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
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
2077
'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
2078
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
2079
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
2080
iPhones and Apps Help Apple Top Estimates
Apple delivered its best-ever revenue for the June quarter, as demand for high-price iPhones remained resilient and services soared to new records. The Wall Street Journal's Tripp Mickle has more.
5 min
2081
Walmart Takes on Netflix With Streaming Service
Walmart is exploring a subscription video-streaming service that would challenge Netflix and Amazon by offering programming that targets Middle America. The Wall Street Journal's Joe Flint has more.
7 min
2082
How Amazon's Profit Soared to New Records
Amazon's profit topped $2 billion for the first time, powered by the company's newer services businesses that are ushering the online retail giant into an era of swelling profitability. The Wall Street Journal's Laura Stevens has more.
7 min
2083
Facebook Shakes Investor Faith
The Wall Street Journal's Deepa Seetharaman explains how concerns about revenue growth, monetizing Instagram Stories and the impact of new privacy laws have hit Facebook's shares this week.
6 min
2084
'Ford Autonomous Vehicles' Revs Up Self-Driving...
Ford is carving out its autonomous-vehicle program into a separate wholly owned company, a bid to accelerate its driverless-car efforts by attracting outside investors. The Wall Street Journal's Mike Colias has more.
7 min
2085
Google's Strong Results Offset Worries
Google parent Alphabet's strong earnings results have helped offset growing worries about big costs and political risks. The Wall Street Journal's Dan Gallagher has more.
7 min
2086
Tesla Asks for Cash Back to Help Turn a Profit
Tesla, in a memo, asks suppliers to return a meaningful portion of money spent since 2016. The Wall Street Journal's Tim Higgins has more on its urgency to sustain operations during a critical production period.
7 min
2087
First Test Drive of Tesla Model 3 Performance
The Tesla brand has its share of haters, but no one has yet driven the new Model 3 Performance-until now. The Wall Street Journal's Dan Neil takes a first turn behind the wheel.
7 min
2088
On Amazon, Counterfeiters Plague Small Brands
Small brands easily sell their products to large numbers of customers on Amazon, but some counterfeiters are cutting into their business. Wall Street Journal reporter Laura Stevens has more.
5 min
2089
Google Fined $5 Billion by EU in Android Case
The European Union hit Alphabet Inc.'s Google with a record antitrust fine of $5.06 billion and ordered changes to its business that could loosen the company's grip on mobile phones. The Wall Street Journal's Sam Schechner has the details.
7 min
2090
Netflix: Time for a Pause
Netflix's stock fell sharply after its quarterly subscriber growth, though still strong, fell short of expectations. The Wall Street Journal's Dan Gallagher says Netflix's soaring stock was overdue for a pause and talks about the pressures the company faces.
7 min
2091
5 Ways Your Cellphone Location Data is Being Used
Mobile carriers said they would stop selling access to customers' locations to two companies-but other services rely on access to users' whereabouts to make money. Wall Street Journal reporter Sarah Krouse has more.
8 min
2092
Apple's $300 Million Clean Energy Fund for China
Amid trade tensions, Apple is set to invest in and develop clean energy projects totaling more than 1 gigawatt of renewable energy in China. The Wall Street Journal's Tripp Mickle has the details.
5 min
2093
Facebook Gives 'Full Access' of Data to Researc...
Despite privacy concerns, Facebook is giving researchers "full access" to user data so it can learn about the effects of social media on democracy. The Wall Street Journal's Douglas MacMillan has more.
7 min
2094
Is It Smart to Install a Smart Lock?
Digital alternatives to keys have their advantages, but they're proving divisive. Joshua Fruhlinger, contributor to the Wall Street Journal's Off Duty, summarizes both sides of the debate.
9 min
2095
Can Microsoft's Surface Go Challenge Apple's iPad?
Microsoft is cutting prices on its Surface devices and introducing a $399 tablet to compete with Apple's least-expensive iPads. The Wall Street Journal's Jay Greene has the details.
5 min
2096
Voice Chat: The Future of Communication?
Tired of texting? The Wall Street Journal's David Pierce says voice chat might be the future of communication, as companies build walkie-talkie-type tools to address things people don't like about phone calls.
8 min
2097
Sonos Goes Public in New Era of Smart Speakers
Sonos reveals its plans for an initial public offering, opening its books to show a company on pace to turn a profit this fiscal year. The Wall Street Journal's Maureen Farrell has the details.
5 min
2098
Too Many Spam Calls? These Apps Help Block Them
Inundated with spam calls? Sara Clemence, former travel editor for the Wall Street Journal's Off Duty, breaks down how to stop annoying robo-callers with anti-spam apps.
8 min
2099
Facebook Probe Broadens With SEC, FBI
The SEC and FBI join the Justice Department and Federal Trade Commission in probing how the political analytics firm Cambridge Analytica purchased data on 87 million users of Facebook without their consent. The Wall Street Journal's Georgia Wells has the details.
5 min
2100
Facebook Discloses Special Access to Personal Data
Facebook disclosed it gave dozens of companies special access to user information, detailing for the first time a contrast with previous statements that it restricted data to outsiders in 2015. The Wall Street Journal's Georgia Wells has the latest.
6 min