As with any new platform, virtual reality struggled early on with a lack of enjoyable content. It’s a “chicken or the egg” scenario, where content creators won’t create the media unless people buy the headsets, and customers won’t buy the headsets until there is enough content to make it worth their while. Anyone who was waiting... >>>
The Twitter account of Sony Music falsely tweeted Monday that Britney Spears had died, featuring separate postings that read: “RIP @britneyspears #RIPBritney 1981-2016,” and “Britney spears is dead by accident! We will tell you more soon #RIPBritney.” The Twitter account of Sony Music falsely tweeted Monday that Britney Spears had died, featuring separate postings that... >>>
Snapchat sewed up its first acquisition in Israel this week, according to the outlet Calcalist News. It acquired four-year-old Cimagine, whose augmented reality platform lets consumers instantly visualize products they want to buy in their intended location, paying what Calcalist says was between $30 million and $40 million. Snapchat sewed up its first acquisition in... >>>
Marketers who look only at the immediate bottom-line effects of mobile shopper activity on retailing are missing important clues about the future, according to new research published in the Journal of Advertising Research (JAR). Marketers who look only at the immediate bottom-line effects of mobile shopper activity on retailing are missing important clues about the... >>>
Google will be launching two new flagship smartwatches in the first quarter of next year, according to Jeff Chang, product manager of Android Wear at Google. In an exclusive interview with The Verge, Chang said that the new watches will be the flagship Android Wear 2.0 devices and will be the first ones to launch... >>>
Chinese internet giant Baidu Inc. is planning an initial public offering of its video-streaming site iQiyi.com that could value the unit at up to $5 billion, according to people familiar with the matter. Chinese internet giant Baidu Inc. is planning an initial public offering of its video-streaming site iQiyi.com that could value the unit at... >>>
A federal judge warned Volkswagen owners not to strip parts out of their diesel vehicles before attempting to sell them back to the automaker through the company’s emissions settlement. A federal judge warned Volkswagen owners not to strip parts out of their diesel vehicles before attempting to sell them back to the automaker through the company’s emissions... >>>
A cybersecurity firm has uncovered strong proof of the tie between the group that hacked the Democratic National Committee and Russia’s military intelligence arm — the primary agency behind the Kremlin’s interference in the 2016 election. A cybersecurity firm has uncovered strong proof of the tie between the group that hacked the Democratic National Committee... >>>
Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. has again been labeled a haven for knockoffs with an embarrassing return to a U.S. blacklist for fakes just four years after getting its name removed. Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. has again been labeled a haven for knockoffs with an embarrassing return to a U.S. blacklist for fakes just four years... >>>
Uber’s puzzling defiance of a California requirement that it get a $150 permit to operate self-driving cars in San Francisco came to an end with the ride-hailing company announcing it was suspending the program. Uber had little choice: California’s Department of Motor Vehicles revoked registrations for its 16-vehicle test fleet earlier in the day. Uber’s puzzling defiance of... >>>
Marketers should consider behavioral science when seeking to maximise the impact of their mobile advertising, according to a leading executive from Ipsos. Marketers should consider behavioral science when seeking to maximise the impact of their mobile advertising, according to a leading executive from... >>>
Teen app sensation Houseparty will get some competition as Facebook Messenger is launching its own split-screen group video chat feature. Six users can appear in split-screen at the time and don Snapchat-style selfie masks, while 50 total can listen and talk over voice while sending text, stickers, emojis, and GIFs. Teen app sensation Houseparty will get some... >>>
Apple Inc. on Monday fought back against the European Union’s decision that EUR13 billion ($13.6 billion) in tax breaks the company received from Ireland were illegal, as the feuding sides dug in for a protracted legal battle. Apple Inc. on Monday fought back against the European Union’s decision that EUR13 billion ($13.6 billion) in tax... >>>
Even as Uber Technologies Inc. exited China, the company’s financial loss has remained eye-popping. In the first nine months of this year, the ride-hailing company lost significantly more than $2.2 billion, according to a person familiar with the matter. In the third quarter, Uber lost more than $800 million, not including its Chinese operation. Even... >>>
NBCUniversal is joining forces with the International and US Olympic Committees to launch a new TV network in the summer of 2017 that will be dedicated to Olympic sports coverage. NBCUniversal is joining forces with the International and US Olympic Committees to launch a new TV network in the summer of 2017 that will be... >>>
Google first made waves in the hardware market when it purchased Motorola in 2011 for $12.5 billion. A company on the scale of Google getting involved in hardware put some established manufacturers on edge, though anxiety abated when Google later sold Motorola to Lenovo for $3 billion. Google first made waves in the hardware market when it purchased... >>>
Volkswagen AG’s costs in its diesel-emissions scandal could rise another $1 billion as it nears a deal to resolve claims connected to larger and luxury diesel vehicles, according to a person familiar with the matter. Volkswagen AG’s costs in its diesel-emissions scandal could rise another $1 billion as it nears a deal to resolve claims... >>>
Ireland will appeal the European Union’s landmark order to collect a record 13 billion euros ($14 billion) in taxes from Apple, the Irish Department of Finance announced Monday. Ireland will appeal the European Union’s landmark order to collect a record 13 billion euros ($14 billion) in taxes from Apple, the Irish Department of Finance announced... >>>