Microsoft cuts Surface orders in half

Gnip, a startup that resells social data from the likes of Twitter and other social giants, has announced a shuffling of the executive ranks. Now, it’s former COO and president will be CEO. [Source: AllThingsD]

Facebook has redesigned its Page Insights, the tool that lets Pages user monitor their performance. This is the its first update to since October 2011. [Source: TechCrunch]

Despite some controversy with its transition to the Cloud, Adobe’s CEO says its Creative Cloud Suite is actually doing quite well. According to the company, it has 700,000 subscribers, up from 479,000 in the first quarter of 2013, which exceeded the company’s original expectations. [Source: GeekWire]

Viacom has joined Twitter’s Amplify program, a partnership for media companies to better implement second screen experiences. The first Viacom-Amplify will be the 2013 MTV Video Music Awards on August 25. [Source: VentureBeat]

Dan Bricklin, the co-creator of VisiCalc and “father of the electronic spreadsheet,” has been hired as the CTO for Alpha Software. In addition, the company announced the launch of Alpha Anywhere. [Source: AllThingsD]

Videopixie launched today, providing a marketplace for people who have rough video footage and editors. The service works by users uploading their raw footage, and then vie bid for the job by making a quick teaser trailer with the footage. [Source: TechCrunch]

Google today launched a new AdSense scorecard aimed at telling site owners their performance. The scorecard is divided into three categories: revenue optimization, site health and Google+. [Source: TechCrunch]

Intercom, a startup that seeks to make it easier for businesses to interact with their customers, has announced a $6 million Series A led by The Social+Capital Partnership. The funding will be used to expand the company’s product, which is already used by companies like GitHub, Buffer, and Heroku, among others.

[Source: Intercom]

Kiip, a rewards platform that allows app makers to reward users for “moments” — achievements in video games, completing a task list, and so forth — has announced that the opening of its self-serve marketplace to brands in a limited beta. Now, instead of being vetted by and working through Kiip, brands can offer rewards directly to the service’s users.

LG will begin mass-producing flexible displays by the fourth quarter of this year, the Korea Times reports. The company also intends to produce the first smartphone equipped with such a display this year.

[Source: The Korea Times]

Cisco plans to invest $15 million in Israeli VC funds, Reuters reports. The investment is part of a larger push to expand in the Middle East through acquisitions, the opening of a new development center, and other efforts.

[Source: Reuters]

Social Radar, which makes a location-focused service meant to make it easier to connect with friends, has raised a $12.75 million Series A led by Grotech Ventures, Swan & Legend Ventures, and New Enterprise Associates.

[Source: Social Radar]

Vdio, the video-streaming service created by Rdio, has made its public debut in the US and UK today. The service, which I reviewed during its limited beta, was previously limited to Rdio subscribers.

[Source: Rdio]

While testifying to the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday, FBI Director Robert Mueller confirmed that the agency owns and operates drones for domestic surveillance, describing their use as “very seldom.” The laws governing operation such usage have not yet been established. [Source: Mashable]

Many startups are adjusting their Q3 roadmaps in light of the newly announced iOS 7 update, and according to CrunchFund partner Michael Arrington Android is the big loser. Several companies in Arrington’s portfolio and others he has spoken to have temporarily shelved their Android development plans and redeployed resources to focus on updating their apps ahead of the fall iOS launch. [Source: Uncrunched]

Apple has expanded the programming available to owners of its Apple TV set top boxes, adding HBO GO and WatchESPN, as well as Sky News, Crunchyroll, and Qello. [Source: Apple]

Tesla announced a partial recall late last night involving Model S sedans delivered to customers in May and June of this year due to an issue involving potential weakness in the rear seat mounts. The announcement states that there have been no related incidents, complaints, injuries, or regulatory involvement, and that the recall is voluntary and proactive. [Source: Tesla]

The LA Unified School district has signed a $30 million contract with Apple to provide an iPad to every student across 47 campuses. But by naming Apple its preferred and exclusive vendor, the district will likely spend hundreds of millions over the coming years to equip all 640,000 students across 1,087 schools. Apple will charge $678 per tablet and will pre-load the devices with educational software. [Source: LA Times]

Digital sleuths looking into the beta release code for iOS 7 have spotted clues of LinkedIn “deep integration,” similar to that currently offered around Facebook and Twitter. Such integration would allow users to easily post content to the social network and log into other apps using LinkedIn credentials. [Source: 9to5Mac]

ThousandEyes, a provider of provides IT performance management services, has raised $5.5 million in Series A funding from Sequoia Capital and angel investors. The company also emerged from stealth mode today. [Source: ThousandEyes]