TechCrunch
Amazon just announced the Kindle Reading Fund, which is part of a new mission to make digital books more easily available worldwide. "The Fund will donate a number of Kindle e-readers, Fire tablets as well as e-books to communities around the world," TechCrunch reports. "In addition to schools, libraries, PTAs, hospitals and other nonprofits, Amazon is also now working with Worldreader to help support its reading programs in the developing world."
Re/code
Bed Bath & Beyond reportedly paid less than $30 million for online home-furnishings retailer One Kings Lane. As Recode notes: “The purchase price marks a massive discount from a valuation of $900 million that the startup had secured when it raised more than $100 million from investors in early 2014.” The deal was announced in June, but the financial terms were not disclosed at the time.
TechCrunch
Following its launch on iOS, Opera is bringing its free and unlimited virtual private network (VPN) service to Android. “Like the iOS version, the Android app is based on Opera’s acquisition of SurfEasy in 2015 and allows you to surf safely when you are on a public network,” TechCrunch reports. “In addition to its VPN features, the service also allows you to block ad trackers.”
Android Police
Android Police looks into Google Allo -- the search’s giant incognito chat app. “These chats are end-to-end encrypted … with unique identity keys for each participant,” it reports. “One of the side effects of encryption is that Google Assistant doesn't work in them.” Meanwhile, “You can also enable a setting to notify you when the identity key of a contact has changed.”
Fast Company
Apple’s digital health team has acquired personal health data startup Gliimpse, Fast Company reports. “The acquisition happened earlier this year, but Apple has been characteristically quiet about it,” it writes. “The acquisition will bolster Apple’s efforts in digital health.”
Business Insider
Atlassian’s workplace-chat app HipChat is adding team video chatting and screen sharing. “HipChat for PCs, Macs, and the browser is getting on-the-fly video conferencing that you can activate from your desk,” Business Insider reports. “It takes HipChat's existing one-to-one video-chat capabilities and adds support for multiple participants.”
Bloomberg
Despite its best efforts, Apple was not able to add cellular connectivity to its latest Watch in time for its fall release. “Apple … hit roadblocks in making major changes that would connect its Watch to cellular networks and make it less dependent on the iPhone,” Bloomberg reports, citing sources. “Apple executives expressed concern that the cellular models may not be ready for release this year and that the feature may be pushed back to a later generation.”
TechCrunch
The New York Times is giving up on Now. Rather than a defeat, however, “The publisher claims that the innovations developed in the app have now been incorporated into the Times’ other digital platforms, including its flagship NYTimes app,” TechCrunch reports. “Specifically, the main app has the same curated feel pioneered by NYT Now.”
GeekWire
T-Mobile is shifting to a single wireless plan offering unlimited data -- “a surprise move that the company’s CEO, John Legere, says he doesn’t believe rivals Verizon and AT&T will be able to match,” GeekWire reports. “Under the new plan, (T-Mobile) will charge $70/month for the first line, $50/month for the second, and $20/month for additional lines up to eight.”
Wall Street Journal
Apple head Tim Cook apparently plans to increase the company’s presence in China, beginning with a new research center. “The research center, which will open later this year, will focus on developing new products and services and ‘strengthening relationships with local partners and universities,’” The Wall Street Journal reports, citing comment from an Apple spokesman.