Tech Roundup: ICREACH, iPhone 6 & More

[A recurring feature on the latest in Science & Technology.]

• Liberian doctor who received the experimental anti-Ebola drug ZMapp dies as British pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline readies new vaccine for human trials as early as next week.
• Scientists discover a region of the brain that motivates us to exercise; it's called the dorsal medial habenula.
• USA's National Security Agency "is secretly providing data to nearly two dozen U.S. government agencies with a 'Google-like' search engine called ICREACH built to share more than 850 billion records about phone calls, emails, cellphone locations, and internet chats," reports Glenn Greenwald for The Intercept in latest Edward Snowden leaks; US Military bans the website in an attempt to forbid its employees from reading such leaked reports.
• JP Morgan and four other banks hit by cyber attacks, according to a report by Bloomberg, adding theft of customer data could be used to drain accounts.
• Apple wishes it could say more; officially sends invites for a September 9 event to announce this year's iPhone refresh.

iPhone 6 coming soon (Image: The Verge)

• Google reveals its latest moonshot project; said to be currently testing drone-based goods delivery system Project Wing to counter Amazon's Prime Air.
• Facebook-owned instant messaging app WhatsApp hits 600 million monthly active users.
• Online retail giant Amazon, not Google, acquires game live-streaming service Twitch for US$ 970 million.
• Social network Facebook to tackle click-bait articles by checking how quickly you return to its website (or app) after clicking an article link and whether or not you like or comment on the post.
• Microsoft working on a Chromecast like streaming dongle, reveal FCC filings.
• Samsung acquires Internet of Things home automation startup SmartThings for US$ 200 million as Google goes one up against it by purchasing product design firm Gecko Design Inc. for an undisclosed sum to boost its hardware efforts.
• HTC announces Desire 510, the world's first 64-bit Android smartphone to take advantage of Android L's 64-bit processor support.
• Sony teases Xperia Z3, Xperia Z3 Compact and 8-inch Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact for IFA reveal at Berlin on September 3.
• Google Chrome web browser for 64-bit Windows operating system goes stable, improving security, stability and performance.
• Facebook-owned photo-sharing network Instagram releases its second standalone app (after Bolt) called Hyperlapse, an iOS only app for creating time-lapse videos.
• In the wake of Apple-IBM enterprise partnership, Google and HP now reportedly said to working together for "Google Now for Business".
• LG unveils LG G Watch R (for Round?) with a circular clockface barely months after its first Android Wear smartwatch LG G Watch to take on Motorola's to-be-released Moto 360; Samsung releases Galaxy Gear S smartwatch running on its Tizen operating system with a SIM card slot to make calls and send/receive messages, and surprisingly Nokia Here maps for navigation (it's coming to Galaxy smartphones too).
• Apple's injunction to ban Samsung phones in the USA over patent infringement after a mixed jury verdict back in May gets rejected.
• Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi releases Redmi 1S (is Xiaomi copying Apple by putting a square border around '1S'?) in India for Rs. 5,999; Intex launches Cloud FX Firefox OS phone in the country for Rs. 1,999.