Hardware | Read the latest product reviews on TechCrunch https://techcrunch.com/category/hardware/ Startup and Technology News Wed, 06 Nov 2024 22:46:51 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.6.2 https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/cropped-cropped-favicon-gradient.png?w=32 Hardware | Read the latest product reviews on TechCrunch https://techcrunch.com/category/hardware/ 32 32 iRobot lays off another 105 employees https://techcrunch.com/2024/11/06/irobot-lays-off-another-105-employees/ Wed, 06 Nov 2024 22:21:23 +0000 https://techcrunch.com/?p=2911667 Roomba maker iRobot is laying off 105 employees — about 16% of the company’s workforce, per an SEC filing — saying the cuts are part of an “operational restructuring plan.” The move comes after iRobot slashed roughly 350 jobs — about 31% of its workforce — earlier this year. Those cuts were made after plans […]

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Corning, maker of toughened Gorilla Glass for phones, faces EU antitrust probe https://techcrunch.com/2024/11/06/corning-maker-of-toughened-gorilla-glass-for-phones-faces-eu-antitrust-probe/ Wed, 06 Nov 2024 12:40:37 +0000 https://techcrunch.com/?p=2911282 On Wednesday, the European Union opened an investigation of U.S. manufacturer Corning over possible anti-competitive practices. Corning may not be a name that’s super familiar to the average tech consumer, but you are almost certainly within touching distance of its products, as it’s a leading supplier of speciality toughened glass for mobile devices, including Apple’s […]

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Apple warns investors its new products might never be as profitable as the iPhone https://techcrunch.com/2024/11/05/apple-warns-investors-its-new-products-might-never-be-as-profitable-as-the-iphone/ Tue, 05 Nov 2024 23:47:17 +0000 https://techcrunch.com/?p=2911200 Apple is warning investors that its new and future products might never be as profitable as the iPhone. The disclosure comes as the company is pursuing newer technologies like artificial intelligence and mixed-reality headsets. Apple added the warning in its latest annual report under the “business risks” section, as first reported by the Financial Times. […]

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Nvidia just became the world’s largest company amid AI boom https://techcrunch.com/2024/11/05/nvidia-just-became-the-worlds-largest-company-amid-ai-boom/ Tue, 05 Nov 2024 23:18:10 +0000 https://techcrunch.com/?p=2911178 Nvidia on Tuesday exceeded Apple’s market capitalization to become the world’s largest company, on the strength of a global AI push. As Bloomberg notes, the chipmaker has experienced an astronomical 850% growth since the tail end of 2022. Nvidia was valued at $3.43 trillion at the close of market, topping Apple’s $3.38 trillion. This isn’t […]

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Amazon acknowledges screen issues on a ‘small number’ of Kindle Colorsoft units https://techcrunch.com/2024/11/04/amazon-acknowledges-screen-issues-on-a-small-number-of-kindle-colorsoft-units/ Mon, 04 Nov 2024 19:06:05 +0000 https://techcrunch.com/?p=2910285 After more than a decade of waiting, Amazon’s first color Kindle has stumbled out of the gate. An issue with the new display has left Colorsoft buyers leaving unfavorable reviews. At last count, the e-reader is hovering around 2.7 stars. The company confirmed the display issues that are affecting a “small number” of units in […]

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Anduril is considering Arizona, Ohio, or Texas for its massive manufacturing facility, source says https://techcrunch.com/2024/11/04/anduril-is-considering-arizona-ohio-or-texas-for-its-massive-manufacturing-facility-source-says/ Mon, 04 Nov 2024 17:49:15 +0000 https://techcrunch.com/?p=2906315 Anduril, the defense tech company co-founded by Palmer Luckey, is considering building its first major manufacturing plant, a 5-million-square-foot facility known as “Arsenal-1,” in Arizona, Ohio, or Texas, according to someone familiar with the matter.  The company, which is developing autonomous drones, planes, and submarines, had announced $1.5 billion at a $14 billion post-money valuation […]

