Tech Roundup: Google Pixel 9, Meta CrowdTangle Shutdown & More

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

• X shutters its operations in Brazil after the country allegedly threatens its legal representative with arrest if "we do not comply with his censorship orders" but keeps the service available to its people.
• The Indian government withdraws proposed law that would classify social media creators as "digital news broadcasters," requiring them to register with the government, set up a content evaluation committee that checks all content before it is published and appoint complaint handlers, all at their own expense, or risk facing criminal charges, including jail term.
• Patreon says it's being forced by Apple to use the company's in-app billing system (which gives it a 30% cut on all purchases) by November 4, 2024; says "Apple has also made clear that if creators on Patreon continue to use unsupported billing models or disable transactions in the iOS app, we will be at risk of having the entire app removed from their App Store."
• Google debuts Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro/ Pro XL, Pixel Pro Fold, Pixel Buds Pro and Pixel Watch 3; deeply integrates new AI features that make it possible to search users' Pixel screenshots to surface content and launches Pixel Studio for image generation, Call Notes for call summaries, and Gemini Live, a voice chat mode for Gemini Advanced users, initially available in English on Android.
• Google says Gemini will replace Google Assistant as the default on the Google Pixel 9 lineup, but "users can go back to the classic Google Assistant."
• Amazon-owned Twitch rolls out video stories, which can be up to 60 seconds long and set to expire after one, 12, 24, or 48 hours.
• Google experiments with long-form video recommendations in some users YouTube Shorts feeds and begins rolling out a new "personal radio" feature that allows users to broadcast daily playlists of favourite tunes that others can play; launches an updated video calling experience in Google Meet.
• Flipboard adds the ability for users to follow anyone in the fediverse, including those on Threads.
• Music streaming service SoundCloud launches a merch marketplace called SoundCloud Store to sell SoundCloud-themed items and act as a service for artists to put out their own designs.
• Apple finally allows Spotify to display pricing information within the app for E.U. users; says developers in Australia, Brazil, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, the U.K., and the U.S. can offer NFC transactions using the iPhone's Secure Element, separate from Apple Pay, starting in iOS 18.1 for an extra fee.
• Meta shuts down CrowdTangle in favour of the Meta Content Library, but faces scrutiny from the European Commission, which has requested the company to "provide more information on the measures it has taken to comply with its obligations to give researchers access to data that is publicly accessible on the online interface of Facebook and Instagram, as required by the [Digital Services Act], and on its plans to update its election and civic discourse monitoring functionalities"; releases an app for the Quest 3, 2 and Pro to let the headsets display video from devices with an HDMI or DisplayPort output.

• xAI launches Grok-2 and Grok-2 mini in beta with improved reasoning capabilities for X Premium and Premium+ users; X rolls out support for passkeys on its Android app after adding it to its iOS app in January 2024.
• ByteDance-owned TikTok adds new direct messaging features, including "highly requested" group chats with support for up to 32 people; once again says the app's content recommendation engine and user data are stored in the U.S. on cloud servers operated by Oracle and that content moderation decisions that affect U.S. users are made in the U.S., as it seeks to overturn the ban.
• Proton makes its Proton VPN browser extension free to use on Chromium-based browsers and Mozilla Firefox.
• Opera releases redesigned Opera One browser on iOS with a bottom search bar, quick search suggestions, and AI integration.
• Messaging app Telegram launches monthly paid subscriptions that users can purchase using digital currency, Stars, in order to get access to exclusive content.
• European privacy non-profit NOYB (None of Your Business) files a complaint against X for using the personal data from over 60 million users in the region to train its Grok AI assistant without their consent or informing them in advance.
• Binance resumes services in India, after completing registration with India's Financial Intelligence Unit, which imposed a US$ 2.2 million fine on the cryptocurrency exchange in June 2024.
• Fintech company Klarna debuts a checking account-like service and a cashback offering in its app in 12 markets across Europe and the U.S.
• Google releases Imagen 3, its advanced AI image generator, to all U.S. users and expands AI Overviews in Search to Brazil, India, Indonesia, Japan, Mexico and the U.K., along with local language support; introduces a new right-hand link display for AI Overviews on desktop and tests adding links directly within the text of AI Overviews to point to relevant websites.
• Meta-owned Threads announces new features, including the ability to store up to 100 drafts and an analytics page for creators; plans to test a scheduling feature.
• Apple reminds developers who plan to distribute apps in the E.U. to submit their trader status by October 16, 2024, in order to comply with the Digital Services Act, a requirement that will see the App Store sharing the address, phone number, and email address of each developer on the app listing page, or risk getting their apps removed from the store by February 17, 2025.
• Epic debuts the Epic Games Store on iOS in the E.U., offering its games, including Fortnite, and plans to start onboarding third-party games starting in December 2024; makes its storefront globally available for Android and brings its games to AltStore PAL for iOS in the E.U. (The development also comes as Epic Games granted AltStore a "MegaGrant grant" that it said plans to "use to cover Apple's Core Technology Fee going forward," essentially allowing the third-party app store to drop its annual subscription of €1.50.
• Google faces pushback as some publishers say they can't block the Googlebot crawler that covers AI Overviews without hampering their discoverability, as the crawler also covers Search. (In other words, blocking the company's AI bot could also prevent their sites from showing up in search. However, it's worth noting that Google uses a separate crawler for its Gemini chatbot.)
• Microsoft confirms it's discontinuing its Paint 3D app on November 4, 2024; recommends users to install its 3D Viewer app if they need to view 3D content.
• Polymarket, which lets users bet on real-world events, partners with AI search engine Perplexity to show news summaries and with Tako to make AI visuals.
• Link-in-bio platform Linktree acquires Australia-based social media scheduling tool Plann for an undisclosed amount, allowing users to auto-posting features on platforms like TikTok, Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram.
• Google adds an option to turn off Gemini AI in Messages for Android; adds support for scanning and adding all kinds of event tickets and insurance cards in Google Wallet with a new "Everything else" section.