Techmeme
May 12, 2015, 2:50 PM

Top News

Verizon:
Verizon to acquire AOL at $50 per share at an estimated total value of $4.4B, Tim Armstrong to continue leading AOL operations  —  Verizon to Acquire AOL  —  Deal Creates Unique and Scaled Digital Media Platforms for Consumers, Advertisers and Partners  —  NEW YORK - Taking another significant step …
Ingrid Lunden / TechCrunch:
Internal memo from AOL CEO Tim Armstrong on Verizon takeover  —  In Big Content Push, Verizon Buys AOL For $4.4B [Internal Memo From AOL CEO Tim Armstrong]  —  So this just happened.  AOL, owner of TechCrunch, is getting acquired: U.S. carrier Verizon said in a statement that it is buying …
Kara Swisher / Re/code:
Sources: AOL in talks to spin off HuffPost, primarily with Axel Springer, at a valuation over $1B  —  AOL Has Been in Talks to Spin Off HuffPost as Part of Verizon Acquisition Deal  —  According to numerous sources, while it has been negotiating its deal to sell to Verizon …
Fred Imbert / CNBC:
AOL stock up more than 18% on news that Verizon is acquiring the company for $4.4B  —  Verizon to buy AOL for $4.4 billion  —  Telecom giant Verizon announced Tuesday it will be buying AOL for $50 per share, or about $4.4 billion.  —  The transaction will take the form of a tender offer followed …
Stephanie Sawler / Skype Blogs:
Skype Translator Preview now available to all, no sign-up required  —  Skype Translator Preview Access Just Got Easier!  —  Skype's mission is to bring people together from all over the world, and with Skype Translator we are breaking down language barriers that have historically …
Lorenzo Franceschi-Bicchierai / Motherboard:
Google Confirms Cops Can Wiretap Your Hangouts  —  In the wake of all the Edward Snowden revelations, a seemingly endless series of encryption apps, all promising some degree “NSA-proof” security, have come out trying to take advantage of this new anti-surveillance business opportunity.
Ben Popper / The Verge:
Lily is a drone that autonomously follows you with the aid of a pocketable GPS device, on sale for $499, will retail next month at $899  —  To use this drone, just throw it in the air and start running  —  The consumer drone industry is increasingly positioning itself as a maker of flying cameras, not autonomous robots.
Periscope / Medium:
Periscope update adds an option to sign up without a Twitter account using your phone number  —  Six Weeks In  —  The past six weeks have been unforgettable.  Thank you for your global perspective, for your thoughtful feedback, and inspiring ideas.  We've shipped three updates since our last blog post …

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Jacob Kastrenakes / The Verge:

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