WSJ Tech News Briefing
Episodes
Can Google Keep Its Success Secret?
25 Apr 2018
Contributed by Lukas
As Google parent Alphabet posts surging profits, its strong advertising growth shines fresh light on a controversial business. The Wall Street Journal...
Amazon's Median Pay Wage? $28446 a Year
24 Apr 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Median pay at Amazon reveals the predominantly blue-collar nature of its workforce, which sets it apart from tech peers Facebook, Apple and Google-par...
Facebook Cleared By Audit Despite Data Leak
23 Apr 2018
Contributed by Lukas
An auditor reviewing Facebook's privacy gave it a clean bill of health in a report to federal authorities last year -- well after the revelation Cambr...
Flip Phones Are Back. Can They Sway iPhone Users?
20 Apr 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Flip phones and candy bars are back. The Wall Street Journal's David Pierce explains how simple devices with low prices, long battery lives and some m...
Facebook Previews Its Privacy Makeover
19 Apr 2018
Contributed by Lukas
In a preview of how Facebook is changing its privacy policies, the site will start asking European users for permission to use their personal data. Th...
3-D Printed Buildings: Tech's Twist on Construction
18 Apr 2018
Contributed by Lukas
3-D printed buildings are finally happening. The Wall Street Journal's Christopher Mims joins Annmarie Fertoli with the latest innovation in concrete ...
Tesla vs. NTSB: Elon Musk's Strategy of Defiance
17 Apr 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Tesla's public feud with the National Transportation Safety Board is highly unusual in business, but classic Elon Musk. The Wall Street Journal's Tim ...
How 'Fortnite' Helped Parents Like Videogames
16 Apr 2018
Contributed by Lukas
These days, online multiplayer videogames like "Fortnite" let teens and tweens socialize while playing -- slowly changing how parents perceive gaming....
Fed Up With Facebook? Try Fewer Friends
13 Apr 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Too many Facebook friends might be the reason you don't like Facebook anymore. The Wall Street Journal's David Pierce says the more your social networ...
Facebook's Crisis-Management: Experts Rate Zuckerberg
12 Apr 2018
Contributed by Lukas
The Wall Street Journal had crisis experts rate and react to Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg's testimony in front of U.S. Congress this week. Deputy Bur...
Facebook's Zuckerberg Grilled on Capitol Hill
11 Apr 2018
Contributed by Lukas
At a packed Senate hearing on the misuse of consumers' data, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg defended the social-media giant's value and apologized for t...
Artificial Intelligence: Your New Human Resource Rep?
10 Apr 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Human-resource departments are becoming a bit less human as companies turn to artificial intelligence for help with hiring and firing. The Wall Street...
Amazon's Alexa to Pay Friends Soon?
09 Apr 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Amazon is considering whether to use Alexa as a person-to-person payments feature, a move that would push it into new competition with Venmo and big b...
Apple's 'Do Not Disturb' Curbs Phone Addiction
06 Apr 2018
Contributed by Lukas
As smartphones become more and more addictive, the Wall Street Journal's David Pierce offers a few tricks and tips to pull yourself back into the real...
Zuckerberg Says Facebook Made 'Huge Mistake'
05 Apr 2018
Contributed by Lukas
As Facebook continues to battle concerns about privacy and trust, CEO Mark Zuckerberg says during a conference call with the press that he made a "hug...
Apple Pushes Apple Pay on iPhone Users
04 Apr 2018
Contributed by Lukas
The Wall Street Journal's Tripp Mickle discusses how Apple's tactic of using notifications to enroll iPhone users in Apple Pay has worked with some us...
Spotify: Keeping Apple, Amazon, Alphabet on Point
03 Apr 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Spotify is the global leader in music streaming, but as the company officially goes public, the Wall Street Journal's Anne Steele rounds up its top co...
What You'll Find If You Download Your Facebook Data
02 Apr 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Facebook has admitted that user data on its site was mishandled. But exactly what kind of data are we talking about? The Wall Street Journal's Katie B...
Best Windows Laptops $1,000 Bucks Can Buy
30 Mar 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Since most Windows laptops have a pricing sweet spot at about $1,000, the Wall Street Journal's David Pierce breaks down the best options from Microso...
Apple's Dozens of Lawsuits Over iPhone Throttling
29 Mar 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Dozens of iPhone owners are taking Apple to court over the disclosure that it slowed down old phones to preserve battery life. The Wall Street Journal...
