Techmeme
December 31, 2020, 11:55 AM

Top News

Amazon:
Amazon plans to acquire podcast network Wondery, which will join Amazon Music  —  We've signed an agreement to acquire Wondery, a top-rated podcast creator and producer that entertains and educates listeners.  —  We're pleased to announce that Wondery—an innovative podcast publisher …
Adi Robertson / The Verge:
Ticketmaster agrees to pay a $10M fine after admitting to hiring an ex-CrowdSurge staffer and using his credentials to access the rival ticket seller's systems  —  It used stolen login credentials at a company summit  —  Ticketmaster has agreed to pay $10 million for breaking into a competitors' network.
CoinDesk:
Binance says US users will not be able to deposit or trade XRP beginning January 13, joining Coinbase and several other exchanges in delisting or suspending XRP  —  Cryptocurrency exchange Binance is suspending XRP trading for its customers effective next month.
Zack Whittaker / TechCrunch:
Researchers: NSO Group used location data from thousands of unsuspecting people while pitching its COVID-19 contact-tracing tech to governments and journalists  —  Researchers say NSO's use of real data “violated the privacy” of thousands of people.  —  Spyware maker NSO Group used real …
Pei Li / Reuters:
Report: Apple removed 46K+ apps, including 39K games from its China store on Thursday, as it set a year-end deadline for game publishers to obtain a license  —  HONG KONG (Reuters) - Apple removed 39,000 game apps on its China store Thursday, the biggest removal ever in a single day …
Nick Statt / The Verge:
Gadget trade-in site Gazelle, one of the longest running used smartphone buyers in the US, says it will end its core trade-in program on February 1, 2021  —  The company's long-running trade-in program will end on February 1st, 2021  —  Gazelle, one of the longest-running used smartphone buyers in the US …
Todd Spangler / Variety:
ESPN+ is raising its annual fee for new subscribers from $49.99 to $59.99; renewals for existing subscribers will remain $49.99 through March 2, 2021  —  UFC fans are going to pay more to catch the promoter's premiere fights on Disney's ESPN Plus streaming sports package next year.

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