WSJ Tech News Briefing

Google Fights 'Right To Be Forgotten' In EU Court

12 Sep 2018

Contributed by Lukas

The European Union's executive arm joined Google and a group of free-speech advocates to oppose expanding the bloc's "right to be forgotten" beyond Eu...

5G Race: China and U.S. Fight For Domination

11 Sep 2018

Contributed by Lukas

As the next era of 5G approaches, a battle is on to determine whether the U.S. or China will dominate. The Wall Street Journal's Sarah Krouse has more...

Take Your Toddler Skiing in an Extreme Stroller

10 Sep 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Companies have upgraded strollers and carriages with high-tech designs, enabling parents to take their kids along for the ride on a rugged trail ... o...

Apple's Next Big Thing: Wearables

07 Sep 2018

Contributed by Lukas

After PCs and the iPhone, Apple's third act could be as a wearable technology company. The Wall Street Journal's Christopher Mims says devices like th...

How Does Twitter Police Content On Its Platform?

06 Sep 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Twitter has typically relied on users to report abusive content. But sources have told the Wall Street Journal that CEO Jack Dorsey has weighed in som...

Cities Take Out Cyber Insurance Against Hackers

05 Sep 2018

Contributed by Lukas

With hackers looking to target major U.S. cities, municipal governments are taking out cybersecurity insurance. The Wall Street Journal's Scott Calver...

How Your Email Address Can Hurt Your Job Prospects

04 Sep 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Finding a new job or freelancing gig is hard enough. But the Wall Street Journal's Chris Kornelis says a poorly conceived email address can seriously ...

Can Tech Fix Your Golf Swing?

03 Sep 2018

Contributed by Lukas

New devices can measure the velocity and distance of your stroke and help determine which club to pull out next. But is all this new data actually hel...

How Companies Use AI to Boost Customer Engagement

31 Aug 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Corporations have increased their use of artificial intelligence to improve customer interaction. The Wall Street Journal's Steven Norton talks about ...

Smart Home Security -- Without a Creepy Camera

30 Aug 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Want simple, DIY home security without a camera spying on your family? The Wall Street Journal's David Pierce breaks down which ones work best. Learn...

Toyota's $500 Million Pact With Uber

29 Aug 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Toyota is investing about $500 million in Uber as part of an deal to work jointly on autonomous vehicles aimed at improving safety and transportation....

Tesla Buyout: Inside the Unraveling

28 Aug 2018

Contributed by Lukas

As his team hustled to put form to his idea, lining up investors willing to put up tens of billions of dollars, Tesla CEO Elon Musk was having second ...

Google, Facebook Target Accounts Linked to Iran

27 Aug 2018

Contributed by Lukas

America's biggest tech companies are zeroing in on Iran, scrubbing their online networks of fake accounts, videos and social-media posts by the rising...

Apple AirPods: Cultural Statement, Visual Shield

24 Aug 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Apple's white wireless earphones transmit music and conversations, but some users wear them all day as a shield, a secretary and a hiding place. The W...

Facebook Shuts Down Accounts From Iran, Russia

23 Aug 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Facebook dismantled a new set of influence campaigns originating in Iran and Russia designed to sow division in global politics, part of the social-me...

Luxury Tech: Farfetch IPO Sees Crowded Market

22 Aug 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Farfetch, the latest tech company to seek a U.S. listing, specializes in selling expensive items online. The Wall Street Journal's Stephen Wilmot expl...

Videogames: Harder to Turn Off Now?

21 Aug 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Videogames have gotten harder to turn off -- a concern that has mental-health experts and parents questioning the impact of gaming on players' lives. ...

Google CEO Defends Launching Search Engine in China

20 Aug 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Google CEO Sundar Pichai responds to criticism over reports that Google would tailor a search product to meet China's strict censorship laws. The Wall...

Best Buy to Acquire Jitterbug Parent for $800 Million

17 Aug 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Best Buy looks to invest more in tech that meets the needs of older Americans, agreeing to buy GreatCall Inc., the maker of senior-focused Jitterbug m...

SEC Sends Subpoena to Tesla Over Musk Tweets

16 Aug 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Federal regulators have subpoenaed Tesla, ramping up an investigation into whether Chief Executive Elon Musk was truthful when he tweeted last week th...

Amazon, Alphabet Promise Access to Health Data

15 Aug 2018

Contributed by Lukas

This week, major tech companies committed to removing tech barriers that have hindered patient and provider access to health-care data online. The Wal...

A Security App That Actually Makes Browsing Easy

14 Aug 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Password manager Dashlane has new tools that keep you safe online --- and free you from the relentless hassle of typing your passwords. The Wall Stree...

Is Amazon's Bezos Really the Richest of Them All?

13 Aug 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Is Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos really the richest man of modern times? The answer depends on exactly how you decide to calculate wealth. The Wall Street Jou...

Has Artificial Intelligence Hit a Wall?

10 Aug 2018

Contributed by Lukas

The biggest breakthrough in AI, deep learning, has hit a wall, and a debate is raging about how to get to the next level. The Wall Street Journal's Ch...

New York Plans to Cap Uber and Lyft. What Now?

09 Aug 2018

Contributed by Lukas

New York plans to cap ride-hailing services including Uber and Lyft, becoming the first U.S. city to take such a step. The Wall Street Journal's Paul ...

Venmo Social Feed: Are You Sharing Too Much?

08 Aug 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Venmo, the popular PayPal app that lets users send money along with a message, has prompted criticism about the extent of information shared. The Wall...

Microsoft Surface Go: Small Device, Big Trade Off?

07 Aug 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Microsoft's cheapest Surface yet tries to be both laptop and tablet. The Wall Street Journal's David Pierce talks whether it nails either one. Learn ...

'Fortnite' Coaches: Parents Enlist Videogame Tutors

06 Aug 2018

Contributed by Lukas

As "Fortnite" becomes a social proving ground for children, the Wall Street Journal's Sarah E. Needleman explains how parents are more than willing to...

New Facebook, Instagram Tools Curb Your Binge

03 Aug 2018

Contributed by Lukas

As part of a larger trend of tech companies helping to wean users off their more-addictive products, Facebook has announced new tools that tally time ...

Apple's (Very) Costly Path to $1 Trillion

02 Aug 2018

Contributed by Lukas

As Apple spends more to keep its devices competitive, the Wall Street Journal's Dan Gallagher explains how the ride to a $1 trillion market-value hasn...

iPhones and Apps Help Apple Top Estimates

01 Aug 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Apple delivered its best-ever revenue for the June quarter, as demand for high-price iPhones remained resilient and services soared to new records. Th...

Walmart Takes on Netflix With Streaming Service

31 Jul 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Walmart is exploring a subscription video-streaming service that would challenge Netflix and Amazon by offering programming that targets Middle Americ...

How Amazon's Profit Soared to New Records

30 Jul 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Amazon's profit topped $2 billion for the first time, powered by the company's newer services businesses that are ushering the online retail giant int...

Facebook Shakes Investor Faith

27 Jul 2018

Contributed by Lukas

The Wall Street Journal's Deepa Seetharaman explains how concerns about revenue growth, monetizing Instagram Stories and the impact of new privacy law...

'Ford Autonomous Vehicles' Revs Up Self-Driving Ops

26 Jul 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Ford is carving out its autonomous-vehicle program into a separate wholly owned company, a bid to accelerate its driverless-car efforts by attracting ...

Google's Strong Results Offset Worries

25 Jul 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Google parent Alphabet's strong earnings results have helped offset growing worries about big costs and political risks. The Wall Street Journal's Dan...

Tesla Asks for Cash Back to Help Turn a Profit

24 Jul 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Tesla, in a memo, asks suppliers to return a meaningful portion of money spent since 2016. The Wall Street Journal's Tim Higgins has more on its urgen...

First Test Drive of Tesla Model 3 Performance

23 Jul 2018

Contributed by Lukas

The Tesla brand has its share of haters, but no one has yet driven the new Model 3 Performance-until now. The Wall Street Journal's Dan Neil takes a f...

On Amazon, Counterfeiters Plague Small Brands

20 Jul 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Small brands easily sell their products to large numbers of customers on Amazon, but some counterfeiters are cutting into their business. Wall Street ...

Google Fined $5 Billion by EU in Android Case

19 Jul 2018

Contributed by Lukas

The European Union hit Alphabet Inc.'s Google with a record antitrust fine of $5.06 billion and ordered changes to its business that could loosen the ...

Netflix: Time for a Pause

18 Jul 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Netflix's stock fell sharply after its quarterly subscriber growth, though still strong, fell short of expectations. The Wall Street Journal's Dan Gal...

5 Ways Your Cellphone Location Data is Being Used

17 Jul 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Mobile carriers said they would stop selling access to customers' locations to two companies-but other services rely on access to users' whereabouts t...

Apple's $300 Million Clean Energy Fund for China

16 Jul 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Amid trade tensions, Apple is set to invest in and develop clean energy projects totaling more than 1 gigawatt of renewable energy in China. The Wall ...

Facebook Gives 'Full Access' of Data to Researchers

13 Jul 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Despite privacy concerns, Facebook is giving researchers "full access" to user data so it can learn about the effects of social media on democracy. Th...

Is It Smart to Install a Smart Lock?

12 Jul 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Digital alternatives to keys have their advantages, but they're proving divisive. Joshua Fruhlinger, contributor to the Wall Street Journal's Off Duty...

Can Microsoft's Surface Go Challenge Apple's iPad?

11 Jul 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Microsoft is cutting prices on its Surface devices and introducing a $399 tablet to compete with Apple's least-expensive iPads. The Wall Street Journa...

Voice Chat: The Future of Communication?

10 Jul 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Tired of texting? The Wall Street Journal's David Pierce says voice chat might be the future of communication, as companies build walkie-talkie-type t...

Sonos Goes Public in New Era of Smart Speakers

09 Jul 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Sonos reveals its plans for an initial public offering, opening its books to show a company on pace to turn a profit this fiscal year. The Wall Street...

Too Many Spam Calls? These Apps Help Block Them

06 Jul 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Inundated with spam calls? Sara Clemence, former travel editor for the Wall Street Journal's Off Duty, breaks down how to stop annoying robo-callers w...

Facebook Probe Broadens With SEC, FBI

05 Jul 2018

Contributed by Lukas

The SEC and FBI join the Justice Department and Federal Trade Commission in probing how the political analytics firm Cambridge Analytica purchased dat...

Facebook Discloses Special Access to Personal Data

04 Jul 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Facebook disclosed it gave dozens of companies special access to user information, detailing for the first time a contrast with previous statements th...

Tech's 'Dirty Secret': App Developers Sift Through Gmail

03 Jul 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Software developers are scanning hundreds of millions of Gmail users who sign up for email-based services. The Wall Street Journal's Douglas MacMillan...

Sweeping Data-Privacy Bill Passes in California

02 Jul 2018

Contributed by Lukas

California lawmakers have given consumers unprecedented protection for their data and imposed tough restrictions on the tech industry. The Wall Street...

Amazon's Deep Dive Into Package Delivery

29 Jun 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Amazon says it has to build out its own services to handle the surging number of online orders that UPS, FedEx and the Postal Service can't. The Wall ...

Driverless Cars: Reshaping Urban Landscape

28 Jun 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Self-driving cars could mean better public transit, more green space and less congestion -- but also urban sprawl and greater inequality. The Wall Str...

Shop Online? Big-Ticket Items Could Cost More Now

27 Jun 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Savvy shoppers lose a key perk now that the Supreme Court will let states collect sales tax from all online purchases. The Wall Street Journal's Laur...

Tesla Beware? The New Wave of Luxury EVs

26 Jun 2018

Contributed by Lukas

With luxury brands like Jaguar, Porsche, and BMW making electric plans, old school car makers are mounting a direct challenge to Tesla with their own ...

AT&T Unveils New Video Service

25 Jun 2018

Contributed by Lukas

AT&T's new video service, WatchTV, aims to use a "skinny bundle" of channels to recapture some of the millions of cord-cutters who dropped cable and s...

Instagram's New Long-Form Video Hub

22 Jun 2018

Contributed by Lukas

The Wall Street Journal's Benjamin Mullin talks how Instagram's new video feature positions the image-sharing social media network to compete with the...

Death of the TV Remote? What Now?

21 Jun 2018

Contributed by Lukas

With the heavy adoption of voice command, we're on the verge of smashing the TV remote's hold on us. Will anyone miss it? Off Duty Gear & Gadgets edi...

Apple's Push to Upgrade 911 Infrastructure

20 Jun 2018

Contributed by Lukas

As Apple teams up with a startup to help 911 operators locate cellphone callers, the Wall Street Journal's Sarah Krouse explains how smartphone makers...

Supreme Court Will Hear Apple's App Appeal

19 Jun 2018

Contributed by Lukas

The Supreme Court announced it will hear an Apple appeal challenging the propriety of a lawsuit brought by consumers who allege that the company illeg...

Why Big Tech Already Has the Best Show in Town

18 Jun 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Even as AT&T buys Time Warner, tech companies have shown they don't need to own large media agencies to establish a strong presence in the business. T...

New Apple Feature Could Hamper Access to iPhones

15 Jun 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Apple's new security feature could make it harder for investigators to retrieve data from iPhones -- the latest twist in its long-running standoff wit...

Apple's New App-Privacy Rules Expose Old Loopholes

14 Jun 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Apple is trying to enforce new privacy policies across its vast network of iPhone and iPad apps-and in the process is exposing longstanding gaps that ...

Ford-Backed 'Argo AI' Lures Talent Away From Apple

13 Jun 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Ford's $1 billion bet on start-up Argo AI recruited top talent for its driverless-car program with a perk it couldn't otherwise provide: an equity sta...

Soundbars to Smarten Up Your TV

12 Jun 2018

Contributed by Lukas

TVs are thinner and more beautiful than ever, but have never had worse sound. The Wall Street Journal's David Pierce explains how you can fix that wit...

Facebook Blames Bug for Sharing Posts

11 Jun 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Facebook says a software flaw -- that it has since fixed -- affected about 14 million users over 10 days in May. The Wall Street Journal's Maria Armen...

Apple's WWDC 2018: A Recap

08 Jun 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Apple's annual Worldwide Developers Conference showcased a bevy of new features. The Wall Street Journal's Wilson Rothman and Brian Fitzgerald have th...

CEO Musk Says Tesla to Meet Model 3 Production Goal

07 Jun 2018

Contributed by Lukas

After twice delaying the deadline, Tesla is pushing to meet the critical 5,000-a-week rate for its Model 3 cars. The Wall Street Journal's Tim Higgins...

Waymo, GM Still Need Humans for Driverless Cars

06 Jun 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Computers are taking control of driving, but humans will still be backing them for some time. The Wall Street Journal's Tim Higgins explains how compa...

Elon Musk's SpaceX Delays First Space Tourists

05 Jun 2018

Contributed by Lukas

With news that SpaceX likely won't launch a pair of tourists to loop around the moon this year, the Wall Street Journal's Andy Pasztor talks the lates...

Apple Expands Ad Business With New App Network

04 Jun 2018

Contributed by Lukas

The Wall Street Journal's Tripp Mickle explains Apple's plan for a network that would distribute ads across apps -- and the stiff competition that lie...

Hiring Tech Talent: A Tough Job

01 Jun 2018

Contributed by Lukas

The Wall Street Journal's Lauren Weber explains how the search for tech talent is reaching far beyond Silicon Valley -- and why companies like Siemens...

Companies Can't Stay On Top of Security Patches

31 May 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Companies are struggling to stay on top of security patches as they incorporate countless internet-connected devices in their networks -- and the prob...

Tech Stars Grab Power in 'Founder Friendly' Era

30 May 2018

Contributed by Lukas

The Wall Street Journal's Rolfe Winkler explains how Silicon Valley financiers are losing leverage to star entrepreneurs in order to cultivate "founde...

Alexa Eavesdrops: Shared Chat Without Permission

29 May 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Amazon said that one of its Echo home speakers mistakenly recorded a private conversation and sent it to a person in the owners' contact list -- raisi...

Microsoft's Peggy Johnson on New AI Breakthroughs

28 May 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Microsoft's executive vice president of business development, Peggy Johnson, discusses what's brewing on the artificial intelligence front for Microso...

Uber Ends Arizona Self-Driving Car Testing

25 May 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Uber is closing down its self-driving vehicle program in Arizona about two months after the state barred it from road-testing the tech when one of the...

Geocaching App Makes Life Treasure Hunt

24 May 2018

Contributed by Lukas

The Wall Street Journal's Matthew Kitchen explains how a geocaching app puts a digital gloss on the adventure glorified in "The Goonies" and other fil...

Banned From Amazon? Stop Returning So Much

23 May 2018

Contributed by Lukas

The Wall Street Journal's Laura Stevens explains why Amazon accounts are being closed without warning -- and how it happens when "you're creating a lo...

HP Hangs Tough in Shrinking PC Market

22 May 2018

Contributed by Lukas

By focusing on sleeker designs and high-performance game machines, HP managed to boost revenue and gobble market share from smaller competitors even a...

YouTube Launches New Music-Streaming Service

21 May 2018

Contributed by Lukas

This week, YouTube will relaunch YouTube Music as a music-streaming service much like Spotify or Apple Music. The Wall Street Journal's Anne Steele ha...

Prime Perks? Amazon's New Discounts at Whole Foods

18 May 2018

Contributed by Lukas

The Wall Street Journal's Laura Stevens talks the new deals from Amazon designed to lure the estimated 40% of Whole Foods shoppers who aren't Prime me...

Forget Hackers, Watch Out for Screen Snoopers

17 May 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Peeking to see what others are doing on mobile devices is a temptation few can resist. The Wall Street Journal's Sue Shellenbarger explains the rise o...

Facebook Suspends 200 Apps in Data-Abuse Probe

16 May 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Facebook has suspended some 200 applications for suspected misuse of users' information shared on its platform. The Wall Street Journal's Maria Armen...

Tackling Tesla's Autopilot System

15 May 2018

Contributed by Lukas

As new details emerge about Tesla execs rejecting various tech warnings to inattentive drivers, the Wall Street Journal's Tim Higgins explains the tri...

Why Google Wants You to Put Down the Phone

14 May 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Addressing criticism that their products are too addictive, Google's new version of its Android mobile operating system would tell users how much time...

Fatal Tesla Crash Prompts More Investigations

11 May 2018

Contributed by Lukas

A U.S. transportation-safety agency is examining the fiery crash of a Tesla Model S car that killed two teenagers -- marking the fourth active federal...

Handling Tweets From NYC Subway: Worst Job in U.S?

10 May 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Every day, the frustrations of New York City subway riders spew out in the form of 2,500 often profanity-laced tweets directed at the Metropolitan Tra...

Inside Tesla's Model 3 Factory

09 May 2018

Contributed by Lukas

The next six months will determine whether Tesla's Model 3 can reshape the U.S. auto industry or serve merely as a flashy footnote. The Wall Street Jo...

3,000 Russian-Linked Facebook Ads Released Soon

08 May 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Democrats on the House Intelligence Committee are preparing to release 3,000 Russia-linked Facebook ads, in what would offer the broadest picture yet ...

Apple's Big Services Boost from Google May Slow

07 May 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Apple's fast-growing services business gets a big boost from the licensing fees the tech giant receives from Google. But the big growth in those fees ...

Tesla CEO Musk Spars with Analysts in Earnings Call

04 May 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Tesla is burning through cash as it tries to meet ambitious vehicle production goals. And its CEO, Elon Musk, squared off with analysts in a conferenc...

Amid Privacy Concerns, Facebook Unveils Dating Service

03 May 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Facebook is testing an opt-in dating service on its platform. The Wall Street Journal's Deepa Seetharaman says unveiling a dating feature was a surpri...

Facebook Unveils Privacy and Download Tools

02 May 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Facebook has introduced new tools aimed at better protecting users' data. The Wall Street Journal's Katie Bindley says one tool lets users see and del...

Video Game Headset Sales Shine, Thanks to 'Fortnite'

01 May 2018

Contributed by Lukas

The popularity of big, online multiplayer games has boosted sales of headsets. One game in particular that has spurred headset demand is "Fortnite," a...

Amazon's Sucker Punch Doubles Profit

30 Apr 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Amazon delivered a double punch, reporting its best revenue growth in more than six years while topping $1 billion in profit for the second straight q...

Snap Tries Again With High-Tech 'Spectacles'

27 Apr 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Snap is trying a reboot with its video-recording sunglasses, Spectacles, that had a splashy debut-and then fizzled-when introduced just over 18 months...

Google's New Gmail: A Review

26 Apr 2018

Contributed by Lukas

For its Gmail redesign, Google put tasks, calendars, notes and email on a single screen, so now you can live your whole work life in one app. The Wall...