Sunday, September 15, 2024

Image Credits: LinkedIn

While every tech and media company seems to be getting into the game business, Amanda Silberling uncovered a shocking truth: The games on LinkedIn are actually good.

Of course, these aren't exactly immersive, AAA experiences. Instead, they're logic and word games that only demand a few minutes of your attention. But in Amanda's view, that's part of what makes them good: You play them, you feel better, and then you get on with your day.

Plus, as Wordle creator Josh Wardle once told TechCrunch, "I think people have an appetite for things that transparently don't want anything from you."

Keep reading to see what else TechCrunch is covering this weekend.

Weekend news and opinion

Image Credits: John D / Getty Images

Rounding up every fusion startup with serious funding: Specifically, Tim De Chant looked at every fusion startup that's raised more than $300 million, from Commonwealth Fusion Systems to Zap Energy. It seems this current wave of investor interest is powered (heh) by potent computer chips, sophisticated AI, and powerful high-temperature superconducting magnets. Read more

Two friends built a tool to transfer playlists between Apple Music and Spotify: If you're looking to move between streaming music services without losing access to your playlists, Soundiiz might be the tool for you. Maxwell Zeff spoke to one of Soundiiz's founders about its origin story, and why the pair has never raised outside funding. Read more

An AI startup's co-founder also leads a successful indie band: Rebecca Szkutak profiles Good Kid, an indie rock band led by Cohere co-founder Nick Frosst and composed entirely of programmers. Despite being a side gig, Good Kid recently played Lollapalooza and has more than 2.3 million monthly listeners on Spotify. Read more

What else we're reading

💣 In the latest excerpt from their upcoming book "Character Limit," New York Times reporters Kate Conger and Ryan Mac chronicle the final hours before Elon Musk acquired Twitter — an intense period that ended with an f-bomb aimed at Mark Zuckerberg. Read more

🍎 Meanwhile, Spyglass' MG Siegler writes that Apple needs an editor — not just for its events, but also for its product lineup. Read more