CATEGORIES

Uber Vows To Keep Fighting Sweeping California Labor Bill

California lawmakers confronting the changing definition of work approved sweeping legislation Wednesday designed to give many contract workers new pay and benefit protections, but tech giants Uber and Lyft vowed to keep fighting the changes, possibly by bankrolling an expensive fight on the 2020 ballot.

Swiss Say Facebook's Digital Currency Plan Will Face Hurdles

Facebook and its partners have asked financial authorities in Switzerland to evaluate their plan to create a new digital currency to be called Libra.

UW-Madison Says Foxconn Slow In Fulfilling $100m Pledge

The University of Wisconsin says it has received just $700,000 of the $100 million that Foxconn Technology Group pledged to fund engineering and innovation research on the school’s flagship campus.

US, China Exchange Goodwill Gesture Ahead Of Trade Talks

The United States and China traded conciliatory gestures, raising hopes they can de-escalate a standoff over trade that has shaken financial markets and cast gloom over the global economy.

Google Pays France Over $1 Billion To Settle Tax Case

Tech giant Google said it has paid over one billion dollars to French authorities to settle a years-long dispute over allegations of tax fraud.

Elliott Invests $3.2b In At&t, Seeks Changes

Activist hedge fund manager Elliott Management is making a new $3.2 billion investment in AT&T, roughly a 1% stake, and calling for changes at the company such as selling assets and paying down debt.

Apple Takes On Netflix With A $5-A-month Streaming Service

Apple is finally taking on Netflix with its own streaming television service and, uncharacteristically for the company, offering it at a bargain price — $5 a month beginning on Nov. 1.

A Gene-Editing First: Scientists Tried Crispr To Fight HIV

Scientists are reporting the first use of the gene-editing tool CRISPR to try to cure a patient’s HIV infection by providing blood cells that were altered to resist the AIDS virus.

'Friends' Pop-Up Lets Sitcom's Fans Explore Show's Key Props

Could “Friends” fans BE any luckier? Those who have snagged tickets to the New York City PopUp experience based on the comedy favorite will get to plop down on the orange couch at Central Perk, play foosball in Joey and Chandler’s apartment and marvel at Rachel’s haircuts through the show’s 10 seasons.

MIT Scandal Highlights Thorny Ethics Of University Donations

While MIT grapples with new allegations about its financial ties to Jeffrey Epstein, other universities that accepted donations from the disgraced financier say they have no plans to return the money.

Experts Say Adapting To Climate Change Can Pay Off Manifold

A group of leaders from business, politics and science have called for a massive investment in adapting to climate change over the next decade, arguing it would reap significant returns as countries avoid catastrophic losses and boost their economies.

Antitrust Regulators Dig Deeper Into Dominant Tech Companies

The government is circling the wagons around Big Tech as the scrutiny of its immense power intensifies.

Apple Watch Series 5: One Step Closer To True Timepiece Status

The Apple Watch moves one step closer to true timepiece status

California Could Ban Facial Recognition Technology For Cops

Law enforcement agencies in California would be barred from using facial recognition technology in body cameras for three years under a bill that has cleared the state Senate.

Alibaba's Ma Steps Down As Industry Faces Uncertainty

Alibaba Group founder Jack Ma, who helped launch China’s online retailing boom, stepped down as chairman of the world’s biggest e-commerce company Tuesday at a time when its fast-changing industry faces uncertainty amid a U.S.-Chinese tariff war.

Facebook Expands New Tool Aiming To Shrink 'News Deserts'

Facebook is trying to coax “news deserts” into bloom with the second major expansion of a tool that exposes people to more local news and information. But the social network confesses that it still has a lot to learn.

Smartphone, Matchbox Cars Among Toy Hall Of Fame Finalists

The smartphone is being considered for induction into the National Toy Hall of Fame this year in recognition of its impact on how people play and interact.

Operation Indiscriminately Infects iPhones With Spyware

Researchers say suspected nation-state hackers infected Apple iPhones with spyware over two years in what security experts called an alarming security failure for a company whose calling card is privacy.

NTSB: Autopilot Flaw, Driver Inattention Caused Tesla Crash

A design flaw in Tesla’s Autopilot semiautonomous driving system and driver inattention combined to cause a Model S electric car to slam into a firetruck parked along a California freeway, a government investigation has found.

Huawei Accuses US Of Cyberattacks, Coercing Employees

Chinese telecom equipment maker Huawei accused U.S. authorities on Wednesday of attempting to break into its information systems and of trying to coerce its employees to gather information on the company.

Entertainment+: Apple And Other Giants Transforming The Sector

Ten years ago, if you wanted to watch a blockbuster movie or play the latest gaming title, you’d need to head to the theatre or buy a new console. Now, every title is ready to watch and play at the touch of a button, on every device you own. This week, we delve deeper into entertainment overload, and explore how Apple and others are transforming the industry…

Samsung Folding Screen Phone To Go On Sale After Big Delay

Samsung says it will start selling its highly-anticipated folding phone after the original launch date was delayed by months because of embarrassing problems with the screen.

Democrats Propose Spending Trillions Fighting Climate Change

Five Democratic presidential candidates in the span of 24 hours have released sweeping plans to address climate change, ahead of a series of town halls devoted to the issue.

Collateral Damage: US Consumers May See Higher Prices

The United States and China put in place their latest tariff increases on each other’s goods, potentially raising prices Americans pay for some clothes, shoes, sporting goods, and other consumer items before the holiday shopping season.

5 Ways The Right Lighting Can Elevate Your Home

When you shop for a new sofa or another piece of furniture, it’s not hard to envision how it might look in your living room. And if you’re considering a new wall color, you can test pretty simply with swatches.

GM Hires Google To Make Infotainment System More Like Phones

General Motors is hiring Google to run key parts of its dashboard infotainment system, admitting that the tech firm can do a better job.

Judge Rejects Attempt To Raise Bail Of Ex-Google Engineer

A federal judge has rejected a government recommendation that he impose a $10 million bail bond on a former Google engineer who is accused of stealing self-driving car technology before joining Uber’s effort to build robotic taxis. The preliminary ruling issued Wednesday by U.S. District Judge Nathanael Cousins means Anthony Levandowski remains free on the $2 million bails he posted last week after being charged with heisting Google’s trade secrets before defecting to Uber in 2016.

Activist Loses UK Court Case On Police Facial Recognition

A British court ruled Wednesday that a police force’s use of automated facial recognition technology is lawful, dealing a blow to an activist concerned about its implications for privacy.

Friends With Benefits: Can Facebook Tackle Your Love Life?

Facebook is tackling a new frontier: love. Facebook Dating, a matchmaking service the company already offers in Brazil, Canada and 17 other countries, arrives in the U.S. on Thursday. But after years of privacy missteps by the social network, will people trust it with their love lives? For a company that’s also developing its own digital currency and dabbling in e-commerce, love is another step toward reaching into all aspects of human existence.

Russian Capsule Carrying Robot Docks At Space Station

A Russian space capsule carrying a humanoid robot has successfully docked at the International Space Station after a failed attempt last week.