Techmeme
November 16, 2023, 1:45 PM

Top News

Chance Miller / 9to5Mac:
Apple plans to adopt the GSM's RCS messaging standard by releasing a software update “later next year”, bringing iMessage-style features to cross-platform texts  —  In a surprising move, Apple has announced today that it will adopt the RCS (Rich Communication Services) messaging standard.
Jonathan Greig / The Record:
Financial software company MeridianLink confirms a cyberattack after a ransomware gang claimed that it reported the company to SEC for not disclosing the breach  —  Financial software company MeridianLink confirmed that it is dealing with a cyberattack after the hackers behind …
Will Knight / Wired:
YouTube lets some Shorts creators test Dream Track, which uses DeepMind's Lyria AI to generate and remix music in the styles of nine artists, including Sia  —  YouTube creators will get to test a new AI tool that generates and remixes music in the style of several famous musicians, including Sia, Demi Lovato, and T-Pain.
Andy Greenberg / Wired:
In a first, the Signal Foundation publishes Signal's operating costs: ~$40M in 2023, projected to hit $50M by 2025, with $14M for infrastructure costs in 2023  —  Signal's president reveals the cost of running the privacy-preserving platform—not just to drum up donations …
Zac Bowden / Windows Central:
Microsoft launches a Windows App in preview for iOS, iPadOS, macOS, Windows, and the web, letting enterprise customers securely access Windows via other devices  —  Microsoft brings Windows to non-Windows devices.  —  What you need to know  — Microsoft is launching the “Windows app” …
Katie Malone / Engadget:
Google finds and helps patch a Zimbra Collaboration email server zero-day used to steal data from governments in Greece, Moldova, Tunisia, Vietnam, and Pakistan  —  Google's threat analysis team discovered the security flaw in June.  —  Google's Threat Analysis Group revealed on Thursday …
K.J. Yossman / Variety:
Embracer reports Q2 net sales up 13% YoY to ~$1B, layoffs that impacted ~900 staff, or 5% of its workforce, and 36 fewer games in development than in Q2 2022  —  “Lord of the Rings” owner Embracer Group has reported a 13% increase in net sales year-on-year in Q2, in part thanks to its intensive restructuring program.
Laurent Giret / Thurrott:
Nvidia updates its GeForce Now app to introduce Game Syncing, which lets users stream PC games purchased via the Microsoft Store, PC Game Pass, and Ubisoft+  —  Nvidia is releasing a new update for its GeForce Now app today that introduces Game Syncing with the Microsoft Store, PC Game Pass, and Ubisoft+.
Jess Weatherbed / The Verge:
Google's Search Generative Experience adds shopping tools to help find niche or unique items and expands virtual try-ons to men's tops from hundreds of brands  —  Google's AI-powered Search Generative Experience (SGE) is behind a bunch of new shopping features that aim to help users find niche …
Benjamin Mayo / 9to5Mac:
Apple releases Apple Music Classical for iPadOS as part of a v1.1 update, the first major update to the app since its release in spring 2023 for iOS and Android  —  Apple Music Classical, included as part of a standard Apple Music subscription, launched as an iPhone only app in the spring ... but is now available on the iPad too.
Jane Zhang / Bloomberg:
Alibaba reports Q2 revenue up 9% YoY to ~$30.8B, beating est., a ~$3.8B net income, up from a ~$3B net loss in Q2 2022, and nixes its cloud business spinoff  —  - The decision marks a dramatic reversal on a signature move  — Alibaba's historic six-way restructuring is now in doubt
Dan Goodin / Ars Technica:
Charisma Madarang / Rolling Stone:
Elon Musk replied “You have said the actual truth” to an X user who, replying to a “Hitler was right” inquiry, accused Jewish groups of “hatred against whites”  —  The billionaire amplified a post Wednesday accusing the Jewish community of promoting “dialectical hatred against whites”
Nathan Edwards / The Verge:
The Wireless Power Consortium says the first Qi v2.0 devices are set to arrive in time for the holidays and 100+ are in certification testing or waiting in line  —  Qi2 — the next version of the wireless charging standard, now with more magnets! — is more almost-here than ever.
Supantha Mukherjee / Reuters:
TikTok joins Meta in appealing against its EU DMA “gatekeeper” status, saying the service is “arguably the most capable challenger to more entrenched” rivals  —  TikTok on Thursday joined Meta (META.O) in appealing against the “gatekeeper” status under the Digital Markets Act …
Dean Takahashi / VentureBeat:
At its conference, Unity says Unity 6 is coming in 2024 and releases early access versions of Unity Muse, an AI suite for content creation, and Unity Cloud  —  Unity, the global game engine and monetizationplatform, said that its Unity 6 platform will launch in 2024 with AI innovations and platform updates.
Niamh Rowe / Wired:
Some companies that provide Big Tech and other clients with AI data-labeling services are inadvertently hiring minors, often exposing them to traumatic content  —  Companies that provide Big Tech with AI data-labeling services are inadvertently hiring young teens to work on their platforms, often exposing them to traumatic content.
Abner Li / 9to5Google:
Google rolls out Bard access in English for teens who “meet the minimum age requirement to manage their own Google Account”, offering safety guardrails  —  Following the Search Generative Experience (SGE) in September, Google is rolling out Bard access for teens with safety guardrails in place.
Daria Mosolova / Financial Times:
Jonathan Camrose, the UK's first minister for AI and IP, says the country does not plan to regulate the AI industry “in the short term”, so the sector can grow  —  Minister tells FT conference government wants to maintain a ‘pro-innovation’ approach to the technology

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Earlier Picks

Suvashree Ghosh / Bloomberg:
Ben Schoon / 9to5Google:
Connor Jones / The Register:
Sarah Perez / TechCrunch:
Sarah Scire / Nieman Lab: