OpenStack, the massive open source project that helps enterprises run the equivalent of AWS in their own data centers, is launching the 14th major version of its software today. Newton, as this new version is called, shows how OpenStack has matured over the last few years. The focus this time is on making some of the core OpenStack services more scalable and resilient. In addition, though,… Read More
VR won’t be confined to apps. Oculus just announced the ReactVR javascript framework for building WebVR experiences that can run on the forthcoming Oculus VR web browser codenamed “Carmel”.
The Carmel developer preview will become available soon, and will run on any Oculus device. It allows users to browse the web inside their VR headset, and instantly play WebVR experiences. Read More
If you have a young child, then you probably know the name Toca Boca. The popular kids app maker has produced games that have been downloaded more than 130 million times in 215 countries, and have 10 million monthly active users. Today, Toca Boca is moving into video. The company is now launching Toca TV, a new $4.99 per month subscription service offering kid-friendly videos, original… Read More
Instagram Stories is benefitting from the large active user base Instagram itself enjoys, and now has 100 million daily active viewers. That’s two-thirds of the daily active user population for Snapchat, which reported 150 million global active users across its entire platform in late September. Even with a built-in audience to build from, and prime real estate positioning at the very top… Read More
After years in the works, it’s finally happening: TechShop is opening up a Brooklyn location, TechCrunch has exclusively learned. It should be officially announced later today. For those unfamiliar with the chain: TechShop is something of a do-it-yourselfer’s paradise. You pay them a monthly membership fee, and in return are granted access to any and all of their workspaces,… Read More
Google’s bid to connect the world with its services is a multi-faceted effort that spans mobile services, search, maps, connectivity, devices and more. But today, it’s the company’s efforts in the world of fonts — perhaps one of the less celebrated, but still central, parts of that ambition — that is having its day in the spotlight. Google, in partnership with… Read More
You could buy a TV and a Roku player, or you could just go crazy and buy a TV with Roku OS built in. A small handful of TV manufacturers have jumped on the Roku TV train already, including Sharp, Hisense and Haier, and now Hitachi’s officially joined their ranks with a trio of 4K sets. The first one, a 55-incher, is landing early this month at Sam’s Club, so interested parties can… Read More
Fabricating a circuit board isn’t tough but it takes a while. The back and forth, the bugs, and all of the shipping costs can turn a small project into a big problem. That’s why Botfactory raised $1.3 million to stick a PCB printer on your desk. Founded by NYU grad students Nicolas Vansnick and Carlos Ospina along with NYU professor Michael Knox, BotFactory came about when Vansnick… Read More
China’s Uber-like ride hailing powerhouse Didi Chuxing is looking to build its own self-driving car project, according to an interview with CEO Cheng Wei with Bloomberg, and it’s looking for data scientists with experience in the field from Silicon Valley to hep get the job done. The company has also had talks with driverless startup UiSee Technology’s Beijing-based… Read More
Symphony, the enterprise messaging app that counts a number of major investment banks among its investors and customers, is today taking the wraps of a run of new features that catapults the app into the next level of productivity solutions.
The company is adding new voice, video and screen sharing features in the form of a new product called Symphony Meetings, and it is also launching the… Read More
Today’s chatbots, for the most part, aren’t all that useful, but what if you could use them to learn a new language? When it comes to learning languages, using what you’ve learned in the context of a conversation is extremely useful. If you are learning online, though, you often don’t have anybody to talk to. That’s why Duolingo today introduced chatbots to its… Read More
European car rental comparison startup Happycar has raised a further €2.6 million million in funding. Backing the company’s third round are lead investor Creathor Venture, HR Ventures, Capnamic Ventures, NWZ Digital, and TruVenturo. Read More
Amazon has just announced a price reduction for its online grocery shopping service, AmazonFresh, that will bring the subscription service down to $14.99 per month for Prime members. Effectively, this change makes adding optional grocery delivery a new perk for those who subscribe to Amazon’s annual membership program.
This is not the first time Amazon has announced new pricing for… Read More
Animoto is launching a new product for businesses that want to post their own marketing videos for Facebook and other social networks — but don’t necessarily have the team or the skills needed to create something slick.
The company already offers products that automatically assemble your photos and videos into a video slideshow, and it’s been adding more tools for businesses. Read More
New York Comic Con is a lot of things – a place to see watch people parade around in Netflix original series cosplay, an opportunity to get Lou Ferrigno to sign your Hulk DVD, and there’s apparently a Legends of the Hidden Temple panel later today. One thing it’s not is a tech show. But some announcements do manage to slip through here and there. Certainly Wacom makes sense.… Read More
Google held its biggest ever hardware event on Tuesday, and we got a glimpse at devices that bear more of Google’s fingerprint than anything they’ve done before. Yet most of us here at TechCrunch, including myself and TCBC guest for this week Frederic Lardinois, came away with the feeling that the event was less about hardware than it was about Google’s work with… Read More
Hello, São Paulo. I’ve spoken with some folks and we’ll be meeting at Cubo tomorrow at 7pm until 10pm. There will be free booze and some finger food and I’d love to see you there. This is basically a micro-meetup – an opportunity to talk about your startup and network. No agenda, no speeches, and no onstage pitching. I’ll be there and I’m ready to hear… Read More
Netflix is continuing its slow crawl into the movie theater, according to a report from the Wall Street Journal. The WSJ says that Netflix has struck a deal with iPic Entertainment, a luxury theater chain, that would allow Netflix to feature 10 of its original films in theaters on the same day that they launch across Netflix. iPic has venues in 15 markets across the U.S., but the report says… Read More
Twyla, a year-and-a-half-year-old startup that collaborates with artists to create exclusive prints for sale at its site, at prices that range from $1,000 to $5,000, has raised $14 million in new funding led by GV, with participation from earlier investors IVP and Redpoint Ventures. The company has now raised $19 million altogether. Twyla was cofounded by HomeAway cofounder Brian Sharples… Read More
It’s not like there’s a shortage of lunch options for corporate employees, but that’s not stopping on-demand food startup Munchery from testing its luck with corporate lunch delivery. Today, Munchery will start delivering lunch to office employees in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Seattle and New York. This is an extension of Munchery’s @Work initiative, which already… Read More
