blogger better: 2016

Friday, December 30, 2016

Why you probably won’t invest in the next unicorn

Value creation in enterprise tech is often driven by a cohort of exits, while value creation in consumer tech is generally driven by large, individual exits — a phenomenon I recently dug into. What the data revealed is that there is of late a trend of larger consumer exits, such as Facebook, Twitter and WhatsApp. If this trend continues, that’s very good news for… Read More

http://ift.tt/eA8V8J Why you probably won’t invest in the next unicorn http://ift.tt/2imroH6

2016 sucked, if we’re being honest with ourselves. But the year wasn’t a total waste. The world of tech offered up a few shining stars in 2016, and in the era of apps, five stand-outs were nominated as finalists for The Best App of 2016 award. As the show grows nigh, we thought it might be helpful to let you get to know some of these startups. So without any further ado, here are… Read More

http://ift.tt/2iNxJdT Meet the five startups vying for Best App at the 10th Annual Crunchies Awards http://ift.tt/2igEtUK

New York City-based startup Uru is working on a new way for video publishers to make money. Imagine watching a normal-looking online video — except that on some of the surfaces (say, on the cabinet behind the stars of a cooking video), you’ll see logos or other art promoting a sponsor. Okay, that might actually sound a bit annoying, but Uru co-founder and CEO Bill Marino argued… Read More

http://ift.tt/2igqhLa Uru finds the best places to introduce ads in online videos http://ift.tt/2hUGkeA

Teenage girl breaking up with her boyfriend while sitting on a bridge near big boulevard. Casual clothing with shirt and jeans.

In my opinion, one of FaceTime’s major flaws is the lack of group video chat. Sure, apps like Skype, ooVoo and now Messenger let you do group video chats, but it’s just not as seamless as FaceTime. And while Houseparty has also recently entered the group video chat race, they are focused more on providing a shared space for all of your friends to pop in and out of a video chat.… Read More

http://ift.tt/2hUhnzS Fam lets you do group videochats directly within iMessage http://ift.tt/2hCIvr9

Facebook stalls in lawsuit alleging its facial recognition tech violates Illinois law

An Illinois law is proving a thorn in Facebook’s side as a class action lawsuit, alleging mishandling of biometric information, moves towards trial. The latest developments in the case have the social network objecting against releasing or even admitting the existence of all manner of data, but the plaintiffs aren’t taking “objection” for an answer. Read More

from Social – TechCrunch http://ift.tt/2hxvwVX Facebook stalls in lawsuit alleging its facial recognition tech violates Illinois law Devin Coldewey http://ift.tt/2in17uK
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The 10th Annual Crunchies Awards show is right around the corner, and this year’s event will be bigger and better than ever. As a part of that, we’re including a brand new category: Best Startup Video! You might have the coolest technology, service, or gadget in the world, but without a fun video to show it off, does it really count? Pics or it didn’t happen, amirite? That… Read More

http://ift.tt/2htsfnq These are the 5 videos vying for Best Startup Video at the 10th Annual Crunchies http://ift.tt/2htzYSu

Hordes of new enterprise-IT upstarts have popped up in Silicon Valley, with some drawing lofty valuations from investors. They’re driven by new, more-advanced technologies in areas such as databases, software development, networking and cloud computing. And many are taking aim at incumbents like Dell, EMC, Oracle and IBM. But will these new companies ever be as valuable as those big names? Read More

http://ift.tt/2iidgip How viral open-source startups can build themselves into enterprise-IT powerhouses http://ift.tt/2im3oqi

2016 AP YEAR END PHOTOS - Carolina Panthers' Jonathan Stewart (28) scores a touchdown during the first half of the NFL Super Bowl 50 football game on Feb. 7, 2016, in Santa Clara, Calif. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

The NFL is hoping to expand its presence in China with a new deal that gives social media platform, Sina Weibo – often called China’s Twitter – the rights to live stream select games on its network, including the Super Bowl. The deal marks the first time a sports league will live stream games on the service, the NFL says. Additionally, Sina will gain the rights to… Read More

from Social – TechCrunch http://ift.tt/2hsWTx7 NFL games are now live streaming on China’s Sina Weibo network Sarah Perez http://ift.tt/2hzvDC0
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The new Microsoft under Satya Nadella is still looking good on Wall Street

{rss:content:encoded} The new Microsoft under Satya Nadella is still looking good on Wall Street http://ift.tt/2hQUw8C http://ift.tt/1zi6LNX December 29, 2016 at 05:00PM

Almost three years ago, Microsoft named Satya Nadella as its CEO. Since then, Microsoft has reversed its fortunes and returned to being a growth stock after stagnating for nearly a decade — and 2016 was not an exception to that. Indeed, as Microsoft continued its transition to cloud-based services and adopting multiple platforms, as well as taking big bets like buying LinkedIn for… Read More

iPhone 7 was a top holiday gift, but Apple Watch is fading

{rss:content:encoded} iPhone 7 was a top holiday gift, but Apple Watch is fading http://ift.tt/2iIUNi1 http://ift.tt/2bTJgo3 December 29, 2016 at 04:25PM

