Tech Roundup: Android Nearby Share, Google Pixel 4a & More

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

• The European Commission officially opens a full-blown investigation into Google's proposed acquisition of fitness tracker company Fitbit over concerns that "the proposed transaction would further entrench Google's market position in the online advertising markets by increasing the already vast amount of data that Google could use for personalisation of the ads it serves and displays."
• China to launch a state-run authentication system in September requiring gamers to use their real names as a means to curb gaming addiction. (It's worth noting that Tencent and NetEase have already implemented their own verification systems, including a facial recognition system to prevent children from using sneaky workarounds such as a fake ID to get past verification.)
• Facebook-owned WhatsApp begins rolling out a new "Search the Web" functionality in Brazil, Italy, Ireland, Mexico, the U.K. and U.S. to help fact check viral messages and check the spread of misinformation on the platform; says the feature "works by allowing users to upload the message via their browser without WhatsApp ever seeing the message itself."
• Google to invest US$ 450 million (a 6.6% stake) in smart home automation and security company ADT to sell and install devices like Nest Cameras and Nest Hub Max, and position its solutions as the "cornerstone of ADT’s smart home offering."
• Apple removes nearly 42,000 games, from its Chinese app store to comply with regulations that mandate developers to have a government-issued game license — International Standard Book Number, or ISBN — enabling users to make in-app purchases. (Android app stores, which are owned by Chinese companies, have been fully compliant with this law.)

Google Play Music is officially discontinued

• Disney's Disney+ streaming service hits 60.5 million subscribers, up from 54 million in May, as it collectively reaches more than 100 million paid subscribers across Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+; announces plans to launch a general entertainment streaming platform internationally in 2021 under its Star brand (which also owns Hotstar in India), with content from ABC, FX, and more.
• Google to officially pull the plug on Google Play Music starting September in countries New Zealand and South Africa (and in October for all other global markets) in favour of YouTube Music; to discontinue feature that let users purchase music through the Play Store, thereby switching entirely to a streaming only offering.
• Snapchat takes aim at TikTok with a new feature that lets users embed popular songs to their Snaps as rival apps Instagram, Byte, and Dubsmash look to capitalise on TikTok's uncertain future outside China; Facebook launches TikTok clone Instagram Reels, that lets users create and publish 15-second videos, in over 50 countries, including the U.S., U.K., and Japan. (The idea, it appears, to copy competition and crush it. After all it's worked incredibly well before, hasn't it?)
• Microsoft's xCloud game streaming service will launch on September 15 on Android in 22 countries across Europe, South Korea, the U.K., and U.S.; to be bundled with the Xbox Games Pass Ultimate subscription for US$ 14.99 per month, but says it has no plans to launch the service on iOS citing Apple's platform restrictions and ongoing issues surrounding the 30% commission for subscription apps. (Apple's contention is that cloud services such as xCloud and Google Stadia are in violation of App Store guidelines because they offer access to apps the company can't individually review.)
• Google-owned YouTube takes down 2,596 accounts from China during the period April to June for engaging in "coordinated influence operations" on political issues, up from 277 accounts the previous quarter.

• Google officially launches Pixel 4a smartphone with a Snapdragon 730G, 5.8" OLED screen, 6GB RAM, 12MP rear camera, and 3140 mAh battery for US$ 350; confirms it won't launch the upcoming Pixel 5 and Pixel 5G smartphones in India and Singapore due to "local market trends" and "product features."
• Privacy-focused email app ProtonMail accuses Apple of using its App Store to control access to iOS users and cut out competitors; says "Apple has become a monopoly, crushing potential competitors with exploitative fees and conducting censorship on behalf of dictators."
• Twitter to likely attract a fine of US$ 250 million from the U.S. Federal Trade Commission for using users' email addresses and phone numbers for ad targeting, a practice that it disclosed in October 2019, following which it began allowing users to enroll for its two-factor authentication (2FA) program without requiring a phone number; fixes a bug in its Android app that could let hackers access private data like direct messages on devices with Android OS versions 8 and 9, but adds "96% of people using Twitter for Android already have an Android security patch installed that protects them from this vulnerability."
• Google announces partnerships with six more banks to offer digital checking and savings accounts to Google Pay users in the U.S., starting next year; debuts new Safe Folder feature in Files app that allows users to store sensitive files, images and videos in a 4-digit PIN-encrypted folder, and AirDrop-like Nearby Share for Android to enable reliable and easy sharing via Bluetooth, WebRTC or peer-to-peer WiFi, with support for Chromebooks will arrive in coming months.