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Tag: makers

  • GE Aerospace to invest 0M in Beta Technologies to pair up on hybrid-electric power

    GE Aerospace to invest $300M in Beta Technologies to pair up on hybrid-electric power

    GE Aerospace is taking a sizable stake in electric aviation company Beta Technologies, with the pair teaming up to build a hybrid-electric turbogenerator for next-gen aircraft. GE will also invest $300 million, pending regulatory approval, under a strategic deal announced Thursday.

    The new partnership comes as hybrid solutions gain momentum in the advanced air mobility (AAM) space, a catch-all term to describe the next generation of aviation concepts like eVTOL, hydrogen, and so on. Aircraft makers are increasingly turning to engine hybrids, combining traditional turbines with electric power, to extend flight time or increase potential payload.

    It’s an interesting partnership: GE Aerospace is a giant in the jet and turboprop engine world, while Beta is a startup known for its electric aircraft platform. But the pair bring complementary experience to the table. The new turbogenerator will leverage GE’s existing infrastructure and components from its widely used engine family, while Beta will bring expertise in high-performance electric propulsion.

    GE and Beta say their hybrid system will provide greater range, payload capacity, and better aircraft performance.

    Alongside the new partnership, Beta is pursuing a path to certification for its Alia aircraft, which includes a conventional take-off and landing variant and an electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) variant. If this deal goes through, it will bring Beta’s total funding to $1.45 billion, and GE will join a suite of institutional investors that includes Amazon’s Climate Pledge Fund and Fidelity Management & Research Company.  

    If approved, GE will also gain the right to designate a director to Beta’s board, another signal that the legacy engine maker is taking seriously the new rise of hybrid-electric architectures.

  • New emojis will include Bigfoot, orca whale, treasure chest, and more

    New emojis will include Bigfoot, orca whale, treasure chest, and more

    The Unicode Consortium has confirmed its next slate of emojis, coming in the next year to eager thumbs near you.

    Yes, there is indeed a nonprofit organization that creates standardized language across devices from a wide range of hardware makers — that’s why if you send your friend a flamenco dancer emoji from your iPhone, they’ll be able to see that suave dancer in a red dress on their Android. And that same organization gets the final say on what new emojis come to your device.

    The new emojis include a trombone, a treasure chest, an bulging-eyes face, a fight cloud, an apple core, an orca whale, a gender-neutral ballet dancer, a landslide, and Bigfoot.

    Now you can illustrate even the most bizarre of situations — we’ve all had that very relatable moment when you’re taking a long trek up a mountain and suddenly, you find a buried treasure, at which your eyes bulge out and you suddenly notice a clearing where orcas are jumping in the distance, while ballerinas dance to trombone music. Also, you’ve just eaten a red apple.

    The next group of emojis will also support various skin tone options for emojis that show more than one person, like the emojis of people with bunny ears dancing and people wrestling.

  • Openvibe combines news and social media in one app

    Openvibe’s Big Leap: From Social To Stories

    What’s the Buzz?

    • RSS Support – Now you can keep up with your favorite news sites, blogs, and even meme‑rich newsletters all in the same cozy corner of Openvibe.
    • No More App‑Hopping – Forget juggling multiple readers or flipping between sites. One tap, one feed, one seamless scroll.
    • One‑Stop Empire – Social networks like Bluesky, Mastodon, Threads, Nostr plus your top headlines: all in a delightful carousel of information.

    Why It Matters

    • Less Click‑Fatigue – Spend your time on conversation, not on hunting the latest update.
    • More Time For Curiosity – With everything in one place, you can actually read, not just scroll.
    • Sharper Competitiveness – Openvibe is stepping onto the same stage as Tapestry, Feeeed, and the Flipboard‑branded Surf.

    Who’s Trying to Keep Up?

    • Tapestry – The brand behind the once‑famous Twitterrific, now offering its own unified social‑feed blend.
    • Feeeed – This quirky gateway tracks everything from Mastodon streaks to YouTube uploads.
    • Surf – The new browser that doubles as an open‑social hub, courtesy of Flipboard’s creators.

    Takeaway

    Openvibe’s new RSS feature means you can finally enjoy a one‑stop shop for socials, news, and that trending article you keep bookmarking. Say goodbye to scattered tabs and hello to a smarter, more entertaining way to stay in the know.

    Openvibe Unleashes RSS—Because Your News Feed Deserves an Upgrade

    Openvibe’s CEO Matej Svancer has been mapping out big‑picture plans from day one, and one of those plans has been to finally bring RSS into the mix. It wasn’t a priority until users started shouting for it, so the team jumped in and got the feature working faster than a caffeine‑boosted coder can type.

    How to Hook Your Favorite Sources

    • Add feeds one at a time by searching or picking from the app’s suggested list.
    • Just tap “follow” on the items you’re eager to keep an eye on.
    • Want a massive library? Dump an OPML file from wherever you’ve been subscribing.

    As the RSS crowd grows, Openvibe will roll out a leaderboard that spots the most popular feeds so you can discover the hot spots without having to sift through endless lists.

    Where Your News Lives

    Once the feeds are on board, you can:

    • See updates in the main home feed—because we all love a single spot for everything.
    • Or switch to a dedicated “RSS” feed for a clean, focused look.
    • Drop feeds into your own custom feed if you like a more personalized lineup.

    Not Just Articles—Podcasts & YouTube, Too?

    Openvibe can technically show podcasts and YouTube channels, but the user experience isn’t as polished yet. Svancer jokes that, “It’s doable today, but you’ll need to wrestle with opening each item in your browser. If that’s not your vibe, stick to reading for now.”

    With the RSS rollout hitting the ground, Openvibe is turning the app into a personal newsroom that’s as flexible as your coffee preferences. Stay tuned for more feed‑worthy announcements!

    Tech and VC heavyweights join the Disrupt 2025 agenda

    Netflix, ElevenLabs, Wayve, Sequoia Capital, Elad Gil — just a few of the heavy hitters joining the Disrupt 2025 agenda. They’re here to deliver the insights that fuel startup growth and sharpen your edge. Don’t miss the 20th anniversary of TechCrunch Disrupt, and a chance to learn from the top voices in tech — grab your ticket now and save up to $600+ before prices rise.

    Tech and VC heavyweights join the Disrupt 2025 agenda

    Netflix, ElevenLabs, Wayve, Sequoia Capital — just a few of the heavy hitters joining the Disrupt 2025 agenda. They’re here to deliver the insights that fuel startup growth and sharpen your edge. Don’t miss the 20th anniversary of TechCrunch Disrupt, and a chance to learn from the top voices in tech — grab your ticket now and save up to $675 before prices rise.

    San Francisco

    October 27—29, 2025

    • Mark your calendar and get ready for an unforgettable weekend in the city that never stops dreaming.
    • Don’t miss out! Secure your spot now—click “Register Now” and be part of the action.

    See you at the most buzzing event of the year—where the fog meets the fun!

    Openvibe Unveils RSS Support in its Mobile Apps

    Ever felt like your news feed is a chaotic stream of articles and hot takes? Openvibe just made it a little less wild. The team has added native RSS support to both iOS and Android, letting you keep your favourite blogs and news sites all in one spot.

    Drop the Browser, Sit Down

    Down to the heart of the change: Openvibe now opens content right inside the app, lean, mean and distraction‑free. No more clicking through a browser only to lose focus on that headline you’re hunting.

    If you’re a purist who loves the full web experience, you can flip a switch to redirect those reads to your default browser. There’s flexibility, after all.

    “Performance Mode” – Your New Swiss Army Knife

    Want to slay the GPU and keep your battery happy? The new toggle called Performance Mode will suppress image loading when you scroll through timeline previews. The result? A smoother, lighter experience that saves on resources.

    Trial Run: 100+ Early Adopters & 4,000 Feeds

    Before launch, Openvibe invited just over a hundred users to test the RSS integration. These pioneers collectively added 4,000+ feeds, proving the feature works under real‑world conditions.

    Free to Start – Subscriptions on the Horizon

    As of now, the app remains free—no in‑app purchases. But fingers crossed, the company hints that a subscription tier will roll out later, likely adding advanced goodies.

    Backing & Future

    Openvibe is supported by early investment from Czech Founders VC, Tensor Ventures, and Automattic—the mastermind behind WordPress.com, Tumblr, and Beeper. With such backing, it’s clear that the team’s vision is bigger than just a feather‑light news aggregator.

    In short, Openvibe’s RSS feature could become the new go‑to spot for personal news consumption—no browser needed, plus a cheeky toggle to keep your device happy.