Archivo del Autor: Belen De Leon

Replika, the Emotional Chatbot, Goes Open-Source

Software developer Eugenia Kuyda is releasing the code to her Replika chatbot, which can inject emotion into conversations.
Source: Wired

Asana raises $75M Series D led by Al Gore’s Generation Investment Management

 Asana, the productivity and collaboration service, is getting a major infusion of cash after Generation Investment Management, a London-based firm backed by former U.S. Vice President Al Gore, led a $75 million investment. Investment Management was joined in this Series D round by existing backers 8VC, Founders Fund, Y Combinator President Sam Altman who also participated in the round.… Read More

Source: TechCrunch

Samsung confirms it is making ASIC chips for cryptocurrency mining

 Fresh from toppling Intel as the planet’s biggest seller of chipsets, Samsung has confirmed that it has begun manufacturing ASIC chips which are used to mine bitcoin, ether and other cryptocurrencies.
“Samsung’s foundry business is currently engaged in the manufacturing of cryptocurrency mining chips. However we are unable to disclose further details regarding our… Read More

Source: TechCrunch

Bench bookkeeping service raises $18 million in funding

 Bench, the TechStars-backed bookkeeping service for SMBs, has today announced the close of an $18 million B-1 funding round led by iNovia Capital. Existing investors, including Bain Capital Ventures, Altos Ventures, and Silicon Valley Bank, also participated in the round.
Bench first launched out of TechStars NYC in 2012. Back then, the company was called 10Sheet, and it aimed to providing… Read More

Source: TechCrunch

SoftBank buys into Line’s mobile service in Japan

 SoftBank is partnering up with messaging app Line to help develop its Line Mobile telecom service. Line announced that it has agreed to allow SoftBank to take a 51 percent in the business via an issuance of new shares. The deal is expected to close by March. From the documents, its mobile business is valued at around $15 million (1.7 billion JPY) but a company spokesperson told TechCrunch… Read More

Source: TechCrunch

Speedinvest x is a new micro VC fund that will invest in European early-stage marketplace startups

 A new vertical fund from pan-European VC firm Speedinvest is officially outing today. Dubbed “Speedinvest x” and targeting a final closing of €25 million, of which €20.5 million has already been committed, the micro VC fund will target early-stage marketplace startups exclusively. Read More

Source: TechCrunch

Nintendo has sold a whopping 14.8 million Switch units so far – CNET

To no one’s surprise, the ten month-old console has sold remarkably well since it first launched last March.
Source: CNET

Samsung topples Intel to become the world’s largest chipmaker

 Samsung has ended Intel’s 25-year run as the world’s biggest seller of chipsets after it posted its 2017 end of year financials. The Korean tech giant’s chipset division — which has long been its biggest hitter — grossed total revenue of $69 billion in 2017, eclipsing the $62.8 billion Intel reported for last year. That was a record year for Intel — and… Read More

Source: TechCrunch

Is 2018 Renault Megane RS still the benchmark for hot hatches? video – Roadshow

Previous Sport Meganes have always been the best hot hatches for keen drivers. This new third generation adds four-wheel steering, plus two extra doors.
Source: CNET

Spotify is testing a new playlist-based music app that’s a lot like Pandora

 Spotify is testing an app that sees it move firmly into Pandora’s territory.
‘Stations’ is a new Android-only app that is being piloted by the company in Australia — it was first noticed by app analytics firm Sensor Tower on Tuesday.
This app offers a ‘lean-back’ option to listen to music based on genres and managed playlists. In the description, Spotify… Read More

Source: TechCrunch