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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Featured Podcasts

Big Technology Podcast:
Are AI Glasses Over?, Big Technology Audience Questions, Alex Stamos on AI Cybersecurity
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The Upstarts Podcast:
Mutiny's Jaleh Rezaei: Walking Away From Millions In Software To Grow Even Faster With Sales AI
Veteran tech reporter Alex Konrad sits down with breakout entrepreneurs taking on the status quo to shake up their fields in AI, design, nuclear energy, space, and more.
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Hard Fork:
'Hard Fork' Live, Part 3: Differing Visions of an A.I. Future
The future is already here. Each week, journalists Kevin Roose and Casey Newton explore and make sense of the latest in the rapidly changing world of tech.
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Access:
The billionaire paying AI researchers to stay out of Big Tech
A show about the tech industry's inside conversation, hosted by tech reporter Alex Heath and founder whisperer Ellis Hamburger.
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The Nick, Dick and Paul Show:
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Nick Bilton, Dick Costolo, and Paul Kedrosky pull back the curtain on AI, startups, and the future rushing toward us, all with healthy dose of irreverence.
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Tools and Weapons with Brad Smith:
AI's Mythos Moment: Rishi Sunak on preparing governments for AI
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.
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Earlier Picks

Dennis Romero / LA Weekly:
Christina Bonnington / Wired: