Techmeme
January 15, 2017, 6:45 PM

Top News

Kate Conger / TechCrunch:
Cloudflare discloses 2013 National Security Letter, joins CREDO and EFF to challenge the constitutionality of the FBI's NSLs and their accompanying gag orders  —  For more than a decade, CEOs of major tech companies have opened innocuous envelopes to find letters from the FBI inside …
Amar Toor / The Verge:
Facebook says it will soon expand tools to fight fake news to Germany, will send flagged posts to Berlin-based nonprofit news org Correctiv for fact-checking  —  Social network introduces fact-checking tools ahead of national elections later this year  —  Facebook will begin rolling …
Tom Warren / The Verge:
Microsoft announces Windows 10 Creators Update will include a Game Mode option to maximize gaming performance  —  Microsoft has started officially testing a new Game Mode feature in Windows 10.  Traces of the new option were found back in December, but the most recent test build of Windows 10 …
Katie Benner / New York Times:
Profile of 31-year-old Joshua Kushner, founder of Thrive Capital and brother of Jared Kushner; he has told his investors he will strive to stay out of politics  —  Just days after the 2016 presidential election, a young venture capitalist called an emergency staff meeting.
Moxie Marlinspike / Open Whisper Systems:
Contrary to Guardian's report, Signal Protocol contains no “backdoor”; WhatsApp's encryption implementation is appropriate given the company's scale  —  Today, the Guardian published a story falsely claiming that WhatsApp's end to end encryption contains a “backdoor.”  —  Background
Barb Darrow / Fortune:
Microsoft buys Maluuba, a Canadian AI startup focused on natural language processing  —  Microsoft is buying Maluuba, a Canadian startup focused on giving software a better understanding of human language.  This natural language processing technology is a key underpinning of artificial intelligence (AI.)
Thomas Fox-Brewster / Forbes:
Law enforcement has used services like SiriusXM and GM's OnStar to track cars and listen in on conversations since at least 2001, review of court filings shows  —  The rapid spread of connected devices that can listen and locate has been a boon for law enforcement.
Kyle Orland / Ars Technica:
Hands-on with Nintendo Switch: 720p screen is sharp, using a single small Joy-Con controller with both hands is cramped  —  Unique Joy-Cons are a mixed bag, and where are all the games?  —  The Nintendo Switch is trying to be all things to all gamers.  This can be a strength in some ways …
Bloomberg:
Sources: Andy Rubin's new startup, Essential, is working on a suite of consumer hardware products; source says the company aims to launch a smartphone this year  —  Android's creator is building a high-end smartphone to be the centerpiece of a series of AI-infused consumer gadgets.  —  by

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:
Email fatigue is real: Here's how smart email tools help you regain control  —  Picture this: It's Monday morning.  You walk into the office feeling energized and ready to take on the week.
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

Uncapped with Jack Altman:
Saam Motamedi from Greylock Partners
Conversations with people I admire about things I'm genuinely interested in.
Subscribe to Uncapped with Jack Altman.
Invest Like the Best:
Henry Ellenbogen - Man Versus Machine
The leading destination to learn about business and investing. We do this by showcasing exceptional talent and ideas.
Subscribe to Invest Like the Best.
Grit:
How Evan Spiegel Is Building the Future of Computing
Grit explores what it takes to create, build and scale world-class organizations.
Subscribe to Grit.
Acquired:
10 Years of Acquired (with Michael Lewis)
Learn the playbooks that built the world's greatest companies - and how you can apply them as a founder, operator, or investor.
Subscribe to Acquired.
Lenny's Podcast:
Why humans are AI's biggest bottleneck (and what's coming in 2026) | Alexander Embiricos (OpenAI Codex Product Lead)
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.
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 6:45 PM ET, January 15, 2017.

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

Earlier Picks

Brooks Barnes / New York Times:
Dan Goodin / Ars Technica: