Techmeme
June 4, 2014, 7:30 PM

Top News

Peter Kafka / Re/code:
Netflix Nags Another New Partner, Blaming Verizon for Slow Streams  —  Earlier this year, Netflix signed a Web traffic deal with Comcast, then complained about it.  —  Here's a new version of the story: In April, Netflix signed a Web traffic deal with Verizon.
Peter Kafka / Re/code:
Just Like Comcast Did, Verizon Says Netflix Is Slowing Its Own Streams  —  Verizon, responding to complaints from Netflix about its broadband service, says Netflix is slowing down its own video streams to the telco's providers.  —  If that sounds confusing, that's because it is.
Jordan Kahn / 9to5Mac:
Apple introduces MFi specs for Lightning cable headphones, support arriving in future iOS update  —  We've learned Apple has quietly introduced a new specification for manufacturers in its Made-For-iPhone/iPad/iPod (MFi) program that allows them to create headphones that connect to iOS devices using …
Sam Biddle / Valleywag:
Sources: Fab slowly shutting down; remaining NY employees to be gradually let go over 6 months  —  Fab.com Is Probably Dead This Year  —  There hasn't been a single piece of good news from Fab.com in a very long time.  Layoffs, mismanagement, plummeting morale, and executive reshuffles …
Xbox Wire:
45+ new apps for Xbox coming this year, including live TV-integrated Twitter app, Vine, HBO GO, ShowTime, Comedy Central, and MLG  —  Twitter, Vine, HBO GO, ShowTime Anytime, Comedy Central, and MLG among More Than 45 New Experiences Coming to Xbox  —  Today, just five days from the Xbox …
Rich McCormick / The Verge:
Ryan Knutson / Wall Street Journal:
Sprint, T-Mobile Move Closer to a $32 Billion Deal  —  Sprint Would Buy T-Mobile for Around $40 a Share in Merger That Likely Would Face Regulator Scrutiny  —  Sprint Corp. and T-Mobile US Inc. have agreed on the broad terms of a merger worth around $32 billion and are working toward a final agreement …
Mike Beasley / 9to5Mac:
iOS 8 allows all apps to use Safari's JavaScript engine, improving performance of in-app browsers  —  iOS 8 WebKit changes finally allow all apps to have the same performance as Safari  —  When iOS 7 launched, developers discovered that their apps with built-in web browsers were unable …
Emil Protalinski / The Next Web:
In addition to Soundcloud, Twitter also reportedly considered acquiring Pandora and Spotify  —  Last month, a Recode rumor suggested Twitter was looking to buy Soundcloud, only to have a WSJ rumor say that “the numbers didn't add up” for a deal to go through.
Steve Kovach / Business Insider:
Amazon's 3D Smartphone Is Coming June 18  —  Amazon is holding a product annoucnement on June 18.  —  It's probably for the long-rumored Amazon smartphone.  —  Developing...refresh for updates.  —  The company posted this video to YouTube that teases the product:  —  Join the conversation about this story »
Leena Rao / TechCrunch:
TechCrunch Managing Editor Leena Rao joins Google Ventures as an Operating Partner  —  So Long TC, And Hello GV  —  I thought hard about this post, but time didn't make it any easier to write.  After five-and-a-half years at TechCrunch, I'll be joining Google Ventures as an operating partner.
Matt Burns / TechCrunch:
Sony's SmartBand Activity Tracker Is Now Available In The US For $99  —  Announced eons ago at CES 2014, the waterproof Sony SmartBand is finally available in the U.S. It's $99 from Sony's online store and offers a feature set slightly more loaded than that of the Jawbone UP24 and FitBit Flex but only those on Android should apply.
Katie Zezima / Washington Post:
The Secret Service wants software that detects social media sarcasm.  Yeah, sure it will work.  —  The Secret Service is looking to buy software that can detect sarcasm on social media.  Whatever.  We're sure it will work.  —  In a work order posted online Monday, the agency …
Alex Wilhelm / TechCrunch:
Apple, Google, Microsoft And Others Call On The Senate To Strengthen NSA Reform  —  At the roughly one-year anniversary of the NSA leaks, Reform Government Surveillance, a group backed by a number of notable tech companies, is publishing a letter demanding the Senate strengthen the NSA reform bill that recently passed the House.

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Earlier Picks

Dennis Romero / LA Weekly:
Christina Bonnington / Wired: