Techmeme
December 15, 2017, 10:15 PM

Top News

Facebook:
Facebook, citing academic research, says people “passively consuming” social media feel worse afterwards while active interaction improves well-being  —  By David Ginsberg, Director of Research, and Moira Burke, Research Scientist at Facebook  —  With people spending …
Shruthi Muraleedharan / Facebook:
Facebook debuts Snooze, a News Feed feature to temporarily unfollow a person, Page, or group for 30 days  —  One of our core News Feed values is giving people more control.  Today, we're launching Snooze, which will give you the option to temporarily unfollow a person, Page or group for 30 days.
Nikhil Chandhok / The Keyword:
Google releases ARCore Developer Preview 2 and says it is ending support for Project Tango  —  Augmented reality is a powerful way to bring the physical and digital worlds together.  AR places digital objects and useful information into the real world around us, which creates a huge opportunity …
Johana Bhuiyan / Recode:
Unsealed letter by attorney of former Uber security employee Richard Jacobs, released in Uber-Waymo trial, claims Uber spied on competitors and employees  —  The letter has been submitted as evidence in Alphabet's lawsuit against Uber.  —  A 37-page letter that details allegations …
Mary Jo Foley / ZDNet:
Apple says iTunes won't be available in the Microsoft Store by the end of 2017, as originally planned; new timeline for release is unclear  —  Sorry, Windows 10 S users.  Apple confirms that iTunes won't make it into the Microsoft Store this year, as Microsoft and Apple originally promised.
Jacob Kastrenakes / The Verge:
Responses from nine ISPs show few firm commitments to not block, throttle, or prioritize certain data after FCC repeals net neutrality rules  —  Lots of talk, little promise  —  The FCC voted to put an end to net neutrality, giving internet providers free rein to deliver service at their own discretion.
Tony Romm / Recode:
Cecilia Kang / New York Times:
Nilay Patel / The Verge:
Emil Protalinski / VentureBeat:
BlackBerry says it will shutter its World app store on Dec. 31, 2019 and Playbook video calling in March 2018; BB10 gets 2+ years of additional support  —  BlackBerry is finally sharing plans for its legacy software and services.  The BlackBerry World app store is going away on December 31 …
Bloomberg:
Sources: Huawei and Xiaomi are in talks with US carriers, including AT&T and Verizon, to start selling smartphones in the US as soon as next year  —  Huawei, Xiaomi in talks with carriers to expand to U.S. market  —  Apple has lost significant China marketshare to local makers
Cyrus Farivar / Ars Technica:
As AOL Instant Messenger shuts down today after 20 years, readers reminisce about the heyday of instant messaging  —  Ars readers reminisce about the heyday of instant messaging.  —  Today, America Online Instant Messenger, better known by its acronym, AIM, went dark after more than two decades of faithful service.

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Featured Podcasts

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Paresh Dave / Reuters: