[ad_1] Combined, Sphero and LittleBits have sold more than $500 million in robots and electronics. They’ve reached over six million students globally. And with this acquisition, Sphero now has over 140 patents in robotics, electronics, software and IoT. This isn’t the first time Sphero has branched out beyond robotics. Last year, it acquired Specdrums, and […]
Category: acquisition
Apple buys the ‘majority’ of Intel’s smartphone modem business
[ad_1] The arrangement still gives Intel the ability to develop modems for computers, Internet of Things devices and self-driving cars. It’s not completely out of the cellular chipset business, then, it’s just scaling back. This will let the chip designer focus on 5G in spaces where it “most closely aligns” with what its customers want. […]
Etsy buys music gear marketplace Reverb to expand its reach
[ad_1] If regulators approve the deal, it should close late in the third quarter or early in the fourth quarter of 2019. Reverb CEO David Kalt will step down from his leadership role once Etsy names a new executive. Etsy hasn’t made many acquisitions in its day (there were ‘just’ five between 2009 and 2016), […]
Apple confirms it acquired a self-driving car startup
[ad_1] The latest self-driving firm to be consolidated is Drive.ai. The startup has been working on AI tech for autonomous vehicles for a few years, but found itself low on cash in an increasingly competitive market. Now, just as the San Francisco Chronicle reports that it filed with regulators about shutting down, Apple acquired it […]
Ten states sue to block T-Mobile merger with Sprint
[ad_1] The states said they gave “significant consideration” to the companies’ talk of expanded rural coverage, but noted that T-Mobile hadn’t provided evidence of cell site expansion in these areas that wouldn’t already be served by at least one of the two networks. They also rejected the carriers’ argument that a union was necessary to […]
Twitter acquires AI startup to help it fight fake news
[ad_1] A Twitter spokesperson told TechCrunch in a statement when asked about the company’s plans for Fabula’s patented technology: “There’s more to come on how we will integrate Fabula’s technology where it makes sense to strengthen our systems and operations in the coming months. It will likely take us some time to be able to […]
VR pioneer Leap Motion reportedly sells to UltraHaptics for $30 million
[ad_1] Leap Motion, which was founded in 2010, developed sensors to track hand movements for VR use. However, it had middling reviews for a device that allowed people to control computers by moving their fingers. It also showcased a reference design for inexpensive AR headsets last year. Apple twice tried to buy it, with its […]
Apple reportedly buys asthma-monitoring startup
[ad_1] Apple has snapped up a company called Tueo Health, which was working on an app to help parents monitor asthma symptoms of their sleeping kids, according to CNBC. The startup’s CEO and chief operating officer switched their employer to Apple on LinkedIn late last year, which is when the deal seems to have closed. […]
Uber is expected to buy its Middle Eastern rival Careem
[ad_1] We’ve asked Uber for comment. The move might be a shrewd one. Uber is believed to be publicly filing for its IPO in April, and snapping up Careem would give investors an extra reason to back the company. On top of that, one of the company’s largest backers is a Saudi Arabian wealth fund […]
Turtle Beach buys Roccat to create a gaming accessory empire
[ad_1] Turtle Beach didn’t say how the leadership would change, but expected to complete the acquisition in the second quarter (no later than June). This is the flip side of Logitech’s audio company acquisitions in recent years. The goal, however, remains similar: Turtle Beach is clearly hoping to be a one-stop shop for PC peripherals, […]