Reuters
During the first half of 2017, Facebook removed approximately 3 million posts suspected of counterfeiting and copyright and trademark infringement. As Reuters reports, “The worldwide data on intellectual property-related takedowns is a new disclosure for Facebook as part of its biannual ‘Transparency Report.’”
TechCrunch
In light of Morgan Spurlock’s recent confessions of sexual misconduct, YouTube Red has decided not to carry his “Super Size Me” sequel next year. “Google’s video service had picked up the Morgan Spurlock-directed ‘Super Size Me 2: Holy Chicken!’ from the Toronto Film Festival this fall for $3.5 million,” TechCrunch reports.
Axios
Amazon is reportedly close to acquiring cybersecurity software Sqrrl. “Word is that the purchase price would be a bit north of $40 million, although there are still some final details to iron out,” Axios reports. “Sqrrl analyzes big data to hunt cyber-threats, helping companies identify and address them faster.”
TechCrunch
Reddit just updated its app with several new features, including a Theater Mode option with which users can browse media in what Reddit calls a “video-first” format. “This allows users to open media, like original video, in a full-screen experience,” TechCrunch reports. “They can also choose to view the content in landscape mode and swipe back and forth between media.”
Reuters
Adobe Systems just reported a better-than-expected quarterly revenue and profit, which Reuters attributes to the “strength in its digital media business, which houses its flagship product Creative Cloud.” More broadly, “The shift to cloud-based subscription has brought a more predictable revenue stream for Adobe, by selling its software through web-based subscriptions, and not through the sale of packaged-licensed software.”
Engadget
Offering broader access to one of its Daydream VR apps, Google just released YouTube VR for Steam VR on the HTC Vive. “You can download it right now, but the app is an Early Access release and reviews are, to say the least, mixed,” Engadget notes. “Some users are reporting dropped frames despite powerful PC setups, and (many) others are saying that it doesn't work at all, crashing on startup.”
The Next Web
Facebook just debuted a “snooze” button with which users can take temporary breaks from certain “friends,” without officially “unfriending” them. “The feature has been in testing for a few months,” The Next Web’s Rachel Kaser reports. “There are certain social media features I look at and think, ‘Who could possibly use that?’” she notes, adding: “But this one I’m pretty sure could see widespread use.”
VentureBeat
BlackBerry plans to shutter its World app store at the end of 2019, Venture Beat writes. More broadly, “The future of BlackBerry OS, the latest version of which is BlackBerry 10 … has been in question ever since rumors started about BlackBerry adopting Android,” VB writes. “Now that we’ve seen quite a few BlackBerry devices powered by Android, and now that BlackBerry is no longer a phone company, the Canadian firm is finally starting to cut back.”
Venture Beat
Microsoft’s Mixer division is rolling out a livestreaming app, Venture Beat reports. “The company said the new app is the result of a full redesign, directly shaped by community feedback and focused on making it easier to find streams,” VB writes. “It comes with increased personalization options and takes full advantage of Mixer’s interactive experiences.”
The Guardian
Leaders in the United Kingdom are not satisfied with Twitter's openness regarding Russia agents using its platform to influence the EU referendum. “Damian Collins MP, chair of the Department of Culture, Media and Sport committee, said Twitter’s response failed to address any of the substantive issues raised,” The Guardian reports. "Instead, the company has simply replied to a far narrower request from the Electoral Commission, which was exclusively concerned with spending.”