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Showing posts from October, 2018

The new Mac Mini brings five times performance, More Memory Capacity, 6-Core Processors and more

Apple Apple unveiled the new Mac Mini just recently and has outed what brings five times performance than its predecessor, 6-Core Processors, all-flash storage and up to 64GB of faster memory which places it as the most powerful Mac Mini ever made. It's fitted with Thunderbolt 3 ports, the Apple T2 Security Chip and a 10Gb Ethernet option making it more faster and also secure for users. It's five times performance is made possible through its quad- and 6-core 8th-generation Intel Core processors with Turbo Boost Speeds up to 4.6GHz and Intel UHD graphics. Apple This enables the new Mac Mini take on traditional desktop tasks like music creation and software development, photo and video editing and professional tasks like video transcoding, code compiling and live musical performances with ease. With up to 64GB of 2666 MHz memory, It can load larger files into memory, run more virtual machines or manipulate even larger data sets. It now features the speed and re
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Apple introduces an all-new Macbook Air

Apple Apple has outed a new MacBook Air packed with a stunning 13-inch Retina display, Touch ID and the latest processors in a portable design. It's one that delivers all-day battery life and features an Apple-designed keyboard, faster SSDs, a spacious Force Touch trackpad, wide stereo sound and the Apple T2 Security Chip and Thunderbolt 3. The new Macbook Air is fitted with a stunning 13.3-inch Retina display with over 4 million pixels of resolution to cater for sharp image looks. Images are more lifelike with 48% more color than the previous version. It also includes a built-in FaceTime HD camera suitable for Group FaceTime calls and a a three microphone array that caters for enhanced sound quality and improved voice recognition for Siri. Apple The T2 Security Chip makes it much more secure with an SSD controller with on-the-fly data encryption for everything stored on it that enables the most secure boot process and storage of any Apple notebook. An 8th generatio
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Apple outs the most powerful iPad ever

Apple Apple today launched the new iPad Pro with an all-screen design that counts as its most powerful iPad ever. The new device marks the biggest change to the iPad ever with its all-screen design and high performance thanks to a custom chip along with other features such as Face ID, a new USB-C connector, Gigabit-class LTE and up to 1 Terabyte of storage. It sports the A12X Bionic chip which outperforms most PC laptops and stands as the most powerful chip in a tablet that caters for even the most demanding computing tasks such as creation of 3D models and editing of high quality photos among others. Apple The  A12X Bionic is built on seven-nanometer technology and features four performance cores and four efficiency cores that cater for up to 35 percent faster performance. It's also fitted with a new performance controller that enables simultaneous use of all eight cores for an up to 90 percent boost during multi-threaded tasks. Apple’s next-generation Neural Engin
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HeadSpin closes $20 million round at $500 million valuation

image credit : HeadSpin HeadSpin, a fast growing software firm that provides a mobile performance platform used by the likes of Tinder, Akamai and DocuSign has raised $20 million Series B funding from new investors ICONIQ, EQT Ventures, Battery Ventures, Quora founder Adam D'Angelo, Kearny Jackson, Ross Mason and Ryan Hoover who all joined existing investors GV, Telstra Ventures, DanHua Capital, Nexus Ventures Partners and others. TechCrunch reports of this round valuing the company which emerged from stealth just last year at $500 million. HeadSpin was founded by Former Zynga CTO Manish Lachwani and ex Palantir engineer and Nextop founder Brien Colwell who hold the positions of CEO and CTO respectively. Its platform spans more than 22,000 SIM-enabled devices at over 150 locations and enable customers to quickly debug, test and optimize for user experience and performance under real-world conditions around the globe. It's customers in total serve approximately 3 bil
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Coinbase raises $300 million at post-money valuation of $8 billion

Coinbase co-founder and CEO Brian Armstrong image credit : TechCrunch on Flickr Crypto exchange Coinbase has closed a $300 million Series E round led by Tiger Global with participation from Andreessen Horowitz, Polychain, Y Combinator Continuity, Wellington Management and others and is now valued at $8 billion post-money as per its statement. Coinbase is gearing this financing towards global expansion, offering of more crypto assets, utility applications for crypto and courting of institutions into the digital currency scene. "Coinbase is, and will remain, a crypto-first company. More than anything, we’re proud of the millions of people that have turned to Coinbase as their entry-point into crypto." An official blog post read. The other Coinbase co-founder Fred Ehrsam image credit : Internet Education Foundation on Flickr "We take that responsibility very seriously. We strive to be the easy, trusted way for anyone to get started with cryptocurrencies. We
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The Mercedes-Benz baby carriage Avantgarde offers great child mobility

Daimler An all-new Mercedes-Benz baby carriage Avantgarde that offers ergonomic functionality, tested safety and innovative materials geared at enhanced child mobility has been introduced to the market. The new product sports a modern, sporty look and is developed by German manufacturer Hartan in collaboration with the Mercedes-Benz Design department. The result of this collaboration is a baby carriage characterized by ergonomic advantages, a low net weight, AMG design-inspired 5-twin-spoke wheels, a parking brake, telescopic handlebar and a stowage compartment as well as adjustable suspension and air-chamber tyres which assist in the everyday efforts of moving children around. Daimler The carriage is produced by Hartan known to be deeply involved in the manufacturing of baby carriages having begun that since the 1950s. Hartan stands as an expert specialist in this field and has succeeded in producing what bears the  German Association for Technical Inspection (TÜV) se
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A limited 10 units of the 2018 Audi R8 V10 plus Coupe Competition are arriving next month

Audi Just 10 units of the most performance-oriented production R8 model ever made and preconfigured with all the available Audi Sport performance parts will be available for grabs in the U.S. starting from next month. The new model dubbed the R8 V10 plus Coupe Competition package caters for reduced vehicle weight and increased downforce over previous models through the use of titanium backing plates for the carbon ceramic brake pads. It also features 20 inch fully milled wheels similar to that of the R8 GT4 that saves another 26.4 pounds of weight and signifies another examples of motorsport technology brought to the road. Audi It's full carbon fiber aero kit increases its downforce at 150 km/h (93.2 mph) which counts as double compared to that of an R8 V10 plus Coupe. This downforce is also increased at by 100 kg to 250 kg at top speed of 315 kilometres per hour. All 10 units stand identical and are fitted with the listed contents: Dynamic Steering Bang &
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The 2019 Honda Civic Si packs new colors, upgraded tech and an Enhanced interior

Honda Starting from the 1st of November, The 2019 version of the Honda Civic Si will arrive at dealerships where customers would be able to take home a vehicle which sports a range of interior improvements from the previous model, new exterior colors, an updated Display Audio system with a new interface and improved Bluetooth integration. The sport tuned variants comes with a powerful 205-horsepower, 1.5-liter, direct injected and turbocharged in-line 4-cylinder engine with VTEC valvetrain, a helical limited-slip differential, a slick-shifting 6-speed manual transmission and an adjustable two-mode adaptive damper system. Honda It comes available in 2-door coupe and 4-door sedan body styles packed with a host of changes to its interior. In addition to its updated Display Audio system, it includes more intuitive steering wheel controls, larger cupholders, an improved electronic parking brake switch, and physical buttons for fan speed. Platinum White Pearl has also bee
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Blue Apron kits are now available on Jet.com

Blue Apron Blue Apron's meal kits beginning today is now available for millions of households across most of New York as well as Jersey and Hoboken on Walmart owned e-tailer Jet.com's online and mobile platforms thanks to a partnership between both companies. Blue Apron counts as a priority partner in Jet’s newly-launched City Grocery offering and will offer a dedicated branded experience featuring changing selections of two-serving recipes designed to serve Jet's customers. Inside a Blue Apron kit Blue Apron The first kits that will be offered on Jet.com are: Seared Steaks & Peperonata with Fregola Sarda Pasta & Grana Padano Cheese (2 servings, 28 oz) $22.99  Dukkah-Spiced Beef & Couscous with Tahini-Dressed Broccoli (2 servings, 41 oz.) $20.99  Togarashi Popcorn Chicken with Sweet Chili Slaw & Jasmine Rice (2 servings, 32 oz.) $18.99  Italian Farro Bowl with Roasted Vegetables & Mozzarella (2 servings, 32 oz.) $16.99 This anno
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IBM set for $34 billion Red Hat acquisition

IBM CEO Ginni Rometty image credit : Fortune Live Media on Flickr IBM has now officially announced a move to merge with Red Hat, the world's leading provider of open source cloud software in a deal worth $34 billion under which IBM will play $190 per share for all issued and outstanding common shares of Red Hat. This counts as an over 50% premium from the current price of Red Hat stock ( about $117 ) as of writing. Both companies are merging to provide "open approach to cloud, featuring unprecedented security and portability across multiple clouds" as per an official press release. Red Hat CEO Jim Whitehurst image credit : Red Hat on Flickr An acquisition of Red Hat will stand as very significant for this year marking the largest for 2018 and one of the biggest in the entire tech industry so far. IBM will maintain Red Hat’s open source innovation legacy while scaling its vast technology portfolio and empowering its widespread developer community as p
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BMW fits the X5 with M Performance Parts

BMW BMW has fitted the X5 SUV with additional performance parts targeted for customers who wish to selectively fine-tune the vehicle's sporty personality and give this aspect for emphasis. The new SAV (Sports Activity Vehicle) scheduled for worldwide launch next year has been kit with a new range of its signature M performance parts which include all-terrain wheels, carbon fibre exterior components, the  Drive Analyser  data analysis and optimization feature and several other perks. For customers who desire to make good use of its off-road capability, the the 20'' M light alloy wheel Star Spoke 748 M with all-terrain tyres is now available for the 4th generation of the X5 which also sports an eye-catching BMW M logo on a rim finished in sporty matt black. Optional 22 inch M Performance wheels about 1kg lighter than comparable wheels of the same size thanks to a special manufacturing technique are also available. BMW A vast selection of M Performance compone
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Okta Buys Cloud Security Startup Auth0 For $6.5B

A very big new acquisition has happened in the tech industry, with Okta (NASDAQ: OKTA), the publicly-traded cloud identity and access management software provider, announcing an agreement to buy Auth0, a fellow cloud identity software provider, for a price of $6.5 billion to be paid all with shares. A $6.5 billion exit for Auth0 marks a major win for the startup scene in Seattle, the tech hub where Auth0 is based and also a major win for the company's backers and investors. Auth0 last raised venture funding last year in July with a $120 million Series F round that valued the company at $1.9 billion. Now, it's about to sell for more than triple that amount. Auth0 has raised more than $330 million in total venture funding, with investors including the likes of Salesforce Ventures, Bessemer Venture Partners, Telstra Ventures, Sapphire Ventures, and DTCP. Salesforce Ventures led Auth0's most recent $120 million Series F round. With its acquisition of a fellow cloud identity a
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John McAfee Indicted For $13M Crypto "Pump And Dump" Scheme

In October last year, John McAfee who's a controversial entrepreneur best known for founding the cybersecurity powerhouse bearing his last name McAfee was indicted for tax evasion by US authorities  with accusations of earning millions of dollars from cryptocurrency schemes and failing to report income and pay taxes as required to the US government. Now, it appears that McAfee is facing even more charges from US authorities, with the District Court for the Southern District of New York (SDNY) having just announced  further indictments of him for fraud and money laundering coming from alleged crypto "pump and dump" schemes. McAfee along with an associate, Jimmy Watson, are accused of hyping and promoting certain cryptocurrencies on social media in order to artificially inflate their prices without disclosing that McAfee owned large quantities of the promoted crypto and intended to profit from his promotion. McAfee, Watson, and other unnamed associates are alleged to have p
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Peter Thiel Cashes Out Big From Palantir

After taking his data analytics and mining company, Palantir, public last year, it seems that Peter Thiel is keen on cashing out significantly from his stake in the company after getting an opportunity to do so on the public markets.  Thiel founded and helped build Palantir from the ground up into a data analytics powerhouse with annual sales of over $1 billion.   Palantir stayed as a private company for 17 years before hitting the public markets. According to regulatory filings and records , Peter Thiel has sold over $780 million of Palantir shares since the company began trading on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in September 2020.  Thiel's largest single sale transaction was an offloading of 20 million shares for $504.8 million on the 19th of February, 2020. His second-largest was the sale of 23 million shares in a transaction netting around $236 million on the 30th of September, 2020, which was the very day Palantir began trading on the NYSE. Altogether, Thiel has netted mor
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New SPAC Deal: Bitcoin Mining Startup Cipher

The latest technology company to join the flurry of SPAC mergers is Cipher Mining, a newly-formed US-based bitcoin mining startup that's an offshoot of Bitfury, a leading maker of bitcoin mining hardware that's based in the Netherlands. Cipher Mining Inc will merge with Good Works Acquisition Corp (Nasdaq: GWAC) in a deal valuing the bitcoin mining startup at $2 billion. The SPAC will be anchored by a $425 million PIPE round committed by investors including Fidelity, Morgan Stanley (via its subsidiary Counterpoint Global), and Cipher's parent Bitfury. Bitfury will contribute a $50 million investment to the PIPE round that's structured as purchase credits for equipment and services from it for Cipher Mining. The SPAC merger will hand over $595 million in gross proceeds to Cipher Mining, consisting of the $425 million PIPE round and $170 million of cash held in trust by Good Works Acquisition Corp. Upon completion of the SPAC merger, the investors in Cipher's PIPE rou
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Deal: Twilio Bets $750M On Mobile Comms Provider Syniverse

