WSJ Tech News Briefing
Episodes
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...
Facebook's Messenger Kids: 6-Year-Olds on Social Media?
06 Dec 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Facebook rolled out a new messaging app for its youngest audience yet -- children between the ages of 6 and 12 -- but experts are questioning whether ...
Apple Watch Gets Healthier
05 Dec 2017
Contributed by Lukas
With a new app from Apple enabling its smartwatch to test and track irregular heart rhythms, the Wall Street Journal's Tripp Mickle talks the company'...
Silicon Valley's 'Conservative' Problem
04 Dec 2017
Contributed by Lukas
As tech companies in Silicon Valley seek to bolster diversity in their workplace, some employees say their politics are unwelcome in an industry domin...
Google Rethinking Nest; Amazon Alexa for Business
01 Dec 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Google is reportedly thinking of folding its Nest Labs home-automation unit back into the hardware team. Plus, Amazon.com has unveiled Alexa as a busi...
Snapchat Redesign; Domino's Tracking App
30 Nov 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Snapchat has redesigned its app to make it more user-friendly and less complicated. Plus, Domino's Pizza has a smartphone tracking app that lets users...
Waymo-Uber Trial Delayed; a Nike AR Scavenger Hunt
29 Nov 2017
Contributed by Lukas
A federal judge has ordered a delay in a trial in which Google's Waymo unit has accused Uber of stealing trade secrets. Plus, Nike is using augmented ...
Pokemon Go Maker Gets a New Round of Financing
28 Nov 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Niantic, the maker of augmented reality hit Pokemon Go, has gotten 200 million dollars of new financing. Plus, Uber's delay in reporting a 2016 hack c...
Facebook to Alert Users Who Followed Russian Pages
27 Nov 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Wall Street Journal reporter Jack Nicas explains how Facebook intends to alert some of its users if they encountered pages created by Russian actors d...
Best Tech Gifts of 2017: WSJ's Favorite Gadgets
24 Nov 2017
Contributed by Lukas
This holiday shopping season, don't just throw money at things because they're marked down. Instead, buy gifts that retain value. Personal technology ...
Uber Paid Hackers $100,000 to Delete Breached Data
23 Nov 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Wall Street Journal reporter Robert McMillan discusses a massive data breach that affected roughly 57 million Uber accounts last year and the unpreced...
Three Reasons to Stay Bullish on Tech
22 Nov 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Wall Street Journal reporter Chelsey Dulaney outlines three reasons Credit Suisse says investors should remain bullish on the tech sector, despite a m...
Uber Bets Big on Driverless Cars
21 Nov 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Volvo will produce 24,000 self-driving cars for Uber starting in 2019. The Wall Street Journal's Senior Reporter William Boston explains why the deal ...
Want Apple's HomePod For Holidays? Don't Hold Your Breath
20 Nov 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Apple pushed back the release of its HomePod smart speaker beyond Christmas, making it the latest new product from the company to miss its promised sh...
Google Picks Your Answers (Usually Gets Them Wrong)
17 Nov 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Going beyond search, Google has been promoting a single result over all others. The Wall Street Journal's Jack Nicas talks where things get complicate...
Uber: How Much Is It Worth Anyway?
16 Nov 2017
Contributed by Lukas
SoftBank's shooting for a multibillion-dollar stake in Uber is raising the question of what the world's most valuable startup is actually worth. The W...
Amazon's New HQ: Where Could it Be?
15 Nov 2017
Contributed by Lukas
The Wall Street Journal used Amazon's general criteria and interviews with site-selection experts to come up with a list of potential locations for it...
Wal-Mart Takes on Amazon, Raises Online Prices
14 Nov 2017
Contributed by Lukas
In a bid to compete with Amazon.com, Wal-Mart wants to charge customers more to buy some products online than in stores -- part of the company's effor...
Snap: Hope For Growth? Or Just a Fad?
13 Nov 2017
Contributed by Lukas
On the heels of Snap Inc.'s disappointing earnings report, Heard on the Street's Dan Gallagher talks whether investors are beginning to think Snapchat...
Overwhelmed By Facebook? Here's How to Fix Your Feed
10 Nov 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Overwhelmed by your Facebook feed? The Wall Street Journal's Katie Bindley talks how to simply your timeline from political rants, excessive ads, and ...
Waymo's Self-Driving Milepost: Robot Taxis
09 Nov 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Alphabet's Waymo takes a historic step forward in the development of fully driverless cars by unleashing the first fleet of robot vans on public roads...
Virtual Restaurants: Found in Apps (But Not on Maps)
08 Nov 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Digital food-delivery services like Grubhub are among the apps restaurateurs are using to launch and redefine dining -- without having to open an actu...
Amazon Snips Seller Prices: A New Holiday Price War?
07 Nov 2017
Contributed by Lukas
With Amazon quietly lowering prices by as much as 9% on goods from independent merchants, some say it could be starting a price war with other retail ...
Microsoft's HoloLens: A New Augmented Reality Strategy
06 Nov 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Microsoft is counting on its HoloLens augmented reality headset to catch on with companies first -- flipping the traditional tech script. The Wall Str...
iPhone X Debut: Living Up to the Hype?
03 Nov 2017
Contributed by Lukas
With the iPhone X debut, Apple aims to meet hype and demand for its anniversary smartphone which sports an edgy new screen, facial-recognition tech an...
Russian Influence on Social Media: What We Learned
03 Nov 2017
Contributed by Lukas
On the heels of congressional hearings on how Russia may have used Facebook, Google and Twitter during the 2016 Election, many say recent disclosures ...
Apple's iPhone X Strategy Switches Up Preview Testing
02 Nov 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Apple departed from its traditional preview strategy for what it bills as its most important new iPhone in years -- giving early access to the iPhone ...
Tesla Sees Labor Pains With Model 3 Ramp Up
01 Nov 2017
Contributed by Lukas
The effort to build the first electric car for the masses could face resistance as Tesla CEO Elon Musk pushes his ambitious goals for the highly antic...
Bitcoin Hack: Is Your Computer Making Cryptocurrencies?
31 Oct 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Hackers are commandeering the horsepower of unwitting victims' computers to secretly generate cryptocurrencies -- hoping to cash in as the price of bi...
Apple's iPhone X: Is Demand Outpacing Supply?
30 Oct 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Apple's advanced sales for the iPhone X have caused early orders to push estimated shipment dates into December. Is demand outpacing supply? The Wall ...
Uber's New Lawsuit Alleges More Discrimination
27 Oct 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Still reeling from charges of sexism and sexual harassment by a former software engineer, Uber now faces a lawsuit from three engineers who say the ri...
Facebook: Mastering the AI Algorithm
26 Oct 2017
Contributed by Lukas
As Artificial intelligence becomes Facebook's lifeblood, the social network's head of applied machine learning says humans are bound to understand Fac...
Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube Fight Off Russian Propaganda
25 Oct 2017
Contributed by Lukas
RT, the Russian state news organization known as "the Kremlin's principal international propaganda outlet," uses Google's YouTube, Facebook and Twitte...
Amazon's New HQ: Which City Will It Be?
24 Oct 2017
Contributed by Lukas
With Amazon receiving at least 238 proposals from cities and regions across North America to host its second headquarters, the Wall Street Journal's L...
Lyft Raises $1 Billion Led by Alphabet
23 Oct 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Now that Lyft has raised $1 billion in funding led by a venture-capital fund of Google parent Alphabet, the Wall Street Journal's Greg Bensinger talks...