Detecting the presence of a new exoplanet hundreds of light-years away is always exciting for astronomers, but not all newly-discovered planets are created equal. Some are undeniably more interesting than others, and the planet known as NGTS-10b is most certainly one of the more intriguing worlds scientists have found.

The planet isn't Earth-like or promising for life, but it does happen to be orbiting its star at an incredibly short distance. In fact, it completes an entire orbit of its start in a mere 18 hours. It's a gas giant, making it a so-called "hot Jupiter," but it might not be around for long. As researchers explain in a new paper published in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, the planet may be dying even as we speak.

Continue reading...

Today's Top Deals

1. 10 deals you don’t want to miss on Saturday: $6 smart plugs, Baby Yoda, $39 4K Roku Stick, mattress toppers, Dyson killer, more
2. Dyson is dead to me now that I’ve tried this Bissell vacuum, and it’s on sale today at its lowest price
3. Today’s best deals: Crazy Anker sale, Animatronic Baby Yoda, $6 smart plug, $8 wireless charger, $23 home cam, $25 earbuds, more

Trending Right Now:

1. The biggest Marvel mystery left after ‘Avengers: Endgame’ is about to be solved
2. Microsoft just accidentally confirmed a huge feature for Xbox Series X
3. Sony’s PS5 might be in trouble when it’s first released

Astronomers are watching an exoplanet die right before their eyes originally appeared on BGR.com on Sat, 22 Feb 2020 at 15:08:45 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Netflix may be a great streaming service to have around and even pay for despite the inevitable price hikes, but it can also be incredibly annoying at times. The best example is the autoplaying ads on the home page that used to drive me crazy until Netflix finally found it in its heart to give users an option to turn them off for good.

Then there's the inevitable "what to watch" scroll of death that can go on for minutes without end — that's a byproduct that we have to live with, however, so I don't mind it that much. Then there's the problem with the Continue Watching list: It's far too difficult to remove content from it. Now, it turns out that Netflix has found a frustrating new way to annoy me. The service has started sending me emails urging me to remember to finish shows and movies that I started and then abandoned.

Continue reading...

Today's Top Deals

1. 10 deals you don’t want to miss on Saturday: $6 smart plugs, Baby Yoda, $39 4K Roku Stick, mattress toppers, Dyson killer, more
2. Dyson is dead to me now that I’ve tried this Bissell vacuum, and it’s on sale today at its lowest price
3. Today’s best deals: Crazy Anker sale, Animatronic Baby Yoda, $6 smart plug, $8 wireless charger, $23 home cam, $25 earbuds, more

Trending Right Now:

1. Microsoft just accidentally confirmed a huge feature for Xbox Series X
2. The biggest Marvel mystery left after ‘Avengers: Endgame’ is about to be solved
3. Sony’s PS5 might be in trouble when it’s first released

This is the most annoying thing about Netflix originally appeared on BGR.com on Sat, 22 Feb 2020 at 14:17:12 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

No matter how many times you read about it online or see specials about it on TV, most people still don't seem to appreciate how important it is to get a good night's sleep. Forget the simple benefits of feeling rested and more energized every day, there are also tons of other benefits like increased focus and even improved brain function.

If you don't get a full night's sleep as often as you should, there are countless things that could be the cause. A lot of times, however, it boils down to the quality of your sleep environment. If you're using a sweat-stained pillow that you got two years ago and sleeping on the same discount-store mattress you bought a decade ago from a furniture warehouse that was going out of business, you're doomed before you even lie down. What you might not realize, however, is that you don't need to spend hundreds on a new mattress to improve your situation.

Amazon is running a big one-day sale on top-rated mattress toppers that can instantly convert even the rattiest old mattress into a fluffy paradise. Prices start at just $44.99 for a Twin size mattress topper with more than 2,100 5-star ratings, and the best-selling Queen size version is down to $55.99 from $70. If you want the best of the best, the D & G the Duck and Goose Co Dual-Layer Air-Flow Mesh Mattress Topper is also discounted in every size, with savings up to $15.

Save up to 20% on Thick Mattress Toppers: $44.99 - $67.99

Check out some key info from the product page:

• D & G the Duck and Goose Co is Dedicated to Offering Best Bedding Products Including Premium Mattress Toppers, Hotel Quality Bedding Pillows, All-season Comforters, Super Soft Bedsheet Sets.
• EXTRA THICK MATTRESS TOPPER, PERFECT ADDITION TO A FIRM MATTRESS: Overfilled with 1400GSM super soft down alternative Gel-Fiber, this mattress topper is TRUELY EXTRA THICK offering the ultimate softness and comfort and providing the best support for your back while sleeping. Proved by our customer, it is the perfect addition to a firm latex or memory foam mattress.
• BEST REPLACEMENT FOR MEMORY FOAM OR FEATHER-DOWN MATTRESS TOPPER: with the down alternative filling and skin-friendly soft fabric, this mattress topper is the best solution to the people who are suffering from the odor of the feather-down mattress topper or the heating of memory foam mattress topper.
• SECURE FIT: Anchor bands and stitching ensure secure fit and adapts to mattress depths from 6" to 22"
• EASY CARE CONVENIENCE. For best results, tumble dry it on a low heat before use to fluff up the fibres. To extend your topper's life and reduce the need to wash it, position a mattress protector/ fitted sheet over it. Wash bi-annually in a front loader machine on a cool wash. *Please do not use a top loader machine as the agitators destroy the fibres.*
• 2-YEAR WARRANTY. For your satisfaction and peace of mind. HomieHomie is the sole accredited dealer. Please make sure you only purchase from an authorized seller.

Save up to 20% on Thick Mattress Toppers: $44.99 - $67.99

More of today's top deals

Save 40% on Aoycocr 15A Mini Smart Plug with Energy Monitoring (4-Pack): $22.19 ($5.55 each) (use code 40N2U3GH)

Star Wars The Child Animatronic Edition "AKA Baby Yoda" with Over 25 Sound and Motion Combinati…: $59.99

Fire TV Stick bundle with Echo Dot (3rd Gen - Charcoal): $74.98

Roku Streaming Stick+ | HD/4K/HDR Streaming Device with Long-range Wireless and Voice Remote wi…: $39.00

Instant Pot Air Fryer Lid with Roast, Bake, Broil, Reheat & Dehydrate: $79.95

New Apple iPad (10.2-Inch, Wi-Fi, 32GB) - Space Gray (Latest Model): $249.00

JBL Flip 4 Waterproof Portable Bluetooth Speaker - Black: $59.99

BISSELL ICONpet Cordless Stick Vacuum Cleaner (22889): $187.99

Pure Enrichment PureZone 3-in-1 Air Purifier - True HEPA Filter & UV-C Sanitizer Cleans Air, He…: $63.99

Today's Top Deals

1. Dyson is dead to me now that I’ve tried this Bissell vacuum, and it’s on sale today at its lowest price
2. 10 deals you don’t want to miss on Saturday: $6 smart plugs, Baby Yoda, $39 4K Roku Stick, mattress toppers, Dyson killer, more
3. Today’s best deals: Crazy Anker sale, Animatronic Baby Yoda, $6 smart plug, $8 wireless charger, $23 home cam, $25 earbuds, more

Trending Right Now:

1. Microsoft just accidentally confirmed a huge feature for Xbox Series X
2. Sony’s PS5 might be in trouble when it’s first released
3. A massive new planet that dwarfs Jupiter was just found lurking nearby

Make your ratty old bed as fluffy as a cloud with mattress toppers from $45, today only originally appeared on BGR.com on Sat, 22 Feb 2020 at 13:26:05 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Avengers: Endgame is so good that you’ll have an amazing time watching it without seeing any of the 21 movies that preceded it. But it’s far more enjoyable to watch after you catch up with all the other MCU adventures. Not only will Endgame make a lot more sense, but you’ll appreciate all the incredible Easter Eggs Marvel managed to squeeze into the flick. Going forward, you’ll have to subscribe to Disney+ to get the same fantastic MCU experience, and that’s because more than half of the upcoming MCU stories will be told with the help of limited TV series. All the Disney+ shows will tie into the six movies that have been confirmed for Phase 4, and they'll feature the same great characters and actors you’re used to seeing in MCU films.

Of all the new Disney+ Marvel series that will soon hit the streaming service, we’ve been focusing on the first three, but not solely because they're the ones that have started production. These series will deliver a few essential plot twists, and one of them will explain the biggest mystery left after Endgame.

Continue reading...

Today's Top Deals

1. Dyson is dead to me now that I’ve tried this Bissell vacuum, and it’s on sale today at its lowest price
2. 10 deals you don’t want to miss on Saturday: $6 smart plugs, Baby Yoda, $39 4K Roku Stick, mattress toppers, Dyson killer, more
3. Today’s best deals: Crazy Anker sale, Animatronic Baby Yoda, $6 smart plug, $8 wireless charger, $23 home cam, $25 earbuds, more

Trending Right Now:

1. Microsoft just accidentally confirmed a huge feature for Xbox Series X
2. Sony’s PS5 might be in trouble when it’s first released
3. A massive new planet that dwarfs Jupiter was just found lurking nearby

The biggest Marvel mystery left after ‘Avengers: Endgame’ is about to be solved originally appeared on BGR.com on Sat, 22 Feb 2020 at 12:35:04 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

If you’ve been dying to see a Friends special starring all the friends you adore, well, your wish has finally come true. Just a few weeks ago, we learned that a Friends reunion deal was imminent, and it looks like it’s finally done. The special Friends reunion is happening for HBO Max, which is also going to be the exclusive streaming home of the entire Friends series going forward.

Continue reading...

