Friday, 30 June 2017

Alibaba Looks to Echo Amazon's Smart-Speaker Success


Chinese e-commerce major Alibaba plans to introduce a digital personal assistant similar to Amazon.com’s Echo device in coming days.
http://on.wsj.com/2tvt2hq

Microsoft to Cut Sales Jobs Next Week


Microsoft will reorganize its global sales group next week, laying off workers, as it refines the business to focus on selling its cloud-computing services, according to a person familiar with the plans.
http://on.wsj.com/2tvXkk0

White House Unveils High-Level Council for Coordinating Space Policy


The White House revived a governmentwide policy council for space, to be headed by Vice President Mike Pence, with the goal of establishing closer coordination between civilian, military and budding commercial activities beyond the atmosphere.
http://on.wsj.com/2tvMMlc

Elon Musk Teases Tesla Model 3 Timing Announcement


Tesla Inc. Chief Executive Elon Musk teased on his Twitter account that an announcement about the timing of the coming Model 3 sedan will come on Sunday.
http://on.wsj.com/2tvVZJU

Europe Is Becoming a Bigger Problem for Silicon Valley


Recent decisions against companies including Google and Facebook are highlighting a divide between U.S. and European regulators, who have sought to protect industries and consumers from tech giants’ practices.
http://on.wsj.com/2tvSROb

Thursday, 29 June 2017

Cyberattack Launched for Pain, Not Profit, Experts Say


This week’s global virus outbreak that grounded airplanes in Ukraine, slowed FedEx courier deliveries in Europe and disrupted Maersk container ships around the world was devised simply to damage businesses, not earn profits for the hackers behind it, security experts now believe.
http://on.wsj.com/2tsigsl

Google Executive to Tackle Slow Pace of Change


Google’s workforce continues to look pretty much the same as previous years, according to its annual diversity report published Thursday, a sign of the task awaiting Danielle Brown, the company’s newly named head of diversity.
http://on.wsj.com/2up2JH2

Germany to Toughen Regulations Against Hate Speech Online


German lawmakers are set to pass some of the most aggressive online regulations in the West, fining social-media companies up to $57 million if they don’t quickly delete hate speech, libel and other illegal content.
http://on.wsj.com/2uorSkT

Google's Main Strategy Is Under Threat From EU


Google has thrived by launching new services out of its powerful search engine, but a European Union fine against the company now puts its hallmark strategy under threat.
http://on.wsj.com/2tq947B

Chip Makers Cashing In on Digital Currencies, for Now


Graphics processors have long been the mainstay of personal computers tricked out for gaming. But the chips are also useful for a task called cryptocurrency mining.
http://on.wsj.com/2tpFP4O

Groovin': Sony to Press Its First Vinyl Records Since 1989


Sony Music Entertainment, owner of storied U.S. music labels Columbia and RCA, said it plans to produce vinyl records for the first time in three decades, jumping back into a format that is experiencing a renaissance.
http://on.wsj.com/2tq0E05

Amazon's Whole Foods Deal Adds Pressure on Grocery Services to Deliver


The impact of the e-commerce giant’s Whole Foods deal on online grocery services is still unclear, but one thing is certain: Competition is heating up. From Instacart to Peapod, firms are racing to gain a larger share of the fast-growing market.
http://on.wsj.com/2tpROPZ

Return of First iPhone: 10 Years Later, So Slow, So Small


Apple Inc.’s first iPhone was a touch screen wonder in 2007; Joanna Stern reviews it in 2017 and finds it is a reminder of how far mobile technology has come.
http://on.wsj.com/2tpOBzX

Wednesday, 28 June 2017

Google Rivals Cheer EU Antitrust Ruling---But Will It Help?


Google’s smaller rivals see a lifeline in the EU’s decision to fine the search giant €2.4 billion and order it to remake its shopping service.
http://on.wsj.com/2tmXkTt

Blue Apron IPO Tied Up by Big Tech


Blue Apron Holdings is the latest startup to have a tech giant suck the air out of its public market debut. It certainly isn’t the first and likely won’t be the last.
http://on.wsj.com/2tmV1jr

Companies Try to Contain Fallout From Global Cyberattack


Global firms scrambled to cope with fallout from a cyberattack that disrupted computers across Europe and the U.S. A.P. Moeller-Maersk A/S, the world’s biggest container-ship operator, closed many of its ports.
http://on.wsj.com/2uiAgCK

