Also, served via Facebook, investigating eBay, Xbox One delayed in China, Netflix expands in Europe, and Conan demands Apple eRase U2.

Google+ No Longer Required For Gmail

http://youtu.be/LTq8TrA3hb4

Google is no longer requiring new Gmail users to also sign up for a Google+ account. The change of policy was spotted by the WordStream Blog, with a screenshot showing how new Gmail signups have the choice to create a G+ profile or continue onto their inbox without doing so. These new users will, however, be required to sign up to Google+ if and when they want to share any sort of public content.

This may be as far as the easing off of mandatory Google+ signups goes, or it could be the first sign Google is slowly but surely realizing Google+ isn't the be-all and end-all of social networks. Let's hope it's the latter, as Google+ will only ever succeed when people actively choose to use it rather than feel forced into doing so.

Netflix Officially Lands On Linux

“You use Linux?” “I don’t give two Tux.”

— Glenn Fleishman (@GlennF) September 22, 2014

Netflix is finally coming to Linux. Officially. And without the need for any awkward hacks. While there are workarounds enabling Linux users to watch Netflix, Paul Adolph, a senior engineer at Netflix, has promised that official support is coming soon.

Posting to the Ubuntu Development Group, Adolph said, "Netflix will play with Chrome stable in 14.02 if NSS version 3.16.2 or greater is installed. If this version is generally installed across 14.02, Netflix would be able to make a change so users would no longer have to hack their User-Agent to play." Which should mean that Netflix is available on Ubuntu as soon as it's updated to the latest version of NSS (Network Security Services).

You Got Served, Via Facebook

The ruling that legal papers can now be "served" on Facebook is ridiculous. Don't they know the people they're looking for are on twitter?

— Boyd's Backyard (@TheBoydP) September 19, 2014

Legal papers can now be served via Facebook, with a judge ruling the social network counts as a form of contact. Magistrate Gregory Gliedman accepted that Facebook counts as legal contact in the case of a Staten Island man notifying his wife he was ending child support payments as their son had turned 21. After failing to find her in the real world, Noel Biscocho served his ex-wife via Facebook. So, if you really don't want to be found, you may want to close your Facebook account as soon as possible.

Investigating The eBay Vulnerability

Can I sell my feelings on eBay? I don't want them anymore

— Mabelynn Capeluj (@MabelynnCapeluj) September 22, 2014

A serious eBay vulnerability was discovered last week enabling criminals to scam people using cross-site scripting (XSS). This vulnerability left eBay buyers signing into a phishing site which looked like eBay but which was actually used to harvest login credentials. For more information please read our article investigating the eBay XSS vulnerability and asking whether it's time we all dropped eBay until it tightens its security measures.

Microsoft Delays Xbox One Release In China

http://youtu.be/d-qxDdgiaWo

Microsoft has delayed the release of the Xbox One in China, informing interested parties that “despite strong and steady progress, we are going to need more a bit more time to deliver the best experiences possible for our fans in China.

The Xbox One was originally slated for release in China on Sept. 23, but Microsoft is now saying it'll happen "by the end of this year.” Customers who have pre-ordered the Xbox One in China are being promised "an added bonus" to make up for the delay.

Netflix Completes European Expansion

Can't wait for the day I find somebody equally as happy as I am to lay in bed cuddling, eating snacks, and watching Netflix all night.

— Sarah Traczyk (@cadetkellyy) September 22, 2014

Netflix's week-long expansion into mainland Europe has ended, with localized streaming services in Belgium, Luxembourg, Austria, and Switzerland all coming online. The expansion began in France and Germany, and Netflix is now available in more than 40 countries around the world. The only question is, which country is next on the agenda?

Conan Demands Apple Releases eRase U2 App

http://youtu.be/wAxmGAZBBtY

And finally, while Apple did release an app allowing iTunes users to delete the free U2 album, Conan O'Brien feels the company should go further. What we need is eRase U2, a method for removing all memory of the aging Irish rock group from any individual's gray matter. At which point Apple can introduce you to its favorite band all over again. Genius.

Your Views On Today’s Tech News

Is this the beginning of the end for Google+? Do you welcome Netflix coming to Linux? Do you think Facebook is a suitable platform for serving legal papers?

Let us know your thoughts on the tech news of the day by posting to the comments section below. Because a healthy discussion is always welcome.

Image Credit: Bram Van Damme via Flickr