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Daily Tech News Roundup - 2025-12-20

1. Sequoia partner spreads debunked Brown shooting theory, testing new leadership
Source: https://techcrunch.com/2025/12/19/sequoia-partner-spreads-debunked-brown-shooting-theory-testing-new-leadership/
Summary: The newest episode raises questions about whether Sequoia's new leadership -- managing partners Alfred Lin and Pat Grady, who took over last month -- can or will rein in Maguire's social media activity.

2. Want to link from Google’s app store to your app? That’ll be $2–4 per install
Source: https://www.theverge.com/news/848540/google-app-fees-external-link-downloads-alternative-payments
Summary: Today was the deadline for Google to reveal how it's complying with Judge James Donato's order to crack open Android for third-party app stores, stop illegally tying its Google Play Billing system to its app store, and let developers link to ways to download their apps outside the Play Store in the US. But Google […]

3. Ex-Splunk execs’ startup Resolve AI hits $1 billion valuation with Series A
Source: https://techcrunch.com/2025/12/19/ex-splunk-execs-startup-resolve-ai-hits-1-billion-valuation-with-series-a/
Summary: The round was led by Lightspeed Venture Partners, according to people familiar with the deal.

4. Google is part of Movies Anywhere again
Source: https://www.theverge.com/news/848548/google-youtube-movies-anywhere-back-return
Summary: Google is once again part of Movies Anywhere, meaning that movies you've purchased from Google Play and YouTube will now show up as part of your Movies Anywhere collection. Films from Google Play and YouTube became unavailable on Movies Anywhere on October 31st, but now they should sync to your account again. "Support for Google […]

5. Rocket Lab wins another defense-related space contract
Source: https://techcrunch.com/2025/12/19/rocket-lab-wins-another-defense-related-space-contract/
Summary: The $816 million contract follows a separate $515 million — both awarded by the U.S. Space Development Agency.

6. Building venture-backable companies in heavily regulated spaces
Source: https://techcrunch.com/2025/12/19/building-venture-backable-companies-in-heavily-regulated-spaces/
Summary: This week on Build Mode, Startup Battlefield editor Isabelle Johannessen spoke to two founders who are working to make progress in industries ripe for disruption, despite the regulatory headaches that might have deterred many other people.

7. Did a publisher’s slip-up reveal smaller Switch 2 cartridges?
Source: https://www.theverge.com/news/848462/nintendo-switch-2-smaller-cartridges-inin-games
Summary: On Friday, retro and arcade game publisher ININ Games surprisingly announced it's been able to "recalculate production" on offering a physical version of R-Type Dimensions III for the Switch 2 because "Two days ago Nintendo announced two new smaller cartridge sizes for Nintendo Switch 2." Physical games on the Switch 2 have been something of […]

8. Gemini isn’t replacing Google Assistant on Android just yet
Source: https://www.theverge.com/news/848455/google-assistant-gemini-upgrade-2026
Summary: Google isn't quite ready to replace Assistant with Gemini on Android devices. The company said on Friday that it will "continue our work to upgrade Assistant users to Gemini on mobile devices into 2026," instead of its original plans to make the switch by the end of 2025. "We're adjusting our previously announced timeline to […]

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