Techmeme
May 11, 2022, 10:30 PM

Top News

Andrew Romero / 9to5Google:
Google announces the Pixel Buds Pro with ANC, pass-through, and spatial audio coming later in 2022 via an OTA update, available for preorder on July 21 for $199  —  This year at Google I/O 2022, Google is focusing on bringing us brand-new hardware.  One product of this year's event is Google's …
Damien Wilde / 9to5Google:
Google unveils the $449 Pixel 6a, with its Tensor chip, 6.1" OLED screen, in-display fingerprint sensor, 12.2MP wide and 12MP ultra-wide rear cameras, and more  —  During the annual I/O Developer conference Google has officially launched the affordably-focused Pixel 6a which acts …
Brian Heater / TechCrunch:
Google plans to launch an Android-based Pixel Tablet in 2023, with speakers and a rear camera, after killing its Chrome OS-based Pixel Slate in February 2021  —  Offering a sneak preview of the Pixel 7 wasn't enough, so Google's really leaning in.  Today at I/O, the company announced …
Brian Heater / TechCrunch:
Google teases an early look at lightweight AR glasses that can display the text of a conversation, transcribed and translated in real time  —  The consensus has long been that Google Glass was ahead of its time.  But in recent years, much of the world has since lapped the company in the AR department.
Abner Li / 9to5Google:
Google unveils the Pixel Watch with a round glass cover that curves all the way to the metal sides, Fitbit integration, and a clickable crown, coming this fall  —  At I/O 2022, Google finally confirmed that it's making the Pixel Watch.  That said, we only got a teaser as it's not coming until later this year.
Kyle Bradshaw / 9to5Google:
Google updates Maps with an “immersive view”, which combines Street View and aerial shots, for select cities, and will let third-party apps use Live View's AR  —  At Google I/O 2022, the company unveiled improvements for Google Maps including a new “immersive view” …
Ben Schoon / 9to5Google:
Tim Copeland / The Block:
LUNA and the UST stablecoin continue to dive; LUNA dropped as low as $0.84, a ~97% slide in 24 hours, while UST dropped as low as $0.26, a ~70% fall in 24 hours  —  Quick Take  — The price of Luna has dropped 82% in the last 24 hours.  — Its related stablecoin UST has retreated …
Adi Robertson / The Verge:
A US appeals court rules 2-1 to let Texas enforce a social media law stopping Twitter, Facebook, and other services with 50M+ users from moderating content  —  A judge blocked a similar law in Florida on First Amendment grounds  —  The controversial Texas social media law HB 20 …
Stephen Shankland / CNET:
Google adopts the 10-grade Monk Skin Tone Scale to teach diversity to its AI, replacing the six-tone Fitzpatrick Scale; the first results hit the US this week  —  You'll notice the Monk Skin Tone Scale in beauty related searches, but Google is also building it deeply into its AI infrastructure, it says at Google I/O.
James Vincent / The Verge:
The European Commission proposes regulation that would require tech companies to scan for CSAM and “grooming”, worrying privacy experts and threatening E2EE  —  The proposal has been called unworkable and invasive by privacy experts  —  The European Commission has proposed controversial …
Sara Fischer / Axios:
In a first, Meta withdraws its policy guidance request from the Oversight Board about Russia's invasion of Ukraine, over “ongoing safety and security concerns”  —  Facebook-parent Meta on Wednesday said it would be withdrawing its earlier request for policy guidance …
Sami Fathi / MacRumors:
Kuo: Apple will ditch its proprietary Lightning port and switch to USB-C for the iPhone 15 in the second half of 2023, improving transfer and charging speeds  —  Apple will ditch its proprietary Lightning port and switch to USB-C on all or possibly some models of the iPhone 15 lineup destined …
Alex Weprin / The Hollywood Reporter:
Disney's streaming subscribers hit 205.6M globally in Q2: Disney+ added 7.9M subscribers to reach 137.7M, Hulu added 300K to 45.6M, and ESPN+ added 1M to 22.3M  —  Hulu added 300,000 subscribers to reach 45.6 million subs and ESPN+ added 1 million subscribers to reach 22.3 million.
Makena Kelly / The Verge:
The US Senate votes 51-50 to confirm privacy expert Alvaro Bedoya to the FTC, replacing former Commissioner Rohit Chopra and establishing a Democratic majority  —  Vice President Kamala Harris broke a 50-50 tie in the Senate  —  On Wednesday, the Senate voted to confirm privacy expert Alvaro Bedoya to the Federal Trade Commission.
Katie Paul / Reuters:
Andrew Bosworth told Reality Labs staff that Meta plans to cut or delay some projects and details will come within a week; Meta says there won't be layoffs  —  Facebook-owner Meta Platforms Inc (FB.O) is preparing cutbacks in its Reality Labs division, a strategic unit at the center …
More: Engadget
Ingrid Lunden / TechCrunch:
Nexite, which develops a tagging system and data platform to track merchandise in physical stores, raises a $67M Series C, bringing its total funding to $100M  —  When it comes to commerce innovation, physical retail often feels like it gets the short end of the development stick against newer …
Kif Leswing / CNBC:
Saudi Aramco passes Apple as the world's most valuable company, FactSet says at a $2.43T market cap compared to Apple's $2.37T; Apple stock closes down 5.18%  —  - Oil giant Saudi Aramco is now the world's most valuable company.  — It surpassed Apple on Wednesday.

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Earlier Picks

Bloomberg:
Dave Lee / @daveleeft: