TC Cribs: Inside SoundCloud, The Berlin-Based Startup Where Music Is Made And Shared

Berlin is buzzing with entrepreneurial energy at the moment, and SoundCloud is one of the companies that has emerged as an anchor to the city's growing tech startup scene. So when TechCrunch TV was in Berlin recently to cover the Disrupt Europe conference, we made sure to stop by SoundCloud's office to check it out for ourselves.

SoundCloud has grown significantly since its debut in 2007, and now its service boasts more than 250 million active listeners. Its staff has grown quite a bit too, as you'll see by the density at its current headquarters (the company is set to move to a new larger office next year.) For now, though, the close quarters make for an exciting collaborative vibe - and being that most SoundCloud staffers are music buffs or musicians themselves, there's a lot of creativity in the air in addition to the tech.

Check out the video embedded above to see the artwork, musical instruments, and bottles of Club-Mate that keep SoundCloud HQ buzzing every day. You'll also get a look at what it's like to get a German lesson from the full-time language teacher on SoundCloud's staff - in all, I'd say it was a sehr gut visit.

via TechCrunch » Startups http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/techcrunch/startups/~3/S9meAoAElZQ/

Pintando con metal en 3D

Como alternativa a la impresión en metal de objetos en 3D capa a capa, que ya está empezando a poner algunos procesos de producción patas arriba, General Electric está probando otro sistema que «pinta» con partículas metálicas, construyendo formas poco a poco.

Está pensado más bien para reparar piezas dañadas que para construir piezas totalmente nuevas, y el truco está en calentar el polvo metálico y el gas a una temperatura menor que la de fusión del metal de tal modo que lo que sale por la boquilla son partículas de metal maleables, pero no fundidas, que se adhieren a la pieza ya existente.

La ventaja principal respecto a la impresión capa a capa es que en principio esta técnica no tiene límites de tamaño salvo el que pueda imponer los movimientos de los que sea capaz el mecanismo de la boquilla.

GE está ya fabricando piezas metálicas mediante impresión en 3D como este inyector para motor LEAP

Hay más detalles en GE Researchers Experiment with 3D Painting to Build Up and Repair Parts .

(Vía Engadget).

# Enlace Permanente

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Google's new Chrome voice extension lets you search hands-free (video)

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Automatic Link review: an expensive way to learn better driving habits

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Nickelodeon Partners With Ludei To Bring HTML5 Games To Its Upcoming Android App

Ludei, which offers an HTML5 platform for building games and other apps, is announcing today that it's powering the games in Nickelodeon's upcoming Android app.

Ludei CEO Eneko Knorr said that Nickelodeon is basing “its entire game development strategy” on his company's technology, with the kids' entertainment channel treating the new app as a “container” that will include dozens of HTML5 games. The app is scheduled to launch on November 15.

“It's clear that HTML5 is the right choice for cross platform game development, but development challenges require close attention in order to achieve optimal performance,” said Dhimiter Bozo, vice president of engineering for apps and games at Nickelodeon-owner Viacom, in the press release. “Ludei's easy-to-use solution helps us address these challenges, and makes it easy for us to deliver excellent, native-like HTML5 game experiences.”

As for iOS, where Nickelodeon already offers an app, a company spokesperson said that these games would be included initially, but they added, “obviously” the goal in embracing HTML5 is “to enable across platforms.”

Ludei says there are now 20,000 developers, including three of the world's top 20 game publishers, using its platform. It raised $1.5 million in funding earlier this year.

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Moto G Smartphone Makes Surprise Early Debut in U.S.

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Onboard JetBlue's first Fly-Fi flight, with the fastest internet in the air

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Samsung to update Galaxy Gear this week with enhanced notifications and gestures

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Engadget Giveaway: win an iPad Air courtesy of hopTo!

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BBM Channels launches today for BlackBerry smartphones

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Paper airplanes finally get the smartphone remote control they deserve

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Eric Schmidt's iPhone-to-Android Guide and Other News You Need to Know

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The Cheap, (Possibly Awesome) Moto G Is Available Way Early In the US

Motorola now selling unlocked Moto G in the US

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Scientists Have Figured Out How to 3D Print Batteries

Major benchmarking service delists Samsung and HTC phones it suspects of cheating

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Lock8 Smart Bike Lock Surpasses Funding Goal

If people feel comfortable renting out their houses, and cars, to strangers, why not bikes?

That's the question that the Lock8 founders asked themselves, inevitably leading to one of the first true smart locks for bikes. Plus, Lock8 uses its smart lock, paired with a mobile app, to facilitate a peer-to-peer marketplace.

Today, Lock8 surpassed its funding goal on Kickstarter, with six days to spare.

Lock8 also happened to be the winner at our first-ever TechCrunch Disrupt Europe Battlefield.

The company launched the Kickstarter campaign on our stage last month, and has now received more than $80,000 with a few days left to spare.

Lock8 works similarly to smart locks in homes; keyless unlock via pairing with a smartphone app. The Lock8 is installed onto the bike and is packed with sensors, which can alert the owner if someone is trying to steal the bike.

If the thief manages to get the bike unlocked, the owner's phone can track the bike and even set off a remote alarm.

The idea is that, eventually, bike robbers will recognize the Lock8 and beware, paving the way for more trusting cyclists. Then, bikers can rent out their bikes to their friends or others registered on the service to make a little cash on the side.

The Lock8 usually costs around $200, but will be available for $149 for the next six days, during the campaign.

via TechCrunch » Startups http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/techcrunch/startups/~3/pU6rrRTIDO4/

After Last Month's Security Breach, Social Media Scheduling Service Buffer Adds 2-Step Login

Buffer, the social media scheduling service, experienced a potentially brand-damaging security breach last month that saw a slew of weight-loss spam posted to Twitter and Facebook on behalf of its users. And although it turned out to be the company's database provider, MongoHQ, that was the origin of the compromise, Buffer, by its own admission, was squarely to blame as it hadn't encrypted access tokens for the social media services it supports. Today the startup is announcing a host of new security measures, including encrypting user email addresses and access tokens, and 2-step login, in a bid to restore confidence in its wares.

“With all that trust given to us, despite the big mess, we wanted to really step up our game in terms of safety and security,” writes the company on its blog. “For the past few weeks, we have been focusing on making Buffer the safest, most secure way for you to manage and publish to your social media accounts. We have a number of awesome things to show you. The most important step in this process is a feature we're announcing today: 2-Step Login”.

An optional setting for all Buffer users, 2-step login requires an additional security code to login to your Buffer account. It can be powered by SMS, requiring each user to register a mobile phone number with their account, or Google Authenticator, Google's own 2-step authentication app for iOS and Android. Both single and team Buffer accounts are supported. It's worth pointing out, however, that 2-step login, though a very sensible move, especially since a brand's image is essentially in the hands of its employees and Buffer's security, wouldn't likely have prevented the recent breach. But it's a good thing, nonetheless.

To that end, Buffer has also added encryption for user emails addresses and access tokens for social media services (Twitter, Facebook, Google+ etc.), preventing exactly the kind of hack that caused last month's “big mess”, as well as having all of its own team members change their passwords and set up two-factor authentication (where possible) on accounts for Google, Github, Stripe, HipChat and Dropbox. The thing about security is it's only as strong as the weakest point in the chain, and that is more often people.

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Kiip Says Its Self-Serve Platform Is Now Open To All Advertisers

Kiip just announced that it's opening the self-service version of its ad platform to all companies globally.

Kiip, for those of you who don't remember, is pitching mobile rewards as a way for advertisers to reach consumers at moments when they're feeling particularly warm and fuzzy, say when they beat a level in a mobile game.

The company actually went self-serve last year in terms of integrating with developers. It started testing out the same approach with invited advertisers five months ago, and since then, it says it has worked with number companies that should be familiar to TechCrunch readers including Hulu, Hotels.com, Lyft, Beachmint, and Homejoy.

The company says it reaches 70 million users across a network of more than 1,500 games and apps. In those early tests, Kiip-powered rewards have apparently seen in-app engagement rates of 5 to 7 percent and led to email open rates of 30 percent.

Co-founder and CEO Brian Wong told me:

Large, advertising agency led brands like Pepsi and McDonald's continue to use our products focused on branding as well. Self-service clients are more conversion rated and have the online system for tracking and credits.

He added that prior to going self-serve, most of Kiip's ads were purchased through agencies, but the team realized that this new approach was “the best way to scale and to make our team more international.”

The company says that this is a global launch, and that will accept ads from businesses in any country.

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Vizio rounds out its soundbar line with a 54-inch model, teases a new 55-inch TV

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Apple 27-Inch iMac: Power for the Pros, Made for the Masses

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This Is Why Imperial Units Suck

Samsung bakes SMS support into ChatON for Android, because please use ChatON

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Lumen Bluetooth smartbulb challenges Philips Hue to offer app-controlled home lighting

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El hombre que mató a la ballena de Twitter

Llamadme Christopher.

En Wired, Christopher Fry, el ingeniero que mató a la ballena de Twitter ,

La ballena de error de Twitter es cosa del pasado. De hecho la quitamos este verano y su imagen no está ya en los servidores de Twitter. Esto no significa que Twitter no pueda dar error porque no es un servicio perfecto; pero la ballena ya no aparece. Tenía una historia y algunos usuarios se sentían muy vinculados a ella. Pero para nosotros representa un tiempo en el que Twitter no estaba a la altura de lo que debe ser: un servicio que esté disponible en momentos de alegría y también cuando las cosas van mal y hay inundaciones o desastres peores. Tengo el compromiso personal de que Twitter esté disponible siempre que alguien lo necesite.

# Enlace Permanente

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Nieve simulada

Tan realista, divertida y gozosa como la nieve real: A Material Point Method For Snow Simulation, presentado en el SIGGraph, algunas de las técnicas que Disney ha usado en Frozen: el reino de hielo , la película de las navidades de este año.

(Vía John Nack on Adobe.)

# Enlace Permanente

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10 Black Friday Deals For iPhone Owners

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Chromecast stand-in CheapCast now beams browser tabs to your display

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Google Confirms Its Android Camera App Is About to Get Way Better

Sony resetting some PSN passwords as a 'precautionary measure'

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La novia invisible

Una novia creíble para tu familia.

Para que puedas volver a vivir la vida como tú quieres.

¡Por fin mi novia invisible me permite concentrarme en el trabajo y no en estar buscando pareja!

InvisibleGirlfriend.com genera novias virtuales con distintos grados de credibilidad: simplemente mensajitos y chats o incluso «llamadas de voz en vivo», dependiendo de para qué la necesites: ahuyentar a quienes revolotean a tu alrededor, conseguir que tu familia deje de entrometerse en tu vida, enfocarte en el trabajo en vez de en la vida de los romances…

En fin, lo normal.

(Vía Taxi.)

# Enlace Permanente

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