Jordan Crook studied English Literature at New York University before entering the tech space. Prior to joining TechCrunch, Crook dabbled in mobile marketing and mobile apps as well as doing device reviews for MobileMarketer and MobileBurn. Crook is fascinated with alternative energy production and greentech.
She is now a writer for CrunchGear.
Hello
Just a few months ago, Skype competitor Viber previewed voice calling on the BlackBerry platform. Viber is available on a multitude of platforms, including iOS, Windows Phone 8, Bada, S40, Symbian, and the list goes on.
However, BlackBerry represents a good chunk of Viber’s user base (it’s their third largest platform behind iOS and Android), and yet it’s still in the minority of Viber apps… → Read More
This is a story about multiple lawsuits, a clone, and yet another tale of David vs. Goliath, except this time David and Goliath are kind of the same person.
After winning in the courts against a cohort of major broadcast networks just last week, two major problems have befallen the streaming TV startup Aereo.
The first is a clone called AereoKiller LLC, which claims to operate under… → Read More
Google has quietly rolled out an update to its Google Search app for iOS, and before you get your hopes up, I’ll go ahead and tell you that there’s no “Google Now” anywhere to be seen.
The update does, however, bring with it some improvements to voice search. According to the official iTunes page, users will have “faster and significantly improved voice recognition with text streamed on the… → Read More
Pandora has just announced that its online streaming radio has quite a few listeners. In fact, the company has surpassed 200 million registered users in the U.S. That’s up from 100 million registered users in July of 2011, meaning that around half of Pandora’s users have come over in the past two years, despite the fact that Pandora launched all the way back in 2005.
Slow and steady wins the… → Read More
These days, you can get your Instagram photos printed onto just about anything. There are companies that print out post-it sized Instagrams, Instagrams on Canvas, Instagrams on wood and fiber glass, and everything in between.
Today, Instantgram.me is joining those ranks with its new Instagram magnet-making business. The service offers 9 magnets, all 5cm x 5cm, for $17.00 with free worldwide… → Read More
HopStop, the location services app that helps you navigate the wacky world of public transportation, has today unveiled its biggest product launch ever, with the release of HopStop Live! The service is integrated with HopStop’s default iPhone app, as well as having its own standalone app called “Live!” The apps let users crowd-source information in real-time about delays to… → Read More
John Frankel, founder and partner at FF Ventures, has a steady hand on the pulse of innovation. He’s invested in companies like 500px, Appy Couple, and Moveline, to name a few, and while he doesn’t see a Series A crunch on the horizon, he does see the pace of innovation rapidly heating up.
After all, his firm as led seven investments in new companies since December 1, most notably in companies… → Read More
Just a day after announcing a new Android skin in the form of Facebook Home, the company has issued a FAQ regarding Facebook Home and privacy. → Read More
T-Mobile has always been the data provider behind Audi’s Connect infotainment system, which some would call the best connected car system on the market. But the two companies have announced some new data plans which could help Audi owners save a buck or two on connectivity. The new plans let customers purchase unlimited data for $30 month-to-month, or sign up for yearly contracts at a… → Read More
Do you ever feel like you’re always talking about plans to go here or hang out with so-and-so, but you’re never actually doing most of those things?
Well that’s why Ketchup, a new app available on the App Store, has launched into existence. The app lets you keep track of all the activities you said you’d do with someone, or even ping a friend on the fly to go to a movie sometime, grab drinks… → Read More
At today’s Facebook “Home on Android” event, the company launched a brand new homescreen that can be installed across any Android device, called Home.
Home transforms your smartphone from a app-centric, task-driven device to a people-centric tool, keeping you in the know about your friends and connections with nary a swipe from you. But one part of the phone that Facebook is dedicated to… → Read More
LinkedIn has just announced on its blog that a new Facebook-style mention feature, letting users tag companies or users, is officially official.
This morning, TNW noticed a feature being tested on LinkedIn that would let users mention other LinkedIn members or companies in status updates, instantly sending a notification to that user or company’s profile. Not every user had access to the… → Read More
Instagram has been around for what feels like forever, but it seems like just yesterday that the app migrated over to Android after being a long-time iOS exclusive. Today marks one year of Instagram’s presence on Android, and to celebrate the company shared on its blog that in just that short time around half of its users come from Android.
Last we heard, Instagram had over 100 million active… → Read More
Stray Boots started out as a basic SMS app, that let users enjoy a gamified city tour experience by answering questions about various nearby establishments sent to their phone via text. For an SMS application, StrayBoots seemed to have something great going, seeing as each game costs $12. Again, for an SMS app. But as time goes on, Stray Boots has switched things up a bit to include full-fledged… → Read More
If you live in San Francisco, chances are you’ve heard of an app called Sōsh, which takes all the guesswork out of finding really interesting, awesome things to do nearby. But here in New York, the word Sōsh has no meaning at all, except for maybe being a reference to one of my favorite characters on “Girls”.
But that’s about to change, as Sōsh is officially launching in New York. → Read More
Aereo has been making waves of late, winning an important court decision yesterday in its massive legal battle with network broadcasters over the legality of Aereo’s live streaming/DVR system that brings HD video content to any of your devices for a pay-as-you-go option or monthly subscription cost. Plus, rumors have been swirling lately that Aereo may be in talks with major ISPs and TV… → Read More
Viber has made multi-platform expansion its number one priority. It makes sense, given that Viber’s main task is providing free, seamless communication to anyone in the world, regardless of which platform they use.
Today, that expansion includes Windows Phone 8, with a new native Viber app that has been especially tailored to the WP8 UI. → Read More
Rosetta Stone has just acquired Seattle-based online language-learning community Livemocha for $8.5 million in cash. Livemocha has one of the largest online language-learning communities in the world, boasting over 16 million members from over 195 different countries.
Rosetta Stone will likely use Livemocha’s cloud platform to offer its language packages online — they were once only… → Read More
The much-rumored Apple iWatch isn’t as exciting as you might have thought.
We’ve heard rumors of flexible displays and Siri integration, but it appears that Apple’s iWatch is actually just a band meant to connect with the Apple device of your choice. → Read More
Aereo has a lot of plates spinning. The streaming TV startup just launched a huge marketing push in NY, along with the announcement of a $38 million funding round aimed at expansion to over 20 new cities in the coming months. And if that weren’t enough, Aereo is still in the midst of a fierce legal battle with network broadcasters. Still, the company continues to juggle its issues, not least… → Read More
Bad news, guys. YouTube is shutting down.
The platform launched eight years ago, and some of us have gotten so distracted by YouTube videos that we’ve forgotten that the whole thing is actually a competition. Or, YouTube never actually mentioned that it is a competition. Either way, that competition, called YouTube, is coming to a close. → Read More
Bonobos‘ newly hired San Francisco engineering team is fracturing, but there’s no disaster. Bonobos CTO Mike Hart has departed the company to become a co-founder, along with Cory Hicks, of a brand-new business.
After cooking up some hot new personalization technology at Bonobos, Hart and five other engineers from the team will be spinning out that technology into a standalone company separate… → Read More
It’s often been assumed that teens are one of the main culprits in the texting-while-driving epidemic in the U.S. It makes sense — teens are new drivers, and thus more reckless, and they also happen to be expert texters.
However, a new study funded by AT&T finds that adults actually text while driving more than kids. The study was taken from a pool of 1,011 consumers. → Read More
Indochino, the online one-stop shop for a custom tailored suit, has just launched a brand new Ultimate Spring Collection, with some brand new looks and some Indochino best-sellers in new materials.
The new collection comes hot on the heels of a $13.5 million Series B funding round, led by the Highland Consumer Fund alongside Madrona Venture Group, Acton Capital Partners and Jeff Mallett. → Read More
Hot on the heels of Netflix’s original series House Of Cards, the company hasannounced that it will release a new sci-fi TV series to the platform called Sense8.
The show is being developed under the guidance of the Wachowskis, who are responsible for smash hits like the Matrix series of films, V for Vendetta, Cloud Atlas and Speed Racer, as well as J. Michael Straczynski who is the creator… → Read More
Notice a little extra red in the blue sea of Facebook the past couple of days?
That’s a new picture shared by the Human Rights Campaign, an advocacy group for LGBT individuals and their allies, which is being used to show support for marriage equality. → Read More
Facebook stood loud and tall at today’s Gaming Developers Conference, revealing that around 200 games on Facebook.com boast more than 1 million active users. Plus, more than $2 billion was paid out to game developers over the course of 2012. That’s an increase of 30% over 2011 levels. → Read More
The iPhone has been make-or-break for carriers. AT&T had exclusivity for a while, hurting Verizon and Sprint until they got their hands on the iconic device. But T-Mobile is still in the dark, even as companies like U.S. Cellular nab Apple’s smartphone. But no longer. At today’s T-Mobile Uncarrier event, the pink wireless provider finally revealed that it will start selling the… → Read More
As quantified self devices and services come into their own, gamified social fitness tracker Fitocracy has found itself smack dab in the middle of a movement. But alas! The 500 Startups-backed company isn’t shoving wrist bands, smartwatches or pocket pedometers in the faces of its users. In fact, founder Richard Talens believes that the quantified self devices of today actually encourage the wrong… → Read More
Twitter has done a great job at keeping the whole “blue badge” verification process a mystery. If curiosity eats away at you like it does me, you’re in luck. A new video from comedians Hari and Ashok Kondabolu, featuring Anil Dash who has around 500k followers, shows the magical transformation from start to finish.
First off, it’s important to know that you can’t ask to be verified. Twitter… → Read More
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