A summary of today’s top tech news includes reviews of Apple’s latest M1-equipped computers, the rollout of Twitter’s new feature, and the introduction of Amazon’s pharmacy service. This is your Daily Crunch for November 17, 2020.

Leading the headlines: Examining Apple’s new Mac lineup

Today features three comprehensive hardware evaluations, each focusing on a different Mac model powered by Apple’s M1 chip.

The MacBook Air is first, with Brian Heater noting its significant performance improvements and suitability for the majority of consumers. The updated Mac mini desktop also receives a positive assessment from Matt Burns.

Finally, Matthew Panzarino was particularly impressed with the extended battery life offered by the MacBook Pro:

Major tech companies in the news

Twitter’s new ephemeral content feature, called Fleets, is experiencing performance issues – numerous Twitter users have reported slow loading times and lag when using Fleets.

Amazon Pharmacy is now available, providing a delivery service for prescription medications – Customers can integrate their insurance details, oversee their prescriptions, and select preferred payment methods through Amazon’s platform.

Google enhances Maps with updated COVID-19 information and officially releases its Assistant driving mode – Google is enriching the COVID layer within Google Maps, including data on total confirmed cases within specific areas and links to local government resources.

Startups, investment, and venture funding

SpaceX’s Crew Dragon successfully connects with the International Space Station for its inaugural operational mission – SpaceX’s Crew Dragon spacecraft, designed for astronaut transport, is now attached to the International Space Station while in Earth orbit.

Hover obtains $60M in funding to advance 3D imaging for property assessment and repair – Hover has developed a system that utilizes eight standard smartphone photos to generate a 3D model of a property, useful for contractors, insurance providers, and others.

Trust & Will secures $15M as digital estate planning gains popularity – The field of estate planning is experiencing growth in 2020.

Insights and analysis from Extra Crunch

Construction technology companies are well-positioned to transform a $1.3 trillion industry – Many essential processes in managing large-scale construction projects still rely on spreadsheets or manual methods.

The preferences of some venture capitalists regarding first-time founders – The answer varies depending on the specific venture capitalist.

Key takeaways from Airbnb’s initial public offering filing – The company’s S-1 filing revealed an expanding travel business generating billions in annual revenue, which was significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

(Please remember: Extra Crunch is our subscription service, dedicated to making startup information more accessible. You can find more information and sign up here.)

Other noteworthy developments

Conan O’Brien is set to launch a weekly variety show on HBO Max – “In 1993 Johnny Carson gave me the best advice of my career: ‘As soon as possible, get to a streaming platform.’ ”

Lego expands its Super Mario line with customization options, new power-ups for Mario, and additional characters – Lego’s collaboration with Nintendo proved successful with its initial release, and they are now introducing new sets.

The Daily Crunch is TechCrunch’s compilation of the most significant and important stories. To receive this summary in your inbox daily around 3pm Pacific Time, you can subscribe here.