Month: February 2023
Bonusly raises $18.9M in funding to help companies retain the best employees through recognition and merit-based rewards
Over the past few years, over 20 million people quit their jobs in what the experts described as the Great Resignation. The number was one of the highest “quit rates” ever recorded since the US government started keeping track two
Over the past few years, over 20 million people quit their jobs in what the experts described as the Great Resignation. The number was one of the highest “quit rates” ever recorded since the US government started keeping track two […]
Pluto TV is dedicating entire channels to the Rocky movies and Sailor Moon
Sylvester Stallone as Rocky Balboa. | Image: MGM
To really appreciate how the Rocky franchise evolved over the years to become the Creed saga, you kind of have to watch the original Sylvester Stallone features in order. While it’s never been especially hard to stream the Rocky movies online, Pluto TV is about to make it much, much easier to see them all back-to-back.
Today, Pluto announced the impending arrival of Pluto TV Rocky, a new channel on the streaming platform that will air the first six Rocky movies — Rocky I–V and Rocky Balboa — on a continuous loop 24/7. Along with scheduled airings of the Rocky movies, Pluto’s users will be able to access each of the features on demand. Along with the Rocky channel, Pluto TV also announced in a press release that it will launch channels dedicated to WOW – Women of Wrestling and one dedicated to Sailor Moon anime that will feature hundreds of episodes from multiple series within the franchise.
Pluto TV Rocky as well as the WOW and Sailor Moon channels are all slated to hit Pluto TV on March 1st.
Sylvester Stallone as Rocky Balboa. | Image: MGM
To really appreciate how the Rocky franchise evolved over the years to become the Creed saga, you kind of have to watch the original Sylvester Stallone features in order. While it’s never been especially hard to stream the Rocky movies online, Pluto TV is about to make it much, much easier to see them all back-to-back.
Today, Pluto announced the impending arrival of Pluto TV Rocky, a new channel on the streaming platform that will air the first six Rocky movies — Rocky I–V and Rocky Balboa — on a continuous loop 24/7. Along with scheduled airings of the Rocky movies, Pluto’s users will be able to access each of the features on demand. Along with the Rocky channel, Pluto TV also announced in a press release that it will launch channels dedicated to WOW – Women of Wrestling and one dedicated to Sailor Moon anime that will feature hundreds of episodes from multiple series within the franchise.
Pluto TV Rocky as well as the WOW and Sailor Moon channels are all slated to hit Pluto TV on March 1st.
Apple Seeds Second Betas of iOS 16.4 and iPadOS 16.4 to Developers
Apple today seeded the second betas of upcoming iOS 16.4 and iPadOS 16.4 updates to developers for testing purposes, with the software coming two weeks after the launch of the first betas.
Registered developers are able to download the iOS 16.4 and iPadOS 16.4 updates over-the-air after installing the appropriate profile from the Developer Center. Going forward, beta updates will not require a profile and will instead be done directly on device through an Apple ID linked to a developer account. Note: There appears to be an issue with the iOS 16.4 beta 2 update that is preventing some developers from seeing it at the current time.
iOS 16.4 and iPadOS 16.4 add new emoji characters, including shaking head, pink heart, light blue heart, donkey, moose, jellyfish, hyacinth, ginger, black bird, and more. There are 31 new emoji in total, including left and right hand options in several skin tones.
Safari Web Push notifications have been added on the iPhone and iPad, and you can receive them from websites that have been added to the Home Screen on your device. Web Push notifications are identical to the notifications that you get from websites on the Mac, and behave like any other iOS notification.
Third-party browsers like Chrome are now able to let users add websites and websites to the Home Screen, and Apple has reintroduced the HomeKit architecture upgrade. There are also changes to Podcasts, minor updates to Apple Music, new options for Shortcuts, and more, with a full list of new features in iOS 16.4 and iPadOS 16.4 available in our features guide.Related Roundups: iOS 16, iPadOS 16
Related Forum: iOS 16
This article, “Apple Seeds Second Betas of iOS 16.4 and iPadOS 16.4 to Developers” first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums
Apple today seeded the second betas of upcoming iOS 16.4 and iPadOS 16.4 updates to developers for testing purposes, with the software coming two weeks after the launch of the first betas.
Registered developers are able to download the iOS 16.4 and iPadOS 16.4 updates over-the-air after installing the appropriate profile from the Developer Center. Going forward, beta updates will not require a profile and will instead be done directly on device through an Apple ID linked to a developer account. Note: There appears to be an issue with the iOS 16.4 beta 2 update that is preventing some developers from seeing it at the current time.
iOS 16.4 and iPadOS 16.4 add new emoji characters, including shaking head, pink heart, light blue heart, donkey, moose, jellyfish, hyacinth, ginger, black bird, and more. There are 31 new emoji in total, including left and right hand options in several skin tones.
Safari Web Push notifications have been added on the iPhone and iPad, and you can receive them from websites that have been added to the Home Screen on your device. Web Push notifications are identical to the notifications that you get from websites on the Mac, and behave like any other iOS notification.
Third-party browsers like Chrome are now able to let users add websites and websites to the Home Screen, and Apple has reintroduced the HomeKit architecture upgrade. There are also changes to Podcasts, minor updates to Apple Music, new options for Shortcuts, and more, with a full list of new features in iOS 16.4 and iPadOS 16.4 available in our features guide.
This article, “Apple Seeds Second Betas of iOS 16.4 and iPadOS 16.4 to Developers” first appeared on MacRumors.com
Discuss this article in our forums
Apple Seeds Second Beta of watchOS 9.4 to Developers
Apple today seeded the second beta of an upcoming watchOS 9.4 update to developers for testing purposes, with the software update coming two weeks after launch of the first beta.
To install the watchOS 9.4 update, developers will need to download the configuration profile from the Apple Developer Center.
Once installed, watchOS 9.4 can be downloaded through the dedicated Apple Watch app on the iPhone by going to General > Software update. To update to new software, an Apple Watch needs to have 50 percent battery life, it has to be placed on the charger, and it will need to be in range of the iPhone it is paired with.
watchOS 9.4 gains support for new emoji characters that include donkey, goose, black bird, shaking head, hyacinth, pea pod, and more, with 31 new characters available in total.
Through iOS 16.4, the update adds support for Web Push notifications that are sent to an iPhone, with the notifications able to be set up for a website that is added to the iPhone’s Home Screen.
watchOS 9.4 will go through several rounds of beta testing, and it is expected to see a launch in the spring alongside iOS 16.4.Related Roundup: watchOS 9
Related Forum: iOS, Mac, tvOS, watchOS Programming
This article, “Apple Seeds Second Beta of watchOS 9.4 to Developers” first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums
Apple today seeded the second beta of an upcoming watchOS 9.4 update to developers for testing purposes, with the software update coming two weeks after launch of the first beta.
To install the watchOS 9.4 update, developers will need to download the configuration profile from the Apple Developer Center.
Once installed, watchOS 9.4 can be downloaded through the dedicated Apple Watch app on the iPhone by going to General > Software update. To update to new software, an Apple Watch needs to have 50 percent battery life, it has to be placed on the charger, and it will need to be in range of the iPhone it is paired with.
watchOS 9.4 gains support for new emoji characters that include donkey, goose, black bird, shaking head, hyacinth, pea pod, and more, with 31 new characters available in total.
Through iOS 16.4, the update adds support for Web Push notifications that are sent to an iPhone, with the notifications able to be set up for a website that is added to the iPhone’s Home Screen.
watchOS 9.4 will go through several rounds of beta testing, and it is expected to see a launch in the spring alongside iOS 16.4.
This article, “Apple Seeds Second Beta of watchOS 9.4 to Developers” first appeared on MacRumors.com
Discuss this article in our forums
TechCrunch+ roundup: Using predictive LTV, Boston VC survey, active learning for ML teams
Adding predictive LTV to your startup’s marketing strategy may literally help you stop throwing money away.
TechCrunch+ roundup: Using predictive LTV, Boston VC survey, active learning for ML teams by Walter Thompson originally published on TechCrunch
Last fall, Voyantis CEO Ido Wiesenberg shared a TC+ post with several tactics for reducing customer acquisition costs via predictive modeling.
In a follow-up, he explains how to use predictive lifetime value (LTV) to create “more targeted, effective acquisition strategies that focus on acquiring and retaining customers.”
Adding predictive LTV to decision flows does more than just identify lucrative customers early in the sales cycle — you can also use it to set performance targets and help teams adjust campaign budgets midstream.
Full TechCrunch+ articles are only available to members
Use discount code TCPLUSROUNDUP to save 20% off a one- or two-year subscription
“Not using predictive LTV to inform decisions is like going on a hike, not knowing where it will end and how hard it will be,” writes Wiesenberg, who says combining CAC with predictive LTV optimization balances risk and growth.
This post includes real-life examples of predictive LTV decisions that can help generate higher returns on ad spending or identify underperforming campaigns that can be stopped in their tracks.
Thanks very much for reading,
Walter Thompson
Editorial Manager, TechCrunch+
@yourprotagonist
Going private: A guide to PE tech acquisitions
Image Credits: PM Images (opens in a new window) / Getty Images
For private equity firms in search of bargains, now is a great time to be alive.
With the IPO window nailed shut and so many public companies facing dwindling valuations, PE firms spent $226.5 billion on M&A in H1 2022, 39% more than a year earlier.
However, “success is not guaranteed,” writes Jaggaer CFO Jeff Laborde in a TC+ explainer that examines what happens in the months that follow the pre-closing period.
“M&A is a part of doing business and it’s important to recognize that the impact and disruption of a PE take-private deal may be felt for years.”
Biotech proved a surprisingly bright spot in 2022’s startup correction
Image Credits: Getty Images
The hard science and regulations that govern biotech companies sets them far apart from other startups.
Successfully navigating clinical trials is arguably harder than simply showing investors you can reach product-market fit, and still, “U.S. biotech deals also set new records in 2022 for both median deal size, $33.5 million, and median valuation, $38 million,” reports Rebecca Szkutak.
To learn more about why the sector has been so resilient in the face of widespread market corrections, she interviewed three early-stage biotech investors:
John Flavin, founder and CEO, Portal Innovations
Jorge Conde, general partner, Andreessen Horowitz
Zavian Dar, co-founder and general partner, Dimension Capital
5 investors discuss Boston’s resilient tech ecosystem
Before yesterday’s TC City Spotlight: Boston event, Anna Heim interviewed five investors active in the area to learn more about the pace of dealmaking, layoffs, and other topics of interest to the local tech community.
Here’s who she spoke to:
Rudina Seseri, founder and managing partner, Glasswing Ventures
Lily Lyman, general partner, Underscore VC
Sanjiv Kalevar, partner, OpenView
Katie Rae, managing partner, The Engine
Russ Wilcox, partner, Pillar VC
Active learning is the future of generative AI: Here’s how to leverage it
Image Credits: Andriy Onufriyenko (opens in a new window) / Getty Images
The generative AI models that have made headlines and memes in recent months weren’t cooked up in someone’s garage or basement.
“Only well-funded institutions with access to a massive amount of GPU power are capable of building these models,” says Encore co-founder Eric Landau, who recommends using the iterative process of active learning to “leapfrog the AI production gap and build models capable of running in the wild more quickly.”
In a TC+ post aimed at ML team managers, he shares tactics for leveraging active learning and addresses the perennial buy-versus-build dilemma.
Apply now to speak at TechCrunch Disrupt in September
Interested in speaking at TechCrunch Disrupt this September in San Francisco?
Submit a title and a description for the topic you’d like to talk about before April 21.
Selected applicants will have a chance to lead a roundtable discussion or participate in a breakout session followed by an audience Q&A.
TechCrunch+ roundup: Using predictive LTV, Boston VC survey, active learning for ML teams by Walter Thompson originally published on TechCrunch
Meta’s VR battle royale is going free-to-play
Population: One, Meta’s VR battle royale shooter it acquired in 2021, is becoming a free-to-play game, developers BigBox VR announced on Tuesday. The title currently starts at $30 on the Quest Store, but you’ll be able to play it for free starting March 9th.
Population: One first launched in October 2020, and it’s proven to be a popular title, with a more than four-star average score from an excess of 11,000 ratings on the Quest Store. (It’s also available on Steam, where it has more than 2,000 reviews.) But in going free-to-play, Meta seems to be making a push for the game to attract a much wider audience than it already has. It worked for PUBG: Battlegrounds, after all.
And if Population: One really blows up after moving to free-to-play, Meta won’t just have a big battle royale hit on its hands. Thanks to the game’s recently added sandbox mode, it has some metaverse-y aspects as well, and maybe it will prove to be more popular than the struggling Horizon Worlds.
That said, going free-to-play isn’t necessarily a guarantee of future success. Knockout City, a promising multiplayer dodgeball game, launched as a paid game (after a free trial) in 2021 and went free-to-play a little over a year later, but it will be shut down in June. And Meta itself is shutting down the free-to-play Echo VR in August despite the game’s passionate community (though Meta CTO Andrew “Boz” Bosworth says the playerbase is in the low ten thousands).
People who already own Population: One and log in before 1PM ET on March 9th will get a bundle of in-game items, including a banana outfit. (It’s no Peely from Fortnite, but what is?)
Population: One, Meta’s VR battle royale shooter it acquired in 2021, is becoming a free-to-play game, developers BigBox VR announced on Tuesday. The title currently starts at $30 on the Quest Store, but you’ll be able to play it for free starting March 9th.
Population: One first launched in October 2020, and it’s proven to be a popular title, with a more than four-star average score from an excess of 11,000 ratings on the Quest Store. (It’s also available on Steam, where it has more than 2,000 reviews.) But in going free-to-play, Meta seems to be making a push for the game to attract a much wider audience than it already has. It worked for PUBG: Battlegrounds, after all.
And if Population: One really blows up after moving to free-to-play, Meta won’t just have a big battle royale hit on its hands. Thanks to the game’s recently added sandbox mode, it has some metaverse-y aspects as well, and maybe it will prove to be more popular than the struggling Horizon Worlds.
That said, going free-to-play isn’t necessarily a guarantee of future success. Knockout City, a promising multiplayer dodgeball game, launched as a paid game (after a free trial) in 2021 and went free-to-play a little over a year later, but it will be shut down in June. And Meta itself is shutting down the free-to-play Echo VR in August despite the game’s passionate community (though Meta CTO Andrew “Boz” Bosworth says the playerbase is in the low ten thousands).
People who already own Population: One and log in before 1PM ET on March 9th will get a bundle of in-game items, including a banana outfit. (It’s no Peely from Fortnite, but what is?)
VW Wouldn’t Help Locate Car With Abducted Child Because GPS Subscription Expired
A sheriff’s office in Illinois said it was initially thwarted from tracking a stolen car with a 2-year-old boy inside when Volkswagen’s Car-Net service refused to provide access to the tracking system because the car’s subscription had expired. From a report: “While searching for the stolen vehicle and endangered child, sheriff’s detectives immediately called Volkswagen Car-Net, in an attempt to track the vehicle,” the Lake County sheriff’s office said in a statement posted on Facebook about the incident on February 23. “Unfortunately, there was a delay, as Volkswagen Car-Net would not track the vehicle with the abducted child until they received payment to reactivate the tracking device in the stolen Volkswagen.” Volkswagen Car-Net lets owners track and control their vehicles remotely. According to a Chicago Sun-Times article, “the Car-Net trial period had ended, and a representative wanted $150 to restart the service and locate the SUV.”
Read more of this story at Slashdot.
A sheriff’s office in Illinois said it was initially thwarted from tracking a stolen car with a 2-year-old boy inside when Volkswagen’s Car-Net service refused to provide access to the tracking system because the car’s subscription had expired. From a report: “While searching for the stolen vehicle and endangered child, sheriff’s detectives immediately called Volkswagen Car-Net, in an attempt to track the vehicle,” the Lake County sheriff’s office said in a statement posted on Facebook about the incident on February 23. “Unfortunately, there was a delay, as Volkswagen Car-Net would not track the vehicle with the abducted child until they received payment to reactivate the tracking device in the stolen Volkswagen.” Volkswagen Car-Net lets owners track and control their vehicles remotely. According to a Chicago Sun-Times article, “the Car-Net trial period had ended, and a representative wanted $150 to restart the service and locate the SUV.”
Read more of this story at Slashdot.