June 27, 2018

Facebook grounds is solar-powered Internet plane. It's The Daily Crunch.

THE DAILY CRUNCH
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 27 2018 By Anthony Ha

Facebook pulls back on its plan for aerial Internet, we check out the new version of macOS and Google cuts down on confusing ad-product naming. Here's your Daily Crunch for June 27. 2018.

1. Facebook permanently grounds its Aquila solar-powered internet plane

Turns out that Facebook's plan to bring Internet connectivity to underserved communities by using a solar-powered plane just wasn't practical.

At least, it wasn't practical for Facebook to accomplish on its own. The company says it will stop building its own aircraft, but it will continue working with partners like Airbus to build "high altitude platform stations" in this vein — after all, it needs to get more people on the Internet so that they can sign up for Facebook.

2. macOS Mojave 10.14 first look

TechCrunch's Brian Heater says the new macOS is "jam-packed with new features," many of them targeted at creative professionals.

3. Google rebrands its ad lineup, with AdWords becoming Google Ads

Goodbye AdWords, goodbye Doubleclick. (The brands, not the products.)

4. Twitter puts a tighter squeeze on spambots

Twitter's new steps to fight spam include increased security measures around account verification and sign-up, running a historical audit to catch spammers who signed up when its systems were more lax, and taking a more proactive approach to identifying spam activity.

5. Facebook reverses its crypto ad ban

Clearly, there's too much revenue here for Facebook to ignore forever. But even though the social network says it will now allow crypto ads and related content from "pre-approved advisers," it won't allow ads promoting binary options and initial coin offerings.

6. Facebook tests 30-day keyword snoozing to fight spoilers, triggers

One more Facebook story, this one around a feature designed to help users avoid spoilers. (By the way: If you know how "Westworld" Season 2 ends, don't tell me.)

7. Uber wins appeal and gets a provisional 15-month license to operate in London

A judge hearing Uber's appeal against the city's transportation regulator, Transport for London, said that the company would provisionally get a 15-month license, so that it can continue to work on satisfying the conditions that TfL said it failed to meet previously.

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