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Showing posts from April, 2022

Can Elon Musk Make Twitter’s Numbers Work?

Financially speaking, the billionaire’s buyout of the social media network breaks all the usual rules. from NYT > Technology https://ift.tt/uqThkFH

How Twitter’s Board Went From Fighting Elon Musk to Accepting Him

It’s highly unusual to move from a “poison pill” to a $44 billion deal in under two weeks. But Twitter’s board ran out of options. from NYT > Technology https://ift.tt/xpojgPH

Review: ‘The Immortal King Rao,’ by Vauhini Vara

Vauhini Vara’s “The Immortal King Rao” is about a lot of things, from a father-daughter bond to the end of human civilization. from NYT > Technology https://ift.tt/zPVlEyZ

Instacart’s Pandemic Boom Is Fading

The grocery delivery start-up parted ways with its founder, slashed its valuation and shifted its strategy after sales slowed. from NYT > Technology https://ift.tt/61vjZAt

Apple’s Growth Slows, but Still Beats Wall Street’s Expectations.

While the company did better in its first three months of the year than many of its tech peers, it warned that Covid problems in China will be an issue. from NYT > Technology https://ift.tt/EQ8XeT0

Musk’s Ties to China Could Create Headaches for Twitter

Elon Musk has invested heavily in China, where officials are willing to influence or punish companies that cross political red lines. from NYT > Technology https://ift.tt/JFCi43Z

Amazon Revenue Slows, and Costs Rise

Amazon benefited from the coronavirus pandemic as people flocked to online shopping. Now, shoppers’ behavior has shifted. from NYT > Technology https://ift.tt/6LrfSlH

U.S. and more than 55 other countries pledge to keep an open internet.

The document, which isn’t legally binding, aims to be a reference “for public policymakers, as well as citizens, businesses and civil society organizations.” from NYT > Technology https://ift.tt/JmkHAiD

Meta reports a 21 percent drop in profits.

It was the company’s second consecutive quarterly decline, the first time that had happened in over a decade. from NYT > Technology https://ift.tt/xwKqE9B

Is There a Ceiling on Internet Users?

There’s currently a limit to how many people in the world can use digital services like Facebook and Netflix. from NYT > Technology https://ift.tt/Df6WmMT

Judge refuses to strike down Elon Musk’s settlement with the S.E.C. over his Twitter posts.

Mr. Musk had challenged an agreement he reached with securities regulators after he claimed that he had the funding to take Tesla private. from NYT > Technology https://ift.tt/ca6huPo

Cable Giants Comcast and Charter Team Up on Streaming Devices

Charter will distribute TV streaming devices based on Comcast’s technology as both try to stay competitive with companies like Roku and Amazon. from NYT > Technology https://ift.tt/JaAGQZ5

Elon Musk Is a Typical Twitter User, Except for One Thing

The platform has always been the perfect place to indulge your whims. But when you’re the richest man in the world, those whims can grow significantly. from NYT > Technology https://ift.tt/hUqf9kd

Elon Musk’s deal for Twitter includes a $1 billion breakup fee.

Twitter would have to pay if it signed a deal with another suitor. Mr. Musk would have to pay if his financing falls apart. from NYT > Technology https://ift.tt/PHsqnAW

Elon Musk and the Gray of ‘Free Speech’

He wants Twitter to allow more speech. We’ve got questions. from NYT > Technology https://ift.tt/T5syeQR

Kevin Hart’s Media Company Sells $100 Million Stake to Private Equity

The deal with Abry Partners is the latest example of private equity’s pushing into Hollywood to cash in on the demand for streaming shows. from NYT > Technology https://ift.tt/dFrijec

Here’s What Next for Elon Musk and Twitter

Twitter’s board has already unanimously approved the deal. Here’s what comes after. from NYT > Technology https://ift.tt/mNRtYza

Does a Toddler Need an NFT?

The new frontier of children’s entertainment is internet-native cartoon characters selling nonfungible tokens on social-media apps for tots. from NYT > Technology https://ift.tt/rYTnD8m

Buying Twitter, Elon Musk Will Face Reality of His Free-Speech Talk

Tech’s big shots have learned again and again that free speech isn’t so simple. What happens when Mr. Musk owns Twitter? from NYT > Technology https://ift.tt/ciqbPRL

Elon Musk Agrees to Buy Twitter

The world’s richest man succeeded in a bid to acquire the influential social networking service, which he has said he wants to take private. from NYT > Technology https://ift.tt/hTwxA0g

Conservatives celebrate Musk’s deal to buy Twitter.

One prominent Republican, Representative Jim Jordan of Ohio, tweeted that free speech was “making a comeback.” from NYT > Technology https://ift.tt/UJAhkKl

Elon Musk’s Twitter Deal Unlikely to Be Blocked by Regulators

The government most commonly intervenes when a company is buying a competitor. from NYT > Technology https://ift.tt/6DAah2y

Trump Media Adds Former Nunes Aides, Donald Jr., and ‘Apprentice’ Contestant to Board

Mr. Nunes stepped down from his House seat in January to become chief executive of Trump Media. Wes Moss, a financial adviser and a contestant on “The Apprentice,” is also now a director. from NYT > Technology https://ift.tt/xclIndf

Amazon Workers Begin Voting on Union at Another Staten Island Facility

The balloting will take place this week and could produce the second union at an Amazon facility in the United States. from NYT > Technology https://ift.tt/eQ2wNvU

Twitter Employees Search for Answers as Musk Deal Takes Shape

Workers say they have been left largely in the dark about what a sale to the billionaire would mean for them and their shares in the company. from NYT > Technology https://ift.tt/SEkqdWN

Twitter’s Board Is Said to Seriously Consider Elon Musk’s Bid

Twitter’s 11-member board met on Sunday morning to discuss Mr. Musk’s offer to buy the company and take it private. from NYT > Technology https://ift.tt/XuqSm05

Federal labor board says Activision employees can hold a union election.

A group of about 20 quality assurance testers at the video game company are to vote by mail, with ballots counted on May 23. from NYT > Technology https://ift.tt/f7PvC9y

Umang Gupta, Who Paved Way for Indian Tech Executives, Dies at 73

He found success as an entrepreneur in Silicon Valley shortly after arriving there in 1978, then represented his fellow alumni from the Indian Institutes of Technology. from NYT > Technology https://ift.tt/nskmFSI

Hackers Claim to Target Russian Institutions in Barrage of Cyberattacks and Leaks

While the authenticity of leaked data could not be verified, the effort appears to be part of a campaign by hackers opposed to the Kremlin. from NYT > Technology https://ift.tt/2INPOrF

As Europe Approves New Tech Laws, the U.S. Falls Further Behind

Federal privacy bills, security legislation and antitrust laws to address the power of the tech giants have all failed to advance in Congress, despite hand wringing and shows of bipartisan support. from NYT > Technology https://ift.tt/rwaphk8

E.U. Takes Aim at Social Media’s Harms With Landmark New Law

The Digital Services Act would force Meta, Google and others to combat misinformation and restrict certain online ads. How European officials will wield it remains to be seen. from NYT > Technology https://ift.tt/ZH5xpma

Obama Calls for More Oversight of Social Media in Speech at Stanford

Tech companies’ power has “turbocharged” political division and requires government scrutiny, the former president said in a speech at Stanford University. from NYT > Technology https://ift.tt/DcMr4H1

The YouTube Rabbit Hole Is Nuanced

It’s unlikely that you’ll be watching kitten videos one day and believing in QAnon the next. from NYT > Technology https://ift.tt/v5xMBSd

Elon Musk Details Plan for $46.5 Billion Twitter Takeover

Mr. Musk has been building a stake in the social media company and last week made an unsolicited offer to acquire it outright. from NYT > Technology https://ift.tt/wVc5Iq0

