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.
1951
Historic SpaceX Mission: Crew Capsule Docks Wit...
A new-generation SpaceX capsule autonomously docked with the international space station, in a successful test of computers and maneuvering systems deemed essential to carry U.S. astronauts on future missions. The Wall Street Journal's Andy Pasztor has more.
9 min
1952
Tesla Shifts to Online Sales Model
Tesla said it would begin shutting stores and move to selling vehicles only over the internet, an extraordinary step aimed at cutting costs so the company can offer its Model 3 compact at a long-awaited starting price of $35,000. The Wall Street Journal's Tim Higgins has more.
8 min
1953
Why It Feels Like Facebook Still Spies On You
Facebook says we're in charge of our personal data, but it remains difficult to control ad tracking. The Wall Street Journal's Katie Bindley explains.
9 min
1954
Apple, Facebook Fighting International Encrypti...
New regulations in Australia and the U.K. are making it easier for law enforcement to pressure companies for personal data. The Wall Street Journal's Robert McMillan explains the resurgence of an international encryption battle.
9 min
1955
Walmart Joins Amazon in Digital Ad Game
In an effort to compete with Amazon and expand its share of the online advertising market, Walmart wants to sell more digital and store ads based on its shopper data. The Wall Street Journal's Sarah Nassauer has more.
7 min
1956
How Popular Apps Shared Data With Facebook
The Wall Street Journal's testing of over 70 applications that handle sensitive information turned up 11 that were sending at least some data to Facebook. Some have now reduced or ended data transfers to the social media giant. The Wall Street Journal's Sam Schechner has more.
9 min
1957
How Fast 5G Mobile Internet Feels
Watching videos, loading Fortnite and downloading music is about to get a lot faster as carriers race to roll out the next generation of wireless networks. The Wall Street Journal's Sarah Krouse has a first look at what 5g will feel like in everyday life.
10 min
1958
Tesla Model 3 Loses Recommended Status From Con...
Tesla's Model 3 has lost its recommended status from Consumer Reports, less than a year after the magazine awarded it the coveted designation. The Wall Street Journal's Tim Higgins explains.
8 min
1959
Do AirPods Make You Look Rich? (According to Me...
With the help of internet memes, AirPod headphones have emerged as the expensive-yet-affordable luxury item of the moment -- showing no signs of stopping. The Wall Street Journal's Jacob Gallagher explains why.
8 min
1960
Amazon Still Grows Without New York HQ2
Despite the decision to abandon its $2.5 billion plan for a New York City headquarters, Amazon still expects to bulk up its staff there, and to boost hiring throughout the U.S. and Canada. The Wall Street Journal's Jay Greene has more.
6 min
1961
Venmo Etiquette: How to Digitally Pay Your Frie...
The instantaneous nature of payment apps like Venmo has put an added pressure on asking for what you're owed, and multiplied the opportunities for missteps. The Wall Street Journal's Kevin McAllister offers his take.
8 min
1962
Former Apple Lawyer Charged With Insider Trading
The former Apple executive who enforced the company's insider-trading policies was charged with criminally violating those rules by allegedly dumping over $10 million in stock before the company in 2015 announced it fell short of iPhone sales expectations. The Wall Street Journal's Tripp Mickle has more.
6 min
1963
AI in the Office: How Diversity Avoids Bad Algo...
Tech companies working on artificial intelligence find that a diverse staff can help avoid biased algorithms that cause public embarrassments. The Wall Street Journal's Sue Shellenbarger explains.
6 min
1964
Lyft Founders to Tighten Grip on Voting Control...
The founders of Lyft are preparing to take near-majority voting control of the ride-hailing company when it goes public this year, making them the latest Silicon Valley entrepreneurs to secure outsize influence over a hot startup as it enters the public markets. The Wall Street Journal's Maureen Farrell has more.
7 min
1965
SoftBank Invests $940 Million in Nuro for Drive...
SoftBank Group is investing almost $1 billion in a robotic-delivery vehicle startup, a hefty cash infusion that could help accelerate the race to put driverless vehicles on the road. The Wall Street Journal's Tim Higgins has more.
9 min
1966
Sprint Accuses AT&T of False Advertising of 5G ...
Sprint has sued AT&T over a branding campaign that it says falsely tells customers they are receiving 5G service on their smartphones, escalating marketing wars between carriers over the next generation of wireless networks. The Wall Street Journal's Sarah Krouse has more.
6 min
1967
Amazon Invests in Driverless Startup Aurora
Amazon's investment in high-profile autonomous-vehicle startup Aurora starts a relationship with a company developing tech that could be a natural fit for package delivery. The Wall Street Journal's Tim Higgins has more.
7 min
1968
Tesla Cuts the Model 3 Price Again
Tesla cut the price of its mass-market Model 3 sedan for the second time this year, another step in Chief Executive Elon Musk's quest to drive the sticker price-not counting tax credits and fuel savings-down to $35,000. The Wall Street Journal's Tim Higgins has more.
5 min
1969
Snap's Revenue Jumps in 'Stable' Earnings Report
Snap Inc. posted record revenue in its latest quarter and narrowed its loss considerably, as the social-media firm rode a boom in online advertising to inch closer to profitability. Rob Enderle of the Enderle Group breaks it down.
6 min
1970
Slack Follows Spotify With Nontraditional IPO
Slack Technologies has filed paperwork for its direct listing on the stock market, setting it up to be the second major company to use the nontraditional method for an initial public offering. Wall Street Journal reporter Maureen Farrell has more.
7 min
1971
Apple Sets Fix for FaceTime Bug This Week
Apple apologized for a security flaw in its FaceTime video-chat system and said a software fix is coming this week, as the iPhone maker addresses an embarrassing vulnerability that drew the attention of government officials. The Wall Street Journal's Robert McMillan has more.
7 min
1972
New York Insurers Can Use Algorithms to Set Rates
New York State will allow life insurers to use algorithms to comb through data to determine a customer's risk. Wall Street Journal reporter Leslie Scism says it could have an impact beyond the state's borders.
8 min
1973
Facebook's Record Profit
Facebook posted a record quarterly profit despite a drumbeat of negative headlines, prompting CEO Mark Zuckerberg to say the social-media giant has turned a corner and plans to focus this year on building new products. Rob Enderle of the Enderle Group has more.
5 min
1974
Apple Pulls FaceTime Group After Bug Let Users ...
This week, Apple scrambled to fix a bug in its FaceTime video-chat system that lets callers eavesdrop on users of iPhones, iPads and Macs. The Wall Street Journal's Robert McMillan explains the awkward setback for a company that has touted its commitment to privacy.
8 min
1975
Facebook Fights Fake News With New Tools
Facebook plans to make more information available world-wide about political ads purchased on its services, expanding its effort to defend against politically motivated interference in elections from India to the European Union. The Wall Street Journal's Sam Schechner has more.
9 min