By Jordan Valinsky 5/03 2:35pm

betaworking

This is Dots. (Photo: iTunes)

Connect the ‘Dots’: How Betaworks Made Your New Favorite App

Fling those dumb Angry Birds into oblivion already: there’s a new free replacement sitting in the iTunes App Store for your time-killing needs. Enter Dots, a minimalistic game that accentuates the speediness of your swiping skills by connecting as many same-colored dots as possible in 60 seconds. The more dots—or better yet, boxes—you link together and create, the higher you score.

The game was the brainchild of Betaworks hacker-in-residence Patrick Moberg, who had never designed or coded a game before. He began development of Dots in January under the direction that the non-incubator wanted to create a “zen-like” game that people wouldn’t feel guilty playing. Read More

By Kelly Faircloth 4/17 11:30am

Stormy Weather

Brb, running to the Warby Parker store. (Photo: Screencap)

Betaworks Launches Weather Service Because Let’s Face It, You’re No Meteorologist

Do unexpectedly blustery days leave you wailing at the fates? Sick of dressing in your smartest spring sandals, only to walk outside and discover there’s still a nip in the air?

So are the folks at Betaworks, apparently.

And now, a small team led by hacker-in-residence Kuan Huang has dreamed up Poncho, a new weather service launching today for New York City. It promises to deliver a personalized forecast that’ll help you figure out whether you can really get by with just a cardigan.

Mr. Huang told Betabeat that the idea was born as “something for my personal use.” He wanted an interpreter for the forecast, who could tell him, “It’s 46 degrees, windy; you should wear a scarf.” He admitted it’s ”a pain point I have in my life.” You and me both, buddy. Read More

By Jessica Roy 8/21/12 2:31pm

Movers and Shakers

Mr. Murphy (Photo: Twitter)

Betaworks Poaches Another NYC Startup Exec, Aviary’s Paul Murphy, for Entrepreneur-in-Residence Role

Looks like startup non-incubator Betaworks is in a hiring frenzy. Days after announcing it had snapped up former Tumblr VP Andrew McLaughlin, the company is making news again with another Entrepreneur-in-Residence hire.

Paul Murphy, COO of Aviary, is leaving his post at the photo editing startup to join the Betaworks folks at their sweet Meatpacking office. Read More