Technology

Streaming service Roku got hit with its worst outage to date after a number customers suffered issues watching Netflix, YouTube and other channels for more than five hours.

The issue — which Roku said is now fixed — saw some customers get FBI anti-piracy warnings instead of their chosen programming, as Variety first reported. A Roku spokesperson told TechCrunch that &a small percentage of customers& were affected.

Once it had restored order,Roku claimed the &technical glitch& could be fixed by manually updating players inside the settings menu, while some channels would require users to log in again.

The issue was a pretty major blow to Roku, which analyst reports suggest remains the top streaming service in the U.S. despite competition from the likes of Apple TV, Google Chromecast and AmazonFire TV.

That said, 2018 hasn&t been stellar so far. The companymost recent financial report in February didn&t go down well with Rokushare price tumbling 18 percent based on future revenue projections. The share price dropped 3.5 percent over the past day to $34.08, giving the firm a market cap of around $3.4 billion.

Theremore to come from the company this year. It plans to join many of its rivals in the voice computing space by launchingsmart speakers, smart soundbars, surround sound and multi-home audio systems that use new Roku Connect software to communicate wirelessly and be controlled by voice. The devices will be developed in conjunction with partners via a new Roku licensing program.

Mercari, the eBay-like service that is Japanese first tech startup unicorn, has filed to go public in an IPO that could raise as much as $1.1 billion.

The company is scheduled to list on the Toyko Stock ExchangeMothers Market — a board for high-growth companies — on June 19.

The company reached the symbolic$1 billion valuation mark in 2016 when it raised a $75 million Series D.In doing so it became the first Japanese tech startup to become a pre-IPO unicorn. Earlier this year, that valuation jumped to $2 billion following a $47 million investment.

The five-year-old company operates an online ‘flea market& that lets consumers sell unwanted goods with a focus on mobile.

Japan is its core market, but the company expanded into the U.S. in 2014 and last year it entered Europe, initially via the UK. It boosted its overseas strategy in June 2017 when it hired former Facebook executiveJohn Lagerling as its first chief business officer to guide its global strategy.

The business passed 100 million downloads worldwide at the end of 2017. Mercari said thatover 30 million downloads are in the U.S., with more than 60 million in Japan.Speaking earlier this year, CEOShintaro Yamada — who sold his previous startupUnoh to gaming firm Zynga in 2010 — said success in the U.S. is essential if Mercari is to become an international player.

Reuters reports that Mercariforecasted share price of 2,200-2,700 JPY per share would see the company raise up to 117.6 billion JPY ($1.1 billion) at a total market cap of 365.4 billion JPY, $3.3 billion.

Itcommon for Japanese startups to go public, but it traditionally tends to happen much earlier than in the U.S or other parts of the world. Thatoften times down to investors — who seek to reduce the risk of their money not returning — and a relative lack of capital for startups, but Mercari has held out longer than most and that might set an example for future companies.

For another thing, the return on investment is impressive for many of Mercaribackers, according to data from 500 Startups partner Yohei Sawayama — who tweeted out USD estimates for potential returns.

Amazon announced today it will begin offering exclusive discounts to Prime members who shop at Whole Foods — a move thatbeen expected since Amazonacquired the grocer last year for $13.7 billion, and more recentlyshut down Whole Foods& rewards program and digital coupons. Prime members, starting today, will be able to take 10 percent off Whole Foods& hundreds of sale items, as well as receive other &weekly deep discounts& on best sellers, Amazon says.

The savings are rolling out initially to the Whole Foods stores in Florida, but will expand toall U.S. Whole Foods Market and Whole Foods Market 365 stores this summer.

Whole Foods currently has over 470 stores in the U.S., Canada and U.K. combined, but the majority & 463 & are in the U.S.

Amazon has made fairly quick work of leveraging its investment in the brick-and-mortar grocery chain. Almost immediatelyfollowing the acquisition, it began slashing prices in Whole Foods& stores. And it already offered special coupons to Prime members to help them save more at times — like when it discounted Thanksgiving turkeys, for example.

Todaynews is now formalizing those prior efforts with a standard rewards program where Prime members can expect to take 10 percent off sale items on a consistent basis, in addition to other weekly discounts onselect items. These will be labeled in store with yellow &10% off& sale signs, and &Prime Member Deal& signs, respectively.

For example, this week (5/16-5/22), Prime members at supported stores will receive the following savings:

• Sustainably sourced, wild-caught halibut steaks: $9.99/lb., save $10/lb.
• Organic strawberries: 1 lb. for $2.99, save $2
• Cold-brew coffee at Allegro coffee bars: 50 percent off 16 oz.
• KIND granola: 11 oz. bag 2/$6
• 365 Everyday Value sparkling water: 12-pack case buy one, get one free
• Magic Mushroom Powder: 50 percent off

Itcommon for grocery stores to offer weekly savings, but in Whole Foods& case, customers won&t have to sign up for a loyalty card or clip coupons from a circular — they have to join Amazon Prime to enjoy these savings. That could be a lure for Prime members who already shop Whole Foods, but could push price-conscious shoppers further away from the chain, given its existing reputation for high prices.

To take advantage of the new program, Prime members will need the Whole Foods mobile app, where they sign in with their Amazon account and then scan the app&Prime Code& barcode at checkout to apply the appropriate discounts. Alternately, they can opt in to use their phone number at checkout, if preferred.

Amazon has also set up a dedicated site for more information about the discount program (amazon.com/primesavings).

These in-store savings are not the only way Amazon has been tying Whole Foods to its larger business.

The companies also launched two-hour delivery from Whole Foods via AmazonPrime Now service in 10 cities across the U.S., with more to come this year, Amazon says. Plus, Amazon Prime members get 5 percent back on Whole Foods purchases with the Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Card, the companies announced earlier this year.

And the stores themselves are serving as the brick-and-mortar presence for Amazononline store, with things like Amazon Lockers,support for returns,and the ability to shop Amazon hardware, like Echo speakers and Fire TV.

&This new Prime benefit at Whole Foods Market is a perfect pairing of healthy and delicious food at even more affordable prices,& said Cem Sibay, vice president, Amazon Prime, in a statement about the discount programlaunch. &Our vision is that every day Prime makes your life better, easier and more fun, and shopping at Whole Foods Market with exclusive deals and savings is all of this and more.&