We take a deep dive with the new iPad Pro, Amazon offers free delivery and Spotify announces a stock buyback plan. Here's your Daily Crunch for November 5, 2018.

1. Review: The iPad Pro and the power of the Pen(cil)

Will the new iPad Pro really work as a replacement laptop? Matthew Panzarino sees promising signs, particularly when it comes to the Pencil, which could become the new mouse for the tablet generation.

Not that the Pencil is mandatory for all iPad owners, but apps like Procreate illustrate how the combined tablet/Pencil interface could evolve with radial menus.

2. Amazon is offering free delivery in the US because it's nearly Christmas

It's kind of depressing to see "early November" treated as "nearly Christmas," but don't mind me: The company has removed its shipping charges and made deliveries free for "hundreds of millions" of products on sale.

3. Spotify plans to buy back up to $1 billion in stock

The move is designed to boost the company's falling stock price.

4. SoftBank to wait on Khashoggi murder investigation before deciding on second Vision Fund

SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son says the firm won't walk away from its existing financial commitment with the Saudi Arabian royal family, but it will wait on the outcome of an investigation into the death of journalist Jamal Khashoggi before deciding on whether to continue the relationship.

5. Amazon opens yet another retail store, this time in Berkeley, CA

The Berkeley location follows the same model as its predecessors, only stocking products that have managed to score four stars or higher on the site. Naturally, that includes a bunch of Amazon's own products, including Echo speakers and Fire tablets.

6. Boring Tunnel is on track for an 'opening party' next month

Elon Musk tweeted — not for the first time — that the company will unveil the stretch of rapid-transit tunnel in the LA suburb of Hawthorne on December 10, roughly five weeks from now. (Hey, I grew up near Hawthorne!) The idea is to host an opening event that night, followed by free rides for the public the next day.

7. The week in TechCrunch podcasts

Not too many new episodes this week, but the team at Equity discussed a big funding round for the company behind gaming sensation Fortnite.