| Amazon's Echo fest, Toshiba to sell chip business to group including Apple, and dockless bikes get more backing. All that and more in The Daily Crunch for September 28, 2017. 1. Amazon sounds out the sweet spot for Echo hardware Amazon had a lot in store for us yesterday, including six new products from its Echo lineup. These include a brand new main Echo, with better sound and a body wrapped in fabric, as well as a new Echo Plus with smart home hub integration. There's also a new all-seeing eye called the Echo Spot, which is actually adorable if somewhat frightening because it has a camera and is designed to set on your nightstand. But it's also adorable. 
2. Toshiba to sell chip business for $18 billion to group including Apple Toshiba's chip business sale to a group led by Bain and including Apple had been rumored previously, but now it's official – the deal has been agreed to by Toshiba, and is valued at $18 billion. If the deal goes through as planned it should close in March. 3. Uber rival Grab backs dockless biek sharing startup Southeast Asian Uber rival Grab is making some investments, including in ofo and Mobike competitor oBike. It's a smart strategy, and one that Uber is likely to follow suit on once it gets the rest of its house in order. 4. Magic Leap's new website is full of weird Easter eggs Magic Leap's website is both less weird now that it has removed its eccentric founder's weird blog post links, and also somehow more weird because of the hidden Easter eggs sprinkled throughout. 5. Anchor raises $10 million for its podcast platform Podcast hype seems to have cooled somewhat recently, but platforms focused on the medium continue to get funding. Anchor follows network Gimlet in raising significant funding, with a new $10 million round. 6. Google Assistant makes its way to Android TV Nvidia Shield TV now supports hands-free Google Assistant, which makes it a 4K streaming box and smart home companion with voice commands all in one. Pretty great update, and it's free for all existing and new device owners. 7. Twitter faces congress today over Russia election probe Social media used to be all about cat gifs and overly confessional blog posts, but now it's about undue influence in elections by foreign powers. This should be a fun congressional hearing. | 
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