10 things in tech you need to know today (GOOG, AAPL, MSFT)

Good morning! Here's the tech news you need to know this Thursday.

1. Facebook has introduced a new $200 (£151) virtual reality headset. The Oculus Go doesn't require a PC or phone to power it.

2. California will soon allow self-driving cars to operate without a driver. The US state's Department of Motor Vehicles has proposed a revised set of rules for autonomous vehicles.

3. Microsoft and Facebook's next big thing looks a lot like a famous '90s Microsoft flop. Their virtual reality platforms are reminiscent of Microsoft Bob, a failed operating system.

4. Apple CEO Tim Cook thinks the tech isn't ready yet to develop commercial smart glasses. He says there are "huge challenges" around displays.

5. Google will permanently disable a control on its new smart speaker after the gadget listened in on some users. Some reporters found test units were uploading audio of them to Google.

6. Apple's VP of diversity says "12 white, blue-eyed, blonde men in a room" can be a diverse group. Denise Young Smith was speaking at a summit in Colombia.

7. Twitter suspended actress Rose McGowan following her tweets about alleged sexual harassment by Harvey Weinstein. McGowan has praised woman who spoke out and attacked those she believes should have done more, The Telegraph reports.

8. Apple and IBM are among tech giants blaming Chinese regulations for breaching intellectual-property rights. They are among the nearly 200 members of the US-China Business Council.

9. Amazon's Alexa can now differentiate between different voices, The Verge reports. It can now tell you apart from the people you live with.

10. The CEO of GitHub thinks automation will bring an end to traditional software programming. Chris Wanstrath thinks that in the future, people will create software using verbal commands.

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Contributer : Tech Insider http://ift.tt/2xB6mj6

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