facebook Zuckerberg's TikTok Misunderstanding Threatens Facebook's Future Leaked audio reveals Mark Zuckerberg views TikTok as merely an Explore Tab, missing its true nature as a new form of premeditated social entertainment.
verizon Verizon Acquires Fading VR Startup Jaunt's Tech Assets Verizon picks up the technology assets of Disney-backed virtual reality startup Jaunt after the company struggles to find a sustainable business model. The deal includes both Jaunt's older VR tech and newer augmented reality efforts, though no employees are joining Verizon.
facebook Facebook Struggles to Find Social VR Success Despite Hardware Gains Facebook debuts Facebook Horizon as its latest attempt to crack social VR, but the company's lack of progress in this arena remains a glaring weakness.
zoox Zoox CEO Aicha Evans to Discuss Autonomous Future at Disrupt SF Zoox CEO Aicha Evans prepares to take the stage at TechCrunch Disrupt SF to share her vision for the company's autonomous ride-hailing service.
apple Apple Bets Big on Disrupting Mobile Gaming with Arcade Subscription Apple surprises the tech industry by pricing its upcoming Apple TV+ and Apple Arcade services at just $4.99 each. The gaming subscription specifically attempts to undo the ad-heavy, micro-transaction-driven mobile gaming ecosystem that Apple helped build.
daqri Daqri Shuts Down as Apple Updates App Store Billing Augmented reality headset maker Daqri closes its doors, while Apple introduces a new grace period for lapsed App Store subscriptions.
augmented reality Heavily Funded Enterprise AR Startup Daqri Shuts Down After Raising $275 Million Daqri, a nearly ten-year-old augmented reality headset startup, closes its headquarters and sells off its assets as the investment climate for enterprise AR cools. The company's collapse follows similar shutdowns for other well-funded AR hardware pioneers like Meta and ODG.
apple Apple Adds Triple Camera System to iPhone 11 Pro for Better Photos Apple's new iPhone 11 Pro features a triple camera setup because a single lens has reached its physical limits. By combining a standard wide, ultra-wide, and telephoto lens, the smartphone captures more light and depth data than ever before.
getaround Car-Sharing Startup Getaround Reaches $1.7 Billion Valuation in New Funding Round SoftBank-backed Getaround is raising $200 million in an equity round that pushes the peer-to-peer car-sharing company into unicorn status. The new capital follows the company's recent $300 million acquisition of European rival Drivy.
apple Apple's iPhone 11 Event Promotes Pro Models and Camera Upgrades Apple hosts its September 10 event to unveil the iPhone 11 lineup, which will likely feature a rebranded naming scheme with Pro and Pro Max models. The biggest changes focus on advanced camera arrays and AI-enhanced photography for the flagship devices.
apple Apple Confirms September 10 Event as Uber and Lyft Fight California Labor Law Apple sends out official invites for its September 10 event where it reveals three new iPhone models. Meanwhile, ride-sharing giants Uber and Lyft pledge a combined $60 million to keep their drivers classified as independent contractors.
daqri Well-Funded AR Startup DAQRI Closes Doors After $275 Million Raised DAQRI is shutting down its industrial wearables business and winding down the company despite raising $275 million in funding. The Los Angeles-based firm joins a growing list of enterprise AR headset makers that have recently failed.
trump Trump Raises Tariffs on $550 Billion of Chinese Goods Amid Escalating Trade War President Trump announces a 5 percentage point increase on all Chinese import tariffs as a direct retaliation to China's new $75 billion in duties on U.S. products. The escalating trade conflict causes major U.S. stock indexes to plummet.
doordash DoorDash Overhauls Tipping Policy After Customer Backlash DoorDash introduces a new compensation model that ensures every tip goes directly to delivery workers. The update replaces a controversial system that used customer tips to subsidize base pay.
y combinator 82 Startups Showcase Innovations on Day Two of YC Summer 2019 Y Combinator wraps up its Summer 2019 Demo Days with 82 additional startups presenting disruptive solutions across biotech, logistics, and SaaS. The two-day event features a total of 166 companies aiming to transform their respective industries.