Techmeme
May 16, 2024, 5:50 AM

Top News

Allison Johnson / The Verge:
Google announces Android theft protection features, like Theft Detection Lock, which detects motion indicating theft, and Private Space, to hide sensitive data  —  Google is announcing an array of new security features as it releases its second Android 15 beta, including a feature that can detect …
Andrew Heinzman / How-To Geek:
Google announces Android 14 for TV, with new energy modes, accessibility features including color correction, picture-in-picture for some TV models, and more  —  It's been nearly two years since the last major Android TV release.  —  It's been two-year-long wait, but the next major Android TV version is finally here.
Lawrence Bonk / Engadget:
Jennifer Pattison Tuohy / The Verge:
Victoria Song / The Verge:
Sheena Vasani / The Verge:
Microsoft unveils the Proteus Controller, a $299 modular game controller kit for disabled Xbox and PC gamers by peripheral company ByoWave, shipping in the fall  —  On Wednesday, Microsoft announced the Proteus Controller, a $299 modular video game controller kit that lets Xbox gamers with disabilities customize their controllers.
Bloomberg:
Microsoft's carbon emissions grew 29.1% from 2020 to 2023, as its push to be the global leader in AI puts its goal to be carbon negative by 2030 in peril  —  The company's goal to be carbon negative by 2030 is harder to reach, but President Brad Smith says the good AI can do for the world will outweigh its environmental impact.
Wall Street Journal:
Source: Microsoft is asking about 700 to 800 employees involved in its China-based AI and cloud computing operations to consider relocating to other countries  —  Request comes as Biden administration toughens controls on China's access to cutting-edge American technology
Wes Davis / The Verge:
Some iPhone owners say the iOS 17.5 update, which Apple released on May 13, is resurfacing photos they had deleted; iOS beta testers pointed to the same bug  —  Apple appears to have a bug that's dredging up data that iPhone owners thought was gone.  Some iPhone owners are reporting that …
Cherlynn Low / Engadget:
Apple unveils accessibility features, like Eye Tracking, to let users with physical disabilities control iPads or iPhones with their eyes, and Music Haptics  —  The company is making it easier to use your gaze to navigate iOS and iPadOS.  —  Deputy Editor, Reviews
Dan Robinson / The Register:
VMware makes its Workstation Pro and Fusion Pro desktop hypervisor products free for personal use  —  A nice gesture among the sh!tshow of Broadcom's acquisition  —  VMware has made another small but notable post-merger concession to users: the Workstation Pro and Fusion Pro desktop hypervisor products …
CNBC:
Netflix says its ad tier has 40M MAUs, up from 23M in January 2024, and plans to launch its own ad platform and no longer partner with Microsoft for that tech  —  Netflix's cheaper, ad-supported tier has amassed 40 million global monthly active users, the company said Wednesday.
Daniel Zuidijk / Bloomberg:
Ubisoft falls ~15% after warning that Q1 net bookings will be ~€275M, below €376M est., and reporting a €401M adjusted operating income in FY 2024  —  Ubisoft Entertainment SA shares fell the most in 16 months on Thursday after the French video game publisher warned bookings …
Harry McCracken / Fast Company:
An interview with Apple's Greg Joswiak and John Ternus on the new iPad lineup, the M4 chip, why the iPad and Mac both matter, the iPad as an “AI PC”, and more  —  Apple's Greg Joswiak and John Ternus on the new iPad lineup, why the iPad and Mac both matter, the iPad as an ‘AI PC,’ and more.
Todd Spangler / Variety:
YouTube formally launches YouTube Select Creator Takeovers, to let advertisers buy out the inventory on channels representing the top 1% of YouTube content  —  Video platform also inks deal to bring WNBA Friday night games to YouTube TV … At its annual Brandcast event …
Paige Smith / Bloomberg:
Visa rolls out tech to share more data on customers' preferences based on their shopping history with retailers via proprietary “tokens”  —  - Consumers' preferences to be shared via proprietary tokens  — Firm competing with fintech newcomers, fellow giant Mastercard
More: Visa Inc.
Natalie Lung / Bloomberg:
Uber plans to work with local fleets to add US shuttle bus services to and from airports, concert venues, and sports stadiums, for a fraction of UberX's cost  —  - Uber Shuttle priced at a fraction of usual cost of rideshares  — Shares of rival Instacart slid on news of Uber's Costco deal
Kristin Robinson / Billboard:
Spotify received a cease-and-desist letter from the National Music Publishers' Association over its use of lyrics in its videos feature, remix tool, and more  —  “Spotify appears to be engaged in direct infringement by hosting unlicensed musical works in its lyrics, videos and podcasts,” the NMPA writes.
Brendan I. Koerner / Wired:
An undercover investigation details working as a rotating cast of low-wage workers hired to pretend to be influencer girlfriends on OnlyFans  —  Your online influencer girlfriend is actually a rotating cast of low-wage workers.  I became one of them.  —  Because I have a deep and childish fear …

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: Revolutionizing Commerce with Winter Edition '26  —  Over 150+ new features transform how merchants build, design, and grow—with technology that amplifies creative vision.
Zoho:
Give your projects a “signature” upgrade with the Zoho Sign extension for Zoho Projects  —  Well-orchestrated project management keeps people, priorities, and processes all working in sync toward a shared goal.
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

Great Chat:
So what happens after AGI?
A podcast mostly about tech. Brought to you weekly by Angela Du, Sally Shin, Mac Bohannon, Helen Min, and Ashley Mayer.
Subscribe to Great Chat.
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.
Big Technology Podcast:
AI Is Upending Law. Is That A Sign For The Rest Of Us? — With Melia Russell
The Big Technology Podcast takes you behind the scenes in the tech world featuring interviews with plugged-in insiders and outside agitators.
Subscribe to Big Technology Podcast.
[trading places]:
Ben Black Akkadian Ventures🏆 | Secondaries Secrets 💎 | RAISE Conf 🎯 | Vercel $9B 🚀
a very bad podcast about broken unicorns & busted carry hosted by dave mcclure and aman verjee
Subscribe to [trading places].
Channels with Peter Kafka:
Lachlan Cartwright Started in Tabloids. Now He's a Must-Read Media Gossip.
Media and tech aren't just intersecting - they're fully intertwined. To understand how those worlds work, Peter Kafka talks to industry leaders, upstarts and observers.
Subscribe to Channels with Peter Kafka.
Invest Like the Best:
Gavin Baker - Nvidia v. Google, Scaling Laws, and the Economics of AI
The leading destination to learn about business and investing. We do this by showcasing exceptional talent and ideas.
Subscribe to Invest Like the Best.
 

About This Page

This is a Techmeme archive page. It shows how the site appeared at 5:50 AM ET, May 16, 2024.

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

Susie Violet Ward / Forbes:
Lauren Feiner / The Verge:
Lewis Empson / What Hi-Fi?:

Earlier Picks

Jordan Novet / CNBC:
Sam Kessler / CoinDesk:
Mark Hachman / PCWorld:
Lawrence Abrams / BleepingComputer:
David Pierce / The Verge:
Ben Smith / Semafor: