Category: Apps
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Instagram is lowering video quality for unpopular videos
The popularity of an Instagram video can affect its actual video quality: According to Adam Mosseri (the Meta executive who leads Instagram and Threads), videos that are more popular get shown in higher quality, while less popular videos get shown in lower quality. In a video (via The Verge), Mosseri said Instagram tries to show…
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OpenAI denies it’s releasing a model called ‘Orion’ this year
Welcome back to Week in Review. This week, we’re looking at OpenAI’s reported plans for its next AI model; a buzzy new messaging app that’s a hit with Gen Z; and Tim Cook discovering that you can name a group chat in iMessage. Let’s get into it. The Verge noted this week that OpenAI is…
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OpenAI’s Whisper transcription tool has hallucination issues, researchers say
Software engineers, developers, and academic researchers have serious concerns about transcriptions from OpenAI’s Whisper, according to a report in the Associated Press. While there’s been no shortage of discussion around generative AI’s tendency to hallucinate — basically, to make stuff up — it’s a bit surprising that this is an issue in transcription, where you’d…
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User’s guide to TechCrunch Disrupt 2024
TechCrunch Disrupt 2024 is three measly days away and we can’t be any more pumped. Here’s an insider’s guide to everything you need to know to have a successful Disrupt experience. Registration and early badge pickup Sunday, 10/27: 2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.Early badge pickup — skip the line on Monday by grabbing your badge…
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Jon McNeill’s lessons on innovation through subtraction
Before Jon McNeill was CEO at VC firm DVx Ventures, he was the president of Tesla and chief operating officer at Lyft. He helped Tesla grow its revenue run rate from $2 billion to $20 billion in 30 months, and he doubled Lyft’s revenue ahead of its IPO. He’s also on the board of GM’s…
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Final Countdown: 2 days until TechCrunch Disrupt 2024 begins and ticket prices increase
We are a mere 2 days away from one of the most anticipated tech events of the year! San Francisco is about to be electrified by the global tech community. Join the crowd at Moscone West from October 28-30 (and all week) as Silicon Valley’s finest come together for TechCrunch Disrupt 2024. Only two days…
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The Hisense C2 Ultra is a well-rounded, great-looking home projector
I’ll be the first to admit that I’m new to the projector game. Anker won me over at the end of last year with its Nebula series. The Capsule prioritizes ease of use and portability, above all. While not cheap at $800, it’s a good starter projector in the sense that it’s self-contained and largely…
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VC megadeals are booming — and AI is surprisingly not the top category
Ask any VC if we’re still in a venture capital bear market and that investor will almost certainly tell you no, that funding is still flowing for good companies. That might sound like spin, because anecdotes abound about how rough it still is for those raising now. And for good reason. Down rounds — that…
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Apple wins $250 from Masimo in watch patent trial
A federal jury ruled Friday that Masimo smartwatches infringed Apple patents, but Apple isn’t getting a big payday. Bloomberg Law reports that the company was only seeking the statutory minimum of $250, and that’s all it was awarded. Apple’s attorney John Desmarais reportedly told jurors, “We’re not here for the money.” Instead, he said the…
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FTC hits Lyft with $2.1M penalty for luring drivers with false earnings claims
Lyft has agreed to a $2.1 million settlement proposed by the FTC over the car-hailing company’s “deceptive earnings claims about how much money drivers could expect to make.” As documented in the FTC’s complaint document, Lyft systematically inflated the incomes it advertised to drivers it was attempting to recruit in 2021 and 2022. For instance,…