Today's Top Deals

1. Dyson is dead to me now that I’ve tried this Bissell vacuum, and it’s on sale today at its lowest price
2. Today’s best deals: Crazy Anker sale, Animatronic Baby Yoda, $6 smart plug, $8 wireless charger, $23 home cam, $25 earbuds, more
3. 10 deals you don’t want to miss on Saturday: $6 smart plugs, Baby Yoda, $39 4K Roku Stick, mattress toppers, Dyson killer, more

Trending Right Now:

1. Microsoft just accidentally confirmed a huge feature for Xbox Series X
2. Sony’s PS5 might be in trouble when it’s first released
3. A massive new planet that dwarfs Jupiter was just found lurking nearby

The ‘Friends’ reunion is happening originally appeared on BGR.com on Sat, 22 Feb 2020 at 11:44:39 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

So many of these different "National Day" holidays have popped up in recent years that it's starting to get pretty ridiculous. That said, if there's one marketing holiday we can definitely get behind, it's National Margarita Day. All holidays are made up, after all, and many of the traditional ones involve coughing up cash to buy gifts. National Margarita Day, on the other hand, is all about saving some of that hard-earned cash by getting freebies and discounted margaritas!

National Margarita Day 2020 is today, February 22nd, and it happens to fall on a Saturday this year. That means you have even more cause for celebration, and that you most likely don't have to go to work or school tomorrow. With that in mind, you're undoubtedly wondering where you should go to get the best National Margarita Day deals and freebies near you. Don't worry, we've got you covered.

Continue reading...

Today's Top Deals

1. Dyson is dead to me now that I’ve tried this Bissell vacuum, and it’s on sale today at its lowest price
2. Today’s best deals: Crazy Anker sale, Animatronic Baby Yoda, $6 smart plug, $8 wireless charger, $23 home cam, $25 earbuds, more
3. 10 deals you don’t want to miss on Saturday: $6 smart plugs, Baby Yoda, $39 4K Roku Stick, mattress toppers, Dyson killer, more

Trending Right Now:

1. Microsoft just accidentally confirmed a huge feature for Xbox Series X
2. Sony’s PS5 might be in trouble when it’s first released
3. A massive new planet that dwarfs Jupiter was just found lurking nearby

National Margarita Day 2020: All the best deals and freebies from around the country originally appeared on BGR.com on Sat, 22 Feb 2020 at 11:03:22 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

If you're looking for killer deals with deep discounts on popular products, you have most certainly come to the right place. Highlights from Saturday's roundup of the day's top daily deals include best-selling Wi-Fi smart plugs with energy monitoring that work with Alexa and Google for just $5.55 when you pick up a 4-pack and check out with coupon code 40N2U3GH, preorder availability of the incredible Baby Yoda animatronic toy that's going to be the hottest gift of the holiday season, $15 off when you order a Fire TV Stick bundled with an Echo Dot, and the beloved $60 Roku Streaming Stick+ with 4K and HDR at its lowest price of 2020, just $39. That's even less than it cost on Black Friday!

Other top deals on Saturday's list are $60 off the crazy new Instant Pot Air Fryer Lid that transforms the Instant Pot you already have into an air fryer and dehydrator, up to $100 off Apple's newest 10.2-inch iPad with prices starting at just $249, a one-day sale that slashes the JBL Flip 4 Waterproof Portable Bluetooth Speaker to $59.99, an evem crazier one-day deal that slashes the Dyson-killing BISSELL ICONpet Cordless Stick Vacuum Cleaner from $350 to just $187.99 (wait until you see how this puppy tackles pet hair!), a best-selling $90 air purifier for just $63.99, and a huge sale on the most comfortable mattress toppers you've ever touched. Check out all 10 of these unmissable daily deals down below.

Save 40% on Aoycocr 15A Mini Smart Plug with Energy Monitoring (4-Pack): $22.19 ($5.55 each) (use code 40N2U3GH)

Star Wars The Child Animatronic Edition "AKA Baby Yoda" with Over 25 Sound and Motion Combinati…: $59.99

Fire TV Stick bundle with Echo Dot (3rd Gen - Charcoal): $74.98

Roku Streaming Stick+ | HD/4K/HDR Streaming Device with Long-range Wireless and Voice Remote wi…: $39.00

Instant Pot Air Fryer Lid with Roast, Bake, Broil, Reheat & Dehydrate: $79.95

New Apple iPad (10.2-Inch, Wi-Fi, 32GB) - Space Gray (Latest Model): $249.00

JBL Flip 4 Waterproof Portable Bluetooth Speaker - Black: $59.99

BISSELL ICONpet Cordless Stick Vacuum Cleaner (22889): $187.99

Pure Enrichment PureZone 3-in-1 Air Purifier - True HEPA Filter & UV-C Sanitizer Cleans Air, He…: $63.99

Save up to 20% on Thick Mattress Toppers: $44.99 - $67.99

Today's Top Deals

1. Today’s best deals: Crazy Anker sale, Animatronic Baby Yoda, $6 smart plug, $8 wireless charger, $23 home cam, $25 earbuds, more
2. Dyson is dead to me now that I’ve tried this Bissell vacuum, and it’s on sale today at its lowest price
3. After trying BenQ’s mind-blowing new 4K home theater projector, I might never buy a normal TV again

Trending Right Now:

1. Microsoft just accidentally confirmed a huge feature for Xbox Series X
2. A massive new planet that dwarfs Jupiter was just found lurking nearby
3. Sony’s PS5 might be in trouble when it’s first released

10 deals you don’t want to miss on Saturday: $6 smart plugs, Baby Yoda, $39 4K Roku Stick, mattress toppers, Dyson killer, more originally appeared on BGR.com on Sat, 22 Feb 2020 at 10:02:59 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

It should have been a busy weekend over in Barcelona, Spain, with several big companies unveiling their latest mobile devices, but then the coronavirus struck, prompting the organizers to cancel the Mobile World Congress. It would have been a frantic weekend of running around from meeting to meeting, with hardly any time to dedicate to Hunters. Because yes, that’s the brand new show to binge right now, over on Amazon Prime. It’s that Al Pacino TV series about a group of Nazi hunters who’re hunting Nazi’s in the US in the late ‘70s.

Now, if you’re planning on hitting theaters, you should be aware of a couple of new releases, including The Call of the Wild, which is my favorite this weekend, a survival story starring Karen Gillan and Harrison Ford. If you into horror stories, then you might be more interested in Brahms: The Boy II. Then, there’s always Sonic, who swept up the box office last week, and is likely to hold on to the lead for at least one more weekend.

Continue reading...

Today's Top Deals

1. Today’s best deals: Crazy Anker sale, Animatronic Baby Yoda, $6 smart plug, $8 wireless charger, $23 home cam, $25 earbuds, more
2. Dyson is dead to me now that I’ve tried this Bissell vacuum, and it’s on sale today at its lowest price
3. The $23 Wyze Cam has a killer feature you won’t get with a $200 Nest Cam

Trending Right Now:

1. Microsoft just accidentally confirmed a huge feature for Xbox Series X
2. Sony’s PS5 might be in trouble when it’s first released
3. A massive new planet that dwarfs Jupiter was just found lurking nearby

‘Vivarium’ and all the new movie trailers you need to watch from this past week originally appeared on BGR.com on Sat, 22 Feb 2020 at 09:01:13 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The winners of the 45th annual competition showcase a spectacular blend of science and artistry under the microscope.

In case wringing your hands over the tax man weren’t enough, criminals are out there trying to swipe your hard-earned cash and personal information from right under your nose.

The daughter's name is Nicarri.

PARIS (AP) — Peppering the 8,000 pages of purported Central Intelligence Agency hacking data released Tuesday by WikiLeaks are reviews of some of the world's most popular anti-virus products.

1. Nevada Democratic caucus is too early to call as Sanders leads initial voting: NBC News  CNBC
2. Nevada caucuses live updates: Results and analysis from the third 2020 Democratic contest  NBCNews.com
3. Laura Ingraham mocks Dems' inability to guarantee same-day Nevada results: 'Are we a Third World country?'  Fox News
4. We lack the data to predict Nevada’s outcome. Be wary of pundits’ gut instincts.  The Washington Post
5. Calm down, America. If election results aren't instant, it doesn't mean they're 'rigged.'  USA TODAY
6. View Full Coverage on Google News

1. Intelligence community feels immediate impact of Trump's diplomatic 'disruptor'  CNN
2. Trump's new intel chief makes immediate changes, ousts top official | TheHill  The Hill
3. Ex-CIA Director John Brennan: Ouster of spy chief a 'virtual decapitation' of intelligence community  Washington Examiner
4. Cripple the Intelligence Agencies? Not Smart  The New York Times
5. Trump's nomination of an unqualified DNI undermines bipartisan intelligence reform  The Hill
6. View Full Coverage on Google News

1. One Guaranteed Winner in the Democratic Primary: Plans to Tax the Rich  The New York Times
2. Bernie Sanders’ surge has party elders rattled, as Nevada poised to boost momentum  Fox News
3. Soak-the-Rich Tax Plans Take Hold in the Entire Democratic Field  Bloomberg
4. Bloomberg must crush Bernie for any chance of beating Trump  New York Daily News
5. How Bloomberg has unleashed my inner Sanders  The Washington Post
6. View Full Coverage on Google News

1. Coronavirus Update: Cases Leap Again In South Korea, As Officials Warn Africa : Goats and Soda  NPR
2. A controversial religious group is at the center of South Korea's coronavirus outbreak  CNN
3. Coronavirus: South Korea confirms huge rise in cases  BBC News
4. Coronavirus Live Updates: South Korean Cases Spike, and Fear Builds  The New York Times
5. New coronavirus cases in Iran, Italy fuel concerns the disease cannot be contained  CNBC
6. View Full Coverage on Google News

1. Blagojevich calling himself a political prisoner is 'nuts,' Cooper says in heated interview  USA TODAY
2. Rod Blagojevich, Anderson Cooper spar over ex-gov's record, criminal case: 'Just bulls---'  Fox News
3. Hawaii Police Release Google Manager After Arresting Him Over Wife's Death  The Daily Beast
4. Quickly  Chicago Tribune
5. Rod Blagojevich called himself a ‘political prisoner.’ Anderson Cooper wasn’t having it.  The Washington Post
6. View Full Coverage on Google News

