Tech Roundup: Alphabet Isomorphic Labs, Meta Retail Stores & More

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

• Google's parent Alphabet launches Isomorphic Laboratories, a company that aims to use AI for drug discovery; says it hopes to "build a computational platform to understand biological systems from first principles to discover new ways to treat disease."
• Apple redesigns its Apple ID website; says it has identified and addressed a firmware issue with its T2 security chip, which bricked some Macs while upgrading to macOS Monterey, as it faces flak for crippling iPhone 13 repairability by disabling Face ID on devices that have their screens replaced with the help of third-party repair techs.
• New internal documents reviewed by The Wall Street Journal show that a survey conducted by the Facebook's well-being team found 12.5% of participants reported compulsive use of Facebook that negatively impacted their lives, hurting their sleep, work, parenting or relationships, more than any other major social-media platform.
• Now-defunct photo app Phhhoto, which enabled users to create and share short GIF-like videos, sues Meta accusing the company of copied its core feature as Boomerang in October 2015 and suppressing its content from search results on Instagram, effectively driving it out of business in June 2017; claims the social media giant reached out to Phhhoto in February 2015 offering to incorporate its tech into Facebook Messenger, only to change course and introduce Boomerang (which Phhhoto calls a "slavish clone") as well as cut off from its social graph, blocking the app's users from connecting with their Instagram friends, when the company declined the partnership.

• Google quietly removes its "Your News Update" feature from Assistant, axing the algorithmically personalised audio digest in favour of the company's existing (and more traditional) news briefings; says it's "streamlining our audio news products to improve users' experience."
• Facebook owner Meta is reportedly considering opening retail stores globally to showcase devices made by its Reality Labs division, such as VR headsets and its upcoming AR glasses, as it forges ahead with its metaverse plans; announces new tools for Facebook Group admins, including the ability to create community fundraisers, turn on e-commerce shops within their groups, charge subscriptions for users to access special subgroups, and a new feature called "community awards" that allow admins to encourage and reward members for their positive participation in the group by anointing select posts with accolades like "Insightful," "Uplifting," "Fun," "Informative" or "Relevant."
• Social news platform Twitter begins rolling out the ability for users to more easily search for tweets from a specific account on iOS, using a new search field that appears on an account's page; enables users to share direct links to their Spaces to let others tune into a live audio session via the web without being logged into the service.
• Pinterest reports Q3 revenue of US$ 633 million, up 43% and beating estimates of US$ 630.9 million, and 444 million global monthly active users, up 1% YoY.

• Google outlines plans for alternative in-app payments in South Korea following legislation passed in August that operators of large app stores (like Apple and Google) from mandating developers to use their own payment systems; gives "developers that sell in-app digital goods and services the option to add an alternative in-app billing system alongside Google Play’s billing system for their users," while charging a service fee of 11% for transactions through the alternate billing system as opposed to 15% for those transacted via Google Play's billing. (Interestingly, Apple has not yet made changes to comply with South Korea’s law, but said its current policies are in compliance.)
• Ride hailing service Uber reports its first-ever adjusted profit at US$ 8 million, net losses balloon to US$ 2.42 billion, from US$ 1.09 billion YoY, primarily due to a US$ 2 billion loss from equity investments, particularly in Didi; reports Q3 revenue of US$ 4.8 billion, up 72% YoY, gross bookings of US$ 23.1 billion, up 57% YoY, with Mobility up 67% to US$ 9.9 billion and Delivery up 50% to US$ 12.8 billion.
• Microsoft fixes Windows 11 features that stopped loading due to an expired certificate, including the Snipping Tool, touch keyboard, and emoji panel.
• China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) notifies operators of 38 popular apps for violating user's privacy by excessively collecting of personal information, ordering the app developers to change the way they collect user data by November 9 or face fines and penalties up to US$ 7.8 million.