Techmeme
November 21, 2018, 6:50 AM

Top News

Josh Constine / TechCrunch:
In a leaked internal memo, Facebook's outgoing head of public policy, Elliot Schrage, takes responsibility for the hiring of PR firm Definers  —  TechCrunch has attained an internal memo published by Facebook's outgoing head of public policy Elliot Schrage in which he blames himself for hiring PR firm Definers.
Seth Fiegerman / CNN:
In an interview, Mark Zuckerberg says he will stay on as Facebook's chairman, defends COO Sheryl Sandberg, reiterates Facebook's potential as a force for good  —  New York (CNN Business)After spending much of this year apologizing for Facebook's many missteps, CEO Mark Zuckerberg was defiant …
Margaret Sullivan / Washington Post:
Kia Kokalitcheva / Axios:
Design software company Autodesk says it is acquiring PlanGrid, a provider of cloud-based construction software, for $875M  —  Autodesk has agreed to acquire Plangrid, a startup that makes cloud-based construction software, for $875 million net of cash.  —  Why it matters …
Aaron Tilley / The Information:
Source: Apple quietly bought Silk Labs, a startup that makes lightweight AI software for consumer hardware, earlier this year; PitchBook: Silk Labs raised ~$4M  —  Apple has quietly acquired a startup, Silk Labs, that specializes in making artificial intelligence software lightweight enough …
Timothy W. Martin / Wall Street Journal:
Sources: Samsung plans to release a variant of the Galaxy S10 next spring that will have six cameras, 5G, and a 6.7" screen  —  The tech giant's response to sales slump is flagship phones packed with bigger screens and extra cameras  —  SEOUL— Samsung Electronics Co. is planning …
Jon Porter / The Verge:
In an updated statement, Tumblr says an audit found child porn images were slipping through detection tools, leading to removal from App Store  —  Blames an ‘industry database’ that failed to filter prohibited content  —  Tumblr says that child pornography was the reason for its app's sudden disappearance from the iOS App Store.
Kyle Wiggers / VentureBeat:
Microsoft now supports standards-based FIDO2 security key devices, letting Windows 10 users access their Microsoft Account without entering username or password  —  Passwords aren't as effective a means as preventing account break-ins as they might seem.  Three out of four people use duplicate passwords …
Sean Hollister / The Verge:
Valve is discontinuing its Steam Link hardware, which let users stream games from PCs to other devices like a TV  —  One last chance to get it for $2.50  —  Why am I sad that a tiny black puck which streamed games over a Wi-Fi network will soon disappear from shelves around the world?
Josh Constine / TechCrunch:
LinkedIn launches Student Voices, its take on Snapchat Stories, for US colleges, and says it plans Stories-like features aimed at other sets of users too  —  No app is safe from the Stories plague  —  The social media singularity continues with the arrival of Snapchat Stories-style slideshows …
Bloomberg:
Sources: US DOJ probe into cryptocurrency manipulation has homed in on Bitcoin, Tether, and Bitfinex, and whether traders artificially inflated Bitcoin's price  —  - DOJ investigating whether Tether was used to prop up Bitcoin  — U.S. case part of broader review of possible coin manipulation
Kate Rooney / CNBC:

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Earlier Picks

Josh Constine / TechCrunch:
Jon Brodkin / Ars Technica:
Alex Heath / Cheddar:
Kevin Kelleher / Fortune:
Josh Constine / TechCrunch: