Author: Tim Rogers

Change is inevitable over time, and in the span of 12 years, a lot can happen. Back in 2012, when I first joined TechCrunch, I was the sole writer in Asia. It often felt like my task was to correct misconceptions that I frequently came across in comments on my articles or on Twitter. Despite rapid innovation from companies like Baidu, Alibaba, and Tencent, they were often viewed as mere imitations of their Western counterparts. India, with its vast population, was seen as a monolithic entity, and the spotlight rarely shone on Southeast Asia beyond Singapore. Admittedly, I had my…

Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth is a vast game with numerous regions to discover and plenty of ground to cover within each one. To expedite your journey, utilizing fast travel is essential. Here’s how you can make it happen and keep your adventure moving swiftly. How to fast travel Fast travel in Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth comes in two forms: within a region and to another region, each with its unique functionality. Square-Enix / Square-Enix How to fast travel within a region While exploring a region, you can open your map and instantly fast travel to any location you have previously…

Mobile World Congress, or MWC, is a trade show focused exclusively on mobile technology, held in Barcelona, Spain. In 2024, the event showcased a resurgence in the industry with a variety of exciting new products. After careful consideration, we have selected six products to highlight as the Top Tech of MWC 2024. OnePlus Watch 2 Pro Digital Trends The OnePlus Watch 2 Pro features Google’s Wear OS and a dual processor setup, offering extended battery life and exceptional performance. Despite some minor drawbacks, the smartwatch stands out for its innovative design, fast performance, and competitive pricing. Tecno Pocket Go Digital…

Are you looking to showcase your brand in front of the gaming industry’s top leaders? Learn more about GamesBeat Summit sponsorship opportunities here.  Immutable Games is launching its Web3 game Gods Unchained in early access on Google Play and Apple’s App Store today after four years of development. Immutable Games has finally achieved approval for the tactical card game’s mobile version, addressing demand from the community for on-the-go play. Available on both Google Play and Apple’s App Store for early access, the mobile build promises to extend the immersive Gods Unchained experience to a global mobile audience, complementing the PC…

Sega has appointed Justin Scarpone, a former executive at Disney and Scopely, to lead its transmedia initiatives. Starting on April 1, 2024, Scarpone will join Sega as the Executive Vice President and head of the Global Transmedia Group. This new division will spearhead Sega’s strategy to expand its intellectual properties (IP) such as Persona and Angry Birds across various media platforms. Scarpone brings expertise in content development and cross-platform storytelling to drive this initiative. With over 30 years of experience, Scarpone has a proven track record in developing entertainment strategies across Asia Pacific and the West. During his time at…

Today, Figure has officially announced its successful completion of a $675 million Series B funding round, valuing the Bay Area robotics firm at $2.6 billion. This incredible achievement confirms long-standing rumors of substantial financial backing for the company. Notable investors in this round include Microsoft, OpenAI Startup Fund, Nvidia, Amazon Industrial Innovation Fund, Jeff Bezos (through Bezos Expeditions), Parkway Venture Capital, Intel Capital, Align Ventures, and ARK Invest. With this influx of capital, Figure, a relatively small startup with an 80-person team, is poised for significant growth in the near future. Figure’s founder, Brett Adcock, initially self-funded the company with…

It has been almost a year since our last article discussing the rapid growth of the games industry in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. As the fastest-growing games market globally, with no signs of slowing down, there have been significant changes in the past year. Let’s take a look at the latest developments in the MENA market and its significance in the context of the global games industry. According to Newzoo’s Games Market Report and Forecast, the global market generated $184 billion in revenue in 2023, marking a 0.6% year-over-year growth. Meanwhile, the MENA region saw a…

Listing tasks and to-dos is a very personal process. While some users prefer apps with intricate features to manage their tasks better, others get overwhelmed by feature overload. This is why software developer Adam Whitcroft created a dead-simple to-do app called Twodos that doesn’t nag you about unfinished tasks. Whitcroft, known for his work at a16z-backed Rewind and Shopify, desired a clutter-free app for handling his tasks. “I usually rely on Apple’s native apps (Notes, Mail, Calendar, etc.) but never clicked with Reminders. It presents a barrage of features like dates, times, tags, locations, subtasks… it’s overwhelming. Most other apps…

Ford EV owners can now access over 15,000 Tesla superchargers in the U.S. and Canada, thanks to a deal struck between the two automakers. This move is expected to influence the automotive industry in the near future. Both new and existing Ford EV owners can request a free adapter to use Tesla’s fast charging stations if they are registered in Ford’s BlueOval Charge Network and order the adapter by June 30, 2024 at Ford.com/FastChargingAdapter. Future Ford EV buyers will be able to purchase the adapter for $230. Until recently, all automakers and EV charging companies in the U.S. utilized the…

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends When considering the Redmi Note 13 Pro Plus, there were high expectations based on reports and reviews claiming it to be a worthy alternative to more expensive smartphones such as the Samsung Galaxy S24 or the Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max. Despite its solid features and value proposition, my experience with the phone left me wanting more. While the Redmi Note 13 Pro Plus boasts impressive specs like a large screen, a high-resolution camera, a sizable battery, and fast charging capabilities, the actual user experience falls short of expectations. As I contemplate switching to another…