Techmeme
May 12, 2015, 12:20 PM

Top News

Verizon:
Verizon to acquire AOL at $50 per share at an estimated total value of $4.4B, Tim Armstrong to continue leading AOL operations  —  Verizon to Acquire AOL  —  Deal Creates Unique and Scaled Digital Media Platforms for Consumers, Advertisers and Partners  —  NEW YORK - Taking another significant step …
Ingrid Lunden / TechCrunch:
Internal memo from AOL CEO Tim Armstrong on Verizon takeover  —  In Big Content Push, Verizon Buys AOL For $4.4B [Internal Memo From AOL CEO Tim Armstrong]  —  So this just happened.  AOL, owner of TechCrunch, is getting acquired: U.S. carrier Verizon said in a statement that it is buying …
Kara Swisher / Re/code:
Sources: AOL in talks to spin off HuffPost, primarily with Axel Springer, at a valuation over $1B  —  AOL Has Been in Talks to Spin Off HuffPost as Part of Verizon Acquisition Deal  —  According to numerous sources, while it has been negotiating its deal to sell to Verizon …
Fred Imbert / CNBC:
AOL stock up more than 18% on news that Verizon is acquiring the company for $4.4B  —  Verizon to buy AOL for $4.4 billion  —  Telecom giant Verizon announced Tuesday it will be buying AOL for $50 per share, or about $4.4 billion.  —  The transaction will take the form of a tender offer followed …
Alex Kantrowitz / AdAge:
Ad-Tech, not Content, Is King in the Verizon-AOL Deal  —  Takeaways From This Morning's Announcement  —  The deal of the year may be upon us.  —  Today, Verizon announced it has reached an agreement to buy AOL for $4.4 billion.  The move, expected to be completed this summer …
Lorenzo Franceschi-Bicchierai / Motherboard:
Google Confirms Cops Can Wiretap Your Hangouts  —  In the wake of all the Edward Snowden revelations, a seemingly endless series of encryption apps, all promising some degree “NSA-proof” security, have come out trying to take advantage of this new anti-surveillance business opportunity.
Periscope / Medium:
Periscope update adds an option to sign up without a Twitter account using your phone number  —  Six Weeks In  —  The past six weeks have been unforgettable.  Thank you for your global perspective, for your thoughtful feedback, and inspiring ideas.  We've shipped three updates since our last blog post …
Peter Kafka / Re/code:
Warner Music Says Streaming Revenue Has Passed Downloads  —  Here's another sign that the music industry has shifted from selling songs to selling subscriptions: Warner Music Group says that last quarter, streaming music revenue passed revenue from selling downloads.
Stephanie Sawler / Skype Blogs:
Skype Translator Preview now available to all, no sign-up required  —  Skype Translator Preview Access Just Got Easier!  —  Skype's mission is to bring people together from all over the world, and with Skype Translator we are breaking down language barriers that have historically …
Emily Guendelsberger / Philadelphia City Paper:
Reporter goes undercover as Uber driver, makes $9.34/hour, notes orientation video just 13 minutes  —  I was an undercover Uber driver  —  Two good-looking young strangers are having an amazing conversation in the backseat of my car.  I'm eavesdropping so hard I nearly run a red light.
Tweets: @danieldenvir

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Earlier Picks

The White House:
Chris Urmson / Backchannel: