Techmeme: Microsoft dramatically scales back on Windows Phone, leaving long-term future of Lumia in doubt as it focuses on “mobility of experiences” (Paul Thurrott/Thurrott.com)

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July 8, 2015, 10:05 PM

Top News

Microsoft:

Microsoft announces 7,800 job cuts mostly in phone business, writes off $7.6B from Nokia deal — Microsoft Announces Restructuring of Phone Hardware Business — REDMOND, Wash. — Microsoft Corp. today announced plans to restructure the company's phone hardware business to better focus and align resources.

Microsoft:

Satya Nadella email to employees on sharpening business focus — Over the past few weeks, I've shared with you our mission, strategy, structure and culture. Today, I want to discuss our plans to focus our talent and investments in areas where we have differentiation and potential for growth …

Mary Jo Foley / ZDNet:

Microsoft job cuts to hit staff at manufacturing facility in Finland, company's sales group, and others — Microsoft's latest job cuts to hit manufacturing, sales — MIcrosoft's Finland offices and its Sales and Marketing Organization will both be impacted by the company's 7,800 job cuts.

More: Agence France-Presse, Business Insider, Windows Central and WinBeta

Paul Thurrott / Thurrott.com:

Microsoft dramatically scales back on Windows Phone, leaving long-term future of Lumia in doubt as it focuses on “mobility of experiences” — Analysis: Microsoft is Scaling Back on Windows Phone Dramatically — Yes, we were right to be worried about Windows Phone.

More: Business Insider, Global Nerdy, Communities Dominate Brands, TechCrunch and GeekWire

Wall Street Journal:

Apple orders between 85M and 90M units of upcoming iPhone models, around 10M more than last year; new models expected to have Force Touch technology — Apple Plans Record Number of New iPhones — Apples asks suppliers to make up to 90 million of the expected next models by year-end

Chris Welch / The Verge:

In apparent effort to stop Apple making any money from its service, Spotify urges iPhone customers to stop paying through the App Store and save $3/month — Spotify urges iPhone customers to stop paying through Apple's App Store — Spotify is trying to raise awareness around the fact …

Ben Huh / Medium:

Cheezburger's Ben Huh steps down as CEO today, will be replaced with President and COO Scott Moore — How to Jump Into the Deep End of Change — I'm leaving Cheezburger, Inc., the company I started. — Dear Friends and Fans of Cheezburger, — After 8 incredible years, I am stepping down from being CEO of Cheezburger today.

More: VentureBeat, GeekWire, TechCrunch and tech.co

Tweets: @mikeisaac and @benhuh

Matt O'Brien / Mercury News:

Yahoo launches Daily Fantasy sports product in 45 states, allows users to pay up to $600/day, takes about 10% in fees — Yahoo amps up fantasy sports, allowing users to compete for money — SAN FRANCISCO — Hoping to amp up an American addiction to fantasy sports that already drives legions …

More: VentureBeat, Yahoo and Tech Times

Ron Amadeo / Ars Technica:

Google debuts $15 Chromecast Ethernet adaptor, product sells out in hours

More: The Register, CNET, BuzzFeed, International Business Times, Gizmodo and BetaNews

Will Oremus / Slate:

Many viral Facebook videos are ripped from YouTube and re-uploaded to Facebook without consent, and some end up with more views than originals — Facebook's Piracy Problem — Are plagiarized YouTube videos helping fuel the social network's astonishing video growth?

More: Mashable and SiliconBeat. Tweets: @joshconstine and @mhbergen

Facebook:

Facebook updates its cost-per-click definition to only include clicks to websites and apps, not likes, shares, and comments — Updating how Cost per Click is Measured on Facebook — Advertisers come to Facebook to drive business goals, like in-store traffic and website clicks …

More: Marketing Land, Business Insider, TechCrunch, Facebook Developers, SocialTimes, Re/code, VentureBeat, Wall Street Journal, Seeking Alpha and WebProNews

Tweets: @joshconstine and @sarahfrier

Benjamin Mayo / 9to5Mac:

iOS 8.4 reportedly accounts for 40% of all iOS usage just one week after release — Using data by Mixpanel, Apple Music seems to be quickly driving adoption of Apple's latest iteration of its operating system, iOS 8.4. The chart shows that, in just one week, iOS 8.4 usage now makes up more than 40% of all iOS device usage.

More: AppleInsider, Macworld, Computerworld, Ubergizmo, SiliconANGLE, BetaNews, BGR, Gotta Be Mobile, InvestorPlace, MacRumors and CNET. Tweets: @bzamayo

Glenn Fleishman / Macworld:

Apple drops Recovery Key in new two-factor authentication for El Capitan and iOS 9 — Apple said at WWDC it would build a more integrated and comprehensions two-factor security system into its next OS releases, and today explains what that means. — Senior Contributor, Macworld

More: Apple Support, MacRumors, AppleInsider, The Next Web, BGR, 9to5Mac, MacRumors, iPhone Hacks and The Mac Observer. Thanks:@macworld

Matthew Lynley / TechCrunch:

Tilt Raised Around $30M At A $400M Valuation In Its Most Recent Funding Round — TechCrunch is hearing from multiple sources that Tilt has raised around $30 million in its most-recent funding round as it pushes to expand internationally. — “We weren't in fundraising mode …

Thanks:@mattlynley

Jeff Elder / Wall Street Journal:

Jawbone files complaint with ITC against Fitbit, seeks to block company from importing fitness trackers into US, in third legal action in two months — Jawbone Sues Rival Fitbit for Third Time in Two Months — Jawbone has filed another legal action against rival fitness tracker company Fitbit - the third in two months.

More: Fortune and bizjournals

TechCrunch:

Sources: Aol/Verizon Eyes Millennial Media For Around $300M In Mobile Ad Push — AOL, recently acquired by Verizon for $4.4 billion, appears to be wasting little time in continuing to build out its advertising business. Sources tell TechCrunch that the company has been in the process of buying mobile ad network Millennial Media.

Paul Sawers / VentureBeat:

Fleksy's mobile keyboard app goes free as the company bets on premium themes and extensions — Mobile keyboard company Fleksy has followed in the footsteps of SwiftKey by making its Android and iOS app completely free. — With seven million downloads to date, the San Francisco-based company's app replaces …

More: Fleksy Keyboard, MacRumors, BGR, iClarified, Android Authority, SlashGear, tech.co, PhoneDog.com, 9to5Google, Ubergizmo, Droid Life, MobileSyrup.com, Android Central, App Advice and The Next Web

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