Netflix’s Stumble Could Be a Warning Sign for Streaming Industry

The company faces a number of challenges, but its problems may be an indication that its competitors are racing toward an unstable future. from NYT > Technology https://ift.tt/xybER5W

Atlanta Apple Store Workers Are the First to Formally Seek a Union

The petition for a union vote continues a trend of organizing at service-sector employers like Starbucks and Amazon. from NYT > Technology https://ift.tt/VsqYIne

Three Ways to Cut Your Tech Spending, as Prices Rise Everywhere

Here’s how to be mindful about the tech subscriptions, phone bills and upgrades that drain our budgets. from NYT > Technology https://ift.tt/HNxJfjQ

Barack Obama’s New Role: Fighting Disinformation

The former president has embarked on a campaign to warn that the scourge of online falsehoods has eroded the foundations of democracy. from NYT > Technology https://ift.tt/BNGvu6k

Why Everyone Wants to Buy Twitter

Elon Musk is the latest person who thinks he can fulfill Twitter’s untapped potential. from NYT > Technology https://ift.tt/H3kRXp6

Elon Musk Races to Secure Financing for Twitter Bid

The world’s richest man is trying to shore up debt financing, including potentially taking out a loan against his shares of Tesla, so he can buy Twitter for $43 billion. from NYT > Technology https://ift.tt/nc6hXwr

Apple’s Zipped Lips on Chips

Government officials say we need more computer chips made in America and soon. Why isn’t Apple stressed? from NYT > Technology https://ift.tt/xAWHu9E

Can A.I. All but End Car Crashes? The Potential Is There.

Well before self-driving cars become a reality, there are simpler approaches that can make roads much safer. from NYT > Technology https://ift.tt/C02cByv

Apollo Said to Be Weighing Participating in Twitter Bid

Investors have been skeptical that Elon Musk would be able to cobble together the funds needed to buy Twitter. from NYT > Technology https://ift.tt/JTv3sFC

The Elusive Politics of Elon Musk

The billionaire in pursuit of Twitter has often been described as a libertarian, but he has not shrunk from government help when it has been good for business. from NYT > Technology https://ift.tt/pr6JuIn

How a Dollar General Employee Went Viral on TikTok

Mary Gundel loved managing a store in Tampa, Fla. But when she detailed its challenges on social media, the company — and fellow employees — took notice. from NYT > Technology https://ift.tt/ZVlPSmr

Jim Farley Tries to Reinvent Ford and Catch Up to Elon Musk and Tesla

Ford’s chief executive is about to introduce an electric F-150 pickup truck that could determine whether the automaker can survive and thrive in an industry dominated by Tesla. from NYT > Technology https://ift.tt/PBLlkO0

We Have a Creativity Problem

Outwardly, we praise innovation. Inwardly, we harbor a visceral aversion to it, studies have found. from NYT > Technology https://ift.tt/Mq39mpe

Activision Says It Will Cooperate With Insider Trading Investigations

The company received requests for information that appeared to relate to investigations into whether investors who knew Bobby Kotick, the chief executive, traded Activision stock before a deal with Microsoft was made public. from NYT > Technology https://ift.tt/d9aGLYK

How Russia Media Uses Fox News to Make Its Case

The conservative network has appeared hundreds of times in Russian media. from NYT > Technology https://ift.tt/uSrP5NA

Twitter Counters Elon Musk’s Takeover Bid With a Poison Pill

The company is intent on trying to fend off the billionaire’s bid to buy it in a deal that could be worth more than $40 billion. from NYT > Technology https://ift.tt/EUXN1uJ

A.I. Is Mastering Language. Should We Trust What It Says?

OpenAI’s GPT-3 and other neural nets can now write original prose with mind-boggling fluency — a development that could have profound implications for the future. from NYT > Technology https://ift.tt/BOgl4bh

Jordan Belfort, Still the Wolf, Likes Crypto Now

Jordan Belfort, the inspiration for “The Wolf of Wall Street,” is marketing himself as a cryptocurrency guru. from NYT > Technology https://ift.tt/yIZWFuB

Elon Musk Launches Bid to Buy Twitter

The billionaire executive recently became one of the company’s largest shareholders. Now he says he wants to buy the whole thing and change how it handles speech. from NYT > Technology https://ift.tt/ao76FxD

Elon Musk Is a Digital Citizen Kane

What would Twitter look like with Musk as its sole proprietor? from NYT > Technology https://ift.tt/c9iQDgj

Now That Elon Musk Has Offered to Buy Twitter, What Happens Next?

The board will review the offer, but it doesn’t have the last word. from NYT > Technology https://ift.tt/IpZaFGx

Did Student-Monitoring Software Accuse You of Cheating on a Test?

Tell us about your experience with automated tools meant to detect suspicious student behavior. from NYT > Technology https://ift.tt/ERvKQHI

Gopuff Buys Time for Its 30-Minutes-or-Less Delivery Promise

The $15 billion rapid-delivery start-up decided to do business differently from rivals like Instacart. A changing environment is testing its model. from NYT > Technology https://ift.tt/ECU86p3

Gopuff Buys Time for Its 30-Minutes-or-Less Delivery Promise

The $15 billion rapid-delivery start-up decided to do business differently from rivals like Instacart. A changing environment is testing its model. from NYT > Technology https://ift.tt/qrdxQSO

How to Choose a Mental Health App

There are thousands of apps that claim to promote mental well-being, but not all of them are safe or effective. from NYT > Technology https://ift.tt/u3LgUqA

Amazon Adds Fuel and Inflation Surcharge for Sellers

The new surcharge is in addition to fee increases for sellers in November that went into effect in January. from NYT > Technology https://ift.tt/sDjihcK

Will Substack Go Beyond Newsletters? A Company Weighs Its Future.

The publishing platform’s founders want Substack to be an “alternate universe on the internet.” But it faces copycat rivals, an exodus by writers and a need to move beyond newsletters. from NYT > Technology https://ift.tt/TDLe0cw

Etsy and the Sameness of Internet Fights

How much should the middleman get? from NYT > Technology https://ift.tt/T08IK2u

In Elden Ring, the Struggle Feels Real

The video game evokes the hardship and disappointment of the pandemic, but also the hope of human communion. from NYT > Technology https://ift.tt/Ys3PV1d

U.S. tech companies are stepping up office perks, hoping to make employees feel happier about returning.

from NYT > Technology https://ift.tt/g0Ox6vQ

Russian Tech Industry Faces ‘Brain Drain’ as Workers Flee

Since their country invaded Ukraine, Russian tech workers have left by the thousands. They appear intent on rebuilding their lives and businesses in other countries. from NYT > Technology https://ift.tt/9g1ox0E

Mark Zuckerberg Ends Election Grants

A spokesman for the Facebook founder said the money sent to election offices in 2020 was a “one-time donation.” The grants prompted Republicans to push for bans on private donations for elections. from NYT > Technology https://ift.tt/dHv5VwK

Ukraine Says It Thwarted a Sophisticated Russian Cyberattack on Its Power Grid

Experts say the hacking, while unsuccessful, was among the most complex cyberattacks they have seen in the war so far. from NYT > Technology https://ift.tt/E65RLQn

In a First, Google Goes After Puppy Fraud in Court

The company’s first consumer protection lawsuit, filed Monday, claims a Cameroon man tricked would-be buyers using Gmail and other services. from NYT > Technology https://ift.tt/G7JkFiH

Welcome Back to the Office. Isn’t This Fun?

Tech companies really want their employees to be happy — or at least less annoyed — about returning. So they’re providing concerts, food trucks and other perks. from NYT > Technology https://ift.tt/cxSP8KY

Twitter Grapples With an Elon Musk Problem

Mr. Musk, Twitter’s biggest shareholder, is free to buy more stock in the company and could use the platform against itself. Some employees are dismayed. from NYT > Technology https://ift.tt/teIVbSz

China’s Echoes of Russia’s Alternate Reality Intensify Around the World

China’s officials and state media are increasingly parroting Russian propaganda organs on the war in Ukraine, undercutting U.S. and European diplomatic efforts, even after the killings in Bucha. from NYT > Technology https://ift.tt/pVmz2Wx

Elon Musk Will Not Join Twitter’s Board, Company Says

The announcement reverses a decision last week, when Twitter said Mr. Musk would become a board member after amassing a 9.2 percent stake in the company. from NYT > Technology https://ift.tt/m2HEjsW

Crypto Industry Helps Write, and Pass, Its Own Agenda in State Capitols

In the absence of federal regulations, crypto lobbyists and executives are going state by state to get favorable rules enacted. Many lawmakers have been willing partners. from NYT > Technology https://ift.tt/ExZw3Hr

New Era Begins at Warner Bros., Back Toward Its Entertainment Roots

With a new owner, the 99-year-old movie studio appears headed back to its traditional sweet spot as an entertainment company. But the business of Hollywood is no longer the same. from NYT > Technology https://ift.tt/1u2HBOR

Crypto Industry Helps Write, and Pass, Its Own Agenda in State Capitols

In the absence of federal regulations, crypto lobbyists and executives are going state by state to get favorable rules enacted. Many lawmakers have been willing partners. from NYT > Technology https://ift.tt/GqUv24h

Amazon, Labor Organizers File Objections to Alabama Union Vote

The union called for the election to be thrown out entirely. from NYT > Technology https://ift.tt/AV3Y5mL

SpaceX and Axiom Launch Private Astronaut Crew to Space Station

Axiom Space bought seats on a SpaceX rocket to be NASA’s guests in orbit as the agency extends efforts to commercialize spaceflight. from NYT > Technology https://ift.tt/KGtsw9r

How Intel Makes Semiconductors in a Global Shortage

As the global chip shortage continues, we take an inside look at how semiconductors are fabricated. from NYT > Technology https://ift.tt/V3DGtkO

As Gas Prices Went Up, So Did Web Searches for Electric Vehicles

Prices at the pump have apparently given some Americans second thoughts. But two practical problems remain: not enough cars and relatively few charging stations. from NYT > Technology https://ift.tt/zb07nP9

NLRB Counsel Calls for Ban on Mandatory Anti-Union Meetings

The meetings are a common response by companies like Amazon and Starbucks to union drives among workers. The full labor board will make the decision. from NYT > Technology https://ift.tt/YcOGASU

U.S. Says It Secretly Removed Malware Worldwide, Pre-empting Russian Cyberattacks

The operation is the latest effort by the Biden administration to thwart actions by Russia by making them public before Moscow can strike. from NYT > Technology https://ift.tt/tNLC9pW

Biden Appears to Show Support for Amazon Workers Who Voted to Unionize

“By the way, Amazon, here we come. Watch,” the president said. But the White House quickly said his remarks did not mean the government would get formally involved. from NYT > Technology https://ift.tt/NYFDhSR

Block Says Cash App Breach Affected 8 Million Users

The stolen information included the value of some customers’ portfolios and details of their stock trades, but did not involve the company’s personal payments system. from NYT > Technology https://ift.tt/Wb9JGCu

For Prominent Women on Instagram, DMs Can Be a Cesspool of Misogyny

A report on direct messages sent to five women found that “abuse and harmful content is allowed to thrive” on Instagram. The platform’s parent company, Meta, said it disagreed with the report’s conclusions. from NYT > Technology https://ift.tt/W3BoNyu

The Old-Timers Are Chasing Netflix

Old-school media companies are challenging the streaming star, which needs new ways to stay on top. from NYT > Technology https://ift.tt/2g7a4xR

Text Spam Is on the Rise. Here’s How to Spot It and What to Do

Text spam is on the rise. The latest version involves scammers sending messages to you seemingly from your own phone number. Here’s what to do. from NYT > Technology https://ift.tt/Unx0qXZ

Meet DALL-E, the A.I. That Draws Anything at Your Command

New technology that blends language and images could serve graphic artists — and speed disinformation campaigns. from NYT > Technology https://ift.tt/ykmSotH

Pinterest Bans Climate Misinformation From Posts and Ads

The virtual pinboard service will remove content that denies climate change after also blocking ads about politics, weight loss and anti-vaccine sentiment. from NYT > Technology https://ift.tt/fs2jZ0V

How You’re Still Being Tracked on the Internet

Apple and Google are pushing privacy changes, but a shift in digital tracking is giving some platforms a bigger advertising advantage. from NYT > Technology https://ift.tt/hd4cLgr

Hackers’ Fake Claims of Ukrainian Surrender Aren’t Fooling Anyone. So What’s Their Goal?

Experts say the hackers’ intentions might not be to actually trick anyone, but to erode confidence in Ukrainian media outlets and institutions. from NYT > Technology https://ift.tt/gyBwc2F

Elon Musk Joins Twitter Board

After becoming Twitter’s largest shareholder, Elon Musk, Tesla’s chief executive, is joining the social media company’s board of directors. from NYT > Technology https://ift.tt/zh5bqpj

Are You Better Off Financially Than You Were Five or 10 Years Ago? We Want to Hear About It.

Inflation and gas prices are causing pain, but for millions, a rising stock market and increased homeowners’ equity are providing an unusual degree of security. from NYT > Technology https://ift.tt/sb38SkJ

Space Tourism Isn’t Just Joyriding

Having rich guys like Jeff Bezos in orbit can make space travel routine and help all of us dream big. from NYT > Technology https://ift.tt/p7hU8JI

Jason Kilar, WarnerMedia Head, Is Leaving Ahead of Discovery Merger

Mr. Kilar helped HBO Max exceed expectations, but upset some top Hollywood filmmakers in the process. from NYT > Technology https://ift.tt/OWrjcAv

Jason Kilar, WarnerMedia Head, Is Leaving Ahead of Discovery Merger

Mr. Kilar helped HBO Max exceed expectations, but upset some top Hollywood filmmakers in the process. from NYT > Technology https://ift.tt/be6VUJZ

Can A.I.-Driven Voice Analysis Help Identify Mental Disorders?

Early tests have been promising, but issues involving bias, privacy and mistrust of “black box” algorithms are possible pitfalls. from NYT > Technology https://ift.tt/SB2FD4f

Elon Musk buys a large stake in Twitter.

The purchase makes the Tesla chief executive, who has been critical of Twitter’s content moderation policies, its biggest shareholder. from NYT > Technology https://ift.tt/Tc1wH58

Robert Malone Spreads Falsehoods About Vaccines. He Also Says He Invented Some.

Dr. Robert Malone says he helped invent mRNA vaccines and has been wronged for decades. Now he’s spreading unfounded claims about the vaccines and the virus. from NYT > Technology https://ift.tt/qtIK4lW

How Christian Smalls and Derrick Palmer Beat Amazon

The company’s crackdown on a worker protest in New York backfired and led to a historic labor victory. from NYT > Technology https://ift.tt/S3bPoge

Tesla’s Sales Jumped in the First Quarter, Bucking Industry Trend Again

The electric carmaker maintained its momentum from last year even as larger automakers continue to struggle with parts shortages. from NYT > Technology https://ift.tt/PR45wQ7

Amazon Workers on Staten Island Vote to Unionize

Despite heavy lobbying by the company, workers at the facility voted by a wide margin for a union. It was seen as a rebuke of the company’s treatment of its employees. from NYT > Technology https://ift.tt/qmFLtdA

House Committee Investigating Amazon Labor Practices

A tornado that hit a delivery station in Illinois last year will be a focus of the inquiry. from NYT > Technology https://ift.tt/moDVyxh