Tech Roundup: Brave Search Ads, Twitch Shield Mode & More

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

• Smartphone maker OnePlus announces plans to offer four major Android updates and five years of security updates for select devices launching in 2023 and beyond.
• The U.S. state of South Dakota formally bans the use of TikTok on state-owned devices citing national security concerns.
• Apple releases iOS 16.1.2 update with security updates, "improved compatibility with wireless carriers," and optimisations for crash detection on iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro models; comes weeks after the release of iOS 16.1.1 that limits the use of AirDrop in China to receive messages from people not their contacts to just 10 minutes.
• Although this feature is expected to be expanded globally next year, the move underscores Apple's history of adapting its products and services to conform with China's strict controls. It also doesn't help that the company's massive manufacturing supply chain is so entrenched in China and the country's consumer market is so important to its profits that the company can't risk being kicked out.
• Amazon's Twitch unveils Shield Mode, which lets streamers and moderators activate customisable safety measures with one click, mass ban chatters using specific terms or phrases, and prevent first-time chatters in a channel in a bid to tackle harassment.
• Twitter to bring recommended tweets from accounts that may not be followed by users to "ensure everyone on Twitter sees the best content on the platform."
• Cryptocurrency platform Coinbase Wallet says Apple blocked an NFT-sending feature from its iOS app, stating that the "gas fees required to send NFTs need to be paid through in-app purchase"; says "this is akin to Apple trying to take a cut of fees for every email that gets sent over open Internet protocols." (Gas fees refer to transaction fees on the Ethereum blockchain network, which would be tantamount to Apple blocking regular bank transfers through the app on grounds that it needs to take a 30% cut of the transfer fee.)
• Discord renames Premium Memberships as Server Subscriptions and expands availability to all U.S. creators; to take a 10% cut of subscriptions.
• Apple is reportedly ramping up work on a mixed-reality headset to be introduced as early as next year; said to have renamed the headset's OS from realityOS to xrOS.
• Google releases new Reading Mode app for Android to help people with vision impairment or dyslexia to read articles through a customisable screen reading experience; makes it possible to share digital car keys with friends and family across Pixel and iPhones via messages and email.
• Netflix expands its 'Preview Club' to let more users watch upcoming shows and movies ahead of their release.
• Firefox developer Mozilla acqui-hires the team behind Pulse to help enhance machine learning capabilities, including personalisation, in Pocket.
• Meta and Spotify slam Apple's App Store policies, with Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg stating it's "problematic that one company controls what happens on the device"; Spotify says Apple gives developers "the illusion of control," and that the ‌App Store‌ is a "threat to the future of the internet" that denies consumers choice.
• Popular messaging app Telegram outlines plans to build a decentralised crypto exchange and noncustodial wallets.
• Brave announces privacy-preserving ads in its search engine as part of a global beta program; says the ads are anonymous, clearly marked, and take into account only users' search query, country, and device type.
• Apple reaches 25% market share in China for the first time, as sales of other key OEMs decline in October 2022, according to Counterpoint Research.
• Online dating platform Bumble rolls out Compliments, a new feature that allows users to send a note before matching with a profile.
• Box reports Q3 2022 revenue of US$ 250 million, up 12% YoY, and billings of US$ 258.2 million, up 12% YoY.
• Salesforce reports Q3 2022 revenue up 14% YoY to US$ 7.84 billion; Sales Cloud software jumps 13% YoY to US$ 7.23 billion, as Platform and Other category that includes Slack reports US$ 1.51 billion in sales, an 18% increase YoY.