Techmeme
January 20, 2016, 11:40 AM

Top News

Dan Goodin / Ars Technica:
Researchers disclose an almost three year old privilege escalation bug in the Linux kernel that imperils millions of PCs, servers, and Android phones  —  Linux bug imperils tens of millions of PCs, servers, and Android phones  —  Vulnerability allows restricted users and apps to gain unfettered root access.
Mary Jo Foley / ZDNet:
Microsoft to exchange power cords for Surface Pro, Pro 2, and Pro 3 purchased before March 2015, due to possible overheating issues  —  Microsoft to recall some Surface Pro power cables  —  MIcrosoft will be allowing Surface Pro users who bought earlier models of the company's tablet …
Dina Bass / Bloomberg Business:
Microsoft to donate $1B in cloud services to 70K nonprofits globally over the next three years  —  Microsoft to Donate Cloud Services Worth $1 Billion Over 3 Years  —  Program aims to advance public good, solve biggest problems  —  Company will also invest in Internet in developing nations
Maria Bobila / Fashionista:
Apple Watch Hermes collection will be available online January 22, prices start at $1,100  —  The Apple Watch Hermès Will Finally Be Available to Purchase Online  —  Mark your calendars for this Friday, Jan. 22.  Instead of having to visit a select boutique in a major city like New York …
The Economic Times:
Apple files an application with India's Department Of Industrial Policy and Promotion to open its own retail stores in the country  —  Apple seeks DIPP nod to open own stores in India  —  Confirming the development, DIPP Secretary Amitabh Kant said, “We have just received Apple's proposal.
Devindra Hardawar / Engadget:
LinkNYC free public gigabit WiFi goes live for beta testing, shows speeds of 280 Mbps down, 317 Mbps up, plans to have 500 kiosks running by July, 4450 by 2020  —  LinkNYC's free gigabit Wi-Fi is here, and it is glorious  —  I'm standing on the corner of 15th Street and Third Avenue in New York City, and I'm freezing.
TechCrunch:
Spotify Buys Cord Project And Soundwave To Expand Messaging And Social Features  —  On the same day that streaming rival Deezer announced a new cash injection of €100 million, Spotify has confirmed two new acquisitions, Cord Project and Soundwave.  The startups are based respectively …
Paul Lilly / Maximum PC:
Intel announces sixth generation Core vPro processors with Intel Authenticate, an embedded multifactor authentication technology  —  Intel Bakes Multifactor Authentication into 6th Generation Core vPro Platform  —  Intel Authenticate brings security to a new level
Rick Carew / Wall Street Journal:
China's Meituan-Dianping, an online seller of movie tickets and restaurant bookings, raises $3.3B, the largest ever private round in tech, at $18B+ valuation  —  China's Meituan-Dianping Raises $3.3 Billion  —  Online seller of movie tickets, restaurant bookings snares record private fundraising round
Ben Popper / The Verge:
Netflix Q4: revenue of $1.82B, $43M in profit, 5.59M net new subscribers with 4.04M internationally; stock down over 4%  —  Netflix whizzes past 75 million subscribers thanks to record international growth  —  Netflix share price is up more than 121 percent in the last year.
Joseph Cox / Motherboard:
Facebook Android app update lets you connect through Tor via the Tor Project's Orbot app  —  Facebook Android App Update Makes It Easier to Connect Through Tor  —  Facebook, a company based on publicly sharing details about yourself, continues to make it easier for users to maintain some privacy when they visit the site.
Romain Dillet / TechCrunch:
Bitcoin Exchange Kraken Acquires Coinsetter To Expand To The U.S.  —  According to Bitcoinity, Kraken is the largest EUR bitcoin exchange in the world with Bit-x and Gatecoin not far behind.  But Kraken has one weakness — there isn't much volume when it comes to other currencies.
Ken Yeung / VentureBeat:
Norwest Venture Partners raises $1.2 billion for its 13th fund  —  Norwest Venture Partners has announced that it has raised $1.2 billion for its 13th fund, which it'll continue to support its sector and stage independent investment strategy.  With this fund, the firm now has a total capital and commitment size of more than $6 billion.

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Earlier Picks

Alex Dobie / Android Central:
Jon Brodkin / Ars Technica: