Social media is giving us trypophobia

 We aren’t so much seeing through a lens darkly when we log onto Facebook or peer at personalized search results on Google, we’re being individually strapped into a custom-moulded headset that’s continuously screening a bespoke movie — in the dark, in a single-seater theatre, without any windows or doors… Read More from Social – TechCrunch http://ift.tt/2DIpfnp Social media is giving us trypophobia Natasha Lomas http://ift.tt/2nhJ7Dm via IFT...

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Tech startups want to go inside your mouth

 Dental care can be costly and hard to access, especially if you live in a rural community or a third-world country. In fact, the biggest barrier to dental care is cost. This is according to the American Dental Association, which says many rural areas lack access to dental professionals.  Read More http://ift.tt/2BxkVRP Tech startups want to go inside your mouth http://ift.tt/2DH05...

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Facebook staff reportedly interviewed in Mueller investigation

 At least one Facebook employee has been interviewed by special counsel Robert Mueller as part of his investigation into potential Russian interference with the 2016 election, reports Wired. But don’t put on your conspiracy hats just yet. Read More from Social – TechCrunch http://ift.tt/2xEuvEU Facebook staff reportedly interviewed in Mueller investigation Devin Coldewey http://ift.tt/2neuGA0 via IFT...

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HQ Trivia gets rid of the $20 minimum to collect your winnings

 HQ Trivia, the number one trivia app in the Apple App Store, has removed the minimum $20 balance to cash out. The company made the announcement earlier today on Twitter. Because the prize money is divvied out among sometimes hundreds of winners, people don’t often walk away with much money from a single game. Up until now, that has meant people were left with less than $20 in their… Read More http://ift.tt/2CfaQNE HQ Trivia gets rid of the $20 minimum to collect your winnings http://ift.tt/2EenF...

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A young startup with a timely offer: fighting propaganda campaigns online

 The prevalence of so-called fake news is far worse than we imagined even a few months ago. Just last week, Twitter admitted there were more than 50,000 Russian bots trying to confuse American voters ahead of the 2016 presidential election. It isn’t just elections that should concern us, though. So argues Jonathon Morgan, the cofounder and CEO of New Knowledge, a… Read More from Social – TechCrunch http://ift.tt/2neox6T A young startup with a timely offer: fighting propaganda campaigns online Connie Loizos http://ift.tt/2BvIaM2 via IFT...

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Facebook lets you tip game livestreamers $3+

 Facebook Live is launching monetization for video gameplay streamers, allowing users to tip creators a minimum of $3 via the desktop site. Right now, the contributor of the tips doesn’t get any special call-out or privileges, though Facebook tells me it’s considering different options for creators and gamers. For instance, it could have a special emoji Reaction float across the… Read More from Social – TechCrunch http://ift.tt/2BwMyu7 Facebook lets you tip game livestreamers $3+ Josh Constine http://ift.tt/2Bv1N75 via IFT...

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Google experiments in local news with an app called Bulletin

 Google is testing a tool called Bulletin that would allow anyone to publish local news stories and events, according to a report from Slate, which Google later confirmed. The company described Bulletin as a way for others to communicate information of local interest, like bookstore readings, high school sporting events, or information about street closures, for example. Slate found a website… Read More from Social – TechCrunch http://ift.tt/2aJaV0A Google experiments in local news with an app called Bulletin Sarah Perez http://ift.tt/2nfgvL7 via...

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Google experiments in local news with an app called Bulletin

{rss:content:encoded} Google experiments in local news with an app called Bulletin http://ift.tt/2nfgvL7 http://ift.tt/2aJaV0A January 26, 2018 at 04:04PM  Google is testing a tool called Bulletin that would allow anyone to publish local news stories and events, according to a report from Slate, which Google later confirmed. The company described Bulletin as a way for others to communicate information of local interest, like bookstore readings, high school sporting events, or information about street closures, for example. Slate found a website…...

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Furniture maker Floyd raises $5.6m to expand product line, move into new Detroit HQ

 Detroit-based Floyd has announced a $5.6 million Series A funding round that will let the company expand its operations and release new products. The company has been in Detroit for the last five years and they’re dedicated to creating better furniture and a better experience around furniture. This injection of cash should go a long way in helping that mission. Floyd launched its… Read More http://ift.tt/2Fhggpy Furniture maker Floyd raises $5.6m to expand product line, move into new Detroit HQ http://ift.tt/2Ghl2...

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Twitter accused of dodging Brexit botnet questions again

 Once again Twitter stands accused of dodging questions from a parliamentary committee that’s investigating Russian bot activity during the UK’s 2016 Brexit referendum.   Read More from Social – TechCrunch http://ift.tt/2z6ljp3 Twitter accused of dodging Brexit botnet questions again Natasha Lomas http://ift.tt/2rHhCI8 via IFT...

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Heetch raises another $20 million to compete head-to-head with Uber in Europe

 French startup Heetch has an ambitious goal. The company wants to become the second ride-sharing service in France and in the other European countries where it operates. The startup just raised $20 million from Félix Capital, Via ID, Alven Capital and Idinvest Partners. In order to stay competitive with Uber, Heetch is a bit cheaper than a normal UberX ride. But drivers still get paid more… Read More http://ift.tt/2FjjCrY Heetch raises another $20 million to compete head-to-head with Uber in Europe http://ift.tt/2Gkf4...

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Annual smartphone shipments in China declined for the first time in 2017

{rss:content:encoded} Annual smartphone shipments in China declined for the first time in 2017 http://ift.tt/2Fk2IcT http://ift.tt/2DNTmIZ January 26, 2018 at 02:57AM  China’s smartphone market is no longer growing after it witnessed its first annual decline in shipments during 2017, according to new figures released today. The writing was on the wall with a market decline first noted in Q2 but this is the first time a drop has been sustained over a twelve-month period. That’s according to data from analyst firm Canalys which reported...

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Research into full-body tracking at Facebook hints at broader AR/VR ambitions

{rss:content:encoded} Research into full-body tracking at Facebook hints at broader AR/VR ambitions http://ift.tt/2DEaamx http://ift.tt/2ncllIk January 26, 2018 at 02:16AM  It’s no secret that Facebook is big on both AR and VR, both for entertainment and communication purposes. And new research suggests it is working on AR applications that could not just modify or replace your face, but your entire body. Read More ...

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Shadow launches its cloud computer for gamers in the UK

 French startup Blade, the company behind Shadow, is launching its cloud gaming service in the U.K. Just like in the U.S., the company is starting with a pre-sale before accepting all customers. For a flat monthly fee, you can rent a gaming PC in a data center near you. You can then access this beefy computer using desktop and mobile apps as well as the company’s own little box. Read More http://ift.tt/2lSVqEU Shadow launches its cloud computer for gamers in the UK http://ift.tt/2EaPm...

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Former employees say Lyft staffers spied on passengers

 Similar to Uber’s “God View” scandal, Lyft staffers have been abusing customer insight software to view the personal contact info and ride history of the startup’s passengers. One source that formerly worked with Lyft tells TechCrunch that widespread access to the company’s backend let staffers “see pretty much everything including feedback, and yes, pick up… Read More http://ift.tt/2E6brjf Former employees say Lyft staffers spied on passengers http://ift.tt/2DB77...

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Benchmark’s lawsuit against former Uber CEO Kalanick dismissed

 It’s over. Benchmark’s lawsuit against former Uber CEO Travis Kalanick has now been dropped, ending one of the biggest VC-founder disputes in history. It was dismissed as a condition of the SoftBank investment in Uber getting done. The deal was completed earlier this month, giving both Benchmark and Kalanick an opportunity to sell a significant Uber stake. The venture firm and… Read More http://ift.tt/2hCySco Benchmark’s lawsuit against former Uber CEO Kalanick dismissed http://ift.tt/2DBzN...

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Dorm Room Fund has built a CRM for founders raising a seed round

 First Round Capital’s Dorm Room Fund just released VCWiz, a tool to help founders find investors and raise money from them. The platform is one part VC directory and one part CRM tool, essentially letting you find the best investors for your startup then begin the process of reaching out to them. New users input some basic information about their startup including a description, industry… Read More http://ift.tt/2rIh3Ok Dorm Room Fund has built a CRM for founders raising a seed round http://ift.tt/2Gik2...

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Google Play hit record 19 billion+ downloads in Q4 2017, its highest quarter ever

{rss:content:encoded} Google Play hit record 19 billion+ downloads in Q4 2017, its highest quarter ever http://ift.tt/2GgaPbL http://ift.tt/2qSDPSb January 25, 2018 at 06:42PM  Smartphone adoption in emerging markets just delivered the highest number of app downloads Google Play has ever seen in a quarter. According to today’s report from App Annie, Google Play app downloads topped 19 billion in Q4 2017, a new record. That also makes Google Play’s download lead over iOS its largest ever, at 145 percent. Specifically, the downloads were driven...

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Apple could be redesigning the iBooks app

{rss:content:encoded} Apple could be redesigning the iBooks app http://ift.tt/2Gh5HUv http://ift.tt/2e0wB5N January 25, 2018 at 06:29PM  As AppleInsider first spotted, the first beta of iOS 11.3 includes a subtle change. iBooks is now called Books. And Mark Gurman thinks it could be the sign that there will be bigger changes with Apple’s ebook reading app. According to Bloomberg, Apple is working on a new design for the iBooks app on the iPhone and iPad. It will feature a simpler interface with a new section called… Read More ...

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Robinhood adds zero-fee cryptocurrency trading and tracking

 No-commission stock trading app Robinhood will let you buy and sell Bitcoin and Ethereum without any added transaction fees starting in February, compared to Coinbase’s 1.5 to 4 percent fees in the US. And as of today Robinhood will let all users track the price, news, and set up alerts on those and 14 other top crypto coins, including Litecoin and Ripple. “We’re planning… Read More from Social – TechCrunch http://ift.tt/2narYeJ Robinhood adds zero-fee cryptocurrency trading and tracking Josh Constine http://ift.tt/2BtGmmC via IFT...

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