December 2022

WhatsApp challenge to decision that led to $267M GDPR fine tossed by EU court

December 7, 2022

More bad news for Meta in Europe: The tech giant has lost an attempt to annul a binding decision on its messaging app, WhatsApp, taken by the European Data Protection Board (EDPB) last summer — under the bloc’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) — which factored into a final decision (and hefty fine) issued by […]

WhatsApp challenge to decision that led to $267M GDPR fine tossed by EU court by Natasha Lomas originally published on TechCrunch

VoiceOver on the iPhone was a miracle for people who can’t see, and it keeps getting better — learn how at Sight Tech Global

December 7, 2022

Back in 2009, Apple’s Phil Schiller stood onstage and unveiled the iPhone 3GS with a brief and somewhat surprising aside: the buttonless, glass-fronted device would work even if you couldn’t see it. Schiller was referring to Apple’s not-yet-announced plan to bring VoiceOver, the assistive tool known as a “screen reader,” to the iPhone, a move […]

VoiceOver on the iPhone was a miracle for people who can’t see, and it keeps getting better — learn how at Sight Tech Global by David Riggs originally published on TechCrunch

With Pickme, your neighbor can receive your packages for you

December 7, 2022

French startup Pickme has raised a $3.7 million (€3.5 million) funding round to build a new network of pick-up and drop-off points for e-commerce retailers and logistics companies. With Pickme, a customer can order something and let their neighbor receive the package directly. It’s something that many people already do, but with a more formal […]

With Pickme, your neighbor can receive your packages for you by Romain Dillet originally published on TechCrunch

Thoma Bravo adds record $32B in new capital to fuel buyout funds

December 7, 2022

There has been widespread speculation that investors are sitting on substantial amounts of money for investing in startups and for acquisitions, depending on the firm’s goals. Today, private equity firm Thoma Bravo announced that it has raised a record $32.4 billion to be spread across three separate buyout funds. The company is assigning $24.3 billion […]

Thoma Bravo adds record $32B in new capital to fuel buyout funds by Ron Miller originally published on TechCrunch

Amazon will give your overworked delivery driver $5 if you ask Alexa to say thank you

December 7, 2022

Last year, an Amazon delivery driver said that the high volume of orders during holiday season “makes life hell.” This year, these contracted workers can get a $5 tip if their customer says, “Alexa, thank my driver.” This is part of a promotion that Amazon is running to celebrate its impending milestone of 15 billion […]

Amazon will give your overworked delivery driver $5 if you ask Alexa to say thank you by Amanda Silberling originally published on TechCrunch

Fire TV arrives on Amazon’s wall-mounted smart screen, the Echo Show 15

December 7, 2022

Fire TV is now available on the Echo Show 15. In September, Amazon announced it was soon bringing its Fire TV experience to its larger, 15.6-inch wall-mounted Echo, offering consumers a way to access a combination smart speaker, smart home hub and TV-like device at a relatively affordable price point — it’s currently selling for […]

Fire TV arrives on Amazon’s wall-mounted smart screen, the Echo Show 15 by Sarah Perez originally published on TechCrunch

DNA that was frozen for 2 million years has been sequenced

December 7, 2022
After an eight-year effort to recover DNA from Greenland’s frozen interior, researchers say they’ve managed to sequence gene fragments from ancient fish, plants, and even a mastodon that lived 2 million years ago. It’s the oldest DNA ever recovered, beating the mark set only last year when a different team recovered genetic material from a…