The Information

Bumps in the Road for Apple's iWatch

By Jessica E. Lessin · Jan 7, 2014 1:04pm PST

There’s been a parade of new smart TVs, toys and washing machines at this week’s Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. But this year’s most anticipated gadget is still MIA. That’s Apple’s iWatch. When Apple plans to start selling the device remains unclear. But a look behind the scenes shows a few apparent... There’s been a parade of new smart TVs, toys and washing machines at this week’s...

Terry Myerson, who oversees Microsoft's Windows Phone software, in 2012. Credit: Microsoft

Inside Microsoft’s Android Battle Plan

By Amir Efrati · Jan 6, 2014 7:23am PST

Behind closed doors, Microsoft recently considered unconventional tactics to shrink the competitive gap between its Windows Phone software and Google’s Android, which powers the vast majority of smartphones in the world. In one scenario, a smartphone buyer would be able to walk into a wireless carrier store, find a phone they like and only... Behind closed doors, Microsoft recently considered unconventional tactics to shrink the...

Kārlis Dambrāns

Microsoft Phones Up Sony, ZTE For Mobile Boost

By Amir Efrati · Dec 31, 2013 8:30am PST

Microsoft’s Windows Phone operating system has struggled to make gains against Google and Apple. But it may soon get a shot in the arm from an old partner and rival: Sony. Sony, whose mobile unit has exclusively made smartphones powered by Google’s Android software for nearly four years, has considered launching a Windows... Microsoft’s Windows Phone operating system has struggled to make gains against...

An HP Palm Pre, circa 2011. Credit: Ken Hawkins

HP Makes Another Phone Call

By Amir Efrati · Dec 23, 2013 1:11pm PST

An HP Palm Pre, circa 2011. Credit: Ken Hawkins

HP Makes Another Phone Call

By Amir Efrati · Dec 23, 2013 1:11pm PST

Hewlett-Packard is entering the consumer mobile-handset market, again. HP’s last two smartphone efforts flopped, first with its “iPaq” devices and more recently with phones made by Palm, the handset maker it acquired in 2010. Now CEO Meg Whitman is taking another stab at the crowded mobile-phone industry as she tries to turn... Hewlett-Packard is entering the consumer mobile-handset market, again. HP’s last two...

Jonas Bengtsson

Amid Ad Struggles, YouTube CEO Discussed Stepping Aside

By Amir Efrati · Dec 17, 2013 2:13pm PST

YouTube’s quest to lure more-lucrative videos and ads is struggling as a leadership change may be afoot. Recent initiatives such as the launch of new “channels” that YouTube helped fund have had mixed results for advertisers. Prices for premium ad space on the Google video site have been flat or falling this year, according to... YouTube’s quest to lure more-lucrative videos and ads is struggling as a leadership change...

Vernon Chan

Samsung Taps Apple Veterans for Retail Push

By Katie Benner and Jessica E. Lessin · Dec 17, 2013 7:29am PST

Forget the floating Google showrooms. When it comes to retail, Samsung Electronics is contemplating a bigger plunge. The South Korean company's U.S. telecom unit recently hired a senior Apple store designer, Tim Gudgel, as it ponders a deeper investment in U.S. retail, according to two people close to the company. Mr. Gudgel specializes in... Forget the floating Google showrooms. When it comes to retail, Samsung Electronics is...

Laurence Tucker

Google Trials Smart-Thermostat Service

By Jessica E. Lessin and Amir Efrati · Dec 16, 2013 1:57pm PST

Google is eyeing energy-use data, again. The company has been running a trial of Internet-connected home thermostats to help consumers monitor and adjust their energy use, according to two people told about the project. The program has been referred to as EnergySense, according to a document reviewed by The Information. Google has been... Google is eyeing energy-use data, again. The company has been running a trial of...

Google's Trojan Horse in China: Android

By Amir Efrati · Dec 12, 2013 3:13pm PST

Google's Trojan Horse in China: Android

By Amir Efrati · Dec 12, 2013 3:13pm PST

China has been viewed as a lost cause for Google ever since its services were hurt by government interference and strong domestic competitors. But Android is proving to be a significant backdoor into China for Google's Web services. The mobile software, which Google makes available to handset makers, powers the vast majority of... China has been viewed as a lost cause for Google ever since its services were hurt by government...

Facebook, Google in ‘Deep Learning’ Arms Race

By Amir Efrati · Dec 11, 2013 3:14pm PST

Facebook, Google, Microsoft and other tech giants are battling to acquire expertise in a once-obscure branch of artificial intelligence that’s improving speech recognition, online-ad targeting and other technologies. Their main problem: There isn’t enough talent. Only a handful of researchers can call themselves experts in the red-hot field... Facebook, Google, Microsoft and other tech giants are battling to acquire expertise in a...

Sam Churchill

Google’s Latest TV Takeover Attempt: ‘Nexus TV’

By Amir Efrati · Dec 6, 2013 1:20pm PST

The battle among technology companies to take over the living room is getting even more crowded. Google has been developing a “Nexus”-branded TV set-top box and could launch it in the first half of next year, according to people who have seen the device or were told about it. The battle among technology companies to take over the living room is getting even more crowded....

Square CEO Jack Dorsey. Credit: Brian Solis

Employee Stock Sales Boom, As Square Considers One at $5 Billion

By Jessica E. Lessin and Eric Newcomer · Dec 5, 2013 4:35pm PST

Across Silicon Valley, employees are cashing out. For years, the Valley's conventional wisdom has held that allowing employees to sell some stock before an initial public offering would reduce their drive and hurt retention. Sales began happening anyway, but behind employers' backs on the secondary markets. But there has been a... Across Silicon Valley, employees are cashing out. For years, the Valley's conventional wisdom...