Tech Roundup: Google Antitrust Fines, Quantum Networks & More

[A recurring feature on the latest in Science & Technology.]

• European Commission to hit Google with record fines by the end of August for abusing its dominance to favour its own services over others, according to The New York Times.
• China successfully tests Micius satellite capable of conducting quantum communications that are tamper-proof. 
• Microsoft releases new security patches for Windows XP (an operating system no longer officially supported by the company) to prevent attacks based on the disclosure of security exploits released by Shadow Brokers.
• Apple CEO Tim Cook confirms the company is working on autonomous systems.
• Mobile roaming charges are effectively abolished in the European Union. 
• HTC U11 emerges the company's best selling phone in a long time; outsells HTC One M10 and  One M9.
• Music streaming service Spotify hits 140 million active subscribers (paid and free put together); comes a week after Apple's announcement that Apple Music had 27 million paid subscribers.
• Android Pay, Google's mobile payments system, gains support for international fund transfers through WorldRemit.
• VoiceLabs suspends its Sponsored Messages program, an audio advertising network for developers building Alexa Skills, following a policy change from Amazon that forbids use of Alexa's voice for advertising purposes.
• Google reportedly working on Pixel-optimized chips a la iPhone, reports Variety, as it tries to replicate Apple's smartphone model.

Google tests new search results page, and Snap Inc. stock falls back to its IPO price since market debut over intense Facebook competition

• Google previews new version of its Internet of Things platform Android Things 4.1; unveils Android Excellence program to highlight the best of Android apps and games.
• Google makes it easier for third-party app developers to handle smartphone-based computer vision tasks like object recognition through MobileNets.
• HMD Global launches Nokia-branded stock Android phones Nokia 3, 5 and 6 in India.
• Twitter unveils a major redesign for web, Android and iOS even as the news-oriented social network continues to lose top executives.
• Online retailer Amazon is granted a patent that blocks customers from comparing product prices online while in their stores. (Smart defensive move to prevent rivals from doing something similar!)
• Microsoft shows off its next generation gaming console Xbox One X with support for 4K; to launch worldwide come November 7 for US$ 499. 
• Facebook adds native GIF support in comments to celebrate 30 years of the image format.
• Instagram to make it clear when influencer posts are paid partnership ads.
• Google Chrome (v59) and Mozilla Firefox (v54) gain faster browsing speeds in latest updates. 
• Samsung opens Bixby voice assistant limited preview for Samsung Galaxy S8 in the US.
• Popular Android home screen launcher Nova Launcher adds Google Feed (previously Google Now) integration.