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Apple debuts the ultra-thin iPhone Air
TechCrunch· 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
TechCrunch· 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
TechCrunch· 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
TechCrunch· 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]
Tesla is seeking permits to offer ride-hail services at Silicon Valley airports
TechCrunch· 2025-09-09 16:26
Core Insights - Tesla is seeking permits to operate a ride-hailing service at San Francisco, San Jose, and Oakland airports, indicating a strategic move to expand its transportation services [1][2] - Currently, Tesla lacks the necessary permits for a full ride-hail service in California and is limited to a charter service that does not involve autonomous vehicle operations [3][4] - The California Public Utilities Commission and the Department of Motor Vehicles are key regulatory bodies that Tesla must engage with to launch a larger ride-hail service, especially if it involves autonomous vehicles [4] Group 1: Regulatory Environment - Tesla has not filed any permit applications with the San Jose airport, but has inquired about the permit process [2] - The California DMV is attempting to prevent Tesla from selling vehicles in the state due to concerns over the company's claims regarding self-driving capabilities [4] Group 2: Competitive Landscape - Airports have historically been competitive environments for transportation services, as seen with Uber and Lyft's entry into the market [5] - Waymo has successfully established a ride service at Phoenix's Sky Harbor International airport and recently received permission to operate at San Jose airport, highlighting the potential for autonomous vehicle services at airports [7] Group 3: Current Operations - Tesla is currently testing a limited robotaxi network in Austin, Texas, with around 20 to 30 cars in operation, although the company has faced some documented issues during testing [8][9]
Tesla revamps the Megapack in attempt to reverse its declining storage business
TechCrunch· 2025-09-09 16:10
Core Insights - Tesla is launching the Megapack 3 and Megablock to revitalize its energy storage business, which has seen a decline in recent quarters [1][3] - The Megapack 3 offers increased storage capacity and a longer lifespan, while the Megablock combines four units for enhanced efficiency [2][3] - Production of these new products will begin in the latter half of 2026 at Tesla's Megafactory in Houston, which has a capacity of 50 gigawatt-hours per year [3][6] Product Details - Megapack 3 stores approximately 1 megawatt-hour more electricity than Tesla's largest current offering and features an updated thermal management system [1][2] - The Megablock configuration allows for 20 megawatt-hours of storage and reduces installation times by 23% and construction times by up to 40% [2] - The operational temperature range for Megapack 3 is from –40˚ F to 140˚ F, making it suitable for diverse environments [2] Market Context - Tesla's energy storage business has reported two consecutive quarters of declining performance, despite being the leading supplier in 2024 [3] - The overall energy storage industry is experiencing rapid growth, indicating potential opportunities for Tesla to regain market share [4] - Tesla installed 9.6 gigawatt-hours of stationary energy storage last quarter, highlighting its current operational scale [6] Strategic Partnerships - Tesla's energy storage solutions may benefit from internal demand from xAI, which has already integrated 168 Megapacks at its data center [7]
Snap breaks into ‘startup squads' as ad revenue stalls
TechCrunch· 2025-09-09 01:41
Core Insights - Snap is restructuring into small "startup squads" of 10 to 15 people to enhance competitiveness against larger rivals [1] - The company is facing challenges with advertising revenue growth stagnating at 4% in Q2 and a 2% decline in North American daily active users to 98 million [1] Revenue and Growth Opportunities - Snapchat+ subscriptions are generating over $700 million in annual recurring revenue from more than 15 million paying subscribers, marking it as one of Snap's fastest-growing revenue streams [2] - Snap is investing in AR glasses, referred to as Specs, which are envisioned to replace smartphones, indicating a significant shift towards human-centered computing [2] Market Valuation and Stock Performance - The current stock price reflects skepticism, but there is potential for "startup-style return" at Snap's valuation of approximately $12 billion, which is a 90% decrease from its peak market cap of $116 billion in September 2021 [2]
Netskope follows Rubrik as a rare cybersecurity IPO, both backed Lightspeed
TechCrunch· 2025-09-08 22:35
Core Insights - The cybersecurity sector is experiencing a trend where startups are more likely to be acquired rather than going public, as evidenced by Wiz's decision to sell to Google instead of pursuing an IPO [1] - Netskope, a cloud cybersecurity platform, is set to become a public company, aiming for a valuation of up to $6.5 billion [2][3] Company Overview - Netskope is recognized as a Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) provider, offering cybersecurity solutions for cloud infrastructure, including secure web gateways and firewall as a service [6] - The company has major competitors such as Zscaler and Palo Alto Networks [6] Investment and Valuation - Lightspeed Venture Partners, a significant investor in Netskope, owns 19.3% of the company and previously held a 23.9% stake in Rubrik when it went public at a valuation of $6.6 billion [2][3] - Netskope's last valuation was $7.5 billion following a $300 million Series H funding round in 2021, and it also raised a $401 million convertible note in 2023 [6] Financial Performance - For the first half of the year, Netskope's revenue increased to $328.5 million from $251.3 million year-over-year, while its net loss narrowed to $169.5 million from $206.7 million [7] - If Netskope goes public at a valuation of $6.5 billion, it would join other VC-backed companies that debuted below their last private market valuations [7][8]
Meta suppressed children's safety research, four whistleblowers claim
TechCrunch· 2025-09-08 17:29
Core Points - Current and former Meta employees have disclosed documents to Congress alleging that the company may have suppressed research on children's safety [1] - Allegations include changes in Meta's policies regarding sensitive research topics following the leak of internal documents by whistleblower Frances Haugen [2] - The whistleblowers claim that Meta discouraged discussions and research on the use of its social virtual reality apps by children under 13 [4] Policy Changes - Meta proposed two methods for researchers to limit risks in sensitive research: involving lawyers to protect communications and using vague language in findings [3] - A former researcher reported being instructed to delete recordings of an interview related to a serious safety concern on Meta's VR platform [3] Legal and Regulatory Context - A Meta spokesperson stated that information from minors under 13 must be deleted if collected without parental consent, but whistleblowers argue that employees were discouraged from addressing concerns about children's safety [4] - A lawsuit filed by a former employee raised similar concerns about the safety measures for users under 13 on Meta's Horizon Worlds platform [7] Racial and Safety Issues - Allegations in the lawsuit include that users with Black avatars faced racial slurs shortly after entering the platform [8] - The company is also facing criticism regarding the impact of its AI chatbots on minors, with reports indicating that previous rules allowed inappropriate conversations with children [9] Company Response - Meta claims that since the start of 2022, it has approved nearly 180 studies related to social issues, including youth safety and well-being, countering the narrative presented by whistleblowers [5]
How to watch Apple announce the iPhone 17
TechCrunch· 2025-09-08 17:05
Core Insights - Apple is set to host its "Awe dropping" hardware event, expected to unveil the iPhone 17 lineup, updates for Apple Watch, and AirPods [1] - The iPhone 17 Air is rumored to replace the Plus model, featuring a thinner design and a larger 6.3-inch screen with a 120Hz display [2] - Significant redesigns are anticipated for the Pro model, including a new rectangular camera bar [3] iPhone 17 Features - The iPhone 17 is expected to include a 24-megapixel front camera and enhancements in display technology [2] - The Pro model may feature a new camera layout with a rectangular bar design [3] Other Product Announcements - Apple is likely to announce the third-generation Apple Watch Ultra and SE, along with the Apple Watch Series 11 [3] - Enhanced active noise cancellation is expected for the AirPods Pro 3 [3] Software Updates - Details regarding the public release of iOS 26, which introduces a Liquid Glass interface, may also be provided during the event [4]