Techmeme
August 11, 2021, 10:40 PM

Top News

John D. McKinnon / Wall Street Journal:
Three US senators unveil the bipartisan Open App Markets Act, which would force app stores to allow sideloading and let developers use their own IAP systems  —  Legislation would place new limits on how Apple and Google app stores can operate  —  WASHINGTON—Senators introduced legislation Wednesday …
Ben Schoon / 9to5Google:
Samsung announces Galaxy Z Flip3 with an internal 6.7" 120Hz display, a 1.9" external screen, 8GB RAM, and Snapdragon 888, starting at $999, shipping August 27  —  One of the first thoughts around foldable smartphones is a high price tag, but that tune is changing.
Chris Welch / The Verge:
Samsung announces Galaxy Z Fold3 with a 7.6" 120Hz primary screen, S Pen support, 12GB RAM, and IPX8 water resistance, shipping August 27 for $1,799  —  The flagship foldable now has a 120Hz cover screen  —  It's August, and today is Samsung's latest big Unpacked event.
Dieter Bohn / The Verge:
How Samsung managed to waterproof the Galaxy Z Fold3 and Z Flip3, primarily using Armor Aluminum, tape, and goo, while adding S Pen support  —  I was not expecting Samsung's third generation of folding phones to be water-resistant.  —  The new Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Galaxy Z Flip 3 have just as many moving parts as previous generations.
Alex Heath / The Verge:
Interview with Facebook ad exec Graham Mudd on Facebook's plans to enhance privacy in its ads, regulation, Apple's ad tracking prompt, Google's FLoC, and more  —  A ‘very meaningful pivot’ is underway inside the world's largest social network  —  Facebook's massive business was built on its ability to track users across the internet.
Wolfie Zhao / The Block:
The attacker who stole $611M from Poly Network has now returned over $256M in USDC, BTCB, SHIBA, and others, after saying they were “ready to surrender”  —  Quick Take  — Poly Network attacker has started returning the funds that were stolen in the largest DeFi hack to date.
Tim Copeland / The Block:
Group behind Poly Network, a cross-chain protocol used for DeFi applications, says a hacker has stolen $611M; one researcher blames the attack on a crypto flaw  —  Quick Take  — Cross-chain protocol Poly Network has been hacked for $611 million.  — The team behind the protocol …
Gael Fashingbauer Cooper / CNET:
Twitter rolls out a web and mobile app redesign, implementing its first proprietary font, Chirp, high-contrast black and white follow and unfollow buttons, more  —  It's inevitable: Twitter changes Twitter, and Twitter users complain on Twitter.  But does Chirp make you feel like a woodpecker is pounding on your skull?
Steve Dent / Engadget:
Instagram introduces anti-hate speech tools to let users limit comments and DM requests on popular posts, following abuse toward England soccer players  —  Instagram has introduced new features called Limits and Hidden Words designed to reduce hate and abuse on trending posts, the company
New York Times:
Radhamely De Leon / VICE:
Researchers create nine computer-generated faces that can serve as “master keys” to impersonate almost half of the faces in three top facial recognition systems  —  According to the paper, their findings imply that facial recognition systems are “extremely vulnerable.”
Jon Porter / The Verge:
Samsung announces Galaxy Watch4, starting at $249, and Galaxy Watch4 Classic, starting at $349, both with “Wear OS Powered by Samsung”, shipping August 27  —  Samsung and Google's smartwatch collaboration is here  —  Today we're getting our first look at the fruits …
Cherlynn Low / Engadget:
Jon Fingas / Engadget:
WhatsApp will let users move their chat history, including photos and voice notes, between iOS and Android devices, starting with new Galaxy models  —  WhatsApp is finally addressing one of the biggest problems with its  —  chat histories: the inability to carry them over when you switch platforms.
The Information:
Sources: DoorDash recently held talks to buy Instacart for between $40B and $50B, but the talks fell apart due to potential antitrust scrutiny  —  DoorDash held talks to buy Instacart over the past two months, say people familiar with the situation, for a price that likely would have been between $40 billion and $50 billion.
CNBC:
Amazon opens its $1.5B, 600-acre air hub in northern Kentucky, capable of handling 100 planes and 200 flights per day, as it ramps up delivery speeds  —  - Amazon on Wednesday debuted its $1.5 billion air hub in Northern Kentucky.  — The hub will serve as the central nerve …
Stephen Shankland / CNET:
Facebook open sources Time Card, its PCIe-based timekeeping tool that uses atomic clocks and navigation satellites to keep devices and data centers in sync  —  The social network giant gives away its hardware and software designs that can keep data centers humming efficiently.
David Carnoy / CNET:
Samsung announces $150 Galaxy Buds 2 with active noise cancellation and a similar design to the Galaxy Buds Pro, available August 27  —  The latest Samsung true-wireless earbuds are essentially mini versions of the more expensive Galaxy Buds Pro. … Samsung's Galaxy Buds 2 earbuds …

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Earlier Picks

Joe Light / Bloomberg:
Reed Albergotti / Washington Post: