WSJ Tech News Briefing

Tech News Briefing is your guide to what people in tech are talking about. Every weekday, we’ll bring you breaking tech news and scoops from the pros at the Wall Street Journal, insight into new innovations and policy debates, tips from our personal tech team, and exclusive interviews with movers and shakers in the industry.

Tech News
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2376
Can 'Fortnite' Turn Buzz Into Profit?
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 talks whether it can turn buzz into profit.
7 min
2377
Google's Ad Blocker Takes on Spammy Ads
Amid Google's Chrome browser launching a new ad blocker to challenge spammy advertisements, the Wall Street Journal's Benjamin Mullin talks the impact on publishers and why critics say the plan is self-serving.
5 min
2378
Should Google Shine a Light on its Cloud?
With Alphabet's Google Cloud Platform now generating about $1 billion in revenue per quarter, the Wall Street Journal's Dan Gallagher explains why reporting cloud revenue could help offset concerns about costs of the core business.
6 min
2379
Amazon's Latest Ambition? Major Hospital Supplier
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 rooms and outpatient facilities. The Wall Street Journal's Melanie Evans has the latest.
7 min
2380
Could Amazon Take on UPS and FedEx?
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 the online retail giant is a long way from reaching the scale of America's freight titans.
5 min
2381
Digital Dating: eHarmony CEO Talks Relationships
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 makes people happy and frustrated in relationships.
9 min
2382
Amazon to Deliver Free Whole Foods in Four Cities
Amazon has just announced it will start delivering Whole Foods groceries via its fastest delivery option in four markets. The Wall Street Journal's Laura Stevens has more on the first major integration between Amazon's e-commerce and Whole Foods operations.
4 min
2383
AI Office Training: Black Sabbath or Bruno Mars?
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 the difference between pop and heavy metal songs. Wall Street Journal reporter Angus Loten has more.
6 min
2384
Apple Could Offer iPhone Battery Rebate Amid Bl...
Apple, responding to U.S. Senate questions about its decision to slow performance on older iPhones, said it is considering rebates for battery replacements for some users affected by the issue. The Wall Street Journal's Tripp Mickle breaks down the latest.
4 min
2385
Cellphones and Cancer: What Largest Study Ever ...
Researchers have spent nearly two decades to carry out the definitive study on the health effects of cellphone radiation. The Wall Street Journal's Ryan Knutson explains why the results are likely to fuel rather than dispel the debate.
8 min
2386
Amazon: Sky's the Limit?
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 Street Journal's Dan Gallagher has more.
6 min
2387
Is Instagram Turning Into Facebook?
At a time when its parent social network draws much criticism, Instagram has recently started using many of the same digital tricks Facebook pioneered to keep you scrolling longer. The Wall Street Journal's Katie Bindley has more.
8 min
2388
Apple Faces Heat in Two Federal Probes Over iPh...
The Justice Department and Securities and Exchange Commission are investigating potential securities violations related to the Apple software update that slowed older iPhones. The Wall Street Journal's Tripp Mickle has more.
5 min
2389
Pentagon Eyes Fitness Trackers Amid New Securit...
The Pentagon is reviewing its policies that allow activity-measuring devices and fitness apps after a map produced by fitness tracker Strava revealed where American troops are deployed overseas. The Wall Street Journal's Gordon Lubold has the details.
5 min
2390
The 4K TV Revolution: A Geek's Guide
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 next TV revolution.
8 min
2391
Is Cybersecurity a Top Priority in Your Business?
Digital threats will continue to cause organizations and stakeholders anxiety in 2018. French Caldwell, chief evangelist at MetricStream, reveals how organizations can determine whether cybersecurity is a top priority in their business.
8 min
2392
Apple's 'Health Records' Brings Medical Info to...
Apple's spring update includes a "Health Records" feature that will import and store medical data. The Wall Street Journal's Tripp Mickle talks simplifying networks of information and putting it into the hands of consumers.
6 min
2393
Snapchat Stories Break Through 'Walled Garden'
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 walled garden. The Wall Street Journal's Georgia Wells has the details.
5 min
2394
Apple's HomePod Gets Launch Date. What Now?
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 holiday shopping season. The Wall Street Journal's Tripp Mickle has more.
6 min
2395
Facebook Tweaks Its News Feed
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 Tech Headlines: another quarter of big subscriber growth for Netflix.
7 min
2396
Amazon's HQ2 Losers Hold Out For Hope
Amazon's search for a second headquarters location has disappointed cities across North America. The silver lining? A chance to pitch themselves as a destination for a smaller investment. The Wall Street Journal's Laura Stevens has more.
6 min
2397
What Apple's $38 Billion Tax Payment Means for ...
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 company seeks to emphasize its contribution to the American economy. The Wall Street Journal's Tripp Mickle has more.
6 min
2398
Fixing Facebook Without Breaking It
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 to take pain now to avoid more later.
7 min
2399
Google Boosts Cloud Game With New Undersea Cables
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 plug into new regions around the world. The Wall Street Journal's Drew Fitzgerald has the latest.
4 min
2400
Top Car Tech Trends Changing the Future
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.
9 min