Thursday, May 25, 2017

AlphaGo victorious and 3D-printed rockets. It's The Daily Crunch.

THE DAILY CRUNCH
THURSDAY, MAY 25 2017 By Darrell Etherington

Google's Go-playing AI is officially world champ, rockets are getting more accessible and spinning is leading to massive funding. All that and more in The Daily Crunch for May 25, 2017.

1. Google's AlphaGo defeats best human Go player

The second of three games was a much more decisive victory for Google's AlphaGo AI over Go world champion Ke Jie. The first happened earlier this week, but this time the human opponent had to concede.

This is basically the end of all humans. That might be overstatement but it totally could be true. Maybe.

2. Rocket Lab just launched a 3D printed rocket from a launch facility it owns

This could be a game changing development for commercial spaceflight. U.S./New Zealand private rocket co. Rocket Lab just launched an orbital spacecraft from their privately-owned launch facility in NZ for the first time. The rocket didn't quite make it to orbit, though it did get to space, so there's still some work to be done, but this means Rocket Lab could launch for commercial clients with unheard of efficiency in the future.

3. Peloton spins its way into the Unicorn club

Stationary exercise bike and remote workout company Peloton is now valued north of $1 billion, thanks to a new $325 million funding round. Also if you call it "spinning" apparently whoever holds that trademark comes after you. It's like Kleenex get over it.

4. Microsoft's game streaming service rebrands from Beam to Mixer

Both these names seem equivalently just-ok, so not sure why the rebrand (Microsoft says it wants to relay its ability to bring people together but marketing people will say anything, so still curious as to the real reason). Personally I think it's because Beam won TechCrunch's Startup Battlefield and Microsoft wants to make it harder to use our great stage photos in future articles about the service.

5. New Android exploit lets hackers hide their tracks

This newly found Android exploit, present up to version 7.1.2 after which it was patched, allows hackers to hide malicious activities behind seemingly innocuous ones. It's patched, yes, but a lot of users still use older version of Android, so it still pays to be wary.

6. Turns out nice Reddit doesn't work

Imzy, the Reddit with a kindler, gentler community focus, will be shutting down next month. The startup co-founded by ex-Reddit employees aimed to address some of the more toxic elements of that popular internet community

7. Pokémon's Magikarp mobile game is peak fish

Finally, Magikarp gets its due: A starring role in a game of its own. It's a mobile game for iOS and Android, but it's great and everyone should play it. I'm already four Magikarp deep.

1. Google's AlphaGo defeats best human Go player

The second of three games was a much more decisive victory for Google's AlphaGo AI over Go world champion Ke Jie. The first happened earlier this week, but this time the human opponent had to concede.

This is basically the end of all humans. That might be overstatement but it totally could be true. Maybe.

2. Rocket Lab just launched a 3D printed rocket from a launch facility it owns

This could be a game changing development for commercial spaceflight. U.S./New Zealand private rocket co. Rocket Lab just launched an orbital spacecraft from their privately-owned launch facility in NZ for the first time. The rocket didn't quite make it to orbit, though it did get to space, so there's still some work to be done, but this means Rocket Lab could launch for commercial clients with unheard of efficiency in the future.

3. Peloton spins its way into the Unicorn club

Stationary exercise bike and remote workout company Peloton is now valued north of $1 billion, thanks to a new $325 million funding round. Also if you call it "spinning" apparently whoever holds that trademark comes after you. It's like Kleenex get over it.

4. Microsoft's game streaming service rebrands from Beam to Mixer

Both these names seem equivalently just-ok, so not sure why the rebrand (Microsoft says it wants to relay its ability to bring people together but marketing people will say anything, so still curious as to the real reason). Personally I think it's because Beam won TechCrunch's Startup Battlefield and Microsoft wants to make it harder to use our great stage photos in future articles about the service.

5. New Android exploit lets hackers hide their tracks

This newly found Android exploit, present up to version 7.1.2 after which it was patched, allows hackers to hide malicious activities behind seemingly innocuous ones. It's patched, yes, but a lot of users still use older version of Android, so it still pays to be wary.

6. Turns out nice Reddit doesn't work

Imzy, the Reddit with a kindler, gentler community focus, will be shutting down next month. The startup co-founded by ex-Reddit employees aimed to address some of the more toxic elements of that popular internet community

7. Pokémon's Magikarp mobile game is peak fish

Finally, Magikarp gets its due: A starring role in a game of its own. It's a mobile game for iOS and Android, but it's great and everyone should play it. I'm already four Magikarp deep.

Get more stories at techcrunch.com 

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