Apple Releases macOS Big Sur - Daily Crunch
The newest Mac operating system is now available, Amazon is dealing with legal action concerning personal protective equipment, and Disney+ is celebrating its first anniversary. This is your Daily Crunch for November 12, 2020.
Leading the news: Apple launches macOS Big Sur
This release, initially revealed five months prior at WWDC, incorporates several design modifications that further integrate macOS and iOS experiences.
A significant enhancement is the Control Center, a feature originating from iOS and iPadOS, which displays a semi-transparent panel on the screen's right side. Simultaneously, Safari gained functionalities such as integrated translation capabilities. Furthermore, app icons and system sounds have been refreshed throughout the operating system.
Brian Heater has been testing the beta version since June, and he determined that Big Sur “offers substantial improvements to applications and the system as a whole, but, crucially for Apple, it establishes the foundation for the initial generation of Arm-based Macs and advances the company’s efforts to unify its two primary operating systems.”
Major technology companies
Facebook’s ‘Vanish Mode,’ similar to Snapchat’s disappearing messages, is now available on Messenger and Instagram — This feature, intended for less formal communication, enables users to configure chats to automatically erase after the message has been viewed and the chat window is closed.
Amazon is facing a lawsuit alleging a failure to supply protective equipment to employees during the pandemic — The lawsuit claims Amazon did not adequately safeguard its warehouse staff and violated aspects of New York City’s human rights regulations.
Apple HomePod Mini review: Surprisingly powerful sound — A smart speaker designed for a broad audience.
Startups, investment, and venture funding
Menlo Security secures $100M Series E funding at an $800M valuation — CEO and co-founder Amir Ben-Efraim shared that the company continues to concentrate on the web and email as primary sources of cyberattacks.
Livestorm obtains $30M to expand its browser-based meeting and webinar platform — The platform operates entirely within a web browser, eliminating the need for presenters or participants to download any software.
Nana receives $6M to support its online learning center and marketplace for appliance repair — Nana provides a tuition-free academy to instruct individuals on appliance repair techniques, and then offers them the opportunity to join its repair service marketplace.
Insights and analysis from Extra Crunch
Could subscription models be the future of financial technology? — As subscriptions become an increasingly attractive business strategy, fintech companies must evaluate whether this approach is worth the associated risks.
Ambiguities in California’s trade secret laws regarding customer lists create legal challenges — Review this information before leaving your current position or recruiting a salesperson who already possesses existing client relationships.
What lies ahead for the edtech sector as public investors reassess their investments? — Investor reactions to vaccine developments, which involved selling off edtech stocks, were based on the expectation that the sector’s growth would be limited by a return to traditional learning environments.
(Please remember: Extra Crunch is our subscription service, dedicated to making information about startups more accessible. You can register here.)
Other news
Disney+ has surpassed 73 million subscribers — The streaming service marked its one-year launch anniversary today.
L’Oréal introduces a range of ‘virtual makeup’ products — This development follows L’Oréal’s 2018 acquisition of Modiface, a company specializing in augmented reality filters.
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