10 things in tech you need to know today, October 5

Apple and Amazon were
reportedly infiltrated by a Chinese
cyberattack.
Getty

Good morning! This is the tech news you need to know this Friday.

1. 
   Amazon and Apple were reportedly targeted by Chinese spies
   attempting to plant tiny microchips in their data
   centers. Chinese spies attempted to plant tiny
   microchips in the data centers of 30 major American companies,
   including Amazon and Apple, according to a Bloomberg
   investigation.
2. 
   Apple and Amazon fired back at the explosive report linking
   them to a giant Chinese microchip hack. Both Apple
   and Amazon issued unusually robust on-the-record statements,
   disputing a Bloomberg report that Chinese spies planted
   microchips in hardware from supplier Super Micro.
3. 
   A leaked memo revealed Snap CEO Evan Spiegel plans to get
   profitable next year — and will make the Snapchat app way
   faster to get there. In an internal memo running
   over 6,500 words long, Spiegel admitted the company moved too
   fast in 2018 — specifically referring to the controversial
   Snapchat redesign.
4. 
   Facebook is battling an internal revolt after one of its execs
   went to the Kavanaugh hearing. Facebook employees
   are outraged after the company’s policy chief, Joel Kaplan,
   attended the Brett Kavanaugh hearing.
5. 
   A phone call from Mark Cuban reportedly convinced Elon Musk to
   make a deal with the SEC. Mark Cuban was
   apparently the voice of reason who persuaded Tesla CEO Elon
   Musk to settle with the Securities and Exchange Commission
   rather than fight the SEC and his board, according to The Wall
   Street Journal.
6. 
   Nintendo is reportedly planning to release a new Switch next
   year, the Wall Street Journal reports.The Nintendo
   Switch hit the shelves in March 2017, and while it has sold
   just under 20 million units, momentum has slowed.
7. The US
   Department of Justice has levelled charges against seven
   Russian agents for involvement in cyber-plots. The
   DOJ alleges that targets included the global chemical weapons
   watchdog, anti-doping agencies, and a nuclear company.
8. 
   YouTube TV is rolling out a bunch of new features to woo cord
   cutters away from cable TV. On Thursday, YouTube
   TV introduced a host of new features that improve the user
   experience of the subscription streaming service and enhance
   its DVR capabilities.
9. 
   Elon Musk mocked the SEC on Twitter after he was forced to pay
   $20 million in fines to the agency. The Tesla CEO
   seemed to take aim at the Securities and Exchange Commission in
   a tweet on Thursday, calling it the “Shortseller Enrichment
   Commission.”
10. 
    Bill Gates is backing an app that helps you keep track of the
    things your friends like. Gates has invested in an
    app called Likewise, which helps users get recommendations from
    people they know.

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