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HBO Max is going to get more expensive, Warner Bros. Discovery CEO says
TechCrunchยท 2025-09-11 14:59
Group 1 - Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav announced that HBO Max will increase its prices and implement stricter password sharing policies [1][2] - Zaslav emphasized the quality of HBO Max's content, stating that the company believes it is currently underpriced and sees an opportunity to raise prices [2] - The current pricing structure for HBO Max includes a Basic with Ads plan at $9.99 per month, a Standard plan at $16.99 per month, and a Premium plan at $20.99 per month [3] Group 2 - Zaslav mentioned that the company has not yet enforced password sharing restrictions but plans to do so in the future as user engagement with HBO Max increases [3] - The strategy aims to enhance customer loyalty to HBO Max's content and differentiate its offerings, particularly outside the U.S. [3]
Klarna's IPO pops, raising $1.4B, with Sequoia as the biggest winner
TechCrunchยท 2025-09-10 19:11
Core Insights - Klarna successfully completed its IPO on the New York Stock Exchange, raising $1.4 billion, primarily benefiting existing investors rather than the company itself [1] - The company sold shares at $40, exceeding the initial price range of $35 to $37, resulting in a valuation of $15 billion at the IPO [1] - Shares opened at $52 but stabilized around $46 during the day [1] Share Distribution - Out of the 34.3 million shares sold, only 5 million were issued by Klarna, with the majority sold by existing investors, including Sequoia Capital and other notable entities [2] - Sequoia Capital is the largest shareholder, controlling nearly 23% of Klarna [5] - Co-founder CEO Sebastian Siemiatkowski retained his shares, valued at $1.02 billion at the IPO price, while co-founder Victor Jacobsson sold 1.1 million shares but still holds over 8% of the company [4] Market Dynamics - Existing investors often contribute shares to meet IPO demand, which can lead to a more accurate and potentially higher valuation [3] - Klarna's IPO is significant as it represents a milestone for the company, showcasing its journey from a startup to a publicly traded entity [6] - The $1.4 billion raised is not the largest IPO of 2025, as that record is held by CoreWeave with $1.5 billion raised in June [6]
OpenAI and Oracle reportedly ink historic cloud computing deal
TechCrunchยท 2025-09-10 19:00
Group 1 - Oracle's shares surged after reporting multiple multi-billion-dollar contracts, including a significant deal with OpenAI for $300 billion in compute power over five years starting in 2027 [1][2] - If confirmed, the contract with OpenAI would represent one of the largest cloud contracts ever signed, highlighting Oracle's growing influence in the cloud computing market [2] - OpenAI has been diversifying its cloud partnerships, moving away from exclusive reliance on Microsoft Azure, and has engaged Oracle for compute resources since summer 2024 [2][3] Group 2 - OpenAI's shift from Microsoft coincides with its participation in the Stargate Project, which involves a $500 billion investment in domestic data center projects over the next four years, indicating a strategic pivot towards enhancing its infrastructure [3] - OpenAI's need for extensive compute resources is underscored by its recent cloud deal with Google, despite the competitive landscape between the two companies in the AI sector [3]
Reddit launches tools for publisher to track and share stories
TechCrunchยท 2025-09-10 15:17
Group 1 - Reddit launched a set of free tools for publishers to track article performance and receive sharing suggestions within communities as part of Reddit Pro [1][4] - The new tools include article insights showing where stories have been shared, along with stats like views, upvotes, and clicks [2] - Publishers can sync RSS feeds to Reddit Pro and utilize AI for community sharing suggestions [4] Group 2 - Reddit is enhancing the consumer news-reading experience by allowing easier access to links without closing the original thread [5] - The platform aims to improve story distribution for publishers, aligning with its ambition to become a search engine [8] - Reddit will stop displaying member counts on subreddits, replacing them with a seven-day visitor figure and contributions made during that time [9]
Vimeo to be acquired by Bending Spoons in $1.38B all-cash deal
TechCrunchยท 2025-09-10 14:09
Acquisition Overview - Vimeo has agreed to be acquired by Bending Spoons in an all-cash deal valued at approximately $1.38 billion, expected to close in Q4 2025, subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals [1] - Once the deal closes, Vimeo will be delisted from exchanges [1] Strategic Intent - Bending Spoons aims to own and operate Vimeo indefinitely, focusing on realizing Vimeo's full potential and making ambitious investments in the US and other priority markets [2][3] - The company plans to enhance performance and reliability, introduce advanced features, and continue developing AI-enabled functionalities [3] Historical Context - Bending Spoons has a history of acquiring companies and subsequently laying off staff and cutting features, as seen in its acquisition of Evernote and WeTransfer [3][4] - Vimeo, which became an independent publicly traded company in 2021 after spinning off from IAC, has lost almost 90% of its market value since then, prompting leadership to explore strategic options [4] Leadership Statements - Vimeo's CEO Philip Moyer expressed optimism about the partnership, highlighting Bending Spoons' commitment to expanding Vimeo's product offerings across various segments, including Self-Serve, OTT/Vimeo Streaming, and Vimeo Enterprise [5]
Microsoft to lessen reliance on OpenAI by buying AI from rival Anthropic
TechCrunchยท 2025-09-09 20:11
Core Insights - Microsoft is diversifying its AI partnerships by incorporating Anthropic's technology into its Office 365 applications, which will enhance features in Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint alongside OpenAI's technology [1] - This shift indicates a growing rift between Microsoft and OpenAI, as OpenAI is pursuing its own infrastructure projects and a potential competitor to LinkedIn [2] - Microsoft is negotiating a new deal with OpenAI for access to its AI models, but the decision to partner with Anthropic is based on the belief that Anthropic's Claude Sonnet 4 models outperform OpenAI's in specific tasks, such as creating visually appealing PowerPoint presentations [3] - OpenAI is also seeking to reduce its dependency on Microsoft by launching a jobs platform to compete with LinkedIn and plans to mass-produce its own AI chips in partnership with Broadcom by 2026, allowing it to control its hardware for training and inference [4]
Apple debuts the ultra-thin iPhone Air
TechCrunchยท 2025-09-09 17:51
Core Insights - Apple has introduced the iPhone Air, its thinnest and lightest model, replacing the iPhone 16 Plus in the 2025 lineup due to the latter's underperformance [1][2] Design and Features - The iPhone Air features a titanium frame and measures just 5.6 millimeters thick, making it thinner than current iPhones and Samsung's Galaxy S25 Edge [3] - It has a large 6.6-inch display with a 120Hz ProMotion setup and runs on the A19 Pro chip, providing enhanced performance compared to the base iPhone 17 model [4] - The device is e-SIM-only, eliminating the need for a physical SIM card slot, which contributes to its sleek design and offers enhanced security [5] Camera and Battery Life - The iPhone Air is equipped with a new 48-megapixel fusion camera system, addressing concerns about the absence of multiple rear cameras [7] - Despite its thin design, the iPhone Air promises all-day battery life, supported by the new "Adaptive Power Mode" feature in iOS 26 [8] - Apple has introduced a new line of accessories, including a slim MagSafe battery that can provide up to 40 hours of video playback [9] Accessories and Customization - Two custom cases are available for the iPhone Air, including a 1 mm thick translucent case and a lightweight bumper in various colors [10] - The iPhone Air is offered in multiple color options: "Space Black," "Cloud White," light gold, and sky blue [10] Market Positioning and Future Outlook - The introduction of the iPhone Air aligns with Apple's strategy to set new standards in smartphone design, similar to the influence of the MacBook Air on laptops [12] - The thinner design may pave the way for future foldable iPhone models, which could help Apple regain market share in competitive regions like China [16]
Apple unveils Apple Watch Series 11, Watch Ultra 3, and Watch SE 3
TechCrunchยท 2025-09-09 17:40
Core Insights - Apple has introduced three new configurations of the Apple Watch: Series 11, Ultra 3, and SE 3, during its annual hardware event [1] Group 1: Apple Watch Series 11 - The Apple Watch Series 11 can alert users to possible hypertension by analyzing data from the optical heart sensor over 30-day periods, aiming to notify over 1 million people with undiagnosed hypertension in the first year [2] - It features a new Sleep Score to assess sleep quality based on various factors, and it includes 5G connectivity for improved performance [4] - The watch offers up to 24 hours of battery life and is priced starting at $399, available in multiple colors [5] Group 2: Apple Watch Ultra 3 - The Apple Watch Ultra 3 features a larger screen and introduces satellite connectivity for emergency communications in remote areas, alongside 5G connectivity and hypertension notifications [6][9] - It boasts up to 42 hours of battery life, extending to 72 hours in Low Power Mode, and utilizes LTPO3 technology for a thinner display [11][12] - The starting price for the Ultra 3 is $799 [12] Group 3: Apple Watch SE 3 - The Apple Watch SE 3 is equipped with a new S10 chip, offering significant performance improvements over the previous S8 chip, and introduces an always-on display for the first time [13][15] - It supports fast charging and includes wrist temperature sensing for retrospective ovulation estimates, maintaining an 18-hour battery life [15] - The SE 3 starts at a price of $249 [15]
Apple launches iPhone 17 with a 120Hz display
TechCrunchยท 2025-09-09 17:33
Core Viewpoint - Apple has launched the iPhone 17 series, featuring an upgraded display in the base model, marking a significant enhancement in its product lineup [1] Group 1: Product Features - The iPhone 17 has a larger screen size of 6.3 inches compared to the previous 6.1-inch screen of the iPhone 16 [1] - The base model now includes a ProMotion display for the first time, which supports a 120Hz refresh rate and utilizes LTPO technology for dynamic refresh rate adjustments [2] - The display boasts a peak brightness of 3,000 nits, improving visibility in outdoor conditions [2] Group 2: Design and Color Options - The iPhone 17 is available in five color options: lavender, mist blue, black, white, and sage [2]
Nvidia unveils new GPU designed for long-context inference
TechCrunchยท 2025-09-09 16:35
Core Insights - Nvidia announced the Rubin CPX GPU, designed for context windows larger than 1 million tokens, at the AI Infrastructure Summit [1] - The Rubin CPX is part of Nvidia's upcoming Rubin series and is optimized for processing large sequences of context, enhancing performance in long-context tasks such as video generation and software development [1] - Nvidia reported $41.1 billion in data center sales in its most recent quarter, reflecting the company's strong financial performance [2] - The Rubin CPX is expected to be available by the end of 2026 [2]