Timef 02/04/2025

On Tuesday morning, Spotify announced its fourth-quarter earnings, marking its first full year of profitability since its inception 17 years ago. The operating income for the quarter reached a record €477 million ($509.48 million) and amounted to €1.4 billion ($1.495 billion) for the 2024 fiscal year. Spotify also reported an addition of 35 million monthly […] © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.

Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson says the Super Bowl's huge audience makes it a prime target for many types of cybersecurity scams.

OpenAI gave me one week to test its new AI agent, Operator, a system that can independently do tasks for you on the internet. Operator is the closest thing I’ve seen to the tech industry’s vision of AI agents — systems that can automate the boring parts of life, freeing us up to do the […] © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.

An estimated 20% to 30% of all inventory in the U.S. is surplus, with much of it ending up in landfills. A startup called Sotira wants to help address this problem: It leverages AI to help companies offload and monetize their surplus inventory. Sotira partners with brands to offload millions of pounds of surplus grocery, […] © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.

After Elon Musk took over Twitter, the company blocked third-party clients in 2023, including ones like Twitterrific, Tweetbot, and Fenix. Iconfactory, the company behind Twitterrifc, on Tuesday is finally launching its multi-feed app called Tapestry on Tuesday, which allows you to add sources like RSS, YouTube, Bluesky, Podcasts, Mastodon, Reddit, Tumblr, Micro.blog, GO Comics, and […] © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.

Vanessa Kirby, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, and Julia Garner co-star.

Scientists used observations from the NASA InSight lander and several orbiting spacecraft to show that many marsquakes are caused by objects impacting the red planet.

President Trump's threat of 25 percent tariffs on EU car imports could spark an automotive trade war—one that will result in higher prices for all and never end in European consumers buying more American autos.

Snap has unveiled an AI text-to-image model for mobile devices that will power some of Snapchat’s features in the coming months. The company said on Tuesday that the model can produce high-resolution images in around 1.4 seconds on an iPhone 16 Pro Max.  The new diffusion model runs entirely on the device, which reduces computational […] © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.

She’s seen enough. She’s had enough. She can’t book a one-way ticket to the stars (yet), but these gifts will help her transcend this world.

Video reigns supreme on social media like TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube. And now, video is becoming a bigger business for LinkedIn.  The Microsoft-owned social network for the working world has yet to go full TikTok. But with a big boost of usage — today it said that video uploads jumped by 36% compared to last […] © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.

The first porn app for the iPhone is coming to Europe, but Apple isn't very happy about it.

There are plenty of pedometer and step counter apps in the world, but this new app has a fun twist. Walkstar, which launched Tuesday in the App Store, enhances your workout by syncing your tunes with your movement. The moment you pause, the music fades away, making it a perfect motivator for those looking to […] © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.

In an exclusive interview with WIRED, the British entrepreneur shares why it’s time to move on from TED.

While the U.S. and Canada duke it out over tariffs between the two countries, a tech company based out of Toronto is announcing a major round of funding led by a homegrown VC. StackAdapt, a programmatic advertising startup, says that it has raised $235 million in equity funding, with Teachers’ Venture Growth (TVG) — the […] © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.

These compact walking pads fit under your desk and make staying active so much easier.

The fashion industry has concerned Emily Gittins since adolescence.  The sector is, after all, one of the most polluting in the world. According to some sources, it is responsible for nearly 10% of the earth’s CO2 emissions and more than 20% of all water waste.  Yet people still want more, fast.  “The way we consume […] © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.

Microsoft’s updated headset shines with simplicity and surround sound.

Live stream Los Angeles Lakers vs. LA Clippers in the NBA from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Miami Heat vs. Chicago Bulls in the NBA from anywhere in the world.

Live stream New York Knicks vs. Toronto Raptors in the NBA from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Boston Celtics vs. Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Dallas Mavericks vs. Philadelphia 76ers in the NBA from anywhere in the world.

Hatch’s latest sunrise alarm clock and sound machine is bigger and brighter and has more physical controls, making it easier to use without grabbing your phone.

Apple's 10th Gen iPad (WiFi, 64GB) normally retails for $349. As of Feb. 4, it's on sale for $279.

The teaser for "Final Destination Bloodlines", the sixth instalment in the horror franchise, has been released.

A large portion of Egypt’s population lacks access to traditional banking, forcing many to rely on cash transactions and informal lending. Khazna, a fintech startup founded in 2019, is tackling this issue by offering financial services tailored for low- and middle-income workers. The company provides solutions like salary advances, digital payments, and microloans to help […] © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.

If you're looking for one interview from the late night shows to watch today, catch Jon Stewart's chat with Mo Amer.

It's not just about freeing up space on your computer, Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson says. It's about protecting your digital memories and important documents.

The Russian-born CEO styles himself as a free-speech crusader and a scourge of the surveillance state. Here’s the real story behind Pavel Durov’s arrest and what happened next.

The newest Samsung Galaxy flagship device is simply not that big of an upgrade over the previous model.

As of Feb. 4, Best Buy's offering a free $10 gift card with purchase of a $100 Apple gift card.

As of Feb. 4, the Beats Pill Bluetooth speaker is on sale for $99.99 at Amazon, down from $149.95. Get powerful sound, 24-hour battery life, and water resistance for 33% off.

Answers to each clue for the February 4, 2025 edition of NYT's The Mini crossword puzzle.

As of Feb. 4, the Beats Studio Buds are on sale for $99.99 at Amazon, down from $149.95. Get active noise cancellation, transparency mode, and 32-hour battery life for 33% off.

Jon Stewart has mocked Trump for his recent trade wars in a "Daily Show" monologue.

As of Feb. 4, Nvidia Shield TV Pro is on sale for $179.99 at Amazon, down from $199.99. This premium Android TV device offers Dolby Vision, AI upscaling, Plex media server, and cloud gaming.

As of Feb. 4, the Nvidia Shield TV is on sale for $129.99 at Amazon, down from $149.99. This Android TV powerhouse supports Dolby Vision, AI upscaling, and cloud gaming.

U.S. food delivery giant Grubhub says hackers accessed the personal details of customers and drivers after breaching its internal systems.  Grubhub is a popular food-ordering and delivery platform with over 375,000 merchants and 200,000 delivery providers using its platform in more than 4,000 U.S. cities. New York-based Wonder Group acquired the company last fall in […] © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.

On the heels of Chinese AI firm DeepSeek making a huge splash in OpenAI’s American backyard, OpenAI is diving into expanding in Asia, with major commercial deals that will also help it train its AI on more Asian-language content and user behavior — a gateway to doing more business in these markets in the future […] © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.

Bill Condon adapts "Kiss of the Spider Woman," starring Diego Luna and Tonatiuh. Review.

Send a breathtaking bouquet of 36 long-stem roses this Valentine’s Day — only $39.99 with free shipping.

Get a refurbished MacBook Pro 16 with Intel Core i7, 16GB RAM, and 512GB SSD for just $539.99 (reg. $2,399). Limited stock — don’t miss out.

This lifetime virtual phone line lets you make calls and send texts from a private number, perfect for work, dating, or online sales.

This 10” touchscreen car display adds CarPlay, Android Auto, GPS, and hands-free calling to your ride.

'Longlegs' will soon be available to stream at home. Here are the best ways to watch, including the best Hulu streaming deals.

These are the best MacBooks you can get for 2025, whether it's the current generation or an older gen model.

I'm comparing the current best iRobot options to buy in early 2025, from cheap Roombas to the newest Roomba that washes its mopping pad.

We tested the most popular noise-cancelling headphones and earbuds to find the best for flying — from budget picks to premium options, here are our favorites.

Here are the best romance movies streaming on Netflix, including "Always Be My Maybe," "Lady Chatterley’s Lover," "Carol," "Entergalactic," and beyond.

Self-driving truck startup Waabi is partnering with Volvo Autonomous Solutions to jointly develop and deploy autonomous trucks, an important milestone as it gets closer to a commercial launch.  The tie up also marks Volvo’s second partnership to co-develop self-driving big rigs with a startup partner. In May 2024, Volvo teamed up with Aurora Innovation to […] © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.

Apple AirPods 4 (with ANC) normally retail for $179. As of Feb. 4, they're on sale for $148.99.

Save 25% on the Fitbit Versa 4.

Save 29% on the Apple AirTag four-pack bundle at Amazon.

You can do better than this powerful and basic rabbit vibrator.

Save 32% on the Amazon Fire HD 10 tablet at Amazon.

Save 25% on the Fire Stick 4K Max at Amazon.

Ola founder Bhavish Aggarwal is investing $230 million into an AI startup he founded as the country pushes to establish itself in a field dominated by U.S. and Chinese firms. Aggarwal is financing the investment in Krutrim largely through his family office, a source familiar with the matter told TechCrunch. In a post on X […] © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.

Norway-based browser maker Opera on Tuesday launched a new browser called “Opera Air,” which focuses on mental well-being and mindfulness with features like break reminders, breathing exercises, soundscapes, and binaural beats for better focus. The company said that people use browsers for a lot of their work online, and it wanted to ship a browser […] © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.

An investigation into more than 300 cyberattacks against US K–12 schools over the past five years shows how schools can withhold crucial details from students and parents whose data was stolen.

President Donald Trump signed an executive order to create a U.S. sovereign wealth fund, stating it may be used to purchase TikTok.

AI is changing how we shop online, making our experiences more personalized. Smart assistants recommend products, negotiate deals, and even handle customer service. Big retailers and smaller businesses are using AI to improve search, supply chains, and checkout.  If AI companies (and their investors) have their way, shopping will soon be focused on chatting with […] © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.

Tabular data is a broad term that encompasses structured data that generally fits into a specific row and column. It can be a SQL database, a spreadsheet, a .CSV file, etc. While there has been tremendous progress on artificial intelligence applied to unstructured and sequential data, these large language models are fuzzy by design. They […] © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.

China said Tuesday it has launched an antitrust investigation into Google, part of a swift retaliation after the U.S. President Donald Trump imposed a 10% tariff on Chinese goods. The probe by China’s State Administration for Market Regulation will examine alleged monopolistic practices by the U.S. tech giant, which has had its search and internet […] © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.

Save on a Peacock subscription when you enter our promo code at checkout.

The Bureau of the Fiscal Service is a sleepy part of the Treasury Department. It’s also where, sources say, a 25-year-old engineer tied to Elon Musk has admin privileges over the code that controls Social Security payments, tax returns, and more.

Mashable readers can get lifetime access to Microsoft Office applications like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint for Windows or Mac for only £28.12.

How to unblock porn for free. Unblock and watch Xnxx from anywhere in the world.

We've lined up the best tablets that provide all of the fun stuff kids need, plus all of the educational stuff that parents want.

Presentations.ai has raised $3 million in a seed round led by Accel to scale its AI-powered software for generating presentations. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.

Here's the answer for "Wordle" #1325 on February 4, as well as a few hints, tips, and clues to help you solve it yourself.

Connections is a New York Times word game that's all about finding the "common threads between words." How to solve the puzzle.

Connections: Sports Edition is a New York Times word game about finding common sports threads between words. How to solve the puzzle.

The NYT Strands hints and answers you need to make the most of your puzzling experience.

The Trump Administration claims it is allowing "lifesaving" foreign aid to continue, but in reality, DOGE is preventing vital work on HIV and AIDS from saving lives.

Adam Candeub, a known critic of Big Tech, looks poised to join the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Candeub will be general counsel of the FCC, reports Semafor, which cites direct confirmation from FCC chairman Brendan Carr. TechCrunch has reached out to the FCC for more information. Candeub has long been a vocal critic of Section […] © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.

The billionaire is creating major upheaval as his team sweeps through agencies, in what has been an extraordinary flexing of power by a private individual.

On Monday, Doug Ford, the premier of Ontario, one of Canada’s most populous provinces, announced on X that the province’s government would be “ripping up” its $68 million ($100 million CAD) contract with Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite internet service. The news came soon after President Donald Trump announced a 25% tariff on nearly all Canadian […] © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.

A top official at the General Services Administration said artificial intelligence could be used to identify waste and redundancies in federal contracts.

Sources say the former Tesla engineer now in charge of the Technology Transformation Services wants an agency that operates like a “startup software company."

Asya Bradley, a former fintech founder and investor, has joined payments giant Stripe as its new head of Startup & Venture Capital Partnerships. Bradley announced the news on February 2 in a post on LinkedIn, though her bio shows that she joined Stripe back in November. Neither Stripe nor Bradley were immediately available for comment.  […] © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.

It’s never been easier to create and publish art than it is now, and if you believe the companies building tech around AI, the production process is going to get even more efficient. That’s especially the case with video production, with companies of all sizes using large language models to build tools that let you […] © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.

From proofreading and research to brainstorming and data analysis, you can use generative AI as a sidekick for just about any task you can dream of.

DeepSeek's model is censored at both the application and training layers, a Wired investigation shows. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has pledged to make artificial general intelligence (AGI) — which is roughly defined as AI that can accomplish any task a human can — openly available one day. But in a new policy document, Meta suggests that there are certain scenarios in which it may not release a highly capable AI […] © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.

Trump's DOGE, led by Elon Musk, has officially shut down USAID, tasked with billions of dollars in foreign spending.

