p=1194283  Social data company Gnip, acquired by Twitter last year, has become an indispensable tool for all types of companies. Data, especially social data, is necessary to make decisions on things like timing a product launch or putting together a new marketing campaign. Read More]]> http://techcrunch.com/2015/08/11/gnip-launches-full-archive-search-api-to-provide-instant-access-to-nine-years-worth-of-tweets/feed/ 0 Gnip%20Launches%20Full-Archive%20Search%20API%20To%20Provide%20Instant%20Access%20To%20Nine%20Years%20Worth%20Of%26nbsp%3BTweets Screen Shot 2015-08-11 at 8.12.20 AM thatdrew Screen Shot 2015-08-11 at 8.12.31 AM http://techcrunch.com/2015/08/11/your-edgy-startup-idea-is-stupid/?ncid=rss http://techcrunch.com/2015/08/11/your-edgy-startup-idea-is-stupid/#comments Tue, 11 Aug 2015 16:45:26 +0000 http://techcrunch.com/?p=1194174  First it was glitter and dicks. Then it was on-demand everything. Then it was breasts. Startups, please: stop. 2015 has been the year of the awful idea. It began early on this year with a number of services that wanted to send your enemies glitter and cardboard penises. They had all the trappings of a traditional startup – media blitzes, wild founders, and wacky ideas about social… Read More]]> http://techcrunch.com/2015/08/11/your-edgy-startup-idea-is-stupid/feed/ 0 Your%20Edgy%20Startup%20Idea%20Is%26nbsp%3BStupid Screen Shot 2015-08-11 at 12.17.20 PM john http://techcrunch.com/2015/08/11/sketchfab-adds-animations-to-its-3d-model-sharing-platform/?ncid=rss http://techcrunch.com/2015/08/11/sketchfab-adds-animations-to-its-3d-model-sharing-platform/#comments Tue, 11 Aug 2015 16:37:03 +0000 http://techcrunch.com/?p=1194332  3D model repository Sketchfab just added a nifty little feature that should appeal to 3D animators. You can now upload animated models to Sketchfab, and the website will endlessly loop the animation. Currently, the startup supports FBX files, such as files generated by Mixamo. Read More]]> http://techcrunch.com/2015/08/11/sketchfab-adds-animations-to-its-3d-model-sharing-platform/feed/ 0 Sketchfab%20Adds%20Animations%20To%20Its%203D%20Model%20Sharing%26nbsp%3BPlatform Sketchfab romaindillet http://techcrunch.com/2015/08/11/inboxvudu-the-ai-based-email-prioritizer-launches-an-app-for-ios-and-apple-watch/?ncid=rss http://techcrunch.com/2015/08/11/inboxvudu-the-ai-based-email-prioritizer-launches-an-app-for-ios-and-apple-watch/#comments Tue, 11 Aug 2015 16:05:41 +0000 http://techcrunch.com/?p=1194325  InboxVudu, the system that helps you prioritize important emails, is today launching an iOS app and an Apple Watch app. The service uses machine learning to recognize phrases and sentences that may indicate an important email, and packages those priority messages into a little digest for you. InboxVudu also puts task-based requests into a task list for you, and sends instant alerts for the… Read More]]> http://techcrunch.com/2015/08/11/inboxvudu-the-ai-based-email-prioritizer-launches-an-app-for-ios-and-apple-watch/feed/ 0 InboxVudu%2C%20The%20AI-Based%20Email%20Prioritizer%2C%20Launches%20An%20App%20For%20iOS%20And%20Apple%26nbsp%3BWatch inboxvudu2 jordanrcrook inboxvudu inboxvudu2 inboxvudu3 inboxvudu4 inboxvuduios inboxvuduios2 inboxvuduios3 inboxvuduios4 http://techcrunch.com/2015/08/11/a-programmer-is-recreating-the-classic-game-night-trap-in-the-browser/?ncid=rss http://techcrunch.com/2015/08/11/a-programmer-is-recreating-the-classic-game-night-trap-in-the-browser/#comments Tue, 11 Aug 2015 15:28:53 +0000 http://techcrunch.com/?p=1194287  Our sister site Engadget has a fun interview with a programmer who is currently porting live action video game Night Trap to the browser using HTML5. Why? Because Night Trap, one of the first video games to use live-action video interspersed with game play, is awesome. The creator, Dave Voyles, is a technical evangelist at Microsoft and he wrote that he relished the challenge of recreating… Read More]]> http://techcrunch.com/2015/08/11/a-programmer-is-recreating-the-classic-game-night-trap-in-the-browser/feed/ 0 A%20Programmer%20Is%20Recreating%20The%20Classic%20Game%20Night%20Trap%20In%20The%26nbsp%3BBrowser Night-Trap-Kitchen-No-Overlay john http://techcrunch.com/2015/08/11/markhor-takes-the-middleman-out-of-designer-shoemaking/?ncid=rss http://techcrunch.com/2015/08/11/markhor-takes-the-middleman-out-of-designer-shoemaking/#comments Tue, 11 Aug 2015 15:21:07 +0000 http://techcrunch.com/?p=1194222  Markhor founder Waqas Ali spent the first half of his life without ever using the Internet. He grew up in a small village in Pakistan, and recalls using Google for the first time in 2007 after he moved to Lahore to attend college. When Ali returned home to Okara for summer break, he was inspired to start Markhor while talking to a local shoemaker about Facebook. The man had heard that… Read More]]> http://techcrunch.com/2015/08/11/markhor-takes-the-middleman-out-of-designer-shoemaking/feed/ 0 Markhor%20Takes%20The%20Middleman%20Out%20Of%20Designer%26nbsp%3BShoemaking Screen Shot 2015-08-11 at 9.25.46 AM christinemagee Screen Shot 2015-08-11 at 9.37.09 AM Screen Shot 2015-08-11 at 9.28.47 AM