Techmeme: Google lowers the minimum price for Android apps to $0.05 in 20+ emerging markets and will let developers in those regions create prepaid app subscription plans (Sarah Perez/TechCrunch)
Techmeme
May 11, 2022, 8:55 PM

Top News

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” …
Damien Wilde / 9to5Google:
Google updates Google Translate with support for 24 additional languages, including regional dialects from India, South America, and Africa, used by 300M people  —  Google Translate has today confirmed support for a further 24 new languages and dialects on its online translation service.
Ben Schoon / 9to5Google:
Google says that RCS messaging in the Messages app for Android has 500M+ MAUs, and implores all mobile OSes to “upgrade”, in a dig at Apple  —  Today at Google I/O 2022, Google confirmed that over 500 million people are actively using RCS messaging and took the chance to throw another dig at Apple.
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 …
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 …
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.
Brian Heater / TechCrunch:
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 …
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 …
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.
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 …
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 …
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.
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.
Bloomberg:
SEC chair Gary Gensler says crypto exchanges are “commingling” services, which is not in clients' best interest, and notes their ties to popular stablecoins  —  Gary Gensler is ratcheting up his criticism of digital-asset exchanges, arguing that some platforms are shirking rules …

Sponsor Posts

Intel:
Managing a Complex Multi-Cloud Environment Requires a Reliable Ecosystem  —  To avoid vendor lock-in and effectively manage your mission critical workload needs, you need a reliable ecosystem and architecture
Brightspot:
Is your CMS solving your content problems, or creating new ones?  —  In a commissioned study written and conducted by Forrester, we revealed that 72% plan to change their CMS platform, is your organization one of them?
Sastrify:
SaaS Prices Are Going Up.  Here's Why (And What You Can Do about It)  —  From inflation issues to rock-bottom retention rates: get the latest industry updates and see how high-growth teams are preparing for 2023.
Zoho:
Best Morning Routine Productivity Ideas  —  Starting your day off right is crucial if you want to be productive, stay efficient through the afternoon slump, and meet all of your daily goals.
Vesto:
The treasury management platform built for startups  —  Put your idle cash to work, earn higher yields, and extend your runway with Vesto.
Techmeme Ride Home:
(Portfolio Profile) Nanome.ai
The day's tech news, every day at 5pm ET. Fifteen minutes and you're up to date.
Subscribe via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or RSS.
 

About This Page

This is a Techmeme archive page. It shows how the site appeared at 8:55 PM ET, May 11, 2022.

The most current version of the site as always is available at our home page. To view an earlier snapshot click here and then modify the date indicated.

More News

Ingrid Lunden / TechCrunch:

Earlier Picks

Dave Lee / @daveleeft: