The Biggest Tech Stories You Missed This Week
Earnings season took center stage this week, with major tech giants like Facebook, Apple, and Amazon making headlines. But beyond the financial reports, TechCrunch uncovered groundbreaking acquisitions, innovative startups, and thought-provoking analyses. Here’s your curated recap of the most impactful stories from July 19–25, 2014.
1. Facebook’s Stellar Earnings & Mobile Dominance
- Record-breaking revenue per user worldwide, with 63% of ad revenue now from mobile.
- Stock surged to an all-time high, pushing Facebook’s market cap to $190B—surpassing Amazon ($165B).
- Oculus acquisition finalized, marking Facebook’s bold bet on VR’s future.
Key Takeaway: Facebook’s mobile strategy silenced skeptics, proving its adaptability in a shifting digital landscape.
2. Silicon Valley’s Urban Challenges
Kim-Mai Cutler explored how adaptive re-use and reverse commutes reflect deeper tensions in San Francisco’s tech-driven growth.
3. Apple’s Stealthy BookLamp Acquisition
- Exclusive: Apple acquired BookLamp, a data-driven book analysis platform, to challenge Amazon in e-books.
4. The App Developer Crisis
Sarah Perez highlighted a Developer Economics report, revealing a shrinking middle class of developers in a “winner-takes-all” app economy.
5. Kim Kardashian’s Mobile Gaming Triumph
Her Hollywood game topped the App Store charts. Sarah Buhr’s humorous deep dive into the D-list struggle went viral.
6. Inside Levi’s Stadium: Tech Meets Sports
TechCrunch TV toured the 49ers’ futuristic stadium, packed with Wi-Fi, apps, and fan-focused innovations.
7. Amazon’s Earnings Disappoint Investors
- Reported a $0.27/share loss despite $19.34B in sales.
- Analysis: Great for customers, less so for shareholders.
8. Facebook’s New ‘Save’ Feature
A Pocket-like tool to bookmark articles—simple but overdue.
9. The Founder Frenzy Problem
Danny Crichton argued against the myth that everyone should be a founder, urging balance in startup culture.
10. Duolingo’s Language Certification
The free learning app launched a digital certification program, disrupting traditional language tests.
11. MaidSafe’s Radical Internet Vision
A UK startup claimed servers must die to create a decentralized, secure web.
Honorable Mentions
- Bose sued Beats over noise-cancelling patents.
- A Thiel fellow’s sleep sensor raised $120K on Kickstarter in hours.
- Yahoo acquired Flurry for $200M+ to boost mobile analytics.
- TechCrunch’s snarky clapback to Banana Republic’s “startup fashion” show.
What did we miss? Share your favorite stories in the comments!
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