WSJ Tech News Briefing

'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...

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 ...