Techmeme
October 17, 2017, 9:30 PM

Top News

Vlad Savov / The Verge:
Google unveils first SoC, called Pixel Visual Core, for accelerating HDR+ processing, available on Pixel 2 phones; its API will be open to developers soon  —  The Pixel Visual Core is a big deal  —  One thing that Google left unannounced during its Pixel 2 launch event on October 4th …
Dieter Bohn / The Verge:
Pixel 2 and 2 XL review: amazing camera and good speakers, represents the best Android experience, but design lacks flair and it has no headphone jack  —  Sharp shooter  —  Without fail, every person who has picked up the Pixel 2 XL has said virtually the same thing: “It feels like it's made out of plastic.”
Kurt Wagner / Recode:
Regina Dugan, head of Facebook's Building 8 hardware lab, announces she's leaving the firm within next “several months” after joining 18 months ago  —  Dugan is departing after just 18 months to “lead a new endeavor.”  —  Regina Dugan, the head of Facebook's secretive hardware …
Joseph Menn / Reuters:
Sources: internal Microsoft database for tracking critical bugs in its software, which contained descriptions of unfixed flaws, was hacked in 2013  —  (Reuters) - Microsoft Corp's secret internal database for tracking bugs in its own software was broken into by a highly sophisticated hacking group …
Devindra Hardawar / Engadget:
Major features in Windows 10's latest update: OneDrive Files on Demand, MyPeople app to keep in touch with friends via taskbar, mixed reality headset support  —  Microsoft's next major Windows 10 release for 2017, the Fall Creators Update, doesn't make any huge waves.  But you might have gathered that from its name alone.
Andy Greenberg / Wired:
Google launches new “advanced protection” setting for Google accounts of high-risk users, which requires use of a hardware key with every login  —  WHEN IT COMES to the eternal tradeoff between digital security and convenience, most tech firms focus their efforts on the vast majority …
Kia Kokalitcheva / Axios:
Magic Leap closes $502M round of funding led by Singapore sovereign wealth fund Temasek; return backers include Alibaba, Google, Fidelity, JPMorgan venture arms  —  Magic Leap, the secretive “mixed reality” startup, announced on Tuesday that it has raised $502 million in new venture capital funding led …
Julian Chokkattu / Digital Trends:
ZTE unveils Axon M, a foldable smartphone with two 5.2" displays for multitasking, larger canvas, and mirroring modes, coming Nov., starting at ~$725 on AT&T  —  ZTE doubles down on different with the dual-screen Axon M … ZTE believes innovation is lacking in the smartphone industry …
Erin Griffith / Wired:
Internal email details Twitter's plans to update rules on abuse, including expanding reporting options, hiding hate symbols behind warnings, more  —  WHEN TWITTER COULD take credit for revolutionary political movements like the Arab Spring, it was easy for the company's executives to joke about their liberal stance on free speech.
Peter Bright / Ars Technica:
Microsoft debuts $1,499+ 13" and $2,499+ 15" Surface Book 2 with Nvidia GeForce GPUs, updated design, up to 17 hours battery; preorder Nov. 9, ships Nov. 16  —  Microsoft's super-flexible systems get potent upgrade.  Alas, still no Thunderbolt 3.  —  Just over two years ago …
Wall Street Journal:
Cruise Automation CEO announces GM will deploy fleet of Chevrolet Bolts early next year in 5-square-mile section of lower Manhattan  —  GM to deploy fleet of Chevrolet Bolts early next year in five-square-mile section of lower Manhattan  —  General Motors Co. GM -.26% plans to become …
Todd Spangler / Variety:
Snap and NBCUniversal form a 50-50 joint venture studio to produce original content exclusively for Snapchat and sign indie filmmakers Mark and Jay Duplass  —  Snap and NBCUniversal are creating a Hollywood studio dedicated to the future of app-centric entertainment.
Brian Stelter / CNNMoney:
Amazon Studios chief Roy Price resigns, company spokesman says, after suspension following sexual harassment claim  —  Amazon Studios chief Roy Price has resigned, five days after he was suspended by the company after a producer accused him of sexual harassment, an Amazon spokesperson told CNN.
Rachel Kaser / The Next Web:
Facebook Live adds screen-sharing feature via a Chrome extension, so users don't need to install 3rd-party streaming software  —  Facebook today added an option to share your screen directly on Facebook Live, thus eliminating the need for other software for many users.
More: MacRumors and The Verge

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