Month: July 2023
Final Fantasy XIV’s latest expansion is a tropical vacation
Image: Square Enix
It’s finally time for the Final Fantasy XIV beach vacation episode!
This year’s Final Fantasy XIV Fan Fest kicked off the American leg of the global event in Las Vegas this weekend. Thousands of fans braved the absolute blistering Las Vegas heat for cosplay events, concerts, and, of course, presentations designed around everybody’s favorite critically acclaimed MMORPG.
During the keynote kicking off FanFest, Square Enix revealed the game’s latest expansion, Dawntrail, with a brief introduction trailer.
The trailer reintroduces us to the series’ main characters as they explore a tropical island, noted as Eorzea’s “New World.” Seems like the Scions are enjoying a much-needed break from saving all of existence, going on treasure hunts and enjoying the sights and sounds of this new world.
Dawntrail is set to release in summer 2024. The keynote is still going on, so Square Enix may still reveal more about Dawntrail in addition to the trailer. Stay tuned!
Image: Square Enix
It’s finally time for the Final Fantasy XIV beach vacation episode!
This year’s Final Fantasy XIV Fan Fest kicked off the American leg of the global event in Las Vegas this weekend. Thousands of fans braved the absolute blistering Las Vegas heat for cosplay events, concerts, and, of course, presentations designed around everybody’s favorite critically acclaimed MMORPG.
During the keynote kicking off FanFest, Square Enix revealed the game’s latest expansion, Dawntrail, with a brief introduction trailer.
The trailer reintroduces us to the series’ main characters as they explore a tropical island, noted as Eorzea’s “New World.” Seems like the Scions are enjoying a much-needed break from saving all of existence, going on treasure hunts and enjoying the sights and sounds of this new world.
Dawntrail is set to release in summer 2024. The keynote is still going on, so Square Enix may still reveal more about Dawntrail in addition to the trailer. Stay tuned!
Final Fantasy XIV’s latest expansion is a tropical vacation
Image: Square Enix
It’s finally time for the Final Fantasy XIV beach vacation episode!
This year’s Final Fantasy XIV Fan Fest kicked off the American leg of the global event in Las Vegas this weekend. Thousands of fans braved the absolute blistering Las Vegas heat for cosplay events, concerts, and, of course, presentations designed around everybody’s favorite critically acclaimed MMORPG.
During the keynote kicking off FanFest, Square Enix revealed the game’s latest expansion, Dawntrail, with a brief introduction trailer.
The trailer reintroduces us to the series’ main characters as they explore a tropical island, noted as Eorzea’s “New World.” Seems like the Scions are enjoying a much-needed break from saving all of existence, going on treasure hunts and enjoying the sights and sounds of this new world.
Dawntrail is set to release in summer 2024. The keynote is still going on, so Square Enix may still reveal more about Dawntrail in addition to the trailer. Stay tuned!
Image: Square Enix
It’s finally time for the Final Fantasy XIV beach vacation episode!
This year’s Final Fantasy XIV Fan Fest kicked off the American leg of the global event in Las Vegas this weekend. Thousands of fans braved the absolute blistering Las Vegas heat for cosplay events, concerts, and, of course, presentations designed around everybody’s favorite critically acclaimed MMORPG.
During the keynote kicking off FanFest, Square Enix revealed the game’s latest expansion, Dawntrail, with a brief introduction trailer.
The trailer reintroduces us to the series’ main characters as they explore a tropical island, noted as Eorzea’s “New World.” Seems like the Scions are enjoying a much-needed break from saving all of existence, going on treasure hunts and enjoying the sights and sounds of this new world.
Dawntrail is set to release in summer 2024. The keynote is still going on, so Square Enix may still reveal more about Dawntrail in addition to the trailer. Stay tuned!
What Spence-Crawford Lacks in Trash Talk, It Makes Up in Talent
Errol Spence Jr. and Terence Crawford haven’t hyped their title fight with antagonistic displays. Promoters are banking that the bout between the undefeated welterweights will sell itself.
Errol Spence Jr. and Terence Crawford haven’t hyped their title fight with antagonistic displays. Promoters are banking that the bout between the undefeated welterweights will sell itself.
TechCrunch+ Roundup: SAFE founder survey, replacing a CEO, how cyber insurance works
Replacing a CEO is a complicated process: senior executives and board members should be in alignment, and founders must be ready to let go.
A friend recently spent months getting into shape for a physical so he could obtain a lower insurance rate. He got the policy and plans to continue working out because he feels so much healthier.
Tech companies that plan to buy cyber insurance are in a similar boat: IT managers must conduct risk assessments and usually add new security measures to qualify, but doing the work can be its own reward.
Full TechCrunch+ articles are only available to members.
Use discount code TCPLUSROUNDUP to save 20% off a one- or two-year subscription.
“In the end, the benefits from working through the process of achieving eligibility for cyber insurance can go far beyond the issuance of a policy,” says security strategist Ilia Sotnikov.
In this article, he explains “what cyber insurance actually covers,” identifies the critical measures most insurers require and explains why implementing multifactor authentication may not cure every problem.
Thanks for reading, and have a great weekend.
Walter Thompson
Editorial Manager, TechCrunch+
@yourprotagonist
Pitch Deck Teardown: Unito’s $20M Series B deck
Pitch Deck Teardown Image Credits: Unito
Unito, a platform that lets customers manage multiple SaaS apps in one place, announced a $20 million Series B round in October 2022.
“Strategically, the path Unito built makes a lot of sense, and I’m not surprised that this narrative resonated with investors,” writes Haje Jan Kamps, who unpacked the lightly-redacted deck:
Cover slide
Highlights/summary slide
Market context slide
Problem slide
Solution slide
Product slide
How it works slide
Product evolution slide
Growth/traction slide
Competition/positioning slide
Team slide
Summary slide
5 founders discuss why SAFEs are better for early-stage and bridge rounds
While SAFE rounds are considered founder friendly, most founders only think they are a good idea for certain rounds. Image Credits: Bryce Durbin
Rebecca Szkutak interviewed five founders who raised money via simple agreement for future equity (SAFE) rounds, instead of going the traditional seed/Series A route.
“By the time a startup reaches the Series A stage, this mechanism is less attractive for a variety of reasons,” she writes.
Here’s who she surveyed:
Zach Blank, founder, Hurry
Amy Divaraniya, founder and CEO, Oova
Tory Reiss, CEO and co-founder, Equi
Arman Hezarkhani, founder and CEO, Parthean
Vishwas Prabhakara, founder and CEO, Honey Homes
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Ask Sophie: Which US visas are best for international founders?
Image Credits: Bryce Durbin/TechCrunch
Dear Sophie,
I am from Georgia but I live in Poland. I created my startup in Delaware a few years ago. To realize it and grow it, I need to move to the U.S.
I have a business plan and a market plan, but no immigration plan. What’s your advice? Which visa should I apply for?
— Global Georgian
Finding CEO: It’s the new ‘Finding Nemo’
Image Credits: Getty Images / Sakchai Vongsasiripat
It’s rare for a founding CEO to take their company public: As of 2015, “only one-third of startups that reached IPO had their founders as CEOs,” writes Haje Jan Kamps.
Replacing a CEO is a complicated process — senior executives and board members should be aligned, founders must be ready to let go, and the winning candidate needs to get started as quickly as possible.
“In the majority of cases, there comes a time that you need to have a professionally credentialed CEO to take the company to the next level,” said DeeDee DeMan, founder and CEO of executive search firm Bench International.
“And that’s completely dependent upon the acceptance and the mentality of the founding CEO.”
How to prevent an ‘operational catastrophe’
Image Credits: MirageC(opens in a new window) /Getty Images
Julia Ivzhenko, head of operations at Futurra, launched a new edtech app with a 20-person team that answered students’ questions in real time.
Network effects drew in a growing stream of new users, but “we concentrated on scaling and didn’t have time to think if the resources of our team were enough to keep going with such speed,” she writes in TC+.
“To prevent the approaching catastrophe,” she developed a five-step plan that analyzed key processes and highlighted bottlenecks that ultimately generated “a timeline for optimization.”
iPhone 15 Pro’s Thinner Bezels and Manufacturing Issue: What to Know
Apple’s upcoming iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max are rumored to feature thinner bezels around the display compared to the current models, but this change has reportedly led to a manufacturing issue ahead of the devices launching.
iPhone 15 Pro Max replica (left) vs. iPhone 14 Pro Max (right)
Below, we recap what has been reported about the manufacturing issue and what impact it might have on the iPhone 15 Pro launch later this year.
Thinner Bezels
Multiple leakers have shared images and videos of alleged front glass panels for the iPhone 15 Pro models, and these panels appear to have considerably thinner bezels around the display compared to iPhone 14 Pro models. The bezels are expected to have a slightly curved design, and the Pro Max model could have the thinnest bezels on any smartphone ever.
iPhone 14 Pro front glass (left) vs. alleged iPhone 15 Pro front glass (right) via Bilibili
YouTube channel Unbox Therapy provided a side-by-side comparison of the bezels on an unofficial iPhone 15 Pro Max dummy model and the iPhone 14 Pro Max.
While most rumors have claimed only the Pro models will have a bezel reduction this year, a previously-accurate leaker known as Ice Universe shared an image showing that the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus might have slightly thinner bezels as well.
Manufacturing Issue
Last week, The Information’s Wayne Ma reported that Apple suppliers were facing challenges assembling iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max displays with thinner bezels, and he said the issue could lead to a supply shortage when the devices launch in September. He said the issue was more pronounced with the Pro Max model.
Bloomberg’s Debby Wu and Takashi Mochizuki subsequently reported there was a “minor hiccup” with the displays, but said the issue should be fixed “within a week or two” and “will not have a noticeable impact on overall production.”
Display Supply Chain Consultants CEO Ross Young said iPhone 15 Pro display shipments are now “ramping” as the technical issues are overcome, further increasing the likelihood that Apple will not delay the launch of the iPhone 15 Pro models. At worst, it seems that shipping estimates on launch day may slip quicker than they would have otherwise.
Other Features
Beyond thinner bezels, the iPhone 15 Pro models are rumored to feature a USB-C port, titanium frame, customizable Action button, faster A17 Bionic chip, camera improvements, Wi-Fi 6E support, increased RAM, an upgraded Ultra Wideband chip, and more. These new features coupled with inflationary pressures may lead to price increases for the devices.
For additional details, read our in-depth iPhone 15 Pro roundup.Related Roundup: iPhone 15 ProThis article, “iPhone 15 Pro’s Thinner Bezels and Manufacturing Issue: What to Know” first appeared on MacRumors.comDiscuss this article in our forums
Apple’s upcoming iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max are rumored to feature thinner bezels around the display compared to the current models, but this change has reportedly led to a manufacturing issue ahead of the devices launching.
Below, we recap what has been reported about the manufacturing issue and what impact it might have on the iPhone 15 Pro launch later this year.
Thinner Bezels
Multiple leakers have shared images and videos of alleged front glass panels for the iPhone 15 Pro models, and these panels appear to have considerably thinner bezels around the display compared to iPhone 14 Pro models. The bezels are expected to have a slightly curved design, and the Pro Max model could have the thinnest bezels on any smartphone ever.
YouTube channel Unbox Therapy provided a side-by-side comparison of the bezels on an unofficial iPhone 15 Pro Max dummy model and the iPhone 14 Pro Max.
While most rumors have claimed only the Pro models will have a bezel reduction this year, a previously-accurate leaker known as Ice Universe shared an image showing that the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus might have slightly thinner bezels as well.
Manufacturing Issue
Last week, The Information‘s Wayne Ma reported that Apple suppliers were facing challenges assembling iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max displays with thinner bezels, and he said the issue could lead to a supply shortage when the devices launch in September. He said the issue was more pronounced with the Pro Max model.
Bloomberg‘s Debby Wu and Takashi Mochizuki subsequently reported there was a “minor hiccup” with the displays, but said the issue should be fixed “within a week or two” and “will not have a noticeable impact on overall production.”
Display Supply Chain Consultants CEO Ross Young said iPhone 15 Pro display shipments are now “ramping” as the technical issues are overcome, further increasing the likelihood that Apple will not delay the launch of the iPhone 15 Pro models. At worst, it seems that shipping estimates on launch day may slip quicker than they would have otherwise.
Other Features
Beyond thinner bezels, the iPhone 15 Pro models are rumored to feature a USB-C port, titanium frame, customizable Action button, faster A17 Bionic chip, camera improvements, Wi-Fi 6E support, increased RAM, an upgraded Ultra Wideband chip, and more. These new features coupled with inflationary pressures may lead to price increases for the devices.
For additional details, read our in-depth iPhone 15 Pro roundup.
This article, “iPhone 15 Pro’s Thinner Bezels and Manufacturing Issue: What to Know” first appeared on MacRumors.com
Discuss this article in our forums
Biden To Sign Order Curbing US Tech Investments in China by Mid-August
President Joe Biden is planning to sign an executive order to limit critical US technology investments in China by mid-August, Bloomberg News reported Friday, citing people familiar with the internal deliberations. From the report: The order focuses on semiconductors, artificial intelligence and quantum computing. It won’t affect any existing investments and will only prohibit certain transactions. Other deals will have to be disclosed to the government. The timing for the order, slated for the second week of August, has slipped many times before, and there is no guarantee it won’t be delayed again. But internal discussions have already shifted from the substance of the measures to rolling out the order and accompanying rule, said the people familiar who spoke on condition of anonymity. The restrictions won’t take effect until next year, and their scope will be laid out in a rulemaking process, involving a comment period so stakeholders can weigh in on the final version.
Read more of this story at Slashdot.
President Joe Biden is planning to sign an executive order to limit critical US technology investments in China by mid-August, Bloomberg News reported Friday, citing people familiar with the internal deliberations. From the report: The order focuses on semiconductors, artificial intelligence and quantum computing. It won’t affect any existing investments and will only prohibit certain transactions. Other deals will have to be disclosed to the government. The timing for the order, slated for the second week of August, has slipped many times before, and there is no guarantee it won’t be delayed again. But internal discussions have already shifted from the substance of the measures to rolling out the order and accompanying rule, said the people familiar who spoke on condition of anonymity. The restrictions won’t take effect until next year, and their scope will be laid out in a rulemaking process, involving a comment period so stakeholders can weigh in on the final version.
Read more of this story at Slashdot.