Tech Roundup: Google Pay Revamp, Microsoft Pluton Processor & More

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

• Google-owned YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter to join forces with fact-checkers, governments, and researchers to tackle COVID-19 vaccine conspiracies from January next year; threaten to pull out of Pakistan after the South Asian nation granted blanket powers to the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority to remove and block digital content that "harms, intimidates or excites disaffection" toward the government or in other ways that hurts the "integrity, security, and defence of Pakistan."
• The U.S. Senate passes a bill called the Internet of Things Cybersecurity Improvement Act that would require all internet-connected devices purchased by the U.S. government to comply with National Institute of Standards and Technology's (NIST) minimum security recommendations.
• Vietnam threatens to shut down Facebook inside the country if it fails to censor more "anti-state" posts on the platform; comes after the company complied with a government request in April to significantly increase restrictions of content that "violates traditional Vietnamese customs and infringes upon state interests."
• Microsoft announces Pluton processor, its new project with AMD, Intel, and Qualcomm, to create x86 and ARM CPUs for Windows that integrates a dedicated security component a la Apple and Google T2 and Titan M security chips with an aim to securely store sensitive data such as encryption keys.
• Chipmaker NVIDIA follows Amazon Luna and Microsoft xCloud's footsteps by debuting its game streaming service GeForce for iOS with Safari integration in the form of a web app (thanks to WebRTC!), bypassing Apple's App Store restrictions (the company is also working with Epic Games on a touch-friendly version of Fortnite that will run on iOS devices through the browser); Google says it's building a progressive web app version of Stadia that will run in the mobile version of Safari browser.
• Apple, in September, announced new rules that would allow a cloud gaming service so long as the games it streamed were submitted individually for App Store review and subject to the same policies and 30% commission that other apps are. "Of course, there is always the open Internet and web browser apps to reach all users outside of the App Store," Apple's guidelines (section 4.9) on streaming games states.
• Apple to cut App Store fees in half to 15% (down from 30%) for small developers earning less than US$1 million in annual revenue from their apps starting January next year amidst ongoing antitrust fight with Epic.
• Apple's 30 percent cut of all paid app sales and in-app purchases and the rules it imposes on developers before it grants their apps entry into the App Store has emerged a prickly subject in recent months, what with the company facing a European antitrust investigation into its App Store and Apple Pay polices as well as several run-ins with third-party developers such as Basecamp, Fortnite, Spotify, Tinder, WordPress, ProtonMail, Microsoft, and Facebook.
• Interestingly according to app analytics firm Sensor Tower, although an estimated 98% of developers would be eligible for the 15% cut, the developers generated just 5% of the App Store's total revenue last year, which hit US$ 50 billion in 2019.
• Google adds family-oriented features to Google Assistant-powered smart display devices, allowing family members to create digital notes, track each other via a family location map, and access eductional content for children; begins rolling out a completely revamped Google Pay app for users in the U.S. with new features for exploring cashback offers and transaction histories tied to users' Google Pay accounts, in addition to options for paying and requesting money through the app, and pulling receipts from Gmail and Google Photos automatically, as it transforms into an all-in-one personal financial service and take on rivals such as Apple Pay, Mint and Venmo.
• Google has also announced a new feature called Plex for co-branded banking accounts that allows banks to partner with Google and use Google Pay as their own direct banking app, making it seamless to open new accounts with partnered banks directly from the app.
• At the same time, the company has reiterated that users' personal information or their transaction histories are not sold to third-parties or even with other Google services for targeting ads, and that all the personalised features are off by default, with an option to turn them on for a three-month trial period.
• However, as always is the case with Google, all the information will be sent to its servers (and encrypted) so it can be analysed and made searchable for users in the app.
• Google announces Tree Canopy Lab in the city of Los Angeles, a new initiative that uses aerial imagery and AI to estimate tree canopy coverage and "highlight areas of high need for trees based on population data and heat island risk."

• IBM acquires Instana, a German-American firm which develops application performance management and monitoring software, for an undisclosed sum.
• Google to end preferential search rankings for AMP pages next spring, and announces plans for a "privacy label" like approach to Chrome browser extensions starting January 18, 2021; to add a new section on the Chrome Web Store called "Privacy Practices" where developers will be able to disclose the kind of data collected by the extension and what they plan to do with the information.
• Ghostery, maker of open-source privacy and security-related browser extension used to block ads and trackers on websites, begins testing a new desktop browser that runs atop Firefox and an ad-free search engine powered by Bing Web Search API for Ghostery Plus subscribers (costs US$ 5 per month).
• Apple agrees to pay an additional US$ 113 million to settle "Batterygate" lawsuits in the U.S. accusing the company of quietly throttling the speed of older iPhones to counter ageing batteries and conserve battery life, months after it initially consented to a US$ 500 million settlement in March.
• Google officially rolls out RCS-based rich messaging for its Messages app worldwide (notable exceptions include China, Cuba, Iran, and Russia), with plans to roll out end-to-end encryption, starting with one-on-one RCS conversations between users; pilots Project Guideline, a new AI-powered offline system that helps blind and low-vision users navigate through a running course with audio feedback.
• Microsoft takes on Zoom with a new free all-day video calling feature in Teams videoconferencing app with up to 300 people on the web; integrates coupon and promo codes for online shopping into its Chromium-powered Edge browser, alongside new PDF annotation and screenshot inking features, weeks after adding a price comparisons and improved screenshot capabilities that lets users easily capture an entire webpage.
• Facebook's internal R&D group, NPE division, releases E.gg for iOS in the U.S., a "digital zine creator" tool that lets users create media collages with their own shareable URLs; revamps its standalone Instagram mobile messaging app Threads with an updated navigation and Status tab, and support for posting photos and videos to Stories.
• Google-owned Fitbit rolls out OS 5.1 for Sense and Versa 3 smartwatches, with support for Google Assistant, voice-to-text, phone calls, and automatic blood oxygen readings.
• PayPal launches the Generosity Network, a GoFundMe-like service that lets individuals raise up to $20,000 over a span of 30 days.
• Amazon to make its second-generation version of Echo Frames, the company's Alexa-enabled glasses that debuted last year for some customers, generally available starting December 10 for US$ 250; comes with better sound quality, longer battery life, and new colors.
• Snap reportedly acquires Voisey, a U.K. startup that lets users create short music tracks and videos using their own voice overlayed on custom instrumentals.
• Apple releases a forked version of Google's TensorFlow machine learning framework that's optimised for MacBooks running macOS Big Sur; claims it trains up to 7x faster on 13" MacBook Pro with M1 than 2020 MacBook Pro 13" with Intel chipset.
• SoundCloud begins rolling out verified badges for users who are well-known and/or highly searched-for artist, collective, DJ, label, curator or podcaster.