Get caught up on the latest technology and startup news from the past week. Here are the most popular stories on GeekWire for the week of Oct. 7, 2018.
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Most popular stories on GeekWire
Sonic-boom UFO show! SpaceX launches satellite, lands rocket booster in California
SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket executed its first on-land touchdown on the West Coast tonight after sending Argentina’s SAOCOM 1A satellite into orbit, putting on a show punctuated by a sonic boom for Southern California. … Read More
Microsoft partners with Indian cricket legend to develop a smart bat that tracks live analytics
Microsoft deepened its connection to cricket and continued its edge computing push on Thursday, announcing a new smart cricket bat developed in partnership with Indian cricket legend Anil Kumble. … Read More
Plug-and-pray no more: Amazon’s new smart plug for Alexa is a gift from the smart-home gods
“New plug named First plug found. To control it, say ‘Alexa, turn on First plug.’ “ My jaw dropped when I saw that notification pop up on my iPhone lock screen shortly after plugging in my first Amazon Smart Plug this week. … Read More
Amazon hires top UW computer science prof as new robotics director, a year after he arrived from CMU
Amazon is tapping one of the world’s leading human-robot interaction experts to help manage a robotics operation that has become an integral part of the company’s fulfillment centers. … Read More
Here are the top 10 highest-valued startups in the Seattle area
Seattle-area companies continued raising cash at a record clip during the third quarter, raking in $855 million across 88 deals, according to the latest PitchBook-NVCA Venture Monitor. … Read More
Paul Allen’s giant Stratolaunch plane gets closer to first flight with 80 mph taxi test
The world’s biggest airplane, built by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen’s Stratolaunch Systems, is one step closer to making its first flight after buzzing down the runway at California’s Mojave Air and Space Port this week at speeds as fast as 80 mph. … Read More
T-Mobile expanding Seattle-area campus with new office lease, report says
T-Mobile has scooped up more office space in its hometown of Bellevue, Wash., according to a new report, as it prepares to bring Sprint into the fold, creating a much larger wireless competitor for AT&T and Verizon. … Read More
With huge new $450M funding round, Snowflake Computing has now raised almost $1 billion
In January, after raising $263 million, Snowflake Computing CEO Bob Muglia indicated that the next time his fast-growing cloud data warehousing company tapped the financing markets, it would likely involve an IPO. … Read More
Microsoft vows to protect Linux from future patent wars by joining the Open Invention Network
After years of waging patent war on Google’s Linux-based Android mobile operating system, Microsoft agreed Wednesday to join the Open Invention Network and cross-license more than 60,000 of its patents to participating members. … Read More
Russian rocket malfunctions during launch to space station; crew makes safe landing
An American and a Russian spaceflier are in good shape after they were forced to abort their trip to the International Space Station due to a rocket anomaly, but today’s scary launch has cast a pall over orbital operations going forward. … Read More