Tech Roundup: Adblock Plus Acceptable Ads, Google Allo Launch & More

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

Alphabet/Google:

• Rebrands Nexus homescreen launcher as Pixel Launcher.
• Acquires location analytics firm Urban Engines to boost Google Maps.
• To rename Google for Work as Google Cloud, The Information reports (paywall).
• Set to launch its much-awaited instant messaging service Allo this week, tweets prolific leaker Evan Blass.

9/21. https://t.co/8Ne6gj0NJS

— Evan Blass (@evleaks) September 19, 2016

Apple:

• Releases iOS 10 update to the public, as iPhone 7 officially goes on sale; some iPhone devices said to be making a hissing sound when A10 processor is put under heavy load.
• Reportedly exploring options to get rid of headphone jack on MacBooks.
• Cracks down on GIF search terms in iOS 10 Messages app after inadvertently serving pornographic images. (It is to be noted that GIF search is powered by Microsoft Bing.)

Microsoft:

• Shuts down Sunrise calendar app for real this time after its features are ported to Outlook apps for Android and iOS.
• Adds Google Drive and Facebook integration to web version of Outlook.

In other news:

• USA Today, Associated Press and Vice Media sue FBI for refusing to release its method of hacking into San Bernardino shooter's iPhone 5c.
• Five new pieces of debris, possibly belonging to the missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370, have been found in Madagascar.
• August 2016 becomes the new hottest month on record just like every other month since last October; global temperatures found to be 1.8 deg Fahrenheit warmer than the average August temperature from 1951 to 1980.
• Newly drafted European Union copyright rules would grant newspaper publishers the right to curb online use of their content, "allowing them to demand payment from Google News and other sites that use clips of their articles," according to Bloomberg.
• Samsung sells its stake in computer-drive maker Seagate Technology PLC, chip maker Rambus Inc., Dutch semiconductor-equipment maker ASML Holding NV and Japanese electronics maker Sharp Corp to raise cash as it undergoes a billion-dollar costly recall of Galaxy Note 7 smartphones due to fire risk.
• Retail behemoth Amazon announces new 8-inch Fire HD tablet with Alexa voice-assistant integration; next-gen Echo Dot unveiled for $49.99 USD.
• Music streaming service Spotify hits 40 million paid subscribers.
• Pandora signs deals with Sony, Universal and Warner Music to launch a new music streaming service to compete with the likes of Apple Music, Google Play Music, Spotify and Tidal later this year; unveils new $5 USD music streaming tier with unlimited skips and offline mode.
• Microblogging network Twitter is sued by a shareholder after failing to deliver on user growth and user engagement, "almost two years after touting plans to top 500 million users," reports Bloomberg.
• Ride-hailing startup Uber begins self-driving taxi trials in Pittsburgh.
• Popular online ad blocker Adblock Plus begins selling ads as part of its Acceptable Ads program.