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
News
2051
Slack Prepares for Early 2019 IPO
Slack Technologies is actively preparing for an initial public offering in the first half of 2019, with an eye toward going public as soon as the first quarter. The Wall Street Journal's Maureen Farrell has more.
5 min
2052
Amazon Opens New York Store to Sell Top Rated I...
Amazon opens a new bricks-and-mortar store that will feature a selection of goods curated partly by local consumers' online shopping habits, part of its efforts to reshape the way people shop. The Wall Street Journal's Laura Stevens has the details.
5 min
2053
Google CEO to Meet With Top GOP Lawmakers
Google CEO Sundar Pichai plans to appear at a meeting of top GOP lawmakers Friday, responding to new scrutiny of the its work with China and alleged bias against conservatives in its search results. The Wall Street Journal's Douglas MacMillan has a preview.
7 min
2054
Instagram Co-Founders Step Down From Facebook
The two co-founders of Facebook's popular Instagram app are stepping down -- a move marking continued tumult at the social-networking giant. Wall Street Journal reporter Deepa Seetharaman has the details.
7 min
2055
Apple Seeks Streaming Success With New TV Strat...
Apple wants to make scripted shows for streaming -- but it doesn't want to risk its pristine brand image by including violence and risqué story lines common to cable, Netflix and Amazon. The Wall Street Journal's Tripp Mickle has more.
7 min
2056
Apple iPhone Launch: Customer Turnout Key
With a large number of customers coming out for the store debut of Apple's new iPhones on Friday, the Wall Street Journal's Tripp Mickle explains how customer turnout will go a long way toward determining Apple's results over the next year.
6 min
2057
Amazon's Alexa-Enabled Chip Creates New Smart Home
In a bid to control the smart home of the future, Amazon is offering makers of electronics a small chip that would let people use their voice to command everything from microwaves to room fans. The Wall Street Journal's Laura Stevens has more.
5 min
2058
Apple's New Strategy? Sell Pricier iPhones First
For the second straight year, Apple is selling its new iPhones at different times-but this time, it's putting out the priciest model first. The Wall Street Journal's Tripp Mickle talks its new strategy.
5 min
2059
Rise of the Software 'Robots'
After years toiling in obscurity, startups have suddenly hit the jackpot in a corner of the enterprise-software market sprinkled with artificial intelligence. The Wall Street Journal's Rolfe Winkler has the details.
6 min
2060
Apple iOS 12: A Review
The latest iOS 12 software from Apple is coming to your iPhones and iPads. The Wall Street Journal's David Pierce explains why you should upgrade -- especially if you have an older device.
9 min
2061
Elon Musk's SpaceX Signs Up First Moon Tourist
Elon Musk's SpaceX announced that it had signed up the first private passenger to fly around the moon. The Wall Street Journal's Andy Pasztor has more on the future of space tourism.
7 min
2062
Apple Watch's Heart-Monitoring Sparks Health De...
Apple's smartwatch added heart-monitoring and fall-detection applications that could help detect medical conditions but also trigger false alarms. The Wall Street Journal's Tripp Mickle has more.
7 min
2063
Apple's Biggest, Priciest iPhone Lineup Ever
Apple is making a bet that larger screens can persuade millions of iPhone owners to not only upgrade to a new device but also fork over more money. The Wall Street Journal's Dan Gallagher has the details.
11 min
2064
Google Fights 'Right To Be Forgotten' In EU Court
The European Union's executive arm joined Google and a group of free-speech advocates to oppose expanding the bloc's "right to be forgotten" beyond European borders. The Wall Street Journal's Sam Schechner has more from Luxembourg.
5 min
2065
5G Race: China and U.S. Fight For Domination
As the next era of 5G approaches, a battle is on to determine whether the U.S. or China will dominate. The Wall Street Journal's Sarah Krouse has more.
8 min
2066
Take Your Toddler Skiing in an Extreme Stroller
Companies have upgraded strollers and carriages with high-tech designs, enabling parents to take their kids along for the ride on a rugged trail ... or down a ski slope! More from Wall Street Journal contributor and freelance writer Jonathan Welsh.
9 min
2067
Apple's Next Big Thing: Wearables
After PCs and the iPhone, Apple's third act could be as a wearable technology company. The Wall Street Journal's Christopher Mims says devices like the Apple Watch and AirPods, combined with Apple's services, could make wearables the next big growth driver for Apple.
8 min
2068
How Does Twitter Police Content On Its Platform?
Twitter has typically relied on users to report abusive content. But sources have told the Wall Street Journal that CEO Jack Dorsey has weighed in some high-profile decisions. The Journal's Georgia Wells has more.
7 min
2069
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
2070
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
2071
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
2072
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
2073
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
2074
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
2075
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