Ocean-climate VC Propeller launches with $100M to fund ‘tomorrow’s narwhals’

Propeller, a new climate-tech investor with a focus on the ocean, tells TechCrunch that it has hooked $100 million for its first seed fund. Co-founded by former HubSpot CEO Brian Halligan, the venture firm said in a statement that it backs and incubates startups in areas like ocean carbon removal, algae packaging, offshore wind, desalination … Read more

Google Messages adds reaction support for iPhone texts and in-app reminders

Google has left no stones unturned in pushing Apple to adopt the Rich Communication Services (RCS) that the search giant argues will improve cross-platform communication. With little to no luck so far, Google is marching ahead with things that are within its power: Supercharging its RCS client Messages on Android with new features to make lives … Read more

Snapchat expands its paid subscription with Story expiration controls, custom sounds, and more

Snapchat+, Snapchat’s $3.99 per month subscription plan, is today rolling out three new features to entice users to its paid service. The company launched the subscription tier in late June as it looked for more revenue during an ad spending slowdown. Since the launch, more than 1 million users have paid for the service, the … Read more

DirecTV can now quickly switch from satellite to broadband to avoid TV disruptions

GIF: DirecTV DirecTV is introducing a new feature today it calls SignalSaver, which is designed to preserve TV reception even during times of satellite interference. Available at no extra cost to residential DirecTV subscribers with an internet-connected set-top box, SignalSaver automatically prompts you to switch from a satellite signal to internet-based TV when an interruption … Read more

Fallout: London modders drop zombie Queen Elizabeth II character for obvious reasons

Concept artwork of the now-cancelled “Feral Queen” character. | Image: Tony Sart The makers of Fallout: London, an ambitious mod for Fallout 4 set in everyone’s favorite post-apocalyptic hellscape, have announced they’re cutting two characters based on the late Queen Elizabeth II and then-Prince Charles. The announcement was initially made on Twitter on September 8th … Read more