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.
2076
Cities Take Out Cyber Insurance Against Hackers
With hackers looking to target major U.S. cities, municipal governments are taking out cybersecurity insurance. The Wall Street Journal's Scott Calvert talks about what cyber insurance covers and how much it costs.
8 min
2077
How Your Email Address Can Hurt Your Job Prospects
Finding a new job or freelancing gig is hard enough. But the Wall Street Journal's Chris Kornelis says a poorly conceived email address can seriously harm your career prospects. He runs down some rules you should consider when changing your online handle.
8 min
2078
Can Tech Fix Your Golf Swing?
New devices can measure the velocity and distance of your stroke and help determine which club to pull out next. But is all this new data actually helpful, or just another expensive golf trend? The Wall Street Journal's David Pierce aims to find out.
8 min
2079
How Companies Use AI to Boost Customer Engagement
Corporations have increased their use of artificial intelligence to improve customer interaction. The Wall Street Journal's Steven Norton talks about how AI has helped TGI Fridays target its customers more efficiently.
5 min
2080
Smart Home Security -- Without a Creepy Camera
Want simple, DIY home security without a camera spying on your family? The Wall Street Journal's David Pierce breaks down which ones work best.
9 min
2081
Toyota's $500 Million Pact With Uber
Toyota is investing about $500 million in Uber as part of an deal to work jointly on autonomous vehicles aimed at improving safety and transportation. The Wall Street Journal's Greg Bensinger has more.
6 min
2082
Tesla Buyout: Inside the Unraveling
As his team hustled to put form to his idea, lining up investors willing to put up tens of billions of dollars, Tesla CEO Elon Musk was having second thoughts. The Wall Street Journal's Tim Higgins has more.
9 min
2083
Google, Facebook Target Accounts Linked to Iran
America's biggest tech companies are zeroing in on Iran, scrubbing their online networks of fake accounts, videos and social-media posts by the rising cyber adversary aimed at spreading misinformation. The Wall Street Journal's Robert McMillan has more.
7 min
2084
Apple AirPods: Cultural Statement, Visual Shield
Apple's white wireless earphones transmit music and conversations, but some users wear them all day as a shield, a secretary and a hiding place. The Wall Street Journal's Rebecca Dolan has more.
6 min
2085
Facebook Shuts Down Accounts From Iran, Russia
Facebook dismantled a new set of influence campaigns originating in Iran and Russia designed to sow division in global politics, part of the social-media company's broader purge of bad actors on its site. The Wall Street Journal's Deepa Seetharaman has more.
6 min
2086
Luxury Tech: Farfetch IPO Sees Crowded Market
Farfetch, the latest tech company to seek a U.S. listing, specializes in selling expensive items online. The Wall Street Journal's Stephen Wilmot explains why the online luxury market isn't as unique as it would have investors believe.
8 min
2087
Videogames: Harder to Turn Off Now?
Videogames have gotten harder to turn off -- a concern that has mental-health experts and parents questioning the impact of gaming on players' lives. The Wall Street Journal's Sarah E. Needleman has the details.
8 min
2088
Google CEO Defends Launching Search Engine in C...
Google CEO Sundar Pichai responds to criticism over reports that Google would tailor a search product to meet China's strict censorship laws. The Wall Street Journal's Douglas MacMillan has the details.
7 min
2089
Best Buy to Acquire Jitterbug Parent for $800 M...
Best Buy looks to invest more in tech that meets the needs of older Americans, agreeing to buy GreatCall Inc., the maker of senior-focused Jitterbug mobile phones, for $800 million. The Wall Street Journal's Robert Barba has the details.
5 min
2090
SEC Sends Subpoena to Tesla Over Musk Tweets
Federal regulators have subpoenaed Tesla, ramping up an investigation into whether Chief Executive Elon Musk was truthful when he tweeted last week that he had secured funding to take the electric-car maker private. The Wall Street Journal's Emily Glazer has the details.
6 min
2091
Amazon, Alphabet Promise Access to Health Data
This week, major tech companies committed to removing tech barriers that have hindered patient and provider access to health-care data online. The Wall Street Journal's John D. McKinnon has more.
5 min
2092
A Security App That Actually Makes Browsing Easy
Password manager Dashlane has new tools that keep you safe online --- and free you from the relentless hassle of typing your passwords. The Wall Street Journal's David Pierce explains why it makes browsing easier.
9 min
2093
Is Amazon's Bezos Really the Richest of Them All?
Is Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos really the richest man of modern times? The answer depends on exactly how you decide to calculate wealth. The Wall Street Journal's Jo Craven McGinty explains.
7 min
2094
Has Artificial Intelligence Hit a Wall?
The biggest breakthrough in AI, deep learning, has hit a wall, and a debate is raging about how to get to the next level. The Wall Street Journal's Christopher Mims explains.
7 min
2095
New York Plans to Cap Uber and Lyft. What Now?
New York plans to cap ride-hailing services including Uber and Lyft, becoming the first U.S. city to take such a step. The Wall Street Journal's Paul Berger has the details.
5 min
2096
Venmo Social Feed: Are You Sharing Too Much?
Venmo, the popular PayPal app that lets users send money along with a message, has prompted criticism about the extent of information shared. The Wall Street Journal's Peter Rudegeair has the details.
7 min
2097
Microsoft Surface Go: Small Device, Big Trade Off?
Microsoft's cheapest Surface yet tries to be both laptop and tablet. The Wall Street Journal's David Pierce talks whether it nails either one.
9 min
2098
'Fortnite' Coaches: Parents Enlist Videogame Tu...
As "Fortnite" becomes a social proving ground for children, the Wall Street Journal's Sarah E. Needleman explains how parents are more than willing to pay for their offspring to gain an edge.
7 min
2099
New Facebook, Instagram Tools Curb Your Binge
As part of a larger trend of tech companies helping to wean users off their more-addictive products, Facebook has announced new tools that tally time spent and nudge you when it's time for a break. The Wall Street Journal's Katie Bindley has the details.
7 min
2100
Apple's (Very) Costly Path to $1 Trillion
As Apple spends more to keep its devices competitive, the Wall Street Journal's Dan Gallagher explains how the ride to a $1 trillion market-value hasn't been cheap -- and those costs are rising.
6 min