Connect with us

Tech Hangover

Tech Hangover: Yup, Google is still an ad company

Don’t you ever forget it too.

Google logo in old tv
Image: KnowTechie

We get it, you have a life. There’s no way you can read all of the day’s news in one single shot, let alone visit every web page, which is why we’re here to help. Well, sort of.

There’s a ton of tech news we weren’t able to cover throughout the day (hey, give us a break, we’re a small independent outfit), so to help you stay up to speed with everything we didn’t get to, we rounded up some of the biggest stories, which should help you keep up to date. Hence the tech hangover. 

Here’s some tech news you probably missed out on today (and when we say you, we mean us, but also…you).

Google’s ads just look like search results now

Last week, Google began rolling out a new look for its search results on desktop, which blurs the line between organic search results and the ads that sit above them. In what appears to be something of a purposeful dark pattern, the only thing differentiating ads and search results is a small black-and-white “Ad” icon next to the former. It’s been formatted to resemble the new favicons that now appear next to the search results you care about. – The Verge

Apple fights EU call for common smartphone charger, claiming consumer harm 

Supercharger 2. 0 

Image: GOSPACE

Remember this? Well, apparently Apple has something to say about it.

 iPhone maker Apple on Thursday pushed back against EU lawmakers’ call for a common charger, warning the move could hamper innovation, create a mountain of electronic waste and irk consumers. Reuters via VentureBeat

Facebook, Amazon and Apple set records in annual spending on lobbying

Tech hangover google apple amazon

Image: KnowTechie

Remember, these companies are not your friends, no matter what they tell you.

Facebook Inc., Amazon.com Inc. and Apple Inc. spent record amounts on lobbying in 2019, with Mark Zuckerberg’s social-media company leading the so-called FAANG companies in outlays aimed at influencing Washington, according to disclosures filed late Tuesday. – MarketWatch

Coming Soon to Tinder Dates: Panic Buttons and Safety Check-Ins

Old guy on tinder

Tinder wants to allow users to send out an alarm when bad dates turn really ugly. The popular dating app plans to start offering users an option to hit a panic button, receive check-ins to make sure they feel safe, and even summon authorities to their location. –WSJ

And in just case you missed some of our stuff earlier, here’s what you may have missed:


Notable Mentions

Niantic drove $249 million in tourism revenue with its walking events in 2019 

Amazon Prime Video Gives Amateur How-To’s, Conspiracy Theories a Stage 

Clearview AI Says Its Facial Recognition Software Identified A Terrorism Suspect. The Cops Say That’s Not True.

Have any thoughts on this? Let us know down below in the comments or carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

Follow us on Flipboard, Google News, or Apple News

Kevin is KnowTechie's founder and executive editor. With over 15 years of blogging experience in the tech industry, Kevin has transformed what was once a passion project into a full-blown tech news publication. Shoot him an email at kevin@knowtechie.com or find him on Mastodon or Post.

Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

More in Tech Hangover