Techmeme
September 21, 2016, 7:35 AM

Top News

Nathan Ingraham / Engadget:
Google launches Allo messaging app with Smart Reply and Google Assistant for iOS and Android  —  If you're going to unveil a new messaging app, it had better do something unique.  At this point, finding a place amongst entrenched options like Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp and iMessage is not an easy task.
Russell Brandom / The Verge:
Google backs off on previously announced Allo privacy feature, will store all non-incognito messages by default  —  The app will log conversations by default after all  —  When Allo was announced at Google's I/O conference earlier this year, the messaging app was presented as a step forward for privacy.
AT&T:
AT&T unveils plan for multi-gigabit Internet delivered over shaped radio transmissions that are guided by power lines; field trials set for in 2017  —  Urban, Rural and Underserved Parts of the World Could Benefit from AT&T's Innovative Wireless, Multi-Gigabit-Speed Internet Connectivity …
Sarah Perez / TechCrunch:
Instagram rolls out a “Save Draft” feature to all users  —  Following tests earlier this year, Instagram today confirmed it's rolling out a “Save Draft” feature to all users.  This addition means you're now able to begin working on a post, then save a copy of your changes to be completed later.
Jacob Kastrenakes / The Verge:
macOS Sierra review: Siri and Optimized Storage features add convenience but can frustrate, as Siri lacks third-party tie-ins, and iCloud storage is too limited  —  For the last few years, nearly all of OS X's biggest updates have come in response to iOS.  First, the Mac got iOS's apps.
Jason Snell / Six Colors:
macOS Sierra's Optimized Storage iCloud syncing for Desktop and Documents folders is buggy and may not suit everyone's workflow  —  So that's it for the era of the big X. Version 10.12 of the operating system that runs the Mac is here, and with it, a new/old name: macOS.
Matthew Hughes / The Next Web:
Researchers find North Korea has only 28 TLDs on .kp domain after misconfigured nameservers allowed TL;DR project to obtain all the top-level DNS data  —  North Korea is the most repressive, secretive state in the world.  There's no free press, no independent media, and scarce few people have access to the Internet.
Mike Klein / Sunlight Foundation Blog:
Sunlight Foundation exploring merger or alliances with other organizations, will discontinue tool building and database maintenance  —  The board of directors of the Sunlight Foundation has reached some important conclusions about our future.  We want to share them with our friends, funders …
ProPublica:
For 250 popular items tracked over several weeks, Amazon ranked its own and affiliated products higher about 75% of the time, even when cheaper options existed  —  Amazon bills itself as “Earth's most customer-centric company.”  Yet its algorithm is hiding the best deal from many customers.
Josh Smith / Official Google for Work Blog:
Google adds natural language search, improved spell checking to Drive and enhances multi-column support in Docs  —  (Cross-posted on the Google Drive Blog)  —  Innovation is critical for business success, so we're constantly trying to build tools that enable our customers to do more.

Sponsor Posts

Google:
Try Gemini 3 Pro  —  Google's newest and most intelligent AI model that helps you bring any idea to life
Soxton:
AI-powered law for startups  —  Soxton automates startup legal so founders can move faster and sleep better.  We handle incorporation, advisor, employment and commercial contracts.  Join the waitlist for early access!
Zoho:
Zoho Webinar: A look back at 2025  —  As 2025 comes to a close, it's the perfect time to look back at how Zoho Webinar has transformed the way businesses connect, engage, and grow.
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

The Talk Show With John Gruber:
'A Naughty Citizen', With Quinn Nelson
The director's commentary track for Daring Fireball. Long digressions on Apple, technology, design, movies, and more.
Subscribe to The Talk Show With John Gruber.
Big Technology Podcast:
2025 In Review, 2026 Predictions — With Reed Albergotti
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.
Channels with Peter Kafka:
Podcast Pioneer PJ Vogt's Second Act: Less Budget, More Control
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.
BG2 Pod:
AI Enterprise - Databricks & Glean
Open-source podcast on all things tech, markets, investing, and capitalism, hosted by Brad Gerstner.
Subscribe to BG2 Pod.
Great Chat:
The stories we told ourselves in 2025
A podcast mostly about tech. Brought to you weekly by Angela Du, Sally Shin, Mac Bohannon, Helen Min, and Ashley Mayer.
Subscribe to Great Chat.
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 7:35 AM ET, September 21, 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

Ben Fox Rubin / CNET:
Andrew J . Hawkins / The Verge:

Earlier Picks

Paul Sawers / VentureBeat:
Chris Welch / The Verge:
Lucas Shaw / Bloomberg:
Jordan Novet / VentureBeat:
Steve Kovach / Business Insider: