Techmeme
March 18, 2016, 6:15 PM

Top News

Mark Gurman / 9to5Mac:
9.7-inch iPad Pro to start at higher $599 price, come in 32 GB & 128 GB capacities  —  With the iPad Pro name and features, the new 9.7-inch iPad will be Apple's first to come with a starting price higher than $499.  The smaller iPad Pro will start at $599 and include 32 GB of storage, according to sources.
Patrick Klepek / Kotaku:
Sources: Sony is working on a “PlayStation 4.5” with upgraded GPU for 4K resolution and better VR game support  —  Sources: Sony Is Working On A ‘PlayStation 4.5’  —  Sony is currently planning a new version of the PS4 with increased graphical power and games running at 4K resolution, developer sources tell Kotaku.
Kyle Orland / Ars Technica:
PlayStation VR will cost $500 with Camera and Move controllers, which are required for positional tracking and many games; preorders start on March 22  —  PlayStation VR's true cost: $500 when bundled with needed accessories  —  All in.  —  When Sony finally announced a $400 price tag …
Paul Mozur / New York Times:
Mark Zuckerberg mocked for “trying too hard” on Chinese social media after hazardous “smog jog” through Tiananmen Square without a face mask  —  With ‘Smog Jog’ Through Beijing, Zuckerberg Stirs Debate on Air Pollution  —  A morning run can be the perfect way to overcome jet lag …
Paul Tamburro / CraveOnline:
Microsoft had scantily clad dancers dressed as “schoolgirls” at GDC party; Xbox chief Phil Spencer issues an apology  —  Microsoft Actually Had “Erotic Schoolgirl” Dancers at its GDC Party  —  Microsoft staged a “boys only club” party and are being called out for their unprofessionalism.
Ben Sisario / New York Times:
Spotify and National Music Publishing Association reach settlement over unpaid mechanical rights royalties; sources say the payout pool is between $21M and $30M  —  Spotify Reaches Settlement With Publishers in Licensing Dispute  —  Spotify will pay more than $20 million to music publishers …
Kris Graft / Gamasutra:
Interview with Palmer Luckey ahead of Oculus VR launch day on his day-to-day involvement, VR's future, more  —  Now's the time to get into VR - but be realistic about its returns, says Palmer Luckey  —  A lot can happen in five years, especially in a tech field as fast-moving as virtual reality.
Mary Jo Foley / ZDNet:
Microsoft releases first Edge extensions preview in newest Windows 10 test build  —  Microsoft's new Redstone build 14291, available to Fast Ring PC and Mobile testers today, includes the first preview of extensions for Microsoft's Edge browser.  —  One of the features most eagerly awaited …
Jennifer Van Grove / The San Diego Union-Tribune:
Uber to launch Passport cross-border service for one-way rides from San Diego to the northern Baja California region in Mexico  —  Crossing borders: Uber takes San Diego riders to Mexico  —  Company cruises through busiest U.S. border, but only goes one way.

Sponsor Posts

Google:
Try Gemini 3 Pro  —  Google's newest and most intelligent AI model that helps you bring any idea to life
Shopify:
Shopify's new AI commerce stack  —  Their VP of Product digs into just-launched products to help entrepreneurs and developers build with the latest AI and tech.
Zoho:
Zoho People in 2025: A year in review  —  As we wrap up 2025, we're taking a moment to look back on a year filled with progress and transformation at Zoho People.  Our team has been constantly pushing boundaries …
IDrive:
Protecting your Cloud Applications Data  —  Backing up Office 365, Google Workspace, Dropbox & Box data is critical to preventing data loss or corruption, complying with laws and avoiding critical downtime in case of a disaster.

Featured Podcasts

Lenny's Podcast:
The coming AI security crisis (and what to do about it) | Sander Schulhoff
Interviews with world-class product leaders and growth experts to uncover actionable advice to help you build, launch, and grow your own product.
Subscribe to Lenny's Podcast.
Big Technology Podcast:
OpenAI's Potential, Google's Speedy Model, Copilot Hits Turbulence
The Big Technology Podcast takes you behind the scenes in the tech world featuring interviews with plugged-in insiders and outside agitators.
Subscribe to Big Technology Podcast.
Hard Fork:
Why Roomba Died + Tech Predictions for 2026 + A Hard Forkin' Xmas Song
The future is already here. Each week, journalists Kevin Roose and Casey Newton explore and make sense of the latest in the rapidly changing world of tech.
Subscribe to Hard Fork.
Access:
Betting on reality with Kalshi CEO Tarek Mansour
A show about the tech industry's inside conversation, hosted by tech reporter Alex Heath and founder whisperer Ellis Hamburger.
Subscribe to Access.
Channels with Peter Kafka:
"Neither Side Is Used to Losing." Lucas Shaw on What's Next for Netflix and Paramount in the Battle for Warner Bros.
Media and tech aren't just intersecting - they're fully intertwined. To understand how those worlds work, Peter Kafka talks to industry leaders, upstarts and observers.
Subscribe to Channels with Peter Kafka.
Tools and Weapons with Brad Smith:
Ted Sarandos: Netflix and how tech changed storytelling
Microsoft Vice Chair and President Brad Smith speaks with leaders in government, business, and culture to explore the most critical challenges at the intersection of technology and society.
Subscribe to Tools and Weapons with Brad Smith.
 

About This Page

This is a Techmeme archive page. It shows how the site appeared at 6:15 PM ET, March 18, 2016.

The most current version of the site as always is available at our home page. To view an earlier snapshot click here and then modify the date indicated.

More News

Stack Overflow:
Andrew Flanagan / Billboard:

Earlier Picks

Kim Zetter / Wired:
New York Times:
Sarah Perez / TechCrunch: