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News Byte

Android Flashlight-App Developer Settles FTC Privacy Complaint

The Federal Trade Commission said on Thursday that GoldenShores Technologies, maker of the Brightest Flashlight Free app for Android, had settled an FTC complaint that its privacy policy failed to disclose the collection and sharing of user data with third parties, such as ad networks. The FTC said the app has been downloaded tens of millions of times.

News Byte

We’re Taking the Day Off to Eat Too Much

On the AllThingsD list of things we’re thankful for, one is a day off that features food. So, barring an outbreak of major news or a flash of irresistible inspiration, we will not be posting today as the ATD crew celebrates Thanksgiving (and, in some cases, Hanukkah as well) in the company of friends and family. We hope you’re able to do the same.

News Byte

Yahoo Snaps Up Image-Discovery Startup LookFlow

LookFlow, a Mountain View, Calif.-based startup with technology that incorporates artificial intelligence into a platform for image search and discovery, announced today that it had been acquired by Yahoo and will join the Flickr unit. The team will also help Yahoo build a “deep learning group.” Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

News Byte

GoDaddy Acquires Online Invoicing Firm Ronin

The deal went down in April, but GoDaddy waited until today to announce the acquisition of Ronin, an online invoicing company. GoDaddy is known primarily as a domain registrar and Web hosting company, but has been building a suite of cloud services for small businesses. The Ronin acquisition was its fifth in 15 months, and the technology has been integrated into GoDaddy Online Bookkeeping.

News Byte

Symantec Nominates Two New Directors

Security outfit Symantec said today that it would put two new board nominees before shareholders at its annual meeting on Oct. 22: Major General Suzanne Vautrinot, soon to retire as head of the Air Force component of the U.S. Cyber Command, and Anita Sands, who will be leaving UBS Wealth Management Americas after serving in several top positions.

News Byte

Yahoo Spruces Up Sports, Entertainment Sites, Adds Stream Ads

Yahoo today announced redesigned versions of seven of its sites — Yahoo Sports, Yahoo Movies, Yahoo Music, Yahoo TV, Yahoo omg!, Yahoo Games and Yahoo Weather — featuring a more graphics-heavy presentation and the addition of Stream Ads, the company’s rich-advertising format.

News Byte

Greenpeace Head Ana Toni Joins Wikimedia Foundation Board

The Wikimedia Foundation, parent of Wikipedia, said today that Ana Toni, chair of Greenpeace International, is joining its board of trustees. Toni is also CEO of Rio de Janeiro-based GIP, a consultancy to non-profits and businesses on social and environmental issues.

News Byte

For $90,000, This Had Better Not Be Held in Yahoo’s URL’s Cafeteria

Charitybuzz announced today that Ralph C. Martin, CEO of the German promotional risk management firm Emirat AG, had won the auction for an hourlong lunch with Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer with a high bid of $90,000. But not just lunch! According to the auction’s fine print, “Winner may take a photo with Marissa Mayer.” Also, “Winning bidder subject to security screening. We expect all winning bidders to conduct themselves appropriately.” The proceeds from this safe and civil bread-breaking will benefit the Aspire East Palo Alto Charter School.

News Byte

Two State AGs Say Google Profits From Videos Promoting Crimes

The attorneys general of Nebraska and Oklahoma are pressing Google to respond to accusations that it is profiting from ads accompanying YouTube videos promoting illegal activities ranging from obtaining controlled substances to forging ID documents. In a letter sent Tuesday, the officials asked for details on the company’s video monetization policies, saying, “We understand that YouTube is an open platform and that not all content can or should be policed. Nevertheless, the fact that Google actively seeks to profit from the posting of these types of videos on YouTube … is very troubling.”

News Byte

Bignoggins’ Jerry Shen Signs With Yahoo Sports

The latest small outfit to be picked up in Yahoo’s app company shopping spree is Bignoggins, the one-person shop behind of a pair of popular fantasy sports apps. Founder Jerry Shen will join the Yahoo Sports team, and explained his decision in LeBron James fashion.

The KatieCam Collection

Yahoo Chairman Fred Amoroso to Step Down in Late June

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Just as the atom bomb was the weapon that was supposed to render war obsolete, the Internet seems like capitalism’s ultimate feat of self-destructive genius, an economic doomsday device rendering it impossible for anyone to ever make a profit off anything again. It’s especially hopeless for those whose work is easily digitized and accessed free of charge.

— Author Tim Kreider on not getting paid for one’s work