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Caravan Launches to End the “Where Are You?” Group Text

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Caravan launches a new social travel app that puts everyone traveling together on one live map, replacing endless “Where are you?” texts with real-time coordination, event-based location sharing, and shared experiences across iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, CarPlay and Apple TV.

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., Oct. 21, 2026 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — Every group trip eventually seems to produce the same text: Where are you?

“Smartphones solved navigation a long time ago, but traveling together is still strangely difficult.” — Joseph Penora, Founder of Caravan

Caravan was built to make that question unnecessary.

Today marks the launch of Caravan: Travel with Friends, a new app that puts everyone traveling together on one live map — from before the first person leaves until the last person gets home.

Whether it’s three friends heading to dinner, a family leaving for vacation, or hundreds of cars participating in a rally, Caravan gives the entire group one shared view of the journey instead of forcing everyone to coordinate through text messages, phone calls, screenshots and separate navigation apps.

One trip. One map. Every car.

Unlike traditional location-sharing apps designed around continuously tracking people, Caravan was built around an event.

Location sharing begins automatically one hour before a scheduled trip and ends individually as participants arrive home. Users don’t have to remember to turn sharing on before leaving — or remember to turn it off afterward.

Users can create a Meetup, Day Trip, Rally or Vacation, invite friends and plan together. Groups can vote on destinations, dates and hotels before the host finalizes the trip. Only the host needs the appropriate subscription for the group size; invited friends can participate with free accounts.

Once the journey begins, Caravan becomes a live coordination layer for everyone participating.

One puck per car. People traveling together appear as a single vehicle on the map. When passengers split up, their pucks separate. When they leave together again, they automatically merge back into one car.Chirp. Hold-to-talk voice messages let drivers communicate with an individual or the entire group without starting a phone call.Pit Stop, SOS and road alerts. Drivers can notify the group when stopping for fuel, dealing with a flat tire or reporting a hazard ahead. Road alerts reach participants who haven’t encountered the hazard yet.The Driver’s Route. Beyond traditional navigation, Caravan can create scenic drives shaped around coastlines, forests, mountain roads and the kinds of roads people actually want to drive.Arrive Home Safe. Users can designate a safety contact to receive a notification when they arrive home.Group Soundtrack. A host can select an Apple Music playlist for the trip so everyone can listen along.

For spontaneous plans, Location Blast lets someone instantly tell friends, “I’m here — come join me,” without creating a full trip in advance.

Caravan also extends beyond the phone.

CarPlay gives drivers access to essential trip information and controls while on the road. Apple Watch puts key trip functions on the wrist. iPad provides a larger planning and live-map experience. Apple TV turns an active trip or rally into a spectator experience, allowing friends, family and event participants to watch the journey unfold on a television.

“Smartphones solved navigation a long time ago, but traveling together is still strangely difficult,” said Joseph Penora, founder of Caravan. “I started thinking about this problem in 2012 while launching my first startup, Friend Verifier. Every road trip, car meet and night out eventually turned into phone calls and texts asking where everybody was. Even after I put the idea for Caravan on the shelf, I kept jotting down every frustration I encountered and every way the experience could be made simpler.”

Caravan is designed to replace the patchwork of apps people typically use to plan and share a trip or night out. Mapping, trip planning, friends and direct messaging are built in, along with event-wide photo sharing and discovery tools for finding concerts, sporting events, comedy shows and other experiences to enjoy together.

Afterward, Caravan creates a trip recap that brings together the places the group visited, photos everyone shared and the Apple Music playlist selected for the event — creating a shared record of the journey that participants can revisit long after the trip is over.

“Social media was supposed to bring us closer together, but somewhere along the way it started replacing too much of real life,” said Penora. “What’s better than sharing a meal with friends, going to a concert, taking a road trip or traveling somewhere together? Social media should enhance real life, not replace it. That’s why Caravan is the platform I always believed should exist.”

A Social Layer for the Journey

Caravan includes a Garage where users can add their vehicles, track maintenance and build the automotive equivalent of a passport — a record of the places, roads and experiences they’ve shared with their car. Crews give friends, automotive clubs and communities a place to organize, plan trips and stay connected.

Users can also collect badges and unlock custom map pucks by visiting specific real-world locations or even listening to certain songs through Apple Music during a trip.

“Music is a huge part of my life, and the right playlist can completely set the tone for a road trip or private event,” said Penora. “We’ve even hidden a few surprises for people who listen to the right songs. If you follow me on Instagram, you might already have a pretty good idea where to start.”

It’s all part of Caravan’s larger philosophy: the destination matters, but so does everything that happens getting there.

Availability

Caravan: Travel with Friends is free to download from the App Store for iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch and Apple TV, with CarPlay integration for compatible vehicles.

Free accounts can host trips with up to three participants, including the host.

Caravan Pro is available for $4.99 per month or $47.99 per year and expands hosting capacity to 20 participants, including the host, while adding additional trip, Garage, location and customization features.

