Techmeme
March 16, 2024, 1:35 AM

Top News

Tom Warren / The Verge:
Microsoft is again injecting pop-ups into Chrome on Windows in a bid to get users to switch to Bing, after previously pausing them citing “unintended behavior”  —  Microsoft is once again injecting pop-ups into Google's Chrome browser in a bid to get people to switch to Bing.
Maxwell Zeff / Gizmodo:
Lawyers warn that the bill to ban TikTok unless it's sold gives POTUS unchecked power to ban any app or website the President deems a “national security threat”  —  The United States could make TikTok the first app banned by law, but technology lawyers warn it won't be the last.
Mike Masnick / Techdirt:
Banning TikTok is a performative, unconstitutional, authoritarian move that won't stop China from spreading propaganda or getting Americans' data  —  from the stupid-xenophobic-moral-panic dept  —  Over the last few days, we've had a few posts about the latest attempt to ban TikTok in the US …
New York Times:
Elena Schneider / Politico:
Dan Primack / Axios:
Reddit says FTC launched an inquiry into Reddit's licensing of user data to AI companies; an ex-FTC official says other companies also got such “hold letters”  —  - It also suggests that the FTC is expanding its look into AI-related deals, which previously appeared to be focused on equity investments.
Chance Miller / 9to5Mac:
Walmart starts selling Macs directly for the first time, partnering with Apple to sell the M1 MacBook Air for $699 a week after Apple stopped selling the laptop  —  Walmart is teaming up with Apple to sell the Mac for the first time.  In a press release today, the company said that it is now selling …
Jonathan Stempel / Reuters:
Apple reaches a $490M settlement to resolve a class-action lawsuit that alleged Tim Cook defrauded shareholders in 2019 by hiding falling iPhone demand in China  —  Apple (AAPL.O) has reached a $490 million settlement to resolve a class-action lawsuit that alleged Chief Executive Tim Cook …
Tom Henderson / Insider Gaming:
Leaked PS5 Pro docs mention rendering 45% faster than the PS5, 2x to 3x the ray tracing performance, and more; sources say it's set for a holiday 2024 release  —  Insider Gaming can confirm that the leaked PS5 Pro specs leaked earlier today are real and the PlayStation 5 is still tentatively targeting a 2024 holiday release.
Dean Takahashi / VentureBeat:
Game developer Scopely says Monopoly Go! crossed $2B in revenue in February 2024, just 10 months after launching and three months after hitting $1B in revenue  —  Scopely announced that Monopoly Go has generated $2 billion in revenue just 10 months after launch and three months after hitting $1 billion.
Andrew Hayward / Decrypt:
Starbucks is ending Odyssey, which launched in December 2022 in closed beta offering NFT-based rewards minted on the Polygon blockchain, on March 31, 2024  —  Starbucks will close the Odyssey Beta platform on March 31, with platform quests available until March 25.
Emma Roth / The Verge:
Uber and Lyft threaten to leave Minneapolis on May 1, after the city passed an ordinance to guarantee drivers a minimum rate of $1.40/mile and $0.5/minute  —  Uber and Lyft are pulling their services out of Minneapolis after the city council passed an ordinance that will increase drivers' pay.
Business Insider:
Sources: BeReal is weighing raising a Series C or being acquired, as what is left of its $90M in funding is set to run out this year and DAUs stagnate at 25M  —  - BeReal, the once-buzzy French social media app, is staring down a crossroads.  — User growth has been tough to come by …
Steven Levy / Wired:
Michael Seibel steps down as YC's managing director, says he did not feel disappointed when he was not tapped as CEO but would have accepted the job if offered  —  As the influential startup incubator downsizes—and navigates political pushback—managing director Michael Seibel is taking …

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Earlier Picks

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