A possible one Microsoft – –Tick tack The acquisition creates a lot of drama. We’re reviewing Google’s new budget pixel and SpaceX’s Crew Dragon is returning to Earth. Here is your daily crisis for August 3rd, 2020.
Microsoft TikTok acquisition is only a few centimeters closer to reality
This weekend, Microsoft confirmed reports that talks about the takeover of TikTok, the popular mobile video app by Chinese company ByteDance, are in progress. It sounds like the outcome of these talks could ultimately have less to do with Microsoft than with President Donald Trump.
“After a conversation between Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella and President Donald J. Trump, Microsoft is ready to continue the talks to consider buying TikTok in the United States,” the company said. “Microsoft fully appreciates the importance of addressing the President’s concerns. It is committed to acquiring TikTok subject to a full security review and to offer reasonable economic benefits to the United States, including the U.S. Department of the Treasury. “
Indeed, Trump said today that he is not against an acquisition, but that “a very substantial part of that price has to go to the United States Treasury Department.” Meanwhile, Chinese Internet users call the CEO of ByteDance a traitor.
The technology giants
Google’s budget Pixel 4a fixes the biggest problem of its premium predecessor – Brian Heater rates the new $ 349 handset.
Facebook launches trade and connectivity accelerator programs – Facebook’s Commerce Accelerator will select 60 startups from the EMEA and LATAM regions, while Connectivity includes 30 startups from LATAM and North America.
Adobe’s plans for a standard for the allocation of online content could have a major impact on misinformation. The project was first announced last November. The team now has a white paper on how their system works.
Startups, funding and venture capital
Artifact supported by YC wants to personalize podcasts – With professionally commissioned interviewers, Artifact conducts short interviews with a person’s closest friends or family and turns them into a personal podcast.
Inspectify was founded by a lifelong house flipper and is a marketplace for house inspections and repairs. Via the platform, buyers can immediately book inspections and receive repair estimates.
Mobile banking startup Varo becomes a real bank – The company announced that it has received a national banking charter from the Currency Auditor’s Office and has received regulatory approvals from the FDIC and the Federal Reserve to open Varo Bank, NA
Advice and analysis of extra crunch
The core sales software stack – Tim Porter and Elise La Cava from Madrona Ventures – describe the services that sales, marketing and growth teams use across their portfolio to identify and manage their potential customers and sales.
Is the SPAC boom 2020 an echo of the 2017 ICO madness? – Alex Wilhelm looks at two new SPAC messages.
After Shopify’s big quarter, BigCommerce is increasing its IPO price range – BigCommerce now intends to value its IPO between $ 21-23 per share.
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Everything else
SpaceX and NASA successfully bring Crew Dragon spaceships back to Earth with astronauts on board – SpaceX’s Crew Dragon appears to have performed exactly as intended throughout the mission. Astronauts are safe and secure everywhere.
Original Content Podcast: Netflix ‘Say I Do’ offers a wedding-oriented twist on the ‘Queer Eye’ formula – I’m not someone who cares about weddings, but this show made me cry. Multiple times!
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