Spotify In-Car Entertainment System Unveiled

Tech News Roundup: April 13, 2021

Spotify is aiming to enhance its automotive integration, Apple is signaling announcements focused on the iPad, and the new Surface Laptop from Microsoft is now available for purchase. These are the key headlines in today’s Daily Crunch.

Spotify's Automotive Push

Spotify is introducing a dedicated in-car entertainment system, creatively dubbed “Car Thing.” Despite the availability of numerous methods for enjoying Spotify while driving, the company asserts this device will deliver a more streamlined and personalized user experience.

Car Thing features a touchscreen interface, a navigational dial, voice command functionality, and customizable buttons for quick access to preferred music, podcasts, and playlists.

This represents a refined iteration of an in-car device Spotify initially tested a few years prior. Although broader availability is now being offered, Spotify considers this launch a continuing experiment. Currently, within the U.S., the device is being offered without charge, with customers only responsible for shipping costs.

Updates from Tech Giants

Apple has dispatched invitations for its upcoming event on April 20th, titled “Spring Loaded.” The invitation’s design incorporates imagery resembling a doodle created on an iPad.

The latest Surface Laptop from Microsoft is now on sale, with a starting price of $999. Its enduring popularity demonstrates the value of proven designs.

Users of Facebook and Instagram can now request the ‘oversight’ panel to review decisions regarding content removal. This expands the Oversight Board’s scope beyond simply reviewing and often reversing content takedowns.

Funding and Venture Capital Activity

Epic Games, the creator of Fortnite, has successfully completed a $1 billion funding round. The company is actively building a substantial portfolio of game titles through strategic acquisitions, a trend expected to persist with this new capital infusion.

Tempo, a home gym startup, has secured $220 million in funding to address the increasing demand for its workout device. Launched in February 2020, Tempo’s cabinet integrates a 42-inch touchscreen and a 3D motion-tracking camera to provide consistent monitoring and coaching during workouts.

ConsenSys has raised $65 million from investors including JP Morgan, Mastercard, and UBS to develop infrastructure supporting DeFi (Decentralized Finance). This investment appears strategically aligned with the expectation that traditional financial institutions will require insight into the growing world of decentralized finance.

Extra Crunch Insights

Analysis suggests that the conditions are becoming favorable for the widespread adoption of hydrogen technology in 2021.

Essential product development lessons were identified through interviews with three entrepreneurs, each having successfully founded multiple companies, before any code was written.

The recent $19.7 billion acquisition of Nuance by Microsoft is anticipated to stimulate further investment in the AI venture capital market. This deal represents Microsoft’s second-largest acquisition, surpassed only by the purchase of LinkedIn.

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Additional News

A Republican-led antitrust bill is proposed to prohibit all major technology acquisitions.

Registration for Startup Alley at TechCrunch Disrupt 2021 is rapidly filling up. This presents an opportunity for startups to showcase their innovations at the September event.

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