Nike Thought It Didn't Need Amazon---Then the Ground Shifted


Big brands want control of their image and marketing, which is hard to do through the giant online retailer. But the power of Amazon’s reach, and the travails of traditional retailers, forced the sneaker company to shift course.
http://on.wsj.com/2tliAJt

For Years, Nike Resisted Selling on Amazon---Until It Capitulated


Big brands want control of their image and marketing, which is hard to do through the giant online retailer. But the power of Amazon’s reach, and the travails of traditional retailers, forced the sneaker company to shift course.
http://on.wsj.com/2tliAJt

U.S. Tech Firms Feel the Heat in Europe


From Google to Apple, top American tech companies have been on the receiving end of tough EU decisions in recent years. Experts and regulators say it isn’t about bias, it’s because they’re dominant in industry.
http://on.wsj.com/2tlmDoK

How Nike Capitulated to Amazon After Years of Resistance


As traditional stores close, the sneaker giant reversed course and made a deal to sell on the site, seeking more control of pricing and display.
http://on.wsj.com/2tliAJt

The 10th Anniversary iPhone: Is Apple Trying to Do Too Much?


Apple is pulling out all the stops for its next iPhone, readying multiple models and testing higher prices.
http://on.wsj.com/2uiAcTp

Silicon Valley Forges Ahead on Boosting Minimum Wage


Proponents of a $15 minimum wage have found fertile territory in Silicon Valley, where the region’s booming tech industry is credited for helping drive soaring housing prices and a large income gap.
http://on.wsj.com/2uidsTj

Alibaba Pumps Another $1 Billion Into Lazada


The Chinese internet giant is plowing an additional $1 billion into Southeast Asian e-commerce firm Lazada Group, raising its stake to 83% from 51%.
http://on.wsj.com/2uiiv6t

Blue Apron Chops Its IPO Price Range


Meal-kit maker Blue Apron is struggling to win over investors in its initial public offering, and now expects to sell shares at a lower price than originally targeted.
http://on.wsj.com/2ui1pp9

Global Firms Work to Contain Fallout From Cyberattack


Global firms scrambled to cope with fallout from a cyberattack that disrupted computers across Europe and the U.S. The origins of the virus were still unknown but appeared to stem in part from an obscure Ukrainian tax software product.
http://on.wsj.com/2uiAgCK

Tuesday, 27 June 2017

Toshiba Sues Western Digital in Bid to Keep Sale of Chip Unit Alive


Toshiba is racing to bring in $20 billion from the sale of its stake in Toshiba Memory Corp.
http://on.wsj.com/2uh9nPA

For a More Productive Workforce, Scientific Know-How Helps


Companies with a higher proportion of scientists and engineers are more productive than their peers, a new paper from the National Bureau of Economic Research suggests.
http://on.wsj.com/2ugwv0A

What a Sprint Deal With Comcast and Charter Would Mean for Wireless


In a potential deal with Sprint, cable operators Comcast and Charter Communications are seeking the ability to sell Sprint’s wireless service under their own brands.
http://on.wsj.com/2ugEQkJ

Free NYC Coding School Launches Funding Experiment


C4Q, a Long Island City nonprofit startup provides free coding classes to low-income adults, tapping students’ earnings and private investors.
http://on.wsj.com/2tiMMVt

American Airlines to Test 3-D Bag Screening Equipment


American Airlines Group Inc. is testing new machines that map the contents of hand luggage more accurately, aiming to address heightened concerns over explosive devices that could be carried onto a plane.
http://on.wsj.com/2tiwBax

Yellen: Globalization, Technological Change Have Been Harmful to Many


The offshoring of jobs associated with globalization combined with technological change have been devastating for many American communities, while designing programs to help has proved difficult, Federal Reserve Chairwoman Janet Yellen said in London.
http://on.wsj.com/2thTZFc

Pandora CEO Westergren Resigns


Pandora Media’s co-founder and chief executive, Tim Westergren, is resigning from the company as the internet radio service contends with the rise of subscription music platforms.
http://on.wsj.com/2ue5pXJ

Micron Will Keep Defying the Skeptics


It’s telling that just when Micron is back to making serious money, the first question is: how long can that last? A strong memory market has boosted sales and earnings for the chipmaker, and the shares are still worth buying.
http://on.wsj.com/2ueweuV

Jack Dorsey's Square Inc. May Soon Loan You Money


Square Inc., the technology company best known for processing payments for small merchants across the U.S., is now angling to lend to consumers, too.
http://on.wsj.com/2uebovO

Microsoft Teams With Smaller Rival Box on Cloud Technology


Microsoft cut a deal with competitor Box to partner on cloud-computing technology in an effort to get ahead in the emerging business.
http://on.wsj.com/2uesfhQ

Pandora CEO Tim Westergren Resigns


Pandora Media’s co-founder and chief executive, Tim Westergren, is resigning from the company as the internet radio service contends with the rise of subscription music platforms.
http://on.wsj.com/2ue5pXJ

Cyberattacks Hit Major Companies Across Globe


Global businesses, including shipping giant Maersk, advertising firm WPP Group and Russian oil company Rosneft, reported significant cyberattacks against their computer systems.
http://on.wsj.com/2uebnrK

Stir Fry on Sale? Blue Apron Turns to Deals to Draw Customers


Meal-kit maker Blue Apron has ripened to a company on the verge of an initial public offering with 1 million customers and more than $790 million in annual revenue. But the company is finding it hard to get loyal customers.
http://on.wsj.com/2uduqSN

Western Digital Offers New Proposal to Toshiba for Joint Business


Western Digital has submitted to Toshiba a new proposal to buy their joint-venture chip business, teaming up with U.S.-based private-equity company KKR.
http://on.wsj.com/2udicK6

Samsung Revives Galaxy Note 7 With New 'Fandom Edition'


A refurbished version of the premium smartphone, whose global recall last year garnered unwanted attention for Samsung after some caught fire, is coming to retailers’ shelves on July 7 with different components under the name Galaxy Note 7 FE.
http://on.wsj.com/2udQugj

Google Slapped With $2.7 Billion EU Fine Over Search Results


The European Union’s antitrust regulator fined Alphabet’s Google a record $2.71 billion for favoring its own comparison-shopping service in search results.
http://on.wsj.com/2teKEho

Monday, 26 June 2017

Judge Denies Qualcomm Motion to Dismiss FTC's Competition Suit


A U.S. federal judge ruled against Qualcomm’s motion to dismiss a Federal Trade Commission case arguing that the large supplier of smartphone chips used its position to compete unfairly.
http://on.wsj.com/2tefdUf

In Unilever's Radical Hiring Experiment, Resumes Are Out, Algorithms Are In


To diversify its candidate pool, Unilever has ditched resumes and traditional campus recruiting. Its new process relies on algorithms to sort candidates and targets young potential hires where they spend much of their time: their smartphones.
http://on.wsj.com/2tdKjLQ

Who Pays on the First Date? No One Knows Anymore, and It's Really Awkward


First dates multiply in era of Tinder, and those tabs add up. Some women are wary the fake ‘reach’ for the wallet won’t be turned down.
http://on.wsj.com/2tdmpQR

Sprint Enters Into Exclusive Talks With Charter, Comcast on Wireless Deal


Sprint has entered into exclusive talks with Charter Communications and Comcast as the cable companies explore a deal that could bolster their plans to offer wireless service, according to people familiar with the matter.
http://on.wsj.com/2tdgjjo

China's All-Seeing Surveillance State Is Reading Its Citizens' Faces


Facial-recognition systems crunch data from ubiquitous cameras in a vast social-engineering experiment. Petty offenders face public shaming.
http://on.wsj.com/2tddzCD

Alphabet's Waymo Hires Avis to Service its Driverless Cars


Google parent Alphabet is hiring rental-car firm Avis Budget Group to store and service its self-driving cars in a deal that shows Alphabet’s vision of a network of driverless taxis is getting closer to reality.
http://on.wsj.com/2tcyCFs

Smartphones Open a New World for Medical Researchers


Doctors say abundant health data gathered by phones produces better, more timely studies.
http://on.wsj.com/2u9ijqa

Anthem Agrees to $115 Million Settlement Over Data Breach


Anthem Inc. has agreed to pay $115 million to settle a class-action lawsuit filed after a 2015 cyberattack exposed personal information of more than 78 million people, the company said Friday.
http://on.wsj.com/2u8XiM0

How The iPhone Was Born: Inside Stories of Missteps and Triumphs


On the iPhone’s 10th birthday, former Apple executives Scott Forstall, Tony Fadell and Greg Christie recount the arduous process of turning Steve Jobs’s vision into one of the best-selling products ever made.
http://on.wsj.com/2u9ieCS