Making it easier for consumers to block ads they find online, as well as the mobile Web, Adblock Plus is rolling out Adblock Browser for Android. Presently, “Adblock Plus isn’t easy to use on mobile,” according to VentureBeat. “Adblock Browser is supposed to change that.” In fact, “Adblock Plus says its app is the first mobile browser to offer users ad blocking as an integrated, out-of-the-box feature.” 

Apple, Google and other tech giants are urging the Obama administration to block any measures that could give law enforcement the ability to view consumers’ decrypted mobile data. “In a letter to be sent Tuesday … a coalition of tech firms, security experts and others appeal to the White House to protect privacy rights as it considers how to address law enforcement’s need to access data that is increasingly encrypted,” The Washington Post reports. 

European mobile networks are reportedly preparing to block advertising across the mobile Web. Carriers in the region have installed software from Israeli ad-blocking firm Shine in their data centers to block advertising in Web pages and apps, but not social networks, The Next Web reports, citing a paywall-protected story the Financial Times. “Its apparent aim is to break Google’s hold on advertising.” 

Facebook just brought on Kevin Martin to manage policy for its mobile and global access initiatives. Formerly chairman of the U.S. Federal Communications Commission, Martin had already been advising Facebook on issues such as connectivity, spectrum and mobile, Bloomberg Business reports. In addition, Chief Privacy Officer Erin Egan will begin serving a dual role as vice president of U.S. public policy. 

Helping Twitter to expand its horizons, Domino's a readying a “tweet-to-order” system for U.S. customers to order pizza. Scheduled for a May 20 launch, “Domino's will become the first major player in the restaurant industry to use Twitter, on an ongoing basis, to place and complete an order,” USA Today reports. “For the pizza industry … it's all about attracting the attention of busy, younger consumers.” 

Walt Mossberg -- the most visible gadget reviewer next to David Pogue -- says he’ll probably buy the Apple Watch. The pronouncement comes after spending a full month with the device. Despite the endorsement, however, Mossberg says of the smartwatch: “It’s a fledgling product whose optimal utility lies mostly ahead of it as new watch software is developed.” 

Ditching the subscription fee of $7.99 a month, The New York Times just relaunched its NYT Now app as a free service. “We have seen very high engagement and retention among our NYT Now users, [but] we have not seen the number of subscriptions we were hoping for,” a company representative tells The Verge. The change, the app “provided great insight into ... our goal of reaching a wider and younger audience,” she said. 

The Wall Street Journal zooms in on Alibaba’s new CEO, Daniel Zhang, and what his hiring means for the Chinese ecommerce giant. “The appointment of Daniel Zhang signals a change in the types of qualities required to steer Alibaba through the next stage of its growth while also coping with scrutiny from overseas investors,” WSJ writes. Zhang “brings to his new role experience dealing with international brands and foreign investors.” 

Compared to last season, TV viewing has tanked by 9% so far this season, The New York Times reports, citing the latest figures from MoffettNathanson Research. “To explain the drop, some industry executives and analysts point to the rapid increase in the amount of time people spend watching Netflix and other streaming alternatives,” NYT notes. “Netflix viewing accounted for about 43 percent of the decline in traditional TV viewing in the first quarter of this year.” 

In China, smartphone sales appear to be slowing for the first time in six years, BBC New reports, citing new data from IDC. “The number of smartphones shipped fell by 4% from a year ago to 98.8 million units in the January to March period,” it writes. Considering China position as the biggest market for such devices, the news should be troubling for Apple, Google and other top manufacturers.