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.
2226
CES Showdown: Amazon Alexa Vs.Google Assistant
Two voice-operated giants will have a showdown at 2018's Consumer Electronics Show as Amazon and Alphabet take new interest in the annual tech convention. The Wall Street Journal's Katie Bindley has more from Las Vegas.
6 min
2227
Tinder Help: How to Make Dating Apps Work for You
As dating apps like Bumble and Tinder continue to have their own flaws and virtues, the Wall Street Journal's Katie Bindley breaks down how to make them work for you. Plus, does a pro photographer up your game?
8 min
2228
Does Virtual Reality Need to Cut the Cord?
Virtual reality hasn't caught on with consumers yet because no one has come up with the right combination of hardware. The Wall Street Journal's Dan Gallagher says untethering VR devices from computers should boost appeal-if the content delivers.
6 min
2229
Verizon, Samsung Team Up to Big on 5G
Samsung has just been announced as a major supplier in Verizon's push to offer fifth-generation, or 5G, internet over its wireless network. The Wall Street Journal's Ryan Knutson has the details.
6 min
2230
Smart Elevators, Self-Driving Cars Need More Co...
With millions of objects connecting to the internet for the first time, companies like Microsoft and GE are putting more computing resources at the edge of the network, in vehicles, elevators, factory machines and the like. The Wall Street Journal's Sara Castellanos has more.
6 min
2231
What Apple's Apology Means for iPhone Battery
Apple issued a rare apology for its handling of concerns about performance issues in iPhones with older batteries in the wake of a wave of consumer complaints. The Wall Street Journal's Robert McMillan has more.
7 min
2232
What to Expect in Tech in 2018
From artificial intelligence to electric cars, The Wall Street Journal's Christopher Mims talks about tech highlights in the new year.
9 min
2233
A Big Payday for Apple's CEO
Apple paid its top executives handsomely in fiscal year 2017, after exceeding its sales and profit goals for the year. The Wall Street Journal's Tripp Mickle explains what the boost in compensation says about the overall health of the company in the new year.
7 min
2234
Startups Fight Back Against Net Neutrality Repeal
The repeal of net neutrality has some Silicon Valley startups seeking workarounds to ensure a fair and open internet. The Wall Street Journal's Doug MacMillan explains how they're using virtual private networks, mesh networks, and antennas.
9 min
2235
HQ Trivia App Sweeps On-Demand Generation
In a throwback to TV "appointment viewing," the game show HQ Trivia has tethered hundreds of thousands of fans to their phones at 3 p.m. and 9 p.m. precisely. The Wall Street Journal's John Jurgensen breaks it down.
7 min
2236
Apple's iPhone X: A Lukewarm Reception
Estimates from market-research firms indicate customers are buying the iPhone X and a pair of other new offerings at a rate comparable to recent models -- but falling short of the iPhone's 2014 peak. The Wall Street Journal's Tripp Mickle has more.
6 min
2237
Joanna Stern Meets Tech's Top Minds in WSJ Elev...
From Microsoft's Peggy Johnson to GM CEO Mary Barra, personal tech columnist Joann Stern has accidentally "bumped" into some of the top tech minds in 2017 -- inside the elevator of the Wall Street Journal.
8 min
2238
Yes, Apple Slowed Down Your Old iPhone (It Can ...
Facing questions about reduced performance in older iPhones, Apple acknowledged its latest software curtails the computing power of some models to prevent unexpected shutdowns. The Wall Street Journal's Tripp Mickle has more.
5 min
2239
Will the Tax Bill Lead to Big Tech Deal Making?
The GOP tax reform bill would theoretically free up hundreds of billions of dollars that high-tech giants have stashed offshore. But that's unlikely to lead to a lot of deal making, including merger activity. The Wall Street Journal's Dan Gallagher explains.
7 min
2240
GOP Tax Bill Could Hit Large Tech Firms
The Wall Street Journal's Doug MacMillan talks about why tech giants who book most of their profits overseas might see their tax rates rise as a result of the GOP tax overhaul.
7 min
2241
Amazon Echo Price Cuts Upend Smart Speaker Market
Amazon.com has cut the prices for its Echo smart speaker line, including the smallest device, the Echo Dot. The Wall Street Journal's Tripp Mickle says this has forced the hand of rivals including Apple and Google.
7 min
2242
Gamers' Virtual 'Loot Boxes' Cause Money Stir
This holiday season, gaming kids will encounter one of the industry's most contentious moneymaking tactics in years -- the "loot box," an in-game reward that is also for sale. The Wall Street Journal's Sarah E. Needleman has what parents need to know.
7 min
2243
Streamline Pics Cluttering Your Smartphone
Smartphones take photos so easily they're often overwhelmed with useless, repetitive shots. The Wall Street Journal's "Gear and Gadgets" has a beginner's guide to de-cluttering space and saving your best pictures. Sara Clemence breaks it down.
7 min
2244
Why Electronic Arts Needs 'The Last Jedi' Force
Disappointing "Star Wars: Battlefront II" sales have left video-game publisher Electronic Arts in need of a boost from the new "Star Wars: The Last Jedi" movie. The Wall Street Journal's Dan Gallagher has more.
6 min
2245
Apple Hopes Shazam Ups Its Streaming Game
Apple has announced it has acquired Shazam Entertainment, giving it ownership of one of the popular song-recognition apps at a time the iPhone maker is looking to boost its music-subscription service. The Wall Street Journal's Tripp Mickle has more.
6 min
2246
Amazon Sellers Vie for 'Deal of the Day'
Winning a slot in one of Amazon.com's short-term promotions can not only skyrocket a merchant's ranking but also trigger sales for the rest of the season. The Wall Street Journal's Laura Stevens has more on how Amazon picks its seemingly random "Deal of the Day."
6 min
2247
'Alexa for Business' Brings Voice Control to Of...
Leading workplace tech firm Crestron is joining forces with Amazon Web Services to make meetings more productive. Crestron's Head of Enterprise Innovation, Dan Jackson, discusses how voice control is changing productivity.
6 min
2248
Is an 'Amazon' World Ready to Be Lived In?
The Wall Street Journal's Katie Bindley discusses how she went on a week long "Amazon diet" to find out how much life one person can live through Amazon products and services.
7 min
2249
Google Vs. Amazon: Device War Heats Up
With Google pulling YouTube from some Amazon devices in retaliation for Amazon refusing to sell many Google products, the Wall Street Journal's Jack Nicas talks the growing battle between two tech giants as their businesses increasingly overlap.
5 min
2250
Facebook's Messenger Kids: 6-Year-Olds on Socia...
Facebook rolled out a new messaging app for its youngest audience yet -- children between the ages of 6 and 12 -- but experts are questioning whether kids are ready for social-media access. The Wall Street Journal's Betsy Morris has more.
7 min