Victoria Fox's Blog, page 181
August 9, 2023
Meta adds ability to verify your Threads profile on Mastodon
Meta on Wednesday took a small step toward supporting the so-called fediverse — a network of decentralized servers — by adding the ability to verify your Threads profile on Mastodon. The company announced that it is adding support for “rel=me” links — a way to establish a relationship between two accounts by pointing links to each other.
Here is how you can verify your Threads profile on Mastodon. Importantly, you have to follow the order for the verification to work.
1. Add your Mastodon profile to your Threads profile.
2. Add your Threads profile link to one of the “Extra fields” in your Mastodon profile.
3. Save the changes.
The verification will likely appear on your Mastodon profile in the form of a green highlighted bar around the Threads link along with a checkmark. You can see what the verification looks like in the screengrab below.
Image Credits: Screenshot by TechCrunch
When you complete the process, the Mastodon server essentially pings the Threads page to check for a “rel=me” web attribute and verify that the link in your Threads profile is pointing back to Mastodon. This ‘verification’ only shows that you are the owner of the mentioned Threads profile and nothing else. Apart from Mastodon, you can also use this attribute to verify your Threads profile on services supporting the fediverse such as Wikipedia, Gravtar, and Flipboard.
However, this method is not working for some Mastodon users. A Threads engineer mentioned that the team is looking into verification-related bugs. Additionally, the engineer said that there is no way for you to verify your Mastodon profile on Threads at the moment.
This update came with a slew of other features being added to Threads, including the ability to send a post directly to Instagram DMs, letting users add custom alt text for images, and a button to easily mention someone in a post.
Instagram head Adam Mosseri also noted this update in his post and said it is one of the “meaningful steps towards adopting open standards and the fediverse.” He also said that the company has been using an “early version” of Threads on the web internally. This means we can get a fully functional desktop version of the social network in a few weeks.
Last month, Mosseri said that because of technical challenges, the Threads app won’t support the fediverse at the launch. But he mentioned that the company is “fully committed to building support for ActivityPub.”
Last year, after Elon Musk took over Twitter, developers built many link verification services for Mastodon as people were migrating to the fediverse.
This Resident Evil Humble Bundle contains 11 games for $35
Humble has teamed up with Capcom for Resident Evil fans who may want to get extra copies of the games or people looking to finally give the survival horror series a try. The Resident Evil Humble Bundle comes with 11 titles for the PC, including one version for every major entry in the franchise. It also includes the latest game in the series, Resident Evil Village, which still costs at least $40 to purchase from Steam, along with a 25 percent off coupon for its Winters’ Expansion DLC. The extra content gives players access to Third-Person Mode, expands the Mercenaries Mode and shows what happened to the baby who played a pivotal role in the story 16 years later.
In addition to RE Village, the bundle contains the following games: Resident Evil 0, Resident Evil HD Remaster, Resident Evil 2 Remake, Resident Evil 3 Remake, Resident Evil 4, Resident Evil 5 Gold Edition, Resident Evil 6, Resident Evil 7 Biohazard, Resident Evil Revelations and Resident Evil Revelations 2. Buyers will have to pay at least $35 to get the whole bunch, but they can also get everything minus RE Village and the coupon for its expansion for only $20. For $10, they can get the seven oldest games in the list. All the titles from the bundle are redeemable from Steam and playable on Windows PCs.
Notably absent from the game list is Capcom’s remake of Resident Evil 4. That one is, perhaps, a bit too new to be included in the bundle, as it was only released in March for $60.
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How SAEKI’s 3D Printing Robots Will Digitise The Manufacturing Sector
Just as digital transformation has swept through other industries, so the construction sector faces growing pressure to embrace innovation – to reduce cost, accelerate projects and mitigate climate change impacts. The Swiss start-up SAEKI, which is today announcing a $2.3 million seed funding round, believes it is poised to play a leading role in driving such change.
“SAEKI was born with the objective of changing how we think about large-scale manufacturing,” says Andrea Perissinotto, who co-founded the business with Oliver Harley and Matthias Leschok in 2021. “Our vision is to transform the manufacturing process by combining robotics with 3D printing, machining and inspection.”
In construction, Perissinotto explains, structures are built from concrete using bespoke molds that typically have to be hand-made from wood. This is time-consuming and wasteful, since the wood is typically scrapped once the mold has been used. SAEKI, by contrast, has developed a robot incorporating a 3D printer that can produced the same molds from recyclable material. The mold can be printed and delivered to the construction site far more quickly than a carpenter would produce the wooden version, and the material can be reused once the mold is no longer needed onsite.
3D printing, or additive manufacturing as it is known in an industrial context, is not a new technology but its use in large-scale manufacturing is at a relatively early stage, says Perissinotto. “We focused our attention on this and chose to build fully automated factories that consist of independent micro-factories.” SAEKI’s business model is an as-a-service concept – it envisages customers booking time with its robots rather than buying them outright.
That will require the company to develop a number of hubs so that it can get closer to customers in their local markets, rather than having to ship bulky products over long distances. The first of those hubs is taking shape in Switzerland, enabling SAEKI to target customers in the country and in neighbouring Germany and Austria, but Perissinotto believes the potential is international. “Our next major milestone will be to establish more micro-factory hubs in other parts of the world, making SAEKI one of the global players in large-scale digital manufacturing.”
Importantly, while the construction sector is an important target market for SAEKI, the company is also taking aim at other industries. In areas such as aerospace and automotive, for example, manufacturers also use molds to produce very large parts and components. SAEKI’s robots can switch to printing in materials more suitable for these molds and stresses its speed of production as a major advantage over traditional processes.
The company is at a relatively early stage, having spent the past two years working with a number of clients on experimental pilot projects to fine-tune its technology. A new pavilion planned for construction in Lausanne is one early example of how SAEKI hopes its technology can be put to work, with the company collaborating with Holcim, Sika and Losinger Marazzi on the project.
Nevertheless, Perissinotto believes the company’s funding round will be a milestone moment for the business, marking its emergence from stealth. “The goal is to reach a point where we can have increased production capacity and start tackling bigger projects, moving from a validation and prototyping stage to full-scale production,” he explains.
Co-founder Matthias Leschok is also looking to the future. “In 10 years from now SAEKI envisions lights-out factories filled with SAEKI microfactories,” he says. “They will be autonomously producing complex, material and weight-saving formwork for the construction industry, fixtures and tooling for super-sonic jets or composite molds for the next generation formula one cars.”
The company’s investors insist such ambition is not misplaced, with the round led by Wingman Ventures and supported by Vento Ventures, Getty Capital and a number of angel investors. “SAEKI’s groundbreaking approach to distributed additive manufacturing has the power to revolutionise sectors from aerospace to construction through disruptive technology, local production and sustainable materials,” says Edouard Treccani, Principal at Wingman.
Prince Harry’s feud with King Charles, Prince William at intervention point: expert
Prince Harry and Prince William are said to be no closer to mending their ongoing rift.
The battling brothers are both heading to Singapore to promote their causes, but royal watchers shouldn’t expect a heartfelt reunion anytime soon.
The Duke of Sussex stepped out in Tokyo on Wednesday for the ISPS Sports Value Summit-Special Edition alongside his pal Ignacio “Nacho” Figueras. The younger son of King Charles III is saddling up for the 2023 Sentebale ISPS Handa Polo Cup in Singapore Aug. 12.
William is expected to visit the island republic in Southeast Asia Nov. 7 for the 2023 Earthshot Prize Awards ceremony.
PRINCE HARRY’S ‘HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS’ TITLE REMOVED FROM ROYAL FAMILY’S WEBSITE
Prince Harry was in Tokyo Wednesday for the ISPS Sports Values Summit-Special Edition. (Reuters)
“I’m sure everybody managed those diaries to make sure there was no crossover whatsoever,” True Royalty TV co-founder Nick Bullen told Fox News Digital. “Harry hasn’t even been going to old friends’ weddings. So, those moments where they might bump into each other aren’t happening, let alone the choreographed moments.”
Prince Harry’s (right) older brother Prince William (left) is heir to the British throne. (Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images)
Bullen is an award-winning documentarian who has been producing programs about the British royal family for 20 years. He has also worked closely with the king for about a decade. His streaming platform is offering a new special dedicated to Balmoral Castle, where the royal family gathers every summer.
The castle, located in Scotland, was a refuge for Queen Elizabeth II and the known setting for her summer family gatherings. Britain’s longest-reigning monarch died there Sept. 8 at age 96.
Queen Elizabeth II (right) is seen here with the former Prince Charles (left) at Balmoral in 2021. (Andrew Milligan/Pool/AFP via Getty Images)
“William and [his wife] Kate [Middleton] are going to be spending time at Balmoral this summer,” said Bullen. “They’re going to be staying up in a cottage that was a favorite of the queen’s when she was alive. William and Kate have taken it over with their children for this summer. So, it’s nice to see the traditions are continuing.”
Nick Bullen said the Prince and Princess of Wales will be heading to Balmoral this summer with their three children: Prince George (left) Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis. (Jonathan Brady/Pool/Getty Images)
It’s unclear whether Harry, 38 and his wife Meghan Markle have received an invitation to visit Balmoral this summer. Palace sources denied to the UK’s Daily Mail that the royal family was “snubbing” the Duke and Duchess of Sussex on the anniversary of the queen’s death. The insider told the outlet the king is preparing to spend the somber day “in quiet reflection.”
Bullen claimed Charles, 74, is eager to make peace with his son and daughter-in-law.
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True Royalty TV co-founder Nick Bullen claimed to Fox News Digital that King Charles III (right) is eager to make peace with his son, Prince Harry (left). (Loic Venance/AFP via Getty Images)
“I’m told that the king continues to reach out to Harry and Meghan and that the door is always open,” said Bullen. “I think, probably, he more than anybody, wants to repair the relationships. We all know things are still very tense between William and Harry, but I think the king does want to repair [things]. … There is probably an open invitation to visit the king whenever they can. And he would love to see them.
King Charles (left, being kissed on the cheek by his son Prince Harry) became monarch upon the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, in September. (Matt Dunham/WPA Pool/Getty Images)
“Look, he’s the king,” Bullen added. “He’s not going to be able to make it to California very often. They don’t have official roles. They don’t appear to have a 9-to-5 job. So, I would say they’ve probably got the ability to make a visit to Scotland should they wish, and I’m sure the king would have them there.”
Markle, a former American actress, became the Duchess of Sussex when she married the British prince in 2018. In 2020, the couple announced they were stepping back as senior royals, citing what they described as the unbearable intrusions and racist attitudes of the British media. They moved to the wealthy, coastal city of Montecito that year. The couple sat for a two-hour TV interview with Oprah Winfrey, launched a six-part Netflix docuseries about their life together and Harry released his best-selling memoir “Spare.”
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex (left) are seen here with the Prince and Princess of Wales in 2018. Prince Harry and wife Meghan Markle stepped back as senior royals in 2020. (Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images)
Harry’s “His Royal Highness” title was noticeably gone from the royal family’s website Tuesday, more than three years after he and his wife made their exit. As part of the agreement made between the couple and the royal family in January 2020, Harry and Markle, 42, would no longer use their “HRH” titles after stepping back from their official positions. HRH titles are spoken and written in front of the names of princes and princesses and their spouses.
Prince William (left) and Prince Harry’s relationship has been strained since the Duke and Duchess of Sussex made their exit in 2020. (Daniel Leavl-Olivas/Pool/Getty Images)
William and Harry, who were once close, have been estranged since the couple made their royal exit. During the king’s coronation in May, the brothers were never seen speaking or even acknowledging each other. After the ceremony, Harry headed swiftly back to California.
MEGHAN MARKLE, PRINCE HARRY BUY FILM RIGHTS TO ROMANCE NOVEL IN NEXT HOLLYWOOD MOVE
“I think there is so much water under the bridge between William and Harry that how they intend to find that common ground is beyond most royal commentators,” Bullen explained. “I think there needs to be a brokerage from another person. There almost needs to be an intervention. It requires both parties to be willing to come to the table.”
(Front row L-R) Prince William, Prince of Wales; Princess Charlotte; Prince Louis; Catherine, Princess of Wales; and Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, during the coronation ceremony of King Charles III and Queen Camilla at Westminster Abbey May 6, 2023, in London. (Victoria Jones/WPA Pool/Getty Images)
“But I think it’s going to be very difficult to see how this is going to happen,” Bullen admitted. “People have such entrenched views. [During] the coronation, the seating plan was carefully worked out [so] that they wouldn’t have to have an interaction. … I think it will require big apologies from both sides. But whether they’re going to come or not, I think it’s pretty unlikely.”
Princess Diana died Aug. 31, 1997, at age 36. (Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images)
In January of this year, Harry made an appearance on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” to promote his memoir. During his conversation with the host, Harry admitted that if his mother Princess Diana were alive, the brothers wouldn’t have reached such a tumultuous point in their relationship.
“We wouldn’t have got to this moment,” Harry said at the time. “It’s impossible to say where we would be now, where those relationships would be now, but there is no way that the distance between my brother and I would be the same.”
According to Nick Bullen, an intervention will be needed to mend the rift between the battling brothers. (Dominic Lipinski/Pool/AFP via Getty Images)
Bullen agreed.
“I think the issue now is these are two men who are going to find it very difficult to move back beyond their entrenched positions,” he said.
MEGHAN MARKLE PLOTTING NEXT ROLE IN POLITICS, NOT HOLLYWOOD, EXPERT CLAIMS
In “Spare,” Harry details his rivalry with William, 41, who is heir to the throne.
Prince Harry made an appearance on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” Jan. 10, 2023. (Scott Kowalchyk/CBS via Getty Images)
In the book, Harry alleged that during an argument in 2019, William called Markle “difficult” and “rude” and then grabbed him by the collar and knocked him down. Harry suffered cuts and bruises from landing on a dog bowl. Harry claimed Charles implored the brothers to make up. Following the funeral of Charles’ father, Prince Philip, in 2021, the king pleaded, “Please, boys, don’t make my final years a misery.”
Neither Buckingham Palace, which represents the king, nor William’s Kensington Palace office commented on any of the allegations.
Author Katie Nicholl previously revealed in her book, “The New Royals,” that even the late queen was “deeply hurt by Harry’s decision to leave his family and the country.” Charles became king upon his mother’s death.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex live in California with their son Prince Archie and daughter Princess Lilibet. (Chris Jackson)
“According to a friend, privately the queen confided that she was exhausted by the turmoil of their decision,” Nicholl wrote. “She was very hurt and told me, ‘I don’t know, I don’t care, and I don’t want to think about it anymore,’ says that person.”
“It was a source of sadness to the queen that she got to see so little of [her grandchildren] Archie and Lilibet and that Harry and Meghan were not able to join her for a weekend at Balmoral in August [2022] when the queen used to host a ‘sleepover’ for all of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren,” Nicholl said.
Another point of contention for the queen was the icy relationship between Charles and Harry, which allegedly “caused the queen so much upset.” Nicholl also reported that the king “desperately wants to reconcile with his son.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Stephanie Nolasco covers entertainment at Foxnews.com.
The Google Barge Explained: What Happened To Google’s Offshore Showrooms
Unfortunately, the Google Barge was not long for this earth. Just one year after they were unveiled, the city of Portland revealed that their city’s version of the new center was sold and divided between its overall structure and its individual containers. While the structure would be sold to what the Press Herald describes as an “international barging company,” the containers would be torn down and scrapped for parts.
The strange thing about these barges was that they were never actually put to use. According to The Wall Street Journal, none of the four barges that were built officially opened due to potential structural dangers. The United States Coast Guard issued a safety inquiry into the structures and found an abnormal division of fuel across the structures.
“These vessels will have over 5,000 gallons of fuel on the main deck and a substantial amount of combustible material on board,” wrote the Coast Guard.
In layperson’s terms, they feared that even a minor malfunction could result in a massive fire. Not much else is known about the back-and-forth between the Coast Guard and Google, but there were seemingly attempts to reach a structural compromise, according to Consumerist. However, they simply were not feasible, forcing Google to cancel the project just one year after its mysterious reveal. That being said, even if the structure was deemed safe, it simply sounded too exclusive of an idea to effectively market. At least we have Google Stores now.
Gisele Bündchen reunites with Victoria’s Secret supermodels 16 years after hanging up angel wings
Gisele Bündchen is back – and reuniting with fellow Victoria’s Secret supermodels Naomi Campbell, Adriana Lima and Candice Swanepoel.
The ladies are teaming up for Victoria’s Secret’s new “Icon” campaign, the company announced on Wednesday. The lingerie brand’s familiar faces will also be joined by the likes of Emily Ratajkowski, Hailey Bieber, Adut Akech, Paloma Elsesser and Sui He.
Bündchen hung up her angel wings in 2007 after signing with the brand as a teenager.
A MODEL’S LIFE: ICONIC BRAZILIAN SUPERMODEL GISELE BUNDCHEN OWNED THE CATWALK FOR YEARS
In her 2018 memoir, Bündchen wrote that she was ecstatic to land a commercial contract with Victoria’s Secret as a 19-year-old.
Gisele Bündchen hung up her angel wings in 2007 after signing with the brand as a teenager. (Mikael Jansson)
“For the first five years, I felt comfortable modeling in lingerie, but as time went on, I felt less and less at ease being photographed walking the runway wearing just a bikini or a thong. Give me a tail, a cape, wings — please, anything to cover me up a little!” the 43-year-old joked.
When her contract came up for renewal in 2006, she decided she didn’t want to stay with the lingerie company.
“I was certainly grateful for the opportunity and the financial security the company had given me, but I was at a different place in my life, and I wasn’t sure I wanted to continue working there,” she explained.
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In May 2022, Bündchen also reflected on her time as an Angel during an interview with British Vogue.
“I always made sure that my back was covered because it just made me uncomfortable walking on a runway with my butt hanging out, from looking from down, up,” Bündchen admitted. “I was like, ‘That’s not gonna happen.’ But I always had fun on the shows. It was always like a production, there was always someone singing, there was always something happening. It was a fun experience.”
Bündchen is reuniting with Naomi Campbell (pictured), Candice Swanepoel and Adriana Lima. (Mikael Jansson)
Bündchen stepped back from her career when her children were small but now that they’re older – Benjamin is 13 and Vivian is 10 – she says she wants them to see that their mother has her own dreams in life.
Her return to modeling, including for Louis Vuitton and Jimmy Choo – also comes amid her divorce from Tom Brady.
“I have my own dreams,” she told Vanity Fair in March. “You want to show [your children] that, in life, you have to find real fulfillment, not living something that you’re not.”
On Wednesday, Bundchen shared a video of her modeling the lingerie on her Instagram, prompting the company to comment, “We missed you, Gisele! Welcome back!”
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Campbell also shared a photo from the campaign and a message about what being an “icon” means to her.
“An icon isn’t just a title; it’s the rhythm of the runway, the heartbeat of style, and the symphony of strength,” the 53-year-old wrote. “It’s about embracing every stride with purpose, exuding confidence like a second skin, and leaving an indelible mark on the world’s canvas. Icons aren’t born, they’re sculpted by their journey.”
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The Icon campaign is a new collection of “bras, panties and lingerie that celebrate the shape of you,” according to Victoria’s Secret.
The company added that some of the models in the campaign will be featured in its reimagined fashion show this fall called “The Tour” that focuses on “emerging global creatives.” In 2019, the annual Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show was officially axed amid a reported dip in lingerie sales and ratings.
The supermodels will be joined in the campaign by Paloma Elsesser, Emily Ratajkowski, Hailey Bieber, Adut Akech and Sui He. (Mikael Jansson)
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“We are so excited to be launching The Icon by Victoria’s Secret collection,” Janie Schaffer, Chief Design Officer at Victoria’s Secret, said in a statement. “The collection was made to enhance one’s natural shape while staying true to the supportive and seamless look that we love. It’s an exciting, elevated collection to add to your wardrobe, while reinforcing that we are all icons.”
‘Botched’ star Terry Dubrow says ‘Real Housewife’ spouse saved his life after medical emergency
“Botched” star Terry Dubrow suffered a medical emergency last week, and is thanking his wife for saving his life.
The plastic surgeon took to social media on Wednesday to share a PSA with his followers to “listen to your partner.”
“What you perceive may be different than what they are observing. Seconds may mean the difference between life and death. I love you,” Dubrow wrote, before tagging his wife, “Real Housewives of Orange County” star Heather Dubrow.
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Heather took to social media on Wednesday as well, sharing some insight into her husband’s health after the medical scare while thanking the staff at Hoag Hospital.
‘RHOC’ STAR HEATHER DUBROW REVEALS HOW SHE AND HUSBAND TERRY DUBROW ESCAPED THE REALITY TV CURSE
“I love this man with my whole heart. I’m beyond grateful that Terry’s ok, this could have gone very differently,” the reality TV star began her caption. “If you see someone having stroke like symptoms- get them to the Hospital.”
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Heather continued, “You have 5 hours to get them treatment. I wanted to say a HUGE thank you to the doctors, nurses and techs at Hoag Hospital and everyone involved who helped us during this very scary time. Thank you for your kind messages, Terry and I are overwhelmed by your love and support.”
According to E! News, Dubrow suffered a transient ischemic attack (TIA) while dining with his wife and son in Beverly Hills on Aug. 3. At dinner, Dubrow briefly slurred his speech, which prompted Heather to instruct their son, Nicholas, 19, to call 911.
Terry Dubrow said his wife, Heather Dubrow, saved his life after suffering from a transient ischemic attack. (Photo by Paul Archuleta/FilmMagic)
Terry believed he was fine, but his wife insisted he be taken to a hospital for further evaluation.
After tests were conducted, doctors ultimately diagnosed the plastic surgeon with a TIA, which is “often called a ministroke” and is “a temporary period of symptoms similar to those of a stroke,” according to the Mayo Clinic.
During Dubrow’s hospital visit, they discovered he also had a patent foramen ovale (PFO), which is a small hole in his heart.
Heather Dubrow urged her social media followers to seek medical attention if they see someone having stroke-like symptoms. (Bravo)
The doctors were able to treat the 64-year-old, and he has made a full recovery.
“I learned many things from this terrifying experience,” Terry told E! News on Wednesday. “One: If you or anyone around you shows possible signs of a stroke time is critical, you have five hours to get to a hospital to save your life. Two: If you have traveled recently, make sure you move frequently to keep blood flowing to prevent clots. Three: PFO is more common (20-30%) than people realize and TIAs and strokes can occur in anyone at any age.”
He continued, “Listen to your partner. If they are concerned about something don’t argue, don’t ignore and get it checked out right away. What they see may be very different than what you perceive. Be grateful for those who love you. I love my wife, thank god for Heather and her persistence and insistence. She truly saved my life.”
Heather Dubrow is a member of the “Real Housewives of Orange County.” She is pictured here with the rest of the season 16 cast: Jen Armstrong, Emily Simpson, Shannon Storms Beador, Gina Kirschenheiter and Noella Bergener. (Tommy Garcia/Bravo)
In 2022, Heather and Terry spoke to Fox News Digital on how they’ve been able to maintain a 26-year marriage in the spotlight.
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“I think for most people that appear on reality TV and then don’t make it, those issues were already there. Reality shows just polarize what’s already going on in those relationships. I think for us, we had a very solid foundation coming in. But we did have one year when things weren’t great and [being on reality TV] weighed on us. We were fighting a lot. It was a bad year, and we did have to sit down and discuss it. And when you’re together for a long time, you will have good days, bad days, good years, bad years,” Heather said at the time.
Terry Dubrow and Heather Dubrow have been married since 1999. (Photo by Jerod Harris)
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She continued, “So we did have a bad year. And I remember very distinctly saying to Terry, ‘This isn’t good for our marriage. We have a choice. We can figure out how to do the show and not have our marriage, or we’re out.’ He agreed and we just worked on it. We made sure we had more time together, that we were more respectful of each other and that we were communicating. But we couldn’t have done the show without working on us first. So when we did, we already had a really nice foundation.”
Janelle Ash is an entertainment writer for Fox News Digital.
Coupang to ramp up investment in Taiwan after four quarters of profits
Coupang, a South Korea-headquartered e-commerce company, said it will accelerate its investment in Taiwan after four straight quarters of profits. Coupang was the most downloaded app in the second quarter of this year in Taiwan, the company said in an earnings call on Wednesday.
“Taiwan is another investment that is thus far exceeding our expectations,” said chief executive officer of Coupang Bom Kim said in its conference call. “We have always believed that the transformational commerce experience we’ve enabled in Korea could delight customers around the world. We’re seeing this play out in Taiwan.”
Coupang’s next-day delivery service, Rocket Delivery, grew faster in Taiwan in the ten months since it launched than Rocket Delivery in Korea did in the first ten months, the company CEO said.
Coupang has set aside about $400 million this year to invest in Taiwan and its developing offering unit that operates non-core businesses, such as Coupang Play (video streaming), Coupang Eats (food delivery) and Coupang Pay (fintech).
The move comes months after Coupang ceased its operation in Japan in March and denied rumors that the e-commerce company planned to enter India in May.
“Our bar for new initiatives is high,” Kim said. “We’ve exited investments that didn’t meet our internal thresholds and deferred countless others that rank below our most attractive opportunities. So far, Taiwan is leaping over that bar. In view of that progress, we will invest at a higher level in Taiwan this year.”
Coupang’s core business, product commerce, posted $5.6 billion in net revenues in 2Q23, up 21% from a year ago. The product commerce unit includes Rocket Delivery and Coupang marketplace, an e-commerce platform connecting buyers and sellers directly. Its developing offerings unit generated $156.29 million in revenues in the second quarter of this year, 2% down from a year ago, according to the company’s financial report.
“Both revenue and active customers increased at a faster pace this quarter,” Kim said. “And our emerging merchant services like advertising and Fulfillment and Logistics by Coupang, or FLC, are growing more than twice as fast as our overall business.”
Coupang claims its active customer growth continues, with 19.7 million active users in 2Q23, up 10% year on year. Earlier this year, the U.S.-listed e-commerce company opened its biggest fulfillment center in Daegu, South Korea, with an army of robots working the logistics center.
SoftBank’s Vision Fund-backed company reported a net income of $145 million for 2Q23, up 32% from its loss of $75.4 million in the second quarter of 2022.
The company expects its newer categories, like fashion and beauty products on the rocket delivery platform and unlimited discounts on Coupang Eats for Wow membership, akin to Amazon.com’s Prime, to boost its profitability.
Author says the Apple TV+ ‘Tetris’ movie ripped off his book
The Apple TV+ film Tetris was copied from a book written years ago, according to a lawsuit filed against the tech giant and the Tetris Company. Dan Ackerman, the editor-in-chief of Gizmodo, has accused the plaintiffs of ripping off his book The Tetris Effect, which tells the history of the game in the form of a Cold War-era thriller. In his lawsuit (PDF, via Reuters), Ackerman said he sent the Tetris Company and its CEO Maya Rogers a pre-publication copy of his book back in 2016. Later that year, his agent received a “strongly worded Cease and Desist letter” to stop him from pursuing film and TV opportunities.
Ackerman accused Rogers of working with screenwriter Noah Pink to develop a screenplay using content taken from his book without his knowledge or consent. Apparently, numerous producers showed interest in adapting his book, but the Tetris Company refused to license its IP for the project. “This was done at the direction and behest of Ms. Rogers so that she and the Tetris Company could pursue their own project and opportunities based on Mr. Ackerman’s book without compensating him,” the lawsuit reads.
In his complaint, Ackerman explained that for writers, the option to license their work for film and TV is typically a major source of revenue. That’s why he takes the Tetris Company’s actions not as a means to prevent the unauthorized use of its IP, but as an “economic attack” on his business. To drive the point home, Ackerman included quite a lengthy list of “glaring similarities” between his book and the film in his lawsuit. Several items in the list explain how scenes in the movie mirrored his versions of events. That said, those events were based on scenarios that happened in real life, so it remains to be seen if the court will agree with him. Ackerman is asking for actual, compensatory and punitive damages equivalent to 6 percent of the film’s $80 million production budget.
August 8, 2023
Made Renovation promises “tech-enabled” remodels; customers describe “absolute nightmare”
Last year, Jonas Heineman was overseeing a team of commercial project managers as they installed hundreds of electric vehicle charging stations. Heineman’s wife was also pregnant with their first child.
Given his busy days and evenings filled with planning for the couple’s growing family, the last thing that Heineman wanted was to spend his “off” hours managing yet another another construction project at his own Bay Area home. Even as he and his wife discussed renovating two older bathrooms, he knew himself well enough to acknowledge that, “I’m not going to design things. I didn’t want to go and source materials.” Then he stumbled across coverage of a San Francisco startup called Made Renovation that promised bathroom remodels “made easy.” Wanting exactly the kind of hand-holding it promised, he couldn’t believe his luck. Yet his enthusiasm would soon be squelched.
Founded in 2019, Made Renovation assures customers that it can transform their outdated bathrooms into showstoppers within months at an affordable price point. How? By inviting them to choose from a variety of templates, then pairing them with in-house project managers who help with required permits, assign contractors, order the required materials, and offer updates and assistance virtually until every renovation is complete.
It’s a compelling pitch, one that enabled Made Renovation to raise at least $31 million across two rounds of funding between 2020 and 2021 from investors Felicis, Founders Fund, Insight Partners, and actress-entrepreneur Jessica Alba among some others who liked its tech-driven approach.
The company also nailed a minimalist and highly popular aesthetic. A sleek website offers virtual tours of a dozen bathrooms, all with gleaming tiles, modern fixtures and magazine-worthy vanities. For its efforts, the company has attracted both customers and some glowing press. In 2021, in Made Renovation’s second year of operations, Architectural Digest wrote that the outfit was “primed to be the largest bathroom remodeler” and touted its digital tools for “more efficient project management, design renderings, and an improved pricing algorithm.”
Tech can only do so much, however, and Made Renovation’s promises of smoothly remade powder rooms have seemingly collided with the realities of construction complexities, turning some of its makeovers into anything but hassle-free endeavors. Says Heineman now of his own experience, “It was a joke.”
While promised project management, for example, Heineman says that Made Renovation later disbanded its project management team without alerting him and spun the cost-cutting development as a positive for customers. The company subsequently sent Heineman a downloadable “Self-Management Construction Support Guidebook” that he describes as a “thorough resource” and also beside the point of why he chose Made Renovation in the first place.
Other errors, delays, oversights, and cost overruns also became par for the course, judging by email correspondence seen by TechCrunch. One issue centered on a toilet that was shipped eight months late; Heineman says he was also sent faulty fixtures that he struggled to return, and lost the first general contractor who was sent by Made Renovation because this individual refused to take on the job for the agreed-upon amount of money.
Heineman didn’t blame him; instead, he asserts that it’s the fault of Made Renovation. “That’s why they end up with these subpar contractors,” he says. “The only people willing to take these jobs for a cut rate can’t do business development and suck at communicating with customers.”
Heineman isn’t alone in feeling like he was sold on a vision that dissipated as soon as he became Made Renovation’s customer. Airbnb employee Deanna Bjorkquist says she, too, was abruptly left to fend for himself when faced with the labyrinthine intricacies of permits, unexpected construction hurdles, and the logistical nightmare of warehousing materials. For example, Made Renovation didn’t launch her bathroom remodel until six months after she signed a contract with the company last October, stranding a new toilet in her living room in the interim.
She also says a general contractor assigned to her project refused to demolish her old bathroom, dismantling only the top half and moving forward only after she found and paid a separate drywall company to finish the job.
As with Heineman, a bevy of other problems ensued, says Bjorkquist, including payments made to Made Renovation that were not received by the people renovating her bathroom. She suggests that part of the problem ties to the fact that the contractor who was assigned to her home hired a subcontractor, as happened with Heineman. Further, she says she elected to use financing that was offered, then revoked, then reinstated again by Made Renovation through a third party, a stressful process during which she says she was warned that her credit might be damaged.
Her bathroom (pictured right) was still not complete as of late last month.
In fairness, Made Renovation is taking on an industry where few customers wind up fully satisfied, no matter the players involved. Further, its timing couldn’t be worse. To enable customers to check out its design ideas, it launched its very first storefront in a popular shopping district of San Francisco in February 2020. roughly one month before the pandemic caused most of the U.S. to shut down.
Presumably, materials were harder for the young company to access, too, owing to the broader supply chain issues that many manufacturing businesses experienced during this same period.
Asked several times to discuss some of his customers’ complaints, CEO Roger Dickey, did not to respond. Investors don’t have much to say, either. Felicis Partner Sundeep Peechu told TechCrunch late last month via email, “We are a small seed investor but honestly don’t know much since [I’m] not on the board and don’t get updates.” A query sent to Nikhil Sachdev, a Managing Director at Insight Ventures who led Made Renovation’s $23 million Series A round in 2021, has not been met with a response. Felicis lists Made Renovation on its website; the brand does not appear on the sites of either Insight Partners or Founders Fund.
Made Renovation wasn’t alone in springing up amid the national housing boom that ended last year, when interest rates began to quickly rise. Though most startups to form are marketplace businesses that connect designers and contractors to customers, another company to emerge around the same time as Made Renovation — with similar promises to make bathroom renovations easier and affordable — is Block Renovation. The Brooklyn-based business raised $104 million over a series of quick funding rounds between 2018 and 2021. Block has since expanded into kitchen remodels.
Both have been chasing what is expected to become an $80 billion market by 2027. But Made Renovation seems unlikely to see much of that market share if customer complaints continue to stack up.
On HomeAdvisor, a digital marketplace that connects service professionals with customers, Made Renovation has received half a star of five across seven reviews listed. Made Renovation is “[w]here dreams of great-looking bathroom remodeling and belief in seamless project management go to die,” writes one reviewer. “Absolute nightmare of an experience!” writes another.
Seventeen reviews post at the Better Business Bureau website are as uncharitable. Writes one reviewer: “I wish I read these reviews before we started the project with Made Renovation. It is exactly as it is described in previous reviews. All was going extremely well until we transferred money. After that it went downhill.”
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