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Built in four days, this $120 robot arm cleans a spill with help from GPT-4o https://techcrunch.com/2024/11/04/built-in-four-days-this-120-robot-arm-cleans-a-spill-with-help-from-gpt-4o/ Mon, 04 Nov 2024 16:36:32 +0000 https://techcrunch.com/?p=2910144 Large language models have already proven transformative for robotics. While researchers and companies alike utilize the platforms to supercharge robotic learning, a pair of roboticists at UC Berkeley and ETH Zurich challenged themselves by leveraging generative AI to put a cheap robot arm to work. Jannik Grothusen and Kaspar Janssen trained a pair of $120 […]

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Indonesia blocks Google Pixel sales after ban on iPhone 16 https://techcrunch.com/2024/10/31/indonesia-bans-google-pixel-sales-after-iphone-16-block/ Fri, 01 Nov 2024 06:13:31 +0000 https://techcrunch.com/?p=2909357 Indonesia has banned sales of Google Pixel smartphones for failing to meet domestic content requirements, days after blocking Apple’s iPhone 16 in Southeast Asia’s largest phone market. The Indonesian Ministry of Industry said Google’s phones cannot be traded until they comply with rules requiring 40% local content in smartphones sold in Indonesia. Google must obtain […]

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US drone maker Skydio faces battery squeeze after Chinese sanctions https://techcrunch.com/2024/10/31/us-drone-maker-skydio-faces-battery-squeeze-after-chinese-sanctions/ Thu, 31 Oct 2024 21:32:08 +0000 https://techcrunch.com/?p=2909194 America’s supply chain vulnerabilities were on full display Thursday after drone manufacturer Skydio told customers it was facing a battery squeeze after being hit with sanctions from China.  “This is an attempt to eliminate the leading American drone company and deepen the world’s dependence on Chinese drone suppliers,” Skydio CEO Adam Bry said in a […]

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Oura buys Sparta Science, its third acquisition in 2 years https://techcrunch.com/2024/10/31/oura-buys-sparta-science-its-third-acquisition-in-two-years/ Thu, 31 Oct 2024 20:10:53 +0000 https://techcrunch.com/?p=2909167 Smart ring maker Oura on Thursday announced that it has acquired Sparta Science, a Bay Area-based health tracking startup. TechCrunch spoke to Sparta back in 2018 at the offices of Playground Global, a key investor. The deal marks Oura’s third acquisition in two years. The company purchased digital identity platform Proxy in May 2023. This […]

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Carl Pei says Nothing could build its own operating system https://techcrunch.com/2024/10/31/carl-pei-says-nothing-could-build-its-own-operating-system/ Thu, 31 Oct 2024 18:20:27 +0000 https://techcrunch.com/?p=2909068 Two mobile operating systems currently comprise nearly 100% of the global smartphone market. Building one is hard, and for most phone makers, there are better uses of resources, especially when Android is right there for the taking. While it’s a potential differentiator, these companies have largely opted to maintain Google’s mobile OS, customized by skins and […]

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Meta is making a robot hand that can ‘feel’ touch https://techcrunch.com/2024/10/31/meta-is-making-a-robot-hand-that-can-feel-touch/ Thu, 31 Oct 2024 17:31:53 +0000 https://techcrunch.com/?p=2908967 Meta says it’s partnering with sensor firm GelSight and Wonik Robotics, a South Korean robotics company, to commercialize tactile sensors for AI. The new devices aren’t meant for consumers. Rather, they’re intended for scientists. Meta says it envisions them being used to advance research into AI that can “learn about the world in richer detail” […]

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Nvidia-Run:ai deal to be reviewed under EU’s merger rules https://techcrunch.com/2024/10/31/nvidia-runai-deal-to-be-reviewed-under-eus-merger-rules/ Thu, 31 Oct 2024 15:11:28 +0000 https://techcrunch.com/?p=2908932 The European Union has tossed a wrench in the works of chipmaker Nvidia’s proposed acquisition of Tel Aviv-based AI workload management startup Run:ai. The deal, which was announced back in April — with a price tag of $700 million per our sources — will be reviewed by the bloc after a request by competition regulators in […]

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Boston Dynamics’ Atlas humanoid hot dogs for the camera https://techcrunch.com/2024/10/31/boston-dynamics-atlas-humanoid-hot-dogs-for-the-camera/ Thu, 31 Oct 2024 14:55:04 +0000 https://techcrunch.com/?p=2908934 Automation skeptics ask: Why humanoids? There are many benefits and drawbacks of the robotics form factor, but Boston Dynamics’ latest electric Atlas video showcases one of the most underdiscussed factors: costumes. “Why build a humanoid robot?” the company rhetorically posits. “Because the world is designed for humans, including all the best Halloween costumes.” A day […]

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How to make something of Nothing with Nothing CEO Carl Pei https://techcrunch.com/video/how-to-make-something-of-nothing-with-nothing-ceo-carl-pei/ Wed, 30 Oct 2024 18:15:00 +0000 https://techcrunch.com/?post_type=tc_video&p=2908706 Disrupting the top-heavy mobile industry once is hard enough. Carl Pei has done it twice. Following the success of OnePlus, Pei founded Nothing. The London-based hardware firm aims to make the stodgy world of smartphones fun again.Watch as Pei discusses how he founded the hardware startup and built Nothing from nothing. Subscribe for more on […]

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Apple announces M4 Max chip, debuting on the MacBook Pro https://techcrunch.com/2024/10/30/apple-announces-m4-max-chip-debuting-on-the-macbook-pro/ Wed, 30 Oct 2024 15:00:00 +0000 https://techcrunch.com/?p=2908176 Apple wrapped up a half week of Mac announcements Wednesday by debuting the latest addition to the M-series of chips. A day after announcing the M4 Pro alongside the tiny new Mac mini, the company is showcasing the M4 Max, which is coming to the MacBook Pro line. Like the other members of the M4 […]

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Apple upgrades MacBook Pro with M4 chips https://techcrunch.com/2024/10/30/apple-upgrades-macbook-pro-with-m4-chips/ Wed, 30 Oct 2024 15:00:00 +0000 https://techcrunch.com/?p=2908138 Apple on Wednesday wrapped up Macweek (well, Mac half week) by introducing an updated MacBook Pro. Apple’s most premium laptop is catching up to is brethren with the addition of M4 chips. The Pro and Mini are the first two Macs getting the new chip. The Pro will also be the first to sport the […]

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Boston Dynamics’ electric Atlas humanoid executes autonomous automotive parts picking https://techcrunch.com/2024/10/30/boston-dynamics-electric-atlas-humanoid-executes-autonomous-automotive-parts-picking/ Wed, 30 Oct 2024 14:43:23 +0000 https://techcrunch.com/?p=2908389 Boston Dynamics’ new humanoid has been quietly improving by leaps and bounds behind the scenes. Announced in April, we caught some brief insight into the electric Atlas’ strength in August through a video of the robot doing pushups. The latest video, released Wednesday, showcases the robot doing work in a demo space, moving engine parts […]

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Amazon Kindle Colorsoft review: A muted approach to color https://techcrunch.com/2024/10/30/kindle-colorsoft-review-a-subtle-approach-to-color/ Wed, 30 Oct 2024 13:15:00 +0000 https://techcrunch.com/?p=2906545 October was an exciting month for reading devices. We got a new iPad mini, a couple of products from Boox, and this strange yet compelling iPhone e-reader adapter from Astropad. The biggest splash of all, however, came from Amazon. It’s unsurprising, as the retail giant commands around 80% of the devoted e-reader market. The past […]

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Apple will buy renewable power for its Mac mini users https://techcrunch.com/2024/10/30/apple-will-buy-renewable-power-for-its-mac-mini-users/ Wed, 30 Oct 2024 13:00:00 +0000 https://techcrunch.com/?p=2908275 Apple went to unusual lengths to ensure it accounted for and neutralized all the pollution that the new Mac Mini might produce.

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