NEWSWORTHY
Do you remember me now? Europe's right to be forgotten cannot be used to force Google to delete search results for users outside of that jurisdiction, the Court of Justice of the European Union ruled on Tuesday. Since the right was created in 2014, Google says it has deleted 1.3 million web site search results while rejecting requests to delist another 1.6 million addresses.
Cheaper and cheaper. Forget the streaming wars, let's move right on to the gaming wars. Google announced it would offer a mobile gaming service much like Apple's Arcade called "Google Play Pass." The $5 per month service will include access to 350 games with no ads and no in-app purchases. It kicks off in the United States this week at a promotional price of just $2 per month for the first year.
My heart beats for you. Not sure if we'll see them at Amazon's hardware event on Wednesday, but the company is now rumored to be working on some AirPod-like ear buds that would include health-tracking sensors. That's stoking rumors that Amazon may be interested in buying struggling wearables maker Fitbit, too.
The stars at night are big and bright. After getting some tariff waivers from the Trump Administration, Apple said it would assemble its new Mac Pro computer in a plant in Texas. It's the same factory where Mac Pro's have been built since 2013. Trump had tweeted on July 26 that he would not grant the waiver requests on Mac Pro parts made in China.
Hooning. Autonomous driving startup Aptiv is creating a joint venture with Hyundai Motor Group to build self-driving vehicles. Aptiv is putting tech, IP, and workers into the 50-50 venture, while Hyundai puts in $1.6 billion in cash and $400 million of R&D resources. The aim is to have robotaxi-ready cars available in 2022.
That'll show 'em. Messaging app Kik is shutting down and letting most of its staff go amid an ongoing legal battle with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The SEC sued Kik in June over the company's 2017 initial coin offering that raised almost $100 million. "While we are ready to take on the SEC in court, we underestimated the tactics they would employ," founder Ted Livingston wrote on Medium.
Bananas is as bananas does. Okay, all this news and nothing bananas about the company formerly known as WeWork? Apparently, CEO Adam Neumann was not ousted on Monday, but here's another long profile of his bananas reign (i.e. he told people that JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon was going to quit to become his personal banker) courtesy of Vanity Fair to satisfy your cravings for another day.
Open the pod bay doors. If you want more in-depth coverage of artificial intelligence, don't forget to subscribe to our weekly Eye on A.I. newsletter. The newest issue comes out later today.
ON THE MOVE
Struggling phonemaker HTC named Yves Maitre as CEO for current boss Cher Wang, who will remain as chair of the board. Maitre had been EVP of consumer equipment and partnerships at European wireless carrier Orange...Spotify grabbed Amy Hudson from Facebook, where she oversaw sports media partnerships, to run its sports programming...Data center owner Equinix hired Justin Dustzadeh as chief technology officer. He had previously been at Uber, where he was head of global network and software platform.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Starbucks was in the dumps a few years ago, with sales growth stagnating and its stock price stumbling. But lately the chain's hitting its stride like a perfectly steaming latte arriving at your breakfast table. Much credit goes to Roz Brewer, the former Walmart exec who joined as chief operating officer in 2017 under new CEO Kevin Johnson. Our Fortune colleague Beth Kowitt has an in-depth profile that delves into some of the strategies–and emotional moments–that helped Brewer succeed. Analyzing the data was one key:
Under (Howard) Schultz, Starbucks had often been a place led by intuition and instinct. But Johnson, with his background in tech, and Brewer, who trained as a chemist, turn more readily to the numbers. So Brewer looked at the research as she set her sights on imposing order on the stores. She discovered that 40% of employees' time was spent on tasks away from the customer—counting milk jugs three times a day or unnecessarily restocking the floor to create what Rossann Williams, head of Starbucks U.S. retail, jokingly calls "the Leaning Tower of Pisa" of cups. Brewer and her team moved to eliminate, simplify, or automate tasks so those hours could instead be spent with customers. Stores with the most mobile orders got a barista exclusively dedicated to making those drinks. Cleaning was moved from daytime to after close.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
Google Says It's Cutting Back on Audio Data Collection on Google Home Speakers By Lisa Marie Segarra
Facebook Is Buying CTRL-Labs, Neuron-Reading Startup to Help Control Its AR Glasses By Danielle Abril
To Protect Against Cyber Attacks, Companies Need to Address Data Manipulation. Here's How By Peter J. Beshar and Ari Mahairas
Apple TV+ Ads Ruled the Emmys. Here's What That Means for the Service's Strategy By Isaac Feldberg
Why Discord Is One of Tech's Hottest Startups By JP Mangalindan
Disney+ Begins Taking Pre-Orders By Chris Morris
BEFORE YOU GO
Remember way back last month when you were going to collect $125 because Equifax spilled your personal data? The headlines were bigger than the checks people will end up getting. Now comes the Yahoo Mail settlement with an even juicier offer: up to $358.80...depending on how many people seek compensation. Don't spend it all in one place.
This edition of Data Sheet was curated by Aaron Pressman. Find past issues, and sign up for other Fortune newsletters.
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