1. There isn't an AMBER Alert for every child who goes missing. Here's why  CNN
2. 2 arrested in case of missing 15-month-old: Officials  Yahoo News
3. Authorities give update on Tennessee AMBER Alert for Evelyn Boswell  WBIR
4. WATCH: Mother of 15-month-old at center of AMBER Alert caught on camera leaving court  WJHL-TV News Channel 11
5. Ex-boyfriend of Missing Toddler's Mom Says He's 'Never Even Seen' the Child  Yahoo Entertainment
6. View Full Coverage on Google News

1. Rescued: Palo Alto couple found alive after vanishing a week ago  The Mercury News
2. Search for Palo Alto Couple Missing in Marin County Now a Recovery Mission  KPIX CBS SF Bay Area
3. Elderly California Couple Go Missing After Renting Cottage for Valentine's Day  Yahoo Entertainment
4. A week later, Palo Alto couple that went missing in Point Reyes found alive  SF Gate
5. Missing Palo Alto couple found alive, officials say  KGO-TV
6. View Full Coverage on Google News

1. Boy Scout parents and a former victim still see benefits of organization for children despite sexual abuse allegations  CNN
2. I was sexually abused as a Boy Scout. Thousands like me deserve a reckoning as the BSA declares bankruptcy.  Vox.com
3. Dozens of States Back Bankruptcy Venue Reform  The Wall Street Journal
4. I was 5 when I was repeatedly raped in the woods by American Boy Scouts – who passed me around their teenage p  The Sun
5. Boy Scouts' bankruptcy plan follows similar path as USA Gymnastics and Catholic diocese  CNN
6. View Full Coverage on Google News

Which service is best

      

What it means for you

      

Protect your router

      

Talking Tech

      

A routine monitor of my phone found many disturbing, un-disclosed trackings by big companies, who shared it with third party data marketing firms.

      

Data breaches and other cyber crimes take a heavy psychological toll on the millions of Americans whose personal data is plundered by fraudsters.

      

Webcams foster connectivity and can aid in home security. But you want to make sure your webcams are secure, too, and your privacy isn't invaded.

      

If cord-cutters can live without ESPN, CNN and the broadcast networks, Philo may be for you. Many top cable channels available for streaming.

      

[Editor’s note: Want to get this weekly review of news that startups can use by email? Just subscribe here.] 

How well do Robinhood’s financials stack up against incumbent online brokerages? While we wait for the seven-year-old company’s long-planned IPO, Alex Wilhelm examined Morgan Stanley’s big $13 billion purchase of E-Trade for fresh data comparison points. Robinhood has 10 million accounts — twice what E-Trade has — but it also appears to make much less money per user and has far fewer assets under management, as he covered for Extra Crunch. So while its fee-free approach has destroyed a key revenue stream for competitors, it still has to grow its own “order-flow” business into its private-market valuation.

One solution is to make the platform stickier via social features. On the same day as the E-Trade deal announcement, Robinhood launched a new Profiles feature to encourage users to share stock tips. Josh Constine explored the offering and where it is headed on TechCrunch, concluding that “Profiles and lists, and then eventually more social features, could get Robinhood’s users trading more so there’s more order flow to sell and more reason for them to buy subscriptions.”

Alex also took a look at a new report on fintech funding, which found last year was a peak overall — but skewed towards later-stage companies. Certainly, the wealth management segment is looking mature.

But the category is massive, with many more incumbents left to disrupt. What are fintech investors looking for? Check out our popular investor survey on this topic from November.

How your startup can use TikTok for growth

Fifth Wall’s Brendan Wallace: the proptech sector is hot despite WeWork

“Our mandate is any technology that can be strategic to the real estate industry,” the prolific investor told Connie Loizos in an extended interview for Extra Crunch this week. While WeWork may have depressed some investor interest, plenty of models are working great across various segments — so he and his partners are raising more funds. One of the hottest sectors, perhaps surprisingly, is in sustainable buildings. As Wallace details, public pressure, large-tenant pressure, large-investor pressure and new metro requirements have removed any choice that the industry has in the matter:

Make no mistake; we are front-and-center to what is happening in the real estate industry and the collision with technology, and this is the single-most-important thing that has happened to the real estate industry in the last five decades. The real estate industry is going to have to go carbon-neutral and that is brand-new.

Is this sector also your focus? Be sure to check out our survey of investors in construction robotics from last week to find out some of the latest opportunities, plus our overview survey of real estate and prop tech investors from November.

The future of manufacturing and warehouse robotics

Ahead of our big robotics conference at UC Berkeley in early March, we have been producing a whole series of surveys on robotics verticals. This week, our resident financial analyst Arman Tabatabai teamed up with our hardware editor turned conference organizer, Brian Heater, to do a series of interviews with VCs who are focused on warehouse and manufacturing robotics. Investors include:

• Rohit Sharma, True Ventures
• Ajay Agarwal, Bain Capital Ventures
• Rick Prostko, Comcast Ventures
• Fatima Husain, Comcast Ventures
• Shahin Farshchi, Lux Capital
• Cyril Ebersweiler, SOSV & HAX
• Kelly Coyne, Grit Ventures

Read more here.

Tell TechCrunch about gaming startups and remote work

Our media columnist Eric Peckham wants to feature your advice in two upcoming articles. If you have relevant expertise, click the links below and share your opinions.

• What are the best cities for gaming startups and how should gaming entrepreneurs compare which city is right for them?
• Have you helped lead a startup whose team is split 8-10 time zones apart between offices in Europe/Israel and the West Coast of the US? What tips do you have for others navigating this challenge?

Across the week

Do AI startups have worse economics than SaaS shops? (EC)

Elon Musk says all advanced AI development should be regulated, including at Tesla (TC)

SpaceX alumni are helping build LA’s startup ecosystem (EC)

Dear Sophie: I need the latest details on the new H-1B registration process (TC)

Tracking China’s astounding venture capital slowdown (EC)

The rise of the winged pink unicorn (TC)

Voodoo Games thrives by upending conventional product design (EC)

Ex-YC partner Daniel Gross rethinks the accelerator (TC)

How companies are working around Apple’s ban on vaping apps (EC)

Rippling starts billboard battle with Gusto (TC)

#Equitypod

This week was a fun combination of early-stage and late-stage news, with companies as young as seed stage and as old as PE-worthy joining our list of topics.

Danny and Alex were back on hand to chat once again. Just in case you missed it, they had some fun talking Tesla yesterday, and there are new Equity videos on YouTube. Enjoy!

This week the team argued about org-chart companies, debt raises, some of the items mentioned above, and much more. Details here.

Welcome back to This Week in Apps, the Extra Crunch series that recaps the latest OS news, the applications they support and the money that flows through it all.

The app industry is as hot as ever, with a record 204 billion downloads in 2019 and $120 billion in consumer spending in 2019, according to App Annie’s recently released “State of Mobile” annual report. People are now spending 3 hours and 40 minutes per day using apps, rivaling TV. Apps aren’t just a way to pass idle hours — they’re a big business. In 2019, mobile-first companies had a combined $544 billion valuation, 6.5x higher than those without a mobile focus.

In this Extra Crunch series, we help you keep up with the latest news from the world of apps, delivered on a weekly basis.

This week we look at the sad, strange death of HQ Trivia, spying app ToTok getting booted from Google Play (again!), Android 11, an enticing Apple rumor about opening up iOS further to third-party apps, Google Stadia updates, the App Store book Apple wants banned, apps abusing subscriptions and much more.

Headlines

HQ Trivia burns to the ground

Once-hot HQ Trivia believed it had invented a new kind of online gaming — live trivia played through your phone. Investors threw $15 million into the company hoping that was true. But the novelty wore off, cheaters came in, prize money dwindled and copycats emerged. Then co-founder Colin Kroll passed away and things at HQ Trivia got worse, including a failed internal mutiny, firings and layoffs. This week, HQ Trivia announced its demise. It then hosted one last, insane night of gaming featuring drunken and cursing hosts who sprayed champagne, called out trolls and begged for new jobs. (Sure, because they exited this one so professionally.)

Financial services startups raised less money in 2019 than they did in 2018 as VC firms looked to back late stage firms and focused on developing markets, a new report has revealed.

According to research firm CB Insights’ annual report published this week, fintech startups across the world raised $33.9 billion* in total last year across 1,912 deals*, down from $40.8 billion they picked up by participating in 2,049 deals the year before.

It’s a comprehensive report, which we recommend you read in full here (your email is required to access it), but below are some of the key takeaways.

• Early stage startups struggled to attract money: Per the report, financing for startups looking to close Seed or Series A dropped to a five-year low in 2019. On the flip side, money pouring into Series B or beyond startups was at record five-year high.
  

  Early-stage deals dropped to a 12-quarter low as deal share globally shifts to mid- and late-stages (CB Insights)

• Emerging and frontier markets were at the centre stage of the most of the action: South America, Africa, Australia, and Southeast Asia all topped their annual highs last year.
• Asia outpaced Europe in the second half of last year on both number of deals and bulk of capital raised. In Q3, European startups raised $1.6 billion through 95 deals, compared to $1.8 billion amassed by Asian startups across 157 deals. In Q4, a similar story was at play: European startups participated in 100 rounds to raise $1.2 billion, compared to $2.14 billion* raised by Asian startups across 125 deals*.
• Emergence of 24 new fintech unicorns in 2019: 8 fintech startups including Next Insurance, Bight Health, Flywire, High Radius, Ripple, and Figure attained the unicorn status in Q4 2019, and 16 others made it to the list throughout the rest of the last year.
  

  The fintech market globally today has 67 unicorns as of earlier this month (CB Insights)

• Insurtech sector, or startups such as Lemonade, Hippo, Next, Wefox, Bright Health that are offering insurance services, got a major boost last year. They raised 6.2 billion last year, up from $3.2 billion in 2018.
• Startups building solutions such as invoicing and taxing services and payroll and payments solutions for small and medium businesses also received the nod of VCs. In the U.S. alone, where more than 140 startups are operating in the space, raised $4 billion. In many more markets, such startups are beginning to emerge. In India, for instance Open and NiYo are building neo-banks for small businesses and they both raised money last year.
• Nearly 50% of all funding to fintech startups was concentrated in 83-mega rounds (those of size $100 million or above.): According to the research firm, 2019 was a record year for such rounds across the globe, except in Europe.
  

  2019 saw 83 mega-rounds totaling $17.2B, a record year in every market except Europe

• Funding of Germany-based startups reached an annual high: 65 deals in 2019 resulted in $1.79 billion raise, compared to 56 deals and raise of $757 million in 2018, and 66 deals and $622 million raise in 2017.
• Financial startups in Southeast Asia (SEA) raised $993 million across 124 rounds in 2019 in what was their best year.

*CB Insights report includes a $666 million financing round of Paytm . It was incorrectly reported by some news outlets and the $666 million raise was part of the $1 billion round the Indian startup had revealed weeks prior. We have adjusted the data accordingly.

At times, it can be hard to tell exactly who “Locke & Key” was made for.

Adapted from a comic book series written by Joe Hill and illustrated by Gabriel Rodriguez, the show tells the story of the Locke family after they move into the mysterious Keyhouse, where they soon discover hidden keys that can be used for a variety of magical purposes.

With its emphasis on adolescent romance and magical powers, “Locke & Key” often feels like a young adult adaptation, but it also strays into darker territory, with plenty of horror, as well as a persuasive focus on the family’s ongoing trauma following the violent death of husband/father Rendell Locke.

Despite some quibbles, your Original Content podcast hosts agree that the show manages to balance these different elements effectively, with surprising plot twists, creepy visuals and a particularly compelling sibling relationship between the two teenaged Lockes, Tyler (played by Connor Jessup) and Kinsey (Emilia Jones).

In addition to reviewing the show, we also discuss the announcement that Netflix has acquired Adam McKay’s next film, “Don’t Look Up,” which will star Jennifer Lawrence. We had less to say about the movie itself and more about our respective attitudes towards a potential asteroid apocalypse.

You can listen in the player below, subscribe using Apple Podcasts or find us in your podcast player of choice. If you like the show, please let us know by leaving a review on Apple. You can also send us feedback directly. (Or suggest shows and movies for us to review!)

And if you want to skip ahead, here’s how the episode breaks down:

0:00 Intro
0:35 “Don’t Look Up” discussion
14:19 “Locke and Key” spoiler-free review
29:48 “Locke and Key” spoiler discussion

As Samsung (re)unveiled its clamshell folding phone last week, I kept seeing the same question pop up amongst my social circles: why?

I was wondering the same thing myself, to be honest. I’m not sure even Samsung knows; they’d win me over by the end, but only somewhat. The halfway-folded, laptop-style “Flex Mode” allows you to place the phone on a table for hands-free video calling. That’s pretty neat, I guess. But… is that it?

The best answer to “why?” I’ve come up with so far isn’t a very satisfying one: Because they can (maybe). And because they sort of need to do something.

Let’s time-travel back to the early 2000s. Phones were weird, varied and no manufacturers really knew what was going to work. We had basic flip phones and Nokia’s indestructible bricks, but we also had phones that swiveled, slid and included chunky physical keyboards that seemed absolutely crucial. The Sidekick! LG Chocolate! BlackBerry Pearl! Most were pretty bad by today’s standards, but it was at least easy to tell one model from the next.

(Photo by Kim Kulish/Corbis via Getty Images)

Then came the iPhone in 2007; a rectangular glass slab defined less by physical buttons and switches and more by the software that powered it. The device itself, a silhouette. There was hesitation to this formula, initially; the first Android phones shipped with swiveling keyboards, trackballs and various sliding pads. As iPhone sales grew, everyone else’s buttons, sliders and keyboards were boiled away as designers emulated the iPhone’s form factor. The best answer, it seemed, was a simple one.

Twelve years later, everything has become the same. Phones have become… boring. When everyone is trying to build a better rectangle, the battle becomes one of hardware specs. Which one has the fastest CPU? The best camera?

The New York Times  published an in-depth report on Oyo, a tech-enabled budget hotel chain and rising star in the Indian tech community. The NYT wrote that Oyo offers unlicensed rooms and has bribed police officials to deter trouble, among other toxic practices.

Whether Oyo, backed by billions from the SoftBank  Vision Fund, will become India’s WeWork is the real cause for concern. India’s startup ecosystem is likely to face a number of barriers as it grows to compete with the likes of Silicon Valley.

SpaceX is looking to raise around $250 million in new funding according to a new report from CNBC’s Michael Sheetz. The additional cash would bring SpaceX’s total valuation to around $36 billion, according to CNBC’s sources — an increase of more than $2.5 billion versus its most recently reported valuation.

The rocket launch company founded and run by Elon Musk is no stranger to raising large sums of money — it added $1.33 billion during 2019 (from three separate rounds). In total, the company has raised more than $3 billion in funding to date — but the scale of its ambitions provides a clear explanation of why the company has sought so much capital.

SpaceX is also generating a significant amount of revenue: Its contract to develop the Crew Dragon spacecraft as part of the NASA commercial crew program came with $3.1 billion in contract award money from the agency, for example, and it charges its customers roughly $60 million per launch of one of its Falcon 9 rockets. Last year alone, SpaceX had 13 launches.

But SpaceX is also not a company to rest on its laurels, or its pre-existing technology investments. The company is in the process of developing its next spacecraft, dubbed “Starship.” Starship will potentially be able to eventually replace both Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy, and will be fully reusable, instead of partially reusable like those systems. Once it’s operational, it will be able to provide significant cost savings and advantages to SpaceX’s bottom line, if the company’s projections are correct, but getting there requires a massive expenditure of capital in development of the technology required to make Starship fly, and fly reliably.

Musk recently went into detail about the company’s plans to essentially build new versions of Starship as fast as it’s able, incorporating significant changes and updates to each new successive version as it goes. Given the scale of Starship and the relatively expensive process of building each as an essentially bespoke new model, it makes perfect sense why SpaceX would seek to bolster its existing capital with additional funds.

CNBC reports that the funding could close sometime in the middle of next month. We reached out to SpaceX for comment, but did not receive a reply as of publication.

According to a report from Bloomberg, the Trump campaign called dibs on some of the most prized ad space online in the days leading up to the 2020 U.S. election.

Starting in early November and continuing onto Election Day itself, the campaign will reportedly command YouTube’s masthead, the space at the very top of the video sharing site’s homepage. YouTube is now the second most popular website globally after the online video platform overtook Facebook in web traffic back in 2018. Bloomberg didn’t report the details of the purchase, but the YouTube masthead space is reported to cost as much as a million dollars a day.

The Trump campaign’s ad buy is likely to rub the president’s many critics the wrong way, but it isn’t unprecedented. In 2012, the Obama campaign bought the same space before Mitt Romney landed the Republican nomination. It’s also not a first for the Trump campaign, which bought banner ads at the top of YouTube last June to send its own message during the first Democratic debate.

Screenshot of the Trump campaign’s June 2019 YouTube ads via NPR/YouTube

In spite of the precedent, 2020 is a very different year for political money flowing to tech companies — one with a great degree of newfound scrutiny. The big tech platforms are still honing their respective rules for political advertising as November inches closer, but the kinks are far from ironed out and the awkward dance between politics and tech continues.

The fluidity of the situation is a boon to campaigns eager to plow massive amounts of cash into tech platforms. Facebook remains under scrutiny for its willingness to accept money for political ads containing misleading claims, even as the company is showered in cash by 2020 campaigns. Most notable among them is the controversial candidacy of multi-billionaire Mike Bloomberg, who spent a whopping $33 million on Facebook alone in the last 30 days. In spite of its contentious political ad policies, much-maligned Facebook offers a surprising degree of transparency around what runs on its platform through its robust political ad library, a tool that arose out of the controversy surrounding the 2016 U.S. election.

On the other end of the spectrum, Twitter opted to ban political ads altogether, and is currently working on a way to label “synthetic or manipulated media” intended to mislead users — an effort that could flag non-paid content by candidates, including a recent debate video doctored by the Bloomberg campaign. Twitter is working through its own policy issues in a relatively public way, embracing trial-and-error rather than carving its rules in stone.

Unlike Twitter, YouTube will continue to run political ads, but did mysteriously remove a batch of 300 Trump campaign ads last year without disclosing what policy the ads had violated. Google also announced that it would limit election ad targeting to a few high-level categories (age, gender and ZIP code), a decision the Trump campaign called the “muzzling of political speech.” In spite of its strong stance on microtargeting, Google’s policies around allowing lies in political ads fall closer to Facebook’s anything-goes approach. Google makes a few exceptions, disallowing “misleading claims about the census process” and “false claims that could significantly undermine participation or trust in an electoral or democratic process,” the latter of which leaves an amphitheater-sized amount of room for interpretation.

In recent years, much of the criticism around political advertising has centered around the practice of microtargeting ads to hyper-specific sets of users, a potent technique made possible by the amount of personal data collected by modern social platforms and a strategy very much back in action in 2020. While Trump’s campaign leveraged that phenomenon to great success in 2016, Trump’s big YouTube ad buy is just one part of an effort to see what sticks, advertising to anybody and everybody in the splashiest spot online in the process.

YouTube declined to confirm to TechCrunch the Trump campaign’s reported ad buy, but noted that the practice of buying the YouTube masthead is “common” during elections.

“In the past, campaigns, PACs, and other political groups have run various types of ads leading up to election day,” the spokesperson said. “All advertisers follow the same process and are welcome to purchase the masthead space as long as their ads comply with our policies.”