Looking Glass' phone-sized holographic display

Looking Glass’ new lineup includes a $300 phone-sized holographic display

by with No Comment Tech

Looking Glass' phone-sized holographic display

Image Credits: Looking Glass

Looking Glass on Thursday announced that it has begun shipping a pair of new displays, with a third arriving at customer homes later this month. The larger Looking Glass 16- and 32-inch Spatial Displays are available now. The smaller model runs $4,000. The Brooklyn-based startup is making the 32-inch model’s price available on request.

The most interesting of the trio, however, has to be the $299 Looking Glass Go. Pricing has always been the biggest barrier to entry for the company’s holographic displays. While scaling production will continue to bring per-unit costs down, the technology has been largely price prohibitive.

Image Credits: Looking Glass

Looking Glass first addressed the issue at the end of 2020 with the $399 Portrait, a holographic digital photo frame. Like the Portrait, the Go debuted as part of a Kickstarter campaign. The device features a six-inch display, making it roughly the size of a smartphone. The device has a foldable base that props it up for display purposes.

The company has also been lowering the barrier of entry on the content side. Users can display spatial images with their own hardware — a feature Apple rolled out on the iPhone 15 Pro and Vision Pro headset. Looking Glass also offers software that can convert older 2D photos to 3D, before transferring them over to the displays via Wi-Fi.

Image Credits: Looking Glass

“With the[…] Apple Vision Pro and new spatial 3D capture capabilities in phones, we’ve decided it’s about time for a headset-free holographic device for mainstream users,” Looking Glass writes on the Go’s product site.

Prior to the Go’s release, Looking Glass shipped a self-reported “tens of thousands” of displays. With the price point for the line now starting at a hair under $300, the company will no doubt be growing that number more rapidly, hooking in people who were curious about the tech but didn’t have the thousands of dollars needed for entry.

Apple reportedly announcing iPhone 16 lineup and more on September 10

by with No Comment Tech

Image Credits: Olly Curtis/Future / Getty Images

Apple will be unveiling new products on September 10, with the announced phones going on sale on September 20, according to a report from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman.

That lineup will reportedly include the iPhone 16, with larger screens on the Pro models and a new button just for taking pictures. The phones should also support Apple Intelligence, the company’s suite of AI features announced earlier this year.

The event could also include announcements of the Apple Watch Series 10, which will be thinner than past models, with a larger screen, as well as new AirPods, with noise cancellation coming to more models.

While invites for the September 10 event have not yet gone out, the timing would be consistent with Apple’s press events in recent years.

Gurman also reported that Apple is planning to update its Macs with the M4 processors, but the new Macs probably won’t be announced until later in the fall.

Looking Glass' phone-sized holographic display

Looking Glass’ new lineup includes a $300 phone-sized holographic display

by with No Comment Tech

Looking Glass' phone-sized holographic display

Image Credits: Looking Glass

Looking Glass on Thursday announced that it has begun shipping a pair of new displays, with a third arriving at customer homes later this month. The larger Looking Glass 16- and 32-inch Spatial Displays are available now. The smaller model runs $4,000. The Brooklyn-based startup is making the 32-inch model’s price available on request.

The most interesting of the trio, however, has to be the $299 Looking Glass Go. Pricing has always been the biggest barrier to entry for the company’s holographic displays. While scaling production will continue to bring per-unit costs down, the technology has been largely price prohibitive.

Image Credits: Looking Glass

Looking Glass first addressed the issue at the end of 2020 with the $399 Portrait, a holographic digital photo frame. Like the Portrait, the Go debuted as part of a Kickstarter campaign. The device features a six-inch display, making it roughly the size of a smartphone. The device has a foldable base that props it up for display purposes.

The company has also been lowering the barrier of entry on the content side. Users can display spatial images with their own hardware — a feature Apple rolled out on the iPhone 15 Pro and Vision Pro headset. Looking Glass also offers software that can convert older 2D photos to 3D, before transferring them over to the displays via Wi-Fi.

Image Credits: Looking Glass

“With the[…] Apple Vision Pro and new spatial 3D capture capabilities in phones, we’ve decided it’s about time for a headset-free holographic device for mainstream users,” Looking Glass writes on the Go’s product site.

Prior to the Go’s release, Looking Glass shipped a self-reported “tens of thousands” of displays. With the price point for the line now starting at a hair under $300, the company will no doubt be growing that number more rapidly, hooking in people who were curious about the tech but didn’t have the thousands of dollars needed for entry.

Samsung Galaxy S23

Samsung’s Galaxy S24 lineup set for January 17 debut

by with No Comment Tech

Samsung Galaxy S23

Image Credits: Brian Heater

Samsung’s mobile division ditched the big show unveils a while back. Gone, too, it seems, are the days when the company would save its first big phone news of the year for the weeks leading up to Mobile World Congress.

The latest Unpacked event is set for January 17 — a week and change after the close of CES. If past is precedent (as it almost invariably is), we’ll be getting our first official look at Samsung’s new mobile flagship, the Galaxy S24.

Last year’s event, held at the beginning of February, ushered in three key versions of the S23, along with a handful of Galaxy Book laptops. This being Samsung, the handset leaks have been ongoing for a couple of months now.

Renders of the S24, S24+ and the S24 Ultra don’t stray too far from their predecessors. Those devices are expected to sport 6.2-, 6.7- and 6.8-inch displays, respectively. The S24 and S24+ look to be sporting a trio of rear-facing cameras, while the Ultra bumps it up to a quartet, including the 200-megapixel sensor.

The Ultra also maintains much of the DNA the device inherited from the Galaxy Note line, including square edges and S Pen functionality. The ultra-premium model is also believed to be getting a titanium option, much like the iPhone 15 Pro Max before it.

In spite of apparently being among the first to be powered by Qualcomm’s more powerful and power-efficient Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip, leaked price sheets point at a lower price point in Europe, which could be good news for potential buyers everywhere.

This time out, the event is being held in the South Bay. It kicks off at 10 a.m. PT and will be available to stream here. If you want to reserve the device sight unseen up to January 16, Samsung will toss in a $50 “reserve credit” on preorders.

Roku Pro Series Living Room

Roku announces new lineup of high-end TVs to launch this spring

by with No Comment Tech

Roku Pro Series Living Room

Image Credits: Roku

A year after announcing its own lineup of Roku-branded TVs, the hardware company revealed today a new range of high-end televisions. Roku also introduced Roku Smart Picture, an AI-powered feature that automatically adjusts picture and audio quality.

The Roku Pro Series TVs feature a thinner design than its Roku Select and Plus Series TVs, with a mount to rest flat against the wall. The new TVs also offer 4K QLED screens and mini-LED for local dimming. The company adds that the TVs come with audio upgrades for a “wide cinematic sound.”

Roku is rolling out its new product line to customers in the U.S. in the spring of this year. The new TVs will be available in three sizes — 55’’, 65’’ and 75’’ — and cost less than $1,500, a slight jump from its $999 model.

Image Credits: Roku

Also arriving in the spring of 2024, Roku Smart Picture is a new feature coming to the Roku TV program that is designed to optimize the viewing experience. Using AI, machine learning and data from content partners, Roku Smart Picture determines what type of content is on the screen and adjusts the TV settings to ensure viewers get the best presentation. The feature will roll out to all Roku TV models.

Today’s announcement comes on the heels of Roku reporting its quarterly earnings in November, which pointed to solid revenue growth — up 20% year over year, which the company attributed to unit sales of Roku Select and Plus Series TVs, along with video advertising and content distribution. Roku saw a total net revenue of $912 million compared to $761 million in the same period a year prior.

Roku is scheduled to speak at the CES technology conference next Wednesday, January 10.

Roku unveils its first-ever TVs designed and built by the company

Samsung Galaxy S23

Samsung’s Galaxy S24 lineup set for January 17 debut

by with No Comment Tech

Samsung Galaxy S23

Image Credits: Brian Heater

Samsung’s mobile division ditched the big show unveils a while back. Gone, too, it seems, are the days when the company would save its first big phone news of the year for the weeks leading up to Mobile World Congress.

The latest Unpacked event is set for January 17 — a week and change after the close of CES. If past is precedent (as it almost invariably is), we’ll be getting our first official look at Samsung’s new mobile flagship, the Galaxy S24.

Last year’s event, held at the beginning of February, ushered in three key versions of the S23, along with a handful of Galaxy Book laptops. This being Samsung, the handset leaks have been ongoing for a couple of months now.

Renders of the S24, S24+ and the S24 Ultra don’t stray too far from their predecessors. Those devices are expected to sport 6.2-, 6.7- and 6.8-inch displays, respectively. The S24 and S24+ look to be sporting a trio of rear-facing cameras, while the Ultra bumps it up to a quartet, including the 200-megapixel sensor.

The Ultra also maintains much of the DNA the device inherited from the Galaxy Note line, including square edges and S Pen functionality. The ultra-premium model is also believed to be getting a titanium option, much like the iPhone 15 Pro Max before it.

In spite of apparently being among the first to be powered by Qualcomm’s more powerful and power-efficient Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip, leaked price sheets point at a lower price point in Europe, which could be good news for potential buyers everywhere.

This time out, the event is being held in the South Bay. It kicks off at 10 a.m. PT and will be available to stream here. If you want to reserve the device sight unseen up to January 16, Samsung will toss in a $50 “reserve credit” on preorders.

Roku Pro Series Living Room

Roku announces new lineup of high-end TVs to launch this spring

by with No Comment Tech

Roku Pro Series Living Room

Image Credits: Roku

A year after announcing its own lineup of Roku-branded TVs, the hardware company revealed today a new range of high-end televisions. Roku also introduced Roku Smart Picture, an AI-powered feature that automatically adjusts picture and audio quality.

The Roku Pro Series TVs feature a thinner design than its Roku Select and Plus Series TVs, with a mount to rest flat against the wall. The new TVs also offer 4K QLED screens and mini-LED for local dimming. The company adds that the TVs come with audio upgrades for a “wide cinematic sound.”

Roku is rolling out its new product line to customers in the U.S. in the spring of this year. The new TVs will be available in three sizes — 55’’, 65’’ and 75’’ — and cost less than $1,500, a slight jump from its $999 model.

Image Credits: Roku

Also arriving in the spring of 2024, Roku Smart Picture is a new feature coming to the Roku TV program that is designed to optimize the viewing experience. Using AI, machine learning and data from content partners, Roku Smart Picture determines what type of content is on the screen and adjusts the TV settings to ensure viewers get the best presentation. The feature will roll out to all Roku TV models.

Today’s announcement comes on the heels of Roku reporting its quarterly earnings in November, which pointed to solid revenue growth — up 20% year over year, which the company attributed to unit sales of Roku Select and Plus Series TVs, along with video advertising and content distribution. Roku saw a total net revenue of $912 million compared to $761 million in the same period a year prior.

Roku is scheduled to speak at the CES technology conference next Wednesday, January 10.

Roku unveils its first-ever TVs designed and built by the company

roundtable

Check out the complete roundtable lineup at TC Early Stage 2024

by with No Comment Tech

roundtable

Among the highlights of Early Stage are its fan-favorite roundtable sessions. These intimate gatherings, guided by experts, delve into targeted subjects crafted to enlighten, invigorate, and enhance your entrepreneurial endeavors. Moreover, they serve as prime opportunities to forge connections with like-minded individuals. Networking, anyone?

Take a look at the complete roundtable roster for this year’s event featuring top VCs and founder leaders.

