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June 17, 2021, 4:11 AM
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| Salvador Rodriguez / CNBC: |
Facebook says it will begin testing ads on Oculus headsets, starting with the shooter game Blaston, and won't use data stored on devices to target ads — - Facebook on Wednesday announced that it will begin testing advertisements that will appear within the company's Oculus virtual reality headsets.
More:
The Verge, Oculus Blog, TechCrunch, Ars Technica, Engadget, Variety, Reuters, The Overspill, UploadVR, Social Media Today, Neowin, IGN, PC Gamer, PCMag, Mashable, Trusted Reviews, SlashGear, PYMNTS.com, Bloomberg, ZDNet, and CNET
Tweets: @levie, @boztank, @cixliv, @shortformernie, @gamoid, @yoda, @justinhendrix, @starfire2258, @thelinuxexp, @stevekovach, @bcarr, @shiraovide, @yoda, @glytchtech, @kentbye, @ericpresidentvr, @stevekovach, @ceciliakang, @lanceulanoff, @psythor, @uncooldana, @leojtravis10, and @danieltg85. Thanks:@sal19
| Jordan Novet / CNBC: |
Microsoft has named CEO Satya Nadella as chair of its board, replacing independent director John Thompson who succeeded Bill Gates as chair in 2014 — - Satya Nadella, Microsoft's CEO, is becoming the software company's chair, after running the company for seven years, when he replaced Steve Ballmer.
More:
PR Newswire, The Verge, CNN, GeekWire, Neowin, Wall Street Journal, MSPoweruser, Bloomberg, Reuters, Financial Times, OnMSFT.com, and Gizmodo
Tweets: @rmnth, @danielnewmanuv, @therohitbansal, and @chandrarsrikant
| Ashley Carman / The Verge: |
In an email to creators, Facebook says it will launch its podcast platform on June 22; podcasters can link up RSS feeds and decide if users can clip shows — Along with podcast clips — Facebook is planning to start rolling out its podcast product next week, on June 22nd, and, eventually …
More:
TNW, 9to5Mac, Input, SlashGear, Social Media Today, AppleInsider, mobilesyrup.com, and KnowTechie
Tweets: @ashleyrcarman, @trungtphan, @ashleyrcarman, @mikeisaac, @mikeisaac, @cgates123, @ashleyrcarman, @strngwys, @mediaevan, @evelyndouek, @jonathanlack, @colinbrauns, @aggrowill, @richlightshed, @davechensky, @yoda, @film_girl, @akilahobviously, @wongmjane, @backseatvc, @lanceulanoff, @k_trendacosta, @kantrowitz, and @teslatidbits
| Igor Bonifacic / Engadget: |
In Xbox's June update, Microsoft adds a Stories-like feature to the Xbox mobile app and rolls out text-to-speech and speech-to-text accessibility features — June update is here, and Microsoft has — detailed the latest software tweaks Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S users can look forward to trying out on their consoles.
More:
Xbox Wire, The Verge, and govtech.com
Tweets: @basche42, @chrismessina, @tomwarren, @neonepiphany, @majornelson, @workwombatman, and @mattnavarra
| Elias Saba / AFTVnews: |
Amazon Appstore unveils a new program that reduces its share of developer revenue from 30% to 20% for developers earning less than $1M per year, starting in Q4 — The Amazon Appstore has announced that it will be reducing its cut of developer revenue from 30% to 20% for developers that earn less than $1 million in revenue per year.
More:
Amazon Developer Blogs, The Verge, and SlashGear
| Reuters: |
At the summit, Biden told Putin that certain critical infrastructure should be “off-limits” to cyberattacks; Putin agreed to “begin consultations” on the issue — U.S. President Joe Biden told Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday that certain critical infrastructure …
More:
CyberScoop, Reuters, Associated Press, Washington Post, The Hill, Politico, New York Times, Politico, ZDNet, The Hill, and Politico
Tweets: @_joaogui1, @kay06934926, @gbgrick, and @securitycurrent
| Darrell Etherington / TechCrunch: |
Interview with Apple's VP for Technology Kevin Lynch on Apple Watch's evolution, future health capabilities through sensor fusion with AirPods, and more — Apple VP of Technology Kevin Lynch charts a path from Apple Watch's early days to the sophistication of Health today.
More:
YouTube, MacRumors, mobilesyrup.com, Wccftech, Forbes, iMore, and Pocketnow
Tweets: @reneritchie, @samifathi_, @hammerheadbat, @tonyromm, @general_oluchi, @zackwhittaker, @nmasc_, and @reneritchie
| James Vincent / The Verge: |
Facebook launches a new suite of tools for admins of Groups, including AI-powered Conflict Alerts that identify “contentious or unhealthy conversations” — Part of a suite of new tools for managing Facebook communities — Facebook is launching a suite of new tools to help group admins get a grip on their communities.
More:
About Facebook, Facebook, CNN, Vox, Android Central, Social Media Today, SiliconANGLE, and Protocol
Tweets: @alexvoica, @jeffhorwitz, @alexvoica, @brandyzadrozny, and @alexvoica
| Brian X. Chen / New York Times: |
With products like Dash Buttons and Echo Look, Amazon uses customers to test features then sunsets the devices too quickly due to low sales or negative feedback — Amazon's experimental approach to product design can hurt your wallet and the environment. Why does it need our help to figure out what it's doing?
Tweets: @elephantjournal, @rgmcgrath, @gregbensinger, and @chey_cobb
| Sarah Krouse / The Information: |
Sources: Google is developing a conversational AI product, known internally as Tivoli, which aims to teach foreign languages through Google Search — Google CEO Sundar Pichai last month previewed an artificial intelligence model that he said would enable people to have open-ended conversations with technology.
Tweets: @bysarahkrouse, @glenngabe, @glenngabe, @amir, and @glenngabe
| Sarah Perez / TechCrunch: |
Spotify launches Greenroom, an app that lets Spotify users worldwide join or host live audio rooms and turn those conversations into podcasts — In March, Spotify announced it was acquiring the company behind the sports-focused audio app Locker Room to help speed its entry into the live audio market.
Source:
Spotify. More:
The Verge, Techpoint Africa, phonearena.com, Pocket-lint, XDA Developers, Tubefilter, Android Headlines, Hollywood Reporter, and Financial Times
| Nilesh Christopher / Rest of World: |
Experts say India's courts, not India's government, have power to decide whether Twitter should keep its safe harbor protections in India under new IT rules — India's courts, not the government in New Delhi, have the authority to end ‘safe harbor’ protections for the platform. — • BANGALORE, INDIA
More:
Times of India. Tweets: @internetfreedom, @mishichoudhary, @restofworld, @nina11_arora, @pranavdixit, @pranavdixit, @iam_anandv, @anupkaphle, @divijualsuspect, @nilchristopher, and @restofworld
| Tim Bradshaw / Financial Times: |
Harry Stebbings, a 24-year-old Londoner with a popular podcast about tech investing, raises $140M fund from MIT, RIT Capital, and founders of Spotify and Calm — Harry Stebbings secures investment from MIT and Rothschild-backed RIT Capital Partners — A 24-year-old law school dropout …
More:
The Information. Tweets: @harrystebbings, @ipaananen, @joshelman, @doubleeph, @lennysan, @alexisohanian, @sriramk, @patrick_oshag, @williamgreen72, @beezer232, @paigefinnn, @nikhiljoisr, @shak, and @yangcliu
| Rebecca Kern / Bloomberg: |
Rep. David Cicilline, leading a push for a new Big Tech antitrust legislation, says it will prohibit Apple from impeding users from removing pre-installed apps — - Cicilline comments on intent of antitrust legislation — Proposal would prohibit companies from self-prefering products
More:
AppleInsider, Slow Boring, CNBC, Tom's Guide, HotHardware.com News, SlashGear, MacDailyNews, iPhone Hacks, iDownloadBlog.com, Pixel Envy, phonearena.com, iMore, and 9to5Mac
Tweets: @rebeccamkern, @benedictevans, @richluchette, @lutherlowe, @lacker, @gartenberg, @benedictevans, @eric_seufert, @benedictevans, @benedictevans, @neil_chilson, @thekenyeung, @migueldeicaza, @benjarom3, @eric_seufert, @alecstapp, @jason_kint, @charlesarthur, @charlesarthur, @benedictevans, @cstar_ow, @adamthierer, @heathmayo, @mattyglesias, @johnpaczkowski, @alecstapp, @repkenbuck, @bobwyman, @benedictevans, @cbed32, @lutherlowe, @gartenberg, @benedictevans, @eric_seufert, @repkenbuck, @jonahdispatch, @benedictevans, @rebeccamkern, @marshacollier, @timothysandefur, @alexlindsay, @benedictevans, @benedictevans, @migueldeicaza, @repkenbuck, @seanhackbarth, @benedictevans, @politicalmath, @chrismlacy, @benedictevans, @carnage4life, @charlesarthur, @harrymccracken, @adamkovac, @hoeglaw, @kantrowitz, and @minimaxir
| Ben Sisario / New York Times: |
Twitch, where even niche artists can make thousands of dollars per month by cultivating fan tribes, is becoming increasingly attractive to musicians — The gaming platform is becoming increasingly attractive to artists, who can earn money by cultivating fan tribes that express their loyalty through patronage.| Reuters: |
Sources: China's market regulator has begun an antitrust probe into Didi Chuxing, as it prepares for a US IPO — China's market regulator has begun an antitrust probe into Didi Chuxing, three people with knowledge of the matter said, just as the ride-hailing giant is pushing ahead …
More:
BBC
| Alex Hern / The Guardian: |
Amazon blames social media companies for its failure to remove fake reviews, saying they let bad actors use their platforms to buy and sell fake product reviews — Firm says sites are slow to act when warned that fake reviews are being solicited on their platforms
More:
About Amazon, The Verge, Ars Technica, TechCrunch, The Register, PC Gamer, and Android Central
Tweets: @robaeprice, @shiraovide, @rmac18, @johnpaczkowski, @nicnguyen, @mmasnick, @starfire2258, @spencersoper, @gregbensinger, @maxwinebach, and @ariehkovler
| Lauren Feiner / CNBC: |
Waymo raises $2.5B from Alphabet, a16z, Tiger Global, and others, to advance its autonomous driving tech and grow its team — - Google sibling company Waymo announced a $2.5 billion investment round Wednesday, which will go toward advancing its autonomous driving technology and growing its team.
More:
Waypoint, Financial Times, The Verge, The Last Driver License Holder, Input, Tech Xplore, CNN, and SiliconANGLE
Tweets: @waymo, @waymo, @techtekedra, @leokelion, and @stevekovach
| Ingrid Lunden / TechCrunch: |
Tractable, which uses computer vision and AI to help make damage appraisals for car insurance claims, raises $60M Series D, giving the company a $1B valuation — As the insurance industry adjusts to life in the 21st century (heh), an AI startup that has built computer vision tools … | Geoffrey Fowler / Washington Post: |
Apple's obsession with thin design has made the new M1-powered iMac less useful by removing ports and making it virtually impossible to replace components — A half-inch desktop computer shows how Apple's obsession with thin design can work against us — Apple's newly redesigned iMac measures just 0.45 inches thick.
More:
news.com.au. Tweets: @pinboard, @pinboard, @davewiner, @pinboard, @darickr, @toxicpath, @snazzyq, @campuscodi, @nakedjen, @nproctor, @pinboard, @pinboard, and @pinboard
| The Economic Times: |
Vianai Systems, an AI startup founded by former Infosys CEO Vishal Sikka, raises $140M Series B led by SoftBank Vision Fund 2 — Vianai, which Sikka founded after his acrimonious exit from IT services giant Infosys in 2017, will utilise the capital to accelerate the delivery of its AI platform and products to enterprise customers
More:
Business Wire, Bestgamingpro, and TechCrunch
| James Vincent / The Verge: |
Facebook partners with Michigan State University to create a method for reverse-engineering deepfakes by using AI to reveal the ML model that created it — The work could help future deepfake investigations — Deepfakes aren't a big problem on Facebook right now, but the company continues … | Liza Lin / Wall Street Journal: |
Leaked memo: ByteDance says its annual revenue in 2020 grew 111% YoY to $34.3B compared to 2019, while gross profit rose 93% YoY to $19B — ByteDance's gross profit rose 93% to $19 billion last year, according to a memo to staff — ByteDance Ltd., the owner of popular short-video app TikTok … | Sohini Podder / Reuters: |
Filing shows that Confluent, which offers a streaming platform based on Apache Kafka, is seeking to raise $759M at ~$8.3B valuation in its US IPO — Confluent Inc is aiming for a valuation of about $8.3 billion in a U.S. initial public offering, cashing in on a surge in demand … | Bloomberg: |
Tel Aviv-based WalkMe, which helps users navigate UIs of other software services, raised $287M in its US IPO at ~$2.4B valuation; stock fell 7.1% after debut — Digital platform provider WalkMe Ltd. fell 7.1% in its trading debut after a $287 million initial public offering.
More:
The Times of Israel, MarketWatch, Crunchbase News, and CTech
| Kyle Wiggers / VentureBeat: |
Imply, which runs a real-time data analytics platform, raises $70M Series C led by Bessemer Venture Partners, at a $700M post-money valuation — Elevate your enterprise data technology and strategy at Transform 2021. — Imply, a startup developing a real-time analytics platform … | Dieter Bohn / The Verge: |
After years of pop-up experiments, Google says its first retail store, located in the Chelsea neighborhood of NYC, will open on June 17 — Pixel, Nest, Fitbit, and third-party accessories will be on sale — After years of pop-up experiments, Google is finally dipping its toes …
More:
The Keyword, Android Central, YouTube, Digital Trends, AppleInsider, TechSpot, and Fortune
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Why eIDAS 2.0 might be the EU's boldest digital move yet — eIDAS: The first building block of digital trust More than a decade ago, the EU introduced the eIDAS regulation (Regulation [EU] No 910/2014) …
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Channels with Peter Kafka:
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