Subscription limits apply only to hosting trips, not joining them. Anyone can accept an invitation and participate in a Caravan trip, regardless of their subscription. For example, a Pro subscriber can host a trip with 19 friends, all of whom can participate using free accounts.

Caravan also offers tools for automotive clubs, rally organizers, events and businesses.

An Android version is in development.

Learn more at downloadcaravan.com.

About Caravan

Caravan is a social travel platform designed to help people journey together.

The app combines trip planning, live group location sharing, navigation, communication, safety and shared experiences into a single platform built around a simple idea: getting there is better when you get there together.

Journey Together.

Caravan is developed by Soon Robotics, Inc., a technology company based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Media Contact

Joseph Penora, Caravan, 1 9546188148, media@downloadcaravan.com, https://www.downloadcaravan.com

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QFocus Technologies Scales Global Engineering Business, Plans to Triple Workforce in 2027 to Support Growing Customer Demand

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BENGALURU, India and SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — QFocus Technologies LLC (QFocus), headquartered in the USA, is strengthening its global engineering operations following continued business growth across its key markets. The company has doubled its customer base to include top OEMs and CMs across AI infrastructure, medical devices and industrial products, adding multiple new customer engagements over the past 12 months.

Since its inception, QFocus has built relationships with leading global organizations across the technology and manufacturing ecosystem, supporting engineering programs for a global electronics manufacturing and supply chain solutions provider, a leading computational software company serving the semiconductor design industry, a frontier AI company advancing AI infrastructure and computing, and a global medical technology company, amongst others.

These customer programs also offer QFocus engineers opportunities to work on real-world engineering challenges for global organizations, gain exposure to international engineering practices and contribute to technologies and products with applications across industries. By working alongside experienced Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) and supporting demanding customer requirements, engineers can deepen their technical capabilities while gaining experience across the product development and manufacturing lifecycle.

The company plans to triple the number of its engineers globally over the next 12 months, strengthening its capabilities across AI/ML & software engineering, data science & engineering, ASIC hardware & embedded software design, validation & verification, and manufacturing & quality engineering. The expansion will support QFocus’ growing portfolio of global customer programs while further positioning it as a premier SME-led engineering services provider globally.

Founder & CEO Ajit Chandorkar said, “We see tremendous opportunities to support customers navigating complex development and manufacturing environments. Our delivery model pairs industry-recognized SMEs directly with agile engineering teams, combining strategic foresight with technical execution to address our customers’ most intricate challenges. Expanding our product engineering team alongside our AI capabilities will further strengthen this approach, enabling our customers to accelerate time-to-market, elevate product quality and improve operational efficiency. As we continue to build our engineering capabilities, we remain focused on fostering a high-caliber team that delivers world-class solutions and creates lasting value for our customers.”

QFocus is also continuing to build relationships with academic institutions and engineering partners globally to strengthen its talent pipeline and create opportunities for engineering professionals to work on emerging technology areas.

About QFocus Technologies

QFocus is a US-based design and manufacturing engineering service provider, delivering consulting-led services that help clients achieve faster time-to-market and improved process and product quality. QFocus’ comprehensive service portfolio spans embedded systems & AI, manufacturing/quality engineering, factory data analytics, and operational excellence. QFocus serves clients across Medical & Life Sciences, AI Infrastructure and CE, and Industrial & Transport sectors.

QFocus fosters a vibrant environment of joy, excitement, creativity, and innovation, placing inclusion, empathy, and empowerment for every employee and partner at the heart of its growing culture. We are a team of Go-Getters in the making!

For more information about QFocus and its services, visit www.qfocustech.com or contact ops@qfocustech.com. 

 

 

 

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AULUMU Introduces the ADuo Particle Aramid Fiber Case for iPhone Duo

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1500D aramid fiber meets a universe-inspired particle array, combining technical aesthetics with everyday protection

SHENZHEN, China, Oct. 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — AULUMU, the design-driven accessories brand known for blending futuristic aesthetics with functional engineering, introduces the ADuo Particle Aramid Fiber Case for iPhone Duo. Part of the brand’s Particle Series, the new case combines a lightweight 1500D aramid-fiber construction with a distinctive particle-array design, dual-screen protection, and MagSafe compatibility in a slim, technical form.

Inspired by the primordial order of the universe and tactical aesthetics, the ADuo Particle transforms a finely woven surface into a dynamic visual composition. Its precisely arranged particles create a sense of depth and structure, evoking the ubiquitous particles found throughout the universe. The result is a design that balances visual complexity with a restrained, functional aesthetic.

At the core of the ADuo Particle is 1500D aramid fiber, selected for its refined woven texture and lightweight strength. The finely woven material creates a distinctive tactile surface while maintaining a slim profile for everyday carrying. A skin-friendly coating further enhances grip and makes routine cleaning easier, bringing material refinement and practical usability together.

The ADuo Particle is available in two finishes, each interpreting the particle-array concept through a different visual language. Abyss Blue features a UV-processed gradient particle array, creating a sense of depth through a gradual shift in color. Polar Black combines glossy particles with black aramid fabric, producing a subtle interplay of light and shadow that changes with the viewing angle. Together, the two colorways offer distinct expressions of the same technical design language.

Beyond its visual identity, the ADuo Particle integrates a series of protective details designed for everyday use. A full-coverage PC protective frame surrounds the front screen, helping protect its edges and corners. An aluminum-alloy camera guard adds protection around the camera area, while raised edges around the screen and camera help reduce direct contact with surrounding surfaces. These elements complement the slim construction without adding unnecessary visual bulk.

The case also supports compatible MagSafe accessories, extending its functionality beyond basic device protection. Users can pair it with magnetic accessories, including the AULUMU G09 Mag Stand, to create a more flexible setup for everyday work, viewing, and mobile use. By combining magnetic compatibility with a refined aramid-fiber exterior, the ADuo Particle fits naturally into a technical, minimalist everyday carry setup.

The ADuo Particle reflects AULUMU’s ongoing approach to product design: bringing material innovation, functional details, and a distinctive industrial aesthetic into everyday technology accessories. Rather than treating protection and appearance as separate priorities, the case integrates both into a cohesive design built around the character of the device and the needs of daily use.

AULUMU is also developing two additional ADuo Aramid Fiber Case variations: a distinctive all-white edition and a gradient edition inspired by the visual direction of the A18 Ultra Slim Gradient Aramid Fiber Case. Release dates for both versions have yet to be determined.

Available on the AULUMU website for $89.98

What is More

AULUMU is also preparing a special limited version of ADuo Particle Aramid Fiber Case which is the world first All-White Aramid Fiber case. The release date for this case has not yet been determined.

About AULUMU

Founded in 2022, AULUMU is a design brand focused on high-performance gear, drawing inspiration from the functional aesthetics of cyberpunk and the philosophical roots of ancient Greek thought. Since its inception, the brand has launched dozens of digital accessory products, secured multiple utility and invention patents, and received the 2025 Red Dot Design Award. Today, AULUMU products serve hundreds of thousands of users across more than 20 countries and regions, positioning the brand as a growing presence in the global high-performance accessories market.

For more information, visit: https://aulumu.com/, or follow AULUMU on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aulumu_official/

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SOURCE AULUMU

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LianLian Global and PayPal Power Cross-Border Payouts for Social Commerce, Marketplace, and eCommerce Customers

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Social commerce, marketplaces and eCommerce players served by LianLian Global can now pay creators, influencers, developers, and independent contractors directly to their PayPal and Venmo wallets.

NEW YORK, Oct. 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — LianLian Global  today announced it has partnered with PayPal (NASDAQ: PYPL) to enable its social commerce, marketplace and e-commerce clients to send payouts directly to PayPal accounts globally and to Venmo accounts in the U.S.

The creator and gig economy runs on fast, low-friction payouts. Brands are expected to spend $32.6 billion on creators in 2026 and roughly 50 million people worldwide create content professionally or semi-professionally (Gigapay Global Creator Economy Report 2026). Many of these recipients already hold a PayPal or Venmo account: PayPal had over 400 million active accounts across approximately 200 markets at the end of Q2 2026, and Venmo reached 67 million monthly active accounts in Q4 2025.

Paypal Payouts is live in 96 global markets and 24 currencies. It allows merchants to send to any email address, mobile number, or Venmo user handle, with or without an existing PayPal or Venmo account.

To support enterprises expanding globally, LianLian Global provides digital payment services including pay-in, pay-out, acquiring, foreign exchange, virtual cards and payment aggregation. To date, its parent company Lianlian DigiTech has served more than 13.3 million clients. Its services reach more than 200 countries and regions, support transactions and settlement in more than 140 currencies, and connect with more than 180 global e-commerce platforms.

The partnership combines LianLian Global’s cross-border collection, FX and compliance infrastructure with PayPal’s global wallet network. Key offerings include:

Pay to PayPal: Payouts from LianLian Global clients to PayPal account holders in 96 markets, using only the recipient’s email or phone numberPay to Venmo: Domestic U.S. payouts to Venmo users, including creators, influencers and independent contractorsPayPal Payouts for Platforms: Mass disbursements for social commerce, marketplaces and affiliate platforms paying large numbers of sellers, creators and contractorsSpeed to settle: Save time and money by eliminating check runs and postage; no need for routing numbers and bank accounts.

Sandra Lam, Deputy CEO of US at LianLian Global: “Social commerce is creating a new economy, where creators, influencers and independent sellers drive discovery and sales alongside the platforms they sell on. Paying these participants fast, across borders and in small amount is what powers the network effect of social commerce. We see our work with Paypal as a key step in building the payout rails for the global gig economy.”

The collaboration expands LianLian Global’s payout coverage and supports its growth in the U.S. and global markets as cross-border platforms scale their creator and contractor programs.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/lianlian-global-and-paypal-power-cross-border-payouts-for-social-commerce-marketplace-and-ecommerce-customers-302917635.html

SOURCE LianLian Global

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