The Daily Crunch 11/29/16

Uber wants more location data, Amazon wants to mess up a good thing with screens, and Intel has new friends in the autonomous car race. All that and more in The Daily Crunch for November 29, 2016. And if you've always wanted cable but not the box and subscription, this could be your moment.

1. Uber's looking for more data

Uber's app now asks for access to a user's data at all times in the background, not just while a person is using the app. The company says that it needs the added data to improve its pick-ups and drop-off points, which is probably part of its larger effort to own its own map stack.

This is actually probably an issue with the way Apple does location permission – it's a total binary, you either get data while the app is in use or continuously in the background, but nothing in between. Uber probably only needs data for a few minutes after a user leaves the app, to help them correctly pinpoint location post-trip, but it's all or nothing.

2. Amazon's next Echo could sport a screen

I maintain that the reason Echo and Alexa work so well is because Amazon didn't put a screen on its smart speakers, but that assumption will be tested if these reports of a forthcoming Echo speaker with a 7-inch screen designed for kitchen use prove true. Definitely better for recipes, though.

3. Uber adds web-based bookings for India

Apps aren't the standard way of working on mobile everywhere. Uber now has bookings via web for its India users, which is a great option for lower-cost devices that either don't have the storage or aren't up-to-date enough to support installation of apps.

4. Intel joins team Mobileye/Delphi

Mobileye and Delphi want to make it easy for automakers to purchase self-driving car systems like any other component, and now chipmaker Intel is on board with those plans, too. It's a strong team, but this space is far from settled.

5. Zenefits will have to pay $7M for its licensing shortcuts

The time has come for Zenefits to pay the piper for its insurance broker license shortcuts in California, and the cost is set at $7 million in penalties. This looks like the largest fine to date in its settlements with various states, but the good news is that the company only has to pay half the amount provided it keeps up good behavior in terms of licensing and regulatory requirements.

6. Theranos is getting sued by more investors

If Theranos continues to exist beyond next year, it'll probably be via pure force of will on founder Elizabeth Holmes' part. This latest suit is also looking to become a class action.

7. AT&T finally goes live and over-the-top with DirecTV Now

A $35 monthly streaming service for cord-cutters from a major traditional TV service provider? It happened. The end of the world i nigh.