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September 28, 2021, 8:20 PM
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Dan Seifert / The Verge:
Amazon debuts Astro, a $1K short robot with an Echo Show-like 10" display on top, meant to roam around the home; invite-only program is open for applications  —  In the fall of 1962, TV-watching audiences were invited to meet the Jetsons, a space-dwelling, flying-car-driving family from the future and their dog, Astro.
Matthew Gault / VICE:
Internal docs show how Amazon's Astro robot decision-making works; sources who worked on versions of Astro describe it as a “privacy nightmare” and “dangerous”  —  Leaked meetings show the robot will heavily rely on facial recognition and user behavior, but sources who worked on Astro say the robot is flawed.
Wall Street Journal:
Internal docs: Facebook was “exploring playdates as a growth lever”, including engaging tweens as they hung out together  —  It has investigated how to engage young users in response to competition from Snapchat, TikTok; ‘Exploring playdates as a growth lever’
Karissa Bell / Engadget:
Nick Clegg says Facebook will publish two internal slide decks central to WSJ's story on Instagram's impact on teens “in the next few days”
Casey Newton / Platformer:
Facebook should release the documents behind WSJ's Facebook Files before others release them, which will let Facebook provide context that it says is missing
Jennifer Pattison Tuohy / The Verge:
Amazon opens an invite-only program for its previously-announced $250 home surveillance drone, the Always Home Cam  —  Ring's $250 Always Home Cam is real and ready to fly into your living room  —  First announced at last year's Amazon hardware event, the Ring Always Home Cam is now ready for take-off.
Richard Lawler / The Verge:
Amazon announces the $60 Smart Thermostat in partnership with Honeywell, with preorders starting today
Dieter Bohn / The Verge:
Amazon's head of hardware Dave Limp underscores how Amazon's new devices aid its push toward a future with “ambient intelligence”
Tom Warren / The Verge:
Microsoft opens the Windows app store to third-party app stores; Amazon and Epic Games will add the first storefront apps in the coming months  —  Amazon and Epic Games Store will be the first to integrate into the Microsoft Store  —  Microsoft is opening up its own app store in Windows even further today …
Sarah Perez / TechCrunch:
Amazon details Amazon Glow, a family-oriented $300 device with an 8" display and projector that creates a 19" touch-sensitive area on a surface in front of it  —  Amazon today introduced Amazon Glow, a new, interactive device aimed at families that allows kids to interact with family members …
Dean Takahashi / VentureBeat:
Netflix acquires its first game studio, Night School Studio, which was founded by Sean Krankel and Adam Hines in 2014 and is best known for the game Oxenfree  —  Netflix has acquired its first game studio with the acquisition of Oxenfree creator Night School Studio.  The purchase price wasn't disclosed.
Brian Heater / TechCrunch:
Amazon unveils a $250 Echo Show 15, with a 15.6-inch 1080p display, wall mount, Visual ID for tailored content, picture frame mode, and more  —  Amazon just took the wraps off the latest — and largest — addition to the Echo Show family.  The Echo Show 15 takes the company's smart screen technology …
Krebs on Security:
Researcher discloses AirTag Lost Mode vulnerability that enables a phishing attack, and says Apple spent three months investigating and refused basic questions  —  The new $30 Airtag tracking device from Apple has a feature that allows anyone who finds one of these tiny location beacons …
Issie Lapowsky / Protocol:
Facebook asks Oversight Board for guidance on what content should get a second review via its cross-check program, which reportedly shields VIPs from its rules  —  Facebook is calling on its Oversight Board to issue policy recommendations about its cross-check system, a controversial program …
Igor Bonifacic / Engadget:
1Password partners with email host Fastmail to introduce Masked Email, which creates unique emails for logins  —  Sign in with Apple has allowed iPhone and Mac users to protect their privacy by allowing them to generate random email addresses when they need to access a new website, service or app.
Todd Bishop / GeekWire:
Amazon debuts $80 Halo View fitness band, the first device from its Halo health and wellness initiative with a screen, alongside a Halo Fitness service and more  —  Amazon unveiled a new health band called Halo View, the second device from its Halo health-and-wellness initiative, and the first with a display.
Tom Krazit / Protocol:
Cloudflare announces object storage service R2, running across its global network, and takes aim at AWS by forgoing data egress fees  —  Cloudflare is ready to launch a new cloud object storage service that promises to be cheaper than the established alternatives, a step the company believes …
Ashley Carman / The Verge:
Six creators from Clubhouse's 25-person creator program say it did not deliver sponsorships for their shows, leading them to look elsewhere  —  Dozens of Clubhouse creators had been anticipating their first sponsorship meeting for months.  As the inaugural class of Clubhouse's “Creator First” …
Sarah Rieger / CBC News:
Vaccine passport app Portpass, which has 650,000+ registered users across Canada according to the company's CEO, had a security flaw exposing private user info  —  Vaccine passport app has more than 650,000 registered users, according to its CEO  —  Private proof-of-vaccination app Portpass …

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This is a Techmeme archive page. It shows how the site appeared at 8:20 PM ET, September 28, 2021.

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From Mediagazer

New York Times:
Sources: the White House directed FBI Director Kash Patel to personally oversee the probe into NYT reporting about Air Force One, before subpoenas were issued

The Guardian:
Christopher Nolan says there's a “disdain” for AI, the idea that it “replaces” human creativity is “nonsense”, and he expects it to be useful in “imaging tools”

Brooks Barnes / New York Times:
Lionsgate's Michael crosses $1B at the global box office, its first film to reach the milestone, per Rentrak, reviving Hollywood's last major independent studio

More News

Gene Park / Washington Post:
Tim Sweeney and Epic execs discuss Epic's metaverse plans, contrasting it with Facebook's “manicured” feed, and emphasizing the role of creators
Kellen Browning / New York Times:
As Amazon's video game business lags, executives concede that its new, much-delayed PC-based MMO, New World, “has to be our breakthrough”

Earlier Picks

Dieter Bohn / The Verge:
In an interview, Satya Nadella described Microsoft's failed TikTok deal as the “strangest thing” he has ever worked on and says TikTok came to Microsoft
Mitchell Clark / The Verge:
Facebook defines its metaverse and plans to invest $50M over two years in programs and external research to “responsibly” build the “next computing platform”
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