The Ins and Outs of Seed Funding

Sponsored by Latham & Watkins LLP
with Spencer Ricks, partner, and Naomi Smith, associate, Latham & Watkins LLP

Adapt & Thrive: Mastering the Chameleon Mindset

Sponsored by Prepare 4 VC
with Christopher Dube, chief innovation officer, and Jason Kraus, CEO, Prepare 4 VC

Exiting via M&A: What Acquirers Are Looking For and How You Can Prepare for a Successful Acquisition

with Dana Louie, senior manager, corporate development, HubSpot

Grabbing Investors’ Attention in a Competitive Market: Tips for Early-Stage Startups

with Sergey Gribov, partner, Flint Capital

Never Raise VC Money (and How to Keep More of Your Company if You Do)

with Jake Cohen, partner at Vinyl Capital

PR 101 for Founders: Branding Strategies to Win Over Investors, Customers and Partners

with Edith Yeung, general partner, Race Capital

Product Myth Buster: The (Actual) Right Time to Hire a Product Leader as an Early-Stage Company

with Rachel Weston Rowell, SVP, Onsite Product & Tech Center of Excellence, Insight Partners

For the complete agenda, head on over here. And don’t forget to buy your tickets now before prices go up at the door.

TechCrunch Early Stage Side Events

The Complete Side Events Lineup At TC Early Stage 2024

by with No Comment Tech

TechCrunch Early Stage Side Events

Get ready to amplify your Early Stage 2024 experience with the electrifying lineup of Side Events taking Boston by storm during the week of April 22–28.

As the countdown to TechCrunch Early Stage begins, we’re thrilled to share our Side Events lineup to foster meaningful connections within the vibrant Boston tech community. Whether you’re a seasoned industry pro or a budding entrepreneur, our Side Events promise an unforgettable week filled with networking opportunities, innovation showcases, and engaging conversations. So mark your calendars, secure your spot, and dive into the excitement of Early Stage Week like never before!

Quick Side Event Disclaimers:

Registering/RSVPing to a Side Event does not grant you access/ticket/badge to the main Early Stage 2024 conference on April 25.Each event is organized and operated solely by a host (i.e., not Yahoo Inc. or any of its affiliates or brands, including TechCrunch).Attendance is 18+ minimum and some venues are 21+ only.Side Events are open to the public unless specified.Please register/RSVP for any of the Side Events you want to attend.

Early Stage 2024 Side Events schedule

How to Pitch Your Startup 101 with Edith Yeung at Race Capital

Hosted By: Race Capital
Time: April 24, 1030am to 12pm
Description: There is “no love at first sight” in startup pitching. An investor will not, cannot, and would never invest in you the first time they meet you.

​At this talk, Edith Yeung covers:

​What do investors want?​What do founders want from your 1st pitch meeting?​What should a founder say and do in the first pitch?​What should a founder NOT to say or do in the first pitch?​What should a founder ask a potential investor?​What should a founder do to follow up?

   Register

TechCrunch Early Stage Happy Hour

Hosted By: Descope
Time: April 25, 6pm to 9pm
Description: Join us for an after-hours TechCrunch Early Stage Founders Happy Hour. Let’s raise a glass to innovation and disrupt together!

   Register

Smart Contract Driven Development

Hosted By: Rezoomex
Time: April 26, 9am to 1pm
Description: Join our invaluable 4-hour workshop aimed at early-stage startups looking to quickly develop end-user-ready products. Founders will learn how to build smart contracts for effective team engagement, guaranteeing fairness and integrity. Non-technical? No problem—our AI tools will transform your ideas into reality. We’re offering a 20% discount on all smart contracts and a lucky draw for $10,000 in free development time! The event concludes with an opportunity for networking over beer and lunch.

   Register

Techstars Startup Weekend Boston

Hosted By: Prepare 4 VC
Time: April 26, Starts at 5pm and runs through weekend
Description: Gain valuable insights on transforming your concept from an initial sketch to a fully-fledged startup. From pitching your idea, scrutinizing business models, identifying your target audience, to marketing your product – we cover it all! By the culmination of the 3-day event, you’ll craft an MVP and showcase it. Use the promo code “TCEARLYSTAGE” for 15% off your ticket!

   Register

Super Founders and Funders in AI Panel & Mixer Featuring Venture-backed Founders and VCs

Hosted By: Supermomos and HBS AI Club
Time: April 22, 6pm to 8pm
Description: Join us for an intimate evening over a Founders and Funders in AI Panel & Mixer featuring venture-backed Founders and VCs, in honor of TechCrunch week! We will feature venture-backed founders and VCs in the panel. There will be time for networking and mingling, with drinks and food on the house. This event is catered to founders, VCs, and operators building full-time in the AI ML space, and also a select group of students from the HBS AI Club.

   Register

Built World Startup Happy Hour

Hosted By: Suffolk Technologies and TriNet
Time: April 23, 430pm to 630pm
Description: Calling all innovators shaping the built environment! Find the next step for your entrepreneurial journey with Suffolk Technologies + TriNet at our exclusive rooftop happy hour! Learn more about Suffolk Technologies’ BOOST Accelerator Program and TriNet’s HR solutions for startups. Network amidst breathtaking views of the Boston skyline, including iconic landmarks crafted by Suffolk such as Raffles, One Dalton, and the BU Data Science Center. Enjoy refreshing beverages, appetizers, and ignite connections that could redefine the future of the built environment.

   Register

Founders History Tour w/SVB!

Hosted By: Silicon Valley Bank
Time: April 24, 1pm to 3pm
Description: Join SVB on an interactive and non-traditional deep-dive into Boston (and America’s) rich history; founded on innovation, grit, resilience, and freewill. Hosted by SVB Boston’s Director of Startup Banking (who also happens to be a Revolutionary War re-enactor), this tour will begin with a cup’a choudah at the nation’s oldest restaurant and continue through downtown to most of the historic spots; ending at the only place in the world where you can drink a Sam Adams while looking at Sam Adams. So enjoy our historic city before TechCrunch Early Stage and join fellow founders following in the footsteps of our nation’s early founders.

   Register

Early Stage Round Table

Hosted By: 9point8 Collective and Orrick
Time: April 24, 4pm to 630pm
Description: Join 9point8 Collective and Orrick for a round table focused on accelerating your early-stage start-up. Attendees will hear from serial entrepreneurs and investors covering various aspects of start-up success including going to market, cap table management, growth and scaling, and managing exits. The round table will be collaborative with audience Q&A and group participation along with the main panel.

   Register

Startup Launchcode Founder Workshop

Hosted By: Startup Launchcode
Time: April 24, 5pm to 630pm
Description: Startup Launchcode Founder Workshop is an interactive session designed to equip early-stage founders with the strategy, tools, and framework to build a great startup.

   Register

BYOPD (Bring Your Own Pitch Deck): Analyze your current pitch deck against successful decks

Hosted By: Dropbox DocSend and Boston New Technology
Time: April 24, 5pm to 8pm
Description: Pitch Practice and BYOPD (Bring Your Own Pitch Deck) Seminar: Securing early-stage funding requires a compelling pitch deck. The VC landscape is fluid and ever-changing, with investors’ priorities often shifting. Justin Izzo, lead data analyst at Dropbox DocSend, offers DO’s and DON’Ts based on DocSend’s proprietary data alongside industry experts from Boston New Technology and Prepare 4 VC. This interactive workshop will help early-stage founders succeed in the current state of fundraising. Founders can submit their own pitch decks for a chance to be reviewed in front of the audience for actionable tips. The session will end in a Q&A where other founders will have a chance to ask questions about their own pitch decks.

   Register

Founders Happy Hour with Vouch, Remofirst, and SVB

Hosted By: Vouch, Remofirst, and SVB
Time: April 24, 6pm to 9pm
Description: If you’re in town for TechCrunch Early Stage or looking for a place to connect with others in the startup space, join us for a Happy Hour hosted by Vouch, Remofirst, and SVB at Black Lamb – just a 10 minute walk from the conference center! RSVP today to secure your spot for this exclusive networking event. See you soon 🥂

   Register

Disrupt Your Chaotic Startup Life with Productivity Innovation – Networking Reception

Hosted By: SiloClick LLC
Time: April 24, 630pm to 830pm
Description: Join SiloClick for a private Networking Reception on Wednesday, April 24. This event is not just a warm-up for the TechCrunch Early-Stage Conference but a transformative opportunity to navigate your startup journey more effectively. Enjoy food, beverages, and engaging conversations within your startup founder community. We welcome startup founders seeking innovative solutions to maintain wellness while achieving the optimal point of productivity for those crucial momentum moments throughout your startup journey. Investors interested in the future-of-work & productivity space and industry peers aiming to enhance both productivity and wellness in the workplace are also warmly invited!

   Register

Startup Happy Hour with Onshape

Hosted By: Onshape (PTC Inc.)
Time: April 24, 630pm to 9pm
Description: Join us the week of TechCrunch Early Stage 2024 at PTC’s headquarters for an exciting happy hour for founders! Immerse yourself in Boston’s dynamic startup community and connect with local hardware experts and innovative product designers. This event is curated for professionals seeking to broaden their network, as well as venture firms and accelerator spaces exploring collaboration opportunities. Join us for an evening dedicated to insightful conversations, new ideas, and fostering a creative community.

   Register

Accessibility Tech and Innovation

Hosted By: Verizon
Time: April 25, 5pm to 7pm
Description: At Verizon, we are striving to move our world forward through diversity, equity and inclusion. On April 25th at our Boston Innovation Lab, we are inviting and would like to hear from people who are interested in emerging technologies that can help our mission. We will have our Head of Accessibility and several startups present their ideas and would love to hear your thoughts. Together, we can do more – we can unlock opportunities for all!

   Register

Women Tech Meetup: Fundraising & Growth Powered by Techstars

Hosted By: Women in Tech – Global Movement
Time: April 25, 530pm to 8pm
Description: Join our Women Tech Meetup—an incredible gathering of women in technology, female founders, entrepreneurs, community builders, and other professionals! Enjoy complimentary drinks and snacks, engaging conversations, networking, and a beautiful venue. Additionally, we will host a panel discussion on fundraising, venture capital, and the challenges that founders face on their journey to building successful companies, along with strategies to overcome them.

   Register

Early Stage Deep Tech Happy Hour

Hosted By: AlleyCorp
Time: April 25, 530pm to 830pm
Description: Join AlleyCorp, Anzu Partners, Argon VC, Aurelia Foundry, Converge Ventures, Cybernetix Ventures, First Star Ventures, Glasswing Ventures, Hyperplane Ventures, and SkyRiver Ventures after TechCrunch Early Stage, for a happy hour with deep tech founders, operators, and investors. Special thanks to J.P. Morgan. The party will start at 5:30pm, immediately following TechCrunch Early Stage 2024 on April 25th. This event is 21+.

   Register

Is it SAFE?

Hosted By: Corpora
Time: April 26, 10am to 1130am
Description: Safes are the most popular early-stage financing tool today. They’re so easy to use, so they seem like a no-brainer for founders. But… are they as founder-friendly as you would think? Grab a cup of coffee, settle in, and let’s talk about some of the lesser-known dangers of safes, which often become apparent to founders only when it’s too late.

   Register

Getting Ready for Due Diligence from Angel Groups and Seed Investors

Hosted By: Launchpad Venture Group
Time: April 26,1pm to 3pm
Description: This is an in-depth workshop for founders to learn when raising money from angel groups and other seed investors:

– What does the diligence involve
– Areas of the diligence and what investors look for in each case
– How to prepare and what documents and artifacts you need to have ready in each area

   Register

Women in Business

Hosted By: At the Table and Northeastern University
Time: April 26, 6pm to 9pm
Description: Get ready for an extraordinary evening at Northeastern University with our “Women in Business” Networking Event, a cornerstone of our partnership with AtTheTable.io. This isn’t just an event; it’s a celebration of female entrepreneurship, designed to inspire, connect, and energize.

   Register