An anonymous reader writes: The Google Play Store is the latest Google product to drop integration with Google+. The Play Store has dropped Google+ votes from apps and nixed the Google+ account requirement from app reviews, reports Ars Technica. "There was an entire Google+ focused 'People' section on the Play Store that showed apps and ratings from people you follow on Google+. The Play Store also allowed users to '+1' apps on the Play Store, which served as a vote of approval from people you follow. Both features are being stripped out of Google Play, starting earlier this week. The other feature being removed is the requirement to have a Google+ account to leave a Play Store review on apps, games, and media. Several users have reported to Android Police that they can now leave reviews using their regular Google account, where before they were nagged to create a Google+ account."

Hillary has a podcast

davewiner

I just learned about Hillary Clinton's new podcast, here's the RSS feed, and it's in the mix at podcatch.com, so future episodes will show up in the river there.

I just listened to the first episode. It was good, but I can imagine if you're not a Hillary fan you might think it's dorky or self-promotional. But I am on board with her, and I think dorky is fine, esp when the other candidate says he's being sarcastic while he tries to rip up our political system.

The interviewer, Max Linsky, asked her what's the last thing she thinks of as she goes to sleep. That's the kind of podcast this is. I'm not going to spoil it, but she had a good answer.

People ask if they did this in response to my Hillary's Daily Show post and podcast. I don't think so. It's not the same idea. They're creating a platform for her to talk directly to her supporters. It'll be a weekly thing, not daily. It clearly won't be edgy, newsy or comedic. But it is a great first step.

I'm always glad when someone I'm interested in starts a podcast. I'm not sure I'll be a regular listener, but I'll certainly listen to a few more shows.

NY Times Run-up podcast

Also, on the subject of new political podcasts, the new NY Times Run-up podcast, two episodes in, is very good. Because it's a podcast they can run whole interviews, not just excerpts. In the first show the star was Newt Gingrich. We got everything including his admonition at the end to not quote him out of context. I actually really like that. I've been hearing Gigrich interviews for 30 years, never heard that part before.

This week they interviewed a former Trump exec and tried to answer the question we're all wondering about -- What exactly is going on?

A good contribution to the political podcastsphere.

Ankara has held high level meetings with leaders from Russia and Iran within the space of a week.

Argentine player had retired following his team's defeat to Chile in the Copa America final earlier this year.

GV, the division of Alphabet, is no longer investing in startups that are at their nascent stage. According to data from research firm CB Insights, GV completed no seed-stage deals in the first half of this year, down from 10 such deals last year. That represented a 77% drop from the number of deals it did in 2014. Quartz reports (edited and condensed): GV's former chief executive and co-founder, Bill Maris, who stepped down earlier this month, told the Wall Street Journal in December that he was cutting fewer checks at the seed stage because he thought that market was overheated. He also said that he was mystified by the reluctance of some portfolio companies to avoid a stock market flotation. "They would benefit from the rigor and discipline that the public market requires," he said.