Topic: pandemic impact
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Unlock the Power of Sound in Virtual Reality
High-quality audio is now essential for effective virtual communication, as poor audio forces listeners to expend extra mental energy and reduces engagement, making investment in audio setup critical. The shift to remote and hybrid work in 2020 accelerated industry-wide adoption of AI-driven nois...
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Ditch the Car: Why an Electric Cargo Bike Is Your Next Ride
Electric cargo bikes are becoming a transformative alternative to cars for urban and suburban tasks, effectively serving as a primary mode of transport for errands and family travel. E-bikes are the fastest-growing segment in the cycling industry, with proven ability to replace car trips entirely...
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How Planet Money's TikTok Inspired a Brilliant Animated Movie
The animated film *Boys Go to Jupiter* follows a gig worker in Florida and critiques how the gig economy and capitalism distort human connections and value, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Director Julian Glander drew inspiration from pandemic-era "national hysteria" and Planet Money's J...
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Rad Power Bikes Could Shut Down in January Without Funding
Rad Power Bikes may permanently shut down in January if it fails to secure new funding or a buyer, as revealed in an internal email to employees. The company is struggling with a sharp decline in consumer demand, excess inventory, and financial pressures from tariffs and a tough macroeconomic env...
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Tap-to-Pay: The Future of Public Transit?
The transition to tap-to-pay systems using near-field communication technology is modernizing public transit, replacing older methods like magnetic-stripe cards and tokens for faster, more convenient access. Despite benefits, the shift raises equity concerns for low-income riders without bank acc...
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Uber Acquires Getir's Delivery Business in Turkey
Uber has acquired Getir's food delivery operations for $335 million and taken a $100 million stake in its remaining grocery and retail business, marking a strategic expansion in Turkey. Getir, once valued at $12 billion, is retreating from global markets to focus on Turkey after pandemic-driven g...
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Court Filings Hint ChromeOS May Have an Expiration Date
Google plans to phase out ChromeOS, the operating system for Chromebooks, in favor of a new Android-based platform called Aluminium, as revealed in recent antitrust trial documents. The transition timeline indicates Aluminium devices could reach testers by late 2026, with a full retail release po...
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LiveKit Hits $1B Valuation After OpenAI Partnership
LiveKit secured a $100 million investment at a $1 billion valuation, reflecting high demand for infrastructure powering AI-driven voice and video applications. The company pivoted from an open-source project to a successful enterprise by offering a managed, cloud-hosted service to meet large corp...
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Fizz CEO Explains the Power of Anonymous Social Apps
Fizz is a new social media platform for university students that emphasizes authentic, everyday interactions over the curated perfection often seen on apps like Instagram and TikTok. The app fosters genuine connection through a model of user anonymity and hyperlocal, campus-specific networks, cre...
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Microsoft Dodges EU Fine Over Teams Bundling After Slack Complaint
Microsoft avoided EU antitrust penalties by agreeing to unbundle Teams from its Office suites and offer Teams-free versions at a lower price. The company must also ensure interoperability with rival communication tools and maintain these commitments for seven to ten years. The case, initiated by ...
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2026 Lucid Air Touring Review: The Complete Electric Luxury Sedan
The 2026 Lucid Air Touring is a refined luxury EV that marks the company's maturation, offering a compelling balance of performance, luxury, and value in the premium segment. It delivers a serene, high-quality cabin and an impressive driving experience, combining effortless power with a comfortab...
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Peloton's Biggest Threat Is Itself
Peloton announced a recall of 833,000 Bike Plus units, overshadowing positive financial results including a second profitable quarter and a 14% stock rise. The company faces a recurring pattern of undermining its own progress with operational issues, such as recalls and missteps, despite having s...
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Shamillah Bankiya on the State of Europe's Venture Market
Shamillah Bankiya, a partner at Dawn Capital, highlights Europe's dynamic venture market growth, including increased American investor interest and globally successful startups in AI and fintech. She points out structural challenges such as fragmented European stock exchanges and stringent regula...
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Didero Raises $30M to Automate Manufacturing Procurement
Didero, a startup co-founded by Tim Spencer, has raised $30 million in Series A funding to automate the complex, manual workflows of manufacturing procurement, which are often bogged down by emails and disparate communications. The company's AI platform integrates with existing ERP systems to ing...
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GPU Prices Plummet as RAM Costs Skyrocket
Now is a favorable time to upgrade gaming PC graphics cards, as mainstream to high-end GPUs from AMD and Nvidia are finally available at or near their suggested retail prices after years of shortages. In contrast, memory and storage components are facing a severe price crisis, with DDR5 RAM and S...
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Lifeline & SANE: Revolutionizing Community Support with Digital Tools
Australian mental health organizations Lifeline and SANE are adopting advanced digital tools to improve crisis support and manage increasing demand for services. These innovations streamline communication channels like phone, SMS, and online chat to route urgent cases efficiently and reduce wait ...
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Why Zuckerberg Risked a Live Demo Failure
Mark Zuckerberg's live Meta Connect keynote, featuring smart glasses, aimed to recapture the raw, high-risk excitement of past tech demos, contrasting with today's polished formats. The presentation included notable glitches, such as failed video calls and an AI cooking demo error, which undermin...
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Netflix Enters the Big Leagues
Netflix's $83 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. transforms it into a Hollywood studio powerhouse, granting control of major franchises like Harry Potter and HBO to secure long-term subscriber-retaining content. The sale concludes a period of financial strain for Warner Bros. Discovery, driven b...
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