Twilio, the publicly-traded cloud communications company, has sought to strategically team up with an old-guard provider of mobile and wireless communications technology named Syniverse, with a formal business partnership just  announced between both parties that'll see Twilio invest up to $750 million for a minority stake in Syniverse under its terms. Twilio has agreed to invest up to $750 million in cash for a minority stake in Syniverse, buying the stake from the company's current owner which is the private equity firm Carlyle Group. The partnership between Twilio and Syniverse will see both companies enter into a major business partnership that entails a wholesale agreement whereby Syniverse will process, route and deliver application-to-person (A2P) messages originating and/or terminating between Twilio’s customers and mobile network operators. On Syniverse's end of the deal, the company is getting a business boost by providing services for Twilio which is one of the
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American Drone Maker Skydio Raises $170M, Valued At $1B+

Skydio, an American startup that makes autonomous drones, has closed a new funding round of $170 million that values it above $1 billion. The round was led by the famous venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz, with participation from existing backers Next47, IVP, and Linse Capital, plus a new investor UP.Partners. Andreessen Horowitz led the new Series D round for Skydio from its Growth Fund, and with it, Skydio has now raised a total of over $340 million in external funding and then with a $1 billion+ valuation that makes it the highest-valued drone startup in the US. It seems that Skydio has drawn wide investor attraction after the US government placed China's DJI on a blacklist last year. DJI made its mark as the biggest drone maker globally and the largest in the US market but got placed on a government Entity List last year that barred American companies from supplying it with components. The blacklist was instituted by the former Trump administration due to alleged ties to
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Carmaker Volvo To Go Fully Electric By 2030

The latest global automaker to commit to transitioning to a fully-electric production output in the future is Swedish carmaker Volvo, which has announced plans to become a fully electric car company by 2030. By then, the company says it intends to have phased out any car in its portfolio with an internal combustion engine, including hybrids, and transition to producing fully electric cars. The announcement of Volvo's grand plan comes a year after the company launched its first fully electric car, the XC40 Recharge , around the globe, and with just one fully electric car in its product portfolio now, it's apparent that the automaker would need to put in hard work to achieve a fully-electric portfolio in nine years time. To work towards its goal, Volvo has announced that it'll roll out 'several' additional electric car models in the coming years, the word several making the number indistinct. The Swedish automaker is aiming for fully electric cars to make up half of
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Jay-Z's Tidal Sells To Payments Company Square In $300M Deal

It seems that this is the season of deals for rapper-cum-businessman Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter as just barely two weeks after he reached a deal to sell half of his premium champagne brand to luxury goods giant LVMH, he's reached yet another deal to sell one of his main business ventures, the music streaming app Tidal. Tidal has agreed to be taken over by Square, the payments company led by Jack Dorsey who's more popular for his role as the CEO of Twitter. In a statement , Square said it'll pay the sum of $297 million in a mix of cash and stock to acquire a "significant majority ownership" stake in Tidal leaving the remaining minority stake will be held by Tidal's artist shareholders. The exact percentage that Square is buying in Tidal isn't disclosed but it's definitely over 50% given it's a majority stake. With Square's statement of acquiring a "significant majority ownership", one can guess somewhere between 50%-80% of the com
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Smart TV Maker Vizio Files To Go Public

Vizio, a well-known maker of smart TVs and other complementary equipment such as soundbars, has filed an S-1 with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for a public listing, seeking to do so for the second time after having previously filed to go public in 2015 but later withdrew its plan in lieu of a $2 billion sale agreement to a Chinese company that unfortunately didn't pan out. The market for technology IPOs has been very hot as of late and it seems that Vizio is coming in at the right time to capitalize on that hotness. A popular maker of smart TVs, Vizio has sold over 80 million TVs and 11 million soundbars since the company's inception, as indicated in its S-1 filing. The company sold 7.1 million TVs in 2020 alone. Vizio has strong revenues and is profitable, reporting $102 million in net income on over $2 billion in revenue in 2020. In the previous year, 2019, Vizio reported a net income of $23 million on $1.8 billion in revenue. Most of Vizio's revenue c
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New SPAC Deal: Home Insurance Startup Hippo

Amid a flurry of SPAC mergers as of late, the latest technology company to tap into the boom and reach a deal to merge with a special-purpose acquisition company (SPAC) is Hippo, a home insurance startup that makes use of satellite imagery and smart home sensors to gauge and offer better home insurance policies. Hippo will merge with Reinvent Technology Partners Z (NYSE:RPTZ), a SPAC formed by the respective founders of LinkedIn and gaming company Zynga, Reid Hoffman and Mark Pincus. Hippo will merge with  Reinvent Technology Partners Z in a deal that'll hand it over $230 million of cash held in trust by the SPAC, plus a $550 million PIPE round to be led by existing investors  Dragoneer, Lennar, and Ribbit Capital. The PIPE round will value Hippo at $5 billion. Following the merger's completion, Hippo expects to have $1.2 billion of cash at hand, fueled by the funds from its SPAC deal plus venture funding that it's already raised. A hot insurance startup, Hippo has raised o
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