Techmeme
May 25, 2016, 1:20 PM

Top News

Ingrid Lunden / TechCrunch:
Microsoft is laying off 1,850 to “streamline” its smartphone business, takes $950M charge  —  Following last week's news of Microsoft selling off its feature phone business for $350 million, today Microsoft turned its attention to smartphones: the company announced it would lay off 1,850 staff …
Forbes:
Sources: Peter Thiel has played a lead role in bankrolling Hulk Hogan's lawsuits against Gawker Media  —  One of Silicon Valley's best-known investors has been footing a former wrestler's legal bills in lawsuits against a shared enemy.  —  Peter Thiel, a PayPal cofounder and one of the earliest backers …
Tom Warren / The Verge:
Report: Microsoft to announce a basic Chromecast-like Xbox streaming device and a more advanced option at E3  —  Microsoft is said to be planning to unveil new Xbox streaming devices at E3 next month.  The software giant has been considering an “Xbox TV” device for at least three years …
Kotaku:
Sources: Microsoft is planning a cheaper, smaller Xbox One for E3 and a more powerful model in 2017; possible partnership with Oculus in the works  —  Microsoft is preparing at least two new Xbox models for release in the next two years, sources tell Kotaku.
Amir Efrati / The Information:
Source: Apple opening Siri to third-party apps, preparing a Siri SDK for release at WWDC, and developing an Amazon Echo rival  —  Apple is upping its game in the field of intelligent assistants.  After years of internal debate and discussion about how to do so, the company is preparing to open up Siri to apps made by others.
David Carnoy / CNET:
OtterBox's uniVERSE case works with over a dozen accessory modules such as memory expansion, battery packs, speakers, more, costs $50 for iPhone 6/6s version  —  OtterBox has partnered with a number of accessory makers to create a new platform for iPhone accessories.  CNET goes hands-on with it.
Devindra Hardawar / Engadget:
E Ink develops Advanced Color ePaper, an EPD display that shows up to 32K colors, for digital signage  —  There's a small glimmer of hope for the seemingly doomed dream of color electronic paper.  E Ink, which helped pioneer ePaper by providing the technology for Amazon's Kindle …
Billy Steele / Engadget:
LG G5's VR headset, 360 camera and other accessories hit the US  —  When LG announced its modular G5 phone last month, it also revealed a line of “Friends” companion devices to go along with it (See what it did there?).  Included in the lineup are the 360 VR headset, 360 Cam …
Chris Welch / The Verge:
Google confirms the Nexus Player has been discontinued  —  Google has ceased direct sales of its Nexus Player set-top box.  The hockey puck-shaped device, manufactured by Asus, has been unavailable from major third-party retailers like Best Buy for months.  And after a brief Google Store restock …

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Earlier Picks

Jacob Pramuk / CNBC:
Eric Newcomer / Bloomberg:
Joseph Menn / Reuters:
Sam Schechner / Wall Street Journal:
Katie Roof / TechCrunch: