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Techmeme
December 19, 2017, 6:15 PM

Top News

Joaquin Quiñonero Candela / Facebook:
Facebook will now use facial recognition technology to alert users when someone uploads their photos without tagging them  —  Today we're announcing new, optional tools to help people better manage their identity on Facebook using face recognition.  Powered by the same technology we've used …
Emil Protalinski / VentureBeat:
Google Chrome will start natively blocking ads that do not comply with Coalition for Better Ads guidelines on February 15  —  In June, Google revealed that Chrome will stop showing all ads (including those owned or served by Google) on websites that display non-compliant ads “starting in early 2018.”
Mary Jo Foley / ZDNet:
Microsoft begins rolling out latest Windows 10 test build with Timeline and update to Edge browser that enables Service Workers by default  —  Microsoft's latest ‘Redstone 4’ test build, 17063, includes includes its promised Timeline feature, the start of Edge support for Progressive Web Apps …
Joe Rossignol / MacRumors:
KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo says he expects AirPod shipments to grow 100% YoY to 26-28M in 2018, with a new model coming out in mid- to late-2018  —  Apple will release an upgraded version of AirPods in the second half of 2018, according to KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.
New York Times:
Microsoft backs Senate bill to address sexual harassment and eliminates forced arbitration agreements with employees who make such claims  —  SEATTLE — The wave of sexual harassment claims has toppled powerful men in entertainment, media and politics.  Now, it is also creating permanent changes …
Tom Warren / The Verge:
Microsoft Store removes Google Chrome Installer app, which only directed users to a download link, citing violation of Store policies  —  Google published a Chrome app in the Windows Store earlier today, which just directed users to a download link to install the browser.
David Katzmaier / CNET:
YouTube TV will launch Roku and Apple TV apps in early 2018  —  Cable TV cord-cutters expecting YouTube TV's full app for Roku and Apple TV devices this year will have to wait a little longer.  —  YouTube TV finally has a full app, but the rollout to various TV devices is taking longer than originally planned.
Lucas Shaw / Bloomberg:
YouTube signs new long-term agreement with Universal Music Group over music rights, royalty rates; sources say Sony Music signed new agreement with YouTube, too  —  New Universal, Sony agreements allow video uploads to continue  —  Deals establish royalty rates between YouTube, rights holders
Brad Gibson / Best Apple TV:
In its first seven days, Amazon's Prime Video app on Apple TV became the most downloaded of any tvOS app ever on the platform  —  Amazon's recently released Prime Video app was the most downloaded of any tvOS app ever in its first seven days, Apple confirmed Monday through a statement provided by Amazon.
Thomas P. Bossert / Wall Street Journal:
In op-ed, Trump's homeland security adviser Thomas Bossert says North Korea was behind the WannaCry ransomware cyberattack in May  —  The massive cyberattack cost billions and put lives at risk.  Pyongyang will be held accountable.  —  Cybersecurity isn't easy, but simple principles still apply.
Charlie Warzel / BuzzFeed:
Prompted by the “de-badging” of Milo Yiannopoulos, internal emails show confusion among Twitter execs over user verification policies and meaning of the badge  —  Emails suggest that verification was never quite what Twitter said it was and that the company was aware it served …

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Earlier Picks

The Economic Times:
John Poole / Geekbench:
Elan Feingold / Plex Labs:
Reuters: