But a handful of companies did go public this spring. Enterprise rewards platform Ibotta, which builds the backend rewards program infrastructure for enterprise clients like Walmart and Exxon, was one of them, debuting on the NYSE on April 18. Its IPO priced above its initial price range at $88 a share and debuted at $117 a share. It’s currently trading at $63 a share with a $1.7 billion market cap.
Ibotta’s CEO, Bryan Leach, told TechCrunch that five months after the IPO, he doesn’t regret taking his company public this year. Going public requires months of planning, and he thinks companies trying to time the market are making a “huge mistake.”
“Who knows what the [Federal Reserve] will do?” Leach said. “[Bankers say] it’s always better to wait, but you never know what will happen when you wait. At the end of the day, it’s not a destination, it’s a phase.”
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Numerous companies that were expected to go public in 2022 or 2023 are still waiting on the sidelines. Many of these companies are sitting on large valuations that they gained from funding rounds during the boom days of 2021 and they would have to suffer a haircut to go public. There were 310 IPOs in the U.S. in 2021, according to PitchBook data. This has dropped sharply since. There were 80 in 2022, 85 in 2023 and 37 through the first half of 2024.
Leach admitted that some people consider the fact that Ibotta’s stock has dropped nearly 50% since its IPO as a sign that going public at this time wasn’t the right decision, or they might say that the company should have waited. Still, he feels it is too early to draw such conclusions, pointing to how Instacart’s stock is now trading close to its debut price — it hit a 52-week high today — a year after its IPO.
“Things are going great,” Leach said. “We are the largest tech IPO in Colorado history. The stock has gone way up, and gone down, and that sort of settles in over the course of the year. From a company perspective, we’ve been pleasantly surprised by how much value we got out of being a public company.”
Public companies also have an air of legitimacy around them, and Leach said that leverage is useful when it comes to nabbing potential enterprise customers. He said the company’s recent deal with Instacart may not have happened if Ibotta were still private.
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“They trust us,” Leach said. “We have a certain amount of legitimacy. They know we have the resources. They can look at our finances. They can see we don’t have any debt. There is a level of comfort that [being a public company] provides.”
He added that the same level of legitimacy applies to hiring, too. Ibotta is no longer offering stock options tied to a private valuation given by investors with no downside protection, and Leach said that makes the company a more attractive option for talent.
Leach said companies on the fence about doing an IPO shouldn’t try to time the market, but they should wait until they are ready to be a public company.
Going public this April was not the company’s first choice, either. During the SPAC and IPO craze of 2020 and 2021, Ibotta’s investors began asking it to go public, and so the company hired bankers and wrote up an S-1, an SEC document that kicks off the IPO process. It was ready to set out on an IPO roadshow in fall of 2021 but decided to hold off.
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Ibotta had landed a large deal with Walmart to run a white-label version of its rewards program at the time, Leach said, but he wanted to be able to prove the deal was actually working before going public. Not everyone was pleased with the company’s decision to wait.
Still, Leach feels it was the right choice. Waiting until 2024 allowed Ibotta to go public with six quarters of profitability behind it and get its finances in order. Other late-stage companies in the same boat, he thinks, shouldn’t wait around for a “better” market.
Investors don’t seem to mind companies waiting it out — at least they aren’t expressing otherwise publicly. But the IPO market is bound to open again eventually. Interest rates have started to go down and there is an increase in rumors surrounding companies hiring bankers to start the IPO process. Companies may be done waiting come 2025.
No sooner has the Phone 16 lineup arrived than the folks at iFixit start taking them apart, a process made easier this time around by the day-one release of repair manuals from Apple. The disassembly process shows the Camera control is a real button that moves, along with a flex cable that likely measures force, and the heat sink that appears positioned to keep the A18 chip’s Neural Engine cool while it handles AI workloads.
After disconnecting the battery from the board, you apply electric current from a power source (a 9-volt battery for 90 seconds will do it), and the previously glued-in battery slips out easily enough that gravity alone can do the job. Then to make the adhesive stick for the new battery, it just needs pressure.
Apple notes that over time, the time to release could get longer, but on these brand-new phones, iFixit found that using 20V current was enough to undo the bond in five seconds, and Apple says you can use up to 30V. iFixit also brought in some microscopic close-ups of the frame that holds the battery and the machined ridges it has to give the battery something to stick to.
24TB storage in a super fast mini PC — HX 370 powered challenger can run three SSDs, has an OCuLink connector and its APU is as powerful as an RTX 3050
We’re beginning to see the arrival of mini PCs running AMD‘s powerful Zen 5-based Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 Strix Point processor, the latest of which is Aoostar’s GEM10 370.
First teased on X (formerly Twitter). The AI 9 HX 370 processor features four Zen 5 cores, eight Zen 5c cores, RDNA 3.5 Radeon 890M integrated graphics, and a Ryzen NPU capable of up to 50 TOPS of AI performance.
GEM10 370 supports up to three PCIe 4.0 NVMe M.2 2280 SSDs, offering potentially up to 24TB of storage. There’s also an OCuLink connector, allowing you to connect an external GPU without consuming any NVMe channels.
Glacier cooling
The mini PC offers a variety of connectivity options. On the front, it features two USB 3.2 Gen2 ports, a USB4 port for high-speed data transfer, a microphone jack, and an audio jack for headphones or speakers. There is also an OCuLink port. On the back, there are two 2.5G LAN ports for fast, reliable networking, two HDMI 2.1 ports, and an additional USB 3.2 Gen2 port. Wireless connectivity is provided by WiFi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2.
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GEM10 370’s cooling will be handled by Aoostar’s “Glacier 2.5” cooling system, which offers a default BIOS TDP setting of 35W, adjustable to 28W, 35W, or 45W.
The new mini PC has the same chassis as the company’s previous Gem10 model, which is powered by a 7840HS processor, and measures 10.7 x 10.7 x 6 cm, with a volume of 0.6 liters.
Aoostar’s GEM10 370 is expected to begin shipping October, around the same time as Beelink’s SER9, which also features the HX 370. That said, according to Videocardz, both companies are awaiting AMD stock before mass production can begin.
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There’s no word yet on pricing for the GEM10 370, but it is expected to be cheaper than Beelink’s offering, depending, naturally, on the configuration.
It can sometimes be difficult to spot AI-generated videos such as deepfakes, in which a person’s facial expression or speech is generated or altered. Deepfakes’ potential to misinform or disrupt democratic processes is huge, especially given we are entering an era where anyone can create them with just a simple text prompt. Andrea Hickerson at the University of Mississippi and Edward J. Delp at Purdue University in Indiana discuss the rising threat from AI-created content and what we can do about it.
It’s been two years since Google burst into the smartwatch market, and that means we’ve seen a few upgrades since Google launched the very first Google Pixel Watch. If you’re still using that watch, you may wonder if now is the time to upgrade and whether the third-generation Pixel Watch 3 is worth it. Or you may be getting your first smartwatch and considering buying either a cheap first-generation Pixel Watch or the latest and greatest of Google’s wearables.
Choosing between these two devices is surprisingly easy. Sometimes, the newest is the best, and this is the case with the Pixel Watch 3. However, there’s a significant price difference, so is the Pixel Watch still worth buying? Let’s examine the differences to help determine which you should pick, and explain why now is the best time to upgrade from the original Pixel Watch.
Put the Pixel Watch 3 and Pixel Watch alongside each other, and aside from the size, it’s difficult to tell the difference. Google’s design language hasn’t changed a huge amount in three generations, and the minimalist look is attractive and works with most outfits.
The Pixel Watch 3 is the first of Google’s smartwatches to come in two sizes. The smaller 41mm size is identical to the original but 5 grams lighter, while the bigger 45mm version is just 1 gram heavier than the original. The larger size is ideal if you have bigger wrists or find the original Pixel Watch too small for daily use.
The new AMOLED-LTPO display gives the Pixel Watch 3 display a big upgrade over previous generations. Both sizes get the upgrade, which offers a variable refresh rate of 60Hz and shrunken bezels to maximize the screen real estate.
Joe Maring / Digital Trends
The display represents a significant upgrade in legibility, but otherwise, these two watches share the same physical traits. Domed Gorilla Glass displays provide protection, a rotating bezel allows you to scroll and select — a feature sorely missing from the new Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra — and the same lug-style watch band system lets any Pixel Watch band work with the third-generation model.
Each watch has the same 5ATM water resistance, which provides protection when submerged up to 500 meters, and a suite of sensors on the rear. The Pixel Watch 3’s sensors are improved over the original’s, and they have a different design, but otherwise, these two watches share many similarities.
The Pixel Watch 3 shares the same sensors as last year’s Pixel Watch 2, which saw Google improve the accuracy of the data collected. The heart rate sensor is one of the most accurate on any smartwatch and one of the many hardware sensors that are improved over the original.
The Pixel Watch 3 adds a thermometer and skin conductance sensors, which provide valuable insights into your skin temperature while asleep and are used for cycle tracking. There’s also a new light sensor, barometer, gyroscope, and the pulse oximeter used for the new Loss of Pulse Detection feature.
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Joe Maring / Digital Trends
This feature is designed to get you help when you need it most. Most smartwatches offer a fall detection feature that will get you emergency help if you have a fall, but Loss of Pulse Detection takes things much further. If your Pixel Watch 3 fails to detect a pulse, it’ll undergo a further check to rule out a false negative and, failing that, contact emergency services. It’s only available in certain EU countries, but it’s a worthy reason to upgrade to the Pixel Watch 3.
The Pixel Watch 3 also adds new Cardio Load and Target Load features, a Daily Readiness score, and a Morning Briefing that gives you pertinent information on your health and sleep. The two Load features are designed to track your heart’s performance over the day (and longer) and give you a numerical understanding of your cardiac function. The Target Load feature then sets a daily goal to aspire to, ensuring you won’t overtrain or undertrain.
Joe Maring / Digital Trends
All of this information is presented in the Fitbit Premium app. Certain features, like the Daily Readiness score, required a Fitbit Premium subscription, but now all users get it included. The Pixel Watch 3 comes with six months of Fitbit Premium for free — just like the original — after which the subscription costs $10 per month or $80 per year.
The Pixel Watch 3 offers significantly more than the original, including hardware improvements and useful wellness features in Wear OS 5. Many of these are powered by Google AI, which analyzes and provides recommendations on achieving and surpassing your goals.
There are also unique features that only work when the Pixel Watch 3 is used alongside a Pixel phone. For example, if you have the Pixel 9 Pro or Pixel 9 Pro XL, you can use the Pixel Watch 3 to control the camera. You can also use it to control Google TV, letting you change volume, inputs, and virtually everything else from your watch.
Joe Maring / Digital Trends
You can also see your Nest Cam feed on the tiny screen and either respond using the microphone or send a canned response. Then, there are features like call screening and a smart recorder that can record and analyze audio using AI in real time. There are many Pixel Watch 3 features that will delight anyone who upgrades.
The original Pixel Watch is far more limited. It runs Wear OS 3.5 and offers a fairly standard introduction to the Pixel Watch experience. Many of the Pixel Watch 3 improvements launched on the Pixel Watch 2, and while some of these may eventually come to the original, some will likely remain exclusive to Google’s newer models.
One of our biggest complaints about the first Pixel Watch was its battery life. Simply put, it’s not very good and requires recharging more than once per day. The Pixel Watch 3 solves these problems with a more efficient chipset, a larger battery, and improvements in the operating system.
The Pixel Watch has a 294mAh battery, while the Pixel Watch 3 has a larger 307mAh battery in the 41mm model and a 420mAh battery in the 45mm. The Exynos 9110 processor in the Pixel Watch offers far less efficiency than the Snapdragon SW5100 powering the Pixel Watch 3.
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Our Pixel Watch 3 review found that the battery life on Google’s latest smartwatch is exceptional and routinely exceeds Google’s own estimates. That’s with the always-on display enabled, tracking multiple workouts and sleep overnight, and receiving notifications throughout the day when paired with the Pixel 9 Pro. Simply put, the battery life has been very impressive and is one of the best reasons to upgrade from the original.
Joe Maring / Digital Trends
This means you can expect all-day battery life of around 24 hours with the Always On display turned on or up to 36 hours with the Battery Saver mode enabled. Both are large improvements over the original Pixel Watch, which requires recharging to last a full day.
The Pixel Watch 3 is also vastly improved when it comes to charging. The 41mm is rated as recharging to 50% in just 24 minutes and reaching 85% in 35 minutes, while the 45mm is slightly slower at 28 minutes and 50 minutes, respectively. We found that it charges from 12% to 62% in 30 minutes, and a full charge takes just over an hour, but the fast charging is great for those days when you’ve been using it heavily.
The Pixel Watch 3 is available now with a starting price of $349, while the original Pixel Watch launched at a similar price and is now available for just under $200. The price difference is significant, but the Pixel Watch 3 represents much better value despite the higher price.
If you want the Pixel Watch 3 in the 41mm size, the Bluetooth-only model is $349, while the LTE version is $449. For the larger size, add $50 to both of those prices.
The Pixel Watch 3 comes in a choice of colors. If you buy the 41mm model, you can choose from Polished Silver, Matte Black, or Champagne Gold, while the larger model ditches the gold option in favor of a more neutral Hazel color. There is a choice of bands, including a striking new Rose Quartz option that matches the colors of Google’s latest phones.
If you have the original Pixel Watch, there’s never been a better time to upgrade. The Pixel Watch 3 offers everything you need from a smartwatch and is one of the most stylish options on our best smartwatch list. Crucially, it also adds features that will make your life easier and potentially even save it one day. If you’re considering which to buy and don’t currently have a Pixel Watch, it’s worth first looking at the Pixel Watch 3.
It is Google’s best smartwatch, but it costs double the original. If budget is a concern, the first Pixel Watch is a decent choice, but keep in mind that there are other smartwatches from the same era that are much better, like the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5. If you’d rather stay with Google, then we’d recommend buying the Pixel Watch 2, which is just $70 more, but a much better smartwatch.
However, if you can stretch your budget or snag a good deal, our Pixel Watch 3 review found that it’s the Google smartwatch we have been waiting for. It’s the best that Google offers and one of the best smartwatches you can buy in 2024. The original Pixel Watch still has some value, but given the vast improvements in the third generation, there’s no doubt that the Pixel Watch 3 is the better one to buy.
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Palworld was once one of gaming’s biggest hits thanks to its blend of Pokémon-like gameplay elements mixed with survival and crafting mechanics, but it was perhaps only a matter of time before Nintendo and The Pokémon Company filed a lawsuit against the game’s developers. That’s exactly what’s happening as Nintendo officially announced that together with The Pokémon Company it’s filing a lawsuit against Pocketpair.
Palworld saw huge success following its early access launch having sold nearly 5 million copies in just a few days. And it’s this kind of success that seems to have drawn Nintendo’s ire. The possibility of a lawsuit was looming well before now. However, it was also suspected that Nintendo may just let the whole thing go. After all, the game launched in January and it’s been 9 months. Pocketpair at one point also said that it had the game put through a few legal reviews and no issues were found.
But Nintendo seems to have found something, as its lawsuit states that Pocketpair is infringing on multiple patents. This lawsuit also shouldn’t come as a huge surprise, as The Pokémon Company confirmed back in January that it intended to investigate Palworld.
The Nintendo lawsuit against Palworld deve Pocketpair doesn’t mention specifics
While Nintendo has confirmed it’s filing a lawsuit against Pocketpair, the statement about the lawsuit doesn’t mention any specific details. As of right now, Nintendo isn’t saying what patents Pocketpair is infringing. However, it’s likely that information will come out in due time. Provided this lawsuit goes to court and the case proceeds.
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So far the only thing Nintendo has said is that its lawsuit is seeking an injunction against Pocketpair for these infringements. However, no information is given in terms of what it’s actually seeking as an end result. “Nintendo Co., Ltd. (HQ: Kyoto, Minami-ku, Japan; Representative Director and President: Shuntaro Furukawa, “Nintendo” hereafter), together with The Pokémon Company, filed a patent infringement lawsuit in the Tokyo District Court against Pocketpair, Inc. (HQ: 2-10-2 Higashigotanda, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo, “Defendant” hereafter) on September 18, 2024.
This lawsuit seeks an injunction against infringement and compensation for damages on the grounds that Palworld, a game developed and released by the Defendant, infringes multiple patent rights. Nintendo will continue to take necessary actions against any infringement of its intellectual property rights including the Nintendo brand itself, to protect the intellectual properties it has worked hard to establish over the years,” the statement reads.
Pocketpair has responded to the lawsuit
Following Nintendo’s statement, Pocketpair has issued its own statement in response to the lawsuit. Stating that at this time, it’s “unaware of the specific patents” that it’s accused of infringing. The developer also says that it “hasn’t been notified of such details.”
Pocketpair is a small indie dev based in Tokyo, Japan. So it’s likely an easy target for Nintendo given the size of the studio and the success of its game. Pocketpair says it will do everything it can to ensure that indie devs are not hindered or discouraged from pursuing their creative ideas. This might suggest that Pocketpair fully intends to fight this lawsuit. As it believes it hasn’t infringed on any of Nintendo or The Pokémon Company’s patents.
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Palworld was launched on January 19, 2024, and was made available to play via GeForce NOW back on May 16.
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