interscatter-contact

Devices could recycle radio waves instead of transmitting them with new ‘interscatter’ technique

If we’re ever to have things like smart contact lenses and permanent brain implants, one of the things we need to figure out is the power problem. Those devices need energy for collecting, processing and especially transmitting data — but that last one might not be a problem anymore, thanks to a new technique called interscatter communication. Read More

techcrunch-rocks

Strangify your life with the Stranger Things title generator

The meme of the moment is here and it’s pretty creepy. As our own Romain Dillet points out the title artistry for the Netflix series Stranger Things is surprisingly beautiful and compelling. Now the good folks at design studio Nelson Cash are letting make our own. While many of the titles I’ve seen so far aren’t very scary it’s still fun to make the thing say funny… Read More

zerocater

ZeroCater raises $4.1 million to keep office workers well-fed in the U.S.

While it seems like a new food delivery business launches or gets funded every season in the U.S., several have scaled back, like Sprig, or shut down entirely like Spoonrocket. Among those that have survived, however, are smart sites and apps serving the office-catering corner of the industry, a $20 billion market in the U.S. alone according to research from Technomic. Now, one of the… Read More

pascal-notebooks

Nvidia’s GTX 10-series notebooks deliver VR power on the go

Eventually, we’ll never leave our VR-enabled domiciles. But until that happens, we occasionally need to go outside – and Nvidia’s GeForce GT 10-series notebooks mean that when you do, you can at least take VR with you. The new 10-series GPUs for notebooks follow the 10-series desktop line launched earlier this year, which includes the GTX 1080, the first card by the company… Read More

yik-yak-screens2

Yik Yak yearns to be local, not just anonymous

Anonymity has proven a dangerous path for startups like Secret, so Yik Yak is pushing a soft pivot towards connection with people close by. You can still share anonymous quips on the sagging college app, but now it’s forcing you to add a handle and photo. Then it wants you to post status updates about what you’re doing that day, and browse and contact nearby Yakkers. Changing course… Read More

kj_ycombinator_photo

Simbi raises $1.2 million to make bartering services easy online

A startup called Simbi has raised $1.2 million in seed funding to popularize its marketplace where people can barter skills and services online. Greylock Discovery fund, Crunchfund and Ranch Ventures invested in the round along with Y Combinator. The company is part of Y Combinator’s current batch. Founder and CEO Kjerstin “KJ” Erickson said her five-person team intends to… Read More

ps4-20th-console-top-all

PlayStation 4’s new beta software reduces clutter, improves multitasking

The beta for PlayStation 4’s 4.00 operating system arrives tomorrow for those enrolled, and Sony wants to give everyone a preview of what it brings to the table. The most noteworthy features are improved library organization, as well as UI tweaks that mean the Share and Quick Menus don’t drop you out of the gaming action.
Folders are new in PS4 v 4.00, letting you group together… Read More

sinn-dual-strap-system-3

Watch manufacturer Sinn loses its mind with a hybrid mechanical/Apple Watch band

As we approach the coming mechanical watch apocalypse strange things will begin happening. Dogs and cats shall live together. Beloved watch brands shall buy each other for no good reason. And storied and historical watchmakers will bow to the will of Cupertino. Behold, then the first horseman: it’s called the Sinn Dual Strap System and it consists of two strap halves. On one half you… Read More