Tech Roundup: Clubhouse for Android, Lossless Audio & More

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

• China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology orders domestic app stores to remove 90 apps, including LinkedIn rival Maimai, online ticket booking platform Damai, online travel booking app Tuniu, and Tianya, for an indefinite period for failing to adhere to new regulations that spells out what types of user data apps can collect; accuses the platforms of "requesting user authorisation in a compulsory, frequent and excessive manner," "forcing users to use targeted promotions," "collecting user data beyond a defined range" and "misleading users to download the app," as the government intensifies scrutiny of personal data collection and other practices by Big Tech companies deemed monopolistic or abusive. (It's worth noting that Alibaba's UC Browser and a search engine from security giant Qihoo 360 were briefly removed from major Chinese app stores after they were called out for allegedly featuring fraudulent advertisements.)
• Apple's music streaming service, Apple Music, to gain support for Spatial Audio and Lossless Audio starting next month at no additional cost (however, HomePod, HomePod mini, AirPods, AirPods Max, and AirPods Pro will not support the feature); comes as Amazon makes available its high-fidelity streaming service, Amazon Music HD, to Amazon Music Unlimited subscribers for free.
• Amazon Music HD previously cost $14.99 a month ($12.99 for Prime members), while Amazon Music Unlimited is $9.99 a month ($7.99 for Prime members).
• It's evident the latest moves by Amazon and Apple aim to undercut Spotify, which announced its HiFi offering earlier this February. Although the new plan is on track to arrive later this year, it won't be easy to justify a new price tier to consumers now that Apple and Amazon both include higher-quality streaming audio for all subscribers at the same price.
• Chinese regulatory authority expands its scrutiny of the country' tech companies to the ride-hailing sector, warning Didi Chuxing, Meituan Chuxing, Cao Cao Mobility, Full Truck Alliance, Huolala and four other companies against price fixing and monopolising transport data.

• Facebook details Expire-Span, a new method to teach AI how to retain important information while forgetting irrelevant info, for more efficient data processing; Instagram is reportedly working on the ability to create new posts from the desktop website.
• Clubhouse, which launched its Android app in beta in the U.S. last week, expands the app to Japan, Brazil, Russia, Nigeria, and India, with plans to make it available globally by Friday.
• Amazon takes rival Walmart-owned Flipkart in India with new free (aka ad-supported) video-streaming service MiniTV in its flagship shopping app, featuring web series, comedy shows, and content around tech news, food, beauty, fashion, as Indian firms like Zomato and Paytm explore video offerings withing their platforms.
• Twitter is reportedly working on Twitter Blue, a US$ 2.99/month subscription offering with "Collections" to organise favorite tweets and an "undo tweet" function, as it switches to a paid subscription model.
• A German court issues a preliminary injunction against Google's Irish subsidiary for violating one of Sonos's patents, effectively barring the search giant from selling devices supporting its casting technology, including smart speakers, media players and phones, in the country.
• Ride-hailing giant Gojek and e-commerce marketplace Tokopedia announce a merger to form GoTo Group, the largest tech group in Indonesia, in a deal worth US$ 18 billion.
• Apple confirm it does reduce its App Store fees for certain companies like Amazon from 30% to 15% in exchange for them supporting Apple's TV app and other Apple features such as Siri; says the Apple Video Partner Program also allows participants to charge users directly, without using Apple's in-app purchase feature.