More iPhone 7 devices were unwrapped over the 2016 holidays compared with Google Pixel smartphones, according to new data released by analytics service Mixpanel. Specifically, in the first few days after Christmas, the number of unique iPhone 7’s increased by 12.7 percent, compared with an 8.5 percent increase for Google’s newest flagship. And when comparing iOS to Android devices… Read More

After arriving at 100th railway station in India, Google’s WiFi is set to hit another 100 in 2017

{rss:content:encoded} After arriving at 100th railway station in India, Google’s WiFi is set to hit another 100 in 2017 http://ift.tt/2iljy33 http://ift.tt/2itWYT0 December 29, 2016 at 03:53PM Google Train

Last September, Google CEO Sundar Pichai announced a fairly ambition plan to bring free WiFi to 400 railway stations across India, a goal that would cover 10 million passengers a day, by the company’s count, making a small but meaningful impact on the estimated one billion-plus people in the country who aren’t connected to the internet. In January, the roll out started, bringing… Read More

You can now register to find out when Super Mario Run hits Android

{rss:content:encoded} You can now register to find out when Super Mario Run hits Android http://ift.tt/2hwdmE4 http://ift.tt/2iIyMM0 December 29, 2016 at 03:51PM screen-shot-2016-12-29-at-9-34-55-am

Nintendo gave Apple a timed exclusive with Super Mario Run, but ‘timed’ means that it was bound to arrive on Android sooner or later. Now, Android users can register in the Google Play Store to get notified when it is actually available, much like iOS users could prior to the game’s launch on Apple’s mobile devices. The Play Store entry for Super Mario Run features a… Read More

Twitter introduces 360-degree video live streaming

Twitter is taking another step into getting into live video by introducing 360-degree live streams through Periscope. Anyone on Twitter and Periscope can watch 360-degree live video, though currently only select partners can go live in 360 via Periscope, the company announced in a blog post. While it’s only available for a limited number of partners for now, it makes sense that Twitter… Read More

from Social – TechCrunch http://ift.tt/2hXcbMk Twitter introduces 360-degree video live streaming Matthew Lynley http://ift.tt/2ifn7oY
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Twitter introduces 360-degree video live streaming

{rss:content:encoded} Twitter introduces 360-degree video live streaming http://ift.tt/2ifn7oY http://ift.tt/2hXcbMk December 28, 2016 at 11:27PM twitter-140-media

It’s the Super Bowl for nerds — a place where the future is unveiled alongside a pile of the most useless crap humans can dream up. And if the legions we talk to in our work are to be believed, the event is a wonderful time to launch a crowdfunding campaign. Their line of reasoning scares the living shit out of us. Read More

http://ift.tt/2ii0cvM Four reasons you shouldn’t launch your crowdfunding campaign at CES http://ift.tt/2hOdyMF

The direction you look could one day control your VR or mobile experience thanks to Facebook and Oculus’ latest buy, The Eye Tribe. Oculus confirms to me that this is an official acquisition.The startup has developed a $99 eye tracking device developer kits for computers, and software that can bring gaze-based interfaces to smartphones and potentially virtual reality headsets. Basic… Read More

from Social – TechCrunch http://ift.tt/2ihH2pG Oculus acquires eye-tracking startup The Eye Tribe Josh Constine http://ift.tt/2iEZ4Pe
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Oculus acquires eye-tracking startup The Eye Tribe

{rss:content:encoded} Oculus acquires eye-tracking startup The Eye Tribe http://ift.tt/2iEZ4Pe http://ift.tt/2ihH2pG December 28, 2016 at 06:44PM the-eye-tribe

The direction you look could one day control your VR or mobile experience thanks to Facebook and Oculus’ latest buy, The Eye Tribe. Oculus confirms to me that this is an official acquisition.The startup has developed a $99 eye tracking device developer kits for computers, and software that can bring gaze-based interfaces to smartphones and potentially virtual reality headsets. Basic… Read More

http://ift.tt/2ihH2pG Oculus acquires eye-tracking startup The Eye Tribe http://ift.tt/2iEZ4Pe

Facebook & Google dominate the list of 2016’s top apps

{rss:content:encoded} Facebook & Google dominate the list of 2016’s top apps http://ift.tt/2iEWoWb http://ift.tt/1HQSfpz December 28, 2016 at 06:21PM shutterstock_186292982

Mobile applications from Facebook and Google dominated the new list of the year’s top apps released today by Nielsen. Not surprisingly, Facebook again grabbed the number one spot on the list, with more than 146 million average unique users per month, and 14 percent growth over last year. In fact, Facebook scored several spots on the top 10 chart, thanks to Messenger (#2) and Instagram… Read More