New York Auto Show: Digital Dash, Less Room for Error
28 Mar 2018
Contributed by Lukas
In many consumer-electronic gadgets, a defect is an inconvenience-but with cars, they pose a bigger risk. The Wall Street Journal's Chester Dawson has...
Uber, Waymo Autonomous Test Drivers Under Pressure
27 Mar 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Safety drivers who work for companies like Uber and Alphabet's Waymo have the critical and challenging job of backing up computers that control autono...
Walmart, EY Ramp Up Workforce With Software Robots
26 Mar 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Software robots that automate various mundane tasks are helping companies such as Ernst & Young and Walmart ramp up worker productivity. The Wall Stre...
Uber: Are Self-Driving Cars Ready for City Streets?
23 Mar 2018
Contributed by Lukas
The incident in which an autonomous Uber car struck and killed a pedestrian has raised questions about whether self-driving vehicles are ready for the...
Google's $300 Million Pledge to Support News
22 Mar 2018
Contributed by Lukas
With the launch of Google News Initiative, Google says it wants to help news organizations strengthen quality journalism, develop new business models ...
GrubHub, Yelp Team Up to Take on Mobile-Delivery
21 Mar 2018
Contributed by Lukas
A deal between mobile food-ordering company GrubHub and Yelp means more than 80,000 restaurants can now offer delivery. The Wall Street Journal's Juli...
EU to Probe Facebook's Handling of User Data
20 Mar 2018
Contributed by Lukas
European Union officials say they will probe Facebook's handling of user data after a firm linked to the 2016 Trump campaign allegedly kept user's per...
LinkedIn's $27 Billion Challenge? To Get You to Use It
19 Mar 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Microsoft paid $27 billion for LinkedIn. Now the site has to prove it's worth it. The Wall Street Journal's Jay Greene talks the new roll out of featu...
Tesla Model 3's Make-Or-Break Moment
16 Mar 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Tesla is entering one of the most critical phases in its history, a make-or-break period in which the car maker must boost production of the Model 3 o...
Amazon: The Making of a Giant
15 Mar 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Amazon has grown into a $178 billion-a-year revenue business with online retail, a dominant cloud-services business, a grocery chain and a Hollywood s...
Apple to Acquire the 'Netflix' of Magazines
14 Mar 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Looking to beef up its services business, Apple says it will acquire digital-magazine-subscription service Texture, a product that bundles together so...
Delivery Drones: Coming Soon to a Porch Near You
13 Mar 2018
Contributed by Lukas
After lagging behind other countries for years, federal regulators say commercial drones in the U.S. are expected to begin limited package deliveries ...
Tesla, Trump, and China Trade Rules
12 Mar 2018
Contributed by Lukas
With Tesla CEO Elon Musk using Twitter to lobby President Donald Trump on China's trade stance, the Wall Street Journal's Tim Higgins talks why curren...
Samsung Galaxy S9: An Official Review
09 Mar 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Samsung's new Galaxy S9 comes with a bunch of new features -- but does its software match up to its impressive new design? The Wall Street Journal's ...
Amazon Vs. Walmart: A War for Low-Income Shoppers
08 Mar 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Amazon is rolling out a discounted Prime program to Medicaid recipients -- its latest salvo in a battle with Walmart for low-income shoppers. The Wall...
Zara Uses Robots in New E-Commerce Shakeup
07 Mar 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Now that fashion retailer Zara has found success with its "click and collect" online strategy, it's hoping new robot technology can bring things to th...
'Fintech' Takes Over Manhattan Office Market
06 Mar 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Financial technology providers are eating up Manhattan office space as they expand operations and tap in to a growing labor force. The Wall Street Jou...
Improving Your Uber and Lyft Experience
05 Mar 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Which ride should I take: Uber XL or Lyft Line? What's the best way to suggest a better route or cancel a ride? What about the best ride-sharing optio...
Spotify Needs More than Subscriber Growth
02 Mar 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Spotify's big subscriber count has helped fuel revenue growth for the music streaming company. But the Wall Street Journal's Dan Gallagher says adding...
Amazon Buys Video Doorbell Maker Ring
01 Mar 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Amazon.com is expanding deeper into the online home security market. It's paying one billion dollars for Ring, a maker of video doorbells and security...
Big Consumer Brands vs. Alexa
28 Feb 2018
Contributed by Lukas
The major consumer brands have spent billions of dollars marketing their products. Now, their efforts are being challenged by voice-search assistants ...
Have Prices Peaked for Smartphones?
27 Feb 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Smartphone makers have always raised prices sharply every time they upgraded their devices. But those days may be ending, and the Wall Street Journal'...
Like Smartphone Cameras? You'll Love the Galaxy S9
26 Feb 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Samsung's Galaxy S9 smartphone will be released next month. Wall Street Journal San Francisco reporter David Pierce has tested the phone and says the ...
The New Snapchat: How to Embrace the Change
23 Feb 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Snapchat's new roll-out aims to hook in new users and build something Instagram can't copy. The Wall Street Journal's David Pierce explains how to mak...
How Russia Hijacked Facebook: What History Teaches Us
22 Feb 2018
Contributed by Lukas
The Wall Street Journal's Christopher Mims offers a historical a lesson in how Facebook and other networks through history became hierarchies, as indi...
Trump's Deregulation Push Shoots for Outer Space
21 Feb 2018
Contributed by Lukas
With Vice President Mike Pence expected to announce new moves promoting private ventures in outer space, the Wall Street Journal's Andy Pasztor talks ...
Cord Cutting? Your Guide to Streaming Live TV
20 Feb 2018
Contributed by Lukas
With video services like YouTube TV, Hulu and Sling TV promising to stream all the live TV you could want, more cheaply and easily than cable, the Wal...
Can 'Fortnite' Turn Buzz Into Profit?
19 Feb 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Now that Epic Games has lured in millions of players with a free version of its $40 videogame "Fortnite," the Wall Street Journal's Sarah E. Needleman...
Google's Ad Blocker Takes on Spammy Ads
16 Feb 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Amid Google's Chrome browser launching a new ad blocker to challenge spammy advertisements, the Wall Street Journal's Benjamin Mullin talks the impact...
Should Google Shine a Light on its Cloud?
15 Feb 2018
Contributed by Lukas
With Alphabet's Google Cloud Platform now generating about $1 billion in revenue per quarter, the Wall Street Journal's Dan Gallagher explains why rep...
Amazon's Latest Ambition? Major Hospital Supplier
14 Feb 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Amazon is pushing hard to gain footing in medical supplies, with a goal to create a new marketplace where hospitals could shop to stock emergency room...
Could Amazon Take on UPS and FedEx?
13 Feb 2018
Contributed by Lukas
While Amazon may have ambitions to compete against FedEx and the UPS with its own shipping business, the Wall Street Journal's Laura Stevens talks why...
Digital Dating: eHarmony CEO Talks Relationships
12 Feb 2018
Contributed by Lukas
eHarmony CEO Grant Langston visited the Wall Street Journal to discuss the results of a recent poll by the online dating service that indicates what m...
Amazon to Deliver Free Whole Foods in Four Cities
09 Feb 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Amazon has just announced it will start delivering Whole Foods groceries via its fastest delivery option in four markets. The Wall Street Journal's La...
AI Office Training: Black Sabbath or Bruno Mars?
08 Feb 2018
Contributed by Lukas
To get employees thinking about new business ideas opened up by AI, T. Rowe Price rolled out a unique challenge -- creating a smart app that can tell ...
Apple Could Offer iPhone Battery Rebate Amid Blowback
07 Feb 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Apple, responding to U.S. Senate questions about its decision to slow performance on older iPhones, said it is considering rebates for battery replace...
Cellphones and Cancer: What Largest Study Ever Reveals
06 Feb 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Researchers have spent nearly two decades to carry out the definitive study on the health effects of cellphone radiation. The Wall Street Journal's Ry...
Amazon: Sky's the Limit?
05 Feb 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Investors in Amazon.com should be prepared for even-more ambitious ventures from the CEO Jeff Bezos after the company posts record earnings. The Wall ...
Is Instagram Turning Into Facebook?
02 Feb 2018
Contributed by Lukas
At a time when its parent social network draws much criticism, Instagram has recently started using many of the same digital tricks Facebook pioneered...
Apple Faces Heat in Two Federal Probes Over iPhone Battery
01 Feb 2018
Contributed by Lukas
The Justice Department and Securities and Exchange Commission are investigating potential securities violations related to the Apple software update t...
Pentagon Eyes Fitness Trackers Amid New Security Concerns
31 Jan 2018
Contributed by Lukas
The Pentagon is reviewing its policies that allow activity-measuring devices and fitness apps after a map produced by fitness tracker Strava revealed ...
The 4K TV Revolution: A Geek's Guide
30 Jan 2018
Contributed by Lukas
With 4K TVs becoming increasingly affordable, should you finally cave in and buy one? Joshua Fruhlinger has the Wall Street Journal's guide to the nex...
Is Cybersecurity a Top Priority in Your Business?
29 Jan 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Digital threats will continue to cause organizations and stakeholders anxiety in 2018. French Caldwell, chief evangelist at MetricStream, reveals how ...
Apple's 'Health Records' Brings Medical Info to Fingertips
26 Jan 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Apple's spring update includes a "Health Records" feature that will import and store medical data. The Wall Street Journal's Tripp Mickle talks simpli...
Snapchat Stories Break Through 'Walled Garden'
25 Jan 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Under pressure to grow, Snapchat, the social-media app distinctive for its intimacy in an era of personal broadcasting, is moving beyond its so-called...
Apple's HomePod Gets Launch Date. What Now?
24 Jan 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Apple will start selling its voice-activated speaker HomePod in stores Feb. 9, after a launch delay that cost the company sales during the critical ho...
Facebook Tweaks Its News Feed
23 Jan 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Facebook is making changes to its news feed and the Wall Street Journal's Elizabeth Winkler talks about what it means for news publishers. Plus, in Te...
Amazon's HQ2 Losers Hold Out For Hope
22 Jan 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Amazon's search for a second headquarters location has disappointed cities across North America. The silver lining? A chance to pitch themselves as a ...
What Apple's $38 Billion Tax Payment Means for U.S. Jobs
19 Jan 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Apple will pay a one-time tax of $38 billion on its overseas cash holdings and ramp up spending in the U.S., as the world's most valuable public compa...
Fixing Facebook Without Breaking It
18 Jan 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Can CEO Mark Zuckerberg bend Facebook without breaking it? The Wall Street Journal's Dan Gallagher talks why the social network's profit machine needs...
Google Boosts Cloud Game With New Undersea Cables
17 Jan 2018
Contributed by Lukas
In a bid to speed up its cloud-computing business and catch up to rivals Microsoft and Amazon, Google is expanding its network of undersea cables to p...
Top Car Tech Trends Changing the Future
16 Jan 2018
Contributed by Lukas
The Wall Street Journal's Tim Higgins, back from CES 2018, joins us with the latest car trends and what the future of transportation beholds. Learn...
Your Robot Companion: The Three Tech Essentials
15 Jan 2018
Contributed by Lukas
The Wall Street Journal's personal tech editor Wilson Rothman talks the three things robots need to be your ideal home companion and the technology we...
Best of CES 2018: The Official WSJ Recap
12 Jan 2018
Contributed by Lukas
The Wall Street Journal's personal tech editor Wilson Rothman joins us fresh from the annual Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Nevada with an o...
Activision's Overwatch League: Esports Game-Changer?
11 Jan 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Activision Blizzard faces new challenges in turning its hit videogame into a mainstream spectator sport. Can the Overwatch league prove to be an espor...
CES 2018: Voice Tech, Robots, VR and More
10 Jan 2018
Contributed by Lukas
The Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Nevada gathers the biggest tech companies to spotlight the latest innovation in self-driving cars, virtual...
CES Showdown: Amazon Alexa Vs.Google Assistant
09 Jan 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Two voice-operated giants will have a showdown at 2018's Consumer Electronics Show as Amazon and Alphabet take new interest in the annual tech convent...
Tinder Help: How to Make Dating Apps Work for You
08 Jan 2018
Contributed by Lukas
As dating apps like Bumble and Tinder continue to have their own flaws and virtues, the Wall Street Journal's Katie Bindley breaks down how to make th...
Does Virtual Reality Need to Cut the Cord?
05 Jan 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Virtual reality hasn't caught on with consumers yet because no one has come up with the right combination of hardware. The Wall Street Journal's Dan G...
Verizon, Samsung Team Up to Big on 5G
04 Jan 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Samsung has just been announced as a major supplier in Verizon's push to offer fifth-generation, or 5G, internet over its wireless network. The Wall S...
Smart Elevators, Self-Driving Cars Need More Computing Power
03 Jan 2018
Contributed by Lukas
With millions of objects connecting to the internet for the first time, companies like Microsoft and GE are putting more computing resources at the ed...
What Apple's Apology Means for iPhone Battery
02 Jan 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Apple issued a rare apology for its handling of concerns about performance issues in iPhones with older batteries in the wake of a wave of consumer co...
What to Expect in Tech in 2018
01 Jan 2018
Contributed by Lukas
From artificial intelligence to electric cars, The Wall Street Journal's Christopher Mims talks about tech highlights in the new year. Learn more abo...
A Big Payday for Apple's CEO
29 Dec 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Apple paid its top executives handsomely in fiscal year 2017, after exceeding its sales and profit goals for the year. The Wall Street Journal's Tripp...
Startups Fight Back Against Net Neutrality Repeal
28 Dec 2017
Contributed by Lukas
The repeal of net neutrality has some Silicon Valley startups seeking workarounds to ensure a fair and open internet. The Wall Street Journal's Doug M...
HQ Trivia App Sweeps On-Demand Generation
27 Dec 2017
Contributed by Lukas
In a throwback to TV "appointment viewing," the game show HQ Trivia has tethered hundreds of thousands of fans to their phones at 3 p.m. and 9 p.m. pr...
Apple's iPhone X: A Lukewarm Reception
26 Dec 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Estimates from market-research firms indicate customers are buying the iPhone X and a pair of other new offerings at a rate comparable to recent model...
Joanna Stern Meets Tech's Top Minds in WSJ Elevator
25 Dec 2017
Contributed by Lukas
From Microsoft's Peggy Johnson to GM CEO Mary Barra, personal tech columnist Joann Stern has accidentally "bumped" into some of the top tech minds in ...
Yes, Apple Slowed Down Your Old iPhone (It Can Explain)
22 Dec 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Facing questions about reduced performance in older iPhones, Apple acknowledged its latest software curtails the computing power of some models to pre...
Will the Tax Bill Lead to Big Tech Deal Making?
21 Dec 2017
Contributed by Lukas
The GOP tax reform bill would theoretically free up hundreds of billions of dollars that high-tech giants have stashed offshore. But that's unlikely t...
GOP Tax Bill Could Hit Large Tech Firms
20 Dec 2017
Contributed by Lukas
The Wall Street Journal's Doug MacMillan talks about why tech giants who book most of their profits overseas might see their tax rates rise as a resul...
Amazon Echo Price Cuts Upend Smart Speaker Market
19 Dec 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Amazon.com has cut the prices for its Echo smart speaker line, including the smallest device, the Echo Dot. The Wall Street Journal's Tripp Mickle say...
Gamers' Virtual 'Loot Boxes' Cause Money Stir
18 Dec 2017
Contributed by Lukas
This holiday season, gaming kids will encounter one of the industry's most contentious moneymaking tactics in years -- the "loot box," an in-game rewa...
Streamline Pics Cluttering Your Smartphone
15 Dec 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Smartphones take photos so easily they're often overwhelmed with useless, repetitive shots. The Wall Street Journal's "Gear and Gadgets" has a beginne...
Why Electronic Arts Needs 'The Last Jedi' Force
14 Dec 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Disappointing "Star Wars: Battlefront II" sales have left video-game publisher Electronic Arts in need of a boost from the new "Star Wars: The Last Je...
Apple Hopes Shazam Ups Its Streaming Game
13 Dec 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Apple has announced it has acquired Shazam Entertainment, giving it ownership of one of the popular song-recognition apps at a time the iPhone maker i...
Amazon Sellers Vie for 'Deal of the Day'
12 Dec 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Winning a slot in one of Amazon.com's short-term promotions can not only skyrocket a merchant's ranking but also trigger sales for the rest of the sea...
'Alexa for Business' Brings Voice Control to Office
11 Dec 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Leading workplace tech firm Crestron is joining forces with Amazon Web Services to make meetings more productive. Crestron's Head of Enterprise Innov...
Is an 'Amazon' World Ready to Be Lived In?
08 Dec 2017
Contributed by Lukas
The Wall Street Journal's Katie Bindley discusses how she went on a week long "Amazon diet" to find out how much life one person can live through Amaz...
Google Vs. Amazon: Device War Heats Up
07 Dec 2017
Contributed by Lukas
With Google pulling YouTube from some Amazon devices in retaliation for Amazon refusing to sell many Google products, the Wall Street Journal's Jack N...