DeepSeek, the Chinese AI company, is raising the ire of regulators around the world. DeepSeek’s viral AI models and chatbot apps have been banned by a growing number of countries and government bodies, which have expressed concerns over DeepSeek’s ethics, privacy, and security practices. Corporations have banned DeepSeek, too — by the hundreds. The biggest […] © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.

Musk, with backing from Trump, killed the agency tasked with distributing foreign aid.

Discord users that signed up for a third-party backup service called RestoreCord may have had their data leaked in a breach.

An Italian investigative journalist said he was the target of a spyware attack disclosed by WhatsApp. © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.

President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Monday to create a U.S. sovereign wealth fund and suggested that it could be used to purchase TikTok. The fund is expected to be created in the next 12 months by the U.S. Treasury and Commerce Departments, though it’s not immediately clear how. Trump has said previously […] © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.

The Sonos Era 100 smart speaker is down to just $199 at Amazon, discounted from the usual price of $249. That's a 20% discount.

WIRED confirmed various automated efforts to remove pronouns from both email and Slack at USAID, the EPA, the GSA, and more.

The Pokémon Company International says it’s now “actively investigating” ways to improve the feature after players threatened to cancel their subscriptions.

The Ember Mug 2 is on sale for $89.99, saving you $39.96 off its 129.95 list price. The heated mug keeps warm drinks at your desired temp for up to 80 minutes.

As of Feb. 3, you can get 27 preserved roses for just $59.94 at Amazon (54% off!). These stunning blooms last up to three years.

Prime members: Get early access to new Kindle books free every month with Amazon First Reads! Plus, a bonus short read this month.

OpenAI launched a new feature for ChatGPT called "deep research." Using the brand-new o3 model, deep research crawls the web and uses its own knowledge to compile an in-depth research report.

"The Rule of Jenny Pen," starring Geoffrey Rush and John Lithgow, hits theaters March 7.

Doug Ford, the premier of Ontario, one of Canada’s most populous provinces, announced on X that the province’s government would be “ripping up” its $68 million ($100 million CAD) contract with Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite internet service. The news comes soon after President Donald Trump announced this weekend a 25% tariff on nearly all Canadian […] © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.

Doug Ford, the premier of Ontario, one of Canada’s most populous provinces, announced on X that the province’s government would be “ripping up” its $100 million contract with Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite internet service. The news comes soon after President Donald Trump announced this weekend a 25% tariff on nearly all Canadian imported goods, causing […] © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.

SEGA games for PS5, Nintendo Switch, and Xbox are on sale for up to 64% off at Best Buy, going as low as $19.99.

The best Amazon deals on Feb. 3 include the AirPods 4, Fitbit Inspire 3, Beats Solo 4, Blink Video Doorbell, and Fire HD 10 tablet.

A native pornography app for iOS is coming to the EU via the approved alternative app store AltStore PAL, made possible by Europe’s Digital Markets Act (DMA). On Monday, the AltStore announced the launch of Hot Tub, an aggregator that offers iOS users a way to search and play videos from a variety of adult […] © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.

The EU may soon pass new customs regulations that make online marketplaces liable for faulty goods, subject imports to more fees, and limit the flow of foreign goods into the bloc.

The Dyson Airwrap models for straight and curly hair are both on sale for $100 off at Amazon, Dyson, and Best Buy.

Missed the 2-for-1 deal for TechCrunch Disrupt 2025? No problem! Super Early Bird prices are still available, with savings of up to $1,130 on individual tickets and up to 30% on group passes. These savings are only good until the end of this month. Celebrate 20 years of TechCrunch Disrupt from October 27-29 at Moscone […] © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.

The Beatles’ AI-assisted track “Now and Then” won the Grammy for Best Rock Performance on Sunday night, marking the first time that a song of its kind has taken home the award. No, Paul McCartney did not use AI to create some creepy LennonGPT bot. Instead, he used noise reduction systems to clean up a […] © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.

The Fitbit Inspire 3 is $79.95 at Amazon, making it an almost record-breaking deal. It's just $10 shy of its lowest price ever.

TurboTax software is up to 44% off at Amazon including TurboTax Deluxe and TurboTax Business.

Is the grass greener on the other side? We’re not sure, but the sky is most certainly bluer. It’s been two years since Elon Musk purchased Twitter, now X, leading people to set up shop on alternative platforms. Mastodon, Post, Pebble (two of which have already shuttered operations) and Spill have been presented as potential […] © 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.