Hello, internet. We have lots for you today, from an explainer about what's happening in China to Nike shoes that you can't put on your actual, physical feet.
Let's get to it.
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1. China's version of Fortnite is going dark. Epic Games announced it would shutter the popular game's Chinese version on Nov. 15. Though it didn't give an explicit reason for its departure, the decision comes amid China's restrictions on video games and ongoing tech crackdown. A look at what we know so far.
- Yahoo also pulled out of China. Citing a "challenging business and legal environment," Yahoo said it halted its services starting Nov. 1. It follows LinkedIn, which is owned by Microsoft and ceased operations in China last month. More on Yahoo's departure.
- Yahoo and Epic Games' moves coincide with China's implementation of new laws that affect technology companies, including the Personal Information Protection Law. The law limits what data corporations, but not the government, can collect - and is one of the world's strictest digital-privacy regulations to date.
- This is just the latest in China's tech crackdown. The country has instituted at least 19 regulatory actions in the past 12 months. We broke down the new rules and what they mean for the future of China's tech industry. From algorithms to crypto mining, here's what you need to know.
In other news:
2. Facebook is shutting down its controversial facial-recognition system. The feature, which automatically recognized people in users' photos, will be discontinued in the coming weeks. In turn, the face scans of one billion users will be deleted. Why it's chosen to end a decade of its facial-recognition software.
3. The Elizabeth Holmes trial: The defense is playing the judge. Judge Edward Davila's slow-moving style - whether jousting with the defense or joking with the prosecutor - has slowed the trial to a crawl, contributor Adam Lashinsky writes. How the defense is using his plodding pace to its advantage.
4. Nintendo is cutting its Switch production by as much as 20%. In light of the ongoing microchip shortage, Nintendo is expected to make six million fewer consoles - a move that could make the Switch as scarce as the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X. Get the scoop here.
5. #MeToo has spawned a new generation of startups dedicated to tackling harassment. Female entrepreneurs have responded to the #MeToo movement by creating anti-harassment startups - from HR software to Twitter troll-blocking tools - that have raised millions. Check out some startups trying to counteract Silicon Valley's toxic bro culture.
6. Updating your MacBook to Apple's new operating system might kill your computer. Some Mac owners - particularly those with older versions - say they can't turn their computers back on after updating to Apple's new operating system. Here's what people are saying about the update.
7. Coding boot camps were supposed to solve tech's diversity crisis - but some have only exacerbated the problem. Founded 10 years ago, the programs were meant to lower the barrier to entry and promote diversity, but women and people of color are still the minority. Graduates and experts explain why the promise of diversity isn't being fulfilled.
8. Jeff Bezos and other VIPs flew to a climate conference on 400 private jets. Execs and world leaders descended upon Glasgow, Scotland this week for the COP 26 climate summit, and environmentalists are criticizing the carbon emissions caused by their travel. See photos of attendees and their jets.
9. The Dream Hollywood hotel opened an NFT art gallery in its lobby. The exhibit is one of the first of its kind in a hospitality setting, and puts non-fungible tokens on display for attendees to admire and learn about. Take a look at what it's like.
10. Nike has filed to sell digital sneakers, The Wall Street Journal reports. The company's trademark applications indicate that it wants to sell its products in the virtual world, like in video games. More on the shoes you can't actually wear.
What we're watching today:
- Microsoft Ignite continues today through Nov. 4.
- The COP26 climate conference continues through Nov. 12.
- Etsy, EA, Roku, and others are reporting their Q3 earnings today. Keep up with earnings here.
Curated by Jordan Parker Erb in New York. (Feedback or tips? Email [email protected] or tweet @jordanparkererb.) Edited by Michael Cogley in London.